HELLRAISER TV Rights Change Hands

Hellraiser

Back in 2016, early plans were being made to develop a Hellraiser TV series. And now, three years later, there’s finally some more news on just such a TV offering.

Courtesy of Deadline, Ready Player One’s Dan Farah and IT’s Roy Lee have come together to obtain the rights to take Hellraiser to TV land. The duo have nabbed the rights from Lawrence Kuppin, Eric Gardner and David Salzman.

This deal won’t play any part in the movie side of the Hellraiser franchise; those rights being separately held by Spyglass Media. On that front, David S. Goyer is currently on board to deliver a Hellraiser remake offering.

The early word from Farah and Lee is that they plan to expand on the established mythology that has been served up throughout the Hellraiser films and The Hellbound Heart over the years.

Expect more on all of this as it continues to develop.

Melissa McCarthy Lined Up for THE LITTLE MERMAID’s Ursula

Ursula Melissa McCarthy

As Disney gears up to tackle a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, the movie is close to filling one of its key roles.

Via Variety, Melissa McCarthy is said to have entered early talks to play Ursula in the film; that role, of course, being the villain of the piece. Next to be seen in New Line’s adaptation of The Kitchen, McCarthy will have quite the task on her hands if she does indeed sign up to try and top the stunning job done by Pat Carroll in voicing the character in the 1989 animated movie.

To be directed by Mary Poppins Returns’ Rob Marshall, this new take on The Little Mermaid has already brought in Lin-Manuel Miranda and Alan Menken to create a soundtrack both new and familiar. As for cast members, though, McCarthy would be the first to officially sign up should talks go well.

Expect more on The Little Mermaid as we get it.

Netflix Developing a SANDMAN Series

Sandman

As one Vertigo original begins to come an end, another one is just getting started…

While AMC’s Preacher series is gearing up for its fourth and final season, now comes word that a Sandman show is in development.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix has picked up the rights to produce a TV series based on Neil Gaiman’s iconic Sandman. Wonder Woman co-scribe Allan Heinberg has been brought in as showrunner, and Gaiman himself is on board as an executive producer alongside David Goyer.

Early details on the show are scarce, although it’s believed that Netflix and DC Entertainment are committed to putting a hefty wedge of cash behind the show.

The last we’d heard on anything to do with Sandman being brought to life was back in 2016. If you remember, back then Joseph Gordon-Levitt had departed a long-gestating movie adaptation of the beloved property. And while a big-screen Sandman offering seems to have died a death, a TV take is now full of life and heading to Netflix. If we’re being honest, the room for nuanced storytelling that episodic television offers up is likely a far better fit for something as rich and all-encompassing as Sandman.

Launched in 1989 under DC’s Vertigo imprint, Sandman initially ran for 75 issues until 1996. The focal point of the story was Dream, one of the Endless, and his brothers and sisters; Death, Desire, Despair, Delirium, Destruction and Destiny.  A strange, twisted tale of worlds within worlds, Sandman is generally seen as one of the greatest comic books of all time. So much so, it even holds the honour of being one of the few graphic novels to make it onto the New York Times Best Seller list.

Expect more on Netflix’s plans for Sandman as we get it.

Michael Chabon to Serve as PICARD Showrunner

Sir Patrick Stewart

CBS’ upcoming Picard series has finally appointed a new showrunner.

As announced by the network, award-winning author Michael Chabon has been tasked with serving as showrunner on Star Trek: Picard. Chabon has actually been a part of the show’s creative team since the idea of a Picard show first began moving forward.

In his new role, Chabon will be working alongside executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman.

Plot specifics are being kept hush-hush for Star Trek: Picard at this stage, although we obviously know that Sir Patrick Stewart will be reprising his Jean-Luc Picard role. The first season of the show will reportedly explore the dark turn of events that saw Picard turn leave Starfleet.

On board to join Stewart are Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, Alison Pill, Harry Treadstone and Evan Evagora.

While there’s no set premiere date, Star Trek: Picard is expected to premiere later this year on CBS All-Access.

BILL & TED 3 Finds its Princesses

Jayme Mays Erinn Hayes

With Bill & Ted Face the Music having recently made several new additions to its most triumphant cast, now comes word on two further additions for the threequel.

Courtesy of Deadline, Bill & Ted 3 has brought in Heroes’ Jayma Mays and Children’s Hospital’s Erinn Hayes. Mays will be playing Bill’s wife Princess Joanna, while Hayes will be playing Ted’s wife Princess Elizabeth. Previously, Joanna was played by Diane Franklin and Sarah Trigger in the first two Bill & Ted movies, while Kimberley LaBella and Annette Azcuy played Elizabeth.

In Bill & Ted 3, this duo will be joining the returning Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves and William Sadler, in addition to Mayhem’s Samara Weaving as Bill’s daughter Thea, Atypical’s Brigette Lundy-Paine as Ted’s daughter Billie, and Gotham’s Anthony Corrigan as the villain of the piece.

The early blurb on Bill & Ted Face the Music reads:

Following 1989’s Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and 1991’s Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey, the stakes are higher than ever for William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. and Theodore “Ted” Logan. Yet to fulfil their rock and roll destiny, the now middle-aged best friends set out on a new adventure, when a visitor from the future warns them that only their song can save life as we know it and bring harmony to the universe. Along the way, they will be helped by their families, old friends and a few music legends.

