The 50-year journey of the Super Sentai action series — the inspiration behind the popular Power Rangers — may have come to a historic end, but the tokusatsu (a Japanese term for live-action and television dramas that make heavy use of practical special effects) spirit continues in the form of Project R.E.D., which will take over the show’s previous timeslot of Sunday, 9.30am, on TV Asahi, starting 2026.

Kicking off the project is Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, serving as a homage to the beloved 1982 franchise, Space Sheriff Gavan, the first in the Metal Hero series. While the new red-chromed battle suit in the teaser poster takes its aesthetic cues from its progenitor, the show is set to follow an entirely new story.

Further details about the production, including cast, staff, and an exact release window, were not announced. As for the multimedia project itself, the R.E.D. stands for “Record of the Extraordinary Dimensions”, and will feature red-themed heroes in various stories, with the possibility of crossover appearances in each other’s shows.

Starring actor/stuntman Kenji Ohba, who had roles in other genre titles like Battle Fever J and Denshi Sentai Denjiman, Space Sheriff Gavan centred on the titular agent of the Galaxy Federal Police, as he defended Earth from invasion by the sinister intergalactic mobster Don Horror. A revival attempt was made in 2012 with an anniversary film that spawned a handful of spin-offs in the mid-2010s, but Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity will mark the first official TV entry in the franchise in nearly 20 years.

Previously, news outlets Kyodo and The Sankei Shimbun reported that the reason behind Super Sentai‘s termination was attributed to a financial loss, as the income earned from events, merchandise, and film adaptations proved insufficient to cover production costs. No. 1 Sentai Gozyuger was the 49th and latest instalment in the franchise created by manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori, who developed the first two Super Sentai series with Toei.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Super Sentai’ Morphs Into ‘Project R.E.D.’ With ‘Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity’ Tokusatsu Series appeared first on Geek Culture.

The mystery has been lifted! Since her debut in Wicked: For Good (not a spoiler — the character’s arrival was hinted at in the trailer), fans have been speculating about the identity of the actress who plays Dorothy, and the reveal is now out in the open.

Taking to Instagram, British star Bethany Weaver shared some behind-the-scenes photos from the movie set, including a group shot with the Wizard of Oz crew (The Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion), and Oscar, the dog who brought Toto to life on the big screen, while acknowledging her role as the girl from Kansas.

“What an honour it has been to walk on the yellow brick road with my fellow Witch Hunters,” reads the caption. “A huge thank you to the best film maker of all time Jon M Chu for choosing me to be your Dorothy in this wonderfully wicked universe called Oz.

“This has been a life changing experience, it’s changed me in so many ways and most importantly, for good. It’s been an honor to carry the legacy of the brilliant women before me who have stepped into these shoes, and embarked on the yellow brick road. I hope I have made them proud.”

As with the original Broadway musical, Wicked: For Good conceals Dorothy’s face from viewers, instead showing only her back as she walks down the Yellow Brick Road and stands before the Wizard. According to The Sun, the secrecy surrounding Weaver’s role was so significant that she was stopped from attending major premieres, while other cast and crew were banned from following or interacting with her on social media.

In any case, the highly anticipated sequel has proven to be a box-office hit. It collected an opening haul of US$226 million globally, setting a new record for a Broadway adaptation. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo star as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, alongside Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) as Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park franchise) as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Wicked: For Good’ Set Photos Lift (Yellow) Curtain On Dorothy Actress appeared first on Geek Culture.

After dangerous brushes with dinosaurs, Scarlett Johansson will soon find herself against a new threat — demonic entities. The Jurassic World: Rebirth star is set to lead the next Exorcist film for Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, with horror auteur Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass) at the directing helm.

The filmmaker also serves as writer and producer on the upcoming instalment, which has been described as a “radical new take” on the original pic set in the same universe. Other details, including plot specifics, a release date, and additional cast members, are under lock and key for now, but what’s known is that it won’t be a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, initially planned to jumpstart a new trilogy.

Directed by William Friedkin, the 1973 original followed the demonic possession of a young girl and the attempt to rescue her through an exorcism by two Catholic priests. It starred Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller, with the former two reprising their roles in Believer.

Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, newcomer Olivia O’Neill, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd join the pair in the sequel that centres on a photographer who must confront the nadir of evil when his daughter and her best friend are possessed. It grossed US$137 million at the global box office and didn’t generate enough buzz for follow-ups.

