We continue our sf week with some great new science fiction news coming from Amazon which will develop Ringworld and Lazarus into TV series! RINGWORLD, based on Larry Niven's sf classic novel, was already planned for production a few years ago at SyFy, but it seems now it has the green light. It follows Louis Gridley Wu, a bored man celebrating his 200th birthday in a technologically advanced, future Earth. Upon being offered one of the open positions on a voyage, he joins a young woman and two aliens to explore RINGWORLD, the remote artificial ring beyond “Known Space.” The books cover their
Lazarus is set on a feudal sf earth!
thrilling journey as they attempt to fulfil their original mission to uncover the mysteries of Ring.
LAZARUS SF COMIC Amazon is also looking to turn Greg Rucka's comic book LAZARUS
into new TV series. It is set in an alternative near future where the
world has been divided among 16 rival families, who run their
territories in a feudal system. Each family has allies and enemies among
the other families. To crush uprisings and fight wars, most families
have a Lazarus: a one-person kill squad. Kinda similar to Into the
Badlands.
Here's another big screen adaptation of a science fiction novel for you: Age of Adaline's Lee Toland Krieger is to direct a movie based on Katie Khan's HOLD BACK THE STARS a romance that follows the story of a couple falling for each other on earth, juxtaposed against the story of them fighting for their lives in space while running out of oxygen. As the story lines play out, the mystery as to why they’ve gone into space becomes clearer. The book has been published in more than 20 countries around the world so far!
'CLEOPATRA' TO GET
ADAPTED BY DENIS VILLENEUVE While he is preparing to premiere his Blade Runner 2049 in cinemas,
Denis Villeneuve is Sony's new candidate for directing another big
screen
Sony's been planning this project for 10 years now
adaptation CLEOPATRA based on Stacy Schiff's bestselling novel.
James Cameron was previous director attached to this high profile
project. Unlike some other more glamorous projects, this one will focus
on the truth about
Cleopatra as a leader and not just a sex symbol, since she was a mother,
leader and an intellectual who spoke five languages and whose
upbringing
also reflected her relationship with Rome. Earlier this year I also told you that Black Sails team is working on a Cleopatra series for Amazon but we haven't heard anything about it since.
Deadline reports that a new book from The Martian author Andy Weir titled ARTEMIS will be turned into a movie directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. To be published November 17th, it centres on
The directing duo was recently kicked out of Star Wars spinoff
Jasmine Bashara, aka Jazz, just another too-smart, directionless twenty something chafing at the constraints of her small town and dreaming of a better life. Except the small town happens to be named Artemis — and it’s the first and only city on the moon. She’s got debts to pay, her job as a porter barely covers the rent, and her budding career as a smuggler isn’t exactly setting her up as a kingpin, much to her disappointment. So when the chance at a life-changing score drops in her lap, Jazz can’t say no, and she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself.
Scott Eastwood leads the cast
PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING
FIRST MOVIE SEQUEL POSTERS HAVE ARRIVED
Meanwhile, exciting first character posters have been released today for PACIFIC RIM: UPRISING, a follow up to Guillermo del Toro's science fiction action blockbuster Pacific Rim from 2013! Directed this time by Daredevil's and Spartacus' Steven S. DeKnight, the action packed sequel will now have the cast lead by Scott
This will be DeKnight's first movie
Eastwood, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, Rinko Kikuchi and John Boyega. It is interesting that half of Spartacus TV series cast will star in this one including Dustin Clare, amazing Daniel Feuerriegel and Nick Tarabay. The sf adventure in which humans use massive robot fighters to defend themselves from alien invasion is scheduled for next March. The sequel will show what happened to the Jaeger technology after the world was freed from Kaiju.You can also check out the first, freshly released trailer for the movie below and tell us what you think.
I will entertain you this extremely boring Tuesday with a trailer and photos from a brand new science fiction series we have never heard of before but it starts airing next month! EXTINCT will start its ten episode first season October 1st on BYUtv as their second scripted series ever after Granite Flats.
EXTINCT action packed science fiction series takes place 400 years
after the extinction of the human race and follows a small group of
humans who are revived by an alien civilization. The aliens claim they
want to restore the human species, but the reborn humans
Chad Michael Collins plays the lead role in the series
uncover new
dangers, hidden agendas and powerful secrets that challenge that claim
and threaten to annihilate the human race all
Extinct is BYUtv's second scripted series ever
over again. Nothing is as
it seems to be, and if the colony of revived humans aren’t careful,
courageous and unified, they’ll find themselves under the control of one
group or the other.
