Amazon Renews THE BOYS for a Second Season

The Boys

The show has yet to even officially premiere, but Amazon has already moved to renew The Boys for a second season.

Variety revealed the news, with it revealed that The Boys has already even shot some scenes for said Season 2. As executive producer Seth Rogen put it, “We’re literally halfway through filming the second season.”

In additional news, You’re the Worst’s Aya Cash has been cast as Stormfront for the second year – that character being a Third Reich-developed supersoldier who pretends to be a superhero yet is actually a white supremacist with Nazi leanings.

The Boys will hit Amazon on July 26th, and you can find our thoughts on the first three episodes here.

Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes Movies to Get Big-Screen Release

Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes may currently be AWOL in AMC’s The Walking Dead, but we’ve already heard how the ever-grizzled Grimes was to star in his own trilogy of movies. And now, we have an update on said films.

Fresh from San Diego Comic-Con, it’s been confirmed that said Walking Dead movies will, as hoped, be getting a big-screen cinema release. This trilogy will be distributed by Universal Pictures, although any set release dates have yet to be revealed.

The last time we saw Rick, he was being airlifted to safety by a mysterious helicopter. Plot-wise, we don’t know any specifics for this movie trilogy, yet one would have to imagine we’ll pick things up somewhere after the rescue of Grimes.

Other speculation is that Danai Gurira’s Michonne may be a part of these films, too. On that note, the actress has already confirmed that she’ll be leaving The Walking Dead during the upcoming Season 10 – and many are hoping that the badass katana-wielding Michonne will head off to try and find Rick.

Expect more on all things The Walking Dead – both on the big and small screens – as we get it.

The CW’s Upcoming CRISIS to Feature TWO Supermen

Brandon Routh Superman Returns

In some ridiculously cool news, Brandon Routh is set to don the iconic cape once more as part of The CW’s upcoming Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover event.

Courtesy of Deadline, Routh will reprise the Man of Steel role he played in 2006’s Superman Returns. This will be one of two takes on Superman to feature in the next Arrowverse crossover – Routh joining Tyler Hoechlin’s Kal-El in this multi-show, multi-episode crossover.

Routh and Hoechlin will play Supermen from “different time frames”, and Routh will also be pulling double-duty as Ray Palmer, aka The Atom.

Crisis on Infinite Earths will be the biggest, most ambitious crossover that The CW’s Arrowverse has ever taken on. Pulling from the iconic 1985 comic book story of the same name, the likes of Green Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, the Legends, Batwoman, and the two Supermen will have to come together to stop the Anti-Monitor from wiping out the entire existence of the universe.

In that comics arc, the cost of this battle saw several DC names killed off – including Barry Allen and Kara Zor-El! For The CW’s take on this story, many are already predicting that it could well end up being Stephen Amell’s Oliver Queen who ultimately sacrifices himself to save the day.

This giant crossover will span across five episodes of Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and the Ruby Rose-headlined Batwoman towards the end of the year.

Animated THE AMAZING STAN Series in Development

Stan Lee

It still brings a tear to the eye to think that the iconic Stan Lee left us last November, but now comes word on a new project that will see The Man’s legacy live on in animated form.

Via Deadline, POW! Entertainment and Pure Imagination Studios are working together on an animated series called The Amazing Stan.

The show will reimagine Stan as a mischievous schoolboy, and the idea itself was conceived by Pure Imagination’s John P. Roberts and Sanjee Gupta. The pair reportedly pitched the idea to Lee and got his approval before his passing last year. Phineas and Ferb’s Scott Peterson is the person tasked with bringing animated lee to The Man.

On this news, Roberts enthused, “Stan Lee turned his childhood daydreams into a universe that features superheroes that have resonated with generations of all ages and cultures. Now, his millions of fans can look forward to seeing him appear as an animated version of his younger self for the very first time.”

At this stage, The Amazing Stan has yet to find a network home or be given any sort of rough premiere date – but expect more on the show as we get it.

Excelsior, indeed!

BATMAN BEYOND Getting Remastered Anniversary Release

Batman Beyond

Yes, yes, yes! In some fantastic news for Bat-fans, Batman Beyond is getting remastered for a new Blu-ray release.

If you remember, last year saw the absolutely jaw-dropping release of Batman: The Complete Animated Series as each and every episode of BTAS was given a shiny new clean-up – complete with the Mask of the Phantasm and SubZero movies also cleaned-up and included. And now, well now Batman Beyond is to get the same treatment as the show celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Batman Beyond: The Complete Animated Series will see all three seasons of the fan favourite series remastered, plus the six-disc set will also feature the iconic (and utterly chilling!) Return of The Joker film in remastered form. Elsewhere, a whopping 15 featurettes will be included in the release.

Batman Beyond

As announced as San Diego Comic-Con, this new Batman Beyond boxset will be released on October 29th.

Ed Furlong Returning as John Connor for TERMINATOR: DARK FATE

John Connor Edward Furlong

In some awesome news for long-standing fans of the Terminator franchise, it’s been revealed that Edward Furlong will be back as John Connor for this year’s Terminator: Dark Fate.