The new Exorcist film won’t be Johansson’s first stab at reviving a major franchise for Universal; her most recent dino-led adventure, co-starring Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton), was one of the three movies to clear the US$750 million mark this year and set her up as Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor before inflation adjustment, ahead of fellow Marvel counterparts Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Scarlett Johansson Secures Another Franchise Lead In Mike Flanagan’s ‘Exorcist’ Reboot appeared first on Geek Culture.

Ubisoft’s flagship first-person shooter franchise, Far Cry, is getting a series adaptation from FX, with Alien: Earth creator Noah Hawley and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia creator Rob Mac at the helm.

As reported by Variety, the series will stream on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally, with Mac also set to star. While plot details remain under wraps for now, Far Cry will follow an anthology format, similar to the games, with each season featuring a new cast and setting.

Hawley is no stranger to the anthology format, with the 58-year-old filmmaker also creating the 2014 series Fargo, which has to date run for five seasons, each consisting of self-contained storylines set in different time periods.

“What I love about the Far Cry game franchise is it’s an anthology. Each game is a variation of a theme, the same way each season of ‘Fargo’ is a variation on a theme,” said Hawley in a statement to the press. “To create a big action show that can change from year to year, while always exploring the nature of humanity through this complex and chaotic lens is a dream come true. I’m excited to partner with Rob and bring our shared irreverent, ambitious sensibility to the screen.”

The series will be based on Ubisoft’s iconic gaming franchise of the same name, which traces its roots to 2004 and has since spawned six numbered titles alongside numerous spin-offs, with 2021’s Far Cry 6 being the most recent entry. The upcoming anthology series will also be the second attempt at bringing the legendary shooter to life on-screen, following the 2008 direct-to-video film Far Cry, which launched to mostly negative reviews.

With such an experienced duo at the helm, let’s see if the Far Cry anthology can do justice to such a beloved shooter IP this time around, or if it will follow in the definition of insanity, which like Vaas Montenegro from Far Cry 3 so aptly put, is doing the exact same f**king thing over and over again, expecting sh*t to change.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Far Cry’ Anthology Series Coming From ‘Alien: Earth’ Creator Noah Hawley appeared first on Geek Culture.

The return to Hawkins is imminent, and Netflix certainly pulled out all the stops to go out with a bang. The streamer has dropped the final trailer for the long-awaited and highly anticipated Season 5 of Stranger Things, which puts the main crew in the thick of the action against inter-dimensional monsters.

“We have a plan. It’s a bit insane,” says Mike Wheeler in the opening moments, setting the stage for an adrenaline-fuelled time in Volume 1 that involves every party member in some form of danger, whether it’s Eleven leaping over a barbed fence, Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler fending off attacks with a machine gun and a flare, Lucas Sinclair holding up a metal pipe, or Steve Harrington driving straight into a gate.

Volume 1 is the first of three parts that make up the new season, comprising the first four episodes: The Crawl” (68 minutes), “The Vanishing of ____” (54 minutes), “The Turnbow Trap” (66 minutes), and “Sorcerer” (83 minutes). It premieres on 26 November, followed by the next three episodes on Christmas, before culminating in a two-hour grand finale on New Year’s Eve, with a simultaneous theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada.

“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding,” reads the synopsis of Stranger Things 5.

“As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

The Duffer Brothers return to write and direct the penultimate instalment, joining Paul Dichter, Curtis Gwinn, Caitlin Schneiderhan and Kate Trefry as co-writers, and Frank Darabont and Shawn Levy as co-directors.

Meanwhile, the main cast, consisting of Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Joe Keery as Steve, Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, Natalia Dyer as Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan, Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna, will all reprise their roles.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Stranger Things 5 Vol. 1’ Trailer Teases Action-Packed Return To The Upside Down appeared first on Geek Culture.

George R.R. Martin and HBO are steadily building up a Westeros Cinematic Universe, with ambitious plans to expand the Game of Thrones IP, as apart from both its spin-offs, House of the Dragon and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, receiving their next seasons leading to 2028, multiple other projects are also in development.

This follows the announcement of HBO’s roadmap, which lays out the next chapters for two of its prequel series, House of the Dragon, which is now in its second season, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which will release in January 2026. The former will receive its third and fourth seasons in summer 2026 and 2028, respectively, while the latter has already been renewed for a second season due out in 2027.

