The Witcher 4 demo at State of Unreal

CD Projekt Red showed a stunning tech demo at Unreal Fest Orlando 2025 of The Witcher 4 running on a base PlayStation 5 (PS5) with ray tracing enabled.



Read the official synopsis:

"This demo provides a glimpse at a number of 5.6’s powerful new open world features in action—all running on PlayStation 5 at 60 fps with raytracing—including the new, faster way to load open worlds via the Fast Geometry Streaming Plugin.

We get a peek at the power of 5.6 for handling busy scenes full of high-fidelity characters and visual effects like Chaos Cloth and an early look at Nanite Foliage, which provides a fast and memory-efficient way to achieve gorgeous foliage density and fidelity, slated for release in UE 5.7."

Remember that this isn’t gameplay of The Witcher 4 itself, but a deep dive into the technological groundwork.

Speaking on The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, Joint-CEO of CD Projekt Red, Michał Nowakowski, stated:

“We started our partnership with Epic Games to push open-world game technology forward. To show this early look at the work we’ve been doing using Unreal Engine running at 60 FPS on PlayStation 5, is a significant milestone — and a testament of the great cooperation between our teams. But we’re far from finished. I look forward to seeing more advancements and inspiring technology from this partnership as development of The Witcher 4 on Unreal Engine 5 continues.”

I vividly remember playing Unreal Tournament on my iMac DV SE in 2000. The Unreal Engine has evolved, and The Witcher 4 promises truly next-gen fidelity.

Tim Sweeney, Founder and CEO of Epic Games, said:

“CD Projekt Red is one of the industry’s best open-world game studios, and we’re grateful that they’re working with us to push Unreal Engine forward with The Witcher 4. They are the perfect partner to help us develop new world-building features that we can share with all Unreal Engine developers.”

Sony's $250 million investment in Epic Games is paying dividends, and I can't wait to play The Witcher 4 on PS5.

Have you watched The Witcher 4 tech demo? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

CBSO Star Wars Trilogy Weekender

The force will be strong in Birmingham this October, as the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) teams up with esk to present the Star Wars Trilogy Weekender – a three-day orchestral spectacular that brings the galaxy’s most iconic saga to life.

Birmingham’s Symphony Hall will become the ultimate destination for film fans and music lovers between 24th to 26th October 2025. The CBSO will perform John Williams’ legendary, Oscar-winning score live, in synchronisation with the original Star Wars trilogy, screened in full cinematic glory. It’s a rare opportunity to experience these beloved films like never before – all in a single weekend at one of the UK’s most celebrated concert venues.

The weekend opens on Friday 24th October with Star Wars: A New Hope, followed by Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back on Saturday 25th October, and concludes with Star Wars: Return of the Jedi on Sunday 26th October. Each performance will feature the full force of the CBSO, delivering the unforgettable score live in real time with the film.

Emma Stenning, Chief Executive at the CBSO said: “This is not just a concert – it’s a cinematic and musical pilgrimage. Whether you're a lifelong fan or introducing someone to the saga for the first time, this promises to be an unforgettable weekend of live music and big-screen magic.”

This event arrives at a time of growing national interest in orchestral film concerts. Symphony orchestras across the UK are using blockbuster scores to attract new audiences to classical music, with Arts Council England reporting a 17% increase in younger attendees. The Trilogy Weekender follows a string of sell-out Star Wars performances across the UK and coincides with heightened excitement around the next chapter of the Star Wars franchise.

Ticket packages are available, with 10% off when booking two concerts and 15% off when booking all three. Tickets range from £32 to £94.50 including fees, with tickets already selling fast.

The concerts are a part of the CBSO’s new 2025–26 season, which bridges classical tradition and contemporary culture. Other highlights include Best of Bond, Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush with live orchestra, and Symphonic Queen.

The Star Wars: Film Concert Series is produced under license by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox and Warner/Chappell Music. All rights reserved © Disney.

To book tickets or explore the full CBSO 2025–26 season, please visit www.cbso.co.uk.

Are you attending the CBSO Star Wars Trilogy Weekender? Let me know in the comments below.

The War Between The Land And The Sea first look

Ncuti Gatwa regenerated into Billie Piper in The Reality War, but the Whoniverse continues with a first look at The War Between The Land And The Sea, coming soon to BBC iPlayer and Disney+.



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.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says: “The excitement is beginning to build, as the Whoniverse expands. I can’t wait for people to see this magnificent cast in such a powerful, vital, epic story. Look to the seas!”

The upcoming Doctor Who spin-off series is darker in tone, like Torchwood and features a soundtrack composed by Lorne Balfe (His Dark Materials). This is great news, as I was hoping Balfe was going to work on seasons one and two of Doctor Who on Disney+!

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

Doctor Who: The Reality War

The second season of Doctor Who on Disney+ has been somewhat overshadowed by speculation surrounding the series’ future, a decades-spanning tabloid trope since the classic era.

Rumours of Disney stepping away from the deal, regeneration, series cancellation, or hiatus haven’t detracted from my enjoyment. And the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) are plastic fantastic as Barbie dolls. Don’t forget Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), Mattel!

Does The Reality War stick the landing, unlike Empire of Death, or is the Doctor’s fate sealed with a headache-inducing hot mess of Russell T Davies' making?

Alas, it's the latter as Davies indulgently uses the Disney intellectual property (IP) playbook like a child in a candy store. The special runs the gamut from Avengers: Endgame to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. It was all too much.

We last saw the Doctor falling to his death in Wish World. He's rescued by Anita Benn (Stephanie de Whalley) from Joy to the World. Anita became an instant fan-favourite and possible future companion. Working at the Time Hotel and channelling the Time Variance Authority (TVA) from Loki, she's 6 months pregnant with the hotel manager's baby, and this ties into a theme of Time Lord reproduction or lack thereof, as revealed by the Rani (Archie Panjabi) as Poppy becomes the Doctor's surrogate child. A pivot too far, as Susan Foreman (Carol Ann Ford) is all but forgotten and Belinda is put in a box.

I couldn't keep track of all the twisted-up threads. Davies is at his best when using restraint, as seen in 73 Yards.

Ultimately, Omega was another classic villain to fall foul of Scooby Doo voodoo! Like Sutekh, he was a giant CGI monstrosity and a boring boss battle with zero stakes, dispatched using a reject prop from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. Snacking on the Rani, he's more Rancor monster from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi than the vengeful creator of the Time Lords. What was far more interesting was the dynamic between the Doctor and his companions, Belinda and Ruby.

Here, the series shone brightest.

Whilst the bombastic battle at Avengers Tower, I mean UNIT HQ, was derivative and filled with far too many cameos, it was the mind games between Ruby and Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King), her fake ex-boyfriend from Think Tank, that piqued my interest as giant skeletons attacked! Here was a former TARDIS companion with PTSD confronting her abuser.

Jodie Whittaker reprises the role of the Thirteenth Doctor on television for the first time since The Power of the Doctor. Her cameo, aboard the TARDIS, was a surprise, but a welcome one, subverting the expectation that David Tennant would return for the finale as the Fourteenth Doctor.

The chemistry between Gatwa and Whittaker sparkled, and I was a little misty-eyed. Davies has embraced former series showrunner Chris Chibnall's divisive Timeless Child with aplomb.

A time traveller for the TikTok generation.

As much as I’ve enjoyed this second season, I wanted to spend more time (pun intended) with the Fifteenth Doctor, Belinda and Ruby aboard the TARDIS. That’s good, even if it feels far too brief over two seasons. However, after an emotional goodbye with Belinda and Poppy (I teared up), Ruby was completely ignored back at UNIT HQ, the Fifteenth Doctor regenerates into Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) or is it?

Bad Wolf?

When the Disney+ partnership was announced in 2022, beginning with the 60th anniversary specials spearheaded by a returning series showrunner, I was excited about the future of my all-time favourite television series. Fast forward to 2025, and it’s trapped in an infinite loop of nostalgia.

The revival has come full circle from small beginnings in Rose. If the series is to continue in partnership with Disney+, it's time for a change and not a moment too soon.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Reality War? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Millie Gibson teases return of Omega

Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) teased the return of Omega in the Doctor Who season two finale, The Reality War, in an interview with the Radio Times: "He's terrifying… I think people are going to be really shocked."

Omega, a founder of the Time Lord society corrupted by anti-matter and his ego, first appeared in the 10th anniversary special The Three Doctors, which featured William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton reprising their roles as the First and Second Doctors alongside Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor. He was originally played by Stephen Thorne, and his disembodied voice is heard in Wish World. The dialogue was taken directly from a Big Finish audio drama, Gallifrey: Intervention Earth, recorded before Thorne died in 2019.

Gibson goes on to say: "I think Archie is just such a cool Rani – she kind of worships Omega. I think it's a really cool two-villain dynamic. The more the better! This is why it's the biggest battle for the Doctor – there are two of his biggest villains that he has to defeat."

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you looking forward to Omega's return in The Reality War? Who do you think should play him, Brian Blessed? Let me know in the comments below.

You shall not pass: Balrog Book Nook

LEGO has announced a Balrog Book Nook for fans (myself included) of The Lord of the Rings.

Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the stunning LEGO build and display book nook consists of 1,201 pieces and gives a glimpse into Middle-earth. Bearing a plaque with the words ‘You Shall Not Pass’, the model depicts Gandalf’s epic showdown with the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm.

"Create a window into Middle-earth™ with the LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings: Balrog™ Book Nook (10367) bookshelf decor kit – a fun gift idea for book lovers and fans of the legendary movie trilogy. Slide the book nook between your favorite novels for a glimpse into J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world or open it to reveal a striking display depicting Gandalf's epic showdown with the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm."

Pre-order LEGO Icons Balrog Book Nook on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Will you be adding the Balrog Book Nook set to your collection? Which LEGO The Lord of the Rings sets would you like to see released in the future? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: Wish World

We're in the endgame now with the first part of the season two finale. I was right about the Rani all along. Is it a case of be careful what you wish for?

The Story & the Engine explored the theme of storytelling through the lens of the Doctor.

Wish World takes this to the nth degree in an episode of Jackanory narrated by Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King), Ruby Sunday's (Millie Gibson) Think Tank-leading ex-boyfriend from Lucky Day, seen through a cathode-ray tube (CRT), in a callback to the Dan Dare retrofuturism of The Robot Revolution. It's worth noting that both Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and Ruby's ex-boyfriends are self-absorbed narcissists.

For generations of fans (myself included), Doctor Who was teatime family viewing watched on a CRT TV. I’m in danger of falling down a nostalgic rabbit hole littered with fossilised bones and ghosts of the past.

62 years later, Doctor Who continues to draw inspiration from eclectic popular culture sources. This second season on Disney+, the intertextual references to Disney-owned franchises have included Aliens, Avengers, Loki and Star Wars.

Wish World is Russell T Davies' spellbinding tribute to Wandavision, replete with knowing nods to Flash Gordon and Masters of the Universe. An imperious Rani (Archie Panjabi) channelling Agatha Harkness (Davies is a fan of the Marvel Comics witch) in a Grimm fairytale, steals the infant God of Wishes from his parents, before flying a space scooter back to Castle Grayskull in a sight to behold.

The Doctor, under the alias of John Smith, and Belinda are a married couple with a daughter, Poppy from Space Babies, in an alternate right-wing reality of Conrad’s creation where men work and women stay at home. A horrifying vision of conformity and ableism. I've alluded to the latter in The Well. Doubt undermines this cosy conservative world, and it all comes crashing down like the masquerade ball in Labyrinth when Ruby turns up at the front door of their home.

Former companion, Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford), lives on the same street as the Doctor and Belinda. The Rani, as first played by Kate O'Mara, pretended to be Mel during the Seventh Doctor's (Sylvester McCoy) story, Time and the Rani.

