DISNEY'S 'SWORD IN THE STONE' LIVE ACTION REMAKE FINDS ITS DIRECTOR! PAUL BETTANY TO PLAY PRINCE PHILIP IN 'CROWN'? 'SIREN' MERMAID TV SERIES CAST PHOTO AND TEASER SWEPT ASHORE!

  'SWORD IN THE STONE'

DISNEY'S MOVIE FINDS DIRECTOR

It is based on T.H.White's book

As you already know Disney is doing a lot of live action remakes of their famous animated classics and one of them is also SWORD IN THE STONE which has just found its director in Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (28 Weeks Later)! The 1963 animated hit was, as 'The Hollywood Reporter' writes, the final movie released by the studio before Walt Disney’s death!

The movie takes a light hearted view of the famous mediaeval legend of King Arthur, focusing on the young Arthur being mentored by the magician Merlin. This is not to be confused with another Disney's project on the same topic The Merlin Saga which might be helmed by Ridley Scott. That one follows young Merlin. Is generally grim and dark Fresnadillo the right director for this job?

   PAUL BETTANY TO PLAY

PRINCE PHILIP IN SEASONS 3 AND 4 OF 'THE CROWN'?

Over at Netflix, the latest gossip coming from Daily Mail say that Paul Bettany is currently negotiating to replace Matt Smith in their THE CROWN series playing a mature age Prince Philip. The 1970s and the 1980s

Paul Bettany is negotiating to play Prince Philip in seasons 3 and 4

in the life of the British monarch will see Helena Bonham Carter playing Princess Margaret and Olivia Colman taking over the role of queen Elizabeth II.

   'SIREN' TEASER

FOR NEW FREEFORM SERIES

FreeForm has released cast photo and a teaser for their new series SIREN which starts March 29th set in Bristol Cove, known for its legend of once being

Siren comes out of the ocean March 29th on FreeForm

home to mermaids! It is turned upside down when a mysterious girl (Eline Powell) appears and begins wreaking havoc upon the small fishing town. Using their resources, marine biologists Ben (Alex Roe) and Maddie (Fola

Alex Roe leads the cast of the new series

Evans-Akingbola) must work together to find out who and what drove this primal hunter of the deep sea to land, and are there more like her out there?

JACK REYNOR TO LEAD PERIOD SET SERIES 'STRANGE ANGEL' AT CBS! RIDLEY SCOTT TO DIRECT DISNEY'S 'THE MERLIN SAGA' FRANCHISE?

JACK REYNOR TO LEAD CBS'

'STRANGE ANGEL' 1930S SHOW

Interesting casting news today as well, people! One of our favourites among the new boys, Jack Reynor will topline new period set series STRANGE

Reynor already wore a period costume in Macbeth

 ANGEL for CBS! In the new series he will be Jack Parsons, a brilliant and ambitious blue collar worker from 1930s Los Angeles who started as a janitor at a chemical factory but had fantastical dreams that led him to birth the unknown discipline of American rocketry. Along the way, he fell into a mysterious world that included sex magic rituals at night, and he became a disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley. Parsons used Crowley’s teachings of self actualization to support his unimaginable and unprecedented endeavour to the stars. The series is based on a book by George Pendle!

'THE MERLIN SAGA' 

RIDLEY SCOTT TO DIRECT?

The Merlin saga has 12 books so far!

Meanwhile, 'Variety' reports that Ridley Scott is in talks to direct Disney's THE MERLIN SAGA which is eyed as a possible franchise based on 12 books from T.A. Barron which he started publishing back in 1996! He would also produce it with Lord of the Rings' and Hobbit's Philippa Boyens writing the script! Similar to the popular BBC series from a decade ago, THE MERLIN SAGA depicts the origin story of a young wizzard Merlin who would go on to become the mentor of the classic literary character of King Arthur. It is even more interesting that Disney is preparing another movie from this universe - a live action version of SWORD IN THE STONE which Ridley could also produce.

EMILY BLUNT RIDES INTO BATTLE ON A POLAR BEAR IN 'HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR' EPIC JAWDROPPING TRAILER! PHILIPPA BOYENS TO ADAPT 'THE MERLIN SAGA' INTO MOVIE!

'THE MERLIN SAGA' 

PHILIPPA BOYENS TO ADAPT T.A. BARRON'S NOVELS

Epic news for you today, like it was yesterday too! Disney is planning a movie saga on young MERLIN and the latest info is that they have hired LORD OF THE RINGS and HOBBIT's Philippa Boyens to pen THE MERLIN SAGA! Based on more than ten of T.A. Barron's novels which were published from 1996 till 2011 following a boy who washes ashore in ancient Wales, with no recollection of who he is, as he becomes determined to learn the truth about his magical powers. As you know, Colin Morgan gave a masterful portrayal of the young wizard in BBC's MERLIN TV series.

'THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR' 

JAWDROPPING TRAILER IS OUT

As I promised you yesterday, here's the first full, and totally mind blowing trailer for next year's epic adventure THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER'S WAR which will see Emily Blunt ride into cinemas on a polar bear next April! She is absolutely ruling the trailer as the powerful and mesmerizing Ice Queen! Charlize Theron returns as Ice Queen's sister Queen Ravenna, while Chris Hemsworth is the title hero! Read more about it in our premium spotlight! Sam Claflin and Colin Morgan also star in the movie made by MALEFICENT and ALICE IN WONDERLAND producers!