Pigeon Shrine FrightFest Unveil Halloween Event

The line-up and fantastic guest list for this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest Halloween event, which takes place at the Odeon Luxe West End on Friday, November 1st and 2nd.

Opening the event is Sam Yates’ Magpie, an intense psychological thriller starring Daisy Ridley, who will be attending the screening alongside her husband and Magpie writer/producer Tom Bateman.

Magpie

Next up is Parvulos, from Mexican director Isaac Ezban. The first day will close with the world premiere of Advent, the latest from Airell Hayes, which stars Mark Arnold and Nicholas Vince, who will join Hayes at the screening.

Saturday opens with The Bitter Taste, directed by Guido Tolke, which will be a world premiere. YouTubers Boston McConnaughey and Renny Grames will be attendance for Alien Country. The body count is high in the Indonesian film The Draft!, which is followed by Time Travel is Dangerous, a comedy fantasy from writer/producers Hilary and Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare and co-written/directed by Chris Reading. Many of the eclectic cast will be attending alongside the filmmakers, including Jane Horrocks, Brian Blessed, Laura Aikman, Brian Bovell, Guy Henry, Ruth Syratt, Tom Lenk, and Simon Killick.

Time Travel is Dangerous

Director Teddy Grennan will be there with his film Catch a Killer. Rounding up the festival is Emma Benestan’s celebrated film Animale.

Paul McEvoy, FrightFest co-director, said: “What a perfect Halloween Treat we have lined up for everyone this year. A wonderful movie mix-tape of nine exciting, exceptional, new and varied genre titles. There is something for every film fan along with an incredible list of guest attendees. This will be a sensational end to our 25th Anniversary banner year and we hope you all enjoy.”

Passes and tickets go on sale at noon on Saturday, November 5th.

Prices: Two-day pass – £79 | Friday 1st day pass – £33 | Saturday 28th Day pass – £59

Single tickets – £14.99

All tickets are subject to ticket costs.

For more information, head over to http://www.frightfest.co.uk/

DC Studio Homes In On John Stewart Casting For LANTERNS

dc comics character john stewart aka green lantern to appear in hbo series lanterns

DC Studios and HBO are hitting the final casting stages on their much-publicised Lanterns series, with Aaron Pierre and Stephan James reportedly in the mix to play fan favourite hero John Stewart.

Damson Idris was previously a favourite to play the hero, but is no longer being considered due to scheduling conflicts. The casting of Hal Jordan was announced recently, to be played by Emmy winner Kyle Chandler.

Aaron Pierre was most recently seen in Rebel Ridge and M. Night Shyamalan’s Old, after first gaining recognition for his role as Dev-Em in the sci-fi series Krypton. He also voiced Mufasa in Barry Jenkins’ upcoming Mufasa: The Lion King. Stephan James, meanwhile, made his name in another of Jenkins’ works. He starred in If Beale Street Could Talk, before going on to Homecoming, 21 Bridges, and this year’s The Piano Lesson.

Lanterns is described as having a gritty, True Detective vibe as it focuses on Jordan reluctantly mentoring a younger Lantern, John Stewart. The story sees the two characters investigating an Earth-bound murder with larger implications. Hailing from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and comics writer Tom King, Lanterns scored a straight-to-series order this summer after years trapped in development hell. The three are co-writing and exec producing the series.

As we reported at the time: “The news comes after an almost five-year-long development process at HBO Max, as they were originally developing the series with producer Greg Berlanti, the mastermind of the DC Arrowverse on The CW and one of the writers on the ill-fated, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively-starring 2011 Green Lantern feature film. Initially, the series was going to centre on Guy Gardner and Alan Scott, with Seth Grahame-Smith coming aboard as writer and showrunner, even writing a full season’s worth of scripts for the show.

“With a creative overhaul in 2022, however, Grahame-Smith’s vision was scrapped and the powers that be chose to refocus the series around John Stewart, another member of the Lantern Corps and the first Black superhero to appear in DC Comics.

