Third ANNABELLE Movie Adds Mckenna Grace

Mckenna Grace

With a third Annabelle movie currently in development, the threequel has moved to add Mckenna Grace to its ranks.

Via Deadline, the young actress – who can currently be seen in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House – is to play the role of Judy Warren in the to-be-titled film. That role has been played by Sterling Jerins in The Conjuring and its sequel, but Grace will be tackling the role as she comes under attack from the titular doll in Annabelle 3.

Gary Dauberman will make his directing debut with the movie, following his impressive writing work on IT and The Nun. Plot-wise, we’ll pick things up with the Warrens having placed Annabelle in their supposedly safe artefact room. From there, she’ll end up causing all kinds of chaos for young Judy and her two babysitters.

In addition to being the third Annabelle movie, this picture will of course be the sixth to exist in the “Conjuring Universe”. Including this year’s The Nun, this shared spooky realm has taken over $1.5 billion at the global box office.

At present, this new Annabelle effort is set for a July 3rd, 2019 release.

Ron Perlman and T.I. Harris Join MONSTER HUNTER

Ron Perlman T.I. Harris Monster Hunter

A Monster Hunter movie adaptation has been in the works for a while now, and the picture has moved to bring in a couple of big-name additions.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Ron Perlman and T.I. Harris will join Milla Jovovich in the film. Musician-turned-actor Harris has impressed many in Ant-Man and its sequel, while Perlman is a huge genre favourite thanks to turns in the likes of Alien: Resurrection, Sons of Anarchy, Beauty and the Beast, Batman: The Animated Series, and, of course, as the title character in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy movies. In Monster Hunter, Perlman has been cast as a character simply known as Admiral, while Harris will be playing a sniper named Link.

While plot specifics are being keep hush-hush for now, Monster Hunter will focus on Jovovich’s Artemis. The video game series itself centres on hunting down various monsters, increasing your weaponry and technology in doing so.

Jovovich’s husband Paul W.S. Anderson is on writing and directing duties here, continuing their working relationship from the Resident Evil franchise.

BIRDS OF PREY Casts Two of its Titular Team

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Jurnee Smollett-Bell Birds of Prey

Yeesh, you take a few days out of the usual work loop to focus all your attention on Batman: The Animated Series (keep your eyes peeled for our next issue ?) and Warner Brothers’ Birds of Prey pictures goes and casts two of its key players!

Courtesy of Deadline, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is to play Huntress and Jurnee Smollett-Bell is playing Black Canary. Both names were amongst several contenders linked to these respective roles early last week, and now we’ve got confirmation on who’ll be playing two of the Birds of Prey’s team.

Winstead is likely best known to genre fans for efforts such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Fargo, and 10 Cloverfield Lane, while Smollett-Bell is a favourite of many for her roles in Eve’s Bayou, Fright Night Lights, True Blood, and Underground.

Black Canary Huntress

In terms of these characters, Huntress began her comic book life as Helena Wayne – the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle – but the version seen in Birds of Prey will be the Helena Bertinelli incarnation of the character who is the vigilante daughter of a mob boss. As for Black Canary, it’s yet to be revealed whether it will be Dinah Drake or Dinah Laurel Lance as the real-life identity of this heroine. Powers-wise, both Canary characters have the famed Canary Cry that deafens and destroys.

Huntress and Black Canary will be joined by Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and the to-be-cast Renee Montoya and Cassandra Cain in Birds of Prey, with Roman Sionis, aka Black Mask, as the villain of the piece.

To be directed by Cathy Yan, Birds of Prey is booked in for a February 2020 release.

WOLFCOP’s Lowell Dean Launches ATOMIC VICTORY SQUAD

Atomic Victory Squad

A fan of Lowell Dean’s two WolfCop movies? Well, there’s a comic book here that could well be right up your street. And even if for some reason you aren’t all that keen on the alcoholic furball lawman, Atomic Victory Squad sounds all kinds of fun and has a genuine, sincere message about some pretty serious issues.

