DOOM PATROL Series in Development for DC Universe

The Doom Patrol

In some news that’s sure to pique the interest of many genre fans, a live-action Doom Patrol series has been announced for Warner Brothers’ upcoming DC Universe digital service.

Already the on-demand service has confirmed the live-action Titans, a live-action Swamp Thing show, and animated offerings in Harley Quinn and Young Justice: The Outsiders, and now Greg Berlanti has been announced as developing Doom Patrol for the service.

If you remember, the Doom Patrol group will actually feature in Titans – the hotly anticipated Teen Titans effort – and now we know that the oddball team will be getting their own series, which is currently set for a 2019 premiere and will consist of thirteen episodes.

Doom Patrol

The official word on Doom Patrol reads:

Doom Patrol is a re-imagining of one of DC’s most beloved groups of outcast Super Heroes: Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, and Crazy Jane, led by modern-day mad scientist Dr Niles Caulder (The Chief). The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities – but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatised and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence – and to protect Earth from what they find.

Part support group, part Super Hero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them. Picking up after the events of Titans, Doom Patrol will find these reluctant heroes in a place they never expected to be, called to action by none other than Cyborg, who comes to them with a mission hard to refuse, but with a warning that is hard to ignore: their lives will never, ever be the same.

As mentioned, the Doom Patrol will appear in Titans – debuting in the show’s fifth episode, to be precise – and already we know that Bruno Bichir has been cast as The Chief, April Bowlby as Elasti-Girl, Jack Michaels as Robotman, and Dwain Murphy as Negative Man.

Supernatural’s Jeremy Carver is on writing duties for Doom Patrol, with him also serving as executive producer alongside Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter.

Let’s be honest, we were all ridiculously excited about DC Universe as soon as Titans was announced, and the more we hear about this new streaming service then the more we can’t wait for it to arrive.

As ever, expect more on Doom Patrol and the other DC Universe shows as we get it.

AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. Renewed for Sixth Season

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In recent days, genre fans have had quite the roller coast of a ride where their favourite shows are concerned. The Exorcist and Lucifer were sadly cancelled, while Lost in Space and Gotham were renewed for new seasons. And now, we have an update on the future of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

As announced by Marvel Entertainment and ABC, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be returning for a sixth season. This time out, the episode count has been dropped down to thirteen outings as opposed to 22.

This Friday will see the Season 5 finale air in the US, while in the UK the show can be found airing on Channel 4 on Sunday nights.

Expect more on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s sixth season as it develops.

Netflix Confirms LOST IN SPACE for a Second Season

Lost in Space

While this past weekend has seen FOX cancel genre faves The Exorcist and Lucifer, plus renew Gotham for a fifth and final season, there’s now an update on the future of another show that’s proved to be quite the hit with genre fans.

As announced by Netflix, Lost in Space has been renewed for a second season. This comes after the debut season landed on the on-demand streaming service only last month.

At this early stage, no plot details are known just yet on what lies ahead for the Robinsons in said Season 2, but just hearing that the series will be back is sure to put a smile on the chops of many of you out there.

The official blurb on Lost in Space reads:

Lost in Space is a Netflix Original dramatic and modern reimagining of the classic 1960s science fiction series. Set 30 years in the future, colonization in space is now a reality, and the Robinson family is among those tested and selected to make a new life for themselves in a better world. But when the new colonists find themselves abruptly torn off course en route to their new home they must forge new alliances and work together to survive in a dangerous alien environment, light-years from their original destination.

Toby Stephens, Molly Parker, Taylor Russell, Mina Sundwall, Max Jenkins, and Parker Posey star in the show.

Expect more on Lost in Space’s second season as it develops.

Margot Kidder 1948 – 2018

Margot Kidder

In some sad news, Margot Kidder has passed away at the age of 69. She reportedly died at her home in Livingston, Montana on Sunday.

Kidder became a huge favourite of many a genre fan for several memorable roles, such as playing Lois Lane in the four Christopher Reeve-headlined Superman movies, starring in the original Black Christmas, and opposite James Brolin in the first Amityville Horror. Plentiful genre roles followed throughout the years, including appearances in Smallville, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, lending her vocals to Gaia in Captain Planet and the Planeteers, and nabbing an Emmy for her work on R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.

Away from the acting world, Kidder was famous for her work as a political and women’s rights activist, in particular being vocal in her criticism of the Gulf War, of fracking, and for championing female empowerment.

Margot is survived by her daughter Maggie and two grandchildren.

The thoughts of all here at STARBURST go out to the family, friends and fans of Margot Kidder. Rest in peace.

Tentative Plans for Ms. Marvel to Enter the MCU

Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan

Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel has yet to even make her MCU bow, but it looks as if loose plans are already being put in place for a Ms. Marvel picture to focus on Kamala Khan.

Speaking to BBC Arabic’s Husam Asi, Marvel Studios head honcho Kevin Feige explained, “We’re doing Captain Marvel right now. Captain Marvel’s shooting right with Brie Larson. Ms. Marvel, which is another character in the comic books, the Muslim hero who is inspired by Captain Marvel, is definitely sort of in the works. We have plans for that once we’ve introduced Captain Marvel to the world.”

In the comic book realm, the original Ms. Marvel is Carol Danvers, a member of the US Air Force who took on the moniker in 1977 following a previous tangle with explosive Kree technology. In 2012, Danvers was given a “promotion” to the mantle of Captain Marvel, and has since been regularly front-and-centre in the world of Marvel Comics. When the Inhumans’ Terrigen Misters was released back in 2014, Pakistani-American Kamala Khan developed shape-sifting and size-altering powers. Inspired by Danvers, Kamala decided to take on the role of Ms. Marvel as her own.

