Marvel Studios ventures into grittier, more mature territory with the first Echo trailer, marking the studio’s first series to receive a TV-MA rating.
It’s a happy return to tone for fans of the Daredevil and Jessica Jones era of Marvel content, which was made by Marvel TV, as opposed to Marvel Studios. Appropriately, both Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio return to Echo as Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, respectively. Alaqua Cox stars as Maya Lopez/Echo, a character first introduced in the series Hawkeye.
“It’s a little on the grittier side for Marvel, and shows the breadth of what Marvel is capable of,” said Brad Winderbaum, the studio’s head of streaming, television and animation. “It is sort of a new direction for the brand, especially for Disney+.” Series director Sydney Freeland said the tone of the show evolved from the fact that its protagonist is a villain.
In the Echo series, Maya returns to New York as a gang leader and “must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community if she ever hopes to move forward.” Zahn McClarnon, Chaske Spencer, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Cody Lightning and Graham Greene also star in the series, with Marion Dayre serving as head writer.
All episodes will release on Disney+ from January 10th, 2024. Watch the Echo trailer below:
The Kickstarter for the folk horror movie Turn Back ends a minute before midnight today (Thursday, November 9th). Turn Back is a horror movie told in reverse, inspired by the Norwich folk legend of Black Shuck, a ghostly black dog that roams the Fens. The first scene of the movie will be the last part of the narrative, and the story builds from there.
The project is being brought to you by sofa-owning YouTuber Stuart Ashen, who is best known for short comedic reviews of cheap tat. He has proven his movie-making skills times and again, with two very successful, crowdfunded movies under his belt so far: Ashens and the Polybius Heist and The Quest for The Game Child.
Turn Back is a departure because it’s a horror movie, but it will retain the same excellent talent as the previous two features. British Horror Award-winning director Riyad Barmania will direct, and the cast will include Stuart Ashen himself as well as Daniel Hardcastle and Stuart Ashen.
The latest trailer for the anticipated kaiju movie Godzilla Minus One has just released, granting fans a closer look at the cinematic icon wreaking havoc in post-war Japan. The film, which marks the 37th instalment in the long-running franchise, set in the aftermath of WW2 and sees Godzilla appear as Japan struggles to recover from a crushing defeat.
Godzilla Minus One is written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki, and stars Ryunosuke Kamiki, Minami Hamabe, Yuki Yamada, Munetaka Aoki, Hidetaka Yoshioka, Sakura Ando and Kuranosuke Sasaki.
Yamazaki has stated that he took influence from the original 1954 Godzilla film and Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001) when writing this script.
Toho releases this film in Japan today, November 3rd, the same day as the first film was released in 1954, to celebrate the franchise’s 70th anniversary. This is also the first Japanese-produced Godzilla film since Shin Godzilla in 2016.
Godzilla Minus One releases on December 15th in UK cinemas. Watch the second trailer below:
Last weekend, the ExCeL London was transformed into a realm of unparalleled geekdom as MCM Comic Con took over to deliver some good old-fashioned fandom fun (try saying that fast five times in a row). If you missed it, fret not because STARBURST was there to drink it all in, and we’re here to take you through a weekend of pop-culture extravagance!
Unlike at many Comic Cons, getting through security was a comparatively pleasant affair; a quick check of bags and a once over of our more realistic-looking weapons (though sadly, I was unable to locate a real-life phaser…) and we were in.
Once inside, it was time to hit the shops! The merchandise is the crowning jewel of any Comic Con, and MCM didn’t disappoint. Many talented artists and traders come to sell their wares at Comic Cons, it was great to visit some of the fascinating stalls and highly knowledgeable sellers who are often fans themselves. Their willingness to chat about their products and ‘fangirl’ with punters really adds to the sense of community that defines Comic Con.
A particular highlight was a stall that sold hand-knitted Doctor Who figures, including Daleks, manned by none other than Captain Kirk himself (well, not really, but it was a great costume!)
Bookworms were in for a treat; the ‘Pop Asia section’ was the home of all things manga and anime, while the Forbidden Planet book stall boasted an extensive array of titles and genres. Whether you’re into sci-fi or romance, there was something to pique your interest, making it the perfect opportunity to expand your collection.
‘Writers Block’ also played host to an array of guest authors. Fans had a chance to chat to get books signed by popular authors such as Claire Legrand (A Crown of Ivy and Glass) and Benjamin Deann (How To Die Famous, The King Is Dead). We even managed to bag a ticket to meet the cast and writers of BBC’s Ghosts!
Of course, it wasn’t just authors in attendance; the event’s star-studded guest list was a major draw. Fans had the opportunity to meet big names such as Andrew Scott (Sherlock, Fleabag) and Ashley Johnson (Critical Role, The Last of Us). Panel discussions and Q&A sessions with many of the visiting stars provided some fascinating insights into their careers.
The ‘Table Top Realm’ provided a space for fans to try their hand at popular board games, including Dungeons &Dragons, while The ‘Side Quest Console Corner’ was home to both new and retro video games as well as the gaming bus where fans could play an array of games in the comfort of an air-conditioned hideaway (seriously, it’s the middle of winter, why are cons this hot?!)
There was also plenty of photo opportunities with sets and props from beloved franchises like Doctor Who.
However, the pièce de résistance was the cosplay! MCM is renowned for attracting cosplayers from every franchise. Superheroes, anime characters, and video game icons all mingled, showcasing their incredible outfits, many of which were lovingly homemade.
So there you have it, the atmosphere was as warm and welcoming as ever, and with the sheer volume of things to do, a fine weekend was had by all! Whether you’re already a dedicated fangirl or just curious, MCM Comic-Con makes a great day out, so why not get involved? With the next con blasting into Birmingham from December 1st to the 3rd, we wholeheartedly recommend grabbing your ticket! It was a delight to immerse ourselves in this celebration of pop culture for a weekend- don’t miss out – make sure you’re part of the next MCM Comic Con experience!
The full trailer has just been released for horror-thriller Awaken The Reaper, starring Aliens’ Lance Henriksen, Louis Gossett Jr. (Watchmen TV series), and Robin Curtis.
The indie film follows a troubled drifter who returns home to begin therapy when he begins experiencing visions of a hooded skeletal figure that brandishes a scythe. Per the official synopsis, “A woman’s gone missing. The agoraphobic Keith Lamont is her last hope. But to find her, he’ll have to face his deepest fears.”
Dave Campfield and Justin Paul co-direct the feature, from a script written by Campfield. Emilie Paap, Paul Ehlers, Heidi Shepherd, and Adam Ginsberg round out the cast.
Awaken the Reaper releases next year, though no exact release date has been announced. Watch the official teaser trailer below:
Having now wrapped production on Death of a Unicorn, A24’s new film starring Paul Rudd and Wednesday‘s Jenna Ortega, the studio has officially announced that the rest of the ensemble includeRichard E. Grant, Tea Leoni, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Jessica Hynes, and Stephen Park.
The film follows father-daughter duo Elliot (Rudd) and Riley (Ortega) who accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while on their way to a weekend retreat, where the former’s billionaire boss and pharmaceutical CEO (Grant) seeks to exploit the mythical creature’s miraculous curative properties.
Death of a Unicorn marks Alex Scharfman’s directorial debut, from a screenplay he wrote. Prior to Death of a Unicorn, he’s produced such notable indies as Blow the Man Down and Resurrection, among other titles. As A24 is not part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, it was allowed to film the project over the summer under an interim agreement, during the still-ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Halloween‘s John Carpenter is composing music for the horror comedy alongside son Cody Carpenter and Daniel Davies.
Death of a Unicorn has wrapped production but does not currently have a release date. Stay tuned for further updates as we get them!
Sad Halloween’s over? Well, every day is Halloween on the free TV channel NYX UK. The streaming channel has now expanded its viewing range on Freeview 289, so there are even more chances to turn in. There’s a thrilling line-up for November on the channel with six channel premieres of some genuine classics.
Check out the highlights:
Friday, November 3rd – Invaders from Mars (1953) channel premiere
Saturday, November 4th – The Giant Claw (1957) channel premiere
Sunday, November 6th – X- The Unknown (1956) channel premiere
Wednesday, November 8th –The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)
Thursday, November 9th – Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972)
Saturday, November 10th – Man’s Best Friend (1993) channel premiere
Friday, November 17th – Frightmare (1974)
Saturday, November 18th – Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932) channel premiere
Thursday, November 23rd – The Terror (1963) and The Ghoul (1933) to celebrate Boris Karloff’s birthday.
Friday, November 24th – The Beast Must Die (1974)
Saturday, November 25th – It’s Alive (1974) channel premiere
Sunday, November 26th – Circus of Fear (1966)
Throughout the month, there’s plenty for horror fans to get their teeth into with the popular Hammer Sundays and late-night screenings on Friday from the master of French erotic horror, Jean Rollin.
You can tune into NYX UK on Freeview 289, Channelbox App, TCL TVs, and Distro TV.
Vanessa Kirby and Sydney Sweeney are the latest actors to board Oscar winner Ron Howard’s renamed survival thriller Eden (previously named Origin Of Species), joining Jude Law, Ana De Armas, and Daniel Brühl.
Kirby, best known for her roles in the Mission Impossible franchise, Pieces of a Woman, and Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw, will next be seen starring in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon opposite Joaquin Phoenix. Meanwhile, Sweeney was recently seen in White Lotus and true-story drama Reality, and is set to star in Sony’s superhero flick Madame Webopposite Dakota Johnson. Per a Deadline exclusive, the two actresses replace Alicia Vikander and Daisy Edgar-Jones in Eden.
Also joining the project is composing god Hans Zimmer, marking the tenth collaboration between him and Howard.
Based on an unsolved mystery that unfolded on a remote island in the Galapagos, Eden charts the lengths humans will go in pursuit of happiness. It follows a group of people fuelled by a profound desire for change; in order to turn their back to society they leave everything behind and set their futures on the harsh landscape of the Galapagos. According to the film’s producers, the film “explores the human condition in ways that are unexpected, absurd, humorous, sexy, but above all thrilling and deeply suspenseful”.
Eden heads into production at the end of November.
Amazon MGM Studios have landed the rights to Rebecca Yarros’ incredibly successful fantasy book series The Empyrean, whose first novel Fourth Wing is moving to be developed for television alongside Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society production banner.
Yarros and Entangled Publishing’s Liz Pelletier are set as executive producers. Should the adaptation be well-received, Deadline states, there’s the potential for each book in The Empyrean series to be developed into its own separate TV project. The second novel, Iron Flame, will release November 7th. Yarros previously confirmed on her TikTok channel that “right now, [the series] is fully plotted for five [books]”.
In Fourth Wing, “Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant of Basgiath War College, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general – also known as her tough-as-talons mother – has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away… because dragons don’t bond to ‘fragile’ humans. They incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter – like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant. She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise. Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom’s protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Alliances will be forged. Lives will be lost. Traitors will become allies… or even lovers. But sleep with one eye open because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die.”
Thought we’d seen the back of zombie romances after Warm Bodies? Think again. Freakystar Kathryn Newton is the latest girl to try to spark a romance with a reanimated corpse in the teaser for Lisa Frankenstein.
The 1989-set comedic horror centres on Lisa (Newton), a high school outcast who is smitten with a handsome corpse (Cole Sprouse) from the Victorian era and accidentally brings him back to life during a lightning storm. Like, the corpse isn’t even fresh. The girl must be very motivated. Good thing that she also has access to a tanning bed in her basement! Carla Gugino, Liza Soberano and Joe Chrest are among those rounding out the cast.
Lisa Frankenstein marks Zelda Williams’ feature directorial debut, which she helms from a script by Oscar-winning writer Diablo Cody. Williams is the daughter of Robin Williams, and is known for a voice role on The Last Airbender sequel series The Legend of Korra. Cody previously won an Academy Award for her writing credit on Juno, and wrote the screenplay for the criminally under-appreciated Jennifer’s Body.
Lisa Frankenstein will land in cinemas from February 9th, 2024, distributed by Focus Features. You can check out the official teaser trailer below:
