DeWanda Wise Departs CAPTAIN MARVEL

DeWanda Wise

With Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel set to make her MCU bow in next month’s Avengers: Infinity War, we’ve now got word on a departure for the good Captain’s solo movie.

As per Deadline, DeWanda Wise has left Captain Marvel. While Wise had been on board for a little while, there’s no word on just what her role was to be in the film. The reason for her departure is simply down to scheduling conflicts with Netflix’s She’s Gotta Have It.

To be set in the ‘90s, Captain Marvel will see Larson’s Carol Danvers joined by Samuel L. Jackson as a two-eyed Nick Fury, Gemma Chan as Kree spy Minn-Erva, Jude Law as the original Captain Marvel – Mar-Vell – and Ben Mendelsohn as the ‘big bad’ of the picture.

To be directed by Mississippi Grind’s Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Captain Marvel is set for a March 2019 release. Before that, of course, Avengers: Infinity War will be heading to the big screen next month.

Ava DuVernay to Direct NEW GODS

DC New Gods

Just when you thought there was already way, way too many DC-driven movies in various stages of development, Warner Brothers has confirmed another new picture.

As per Variety, the WB has brought in A Wrinkle in Time’s Ava DuVernay to helm New Gods; a film based on the Jack Kirby-created characters who debuted way back in 1971’s New Gods #1.

For those not familiar with these otherworldly sorts, the general crux of the New Gods title revolves around New Genesis and Apokolips. These twin planets were formerly joined together as Urgrund, but a cataclysmic split saw two very different worlds created. Initially, New Genesis was full of fresh forests, rivers, and stunning territory. Then there was Apokolips, a horrendous, polluted planet ruled by the nefarious Darkseid. A trade of sons between leaders Highfather and Darkseid led to an initial peace treaty of sorts between the pair, but, as ever in comics, trouble was around the corner. Being the no-good megalomaniac that he was and still is, Darkseid eventually got fed up of all this peace and so got to work on his Anti-Life Equation. What’s that, you say? Why, it’s a weapon that could destroy the entire universe.

All of this is simply the tip of the iceberg for these all-powerful characters, and we’ve already seen mention of the New Gods in the DC Extended Universe. Remember Steppenwolf in Justice League? Yep, he is indeed one of the New Gods. Specifically, in the comics he’s the uncle of Darkseid, while in the DCEU he’s been positioned as the nephew of Darkseid.

As ever, expect more on New Gods as we get it.

Annabella Sciorra Joins MARVEL’S LUKE CAGE

Annabella Sciorra

Following the second season of Marvel’s Jessica Jones having hit Netflix late last month, up next for the on-demand streaming service’s shared Marvel realm is a second year for Marvel’s Luke Cage. And now, we finally have confirmation on another ‘big bad’ for Cage’s Season 2.

Netflix has moved to announce The Soprano’s Annabella Sciorra will be playing Rosalie Carbone in the show. That role is a key villain pegged as a “dangerous downtown criminal underworld power play with an eye, and an agenda, toward Harlem.”

On this news, showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker enthused, “I’ve been a huge fan of hers since Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever, and Annabella Sciorra is no joke as Rosalie Carbone. You haven’t seen her this gangster since her thrilling turn as Tony’s formidable flame Gloria Trillo on Season 3 of The Sopranos. I’m thrilled her introduction to the Marvel Universe will be on Marvel’s Luke Cage.”

The early word on this new season reads:

In the second season, Luke Cage, after clearing his name, has become a celebrity on the streets of Harlem with a reputation as bulletproof as his skin. But being so visible has only increased his need to protect the community and find the limits of who he can and can’t save. With the rise of a formidable new foe, Luke is forced to confront the fine line that separates a hero from a villain.

As well as Mike Colter returning as the titular Power Man, there’s also returns for Simone Missick as Misty Knight, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, Alfre Woodard as Mariah Dillard, Theo Rossi as Shades, and an appearance of sorts from Finn Jones’ Danny Rand. In terms of new additions, Mustafa Shakir and Gabrielle Dennis will be joining the action.

