After a quiet start to the week, pop culture announcements have been ramping up again. Before we jump into the stories that stood out for us, we should mention the passing of Angela Lansbury at the age of 96.
It’s hard to say what this prolific star of screen and stage will be best remembered for. Murder She Wrote? Bedknobs and Broomsticks? A more sinister turn in The Manchurian Candidate? A string of family movie appearances/voice over work starting with Beauty and the Beast and ending with Mary Poppins Returns? Read Lansbury’s obituary here. P.S. Her final film role is a cameo in the upcoming Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.
Film
We have our new Frank Drebin. Maybe. Liam Neeson is in talks to play the bumbling police detective (or possibly his son) in Paramount’s remake of Naked Gun, the slapstick 80-90s comedy series starring a fantastically deadpan Leslie Nielsen. The new Naked Gun is being helmed by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer, who directed Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers, as well as Hot Rod and The Watch. Schaffer is working on the script with Chip ‘n Dale writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand. More here.
Speaking of upcoming films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has seen a release date shift for some of its most anticipated movies. This is largely due to the Blade production delays caused by the film losing its director at the last minute. The full list of changes is here, but in summary:
Blade has moved from 3 November 2023 to 6 September 2024.
Deadpool 3 is moving from 6 September 2024 to 8 November 2024.
Fantastic Four has moved from 8 November 2024 to 14 February 2025.
Avengers: Secret Wars has moved from 7 November 2025 to 1 May 2026.
P.S. with the passing of William Hurt, the MCU needs a new General Ross. They’ve evidently found him in the form of Harrison Ford, who will make his debut appearance as the character in Captain America: New World Order, and then Thunderbolts, the MCU’s answer to Suicide Squad.
We’re kind of sad that we won’t get to see Hannah John-Kamen as comic book sword-and-sorcery heroine Red Sonja. John-Kamen left the project, which has been bouncing between filmmakers since 2008, earlier this year. That said, we now have our first look at Rings star Matilda Lutz in the role of the chainmail-wearing heroine who was initially created by Conan author Robert E. Howard. No word on plot or release date yet, but M. J. Bassett, who’s made such schlocky cult favourites as Deathwatch, Solomon Kane and Rogue, is in the director’s chair.
It’s Halloween month, so have a new horror movie trailer, for deadly doll tale M3GAN.
When brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma is unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype, an AI marvel, with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.
Produced by Jason Blum and the Conjuring-verse’s James Wan, M3GAN is written by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2) and based on a story by Akela Cooper and James Wan. M3GAN releases in cinemas on 13 January next year.
You didn’t think Death on the Nile was the last of Kenneth Branagh’s Agatha Christie adaptations, did you? The filmmaker’s next star-studded Hercule Poirot whodunnit will be based on one of Christie’s lesser known books, the 1969 novel Hallowe’en Party. Renamed A Haunting in Venice for the big screen, the film’s cast includes Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Camille Cottin, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, and more. The film has a current release date of 15 September 2023.
The official plot synopsis for this mystery thriller: Set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, the film is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.
The teaser dropped back in June, but now we have the complete trailer for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, a big screen adaptation of the Tony and Olivier award-winning musical (with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin), itself based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl. Alisha Weir is Matilda Wormwood, a young neglected genius with telekinesis, Lashana Lynch is Matilda’s supportive teacher Miss Honey, and Emma Thompson plays the cruel Miss Trunchbull, headmistress at Matilda’s school.
Matilda the Musical comes to cinemas in select markets later this year, and will stream on Netflix from 25 December, Christmas Day.
Series
AMC’s Interview with a Vampire series is proving to be a hit with critics and audiences alike, so the network is likely hoping for the same response to Mayfair Witches, another gothic, supernaturally-infused drama based on the works of Anne Rice.
