After Universal’s ‘Dark Universe’ plans fell apart due to the disappointing performance of The Mummy, it looks as if there’s still life left in these classic monsters yet.
As per Deadline, Universal has signed up Ghostbusters’ Paul Feig to write and direct a picture called Dark Army. Said film will reportedly feature several characters from Universal’s library of classic monsters in addition to some new creatures created by Feig.
This comes hot on the heels of Leigh Whannell currently in production on a new take on The Invisible Man for Blumhouse and Universal.
With CBS All Access currently developing a new ten-episode take on Stephen King’s The Stand, the series has found two of its lead characters.
Courtesy of Collider, Big Little Lies’ Alexander Skarsgard and Ghost’s Whoopi Goldberg have joined The Stand as Randall Flagg and Mother Abigail, respectively. Randall is the ‘big bad’ of the tale, while Abigail is a 108-year-old prophet who receives messages from God.
Skarsgard and Goldberg join a cast that currently features Westworld’s James Marsden as lead character Stu Redman, Aquaman’s Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, Assassination Nation’s Odessa Young as traveller Frannie Goldsmith, and The New Mutants’ Henry Zaga as deaf-mute Nick Andros.
The early word on this latest adaptation of The Stand reads:
The series will bring to life King’s vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.
The Fault in Our Stars’ Josh Boone and SEAL Team’s Ben Cavell are on writing duties for the ten-episode take on King’s 1978 novel.
The Stand, of course, was previously given the TV treatment back in 1994. Then, Mick Garris helmed a miniseries that clocked in at just over the six-hour mark in total, with names such as Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Miguel Ferrer, and Ossie Davis starring.
For those not familiar with the written world of The Stand, the loose plot centres on a decimated post-apocalyptic world in which a deadly plague has wiped out a huge chunk of the population. Two rival groups form, with the vastly differing views of the leaders of these groups putting both sides on a collision course as good battles evil.
Expect more on The Stand as it continues to develop.
With David Raymond’s Night Hunter hitting UK cinemas and digital HD this Friday, we’ve managed to get hold of an exclusive clip from the movie.
In the clip, we find Henry Cavill’s Marshall on the hunt for a twisted killer played by Brendan Fletcher.
Joining Cavill and Fletcher in the film, Night Hunter’s impressive ensemble also features Alexandra Daddario, Ben Kingsley, Stanley Tucci, Minka Killy, and genre fave Nathan Fillion.
The official word on Night Hunter reads:
On the hunt for an elusive serial rapist and murderer, battle-hardened cop Marshall (Henry Cavill) crosses paths with vigilante duo Cooper (Ben Kingsley) and Lara (Eliana Jones) as they trap online predators and deliver their own extreme methods of justice. When Julia is kidnapped, Marshall, Cooper and the police hunt down the perpetrator but the psychologically damaged man they capture only deepens the mystery surrounding the killings.
Good-cop Rachel (Alexandra Daddario) believes the captured killer, who is linked to years of female abductions and murders, is harboring multiple personalities, one of which may hold answers. But with Marshall taking a harder stance, pressure from the Commissioner (Stanley Tucci), and a public out for blood, the plot thickens. Then when those involved in the case, on both sides of the law, start turning up dead, it becomes a race against time to get inside the mind of the killer before it’s too late… Combining the tense, psychological investigation of killer classics such as Silence of the Lambs and Zodiac with fast-paced twists, turns and edge-of-your-seat action, Night Hunter is one of 2019’s darkest and most daring thrillers.
Night Hunter stars Henry Cavill (Mission Impossible – Fallout, Justice League), Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, Sexy Beast), Alexandra Daddario (Baywatch, True Detective), Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games franchise), Minka Kelly (Friday Night Lights), Nathan Fillion (Serenity) and Brendan Fletcher (Braven, Rampage) and is directed by David Raymond.
Following on from this past weekend’s news that Margot Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment production company is working on a new Tank Girl movie, now comes an update on who may be directing the picture.
Courtesy of Collider, Dreamland’s Miles Joris-Peyrafitte is lined up to direct this new Tank Girl.
Previously, it was believed that Robbie herself is only serving as a producing on the picture. She could still end up headlining the movie once a script has been finalised, although that is a lot of ifs and buts.
The outlet also reports that the film could see Tank Girl teaming with Jet Girl and a group of fellow rebels as they come together to battle a corrupt government that’s taken control of the already-scarce water supply.
As a character, Tank Girl began life back in 1988 in the comic book from Martin and Jamie Hewlett. Centred on Rebecca Buck, readers saw the titular character driving around in the tank that also happens to be her home. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, mind, for Tank Girl’s future-set landscape is full of bad guys and booze.
1995 famously saw Lori Petty head to the big screen in Tank Girl, although that movie absolutely bombed upon its release. In more recent years, the picture has become somewhat of a cult classic that was bogged down by a hugely troubled shoot and production.
Now, it appears that Rebecca Buck will again be making her way to the silver screen.
Well, this is some absolutely fantastic news! Yes, as the headline suggests, Blumhouse has signed up Gigi Saul Guerrero.
Deadline broke the news, with Guerrero signings a first look film and TV deal with Jason Blum’s company. Guerrero has been writing and directing as far back as 2011, with her 2014 short El Gigante putting her on the radar of many a genre fan. More recently, Gigi has won plentiful praise for her directing work on Culture Shock for Into the Dark and has already helmed an upcoming episode of The Purge.