Season 2 of Marvel’s Luke Cage will land on Netflix on June 22nd.

Issue 447 – OUT NOW!

447 NS

STARBURST assembles another packed issue, this month with the main focus on the oncoming threat of Thanos in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR!

We also preview Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s upcoming video game adaptation RAMPAGE, animated sequel SHERLOCK GNOMES and tread the boards looking at genre plays that became movies ahead of the eagerly-awaited release of GHOST STORIES.

There are also celebrations for the thirtieth anniversaries of both BEETLEJUICE and seminal graphic novel BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE.

Not only that, we have the second part of our JOHN CARPENTER retrospective and interviews with TRISTAN RISK and fantasy artist BRIAN FROUD.

In our regular features, we take a look at DEEPSTAR SIX, heading to HORROR CHANNEL, and Independents Day talks to GAV CHUCKIE STEEL, director of PRETERNATURAL.

Plus all your favourite COLUMNS, NEWS, REVIEWS and much MORE from the worlds of SCI-FI, HORROR and FANTASY!

Ross Lynch Joins Netflix’s New SABRINA Series

Ross Lynch

As Netflix’s new take on Sabrina continues to flesh out its cast, the series has now moved to bring in Ross Lynch.

Courtesy of Variety, the My Friend Dahmer star has landed the role of Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina’s boyfriend. The character is officially pegged as “the son of a coal miner, a dreamboat and a dreamer, completely unaware of the dark forces conspiring to keep him and Sabrina apart.”

Already on board for this new take on an old favourite are Kiernan Shipka as the titular teenage witch, Jaz Sinclair as her bestest bud Rosalind, Chance Perdomo as warlock cousin Ambrose Spellman, Michelle Gomez as Madam Satan, Lucy Davis as Aunt Hilda, and Bronson Pinchot as Principal George Hawthorne.

To be based on the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina comic book, the current blurb on the upcoming series reads:

Sabrina is based on the comic book Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which reimagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina the Teenage Witch as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult and, of course, witchcraft. Tonally in the vein of Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist, this adaptation finds Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature – half-witch, half-mortal – while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family and the daylight world humans inhabit.

Expect more on this new show as we get it.

Spike Lee to Direct NIGHTWATCH?

Nightwatch

With a whole host of comic book movies spinning their wheels in various stages of development, now comes word on an outing for Nightwatch.

As per Variety, Spike Lee is in early talks to helm such an effort for Sony Pictures. It’s believed to be the extremely early stages right now for the project, but already Luke Cage’s Cheo Hodari Coker is in the frame to write the film.

Introduced in 1983’s Web of Spider-Man #97, Nightwatch is the superhero moniker given to Dr Kevin Trench. Having seen a costumed version of himself die in front of him, Trench took the futuristic tech suit and delved in to just how he would go on to become a hero. With enhanced abilities, the power of flight, and now the power to heal any wounds, the good doctor went on to become Nightwatch. While team-ups with Spider-Man would follow, this new hero on the block would also work alongside Deathlok, She-Hulk, and Captain America.

For those wondering, yes, any Nightwatch movie would indeed be a part of Sony’s shared Spider-Verse that’s to begin with this October’s Venom. As well as the Tom Hardy-headlined Venom, Sony also has the Silver Sable and Black Cat team-up – Silver and Black – in development, a solo movie for the vampiric Michael Morbius, and then individual outings for both Kraven the Hunter and Mysterio.

Expect more on this as we get it.

Famke Janssen Joins Nic Cage’s PRIMAL

Famke Janssen

One of the most ‘unique’ movies on our radar right now is Primal. To get to the crux of it, it’s Nicolas Cage battling a whole bunch of animals on a freighter. And now, Famke Janssen has boarded the picture.

As per Deadline, the X-Men actress has signed on to play a neurologist lieutenant in the US Navy. Cage is taking centre-stage as a big-game hunter, and then there’s also an assassin thrown in for good measure.

To give you an idea of what to expect from Primal, the early synopsis reads:

A big-game hunter for zoos who has booked passage on a Greek shipping freighter with a fresh haul of exotic and deadly animals from the Amazon, including a rare white jaguar – along with a political assassin being extradited to the US in secret. Two days into the journey, the assassin escapes and releases the captive animals, throwing the ship into chaos.

