Zak Penn confirms Ready Player 2 is still in development. Two new horror movies tackle tennis and titanoboas. The Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd show casts someone named “Sandra”— and it isn’t Lady Shiva. Also, don’t expect to learn who’s playing the next James Bond before “the end of the year,” according to producer Amy Pascal. If at first you don’t succeed, Mr. Kidd… try, try again, Mr. Wint! It’s Morning Spoilers!
Bond 26
During a recent interview with Deadline, producer Amy Pascal stated it’s a “good bet” the next actor to play James Bond will be announced sometime around “the end of the year.”
I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is a stirring and exciting and different.
Ready Player 2
Speaking with The Direct, writer Zak Penn answered “I am working on it” when asked if Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player Two was still in development.
Bloody Tennis
Variety reports Shudder has acquired the U.S. rights to Bloody Tennis, a new “sports-horror” movie from director Nikias Chryssos. Starring Guldberg Kampp, Helena Zengel, Tracy Gotoas, Lucie Zhang, Lily Taieb, Elina Löwensohn, and Zlatko Burić, the story concerns an “elite tennis academy hidden deep in Southern Europe,” where an athlete named Sophie (Guldberg Kampp) “must contend not only with the fierce brutality of her teammates but with the school’s increasingly sinister undercurrents, where competitive sports are taken to their painful limits and only the hungriest survive.”
Beware Boiúna
Bloody-Disgusting has new images from Beware Boiúna, a “Titanoboa-inspired horror movie” from director Mike P. Nelson. Scheduled for an October 10 theatrical release, the story concerns “a medical mission that turns into a fight for survival against the colossal ancient snake, Boiúna.” Kiana Madeira (Fear Street), Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day), and Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus) star.
Big Baby
A screenwriter is haunted by his Jason Voorhees-esque creation in a new clip from Big Baby, directed by Powerman 5000 frontman Spider-One.
Buddy
Buddy encourages his kids to push through their fear of dancing in a new promo for the Casper Kelly horror film.
Untitled Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd TV Series
According to Deadline, Mary Holland (Ghosts, The Little House on the Prairie) has joined the cast of the currently untitled Jimmy Olsen/Gorilla Grodd TV series as a character named Sandra. Skyler Gisondo is expected to reprise his role as Jimmy Olsen from James Gunn’s Superman, while Jimmy Tatro has been cast as Grodd.
Warhammer 40,000
Henry Cavill confirmed on Instagram he does indeed have a role in the live-action Warhammer 40,000 TV series written by Mike Flanagan.
Some news got ahead of us last week, but we wanted to wait a quick beat for the dust to settle, some deals to finalise and, if nothing else, now confirm some rumours!
Firstly, Natalie Viscuso and I are indeed bringing on Mike Flanagan to write the Warhammer live action series! We have already been working with him to craft the creative, and we’re making some considerable advances in story. As the fans will know, it’s an absolute monster to wrestle but Mike’s extraordinary talents are helping it take form wonderfully.
Secondly, yes, we have also brought United Artists into the fold. They have such a deep wellspring of experience and talent that it was an easy decision to partner with them, especially after my experience with them on Highlander.
Finally, we are also working closely with Dave Wilson, John Orloff and Blur Studio on the newest Secret Level animation which will devote a whole season to Warhammer 40,000. Specifically, The Deathwatch! Dave has proven to be a master at his craft, he’s the lead on the project and we are supporting his titanic efforts and helping things line up with the overall universe plan.
Importantly, some of you have been asking if I will still be starring in the lead role in the live action TV series – rest assured, I most certainly will! Who that character is, however, shall remain a secret for now!
As a combined force and with the good folks at Games Workshop we are all working tirelessly to bring you the best, most Warhammer universe that you could possibly imagine.
Doctor Who
Appearing as a guest on the WHO Corner to Corner podcast (via Screen Rant), former Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall suggested the BBC “can’t afford” any version of the program for the time being.
It’s very hard for the BBC to fund their programs right now because of what’s been done to them in terms of funding agreements over the past 15 years and the slow whittling away of that, and the increase in big Hollywood monoliths and conglomerates really taking over the market. And, really, what you’ve got is the BBC can’t afford to fully fund any drama now and it certainly can’t afford to fund Doctor Who.
Any discussion around it is about money more than anything else, and I think that that’s been missed a little in the discourse that I saw around the show.
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Rifftrax Experiments
Finally, Variety confirms “Sting of Death,” the first episode of the new Mystery Science Theater 3000, will debut online thus October 9, followed by “Deathsport” on October 23. The show’s “mystery third episode” will become available “on the RiffTrax Best Friends streaming service starting October 30 before becoming available to the general public on November 6.” Finally, “Space Raiders” releases will release on November 20.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
