Variety reports that Paramount has removed its untitled “Star Trek” sequel from its upcoming film slate. The project, produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, had been dated to hit theaters on Dec. 22, 2023.

The rather inevitable news comes roughly one month after director Matt Shakman exited the “Star Trek” film, which was nominally set to be the fourth cinematic tour of duty for Chris Pine as Kirk, Zachary Quinto as Spock, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Karl Urban as Bones, John Cho as Sulu and Simon Pegg as Scotty. Shakman was successfully courted by Marvel Studios to helm its “Fantastic Four” reboot, reuniting the “WandaVision” director with the studio, after “Spider-Man: No Way Home” director Jon Watts left that film in April.

Shakman first became attached to the “Star Trek” sequel in the summer of 2021, following his acclaimed run directing every episode of “WandaVision” — the “Trek” announcement even landed the same day Shakman was nominated for an Emmy for the show.

Then this February, Abrams announced during the Paramount Global investors day presentation that a new “Trek” movie “will be shooting by the end of the year” and would feature “our original cast.”

The only problem, according to insiders, was that Pine, Quinto and the rest of the cast had not yet officially signed up for the movie when Abrams made his announcement, leaving Paramount with less than a year to secure the in-demand actors.

With the film now off its schedule, that deadline is no longer looming, but it still leaves Paramount without plans for an entry in its most valuable franchise.

The Boy And The Heron is set to arrive in theaters in North America on December 8th. Following a solid theatrical run in Japan, the latest from Studio Ghibli, titled "How Do You Live" in its country of origin, is already receiving wide acclaim before it hits the West. Originally billed as the last film from legendary director Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli's latest has been granted prestigious recognition by the New York Film Critics Circle. The Circle ranked The Boy And The Heron as the best animated film of this year, which is impressive considering some of its competition. (via ComicBook.com)

Here is the film's official English trailer: https://youtu.be/t5khm-VjEu4

Today Skybound unveiled a horrifying first look at Creepshow Vol. 2 #5, the finale of the second volume of the smash-hit comic book anthology based on Greg Nicotero’s hit Shudder TV series produced and licensed by Cartel Entertainment. Season 4 of the Shudder TV series of the same name is out now on AMC and AMC+. Brian Witten is overseeing on behalf of Nicotero’s Monster Agency Productions. Creepshow Vol.2 #5 features stories by Saladin Ahmed (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Artyom Topilin (I Hate This Place), DB Andry (Resonant) & Tim Daniel (End After End), and Matthew Roberts (Manifest Destiny). The conclusion to the second volume of Creepshow arrives in comic book shops on January 17, 2024. In the freaky finale, “Sinister” Saladin Ahmed and “Hair-Raising” Artyom Topilin first spin a horrifying yarn about a politician who tries to protect the youth from “dangerous” comic books in “Burning Ambition”! Then, “Dastardly” DB Andry & “Terrifying” Tim Daniel are joined by “Murderous” Matthew Roberts to tell the story of a boy who sacrifices the things he loves to feed the monster under his bed in “Keep It Fed”! In addition to the main cover by Guillem March (Batman), Creepshow Vol. 2 #5 comes with an incredible lineup of variant covers, including a cover by Artyom Toplin and the final cover in the set of 1:10 incentive connecting covers by iconic horror artist Skinner. Creepshow Volume 2’s all-star creative roster also includes Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys), Becky Cloonan (Wonder Woman), Phil Hester (Gotham City: Year One), Michael Wash (The Silver Coin), Dan Watters (Homesick Pilots, Arkham City), Abigail Larson (Sandman Universe: The Dreaming), Zoe Thorogood (It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth), Joel Farrelly (Tell Me a Story), Nick Dragotta (East of West), Alisa Kwitney (Mystik U), and Goran Sudžuka (Ghosted, Year Zero). The Creepshow comic miniseries deal was brokered by Striker Entertainment. Creepshow Volume 2 #5 (of 5) (Lunar Codes below SRP $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

The full list of covers is below:

Creepshow 2 #5 CVR A by Guillem March (1123IM256)

Creepshow 2 #5 CVR B by Artyom Topilin (1123IM257) 

Creepshow 2 #5 CVR C by Skinner (1:10 Incentive) (1123IM258)

Felicia Hardy and Mary Jane Watson have always had more in common than they think, and this March, they’ll combine their wits, expertise, and superpowers to take down an emerging new threat in JACKPOT AND BLACK CAT! The four-issue limited series is written by Celeste Bronfman, who penned both Mary Jane’s first outing as Jackpot earlier this year in Amazing Spider-Man #925 and her first solo issue as Jackpot that hits stands in January. Bronfman will be joined by rising Marvel star Emilio Laiso, the acclaimed artist known for his recent work on Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men Unlimited. The series’ covers will come from renowned artist Adam Hughes. After teaming up in Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa’s Eisner-nominated Black Cat & Mary Jane: Beyond one-shot as well as the Mary Jane & Black Cat “Dark Web” tie-in series, Mary Jane and Felicia Hardy have risen to be one of Marvel’s most dynamic duos. Now that Mary Jane is an up-and-coming super hero herself, they’ll take their bond to the next level on an action-packed adventure to take down a villain that’s blackmailing… EVERYONE, including Black Cat and Mary Jane. Tough choices and daring missions await as Mary Jane and Black Cat become entangled in a plot that’s brought the world to its knees. LUCK BE THE LADIES! When someone blackmails Black Cat into a public and blatant crime spree, Jackpot comes to her aid! What classic Spider-Villain is behind the blackmail?! Someone with history with at least one of our titular heroines! "MJ’s been a hero since day one, and I’m so excited to continue her journey as Jackpot – this time with Felicia Hardy by her side!” Bronfman shared. “Opposites attract, and I’ve always loved the push and pull of their friendship. Expect them to butt heads through heists, betrayals, and the unexpected!" Check out the debut issue’s cover now and be there for Mary Jane and Black Cat’s next great caper when JACKPOT AND BLACK CAT #1 hits stands in March.

It sounds, more than ever, as if The Orville‘s days exploring the cosmos may be over.The Seth MacFarlane-captained space saga has been MIA since August 2022, and many signs have pointed to The Orville being spacedocked — especially given how long it took to get Season 3 launched. Hulu, though, has yet to confirm that the expensive, VFX-heavy series won’t be returning.But now, in a visit to Michael Rosenbaum’s Inside of You podcast, Adrianne Palicki said, “No, no longer doing that,” when asked about her leading role on the series. “I think there’s talk that it could possibly be something that certain people want to do…,” she continued, choosing words carefully, “but it’s a really difficult show to shoot, man.” Hulu has yet to confirm or deny the fate of the expensive, VFX-heavy series. (via TV Line)

The trailer for Furiosa has been released (below), giving Mad Max franchise fans their first sense of the long-awaited Fury Road prequel. As expected, the intense footage is nearly wall-to-wall action, explosions, and frantic driving.Director George Miller‘s next adventure in his post-apocalyptic wasteland stars Anya Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit) as Imperator Furiosa. She stars alongside Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Nathan Jones, Angus Sampson and Quaden Bayles in supporting roles. The screenplay is by Miller and Nico Lathouris, who also helped pen Fury Road. The film’s full title was also revealed: Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, which gets the franchise-friendly “Mad Max” in there even though that character is not expected to appear. The official description: “As the world falls, young Furiosa is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and into the hands of a Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus. While two Tyrants war for dominance over the Citadel, Furiosa survives many trials as she plots a way back home through the Wasteland.” (via The Hollywood Reporter)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/XJMuhwVlca4