Additionally, writer George R.R. Martin has even more plans in store for the franchise apart from those already confirmed, with the 77-year-old teasing during the 2025 Icelandic Noir Festival (as reported by Los Siete Reinos) that “there are other Game of Thrones spinoff projects in development.”

“The majority are prequels, and there are several in development,” teased Martin, “Maybe five or six shows, and I’m not developing them alone, I’m working on them with other people. And yes, there’s a sequel or two in the works.”

Among the many supposed prequels teased, at least one of them has been previously confirmed, that being a series centring around Aegon the Conqueror, which will thus be set roughly 300 years before the events of Game of Thrones. While not much is known about it at this point, it will likely follow Aegon I Targaryen and his two sister-wives, Rhaenys and Visenya, as they conquer six of the seven kingdoms in Westeros with the might of their army and three dragons.

Most interestingly, however, is the existence of a sequel, especially considering how poorly the show’s final season wrapped the series. Martin has yet to complete the final two books in the A Song of Ice and Fire series, The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring, so a sequel will likely link to their events.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post George R.R. Martin Teases MCU-Like Slate For ‘Game of Thrones’ With Spin-Offs, Prequels & Sequels appeared first on Geek Culture.

As Glinda (or Galinda) boldly claimed, “We’re gonna make you popular”, and popular are the Witches of Oz, indeed. Wicked: For Good, the highly anticipated follow-up to Universal’s adaptation of the Broadway musical, has opened to a staggering US$226 million globally, with US$150 million coming from North American theatres.

The haul puts it ahead of its predecessor’s US$164.2 million gross over the same period, setting the biggest overseas launch for a Broadway adaptation. It also ranks as the second-biggest start of the year, sandwiched between April’s A Minecraft Movie (US$162 million) and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch remake, which collected US$146 million domestically. Overall, the film currently occupies fifth place in terms of opening numbers for musicals, behind The Lion King (2019), Moana 2, Frozen 2, and Beauty and the Beast.

For the U.S. box office in particular, Wicked: For Good represents a much-needed respite from the recent slate of male-skewing features and the lack of family-centric or women-led offerings, resulting in the sharpest decline in decades. Despite the pivot into a darker tone and a more lukewarm response as compared to the first instalment, it remains a hit among audiences, scoring an “A” grade on CinemaScore exit polls — the same as before.

Directed by original helmer Jon M. Chu, the sequel covers the musical’s second act, where Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo, and Ariana Grande’s Glinda “embrace their new respective identities as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch of the North”, while facing the consequences of their previous decisions.

The leading pair is joined by returning stars Jonathan Bailey (Bridgerton) as Fiyero Tigelaar, Ethan Slater as Boq Woodsman, Marissa Bode as Nessarose Thropp, Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as Madame Morrible, and Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park franchise) as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Coming in second at the domestic box office is Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, which added US$36.8 million to a global haul of US$146.2 million, followed by Predator: Badlands with a franchise-best tally of US$159.6 million, and The Running Man, earning US$5.8 million for a domestic and worldwide total of US$27 million and US$48.3 million, respectively.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Wicked: For Good’ Bewitches With US$226M Opening, Sets Debut Record For Broadway Adaptation appeared first on Geek Culture.

Rian Johnson, the filmmaker behind the Daniel Craig-led mystery trilogy Knives Out, has severed his connection with the Force, announcing that his long-gestating Star Wars trilogy is no more.

This news comes via an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, where the 51-year-old reflected on his career over the years, such as his work on the 2023 drama Poker Face, this year’s Knives Out instalment, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and notably, the middle instalment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, 2017’s The Last Jedi, which was one of the franchise’s most divisive films.

Despite mixed fan reaction, the film was still successful at the box office, as Johnson was reportedly asked to work on the next movie, to which he “politely declined”. The filmmaker didn’t give up on the sci-fi franchise entirely, however, as he signed on to helm a new Star Wars trilogy that same year, one that was reported to be disconnected from the Skywalker saga.

And while a fresh take on the iconic film series unburdened by past expectations does sound intriguing, this was one galactic undertaking that wasn’t meant to be, as Johnson’s project reportedly never moved past the conceptual stage, with the filmmaker instead stepping away to focus on the next instalments in the Knives Out series. Now, Johnson has come forward to confirm what fans have known for a long time now – his Star Wars trilogy is officially dead.

“A part of my brain will always be in Star Wars,” he told The Hollywood Reporter, claiming that while the trilogy was “effectively dead”, this didn’t mean that he was completely saying goodbye to the franchise, “It’s so much a part of me and the way I think.”

