THE BLACKSMITH Being Adapted by NBC

The Blacksmith

It seems as if barely a week goes by where we don’t hear of a new comic book adaptation in development, and now there’s word that The Blacksmith is heading to the small screen.

Courtesy of Deadline, NBC is turning Malik Evans and Richard Sparkman’s tech-driven espionage tale into a TV series. Not only that, but Kick-Ass 2’s Jeff Wadlow will be overseeing the show.

The official synopsis on the source material has The Blacksmith pegged as:

Alex Malloy is a Blacksmith, part of a covert organization that has built weapons for the United States since the Revolutionary War.  He is a man so crucial to national security that his identity is known only by a few deep within the intelligence community. 

That is until a gun Alex built is used to kill a Senator on US soil.  Now, labeled a traitor, he is on the run from the CIA and a highly dangerous group that want him for their own sinister plans.  Alex is in for the fight of his life, and it’s going to take all of his skills to discover who set him up before he is captured, killed, or worse.

Expect more on The Blacksmith as it continues to develop.

D.J. Caruso in Talks for ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK?

With Paramount Pictures currently developing an Are You Afraid of the Dark? movie, the film is close to finally finding a director.

Via Bloody Disgusting, there’s now word that D.J. Caruso is in talks to helm this new take on an old favourite. Caruso is likely best known to genre fans for efforts such as Disturbia, Eagle Eye, and xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. IT’s Gary Dauberman has been working on the screenplay for Are You Afraid of the Dark?, with the film currently pegged for an October 2019 release.

For those not familiar with Are You Afraid of the Dark?, the series was created by D.J. MacHale and Ned Kandel back in 1990, soon being picked up by Nickelodeon in 1991 and then aired across the globe from 1992. The general premise for the show saw the action focussed on a group of teenagers called the Midnight Society, who would meet each week at a secret, creepy woodland location to tell a terrifying (at least it was to our younger selves!) tale based around horror clichés, urban legends or twisted classics of yesteryear. When all was said and done, the series clocked in at an impressive 91 episodes over its seven seasons.

As ever, expect more on Are You Afraid of the Dark? as it continues to develop.

Ian Ziering is SWAMP THING’s Blue Devil

Blue Devil Ian Ziering

As DC Universe’s live-action Swamp Thing continues to flesh out its core cast, the series has brought in Ian Ziering.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, the Sharknado star has landed the recurring role of Daniel Cassidy, better known as Blue Devil. In the show, this take on Cassidy has him pegged as a fading stuntman-turned-movie star who is desperate for another shot at the big time.

In the comics, Blue Devil is a character who has been both hero and villain. Cassidy initially played Blue Devil in the movies, although an encounter with a demon ended up with Daniel Cassidy and his Blue Devil suit fusing together. From there, Cassidy decided to embrace his new look and persona, becoming a legitimate hero. Well, at that point in time, for he would later sell his soul for fame – but that itself was followed by a heroic resurrection.

Swamp Thing is set to premiere on DC Universe next year.

Full Cast Revealed for THE MANDALORIAN

Star Wars

One of the most hotly anticipated projects out there right now is The Mandalorian, and that live-action Star Wars series has moved to announce its full cast.

Courtesy of StarWars.com, we now know that the previously-announced Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano and Nick Nolte will be joined by Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito, Supernatural’s Emily Swallow, American Gods’s Omid Abtahi, Predator’s Carl Weathers, and none other than Werner Herzog.

Genre fave Jon Favreau is writing and executive producing The Mandalorian, with Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels’ Dave Filoni also on board as an executive producer. Filoni will be directing the first episode, with Taika Waititi and Rick Famuyiwa just two other names confirmed to be helming episodes.

The Mandalorian will premiere on Disney+ at a to-be-confirmed 2019 date.

STARGIRL Casts Three More Heroes

One upcoming DC Universe show that’s gone quietly under the radar lately is Stargirl. And now, the show has confirmed the casting of three big-name DC heroes.

First up, Community’s Joel McHale will be playing Sylvester Pemberton, better known as the Golden Age incarnation of Starman and a member of the Justice Society of America. Then there’s S.W.A.T.’s Lou Ferrigno Jr., who will be playing Rex Tyler, aka Hourman; another founding member of the JSA. And finally, The Walking Dead’s Brian Stapf has landed the role of Ted Grant, aka Wildcat. These new additions join Brec Bessinger as Stargirl, with roles for Anjielika Washington and Giancarlo Esposito.

While Starman has yet to be seen in live-action just yet, Patrick K. Adams has appeared as Hourman in DC’s Legends of Tomorrow and J.R. Ramirez had the recurring role of Ted Grant in Arrow.
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.

The 2019 Arrowverse Crossover to be CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS

Crisis on Infinite Earths

While the 2018 Arrowverse crossover has now come to an end over in the US, The CW has confirmed a huge event for next year’s crossover.

Seeing as the Elseworlds crossover has yet to air in the UK just yet, we’ll won’t spoil any happenings from the three-episode arc. But once that arc came to a close, The CW confirmed that the 2019 crossover will be titled Crisis on Infinite Earths.

If you’re not too familiar with that title, it’s the name of an iconic 1985 comic book arc from Marv Wolfman and George Perez. Featuring a who’s who of DC Comics, the story brought together a slew of heroes and villains from across the multiverse. At the centre of this? That’d be the nefarious Anti-Monitor. And why is this arc so special? Well, it’s because no punches were pulled as DC killed off several big-name players – not least Barry Allen and Supergirl – as the landscape of DC Comics was changed forever.

