Director Gore Verbinski was riding high for a while. He got his feature career started with Mouse Hunt and the Brad Pitt / Julia Roberts movie The Mexican, then followed his hit remake of The Ring with a trilogy of Pirates of the Caribbean movies (and dropping an underrated Nicolas Cage movie into the mix along the way). Things got bumpy the animated movie Rango was followed by The Lone Ranger, one of the biggest box-office bombs of all time. He brought us the psychological thriller A Cure for Wellness in 2017… and nothing since. He’s had a number of projects in the works, but they never moved forward. He was attached to a live-action adaptation of Bioshock for many years before the project was shelved and was also in talks to direct the Gambit movie starring Channing Tatum. One of the last projects Verbinski was said to be working on was an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s The Sandkings for Netflix, but we haven’t heard any updates on the project for a while. Thankfully, he did finally manage to get one project into production: the mind-bending sci-fi adventure Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die. The film is aiming for a February 13, 2026 theatrical release and promises to be completely unhinged. Today, a trailer has dropped online to give us a hint of just how crazy the movie is, and you can watch it in the embed above.

Cast and Synopsis

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die follows a man who claims to be from the future and takes the patrons of an iconic Los Angeles diner hostage in search of unlikely recruits in a quest to save the world. Sam Rockwell (JoJo Rabbit, Iron Man 2) stars alongside Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen, The White Lotus), Michael Peña (Narcos: Mexico, Jack Ryan), Zazie Beetz (Joker, Deadpool 2), and Juno Temple (Ted Lasso, Venom: The Last Dance). The screenplay written by Matthew Robinson, who co-wrote The Invention of Lying with Ricky Gervais and Love and Monsters with Brian Duffield.

Early reactions to the film have been very positive, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. It has been given an R rating for pervasive language, violence, some grisly images and brief sexual content.

Are you glad to have a new Gore Verbinski movie to look forward to? Check out the trailer for Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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What is the “Conformity Gate” episode supposedly about?

According to online speculation, “Conformity Gate” would retcon “undesirable” plot points from the show’s final episode, including a reveal that Vecna/Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower) did not actually die and was controlling what viewers had seen as the ending in a fourth-wall-breaking experience. “Conformity Gate” rumors continue to spread rapidly on social media, particularly on TikTok, where Stranger Things fans, influencers, and sensationalists insist the episode exists. Some even posted footage of them watching the episode early, claiming the bonus episode “fixes” what was “wrong” with the finale.

How did the “Conformity Gate” rumor get started?

Rumors about the bonus episode began when a video was shared by the Stranger Things official TikTok page, featuring Hawkins science teacher Mr. Clarke (Randy Havens) standing in front of a clock set to 1:07. Groan. I shouldn’t let this bother me, but is this where we’re at with this sort of thing? I understand not wanting the show to be over (I’m more than okay with letting it go), but going so far as to disrespect the ending that the Duffer Brothers and everyone involved worked so hard to create is wild to me. While the finale might not be everything you wanted, what happened to judging something for what it is rather than what you wanted it to be? I know we’re all guilty of skirting that line from time to time, but in the case of Stranger Things, the show went above and beyond to entertain you for almost a decade. Let it rest.

The final episode of Stranger Things is currently streaming on Netflix, with a new documentary, titled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things, arriving on January 12. Don’t worry, the documentary is real. Huzzah!

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Background

Kosinski will be directing the film from a screenplay written by Zach Baylin, whose credits include The Order and King Richard (for which Baylin earned an Oscar nomination). Bruckheimer will, obviously, be producing.

Deadline previously revealed that David Grusch, “a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and Pentagon whistleblower who gained attention in 2023 for his claims about the U.S. government’s involvement in unidentified aerial phenomena research,” is on board as an executive producer and consultant. They went on to note, Once a niche, easy-to-dismiss topic, UAPs (formerly known as UFOs) have moved from the fringes of conspiracy theories into mainstream discussion in recent years, largely due to declassified military footage and government acknowledgment. Part of this shift in perception came with 2017 reporting from the New York Times that revealed the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, a group at the Pentagon tasked with investigating UAPs. In subsequent years, the U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed the authenticity of several declassified Navy videos showing fast-moving objects that pilots could not identify. Congressional hearings in 2022 and 2023 further legitimized the topic, with intelligence officials emphasizing national security concerns. Grusch himself spoke out in 2023, asserting that the U.S. government had been secretly recovering and studying non-human craft, which of course sparked even more public interest.

The film is said to be a large-scale conspiracy thriller about two men working in national security who uncover a secret program to recover and reverse-engineer crashed UAPs.

Science Fact

During an interview on Deadline’s podcast Behind the Lens with Pete Hammond, Kosinski said (with thanks to The Playlist for the transcription), “I’ve got something I’m working on with Jerry Bruckheimer about these UAPs, these unidentified aerial phenomena. So we’re working with two people who are at the very center of the topic. So, you know, the conversations with them are just fascinating. Zach Baylin‘s writing the script right now. It’s a very exciting project, and trying to get that ready as soon as possible. … You think it’s science fiction, but I think we’re finding out it’s science facts. So that’s what the film is about, and I think it’s one of those things that everyone will want to go see.“

Since it’s taking a “science fact” approach, it’s not surprising to see that Kosinski and Bruckheimer aren’t flinching from this project, even though Steven Spielberg has an event movie called Disclosure Day coming to theatres. The recently released teaser trailer made it clear that one’s going the “science fiction” route.

In addition to this UFO disclosure film and the potential Top Gun 3, Kosinski might make an F1 sequel and is gearing up to make a Miami Vice movie, which he hopes to get Michael Mann involved with in some capacity. During the Behind the Lens conversation, Kosinski confirmed that he has already been in contact with Mann.

Are you looking forward to Joseph Kosinski’s “science fact” UFO disclosure movie? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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When Will The X-Files Start Streaming on Pluto TV?

The X-Files will start streaming on Pluto TV on January 1. The series will be available on demand, but there will also be a dedicated 24/7 linear channel, which will kick off by running through the entire series chronologically, followed by curated weekend marathons.

Pluto TV already has a handful of dedicated sci-fi channels, including ones focusing on Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, Stargate, and Doctor Who, so The X-Files should fit right in.

What is The X-Files?

Created by Chris Carter, The X-Files is a sci-fi series that follows FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate unsolved cases involving paranormal and unexplained phenomena.

At its peak, the show was a full-blown phenomenon, expertly balancing standalone “monster-of-the-week” episodes with an expansive mythology centered on a shadowy government conspiracy to conceal the truth about alien life and its plans for humanity. Memorable characters, genuinely creepy monsters, and the electric chemistry between Duchovny and Anderson helped cement The X-Files as a pop-culture landmark.

The series premiered on Fox in 1993 and ran for nine seasons before concluding in 2002. A feature-length film was released in 1998, with The X-Files: I Want to Believe arriving in theaters in 2008. The franchise was later revived for two additional seasons, which aired in 2016 and 2018.

Ryan Coogler is Developing a New X-Files Series

I’ve always loved The X-Files, so I’ve been very curious to see what Ryan Coogler does with the concept. The Black Panther director has been developing a reboot of the series, and now that Sinners is out of the way, it’s expected to be his next project.

Much like the original series, Coogler recently confirmed that the reboot will feature both standalone and myth-arc episodes. “It wouldn’t be X-Files if we didn’t do both,” he said. “We intend on having both monsters of the week and also the overarching conspiracy.” There have been rumblings that Danielle Deadwyler (Till) may be in talks to play one of the leads, but when asked about it, Coogler laughed and said, “I can neither confirm or deny.“

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Trancers Refresher

The Trancers franchise dates back to the pre-Full Moon days, but all of the sequels were Full Moon releases. It began with the first Trancers in 1984, which happens to be one of my favorite Christmas movies. Tim Thomerson took on the role of Jack Deth, a police trooper from the 23rd century who specialized in hunting down trancers, people who were turned into violent, mindless “zombies” by a psychic villain. Deth had to travel back in time to ’84 to bring that villain to justice… but even though that bad guy was defeated, different variations of trancers kept popping up, giving Deth reason to come back for Trancers II: The Return of Jack Deth (1991), Trancers III: Deth Lives (1992), Trancers 4: Jack of Swords (1994), Trancers 5: Sudden Deth (1995), and Trancers 6 (2002). Thomerson played Jack Deth in all of the sequels except Trancers 6, where Zette Sullivan stepped in as his daughter Jo Deth. There’s also a 20 minute short film called Trancers: City of Lost Angels, which was shot in the ’80s but not released until 2013.

Trancers 4 and 5

Trancers 4: Jack of Swords has the following synopsis: Jack is back to the future. While heading out for another assignment, something goes wrong with the TCL chamber. Jack finds himself in a whole new, more dangerous dimension. He also runs across a different version of trancers. These creeps have total control of this new planet and Jack agrees to assist a rebel group known as the “Tunnel Rats” to crush the rule of the evil Lord Calaban. The dimension-hopping story continues in Trancers 5: Sudden Deth, where the iconic Jack Deth finds himself once more lost in – and running out of – time and desperately trying to find his way home from the evil interdimensional world of Orpheus, where magic works and the trancers are the ruthless ruling class. Thomerson was joined in the cast of these films by Stacie Randall, Ty Miller, Terri Ivens, Mark Arnold, Clabe Hartley, Alan Oppenheimer, Lochlyn Munro, and Stephen Macht.

David Nutter directed the films from screenplays by Peter David – and now, with Trancers: The Whole Dethly Affair, “Get ready for the ULTIMATE Trancers experience with this newly re-edited “master cut” of director David Nutter’s TRANCERS 4 and TRANCERS 5, remixed into one mega movie!“

Discounting opening titles and end credits, the original version of Trancers 4 ran for 69 minutes, while Trancers 5 only managed to fit 62 minutes between its opening titles, a recap of what happened in 4, and end the credits, so I have always felt like these movies would have been better off being combined into one movie. Now, Full Moon has given an official version of that combo. Trancers: The Whole Dethly Affair has a running time of 135 minutes.

