NEW JEDI ORDER Finds New Writer

daisy ridley to return as rey in star wars: new jedi order film

George Nolfi, known for his writing work on films like The Bourne Ultimatum and Ocean’s 12, has been tapped to write New Jedi Order, the upcoming Star Wars film re-centring Daisy Ridley’s Rey.

This follows several high-profile writers boarding, then leaving, the project that was first announced almost two years ago. Damon Lindelof (Watchmen, Lost) and Justin Britt-Gibson were the initial writers on the project. By the time Ridley was revealed to be the film’s intended star, Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight had replaced the duo behind the keyboard. A year later, Knight was no longer attached.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, known for her documentary filmmaking, will make her narrative feature debut with the project. The new story is said to take place 15 years after the events of 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker, with Ridley’s Rey now a mentor to a new crop of Jedis.

As well as the aforementioned Bourne Ultimanum and Ocean’s 12, George Nolfi is best known for writing The Banker and The Adjustment Bureau (which also served as his directorial debut). Most recently, he directed the postapocalyptic thriller Elevation, starring Antony Mackie.

Star Wars: New Jedi Order does not yet have a release date, but stay tuned for more information as we learn it.

CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE Adaptation Announces Cast

children of blood and bone zelie cover image

Paramount Pictures has announced the cast for the upcoming feature adaptation of the popular YA novel Children of Blood and Bone, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood.

The film will star Thuso Mbedu (The Woman King) as Zelie, Amandla Stenberg (Acolyte) as Amari, Damson Idris (Snowfall) as Inan, and Tosin Cole (Supacell) as Tzain. Also in the cast are A-listers Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Lashana Lynch and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Regina King, Diaana Babnicova and Bukky Bakray are also in negotiations to board the film.

Children of Blood and Bone, a novel by Tomi Adeyemi, centres on the African fantasy kingdom of Orïsha, where a young orphan named Zélie Adebola attempts to restore magic, in defiance of the ruling class kosidáns’ brutal oppression of her people, the magic-practicing Maji. The Nigerian-American author’s debut novel was released in 2018 with its sequel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, releasing in 2019. In 2024, Adeyemi released the final instalment of the trilogy, Children of Anguish and Anarchy. 

“I am so honored and excited to bring Tomi’s Children of Blood and Bone and the vibrant world of Orisha to life,” Prince-Bythewood, best known for directing Viola Davis in The Woman King, said in a statement. “Our incredible ensemble reflects the whole of the diaspora. This is where our magic lies.”

NYX UK Reveal February Premieres

There are a host of great film premieres on free-to-air channel NYX UK in February. These include some superb movies that are not to be missed.

Among the ten channel premieres, there are Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado’s unforgettable Big Bad Wolves (2013), a darkly comic and disturbing tale that will screen on February 21st.

There’s also a chance to catch two gore-filled movies from Herschell Gordon Lewis. Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964) on February 24th and The Wizard of Gore (1970) on February 19th. Mote cult classics include Charles Band’s Parasite (1982) on February 26th, Bob Clarke’s Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), and Jeff Leiberman’s Squirm (1976).

A duo of Euro classics debut on the channel, with Jess Franco’s Lorna the Exorcist (1974) on February 14th and Lucio Fulci’s The Psychic (1977) on February 20th.

A pair of Hammer sci-fi classics directed by Val Guest also feature as par of the FrightFest Saturday Night Scares strand introduced by Alan Jones. These are Quatermass 2 (1957) and The Abominable Snowman (1957). There’s also a chance to catch Dan Curtis’ The Norlis Tapes (1973) on February 27th.

Galvaston’s Cavern of Creeps continues on Thursday nights, with two channel premieres, The Wasp Woman (1959), directed by Roger Corman, and Fred F. Sears’ The Giant Claw (1957).

You can tune into NYX UK on Freeview 271, Channelbox App, TCL TVs, and Distro TV app. Find out more at http://www.nyxtv.co.uk/

Homicidal Pandemic Film CROSSED Finds Director

crossed comic book series

The Crossed film adaptation has marked its director. Filmmaker Rob Jabbaz will helm the feature based on the comic book by The Boys creator Garth Ennis. Ennis also pens the script about a pandemic-stricken world in which those who catch the disease are marked with a cross-shaped rash on their faces.

This isn’t Jabbaz’s first rodeo in the world of pandemic films. He is behind the Taiwanese horror The Sadness, in which a virus turned people violent in a unique spin on the zombie story.

Similarly, in Crossed, the infected follow their own worse impulses, retaining their intellect but turning into homicidal maniacs. Six Studios is behind the project, which will be inspired by the original 10-issue comic book run published from 2008-10, and which helped launch a franchise of more than 200 issues.