Dean has got together with Javier Martin Caba (Blood Brothers, Lucha Brothers) and Emersen Ziffle (Krampus, WolfCop, Curse of Chucky) to create an Indiegogo campaign for a tale – and a superhero team – that sounds like it will tick off a whole host of boxes for many a genre fan.

The official word on Atomic Victory Squad reads:

Inspired by the likes of Venture Brothers, BoJack Horseman and Rick & Morty, The Atomic Victory Squad is a globe-trotting, world smashing superhero comic with characters that could only exist in animated form. They’re a team of unique misfits, forced to defend the earth when all the “real” heroes are violently killed. So WHO are the Atomic Victory Squad? 

INVINCIBULL is an alien from a planet where cows are men; think Superman but with giant udders. Since he’s a milk producing male, society at large fears and rejects him. Even when he’s saving their life! GARY THE MIME isn’t your average mime. His “imaginations” physically manifest, so if Gary points a finger gun in your direction, you’d better duck! ZOOZANNA is a world renowned explorer cursed into the form of several animals… all at once.  BUBBLE MYERS is a recovering drug addict accidentally fused into a billion dollar government super-suit. SHE-GIRL was built as a pleasure-bot then reprogrammed as a sentient, no-nonsense, gadget filled assassin. Lastly there’s TRIANGLE MASTER…. he just really likes triangles (tri-sexual). 

Real talk: The world doesn’t need more superheroes, but this is no ordinary team. The Atomic Victory Squad is a satire of the genre while still working within the confines of it (capes, costumes, superpowers and lots of action).

Below the surface, each team member serves as a metaphor for issues like addiction, race and gender identity, chronic depression and mental health. This series is as much about their private lives, personal struggles and relationships as it is about crime fighting.

This is the definition of a passion project. I’ve partnered with talented collaborators like brilliant comic book illustrator Javier Martin Caba (Blood Brothers, Lucha Brothers) and practical effects/sculpting wizard Emersen Ziffle (Krampus, WolfCop, Curse of Chucky) who is designing our campaign perks. Many other talented friends are contributing as well. 

We can’t do this alone. Hopefully our next member is YOU!

There are a whole slew of seriously cool perks available should you want to contribute to Atomic Victory Squad, and this is a project that could well prove to be something truly special.

For more details, head on over to Atomic Victory Squad’s campaign page.

Arrow Video Bringing ELVIRA and WATERWORLD to Blu-ray

Arrow Video has announced a pair of great releases just in time for Christmas.

One of the most eagerly awaiting titles is finally hitting Blu-ray – Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. Starring Cassandra Peterson’s iconic horror host, it’s an eighties B-movie classic that was a video hit and is loved by everyone who’s seen it. The 1987 film is presented in a newly restored version from a 4K scan of the original interpositive and will come with tons of never before seen extras and archive material.

Also released is the much-maligned Waterworld, starring Kevin Costner and Dennis Hopper. The most expensive film ever made when it was released in 1995 and almost sunk without trace at the box office. It’s the perfect time for a reappraisal, though, with ecological matters now being upfront in today’s society. Another 4K restoration, the Blu-ray release will include three cuts of the film (including – in the limited edition set – the USTV version that runs 40mins longer), collector’s postcards, a poster, and a 60-page book all about the movie.

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark is released on December 3rd, while Waterworld follows on December 10th. The perfect stocking fillers for any film fan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOCTOR WHO Moves Again?

moves

The BBC have confirmed the timeslot for the first episode of the new series of Doctor Who; The Woman Who Fell to Earth will be broadcast at 6.45pm on October 7th, giving it a strong early evening position in one of the BBC’s strongest line-ups of the week.

However, as well as the move from Saturday evenings to Sundays, STARBURST believes another move may be on the cards – this time involving the seasonal special, the eleventh episode of the recent recording schedule.

It’s been suggested to one of our reporters that the special episode will be set on New Year’s Day rather than the traditional Christmas Day, which tallies with the secrecy surrounding the confirmation of this year’s extra episode – we’ve heard that there will be one, but those in the know have been very careful not to refer to it as a ‘Christmas Special’ – if the special itself is intended to be transmitted on the more esteemed (in TV broadcasting terms) public holiday, rather than in a sleepy slot on December 25th. It’s where all but the first series of Sherlock have debuted, for example.