How long before we see Kamala Khan on the big screen, we’ll have to wait and see. At least we now know that there are at least some loose plans to bring the character to live-action life at some point.

Captain Marvel will hit screens next March, with Danvers to then help out Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in May 2019’s Avengers: Infinity War follow-up.

Neill Blomkamp to Direct Chris Evans in Disaster Picture GREENLAND

Chris Evans

Many a genre fan has a major soft spot for Neill Blomkamp, and similarly many have an even bigger soft spot for Chris Evans. So, the news of these two teaming for a disaster movie should put a smile on the face of many.

Courtesy of Deadline, Blomkamp will direct Evans in a disaster effort dubbed Greenland. Anton will be producing alongside Thunder Road Pictures’ Basil Iwanyk, with the financing being handled by Anton and Riverstone Pictures. STX will be handling international the overseas distribution.

On this news, Anton CEO Sebastien Raybaud enthused, “When we read Greenland, we knew it was exactly the sort of film we wanted to make as we build the Anton brand – smart, character driven genre with action and heart. We are very excited to work alongside out friends at STX with such exceptional talent as Neill Blomkamp, Chris Evans and Basil Iwanyk.”

Plot details are being kept hush-hush for new, with the film simply pegged as showcasing “a family’s fight for survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster”.

The current plan is for Greenland to commence principal photography towards the end of the year.

Stephen King’s THE GINGERBREAD GIRL Picked Up by Brainstorm

The Gingebread Girl Stephen King

Seriously, it’s almost becoming a running joke now, but it seems that barely a week goes by without one of Stephen King’s famed properties being adapted for the big or small screen. And now, it’s the turn of The Gingerbread Girl.

Fresh from Cannes – as reported by Deadline – Brainstorm Media has picked up the US production and distribution rights for the tale. In addition to this, regular King collaborator Craig R. Baxley will be directing the film and will be penning the script alongside King. Baxley has previously helmed King adaptations in the shape of The Triangle, Storm of the Century, Kingdom Hospital and Rose Red.

Collected in King’s Just After Sunset work, the official word on The Gingerbread Girl reads:

The story focuses on Emily, a woman recovering from a recent loss in a secluded house in the loneliest stretch of New England. She avoids contact with her husband and her father and channels her grief into a gruelling daily running regimen. This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys privacy, but the young women he brings to his home suffer the consequences of knowing him. The tensions hinges on whether Em will be next.

Expect more on The Gingerbread Girl as it continues to develop.

Paramount Developing a SNAKE EYES Movie

G.I. Joe Snake Eyes

With Paramount Pictures currently developing a whole bunch of movies based around Hasbro properties, now comes word on a spin-off picture from the G.I. Joe franchise.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, a Snake Eyes-driven picture is now in development. Paramount has brought in Beauty and the Beast’s Evan Spiliotopoulos to begin work on the screenplay, with Brian Goldner to produce.

On the big screen, Ray Park has played Snake Eyes in the character’s outings in G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, with Snake Eyes’ roots going back to 1982. In ’82, he first appeared in the Hasbro toy line and the Marvel Comics’ title of the day. To many children of the ‘80s, Snake Eyes was one of the coolest characters of the day, with his appearance and silent ninja stance marking him out from the park. And of course, his relationship with his villainous brother Storm Shadow was a majorly intriguing element of the G.I. Joe output of the day.

As alluded to, Paramount is currently developing M.A.S.K., Visionaries, Micronauts and ROM: SpaceKnight movies to join their G.I. Joe franchise.

SHARKNADO 6 to Wrap Up the Franchise This August

Sharknado Global Swarming

Sure, the first film was unique in a so-awful-it’s-almost-enjoyable way, but seriously, if ever there was a franchise that needed to come to an end then it’s the Sharknado series. And that is indeed now happening.

Syfy has moved to confirm a premiere date for the upcoming Sharknado 6 and simultaneously announced that this sixth movie will indeed be the final outing for the franchise.

Initially, Sharknado 6 was set for a July premiere, but that’s now been cemented as August 19th – which will bring an end to the fifth annual Sharknado Week. If you’re not familiar with Sharknado Week, it’s basically where Syfy airs a whole host of likewise ropey shark-driven efforts. This year’s line-up features Deep Blue Sea 2, Ghost Shark and 6-Headed Shark Attack.

Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, the official word on Sharknado 6 reads:

All is lost, or is it? Fin unlocks the time-travelling power of the Sharknados in order to save the world and resurrect his family. In his quest, Fin fights Nazis, dinosaurs, knights, and even takes a ride on Noah’s Ark. This time, it’s not how to stop the Sharknados, it’s when.

GOTHAM Renewed for a Fifth and Final Season

Gotham

Having just reported that FOX has cancelled Lucifer and The Exorcist, now comes some good and bad news for Gotham fans. While the series has indeed been renewed for a fifth year, the network has moved to confirm that Season 5 will be the last for Gotham.

In a statement, FOX said, “The fifth and final season will wrap up this unique origin story of the great DC Comics Super-Villains and vigilantes, which revealed an entirely new chapter that has never been told.”

There has been no official word on just how many episodes this new season will be made up of, although it’s believed that the final year will be a shorter, thirteen-episode season that will focus on Bruce Wayne’s transformation to becoming the iconic Caped Crusader.

Before that, though, the show is getting set to air its Season 4 finale shortly in the United States, with UK audiences finally being able to watch Gotham with some frequency now that E4 is airing the genre favourite.