THE MAZE RUNNER Is Already Getting Rebooted

dylan o'brien as thomas in the maze runner

20th Century Studios is working on a reboot of the sci-fi action adventure franchise The Maze Runner, which ran as a trilogy from 2014 to 2018. Currently, Transcendence and Alien: Covenant scribe Jack Paglen is in talks to write the screenplay for the new instalment.

Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and Lee Stollman of Gotham Group, along with Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen of Temple Hill, all of whom produced the original trilogy, are returning to produce this new project. Wes Ball, the director of all three films, is also due to be involved as producer.

Based on the best-selling YA dystopia novels by James Dashner, the first film centred on a group of teenagers who find themselves in a walled community named the Glade, dropped there with all their memories wiped. Beyond the four walls of the encampment lies a maze, filled with deadly mechanical creatures and doors that shut every night at sundown. One new arrival figures out the key to the group’s survival and attempts to lead them out.

According to THR sources, the reboot is neither of a remake of the story, nor is it a direct sequel to the trilogy, which starred Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario, and Will Poulter.

Stay tuned for more news on the Maze Runner reboot as we learn it!

DARTH JAR-JAR Is Real And Coming To Disney+

darth jar-jar in trailer for star wars: rebuilding the galaxy special

A character we all love to hate gets a Sith makeover in the trailer for Disney+’s upcoming Star Wars special, an animated LEGO series titled Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy: ladies, gents, and others, please ready yourselves for the arrival of one Darth Jar-Jar.

An awkward Gungan outcast living on Naboo, Jar-Jar Binks was infamously introduced as a major character in 1999’s The Phantom Menace, and returned with a supporting role in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. He also had a role in the animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

In Rebuild the Galaxy, the Star Wars Galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo, of Stranger Things fame), unearths a powerful artifact from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into an adventure in a new, wondrously wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together.

In the special, Darth Jar-Jar will be voiced by Ahmed Best, who provided the voice and motion capture for the character in Episodes I-III. Mark Hamill also returns to give his voice to a LEGO Luke Skywalker.

Showrunners and executive producers Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit wrote in a statement: “The opportunity to work with LEGO and Lucasfilm to rebuild the galaxy has been a dream come true. We’ve been collecting LEGO Star Wars sets for 25 years, and we have approached this project with a fan’s enthusiasm, crafting this story quite literally brick by brick. For new fans, this will be an exciting place to enter the world of LEGO Star Wars, and for lifelong fans, you’re going to see some things that you never thought possible.”

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years since the ground-breaking collaboration between Lucasfilm and The LEGO Group began,” says executive producer James Waugh. “…Tapping into the comedic genius of Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit, two of the most talented comedy writers I’ve had the fortune of working with, we’ve mixed and matched LEGO sets to snap together Imperial X-fighters, Rebel TIE-wings, and yes, even Darth Jar Jar. This four-piece special is a celebration of all things Star Wars, LEGO, and the incredible explorations that can only happen when these two amazing brands come together.”

Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy will consist of four parts, debuting September 13th on Disney+. Watch the trailer below:

TITANE And RAW Filmmaker Sets Her Third Film

still from titane film by julia ducournau, who has set her third film, titled alpha

French filmmaker Julia Ducournau should be a name well-known to any self-respecting horror fan, the mind behind the cannibal film Raw and the wild, genre-defying Titane. And in some good news today, we’ve learned her third movie has been confirmed, titled Alpha. Though it carries on the director’s tendency towards snappy, mysterious, one-word movie names, that’s about all we know about the flick.

Golshifteh Farahani (The Patience Stone) and Tahar Rahim (The Mauritanian, and… *cough* Madame Web. Don’t hold it against him, though).

Variety reports that FilmNation Entertainment and Charades are presenting the project at Cannes Film Festival. “Alpha is Julia’s most personal, profound work yet, and we are looking forward to a global audience discovering the story with as much excitement as we did,” the two entertainment companies said in a statement. “We can’t wait to bring the film to market in Cannes and to launch sales together for the first time and collaborate in this way.”

“Alpha is a new page in Julia Ducournau’s corpus that is both very consistent with the previous ones and entirely new in its tone,” the producers said. “To match an exceptional project, it was necessary to transcend conventions, as evidenced by the exceptional combination of producers on one hand and international sales companies on the other.”