It’s just a suggestion at this stage, and we’re fully prepared to end up with egg on our face. But mark our words, there may not be a Doctor Who Christmas Special at all this year. Instead, we might well be getting a Seasonal Special on the first day of next year.

Horror Channel Promise a Haunted Halloween

haunted

Our favourite time of the year is approaching and our good friends at Horror Channel are set to celebrate in style as they have announced a series of films that are guaranteed to put the wind up us with the Haunted Halloween season.

Kicking off on October 19th, we countdown to the big day with a whole host of premieres and big movies that will send shivers down the spine and have you looking over your shoulder.

The films in the season are: Apartment 143 (2011), The Unborn (2009), Thir13een Ghosts (2001), Dead Silence (2007), Out of the Dark (2014), John Carpenter’s The Fog (1981), The Haunting in Connecticut 2 (2013), The Hexecutioners (2015), The Grudge (2004) starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, Confined (2015), Demonic (2015), and ending on Halloween night itself with the terrifying Insidious (2010).

If that’s not enough, you can also catch the first UK TV screening of Hellions (2015), and network premieres of The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), Hannibal Rising (2007), Rogue (2007), Priest (2011)- starring Avengers star Paul Bettany – and monster movie Exists (2014)

Season Two of Stephen King adaptation Under the Dome also runs throughout the month.

For more information head over to the Horror Channel website. You can tune in on Sky 317, Virgin 149, Freeview 70 and Freesat 138.

Zoe Kravitz to Headline HIGH FIDELITY TV Series

Zoe Kravitz

With a High Fidelity series in development as part of Disney’s upcoming streaming service, the show has brought in Zoe Kravitz as its lead.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, Kravitz – best known for the likes of X-Men: First Class, Mad Max: Fury Road and Big Little Lies – will be playing a new take on the role played by John Cusack in Stephen Frears’ 2000 movie that was based on Nick Hornby’s hugely popular novel.

In this High Fidelity TV effort, Kravitz will play a record store owner who is obsessed with music, with pop culture, and compiling top five lists. The show will consist of ten episodes and is being overseen by Veronic West and Sarah Kucserka.

Expect more on High Fidelity as it continues to develop

Telltale MAY be Able to Finish THE WALKING DEAD: THE FINAL SEASON

The Walking Dead

One of the biggest news stories of the past week is the sad situation at Telltale Games. But now, there’s at least some slightly positive news for fans of Telltale’s The Walking Dead series.

If you remember, a huge percentage of Telltale’s staff have been let go by the video game outlet, with that also meaning that any in-development games – including The Wolf Among Us 2 – have been canned.

With The Walking Dead: The Final Season releasing its second episode this week, we’d heard over the weekend how The Final Season would remain unfinished as part of these ongoing cutbacks. For those who’ve been on board for Clementine’s stunning journey over the years, this was a huge blow. But now, Telltale has taken to Twitter to give fans some hope that maybe – just maybe – we’ll get to see a proper end to this hugely popular game series.

Expect more on all of this as we get it.

Seeds Planted for SUSPIRIA Sequel

Suspiria

With Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria remake having recently shown at Fantastic Fest, there’s now rumblings of a potential sequel being lined up.

Now, it’s far from confirmed that a follow-up will indeed happen, but writer David Kajganich revealed during a Q&A that he has planted some seeds should a sequel be given the nod. That news was reported by Bloody-Disgusting, with it again reiterated that it is far from a given that a sequel will get the A-OK.

Already, some are deeming this new take on Suspiria a masterpiece, while others are not quite so positive on the redo. Either way, this seems destined to be a film that thoroughly splits opinion when it’s properly released this November.

The official blurb on this new Suspiria reads:

A darkness swirls at the centre of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the troupe’s artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.

Making up the impressive ensemble for Suspiria are the likes of Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Sylvie Testud.