On this news, Jason Blum enthused, “Gigi’s collaborations with our television division have been so rewarding, that we were eager to make Blumhouse a home for her compelling and edgy storytelling in film, as well as TV.”
Guerrero herself added, “I still remember vividly, while studying in film school, being greatly inspired by Blumhouse and the provocative and unique stories they would create in the world of horror. They allow diverse and eager filmmakers like myself to live imagination to its fullest and provide an environment where I can bring my authenticity and life experiences to screen. Blumhouse has now only given me the opportunity to make my first feature, but the chance to discover what I’m capable of as a filmmaker. I am excited for what the future holds in this new and strong partnership. I’m incredibly thankful. Gracias!”
For longstanding fans of Gigi Saul Guerrero, this is some utterly brilliant news as one of the genre’s most impressive rising stars gets the chance to play with the tools in the Blumhouse funhouse.
The famed Collins family are being brought back to life over at The CW!
Courtesy of Deadline, The CW and Warner Bros. Television are developing a new Dark Shadows series titled Dark Shadows: Reincarnation. Revenge’s Mark B. Perry has been tapped to pen an hour-long pilot offering of this reimagined new take on an old favourite.
The current blurb for Dark Shadows: Reincarnation reads:
The reimagined show will be a modern-day continuation of the strange, terrifying, and sexy saga of the Collings family of Collinsport, Maine – a mysterious, influential, publicity-shy group hiding a ghastly secret: For the past 400 years, they’ve lived under a curse that bedevils their blue blood with every imaginable supernatural creature and horror.
It seems that the current plan is to very much develop the show with the original Dark Shadows series – which ran from 1966 to 1971 – in mind, drawing in fans of that genre fave while also appealing to a new audience. In addition to that classic show, Tim Burton also served up a Dark Shadows Johnny Depp-headlined movie back in 2012.
As ever, expect more on Dark Shadows: Reincarnation as we get it.
In the current climate of remakes, reboots, reimaginings, reimagings, recalibrations or whatever the hip ‘n’ happening phrase of the week is, you can now add Face/Off to the list.
Via Deadline, John Woo’s 1997 effort is getting the redo treatment. 22 Jump Street and The Cloverfield Paradox’s Oren Uziel has been brought in to write the film for Paramount.
For those not around in the ‘90s, Face/Off saw Jon Travolta as an FBI agent and Nicolas Cage as a terrorist who literally swap faces to try and foil each other’s plans.
With Hawkeye just one of the shows heading to the impending Disney+ streaming service, now comes an update on the small screen offering.
First up, The Hollywood Reporter has word that Jonathan Igla will serve as showrunner and executive producer on the series. Igla is likely best know for his writing and story editing work on AMC’s Mad Men.
We already know that Hawkeye will focus on Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton and his protégé, Kate Bishop. And on that front, Variety is reporting that Bumblebee’s Hailee Steinfeld is up for the Kate Bishop gig.
In the comic book world, Kate actually takes on the Hawkeye moniker when Barton dies. Being the world of comics, mind, Clint doesn’t stay dead for all that long. Returning from the grave, Barton becomes Kate’s mentor and we essentially get two Hawkeyes for a spell.
Hawkeye will premiere on Disney+ in the second half of 2021.
Well, this could be all kinds of cool. Yes, as the headline suggests, Margot Robbie could be about to serve up a new Tank Girl movie.
The news of this actually comes from Alan Martin, the co-creator of the original Tank Girl comic book series. Martin has taken to Twitter to reveal that Robbie’s LuckyChap Entertainment production banner has optioned the rights for a new Tank Girl film.
Just heard that Margot Robbie’s company have optioned rights from MGM to make a new Tank Girl movie – now several months into development. We haven’t been contacted by any of the parties involved with the project, so not sure if there will be any input from the original creators. pic.twitter.com/7RxbV4qLFt
At this early stage, it’s best not to get carried away with the idea of Robbie herself headlining the movie, for it could well be that she’ll just be working as a producer through her production company. But, you never know…
As a character, Tank Girl began life back in 1988 in the comic book from Martin and Jamie Hewlett. Centred on Rebecca Buck, readers saw the titular character driving around in the tank that also happens to be her home. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, mind, for Tank Girl’s future-set landscape is full of bad guys and booze.
1995 famously saw Lori Petty head to the big screen in Tank Girl, although that movie absolutely bombed upon its release. In more recent years, the picture has become somewhat of a cult classic that was bogged down by a hugely troubled shoot and production.
Now, it appears that Rebecca Buck will again be making her way to the silver screen.
As Paramount’s Snake Eyes solo movie continues to flesh out its core cast, now comes word on another new addition for the picture.
Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, The Raid: Redemption’s Iko Uwais has joined the G.I. Joe spin-off as Hard Master. In the world of the G.I. Joe comics, Hard Master is Snake Eyes’ mentor, is the leader of the Arashikage Clan of ninjas, and is also the uncle of Tommy Arashikage, aka the man who would become the nefarious Storm Shadow.
Uwais joins a cast that currently features Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding as the titular Snake Eyes and Warrior’s Andrew Kojij as his longtime rival, Storm Shadow.
To be directed by Robert Schwentke, Snake Eyes is currently booked in for an October 2020 release.