“It has been a real delight working with Garth Ennis and Six Studios developing Crossed for the big screen,” said Jabbaz. “From day one, our primary goal has been to deliver a faithful adaptation of the original series, along with a few new surprises. I certainly hope audiences are ready for this.”

“Happy New Year,” said Ennis of the project. “It’s 2025 and the world is catching up with the world of Crossed in all the wrong ways. So what better time to bring out the movie you’ve all been waiting for?”

Robert Eggers Sets WERWULF As His Next Film

willem dafoe in robert eggers nosferatu film

Now he’s ticked vampires off his list, filmmaker Robert Eggers is ready to tackle a hairier creature, with plans he’ll make a werewolf horror project his next feature.

Eggers co-wrote the script for Werwulf with Sjón, who collaborated with him on the Viking saga The Northman. While details are scarce, sources say the story is set in 13th-century England. The script also features dialogue that was true to the time period and has translations and annotations for those unfamiliar with Old English.

“Initially, Eggers was planning on shooting the feature in black and white, but that is no longer the case,” THR, who broke the news, notes. “Suffice to say that considering the setting and the dialect, Eggers is promising another deep dive into a muddy, costumed and violent time period consistent with his oeuvre, which has earned him a loyal film following.”

Focus Features, which released and financed Nosferatu, reteams with Eggers for this pic. The company has dated the thriller to release on Christmas Day, 2026. This comes right after Nosferatu earned four Oscar nominations, including one one for Jarin Blaschke’s gorgeous monochrome cinematography. Both Robert Eggers and Sjón will produce alongside Focus Features. Chris and Eleanor Columbus, who worked with Eggers on Nosferatu, will executive produce.

Ryan Gosling In Talks To Headline STAR WARS Film

ryan gosling in fall guy

Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away, with news that the three-time Oscar nominee is in talks to head up a new Star Wars feature film from Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.

Levy has been developing his Star Wars feature since 2022 and Jonathan Tropper, who collaborated with Levy This Is Where I Leave You and The Adam Project, has been working on the script for a year. Levy is also producing the feature via his 21 Laps banner, alongside Star Wars helmers Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm.

Very little is known about Levy’s project, other than it is unconnected to the Skywalker Saga. It is also meant to be a standalone film.

THR reports that due to the existing work commitments of those involved, if the deal with Ryan Gosling goes through, this Star Wars project would become a priority for Levy, and filming could begin as early as this autumn.

Ryan Gosling previously worked on Universal’s Fall Guy, in which he starred as a stunt actor opposite Emily Blunt. He recently wrapped on Project hail Mary, another space-set film from Phil Lord and Chris Miller.

Elsewhere in the universe, The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the next Star Wars feature to hit the big screen, and will be released on may 22nd, 2026.

NXY UK Highlight Women in Horror and the Undead in February

NYX UK gives you plenty of reasons to stay in the warmth in front of the TV in February as they celebrate Women in Horror Week and Zombie Week!

Dark Touch

Opening the 9pm slot from Feb 3rd is seven days dead-icated to zombie movies, kicking off on the Monday with Lucio Fulci’s once-banned gory masterpiece Zombie (1979, aka Zombie Flesh Eaters). Tuesday sees a double bill of the George A. Romero classics, The Crazies (1973) and the granddaddy of zombie flicks, Night of the Living Dead (1968). Wednesday presents skeletal Knights Templar on horseback in Amando de Ossorio’s Tombs of the Blind Dead (1972). On Thursday, the undead Knights strike back in Return of the Blind Dead (1973). Friday presents the final film of the series, Night of the Seagulls (1975). The weekend has Umberto Lenzi’s Nightmare City (1980) on Saturday and Fulci’s The House by the Cemetary (1981).

Tombs of the Blind Dead

Women in Horror Week begins on Monday, Feb 10th with Axelle Corolyn’s Soulmate (2013). Marina de Van’s Dark Touch (2013) screens on Tuesday. Wednesday presents groundbreaking actor/director Ida Lupino’s The Hitchhiker (1953). The Soska Sisters’ David Cronenberg remake Rabid (2019) is Thursday’s offering. Friday’s film is the channel premiere of the anthology movie Deathcember (2019), which features segments from Vivienne Vaughn, Pollyanna McIntosh, Annika Marx, Ama Lea, and Sonia Escolano. On Saturday, there’s the slasher classic The Slumber Party Massacre (1982), directed by Amy Holden Jones. The week ends with Sarah Butler’s magnificent and powerful performance in the 2010 remake of I Spit on Your Grave.