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE Remake Casts Maika Monroe

longlegs star maika monroe tapped for the hand that rocks the cradle remake

Maika Monroe, who recently dazzled in the acclaimed horror Longlegs, has been tapped to star in 20th Century Studios’ remake of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. The feature is being directed by Michelle Garza Cervera and is being produced by Radar Pictures’ Ted Field, and Michael Schaefer and Mike Larocca via their Department M banner.

The original 1992 thriller follows two women: Claire Bartel and Peyton Flanders, played by Annabella Sciorra and Rebecca De Mornay, respectively. When she was assaulted by her doctor, Claire reported him to the police, and rather than go to prison for his crime, he killed himself. The shock of the accusations and suicide caused the doctor’s pregnant wife, Peyton, to have a miscarriage and be left penniless due to his life insurance being voided. Driven mad with rage and grief, Peyton poses as a nanny for the Bartel family. Her plan is to tear Claire’s life apart, seduce her husband, and eventually murder the woman she blames for ruining her life while taking possession of her family.

The reimagining was conceived by Cervera and scripted by Micah Bloomberg, creator of the anthology show Homecoming and writer of the thriller Sanctuary. Despite The Hand That Rocks the Cradle being a two-hander, the casting of the mother has not been announced.

Maika Monroe is well-established in the horror sphere, having also starred in indie hits that include David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows, in Adam Wingard’s The Guest, and Chloe Okuno’s Watcher. Cervera, meanwhile, previously wrote and directed the award-winning body horror Huesera.

Ana de Armas Burns Bright In BALLERINA Trailer

ana de armas stars in from the world of john wick: ballerina trailer

Ana de Armas pirouettes onto screens in the first trailer for Ballerina, the spinoff of the Keanu Reeves’ John Wick franchise.

De Armas stars as a ballerina turned assassin named Eve Macarro, who begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Romawho as she seeks revenge for the murder of her family. Reeves also appears in a cameo in Ballerina, which takes place between the events of the third and fourth Wick films. Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, the late Lance Reddick in his final screen appearance, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Norman Reedus and Ian McShane also star.

 Len Wiseman (Underworld) directs the action thriller from a script by Shay Hatten (Army of the Dead, Parabellum). 

Ballerina initially shot in 2022, and was slated to release in cinemas in June 2024. But in February, Lionsgate delayed the feature to June 6th, 2025, in order to allow John Wick director Chad Stahelski to assist with improving the action, and he worked with Wiseman to shoot new action sequences this year. From what we see in the trailer, the extra work more than paid off.

The ballerina-turned-assassin previously made a brief appearance in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, played at the time by Unity Phelan. 

Watch the trailer for From the World of John Wick: Ballerina below:

ROBOCOP Series To Be Produced By James Wan

robocop film still. being developed into series at amazon mgm studios

Amazon MGM Studios is moving forward with their planned RoboCop television series, now with horror genre titan James Wan on board to executive produce through his Atomic Monster label.

Peter Ocko has also been brought on to write, executive produce and showrun the project. He is best known for his writing and producing work on a number of popular television series, including Pushing Daisies, The Office, The Leftovers, Elementary, Black Sails, and recently Lodge 49.

As Deadline states, “The series will follow the premise of the films, focusing on a giant tech conglomerate which collaborates with the local police department to introduce a technologically advanced enforcer to combat rising crime — a police officer who’s part man, part machine.”

This isn’t the first time that RoboCop has been adapted to television. The first film, starring Peter Weller, premiered in 1987. It was followed by two sequels, Robocop 2 in 1990, Robocop 3 in 1993 and 2014’s Robocop, a remake of the 1987 film. After the first three films were released, RoboCop: The Series premiered in 1994 with Richard Eden in the titular role, though the series lacked the graphic violence of the first two films and was targeted more towards children and teenagers.  

