THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Getting a Live-Action Sequel?

The Nightmare Before Christmas

It was only last night that the new trailer arrived for Disney’s upcoming live-action take on Aladdin, and now comes word that another famed House of Mouse property could be getting revisited.

Courtesy of Moviehole, there’s rumblings that there could be something in the works where The Nightmare Before Christmas is concerned. The outlet reports that Disney is looking to possibly do a live-action sequel to Henry Selick’s 1993 effort.

Of course, take all of this with a pinch of salt until we hear anything concrete from Disney, but this is surely something that will instantly grab the attention of many a genre fan.

Produced by Tim Burton, the stop-motion animated Nightmare Before Christmas centred on the Chris Sarandon-voiced Jack Skellington as he looks to bring Christmas to his homeland of Halloween Town.

Despite not setting the world on fire at the box office upon its initial release, The Nightmare Before Christmas has gone on to become a hugely popular cult favourite as the years have gone by.

In recent years, Disney has already given audiences new live-action takes on Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book and Winnie the Pooh in Christopher Robin, with live-action versions of Aladdin, The Lion King, Dumbo, Lilo & Stitch, The Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Sword in the Stone, Snow White, Pinocchio and Mulan all in various stages of development.

Could The Nightmare Before Christmas be about to get added to that ever-expanding list? We’ll have to wait and see.

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

Netflix’s LOCKE & KEY Brings in Two More Names

Locke & Key

As Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez’s Locke & Key continues to flesh out its cast, now comes word on two further additions for the show.

Courtesy of Deadline, Thomas Mitchell Barnett and Asha Bromfield have signed on for the hotly anticipated series. Wayne’s Barnett is to play Sam Lesser, a bullied classmate of Tyler Locke’s, whilst Riverdale’s Bromfield will be playing horror nerd Zadie.

The pair join a cast the currently features Connor Jessup, Emilia Jones, Jackson Robert Scott, Sherri Saum, Darby Stanchfield, Laysla de Oliveira and Kevin Alves.

The early blurb on Netflix’s Locke & Key reads:

Locke & Key is a horror/fantasy series that revolves around three siblings who, after the gruesome murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Massachusetts only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Little do they know, a devious demon also wants the keys, and will stop at nothing to attain them.

The Good Wife’s Meredith Averill and Bates Motel’s Carlton Cuse will serve as showrunner on the series.

If you remember, Hulu had previously taken Locke & Key to the pilot stage before then deciding against putting in a series order for the show. Said pilot was completely scrapped, with Netflix swooping in to pick up the rights and start from scratch.

New Documentary Series to Explore the Legends Behind Cursed Horror Movies

Poltergeist

Well, this could be something mighty, mighty special.

Having become a go-to stop for horror hounds, Shudder is now developing a new documentary series that is looking to explore the realities behind some of the most cursed horror movies in history.

To be titled Cursed Films, the series will examine the facts, myths, mysteries and urban legends behind the likes of The Exorcist, The Omen, and Poltergeist. All of the films featured are ones laced in very real-life tragedy, and Cursed Films will take a deep dive on what really went on throughout these oft-tortured productions.

On this documentary series, Shudder’s Craig Engler enthused, “Cursed Films is a fascinating look at why these iconic horror movies have gained such an outsized reputation for being the focus of bizarre tragedies and strange coincidences that seemingly defy explanation.”

How to Build a Time Machine’s Jay Cheel is writing, directing and editing Cursed Films, with the current plan to premiere the series later this year.

Expect more on Cursed Films as it continues to develop.

Rachel Skarsten is BATWOMAN’s Alice

Rachel Skarsten Alice Batwoman

As The CW’s Batwoman pilot continues to amass its core cast, the Ruby Rose-headlined effort has found its ‘big bad’.

Courtesy of Deadline, Batwoman has brought in Rachel Skarsten to play the utterly deranged Alice.

For those not familiar with Alice, she’s the leader of the Lewis Carroll-inspired Wonderland Gang and a villain often pegged as Batwoman’s Joker equivalent. We’ll hold back on any potential spoilers, but let’s just say that Alice is a major, major deal and a multi-layered character in the comics.

Where Skarsten is concerned, she’s actually got previous with the live-action world of DC Comics; having played Dinah Lance/Black Canary in The WB’s one-season Birds of Prey show that aired in 2002. The actress will also be familiar for her appearances in Beauty & the Beast, Reign and Molly’s Game.

Skarsten joins a cast that currently features Ruby Rose as Kate Kane/Batwoman, Camrus Johnson as the tech-minded Luke Fox (and potentially Batwing?), Meagan Tandy as Kate’s one-time love Sophie Moore, and Nicole Kang as Kate’s BFF and step-sister Mary Hamilton.

The Batwoman pilot is expected to start shooting shortly, with the current plan being to nab a full series order in time to premiere towards the end of the year.

Working Title Revealed for New TERMINATOR Movie

Terminator: Dark Fate

With production now well under way on the sixth Terminator movie, now comes word on the working title for the picture.

As James Cameron told Yahoo, “We’re calling it Terminator: Dark Fate. That’s our working title right now.”

Now, whether or not Terminator: Dark Fate ends up being the final release title, we’ll have to wait and see. Many a film has changed their working title plentiful times as production plays out, so Dark Fate may or may not end up being the final name for this latest Terminator offering.

If you remember, The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day helmer Cameron regained the rights to the franchise last year, with him now producing what is planned to be a new trilogy of Terminator films.

Terminator: Dark Fate is being directed by Deadpool’s Tim Miller, and the picture will ignore everything that’s happened since T2; Rise of the Machines, Salvation and Genisys all being left by the wayside.