To be directed by Nick Powell – who also helmed the 2014 Cage-starrer Outcast – Primal is due to start shooting in Puerto Rico next month.

Danny Boyle to Direct BOND 25

bond

We’ve heard speculation for months now that Danny Boyle may well be directing the next outing for 007, and now Boyle himself has moved to confirm that, yes, he will indeed be helming Bond 25.

Speaking to Metro US, Boyle said, “We are working on a script right now, and it all depends on that really. I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in 6 or 7 weeks. Then Bond would be right at the end of the year. But we are working on them both right now.”

For what is believed to be Daniel Craig’s last time as James Bond, Boyle’s longtime collaborator John Hodge will help put the screenplay together. As for that project with Richard Curtis, that’s a to-be-titled comedy effort that will be musically-driven.

Previously, it was thought that the Boyle and Curtis picture would throw a spanner in to the works for the Trainspotting director’s involvement on Bond 25 given how the next 007 movie is already booked in for a November 8th, 2019 release. From what Boyle has now said, it appears that he’s still going to be able to juggle his schedule to happily handle both films.

EON nor MGM have moved to confirm any of this, of course, but surely Danny Boyle saying he’s tackling Bond 25 is enough to believe that, y’know, Danny Boyle is tackling Bond 25.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR Runtime Revealed

Avengers: Infinity War

It may come as no surprise to longtime fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s now been confirmed that next month’s Avengers: Infinity War will be the longest MCU outing to date.

Previous speculation had the runtime for the film as somewhere between 140 and 160 minutes, and now Fandango and Latino Review have reached out to their sources and confirmed that Infinity War will clock in at 156 minutes. That equates to just over 2 1/2 hours, topping the 147-minute runtime of 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.

Infinity War was expected to be a lengthy picture given what we already know about the film. Essentially, we’re going to see the culmination of all that’s gone before in the MCU to date as Thanos finally steps out of the shadows to battle Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Then there’s the amount of characters who’ll be featured, with any and all Avengers included in addition to names like the Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Winter Soldier, and Brie Larson’s debuting Captain Marvel joining the fight, not to mention an array of the supporting players who have already played a part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, Avengers: Infinity War is expected to be a true gamechanger for the MCU, with certain heroes likely to be killed off or taken out of the shared universe’s immediate future. In fact, it appears as if Infinity War itself will seemingly end with Thanos standing tall, having triumphed in his quest to bring together the Infinity Stones and cause ultimate destruction with the Infinity Gauntlet. The to-be-titled Infinity War follow-up is already booked in for May 2019, and it’s expected that we’ll have to wait until then for our heroes to finally topple this most nefarious of big bads.

Avengers: Infinity War hits cinemas worldwide from April 27th.

Rob Zombie Confirms Sid Haig’s Return for 3 FROM HELL

Captain Spaulding Sid Haig

Earlier this week, we saw Rob Zombie reveal that production has now started on the third outing for his famed Firefly family. Titled 3 from Hell, it was presumed that Sid Haig was returning as Captain Spaulding, and now Zombie has confirmed that Haig will indeed be back.

It was initially reported that Haig will be reprising the role he played in 2003’s House of 1000 Corpses and 2005’s The Devil’s Rejects, but then we realised that Zombie’s initial social media post confirming 3 from Hell featured hashtags relating to Sheri Moon Zombie and Bill Moseley… although Haig was absent from that. Thankfully, the latest post from Zombie now makes reference to Haig and also gives us a hint at one particular scene that will featured in this latest offering.

Previously, it was thought that the 3 from Hell title could mean that Baby, Otis, and Captain Spaulding will be brought back from the grave after being killed off in the shootout that closed The Devil’s Rejects. Or maybe the trio didn’t die at the end of that film…? Either way, the above post tells us that the three will at one point be transported by the prison services. And we all know how that will likely play out, with carnage and chaos the obvious order of the day.

Expect more on the hotly anticipated 3 from Hell as it continues to develop.