The Muppet Show returns on Disney+

On Wednesday, an official teaser trailer dropped for The Muppet Show on Disney+.



Read the official synopsis:

"It's “The Muppet Show!” Kermit, Miss Piggy and the beloved Muppet gang are back with a brand-new special event. Music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos are bound to ensue when The Muppets once again take the stage of the original Muppet Theatre with their very special guest, Sabrina Carpenter!"

There's a talented team behind the project, with Alex Timbers, known for his work in musical theatre, serving as director and executive producer of the special. Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, James Weaver, and Alex McAtee are executive producers for Point Grey Pictures; David Lightbody, Leigh Slaughter and Michael Steinbach are executive producers for The Muppets Studio; and Sabrina Carpenter, Albertina Rizzo, Matt Vogel and Eric Jacobson also serve as additional executive producers.

The Muppet Show is as important to me as Doctor Who and Star Wars, but that's a story for another time.

Disney+ is currently home to the original The Muppet Show, and the new special will reportedly serve as a backdoor pilot, the success of which will determine if the show gets a full revival.

The Muppet Show returns on 4th February for a triumphant special event on Disney+ and ABC.

Are you looking forward to The Muppet Show on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Gil Gerard, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, dies

In the wake of Star Wars' success, Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century briefly lured me away from Doctor Who with their shiny daring-do!

Gil Gerard, who played Buck Rogers in the 25th Century on television for two seasons, has passed away following a brief battle with cancer.

His wife, Janet, shared the sad news on a social media post. She wrote: "Early this morning Gil - my soulmate - lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer. From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days. No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely."

She shared that the star had prepared a final message for his devoted fans (myself included).

"If you are reading this, then Janet has posted it as I asked her to," the moving message begins.

"My life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities I've had, the people I've met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying.

"My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years. It's been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has.

"Don't waste your time on anything that doesn't thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos."

During the summer of 1980, to give my parents some respite from the day-to-day of my rehabilitation following a life-changing head injury in primary school, we holidayed for a fortnight in the Isles of Scilly. I befriended the children of a Belgian ambassador due to our mutual Buck Rogers fandom: I spied them playing with Mego action figures and Corgi die-cast toys. We wanted to pilot Buck Rogers' Starfighter and had a childhood crush on Wilma Deering (Erin Gray).

Nick Smith, our US-based correspondent, met Gerard at Pensacon 2019.

What are your memories of watching Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? Let me know in the comments below.

We aren't alone in Disclosure Day

Universal Pictures has released an official teaser trailer for Disclosure Day. The upcoming star-studded sci-fi mystery reunites director Steven Spielberg (Jaws) with composer John Williams (Star Wars). Together, they've brought us blockbuster alien invasions in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and War of the Worlds.



Read the official synopsis:

"If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people. We are coming close to … Disclosure Day."

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.

Spielberg himself has long believed we’re not alone in the universe, the director has said. “I think it’s mathematically impossible that we are the only intelligent species in the cosmos.”

Disclosure Day will be released in cinemas on 12th June 2026.

Are you looking forward to Disclosure Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Tomb Raider remake for 30th anniversary

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Tomb Raider. Crystal Dynamics announced a remake of the original video game using Unreal Engine 5 at The Game Awards.



"Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a stunning reimagining of the 1996 genre-defining game.

As Lara Croft, harness your wits and athleticism to explore exotic locations lost to time—from the jungles of Peru to the ancient ruins of Greece, the deserts of Egypt, and a mysterious Mediterranean island shrouded in myth. Traverse treacherous landscapes, solve deadly contraptions, and face lethal predators as you hunt for the scattered pieces of the Scion, an artefact of immeasurable power.

Whether you're a veteran raider or new to Lara's world, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis delivers jaw-dropping visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, modern game design, and new surprises, while honouring the spirit and atmosphere of Lara Croft's debut adventure."

I've been a fan of the Tomb Raider franchise since the original PlayStation, and the reboot trilogy was amazing. Alix Wilton Regan replaces Camilla Luddington as Lara Croft. Mass Effect fans (myself included) will recognise her as the voice of Samantha Traynor.

There’s no specific release date for Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, but it is planned for PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2026. Amazon Games is offering the chance to grab a free bonus for linking accounts ahead of launch. As shared by both the official Xbox and PlayStation blogs, if you link your Xbox and/or PSN account to an Amazon Games iD, you can claim the 'Exclusive Mediterranean Wetsuit Outfit' next year.

Are you looking forward to Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis? Let me know in the comments below.

A festive fishy Doctor Who tale

The War Between the Land and the Sea premiered last Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the run-up to Christmas. It's great to see U.N.I.T. in a Torchwood-inspired spin-off series! I'm trying and failing not to crush on a certain fish lady!

Taking the Short View's Andrew Lewin, fellow Whovian and longtime blog collaborator, has risen from the depths to share his initial thoughts on the latest Doctor Who spin-off series, which brings to a close the Disney+ era.

Before taking a deep dive. Why not join us on The WELL?

Guest post by Andrew Lewin

Ready? Right, here we go...

I was somewhat wary of the basic concept of The War Between the Land and the Sea ahead of time! It felt .... I don't like the word 'woke', but the outline did seem to be very worthy and environmentally right-on, which made me worried that they might have lost sight of the entertainment aspect, as some of Russell T. Davies' standalone dramas have done in the past. Davies is not subtle when it comes to pushing a point that he's making.

So, two of the most vividly memorable moments in the first two episodes are (1) when leading Sea Devil (now known as Homo Aqua), Salt, spills onto the conference room floor the dead foetuses of her babies who have been poisoned by human pollution in the oceans; and then (2) at the climax of the second episode where she returns all the plastic waste from the oceans and has it tumble down into the human cities, in a scene that brings home the extent of the damage that humans have done to the marine environment.

It feels like these two scenes are the two that inspired the whole BBC/Disney+ co-production, around which the rest has been built up. So far, there have been a lot of ecological points being made, some of with a great deal of grandeur and spectacle thanks to the impressive budget, and those points have certainly landed, underscored by Hollywood composer Lorne Balfe's lush orchestrations. But there's not much else beyond that in terms of storyline, and not a great deal has happened that we couldn't have guessed or devised for ourselves.

One surprising thing is just how different The War Between the Land and the Sea is in tone and feel from the last two seasons of the parent show: Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who was painted in vivid primary dayglow colours, his huge smile lighting up the screen, the villains (like Maestro) cheerfully big and over the top.

Whereas in The War Between the Land and the Sea, the prevailing colour palette is "Gotham grim", and there are very few jokes or laughs or knowing quips. There were a couple of low-key mentions of the Doctor in the show, but as a whole, it didn't feel much like the same show, which is a worry.

Even in the original era of Whovian spin-offs in the 2000s, when we had Doctor Who, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures all running contemporaneously, there was a satisfying DNA through-line that connected all the different shows with the titular Time Lord. Not so much here.

I'm not sure where The War Between the Land and the Sea will go from this point onwards: there are three episodes to go, and at some point, it's going to have to come up with something original and exciting to carry it to the finish line. I hope it will be worth the effort, and I look forward to cheerfully eating these words of anxiety (and a few mince pies) when and if it duly delivers on its adult-themed premise.

For now, the show is relying heavily on Russell Tovey to make the drama work on an emotional level beyond mere shock and polemic. Fortunately, he's very good as always. I've been a fan of his for years, even before his supporting turn as Titanic midshipman Alonso Frame in Voyage of the Damned - back to Being Human at least. (I'm also watching the first season of John Le Carre drama The Night Manager from 2016, and guess who pops up in a small but key role in the first episode, looking outrageously young?)

And I always really like Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart as well - it's amazing to think the character has been in the show since 2012. It's a shame that the other members of the recurring U.N.I.T. cast (Colonel Ibrahim, Mrs Bingham) are getting so little to do other than standing around looking supportive.

However, the breakout actor/character is Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ambassador Salt: a compelling performance and some astounding makeup/costume work. We've come a long way since the papier-maché heads used for the 1972 Sea Devils, which haunted my dreams as a kid. More than anything else, I look forward to seeing what they will do with Salt in the remaining episodes.

New episodes drop every Sunday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer and will be exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available) in 2026.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

What are your thoughts on The War Between the Land and the Sea? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic announced

A new Star Wars video game from the game director of the original Mass Effect trilogy was announced at The Game Awards.

Developed by Arcanaut Studios in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is a new single-player narrative-driven action RPG and spiritual successor to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR), which will be available on PC and console.



Led by Casey Hudson, game director of the original KOTOR and the Mass Effect trilogy, the team of veteran game developers and storytellers at Arcanaut Studios is crafting an epic interactive adventure across a galaxy on the brink of rebirth, where every decision shapes your path towards light or darkness.

Hudson reflected on his experience with his first Star Wars game and how its influence will affect his approach for a new vision of the galaxy far, far away:

“When we developed the original KOTOR, we wanted to create a definitive Star Wars experience — crafting an adventure that consisted of all the things we dreamed of doing as Star Wars fans. Now, 25 years after we started work on that game, our aspirations are equally ambitious.

