SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE Sequel and Spin-off in Development

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Ahead of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse swinging to the big screen in a matter of weeks, Sony Pictures has now moved to confirm a sequel and a spin-off for this hotly anticipated animated effort.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Sony is already developing a straight-up sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, plus there are also plans in place for an all-female spin-off picture. Joaquim Dos Santos, best known for his work on the likes of Justice League Unlimited and Voltron: Legendary Defender, is set to direct the Into the Spider-Verse sequel, while Batman: Year One’s Lauren Montgomery is to helm the female-driven spin-off.

No further details are known on these two future offerings, although given the multiverse-spanning scope of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, there’s a whole lot of potential to be explored.

Many may be remember how Sony famously gave the A-OK for The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Amazing Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man 4, Venom, and The Sinister Six before the first The Amazing Spider-Man picture was even released. Of course, you’ll also remember how none of those other films ever saw the light of day following Marc Webb’s abysmal The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

To be fair, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse does look all kinds of promising, so here’s hoping that Sony’s forward planning turns out far better this time out.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is due to hit UK cinemas from December 6th.

CANDYMAN Reboot Booked in for 2020 Release

Candyman

Only a matter of months ago, we first heard rumblings of Jordan Peele possibly tackling a remake of Candyman, and now comes some more solid details on the do-over.

This new film has been confirmed to be a “spiritual sequel” to Bernard Rose’s Candyman. The tale will return to the now-gentrified area of Chicago that formerly housed the Cabrini-Green projects.

While Peele is producing this new Candyman through his Monkeypaw Productions banner, many had hoped that the Get Out director would be helming this effort himself. Now though, we know that Little Woods’ Nia DaCosta will be on directing duties. Peele and Win Rosenfield are putting together the screenplay for the picture.

On this news, Peele enthused, “The original was a landmark film for black representation in the horror genre. Alongside Night of the Living Dead, Candyman was a major inspiration for me as a filmmaker – and to have a bold new talent like Nia at the helm of this project is truly exciting. We are honoured to bring the next chapter in the Candyman canon to life and eager to provide new audiences with an entry point to Clive Barker’s legend.”

Candyman itself actually began life as a short story in Clive Barker’s Books of Blood. Originally titled The Forbidden, the story was famously adapted as a 1992 Tony Todd and Virginia Madsen-starring movie from Bernard Rose. Plot-wise, the movie version took place in the aforementioned semi-demolished housing development in Chicago. Todd’s Candyman was an artist and the son of a slave, murdered by bees by his lover’s father after first having his hand lopped off.

From there, the urban legend of the Candyman is that if you say his name five times while looking in the mirror, he’ll appear behind you – and likely slice you up good ‘n’ proper. Sequels followed with 1995’s Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh and 1999’s Candyman: Day of the Dead, and despite mild rumblings over the decades, the franchise has remained dead since that ’99 effort.

At this stage, MGM has set a June 12th, 2020 release date for this new entry in Candyman lore.

Netflix Unveils ROALD DAHL Event Series

Roald

Just last week we brought you news that Roald Dahl’s fondly-remembered anthology series Tales of the Unexpected is due to return to our screens, and while that pleased a lot of the author’s fans, today’s story is sure to delight his entire fanbase…

Netflix have revealed that they’re developing lavish animated adaptations of some of Dahl’s most timeless of tales, such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, Esio Trot, and The Twits. These will go into production sometime next year, and will begin to be rolled out in 2020, by which time we’re hoping the rumour that Warner Bros is planning an unnecessary Willy Wonka prequel has long been forgotten about.

Read on for all of the details!

From the Press Release: ‘Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas are joining The BFG, Matilda, The Twits, and a host of other iconic characters who have all found a brand new home together on Netflix! Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company jointly announced today that Netflix is extending the Roald Dahl universe of stories for global family audiences with an exclusive new slate of original animated event series, based on the books from the acclaimed and award-winning author’s best-selling library, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, and many other beloved titles.