Other things to watch out for in February are a new series, Dark Rewind, in which August Kyss introduces classic horror movies of the ‘80s. The first episode is the channel premiere of Sleepaway Camp (1983).

For more information, head over to http://www.nyxtv.co.uk/
You can find NYX UK on Freeview 271, Channelbox App, TCL TVs, and Distro TV.

Thandiwe Newton Joins ANACONDA Reimagining

thandiwe newton to star in anaconda reimagining. still from westworld season 2

Thandiwe Newton, who starred in HBO’s much-acclaimed Westworld, and White Lotus actor Steve Zahn have been swallowed up to star in Anaconda, a comedic reimagining of the 1997 Columbia Pictures horror movie that launched a snake-filled mini-franchise, including last years’ Chinese-language remake.

The actors join Paul Rudd, Jack Black, Selton Mello, and Ione Skye in the picture.

Black will play a former director now stuck as a wedding videographer, while Rudd plays an actor who did a stint on a cop show but sees his Hollywood dreams slipping away. Thandiwe Newton and Zahn are other childhood friends that join them in the adventure, while Mello will play an animal wrangler. Skye plays Black’s wife.

Tom Gormican, best known for directing the excellent Nicolas Cage meta comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, is co-writing with collaborator Kevin Etten, and will reportedly direct the feature. The original film starred Jennifer Lopez, Owen Wilson, Ice Cube, and Donald J. Trump bestie Jon Voight, and followed a National Geographic film crew hunting the world’s largest and deadliest snake, only to find the tables turned on them.

Reports state that this reimagined Anaconda film involves a group of friends facing mid-life crises who are remaking their favourite movie from their youth. They head to the rainforest, only to find themselves in a fight for their lives against natural disasters, giant snakes, and violent criminals.

OPUS Drops Trailer For Cult-Based Horror

ayo edebiri stars as ariel in opus trailer

After dropping a first-look image at the pic, A24 has launched the full trailer for their upcoming horror film Opus, which stars Ayo Edebiri and John Malkovich.

In Opus, “A young writer is invited to the remote compound of a legendary pop star who mysteriously disappeared 30 years ago. Surrounded by the star’s cult of sycophants and intoxicated journalists, she finds herself in the middle of his twisted plan.”

Hailing from first-time feature filmmaker, Mark Anthony Green writes and directs the pic that will release in cinemas on March 14th, 2025. The film has been described as “flashy pop horror” and a “tense, psychosocial game of cat and mouse”.

Edebiri, who rose to prominence with roles in The Bear and Bottoms, will play the “meek yet hungry journalist Ariel — her unique charm radiating alongside a distinct final-girl prescience. John Malkovich is effervescent and hypnotic as Moretti, a deified global phenomenon making a dramatically malevolent reintroduction.” Reports out of Sundance suggest the flick includes musical numbers. Opus will have its world premiere at the film festival later this month.

The film stars Amber Midthunder, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means.

See the Opus trailer below:

Laurence R. Harvey Joins Cast of ASMR Horror SPOILING YOU

A first look at Laurence R. Harvey joining the cast of Megan Tremethick’s forthcoming uncanny horror project, Spoiling You, has been revealed. Laurence, who is famous for his roles in The Human Centipede series and many other genre movies (and for being a jolly nice chap), takes on the role of a devoted fanatic of ASMR performer Miss Mutter. This wild and unpredictable character unleashes chaos in the film’s chilling narrative. Tremethick (The Slave and The Sorcerer and the upcoming The Reign of Queen Ginnarra) contributes on-screen and behind the camera to bring the story to life. The film is co-written by producer Lawrie Brewster (Lord of Tears).

Spoiling You fuses the creeping dread of J-horror with the hypnotic allure of ASMR as Miss Mutter’s devoted fans fall deeper under her spell. Tension escalates when one of her most fervent admirers, portrayed by Stephen Kerr, makes a daring leap from virtual obsession to an in-person encounter, triggering a chilling chain of events that tears at the boundary between desire and fear. An immersive ASMR-inspired soundscape ensures every spine-tingling whisper resonates deeply, drawing viewers into Miss Mutter’s sinister web. Created with support from the online community on Patreon – The British Horror Studio – this project reflects the shared enthusiasm of horror fans.

The film also features Nick Ford, Richard Pate, Alexander Zorn, Peter F. Mahoney, Zebadiah DeVane, and Dorian Todd. Spoiling You promises an eerie and psychologically charged viewing experience, with Harvey’s portrayal at the heart of its disturbing revelations. The film is expected to be released later this year.