While Johnson’s involvement in the franchise remains up in the air (or rather, in space), the Star Wars journey is far from over, as Jon Favreau’s spin-off movie The Mandalorian & Grogu, based on the hit Disney+ series, is set to hit theatres on 21 May 2026, which will be followed by Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter, set to star Ryan Gosling (Barbie), in May 2027.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Knives Out’ Director Rian Johnson’s Planned ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Is Dead appeared first on Geek Culture.

Noah Centineo is getting clearance for launch, as the star of Legendary’s upcoming Street Fighter film is now circling the Gundam movie, the company’s other live-action adaptation based on the iconic Japanese mecha franchise.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor is in talks to star in the film’s key role alongside Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria). Jim Mickle, best known for his work on 2014’s Cold in July and 2019’s In the Shadow of the Moon, will be directing and writing the script for the upcoming adaptation.

Although plot details of the Gundam movie remain mostly under wraps, the film is set to see Sweeney as its central character, who develops a relationship with a man on the opposite side of a galactic war, similar in vein to the Shakespeare classic Romeo and Juliet. Although unconfirmed, it’s likely that Centineo will take on the role of her on-screen counterpart if final talks go through.

Originally launched in 1979 by creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, the Mobile Suit Gundam anime not only pioneered the “real robot” subgenre of anime but also spawned a multimedia empire. Its plot followed an intergalactic war between the Principality of Zeon, a faction formed by colonies outside Earth, and the Earth Federation in a fight for independence, deploying massive robots known as Mobile Suits, also known as Gundam.

With such a massive series to draw inspiration from, with the Gundam franchise being an empire of TV shows, movies and spin-offs, it’s also unclear if the movie will adapt the events of the original 1979 anime, or even possibly the franchise’s latest entry, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, which released this year. Either way, after almost five decades of animation legacy, fans are no doubt waiting with bated breath for Legendary to finally bring the iconic mecha to life.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post Noah Centineo Could Suit Up For Legendary’s Live-Action Gundam Movie With Sydney Sweeney appeared first on Geek Culture.

It’s lore galore in Westeros, as both the House of the Dragon and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms prequels have been renewed. Following the announcement of a third season, the former will head into Season 4 in 2028, with creator and showrunner Ryan Condal reportedly still writing the script (via Deadline).

While it was previously revealed that the show would wrap after four outings, there’s no confirmation of this during HBO’s latest press presentation in New York, and Condal is expected to finalise the plan after completing work on the fourth season. An early Season 2 renewal for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was also announced ahead of its 18 January 2026 premiere, currently slated to release sometime in 2027.

The back-to-back releases mean Game of Thrones fans will have new yearly content to enjoy through 2028. First on the list is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, which follows the adventures of Westerosi hedge knight Ser Duncan “Dunk” the Tall and his diminutive squire Egg, played by Peter Claffey (Wreck) and Dexter Sol Ansell (Emmerdale), respectively.

Meanwhile, House of the Dragon is based on George R. R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood” and chronicles the Targaryen family 200 years before the events of the flagship series. Emma D’Arcy, who plays Rhaenyra Targaryen, will reprise their role alongside Matt Smith (Doctor Who) as Daemon Targaryen, Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) as Alicent Hightower, and Steve Toussaint (The Knock) as Lord Corlys Velaryon. New cast additions include Tommy Flanagan (Sons of Anarchy) as Ser Roderick Dustin, Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts films) as Ser Torrhen Manderly, and James Norton (Happy Valley) as Ormund Hightower.

Joining Condal are co-creator Martin, Sara Hess, Melissa Bernstein, Kevin de la Noy, Vince Gerardis, David Hancock and Philippa Goslett. Season 4 drops in 2028, while the sophomore outing of Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is set to air in 2027.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘House of the Dragon’ Roars To Season 4, ‘Game of Thrones’ Prequel ‘Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Lands Early Renewal appeared first on Geek Culture.

The first official trailer has dropped for Christophe Gans’ upcoming game-to-screen adaptation, Return to Silent Hill, offering our first proper look at the live-action film, although this has once again caused a stir among fans for what seems to be another loose adaptation.