Will you be watching Trancers: The Whole Dethly Affair? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Neither Bones nor Sulu appears in Strange New Worlds until their Season 5 debut. Their arrival serves as a timestamp for the OG timeline, rounding out the Enterprise crew before Kirk takes command.

How much more Strange New Worlds can we expect?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was renewed by Paramount+ in June for a six-episode arc, capping the fan-favorite series at five action-packed seasons. Premiere dates for seasons 4 and 5 remain a mystery. However, if you’re jonesing for some Strange New Worlds goodness, the first three seasons are available to stream on Paramount+ right now.

Expect fewer “outlier” episodes going forward

Speaking with ScreenRant, co-showrunner Akiva Goldsman said we can expect fewer outliers in the show’s final two seasons.

“I think that it’s fair to say – as we come to the end of the show, because we’re making season 5 now – that we’re trending towards that, which is probably the center line of Star Trek,” he said. “We’re trending now, beginning with season 4 and through season 5 to a much more singular sci-fi, action-adventure with emotional storytelling. The outliers are getting fewer and fewer as we focus on saying goodbye to each other and the fans.“

That’s not to say season 4 will be all serious, as we already know a puppet-themed episode is on the way.

These episodes divide the fanbase, partly because they comprise a significant portion of the season. With only ten episodes per year, even two or three experimental installments can feel like a lot — particularly if you’re not sold on the creative gamble the writers are making that week.

Who stars in Strange New Worlds Season 4?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4 stars Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding, Melissa Navia, Babs Olusanmokun, and Martin Quinn, along with guest star Carol Kane and special guest star Paul Wesley.

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Sigourney Weaver and James Cameron reunite again for another Avatar film with Avatar: Fire and Ash finally hitting the gigantic screens this week. Our Chris Bumbray revealed in his review that “Much of the movie revolves around both Lo’ak and his adopted sister, Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), coming into their own as the war on Pandora intensifies, not only with the humans, but also with a dangerous tribe called the Ash People. […] To be sure, not all of Avatar: Fire and Ash works. A potential romance between Kiri and Spider is hinted at, but it’s a little strange given that they are essentially brother and sister. […] Cameron still seems engaged by the material, and it’s bound to be another hugely successful crowd-pleaser (an Aliens callback involving Weaver’s Kiri will no doubt get a lot of cheers).”

Weaver on the R-rated cut of Galaxy Quest

According to Deadline, Weaver recently sat down with Vanity Fair for a video interview and talked about another beloved sci-fi film she’s known for. No, it’s not Alien. It’s the family film that pays homage to Star Trek — Galaxy Quest. In Galaxy Quest, Weaver plays an actress who is only utilized for her bombshell good looks, as her role on both the show and the ship doesn’t quite explore much more depth to her character. Weaver told Vanity Fair how she related to this role over her role in Alien. Weaver explained, “I wanted to play a young woman in that world of stardom, who wants so much to be a star and who, because she’s beautiful and bosomy and blonde, no one takes very seriously — not even the commander. And I felt great compassion and sisterhood with Gwen and Tawny [the fictional character she plays in the world of Galaxy Quest].”

Weaver is known for being frustrated with the last-minute change of editing Galaxy Quest down from an R-rated comedy to a PG-rated family film. She would state,

I wish they put out a director’s cut of the movie because, at the last minute, DreamWorks decided to release the movie with some of the more sophisticated scenes cut that Alan [Rickman] was in because it needed a kids’ movie to go up against [Columbia Pictures’] Stuart Little. And why they don’t put out the movie again with more of his very, very strange and wonderful scenes?”

Weaver on a Galaxy Quest sequel

Galaxy Quest didn’t hit big at the box office, but it did catch on later on the home video market, and the film would finally find its audience. The burning question for a film like this would be, do they capitalize on it with a sequel? Weaver discusses one that didn’t generate enough momentum. She explained, “[Co-writer] Bob Gordon had written a second one, and he wouldn’t give it to DreamWorks because he just felt they’d missed the boat on ours. And so we always meant to do a sequel, and then with Alan passing away, we just lost heart. But it was a great privilege to do this love letter to actors.”

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What We Thought About Avatar: Fire and Ash

Our Chris Bumbray had a fantastic time with Avatar: Fire and Ash, even if the story beats are starting to wane. He says in his review, “Yet, as always with this series, I had a good time, as the lengthy running time races by, and the immersive tech really does make you feel like you’re part of this world. Cameron still seems engaged by the material, and it’s bound to be another hugely successful crowd-pleaser (an Aliens callback involving Weaver’s Kiri will no doubt get a lot of cheers). Some think the audience’s thirst for Avatar may run out someday, but Cameron has been wise in the way he’s refused to allow the studio to spin off any element of his world, keeping the franchise feeling fresh. If there’s an Avatar 4and 5, I’ll be there.” You can read his full review HERE.

What James Cameron Said About the First Avatar Saga

According to James Cameron, he doesn’t think of Avatar: Fire and Ash as a sequel, but a culmination of the Avatar saga. This term seems fitting, as Cameron has spent decades working on the Avatar franchise. After so much time, projects evolve, becoming part of something larger than just another chapter in a larger story.

“I think you’ve got a little bit of experience with sequels and how you have to deliver beyond the audience’s expectation, take them from the familiar to the new each time,” Cameron explained. “I don’t think of Fire and Ash as a sequel. I think it was a culmination of a saga. I like ‘saga’ better than ‘sequel’ because a lot of where we were going with the story was in the original architecture of the story. So if you think of this as the third act, I think that’s healthier. As opposed to a typical Hollywood sequel, where they make a bunch of money with a movie and then they’re like, ‘Oh, crap. We’ve got to scramble around and get a new script. Maybe it’s not so good, but let’s just shoot it and get it out there.’ That’s not what we’re doing here at all. It’s a long game. And I went into it knowing that we’d be playing a long game and betting that the audience would come along with us and care about these people. Because they may be 10 feet tall and blue, but they’re people.”

Avatar 4 is slated to hit theaters in 2029, followed by Avatar 5 in 2031. However, Cameron is ready to call it quits if needed. “I have no doubt in my mind that this movie will make money,” he said. “The question is, does it make enough money to justify doing it again?” If not, Cameron is “absolutely” ready to set the franchise aside if there’s no more demand for sequels.

Cameron told io9 that films four and five are “It’s own saga. It’s got a beginning and a middle and an end that plays out across these two films. They’re vaporware right now.”

You already know what we think about Avatar: Fire and Ice, but what do you think about the film? Will you see the movie over the holiday break? Will you see it more than once? How many more Avatar films do you think Cameron has left in him? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Bugonia is another collaboration between Stone and Lanthimos after The Favourite, Poor Things, and Kinds of Kindness. Bugonia is a remake of the South Korean film Save the Green Planet, from Jang Joon-hwan. Unafraid to embrace all things strange, Save the Green Planet follows a disillusioned young man who captures and tortures a businessman whom he believes to be part of an alien invasion. A battle of wits ensues between the captor, his devoted girlfriend, the businessman, and a private detective.

What inspired Lanthimos’ Bugonia?

For more details about Save the Green Planet, here is another synopsis:

“Joon-hwan Jang imagines the fate of the human race hinging on Byun-gu, a bitter, paranoid and eccentric beekeeper who, with the help of his tightrope walker girlfriend, Sooni, kidnaps a powerful and successful businessman, Man-sik. Byun-gu believes that Man-sik is an alien from the planet Andromeda, one of many hiding among us and plotting to destroy the Earth in a few days. Amphetamine-popping Byun-gu sees himself as the planet’s last hope, and sets about torturing Man-sik with relish, trying to convince him to contact the “Royal Prince” and call off Armageddon. A battle of wits and wills ensues, with Man-sik trying to convince his captors that he’s human and attempting to escape. Man-sik recognizes Byun-gu as a disgruntled former employee whose comatose mother suffers from a mysterious illness. It begins to seem that Byun-gu’s true motivation may be personal, but he’s still ruthlessly determined to get Man-sik to confess and cooperate, even if he has to risk killing him. Meanwhile, a dishevelled detective, Chu, and his young acolyte, Inspector Kim, discover that the person who kidnapped Man-sik may have struck several times before, always with deadly results.”

What is Bugonia about?

Meanwhile, here’s the score for Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia, which makes a few changes from the original concept:

“Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the high-powered CEO of a major company, convinced that she is an alien intent on destroying planet Earth.” Stone is joined in the cast by Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ Bugonia earned roughly $40 million worldwide during its box office run. The film arrived on digital platforms in late November, but now Peacock subscribers can access it right at their fingertips.

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The moment of truth, of sorts, is here. Avatar: The Way of Water proved that the first film’s success hadn’t fallen victim to the passage of too much time, as it grossed an amazing $2.32 billion at the box office. The James Cameron sci-fi series is a full-on running franchise and Avatar: Fire and Ash is now upon us. With our recent predictions, it’s unlikely that Avatar: Fire and Ash will match or surpass the $134 million opening weekend of The Way of Water three years ago. A debut closer to **$100 million—give or take—seems more realistic. While that figure might look mildly disappointing on paper, history has shown that betting against James Cameron is rarely a smart move. The film’s business over the holiday season should be strong, and whether it ultimately joins its predecessors on the list of the highest-grossing movies of all time remains to be seen.

