Michael Keaton’s Batman to be Referenced in The CW’s CRISIS

Michael Keaton Batman

As The CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths continues to become even more all-encompassing, the huge crossover event has now been confirmed to reference Michael Keaton’s Batman.

In a new image, fans will see that Keaton’s Caped Crusader it tying the knot with Selina Kyle – which is presumably the Michelle Pfeiffer incarnation of Catwoman.

Of course, Keaton’s Bruce Wayne will likely only be appearing in this newspaper clipping, but still, this is a cameo of sorts that is guaranteed to put a smile on the fans of DC fans.

Not content with merely playing out over Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and Batwoman, Crisis on Infinite Earths will also feature characters from Smallville, Black Lightning, Birds of Prey, 1991’s The Flash, Batman: The Animated Series’ Kevin Conroy as an older Bruce Wayne, and even an appearance from Burt Ward, who famously played Robin opposite Adam West’s Batman.

Crisis begins this December.

Fractured Visions Film Festival Returns to Cardiff

Fractured Visions Film Festival

The Fractured Visions Film Festival is back for another weekend of chills, thrills and blood-spills, following the success of last year’s festival which saw Tilman Singer’s magnificently bizarre LUZ walking away with best film (and a UK distribution deal thanks to Sharp Teeth Films). 

This year’s event will be taking place over the weekend of October 25th – 27th at the much-loved Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff, with a line-up littered with the year’s most exciting new genre outings including:

1BR (Canada, 2019) – Welsh Premiere

After leaving behind a painful past to follow her dreams, Sarah scores the perfect Hollywood apartment. But something is not right. Unable to sleep, tormented by strange noises and threatening notes, her new life quickly starts to unravel. By the time she learns the horrifying truth, it’s too late. Caught in a waking nightmare, Sarah must find the strength to hold onto her crumbling sanity…or be trapped forever in an existential hell. Dir, David Marmor.

Artik (USA,  2019) – Welsh Premiere

A comic book obsessed serial killer’s sinister plan to train his son to be his replacement is interrupted when the young boy lures a well-meaning stranger, Holton, back to their secluded farm threatening to expose their families terrifying secret. Dir, Tom Botchii.

Finale (Denmark, 2018) – Welsh Premiere

It is quiet throughout the country. Everybody is glued to the TV watching the finals. Not a single soul is seen in the streets. On the outskirts of Denmark however, a small gas station still needs to be manned. And on this particular evening, two very different young women are on duty. Agnes, a snobbish college student, is trying to work on her thesis, while naïve Belinda is texting away trying to get the attention of her boyfriend. Unfortunately, the shift is not going to be as uneventful as they think, because no customers also means no witnesses. Dir, Søren Juul Petersen.

Ghost Killers vs Bloody Mary (Brazil, 2019) – Welsh Premiere

Four YouTubers with expertise in supernatural events are seeking recognition from the audience whilst solving the urban legend of the Bathroom Blonde Case. The spirit that haunts the schools’ bathroom in Brazil. Dir, Fabrício Bittar.

Hanna’s Homecoming (Germany, 2018) – UK Premiere

Since no one wants to befriend the daughter of a witch, Hanna is glad when she meets the city girl Eva. She seems to have found a friend but something isn’t right. Strange accidents occur and there is no explanation. What lures in the shadow of the marshlands? Dir, Esther Bialas.

Here Comes Hell (UK, 2018) – Welsh Premiere

A 1930s dinner party descends into carnage, gore and demonic possession when the evening entertainment accidentally leads to the opening of Hell. Rivalries and old friendships are put to the test as the guests battle ghosts, ghouls – and one another – before it is too late. Dir, Jack McHenry.

Impossible Crimes (Argentina, 2019)  – Welsh Premiere

Lorenzo, a seasoned police detective with a tragic past, is assigned to a series of related deaths. Something about the murders just doesn’t add up until a young nun known as a devoted servant in the community reaches out to him, claiming that she’s possessed by an evil force that is behind the killings. Lorenzo initially refuses to consider a supernatural explanation, but with logic leading nowhere and doubt creeping in, he must make the right choice between clinging to his convictions or taking a leap of faith as lives hang in the balance. Dir, Hernán Findling.

