DOCTOR WHO Vinyl Announced for Record Store Day 2018

dr who lp

Demon Records has announced a pair of vinyl releases exclusive for Record Store Day 2018 that will appeal to fans of a certain TV Time Lord. Following on from their fabulous releases in the past couple of years for RSD, this year, we have the delights of Doctor Who: City Of Death and Doctor Who: The Tomb of the Cybermen to look forward to. Both albums will be limited to 3000 copies worldwide.

City Of Death is a classic Doctor Who story from 1979, starring the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker, Lalla Ward and Julian Glover. Featuring linking narration by Lalla Ward and previously unreleased on vinyl, the two-hour story is presented on 2LP heavyweight translucent green vinyl, and features newly commissioned gatefold artwork, sleevenotes and on-set photos. Whilst sightseeing in Paris, the Doctor and Romana notice a series of unexplained temporal disturbances. When a visit to the Louvre lands them in hot water, they realise that a certain Count Scarlioni knows more about advanced technology than a 20th-century Parisian should. With British detective Duggan in tow, the time travellers become embroiled in an audacious plot to steal the Mona Lisa and sell it on the open market.

The Tomb of the Cybermen is a story from 1967 featuring the Second Doctor Patrick Troughton. Previously unreleased, the story is two hours long spread across 2LP heavyweight silver vinyl, and featuring newly commissioned gatefold artwork, sleevenotes and on set photos. The Doctor faces the dreaded Cybermen in the digitally remastered soundtrack of the classic BBC TV story, with linking narration by Frazer Hines. It has legendary status amongst Whovians as the serial was believed lost for many years until discovered in Hong Kong in 1992.

The action of The Tomb of the Cybermen follows directly on from that of the preceding serial The Evil of the Daleks, with the Doctor and Jamie welcoming the newly orphaned Victoria aboard the TARDIS. Commissioned as Doctor Who and the Cybermen Planet, this was the third encounter between the Doctor and his half-human, half-machine foes. It was co-written by Kit Pedler, who devised the Cybermen in The Tenth Planet, and Gerry Davis, the story editor who had helped develop them.

As always with the Record Store Day releases, they will initially only be available in-store at independent record shops and limited to one of each album per person on a first-come-first-served basis. There are no pre-orders or layaways! Any remaining stock will be sold online a week after the RSD event, which this year takes place on Saturday, April 21st. For more information on the Demon Records releases, head over to their website.

Second Volume of DOCTOR WHO Charity Anthology Announced

We told you a little while ago about a new DOCTOR WHO charity anthology volume, which was raising funds to support the family of popular children’s author TOMMY DONBAVAND as he undergoes treatment for a second round of cancer – well, now there’s going to be a second one.

TOMMY’S TOP TEN is a 500+ page collection of reviews, scripts, book treatments and short stories from TV writer and author PAUL EBBS (BBC Books’ The Book of the Still, plus Casualty, Doctors and more), which Paul has put together along with photographs from playwright ELTON TOWNEND JONES and art from MARTIN GERAGHTY (The Power of the Daleks) and ADRIAN SALMOND (who designed the steelbook cover for the recent Shada), both of whom have worked extensively for DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE.

In the book, Ebbs reviews Donbavand’s ten favourite Doctor Who stories (hence the title) from his forthcoming #SLEDGEHAMMER collection, alongside “a story about the death of the Doctor’s most famous companion, an audio script about the time the Doctor had to work with a Dalek to beat a common enemy, a visit to Stockbridge to have another adventure with Maxwell Edison, and a script Revenant written especially for Colin Baker that fell through at the eleventh hour, which is presented here for the first time anywhere” and much, much more.

Here’s the kicker: this new volume is available for “free” as an ebook, to anybody who makes a donation to TOMMY’S FUND (web page here), no matter how large or small the size of the donation, just as long as they then send a copy of their confirmation email from Just Giving (just the date and time of donation is needed – no personal information required) to [email protected]. Paul himself adds: “between £5 and £10 would be a great ballpark figure to pay for the eBook. Once the email has been received, information will be sent out on how to download the pdf of Tommy’s Top Ten.”