Sethu continues to be a standout. It's chilling to watch Belinda storm out of her Tim Burton-inspired suburban home and run, screaming, into the woods.

Season one’s big bad reveal of Sutekh fell flat. This time, the Rani searches for Omega in the Underverse, first mentioned in The Giggle, and we hear his disembodied voice. A tragic villain, Omega was stranded in an anti-matter universe after becoming the first Time Lord and sought revenge against his fellow Time Lords in The Three Doctors and Arc of Infinity. The Seventh Doctor used the Hand of Omega, known as the Omega device by the Daleks, to destroy the Dalek homeworld, Skaro, in Remembrance of the Daleks.

Omega is a curious choice as Davies has gone to great pains to avoid classic villains in this Disney era. However, it has far-reaching implications for the series' future.

With the return of Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford), the Rani and Omega, is The Reality War a feature-length multi-Doctor story to end the status quo and to close the 20th anniversary of the revival?

Oh, boy!

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched Wish World? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Disney is staging a live concert at the Royal Albert Hall in November to celebrate.

"Experience Star Wars: The Force Awakens in concert with John Williams' score performed live by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, conducted by Ludwig Wicki.

30 years since the destruction of the second Death Star, the sinister First Order, commanded by the mysterious Snoke and apprentice Kylo Ren, rise from the ashes of the Empire. The Resistance, led by General Leia Organa, attempts to thwart the First Order’s threat, but they’re desperate for help. Rey, a desert scavenger, and Finn, an ex-stormtrooper, find themselves joining forces with Han Solo and Chewbacca in a perilous mission to return a BB-unit droid back to the Resistance with a map to Luke Skywalker.

From director J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: The Force Awakens features a new score composed by five-time Academy Award®-winning composer John Williams. See the film on the big screen as the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra performs the score live on stage."

The Force is as strong as ever with John Williams' soundtrack for Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Rey's Theme remains one of my all-time favourite Star Wars themes, distilling the franchise's resurgence. From Andor to Skeleton Crew, all the Star Wars things.

Are you booking tickets for Star Wars: The Force Awakens in Concert? Let me know in the comments below.

Barbie Whoniverse at MCM London Comic Con

Making its intergalactic debut at MCM London Comic Con on Friday, 23rd May, Mattel Creations is exclusively unveiling the new Barbie x Doctor Who dolls at the show.

Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who) and Millie Gibson (Ruby Sunday) are immortalised as Barbie dolls! Gatwa played a Ken in the Barbie movie and shared his thoughts on seeing his Barbie doll for the first time: “Barbie is iconic, so to see a Barbie iteration of the Doctor was emotional, surreal, incredible and I can't wipe the smile off my face. I hope kids out there are able to enjoy the doll and see themselves in it and think 'I can do anything’.”

Pre-order the Fifteenth Doctor from Amazon (affiliate link).
Pre-order Ruby Sunday from Amazon (affiliate link).

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Will you be adding the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday Barbie dolls to your collection? Let me know in the comments below.

Preview the two Ranis in Doctor Who

Following the revelation that Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) is the renegade Time Lord, the Rani. The BBC has released a preview for Wish World featuring the two Ranis. Whovians see what you did there, Russell T Davies.



On joining Doctor Who as the Rani following a bi-generation, Archie Panjabi says: "It seems there’s been quite a bit of speculation about the Rani’s return... and who can blame you? Kate O’Mara’s portrayal was brilliant, ruthless and unforgettable. Now, under Russell T Davies, she’s back - and I’ll ask... what in the Whoniverse will we bring to her? Let’s just say, you might not be ready!"

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched the preview of Wish World? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Predator: Killer of Killers hunting through history

On Monday, 20th Century Studios released an official trailer for Predator: Killer of Killers, an original animated action-adventure film from the director of Prey set in the Predator universe.



Read the official synopsis:

"The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent – the ultimate killer of killers."

Predator: Killer of Killers is directed by Dan Trachtenberg with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director. The film stars Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn and is written by Micho Robert Rutare and story by Trachtenberg and Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. The producers are John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, p.g.a., Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, p.g.a., with Lawrence Gordon, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Stefan Grube as executive producers.

Predator: Killer of Killers premieres only on Hulu on Disney+ on 6th June.

Have you watched the official trailer for Predator: Killer of Killers? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Interstellar Song Contest

Eurovision is an annual music extravaganza, spawning pop royalty ABBA and Celine Dion.

One of my earliest memories of watching the Eurovision song contest was the year Bucks Fizz won in 1981. This coincided with a visit to family friends and the first time I ever experienced a toastie from a Breville sandwich toaster (my parents soon owned one, which was perfect for Doctor Who teatime viewing).

As I've written previously, a life-changing childhood trauma overshadowed my early life, so songs like Bucks Fizz's The Land of Make Believe became an inspirational anthem in the darkest days of rehabilitation.

So, in a timey-wimey twist worthy of the metaverse (no, not that one), The Interstellar Song Contest preceded this year's Eurovision grand final on BBC One. Is it a season two hit or miss?

With cameos from popular presenters Rylan Clark (a self-confessed Whovian) and Graham Norton, as themselves, it's a hit from start to finish. The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) take one last detour aboard the TARDIS before returning to Earth on 24th May, 2025. This time, materialising on a space station, the Harmony Arena, hosting an interstellar song contest 900 years later.

The event is hijacked, and trillions of lives are put in peril. The Doctor, Rylan, the contestants, and the audience are blasted into space where they freeze. An unconscious Doctor has a vision of his first companion, granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford), and this sparks him back to life. This is a monumental moment for the Whoniverse, and I got goosebumps at the implication. Susan was last seen in The Five Doctors.

There’s a playful homage to Disney Pixar’s WALL-E as the Doctor, marooned in space, propels himself back to the Harmony Arena using a confetti cannon! Things twist from cosmic camp to horrifying dark melodrama as the Doctor is triggered by the trauma of Gallifrey's destruction and the demise of the Time Lords, and mistakenly thinks Belinda is dead. The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) infamously failed to save Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) from the Cybermen in Earthshock.

Once down the dark path...

As seen in Dalek twenty years ago, the Doctor becomes the torturer and electrocutes Kid (Freddie Fox) in a scene evoking the Emperor using Force lightning to kill Luke Skywalker before Darth Vader stops him in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. This time, it's another vision of Susan that halts the Doctor from being seduced by the dark side. Belinda, very much alive, is struck by the Doctor's anger and, again, challenges him to be more open with her.

Rylan, the contestants and audience are revived by the duo of Mike Gabbastone (Kadiff Kirwan) and Gary Gabbastone (Charlie Condou) to the victorious sounds of Bucks Fizz's winning song, Making Your Mind Up. I was overcome with misty-eyed joy.

Norton, a staple of Eurovision, appears as an interactive hologram and harbinger of doom. He explains the Earth was destroyed on 24th May, 2025. The Doctor and Belinda board the TARDIS only to be greeted by the apocalyptic sound of the cloister bells.

It was the Rani all along.

During a mid-credits scene, a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Mrs Flood's (Anita Dobson) true identity is finally revealed. She is the Rani, first played by Kate O'Mara, a renegade Time Lord, and undergoes her own bi-generation, introducing a second Rani (Archie Panjabi). In doing so, the Doctor's isolation as the last of his kind has ended.

Does this tease that we may see the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) in the two-part finale? If this is the last season of Doctor Who for a while, we're getting our Avengers: Endgame.

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Interstellar Song Contest? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Buffy finds new slayer from Star Wars

The upcoming Buffy revival has found its slayer! Star Wars: Skeleton Crew's Ryan Kiera Armstrong.

"I want to introduce you to [Ryan Kiera Armstrong]," Sarah Michelle Gellar wrote on Instagram underneath a video telling a teary-eyed Armstrong that she got the part. "From the moment I saw Ryan's audition, I knew there was only one girl that I wanted by my side. To have that kind of emotional intelligence, and talent, at such a young age is truly a gift. The bonus is that her smile lights up even the darkest room. Welcome to #NewSunnydale #btvs."

Armstrong will play the new slayer opposite Gellar, who is reprising the role of Buffy Summers. Oscar winner Chloé Zhao is directing the pilot, written by Nora and Lilla Zuckerman.

"We are so overjoyed to have found this generation's slayer in Ryan Kiera Armstrong, she absolutely blew us away — there is no question in our mind that she is the chosen one," Nora and Lilla said in a statement.

Are you excited about a Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot or revival on Hulu on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

Fallout in New Vegas this December

In a surprise announcement, Fallout season two will premiere this holiday season on Prime Video.

Fallout is based on one of the most popular video game franchises of all time and is set 200 years after an apocalyptic event. The story follows the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters who are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind - and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.

What happens in New Vegas, stays in New Vegas!

Season two will continue the story after season one’s finale, taking viewers through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.

“We are absolutely thrilled that our global Prime Video customers will be able to delve deeper into the wonderfully surreal and captivating world of Fallout,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television, Amazon MGM Studios. “Jonah, Lisa, Geneva, and Graham have done an exceptional job bringing this beloved video game franchise to vivid life on Prime Video.”

The hit series based on the popular video game franchise will return for a third season as the show’s second season prepares to launch later this year.

Fallout is streaming exclusively on Prime Video (affiliate link).

Have you watched Fallout on Prime Video? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Earth crash-lands this August

Alien: Earth, a new sci-fi series from Emmy Award-winning Noah Hawley (Fargo) based on the acclaimed Alien franchise, crashes onto Hulu on Disney+ this August.

Read the official synopsis:

“When the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-lands on Earth, “Wendy” (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s “Alien: Earth.”

In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. But the game is changed when the wunderkind Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unlocks a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype named “Wendy” marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides into Prodigy City, “Wendy” and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.”

The cast for Alien: Earth includes Sydney Chandler (Don't Worry Darling), Alex Lawther (Andor), Samuel Blenkin (The Sandman), Kit Young (Shadow and Bone), Essie Davis (Assassin's Creed), Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger) and Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian).

After Alien: Romulus resurrected the chest-bursting franchise, I look forward to seeing how Wayland-Yutini becomes the dominant corporation amidst xenomorph mayhem.

Alien: Earth premieres only on Hulu and Disney+ on 13th August.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who season two finale simulcast

In a move that will please many Doctor Who fans (myself included), the season two finale will be broadcast simultaneously on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ in a primetime slot, and in over 450 cinemas across the UK and Ireland on 31st May.

Titled The Reality War, fans across the globe will be able to all watch together as the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) faces one of his most terrifying and monumental battles to date in an extra-special-length episode.

Russell T Davies, series showrunner, says: "The Doctor is doomed, Belinda is lost, Ruby is trapped, UNIT is powerless, the Unholy Trinity rule supreme and the Underverse is rising. And now we can all experience this devastating climax together, all at the same time, with a unique worldwide premiere. I can promise shocks, scares and revelations off the scale. Come and have fun!"

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Are you watching Doctor Who season two? What are your thoughts? Will you be booking tickets for the two-part finale on the big screen? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Story & the Engine

Season one of Doctor Who on Disney+ was wibbly-wobbly, whereas season two continues with top timey-wimey tales from the TARDIS.

The Story & the Engine thoughtfully explores the Fifteenth Doctor’s (Ncuti Gatwa) lived experience and the power of myth. Star Wars creator George Lucas was a student of Joseph Campbell (The Hero with a Thousand Faces), so this is my jam.

A Finetime is had by all as long as they're white.

This Nigerian-set episode is a world where the Doctor is accepted and celebrated in stark contrast to the racism of Dot and Bubble and Lux.

In a spectacular surprise cameo, Jo Martin reprises her fan-favourite role as the Fugitive Doctor, introduced during Jodie Whittaker's divisive era, as returning series showrunner Russell T Davies continues to lean into the 20th anniversary of the series’ revival to celebrate all things Doctor Who despite an uncertain future.

Seeing previous incarnations of the beloved Time Lord hit hard. Beginning with Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, the montage continues with Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, Matt Smith, Tom Baker, Paul McGann, William Hartnell, Peter Davison and Colin Baker. Also, I'm acutely aware that watching Doctor Who with my octogenarian dad won't last forever. I'm a fan because he introduced me to the series when Tom Baker took over from Jon Pertwee...

Whilst it's a companion-lite story set primarily in a barber shop, Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) effortlessly earned her place aboard the TARDIS in The Robot Revolution, there's a flashback to a fleeting meeting between Belinda and Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) during a life-saving hospital shift.

The ongoing dynamic between Belinda and the Doctor is a refreshing change in the modern era. She still wants to get home and sees through the Doctor's disguise, but is empathetic and lets him visit an old friend, Omo (Sule Rimi).

The spooky child who points Belinda towards Omo's barber shop is Captain Poppy from Space Babies!

Make mine meta.

There's a fun reference to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and Loki. During lockdown, the Loki spin-off series on Disney+ was widely regarded as Marvel's take on Doctor Who.

Yes, I'm still rooting for Mrs Flood to be revealed as the Rani. Talking of classic villains absent from the Whoniverse, again, the Doctor namechecked them. Will we see Cybermen, Ice Warriors and Daleks in the two-part season finale?

The Story & the Engine is a poignant story about stories, eloquently riffing on the Eleventh Doctor’s (Matt Smith) quote: "We're all stories, in the end... just make it a good one, eh?"

Amen.

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Story & the Engine? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Destiny 2 goes full Star Wars in Renegades

As a lifelong Star Wars fan and lapsed Destiny 2 player, the Force flows through Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate in the Renegades teaser trailer.



"The reveal featured a brief cinematic teaser showcasing Renegades, a definitive Destiny expansion with a narrative integral to the Fate Saga, while also suffused with inspiration from and homage to Star Wars," Bungie explained.

The Renegades expansion will launch in December.

"Renegades will introduce new Destiny characters, innovative activities, and evolved mechanics designed to surprise and delight players."

If it looks like Star Wars and sounds like Star Wars, it is Star Wars! Lucasfilm Games is involved, after all.

"To really drive it home here, Renegades is a one-of-a-kind Destiny experience," says assistant game director Robbie Stevens. "Just like we on the Destiny team have taken inspiration from other genres like dark fantasy or cosmic horror, Renegades takes the space western vibe and aesthetic that is Star Wars and puts it through that Destiny lens."

What did you think of the teaser trailer? Are you still playing Destiny 2? If not, will Star Wars bring you back? Let me know in the comments below.

Grand Theft Auto VI delayed

On Tuesday, Rockstar Games released a new trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI.



Read the official synopsis:

"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them. But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."

GTA VI heads to the state of Leonida, home to the neon-soaked streets of Vice City and beyond in the biggest, most immersive evolution of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series yet. With a reported budget of over a billion dollars and featuring a female protagonist (Lucia), GTA VI was due to be released on PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series S|X in 2025. However, the game has been delayed until 26th May 2026.

“With every game we have released, the goal has always been to try and exceed your expectations, and ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ is no exception,” the company said. “We hope you understand that we need this extra time to deliver at the level of quality you expect and deserve.”

According to Michael Pachter, the managing director of equity research at Wedbush Securities, Rockstar Games could consider selling GTA VI for $100.

“We think the company has plans to sell the game at a previously unheard of price point, and suspect that management can offer consumers an incentive to pay $100 or more per unit by rewarding them with a large amount of in-game currency to be spent in GTA Online,” he wrote.

“There is precedent for integrating an online game experience with a premium game, as Activision did so with both Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Mobile content prior to the release of its annual Call of Duty premium installment,” Pachter continued.

“In Activision’s case, the integration led to a 40% increase in sales of Call of Duty premium; in Take-Two’s case, we think a successful integration of GTA Online and GTA VI can lead to a $100 price point for the premium game.”

Are you looking forward to Grand Theft Auto VI? What did you think of the trailer? Are you disappointed by the delay? Let me know in the comments below.

Festival of the Force

Although May the Fourth celebrations have ended, UK-based Star Wars fans (myself included) can attend the Festival of the Force in the historic city of York on 25th May.

"At Festival of the Force, our mission is to deliver an unforgettable, immersive experience for Star Wars fans right here in the UK. As the largest convention of its kind, our central location makes it easily accessible to enthusiasts from across the nation! We are passionate about celebrating the vast and iconic Star Wars universe while building a strong sense of community among collectors, fans, and cosplayers of all ages. With a galaxy of Star Wars merchandise, celebrity appearances, and fan-led events, we strive to connect all force wielders to ignite the excitement of the fandom."

For further information and to book tickets, please visit Festival of the Force.

Will you be attending Festival of the Force? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: Lucky Day

Lucky Day sees the return of Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), who departed from the TARDIS in the season one finale Empire of Death.

As with 73 Yards, Gibson excels in a standalone Doctor-lite episode. This time exploring TARDIS companion life post the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa). What seemingly starts as a life-affirming exploration of Whovian fandom, as seen in Lux, is brutally subverted and takes a darker Torchwood twist.

The revelation that popular podcaster and Ruby's romantic interest, Conrad Clark (Jonah Hauer-King), was the leader of the far-right Think Tank gave me real-world chills.

An earlier iteration of Think Tank was featured in the Fourth Doctor’s (Tom Baker) first full story, Robot. The organisation clashed with UNIT, led by Kate Stewart's (Jemma Redgrave) father, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney). The titular robot was a tragic figure in a retelling of King Kong. The Denys Fisher action figure stood sentry, alongside the Six Million Dollar Man and a Cyberman, by my bedside in a children's hospital (circa 1977) in the wake of a life-changing injury that culminated in a permanent disability and societal prejudice as a member of an unseen underclass. Therefore, this episode deeply resonated with me.

Irredeemable human monsters are always scarier than a creature of the week. And through this lens, Lucky Day cleverly confronts the Doctor’s callousness, too. Something is very wrong, and that discordant tone was established by Belinda Chandra’s (Varada Sethu) demand to get home in The Robot Revolution.

Talking of Belinda, Conrad knew about her. Will we see him again as a companion of Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) or the Rani, as I remain steadfastly sure is her true identity!

Lucky Day is another stellar season two story and teases the upcoming UNIT spin-off series, The War Between The Land And The Sea. Is Ruby going to play a pivotal role alongside Kate? If not, give her her own series.

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched Lucky Day? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Hasbro extends Star Wars deal

Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection collectors (myself included) can rejoice.

Hasbro has extended its long-running Disney partnership, securing Star Wars and Marvel licenses for years to come.

"It’s an honor to be able to deepen our relationship with Disney Consumer Products to create even more magical play experiences for consumers across the globe," said Tim Kilpin, Hasbro's President, Toys, Board Games, Licensing and Entertainment. “Star Wars and Marvel provide an extensive array of captivating content that gives us an unlimited trove of fresh ideas to create from. Our collaboration spans more than half a century, and we look forward to strengthening our relationship by bringing consumers everywhere brand-new play experiences tied to the exciting universes and characters of Star Wars and Marvel.”

With this extension, Hasbro doubles down on fan-favourite franchises and deepens its powerhouse partnership with Disney.

"We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Hasbro to evolve our expansive portfolio of Star Wars and Marvel toys that bring these iconic adventures into daily life,” said Paul Gitter, Executive Vice President of Global Brand Commercialization at Disney Consumer Products. "From must-have collectibles to Lightsaber toys, we aim to push the boundaries of creativity to deliver innovative products and engaging play experiences that bring our fans closer to their favorite stories and characters.”

Growing up as an only child with a disability in the wake of a life-changing injury, Star Wars toys were a welcome distraction from years of rehabilitation. My favourite toys included a 12" Boba Fett action figure, All Terrain Armoured Transport (AT-AT), Millennium Falcon, Jabba the Hutt action playset and an Imperial Shuttle. Special mention for R2-D2 as that little droid was the first Star Wars action figure I owned before seeing the movie in 1978.

Let's pretend Star Wars Bend-Ems never happened in the early nineties!

30 years ago, following the purchase of Kenner, Hasbro launched Star Wars: The Power of the Force. These were the first new toys worth collecting after Kenner ended the original vintage toy line in 1985. Fast forward to 2025, I'm all about collecting Star Wars: The Vintage Collection.

2027 marks the 50th anniversary of Star Wars, so expect to see plenty of action-packed products to celebrate.

Are you happy Hasbro has extended its deal with Disney to produce more Star Wars products? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Well

The Well, a chilling sequel to Midnight, is a masterclass in tension, drawing parallels with one of my all-time favourite classic serials, Earthshock. Like that seminal story featuring the shock return of the Cybermen after almost a decade, The Well has a squad of ill-fated troopers on a mission into darkness, and there is no happy ending.

Returning Doctor Who series showrunner Russell T Davies has brutal form; look no further than Years and Years. The Well is the antithesis of Space Babies.

There are homages to another sequel, Aliens. A famous quote from Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is used, and the troopers’ weapons are inspired by the iconic M41-A Pulse Rifle used by the Colonial Marines. Apt, as The Well dropped on Alien Day.

Rose Ayling-Ellis MBE takes centre stage as Aliss (a play on Lewis Carroll's Alice), and her performance is profoundly moving. Her repeated plea, not to stand behind her, works on myriad levels. Personally, I was reminded of family and friends who are deaf or have hearing loss and their fight to be heard and accepted by mainstream society (something I can empathise with as a disabled person with a brain injury). Also, a teenage memory of a deaf student signing to her tutor how much she loved my artwork during an A-level Fine Art class brought me to tears. I’ve been critical of too many tears in season one of Doctor Who, but here we are. These tears are earned.

Shaya Costallion's (Caoilfhionn Dunne) selfless sacrifice reminded me of Commander Shepard in the original Mass Effect trilogy and Ripley's death in Alien 3. But it was all for nothing, and the enigmatic threat, first faced by the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), escaped.

The rich dynamic between Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) and the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) defines the second season in a way that season one squandered with Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson). Sethu, appearing in Doctor Who and Star Wars on Disney+ in the same week, is the new first lady of sci-fi!

What has happened to the Earth, and why do I have a bad feeling about Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson)? Since her introduction in The Church on Ruby Road, I'm convinced she's the Rani, a renegade Time Lord first played by Kate O'Mara! The Rani had a penchant for dressing up as previous companions, and Mrs Flood has borrowed clothes from Clara Oswald and Romana Mk I's wardrobes.

Doctor Who season two continues to deliver some of the best episodes since the revival in 2005. The Well is one of the all-time greats since the BBC's beloved sci-fi series began in 1963.

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Well? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Earth delivers monster crate on Alien Day

Alien fans (myself included) are eating well on Alien Day. FX has released a new teaser trailer for Noah Hawley's (Fargo) live-action spin-off series, Alien: Earth, set two years before the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo encountered the titular Alien.



Read the official synopsis:

"When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat in FX’s highly anticipated TV series Alien: Earth from creator Noah Hawley.

Alien: Earth is set in 2120 when five corporations – Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold – wield the power of nations, and proprietary advancements in technology provide the promise of a new tomorrow.

Lead by Chandler, the series showcases an expansive international cast which includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El."

Alien: Earth premieres this summer only on Hulu on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Predator: Badlands teases Alien vs. Predator

On Wednesday, 20th Century Studios dropped a teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands from the director of Prey.



Read the official synopsis:

"Predator: Badlands, which stars Elle Fanning and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi, is set in the future on a remote planet, where a young Predator (Schuster-Koloamatangi), outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia (Fanning) and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary."

The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, and Brent O’Connor.

Like Prey, the design of the titular Predator has been met with derision on social media. It looked goofy out of context, but like Prey before it, I'm sure Predator: Badlands will become an acclaimed entry in the fan-favourite franchise.

The trophy wall, a franchise staple since Predator 2, reveals a T-Rex and an alien from studio stabelmate Independence Day. A xenomorph is conspicuous by its absence.

Thia is a Weyland-Yutani synthetic android. Is Trachtenberg teasing an Alien vs. Predator reboot in all but name? Both Alien and Predator franchises are experiencing a renaissance since Disney took over. Alien: Earth and Predator: Killer of Killers are coming to Hulu on Disney+ later this year.

Predator: Badlands opens exclusively in cinemas on 7th November in IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, 4DX, ScreenX, and premium screens everywhere.

Have you watched the teaser trailer for Predator: Badlands? Let me know in the comments below.

50th anniversary of Star Wars in Los Angeles

For the first time since 2006, Star Wars Celebration returns to Los Angeles for the 50th anniversary of Star Wars.

The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025.

Star Wars Celebration Los Angeles 2027 will run from 1st to 4th April, 2027. Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling, will be in cinemas on 28th May, 2027.

Are you hoping to attend Star Wars Celebration Los Angeles in 2027? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: Lux

After The Robot Revolution, Doctor Who goes meta in a Silly Symphony filled with creepy animated magic that plays as a sequel to The Devil's Chord.

The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) promises to take Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) home, but they find themselves in 1950s America during an era of racial segregation. They become hostages of Mr Ring-a-Ding (voiced with glee by Alan Cumming) inside an abandoned picture house and transformed into cartoon characters who need the help of Whovians to escape a trap set by Mr Ring-a-Ding AKA the titular Lux, one of the same pantheon of gods as the Toymaker, Maestro and Sutekh.

Like many fans, I amusingly likened the two-part season one finale to Scooby-Doo, and there are overt references to the beloved franchise. Returning series showrunner Russell T Davies doesn't miss a trick in the driving seat of his mystery machine as he leans into the negative narratives surrounding the long-running sci-fi series.

In a timey-wimey twist of perfect synchronicity, there’s a reference to Somewhere in Time. Last week, I stumbled across the cult classic time travel romance starring Christopher Reeve (Superman: The Movie) and Jane Seymour (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) on Prime Video. A rewatch of Battlestar Galactica on Pluto TV had rekindled a childhood crush on Ms Seymour that culminated in a tale from the TARDIS. Who knew?

Sometimes, silence is golden.

Lux is an ambitious adventure that is one of the best episodes since the revival began twenty years ago. If there are any flies in the technicolour ointment, it's the seemingly rapid resolution of the conflict between Belinda and the Doctor and the use of Murray Gold's music (love the Easter eggs), which feels misplaced during scenes such as those in the all-night café.

Let there be light.

Minor misgivings aside, the fourth wall breaking exploration of Whovians as a found family had me misty-eyed. Tears are a recurring motif. Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson) is a harbinger of doom with her warning the show ends on 24th May!

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched Lux? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

The Force is with Star Wars Celebration Japan

Star Wars Celebration Japan is underway this weekend, and I'm living vicariously via friends' social media posts.

There are enough announcements for Star Wars fans (myself included) to fill a Corellian light freighter.

Sigourney Weaver (Alien) is joining the cast of The Mandalorian and Grogu, directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man), which is the first new Star Wars movie since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.



And Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord from Lucasfilm Animation is coming to Disney+ with Sam Witwer reprising the iconic villain for animation. Darth Maul was seemingly killed by a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, but returned in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Both stellar spin-offs drop in 2026.



The biggest surprise announcement so far is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things). The upcoming standalone movie, which stars Ryan Gosling (Barbie), will be released in 2027. This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the original Star Wars.



Speaking at Star Wars Celebration Japan in Tokyo, Gosling said: "The reality is that this script is just so good. It has such a great story with great and original characters. It’s filled with so much heart and adventure, and there just really is not a more perfect filmmaker for this particular story than Shawn."

In related news. Our friends at Hasbro have shared the latest product reveals for Star Wars: The Black Series and Star Wars: The Vintage Collection. Whilst collecting is a luxury during a cost of living crisis, I've pre-ordered the Bantha & Tusken Raider 2-Pack as part of Hasbro's return to Tatooine campaign in 2025. This set will pair with Luke's Landspeeder for toy photography.

Are you excited for The Mandalorian and Grogu, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord and Star Wars: Starfighter? Let me know in the comments below.

LEGO Star Wars celebrates May the 4th

Star Wars Celebration Japan starts today, and there are nine new LEGO Star Wars sets for May the Fourth.

Sets include UCS Jango Fett's Starship, Kylo Ren’s Command Shuttle, Rebel U-Wing Starfighter and Chopper (C1-10P).

"We're thrilled to unveil our latest LEGO Star Wars collection just in time for May the 4th, offering new and exciting sets for fans. Our talented team have outdone themselves, creating a wide range of models from across the galaxy. There's something for every fan to enjoy - from the most detailed collector's items for display to fun, adventurous sets inspired by the galaxy far, far away.... We can't wait to see LEGO Star Wars fans first impressions at Star Wars Celebration in Japan very soon!" said Mike Ilacqua, Head of Product, LEGO Star Wars Products at the LEGO Group.

Order the LEGO Star Wars UCS Jango Fett’s Starship set from 1st to 5th of May and receive a free LEGO Star Wars Kamino Training Facility minibuild gift with purchase (GWP) while stocks last. LEGO Insiders will also receive a free Jango Fett's Starship keyring while stocks last.

Discover LEGO Star Wars on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

What are your favourite LEGO Star Wars sets announced? Are you looking forward to Star Wars Celebration Japan? How will you be celebrating Star Wars Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who: The Robot Revolution

Doctor Who and Star Wars are back on television, and Varada Sethu is starring in both sci-fi franchises on Disney+.

Given an unconfirmed third season of Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa’s second season at the helm of the TARDIS has been preceded by months of speculation regarding the series' cancellation or hiatus. As it's the 20th anniversary of the revival, returning series showrunner Russell T Davies will surely have some big surprises in store for Whovians (myself included).

The Robot Revolution delivers a much stronger opening episode than season one’s divisive Space Babies, introducing us to a new companion, Belinda Chandra, played brilliantly by Varada Sethu, with a refreshingly different dynamic challenging the Doctor in a way that recalls Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), a classic companion of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors.

The Doctor is searching for Belinda in a London hospital where she works as a nurse. However, he's too late, red robots rock up to her home and take her away to their homeworld to resolve a conflict overseen by artificial intelligence (AI) - a theme explored in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.

Introduced in The Church on Ruby Road, Anita Dobson reprises the enigmatic role of Mrs Flood as Belinda's nosey neighbour. Who is she? An ally, an enemy or someone or something else?

The retrofuturism of Missbelindachandraville pays homage to Forbidden Planet, Dan Dare, and Cloud City from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.

Once the big bad is defeated with the help of Scoot, a cute cleaning robot, Belinda resists the Fifteenth Doctor's clarion call for a timey-wimey adventure aboard the TARDIS, insisting the Time Lord get her home immediately! However, the TARDIS seemingly malfunctions, and that's where the fun begins.

It is a season opener that balances adventure, character development, social commentary and intriguing mystery (why does the Doctor tell Belinda about her familial connection to Mundy Flynn in Boom?) in a way that bodes well for the season ahead, regardless of the series' future. That being said, please have fewer tears from the Doctor!

New episodes of Doctor Who drop every Saturday on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ outside the UK and Ireland. Season two is available for pre-order from Amazon (affiliate link).

Have you watched The Robot Revolution? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

BFI to screen original Star Wars

This will be a screening long remembered by Star Wars fans (myself included).

The British Film Institute (BFI) will screen the original Star Wars from 1977 this summer at BFI Southbank and BFI IMAX from 12th to 15th June.

"An unmissable treat for Star Wars fans. A long time ago, George Lucas’s original space fantasy set in a galaxy far, far away was released in 1977, captivating countless imaginations for generations to come and forever shifting popular culture. Film on Film presents Star Wars exactly as experienced by audiences on its original release, screening from one of the precious handful of dye transfer IB Technicolor prints produced for the first British release, preserved in the BFI National Archive.

On display to coincide with the opening night screening there is also a rare opportunity to view material from the original continuity script for Star Wars, which includes rare on-set Polaroids, annotations and deleted scenes. The script is from the collection of Ann Skinner, script editor on the original film, and is now cared for by the BFI National Archive."

Before the special editions, prequels, and social media.

The last time I saw the theatrical releases of the original Star Wars trilogy on the big screen was with college friends at The Elstree Star Wars Day in 1994. I regret not taking a camera with me to capture the memories. However, there were film props, and I met David Prowse (Darth Vader) and Warwick Davis (Wicket). This was one of Davis' earliest appearances at a Star Wars-related event before the first Star Wars Celebration in 1999.

Star Wars is the defining film of my life, and June marks the 18th anniversary of my mum's death. It's going to be emotional.

Tickets go on sale on 9th May.

Murderbot goes rogue on Apple TV+

On Wednesday, Apple TV+ released the first official trailer for Murderbot.



Read the official synopsis:

"Based on Martha Wells' best-selling, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning book series, “Murderbot" is sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really wants is to be left alone to watch futuristic soap operas and figure out its place in the universe."

Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood) plays the titular Murderbot who doesn't murder. The series is being helmed by brothers Chris and Paul Weitz (who previously co-directed About a Boy and worked together on the original American Pie), with David S. Goyer serving as an executive producer. The rest of the cast includes Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu, Akshay Khanna, Tattiawna Jones, and Tamara Podemski.

Murderbot will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on 16th May.

Have you watched the first official trailer for Murderbot? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Predator: Killer of Killers first look

On Tuesday, Hulu released a first look at Predator: Killer of Killers, an original animated action-adventure film from the director of Prey set in the Predator universe.



Read the official synopsis:

"The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge; a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession; and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent — the ultimate killer of killers."

Predator: Killer of Killers is directed by Dan Trachtenberg, with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director. The film is written by Micho Robert Rutare and the story is by Trachtenberg Dan and Rutare, based on characters created by James Thomas & John Thomas. John Davis, Trachtenberg, Marc Toberoff, and Ben Rosenblatt are the producers, with Lawrence Gordon, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Stefan Grube serving as executive producers.

Predator: Killer of Killers premieres only on Hulu on Disney+ on 6th June.

Have you watched the first look at Predator: Killer of Killers? What did you think? Are you looking forward to it? Let me know in the comments below.

Nintendo Switch 2 launches this June

Launched in 2017, the Nintendo Switch was the Kyoto-based video game company's attempt to bridge the divide between handheld and home consoles following the mixed reception of the Wii U.

The hybrid console was a runaway success, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons was the video game the world needed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Nintendo has announced the launch of the Switch 2 on 5th June. To combat scalpers, pre-orders will be by invitation only.

“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”

Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:

Nintendo Switch 2 console
Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
Joy-Con 2 Grip
Joy-Con 2 Straps
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
USB-C Charging Cable

Pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2 from Amazon (affiliate link).

After the pandemic, I traded my original Switch for the OLED model and am tempted to upgrade to the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle. The majority of Nintendo Switch games will be backwards compatible with the Switch 2, and some titles offer enhanced performance on the console. For example, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom. However, upgrading will cost extra. As an early adopter, I've been burned before by price drops for the Nintendo 64 and Nintendo DS.

Are you getting the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch or are you holding off? Let me know in the comments below.