Hiroyuki Sanada, star and producer of FX‘s limited series Shōgun, has closed a deal to return as Lord Yoshii Toranaga, Deadline reports. Securing Sanada, whose character’s journey to become shōgun and lead Japan to an era of peace was chronicled in the 10-episode adaptation of James Clavell’s novel, has been considered crucial to any plan to extend Shogun beyond its original installment.Other elements are still being worked out and deals are being finalized as part of an effort by FX to take Shogun to a second season in light of the big commercial and critical success of the limited series. The outcome of the effort would determine whether Shōgun would be considered a limited or drama series going forward, which could have major ramifications on the 2024 Emmy race, with the timing of the decision tied to the deadline for Emmy submissions.Shōgun is looking to move into the drama series category from the start if a determination about a potential second installment is made in time to adjust Emmy submissions. Not all the pieces are in place for that, sources said, but the significant deal with Sanada is a great start.

Sony has a new adaptation of Starship Troopers in the works, and it’s being written and directed by District 9’s Neill Blomkamp. According to Deadline, the project will go back to the 1959 novel by Robert A. Heinlein and have nothing to do with the 1997 film by Paul Verhoeven which had spawned multiple spinoffs. The original film only made $121.2 million worldwide and had a budge of $100 million… but the space military vs alien bug franchise has become a cult classic and launched the careers of Denise Richards, Casper Van Dien and Jake Busey.   

Season two of the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians just wrapped filming and is slated to debuted in December, but the studio isn’t wasting any time and has already green lit season three, which will focus on book three in the Rick Riordan’s series titled The Titan’s Curse. This takes the streaming adaptation past the point where the previous movie franchise had reached, something Riordan pointed out in a statement about the renewal, “We’re so grateful to be continuing the story of Percy Jackson on Disney+. This third season will be new territory for the screen, bringing fan favorites like the Hunters of Artemis and Nico di Angelo to life for the first time. It’s a huge sign of commitment from Disney, and speaks volumes about the enthusiasm with which the fandom has embraced the TV show. Thank you, demigods worldwide!” The quick renewal likely has to do with the desire to adapt each of the seven books in the series as a separate season, meaning the ages of stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri become a factor. The upcoming second season will adapt book two, The Sea of Monsters. 

Fans of the AppleTV series, and likely those who run AppleTV, are rejoicing as Jason Sudeikis has confirmed that he is returning for a fourth season of the hit series Ted Lasso. The series will focus on the fish-out-of-water coach taking on a new challenge, a female football/soccer team which was hinted at in the season three finale. Already locked into returning are Hannah Waddingham who played club owner Rebecca, Brett Goldstein who played former-player-turned-coach Roy Kent and Jeremy Swift as club manager Leslie Higgins. Juno Temple, who played Keeley, is in negotiations to return as well. In a statement about the new season, Sudeikis said: “As we all continue to live in a world where so many factors have conditioned us to ‘look before we leap, in season four, the folks at AFC Richmond learn to LEAP BEFORE THEY LOOK, discovering that wherever they land, it’s exactly where they’re meant to be.” 

First teased last December, Jonathan Hickman’s sweeping new cosmic epic, IMPERIAL, arrives this June. Known for his influential work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men as well as the creation of Marvel’s hit new Ultimate line, the visionary writer will now team up with superstar artists Federico Vicentini and Iban Coello to revolutionize Marvel’s galactic canon in this four-part event series.

IMPERIAL finds the galaxies of the Marvel Universe on the brink of major upheaval, following the elimination of several of its most prominent leaders. Nature abhors a vacuum, and empires fall, rulers are overthrown and power is seized in a saga of intrigue, mysteries and war, all taking place against the backdrop of the formation of new galactic order in the Marvel Universe. With groundbreaking developments for HULKS, BLACK PANTHERS, NOVAS, GUARDIANS and COSMIC KINGS and QUEENS, IMPERIAL lays the foundation for an entire new landscape of interconnected space-set stories, making it the must-read comic book of the summer!

“I’m very excited about this project as I’m obviously a huge fan of all things Marvel Cosmic,” Hickman said. “The goal here is to kind of do what we did with the recent Ultimate line for all of our space titles, except having the setup book (IMPERIAL) be more of an event than a world building exercise (like Ultimate Invasion). The art team is killing it and we’re all just very excited for what’s happening in this special corner of the Marvel Universe.”

