A THANKSGIVING Sequel Is Cooking

eli roth confirms a thanksgiving sequel is happening

It took a long time for Eli Roth to get his horror hit Thanksgiving made, but now a sequel is already on its way to the kitchen. The murderous John Carver will return for another bloody, festive outing, it’s been confirmed.

Thanksgiving is Roth’s highest-rated film to date, boasting an impressive 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. Roth came up with the story concept with Jeff Rendell, initially turning it into one of several fake movie trailers played between the two features that went into Grindhouse (Planet Terror and Death Proof) the cult film event by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino.

As STARBURST critic Jack Bottomley raves in his review, “Thanksgiving is not only our favourite of Eli Roth’s work by far but is one of our favourite films of the year. A throwback slasher reeking of ’90s whodunnit excellence, in the same joyful vein as Wes Craven’s Scream and Jamie Blanks’ Urban Legend, with the extreme gore of the horror output of the early 2000s.”

In the horror-mystery feature, after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the infamous holiday. Thanksgiving stars Patrick Dempsey, Ty Olsson, Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Rick Hoffman, Gina Gershon, and Tom Dillon.

TriStar Pictures will release the Thanksgiving sequel sometime in 2025. We hope everyone is hungry for seconds!

FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA Trailer Promises A Wild Ride

anya taylor-joy in furiosa: a mad max saga trailer

Eight years after 2015’s Fury Road dazzled critics and audiences alike, we return to George Miller‘s sandy, dystopian universe with the first trailer for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

The pic, which stars Anya Taylor-Joy as the titular Furiosa (played in Fury Road by Charlize Theron) and Chris Hemsworth, is a prequel to the 2015 actioner. Miller returns to the director’s chair with a script he co-wrote with Nico Lathouris.

In Furiosa, “45 years after the collapse, a young Furiosa is taken from her family. She will devote the rest of her life to finding her way home. This is her odyssey.” The official logline provides further details: As the world fell, young Furiosa (Taylor-Joy) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and falls into the hands of a great Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus (Hemsworth, sporting his fair share of prosthetics). Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel presided over by The Immortan Joe.  While the two Tyrants war for dominance, Furiosa must survive many trials as she puts together the means to find her way home.

The Warner Bros-distributed film premieres on May 24th in the US, and May 26th everywhere else. Watch the Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga trailer below, and scroll down for a look at the newly-released film poster:

Francis Lawrence To Adapt Stephen King’s THE LONG WALK

illustration of stephen king's the long walk by Gerry Grace, UK first edition

Lionsgate has picked up the rights to Stephen King’s 1979 dystopian novel The Long Walk, with The Hunger Games franchise’s Francis Lawrence in final talks to direct, THR writes.

JT Mollner (Outlaws and Angels) will pen the script, with Lawrence and Roy Lee producing. New Line was previously developing the project with Norwegian director André Øvredal (Troll Hunter, The Autopsy of Jane Doe) and a script from James Vanderbilt (The Amazing Spider-Man, Scream) before the rights lapsed in the summer of 2022. Now Lionsgate will start again from scratch with its own take on the King story.

“When you have enjoyed the strong creative collaboration and success that we have had working with Francis, you want to repeat that experience as much as possible,” said Joe Drake, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. “We couldn’t be more excited about reuniting with him on The Long Walk.  He is a truly unparalleled talent.” Lionsgate and Lawrence recently collaborated on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.

First published under the Stephen King’s pseudonym Richard Bachman, The Long Walk centres on a yearly competition in which 100 teenage boys embark on the titular journey that involves abiding by a strict set of rules and ends with only one survivor. We can definitely see why Lawrence would be the right choice to helm such a project.

NYX UK Unveils XMAS Lineup – Simon Rumley Season, Premieres, and More!

Our friends over at NYX UK – the country’s only free-to-air horror channel – have just released their December programming, and yet again they’ve given us genre fans a wonderful selection of twisted treats to look forward to! Go grab a pen before reading on, because there’s plenty here to be marking in your calendars!