FROM ORSON SCOTT CARD
Coming from the creator of Ender's Game, science fiction legend Orson Scott Card winner of both Hugo and Nebula sf awards, and New York
Extinction comes from sf legend Orson Scott Card
Times bestselling author Aaron Johnston, the brand new series has a cast lead by Chad Michael Collins! Other cast members include Victoria Atkin, Jaclyn Hales, Yorke Fryer, Jack Depew, Matthew Bellows and Jake Stormoen.
I already announced earlier this year that British ITV's small screen adaptation of William Thackeray's classic novel VANITY FAIR will have Olivia Cooke and Tom Bateman in lead roles, but today we not only have the rest of the cast announced, but we also have the first photo showing the pair over in Budapest where the seven part historical drama is currently shooting.
VANITY FAIR,produced by Mammoth Screen (the same company that brought us Victoria
and Poldark), is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic
Wars, and follows modern heroine Becky Sharp as she attempts to claw
her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English Society. Her
After airing on ITV in UK, Vanity Fair will air on Amazon too in US
story of villainy, crime, merriment, lovemaking, jilting, laughing,
cheating, fighting and dancing, takes her all the way to the court of
King George IV, via the Battle of Waterloo, breaking hearts and losing
fortunes as she goes.
STELLAR NEW CAST ADDED!
Charlie Rowe will play George Osborne
Lead heroine Becky Sharp is played by Olivia Cooke, Tom Bateman (Da Vinci's Demons) is Captain Rawdon Crawley! They are now joined by Charlie Rowe as George Osborne, Johnny Flynn (Genius) as Dobbin, Martin Clunes (Doc Martin) as Sir Pitt Crawley, Frances de La Tour (Vicious, The Collection) as Miss Matilda Crawley, Suranne Jones (Doctor Foster) as Miss Pinkerton and Michael Palin as Thackeray himself. Claudia Jessie (Line of Duty) will play Becky’s confidante Amelia Sedley, with Simon Russell Beale and Claire Skinner as her parents, and David Fynn as her brother Joss.
If you are wondering what you are doing this Christmas, you are going to the jungle! Dwayne Johnson brings JUMANJI sequel WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE to theatres December 20th this winter in a brand new 3D action adventure directed by Jake Kasdan! Today you can check out a new trailer below filled with humour and also a few new posters!
Story takes place 20 years after the first film
LOST IN THE GAME In a brand new Jumanji adventure, four high school kids discover an
old video game console and are drawn into the game's jungle setting,
literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is
that you don't just play Jumanji - you must survive it. To beat the game
and return to the real world, they'll have to go on the most dangerous
adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago,
and change the way they think
The movie is a tribute to Robin Williams
about themselves - or they'll be stuck in
the game forever, to be played by others without break.
JUMANJI CAST
Spencer Miller, a nerdy gamer who goes to detention with Fridge, Martha, and Bethany and discovers the Jumanji video game, is played by Alex Wolff, while
Dwayne Johnson is Dr. Smolder Bravestone, an archaeologist and explorer, Spencer's avatar. Jack Black appears as Professor Shelly Oberon, a cartographer and cryptographer, Bethany's avatar.
Madison Iseman plays Bethany White, the prettiest
Pop star Nick Jonas plays a brave helicopter pilot in the movie
girl in school and a cheerleader who goes to detention with Spencer, Fridge, and Martha.
Kevin Hart is Franklin "Moose" Finbar, a zoologist
Although the jungle is in Africa, the movie was shot on Hawaii
and weapons specialist, Fridge's avatar.
Ser'Darius Blain is Anthony "Fridge" Johnson, a football jock who also ends up in detention together
Robin Williams' character will appear in the film through archive footage
with Martha, a wallflower bookworm, whose avatar commando Ruby Roundhouse is played by Karen Gillan! Pop superstar Nick Jonas
This is a 2nd movie for Dwayne Johnson with the Welcome to the Jungle title
plays Alex, a mysterious guide and adventurer in the game who helps the avatars escape Jumanji, while Bobby Cannavale is John Bardon, the antagonist of the Jumanji video game.