Below is the first trailer for Mayfair Witches, which focuses on an intuitive young neurosurgeon (Alexandra Daddario) who discovers that she is the unlikely heir to a family of witches. As she grapples with her newfound powers, she must contend with a sinister presence that has haunted her family for generations. Also in the cast are Harry Hamlin, Jack Huston and Annabeth Gish. Mayfair Witches premieres on 5 January 2023.
Warrior Nun Season 1 was one of our greatest guilty pleasures of 2020, scratching that Buffy-esque itch for smart-mouthed young women who are also badass demon hunters. Following a perilous cliffhanger ending for Season 1, Season 2 was eventually greenlit, delighting the show’s cult following. Then things got pretty quiet, at least until yesterday when it was revealed that Warrior Nun Season 2 debuts on 10 November. Less than one month to go.
Things look more serious this time around, as unlikely Halo-bearer Ava and the Sister-Warriors of the Order of the Cruciform Sword must find a way to defeat the angel, Adriel, as he attempts to build his following into the dominant religion on the planet.
Netflix also posted up some new images from Season 2.
Some other TV series tidbits over the past few days:
Mike Flanagan hopes that The Midnight Club will be renewed by Netflix for Season 2, as he always had plans for an ongoing series, given that there are 80 Christopher Pike books to draw on for material, and Season 1 concluded with multiple loose ends still dangling. That said, if renewal doesn’t happen, Flanagan promises to post explanations for all the show’s unanswered questions on social media. Read Variety’s interview with the film/series maker, but watch out for The Midnight Club S1 spoilers if you haven’t watched it yet.
Fans of that odd couple pairing of angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tenant) have something to look forward to. Announced at New York Comic Con, Good Omens Season 2 has a release date window of Summer 2023. That’s June-August next year for the non-Northern Hemisphere dwellers. As a reminder, we’re on unknown territory in terms of plot for Season 2, as Season 1 told the complete story of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s collaborative novel. Good Omens S2 will be streaming on Prime Video.
Finally, bad news if you were looking forward to historical serial killer tale (and true story) Devil in the White City, based on the bestseller by Erik Larson. We reported back in early August that the project was to be Keanu Reeves’ first leading television role. Well, in the space of a week, both Reeves and director Todd Field have left the limited series. The project, which has Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese as executive producers, isn’t dead though, even if some are calling it cursed at this stage.
Gaming
rAge, the Really Awesome Gaming Expo is back this year for the first time since 2019, taking place over 3 days from 9 – 11 December 2022 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg.
One of the 2022 event’s biggest drawcards is the semi-finals and finals of the Intel Africa Masters CS:GO (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) tournament, the largest CG:GO cross-continent competition in Africa to date. Teams from across Africa will be competing for a $30 000 prize pool, with the idea being that such a competition will open opportunities for international esports exposure and experience, creating a pathway to “going pro” in the industry.
Tickets to rAge 2022 for attendees are R175 per person for a day pass, or R390 for a 3-day weekend pass.
We can look forward to seeing actress Elle Fanning in an upcoming untitled project from Hideo Kojima. A stunt at PAX Australia, earlier teases from Kojima Productions at Toyko Game Show, and some cryptic tweets from the iconic game developer himself, have led fans to a secret website featuring a poster of the star. Could this be the game Kojima Productions is making in partnership with Microsoft? Either way, Kojima has worked with big name actors in the past, like Kiefer Sutherland, Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsenn. More here on the teaser campaign and speculation about the upcoming game.
Comics and Books
Legendary comics creator Alan Moore has been trending this week following a controversial recent interview with The Guardian. The Watchmen, V For Vendetta, From Hell and The Killing Joke writer expressed the opinion that adult obsession with superheroes can open the door to fascism.
Moore’s actual quote: “I said round about 2011 that I thought that it had serious and worrying implications for the future if millions of adults were queueing up to see ‘Batman’ movies. Because that kind of infantilization – that urge towards simpler times, simpler realities – that can very often be a precursor to fascism.”
Over the past few decades, anarchist Moore has developed a reputation for his extremely negative opinions about superheroes, and the major comics companies, among other things.