If you’ve not checked out NYX UK yet, do so by heading to Freeview 289 / Channelbox App / TCL TVs / Distro TV, and www.nyxtv.co.uk

NYX UK December Lineup in Full

Fans of leading Indie filmmaker Simon Rumley, described by Screen International as one the great British cinematic outsiders, are in for a treat this December as NYX UK premieres three of Rumley’s outstanding works – his intensely disturbing feature debut THE LIVING AND THE DEAD, starring Roger Lloyd-Pack, brutal slack revenge thriller RED, WHITE & BLUE, staring Amanda Fuller, Noah Taylor and Marc Senter and his shocking short film ‘Bitch’, part of the acclaimed Brit-horror anthology LITTLE DEATHS. Following all three films is a special presentation of one of Rumley early short films, THE HANDY MAN, starring Greta Scacchi.

All three films will screen on Friday nights, 9pm throughout the month. And there’s more Rumley treats in store, as, in January, NYX UK will show FASHIONISTA.

Other demonically delicious December premieres include Axelle Carolyn’s haunting feature film debut SOULMATE, starring a riveting Anna Walton, WW2 vampire horror RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE, starring Bela Lugosi, Roger Corman’s B-movie sci-fi adventure ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTER, two superior Brit sci-fi fantasies: THE HYBRID and THE CRAWLING EYE, and Paul Leni’s classic silent movie THE MAN WHO LAUGHS. This is part of Silent Sundays at 6pm, as is the remarkable 1911 version of DANTE’S INFERNO.

On Christmas Day, there’s a welcome outing for the ultimate seasonal genre classic, BLACK CHRISTMAS, Bob Clark’s 1974 seminal slasher.

To celebrate Barbara Steele’s birthday on December 29, NYX UK will be screening BLACK SUNDAY at 9pm, followed by Cronenberg’s SHIVERS at 11pm.

Plus, Giallo fans can enjoy Dario Argento’s THE CAT O’ NINE TAILS. Umberto Lenzi’s SEVEN BLOOD-STAINED ORCHIDS and Chris Alexander’s neo-giallo slasher GIRL WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR.

Fri 1 Dec @ 21:00 – RETURN OF THE VAMPIRE (1943) *Channel premiere

England during the Blitz. The grave of centuries-old vampire Armand Tesla (Bela Lugosi) is disturbed by a bomb, and he is inadvertently revived by a stray piece of shrapnel that removes the stake from his heart. Once resurrected, Tesla, masquerading as a scientist, seeks revenge against those who had vanquished him. Directed by Lew Landers, the film is particularly notable for Bela Lugosi’s captivating performance, echoing his iconic role as Count Dracula, and for bringing a war-torn context to the vampire genre.

Sat 2 Dec @ 21:00 – ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTRS (1957) *Channel premiere

A group of scientists arrive on a deserted island to study the effects of nuclear radiation from atomic tests conducted earlier. However, they discover that the radiation has had a terrifying effect on the local crab population, mutating them into gigantic, intelligent monsters with telepathic abilities. The team must find a way to escape the island, all while combating the giant crustaceans that seem unstoppable. Directed by Roger Corman, this is a classic example of 1950s science fiction and horror cinema.

Sun 3 Dec @ 18:00 – THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (1928) *Channel premiere part of Silent Sundays

17th-century England.  Gwynplaine, a young man disfigured as a child on the orders of King James II. His face is left with a permanent grin, a grotesque reminder of his past. Abandoned and alone, he is taken in by a traveling showman who pairs him with a blind girl, Dea (Mary Philbin). As they grow up, Gwynplaine and Dea develop a deep bond, with her loving him despite, or perhaps because of, his disfigurement. But trouble lies ahead. This significant work of the late silent film era is based on Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name.

Fri 8 Dec @ 21:00 – RED, WHITE AND BLUE (2010) *Channel premiere Part of Simon Rumley Season

Erica (Amanda Fuller) spends her nights trawling the bars and beds of Austin.  She is damaged, emotionally withdrawn, never connecting with anyone, until she meets the mysterious Nate (Noah Taylor). Despite his quiet air of danger, the two form a hesitant bond.  But one of Erica’s casual sexual encounters, the hot-headed Franki (Marc Senter), is about to bite back. Rumley’s 2010 twisted love story is a grim dissection of the human psyche at its most raw. A violent tale of revenge, need and want and utterly compelling, it has become a cult favourite.