Roald Dahl stories have long inspired award-winning feature films and stage productions. But now, for the first time, Netflix will bring together the highest quality creative, visual, and writing teams to extend the stories in this first-of-its-kind slate of premium animated event series and specials for audiences of all ages and for families to enjoy together. Netflix intends to remain faithful to the quintessential spirit and tone of Dahl while also building out an imaginative story universe that expands far beyond the pages of the books themselves.

“Our mission, which is purposefully lofty, is for as many children as possible around the world to experience the unique magic and positive message of Roald Dahl’s stories,” said Roald Dahl’s widow, Felicity Dahl, “This partnership with Netflix marks a significant move toward making that possible and is an incredibly exciting new chapter for the Roald Dahl Story Company. Roald would, I know, be thrilled.”

“Immersing ourselves in the extraordinary worlds of Roald Dahl stories has been an honor and a massive amount of fun, and we are grateful for the trust the Roald Dahl Story Company and the Dahl family have placed in our team to deliver more moments of shared joy to families around the world,” commented Melissa Cobb, Vice President of Kids & Family Content at Netflix. “We have great creative ambition to reimagine the journeys of so many treasured Dahl characters in fresh, contemporary ways with the highest quality animation and production values.”

“Netflix is known for innovative and high-quality storytelling,” added Gideon Simeloff, Strategy Director for The Roald Dahl Story Company. “There is no other place in the world that can deliver animated entertainment for the whole family at such quality and scale.”

The list of titles in the agreement between Netflix and the Roald Dahl Story Company includes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Boy – Tales of Childhood, Going Solo, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot, Dirty Beasts, and Rhyme Stew.

Production is set to commence on the first of the Netflix Dahl animated series in 2019.’

Netflix Adapting Classic Roald Dahl Tales as Animated Event Series

The Twits

These days, some of the very best TV and movie projects can be found calling Netflix their home. And now, there’s the grin-inducing news that the on-demand streaming service is turning its attention to Roald Dahl.

In a press release, Netflix revealed that they are creating an exclusive slate of original animated event series from the world of Roald Dahl and his iconic creations. The early word has already confirmed that The BFG, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Twits are just some of the properties that will be further explored by Netflix.

The full press release can be found below:

Willy Wonka and the Oompa-Loompas are joining The BFG, Matilda, The Twits, and a host of other iconic characters who have all found a brand new home together on Netflix! Netflix and The Roald Dahl Story Company jointly announced today that Netflix is extending the Roald Dahl universe of stories for global family audiences with an exclusive new slate of original animated event series, based on the books from the acclaimed and award-winning author’s best-selling library, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, and many other beloved titles.

Roald Dahl stories have long inspired award-winning feature films and stage productions. But now, for the first time, Netflix will bring together the highest quality creative, visual, and writing teams to extend the stories in this first-of-its-kind slate of premium animated event series and specials for audiences of all ages and for families to enjoy together. Netflix intends to remain faithful to the quintessential spirit and tone of Dahl while also building out an imaginative story universe that expands far beyond the pages of the books themselves.

“Our mission, which is purposefully lofty, is for as many children as possible around the world to experience the unique magic and positive message of Roald Dahl’s stories,” said Roald Dahl’s widow, Felicity Dahl, “This partnership with Netflix marks a significant move toward making that possible and is an incredibly exciting new chapter for the Roald Dahl Story Company. Roald would, I know, be thrilled.”

“Immersing ourselves in the extraordinary worlds of Roald Dahl stories has been an honor and a massive amount of fun, and we are grateful for the trust the Roald Dahl Story Company and the Dahl family have placed in our team to deliver more moments of shared joy to families around the world,” commented Melissa Cobb, Vice President of Kids & Family Content at Netflix. “We have great creative ambition to reimagine the journeys of so many treasured Dahl characters in fresh, contemporary ways with the highest quality animation and production values.”

“Netflix is known for innovative and high-quality storytelling,” added Gideon Simeloff, Strategy Director for The Roald Dahl Story Company. “There is no other place in the world that can deliver animated entertainment for the whole family at such quality and scale.”

