Friday 29 September 2023

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft



Netflix has dropped a first look at Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft starring Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter) as the titular character.



The animated spin-off series was originally announced in 2021. It will follow the events of Square Enix's Tomb Raider video game trilogy, which starred Camilla Luddington as the archaeological heroine inspired by Indiana Jones.

Are you looking forward to Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft on Netflix? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Thrawn



The search for a live-action Thrawn concludes after 32 years in Ahsoka on Disney+.

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, journeys to a galaxy far, far away and finds an exiled Heir to the Empire...

Guest post by Nick Smith

To hear author Timothy Zahn talk about his creation, Grand Admiral Thrawn, is like listening to the proud father of a Machiavellian prodigy. He obviously loves the character he introduced in his 1991 novel Star Wars: Heir to the Empire, a blue-skinned, red-eyed master planner who gets under the skin of his enemies by researching their culture, behaviour and mindset.

Zahn’s original trilogy of novels (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) featuring Thrawn helped to revitalise Star Wars in a way that’s underestimated today, not just because of the fascinating, carefully crafted main bad guy but also thanks to the peripheral villains - the Imperial Remnants - that threatened Luke Skywalker and his chums.

You can’t keep a wily Grand Admiral down, judging by his mesmerizing appearance in Ahsoka on Disney+. While he lacks the imposing big-ol’-lump-of-evil presence of Darth Vader, he poses a formidable threat to feisty protagonist Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo).

Thrawn honours an agreement to allow Sabine to search for her lost friend Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfani), while ensuring his own victory by sending mercenaries after her. Even if she survives the bandits and creatures of Peridea, she has to face Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno).

In a single episode, Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen, who voiced the character in Star Wars Rebels) is established as the kind of chess player who will let you go first but wire up your pieces to electrocute you before you can say checkmate.

The best characters are developed through the reactions of others, and Thrawn is no exception, spoken of with reverence by Morgan Elspeth (Diana Lee Inosanto). The very possibility of his return vexes Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson). Only the Republic scoffs at the prospect of a phantom menace, and that tactic worked out really well for the Jedi during the Clone Wars. When will they learn that somehow, dark things can return?

As with previous episodes, showrunner and writer Dave Filoni takes us back to Star Wars basics with an unfriendly alien planet, an imposing, seemingly undefeatable enemy, sinister mysticism in the form of the Nightsisters, and beasts that resemble earth creatures with an alien twist (in this case, a Howler mount). A bandit attack is reminiscent of Luke’s struggle with the Tusken Raiders in Star Wars: A New Hope; the bandits look like they have banzai’d out of a Japanese samurai epic.

Just when I was thinking, ‘all that’s missing is a bunch of cute little aliens making distinct, easily imitable noises,’ it was as if Ben Burtt was recording my thoughts and the crab-like Noti rocked up.

The only arguable flaw in an otherwise perfect episode is Peridea itself, a missed opportunity to let imagination fly to create a weird world distinct from anything we’ve seen before. The characters have travelled to another galaxy, far, far away, yet the terrain looks like it could be right next door to Ahch-To or even a part of Earth. Could it be…?

Filoni continues to set a high benchmark of quality with Ahsoka, which features subtle acting, a canny understanding of Thrawn’s character, idiosyncratic new looks for the Grand Admiral’s Stormtroopers and crowd-pleasing touches such as the sheer spectacle of the Purgill and the inclusion of the ever-entertaining David Tennant, voicing Huyang.

Although episode 6’s ending leaves Sabine and her new allies in a perilous position, she remains optimistic and she has a chance to get home.

Meanwhile, Star Wars fans following this series are right where they want to be, watching a new, authentic slice of their favourite saga unfold.

New episodes of Ahsoka drop every Tuesday exclusively on Disney+.

Are you watching Ahsoka on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

Saturday 23 September 2023

Doctor Who trailer for 60th anniversary specials



An official trailer for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials dropped before the first live show of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One.



The brand new trailer features Neil Patrick Harris waltzing onto the scene, as it is now revealed that he will play the Toymaker, all-powerful enemy last seen in 1966 - but what is it that brings the Doctor face-to-face with this enemy from his past?

Russell T Davies, returning showrunner says: “This is just the start, as the fever starts to burn. We’re heading for a November full of Doctor Who surprises, for fans and new viewers alike. Stay alert!”

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland.

The three specials are:

Special One: The Star Beast
Special Two: Wild Blue Yonder
Special Three: The Giggle

Ncuti Gatwa (Barbie) takes over control of the TARDIS during the holiday season. Millie Gibson (Coronation Street) will join Gatwa aboard the TARDIS as companion Ruby Sunday.