Sat 9 Dec @ 21:00 – THE HYBRID (2014) *Channel premiere

Set in the war-torn landscapes of Eastern Europe, the story centres on a group of mercenaries led by hardened soldier Powell (John Lynch). They are hired by a mysterious corporation to infiltrate a heavily guarded research facility deep underground. Their mission is to retrieve genetic samples, but on arrival they quickly discover the facility harbours much more than they bargained for. Directed by Billy O’Brien. This is a compelling piece of science fiction that succeeds in combining action, horror, and a thought-provoking narrative.

Fri 15 Dec @ 21:00 – THE LIVING AND THE DEAD *Channel premiere Part of Simon Rumley Season

Lord Donald Brocklebank (Roger Lloyd Pack), his terminally wife Lady Nancy (Kate Fahy), and their mentally ill son, James (Leo Bill) living in a deteriorating English country manor.  When Lord Brocklebank leaves on a trip to find the funds for his wife’s care, James takes over the care of his mother. What ensues is a harrowing descent into madness. leading to devastating consequences for both him and his mother. Rumley delves deep into the realms of mental illness, desperation, in a darkly powerful tale that lingers long in the mind.

Sat 16 Dec @ 21:00 – THE CRAWLING EYE (1958) *Channel premiere

While on a climbing holiday in Switzerland two sisters become embroiled in a series of mysterious and deadly incidents. They are drawn to the town of Trollenberg, where a cloud that never moves lingers ominously over the mountainside. As climbers and locals are found decapitated, it becomes clear that the cloud is harbouring something sinister and otherworldly. Also known as “The Trollenberg Terror,” this a British science fiction horror film directed by Quentin Lawrence that taps into the fears and fascinations of the Atomic Age.

Fri 22 Dec @ 21:00 – LITTLE DEATHS (2011) *Channel premiere Part of Simon Rumley Season

“Little Deaths” is an unsettling anthology horror film from three outstanding British filmmakers Simon Rumley, Sean Hogan and Andrew Parkinson, each boldly exploring taboo subjects and pushing boundaries in their portrayals of deviant sexual desires and the horrors that can arise from them.

BITCH, directed by Simon Rumley, explores a volatile relationship marked by sexual fetishism and psychological manipulation, as couple’s increasingly dangerous games of dominance and submission, culminate in a shocking and brutal conclusion.

HOUSE & HOME, directed by Sean Hogan, presents a twisted tale of a wealthy, sadistic couple who prey on homeless women. Their routine of luring these women under the guise of charity takes a horrifying turn when they encounter a woman who is not what she seems.

MUTANT TOOL, directed by Andrew Parkinson, ventures into the realm of body horror, following the story of a woman addicted to a drug, made from a substance produced by a deformed man.

Sat 23 Dec @ 21:00 – SOULMATE (2013) *Channel premiere

Audrey (Anna Walton) is grappling with profound grief and guilt after the tragic death of her husband. In an attempt to find solace and a new beginning, she retreats to a remote cottage in the Welsh countryside. However, instead of peace, she finds herself drawn into a mysterious and unsettling presence within the house. Directed by Axelle Carolyn, her debut feature elegantly weaves together elements of psychological drama and supernatural horror.

Mon 25 Dec @ 21:00 – BLACK CHRISTMAS (1974)

We are in a sorority house during the festive season, where the sorority sisters begin to receive disturbing and anonymous phone calls. Unbeknownst to them, the calls are coming from an intruder who has taken up residence in their attic. As the calls become increasingly menacing, the girls start to go missing one by one. The police scramble to trace the calls, but their discovery comes too late to prevent a series of chilling murders. This film is often cited as one of the first slasher films and is credited with pioneering elements of the genre. Its combination of horror and mystery set against an ordinarily joyful holiday season has made it a classic in the annals of horror cinema.

Jodie Comer Fights For Survival In THE END WE START FROM Trailer

jodie comer in the end we start from trailer

The End We Start From is the feature directorial debut from filmmaker and BAFTA winner Mahalia Belo, a survival drama based on a novel by Megan Hunter. From a script by Alice Birch (series creator of the Rachel Weisz-starring horror Dead Ringers), the film stars the ever-fantastic Jodie Comer, Joel Fry, Katherine Waterston, Gina McKee, Nina Sosanya, Mark Strong and Benedict Cumberbatch.

In The End We Start From, when an environmental crisis sees London submerged by flood waters, a young family is torn apart in the chaos. As a woman and her newborn try and find their way home, the profound novelty of motherhood is brought into sharp focus in this intimate and poetic portrayal of family survival. The disaster film showed at both Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, receiving overall positive reviews.