For those keeping up with The Flash from the get-go, the show has often showed a newspaper headline from 2024 that reveals the Scarlet Speedster has been missing after a Crisis. Now it appears that we’ll finally get to see Barry’s disappearance play out.

Here in the UK, the first part of the Elseworlds crossover is due to begin on Sky One with tomorrow’s edition of The Flash. The three-part arc will then continue with next week’s outing for Arrow and Supergirl, with Superman and Batwoman just two of the other major names to be a part of this ensemble tale.

See below for the video announcement of next year’s crossover (complete with mild Elseworlds spoilers):

As for Crisis on Infinite Earths, expect to hear more on that at a later date.

Scott Derickson to Helm DOCTOR STRANGE 2

Doctor Strange

Currently, Doctor Strange is no-more thanks to Thanos as his infamous finger snap. But fear not, for the Sorcerer Supreme’s second solo outing has just received some welcome news.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Doctor Strange’s Scott Derrickson has agreed a deal to return to direct Doctor Strange 2. In addition to Benedict Cumberbatch back as the Master of the Mystic Arts, it’s believed that Benedict Wong and Rachael McAdams will also be back for the sequel.

Right now, no plot details whatsoever are known on the follow-up, although the end of Doctor Strange seemed to indicate that we’ll be seeing Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Karl Mordo fully embracing a villainous lifestyle. Then there was Doctor Strange co-writer C. Robert Cargill earlier this year saying how the nefarious Nightmare would be featured in the sequel. Either way, be it Nightmare, Mordo, or both, Strange will have his hands full.

Up next for Cumberbatch’s Stephen Strange is Avengers: Endgame in April, with a release date still to be set for Doctor Strange 2.

BIRDS OF PREY Brings in Chris Messina as Victor Zsasz

Chris Messina Victor Zsasz Birds of Prey

As Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey continues to assemble its key players, now comes word on another villain for the team-up effort.

Via Deadline, Sharp Objects and Devil’s Chris Messina has joined the film to play the nefarious Victor Zsasz. In Birds of Prey, Zsasz will be working alongside Ewan McGregor’s Black Mask to do battle with the titular team.

The character of Victor Zsasz debuted back in 1992’s Shadow of the Bat #1, depicted as a truly sinister and maniacal sort who carves a mark into his own body each and every time he kills someone. To date, Zsasz has been played in live-action by Tim Booth in Batman Begins and by Anthony Carrigan in Gotham.

In addition to Messina and McGregor, Birds of Prey also stars Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jurnee Smollet-Bell as Black Canary, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya, with Steven Williams, Derek Wilson, Dana Lee, Francois Chau, and Matthew Willig having now also joined the picture in unknown roles. Added to this, Ella Jay Basco is in talks to play Cassandra Cain.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is currently set for a February 2020 release.

Legendary Remaking THE TOXIC AVENGER

The Toxic Avenger Toxie

Yet again, there seems to be a twist in the tale of ol’ Toxie. Yes, as the headline suggests, a remake of The Toxic Avenger is now in development.

Via The Hollywood Reporter, Legendary Entertainment has picked up the feature film rights to put together a remake of Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz’s 1984 movie. Kaufman and Herz will serve as producers on Legendary’s redo, with the plan being for this to be the launching point for a new cinematic superhero franchise.

For those not familiar with The Toxic Avenger, the basic premise saw nerdy janitor Melvin Junko end up transforming into the hulking, deformed Toxic Avenger after one too many run-ins with local bullies (and some conveniently-placed chemicals). With enhanced strength, Melvin uses his trusty mop to brutally clean up the local streets. From there, there’d be three sequels, a ’90s cartoon series, and even a musical in recent years.

That last we’d heard on all things Toxie was that Troma and Kaufman were working on a fifth film, while Sausage Party’s Conrad Vernon was also putting together a big-budget remake effort. Unless Vernon is somehow involved in Legendary’s remake, it looks like his take on Toxie is now in limbo.

As ever, expect more on this as we get it. And in the meantime, you can pick up a ticket to come and see Uncle Lloydie in person at next year’s STARBURST International Film Festival.

Ray Park Not Returning for SNAKE EYES Movie

Snake Eyes

Following news that a Snake Eyes movie is in development over at Paramount, now comes word that Ray Park will not be involved.

That was being rumoured when the film was first revealed earlier this month, and Slashfilm now has confirmation that Park will not be reprising the role that he played in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation. Producer Lorenzo DiBonaventura explained to the outlet that Park won’t be back simply because the movie is an origin story for the character that will require a younger actor.

Paramount Pictures has begun talks with Robert Schwentke to direct the movie. Schwentke is likely best known to genre fans for helming R.I.P.D., RED, and two of the Divergent films. If he does indeed end up involved with Snake Eyes, he’ll be working from a script put together by Beauty and the Beast’s Evan Spoliotopoulos.

In the history of the G.I. Joe property, Snake Eyes has always been seen as one of the coolest characters out there – be that in toys, comic books, animated shows, or even in the live-action G.I. Joe films.

At present, Paramount has a March 2020 release date booked in for a new G.I. Joe effort, although it has yet to be officially confirmed whether said effort is Snake Eyes.

Expect more on this as we get it.