What did you think of the trailer? Are you looking forward to the return of the Doctor and Donna? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 22 September 2023

Beware the Planet of the Apes from Marvel



Before Star Wars hit the big screen in the late seventies, I vividly remember watching the Planet of the Apes television series and playing with Mego action figures. My parents took me to a local county show that featured a special appearance by the titular apes.

Marvel Comics has announced Beware the Planet of the Apes from writer Marc Guggenheim (Star Wars: Han Solo & Chewbacca) and artist Álvaro López (Captain Marvel), an all-new comic book series set in the original Planet of the Apes era.

Read the official synopsis:

"Into the Forbidden Zone! In a hostile world run by aggressive gorillas, scientists Cornelius and Zira are the only apes alive who see value in the mute, dumb human race—but even they know human capabilities have severe limits. So when their nephew Lucius goes missing, it is with great trepidation that they turn to a human ally, a young woman who will someday earn the moniker “Nova”..."

It's a prequel to Planet of the Apes, the seminal sixties sci-fi movie starring Charlton Heston that started the multimedia franchise and paved the way for stablemates Star Wars and Alien at Twentieth Century Fox.

"I’ve been entertained and intrigued by Planet of the Apes ever since I got a Mego Doctor Zaius doll as a birthday present, and my local television station ran the original pentalogy every afternoon for a week in the summertime," Guggenheim shared. "In many ways, Apes is one of the OG franchises, filled with mystery, fascinating characters, and some truly off-the-wall surprises."

Marvel Comics' Beware the Planet of the Apes hits newsstands in January 2024.

Wednesday 20 September 2023

The Ghost of Star Wars Past



Dave Filoni (Star Wars Rebels) is having a field day with some of the best Star Wars in decades in Ahsoka on Disney+.

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, looks back at the midseason episode and steps into an enigmatic World Between Worlds (personally, a poignant metaphor for being in a coma).

Guest post by Nick Smith

The Sith are out there, lurking in the darkness, betrayed only by a blood-red halo, eyes pitted and grey from living in the shadows too long. They must exist, because who else would post Ahsoka spoilers at midnight on Tano Tuesday for unsuspecting fans to find, crushing their joy with a clip?

While such creatures are present online, there are a ragtag few good-hearted champions of entertainment at Lucasfilm, and they are making pure, unadulterated original Star Wars.

Did I say original? Perhaps ‘classic’ would be more apt.

The now-numerous Disney+ Star Wars animated and live-action spin-off series have tinkered with a whole bunch of different genres, celebrating some of George Lucas’ influences and the saga’s storytelling potential, showcasing the versatility of the showrunners and avoiding narrative stagnation.

From spaghetti westerns to lone wolf samurai epics, World War II commando thrillers and Native American vision quest epics, modern Star Wars has it all.

Ahsoka goes back to basics, with a focus on lightsabre duels, clear-cut good and bad guys, dogfight duels in space and snarky droids - Chopper and Huyang (David Tennant). It’s not rocket science, it’s George Lucas-style science fiction, with solid storytelling that never feels like a mere merchandising grab.

Unsurprisingly, the show has been a hit with most fans, delving into Ahsoka Tano’s (Rosario Dawson) battle-scarred life without completely alienating casual viewers.

With cosmic wars come galaxy-sized guilt, especially if you were drafted to lead armies in your mid-teens as Tano was. Imagine being barely out of short britches and having to watch the men under your command get injured and die, or a civilization laid to ruins on your watch.

In The World Between Worlds, Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) spirit takes a young Tano (Ariana Greenblatt) back to these past battles where she must choose whether to live or die. Since The World Between Worlds exists in a different, astral dimension, Tano’s body in the real world is drowning. Only a child can perceive both worlds and help find Tano’s dwindling form.

Not only has Tano seen a lot of clones and allies die, but she’s also seen her friend and mentor Anakin break bad in the worst possible way. Would things have been different if she’d stuck by him? We’ll never know for sure, and the Ahsoka series is too subtle to spell out the truth. Nevertheless, by helping his padawan to face her regrets and choose life, Anakin helps her and takes another step on his own road to redemption.

At the mid-point of the series, episode 5 – Shadow Warrior – focuses on a piece of Star Wars that most of its imitators forget; the spiritual side. In the real world, sometimes it feels like we’re drowning under the weight of loss, regret and guilt. It’s comforting to imagine a World Between Worlds where all possibilities are attainable, at least in astral form, to teach us a little about ourselves.