One Must Fall (USA, 2019) – UK Premiere

A crime scene clean-up crew is on a job that turns deadly when they discover that the killer never left the scene of the crime. Dir, Antonio Pantoja.

Puppet Killer (Canada, 2019) – UK Premiere

While celebrating Christmas at a cabin in the woods, a group of high school students are stalked by a psychotic killer obsessed with horror movie icons. Dir, Lisa Ovies.

Tumbbad (India, 2018)

In the rural village of Tumbbad, a decaying castle hides an immeasurable ancestral fortune guarded by something ancient, sinister, and monstrous. Vinayak thinks he can control it, but how long will it be until his own greed destroys everything he’s built? Dir, Rahi Anil Barve & Adesh Prasad.

The Fractured Visions organisers will be announcing further additions to the festival in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more exciting news soon – plus the event has also selected 12 short films, all of which are stunning examples of the incredible work that the future of genre are currently producing. These include:

Atomic Ed (France , 2018)

Ed, an introverted and passionate DIY man, is, despite himself, the favorite victim of Mark, the neighborhood motorcycle gang leader. His only friend, Gus, tries in vain to push him to rebel and conquer the heart of the beautiful Julia. The day when the body of one of the members of Mark’s band is found horribly mutilated, the events rush, the gang lash out on Ed. Ed has no choice but to take responsibility and an improvised weapon to become the one he has always dreamed of being. Dir, Nicolas Hugo.

Click Bait (Mexico, 2018)

When Pablo, a teenager, clicks on the wrong link he is caught in a cruel online game. He will have to pass a series of tests in order to save the life of a girls’ father. Dir, Carlos Meléndez.

Condamned (Spain, 2018)

Jack, a weak old man, lives in seclusion in a dark and gloomy underground chapel. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’ll try to escape to the outside world, but a terrible secret will come out to prevent his departure. Jack will have to fight with all his strength in order to escape not only from that wretched place but also from himself. Dir, Octavi Espuga.

Creaker (Norway, 2018)

A girl wakes up at night when her bedroom door creaks open. Dir, Vidar T. Aune.

Dead Teenager Séance (Brazil, 2018)

A group of dead teenagers spending their after-lives in Limbo decides to wreak vengeance upon their killer by summoning him to the world of the dead. Dir, Dante Vescio.

The Den (Spain, 2018)

Mario is driving under the rain. It’s dark in a lonely road. Suddenly he has to stop. In the middle of the way there’s a woman. She is disoriented and covered in blood. She doesn’t remember where she’s been or what had happened to her. Mario needs to look for assistance. They stop at the first place they can find: A quiet bar called La Guarida / The Den. People in the bar kindly will help them out. Until the truth starts to surface… By then the bar won’t look like a safe place anymore. Dir, Iago de Soto.

Dual Cell (Spain ,2019)

Two students get into the Dual Cell, a cursed video game that turns the rented apartment where they live into a prison. Dir, Ignacio Malagón.

Feed Me Death (USA, 2019)

During a brutal home invasion, Casey is almost killed, but a mysterious entity appears and offers to keep her alive – but at what price? Dir, Matt Devino

Night Crawl (USA, 2019)

Two inmates tunnel through the walls of a hellish prison, only to find something more terrifying than death row. Dir, Gregory Shultz.

The Nocnitsa (UK, 2019)

Mia is haunted by her terrifying encounter of Sleep Paralysis. Dir, Andy Taylor.

Oscar’s Bell (UK, 2018)

Duncan (Paul Bullion, Peaky Blinders) and his dog Oscar have gone on their weekly camping trip into the wilderness together. However, when Duncan looks out into the woods, something else looks back. Dir, Chris Cronin.

