Clowns, Dolls, and Ghosts Invade Horror Channel this November

channel november

The November line up on Horror Channel is set to be another cracker as the channel premieres of several excellent classics has been announced.

Kicking things off on November 1st is Terrifier (2016), in which Art the clown makes one Halloween night a nightmare for some young women. November 2nd sees Joe Dante’s brilliant satire The Burbs (1999) hit the channel. On November 8th, Chucky returns in Child’s Play 2 (1990) – with Child’s Play 3 (1991) screening the following week on November 15th.

John Carpenter’s sci-fi classic Starman (1984) comes to the channel on November 9th, while November 10th sees the Hammer prehistoric thriller Creatures the World Forget (1971) debut on the channel. Another overlooked Carpenter film hits on November 16th – his remake of Village of the Damned (1995) gives us more creepy kids.

November 22nd has the sequel Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000), while a pre-Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson serves up laughs and scares with The Frighteners (1996), starring Michael J. Fox.

The month rounds off on November 29th and 30th with Tower Block (2012), written by Cockneys vs Zombies’ James Moran and the terrifying hit Sinister (2012).

Find out more by heading to http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/ Tune in on Sky 317,  Virgin 149,  Freeview 70, or Freesat 138

SABRINA Producers Going Gothic with FRANKENSTEIN and DRACULA Projects

Frankenstein

Playwright turned TV producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is currently best known to genre fans as one of the fundamental creative forces behind Riverdale and, in particular, its spooky sister show, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Now, it looks as if he’s developed a taste for the terrifying having spent so long hanging around with the Spellmans, as news comes in that he’s got two more shows in development alongside his frequent collaborator the ubiquitous Greg Berlanti (if it’s on The CW, chances are his name’s on it), and they’re both of the Gothic horror variety.

First up, The Shelley Society imagines Frankenstein author Mary Shelley as the leader of a group dedicated to pursuing paranormal activity and saving Victorian England from evil. How she’ll also have time to pen one of the world’s most acclaimed novels while doing so is something we’ll look forward to seeing, but we’d wager she’ll be getting much inspiration from her weekly exploits. Among those joining Shelley in the good fight will be her lover Percy Bysshe Shelley and the infamous poet Lord Byron. Basically, think Buffy, but with frilly shirts and even more charming attempts at the British accent!

From one literary classic to another, next up comes The Brides, which will finally put the vampiric Brides of Dracula centre stage. Even less is known about this project than the former, but the pilot script has been in existence since 2016, so it appears that Aguirre-Sacasa and Berlanti have something special cooked up for the sinister seductresses if they’re this determined to see it through. We do know that this will be more extreme in the horror stakes, however, with the producers aiming for an audience more accustomed to American Horror Story-style scares rather than their stock and trade teen shenanigans.

While early days for both, lovers of Gothic horror look to be in for a treat, as Berlanti Productions are currently enjoying success with a frightening amount of shows, so clearly know what they’re doing. Expect more news on both as they continue to develop…

Original source: Deadline

Jade Bartlett to Pen DOCTOR STRANGE Sequel

Jade Bartlett

With anticipation high to see what devilish delights lie ahead in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, now comes an update on who’ll be penning this next outing for Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme.

Via Collider, Jade Bartlett has been brought in to write the film for Marvel Studios. Best known for Miller’s Girl and Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know, Bartlett’s most recent work was putting together a draft for horror offering The Turning. And given that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is being pegged as being the MCU’s first foray towards the realm of sinister scares, Bartlett could well prove to be the perfect fit.

Likewise, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson is the perfect fit to return to helm this sequel, for Derrickson has previously helmed the likes of Sinister and The Exorcism of Emily Rose.

Bar the darker tone, the only real concrete information we have on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is that Cumberbatch will be joined in the picture by Benedict Wong’s Wong and Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch.

At present, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set for a May 2021 release.

JURASSIC WORLD 3 Adds Mamoudou Athie

Mamoudou Athie

As Jurassic World 3 continues to assemble its core cast, now comes news that Mamoudou Athie has joined the picture.

Via Deadline, the Sorry for Your Loss actor has landed a mystery role in the Colin Trevorrow-helmed return for the Jurassic franchise. This casting news comes shortly after Trevorrow impressed fans with his Battle at Big Rock short that looked to delve deeper into the world of this ginormous franchise.

Already confirmed for Jurassic World 3 are franchise favourites Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern. Trevorrow – who directed Jurassic World – is co-writing the film’s screenplay alongside Emily Carmichael in addition to taking over the director’s chair from Fallen Kingdom’s J.A. Bayona.

At present, Jurassic World 3 is booked in for a June 2021 release.

Paul Dano is THE BATMAN’s Riddler

The Batman

While yesterday brought word that Jonah Hill had decided to pass on a villainous role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, one person who has signed on to butt heads with Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader is Paul Dano.

Courtesy of Variety, the Emmy-nommed Dano is set to play the Riddler in The Batman. Dano is likely best known for offerings such as Escape at Dannemora, Little Miss Sunshine, Let There Be Blood and 12 Years a Slave, and he joins a cast that currently features Pattinson’s Dark Knight, Zoe Kravtiz as Catwoman, and Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon.

Previously, Hill was in talks to play a villain in The Batman, with reports claiming that the actor and Warner Bros. were hashing out whether Hill would play the Riddler or the Penguin. Whether Hill walking away from talks has anything to do with Dano suddenly landing the Riddler gig, that’s something that we’re sure will be elaborated on at a later date.