The film is produced by Leah Clarke, Liza Marshall, Adam Ackland, Amy Jackson and Sophie Hunter. Executive producers include Claudia Yusef and Eva Yates for BBC Film, Sébastien Raybaud, Dave Caplan, Jason Cloth, Lizzie Francke for the BFI, and Rob Harper, in addition to stars Cumberbatch, Strong, and Comer.

The End We Start From comes to UK cinemas on 19th January, 2024. Watch the trailer below:

SHOGUN Samurai Epic Gets Release Date

Shôgun tv series 2024 poster

FX’s epic samurai series Shōgun is now set to premiere on February 27, 2024, the network has confirmed. This follows the release of the show’s official trailer, which launched earlier this month.

The ten-part adaptation of James Clavell’s 1975 novel of the same name will be debuting on Hulu in the States, Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in all other territories, including the UK, on that same day. The premiere will include the first two episodes, followed by a new episode dropping each week.

Shōgun is set in Japan in the year 1600, at the dawn of a century-defining civil war. Producer and martial arts legend Hiroyuki Sanada (seen recently in John Wick: Chapter 4) stars as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, who is fighting to survive as his enemies on the Council of Regents unite against him. As the official logline continues, “When a mysterious European ship is found marooned in a nearby fishing village, its English pilot, John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), comes bearing secrets that could help Toranaga tip the scales of power and devastate the formidable influence of Blackthorne’s own enemies — the Jesuit priests and Portuguese merchants. Their fates become inextricably tied to their translator, Toda Mariko (Anna Sawai, Pachinko), a mysterious Christian noblewoman and the last of a disgraced line. While serving her lord amidst this fraught political landscape, Mariko must reconcile her newfound companionship with Blackthorne, her commitment to the faith that saved her and her duty to her late father.”

Tadanobu Asano, Hiroto Kanai, Takehiro Hira, Moeka Hoshi, Tokuma Nishioka, Shinnosuke Abe, Yuki Kura, Yuka Kouri and Fumi Nikaido also star in mini series.

Shōgun is created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, with Marks serving as showrunner and executive producer alongside Michaela Clavell, Edward L. McDonnell, Michael De Luca and Kondo. 

Shōgun debuts from the 27th February, 2024. Watch the trailer below:

LOKI Creator Michael Waldron To Write KANG DYNASTY

jonathan majors as kang in loki by creator michael waldron

Marvel Studios has enlisted Loki series creator Michael Waldron to write the screenplay for Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Waldron also penned the script for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and was already on board to pen the the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, which will follow Kang Dynasty in a two-punch phase finale a la Infinity War and Endgame.

Jeff Loveness, who wrote Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, penned a previous draft of Kang Dynasty.

The move to hire Michael Waldron follows director Destin Daniel Cretton‘s exit from the project, though he remains involved in the Multiverse Saga with the TV series Wonder Man and his upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings sequel. Avengers: The Kang Dynasty currently remains without a director.

Kang Dynasty is supposedly due to release May 1st, 2026, followed by Secret Wars on May 7th, 2027. However, those dates seem, at best, optimistic, given the lack of directors and the uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Majors’ future with Marvel pending trial for domestic abuse charges. Majors has already played variants of Kang in the season 1 and 2 finales of Loki, as well as in last year’s Quantumania.

Stay tuned as Marvel Studios continue to search for the films’ directors.

Timothy Olyphant To Star In ALIEN Series

timothy olyphant in santa clarita diet holding spade

Timothy Olyphant will be reuniting with Noah Hawley for FX’s upcoming Alien series, Deadline reports, signing on for a lead role. He joins Sydney Chandler in the Hawley-helmed show, which serves as a prequel to Ridley Scott’s beloved Alien franchise.

Who exactly Olyphant will play has not been confirmed by FX, but Deadline claims the Daisy Jones & The Six star will play a character named Kirsh. The character is reportedly a synth who “acts as a mentor and trainer for Chandler’s Wendy who is a hybrid, a meta-human who has the brain and consciousness of a child but the body of an adult.”