Eywa has heard you

Variety reports that Avatar: Fire and Ash has already grossed $43.1 million in 43 territories with early Thursday previews. The return to Pandora has amassed $12 million domestically. The publication added that Cameron’s new film is estimated to earn another $250 million to $275 million in its international debut for a global launch between $340 million and $365 million. This performance matches both of the earlier entries, but they also excelled in the duration of the holiday season. The first film would especially grow from word-of-mouth as the new wave of 3D viewing technology had been unveiled and ignited an interest in the immersive format.

The second film brought back the third dimension and incorporated a higher frame rate, which had been explored earlier with the Will Smith/Ang Lee action film, Gemini Man.

How did we feel about Avatar: Fire and Ash?

Our Chris Bumbray had an amazing time at the film, even if the story beats are starting to wane. He says in his review, “Yet, as always with this series, I had a good time, as the lengthy running time races by, and the immersive tech really does make you feel like you’re part of this world. Cameron still seems engaged by the material, and it’s bound to be another hugely successful crowd-pleaser (an Aliens callback involving Weaver’s Kiri will no doubt get a lot of cheers). Some think the audience’s thirst for Avatar may run out someday, but Cameron has been wise in the way he’s refused to allow the studio to spin off any element of his world, keeping the franchise feeling fresh. If there’s an Avatar 4 and 5, I’ll be there.” You can read his full review HERE.

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After holiday releases like Wonka from two years ago, last year’s A Complete Unknown and the upcoming Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet is becoming something of a Christmas tradition. Additionally, Chalamet is getting love for his performance in Marty Supereme with a Golden Globe nomination. Our Chris Bumbray also loved the movie, as he said in his review, “For me, it’s the movie of the year, and if film as a form seems to be dying off, at least there are guys like Safdie around who still deserve their place in the pantheon of great directors.”

A New Look for Dune: Part Three

Recently, Chalamet appeared on The Graham Norton Show to promote Marty Supreme and as the young star sports a new look without his signature long, flowing locks, he reveals it’s for the new characterization of Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Three. However, he also revealed that he begged director Denis Villeneuve not to cut his hair so short. Host Graham Norton broached the subject, asking what happened to the “Chalamet locks.” Chalamet replied, “They’re all gone. They’ve been stolen.”

He would then explain,

It was for a film. For Dune: Part Three. And there’s supposed to be a nice character shift. And I’m playing 15 – 20 years older. So, we did a 3 millimeter haircut, I think it’s called. The director wanted more — a 1.5. Then, we did one. And I begged him. I said, ‘Please, please…’ Cause you know…our hair, weirdly we’re all attached. It’s kind of like our personality. These follicles that grow out of our heads.”

Emma Thompson, who was also a guest that night, alluded to Samson from the story of Samson and Delilah, whose strength came from his hair. To which Chalamet admitted he was not familiar with the story.

What we know about Dune: Part Three

Timothée Chalamet has returned as Paul Atreides, alongside Zendaya as Chani, Florence as Princess Irulan, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho, Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Alia Atreides. Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke are playing Leto II and Ghanima, the twin children of Paul and Chani.

Villeneuve has returned to helm Dune: Part Three, but he isn’t viewing it as the completion of a trilogy. “First, it’s important that people understand that for me, it was really a diptych,” Villeneuve said. “It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That’s done and that’s finished. If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it’s not like a trilogy. It’s strange to say that, but if I go back there, it’s to do something that feels different and has its own identity.” Villeneuve added that the story “takes place like 12 years after where we left the characters at the end of Part Two. Their journey, their story is different this time, and that’s why I always say that while it’s the same world it’s a new film with new circumstances.” He also confirmed that it “will finish the Paul Atreides arc.“

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What Is BadAsstronauts?

The novella is a blue-collar space odyssey about a washed-up astrophysicist who decides, against all logic and common sense, to build a homemade rocket and launch it into orbit to rescue his cousin who’s stranded in space. It’s a story of underdogs rediscovering purpose, family, and pride as a wildly ill-advised backyard mission becomes a scrappy movement that eventually captures the imagination of the entire nation.

Todd Garner and Adam Goldworm will be producing the film adaptation, which is set up at Paramount Pictures. Hendrix will serve as an executive producer.

Other Hendrix Projects

A while back, author Hendrix contributed the 29 page short story Ankle Snatcher to the Amazon Original Stories Creature Feature collection, which also featured stories by Joe Hill, Josh Malerman, Paul Tremblay, Jason Mott, and Chandler Baker. The story quickly secured a film adaptation deal with Sony. When Amazon put together an original stories collection called The Shivers, Hendrix contributed the 35 page story The Blanks, which can be read in The Shivers Collection alongside stories by the likes of Stephen Graham Jones, Catriona Ward, Owen King, and, again, Joe Hill. The Blanks also secured a film adaptation deal, this one with 21 Laps, Aperture Entertainment, and the Netflix streaming service.

My Best Friend’s Exorcism was turned into a feature film that was released through Prime Video, and Horrorstör adaptations have been in the works for years. At first it was intended to be a TV series, now producers are aiming to turn it into a movie. A film adaptation of How to Sell a Haunted House is set up at Legendary Entertainment, and TV series adaptations of both The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires and The Final Girl Support Group were in the works, but appear to have stalled out.

Hendrix also co-wrote the films Mohawk and Satanic Panic, as well as the documentary Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks. To date, his books have sold more than 2.4 million copies worldwide.

Are you a Grady Hendrix fan, and are you glad to hear there’s going to be a BadAsstronauts movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Cast

Mortal Kombat II stars returning Mortal Kombat cast members Lewis Tan as MMA fighter Cole Young, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Chin Han as Shang Tsung, Joe Taslim as Bi-Han and Sub-Zero, Hiroyuki Sanada as Hanzo Hasashi and Scorpion, and Max Huang as Kung Lao. New additions include Karl Urban (Dredd) as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) as Princess Kitana; Tati Gabrielle (You) as Jade, the friend and bodyguard of Princess Kitana; Damon Herriman (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) as Netherrealm demon Quan Chi; bodybuilder/actor Martyn Ford (F9: The Fast Saga) as Outworld emperor Shao Kahn; Ana Thu Nguyen (Suka) as Kahn’s wife Queen Sindel; and Desmond Chiam (Joy Ride) as Jerrod, who was the King of Edenia (and married to Sindel) until Edenia’s warriors lost in the Mortal Kombat tournament.

The film has earned an R rating for strong bloody violence and gore, and language.

Johnny Cage

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Karl Urban said, “I asked for a heavy-action content movie, and for my sins, they gave me one. It was the most challenging role that I’ve ever undertaken in my career. It’s the martial arts. The form and the style of martial arts is so specific, and the choreography, at times, is so definitive in its movement, and there’s a precision of execution for it to look good. It was a huge challenge. … As part of my research, I went to karate tournaments and looked at the younger generation of martial artists coming through to see what it was like growing up in that environment, as I imagine Johnny Cage had done when he was a kid.”

The Entertainment Weekly article also reveals that Cage is “a washed-up Hollywood actor. A former karate student as a kid, he grew up to be a big shot in the Sylvester Stallone-, Jean-Claude Van Damme-, and Arnold Schwarzenegger-era of B-action movies, but he’s now working the dried-up fan convention circuit.” He’s in the twilight of his career when he gets recruited into the Mortal Kombat tournament – and his fighting skills are rusty and sloppy when he has his first fight, which pits him against Kitana.

Crowd Pleaser

Screenwriter Jeremy Slater, who was the lead writer on the Marvel / Disney+ series Moon Knight, has said that test screening audience responses to Mortal Kombat II have been so enthusiastic, they’re on the level of the reaction he (and many other movie-goers) had to Avengers: Endgame – which sounds good for Garner’s sequel plans.

Garner told FutureBoyWho2 (with thanks to SuperHeroHype for the transcription), “We’re hoping that this is not the end of the franchise. So, this is not like we’re just doing this movie and this is going to be it, hopefully. We have a plan further down the line for things.” Referencing the character Hanzo Hasashi becoming Scorpion and Bi-Han becoming Sub-Zero and then Noob Saibot, he added, “Those characters have evolved. I know everybody’s waiting for Kano to get the metal plate in his eye. That will happen. … If we’re allowed to do further movies, hopefully this one does well enough, there’s chances to do other things, spinoffs, another sequel to propel the story, bring in different characters, and evolve the characters that we already have.” He even teased that the character Rain could appear in Mortal Kombat 3… and it has already been confirmed that Mortal Kombat 3 is in the works.

Are you looking forward to seeing what Karl Urban does in the role of Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Story

Although scripts for The Traveler have been making their way around Hollywood for years, it’s somehow said to be based on a novel by Joseph Eckert that won’t be published until June 9, 2026. Deadline’s sources described the project as an intimate family drama that exponentially develops into a vast science fiction odyssey. The novel explores the life of Scott Treder, a 47-year-old biology technician who begins experiencing involuntary jumps through time. Here’s the novel’s description: The Traveler is the story of a reluctant time-traveler and his son, and the bond between them that even millennia cannot break. An adventure full of heartbreak, hope, and futures beyond imagination. It’s a day like any other when Scott Treder first jumps forward through time. One moment, he’s on his way to work, fingers drumming the steering wheel. The next, he’s tumbling headlong down the road, his car gone, a dozen panicked voicemails from his wife waiting on his cell. 7:51am. Monday, April 13th. A blink of an eye. 7:52am. Tuesday, April 14th.

The first script was written by Austin Everett and was featured on the Blood List, Hit List, and the Black List. Justin Rhodes wrote the current draft.