In a twist, however, this take on the Riddler reportedly won’t be Edward Nygma. Instead, the Riddler’s real name will be Edward Nashton in The Batman. Why that is, who knows, although we’d hazard a guess that maybe Warners thought the E. Nygma name is a little too on the nose for modern audiences. Either way, so long as Dano’s Riddler is depicted in the right fashion, fans will surely be able to see passed the slight name tweak.

Dano won’t be the first person to play a live-action Riddler, of course, with Frank Gorshin and Josh Astin having played the rogue in the ‘60s Batman series, Jim Carrey amping things up to 11 in 1995’s Batman Forever, and then Cory Michael Smith showcasing Nygma’s descent into madness across five seasons of Gotham.

At present, The Batman is set for a June 2021 release.

Issue 466 – Out Now

466 ns

In the new issue of STARBURST, to celebrate the release of Charlie’s Angels, we head back to the ‘70s with 23 of our favourite telefantasy shows! We also take a look back at the show that inspired the movie.

We have an exclusive interview with Rob Zombie, who tells us all about his latest movie 3 from Hell as well as delving into his career. The stars of Pennyworth, which covers the early years of Batman’s butler Alfred are grilled on the new series. If that’s not enough, the filmmakers behind the upcoming animated version of The Addams Family reveal all.

There’s also the top 10 Treehouse of Horror episodes of The Simpsons to celebrate the show’s 666th edition and we uncover some very schwifty Rick and Morty merchandise.

Plus Horror Obscura looks at another overlooked shocker and you find out more about the worlds of Eve Online.

Plus all your favourite COLUMNS, NEWS, REVIEWS and much MORE from the worlds of SCI-FI, HORROR and FANTASY!

Jonah Hill No Longer in Talks for THE BATMAN

Jonah Hill

While earlier this week we had news that Zoe Kravitz is to play Catwoman opposite Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, now comes word on somebody who will not be a part of the film.

After being in advanced talks for a villainous role in The Batman, Jonah Hill has decided against signing on for the picture. If you remember, Hill and Warner Bros. had been in talks for several weeks about working together on the movie, with the only sticking issue being whether Hill was to play the Riddler or the Penguin.

Courtesy of Variety, the Wolf of Wall Street actor has instead opted to pass on any role in The Batman.

So far, Pattinson and Kravitz are the only confirmed members for this upcoming offering, although Westworld’s Jeffrey Wright is reportedly lined up to play The Batman’s Jim Gordon.

From what we’ve heard, The Batman will look to introduce up to as many as six villains in some form or fashion. Of course, some of these rogues will merely be introduced in a small way with a view to fleshing them out further down the line.

At present, The Batman is booked in for a June 2021 release.

David Duchovny Joins Blumhouse’s CRAFT Remake

David Duchovny

As Blumhouse and Columbia continue to put together the cast for their remake of The Craft, now comes word that a long-time genre fave is set to join the picture.

Via Deadline, The X-Files’ David Duchovny has signed on for a to-be-revealed role in this new take on The Craft. Duchovny joins a cast that features Pacific Rim: Uprising’s Cailee Spaeny, The Society’s Gideon Adlon, Selah & the Spades’ Lovie Simone and 15: A Quinceanera Story’s Zoey Luna as the film’s four core characters, and a role for Chambers’ Nicholas Galitzine.

If you remember, a new Craft movie has been being talked about for several years now, with Honeymoon’s Leigh Janiak working on a sequel three years ago. Janiak has long since left the project, and Sony has tasked Lola Versus’ Zoe Lister-Jones with writing and directing this remake.

For those not familiar with the original ’96 movie, the Andrew Fleming-helmed effort centred on Robin Tunney as she makes friends with a trio of young witches played by Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell and Rachel True.

As ever, expect more on this Craft remake as we get it.

THE MATRIX 4 Circles Jada Pinkett Smith and Jessica Henwick

The Matrix 4

With the recently announced Matrix 4 currently beginning to amass its core cast, now comes word on two names in the frame to join the return of this beloved genre franchise.

Via Deadline, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jessica Henwick are both lined up for this fourth Matrix offering. Smith famously played Niobe in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, while Henwick will be familiar to genre fans for her role as Colleen Wing in Iron Fist.

Smith would of course be reprising that Niobe role for this new movie, and Henwick is said to be up for a lead role that could well be akin to that of Neo’s in the original trilogy.

In addition to returns for Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and director Lana Wachowski, The Matrix 4 has also moved to add Aquaman’s Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris to its ranks.

At this stage, The Matrix 4 has yet to be given a release date, but production on the film is expected to start early next year.

The CW’s CRISIS Adds the Spectre

Jim Corrigan

With barely a day going by right now where we don’t get some fantastic new piece of information on The CW’s upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover, now comes word that the Spectre is to join the action.

Via IGN, Continuum’s Stephen Lobo has signed on to play Jim Corrigan in the huge Arrowverse event. Corrigan, of course, is the human host of the Spectre, while Lobo is no stranger to the world of DC – for he played The Daily Planet’s Randall Brady for a handful of Smallville episodes back in 2009.

In terms of the Spectre, that character was created back in 1940 by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily. After Corrigan – a detective – was killed in the line of duty, his soul refused to pass over to the afterlife and instead was attached to a spirit of vengeance to become known as the all-powerful Spectre.

Right now, Lobo has only been confirmed to be playing Jim Corrigan, with it to be seen whether or not he’ll take on his spookier form.

Crisis on Infinite Earths begins this December, and will feature the characters of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, Smallville, Birds of Prey, and a slew of other familiar DC faces.