David Harbour and Rachel Weisz Up for BLACK WIDOW

Black Widow

With Marvel Studios now finally at work on the long-demanded solo movie for Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, it looks as if the picture could be about to add two more names to its ranks.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter and Variety, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz are in talks to join the film. Harbour is currently on headlining duties for Neil Marshall’s Hellboy and Weisz is likely best known to genre fans for The Mummy and recently nabbed an Oscar nomination for The Favourite. At this early stage, it’s not known just what roles Harbour and Weisz are lined up for.

If you remember, last month saw Fighting with My Family’s Florence Pugh begin talks to join Black Widow, although Marvel Studios is yet to give up too much information on the movie right now. Like so many upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe outings, it’s expected that we’ll find out a whole lot more about Black Widow after the landscape-changing Avengers: Endgame.

Rumoured to be a prequel film of sorts focussing on Natasha’s early days, Black Widow has Cate Shortland on directing duties.

Sequel to THE BOY Gets an Official Title

Brahms: The Boy II

With a Boy sequel long confirmed and on the way later this year, the follow-up has now been given an official title.

Courtesy of the ongoing CinemaCon, STX Entertainment has revealed that the sequel will be titled Brahms: The Boy II.

With director William Brent Bell and screenwriter Stacey Menear both returning for the movie, the official word on Brahms reads:

Unaware of the terrifying history of Heelshire Mansion, a young family moves into the estate, where their young son soon makes an unsettling new friend, an eerily life-like doll he calls Brahms.

This time out, Katie Holmes is on headlining duties and she’ll be joined by The Witch’s Ralph Ineson, The Belko Experiment’s Owain Yeoman and Gotham’s Christopher Convery.

Brahms: The Boy II is set for a July 26th, 2019 release.

THE CONJURING 3 Set for 2020

The Conjuring 2

One of the most hotly anticipated movies on the horror calendar right now is the third main Conjuring movie. And now, we have word on when The Conjuring 3 will be hitting the big screen.

As revealed at CinemaCon, The Conjuring 3 has now been officially booked in for a September 11th, 2020 release. That film will be the seventh in the shared Conjuring universe.

Before The Conjuring 3 arrives, audiences will first be treated to The Curse of La Llorona later this month and then Annabelle Comes Home in June. That’s not all that’s on the way, of course, with The Crooked Man to be released at a to-be-confirmed date after The Conjuring 3.

In terms of plot details, the only real news we have on The Conjuring 3 is that the threequel will reportedly centre on a man on trial for a murder that he blames on being possessed by a demon. Both Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be returning as Ed and Lorraine Warren; that duo also being seen in this month’s third Annabelle offering.

As for the director, this time out James Wan is handing over the job to The Curse of La Llorona’s Michael Chaves for The Conjuring 3.

Netflix Renews THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

Umbrella

After impressing many with its debut season, it comes as no surprise to hear that Netflix is renewing The Umbrella Academy for a second season.

The on-demand streaming service confirmed the news, with a ten-episode second season now officially ordered. Production on the new season will start in Toronto, Canada this summer.

For those yet to check to check out The Umbrella Academy, the official blurb on the series reads:

On the same day in 1989, forty-three infants are inexplicably born to random, unconnected women who showed no signs of pregnancy the day before. Seven are adopted by Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a billionaire industrialist, who creates The Umbrella Academy and prepares his “children” to save the world. But not everything went according to plan. In their teenage years, the family fractured and the team disbanded. Now, the six surviving thirty-something members reunite upon the news of Hargreeves’ passing. Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Vanya and Number Five work together to solve a mystery surrounding their father’s death. But the estranged family once again begins to come apart due to their divergent personalities and abilities, not to mention the imminent threat of a global apocalypse.

Expect more on Season 2 of The Umbrella Academy as it continues to develop.

HUGO AWARD Finalists Announced

Hugo Awards

The finalists for the 2019 Hugo Awards and associated awards have been announced.

There were 1800 valid nominating ballots collected from members of the 2018 and 2019 World Science Fiction Conventions, also known as Worldcon. The awards have been around since 1953.

The Hugo Awards are major indicator of the state of Science Fiction as Worldcon members tend to be genre’s most dedicated fans. They tend to consume a great many new works of science fiction every year and are willing to travel across the world to attend genre book conventions. The Hugos are followed closely by fans and professionals alike for this reason.

The awards will be announced at Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon. Which will take place in and around the Convention Centre Dublin from 15 to 19 August. At last count, 4580 people had become attending members of the convention. These members will now vote on the shortlist.  This list of finalists can be found below.

STARBURST would like to offer congratulations to everyone nominated.

2019 HUGO AWARD FINALISTS

Best Novel

The Calculating Stars, by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)

Record of a Spaceborn Few, by Becky Chambers (Hodder & Stoughton / Harper Voyager)

Revenant Gun, by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)

Space Opera, by Catherynne M. Valente (Saga)

Spinning Silver, by Naomi Novik (Del Rey / Macmillan)

Trail of Lightning, by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)

 

Best Novella

Artificial Condition, by Martha Wells (Tor.com publishing)

Beneath the Sugar Sky, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com publishing)

Binti: The Night Masquerade, by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com publishing)

The Black God’s Drums, by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com publishing)

Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach, by Kelly Robson (Tor.com publishing)

The Tea Master and the Detective, by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean Press / JABberwocky Literary Agency)

 

Best Novelette

“If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again,” by Zen Cho (B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog, 29 November 2018)

“The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections,” by Tina Connolly (Tor.com, 11 July 2018)

“Nine Last Days on Planet Earth,” by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com, 19 September 2018)

The Only Harmless Great Thing, by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com publishing)

“The Thing About Ghost Stories,” by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine 25, November-December 2018)

“When We Were Starless,” by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld 145, October 2018)

 

Best Short Story

“The Court Magician,” by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed, January 2018)

“The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society,” by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine 25, November-December 2018)

“The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington,” by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine, February 2018)

“STET,” by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine, October 2018)

“The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat,” by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine 23, July-August 2018)

“A Witch’s Guide to Escape: A Practical Compendium of Portal Fantasies,” by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine, February 2018)

 

Best Series

The Centenal Cycle, by Malka Older (Tor.com publishing)

The Laundry Files, by Charles Stross (most recently Tor.com publishing/Orbit)

Machineries of Empire, by Yoon Ha Lee (Solaris)

The October Daye Series, by Seanan McGuire (most recently DAW)

The Universe of Xuya, by Aliette de Bodard (most recently Subterranean Press)

Wayfarers, by Becky Chambers (Hodder & Stoughton / Harper Voyager)

 

Best Related Work

Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction, by Alec Nevala-Lee (Dey Street Books)

The Hobbit Duology (documentary in three parts), written and edited by Lindsay Ellis and Angelina Meehan (YouTube)

An Informal History of the Hugos: A Personal Look Back at the Hugo Awards, 1953-2000, by Jo Walton (Tor)

www.mexicanxinitiative.com: The Mexicanx Initiative Experience at Worldcon 76 (Julia Rios, Libia Brenda, Pablo Defendini, John Picacio)

Ursula K. Le Guin: Conversations on Writing, by Ursula K. Le Guin with David Naimon (Tin House Books)

Best Graphic Story

Abbott, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colours by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell (BOOM! Studios)

Black Panther: Long Live the King, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino and Tana Ford (Marvel)

Monstress, Volume 3: Haven, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda (Image Comics)

On a Sunbeam, by Tillie Walden (First Second)

Paper Girls, Volume 4, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colours by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher (Image Comics)

Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples (Image Comics)

 

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Annihilation, directed and written for the screen by Alex Garland, based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer (Paramount Pictures / Skydance)

Avengers: Infinity War, screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo (Marvel Studios)

Black Panther, written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, directed by Ryan Coogler (Marvel Studios)

A Quiet Place, screenplay by Scott Beck, John Krasinski and Bryan Woods, directed by John Krasinski (Platinum Dunes / Sunday Night)

Sorry to Bother You, written and directed by Boots Riley (Annapurna Pictures)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman (Sony)

 

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Expanse: “Abaddon’s Gate,” written by Daniel Abraham, Ty Franck and Naren Shankar, directed by Simon Cellan Jones (Penguin in a Parka / Alcon Entertainment)

Doctor Who: “Demons of the Punjab,” written by Vinay Patel, directed by Jamie Childs (BBC)

Dirty Computer, written by Janelle Monáe, directed by Andrew Donoho and Chuck Lightning (Wondaland Arts Society / Bad Boy Records / Atlantic Records)

The Good Place: “Janet(s),” written by Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan, directed by Morgan Sackett (NBC)

The Good Place: “Jeremy Bearimy,” written by Megan Amram, directed by Trent O’Donnell (NBC)

Doctor Who: “Rosa,” written by Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall, directed by Mark Tonderai (BBC)

 

Best Professional Editor, Short Form

Neil Clarke

Gardner Dozois

Lee Harris

Julia Rios

Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas

E. Catherine Tobler

 

Best Professional Editor, Long Form

Sheila E. Gilbert

Anne Lesley Groell

Beth Meacham

Diana Pho

Gillian Redfearn

Navah Wolfe

 

Best Professional Artist

Galen Dara

Jaime Jones

Victo Ngai

John Picacio

Yuko Shimizu

Charles Vess

 

Best Semiprozine

Beneath Ceaseless Skies, editor-in-chief and publisher Scott H. Andrews

Fireside Magazine, edited by Julia Rios, managing editor Elsa Sjunneson-Henry, social coordinator Meg Frank, special features editor Tanya DePass, founding editor Brian White, publisher and art director Pablo Defendini

FIYAH Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction, executive editors Troy L. Wiggins and DaVaun Sanders, editors L.D. Lewis, Brandon O’Brien, Kaleb Russell, Danny Lore, and Brent Lambert

Shimmer, publisher Beth Wodzinski, senior editor E. Catherine Tobler

Strange Horizons, edited by Jane Crowley, Kate Dollarhyde, Vanessa Rose Phin, Vajra Chandrasekera, Romie Stott, Maureen Kincaid Speller, and the Strange Horizons Staff

Uncanny Magazine, publishers/editors-in-chief Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, managing editor Michi Trota, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky, Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction Special Issue editors-in-chief Elsa Sjunneson-Henry and Dominik Parisien

 

Best Fanzine

Galactic Journey, founder Gideon Marcus, editor Janice Marcus

Journey Planet, edited by Team Journey Planet

Lady Business, editors Ira, Jodie, KJ, Renay & Susan

nerds of a feather, flock together, editors Joe Sherry, Vance Kotrla and The G

Quick Sip Reviews, editor Charles Payseur

Rocket Stack Rank, editors Greg Hullender and Eric Wong

 

Best Fancast

Be the Serpent, presented by Alexandra Rowland, Freya Marske and Jennifer Mace

The Coode Street Podcast, presented by Jonathan Strahan and Gary K. Wolfe

Fangirl Happy Hour, hosted by Ana Grilo and Renay Williams

Galactic Suburbia, hosted by Alisa Krasnostein, Alexandra Pierce, and Tansy Rayner Roberts, produced by Andrew Finch

Our Opinions Are Correct, hosted by Annalee Newitz and Charlie Jane Anders

The Skiffy and Fanty Show, produced by Jen Zink and Shaun Duke, hosted by the Skiffy and Fanty Crew

 

Best Fan Writer

Foz Meadows

James Davis Nicoll

Charles Payseur

Elsa Sjunneson-Henry

Alasdair Stuart

Bogi Takács

 

Best Fan Artist

Sara Felix

Grace P. Fong

Meg Frank

Ariela Housman

Likhain (Mia Sereno)

Spring Schoenhuth

 

Best Art Book

The Books of Earthsea: The Complete Illustrated Edition, illustrated by Charles Vess, written by Ursula K. Le Guin (Saga Press /Gollancz)

Daydreamer’s Journey: The Art of Julie Dillon, by Julie Dillon (self-published)

Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: A Visual History, by Michael Witwer, Kyle Newman, Jon Peterson, Sam Witwer (Ten Speed Press)

Spectrum 25: The Best in Contemporary Fantastic Art, ed. John Fleskes (Flesk Publications)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse – The Art of the Movie, by Ramin Zahed (Titan Books)

Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth, ed. Catherine McIlwaine (Bodleian Library)

 

John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer

Katherine Arden (2nd year of eligibility)

S.A. Chakraborty (2nd year of eligibility)

R.F. Kuang (1st year of eligibility)

Jeannette Ng (2nd year of eligibility)

Vina Jie-Min Prasad (2nd year of eligibility)

Rivers Solomon (2nd year of eligibility)

 

Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book

The Belles, by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz)

Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt / Macmillan Children’s Books)

The Cruel Prince, by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books)

Dread Nation, by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)

The Invasion, by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic)

Tess of the Road, by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)

1944 RETROSPECTIVE HUGO AWARD FINALISTS

 

Best Novel

Conjure Wife, by Fritz Leiber, Jr. (Unknown Worlds, April 1943)

Earth’s Last Citadel, by C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner (Argosy, April 1943)

Gather, Darkness! by Fritz Leiber, Jr. (Astounding Science-Fiction, May-July 1943)

Das Glasperlenspiel [The Glass Bead Game], by Hermann Hesse (Fretz & Wasmuth)

Perelandra, by C.S. Lewis (John Lane, The Bodley Head)

The Weapon Makers, by A.E. van Vogt (Astounding Science-Fiction, February-April 1943)

 

Best Novella

“Attitude,” by Hal Clement (Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1943)

“Clash by Night,” by Lawrence O’Donnell (Henry Kuttner & C.L. Moore) (Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1943)

“The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,” by H.P. Lovecraft, (Beyond the Wall of Sleep, Arkham House)

The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Reynal & Hitchcock)

The Magic Bed-Knob; or, How to Become a Witch in Ten Easy Lessons, by Mary Norton (Hyperion Press)

“We Print the Truth,” by Anthony Boucher (Astounding Science-Fiction, December 1943)

 

Best Novelette

“Citadel of Lost Ships,” by Leigh Brackett (Planet Stories, March 1943)

“The Halfling,” by Leigh Brackett (Astonishing Stories, February 1943)

“Mimsy Were the Borogoves,” by Lewis Padgett (C.L. Moore & Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1943)

“The Proud Robot,” by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner) (Astounding Science-Fiction, February 1943)

“Symbiotica,” by Eric Frank Russell (Astounding Science-Fiction, October 1943)

“Thieves’ House,” by Fritz Leiber, Jr (Unknown Worlds, February 1943)

 

Best Short Story

“Death Sentence,” by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1943)

“Doorway into Time,” by C.L. Moore (Famous Fantastic Mysteries, September 1943)

“Exile,” by Edmond Hamilton (Super Science Stories, May 1943)

“King of the Gray Spaces” (“R is for Rocket”), by Ray Bradbury (Famous Fantastic Mysteries, December 1943)

“Q.U.R.,” by H.H. Holmes (Anthony Boucher) (Astounding Science-Fiction, March 1943)

“Yours Truly – Jack the Ripper,” by Robert Bloch (Weird Tales, July 1943)

Best Graphic Story

Buck Rogers: Martians Invade Jupiter, by Philip Nowlan and Dick Calkins (National Newspaper Service)

Flash Gordon: Fiery Desert of Mongo, by Alex Raymond (King Features Syndicate)

Garth, by Steve Dowling (Daily Mirror)

Plastic Man #1: The Game of Death, by Jack Cole (Vital Publications)

Le Secret de la Licorne [The Secret of the Unicorn], by Hergé (Le Soir)

Wonder Woman #5: Battle for Womanhood, written by William Moulton Marsden, art by Harry G. Peter (DC Comics)

 

Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form

Batman, written by Victor McLeod, Leslie Swabacker and Harry L. Fraser, directed by Lambert Hillyer (Columbia Pictures)

Cabin in the Sky, written by Joseph Schrank, directed by Vincente Minnelli and Busby Berkeley (uncredited) (MGM)

A Guy Named Joe, written by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan and Dalton Trumbo, directed by Victor Fleming (MGM)

Heaven Can Wait, written by Samson Raphaelson, directed by Ernst Lubitsch (20th Century Fox)

Münchhausen, written by Erich Kästner and Rudolph Erich Raspe, directed by Josef von Báky (UFA)

Phantom of the Opera, written by Eric Taylor, Samuel Hoffenstein and Hans Jacoby, directed by Arthur Lubin (Universal Pictures)

 

Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form

The Ape Man, written by Barney A. Sarecky, directed by William Beaudine (Banner Productions)

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman, written by Curt Siodmak, directed by Roy William Neill (Universal Pictures)

Der Fuehrer’s Face, story by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer, directed by Jack Kinney (Disney)

I Walked With a Zombie, written by Curt Siodmak and Ardel Wray, directed by Jacques Tourneur (RKO Radio Pictures)

The Seventh Victim, written by Charles O’Neal and DeWitt Bodeen, directed by Mark Robson (RKO Radio Pictures)

Super-Rabbit, written by Tedd Pierce, directed by Charles M. Jones (Warner Bros)

 

Best Professional Editor, Short Form

John W. Campbell

Oscar J. Friend

Mary Gnaedinger

Dorothy McIlwraith

Raymond A. Palmer

Donald A. Wollheim

 

Best Professional Artist

Hannes Bok

Margaret Brundage

Virgil Finlay

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

J. Allen St. John

William Timmins

Best Fanzine

Fantasy News, editor William S. Sykora

Futurian War Digest, editor J. Michael Rosenblum

The Phantagraph, editor Donald A. Wollheim

Voice of the Imagi-Nation, editors Jack Erman (Forrest J Ackerman) & Morojo (Myrtle Douglas)

YHOS, editor Art Widner

Le Zombie, editor Wilson “Bob” Tucker

 

Best Fan Writer

Forrest J. Ackerman

Morojo (Myrtle Douglas)

Jack Speer

Wilson “Bob” Tucker

Art Widner

Donald A. Wollheim

The 2019 Hugo base will be designed by Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick. The 1944 Retro Hugo base will be designed by Eleanor Wheeler, a ceramicist in County Down. The 2019 Lodestar Award will be designed by Sara Felix, the Austin, Texas-based president of the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.

James Cameron’s AVATAR Sequels Add Brendan Cowell

Brendan Cowell

With not one, not two, not three, but four Avatar sequels on the way, now comes word of another new addition for the franchise.

Courtesy of Deadline, Game of Thrones’ Brendan Cowell has signed on to play a character called Mick Scoresby. Said character will be the captain of a private sector marine hunting vessel used on Pandora.

Cowell – who Thrones fans will recognise as Harrag – joins a cast that features the returning Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao and fellow new additions Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis and Oona Chaplin.

In terms of plot specifics, very little is known about these upcoming Avatar outings right now. What we do know, however, is that Avatar 2 is set for December 2020, Avatar 3 for December 2021, Avatar 4 for December 2024 and Avatar 5 for December 2025.

To date, James Cameron’s first Avatar is still the highest-grossing movie in history; nabbing a whopping $2.7 billion at the global box office.

Mark Hamill Voicing CHILD’S PLAY Remake’s Chucky

Child's Play

Wait, what?!

After teasing a major new project, Mark Hamill has revealed that he will be voicing Chucky in the upcoming Child’s Play remake.

So first up, does that mean we’re meant to embrace this redo and enjoy it – after all, who doesn’t love Mark Hamill – or are we still okay to question why this redo is happening in the first place? Either way, the addition of brilliant voice actor Hamill is definitely a step in the right direction for Child’s Play.

Hamill appeared on a video at WonderCon to make the announcement, with the fans in attendance reacting positively to this news.

Of course, to date we’ve had Brad Douriff famously voicing Chucky in the Child’s Play franchise. If you remember, this Child’s Play remake from Orion has zero involvement from series creator Don Mancini; Mancini instead working on a Child’s Play TV series and new movie that will continue within the canon of the existing franchise.

In this Child’s Play remake, Aubrey Plaza is playing a mother who gives her son a “Buddi” doll for this birthday. And wouldn’t you know it, said doll just so happens to have a dark and sinister side to it.

To be directed by Polaroid’s Lars Klevberg, Child’s Play is set for a June 21st, 2019 release.

First Official Look at Brec Bassinger as STARGIRL

Stargirl

Straight from WonderCon, we’ve now been given our first official look at Brec Bassinger as the titular heroine of DC Universe’s upcoming Stargirl show.

Be sure to check out Bassinger’s Courtney Whitmore below:

Stargirl

In regards to how this outfit matches up to Stargirl’s comic-book appearance, it’s a relatively faithful depiction that will be sure to please fans of the character.

Joining Brec Bassinger’s Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl will also feature Luke Wilson as S.T.R.I.P.E., Amy Smart as Barbara Whitmore, Henry Thomas as Doctor Mid-Nite, Joel McHale as Starman, Brian Stapf as Wildcat, Lou Ferrigno Jr. as Hourman, and roles for Anjielka Washington and Giancarlo Esposito. On the other side of the fence, the villains of the piece so far will be Neil Hopkins as Sportsmaster, Joy Omanski as Tigress, and Nelson Lee as Dragon as the series gets set to feature the nefarious Injustice Society to do battle with some of the JSA’s finest heroes.

The early synopsis on Stargirl reads:

Stargirl will follow the story of Courtney Whitmore (Bassinger) who is a smart, athletic and above all else kind girl. This high school teenager’s seemingly perfect life hits a major speedbump when her mother gets married and her new family moves from Los Angeles, California to Blue Valley, Nebraska. Struggling to adapt to a new school, make new friends and deal with a new step-family, Courtney discovers her step-father has a secret; he used to be the sidekick to a superhero. “Borrowing” the long-lost hero’s cosmic staff, Courtney becomes the unlikely inspiration for an entirely new generation of superheroes.

The iconic Geoff Johns is on writing and producing duties for Stargirl, with him famously having created the Courtney Whitmore character following the tragic death of his own sister.

As ever, expect more on Stargirl as it continues to develop.

Mckenna Grace in Talks for GHOSTBUSTERS 3

Mckenna Grace

Hot on the heels of impressing in Captain Marvel, Mckenna Grace could well be joining the upcoming new Ghostbusters movie.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, the young actress is in talks for a major role in Jason Reitman’s Ghostbusters 3. Grace has previous with things that go bump in the night; her having played the younger version of Theo in Netflix’s mesmerising The Haunting of Hill House.

If Mckenna Grace does indeed sign on for the picture, she’ll join a cast that currently features Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard as a single mother and her son. Right now, that is the only information we have on the film at this early stage.

Jason Reitman – the son of original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman – has put together a screenplay with Gil Kenan, and the plan is for this new movie to head into production this summer ahead of July 2020 release.

The current word is that Ghostbusters 3 will serve as a direct follow-up to the world of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II but will ignore the happenings of 2016’s female-driven reboot.

Emily Bett Rickards Departing ARROW

Arrow Felicity Smoak Emily Bett Rickards

While we’re all still reeling at the news that Arrow will be coming to an end after its eighth season, now comes word that one of the show’s mainstays won’t be sticking around for that final season.

Taking to her Instagram page, Emily Bett Rickards has revealed that she will be departing Arrow after the series’ current seventh year:

Courtesy of the recent flash-forward scenes, we do have some indication of what will be happening to Bett Rickards’ Felicity in the future timeline of Arrow, but we won’t elaborate any further on that in case you’re not quite up to speed on the Emerald Archer show.

In terms of longstanding cast members, Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity Smoak has been around since the very first season of Arrow, going on to become a key part of Team Arrow and a pivotal part of the series.

Now it just remains to be seen just how Arrow will write Felicity out of the genre juggernaut.