New episodes of Ahsoka drop every Tuesday exclusively on Disney+.

Are you watching Ahsoka on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Anakin & Ahsoka’s reunion on Entertainment Tonight



Following last week's seminal midseason episode of Ahsoka, shown in selected cinemas and on Disney+, Entertainment Tonight (ET) has released an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip featuring Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano) and Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker).



Read the official synopsis:

"In this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at 'Ahsoka,' Hayden Christensen and Rosario Dawson discuss Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka's emotional reunion."

New episodes of Ahsoka drop every Tuesday exclusively on Disney+.

Monday 18 September 2023

First look at For All Mankind season four



The fourth season of For All Mankind, an acclaimed alternate reality sci-fi series created by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica), begins streaming this November exclusively on Apple TV+. The Cupertino-based company's The Martian Chronicles.



Read the official synopsis:

“Rocketing into the new millennium in the eight years since Season 3, Happy Valley has rapidly expanded its footprint on Mars by turning former foes into partners. Now 2003, the focus of the space program has turned to the capture and mining of extremely valuable, mineral-rich asteroids that could change the future of both Earth and Mars. But simmering tensions between the residents of the now-sprawling international base threaten to undo everything they are working towards.”

Apple TV+ is home to sci-fi franchises including Amazing Stories, Foundation, Hello Tomorrow!, Invasion, Severance and Silo.

For All Mankind season four premieres on 10th November on Apple TV+.

The first three seasons of For All Mankind are now available to stream on Apple TV+.

Are you watching For All Mankind? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 15 September 2023

From Star Wars to The Creator



20th Century Studios has dropped a final trailer for The Creator.



The Creator, directed by Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), is a post-apocalyptic tale set in the wake of a war between humans and artificial intelligence (AI). AI continues to generate controversial discourse regarding creativity, employment, ethics and more.



The Creator is exclusively in cinemas on 28th September.

What did you think of the final trailer for The Creator? Is it rehashing established sci-fi tropes or offering a fresh perspective like Silo on Apple TV+? Let me know in the comments below.

Thursday 14 September 2023

LEGO Star Wars Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser



LEGO Star Wars celebrates 20 years of The Clone Wars with an Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser.

The iconic ship was first introduced in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser is one of the largest LEGO Star Wars sets to date, as evidenced by the photo depicting a person for scale.

It will be available for early access to LEGO Insiders (myself included) from 1st October.

Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding the LEGO Star Wars Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday 12 September 2023

Godzilla roars onto Apple TV+



Godzilla and friends are coming to Apple TV+ in a live-action monster royal rumble.

The Cupertino-based tech titan has released an official teaser trailer for Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.



Read the official synopsis:

"Following the thunderous battle between Godzilla and the Titans that leveled San Francisco, and the shocking revelation that monsters are real, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” 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 (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell), taking place in the 1950s and half a century later where Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.

Based on the Monsterverse from #Legendary, and starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett and Elisa Lasowski, this dramatic saga — spanning three generations — reveals buried secrets and the ways that epic, earth-shattering events can reverberate through our lives."


In related news. Apple is expected to announce a new iPhone at the company's Wonderlust event later today. I’m toying with the idea of replacing an iPhone SE (circa 2020) with an iPhone 15!

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters premieres exclusively on Apple TV+ on 17th November.

What did you think of the teaser trailer? Will we see Godzooky? Let me know in the comments below.

Thursday 7 September 2023

Ahsoka midseason cinema screening



Lucasfilm has announced Ahsoka's midseason episode, directed by series showrunner Dave Filoni (Star Wars Rebels), will be shown in selected cinemas across the globe on the 12th of September.

This is the first global Star Wars screening since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in December 2019.

Following events in episode 4, which I won't spoil, I envy fellow UK-based fans attending the soldout Empire x Ahsoka midseason celebration screening in London next Tuesday.

New episodes of Ahsoka drop every Tuesday exclusively on Disney+.

Wednesday 6 September 2023

No One Will Save You on Disney+



It's the 30th anniversary of The X-Files (streaming on Disney+), and tales of alien abductions are as popular as ever.

Earlier in the year, I rewatched Fire in the Sky on Freevee, which was nightmare fuel and a far cry from director Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

20th Century Studios has dropped an official trailer for No One Will Save You.



Read the official synopsis:

"From 20th Century Studios, “No One Will Save You” is an action-packed face-off between Brynn (Kaitlyn Dever) and a host of extraterrestrial beings who threaten her future while forcing her to deal with her past."