Long Pursuit

Lipovsky told Deadline, “It’s very rare to read a script that you connect to so deeply. And honestly, I’ve been emailing our agents every six months for six years being like, ‘What’s the latest with that project?’ So the second it became available, we were in there the next day pitching our hearts out to be on that film. Because it was the one that got away six years ago.” Stein added that The Traveler has “everything we love in terms of an original sci-fi story that is very grounded, in terms of character, but has a very elevated theme of what it’s trying to say.“

Lipovsky and Stein have received a major career boost from Final Destination: Bloodlines – which makes sense, as the film turned out to be the best reviewed and the highest-grossing installment in the Final Destination franchise, earning over $315 million at the global box office. Since then, they have signed on to direct Long Lost for Universal and The Earthling for Sony. They have also written the screenplay for Gremlins 3 with original Gremlins writer Chris Columbus, who will be directing this new sequel, and are said to have wrapped production on a sequel to their sci-fi thriller Freaks.

What do you think of Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky signing on to direct The Traveler? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Greenland 2: Migration is heading for a January 9, 2026 theatrical release. Today, a new trailer for the upcoming film dropped online and can be seen in the embed above. We get a better look at what the story deals with this time around. As the title suggests, now that the survivors have escaped the initial doom of the first film, their hideaway is no longer safe. There is talk of humanity’s salvation being centered around “The Crater” and that’s where our main family now journeys toward.

Waugh directed this one from a screenplay by Mitchell LaFortune and the first movie’s writer Chris Sparling. Here’s the synopsis: In the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the earth, Greenland 2: Migration follows the Garrity family as they’re forced to leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home. Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin reprise the roles of John and Allison Garrity, with Roman Griffin Davis taking over the role of Nathan Garrity from Roger Dale Floyd. Also in the cast are Amber Rose Revah (The Punisher), Sophie Thompson (Gosford Park), Trond Fausa Aurvåg (The Bothersome Man), and William Abadie (Emily in Paris).

When Greenland 2: Migration was being shopped around, it became a hot commodity. The post-apocalyptic movie was sold in the biggest deal to occur at the Cannes virtual market, with STX making a massive $75 million deal. Domestic rights for the film were bought for $25 million, while STX will also take all international rights from Anton in a pact that hits around $50 million. Multiple streamers were trying to snag the sequel, and STX made sure to be first in line for it. STX distributed the original movie and they had a matching option to grab the sequel. Producing this installment are Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee of Thunder Road Pictures, Anton’s Sébastien Raybaud and John Zois, G-BASE’s Butler and Alan Siegel, and CineMachine’s Brendon Boyea. Executive producers are Robert Simonds, Noah Fogelson and Sam Brown for STX Entertainment, Ric Roman Waugh for CineMachine, and Chris Sparling.

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Synopsis

Directed by the legendary Roger Corman from a script that was crafted by Leo Gordon and Kinta Zertuche, The Wasp Woman centered on Janice Starlin, the founder of a cosmetics company who attempts to reverse the aging process using experimental enzymes derived from queen wasps, with disastrous results. A press release confirms that the new film will have the same plot.

The remake is being produced by Mark Roberts, who produced the Strangers with Candy film; Jordan Fields of Radial Entertainment, which owns the Roger Corman library via its Shout! Studios brand; Meyer Shwarzstein of Another Brainy Idea, and Michael Richter of A Major Production.

Dinello, who served as writer/supervising producer for The Late Show, will write and direct the new film. He provided the following statement: “When I read the story about a former supermodel turned dynamic businesswoman who slowly metamorphosed into a violent insect, I immediately thought, Amy Sedaris.” Sedaris added, “I love working with these guys. Can’t wait!“

Joseph Middleton, who previously worked on the Strangers with Candy film and served as head of casting at Paramount for a decade, is on board to assemble the cast. The press release notes that Sedaris is likely to “tap her comedy friends” for the project.

Previous Versions

Roger Corman made the original The Wasp Woman on a budget of around $50,000 and shot the movie in less than two weeks. Susan Cabot starred as Janice Starlin. In 1995, Corman produced a remake of the film for Showtime as part of the anthology series Roger Corman Presents. Jim Wynorski directed that one from a screenplay by Daniella Purcell and Guy Prevost, with Jennifer Rubin taking on the role of Janice Starlin.

The original The Wasp Woman is a wacky movie with a running time of just 73 minutes, so I usually end up putting it on at some point every October, during my month-long horror marathon. The set-up is there for a fun “comedic reimagining,” so I look forward to seeing what Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris do with the concept.

Are you interested in seeing a comedic reimagining of The Wasp Woman from Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Steven Spielberg has brought us a couple of the most iconic alien films with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. – The Extra-Terrestrial. Now the blockbuster maestro has returned to the sci-fi world with a new UFO movie that remained shrouded in secret…until now. The movie is revealed to have the title Disclosure Day and hints at a day when the secrets of alien life will be revealed to the world. David Koepp scripted the film based on a story by Spielberg.  

Universal has now unveiled the trailer for Disclosure Day.

The official press release reads:

Universal Pictures is proud to release a new original event film created and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars SAG winner and Oscar^® nominee Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place), Emmy and Golden Globe winner Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), Oscar^® winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman franchise), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Perfect Couple) and two-time Oscar^® nominee Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin).

Based on a story by Spielberg, the screenplay is by David Koepp, whose previous work with Spielberg includes the scripts for Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, War of the Worlds and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Combined, those films earned more than $3 billion worldwide. Koepp also wrote the script for this 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth.

Disclosure Day is produced by five-time Academy Award^® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (The Fabelmans, West Side Story) and by Spielberg for Amblin Entertainment. The executive producers are Adam Somner and Chris Brigham. 

At 93 years old, it would be understandable if John Williams elected to step away, but he is set to compose the score for the project. This will mark his 30th collaboration with Spielberg, with the first being The Sugarland Express, all the way back in 1974.

Williams previously hinted that he was considering retiring after he completed his scores for The Fabelmans and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but he later changed his mind. “I’ll stick around for awhile,” Williams said. “I can’t retire from music. A day without music is a mistake.” He added that his decades-long collaboration with Spielberg was as good a reason as any not to retire. “One thing Steven isn’t is a man you can say no to,” he said.

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More than a decade has passed since Legendary Pictures secured the rights to Godzilla and other characters owned and created by the Japanese company Toho so they could launch a cinematic universe they call the MonsterVerse – and they also secured the rights to the King Kong character so he could be part of their MonsterVerse as well. Things got started with Godzilla in 2014, and since then the universe has expanded with Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, the animated series Skull Island, the live-action series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. A third Godzilla / Kong mash-up is now on the way, aiming for a March 26, 2027 theatrical release. This one is called Godzilla x Kong: Supernova – and the Writers Guild of America West listing of the screenplay (filed under the title Zeus) may have accidentally given away the involvement of a monster from one of the Toho Godzilla movies: Space Godzilla!

Creative Team

Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire were both directed by Adam Wingard, but he has decided to return to his roots with the gonzo action horror thriller Onslaught rather than return for another round of monster brawls. The new sequel is being directed by Grant Sputore, who previously directed the Hilary Swank sci-fi thriller I Am Mother. Sputore is working from a screenplay by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse writer Dave Callaham. According to the WGA listing, I Am Mother writer Michael Lloyd Green also contributed to the script.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was the franchise’s highest-grossing installment and the highest-grossing Godzilla film of all time, pulling in $571.9 million at the worldwide box office. Kong: Skull Island was the previous MonsterVerse record holder, having made $568 million. Deadline hears that Godzilla x Kong: Supernova is described as a continuation of the franchise centering Godzilla, Kong, and an assortment of other Titans. It will feature several new human characters alongside Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat. 

Cast

The film stars Kaitlyn Dever (The Last of Us), Jack O’Connell (Unbroken), who is said to be playing Dever’s brother in the film, Delroy Lindo (Get Shorty), Alycia Debnam-Carey(Fear the Walking Dead), Matthew Modine (Stranger Things), and Dan Stevens, who is reprising the role of Titan veterinarian Trapper, the character he played in Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

Space Godzilla

The WGA listing tells us that the script crafted by Callaham and Green is “based on the characters Godzilla and Space Godzilla, owned and created by ToHo Co., LTD.” Space Godzilla, more commonly referred to by fans as SpaceGodzilla (no space after Space), first appeared in Toho’s 1994 film Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla. This creature looks quite similar to Godzilla, since it was the result of some of Godzilla’s cells being exposed to the radiation of a black hole, giving us “the merger of Godzilla’s genes with a crystalline organism in outer space.”

I’ve always felt that Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla was a very middle-of-the-road entry in the Godzilla franchise, but it could be interesting to see a MonsterVerse take on the Space Godzilla character, especially in a movie that would probably show the monster fighting Godzilla and Kong at the same time.

Would you like to see Space Godzilla in Godzilla x Kong: Supernova? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

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Four years have gone by since it was announced that Edgar Wright was coming on board to direct a new take on the novel The Running Man, which was written by Stephen King under his Richard Bachman pen name. The Running Man was, of course, previously turned into a film back in 1987 that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and had little to do with the source material. Last year, Wright’s film entered production with Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick, Hit Man, and Twisters in the lead role. Filming wrapped in the early months of this year, with the movie reach theatres on November 14th. Now, we know when it’s going to receive a digital release. The Running Man will be available to watch at home as of tomorrow, December 16th.

Synopsis

King’s novel has the following description: It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to the point where people are willing to wager their lives for a chance at a billion-dollar jackpot. Ben Richards is desperate – he needs money to treat his daughter’s illness. His last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man where the goal is to avoid capture by Hunters who are employed to kill him. Surviving this month-long chase is another issue when everyone else on the planet is watching – and willing to turn him in for the reward. Here’s the synopsis for the new film adaptation: In a near-future society, The Running Man is the top-rated show on television—a deadly competition where contestants, known as Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, with every move broadcast to a bloodthirsty public and each day bringing a greater cash reward. Desperate to save his sick daughter, working-class Ben Richards (Glen Powell) is convinced by the show’s charming but ruthless producer, Dan Killian (Josh Brolin), to enter the game as a last resort. But Ben’s defiance, instincts, and grit turn him into an unexpected fan favorite—and a threat to the entire system. As ratings skyrocket, so does the danger, and Ben must outwit not just the Hunters, but a nation addicted to watching him fall.

Wright directed The Running Man from a script he co-wrote with Michael Bacall and produced the film with Nira Park and Simon Kinberg.

Cast

Glen Powell is joined in the cast by Katy O’Brian (who had a breakthrough role in Love Lies Bleeding and shared the screen with Powell in Twisters) as a contestant; Daniel Ezra, who played the character Spencer James on 106 episodes of the CW series All American; Josh Brolin (Outer Range), playing a TV executive who is the main villain; Lee Pace (Halt and Catch Fire) as a ruthless hunter; Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) as a “naïve rebel who tries to help the desperate man”; Emilia Jones (CODA) as a “privileged woman blind to the oppression of the government“; David Zayas (Dexter) as a character named Richard Manuel; Colman Domingo (Fear the Walking Dead) as the host of The Running Man, a violent reality show promising an outrageous cash prize; 6-foot-8-inch actor and former MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry (28 Years Later) as a runner; and Jayme Lawson (Sinners) and William H. Macy of Fargo and Boogie Nights in unspecified roles.

JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray gave the film a 6/10 review, saying it alternated between being dazzling and frustrating. Tyler Nichols was more positive, saying the movie was great and he was blown away by it.

Bonus Content

The Running Man comes to digital with over two and a half hours of bonus content:

• Commentary By Writer/Director Edgar Wright, Actor Glen Powell, And Writer Michael Bacall
• Featurettes:
  • The Hunt Begins: Jump into the chase with Glen Powell, Edgar Wright, and the team as they rebuild Stephen King’s classic into a big, bold, break-the-system thrill ride for today.
  • The Hunters And The Hunted: Meet the cast and the unforgettable characters that power this anything-goes game show of survival, strategy, and spectacle.
  • Welcome To The Running Man: Designing The World: A look at how the team crafted the movie’s retro-futuristic style—from gritty street corners to the over-the-top Free-Vee studio set pieces.
  • Surviving The Game: Shooting The Running Man: Step onto the set for a closer look at the stunts, fights, and shoot days that kept the energy high and the cast moving.
• The Running Man Commercials: In-world commercials for the show you definitely shouldn’t audition for—but can’t stop watching.
  • Let Them Run
  • Hey You! Tough Guy!
  • Watermelons
  • Fate And Destiny
  • Quadcopter
• The Running Man Show: Dive deeper into the show with its hardest hits, signature opening titles, and the official rules every contestant has to face.
  • Hardest Hits
  • Opening Titles
  • Rules Of The Run
• The Runners – Self Tapes: Raw, unfiltered self-tape submissions from the show’s desperate, overconfident, and occasionally unlucky contestants.
  • Ben Richards 
  • Jenni Laughlin 
  • Tim Jansky 
  • Hopeless Dude  
  • Negative Dude
  • Final Dude
• Speed The Wheel: A satirical in-world game show where running for your life is just another studio challenge.
• The Americanos: Meet America’s richest, boldest, most chaotic family in their hit reality series—glossy, ruthless, and always watching.
  • Title Sequence
  • Episode
  • Promo 1
  • Promo 2
  • Promo 3
  • Promo 4
• The Apostle: Clips from the in-world series that expands the TV universe of The Running Man.
  • The Apostle 1
  • The Apostle 2
• Stunts Compilation: A full-throttle look at the hits, falls, wire work, wipeouts, and perfectly timed chaos that fuel the film’s biggest moments.
• Hair, MakeUp And Costume Test: Watch the cast get locked into their final looks before stepping into the arena.
• Deleted And Extended Scenes: Additional moments cut from the final film.
• Trailers & Digital Spots: A curated lineup of the campaign’s boldest cuts and hardest-hitting promos.

Will you be watching The Running Man when it receives a digital release tomorrow? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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The first season of Legendary’s MonsterVerse TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters ran on Apple TV+ from November 2023 into January 2024 (you can read our own Alex Maidy’s review of the first batch of episodes HERE), and while Godzilla was an important figure in that season, it wrapped up with an episode that indicated Kong might be taking the spotlight if there were to be a follow-up. A few months after the season finale, it was confirmed that Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 was a sure thing, then filming began in November of 2024. The premiere is set for February 27, 2026 – and last month, a teaser trailer dropped online to confirm that Kong plays a role in this new season. (You can watch that teaser in the embed above.) Of course, Godzilla is still around, and Apple TV+ bumpers have revealed the first Godzilla footage from season 2. You can see that right here:

Monarch Info

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is the latest chapter in Legendary Entertainment’s MonsterVerse series, which currently consists of Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and the Netflix animated series Skull Island.

The ten episode first season was set after “the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco and the shocking revelation that monsters are real” (as seen in Godzilla 2014). It tracks two siblings following in their father’s footsteps to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw, taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows. The dramatic saga – spanning three generations – reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives. The cast includes Anna Sawai, Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, and Elisa Lasowski. Season 2 brings the addition of Prey star Amber Midthunder.

Season 2 will also consist of ten episodes. It will pick up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. The dramatic saga reveals buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea. The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend and foe — all with the threat of a Titan event on the horizon.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters comes our way from Legendary Television. Matt Shakman (WandaVision) directed the first two episodes. Black, Fraction, and Shakman executive produce the series with Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, as well as Andy Goddard, Brad Van Arragon, and Andrew Colville. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character.

Are you looking forward to seeing Kong and Godzilla in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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We don’t know what the future holds for the HBO Max streaming service, since it’s owned by Warner Bros., which was just acquired by streaming powerhouse Netflix – but they clearly don’t expect the Netflix deal to disrupt their 2026 programming slate in any significant way. HBO Max has just released a teaser trailer that showcases the lineup of original series and documentaries that will be premiering throughout the next year. A press release notes that “the spot underscores HBO Max’s commitment to delivering high quality, must-see stories that inspire, entertain, and spark conversations around the globe. With a 2026 slate that champions originality and diverse voices, HBO Max reaffirms its dedication to bringing audiences together through content that is unforgettable and unparalleled.” You can watch the teaser trailer in the embed above.

The Lineup

Here’s the list of titles that are promoted in the teaser trailer, in order of appearance:

House of the Dragon Season 3, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts summer 2026
Euphoria Season 3, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts in April
Industry Season 4, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts January 11
The Pitt Season 2, Max Original Drama Series, debuts January 8
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts January 18
DTF St. Louis, HBO Original Limited Series, debuts in 2026
The Comeback Season 3, HBO Original Comedy Series, debuts in March
Rooster, HBO Original Comedy Series, debuts in March
Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, HBO Original Two-Part Documentary, debuts in 2026
Untitled Larry David Project, HBO Original Limited Series, debuts in 2026
Half Man, HBO Original Limited Drama Series, debuts in 2026
Hacks Season 5, Max Original Comedy Series, debuts in 2026
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, Max Original Comedy Series, debuts in 2026
The Gilded Age Season 4, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts in 2026
War, HBO Original Series, debuts in 2026
Dune: Prophecy Season 2, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts in 2026
Lanterns, HBO Original Drama Series, debuts in 2026

Some of the imagery seen in the teaser trailer has been seen before, but it does contain never-before-seen footage from House of the Dragon, Euphoria, DTF St. Louis, The Comeback, Rooster, Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, Half Man, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, War, Dune: Prophecy, Lanterns, and the untitled Larry David project.

What do you think of the 2026 programming slate that has been put together for HBO Max? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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IDW Publishing, a company known for bringing us comic books based on popular established properties like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Trek, Godzilla, and others, recently launched a new line of comics called IDW Dark, which specializes in horror stories. In addition to featuring original horror stories, the IDW Dark line includes titles based on Paramount Pictures horror properties like Smile, A Quiet Place, Event Horizon, The Twilight Zone, Sleepy Hollow, and more. Their first Event Horizon comic book limited series, Event Horizon: Dark Descent, was a prequel to the film – and now, Collider has learned that the second limited series, Event Horizon: Inferno, is a sequel that’s set 200 years after the events of the movie!

Event Horizon refresher

In case you need a reminder, Event Horizon had the following synopsis: The year is 2047. Years earlier, the pioneering research vessel Event Horizon vanished without a trace. Now a signal from it has been detected, and the United States Aerospace Command responds. Hurtling toward the signal’s source are a fearless captain, his elite crew and the lost ship’s designer. Their mission: find and salvage the state-of-the-art spacecraft. What they find is state-of-the-art interstellar terror. Paul W.S. Anderson directed the film from a screenplay by Philip Eisner, and the cast included Laurence Fishburne, Sam Neill, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, Richard T. Jones, Jack Noseworthy, Jason Isaacs, and Sean Pertwee.

Writer Christian Ward, who wrote Dark Descent, is also writing the Inferno scripts. He told Collider, “I always knew Event Horizon: Dark Descent was going to be a hit. Event Horizon fans are a passionate bunch that have been hungry for more for years. Adding to that, I approached this story with not just respect for the film but striving for a comic that anyone would enjoy and the immense talent of artist Tristan Jone and colorist Pip Martin – without whom Dark Descent wouldn’t have shined nearly as brightly – we were on to a winner. However, I have to admit even I’ve been taken aback by just how big of a hit Dark Descent has been and I’m thrilled now to be continuing the story of Event Horizon in Event Horizon: Inferno! First we told you the story about what happened before the events of the film and now… now we’re exploring what happened after the credits rolled.“

Event Horizon: Inferno

Rob Carey is providing the artwork for the new sequels, which Ward describes as being the Aliens to Dark Descent‘s Alien. He advises fans to “get ready for more sci-fi, more excitement, and especially more cosmic terror.“

Here’s the synopsis: In 2040, the starship Event Horizon disappeared. Seven years later, it returned possessed by a demonic entity. After murdering its rescue crew, it was blown in half, with the front of the ship left yearning for its heart: a gravity drive designed for interdimensional travel. Two hundred years later, a billionaire brings his own private star fleet to the wreckage around Neptune. He’s heard stories of the Event Horizon and will gleefully sacrifice any number of employees to uncover its secrets!

The first issue of Event Horizon: Inferno will be reaching store shelves on February 4, 2026, and a few of the covers can be seen below.

Are you a fan of Event Horizon, and are you looking forward to the sequel story that will be told in Event Horizon: Inferno? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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With each passing day, artificial intelligence continues to integrate itself into our society. It distorts our reality, alters entertainment, and changes the way we function. If we’re not careful, things could get out of hand, leaving our fate to something that isn’t human and acts only based on what it learns from our mistakes. In Timur Bekmambetov’s upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy, Chris Pratt must prove his innocence to an AI that acts as judge, jury, and executioner. To get audiences excited about the film before its January 23 theatrical premiere, Amazon MGM Studios debuted a new trailer for Mercy on Tuesday, and the picture it paints of the future could unnerve you.

In the new Mercy trailer, Detective Raymond (Christ Pratt) gets accused of murdering his wife by an AI and has 90 minutes to prove his innocence. Using an internet connection and an advanced interface, Raymond cases the scene, gathers evidence, and uses old-school crime-solving tactics to escape his circumstances and live another day.

What was the filming process like for Mercy?

The production for Mercy utilized the virtual production method known as The Volume, which employs LED panels as backdrops. Sporting a screenplay written by Marco Van Belle (Arthur & Merlin), Mercy tells a story that is “set in the near future when capital crime has increased” and follows “a detective (Pratt] who is accused of a violent crime and forced to prove his innocence.” Pratt is joined in the cast by Rebecca Ferguson (Dune), Annabelle Wallis (Malignant), and World Boxing Council middleweight champ Kali Reis, who recently shared the screen with Jodie Foster in the HBO series True Detective: Night Country.

Producer Charles Roven on the grim reality of Mercy

During the New York Comic-Con panel in October, Pratt said (as reported by Deadline) that the movie was shot like a stage play with 60-minute full-length takes. Producer Charles Roven said, “We got a pitch from a writer, Marco, who wrote the script. When we first got the script, people were talking about AI, and it wasn’t happening yet. When we started talking about the movie, all of a sudden, companies were dealing with AI, and the future wasn’t definitely not far away. The fact that the movie takes place in 2029, I think every day, every week, every month that goes by, there’s something more that makes our movie true.”

What do you think about the new trailer for Mercy? Could our judicial system resemble this by the year 2029? Would you trust an AI to decide your fate? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Chris Pratt matches wits with a ruthless AI to prove his innocence in a new trailer for Timur Bekmambetov’s sci-fi thriller Mercy appeared first on JoBlo.

The Asylum has brought us many mockbusters over the years, including Ballerina Assassin, Morgan: Killer Doll, The Jolly Monkey, The Twisters, Road Wars: Max Fury, The Exorcists, Bullet Train Down, Jurassic Domination, Top Gunner, Battle Star Wars, Alien Predator, Triassic World, Tomb Invader, Atlantic Rim, Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies, Almighty Thor, Thor: God of Thunder, AVH: Alien vs. Hunter, Transmorphers, Snakes on a Train, The Da Vinci Treasure, War of the Worlds, Hillside Cannibals, and many more. When Avatar: The Way of Water was released in 2022, The Asylum responded by making the mockbuster Battle for Pandora – and now that Avatar: Fire and Ash is about to be released (it’s set to reach theatres on December 19th), The Asylum has given their new movie Pandora: Fire and Ice a digital release! You can watch the trailer in the embed above, and if you’d like to watch the movie, you can find it on Amazon. It’s available to rent for $2.99 or to purchase for $9.99.

Return to Pandora

Battle for Pandora was directed by Noah Luke from a screenplay by Joe Roche and Rolfe Kanefsky. The synopsis: After a help signal from a research vessel makes it back to Earth, the U.S. Space Force sends a rescue ship to Pandora, a moon of Saturn. But when they try to land, they discover Pandora is inhabited by a highly evolved humanoid species. Roche returned to write the screenplay for Pandora: Fire and Ice, crafting the following story: Decades after humanity’s first contact with Pandora, a new expedition returns to harvest what’s left of the planet’s resources—only to discover that the alien species is preparing to strike back against Earth.

Canyon Prince, who previously directed the “Jumanji meets Ready Player One” movie The Final Level: Escaping Rancala for The Asylum, directed the new film, which stars Erika K. Marks, William McNamara, and the great Eric Roberts.

Have you seen Battle for Pandora, and will you be watching Pandora: Fire and Ice? Let us know by leaving a comment below. I haven’t seen Avatar: The Way of Water or Battle for Pandora – but chances are high that I’ll watch the Pandora movies before I get around to the Avatar sequels.

The post The Asylum mockbuster Pandora: Fire and Ice has been given a digital release appeared first on JoBlo.

Does Bremner’s script include Will Smith’s Agent J?

Plot details remain a mystery. However, Deadline says that once Bremner completes his script, original franchise star Will Smith will be the first to read it, with the studio hoping that he’ll reprise his role as Agent J. There are no details concerning how the character would return. In other words, we don’t know if he’d feature prominently or act as a guest star in a “pass the torch” capacity. However things shake out, the plan is to have Agent J be a part of the first draft. If Smith likes what he reads, it would be up to him to decide if he’d like to reprise the iconic role.

While this is potentially exciting, the studio insists that Smith is not attached to the project at this time. Only after he reads the script and goes through the negotiation process will we know more.

How successful is Sony’s Men in Black franchise?

Despite the last film in the franchise, Men in Black: International, which starred Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, not being nearly as successful as the core franchise, Men in Black remains a popular and lucrative property for Sony. The studio’s Men in Black franchise launched with the first film in 1997, followed by two direct sequels and the International reboot in 2019. All told, the Men in Black film franchise has earned $1.904 billion worldwide, which explains why Sony is looking to revisit the well.

Chris Bremner is a hot ticket in Hollywood after writing the past two Bad Boys films that have earned a collective $837.1 million at the global box office. He’s also the writer of Will Smith’s upcoming action vehicle Fast & Loose.

What do you think about Sony wanting to make another Men in Black movie? Should Will Smith return as Agent J or should Bremner move on from the character? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The post A new Men in Black film is in development with Bad Boys For Life scribe Chris Bremner penning the screenplay appeared first on JoBlo.

(Article has been UPDATED with the specific release date.) Six months ago, Full Moon founder Charles Band announced that he was about to head into production on “a sexy horror movie” called Prompt, which he hoped to have ready for release in August. It has taken a few months longer than expected, but Full Moon has now confirmed that Prompt will be premiering this Friday, December 5th, on Amazon VOD and the FullMoonFeatures.com streaming service. Along with that confirmation comes the unveiling of a trailer for the movie, which turns out to be an erotic AI thriller – and there’s a whole lot of sexual moments in this trailer, causing it to verge on NSFW territory. You can watch it in the embed above, as long as nobody’s looking over your shoulder.

Here’s the synopsis: Director Charles Band takes you beyond the threshold of artificial intelligence with this startling and sexy new thriller. When a young woman begins immersing herself in the arena of AI, her wildest and darkest fantasies become sensual realities. But the deeper she sinks into her online explorations, the closer she gets to the shocking truth.

When he first announced the project, Band said, “I’m fascinated by the AI world and how using that as a tool can really enhance what we do. … I don’t see Full Moon really making a movie only in AI, I don’t think the human beings are going to be replaced, but using it as an effect or as a storytelling tool is very exciting. So Prompt, which stars Keep Chambers, who I’ve been a fan of ever since she was the lead in Piranha Women we made a few years ago… I don’t want to blow the storyline, but it is a sexy horror movie. That’s kind of the way we like it; really sexy and pretty f*cking scary.“

What did you think of the trailer for Prompt? Will you be watching this movie when it’s released by Full Moon this Friday? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

I watch everything Full Moon releases and am endeavoring to watch all of the 400+ movies Charles Band has produced over the course of his career, so of course I’m going to watch Prompt.

The post Prompt trailer: Full Moon will release erotic AI thriller this Friday appeared first on JoBlo.

What are people saying about Avatar: Fire and Ash?

Avatar: Fire and Ash has just had its premiere and reactions to the film have hit social media. Our Chris Bumbray got to preview it and before his review drops, he reacts on our official social media, saying, “Avatar: Fire and Ash is obviously a must see in IMAX 3D. Like The Way of Water, it’s unbelievably immersive. I think it’s a minor step down from the last one, but the 3 hour plus running time whizzes by and I’m definitely always down for another trip to Pandora.”

The Awards Garage (formerly Two Peas in a Pod) raved about the film, saying, “#AvatarFireAndAsh is the best one yet. JC is the goat. I’ve never seen VFX work more striking in my life. No recognizable fx, all seems tangible & practical. Story soars too w/ action sequences that rival some of cinema’s finest. Also, Miley we’re getting you that #Oscar nom.”

Jakob Kolness says the cinematic wow factor is undeniable, but the movie is also exhausting enough to test audience’s patience, “#AvatarFireAndAsh is an overwhelming and exhausting amount of movie that may test the patience of its audience, but the cinematic wow factor is still undeniable. Breathtaking, explosive sequences that remind you nobody does blockbuster filmmaking better.”