“Please help Tommy and get yourself access to some brilliant brand new illustrations and photographs, plus a load of old Doctor Who nonsense from me,” Ebbs adds.

Here at STARBURST, we’d like to wish Tommy all the best for a hopefully swift and full recovery. Now go buy the book!

First Look at John Cena’s New TMNT Villain

John Cena

Earlier this year, we brought word that multiple-time WWE Champion John Cena had landed the role of a newly-created ‘big bad’ in Nickelodeon’s upcoming Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. Well now, we’ve finally been given out first look at the nefarious Baron Draxum.

Nick released the below glimpse at this rogue:

Baron Draxum TMNT

On the gig, Cena enthused, “I’ve always been a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, so getting the opportunity to voice a character, especially the villain Baron Draxum, is truly special.”

The official blurb on this bad guy has him pegged as:

An alchemist warrior mutant from the Hidden City, Baron Draxum is the self-proclaimed protector of all mutant-kind. Using ooze, he plans to mutate all of humanity with his insect-like creatures called Oozesquitoes.

The Baron Draxum character will debut in the first episode of this new series, going on to be a recurring villain who will torment out Heroes in a Half-Shell as the 26-episode debut season progresses.

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will actually reimagine our heroes as various different types of turtle. Leonardo will be a red-eared slider, Donatello will be a soft-shell turtle, Raphael will be a snapping turtle, and Michelangelo will be a box turtle.

Jack Quaid Lands Lead Role in THE BOYS

Jack Quaid Wee Hughie The Boys

With this week already seeing Laz Alonso join Amazon’s adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys, now comes some news on a further new addition for the series.

Courtesy of Deadline, The Hunger Games’ Jack Quaid – who is also the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan – has landed the lead role of Wee Hughie in the small screen adaptation. A character modelled on Simon Pegg, Hughie is officially described as:

After the death of his girlfriend by fast-moving superhero A-Train, Hughie is approached by a mysterious ‘government agent’ named Billy Butcher, who drags Hughie into a covert war against a group of superheroes who are now what everyone thinks they are.

As well as Alonso, Quaid joins a cast that already includes Anthony Sarr, Dominique McElligott, Chace Crwaford, Jessie T. Usher, Nathan Mitchell, and Erin  Moriarty.

For those not familiar with The Boys, the comic series ran from 2006 up until 2012, focussing on a group who kept superheroes in check when needed. With plenty of R-rated adult-driven action, the series soon became a favourite of many comic book fans, particularly for how it often gave skewed and alternative views on a whole host of superhero staples.

Supernatural’s Eric Kripke has created the series and will serve as showrunner, with Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen directing. Goldberg and Rogen, of course, having already brilliantly adapted Preacher for the small screen.

The Boys will premiere its eight-episode first season on Amazon Video next year.

Nick Offerman Joins Amazon’s GOOD OMENS Adaptation

Nick Offerman

With Amazon currently developing a new series based around Nail Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, the series has brought in another crowd-pleasing addition.

As per Variety, the six-part adaptation has brought in Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman to play the role of a US Ambassador and the father of the Warlock child mistakenly thought to be the nefarious Antichirst.

Offerman joins Michael Sheen and David Tenant in the series, with Sheen and Tennant playing the lead roles of Aziraphale and Crowley, respectively. Also on board are Jon Hamm, Miranda Richardson, Mireille Enos, Anna Maxwell Martin, Lourdes Faberas, and Yusuf Gatewood.

The early word on the project reads:

Good Omens takes place in 2018 when the Apocalypse is near and Final Judgment is set to descend upon humanity. The armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, and temperatures are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan – except a somewhat fussy angel, and a fast-living demon are not looking forward to the coming war, and someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist.

Good Omens is currently in production ahead of being initially released next year on Amazon Video before getting an outing on BBC2 here in the UK.

Extreme Horror Announced for STARBURST MediaCity Festival

We’re excited to announce an extreme horror strand at the STARBURST MediaCity Festival, which takes place at The Landing at MediaCityUK on Friday and Saturday, March 16th and 17th.

On Friday Night, the Festival will be presenting a special interview and Q+A session with Jörg Buttgereit, director of Nekromantik, Nekromantik 2, Schramm, Der Todesking and many more. Throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, Buttgereit established himself as a bold and controversial director, producing a range of visually appealing but grotesque horror films, many of which fell foul of the UK’s ‘video nasty’ panic. Jörg will be interviewed on stage on Friday night prior to a screening of his breakthrough feature, Nekromantik, a strange tale of love that is in equal parts shocking, beautiful and funny. Jörg will also be with us on Saturday to meet fans.

This will be followed on Friday night by the UK Premiere of Revisiting Melancholie Der Engel, a unique documentary feature from director Magnus Blomdahl exploring the notorious 2009 movie, Melancholie Der Engel. Widely considered one of the most disturbing and transgressive movies out there, and the masterwork of elusive director Marian Dora, this documentary gets behind the scenes of the original with visits to the movie’s locations and stories from the set in a rare interview with one of the most enigmatic creators in extreme horror.

Saturday night sees two UK Premieres, beginning with Kasper Juhl’s stunning Your Flesh, Your Curse. Visually stunning and arthouse in its presentation, the movie follows the dark afterlife of Juliet White, who is forced to endure the suffering she had in life once again through a journey guided by a mysterious masked figure. Calling to mind the work of feel of fellow Danish director Lars Von Trier, Your Flesh, Your Curse is one of the most striking and beautiful horror films in recent years.

Saturday night finishes off with a late showing of the extreme exorcism movie American Guinea Pig: Song of Solomon, directed by Unearthed Films’ Stephen Biro. The latest in the popular horror series sees a possessed young girl visited by a succession of priests, each of whom will be deeply tested by the demon inside of her. Sinister visuals and bloody practical effects make for a dark, brutal and outrageous experience that has left audiences around Europe blown away, and screens for the first time in the UK at STARBURST Media City Festival.

Film Gutter’s Alex Davis said: ‘It was a real pleasure – and a real surprise! – to be asked to contribute to the programming for STARBURST Media City Festival. There’s such an incredible range of work out there from some fantastic directors in the world of extreme horror, and I’m delighted to be able to bring a small sampling of that to the event and truly appreciative of the support that all the directors involved have shown to make it all possible.’

Tickets for the STARBURST MediaCity Festival have sold out, but if you check here, you can join the waiting list for any returns. Oh, and they are free, by the way!

For more information and to check out the other fantastic films screening over the festival, head over to www.starburstfilmfest.co.uk.

THE EXPENDABLES 4 to Start Filming in August

The Expendables

With a fourth Expendables movie having been in development for a little while now, it looks as if the film is getting set to start shooting later this year.

Randy Couture, who has appeared in all three outings for the franchise to date, has recently spoke to TheArnoldFans, confirming an August start for the picture.

As the iconic MMA fighter explained, “I’m excited about Expendables 4. Right now, we’re scheduled to start filming in August and hopefully we’re able to stay on schedule. It sounds like we’re coming back to Bulgaria, which is exciting. I’ve spent a lot of time in Sofia and Varna and I’m excited to come back. I love the people, I love the food, and I’m very excited to come back.”

At this stage, it’s unsure which names will be joining Couture in the film, although we do know that Sylvester Stallone has walked away from the franchise. Only last month saw Sly depart the project following a disagreement with Nu Films’ Avi Lerner on who’ll direct The Expendables 4. In addition to starring as Barney Ross, Stallone directed the first entry in the franchise as well as co-writing all three outings to date. Right now, it looks as if Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Arnold Schwarzenegger will be back in some fashion, as too may be Bruce Willis. Previously, there’s been plentiful speculation that Hulk Hogan could join the franchise for its next outing, but that remains purely a rumour right now.

As ever, expect more on The Expendables 4 as it continues to develop.

Christopher McQuarrie to Direct GREEN LANTERN CORPS.?

Green Lantern Corps

With Green Lantern Corps. still planned as part of Warner Brothers’ DC Extended Universe, now comes a new story on who could well be overseeing this outing for the Emerald Knights.

Courtesy of the usually reliable That Hashtag Show, the new name in the frame for the directing gig is none other than Christopher McQuarrie. McQuarrie, of course, is likely best known to genre fans for helming Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation and the upcoming Mission: Impossible – Fallout.

Previously, Rupert Wyatt was attached to the project, but now the current top choice of Warners is said to be McQuarrie. Not only does McQuarrie tick plentiful boxes as a director, he also has some impressive writing credits to his name in the shape of The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, and Edge of Tomorrow.

While heroes such as Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, The Flash, and Cyborg have been given some time in the cinematic spotlight – not to mention the plentiful DCEU movies in various stages of development – all has been relatively quiet for any and all Green Lanterns bar a nice GL cameo in a flashback sequence of Justice League. The last we’d heard on Green Lantern Corps. was that the film would act as a buddy cop sort of picture largely centred on Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Of course, plentiful other Lanterns were also to be part of the film.

Expect more on Green Lantern Corps. – and all things DCEU – as things continue to develop.|

Laz Alonso Joins Amazon’s THE BOYS

Laz Alonso

With Amazon currently adapting Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s The Boys for the small screen, the show has moved to add Laz Alonso to its ranks.

As per Deadline, the Mysteries of Laura actor has been brought in to play Mother’s Milk in the series. That role is pegged as “second in command of The Boy, Mother’s Milk is a great detective, highly intelligent and observant, and an intuitive investigator.”

Alonso joins a cast that already includes Anthony Starr, Dominique McElligott, Chace Crawford, Jessie T. Usher, Nathan Mitchell, and Erin Moriarty.

For those not familiar with The Boys, the comic series ran from 2006 up until 2012, focussing on a group who kept superheroes in check when needed. With plenty of R-rated adult-driven action, the series soon became a favourite of many comic book fans, particularly for how it often gave skewed and alternative views on a whole host of superhero staples.

Supernatural’s Eric Kripke has created the series and will serve as showrunner, with Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen directing. Goldberg and Rogen, of course, having already brilliantly adapted Preacher for the small screen.

The Boys will premiere its eight-episode first season on Amazon Video next year.

New TERMINATOR Film to Shoot in June

terminator2

With franchise creator James Cameron currently developing a new Terminator movie with Deadpool’s Tim Miller, now comes word on when production will begin on this return for Das Arnold’s legendary T-800.

In fact, it was the Governator himself who has gone on record to say that this next Terminator effort will commence production in just a matter of months. As Schwarzenegger told TheArnoldFans, “We are starting to shoot Terminator 6 in June to the middle of October, so I am in that. I am looking forward to coming back as the T-800 model. It’s gonna be great with Tim Miller as the director and Jim Cameron is kind of supervising the whole thing.”

When it comes to what we know about this new picture, it will completely ignore anything that’s come since Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Joining Arnold in returning, Linda Hamilton will be back as one of the most badass women in cinema history, Sarah Connor. If all goes well, this is pegged as the start of a new trilogy of films that will shift the focus to a new batch of characters to take the series forward. Of course, 2015’s Terminator Genisys was similarly supposed to be the launch of a new trilogy of pictures before that effort ultimately disappointed many. Sure, it wasn’t Terminator Salvation bad, but Genisys was a mixed bag at best.

At present, this to-be-titled Terminator movie is booked in for a July 26th, 2019 release.