Two of Marvel’s Stormbreakers, a group of Marvel’s most elite talent, Vicentini (Miles Morales: Spider-Man, Wolverine) and Coello (Venom War, Fantastic Four) have brought their innovative style and creativity to nearly ever corner of the Marvel Universe. Now, these two celebrated artists embark on their boldest venture yet. In addition to their interior artwork, Vicentini and Coello are delivering spectacular new designs for characters, locales and more as they bring a whole new era of storytelling to life within the pages of IMPERIAL and beyond!

“Working with Hickman is a great challenge,” Vicentini shared. “I love his scripts. He writes really brilliant dialogue and puts incredible attention to details when it comes to the story’s setting. I had only knew Hickman as a reader, so it was incredible to be approached to work with him and Iban, who is a phenomenal artist! I'm working hard to produce my best work, and I'm certainly having a lot of fun!”

"Being involved in this project is incredible,” Coello added. “Creating all these new characters and costumes is really fun. Working with Hickman is something I never expected to be able to do, and it's both cool and intimidating at the same time because of the magnitude of what he's doing in the scripts. I look forward to being able to rise to the challenge and do a great job!"

Check out the main cover by Ultimate Spider-Man superstar Marco Checchetto and stay tuned for more IMPERIAL news in the months ahead.

Dead bingers are at the center of David Cronenberg‘s new thriller “The Shrouds,” now prepping to launch in North America after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival last summer. Janus Films has released the first full trailer for the film, which stars Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Sandrine Holt and recent Oscar-nominee Guy Pearce.

The filmmaker has imagined another typically probing premise for his 23rd feature, which he conceived after his wife, Carolyn Cronenberg, died from cancer in 2017 at the age of 66. The story follows a tech innovator who is marketing a software that allows clients to watch a feed of their deceased loved ones decomposing in real time. A vandalism attack on his graves, including that of his late wife, unthreads a peculiar, potentially geopolitical conspiracy that draws in his spouse’s sister (Kruger), her ex-husband (Pearce) and his international business affairs.

“The Shrouds” opens in Los Angeles and New York on April 18, with a nationwide expansion to follow on April 25. (via Variety)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/vwh1Fob4VKs

The trailer for Nisha Ganatra’s “Freakier Friday,” starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, has been unveiled. The film is a sequel to the 2003 comedy “Freaky Friday,” starring Curtis and Lohan as mother-daughter duo Tess and Anna Coleman.

According to a press release from The Walt Disney Company, the sequel features a “multigenerational twist,” with the film picking up many years after Tess and Anna originally swapped bodies. Anna has a daughter of her own, plus a soon-to-be stepdaughter. Tess and Anna navigate the challenges that come with merging two families and “discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.” The trailer reveals that this time it’s a four-way body swap as Anna, Tess and Anna’s daughter and step-daughter all wake up in different bodies.

Joining Curtis and Lohan are returning stars Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky and Rosalind Chao. “The Acolyte” star Manny Jacinto, “Never Have I Ever” breakout Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Sophia Hammons and Julia Butters have joined the sequel.

The film is set to release in 2025. (via Variety)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/n7YJj6iO2QY

Jason Ritter is set for a key recurring role in Lanterns, HBO’s drama series based on the Green Lantern DC comic. He joins leads Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre and series regular Kelly MacDonald.

The series, from Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King, follows new recruit John Stewart (Pierre) and Lantern legend Hal Jordan (Chandler), two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Ritter will play Billy Macon, a good-looking charmer who does his father’s (Garret Dillahunt) bidding. Capitalizing on his family’s reputation, he clings to his small-town ego and has everything to lose. (via Deadline)

ABOMINATION. DOCTOR OCTOPUS. GHOST. KILLMONGER. MALEKITH. ONSLAUGHT. These six names that once ignited fear and terror throughout the Marvel Universe will now inspire hope and spread peace in SUPERIOR AVENGERS!

The upcoming ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM tie-in series by Steve Foxe and Luca Maresca sees Doom assemble his own, superior version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes—but who are these strange would-be heroes bearing the names of iconic supervillains? Acclaimed artist Kyle Hotz will help uncover their secrets, drawing select sequences throughout the series that reveal the team’s shocking origin and true agenda! In addition, Hotz will spotlight each member in a variant cover for each issue.

"Kyle Hotz is one of the most unique artists and storytellers in the industry, spending decades honing his skills, so when we were deciding who could handle these scenes there was only one choice--you'll start to see why once you read issue 1!" Editor Danny Khazem said.

And there came a day, unlike any other, when Doctor Doom ruled the world…and he needed an AVENGERS team all of his own! Kristoff Vernard, son of Victor Von Doom, has been tasked with building the newest iteration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes! Who are these mysterious new heroes and how did they come to be the SUPERIOR AVENGERS?

“The characters we’re introducing—the killer designs by Luca Maresca—are who they appear to be. What motivates them and what they’re doing here—or what they’re running away from—is where things may get more complicated,” Foxe teased. “My hope was to subvert expectations with some of these names, and to surprise readers with what they actually get when they hear ‘Abomination’ or ‘Onslaught.’ I don’t want to spoil too much about any of them, but exploring their unique voices has been a huge chunk of the fun on the book.”

Check out the first of Hotz’s six covers and preorder SUPERIOR AVENGERS #1 at your local comic shop today!

Kate Beckinsale (Underworld) and Lewis Tan (Mortal Kombat) are underway in the UK on under-the-radar action-thriller Lioness.

Capstone is financing the film about an ex-black ops team who reunite to pull off a desperate heist to save the life of their leader’s (Beckinsale) eight-year-old daughter. Also starring are Rasmus Hardiker, Alice Krige, Bailey Patrick, Tom Bennett, Matt Willis and Roxy Striar.

James Nunn (One Shot) directs from Dominic Burns’ (Madness In The Method) script. Producing are Fall and 47 Meters Down duo James Harris and Mark Lane, Dominic Burns, and Crawford Anderson Dillon. Christian Mercuri is executive producer. Capstone handles world sales. (via Deadline)

Today Skybound and Image Comics, in collaboration with leading games, IP and toy company Hasbro, revealed interior pages and the lineup of variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #19, the two-time Eisner Award winning series from writer Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb), guest artist Ludo Lullabi (Battle Chasers), and guest colorist Adriano Lucas (Destro).

TRANSFORMERS #19 presents a standalone, unforgettable Megatron story that kicks off the fourth story arc of the tentpole Energon Universe series, available on shelves in comic book shops April 9, 2025.

What happened to Megatron? The story that every fan has demanded begins RIGHT HERE.

“When Daniel pitched the idea for this story, I knew we’d be bringing in a special artist for it, and Ludo Lullabi was the first name that came to mind,” commented Executive Editor, Ben Abernathy. “Loving his work from World of Warcraft and Battle Chasers, his kinetic storytelling and attention to detail were a perfect fit for a Megatron-centric story.”

In addition to the main cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and series colorist Mike Spicer, the lineup of variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #19 includes an open-to-order cover B by series artist Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer, a 1:10 incentive variant kicking off a new connecting cover series by David Nakayama, a 1:25 incentive variant by cover artist Steve Beach, a 1:50 incentive variant by Frédéric Pham Chuong, a 1:100 incentive variant by guest artist Ludo Lullabi & guest colorist Adriano Lucas, and a blank sketch cover.

TRANSFORMERS is the cornerstone of the Energon Universe, the crown jewel of the historic collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, who has introduced a brand-new era of the TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE franchises in one shared comic book universe. Other Energon Universe titles include the ongoing series Void Rivals by writer Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead), artist Lorenzo De Felici (Kroma), and colorist Patricio Delpeche (The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country) and G.I. JOE by writer Joshua Williamson (Superman, Dark Ride), artist Tom Reilly (The Thing), and colorist Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33). Fans should expect can’t-miss moments from every issue of the Energon Universe, as secrets are unveiled along the path to answering the BIG questions from some of the biggest franchises in comics today.

TRANSFORMERS #19 (Lunar Codes Below $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The full list of variant covers is below:

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover A by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0225IM409)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover B by Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer (Lunar Code: 0225IM410)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by David Nakayama (Lunar Code: 0225IM411)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Steve Beach (Lunar Code: 0225IM412)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Frédéric Pham Chuong (Lunar Code: 0225IM413)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover F (1:100 Copy Incentive) by Ludo Lullabi & Adriano Lucas (Lunar Code: 0225IM414)

TRANSFORMERS #19 Cover G Blank Sketch Cover (Lunar Code: 0225IM415)