Zendaya is to star in the next film from Ex Machina and Civil War director Alex Garland – an untitled sci-fi film in the works at A24. Writer-director Alex Garland is currently busy on the biggest film of his career to date: an adaptation of FromSoftware’s grimdark action-RPG, Elden Ring. Shooting on the $100m epic ... Alex Garland to make a new sci-fi film at A24; Zendaya to star The post Alex Garland to make a new sci-fi film at A24; Zendaya to star appeared first on Film Stories.

Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz are back for The Mummy: Book Of The Dead, which is now a year away from release. Currently filming is the fourth in the run of The Mummy movies headlined by Brendan Fraser in the role of Rick O’Connell. It’s been going under the title of The Mummy 4, but ... The Mummy 4 is now The Mummy: Book Of The Dead, release date confirmed The post The Mummy 4 is now The Mummy: Book Of The Dead, release date confirmed appeared first on Film Stories.

Ridley Scott has said he’s taking back Alien. But could a new film pay off both Alien: Romulus and Alien: Covenant? We look at the possibilities. NB: The following contains spoilers for Alien: Covenant and Alien: Romulus. It’s over two years since the release of Alien: Romulus and almost a decade since Alien: Covenant. Both ... Alien | Can a sequel tie the events of Romulus and Covenant together? The post Alien | Can a sequel tie the events of Romulus and Covenant together? appeared first on Film Stories.

Citing a lack of growth, streaming giant Netflix is to cut 1,000 jobs across its business, with a couple of executives also among those affected. Netflix is, of course, massive, its business currently worth about $300bn on the stock market. But it’s not growing more massive quickly enough for its shareholders, and so now the ... Netflix to cut 1,000 jobs, or six percent of its workforce The post Netflix to cut 1,000 jobs, or six percent of its workforce appeared first on Film Stories.

He was starring in a film with Anne Hathaway – and James McAvoy realised he had an Elder Scrolls addiction problem. 2007’s romantic drama Becoming Jane was one of the early breakthrough roles for James McAvoy. Co-starring Anne Hathaway, Julie Walters, James Cromwell and the late Dame Maggie Smith, it came off the back of ... James McAvoy confirms he had to melt a copy of the videogame Elder Scrolls The post James McAvoy confirms he had to melt a copy of the videogame Elder Scrolls appeared first on Film Stories.

Resident Evil star Austin Abrams gets trapped inside a whale’s belly in Brian Duffield’s thriller. Here’s our Whalefall review: Austin Abrams is having a busy autumn. He’s just earned rave reviews – including ours – for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil, a film he spent mostly in a blind panic, running away from zombified humans. Now, ... Whalefall review | A whale of a time or a belly flop? The post Whalefall review | A whale of a time or a belly flop? appeared first on Film Stories.

Brian Duffield, director of Whalefall, has denied rumours that he’s writing or making an Alien sequel, though he says he did help out on a script. Writer-director Brian Duffield may be about to trap audiences (and poor, luckless Austin Abrams) in the belly of a massive sperm whale, but over the summer, there were plausible-sounding ... Whalefall director Brian Duffield denies rumours he’s making an Alien film The post Whalefall director Brian Duffield denies rumours he’s making an Alien film appeared first on Film Stories.

From 1970 onwards, the disaster movie enjoyed a brief yet incredibly loud moment of box office glory. We look back at its rise, fall and eventual return. “If you kill the bee, you’re gonna kill the crops!” a clammy-looking Michael Caine raged in 1978’s The Swarm. “If you kill the plants you’ll kill the people! ... Airport, The Swarm and the birth, death and rebirth of disaster movies The post Airport, The Swarm and the birth, death and rebirth of disaster movies appeared first on Film Stories.

Now delayed to February 2027, writer-director Greta Gerwig’s Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew gets a thunderous first trailer. Crikey and, indeed, crivens. Anyone expecting a cosy version of CS Lewis’s much-loved fantasy books – say along the lines of the old 1980s British TV adaptation – might be somewhat taken aback by Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew. ... Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | First trailer delivers a blitzkrieg of sound and music The post Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew | First trailer delivers a blitzkrieg of sound and music appeared first on Film Stories.

His latest film, Ink, may have sparked a backlash over its use of AI in some scenes, but Danny Boyle says it’s “a no brainer” to employ it in future work. Director Danny Boyle’s latest film, Ink, made its UK premiere at the London Film Festival on the 12th October. There, Boyle was inevitably asked ... Ink | Danny Boyle says he’s willing to use AI again in his movies The post Ink | Danny Boyle says he’s willing to use AI again in his movies appeared first on Film Stories.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is heading to DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray in the UK this November. More here. At the insistence of Christopher Nolan, and with box office returns continuing to pour in, this summer’s The Odyssey was always going to have a long wait until it got its home formats release. 100 ... The Odyssey | November DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release confirmed The post The Odyssey | November DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release confirmed appeared first on Film Stories.

It took 50 years for Disney’s Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs to be granted a U certificate – here’s the story of the film’s unexpected battles with the BBFC. This feature contains spoilers for Disney’s Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. It may have minted the Walt Disney brand of animated fairy-tale films, but ... Snow White vs the BBFC – the Disney classic that was deemed too scary for under-16s The post Snow White vs the BBFC – the Disney classic that was deemed too scary for under-16s appeared first on Film Stories.

The BBC announces a new two-part documentary, that’ll spend two hours charting the story of J K Rowling. More on the announcement here. In a different life, I covered the premiere of one of the Harry Potter films, and bore witness to people being drawn together from all walks of life, unified by a universe ... ‘Cancelled’ billionaire author J K Rowling to be a two-part BBC documentary The post ‘Cancelled’ billionaire author J K Rowling to be a two-part BBC documentary appeared first on Film Stories.

The release strategy for Sam Mendes’ Beatles quartet has changed, with the four films set to be released a week apart in 2028. Update: When they were announced three years ago, Sam Mendes’ quartet of films about The Beatles had a rather bold release strategy: a cinema roll-out on the same day. Would anyone but ... The Beatles | Sam Mendes’ four movies no longer set to appear in cinemas on the same day The post The Beatles | Sam Mendes’ four movies no longer set to appear in cinemas on the same day appeared first on Film Stories.

Epic Games is said to be collaborating with Disney on a shooter videogame based on Star Wars and Marvel – and that it will be primarily developed with AI. Just as Darth Vader ended up more machine than human, a forthcoming videogame bearing the Star Wars banner could be more chatbot that flesh-and-blood software developer. ... Star Wars and Marvel shooter videogame being developed ‘Primarily with AI’ – report The post Star Wars and Marvel shooter videogame being developed ‘Primarily with AI’ – report appeared first on Film Stories.

HMV blames a doubling of rent as it announces the closure of its flagship Oxford Street store in early 2027. More here. On the same day that online physical media retailer Zavvi went into administration, the news also landed that HMV is having to shut down its flagship Oxford Street store. The shop, which only ... HMV shutting down its flagship Oxford Street branch, blames rent rises The post HMV shutting down its flagship Oxford Street branch, blames rent rises appeared first on Film Stories.

Online retailer Zavvi has gone under, and customers are being urged to contact their payment providers to try and get their money back. After weeks of speculation over its future, the UK online retailer Zavvi has confirmed that it’s now in a formal insolvency process. In a post on the front page of its website, ... Zavvi goes into administration, preorders will not be fulfilled The post Zavvi goes into administration, preorders will not be fulfilled appeared first on Film Stories.

Recently landing on Netflix, Ben Affleck thriller Animals has eerily similarities to a film by Akira Kurosawa and its 2025 Spike Lee remake. NB: The following contains spoilers for Animals. Ben Affleck really wants you to know that Mark Kimball is a good guy. The opening credits for Animals, the new Netflix thriller feature that ... Animals on Netflix | When is a remake not a remake? The post Animals on Netflix | When is a remake not a remake? appeared first on Film Stories.

Ridley Scott’s dystopian classic is back as a Prime Video limited series. Here’s a new trailer for Blade Runner 2099, streaming in November. Update: Following years in production, it seems almost strange that Blade Runner 2099 is now only weeks away from its premiere. The TV spin-off from both Ridley Scott’s 1982 classic and Denis ... Blade Runner 2099 | Trailer lands, series to stream on Prime Video from 25th November The post Blade Runner 2099 | Trailer lands, series to stream on Prime Video from 25th November appeared first on Film Stories.

Speaking at New York Comic Con, Nicolas Cage said he wouldn’t work with Amazon again because of its interest in AI, and denied he’s making National Treasure 3. Amazon’s glossy superhero thriller series Spider-Noir appeared to go over well with both audiences and critics, yet the mega-corporation rather surprisingly decided not to renew it for ... Nicolas Cage criticises Amazon over AI use, shoots down National Treasure 3 story The post Nicolas Cage criticises Amazon over AI use, shoots down National Treasure 3 story appeared first on Film Stories.

In the 2000s, director David Gordon Green had a starry remake of the horror classic Suspiria planned. We take a look at why it never happened. Offering a markedly different tone from Dario Argento’s colour-drenched 1977 horror, the 2018 Suspiria remake was a more low-key, sombre affair. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, it was again about ... Suspiria | The 2010s horror remake we never saw, and what happened to it The post Suspiria | The 2010s horror remake we never saw, and what happened to it appeared first on Film Stories.

Bruce Willis’ most underappreciated film? Simon digs into The Last Boy Scout, and then natters to Steve Oram about Crushed. The sale of Shane Black’s The Last Boy Scout screenplay for a then-eyewatering $1.75m (and that wasn’t even the highest bid!) set Hollywood alight. It also virtually guaranteed at the time that the film would ... Podcast | The Last Boy Scout (1991), the film nobody seemed to enjoy making, plus Steve Oram The post Podcast | The Last Boy Scout (1991), the film nobody seemed to enjoy making, plus Steve Oram appeared first on Film Stories.

Travis Knight’s action-adventure epic is a groundbreaking feat of modern filmmaking, and the best fantasy blockbuster in years. Here’s our Wildwood review. The characters of Wildwood, the latest animation from Oregon stop-motion whizz kids, Laika, don’t like stories. Protagonist, Prue, especially. She’s a teenager who rolls her eyes when her nerdy classmate, Curtis, invites her ... Wildwood review | Epic fantasy goes miniature The post Wildwood review | Epic fantasy goes miniature appeared first on Film Stories.

Brian Duffield chats to us about Whalefall, a clothing factory, the Black List, The Muppets, Jane Got A Gun and a whole lot more. In a special episode of Film Stories, writer/director Brian Duffield chats to Simon about his brand new movie, Whalefall. Well, not just that. The pair also natter about The Muppets, about ... Podcast | In conversation with writer/director Brian Duffield The post Podcast | In conversation with writer/director Brian Duffield appeared first on Film Stories.

CD Projekt Red’s hit videogame Cyberpunk 2077 is set to become a movie at Paramount Pictures, courtesy of producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura. Beneath its banner company Skydance, Paramount Pictures is currently busy reviving a string of familiar names for the remake or reboot treatment. There’s Days Of Thunder 2 and Top Gun 3 on the ... Cyberpunk 2077 | Paramount set to make a movie adaptation The post Cyberpunk 2077 | Paramount set to make a movie adaptation appeared first on Film Stories.

Don’t worry, everyone! David Zaslav is going to be okay, trousering $606m as a result of the Skydance/Warner Bros deal. Phew! Here’s a heartwarming, well-earned story of success to lighten everyone’s day at the end of another long week. In proof that there’s nothing like hard work and treating people right, the outgoing boss of ... Yep, David Zaslav pocketed over $600m from Warner/Paramount deal The post Yep, David Zaslav pocketed over $600m from Warner/Paramount deal appeared first on Film Stories.

Once banned in the UK, Lucio Fulci’s 1981 horror The Beyond is getting a remake – the first in a planned series of vintage genre revivals. “Behind this doorway lie the terrifying and unspeakable secrets of hell,” promised one poster for 1981’s The Beyond. “No one who sees it lives to describe it. And you ... Lucio Fulci horror classic The Beyond is getting a remake The post Lucio Fulci horror classic The Beyond is getting a remake appeared first on Film Stories.

In 2021, Sylvester Stallone re-cut his 1985 Cold War boxing epic, Rocky IV. But how often do filmmakers improve their own work with these edits? There’s an extraordinary moment in Rocky IV where Ivan Drago, the Soviet boxer, is lifted up into the middle of the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas. It’s the opening ... Rocky IV, and when filmmakers re-cut their own movies The post Rocky IV, and when filmmakers re-cut their own movies appeared first on Film Stories.

The BBC’s new director general Matt Brittin outlines a Netflix-style vision for iPlayer, including an AI agent called Iggy that speaks to users. How does the traditional, establishment British Broadcasting Corporation compete with the platforms emanating from Silicon Valley? The answer, it seems, is to get in a new boss who’s worked in Silicon Valley. ... BBC experimenting with a Netflix-style iPlayer make-over, including an AI agent called Iggy The post BBC experimenting with a Netflix-style iPlayer make-over, including an AI agent called Iggy appeared first on Film Stories.

A new report suggests that Tom Cruise’s Digger could lose $250m – just as the Paramount-Warner merger could make original films more difficult to greenlight than ever. Even with a name like Tom Cruise attached, Digger was always a big gamble. Here’s comedy-drama that isn’t a sequel or a reboot, that explores a topic that ... Digger | News of its potential $250m loss comes at a bad time for original filmmaking The post Digger | News of its potential $250m loss comes at a bad time for original filmmaking appeared first on Film Stories.

Vin Diesel says he’s wept reading the script, and he might direct. But it seems that Fast Forever might not be in the state he’s been suggesting. In the parallel universe in which Vin Diesel appears to be living when it comes to the next Fast & Furious film, everything appears to be going swimmingly. ... Fast Forever becoming Fast Whenever | No script, no director according to new report The post Fast Forever becoming Fast Whenever | No script, no director according to new report appeared first on Film Stories.

Mike Flanagan’s Carrie is now available on Prime Video, and it takes a bold path of its own. Some spoiler-heavy thoughts on the ending – and speculation on its connection to The Dark Tower: NB: The following contains spoilers for Carrie, streaming now on Prime Video. After wrangling Stephen King’s The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep ... Carrie on Prime Video | Spoiler-y thoughts on that ending The post Carrie on Prime Video | Spoiler-y thoughts on that ending appeared first on Film Stories.

Aaron Sorkin returns to Facebook for The Social Reckoning – and discovers a very different Mark Zuckerberg. Here’s our review. Inevitably, The Social Reckoning is a film defined to a degree by what it isn’t as much as what it is. With marketing materials mirroring the look of 2010’s The Social Network (and the original ... The Social Reckoning review | A Facebook Like? The post The Social Reckoning review | A Facebook Like? appeared first on Film Stories.

In a new interview, Saoirse Ronan responds to the rumour that her husband, Jack Lowden, is the new James Bond by talking about dogs and dinner instead. Sometimes, what an interview subject doesn’t say is as significant as what they do say. That’s our excuse, at any rate, for writing about an interesting little aside ... James Bond | Saoirse Ronan doesn’t deny that her husband, Jack Lowden, has been cast as 007 The post James Bond | Saoirse Ronan doesn’t deny that her husband, Jack Lowden, has been cast as 007 appeared first on Film Stories.

Jed Mercurio of Line Of Duty is one of the names in the frame for Doctor Who, as the deadline passes for initial tenders. More here. As the BBC continues its tendering process for the future of Doctor Who, some of the runners and riders have come to light. Long story short, following Disney’s decision ... Doctor Who | Line Of Duty creator amongst those in contention The post Doctor Who | Line Of Duty creator amongst those in contention appeared first on Film Stories.

Steven Spielberg is set to produce a new Transformers movie, with Michael Bay set to direct, as Skydance continues to reboot its lucrative franchises. As a jubilant David Ellison sent out upbeat memos in the wake of Paramount’s acquisition of Warner Bros, the CEO has said that the merged company will “absolutely” make “original stories.” ... Transformers | Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay to return to reboot the large robot franchise The post Transformers | Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay to return to reboot the large robot franchise appeared first on Film Stories.

The ink is barely dry on the Paramount-Warner merger, but new company Skydance is already talking about layoffs and “AI opportunities.” As history has already taught us, mergers inevitably lead to layoffs, as executives try to find ‘synergies’ and ‘efficiencies’. And so it is that, within hours of Paramount formally signing the $110bn deal to ... Skydance | Paramount-Warner merger completes, talk immediately turns to layoffs and using AI The post Skydance | Paramount-Warner merger completes, talk immediately turns to layoffs and using AI appeared first on Film Stories.

In 1989, Italian director Bruno Mattei made an amalgam of Aliens and The Terminator. We look back at the wonderfully awful Shocking Dark. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then a 1989 Italian film called Shocking Dark pays James Cameron the ultimate compliment: it openly steals from not one but two of his ... Shocking Dark | The Italian film that somehow ripped off Aliens and Terminator 2 at the same time The post Shocking Dark | The Italian film that somehow ripped off Aliens and Terminator 2 at the same time appeared first on Film Stories.

David Zaslav’s tenure at Warner Bros is coming to an end, and he’s penned a farewell, while he gets ready to take home hundreds of millions of dollars. With the completion of the Paramount and Warner Bros merger, one of the most culturally damaging studio tenures arguably in Hollywood history has come to an end. ... David Zaslav says farewell to Warner Bros, pockets hundreds of millions of dollars The post David Zaslav says farewell to Warner Bros, pockets hundreds of millions of dollars appeared first on Film Stories.

Giant robots are a familiar enough sight in movies these days. But who got their first? Two sci-fi films from 1957 have a potential title claim… Google AI may be killing traffic to websites and transforming how users interact with the internet, but its ability to accurately answer questions is sometimes about as reliable as ... What was the first giant robot in cinema?  The post What was the first giant robot in cinema?  appeared first on Film Stories.

This month on the Film Stories Podcast Network: departing shows, returning series, wild horror journeys and much more. Here’s what we’ve been up to… Reel Talk All good things, as they say, must come to an end, so Sam Stokes wraps up Reel Talk with a best of 2026 episode and an array of guests chatting ... Film Stories Podcast Network | The Reel Talk finale, new TV’s Greatest Seasons, Resident Evil and much more The post Film Stories Podcast Network | The Reel Talk finale, new TV’s Greatest Seasons, Resident Evil and much more appeared first on Film Stories.

As Warner joins the Paramount Skydance collective, there’s talk of a renewed push for Barbie 2, while one Lord Of The Rings project has been put on hiatus. Paramount’s Venom-like absorption of Warner Bros hasn’t been formally completed yet, but it’s now such a formality that, per several reports, corporate overlord David Ellison is already ... Paramount-Warner merger: Barbie 2 being pushed through, Lord Of The Rings on hold The post Paramount-Warner merger: Barbie 2 being pushed through, Lord Of The Rings on hold appeared first on Film Stories.

Aaron Sorkin joins Simon for a Film Stories podcast special, chatting The Social Reckoning, James Bond, F1, Facebook and more. Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin joins Simon for an elongated chat about The Social Reckoning, Facebook, compromised reviewers, and how the pair would overhaul the James Bond saga. Plus! There’s chatter about old film magazines, about making ... Podcast | In conversation with Aaron Sorkin The post Podcast | In conversation with Aaron Sorkin appeared first on Film Stories.

The BBFC is now fairly relaxed about scenes of people being killed with power tools. This was not the case in the 1980s… It’s quite a title, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Rolling beautifully off the tongue, it hints at all kinds of horrific acts. It also sounds more violent and sordid than Tobe Hooper’s ... The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the BBFC’s 1980s fear of power tool horror The post The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and the BBFC’s 1980s fear of power tool horror appeared first on Film Stories.

As Hollywood’s big five studios become the big three-and-a-half, CEO David Ellison has announced a fresh masthead for the newly merged company. Ignoring our many thoughtful suggestions (Warner’s Mount, Super Pario Bros. and Evil Wanker Inc. topped our internal poll), Skydance Media founder Ellison has named his new conglomerate, er, Skydance. “Paramount and Warner Bros. ... Warner Bros/Paramount to change name to Skydance The post Warner Bros/Paramount to change name to Skydance appeared first on Film Stories.

With spoilers, we look at the fascinatingly strange Digger, the missing shovel, and the glimpses of a very different ending not in the finished film. NB: The following contains spoilers for Digger throughout. If you haven’t seen it yet, why not check out our spoiler-free review? It’s hinted at in the title, it’s the character’s ... Digger spoilers | The missing shovel, and the ending changed at the last minute The post Digger spoilers | The missing shovel, and the ending changed at the last minute appeared first on Film Stories.

The stop motion work of Phil Tippett and the now closed Tippett Studios is being preserved in a free-to-browse online archive. August brought with it the sad news that Tippett Studios, the Berkeley-based animation and effects house founded by Phil Tippett, was closing down. The company had been in financial trouble for a while, and ... Tippett Studios | In the wake of its closure, a digital archive of animated materials appears online The post Tippett Studios | In the wake of its closure, a digital archive of animated materials appears online appeared first on Film Stories.

KPop Demon Hunters is coming in 2029 and it looks like we’ll be able to watch it in cinemas. More on Netflix’s plan below. KPop Demon Hunters is arguably one of Netflix’s biggest recent success stories. The straight-to-streaming animated film about four demon hunters/pop stars spent 63 weeks in the Netflix Top 10 and garnered ... Netflix eyeing “a very broad theatrical release” for KPop Demon Hunters 2 The post Netflix eyeing “a very broad theatrical release” for KPop Demon Hunters 2 appeared first on Film Stories.

Ben Affleck says his forthcoming Netflix thriller, Animals, uses AI “for lots of things,” but adds that it’s a “very human movie.” It isn’t too surprising that Ben Affleck’s into artificial intelligence, given that he sold his tech company, InterPositive, to Netflix for a reported $600m earlier this year. By the sounds of things, Affleck ... Animals | Ben Affleck thriller used AI for “lots of things”, he says The post Animals | Ben Affleck thriller used AI for “lots of things”, he says appeared first on Film Stories.

Mike Flanagan’s take on Carrie is a bold take on one of King’s best-known stories, but it doesn’t stick the landing. Here’s our Carrie review: To make Stephen King’s 1974 novel – which was less than 300 pages long – into a TV series is a bold undertaking. Yet that’s exactly what showrunner Mike Flanagan ... Carrie review | Mike Flanagan’s bold interpretation of Stephen King’s debut isn’t always on fire The post Carrie review | Mike Flanagan’s bold interpretation of Stephen King’s debut isn’t always on fire appeared first on Film Stories.