A24 Scores Adam Wingard’s Action-Horror ONSLAUGHT

godzilla x kong filmmaker adam wingard has upcoming film onslaught scooped up by A24. Still from The New Empire

A24 has come out on top of an auction to pick up Onslaught, an action thriller directed by Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire filmmaker Adam Wingard, which he’s co-writing with frequent collaborator Simon Barrett.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that the feature will have a scope more in line with his early movies, which were all original creations. Details for Onslaught are being kept top secret, but sources describe it as a “gonzo action horror thriller”. The project is expected to begin filming this autumn, so Legendary MonsterVerse fans will have to wait a while before Wingard gets back to the kaiju action. Though Wingard does not yet have a deal to return for a third Godzilla/Kong outing, sources suggest it remains very likely he’ll be tapped for an upcoming film. Onslaught will, however, be his next project.

Wingard and Barrett previously made the cult hits You’re Next and The Guest together.

Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett will produce Onslaught under their Ryder Picture Company banner alongside A24, and Alexander Black for Lyrical Media. Wingard and manager Jeremy Platt will also produce, via their new company Breakaway Civilization, along with Barrett.

Stay tuned for further updates on the synopsis, cast, and potential release date as we hear it!

FAST X Filmmaker To Direct Sci-Fi Horror Film 11817

louis leterrier to direct and produce sci-fi horror feature 11817

Fast X and Transporter filmmaker Louis Leterrier has been tapped to direct and produce the sci-fi horror film 11817, based on a script by Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying, Love and Monsters, the upcoming Star Wars: Rogue Squadron).

In 11817, inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life-or-death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who – or what – is keeping them trapped.

“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey. It’s what excites me about 11817’s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget,” Leterrier wrote in a statement.

Leterrier is also known for his work on big-budget action fare like Clash of the Titans, Universal’s The Incredible Hulk, Now You See Me, and has directed several episodes of the series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Leterrier will share producer credits on 11817 with Thomas Benski, Omar Sy, Lars Sylvest, Kori Adelson, Oly Obst, Thorsten Schumacher and Joe Neurauter. Cecile Gaget is an executive producer. The film is being shopped at Cannes Film Festival.

Header image courtesy of Gage Skidmore

Emily Booth Teams Up with NYX at HorrorConUK

Genre legend and all-round icon Emily Booth will be joining forces with free-to-air TV channel NYX UK at this year’s HorrorConUK, which takes place at Magna, Sheffield on May 11th and 12th.

Emily will be hosting the NYX UK stand, alongside Corinne Ferguson. CEO of NYX Media Corporation. Emily will also be signing photos and merchandise.

Emily said, ‘I’m thrilled to be collaborating with NYX. Horror is my happy place, and I can’t wait to reconnect with fans. It’s refreshing to find a channel that curates both classic and contemporary horror so you can sit back and be entertained without spending half the evening doom scrolling through endless lists, not knowing what to watch!’

(c) – Rick Jones

Corinne added: “We are so excited to announce that Emily will join us at this year’s HorrorConUK, representing and promoting our channel to the enthusiasts in attendance. She embodies the strength and spirit of horror, making her an ideal ambassador for our brand”.

Emily is also excited to announce that she’ll be co-starring in Electric Meat, a brand-new horror feature written and directed by Dan Schaffer.

Emily added: “Think early David Lynch stuck inside Torture Garden!”

Acknowledged as one of Britain’s premiere scream queens, actress, presenter, burlesque performer and all-round movie buff, Emily Booth has starred in numerous horror films, including Jake West’s EVIL ALIENS and DOGHOUSE, and has presented for Channel 4, Channel 5, Bravo, BBC3, FrightFest, Radio One, and Horror Channel. She produced, wrote and starred in the short film Selkie. You can join Emily’s Patreon to keep up to date with her news and interact with the legend!

(c) – Rick Jones
(c) Simon Booth

Kristen Stewart, Oscar Isaac To Star In Vamp Thriller FLESH OF THE GODS

kristen stewart to star in vampire thriller flesh of the gods. still from twilight franchise

Kristen Stewart and Oscar Isaac will star in vampire thriller Flesh of the Gods, the next project from Mandy filmmaker (and STARBURST favourite) Panos Cosmatos.

Adam McKay is aboard to produce the feature with Betsy Koch, via their Hyberobject Industries production company. Isaac will also produce with Gena Konstantinakos via their banner Mad Gene Media.

