Check Out the Charity Single from REBELLIOUS

A new big-screen adventure is entertaining families this half-term holiday. The film’s soundtrack single also inspires positive change by supporting the UK charity Action for Children. Rebellious is a beautifully animated, contemporary take on classic fairytales, and It is now showing across UK and Irish cinemas, courtesy of UK distributor Dazzler Media.

As part of the release, all proceeds from the soundtrack’s lead single will aid Action for Children’s work supporting children and young people. The song Hear My Voice is now available to buy and stream across all major digital music platforms, coinciding with its theatrical release.

In Rebellious, Mina is a rebel princess who breaks tradition by choosing her husband, Ronan, a kind-hearted local man and not a warrior. But before they can marry, a sorcerer kidnaps her, leading the king to declare that whoever rescues his daughter will win her hand in marriage. Ronan must summon the courage to find his true love, while Mina plans a daring escape of her own, rescuing other princesses along the way.

The catchy, pop-infused single, Hear My Voice, echoes the inspiring message of the lead character and is performed by Grammy-nominated singer Kristal Oliver, aka ‘Typewriter’. Oliver has collaborated with artists such as Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, and Brandy, while the track features an ensemble of world-class musicians, including the Royal Philharmonic’s principal cellist, Richard Harwood, and renowned violinist Roberto Manes.


Rebellious producer and soundtrack composer Sefi Carmel, CEO of Creation Entertainment and SphereTrax, said: “My team and I worked tirelessly for over two years, combining the score and sound design, to create an immersive experience that encompasses the cultural diversity of the film. As our characters come from very different backgrounds, it was only natural to call on wonderful musicians from around the globe to take part in the creation of this soundtrack. We’re truly proud to support Action for Children on the release of the single.”

Graham Davidson, CEO of Dazzler Media, said, “We strive to bring quality family films to UK and Irish audiences, and Rebellious is a great example of this. We love the film and believe the message of Hear My Voice will resonate with viewers of all ages, and aligns perfectly with the great work by Action for Children.”

Alanah King, senior corporate partnerships manager at Action for Children, said: “We are delighted to be receiving the proceeds from the lead single in Rebellious. Every penny raised brings us closer to ensuring that more children and young people can experience a safe and happy childhood. Together, we can build brighter futures and give children and young people the foundations they need to thrive.”

REBELLIOUS is out now in UK and Irish cinemas.
Buy and Stream “Hear My Voice” here: https://kud.li/spxhmv01

PREDATOR: BADLANDS Sets Release Date, Other PREDATOR Film Announced

predator: badlands sets release date from prey director

The Predator is returning to the big screen, with news that Predator: Badlands will be released in cinemas on November 7th, 2025. The action sci-fi takes the spot of Marvel Studios’ long-gestating Blade which, after many set-backs, has for now been removed from Disney’s release calendar.

The move towards another Predator entry comes after 20th Century Studios’ Predator prequel, Prey, became a sleeper hit when it dropped on Hulu and Disney+ in 2022. Prey director Dan Trachtenberg returns to helm Predator: Badlands, with Elle Fanning set to star.

Studio president Steve Asbell also revealed that Trachtenberg directed a second, previously unheard-of Predator project that may be destined for a streaming release. It would release before Badlands. In an interview with THR, he said: “Yes, a Predator movie will have a theatrical. I’ll tell you very simply. After Prey became a success, Dan [Trachtenberg] came back and said he didn’t want to do Prey 2. And we’re like, ‘What do you want to do?’ And he rattled off a bunch of ideas that were really crazy but really cool. We’ve actually done two of them. Two are coming out next year. One I can’t talk about yet, but the other one is the live-action Predator film with Elle Fanning that just wrapped in New Zealand. That’ll be out theatrically sometime next year.” 

NYX UK November Line-Up Celebrates Boris Karloff

NYX UK has announced the premiere screenings in November, as well as a double bill celebrating the birthday of the legendary actor Boris Karloff.

Hitting the free-to-view channel for the first time are Tony Reames’ Spookt (2023) starring Eric Roberts (Nov 6th), Jerome Sable’s comedy/musical horror Stage Fright (2014, Nov 22nd), and Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead’s superb Spring (2014, Nov 15th). More premieres include vintage shockers It Conquered the World (1956, Nov 8th), a fun Roger Corman picture featuring Peter Graces and Lee Van Cleef, and fun monster mayhem with The Mole People (1956, Nov 16th).

If Euro horror is more your thing, there’s Aldo Lado’s Short Night of Glass Dolls (1971, Nov 21st), Ovidio G. Assonitis and Robert Barrett’s Exorcist-influenced Beyond the Door (1974, Nov 12th), and Amando de Ossorio’s fourth ‘Blind Dead’ film Night of the Seagulls (1975).

On November 29th, there’s the first screening of the documentary Unearthed and Untold: The Path to Pet Semetary (2017), and cult shockers Mausoleum (1983, Nov 1st), Future-Kill (1985, Nov 8th), and The Prowler (aka Rosemary’s Killer, 1981, Nov 5th).

There’s also some fun horror with the stone-cold classic Hammer spoof Carry On Screaming (1966, Nov 22nd) and Jack Hill’s Spider Baby (1967, Nov 29th), which features one of the last screen appearances of Lon Chaney Jr.

The birthday of Boris Karloff is commemorated on November 23rd with a double bill of The Ghoul (1933) and the Roger Corman film The Terror (1963), in which Boris plays opposite a young Jack Nicholson.

You can watch NYX UK for free on Freeview 271 / Channelbox App / TCL TVs / Distro TV App.

BLADE Gets Staked With Another Delay

wesley snipes as blade in the third film

Surprise, surprise, Blade has been delayed. Disney removed the Marvel film release from their calendar, and have yet to reassign it a window. Considering the movie is still without a director, that’s to be anticipated.

Marvel Studios announced Blade all the way back in 2019, but it has since hit a number of hurdles: the pandemic, SAG-AFTRA and writers’ strikes, and losing not one, but two filmmakers. Yet, the studio continues to hold firm on making the film, with Mahershala Ali blessedly still attached to star as the titular vampire hunter.

When questioned on the delays, Kevin Feige confirmed his commitment to the film, stating that: “For the last few years, as we’ve been trying to crack that movie, the most important thing for us is not rushing it, and making sure we are making the right Blade movie. Because there were some great Blade movies years ago,” referring to the Wesley Snipes films of the late 90s and early 00s.

Marvel veteran Eric Pearson, who previously penned Black Widow and Thor: Ragnarok, is the present writer on the script.

Marvel also claimed several release dates for untitled projects on February 18th, 2028, May 5th, 2028 and November 10th, 2028. Any of them may or may not belong to Blade.

Juliet Landau & Mara Wilson • VAM PD

VAM PD cast image. Photographer: Deverill Weekes Makeup: Shelby Michael Patton Hair: Nicole Goulet Wardrobe: Shrine Of Hollywood / Peter Graham Wright

STARBURST has been lucky enough to catch up with Juliet Landau and Mara Wilson, two of the stars from the upcoming audio series VAM PD. The show focuses on vampires tasked with keeping the peace between the living and the dead. Landau plays Catrin, an elder vampire and the leader of the group, while Wilson plays Jane, a human working with the vampires as an aide and assistant.

STARBURST: Juliet, the series producer Lizzie Worsdell has said that VAM PD has been created around you and your character. How does that feel? 

Juliet Landau: I am deeply honoured. It is fantastic. Big Finish reached out and said that [series creator] James Goss had written the role of Catrin for me. I initially wasn’t sure I wanted to do another vampire project. But then I started reading the scripts and began laughing out loud, which isn’t something I generally do. I’m a person who thinks “that’s funny” rather than laughing. But I was guffawing. My husband Dev asked from the other room, “What’s going on in there? What are you doing?” And I said, “VAM PD! That’s what’s happening!” 

It is a unique universe. It’s not like anything I’ve ever read before. The three main characters are so distinct. The world is wickedly funny. I think genre fans, Buffy fans, Big Finish fans and any listener who thrives on great material will love VAM PD.

SB: Mara, you’ve said previously that you have always wanted to play a vampire. Jane is, of course, very much human. Is there any disappointment at that or does Jane’s character make up for it?

Mara Wilson: When I got the script, my reaction was, “Finally!” People have been telling me for years that I’d make a great vampire. Then I quickly realised that they wanted me to play the one human, and I burst out laughing. Any disappointment I might have had faded immediately, though, because Jane is such a wonderfully deadpan character, with so many layers, and the script was so much fun that I knew I wanted to be part of it no matter what. 

Usually, when you audition for something, you put a lot of work into it, but try not to be disappointed if you don’t get it. This project I knew I really wanted, though, and I was thrilled when I got it!

SB: Juliet, how would you describe Catrin? In the first episode, she comes across as authoritative and stylish, but also quite antiquated and disenfranchised with certain elements of the modern world. 

JL: I love the words you are using to describe her. Catrin is one thousand years old. She is like cut glass – glacial, smart, imperious. She’s the boss of the trio. She’s lost all contact with human emotions. That’s why she employs human liaisons, like Jane, to cue her into appropriate responses and to read people. Catrin’s a fashionista who hides in plain sight with her specific looks. She dresses noticeably to be unnoticed. She loves Magnus [her colleague, played by Alimi Ballard] in her own way, and she loves her cats; Lugosi, Cushing, Faye Raye and the rest of her kittens. 

Photo credits: Photographer: Deverill Weekes • Makeup: Shelby Michael Patton • Hair: Nicole Goulet • Wardrobe: Shrine Of Hollywood / Peter Graham Wright 

SB: There is a distinctive 1990s appeal to the show, given the much-loved projects you have both worked on in the past and your co-star Alimi Ballard’s role in Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Do you think fans of those shows and that era have something to gain from VAM PD?

MW: I don’t think I put it together until we were all in the same room – “Oh, right, we all played magical characters in the ‘90s!” There’s definitely a nostalgic element to it, but I think that the characters we play here are different enough from the characters we’ve played before that fans will get to see a new side of us. 

JL: I think fans of good writing and listeners who enjoy humour will love VAM PD. Each script is rife with drama, action and tremendous wit. The theme song is brilliant and brings you right into the tone of the show from the get-go. 

SB: Mara, the reveal about Jane towards the end of the first episode is really something. You always seem to thrive when playing savvy, intelligent characters who have more to them than meets the eye. Do you enjoy playing characters like these?

MW: Thank you! My favourite characters to play are always the ones that have depth. I think it’s quite difficult to play a shallow character! When a lot is going on under the surface, there’s a lot more to work with. That makes it easier and more fun. And, selfishly, playing intelligent characters has the fringe benefit of making people think you’re a lot smarter in real life than you actually are.

SB: Juliet, would you like to engage with similar projects going forward? Are you tempted to go back to playing vampires again or is this enough for the time being?

JL: We’ve recorded two seasons of VAM PD. All of the scripts are stellar. I would love to come back for seasons three, four and beyond! There are so many stories to tell, so much that Catrin could get up to! 

SB: And Mara, is playing a vampire still an ambition for you? If so, what kind of vampire do you think you would be?

MW: I do still want to play a vampire! I think that would be very fun. I’ve always been told that I look like the classic idea of a vampire. I am a very pale White woman with strong features and dark hair, so it could be a natural fit. But playing a vampire who looks completely different, maybe in an audio drama or animation, could be even better. I’d also be perfectly happy to be either a funny vampire or a genuinely scary vampire. I think sometimes “funny” and “scary” are closer than we think!

VAM PD is available to pre-order now from the Big Finish website. The full interview will be appearing in STARBURST Issue #488.

Lee Pace To Play THE RUNNING MAN’s Bad Guy

lee pace in foundation

Lee Pace has closed a deal to join Glen Powell, Josh Brolin and Love Lies Bleeding star Katy O’Brian in The Running Man, Paramount’s new adaptation of the Stephen King novel to be directed by Edgar Wright. The Cornetto Trilogy filmmaker also co-wrote the script with Michael Bacall. Production on the sci-fi project is due to shoot in London next year.

King’s Running Man, published in 1982 under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, is set in 2025 in an America under a totalitarian regime that uses violent game shows to placate the disenfranchised masses. The novel centres on one desperate man who needs money for his sick daughter and joins the most popular show, The Running Man, in which teams of killers hunt down contestants. The longer a contestant survives, the more money they are awarded.

Powell is playing the aforementioned “desperate man”, while Brolin stars as the ruthless producer of the show. O’Brian will play one of the contestants. Lee Pace is playing the brutal chief hunter for the network airing the game shows and tasked by the producer with tracking down Powell’s character.

Pace is best known for playing Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel. He more recently starred in Apple TV+’s sci-fi series Foundation, as well as in Bodies Bodies Bodies.

The film is being released by Paramount on November 21st, 2025.

CREATURE COMMANDOS Unveils Series Trailer

creature commandos trailer

James Gunn and the cast of the animated series Creature Commandos appeared at New York Comic Con to unveil the first trailer for the upcoming Max series, promising a new DC Universe entry that is “something beyond what any of us expected”.

The voice cast members include Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., David Harbour as Frankenstein, Zoë Chao as Nina Mazursky, Steve Agee as Economos, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana, Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus, and Sean Gunn as GI Robot and Weasel.

Gunn confirmed during the panel that the series will be “its own thing. Every single project out of DC Studios is going to be its own thing. We want this to be very different from what Superman is going to be when that comes out,” he said, pointing to Lanterns and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. “It’s a connected universe but we’re not imposing any overall aesthetic.” 