Returning for the upcoming film after directing the original 2006 film, Silent Hill, Gans brings his horror expertise to the table, with the trailer showing off  Jeremy Irvine’s (War Horse) character James returning to the iconic foggy town in search of his wife, Mary (Hannah Emily Anderson, The Purge). The clip also gives a first look at Evie Templeton (Wednesday) as Laura, Pearse Egan as Eddie Dombrowski, and Eve Macklin as Kaitlyn, the former two being returning characters from the 2001 game Silent Hill 2, and the latter possibly playing a renamed version of Angela.

Unsurprisingly, the movie will adapt the events of Konami’s 2001 psychological horror classic, although it appears to be a much looser adaptation than expected, changing up the lore by introducing a mysterious sickness that led to the town being empty, or portraying the film’s game-inspired monsters like the Lying Figures and Bubble Head Nurses swarming James in groups.

Unsurprisingly, fan reception to the trailer has been mixed, with some unhappy with how it strays from the plot of Silent Hill 2, drawing parallels to how HBO’s The Last of Us similarly took liberties with its plot, much to fan dismay. Others, on the other hand, were much more accepting, stating their excitement over experiencing to same core narrative of the game, now in Gans’ unique perspective.

In any case, one aspect where Return to Silent Hill has definitely kept true to the games is its soundtrack, which was done by series composer Akira Yamaoka, and as fans of the games will know, one major part of what made them so compelling was the eerie accompanying score, and having Yamaoka on board will no doubt do wonders for its atmosphere at least, no matter how well it translates to what’s happening on screen.

How well the film will actually shape up still remains to be seen as Return to Silent Hill approaches its release on 23 January 2026.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

The post ‘Return to Silent Hill’ Trailer Offers Extended Look At Foggy Town’s Live-Action Horrors appeared first on Geek Culture.

The world of the Hunger Games offers cruelty in spades, and the Quarter Quell never lets it go forgotten. A quarter-century anniversary marking the districts’ defeat by the Capitol during the Dark Days, it brings a twist to the reaping process and, in some cases, the arena — and nobody knows that better than Haymitch Abernathy.

Katniss’ mentor will be the focus of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, set to introduce a younger version of the character. Stepping into this role is Joseph Zada (Invisible Boys), who takes over the reins from Woody Harrelson in the film trilogy, and Lionsgate has unveiled a new teaser that gives a first look at his portrayal, alongside hints of the dystopian despair to come.

Counting down from 10, it opens with Haymitch being chosen as a tribute for the 50th Hunger Games, otherwise known as the Second Quarter Quell, joined by younger iterations of familiar faces like Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons), President Snow (Ralph Fiennes), and Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning). “I think these games are gonna be different,” he says at one point, and well, that’s quite the understatement.

Instead of the usual 24, the prequel film sees 48 tributes gearing up for a fight to the death, including Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove Baird (Whitney Peak), and District 12 pair Wyatt Callow (Ben Wang) and Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace). Other cast members include Glenn Close as Drusilla Sickle, Kieran Culkin as a young Caesar Flickerman, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Lili Taylor as Mags, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Billy Porter as Magno Stift, Iris Apatow as Proserpina, and more.

Francis Lawrence, who has directed every theatrical release since 2012’s Catching Fire, is back at the helm, with Billy Ray penning the screenplay. Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson serve as producers, alongside Cameron MacConomy as executive producer.

Based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, Sunrise on the Reaping is set before the original Hunger Games trilogy, opening on the 50th Hunger Games — the violent, bloody Second Quarter Quell that formed a defining chapter in Haymitch’s story. Jennifer Lawrence led the first five movies as Katniss Everdeen, while Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth starred in the President Snow-centric prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping opens in cinemas on 20 November 2026.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ Unveils Young Haymitch, Dystopian Thrills & Despair appeared first on Geek Culture.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are switching out one sensei for another. Following earlier news that a live-action/CG animation hybrid project based on the R-rated comic novel series, The Last Ronin, was in development, it’s now back in the pizza box, with Paramount opting for a family-friendly approach.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Neal H. Moritz, known for Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog series, is in talks to direct a new live-action film in the beloved franchise. Toby Ascher, who works with the filmmaker at the Original Films banner, will serve as producer, although no other details have been confirmed at this time.

The project will mark the first live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles feature since 2016’s Out of the Shadows, which was a critical and commercial failure at the box office. The studio then pivoted to animation in 2023 with Mutant Mayhem, earning a modest worldwide haul of US$181 million against a US$70 million budget and a 96 percent Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel from producer Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, as well as director Jeff Rowe, is slated for release on 17 September 2027.