Fresh from San Diego Comic-Con, James Cameron – director of the first two Terminator movies and producer of Dark Fate – confirmed that Furlong will be reprising his T2 role of the man tasked with saving mankind from the rise of the machines.

Given how Terminator: Dark Fate will ignore all three films since Terminator: Judgment Day and has Linda Hamilton back as Sarah Connor, many were left massively disappointed that Furlong wasn’t a part of this latest picture. Now, those frowns can be turned upside down.

In the years after Judgment Day, Furlong impressed in offerings such as American History X, Detroit Rock City and Pecker, but the actor’s career took a nosedive after his well-publicised drug and alcohol issues that led to several run-ins with the law.

To be directed by Deadpool’s Tim Miller, Terminator: Dark Fate is set for an October 23rd release.

Arrow Video FrightFest Guests Announced

frightfest guests

Details of some of the amazing special guests who will be attending the Arrow Video FrightFest this August have been announced, as well as the shortlist for the coveted Screen Genre Rising Star Award.
From the press release:

As previously revealed, genre icon Dario Argento and The Soska Sisters will be attending and other returning alumni include Abner Pastoll, here with the closing night film A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND, alongside many of the cast, producer/director Ant Timpson for opener COME TO DADDY, BLISS director Joe Begos, joined by stars Dora Madison and Graham Skipper, DANIEL ISN’T REAL helmer Adam Egypt Mortimer and Paidraig Reynolds, director of DARK LIGHT, accompanied by his cast including Jessica Madsen (Leatherface). Plus, Jordan Barker returns with WITCHES IN THE WOODS, with lead actress Hannah Kasulka, Dan Bush with THE DARK RED, accompanied by lead actress April Billingsley and the Pierce Brothers are back with THE WRETCHED.

This year’s International talent making their FrightFest debut include KNIVES AND SKIN director Jennifer Reeder, DRIVEN writer/lead actress Casey Dillard, alongside co-star Glenn Payne, EAT BRAINS LOVE director Rodman Flelder, ROCK PAPER AND SCISSORS co-director Martin Bousson, accompanied by Argentinian leading ladies Valeria Giorcelli and Agustina Cervino, Henry Jacobsen, marking his directorial debut with Blumhouse production BLOODLINE and  Ireland is represented by Paddy Murphy, who is also making his directorial debut with THE PERISHED. Plus we have Eric Pennycroft, director of SADISTIC INTENTIONS, with actress Taylor Zaudtke (who also features in FrightFest entry FINGERS), I TRAPPED THE DEVIL lead actor & producer Scott Poythress, Brandon Croft for TRUE FICTION. THE DEEPER YOU DIG co-directors John Adams and Toby Poser (who also stars in the movie), VOILITION director Tony Dean Smith, alongside star John Cassini, (who also stars in TRUE FICTION), FINGERS director Juan Ortiz, THE FURIES director Tony D’Aquino and Jason Axinn, here with TO YOUR LAST DEATH.

Homegrown talent will be present in abundance this year. CRAWL star Kaya Scodelario is in the house, alongside cast and crew from MADNESS IN THE METHOD, including Busted singer/songwriter and actor Matt Willis. TALES FROM THE LODGE director Abigail Blackmore is joining us with her all-star cast, including Mackenzie Crook and Laura Fraser. Plus, Lawrie Brewster returns with anthology FOR WE ARE MANY, accompanied by crew and cast including Nicholas Vince. Tom Paton is also back with STAIRS, along with HERE COMES HELL director Jack McHenry and Andrew Desmond, director of THE SONATA.

Staying with UK talent, the FIRST BLOOD strand goes from strength to strength and all the helmers will be around, supported by their cast and crews: So let’s welcome DEATH OF A VLOGGER director Graham Hughes, A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE director Staten Cousns-Roe, CRIMINAL AUDITION  director Samuel Gridley, DARK SENSE director Magnus Wake and Fredi Nwaka, director of ARE WE DEAD YET?

Established in 2016 to celebrate the work of emerging UK genre talent, FrightFest is proud to team up for the fourth year running with Screen International to present the ‘Screen Genre Rising Star Award’. This year’s short list salutes the work of Abigail Blackmore, director of twisty, terrifying black comedy horror TALES FROM THE LODGE, Staten Cousins-Roe for his highly original and compelling debut feature A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE, actress Rebecca Rogers for her stunning lead performance in STALKED, Jack McHenry for his exuberant genre cocktail of caviar and carnage HERE COMES HELL and director/actor Fredi Nwaka for his devilishly clever feature ARE WE DEAD YET?. The winner will be revealed on Monday 26 Aug, 6,30pm at the Cineworld Leicester Sq.

