Star Wars: Episode IX begins filming

Director JJ Abrams took to Twitter to announce the start of filming for Star Wars: Episode IX.

"Bittersweet starting this next chapter without Carrie, but thanks to an extraordinary cast and crew, we are ready to go. Grateful for @rianjohnson and special thanks to George Lucas for creating this incredible world and beginning a story of which we are lucky to be a part. #IX"

John Boyega (Finn) can clearly be seen in what appears to be the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon alongside someone who may be Daisy Ridley (Rey).

Stormtroopers fan film panel at Dublin Comic Con

Star Wars fan film Stormtroopers, filmed on location in Ireland, has been a huge hit with fans around the world and now the cast and crew are appearing at Dublin Comic Con (DCC) this August.

The Stormtroopers panel includes lead actors Carolyn Bracken, Peter Cosgrove, Klancy Casey Williams, VFX artist William Bean from Dog Day Media (known for Ed Sheeran's Songwriter) and writer & director Micheal Fitzgerald (known for Home & Away & Cork Racing Drive).

Dublin Comic Con runs in the Convention Centre Dublin on 10th, 11th & 12th August.

The last few tickets can be sourced from Dublin Comic Con here!

Guardians of the Galaxy support James Gunn

Disney recently fired director James Gunn from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. This was in response to historical tweets, of a controversial nature, that were politicised by a right-wing group. Subsequently, there has been an outpouring of support for the director to be reinstated.

An Open Letter from the Cast of Guardians of the Galaxy

To our fans and friends:

We fully support James Gunn. We were all shocked by his abrupt firing last week and have intentionally waited these ten days to respond in order to think, pray, listen, and discuss. In that time, we’ve been encouraged by the outpouring of support from fans and members of the media who wish to see James reinstated as director of Volume 3 as well as discouraged by those so easily duped into believing the many outlandish conspiracy theories surrounding him.

Being in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies has been a great honor in each of our lives. We cannot let this moment pass without expressing our love, support, and gratitude for James. We are not here to defend his jokes of many years ago but rather to share our experience having spent many years together on set making Guardians of the Galaxy 1 and 2. The character he has shown in the wake of his firing is consistent with the man he was every day on set, and his apology, now and from years ago when first addressing these remarks, we believe is from the heart, a heart we all know, trust, and love. In casting each of us to help him tell the story of misfits who find redemption, he changed our lives forever. We believe the theme of redemption has never been more relevant than now.

Each of us looks forward to working with our friend James again in the future. His story isn’t over – not by a long shot.

There is little due process in the court of public opinion. James is likely not the last good person to be put on trial. Given the growing political divide in this country, it’s safe to say instances like this will continue, although we hope Americans from across the political spectrum can ease up on the character assassinations and stop weaponizing mob mentality.

It is our hope that what has transpired can serve as an example for all of us to realize the enormous responsibility we have to ourselves and to each other regarding the use of our written words when we etch them in digital stone; that we as a society may learn from this experience and in the future will think twice before we decide what we want to express; and in so learning perhaps can harness this capability to help and heal instead of hurting each other. Thank you for taking the time to read our words.

The Guardians of the Galaxy

Irrespective of which side you may or may not fall on this debate. Gunn's singular vision transformed the Guardians of the Galaxy into Marvel Studios' surprise hit franchise and made Avengers: Infinity War all the better for their input - it was the Guardians of the Galaxy writ large.

Star Wars 'bittersweet' without Carrie Fisher

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) took to Twitter in the wake of casting news for Star Wars: Episode IX. Unused footage of the late Carrie Fisher (General Leia), taken from The Force Awakens, will be used in director JJ Abrams' final sequel.

"In loving memory of our princess Carrie Fisher.

"It's bittersweet facing my final chapter without her - she is simply irreplaceable.

"I'm finding solace in the fact that she won't BE replaced and would love the worldwide outpouring of affection from those who loved her when they heard the news.

"#CarrieOnForever."

Star Wars: Episode IX begins filming on Wednesday at Pinewood Studios and will include returning cast members Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega and Lupita Nyong'o among others.

Meet the cast of Star Wars: Episode IX

Star Wars: Episode IX, directed by JJ Abrams (The Force Awakens), begins filming next week in London, and Lucasfilm has announced the cast introducing old and new faces to the beloved space opera franchise.

Returning cast members include Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Lupita Nyong’o, Domhnall Gleeson, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, and Billie Lourd.

Joining the cast of Episode IX are Naomi Ackie and Richard E. Grant, who will be joined by veteran Star Wars actors Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams, who will reprise his role as Lando Calrissian.

"We desperately loved Carrie Fisher," director JJ Abrams said in a statement announcing the line-up. "Finding a truly satisfying conclusion to the Skywalker saga without her eluded us."

"We have found a way to honour Carrie's legacy and role as Leia in Episode IX by using unseen footage we shot together in Episode VII."

Whilst Abrams' career has been founded on the mystery box, it's great Fisher and Hamill's involvement is confirmed now to build excitement. Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) and Keri Russell are conspicuous by their absence. Update: Keri Russell is confirmed to appear.

Hollywood composer John Williams returns to finish what he started in 1977. Williams will have scored all nine movies chronicling the Skywalker saga.

In related news. Comcast has stepped away from bidding for Fox's film and television rights. This paves the way for Disney to buy those assets to bolster its film and television franchises ahead of launching a streaming service worldwide, spearheaded by Jon Favreau's live-action Star Wars series.

Star Wars: Episode IX rounds off the sequel trilogy in December 2019.

See the first trailer for Unbreakable sequel Glass

Whilst it’s all too easy to look at director M. Night Shyamalan through the prism of creative hubris after being heralded as an auteur wunderkind in the late nineties. Unbreakable, the follow-up to The Sixth Sense, is largely underrated and foreshadowed the current success of superhero movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to DC Universe (DCU).

“Mr. Glass” (Samuel L. Jackson) makes for a fascinating and embittered antagonist testing the seemingly indestructible David Dunne (Bruce Willis).

Split, starring James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy, sees Shyamalan in familiar Hitchcockian territory within the Unbreakable cinematic universe and in fine form. So, I'm really looking forward to Glass, which reunites the cast of Unbreakable and Split.



Glass will be in cinemas next January.

Spooky Star Wars tales from IDW this October

Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader's Castle miniseries launches this October, from IDW Publishing, in time for Halloween. The 5-part comic book series chronicles scary adventures for Chopper, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo and the Ewoks in Vader's infamous lair!

“I’ve always loved scary stories, and where better to tell them than the lair of Darth Vader himself?” says writer Cavan Scott. “Being asked to write any Star Wars character is a joy, but tackling the Dark Lord of the Sith? That’s a childhood dream… or should I say, a nightmare! Vader terrified me growing up, and I can’t wait to add to the legacy of Star Wars’ villain, providing frightening new scares for the next generation.”

Artist Derek Charm says, “Since this is a spookier story about these characters stranded on this nightmarish planet, it’s been fun really pushing the horror aspect in the art. The shadows are heavier, the colors are harsher, and everything has this apocalyptic vibe… like things may not work out for our heroes!”

“We’re thrilled to welcome the creepy Cavan Scott, the frightening Francesco Francavilla, and an array of eerie artists into the creepiest corners of the Star Wars universe for Tales from Vader’s Castle,” says Michael Siglain, Creative Director of Publishing for Lucasfilm. “There’s no better way to celebrate Halloween than with these spooky stories from a galaxy far, far away.”

Star Wars Adventures: Tales from Vader’s Castle hits newstands every Wednesday in October.

Thirteenth Doctor Who at SDCC

Last Thursday the cast and crew of Doctor Who, starring Jodie Whittaker as the titular Time Lord, took to the stage for an official panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC). You can watch the full panel below.



To coincide with SDCC, the first official trailer was shown. This didn't include leaked footage from a few weeks back (the BBC has taken legal action in the wake of that).



The cast and crew were also interviewed by Entertainment Tonight (ET).



My takeaway from SDCC is that Ms Whittaker exudes bubbly and infectious enthusiasm, and series 11 can't come soon enough.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars revival at Disney

During the San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) tenth-anniversary panel to celebrate Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lucasfilm announced the award-winning animated series will return in 2019.



The Clone Wars, developed by Dave Filoni, was originally revealed at Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2007 and chronicled the adventures of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Cartoon Network series was cancelled when Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be available on Disney's streaming service next year.

Stranger Things season 3 teases Starcourt Mall

Netflix has released a teaser trailer for Stranger Things season 3 showcasing Starcourt Mall, which is quintessential eighties Americana.



In the teaser we see Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) working in an ice cream parlour called Scoops Ahoy, alongside new character Robin (Maya Hawke). There's a Dawn of the Dead vibe and a mall is perfect subversive fodder for the Upside Down.