While story details remain under wraps, the pic is set to introduce the franchise’s most popular villain, Shredder, with a fresh touch.  Shredder is just a great character. He’s an iconic, classic, loved character. He’s like the Joker,” said Rowe.

“You know who he is, even if you’re not a fan of the source material. I think we definitely wanna do a villain-forward film. We’re currently trying to make decisions about that, but those decisions for us as filmmakers are always going to come from the place of what tells the best story, specifically about our main characters, the Turtles.”

As for The Last Ronin, it was originally being developed by former Warner Bros. chief Walter Hamada and screenwriter Tyler Burton Smith, with Nobody helmer Ilya Naishuller in talks to direct. The project’s status is currently unclear, however — sources say there are plans to revisit it down the road, but not anytime soon.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: ‘The Last Ronin’ Put On Hold In Favour Of Family-Friendly Live-Action Reboot appeared first on Geek Culture.

Season 3 of Squid Game may have ended, but the dystopian thrills are just getting started. The American spin-off of the Netflix hit, to be directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, House of Cards), has set a date to begin filming, with the series taking on the title of Squid Game: America (who’d have known?).

Although there is no official announcement, the Film and Television Alliance website lists 26 February 2026 as the filming date. It will take place in Los Angeles, and Cate Blanchett, who made a cameo in the third and final season of the Korean drama, is the only confirmed cast member to date. Alongside Fincher, original Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk and producer Kim Ji-yeon, as well as Zeus Zamani and Rhett Giles, are on board as producers. Dennis Kelly serves as screenwriter on the project.

No further story details were shared except the same-world setting, but the show appears to pick up after the Season 3 finale. In it, Blanchett’s character was spotted by the Front Man in a Los Angeles alleyway, playing ddakji against a stranger; the games will likely be localised for cultural relevance in Fincher’s version, however.

There’s no release date for the American offshoot, which has some high expectations to uphold. Within 10 days of release, Squid Game Season 3 became the first Netflix series, in any language, to achieve 106.3 million views in two weeks, after amassing 60.1 million views in just three days from its opening.

The series stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Jo Yu-ri, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won. It follows Seong Gi-hun, played by Jung-jae, and the players in their fight for survival in ever deadlier games, while the Front Man (Byung-hun) welcomes the VIPs, and his brother Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon) continues the search for the island, unaware of a traitor in their midst.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post David Fincher’s American ‘Squid Game’ Spin-off Starts Shooting Feb 2026 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Amazon has greenlit a new Stargate series, which is set to be helmed by Martin Gero, who created the NBC series Blindspot and also worked as Story Editor on the 2004 series Stargate Atlantis.

According to a press release, Amazon describes the upcoming show as a “new original series” that is set to tell its own tale rather than continue a pre-set narrative. Exact plot details still remain under wraps for now, with the series produced by Amazon MGM Studios and airing exclusively on Prime Video at an undetermined date.

Gero, who will serve as both showrunner and executive producer, is no stranger to the franchise, as apart from Atlantis, the 48-year-old also worked on the franchise’s two other series, 1997’s Stargate SG-1 and 2009’s Stargate Universe.

“Twenty years ago, my first real job in television was as a Story Editor on Stargate: Atlantis,” Gero told Variety. “I spent five years at the franchise working across all three series, Stargate taught me everything about making television — it’s written into my DNA. I’m beyond thrilled that Amazon MGM Studios has entrusted me with guiding this incredible franchise into its next phase. For those who’ve kept the gate active through conventions, rewatches, and unwavering faith — this one’s for you. And for those that are new to our world — I promise you’re in for something extraordinary.”

The franchise originally kicked off with the 1994 film of the same name, directed by Roland Emmerich, which centred on Daniel Jackson (James Spader), a doctor who activates the titular Stargate while decoding hieroglyphs discovered and confiscated by the military, opening a portal leading to an otherworldly realm. The film was followed by the hit TV series Stargate SG-1, itself spawning a spin-off with Atlantis. The franchise would go on to receive two more movies in 2008,The Ark of Truth and Continuum, alongside the Syfy series Universe in 2009 and most recently, Origins in 2018.

In addition to the upcoming Stargate series, Gero is perhaps best-known for creating the 2015 NBC series Blindspot, which starred Jaimie Alexander as a mysterious woman whose tattoos contain clues alluding to a criminal conspiracy. He also has experience handling series reboots, previously working on the 2022 series Quantum Leap and 2021’s Kung Fu.

Kevin Low

Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise “duds” like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3. He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying.

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