Other events this year include the UK launch of Dario Argento’s autobiography ‘Fear’. The genre icon and giallo legend will take to the stage to talk about the book and life at the top during Rome’s Golden Horror Era. Argento’s life-long friend and FrightFest co-director Alan Jones, who adapted, edited, annotated and illustrated the FAB Press publication, will be the master of ceremonies at this must-attend event followed by a signing session.

The discovery of new voices in the world of genre filmmaking is close to FrightFest’s darkly beating heart and the festival has teamed up with UK distribution outfit Blue Finch Films and short film funding company Genera, to launch a new initiative to help finance genre short films that are in the latter stages of development.  With a £1000 fund on offer, the finalists will pitch their films to an industry panel and the winning film will be announced at the end of the festival. Hosted by FrightFest’s Short Film programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg, the panel will  include filmmaker actress Joanne Mitchell and Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman.

Rosie Fletcher, editor of Den Of Geek, will host FROM PAGE TO SCREAM, featuring top horror authors whose work has been adapted or optioned for the screen. They’ll talk about the processes and pitfalls of getting a novel turned into a show or film, what it’s like seeing their creations come to life and about how the landscape of horror is changing in books, film and TV.

FrightFest, in association with Supermassive Games, presents a special preview of MAN OF MEDAN, the first game in The Dark Pictures anthology. Hosted by Barry Keating, they’ll be a live Q & A with the key development talent behind the game. The much anticipated interactive narrative horror adventure, developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, brings supernatural horror on board a ghost-ship adrift in the South Pacific. It is set to be released on Aug 30, 2019.

There’s no party like a film party and to celebrate FrightFest’s 20th year the Duke Mitchell team have once again scoured the Earth to find the weirdest pieces of film & cinema ever to have flashed into our eyeballs. Add to the mix some very SPECIAL guests, endless giveaways and brilliant trailers and it means the ‘DUKE MITCHELL FILM PARTY’ is the only place to be on a late night Saturday at FrightFest!

Arrow Video FrightFest runs from August 22nd-26th at Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema.

Single tickets go on sale Sat, July 20th at noon and, alongside the few remaining Festival and day pass sales, are available to buy online: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For full programme details: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/

 

Javier Bardem in Talks for THE LITTLE MERMAID

King Triton Javier Bardem The Little Mermaid

On the heels of the news that Harry Styles is to play Prince Eric in the movie, now comes word on who may be playing King Triton in Disney’s upcoming live-action take on The Little Mermaid.

Courtesy of Variety, Javier Bardem has reportedly entered talks to play the father of Ariel. Academy Award winner Barden is best known for his roles in the likes of No Country for Old Men, Skyfall and mother!, and he’s now being eyed to take on a role that was voiced by Kenneth Mars in the beloved 1989 animated movie.

Should Bardem indeed sign on for The Little Mermaid, he’ll join a cast that includes Halle Bailey as Ariel, Jacob Tremblay as Flounder, Awkwafina as Scuttle, and the aforementioned Styles as Prince Eric. Melissa McCarthy is another in talks to join the picture, with her lined up to play the nefarious Ursula.

Right now, The Little Mermaid has yet to be given a set release date, although production is looking to get started early next year. This, of course, is the latest Disney classic to being getting the live-action treatment, following in the footsteps of the likes of The Jungle Book, Dumbo, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Issue 463 – Out Now!

463 ns

In the new issue of STARBURST, we celebrate the talent that is Quentin Tarantino, with a look back at his career and a look forward to Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood. In keeping with the film’s setting, we uncover the Dark Side of Hollywood, delving into the tragic events that have happened over the years.

We also preview Fast & Furious Presents Hobbs & Shaw, which sees Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham team up in a spin-off from the hit series. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Sixth Sense, we countdown the best and worst twists in cinema and TV.

And that’s not all, we also chat to composer Cliff Martinez about his work on the new Nicolas Winding Refn Amazon Prime series Too Old to Die Young and author Cornelia Funke tells us about adapting Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth for a new book.

Plus Horror Obscura looks at another overlooked shocker plus all your favourite COLUMNS, NEWS, REVIEWS and much MORE from the worlds of SCI-FI, HORROR and FANTASY

Tade Thompson Wins The Clarke Award

Tade Thompson Rosewater

Rosewater by Tade Thompson (Orbit) has won the prestigious Arthur C. Clarke Award. The award is chosen by a panel of industry professionals, and is often compared to the Man Booker Prize in terms of impact and importance.

The ceremony for the 33rd Clarke Award took place at Foyles Bookshop in London. The event is one of the highlights of the UK science fiction scene. Tade Thompson received a commemorative engraved bookend and prize money of £2019.00.

Dr Andrew M Butler, Chair of Judges, said: “Alien invasion is always a political subject, and Tade Thompson’s debut novel Rosewater expertly explores the nature of the alien, global power structures and pervasive technologies with a winning combination of science fictional invention, gritty plotting and sly wit.I would like to pay tribute to our judges for this year, it was an incredibly close but good-natured argument over which novel would triumph.”

The judges were composed of members of the British Science Fiction Association, the Science Fiction Foundation and the SCI-FI-LONDON film festival.