The Third Hand (UK, 2018)

Tonight feels like any other in the mundane life of this office worker. He watches the same show, eats the same food and just waits for it to end. But tonight is different. A blackout deep in the night awakens a mysterious room. Inside could be the secret to his wildest dreams, or worst nightmares. Dir, Yoni Weisberg.

 

Russell Crowe to Star in New Horror Movie

Russell Crowe

Well, the team of M.A. Fortin, Joshua John Miller, Kevin Williamson and Russell Crowe sounds pretty great, right? Well, that’s the line-up for a new horror movie that’s in development.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, The Final Girls’ Fortin and Miller are writing and directing a new horror film for Miramax. Not only that, but legendary Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer writer Williamson will be producing the picture, with Russell Crowe on board to headline the effort.

Still awaiting an official title, the early word has Crowe playing “a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he’s slipping back into past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play.”

Expect more on this project as it continues to develop.

HBO Developing a MANIAC COP TV Series

Maniac Cop

Well, this is some news that’s sure to put a smile on the face of certain genre fans. Yes, as the headline suggests, a Maniac Cop TV series is in development.

Courtesy of Deadline, Drive’s Nicolas Winding Refn and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning’s William Lustig are developing the series for HBO. Previously, Refn and Lustig had been making tentative plans for a new Maniac Cop movie – but now they’ve decided to take the property to the small screen.

On this TV take on the 1988 film, the early word on the show reads:

Set in Los Angeles, Maniac Cop is told through a kaleidoscope of characters, from cop to common criminal. A killer in uniform has uncaged mayhem upon the streets. Paranoia leads to social disorder as a city wrestlers with the mystery of the exterminator in blue – is he mere mortal, or a supernatural force?

Refn and Lusting will serve as executive producers on the series, with Refn are acting a showrunner.

Expect more on HBO’s Maniac Cop as we get it.

Sony May Sell New MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE Movie To Netflix

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe

With Sony having been at work on a new He-Man movie for what feels like an age by this point – seriously, it’s over a decade! – now comes an interesting update on the long-gestating picture.

Most recently, a March 2021 release date has been set for Masters of the Universe, with Band of Robbers’ Aaron and Adam Nee on directing duties. The prolific David S. Goyer is on writing and executive producing duties, and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’s Noah Centineo is seemingly in place to play He-Man.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, though, it’s believed that Sony is now weighing up the prospect of selling this new Masters of the Universe to Netflix. Talks are ongoing between the two parties, and the main reason for all of this seems to be that Sony’s Tom Rothman was stung hard by the disappointing box office return of this year’s Men in Black: International.

After that latest MiB offering did a so-so $250 million globally, Rothman – who serve as the chairman of Sony – is cautious about the possibility of further financial flops. By assembling a deal that would see Netflix taking over distribution rights, that obviously takes away a lot of the risk that Sony would otherwise be having to deal with.

From a Netflix perspective, having this new Masters of the Universe movie housed on the on-demand streaming service makes a whole lot of sense. After all, Netflix is already home to She-Ra and the Princesses of Power and is at early work on the Kevin Smith-developed He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon that will look to tie up any loose ends from the original ‘80s cartoon.

This new live-action Masters of the Universe film will follow the story of Adam, Prince of Eternia, who has the ability to transform into the ever-smiling uber-hero He-Man as he battles to protect his world from the nefarious threat of Skeletor. Of course, these bitter rivals have most recently been seen shilling financial products for MoneySupermarket.com…

As ever, expect more on all of this as we get it.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Lined Up For New MATRIX Movie

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

With Warner Bros. now at work on a fourth Matrix movie, there’s word on a first new addition to the fourth offering in this genre favourite franchise.

Via Deadline, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is being lined up for a lead role in the picture – with certain speculation even suggesting that he could be playing a younger version of Laurence Fishburne’s Morpheus.

Abdul-Mateen II is likely best known for his turn as the nefarious Black Mantra in Aquaman, not to mention his appearances in Us and Black Mirror.

Already confirmed to be returning for this new Matrix effort are Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and writer/director Lana Wachowski.

The current plan is for the film to start production early next year.

