Jenna Ortega, who was a lynchpin draw in getting Scream VI to the horror franchise’s best opening grosses ever at $44.4M stateside, $67M global, isn’t expected to return for Scream VII, Deadline is reporting.This has nothing to do with the fallout from Melissa Barrera‘s firing yesterday by Spyglass Media over that actress’ social media repostings on the Hamas-Israel conflict; nor does it have to do with the actress asking for an end to her Scream contract. Ortega and Barrera played sisters in 2022’s Scream and this year’s Scream VI respectively as Tara and Sam Carpenter. Ortega’s exit from the next Scream was reportedly discussed before the actors strike. A script for Scream VII is not ready yet, and the Primetime Emmy nominee has to head to Ireland in April to shoot the second season of Netflix’s Wednesday which will go into the summer. Additionally, Beetlejuice post SAG-AFTRA strike had a few extra days of shooting in order to meet its Labor Day 2024 theatrical release.No news yet on the Scream 7 schedule.

Next year is shaping up to be a great year for the Little Nightmares franchise. Not only is the horror adventure series returning for a third game thanks to developer Supermassive Games, it's also getting a comic book spinoff. IGN is reporting the first details about Little Nightmares: Descent to Nowhere, a collaboration between Titan Comics and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe. Check out the cover art for the first issue below. Little Nightmares: Descent to Nowhere is written by Lonnie Nadler (Cable) and illustrated by Dennis Menheere (Etheres), with Damien Worm providing the cover art to issue #1. The book will tell a new story set in this horror universe, offering a mystery that spans both the nightmarish realm known as the Nowhere and the Counties. The series will span four issues in total. Little Nightmares: Descent to Nowhere will be released in 2025.

BOOM! Studios today revealed a first look at THE FADE #1, the premiere issue from webseries and TTRPG star Aabria Iyengar (Critical Role, Dimension 20), fan favorite webcomic artist Mari Costa (Life of Melody), colorist Angel De Santiago, and letterer Jim Campbell. Readers will discover new realms and adventures in the magical coming-of-age story from the award-winning BOOM! Box imprint in November 2024. A once fearless high schooler, Jeannie wasn’t prepared for the aimless feeling of being a college freshman, but that’s all about to change! Mirror myths take on new life in the modern age, as countless people claim to have passed into a realm called “The Fade” in their dreams via a viral internet sensation. But what awaits Jeannie and her best friend Arno on the other side? Royal quests, ancient prophecies, or something far more dangerous…? THE FADE #1 features main cover art by series artist Mari Costa, and variant covers by acclaimed illustrators Stephanie Han (DIE), and Veronica Fish (SLAM!, Archie). THE FADE is the latest release from BOOM! Studios’ award-winning BOOM! Box imprint, home to groundbreaking original series such as Lumberjanes by Shannon Watters, Grace Ellis, Gus Allen, and ND Stevenson; Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera and Celia Moscote; Giant Days by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, and Max Sarin; Mamo by Sas Milledge; Save Yourself! by Bones Leopard and Kelly and Nichole Matthews; Specter Inspectors by Bowen McCurdy and Kaitlyn Musto; The Last Witch by Conor McCreery and V.V. Glass; Ghosted in LA by Sina Grace and Siobhan Keenan; The Avant-Guards by Carly Usdin and Noah Hayes; Fence by C.S. Pacat and Johanna the Mad; Goldie Vance by Hope Larson and Brittney Williams; Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle; Getting Dizzy by Shea Fontana and Celia Moscote; and the educational series Seen: True Stories of Marginalized Trailblazers. THE FADE #1 will be available in comic shops November 6, 2024. It is available for pre-order at your local comic shop. Digital copies can be purchased from content providers, including Kindle, iBooks, and Google Play.

Fade, The #1 A Main: SEP240010

Fade, The #1 B Variant: SEP240011

Fade, The #1 C 1:10 INCV: SEP240012

Fade, The #1 D 1:20 INCV: SEP240013

Fade, The #1 E Unlockable Var: SEP240014

German kids and animation outfit Studio 100 International and Gaumont Animation are joining forces on a new animated series inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book. The series, tentatively titled Jungle Book: Cub Club Adventures, is currently in early development and will explore Mowgli’s life before the age of 11. Created by Josh Fisher, Jungle Book: Cub Club Adventures is being planned as a series of 52, 11-minute episodes targeting preschool kids and their families. The storylines will focus on Mowgli’s adventures with his young animal friends in the jungle, a period before we meet him in previous Jungle Book adaptations. Gaumont Animation and Studio 100 will be bringing the show to Cannes and the international television market MIPCOM later this month, seeking production and financing partners. (via The Hollywood Reporter)