Oh, rejoice, people, lovely Fran Drescher, who hasn't really starred in anything for five years since Happily Divorced sitcom, has been cast in THE CREATRESS movie about best selling author Eryn Bellow who concludes her book store tour with her agent (Peter Bogdanovich) selling film rights and closing a six figure advance for her follow-up. Headwinds arise as critics get offended by the claims that Eryn is being declared a living literary legend. The storm gathers force as the assaults gravitate from bad reviews to a fake memoir designed to obliterate her from the field. Through the noise, Eryn attempts to write her way out of the public fray, and reclaim her voice in the minds of her readers. Along the way, she hopes to prove a happy ending is not always a bad thing. Our beloved comedy star Fran Drescher will play her agent Carrie!
'B&B' THRILLER TRAILER
IN WHICH TOM BATEMAN AND SEAN TEALE GO GAY
Tons of television hunks in this one: Da Vinci's Demons' Tom Bateman, Reign's Sean Teale, The Durrells' Callum Woodhouse
Bateman is also in new Orient Express movie
and James Tratas all star in thriller B&B which follows two gay Londoners Marc and Fred who went to war when they were refused a double bed at a remote Christian guest house. They won in court and now they're back to claim their conjugal rights. Triumph turns to terror when another guest arrives, who they think might have something sinister in mind. Their weekend of fun turns into a bloody battle for survival in this smart, brutally funny and dark thriller.
If you're wondering what you will be doing next Easter, you will be watching PETER RABBIT! Or maybe you will be puking after you see the trailer. Columbia pictures has released the first trailer for the big
2018 marks 125th anniversary of Potter's book
screen adaptation of Beatrix Potter's beloved children classic which jumps into theatres next February in US and March in Europe.
PETER RABBIT the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated
generations of readers, now takes on the starring role of his own
irreverent, contemporary comedy with attitude. In the film, Peter's feud
with Mr. McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) escalates to greater heights than ever before as they rival for the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover (Rose Byrne) who lives next door. James Corden voices the character of Peter with
James Corden lends his voice to the mischievous rabbit
playful spirit and wild charm. Margot Robbie and Daisy Ridley
are also in the voice cast. The first reactions to the trailer are very
negative, saying that Potter is probably turning in her grave watching
Peter turned into a party animal instead of living in an innocent,
charming world that has captivated so many childhoods.
Animated thrills today, starting with the first trailer for stop motion movie ISLE OF DOGS which arrives eight years after Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox. It tells the story of Atari Kobayashi, 12-year-old ward to corrupt Mayor Kobayashi. When, by executive decree, all the canine pets of Megasaki City are exiled to a vast garbage dump called Trash Island, Atari sets off alone in search of his bodyguard dog, Spots. There, with the assistance of a pack of newly found mongrel friends, he begins an epic journey that will decide the fate and future of the entire Prefecture. Jeff Goldblum, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Ed Norton and Frances McDormand are among the voice cast.
NEW 'FERDINAND' TRAILER
TELLS YOU NEVER TO JUDGE A BULL BY ITS COVER
Meanwhile, our most anticipated animated adventure this year, FERDINAND has got a new trailer! It comes with the news that pop superstar Nick Jonas has written song Home for the movie!
Ferdinand hits cinemas this Christmas
BUILT TO FIGHT, BORN TO LOVE
This heart warming comedy comes out this December and is based on the
classic 1936 children's book by Munro Leaf. FERDINAND, is a a giant bull with a big heart who prefers smelling the
flowers and practising non-violence rather than chasing red cloths held
by matadors in arenas. But when disaster comes to him, he is captured
and torn from his home and family and taken to a fighting stadium like
Nick Jonas is singing an original song Home for the movie
every bull in Spain! Ferdinand now needs to decide if he is a fighting
bull or a flower smelling, generous bull, in order to earn his freedom.
Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team for the
ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can't judge a
bull by its cover.
As 'Deadline' reports, Big Talk Productions has bought the best selling fantasy series LOCKWOOD & CO with plans to adapt the books for television. Writer Jonathan Stroud is releasing the final, fifth part of the supernatural adventure saga into book stores this week!
Launched in 2013 LOCKWOOD & CO books are set in an
alternative London that’s facing an epidemic of spooks and ghouls. Only a
few young people have the abilities to see and hear the supernatural
terrors, and it’s their job to fight them. Many competing Detection
Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, but the smallest,
most ramshackle of all is Lockwood & Co.