MovieDeathBlows was very blown away by the film, saying, “With #AvatarFireAndAsh, James Cameron once again shows why he’s the greatest living director, pushing the saga into its most intense and violent chapter yet. He delivers action set pieces that leave you in awe, while also tugging at your heartstrings through the family’s journey. Stephen Lang’s Miles Quaritch steals every scene he’s in, and newcomer Oona Chaplin’s Varang is a standout a villain you absolutely love to hate she’s soo deliciously evil. Across all three Avatar films, each one somehow manages to be more stunning than the one before!”

Courtney Howard of Variety and The AV Club calls the movie bold, brilliant and awesome in her post, saying, “#AvatarFireAndAsh: 3 films in, James Cameron still has the sauce, making the epic spectacular feel emotionally impactful. A glorious saga. Bold, brilliant & awesome in every way, this is what movie theaters were built for. Payakan is still my fave, but Varang is the MVP.”

Richard Fink of MovieWeb likens it to Return of the Jedi as he finds not quite as good as the former films, but still really good, “#AvatarFireandAsh is the Return of the Jedi of the Avatar films. Even if it falls slightly below it’s predecessors, it is still REALLY good with some incredibly powerful and emotionally resonate beats that got tears out of me. Awe inspiring visuals and filmmaking. Loved it.”

Movie Files did not agree with all the praise, stating his disappointment with this chapter, despite being a fan of the series, “Saw #AvatarFireAndAsh tonight and I’m deeply disappointed. Despite being a huge fan, James Cameron completely missed the mark. It’s a recycle of the last film’s weaknesses, with a muddled story & poorly written characters dragging it down. I’m shocked by how much a particular character was front and center this time around and how badly they were written and the performance was just as bad. The stunning visuals couldn’t save this weak narrative this time around. Pretty bad all around.”

Kaitlyn Booth of BleedingCool says that although the movie has stunning visuals, it’s the same plot with laughable dialogue, “#AvatarFireAndAsh is a visual masterpiece. If you love these movies, it’s more of the same, but story-wise, it’s the same ‘capture/rescue’ plot over and over again with some laughable dialogue thrown in the middle. The runtime is criminal, and if you have eye issues, avoid the 3D”

Nikko Supreme doesn’t deny the visuals, but he also was done with the story, saying, “#AvatarFireAndAsh — there’s no denying that the spectacle of these films are unmatched. This one is bigger, louder, sharper. The 3D experience was truly something to behold. However, outside of a SPECTACULAR Oona Chaplin & a fascinating new tribe, the story is frustratingly repetitive and feels like a retread of the two films that came before. High entertainment value, low substance. If you enjoyed the first two you’ll probably enjoy this, it just feels played out at this point.”

The post First reactions to Avatar: Fire and Ash hit social media appeared first on JoBlo.

Arrow Video, the video division of Arrow Films, is known for releasing horror and cult films on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K. Today, the company unveiled the new titles they’ll be releasing this November – and they have some interesting films in the mix, including the fantasy film Excalibur, the Michael Crichton classic Westworld, the South Korean sci-fi black comedy Save the Green Planet (which recently got an English-language remake in the form of Bugonia), and more. Let’s go over the list!

The February lineup

Excalibur is getting both limited edition Blu-ray and limited edition 4K releases:

From John Boorman, the director of Point Blank, Deliverance and Zardoz comes the definitive cinematic telling of the life and enduring legend of King Arthur, from birth to death and beyond. Behold, the Sword of Power! Excalibur! Forged when the world was young, and bird and beast and flower were one with man and death was but a dream. Given by Merlin to Uther Pendragon to unite the land in peace but wasted on lust. Driven into stone by Uther’s dying hand, there to await the coming of a true King. A journey into the wonders and horrors of the imagination, this is the story of Arthur, the knights of the round table, the golden age of Camelot, the quest for the Holy Grail and of course, the wizard, Merlin. With an extraordinary cast that includes Helen Mirren, Gabriel Byrne, Nicol Williamson and Liam Neeson, Oscar-nominated cinematography by Alex Thomson (Legend) and a thundering score by Trevor Jones, Excalibur returns in a stunning new restoration. From the blood and mud of the battlefield, to the glowing green of ancient woods and gleaming gold of Camelot, experience Excalibur as you never have before.

3-DISC LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative by Arrow Films presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 for the first time on home video
• Contains both the 141-minute Theatrical Cut and the 120-minute TV Version of the film
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeve featuring two original artwork options
• Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet containing writing by Charlie Brigden, K.A. Laity, Kimberly Lindbergs, Josh Nelson, Philip Kemp, John Reppion, Icy Sedgwick and Jez Winship
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring two original artwork options
• Six postcard-sized reproduction art cards

DISC 1 – FEATURE

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Restored original lossless mono and DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio options
• Brand new audio commentary by Brian Hoyle, author of The Cinema of John Boorman
• Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker David Kittredge, director of Boorman and the Devil
• Archive audio commentary by director John Boorman

DISC 2 – EXTRAS

• The Making of Excalibur: Myth into Movie, a never before released 48-minute documentary directed by Neil Jordan during the production of Excalibur
• To Be a Knight and Follow a King, a newly filmed interview with director John Boorman and actor Charley Boorman
• When Death Was but a Dream, a newly filmed interview with creative associate Neil Jordan
• The Charm of Making, a newly filmed interview with production designer Anthony Pratt
• Confessions of a Professional “Pain-in-the-ass”, a newly filmed interview with 2nd unit director Peter MacDonald
• Anam Cara, a new featurette on the working friendship of John Boorman and co-writer Rospo Pallenberg featuring a newly filmed interview with Pallenberg
• Divided Nature, a brand new featurette by film historians Howard S. Berger and Kevin Marr
• Trailers
• Image galleries

DISC 3 – BONUS (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE)

• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation of the 120-minute TV Version of the film, previously unavailable on home video
• Original lossless mono audio
• Excalibur: Behind the Movie, a 50-minute retrospective documentary in which cast and crew look back on the making of the film

Westworld is also getting Blu-ray and 4K releases.

In 1973, novelist-turned-filmmaker Michael Crichton made his directorial debut with Westworld, a groundbreaking fusion of science fiction and action-thriller that would prove decades ahead of its time, laying the groundwork for his later hit Jurassic Park and changing the face of sci-fi. Welcome to Delos, the futuristic resort where, for $1,000 a day, wealthy vacationers can live out their wildest fantasies in hyper-realistic theme parks. In the Old West zone, friends Peter (Richard Benjamin) and John (James Brolin) saddle up for adventure, unaware that their dream holiday is about to turn into a nightmare. When a malfunction sends the park’s android hosts off script, the Gunslinger (Yul Brynner, in his iconic black-clad role) begins a relentless pursuit, obliterating the line between simulation and survival. Slick, suspenseful, and eerily prescient, Westworld combines a gripping man-versus-machine chase with thought-provoking questions about technology, control, and the price of playing God. Packed with atmosphere and memorable performances, this cult classic remains a landmark in genre cinema – a high-tech nightmare that never loses its bite.

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original restored lossless 4-channel stereo, 2.0 stereo, and 1.0 mono audio options
• Optional remixed 5.1 DTS-HD MA surround audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker and film historian Daniel Kremer
• Cowboy Dreams, a newly filmed conversation between actor Richard Benjamin and producer/screenwriter Larry Karaszewski
• At Home on the Range, a brand new video interview with actor James Brolin
• HollyWorld: Producing Westworld, a brand new video interview with producer Paul N. Lazarus III
• Sex, Death and Androids, a brand new appreciation of the film by author and film scholar Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• On Location with Westworld, an archival behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film from 1973
• Beyond Westworld, the 48-minute pilot episode of the 1980 follow-up television series
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Arik Roper
• Collectors’ perfect bound booklet featuring new writing on the film by David Michael Brown, Priscilla Page, Paul Anthony Nelson, and Abbey Bender
• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Arik Roper
• Six postcard-sized artcards

The sci-fi horror film The Visitor is coming to 4K:

You may think you’ve seen it all, but nothing can prepare you for The Visitor, an excursion into the realms of cinematic insanity! Producer extraordinaire Ovidio G. Assonitis, creator of such delicious guilty pleasures as Beyond the Door and Tentacles, brings together an extraordinary ensemble cast in a mind-bending tale of a girl and her pet hawk. Killer birds! Psychokinesis! Satanic conspiracies! Exploding basketball hoops! Any attempt to explain the exact plot of The Visitor is an exercise in futility, but in the maelstrom of madness and mayhem is the tale of an ancient intergalactic entity capable of bearing Earthly children endowed with great powers. Powers which some are keen to harness and some to destroy. Eight year old Katy Collins is one such child, and as her powers emerge, the battle for her soul is about to begin. A bizarre collision of The Omen with Close Encounters of the Third Kind and The Exorcist, The Visitor is a veritable cult phenomenon that combines stunning imagery and breathtaking setpieces with a jaw-dropping cast that includes John Huston (Chinatown), Mel Ferrer (War and Peace), Glen Ford (Superman), Shelley Winters (The Night of the Hunter), Sam Peckinpah (The Wild Bunch)… and Franco Nero (Django himself) as Jesus!