The confirmed cast so far also includes Alex Lawther as a soldier named CJ, Samuel Blenkin as CEO Boy Kavalier, Essie Davis as Dame Silvia, Adarsh Gourav as Slightly, and Kit Young as Tootles. This new Alien series, executive produced by Scott, is the first story in the sci-fi franchise to take place on Earth, set roughly 70 years in the future. Production on the show paused some time after the start of the SAG-AFTRA strike, and is expected to resume in early 2024.

Timothy Olyphant is best known for his recent roles in FX’s Fargo, as well as starring in the cannibal-comedy series Santa Clarita Diet opposite Drew Barrymore, and the crime drama series Justified: Crime Primeval.

GLADIATOR 2 Finally Has a Release Date

After years of speculation over whether it would actually go ahead, the long-awaited Gladiator 2 finally has a release date. Ridley Scott has just released his Napoleon epic, and now he has time to turn his full attention to the Gladiator sequel. The 2000 picture was a cultural sensation and had a long-lasting effect on popular culture. Fans will be hoping that the new offering will have the same effect and help to add to the legacy of the original. All will be revealed soon, as the new title could drop in 2024.

Gladiator Had a Massive Impact on Popular Culture

Scott’s original Gladiator movie is easily one of the greatest and most successful offerings in the iconic director’s catalogue. The movie grossed over $500 million worldwide, which was highly impressive for the time. This made it the second-highest grossing movie of the year, behind Mission: Impossible 2. It was a magnet for accolades as well, winning five Academy Awards including the esteemed Best Picture. So, there’s no doubt that Gladiator 2 has a lot to live up to.

Aside from being a success on its own, Gladiator also had a lasting impact that can be seen in the entertainment industry today. In the subsequent years of its release, it’s popularity demonstrated the public appetite for the genre, which led to various other historical epics such as Troy in 2004. It has even had an influence on the gaming industry, as there have been countless titles set during the Roman Empire since then. The casino market is one of the best places to find these themes, with many online slots in 2023 using a Roman theme. For instance, there’s the Gladiator Legends, which is clearly heavily influenced by Scott’s film. There are also titles such as Rome Supermatch and Centurion Maximus Winnus Megaways, which have aspects that will remind players of Gladiator as well.

Gladiator 2 Will Have a Brand New Story

With Gladiator 2 set for a November 2024 release, there’s loads of information available about the new picture. It will be a sequel to the 2000 offering, meaning that there’s no potential for Russell Crowe to return – unless it’s done as a flashback. However, viewers can get excited about a star-studded cast that includes Denzel Washington, Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Connie Nielsen. The latter will reprise her role from the original, alongside Djimon Hounsou and Derek Jacobi.

At the end of Gladiator, Crowe’s Maximus Decimus Meridius saved Commodus’s nephew, Lucius. The new picture will star Mescal as a grown version of Lucius, serving as a tie in between the two pictures. However, the upcoming offering is likely to have a brand new story that’s completely different to the tale explored in Gladiator. However, to stay true to the original and the title of the picture, viewers are likely to be treated to many battles in the Colosseum. With Scott in the director’s chair and such an amazing cast, Gladiator 2 certainly has the potential to rival its predecessor. As long as it is a worthy sequel, many fans will be content, and it seems there won’t be long to wait now before the new movie drops. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS Drops Trailer

dc animated three-part series justice league: crisis on infinite earths trailer still

The Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths movie trilogy has released its first trailer. The three-part story will adapt one of the most popular comic book crossover events ever, as part of DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Animation’s Tomorrowverse continuity.

The Tomorrowverse began with Superman: Man of Tomorrow, followed by Justice Society: World War II, the two-part Batman: The Long Halloween, Green Lantern: Beware My Power, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Justice League: Warworld. Jim Kreig and Kimberly S. Moreau are the producers of the franchise.

In Part One, “The Anti-Monitor (the Monitor’s evil counterpart) is released in the DC Multiverse and begins to destroy the different Earths that compose it. The Monitor attempts to recruit heroes from across the Multiverse, but is murdered.” Jeff Wamester directs from a script by Marv Wolfman, with Darren Criss voicing Superman and Jonathan Adams as The Monitor/The Anti-Monitor. Wolfman also wrote the original comic book storyline, which was published as a 12-issue limited series from 1985 to 1986.

All three movies of Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths are set to arrive in 2024. Exact dates for the releases of each of the three parts have yet to be announced. Watch the trailer below: