JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX Drops Second Trailer

lady gaga and joaquin phoenix in joker: folie a deux second trailer

In the second trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux, director Todd Phillips’ much-anticipated sequel to the 2019 Best Picture Oscar-winning Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck is finding himself in the throes of fame as he endures “the trial of a century” and finds himself a “martyr” to the people of Gotham City.

After murdering Murray Franklin (Robert de Niro) live on television, Arthur Fleck is incarcerated in Arkham State Hospital, where he meets music therapist Lee (Lady Gaga). The two fall madly in love and experience musical madness through their shared delusions, while Fleck’s followers start a movement to free him from Arkham, ultimately giving rise to the Clown Prince of Crime’s criminal empire.

In addition to directing, Phillips also wrote Joker 2 alongside Scott Silver and produces the upcoming film. Harry Lawtey stars as s Harvey Dent, Gotham City’s District Attorney who plans to prosecute Arthur for his crimes. The film also stars Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener. Zazie Beetz will reprise her role from Joker.

The Joker sequel belongs to the DC Elseworlds banner, which explores stories set outside of the shared DC Universe being crafted by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II movie and HBO Max Penguin series, for instance, also under that banner.

The sequel releases to cinemas from October 4th, 2024. Watch the full-length, second trailer for Joker: Folie À Deux below:

Conor Leslie Stars In Horror Thriller ARCHANGEL

donna troy titans actress conor leslie to star in upcoming horror thriller archangel

Conor Leslie, who played Diana Prince/Wonder Woman’s protegee Donna Troy on the DC show Titans, is starring in Archangel, a horror thriller from comic book and screenwriter Bryan Edward Hill.

Hill was a writer and supervising producer on Titans, and will make his directorial debut with Archangel. The film has quietly just wrapped shooting, a THR exclusive reveals. It will be unveiled at San Diego Comic Con next week with a first-look at the film and with Leslie and Hill in attendance.

The feature hails from Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Abu Dhabi, who previously collaborated on Chloe Okuno’s thriller Watcher, starring Maika Monroe (who can currently be seen in Longlegs), and Late Night with the Devil, which became a box office and festival hit despite a very small production budget.

Archangel centres on a privately funded organisation researching the possibility of life after death. It is targeted by an ancient entity that wants to keep making from understanding the true nature of the supernatural. Starring opposite Conor Leslie are Greg Hovanessian, Alyshia Ochse, Azure Parsons, and Trevor Riley.

Hill is also developing and writing a graphic novel with a story set within Archangel’s world, which is currently being shopped to publishers.

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER Reboot Sets Cast

madelyn cline of outer banks fame set to star in i know what you did last summer reboot

The upcoming reboot of the 1997 horror hit, I Know What You Did Last Summer, has announced its cast ahead of a planned released next year. Madelyn Cline, best known for starring in Outer Banks and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, is in talks to star opposite Camila Mendes, who played Veronica on the long-running series Riverdale and was recently seen in Do Revenge.

Also in final negotiations are Sarah Pidgeon, Tyriq Withers (Atlanta) and Jonah Hauer-King, the latter of whom recently played Prince Eric in the Disney live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. As we previously wrote, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. were also in talks to reprise their roles from the original movie.

The cult classic starred Love Hewitt, Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe. It was written by Scream‘s Kevin Williamson and based on the 1973 novel of the same name by author Lois Duncan. The film followed four friends who, after a night of heavy partying, accidentally ran over and killed a man. When they decide to dump his body to conceal their secret, they’re unaware that the following year will see consequences knocking at their doors.

Do Revenge filmmaker Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is directing the project from a screenplay she co-wrote with Sam Lensky, from an original script by Leah McKendrick. Neal Moritz, who produced the original, is back to produce this reboot.

Sony Pictures has set their I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot to release July 18th, 2025.

Ruth Wilson to narrate His Dark Materials

Actress Ruth Wilson, best known for her role as the villainous Mrs Coulter in the BBC adaptation of His Dark Materials, is to be the new voice of the audiobook versions of the classic Phillip Pullman novels.

The new audio editions are due to launch on September 5th with the first novel, Northern Lights. The new edition of The Amber Spyglass will also feature a conversation between Philip Pullman and Ruth Wilson, recorded at the Bodleian Library in 2021. The original recordings of the novels, narrated by Philip Pullman and featuring a full cast, will continue to be available alongside the new editions.

Ruth Wilson said: “I fell in love with Philip’s world of His Dark Materials when I first read the books: they’re so complex in their themes and playing Mrs. Coulter on screen allowed me to explore themes deeper than just her villainy: narcissism, freedom, motherhood, imagination. Having the opportunity to narrate this series of audiobooks and delve further into Philip’s profoundly intricate world was an honour and a pleasure.”

Head of Audio Production at Penguin Audio and award-winning audiobook producer Chris Thompson said: “It’s been a wonderful experience to produce the audiobook editions of such globally beloved novels and to work with Ruth and Philip, who are masters of their craft. Ruth’s dedication to understanding each character, each line of dialogue, and every shift in her vocal performance is a testament to her passion for the series and her work. These audiobooks will be a truly memorable way for listeners to rediscover the series or step into Philip’s world for the first time.”

Find out more here.

Deadpool’s Head and Other Spooky Marvel Goodies Return

deadpools head

Ahead of the forthcoming Deadpool & Wolverine movie, Ryan Reynolds fans might be delighted to discover that they can yet again take a little bit of Deadpool home with them. Namely Deadpool’s head, which is now available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse.

Regular readers may recall that it’s not the first time we’ve had a run-in with Deadpool’s severed bonce, and you can watch our review of what happened the last time we encountered the minimised Merc with a Mouth here. The luxury prank gift has been re-released.

Those anticipating another Marvel show, Agatha All Along, might be intrigued to learn that a whole host of supernatural-based Marvel hero action figures are also now on pre-order.



Marvel Legends Series Strange Tales Marvel’s Dracula is, as the name suggests, Marvel’s take on Dracula, fully equipped to take on Blade and chums. He’s part of the Strange Tales line, which ties in (all be it vaguely) to the Agatha TV show and Marvel’s obvious push into the spookier side of things. Other models available on pre-order include Bloodstorm, Marvel’s Lilith, Daimon Hellstrom, Brother Voodoo, and Moon Knight. Each one of these figures contains a part of the demon Blackheart (the action figure, not an actual demon). Collect the set and have your own pet demon.

Sticking with spooky, Marvel’s Man-Thing is also out on pre-order. Man-Thing was the surprise star of the excellent Marvel short , Werewolf by Night.  The Man-Thing Action figure comes with changeable hands and a delightful expression on its face.

Finally, nostalgia fans are reminded that the classic Talisman: The Magical Quest Board Game, is also back, available on pre-order via Hasbro Pulse, as are expansions for nostalgia classic, Heroquest.

Stamps Out For Dungeons & Dragons

Cultural phenomena Dungeons & Dragons has been granted the honour of having its own stamps issued by the Royal Mail. The main set of eight stunning stamps features a selection of iconic monsters from the game: Red Dragon, Owlbear, Vecna (the fantasy one, not the Stranger Things one), Gelatinous Cube, Mind Flayer, Mimic, Displacer Beast, and Beholder.

All 14 stamps in the set have been illustrated by British artist Wayne Reynolds, with 11 images specially commissioned for this set. Reynolds is a well-known figure in the TTRPG community.

Wayne Reynolds said: “Being asked to design the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS stamps for Royal Mail was a massive honour for me. As a British artist it was a wonderful opportunity to be able to contribute artwork that I’d created as a long-running D&D fantasy artist to something I consider to be an iconic institution. I get the opportunity to see my artwork on stamp!”

The US Postal Service has also issued its own 50th Anniversary stamps.  These are a different design from the Royal Mail stamps, and in addition to not having a king on them, they’re also intended to honour classic moments in the game’s history, such as the classic Red Box art, as well as art from Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons and the current Dungeon Master’s Guide. The American re-use art from those classic covers.

We rather prefer the ones available via Royal Mail, but then we are biased. especially as the UK ones have a special surprise when you shine a UV light on them. A further six stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, depict dynamic images of a party of adventuring heroes that might be played in the game, including Tiefling Rogue, Human Bard, Halfling Cleric, Elf Fighter, Dwarf Paladin, and Dragonborn Wizard.

You can order the Royal Mail stamps via www.royalmail.com/dnd , and while you’re there, check out the stamps for Warhammer, Paddington, and The Discworld.

Jim Henson’s LABYRINTH Returns To The Gaming Table

Thanks to the game company Mantic, fans of the classic fantasy adventure movie Labyrinth will have the chance to experience the world themselves. (David Bowie’s codpiece is not included.) The 40th Anniversary collection brings together all four of Mantic’s Labyrinth games, plus expansions.

Being experts at bringing cult franchises into the 3D world of tabletop gaming, Mantic‘s previous successes include Hellboy, Mars Attacks, The Umbrella Academy, and The Walking Dead. The new crowdfunder is for an updated and prettier presentation of the core Labyrinth board game, the card game, the TTRPG and the quirky racing game Ready Steady Worm!

Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Board Game is a critically acclaimed game with highly detailed, paintable models, including Jareth the Goblin King, Sarah; Hoggle, Ludo, Sir Didymus, and Ambrosius. Given that the movie is a series of fixed events, it works really well as a board game. Similarly, Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Adventure Game is a TTRPG designed for light play, a way to explore the imaginative RPG space without heavy investment.

The card game is a classic trick-taking game that’s frankly just a fun ice-breaker and surprisingly evocative of the movie, especially if you’re being a very sneaky Jared. Ready Steady Worm! It is similar to a light but silly racing game with very cute art and design.

Mantic’s current Crowdfunder is probably the best way to get your hands on some of the nicest and most interested accessible fantasy games on the market today. Check out the Crowdfunder here.

Hugo Award Votes Disqualified

Glasgow in 2024 Logo

The Hugo Awards, one of the world’s biggest awards in science fiction, has announced that multiple votes cast in the Hugo Awards have been identified as fraudulent and have, therefore, been disqualified.

The full statement on the incident, via Hugo Administrator Nicholas Whyte, can be found below. In summary, at least 377 fraudulent votes (some with very obviously fake names) have been identified as fraudulent and favoured one nominee, who will be referred to as Finalist A. There is no evidence (or reason to believe) that Finalist A was involved in this deception. Finalist A has not won a Hugo Award.

The Hugos are relevant because it’s a fan-run award, and those who vote for the Hugos tend to consume a lot of Science Fiction media, particularly novels and short stories. In order to vote, you have to pay for some level of membership in Worldcon, a globe-trotting science fiction convention and conference, typically only attended by the most hardcore of fans.

The Hugo Awards are no stranger to controversy. The prestigious rocket-shaped award is an integral part of Worldcon, and this celebration of science fiction has regularly enjoyed some sort of fuss or controversy throughout its long 85-year history.

Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures, is the current iteration of this important and very intense event that only comes to the UK once a decade and is typically well attended, partially because those in the community fear missing out on one of the most crucial industry and fan events of the calendar.

Professor Esther MacCallum-Stewart, Chair of Glasgow 2024, made the following statement in response to this announcement.

“I was dismayed to be told of the findings of the Astounding, Lodestar, and Hugo Awards Administration team, and absolutely support their decision to preserve the integrity of the awards through the actions that they have taken. These Awards are a cornerstone of our convention and represent the pinnacle of achievement in our community. Glasgow 2024 remains committed to a policy of transparency, and we are excited to welcome everyone in August to a truly celebratory Hugo Awards ceremony.”

Glasgow 2024 Hugo Awards Statement – 22nd July 2024

NYX UK August Line-Up Brings the Fear

The schedule of terror for NYX UK in August is packed with fantastic movies, including a pair of FrightFest classics, The Last Horror Movie (2002) and Summer Scars (2007), both directed by Julian Richards.

The Last Horror Show

More premieres for the channel include another of Richards’ movies, Darklands (1996), Josh Stifter’s FrightFest hit Greywood’s Plot (2021), Ursula Dabrowsky’s Inner Demon (2014), Stephen Cognetti’s hugely popular Hell House LLC (2015), and cut classic Pin (1988).

Pin

That’s not all; there’s also the channel premiere of the mammoth 2-part documentary Crystal Lake Memories: The Complete History of Friday the 13th. NYX UK also celebrates the birthday of the legendary Italian director Umberto Lenzi with a pair of his classics, Man from the Deep River (1972) and Nightmare City (1980).

For weekly schedule and full listings, head over to https://www.nyxtv.co.uk/tv-guide

Prepare for a Wild Ride with STRANGE DARLING

In Strange Darling, nothing is what it seems when a twisted one-night stand spirals into a serial killer’s vicious murder spree.

A brand new horror-thriller from the producers of Late Night with the Devil and Barbarian, this flawlessly constructed, fresh take on the cat-and-mouse genre stars Willa Fitzgerald (Scream), Kyle Gallner (Smile), and screen legends Ed Begley Jr (Better Call Saul) and Barbara Hershey (Black Swan).

Distributed by the UK and Ireland by Icon Film Distribution, Strange Darling is a Miramax and Spooky Pictures Production. It’s written and directed by JT Mollner, and has its European premiere at this year’s Pigeon Shrine FrightFest before a general cinema release in September.

Spencer Pollard of Icon Film Distribution says of the upcoming release: “We are thrilled – literally – to be releasing Strange Darling in the UK later this autumn. It is such a clever film that twists and turns itself inside out and leaves the viewer surprised, enthralled and on the edge of their seat all the way through this glorious piece of cinematic beauty.”

STRANGE DARLING has its European premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest in London on August 24th and is released in UK cinemas from September 20th.