With Galaxy Quest’s Dean Parisot on directing duties, from a screenplay courtesy of the original two movies’ Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon, Bill & Ted Face the Music is booked in for an August 2020 release.

Sony Developing a Live-Action FINAL FANTASY Series

Final Fantasy XIV

In some news that will have long-time franchise fans grinning from ear to ear, Final Fantasy is finally being brought to live-action life.

As announced by Sony Pictures Television, a live-action series based around the world of Final Fantasy XIV is now in development. Sony will be teaming with Hivemind and Square Enix on this project; Hivemind having recently been working with Netflix on their Witcher show; Square Enix one of the developing minds behind the FF video game series.

Right now, no exact plot specifics our known on this Final Fantasy series, although we do know that the show will tell an original story that’s based within the world seen in 2013’s ridiculously popular Final Fantasy XIV.

Ben Lusting and Jake Thornton will be on writing and executive producing duties for the series, with Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel and Dinesh Shamdasani serving as executive producers for Hivemind.

Expect more on all of this as we get it.

GHOSTBUSTERS 2020 Adds Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd

As Jason Reitman’s impending new Ghostbusters movie continues to gather traction, the film has moved to add another new face to its ranks.

Courtesy of Variety, Ant-Man star Paul Rudd has signed on to play a teacher in this new Ghostbusters offering. And not just that, but the picture has now been officially titled Ghostbusters 2020.

Rudd joins fellow franchise newcomers Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and Mckenna Grace, while Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver have confirmed that they’ll be returning to the roles that they played back in Ivan Retiman’s original two Ghostbusters movies. It’s presumed that Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Rick Moranis will similarly be reprising their roles.

In terms of plot specifics, all that we know about Ghosbusters 2020 is that the threequel will centre around Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard as a single mother and her son who become tormented by nefarious ghouls ‘n’ ghosts.

At present, Ghostbusters 2020 is set for a July 2020 release.

Salma Hayek in Talks for Marvel’s ETERNALS Movie

Salma Hayek

Where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is concerned, Marvel Studios and Disney are taking a teeny, tiny amount of downtime as they look to moved forward in a post-Endgame landscape. Still, one of the few announced projects in early development is Marvel’s Eternals movie. And now, we have some news on the latest name being lined up for that picture.

Courtesy of The Wrap, Salma Hayek is in talks for a mystery role in The Eternals. Hayek, of course, is likely best known for her roles in Frida, From Dusk till Dawn, Desperado and Dogma.

If Oscar-nommed actress does indeed sign on for The Eternals, she’ll join a cast that currently includes Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie, Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden, Silicon Valley’s Kumail Nanjiani and Train to Busan’s Ma Dong-seok; Keanu Reeves another who is reportedly in negotiations for the film.

Created by the iconic Jack Kirby back in 1976, the Eternals comic book title was based around a race of age-old humans created by the alien Celestials with the plan being for these humans to serve as Earth’s protectors against the nefarious Deviants. The big-screen Eternals will reportedly be based around the Sersi character who is an energy-manipulating being who is pretty much immortal.

To be directed by Chloe Zhao, The Eternals is currently pencilled in for a 2020 release.

Sigourney Weaver Amongst New AGE OF RESISTANCE Additions

With the wait for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance nearly over, the series has moved to add some further big names to its ranks ahead of premiering this August.

As revealed by Netflix, Alien’s Sigourney Weaver, Game of Thrones’ Lena Headey, Doctor Strange’s Benedict Wong, Ant-Man and the Wasp’s Hannah John-Kamen, Crazy Rich Asians’ Awkwafina and The Dark Crystal’s Dave Goelz will be lending their vocals to the show.

These new additions join an impressive ensemble cast that also features the likes of Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nathalie Emmanuel, Mark Hamill, Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Dormer, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Toby Jones, Jason Isaacs, Keegan Michael-Kay, Ralph Ineson, Mark Strong, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Simon Pegg and Alicia Vikander.

The official word on Age of Resistance reads:

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance returns to the world of Thra with an all new adventure. When three Gelfling discover the horrifying secret behind the Skeksis’ power, they set out on an epic journey to ignite the fires of rebellion and save their world. Based on The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s groundbreaking 1982 feature film, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance tells a new epic story, set many years before the events of the movie, and realized using classic puppetry with cutting edge visual effects. The world of Thra is dying. The Crystal of Truth is at the heart of Thra, a source of untold power. But it is damaged, corrupted by the evil Skeksis, and a sickness spreads across the land. When three Gelfling uncover the horrific truth behind the power of the Skeksis, an adventure unfolds as the fires of rebellion are lit and an epic battle for the planet begins.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will premiere August 30th on Netflix.

AHS: 1984 Set for September Premiere

American Horror Story: 1984

We may not know much about the plot specifics, but we now know when we can expect to see the new season of America Horror Story.

Previously, we knew that the upcoming ninth season of this genre favourite was to be titled American Horror Story: 1984 and have a slasher theme. Well, we now have confirmation that AHS: 1984 will premiere on Wednesday, September 18th.

As alluded to, any other details are being kept hush-hush for the new season, bar the fact that Emma Roberts will be returning and that Olympian Gus Kenworthy has a role. Sadly, AHS mainstay Evan Peters will be sitting out this new season.

Expect more on American Horror Story: 1984 as we get it.