Terry Pratchett’s DISCWORLD Heading to Vinyl

discworld vinyl

Demon Music Group has announced they will be releasing the BBC radio adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld as a mammoth vinyl box set.

From the press release:

Following the very successful Good Omens, Doctor Who and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy releases on vinyl, Demon Music Group presents Discworld featuring the following stories:

  • Mort
  • Wyrd Sisters
  • Guards! Guards!
  • Eric
  • Small Gods
  • Night Watch
  • Bonus non-Discworld story Only You Can Save Mankind

41 Discworld novels were written, set on a fictional flat planet, balanced on the backs of four elephants, which in turn stand on the back of a giant turtle. It is estimated that more than 80 million Discworld books have been sold in 37 languages.

This beautifully illustrated, lavishly packaged vinyl box set presents seven thrilling BBC Radio dramatisations on 15 pieces of heavyweight 180g ‘DiscSwirl’ vinyl. Each of the seven gatefold albums is stunningly illustrated and features specially commissioned sleeve notes by Stephen Briggs, author of The Discworld Companion, along with full cast and credits. Included within the artwork is a recreation of the Discworld map created across the 15 printed inner bags. The episodes ‘Night Watch’ and ‘Only You Can Save Mankind’ include themed etchings on Side B.

These stories were brought stirringly to life in audio with music, sound effects and a cast of actors including Anton Lesser, Sheila Hancock, Martin Jarvis, Melvyn Hayes, Philip Jackson, Alex Jennings, Geoffrey Whitehead, Patrick Barlow and Mark Heap – with Death, as ever, played by himself.

Terry Pratchett’s Vinyl Discworld, a 15LP vinyl audiobook box set featuring seven classic stories, will be released on Friday November 29th and is available for pre-order now.

Core Cast Announced for Marvel’s HELSTROM

Helstrom

While Hulu may have recently decided to pass on a Ghost Rider series, one Marvel show that is moving forward is Helstrom. And now, that series has announced its core cast.

Direct from Hulu, The Royals’ Tom Austen and Fear the Walking Dead’s Sydney Lemmon will spearhead Helstrom as Daimon Helstrom and his sister, Ana. They’ll be joined in the show by Homeland’s Elizabeth Marvel as Victoria Helstrom, Nashville’s Robert Wisdom as Caretaker, Sweet November’s June Carryl as Dr Louise Hastings, Candy Jar’s Ariana Guerra as Gabriella Rosetti, and A Leading Man’s Alain Uy as Chris Yen.

The early word on Helstrom reads:

Daimon and Ana Helstrom are the son and daughter of a mysterious and powerful serial killer in Marvel’s Helstrom. The siblings have a complicated dynamic as they track down the terrorizing worst of humanity – each with their attitude and skills.

Lost’s Paul Zbyszewski is on showrunner duties for Helstrom, with the series expected to premiere at some point in 2020.

Nicholas Galitzine Joins the CRAFT Remake

Nicholas Galitzine

With a remake of The Craft currently in development, the redo has added another name to its cast.

Courtesy of Deadline, Chambers’ Nicholas Galitzine has joined Blumhouse and Columbia’s new spin on the 1996 favourite. Already on board for The Craft are 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.

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.

Len Wiseman to Direct JOHN WICK Spin-Off

Ballerina

With the John Wick franchise to continue on with a fourth main movie and a spin-off offering, now comes word on who’ll be handling said spin-off.

Via Deadline, Len Wiseman has landed the gig of directing John Wick spin-off, Ballerina. Wiseman is likely best known to genre fans for helming two Underworld movies, Die Hard 4.0 and the Total Recall remake.

The early word on the female-driven Ballerina reads:

Ballerina focuses on a young female assassin who seeks revenge against the people who killed her family.

John Wick: Chapter 3 saw it revealed that Anjelica Huston’s Director trains ballerinas in the same facility where Keanu Reeves’ Wick himself was trained up to become an assassin.

Lionsgate has yet to set an official release date for Ballerina at this stage, although John Wick: Chapter 4 has been booked in for a May 2021 release.