Flesh of the Gods is written by Andrew Kevin Walker, best known as the screenwriting mind behind the 1990s classic, Se7ven. Based on a story by Walker and Cosmatos, this vampire thriller will reportedly be set in Los Angeles during the 1980s. The story follows a married couple, Raoul (Isaac) and Alex (Stewart), who descend each evening from their luxury skyscraper condo to head into the electric night-time realm of ’80s LA. When they cross paths with a mysterious, enigmatic woman and her hard-partying cabal, Raoul and Alex find themselves seduced into a glittering, surrealistic world of hedonism, thrills, and violence.

Stewart last starred in the erotic, surrealist crime thriller Love Lies Bleeding, directed by Rose Glass, which was released last month by A24. Isaac last appeared on screen as the titular lead in Marvel’s Moon Knight series. Cosmatos is also working on a film with A24 titled Nekrokosm. Reports state that the producers hope to begin filming on Flesh of the Gods towards the end of the year.

Get Ready for Take-Off With the SUPER WINGS: MAXIMUM SPEED Trailer

Animated TV spin-off Super Wings: Maximum Speed is heading to cinemas! Check out the trailer below…

Synopsis:

Young airplane Jet is proud to be the fastest in the world, but longs to do more than just deliver packages. After a disgruntled toy factory owner sees his business collapse due to the impact of social media, he hatches an evil plan and kidnaps a group of influencers. Jet and his friends in the heroic Super Wings team must rise to the challenge, work together and save the day!

Dazzler Media presents Super Wings: Maximum Speed in cinemas from May 3rd.

THE EXORCISM Trailer Stars Russell Crowe As A Haunted Actor

russell crowe stars in the exorcism trailer

The first trailer for demon possession horror The Exorcism, starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe, has been released… not to be confused with the demon possession horror The Pope’s Exorcist, starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe, which came out last year.

In this one, Crowe stars as a troubled actor who begins to unravel while filming a supernatural horror movie. The joke there is too obvious to make. In any case, The Exorcism hails from director Joshua John Miller, and will see an exclusive cinema release from June 7th.

Also starring in the pic are Sam Worthington (best known for his starring role in the Avatar films), Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, and David Hyde Pierce. Ryan Sympkins co-stars as Crowe’s estranged daughter, who begins to suspect her father’s troubles are more sinister than a relapse into former addiction issues. Miller co-writes the horror with repeat collaborator M.A. Fortin.

Possession horror runs in the director’s family: Miller said the idea for this film stemmed from his childhood spent watching his father, Jason Miller, playing the doomed Father Karras flinging himself out a window at the climax of 1973’s The Exorcist. “If that wasn’t haunting enough on its own, my dad never shied away from telling me stories of just how ‘cursed’ the movie was: the mysterious fires that plagued the production, the strange deaths, the lifelong injuries — the list went on and on. The lore of any ‘cursed film’ has captivated me ever since,” he said in a statement. “With The Exorcism, we wanted to update the possession movie formula (‘Heroic man rescues woman from forces she’s too weak and simple to battle herself!’) for a world where no one group owns goodness and decency over another,” he continued. “We were gifted with an extraordinary cast and creative team to tell a story about how we’re all vulnerable to darkness, to perpetuating it, if we fail to face our demons.”

Jodie Comer & Aaron Taylor-Johnson Join 28 YEARS LATER

jodie comer in the end we start from, to star in 28 years later

Some of Britain’s finest actors are entering the zombie apocalypse, as Deadline reports that Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes are boarding 28 Years Later.

Danny Boyle is directing the long-awaited sequel to 28 Days Later, which he helmed in 2002, and which centred on a man (Cillian Murphy) who wakes up in the hospital to find the UK overtaken by a zombie plague. Civil War and Ex Machina filmmaker Alex Garland, who penned the 2002 script, is back to write what is intended to be the first film in a new trilogy for Sony.

Boyle and Garland will produce the film with Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice and Bernie Bellew. Murphy is also attached as executive producer, though it’s not expected that he’ll appear in the film.

Jodie Comer is best known for her role as the globe-trotting assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve, and has gone on to star in major blockbusters (Free Guy) and genre indies (The End We Start From) alike, and will star in the period motorcycle drama The Bikeriders next, which releases June 21st. Taylor-Johnson will be in cinemas early next month with The Fall Guy, in which he stars opposite Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, and has the long-delayed Marvel feature Kraven the Hunter due out in August. Fiennes, lastly, was recently seen in horror-comedy The Menu, opposite Anya Taylor-Joy.