Gunn also explained of the series: “It was written when I started as the CEO of DC Studios. I had talked to Max about creating something after Peacemaker did so well. I talked to Peter Girardi about creating an animated series. I like the Creature Commandos. I love monsters. I love Frankenstein, the story of Bride of Frankenstein. It seemed like the perfect thing to do,” he said.

Gunn jokes that the format of Creature Commandos was stolen from Lost. “The first episode is you see the team come together, but then every episode after that explores the backstory of one of these characters — not necessarily the origin, in some places, the origin — but just something from their past that we see about how they got to the place where they are today,” he said. “And we get to know these characters in a much more intimate way because of that. I think it’s a really fun way to get to know. You see that some of them are a lot better than maybe we think they are at the beginning of the series, and some of them are even worse.”

Linda Cardellini, Indira Varma, and Michael Rooker will also be among the voices appearing later in the series.

Watch the trailer below, streaming December 5th:

Tom Holland Signs On To Christopher Nolan’s Next Project

tom holland as peter parker in spider-man no way home

Tom Holland will star in Christopher Nolan’s latest feature, joining Matt Damon in the top-secret project. Nolan both writes and directs the feature, with Universal Pictures distributing. The studio has set a release date of July 17th, 2026.

Though plot details are being kept in a bunker under the Universal offices, sources say the setting is not in the present day. Not that it’s much to go on…

Nolan has cast Damon twice previously, as an astronaut in Interstellar and as the director of the Manhattan Project in Oppenheimer, but the new project will mark the director’s first collaboration with Tom Holland.

Nolan earned his first Academy Award for Oppenheimer last year, which was his first project with Universal after having remained loyal to Warner Bros. since 2002. Nolan moved to Universal after Warner temporarily abandoned exclusive theatrical distribution.

Holland’s onboarding the project may have some ripple effects: the actor will spend next year working on this project as well as Spider-Man 4 (with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’s Destin Daniel Cretton on board to direct), and with a likely stop for Avengers: Doomsday. He was most recently seen in the psychological thriller from Akiva Goldsman, The Crowded Room, and recently completed a run in a stage production of Romeo and Juliet opposite Francesca Amewudah-Rivers in London’s West End.

LUCA GUADAGNINO To Helm New AMERICAN PSYCHO

christian bale as patrick bateman in american psycho 2000

Luca Guadagnino is in final negotiations to helm a new film adaptation for Lionsgate of author Bret Easton Ellis’ 1991 novel, American Psycho. The book was famously adapted to film by director Mary Herron in 2000, a critically acclaimed feature which starred Christian Bale as the iconic Patrick Bateman.

Scott Z. Burns is writing the script, which is said not to be a remake of the first adaptation but rather a new take on the novel. The project is being produced by Frenesy Films and by Sam Pressman of Pressman Films (his father, Edward R. Pressman, produced the 2000 movie).

“We are thrilled to add another elite filmmaker to our upcoming slate,” said Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson in a statement. “Luca is a brilliant artist, and the perfect visionary to create a whole new interpretation of this potent and classic IP.”

American Psycho remake in the works. Still of Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman.

Guadagnino’s is best known for helming Call Me By Your Name, Bones and All, and Challengers. The filmmaker’s next movie, Queer, stars Daniel Craig and is due to release November 27th via A24. The filmmaker is currently in postproduction on After the Hunt, which stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield.

Burns most recently worked as creator on the Apple TV+ series Extrapolations, which starred Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, Edward Norton, Diane Lane and Daveed Diggs. Burns also helmed the 2019 Amazon movie The Report and has writing credits including The Bourne Ultimatum, Contagion, and The Laundromat.

Stay tuned for more updates on this new American Psycho adaptation as we hear it.

2024 D&D Players Handbook breaks records

The new edition of Dungeons & Dragons has exceeded all expectations and confounded critics by becoming the fastest-selling D&D product of all time, outstripping Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything and previous versions of the Player’s Handbook, aka the PHB.

This makes a lot of sense, as the PHB is the core rulebook for Dungeons & Dragons, featuring character creation rules, special abilities, spells and the like. The new book has an illustrated equipment section, and the game itself is more streamlined. It is compatible with the previous fifth edition of the game, which simply revises and improves on existing mechanics.

Jess Lanzillo, a  spokesperson for Wizards of the Coast, told the press, “Our team has been analyzing feedback from players since the release of the 2014 Player’s Handbook and have worked hard and thoughtfully to implement it into the new core rulebooks to create something that we hope everyone will enjoy.”

The new Dungeon Masters Guide, which is required for those seeking to run the game for their friends, comes out on November 12th. Wizards of the Coast has produced an all-encompassing playlist for the PHB, which includes everything you need to know, information about new spells and new feats, backgrounds, and species.

You can order a physical copy of the book here or a digital copy here.