MUTHUR can't save you in Alien: Covenant

Fans of the Alien franchise will instantly recognise MUTHUR. The Nostromo's onboard computer that awoke the crew from cryogenic stasis to seemingly investigate an alleged distress signal on LV-426.

Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) would later discover the chilling truth that MUTHUR was programmed to divert to the unknown planet, by the company Weyland-Yutani, and crewmate Ash's (Ian Holm) primary objective to sacrifice all aboard for an alien specimen.

MUTHUR, voiced by Lorelei King, returns in Alien: Covenant. Personally, this is exciting news as I worked with Lorelei on The Gemini Apes starring the late Sir Christopher Lee.

This new trailer, highlighting MUTHUR, cleverly plays to our expectations of intelligent personal assistants such as Alexa, Cortana or Siri and the franchise's callous use of technology.



Does MUTHUR play an instrumental role in Alien: Covenant? Fans will find out on 12th May.

Excited for Alien: Covenant? Let me know in the comments below.

Is Jenna Coleman returning to Doctor Who?

Jenna Coleman is rumoured to be returning to Doctor Who for this year's Christmas special.

The rumour originates from a story suggesting Eddie's Diner has been booked for filming this July. The iconic location was used in The Impossible Astronaut and as Clara and Me's TARDIS in Hell Bent: the series 9 finale in which Clara wiped the Doctor's memory of her.

Peter Capaldi is leaving at the end of this year, along with showrunner Steven Moffat, and it wouldn't be the first time a former companion returned for a regeneration story. Karen Gillan reprised the role of Amy Pond when Matt Smith bowed out in The Time of the Doctor. It's worth noting Clara's theme can be heard during the current series premiere as possible foreshadowing.

Series 10, currently airing on BBC One on Saturday evenings, is proving to be a hit with fans. So much so, I was inspired to email the official Doctor Who Magazine and was delighted to see my thoughts on the season premiere, The Pilot, reprinted in the current issue.

A post shared by John Hood (@johnhood) on May 4, 2017 at 7:21am PDT

Andrew Lewin, fellow Whovian and blogging co-conspirator, is reviewing the current series on Taking the Short View. Hopefully, this won't dissuade him from our obligatory post-series discussion later in the year.

Coleman is filming the second series of Victoria for ITV.

Would you like to see Clara return in the Christmas special? Let me know in the comments below.

Carrie Fisher remembered by fans on Star Wars Day

Star Wars fans around the world are celebrating Star Wars Day, May the Fourth, and paying tribute to the late Carrie Fisher.

#MayTheFourthBeWithYou always xx

A tribute to the truly irreplaceable Carrie Fisher on #StarWarsDay @HamillHimself pic.twitter.com/Rb5ouRkzx1

— MoviesYouLoved (@moviesyouloved) May 3, 2017

I updated my social media avatar with a photo taken with Carrie Fisher at Star Wars Celebration Europe last summer.

How are you celebrating Star Wars Day? Let me know in the comments below.

Netflix's Marvel superheroes unite in The Defenders

Today Netflix unveiled a trailer for Marvel's The Defenders. The upcoming series sees Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron First join forces to battle a big bad played by Sigourney Weaver.

Cue obligatory hallway fight scene.



The trailer has given me an incentive to catch up with a Marvel Netflix backlog.

Following the breakout first season of Daredevil. The Netflix series have stalled and stagnated for the most part. Conversely, Legion, a part of The X-Men cinematic universe at Fox, has captured my imagination with its inventiveness and is now front runner for genre series of the year.

Stream The Defenders on Netflix from 18th August. Coincedently, that would have been my late mum's 76th birthday.

Excited for Marvel's The Defenders or could care less? Let me know in the comments below.

House of Cards sees "One nation, Underwood!"

Netflix's adaptation of House of Cards, in 2013, proved the streaming service was more than capable of producing prestige drama. The award-winning series would be followed by Orange Is the New Black, Stranger Things, The Crown and many more.

House of Cards season 5 sees the Underwoods, played with gleeful malice by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright, battling for re-election against Republican rival Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman).

This new trailer for the upcoming season suggests an even darker tone than previous seasons, which didn't shy away from the murkier realms of politics. The incumbent president is clearly looking to secure more than two terms in office, in a move reminiscent of Senator Palpatine in Star Wars.



House of Cards season 5 is available to stream from 30th May.

Looking forward to House of Cards or do you think the current state of real word politics has eclipsed it? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars ruined John Boyega's love life

So, it's May and Star Wars celebrates its 40th anniversary this month. However, the Force moves in mysterious ways as John Boyega (Finn) discovered whilst on a date.

Speaking on the BBC's The Graham Norton Show, he said: "I went on a date in New York City and we were driving through Times Square and she asked, 'What do you do for a living?' I just pointed up at the 'Star Wars' billboard that showed me with a lightsaber and said, 'That!' That was the end of the relationship - the poster really affected her... I blocked her on my phone."



Boyega reprises the role of Finn in Star Wars: The Last Jedi this December.

Star Wars fan film: Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade

Whilst Star Wars fans wait for the as-yet-untitled Han Solo spin-off movie from Lucasfilm. Why not watch Star Wars fan film Han Solo: A Smuggler's Trade.

"The Universe's favorite intergalactic smuggler sets out on an epic quest to rescue an old friend. He uses his mechanical skills, cunning wit, and his creative interpretation of the rules to fight, flirt, bribe, and barter his way to victory. But will it be enough? Before there was A New Hope, there was Han Solo -- just an outlaw trying to survive in a galaxy more corrupt than he is... and far less forgiving."



This is a labour of love from director Keith Allen. Jamie Costa's Han Solo is not too shabby at all. There's an Indiana Jones vibe to proceedings, and that's no bad thing given both Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises are owned by Disney.

I've featured fan films in the past and am going to increase coverage going forward.

If you have a Star Wars fan film you'd like to share, please contact me.

Jeff Goldblum cast in sequel to Jurassic World

THR exclusively reports actor Jeff Goldblum is returning to the land that time forgot.

Goldblum will be reprising his iconic role as Dr. Ian Malcolm, the self-proclaimed chaotician, for the first time since The Lost World: Jurassic Park. He's joining co-stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard in the first Jurassic World sequel.

Jurassic World director Colin Trevorrow has handed directing chores to J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls). Trevorrow is busy over at Lucasfilm preparing for Star Wars: Episode IX.

The next installment in the Jurassic World franchise is slated for release 22nd June, 2018.

Disney reshuffles Star Wars and Indiana Jones

Disney's announced updated release dates for its Lucasfilm franchises.

Star Wars: Episode IX, directed by Colin Trevorrow, will be in theatres 24th May, 2019. A year after the Han Solo spin-off movie and not December as expected by most fans. Marking a return to the summer blockbuster ethos of the original and prequel trilogies.

Meanwhile, Indiana Jones has been moved back to 10th July, 2020. Director Steven Spielberg is at the helm with Harrison Ford reprising the titular role.

So, what do you think about the move from December to May for the final installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy? Personally, I like opening my Star Wars presents during the holiday season. Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars Day CuffLinks.com giveaway

The fine folks at CuffLinks.com are celebrating Star Wars Day with a galactic giveaway to mark the 40th anniversary of Star Wars' release in the US this May.

CuffLinks.com sent over a selection of their licensed Star Wars products and, as you can see, these are high quality cufflinks that fans will want to collect and wear. The classic Star Wars branded boxes can be displayed with pride too.

A post shared by John Hood (@johnhood) on Apr 24, 2017 at 3:30am PDT

Here's the important details on the Star Wars Day giveaway:

• Provide first/last name and email address
• Grand Prize (1): $700 value gift of Star Wars accessories
• Second Prize (10): 1 pair of Darth Vader socks

The competition runs 25th April thru 3rd May. The winner will be announced on Star Wars Day, May the Fourth, with 40% off Star Wars items across the store.

To enter simply visit CuffLinks.com. No purchase necessary.

Good luck and may the Force be with you. Always.

The Force Is Here!
Shop the premier place for the complete officially licensed Star Wars Cufflinks Collection, brought to you by Cufflinks, Inc. Accept no imitators, our collection is officially licensed by Lucasfilm Ltd.

This blog post is sponsored by CuffLinks.com and therefore I may receive compensation for any referrals.