The list of titles in the agreement between Netflix and the Roald Dahl Story Company includes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, George’s Marvellous Medicine, Boy – Tales of Childhood, Going Solo, The Enormous Crocodile, The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me, Henry Sugar, Billy and the Minpins, The Magic Finger, Esio Trot, Dirty Beasts, and Rhyme Stew.

The current plan is for the first of Netflix’s Roald Dahl-driven animated series to head into production next year.

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

 

“Hello There!” Kenobi Joins STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II

Kenobi

Well, we might not be getting that long-rumoured Obi-Wan movie anytime soon (despite what Boris Johnson was waffling about the other day), but the gamers amongst us can at least enjoy plenty of Kenobi-themed action in Battlefront II. Arriving tomorrow (Nov 28th) is the brand new free DLC Battle of Geonosis which will return fans to the dusty, bug-infested planet first introduced in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Check out the spectacular launch trailer below (yes, that is James Arnold Taylor reprising Kenobi’s voice from The Clone Wars and Rebels!), and read on for more deets. Roger roger.

About:

‘The Clone Wars have begun. Jedi hero Obi-Wan Kenobi and the new map Geonosis arrive in the latest update – free for all Star Wars™ Battlefront™ II players and available from November 28. Unlock the 212th Attack Battalion clone trooper appearances, more General Grievous and Obi-Wan Kenobi appearances, drive the new STAP and BARC speeder, and dominate the battle with the AT-TE walker.’

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 VIDEOGAME Announced

The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame

Bar stepping on a piece with no footwear on, LEGO is absolutely fantastic in any shape, size, or medium. And so, it’s all kinds of cool to hear that a new LEGO video game has now been announced.

With The LEGO Movie 2 hitting cinema screens early next year, now comes the almost inevitable news that The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame is on the way. To be based on the events of said movie, the game will land on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC at a to-be-confirmed 2019 date to tie in with the film’s release.

The official press release on this news can be found below:

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games and The LEGO Group today announced The LEGO® Movie 2 Videogame, inspired by the much-anticipated sequel The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part from Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Animation Group. The LEGO® Movie 2 Videogame will be available for Nintendo Switch™ system, PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, and PC in 2019 alongside the film and a collection of The LEGO® Movie 2 building sets.

Based on events from The LEGO® Movie 2: The Second Part, alien invaders have left Bricksburg in ruins! It is now up to Emmet, Lucy and a host of heroic characters to go beyond their world and save their friends from the strange inhabitants of the Systar System.

“Packed with fan-favourite and exciting new characters, mysterious locations and action from both the sequel and the original blockbuster The LEGO® Movie, The LEGO® Movie 2 Videogame is a wild adventure for kids to explore,” said Arthur Parsons, Head of Design, TT Games Studios. “Players must scour the stars for rare items, materials and tools to complete their collections and help their journey across the LEGO® universe, experiencing a wide array of amazing environments, wacky vehicles and incredible creatures along the way.”

“The LEGO® Movie 2 Videogame is a one-of-a-kind experience full of fantastic characters and open-world adventures with a strong emphasis on creative solutions to puzzles and building within the film’s universe,” said Sean William McEvoy, VP Digital Games & Apps, The LEGO Group. “LEGO® fans of all ages will have fun rebuilding their own world using tools to create roads, change the landscape and build structures to unlock more rewards and missions.”

Expect more on The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame as we get it.

The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame

THE BOY 2 Adds Two New Additions

Ralph Ineson Owain Yeoman

As STXfilms and Lakeshore Entertainment’s sequel to The Boy continues to flesh out its core cast, now comes word on two new additions for the follow-up.

Via Deadline, The Witch’s Ralph Ineson and The Belko Experiment’s Owain Yeoman have signed up for The Boy 2. The duo join a cast that currently features Katie Holmes as Liza and Christopher Convery as her son, Jude. Yeoman will be playing Sean, the husband of Holmes’ Liza, whilst Ineson is playing a character called Joseph.

The early blurb on The Boy 2 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.

Stacey Menear has again penned the screenplay, with William Brent Ball back to direct the sequel. The current plan is for principal photography to begin in British Columbia in January.