Warner Bros. Beetlejuice 2 has wrapped filming, Tim Burton has announced.This is not a shock considering the movie only had two days left of shooting once the SAG-AFTRA strike ended.While there have been many pivots on the 2024 theatrical release calendar, we’ve been informed by studio insiders all along that Beetlejuice 2 will meet the highly savored Warner Bros. post-Labor Day weekend release date which has been a fertile ground for horror movies; big pics like It and The Nun launching to the month’s highest openings. Beetlejuice 2 reunites Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara from the original cast of the 1988 movie. Joining in the mix this time around is Wednesday star Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Justin Theroux. Beetlejuice further propelled Keaton’s star power after Mr. Mom with a domestic gross of $75M. The pic repped Burton and Keaton’s first go-round together before the filmmaker championed the comedic star for the title role of Warner Bros. 1989 Batman which made $251.4M domestic, $411.5M WW at the box office. (via Deadline)

The Hideaway Entertainment has snapped up rights to Level Up, a high concept spec script from screenwriters David Matalon (Totally Killer) and Matthew Altman (Feed the Devil).A sci-fi action comedy, Level Up is about a man who wakes up bound and blindfolded in a top-secret facility deep beneath Area 51, soon discovering that he has amazing but inexplicable new abilities. His only hope to escape is the alien he’s imprisoned with… and she hates humans. But as they navigate their way out, their unconventional alliance becomes the key to saving the world from an impending global catastrophe. Jonathan Gray and Matthew Rhodes will produce on behalf of The Hideaway Entertainment, alongside Navid McIllhargey of Vandal Entertainment and Erik Olsen of Apocalyptic Entertainment. The Hideaway’s Ryan Cassells will serve as executive producer. The team is currently meeting with directors and plans to shoot next year. (via Deadline)

Today Skybound, in collaboration with leading toy and game company Hasbro, revealed an impressive lineup of variant covers and interior pages for Daniel Warren Johnson’s TRANSFORMERS #4. The fourth issue of the smash hit series, TRANSFORMERS, will be available on shelves in comic book shops January 10, 2024. TRANSFORMERS #4 continues the Energon Universe and the all-new era of the iconic TRANSFORMERS franchise from Daniel Warren Johnson (Extremity, Do a Powerbomb) and colorist Mike Spicer (Stillwater, Murder Falcon). When the Decepticons attack the Autobots at their weakest moment, an unlikely new hero joins the battle! With human and Transformer robots lives at stake, can Optimus Prime unlock the true power behind the Matrix of Leadership to save them both? In addition to the main cover by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer, the stacked list of variant covers for TRANSFORMERS #4 includes a wraparound cover by Jonboy Meyers (Teen Titans), a 1:10 incentive variant continuing the connecting cover series by Orlando Arocena (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), a 1:25 incentive variant by Sanford Greene (Bitter Root), and a 1:50 incentive variant by Andrea Milana (Cobra Commander) & Annalisa Leoni (Oblivion Song). The Energon Universe officially began in June 2023 with the surprise first appearance of iconic TRANSFORMERS character Jetfire in Void Rivals #1, introducing the historic new collaboration between Hasbro and Skybound, with TRANSFORMERS and G.I. JOE comics finding a new home with the publisher. The Energon Universe expands in December with Duke #1, a limited series from Joshua Williamson (DC’s Superman, Dark Ride), Tom Reilly (The Thing) and Jordie Bellaire (W0rldtr33). This will be followed by the launch of Cobra Commander #1 in January 2024, from Joshua Williamson, Andrea Milana and Annalisa Leoni. 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, including #WhereIsMegatron. TRANSFORMERS #4 (Lunar Codes Below $3.99) will be available at comic book shops and digital platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, comiXology, and Google Play on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

The full list of variant covers is below:

TRANSFORMERS #4 Cover A by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer (1123IM342)

TRANSFORMERS #4 Cover B by Jonboy Meyers (1123IM343)

TRANSFORMERS #4 Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive) (Connecting) by Orlando Arocena (1123IM344)

TRANSFORMERS #4 Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive) by Sanford Greene (1123IM345)

TRANSFORMERS #4 Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive) by Andrea Milana & Annalisa Leoni (1123IM346)

BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at CODA #4, the fourth issue of the new five-issue original series from GLAAD Media Award-winning writer Simon Spurrier (Damn Them All), Entertainment Weekly’s 2019 Artist of the Year Matías Bergara (Step By Bloody Step), color assistant Patricio Delpeche, and letterer Jim Campbell, available in December 2023. As Hum ruminates on his personal connection to stories of the past and how it left him in his current state, the threads of connectedness continue to weave through the tale as he wrestles with feelings over his own body. Meanwhile, Mildew crosses paths with Hum and Serka after a harrowing rescue in the midst of a brutal battle. While things may not turn out how they hope, Serka has a new plan to set things right… CODA #4 features main and variant cover art by series artist Matías Bergara, with variants by Ariel Olivetti (Once Upon a Time at the End of the World), and Bengal (Star Wars: The High Republic). CODA is the newest release from BOOM! Studios’ eponymous imprint, home to critically acclaimed original series, including BRZRKR by Keanu Reeves, Matt Kindt, and Ron Garney; Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV and Werther Dell’Edera; Grim by Stephanie Phillips and Flaviano; Stuff of Nightmares by R.L. Stine and A.L. Kaplan; Damn Them All by Simon Spurrier and Charlie Adlard; Once Upon a Time at the End of the World by Jason Aaron, Alexandre Tefenkgi, Leila del Duca, and Nick Dragotta; Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey and Liana Kangas; A Vicious Circle by Mattson Tomlin and Lee Bermejo; The Neighbors by Jude Ellison S. Doyle and Letizia Cadonici; Ghostlore by Cullen Bunn and Leomacs; Sirens of the City by Joanne Starer and Khary Randolph; Coda by Simon Spurrier and Matías Bergara; Rare Flavours by Ram V and Filipe Andrade, and the upcoming Underheist by David and Maria Lapham. The imprint also publishes popular licensed properties, including Dune: House Harkonnen from Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, and Michael Shelfer; Mighty Morphin Power Rangers by Melissa Flores and Simona Di Gianfelice; and The Expanse: Dragon Tooth by Andy Diggle and Rubine. CODA #4 will be available in comic shops December 27, 2023. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including comiXology, iBooks, Google Play, and Kindle.

Coda #4 (2023) A Main: JUL230009

Coda #4 (2023) B Variant: JUL230010

Coda #4 (2023) C 1:10 INCV: JUL230011

Coda #4 (2023) D 1:25 INCV: JUL230012

Coda #4 (2023) E Unlockable Var: JUL230013

Be sure to catch up on the series and pick up the Coda Deluxe Edition Hardcover, available wherever books are sold.

Fans are amping up for SPIDER-PUNK #1! After stealing the show in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Hobie Brown is headlining an all-new limited comic book series launching this February. Announced earlier this month, the four-issue saga will be written by current Miles Morales: Spider-Man scribe Cody Ziglar and drawn by Justin Mason, known for his recent work on Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis. These two rising star talents will be reunited following their last Spider-Punk series to take Hobie on a wild new tour! Just like Marvel’s other hottest launches, SPIDER-PUNK #1 will stand out on comic stands with a special FOIL VARIANT COVER. Drawn by acclaimed artist Ian Bertram, this trippy piece captures the character’s iconic look in Bertam’s distinctive style! With an ax in hand and a chaotic band of punk rockin’ heroes backing him, he quickly rose to fame as a fan-favorite! Now, Hobie Brown returns, and in a world without Norman Osborn, SPIDER-PUNK REIGNS! This ain't no victory lap though – as Hobie and team try to rebuild society, Justin Hammer and Doctor Otto Octavius have other plans... like introducing the world to new Spider-Slaying Sentinels! On writing the series, Cody told IGN, “It feels so friggin' cool to dive back into Earth-138 with Justin and explore the world of Hobie and the Spider-band even more! There's some new additions to the Spider-Punk roster, some real dope villains, and some other cool stuff I don't wanna spoil… but absolutely cannot wait for folks! And yes, there'll 100% be a Spider-Punk Playlist Vol 2!" Check out the cover now and enter Spider-Punk’s new era this February!