4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new 4K restoration of the 109 min European version of the film from the original 35mm camera negative by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original lossless mono audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by film critics BJ & Harmony Colangelo
• A Biblical Battle for the Cosmos, a brand new visual essay by film critic Meagan Navarro
• A Cosmic Right to Choose, a brand new visual essay by film critic Willow Catelyn Maclay
• Archive interview with actor Lance Henriksen
• Archive interview with screenwriter Lou Comici
• Archive interview with cinematographer Ennio Guarnieri
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Erik Buckham
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by Marc Edward Heuck, Richard Kadrey, Craig Martin and Mike White

Viggo Mortensen is the title character in the action thriller American Yakuza, which is getting a Blu-ray release:

When Japanese filmmaking powerhouse Toei Pictures decided to expand their iconic V-Cinema line to North America, the first result was the explosively violent American Yakuza, featuring an early lead performance from Viggo Mortensen in the title role. Ex-convict Nick Davis (Mortensen) gets a job in a factory that turns out to be owned by a powerful Japanese crime family. When Nick intervenes in a fiery confrontation and saves the life of family member Shuji (Ryo Ishibashi, Audition), he finds himself climbing the deadly ranks of the Yakuza in its bloody war against the Mafia. There’s one problem, however; Nick’s real name is David Brandt, and he’s an undercover FBI agent whose loyalties will soon be tested to their breaking point. Featuring an outstanding supporting cast including Michael Nouri (The Hidden), Franklyn Ajaye (Deadwood), Nicky Katt (Grindhouse) and Robert Forster (Jackie Brown), director Frank Cappello weaves an exhilarating tale of deception and betrayal in this underseen trans-continental gangster thriller.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• 2K restoration from the original camera negative by Toei Pictures
• High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
• Original lossless stereo audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary with director Frank Cappello and actor Anzu (Cristina) Lawson
• Yakuza Style, a newly filmed interview with director Frank Cappello
• Decoding Honor, an archive interview with actor Viggo Mortensen
• Newly filmed interview with actor Ryo Ishibashi
• Original trailer
• Image gallery
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by OC Agency
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Patrick Macias

Save the Green Planet is getting the 4K treatment:

In 2003, the same year as Oldboy and Memories of Murder, Korean cinema welcomed its most audacious debut: Jang Joon-hwan’s delirious Save the Green Planet!. Manic yet focused, outrageous yet grounded, this genre-defying smorgasbord was destined to become South Korea’s ultimate cult classic. The world is in grave danger but no one seems to realise it. Thankfully, Byeong-gu (Shin Ha-kyun, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance) is our salvation. To everyone else, Chairman Kang (Baek Yoon-sik, The President’s Last Bang) is a pillar of society, but Byeong-gu sees him for who he really is: an alien from the Andromedan galaxy. Byeong-gu’s only course of action is clear: kidnap the chairman and extract the truth via torture. With his tightrope-walking girlfriend by his side and city cops on his heels, he must use any means necessary to prove himself to the world and save us before it’s too late. Boldly blending sci-fi, horror, comedy, procedural, and social commentary, Save the Green Planet! is the gift that keeps on giving. Returning to the home video market after over two decades with an electrifying new director-approved 4K transfer, this tale of conspiracy wrestling with reality beams down just when we need it the most.

4K ULTRA-HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

• Double-sided fold-out poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh
• Collectors’ perfect bound booklet featuring new and archival writing on the film by Djuna, James Marsh, Daniel Martin, and Kim Seong-hoon
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Nathanael Marsh

DISC ONE – FEATURE & EXTRAS (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY)

• Brand new 4K restoration approved by director Jang Joon-hwan
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio and lossless stereo audio
• Optional newly translated English subtitles
• Brand new audio commentary by critic and disc producer Pierce Conran and special effects artist Dan Martin
• Archival audio commentary from 2003 with director Jang Joon-hwan and actor Shin Ha-kyun
• Introduction to the film by director Jang Joon-hwan
• Q&A session with director Jang Joon-hwan from the 2024 screening at the British Film Institute
• Storyboard and script photo galleries

DISC TWO – BONUS FEATURES (BLU-RAY)

• Extraterrestrial Perspectives, a newly filmed interview with director Jang Joon-hwan
• Bringing the Truth into Focus, a newly filmed interview with director of photography Hong Kyoung-pyo
• Early Imaginings, a newly filmed interview with director Jang Joon-hwan on his 1994 short film 2001 Imagine
• Hair and Lazy Mirror, two original short films by Jang Joon-hwan
• Archival extras, including making of featurettes, interviews, promotional videos, deleted scenes, and trailers
• Promotional artwork and production photo stills galleries

What do you think of Arrow Video’s February line-up? Will you be adding any of these 4Ks and/or Blu-rays to your collection? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Arrow Video’s February Blu-ray and 4K releases include Excalibur, Westworld, Save the Green Planet, and more! appeared first on JoBlo.

TRON: Ares, the third installment in the groundbreaking TRON franchise, reached theatres back in October… and didn’t seem to do much for anyone. Made on a budget somewhere in the 180 to 220 million dollar range, it was a box office disappointment, pulling in just $142 million worldwide. JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray called it visually and sonically stunning in his 7/10 review and listed it above the second film in his franchise ranking, but there wasn’t a whole lot of interest in the movie and not many people – at least, not nearly as many people as Disney hoped – showed up to see it on the big screen. Will it do better on home video? We’ll find out soon, as TRON: Ares is set to receive a digital release on December 2nd, with a 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD release following on January 6th.

TRON: Ares was directed by Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales director Joachim Rønning and stars Jared Leto (Morbius), Cameron Monaghan (Gotham), Evan Peters (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Sarah Desjardins (Yellowjackets), Gillian Anderson (The X-Files), Hasan Minhaj (No Hard Feelings), Arturo Castro (Road House), Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), and returning TRON star Bridges. Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver, Justin Springer, Jared Leto, Emma Ludbrook, and Steven Lisberger are the producers, with Russell Allen serving as executive producer.

Scripted by Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne, the film tells the story of a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings. Leto plays Ares, “a fictional character who crosses over from the world of videogames to planet Earth.”

TRON: Ares comes to home video with the following bonus features:

• Deleted Scenes
  • Seth’s Date
  • Burning Man
  • Lisberger Cameo
• Featurettes:
• The Journey To Tron: Ares: Go on a personal journey with Jared Leto, director Joachim Rønning and other cast and crew members for an in-depth making-of look showcasing the stunning visuals, incredible stunts, cool (but heavy) costumes, and next-level sets of Tron: Ares.
• Lightcycles On The Loose: Join director Joachim Rønning as he peels back the layers of one of the most action-packed sequences in the film. Discover what ILM and the artists who grew up loving the franchise contributed, and what other iconic film the sequence pays homage to.
• The Artistry Of Tron: Ares: Director Joachim Rønning and actor-producer Jared Leto sit down to discuss their journey creating Tron: Ares. The pair unpack key moments and the striking visual, sonic and artistic philosophies that drive the storytelling both in and out of the Grid.
• Cast Conversations: Join the cast in candid conversations as they reflect on stepping into character, memorable on-set experiences, funny anecdotes and personal insights. Get a glimpse of the off-screen camaraderie that shines in their electric on-screen synergy. 
• The Legacy Of Tron: Decades after Tron first took the world by storm, and with Tron: Legacy in between, there’s loads of nostalgia to mine for Tron: Ares. Catch some clever easter eggs and noteworthy cameos as this enduring franchise continues to leave its mark.

For twenty-eight years, director Steven Lisberger’s cult classic TRON was a standalone sci-fi adventure. Then in 2010 Joseph Kosinski took fans back to the world of TRON with the film TRON: Legacy – and since then things have been a bit messy. Kosinski wanted to make a third TRON film, to be called TRON: Ascension, but Disney cancelled the project when their movie Tomorrowland underperformed. Apparently the script for TRON: Ascension would have featured a character named Ares… and somehow the idea for that character has evolved into TRON: Ares. Kosinski had said that he had nearly given Leto a cameo in TRON: Legacy, in the End of Line club where Lisberger did make a cameo. The TRON: Ares rumblings started around 2017, but it didn’t go into production until 2024.

Will you be checking out the digital release (and/or the physical media release) of TRON: Ares? Let us know by leaving a comment below – and if you have already seen the movie, let us know what you thought of it. I intend to get around to watching the movie someday… but the fact that I still haven’t gotten around to watching TRON: Legacy even though it’s been available for fifteen years probably shows that these movies are not a high priority for me.

The post When is Tron: Ares getting a digital release? appeared first on JoBlo.

Released in 2009, director James Cameron’s film Avatar became the first movie to officially gross more than $2 billion. Then it took him thirteen years to get a sequel into theatres, so it wasn’t clear if the follow-up was going to be able to replicate that success. But then, sure enough, Avatar: The Way of Water also grossed more than $2 billion, paving the way for not only Avatar 3, or Avatar: Fire and Ash, (which is scheduled to reach theatres on December 19, 2025) but also Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 – which will be released on December 21, 2029 and December 19, 2031, respectively. With the release of the third film now just one month away, a clip from the movie has been unveiled and can be seen in the embed below! This clip finds the Sullys on the run from a Na’vi clan.

Cameron crafted these sequels with a writers room that consisted of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver (who worked on The Way of Water and Fire and Ash), Josh Friedman (who was assigned to write Avatar 4), and Shane Salerno (assigned to write Avatar 5). The cast of Avatar: Fire and Ash includes Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Giovanni Ribisi, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Jemaine Clement, Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion, Bailey Bass, Filip Geljo, Dileep Rao, Matt Gerald, David Thewlis, and Oona Chaplin, who takes on the role of Varang, leader of the antagonistic Ash Clan. Payakan, the space-whale / tulkun, also plays a part in the new sequel.

Cameron has said that he also has ideas for a potential Avatar 6 and 7, but they’ll only be made if there’s still a demand for the franchise. “They’ll be just far enough apart that they remain events, hopefully, in the lives of fans, of people who want to follow us, but not so far apart that it’s like there’s a generational difference between one movie. We’re fortunate we survived that, right? We got over that hurdle. So now we believe it’s going to come at the right pacing.“ In the meantime, he’s also planning Ghosts of Hiroshima and The Devils, and he’s working with Robert Rodriguez to make Alita: Battle Angel 2 happen.

Will you be catching Avatar: Fire and Ash on the big screen next month? Take a look at the clip, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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