More Details Emerge on CHILD’S PLAY Remake as New Website Launches

Play

Like it or not, we’re getting a remake of Child’s Play next summer. While this wouldn’t ordinarily be too hard of a thing to swallow (us horror fans are undoubtedly numbed to it by now), MGM’s reimagining of the property will inexplicably coexist with the original canon, which its creator Don Mancini (writer of every film to date) is continuing via the burgeoning direct to home video market. His last entry in the series, 2017’s fantastic Cult of Chucky, ended on yet another enticing cliffhanger, and the likelihood is that we’ll see that story follow on next year too, in the form of the upcoming Chucky TV series (read our most recent article on that here). We’re annoyed on Mancini’s part, and you can bet general audiences will be as confused as hell, but we can take some solace in imagining Chucky Prime having some future swipes at his bigger budget, more mainstream doppelganger, especially given the cheeky chap’s penchant for meta humour. (He’s basically the Deadpool of the slasher genre at this point.)

And as for said doppelganger, despite appearances, this is no Good Guy. Meet Buddi! As it’s 2018, that ‘i’ stands for interactive of course, and this new version of the toy can now be hooked up to the internet and controlled via an app. Passing over the possession angle of the original, newcomer Tyler Burton Smith’s screenplay will employ a more contemporary ‘ghost in the machine’ approach, with Buddi’s A.I. going full-Ultron.

Today marks the launch of a brand new, admittedly cool, in-universe website dedicated to the product featured in the movie, so if you’re interested to gleam further clues about MGM’s approach, check it out here – BestBuddi.com. The first thing that jumps out to us is the heightened presence of the company behind Buddi itself – the Kaslan Corporation. Could they be just as implicit in the mayhem as Buddi itself? Are they cinema’s new Silver Shamrock? Skynet? Just speculation on our part, but it would be an interesting way to broaden the scope of the overly-familiar killer doll concept.

In all honesty, we don’t even mind the use of the Child’s Play branding (the original series ditched it themselves post-Child’s Play 3 anyway), but given the changes we already know about, why couldn’t they have just differentiated their antagonist’s appearance and save us all the hassle of having to roll our eyes every time a story like this one pops up on a website?

Child’s Play will hit cinemas next June, and stars Gabriel Bateman as its new Andy, Aubrey Plaza as his mother, and Brian Tyree Henry as the investigating detective. Lars Klevberg (Polaroid) directs.

New ALIEN Game in Development

Alien: Isolation

While the more recent Alien movies have been so-so at best, we can all at least agree that Alien: Isolation was a stunning, terrifying entry in the greater Alien franchise. And now, it looks as if a new Alien video game is on the way.

This comes after 20th Century Fox registered a trademark for Alien: Blackout, which is for a new video game rather than any form of film or even TV effort. As mentioned, Alien: Isolation was the most recent video game offering, with that wowing gamers back in 2014.

The early word is that Alien: Blackout won’t be a direct sequel to Alien: Isolation, although plot specifics are yet to be revealed. Cold Iron Studios is developing the game for PlayStation 4, Xbox, PC, and next-gen consoles, too.

Interestingly, The Game Awards’ Geoff Keighley has teased that we may even see Alien: Blackout as early as next month:

Expect more on all of this as we get it.

Nicolas Roeg 1928 – 2018

roeg

STARBURST is saddened to learn that legendary British film director Nicolas Roeg has died aged 90.

A highly influential filmmaker, he will likely be best remembered by genre fans for his films Don’t Look Now (1973), The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) and his adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches (1990).

He began his career behind the camera as second-unit cinematographer on David Lean’s masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He worked on Dr Crippen (1962), Roger Corman’s The Masque of the Red Death (1964) and François Truffaut’s Fahrenheit 451 (1966) and eventually moved on to become a director with his first credit being Performance (1970) alongside Donald Cammell. Other films include Walkabout, Bad Timing, and Eureka (1983).

Roeg’s style influenced many other hugely successful directors and enabled his films to favour repeat viewing. His final film was the supernatural drama Puffball in 2007, which reunited him with Don’t Look Now star Donald Sutherland.

STARBURST sends our thoughts to his family and friends.