“Fate of the Old Republic represents an opportunity to explore a contemporary vision of a definitive Star Wars experience, using state-of-the-art technology and game design, and an all-new story crafted specifically to deliver on the combination of player agency and immersion in Star Wars that was at the heart of KOTOR.

“It’s hard to describe how exciting it was to be able to work in the Star Wars galaxy, contributing to its incredible legacy. We had so much fun working on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and it was one of the defining experiences of my career. But a project like this is a huge commitment for everyone involved, so it took the right conditions to get everything to line up.

“Our goal is developing the kind of games I love making: emotionally powerful, cinematic adventures driven by player agency, narrative depth, and immersive world-building. Conversations between our team and Lucasfilm Games led to an incredible opportunity to return to Star Wars, and once again we can hardly believe we’re working on such a special project.”

Are you looking forward to Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic? Let me know in the comments below.

The DNSO performs Rey's Theme

December marks the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

The first instalment in Disney's sequel trilogy gave fans (myself included) one of the best themes from the saga, Rey's Theme, composed by the legendary John Williams.

“I fell in love immediately with Daisy Ridley [who plays Rey]. She is just a superstar born,” Williams told the Los Angeles Times in a 2015 interview. “[The theme] suggests a female adventurer, but with great strength,” he continued. “She’s a fighter, she’s infused with the Force, and it needed to be something that was strong but thoughtful.”



The Danish National Symphony Orchestra (DNSO) performs Rey's Theme, recorded as part of the sci-fi concert Galaxymphony Strikes Back, in August 2021 at DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen, Denmark.

“[Disney] asked me if I would do the next episode of Star Wars,” Williams told the audience at a 2016 Hollywood Bowl concert. “I thought I wanted to think about it for a minute, but then I made up my mind – because I didn’t want anybody else writing music for Rey.”

What's your favourite theme from Star Wars? Let me know in the comments below.

Paramount strikes back with bid for Warner Bros

Paramount Sundance has reentered the chat. The studio has launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery in the wake of Netflix's announcement of its takeover last week.

Paramount has stated, “The Paramount offer for the entirety of WBD provides shareholders $18 billion more in cash than the Netflix consideration. WBD’s Board of Directors' recommendation of the Netflix transaction over Paramount’s offer is based on an illusory prospective valuation of Global Networks that is unsupported by the business fundamentals.” The corporation also said in their new proposal, “Paramount’s strategically and financially compelling offer to WBD shareholders provides a superior alternative to the Netflix transaction, which offers inferior and uncertain value and exposes WBD shareholders to a protracted multi-jurisdictional regulatory clearance process with an uncertain outcome, along with a complex and volatile mix of equity and cash.”

Netflix has turned Hollywood Upside Down. Cinema attendance dropped post-pandemic, and thousands of creatives are being laid off in an era dominated by streaming services and tech titans, as the cultural impact of artificial intelligence (AI) dominates discourse.

Paramount argues, “The Netflix transaction creates a clear risk of higher prices for consumers, lower pay for content creators and talent and the destruction of American and international theatrical exhibitors. Netflix has never undertaken large-scale acquisitions, resulting in increased execution risk, which WBD shareholders would have to endure.”

What are your thoughts on Paramount Sundance acquiring Warner Bros. Discovery? Will it secure the future of cinema? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who spin-off sets sail

The War Between the Land and the Sea begins today.



Read the official synopsis:

"When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT step into action as the land and sea wage war."

The five-part series stars Russell Tovey as Barclay and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, with Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient, Ruth Madeley, Colin McFarlane, Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac and Vincent Franklin. Additional guest stars who can be spotted in the trailer are Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu and Ann Akinjirin.

The Doctor Who spin-off series is darker in tone, similar to Torchwood, and features a soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe (His Dark Materials). Soundtrack fans (myself included) can stream the soundtrack on Apple Music.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

The double episode premiere of The War Between the Land and the Sea is preceded by a special edition of The Sea Devils and will be exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available) in 2026.

Are you looking forward to The War Between the Land and the Sea? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars returns to cinemas in 2027

The future of cinema as we know it is uncertain in an era dominated by streaming services and tech titans. However, there is a new hope.

On Friday, Disney announced the original theatrical release of Star Wars will return to cinema screens in time for the 50th anniversary of George Lucas' space opera franchise in 2027. This follows an exclusive screening with the blessing of Lucasfilm of a newly restored version at the British Film Institute (BFI) earlier this year.

Star Wars will be followed by Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy (Deadpool & Wolverine) and starring Ryan Gosling (Barbie) and Matt Smith (Doctor Who).

Are you looking forward to seeing the original Star Wars back on the big screen in 2027? Let me know in the comments below.