The long-gestating Nautilus live action series has unveiled first trailer. Check it out below. Based on Jules Verne’s beloved Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Nautilus tells the origin story of Captain Nemo: an Indian Prince robbed of his birthright and family, joining him as he steals a formidable prototype submarine and escapes into the Indian Ocean with a crew, determined to enact revenge against the ruthless East India Mercantile Company. The series has been on an interesting journey, having initially been with Disney+ before switching to AMC, Prime Video in the UK and Ireland and Stan in Australia. (via Deadline)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/2HxWthmp9HU

On Wednesday, DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn took to social media to fully confirm that Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights, Early Edition) has been cast as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern in the forthcoming HBO live-action series Lanterns. Chandler’s casting was first reported earlier this fall, after reports had indicated that actors like Josh Brolin, Matthew McConaughey, and Ewan McGregor were in contention for the part. This news comes just hours after official confirmation that Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge, Krypton) has also been cast in Lanterns‘ other lead role of John Stewart / Green Lantern. “Welcome to the DCU, Kyle Chandler!” Gunn’s post reads. “Now our Hal Jordan in #Lanterns.” Lanterns does not currently have a confirmed release date. (via ComicBook.com)

Aaron Pierre is officially joining the Green Lantern series at HBO, Variety is reporting. Pierre will star as John Stewart in the series, which is titled “Lanterns.” It was previously reported that Kyle Chandler was in talks for the role of Hal Jordan. According to sources, a number of actors were considered for the role of Stewart, including Stephan James and Damson Idris. The show is produced by HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios and is based on DC’s “Green Lantern” comics. Per the official logline, the series follows “new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

After breaking tackles for six seasons on the hit Netflix series All American, Daniel Ezra has found a new challenge to run away from as Deadline reports that he is set to join Paramount’s reimagining of The Running Man starring Glen Powell. Katy O’Brian is also on board with Edgar Wright directing the film. Wright will also produce with his producing partner Nira Park and Simon Kinberg. Wright co-wrote script with Michael Bacall. Based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King that the author first published under the pseudonym Richard Bachman, Running Man was made famous by the 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. King’s futuristic novel is a chase thriller set in a dystopian America in the year 2025. The story centers on Ben Richards, a desperate man who participates in a violent reality show called The Running Man in order to win enough money to revive his gravely ill daughter. The show follows Richards being chased by numerous hunters sent to kill him. George Linder will exec produce.

Max has opted not to renew adult animated series Velma after two seasons. “Over the past two seasons, Mindy [Kaling] and Charlie [Grandy] have created an incredibly fun and fresh world within the iconic whodunit franchise [of Scooby Doo],” Max said in a statement. “While we won’t be moving forward with another season of the series, we thank them for their compelling coming-of-age storytelling, unrivaled clues, and hilarious hijinks.” The 10-episode second season of the Max Original from Warner Bros. Animation dropped April 25. (via Deadline)

Disney has released a new special look at its upcoming animated sequel Moana 2, previewing Moana's (Auliʻi Cravalho) oceanic journey, some of the film's brand-new songs, and a new look at the sequel's villain. In the trailer, Moana learns the story of an ancient island whose curse can only be broken if one steps foot on it, prompting her to assemble a crew to help her navigate the ocean's waves and supernatural inhabitants. These crew members include island residents Loto, Moni, and Kele, as well as the returning demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and her animal companions Pua and Heihei. The trailer also features conversations between Moana and her new sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), and reveals a look at new villian Matangi (above). A goddess, the villain is voiced by Awhimai Fraser. Moana 2 releases in theaters on November 27. (via CBR.com)

Trailer: https://youtu.be/JdSl4RMNtGE

Ashley Newbrough (Operation Nutcracker, Love For Christmas) and Chad Rook (Joe Pickett, Virgin River) are starring in the holiday film A Dickens of a Christmas, which is launching in Cannes at MIPCOM. Production has completed on the film, which comes from Castle Mountain Entertainment, Messina Captor Films Inc. and Enchanté Productions in association with Polyscope Productions in Alberta, Canada. The movie follows Zara (Newbrough), a busy lawyer burdened by painful Christmas memories and lacking time for romance. Her best friend Chloe (Kaya Coleman) persuades her to attend a Victorian Dickens Christmas dinner at an historic home, where she meets Rafe (Rook), a single dad and hockey coach with a passion for renovating old houses. The historic home, however, harbors the ghost of Rafe’s ancestor, Aubrey (Mark Bellamy), who takes it upon himself to play matchmaker between Zara and Rafe, providing Zara with a magical book of Dickensian love stories that challenges her skepticism. (via Deadline)