'THE SECRET SCRIPTURE'
STELLAR NEW POSTER
A movie that already played around Europe is hitting US cinemas October 13th! THE SECRET SCRIPTURE
follows Roseanne McNulty (Vanessa Redgrave) who must vacate the mental institution in Roscommon, Ireland that she's called home for over 50 years. The
It is based on a Sebastian Barry book!
hospital's psychiatrist, Dr. William Grene (Eric Bana), is called in to assess her condition. He finds himself intrigued by Roseanne's seemingly inscrutable rituals and ticks, and her fierce attachment to her Bible, which she has over the decades transformed into a palimpsest of scripture, drawings, and cryptic diary entries. As Grene delves deeper into Roseanne's past, we see her as a young woman (Rooney Mara), whose charisma proves seductive. We learn that she moved to Sligo to work in her aunt's café, fell in love with a dashing fighter pilot (Jack Reynor), and that a local priest (Theo James) fell tragically in love with her. Aidan Turner plays another of her boyfriends.
The first trailer (I shall replace the teaser below with the full trailer as soon as it appears tonight) has been released for the reboot of TOMB RAIDER which is out next March! This time Alicia Vikander plays famous Lara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, who must push herself beyond her limits when she finds herself on the island where her father disappeared. Daddy dearest is played by Dominic West with Daniel Wu also in the cast of the film directed by Roar Uthaug.
'SIX BELOW' TRAILER
WITH FROZEN JOSH HARTNETT
There's also a new trailer for snowy survival adventure with Josh Hartnett SIX BELOW which is out in cinemas this October also starring Mira Sorvino. Hartnett plays an adrenaline seeking snowboarder who gets lost in a massive winter storm in the back country of the High Sierras where he is pushed to the limits of human endurance and forced to battle his own personal demons as he fights for survival! This exciting survival movie is actually based on a true story!
'ALL I SEE IS YOU' TRAILER
WITH BLIND BLAKE LIVELY!
First trailer has also been released for Blake Lively's new movie ALL
I SEE IS YOU which is out at the end of October! She plays Gina who,
blinded as a child in a nearly fatal car accident, depends on her
husband James (Jason Clarke) to be her eyes, a dependence, which appears
to solidify their passionate relationship. When Gina is given the
opportunity to have a corneal transplant and regains her vision, their
life and relationship are upended as Gina now sees the world with a new
sense of wonder and independence which James finds threatening.
The only thing I have for you today is the first poster for Hugh Jackman's THE GREATEST SHOWMAN which hits theatres around the world this Christmas!
Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is
an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and tells
of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a
worldwide sensation.The true story movie also stars Zac Efron, Rebecca
Ferguson and Michelle Williams. It is directed by Michael Gracey who
previously worked on special effects in movies. The movie wasn't
originally envisioned as musical.
While Marvel is planning to start their own streaming service sometime next year with their own series, there is a part of their superhero universe you'll be able to watch this Autumn: TV series THE GIFTED, based on their X-Men franchise, which starts its ten episode run on Fox October 2nd starring Stephen Moyer and Amy Acker as parents who take their children on the run after they discover their mutant abilities.
SUPER HEROES ON THE RUN The series from writer Matt Nix and X-Men director Bryan Singer
focuses on a suburban couple (Stephen Moyer, Amy Acker) whose ordinary
lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children
The Gifted starts this October on Fox
possess
mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the
family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to
survive.
THE GALLERY OF SUPERHEROES
The series will be executive produced by Underworld's Len Wiseman, who is also directing together with Bryan Singer, with
Stephen Moyer in the lead role of Reed Strucker: A father trying to balance his
Sean Teale is Eclipse, who manipulates photons
family responsibilities with his job as a district attorney.
Amy Acker is Caitlin Strucker:
A mother and nurse struggling with her split from Reed and increasingly challenging teenage children played by Natalie
Emma Dumont can control magnetism as Polaris
Alyn Lind and Percy Hynes White. Sean Teale is Marcos Diaz or Eclipse: A rebellious mutant who can absorb and manipulate photons.
Jamie Chung is Clarice Fong or Blink: A sarcastic, lively mutant with teleportation powers.
Coby Bell is Jace Turner: A man struggling with
Blair Redford is mutant leader Thunderbird
the cold-blooded requirements of his job.
Emma Dumont is Lorna Dane or Polaris: A brave and loyal mutant whose abilities include controlling magnetism.
Blair Redford is John Proudstar or Thunderbird: A
Jamie Chung is Blink, a teleporter
strong-willed mutant, leader of the underground community. Jermaine Rivers will guest star as Shatter: A mutant who can turn his skin into a hard, protective crystal. Elena Satine as Dreamer: A mutant that can add or subtract others' memories.
The first trailer and poster today for the magical, period set biopic TE ATA following a Native American woman who entertained at the White House and became friends with the First Lady, performed for European kings and queens, and on stages around the world in a career that spanned more than 60 years!
In the movie which is out in selected theatres this October,
Q'orianka Kilcher plays Te Ata, (Mary Thompson Fisher), a woman who
traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest Native
American performers of all time. Born in Indian Territory and raised on
the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture, Te Ata’s journey to find
Graham Greene, Mackenzie Astin also star in the movie
her true calling led her through isolation, discovery, love and a stage
career that culminated in performances for a United States president,
European royalty and audiences across the world. Yet of all the stories
she shared, none are more inspiring than her own.
Netflix has announced the starting date for the third season of their ultra popular family comedy series FULLER HOUSE! The new season at the Tanner house starts September 22nd when first 9 episodes will air, with the second half of the season to be aired later on. While the previous season was focused on holidays, this one will be a summer one. Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin lead the cast again with Bob Saget and John Stamos guest starring again. Check out the fun trailer below.
FRESHLY ORDERED SITCOMS Fox has, meanwhile ordered a pilot for multi camera sitcom COOL KIDS
about three guy friends in a retirement community who are the top dogs
until they’re blown out of the water by the newest member
Two part season 3 will have 18 episodes
of the
community, a female rebel who’s ready to challenge their place – it’s
high school with 70 somethings. It's from It’s Always Sunny In
Philadelphia creators. CBS is working on multi camera comedy WELCOME TO
MAINE from The Great Indoors creator, about a ninth generation Maine
family and a recent immigrant, believed to be a Syrian refugee, and his
daughter who all must learn to embrace change when they share the same
workplace in a tiny rural town. They've also orderedTHE BIG HOUSE
sitcom following a newly engaged woman and her son who are settling into
life with her fiancé when her ex-con ex-husband gets out of jail on
good behaviour and moves in with them.
The only thing I have to show you this very boring end of the week is a fun and colourful trailer for Russian adventure movie THE LAST WARRIOR which mixes fantasy, action and comedy with Russian folklore and myths. Also known as THE LAST KNIGHT or Последний богатырь the movie hits Russian cinemas later this October with young Victor Horinyak in the lead role! I think it is the first movie produced by Russian Disney, but I'm not entirely sure.
IN THE LAND OF BELOGORIE The movie follows Ivan, an ordinary guy, who is transferred by chance
from modern Moscow to a fantastic country Belogorie. This parallel
world is populated by heroes of Russian fairy tales, magic is an
integral part of everyday life, and controversial issues are resolved by
battle with heroic swords. Unexpectedly, Ivan finds himself at the very
centre of the struggle between light and dark forces, but it is unclear
why the main role in the events is, according to everyone's opinion,
prepared for him.
First clip has been released for Sam Claflin's war drama JOURNEY'S END in which he's leading his men into battle.
Out next February with
The movie premieres today at Toronto Film Festival
a stellar cast lead by Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Tom Sturridge, Toby Jones and Asa Butterfield, this
historical drama is a big screen
Always marvellous Sam Claflin leads the stellar cast
adaptation of
RC Sherriff's JOURNEY'S END, the seminal British play about First World War. Set in a dugout
in Aisne in 1918, it is the story
Saul Dibb is directing the WWI drama
of a group of British officers, led by the mentally disintegrating young officer Stanhope (Sam Claflin), variously awaiting their fate.
'OUR SOULS AT NIGHT' TRAILER
The film is out this Month on Netflix
STARRING ROBERT REDFORD AND JANE FONDA
First trailer has also been revealed for Jane Fonda and Robert Redford's romantic drama OUR SOULS AT NIGHT which is out September 29th on Netflix! Louis and Addie are longtime neighbours who never really knew each other, he calls her “Miss Moore” when she comes to his house for the first time. Both have lost their longtime spouses, quite a while back, it appears, and are lonely. As they begin to get to know each other,
Matthias Schoenaerts plays Fonda's son in the movie
they’re nervous about what the other locals might say because talk is cheap when the story is good. After some time, the nascent couple is ready to spread the news.