Blade Runner 2049’s Mackenzie Davis heads up Terminator: Dark Fate, with franchise faves Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger returning to action. Also on board are Natalia Reyes, Diego Boneta and Gabriel Luna; Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D’s Luna to play an all-new Terminator.

At present, Terminator: Dark Fate is booked in for a November 1st release.

Rebecca Ferguson Confirms MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Return

Mission: Impossible Rebecca Ferguson

We’ve recently heard how a further two Mission: Impossible movies are on the way, and now comes official confirmation of a returning cast member.

It was previously expected that several key figures would be returning alongside Tom Cruise, and now there’s confirmation from Rebecca Ferguson that, yes, she will indeed be back for at least the next MI effort.

While speaking to Lorraine Kelly on, err, Lorraine, Ferguson revealed that she’ll be back to play Ilsa Faust in Mission: Impossible 7. No mention was made of the already-confirmed eighth Mission: Impossible movie, although the actress wasn’t actually asked about that particular installment.

Ferguson debuted as assassin-cum-MI6 agent Faust in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, reprising the role in Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

In addition to Cruise and Ferguson, it’s believed that Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg will also be back for the next offering in the hugely successful Mission: Impossible franchise.

Similarly, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie is back for these next two offerings, with the two films shooting back-to-back ahead of summer 2021 and summer 2022 releases.

As ever, expect more on all things Mission: Impossible as we get it.

Netflix Begins to Assemble JUPITER’S LEGACY Cast

Jupiter's Legacy

With a slew of Millarworld titles in various stages of being adapted for the big and small screen, now comes an update on Netflix’s take on Jupiter’s Legacy.

Via Collider, Josh Duhamel and Leslie Bibb have joined the series in the lead roles of The Utopian and Lady Liberty, respectively. The duo join a cast the includes Andrew Horton, Elena Kampouris, Ben Daniels, Matt Lanter and George Hutchence.

Mark Millar and Frank Quitely’s Jupiter’s Legacy began life back in 2013, quickly becoming a favourite of many. The tale itself initially centres on Sheldon and Grace Sampson as they and a small group of friends wind up with superpowers back in 1932. Sheldon and Grace would take on the aforementioned monikers of The Utopian and Lady Liberty, and the duo would usher in the first age of superheroes by forming the Union of Justice (pictured).

Fast forward to decades down the line, and the offspring of The Utopian and Lady Liberty have their own powers yet the world is now a far more skewed landscape where the concept of the classic superhero is concerned. In particular, son Brandon (to be played by Andrew Horton) uses his abilities to nab some big-money endorsement deals, while daughter Chloe (Elena Kampouris) is a drug-addicted model.

Daredevil’s Steven S. DeKnight is on showrunner duties in addition to writing the series and directing the pilot episode. DeKnight will also executive produce alongside Millar, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and Dan McDermott.

Safe to say, if Jupiter’s Legacy can capture the essence of the comic book source material, audiences could be treated to something truly special.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson Amongst New Additions for KINGSMAN: THE GREAT GAME

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

With Kingsman prequel The Golden Game currently in development, the picture’s core cast has been expanded by three.

Via the Daily Mail (we know…), it’s been confirmed that Avengers: Age of Ultron‘s Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Quantum of Solace‘s Gemma Arterton and Bohemian Rhapsody‘s Tom Hollander are joining the previously announced Harris Dickinson, Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Bruhl, Charles Dance and Rhys Ifans.

Franchise director Matthew Vaughn is back to direct Kingsman: The Golden Game, and he of course has previous with Taylor-Johnson from their time working together on the Kick-Ass movies.

What we know about The Golden Game so far, the picture will be set in the early 1900s and showcase the origins and roots of the Kingsman agency; the film being pegged as more of a period drama than a spy thriller. Trust’s Dickinson is to take on the lead role of a cocky kid eager to serve his country in the aftermath of World War I.

Elsewhere, an eight-episode Kingsman TV series is in the works, not to mention a follow-up movie to Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

At present, Kingsman: The Great Game is set for a November 8th, 2019 release.

Horror-centric AQUAMAN Spinoff in Development

Aquaman The Trench

While Aquaman made an absolutely huge splash at the box office last year – to the tune of over $1 billion – now comes word on a spinoff movie of sorts for the King of Atlantis. Or, more specifically, a certain terrifying corner of the Seven Seas.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers has brought in Noah Gardner and Aidan Fitzgerald to pen a film set within The Trench.

If you remember, The Trench proved to be a truly sinister section of James Wan’s Aquaman, with Arthur and Mera having to navigate the eerie kingdom during one particular section of the picture. We won’t make mention of that part of the film here, mind, just in case you’ve been waiting to check Aquaman out on home release.

To be developed as a full-blown horror effort, this to-be-titled Trench offering is being produced by Wan and Peter Safran, with no Aquaman cast members or characters currently set to return for the spinoff.

Expect more on this massively intriguing project as it continues to develop. In the meantime, Aquaman is set to hit Blu-ray and DVD on March 26th.

Danai Gurira to Depart THE WALKING DEAD

Michonne The Walking Dead

Wait, what?!?! First Rick, then Maggie, and now Michonne?!

In some slightly surprising news, The Hollywood Reporter has word that Danai Gurira will be exiting AMC’s genre juggernaut The Walking Dead during the show’s already-confirmed tenth season.

With The Walking Dead returning imminently, Gurira has signed a new deal that will see her appear in a more limited role in the aforementioned Season 10 before then departing the series. But fear not, for this isn’t the end for Michonne. Instead, the katana-wielding warrior will transition over to the trilogy of movies previously announced for Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes.

Since debuting back in the show’s third season, Michonne has gone on to become one of the series’ most popular and pivotal figures; romantically tied to Rick since Season 6.

The Walking Dead returns for the second half of its ninth season this Sunday in the US, with a UK return set to follow on Monday.