Matthias Schoenaerts Is SUPERGIRL: WOMAN OF TOMORROW’s Villain

matthias schoenaerts to play krem of the yellow hills in supergirl: woman of tomorrow

Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts has secured the villain role in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow opposite House of the Dragon star Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El. The DC Studios pic is being directed by Craig Gillespie.

The feature is inspired by the 2021 Tom King and Bilquis Evely comic run and will, therefore, mark a departure from the sweet, earnest take on the character we’ve previously witnessed in the CW Supergirl series. Woman of Tomorrow will reportedly be more akin to a grand sci-fi adventure film, based on the eight-issue miniseries that focused on Kara Zor-El’s quest in space, aided by Krypto, and was told from the perspective of the new character Ruthye, an alien girl that Kara meets and is looking for justice for her father’s death. In the comics, the villain who kills the girl’s father is Krem of the Yellow Hills. It’s unclear whether that’s who Schoenaerts will portray. The screenplay adaptation hails from Ana Nogueira.

Matthias Schoenaerts is best known for his starring role in 2012’s Rust and Bone and The Loft, as well as Red Sparrow and A Hidden Life. He starred opposite Charlize Theron in the superhero film The Old Guard, and will reprise his role in the upcoming sequel.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is expected in cinemas on June 26th, 2026.

Kyle Chandler Is LANTERNS’ Hal Jordan

kyle chandler tapped to star in hbo dc series lanterns. still from godzilla vs kong

HBO‘s DC series Lanterns has found its Hal Jordan in Emmy winner Kyle Chandler. The Friday Night Lights and Godzilla franchise star is set to play the legendary member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Lanterns is described as having a gritty, True Detective vibe as it focuses on Jordan reluctantly mentoring a younger Lantern, John Stewart. The story sees the two characters investigating an Earth-bound murder with larger implications.

Hailing from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof (Lost, Watchmen) and comics writer Tom King, Lanterns scored a straight-to-series order this summer after years trapped in development hell. The three are co-writing and exec producing the series.

As we reported at the time: “The news comes after an almost five-year-long development process at HBO Max, as they were originally developing the series with producer Greg Berlanti, the mastermind of the DC Arrowverse on The CW and one of the writers on the ill-fated, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively-starring 2011 Green Lantern feature film. Initially, the series was going to centre on Guy Gardner and Alan Scott, with Seth Grahame-Smith coming aboard as writer and showrunner, even writing a full season’s worth of scripts for the show.

“With a creative overhaul in 2022, however, Grahame-Smith’s vision was scrapped and the powers that be chose to refocus the series around John Stewart, another member of the Lantern Corps and the first Black superhero to appear in DC Comics.

“We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon and Tom at the helm,” DC Heads James Gunn and Peter Safran said in a statement. “John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two of DC’s most compelling characters, and Lanterns brings them to life in an original detective story that is a foundational part of the unified DCU we’re launching next summer with Superman.””

Casting is ongoing, though the series is looking to begin filming next January in Atlanta, so we should find out soon who will star opposite Kyle Chandler.

The Devil Follows Michael B. Jordan Home In SINNERS Trailer

michael b. jordan in trailer for ryan coogler horror sinners

Black Panther and Creed helmer Ryan Coogler’s mysterious horror movie Sinners is on its way to our screens early next year, and Warner Bros. has finally released the official trailer for the Michael B. Jordan-starring flick.

Set in 1930s Jim Crow-era Louisiana, Sinners: Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Jordan in a dual role) return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back. After all, you keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home…

Early reports of the project described it as a period vampire film, though the trailer leaves it unclear whether that remains the case.

Jordan is joined by an impressive cast, including Hailee Steinfeld (Bumblebee, Hawkeye), Jack O’Connell (Ferrari, the upcoming 28 Years Later), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Deadpool & Wolverine), Jayme Lawson (The Woman King, The Batman) and Delroy Lindo (Da 5 Bloods, The Harder They Fall).