Writer-director Brian Duffield (Spontaneous) evokes Signs, Super 8 and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

No One Will Save You will be exclusively on Hulu and Star on Disney+ on 22nd September.

Will you be watching No One Will Save You? What did you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Tuesday 5 September 2023

Get the Ghost



It's Tano Tuesday and the Ghost has yet to appear in the Ahsoka Star Wars live-action spin-off series on Disney+.

However, this could all change if the fan-favourite ship from Star Wars Rebels appears in episode 4. If not, Hasbro and Lucasfilm need to work more closely in the future as the Star Wars HasLab Black Series Rancor failed to be backed just before the creature's surprise appearance in The Book of Boba Fett.

The Star Wars The Vintage Collection The Ghost HasLab was quickly backed but soon lost momentum, and all the stretch goals, which mitigate the hefty £499.99 price tag, may not be reached.

Unless it reaches 17,000 backers, it looks unlikely Garazeb "Zeb" Orrelios will be included to crew the Ghost with General Hera Syndulla, Ezra Bridger and Kanan Jarrus. I can see fellow collectors and fans cancelling their orders at the last minute before the campaign ends on the 7th of September.

During the recent Fanstream for Ahsoka, Hasbro announced that Sabine Wren and Chopper would be released separately on cardbacks inspired by Wren’s Spectres mural from the Star Wars Rebels series finale if all the stretch goals were reached.

The Star Wars HasLab Razor Crest had a surge in backers on the final day. But it's worth remembering we were in a worldwide pandemic, and The Mandalorian was at its most popular during lockdown in 2020.

Whilst I backed the Star Wars HasLab The Ghost campaign early on, it's difficult to justify the investment during a cost of living crisis and the sheer size of the vehicle is prohibitively large for display. I don't want to leave the Ghost boxed in the garage. Where's that flight display stand, Hasbro?

New episodes of Ahsoka drop every Tuesday exclusively on Disney+.

Have you backed the Star Wars The Vintage Collection The Ghost HasLab on Hasbro Pulse? Are you going to wait and see if all the stretch goals are met? Let me know in the comments below.

Monday 4 September 2023

LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama



The holiday season is coming. LEGO Star Wars celebrates with a limited edition diorama based on The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special on Disney+.

The beloved brand is releasing the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama.

Read the official description:

"Let young fans relive the Christmas party from the LEGO® Star Wars: Holiday Special with this Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama. A great gift idea for ages 8 and up, it features an instantly recognizable brick-built version of the lounge area and sleeping quarters inside the iconic Millennium Falcon. A buildable Christmas tree, string of colorful Christmas light elements, mistletoe and a plate of turkey and carrot elements on the table recreate the festive atmosphere.

Build, play and mix

The set also features 5 LEGO Star Wars™ characters, including new-for-October-2023 Rey and Finn LEGO minifigures in holiday sweaters, plus accessories such as Rey’s Jedi book, to bring the scene to life. For even more creative play possibilities, add the builds and characters found in the 2023 LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar (75366).

Limited availability

Please note that this hot LEGO Star Wars building toy is only available to buy from 1 October to 31 December 2023."


Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama is available from LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

As a LEGO Star Wars fan, I'll be picking up the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama and the LEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2023 featuring figures and accessories from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars: The Bad Batch on 1st October.

Will you be adding the LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Holiday Diorama to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Friday 1 September 2023

Doctor Who exhibition to celebrate 60th anniversary



A new Doctor Who exhibition will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the beloved BBC sci-fi series.

Weston Museum will host Adventures in Time and Space - 60 Years of Doctor Who Art. It is claimed to feature the largest collection of art from the decades-spanning series.

The artistic archive includes works by Marvel UK legend Dave Gibbons, Target novelisation cover artist par excellence Chris Achilleos, iconic illustrator Andrew Skilleter and many more.

"The exhibition will unfold like the pages of a well-worn book," said museum director Becky Walsh.

Doctor Who returns for three 60th anniversary specials, starring David Tennant (Doctor Who) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), this November on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Ncuti Gatwa (Barbie) takes over control of the TARDIS during the holiday season. Millie Gibson (Coronation Street) will join Gatwa aboard the TARDIS as companion Ruby Sunday.

"Hold onto your sonic screwdrivers as we journey back to the roots of the longest-running sci-fi extravaganza known to humanity," added Ms Walsh.

For further information, please visit the Weston Museum website.

The Adventures in Time and Space - 60 Years of Doctor Who Art exhibition is open to the public from 21st October to 27th January 2024.