Coogler writes and directs the Deep South-set horror, and co-produces the film under his banner, Proximity Media. Sinners is Jordan and Coogler’s fifth film together, following Fruitvale Station, Creed, and the two Black Panther films. 

Sinners releases in cinemas from March 7th, 2025. Watch the trailer below:

V/H/S/BEYOND Trailer Unleashed For Halloween Season

v/h/s/beyond teaser trailer still

The V/H/S franchise is back with a brand new Shudder Original, V/H/S/BEYOND. The horror anthology has released the first official trailer ahead of its release to the Shudder platform on October 4th, just in time for the Halloween season.

The seventh instalment in the series “will feature six new bloodcurdling tapes, placing horror at the forefront of a sci-fi-inspired hellscape, pushing the boundaries of fear and suspense”. The other entries include V/H/S/2, V/H/S: Viral, V/H/S/94, V/H/S/99 and V/H/S/85, and two spin-offs, Siren and Kids vs. Aliens.

Here’s the full list of segments and directors for the upcoming anthology, packed with big and exciting names in the genre realm:

Stork – directed by Jordan Downey, screenplay by Downey and Kevin Stewart
Amidst a string of baby disappearances, a police unit finds itself searching for clues inside a dilapidated house.

Fur Babies – written and directed by Christian Long and Justin Long
Animal rights activists sneak inside a taxidermist’s house, only to discover a gruesome secret in her basement.

Live and Let Dive – directed by Justin Martinez, story by Martinez and Ben Turner, screenplay by Turner
A group of friends go skydiving for the first time. Mid-air, their plane collides with a UFO, causing them to free fall. Upon landing in an orange grove, the group’s fight for survival begins.

Dream Girl – directed by Virat Pal, written by Pal and Evan Dickson
Two paparazzi sneak behind the scenes on the set of a Bollywood movie. The celebrity chasers discover consequences for their so-called “found footage” way worse than trespassing charges when they find superstar Tara waiting in her trailer.

Stowaway – directed by Kate Siegel, written by Mike Flanagan
A woman sets out to document the appearance of strange lights hovering above the Mojave desert.

V/H/S/Beyond is presented by Jay Cheel.

The MCU’s Shadier Characters Unite In THUNDERBOLTS* Teaser Trailer

thunderbolts* teaser trailer character lineup

Brace yourselves, but here’s a teaser trailer for a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie that actually looks… well, good? The first trailer for Thunderbolts* (the asterisk is new but apparently mandatory) opens with Florence Pugh’s depressed assassin, Yelena Belova, expressing a lack of fulfilment in her present career. That slump does not last long though, as she is soon crossing paths with a collection of the franchise’s shadier characters.

“Everyone here has done bad things,” Yelena tells her fellow depressed antiheroes, including John Walker, aka U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr, aka Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and Antonia Dreykov, aka Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), as they are trapped by an unseen actor. The trailer also sees Lewis Pullman as Bob/Sentry, Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian and of course, Sebastian Stan returning as Bucky Barnes. We also get a brief glimpse of Geraldine Viswanathan as Val’s assistant, Mel.

It’s a compelling teaser trailer, with lots of gritty, grounded action. Though it’s a full three-and-a-half-minute preview, very little plot is revealed, as the Marvel powers that be focus instead on introducing the new team’s roster.

– this one arrives hot on the heels of Captain America: Brave New World, hopefully a one-two punch of pacy political thrillers to kick-start Marvel’s year. Elsewhere, we see the return of Julia Louis Dreyfus’ meddling Val and a brief glimpse of Geraldine Viswanathan’s incoming assistant Mel. Oh, and was that Loki’s sceptre in a glass case? Given that this is a three-and-a-half-minute teaser, there’s relatively little plot here – the real focus is on introducing the members of the team. Check them out here in poster form:

Jack Schreier directs the flick. Thunderbolts* will arrive hot on the heels of Captain America: Brave New World, and will release May 2nd, 2025. It’s intended to be the last entry of Phase Five.

Watch the Thunderbolts* teaser trailer below: