Alien: Earth, everyone can hear you scream!

It's a good time to be an Alien franchise fan (myself included). FX has released a new teaser trailer for Noah Hawley's (Fargo) live-action spin-off series, Alien: Earth, set two years before the ill-fated crew of the Nostromo encountered the titular Alien.



Read the official synopsis:

“When a mysterious space vessel crash-lands on Earth, a young woman and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat. As members of the crash recovery crew search for survivors among the wreckage, they encounter mysterious predatory life forms more terrifying than they could have ever imagined. With this new threat unlocked, the search crew must fight for survival, and what they choose to do with this discovery could change planet Earth as they know it.”

The cast for Alien: Earth includes Sydney Chandler (Don't Worry Darling), Alex Lawther (Andor), Samuel Blenkin (The Sandman), Kit Young (Shadow and Bone), Essie Davis (Assassin's Creed), Adarsh Gourav (The White Tiger) and Timothy Olyphant (The Mandalorian).

Alien: Earth premieres only on Hulu and Disney+ in the summer of 2025.

Are you looking forward to Alien: Earth? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars brings the Force to Destiny 2

It what could be considered as a match made in geek heaven, Destiny 2 and Star Wars is a thing. However, in an era of Fortnite, does it matter?

Longtime readers may recall that I was a huge fan of the original Destiny in 2014 and embraced the notion of a decade-spanning story from Bungie (the studio that created Halo). A so-so story was overshadowed by fun Fireteam adventures with friends on PlayStation Network (PSN) and Peter Dinklage's infamous Ghost. Dinklage was ultimately replaced by Nolan North best known for playing Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series.

The release of Destiny 2 marred the experience to the point that I stopped playing within weeks of its release in 2017. It was more of a slog than a compelling sci-fi space opera and friends left in droves.

When Bungie broke free of Activision and Destiny 2 became free-to-play, I briefly revisited the looter shooter on Game Pass during the pandemic, but it failed to fully reignite my enthusiasm.

Created by Bungie in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, this new crossover event is bringing Imperial-themed cosmetics for players to use, letting them dress their Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks as Death Troopers, Stormtroopers, and the Emperor's Royal Guards, respectively.

Alongside the new cosmetics for Guardians, there's also a new ship and Ghost gear. If you've ever wanted your Ghost to look like the unfinished second Death Star from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, or have your ship look like a TIE Fighter, now is your chance.

It will be included with Destiny 2: Heresy, which launches on 4th February. Heresy is the final epilogue of the long-running Light and Darkness saga that began in 2014.

Are you still playing Destiny 2? If not, will Star Wars bring you back? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Power the Force

It’s a big year for Star Wars, with highlights including Star Wars Celebration Japan, the release of Andor: A Star Wars Story season two on Disney+, the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, and the 10th anniversary of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

To celebrate, Disney Consumer Products has announced a year-long Power the Force campaign beginning with LEGO Star Wars AT-AT Driver Helmet from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back!

Discover LEGO Star Wars on LEGO AU, CA, UK and US (affiliate links).

Throughout 2025, there will be further Power the Force announcements. In this new campaign, fans (myself included) will receive toys, collectables, fashion pieces, and more from Lucasfilm licensees across the galaxy.

Are you excited about Power the Force? Let me know in the comments below.

Labyrinth sequel from Nosferatu director

After Oscar nods for Nosferatu, director Robert Eggers has been confirmed to write and direct a sequel to Jim Henson's Labyrinth.

The original cult classic fantasy film, which starred the late David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King and teenage crush Jennifer Connelly as teenager Sarah Williams, has never had a sequel or a remake.

However, Labyrinth spawned an official video game (I vividly remember playing the tie-in video game on Commodore 64 whilst listening to David Bowie and Trevor Jones' soundtrack) and comic books and speculation surrounding a new film has been rife for decades with Fede Álvarez, who most recently directed Alien: Romulus, previously linked.

Home Alone director Chris Columbus and his daughter Eleanor will produce the sequel, while Lisa and Brian Henson, children of the late The Muppets creator, will executive produce, according to Variety.

What are your thoughts on a Labyrinth sequel? Let me know in the comments below.

Marvel's Star Wars explores the New Republic

This May, Marvel Comics' mainline Star Wars title takes fan-favourites Han, Luke and Leia into the New Republic.

Read the official synopsis:

AN EPIC NEW ADVENTURE BEGINS FOR LUKE, LEIA AND HAN IN THE WAKE OF RETURN OF THE JEDI!

- New York Times best-selling author ALEX SEGURA launches the bold next era of STAR WARS.

- LUKE SKYWALKER must defend the NEW REPUBLIC from a bloodthirsty gang of mercenaries!

- HAN SOLO investigates a deadly underworld mystery — and saves a surprising ally!

- LEIA ORGANA must grapple with a new alliance opposed to the goals of the New Republic!

Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and bestselling author Alex Segura teases what fans (myself included) can expect:

“Now that we’ve put the period at the end of the Galactic Civil War with the Battle of Jakku, we can speed ahead into a new, uncharted era, with some new galactic threats, foes, and mysteries for our beloved heroes to grapple with, blending the familiar with the new and shocking… These stories will be packed with action and the character moments Star Wars fans have come to expect, featuring twists on the galaxy and landscape we know, with an eye toward making sure people can jump in easily and with any issue. We can’t wait.”

Star Wars #1 drops on newsstands on 7th May.

Are you looking forward to Marvel's Star Wars relaunch? Will you be reading the comics? Let me know in the comments below.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew was an early holiday gift from Lucasfilm on Disney+. Not since The Mandalorian has Star Wars been so much fun on the House of Mouse's streamer.

After a swashbuckling start in the warm glow of Christmas, does Skeleton Crew stick the landing in the dark days of January?

Nick Smith, our US-based stellar scribe, goes on a Goonies-inspired treasure hunt in a galaxy far, far away...

Guest post by Nick Smith

At last, someone knows how to do Star Wars right!

That someone is Christopher Ford, one of Spider-Man: Homecoming’s six screenwriters. Ford smuggles a very down-to-earth story of friendship into the laser-brained world of Star Wars via Skeleton Crew, a family-oriented series streaming on Disney+.

Skeleton Crew concerns a motley bunch of kids, led by Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who lit up the screen in 2022’s Firestarter), as they try to get home in a galaxy far, far away. Meanwhile, the children get mixed up with pirates, a space dogfight, exotic aliens, a mysterious Force wielder, hyperspace travel, and plenty more elements reminiscent of the Star Wars movies.

We live in a cynical realm of algorithm-driven entertainment, where screenwriters follow a formula, dealing in absolutes, and filmmakers recycle scenes from old movies without a hint of originality. Fortunately, Skeleton Crew balances ‘80s-era movie tropes with a modern sensibility, and it’s all done with a big heap of charm.

The show appeals to children – the heroes scream a lot, and the comedy is broad – and it appeals to misty-eyed adults who grew up watching Amblin and Lucasfilm movies as well, with cleverly developed antagonists, richly detailed interstellar cities, and resonant themes: for example, the societal value of iconoclasts, balancing work and home life, and the lengths we go to keep our family safe.

There are plenty of Easter eggs for fans, too, such as a character who calls himself Crimson Jack (a pirate in Marvel Comics), the return of a character from The Mandalorian (Vane), and holographic entertainment straight out of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special.

Armstrong is accompanied by Robert Timothy Smith (Liam in Dear Santa), who voices the sweet, elephantine Neel; Kyriana Kratter as KB, cool as a cucumber but loathe to admit she’s not as capable as her bestie (poignantly addressing the issue of disability), Fern; and Ravi Cabot-Conyers (Antonio in Encanto) as naïve dreamer Wim, whose ambitions outweigh his abilities. His head is in the clouds, he is fascinated by fanciful Jedi legends, and he’s getting a little too old to play with action figures or hear bedtime stories. He reminds me of me, not so long ago.

All these characters are sympathetic and worth rooting for, while SM-33 (a twist on the name of Smee from Peter Pan) provides muscles and chuckles, voice courtesy of Nick Frost, who played a dear Santa in Doctor Who. Jude Law’s Jod is even shadier than Yon-Rogg, the character he portrayed in Captain Marvel.

We’ve seen treasure hunts many times in films and TV shows; the spin here is that the booty is on the kids’ planet, and their real quest is to find their way home. With buccaneers, alien monsters, and (ugh) grownup rules in their path, the ride is a bumpy one for the crew, but never too dull for the audience. The epic only drags during a sojourn on At Achrann, where the crew meets a space-age version of World War II’s French Resistance, in a spot of bother solved by paying off some bad guys.

Otherwise, Skeleton Crew does an excellent job walking the gangplank of pleasing fans and the general public as well. The acting, meticulous visual designs, Mick Giacchino’s cinematic music score, and the colourful assortment of villains help to keep the story vivid and exciting, topped off with a chef’s kiss ending.

Disney+ can tick all its demographic boxes with its Star Wars shows: Forces of Destiny and LEGO Star Wars spoofs for tots, Andor and The Acolyte for Goths who like watching a good massacre, Ahsoka for the prequel appreciators and young adults who grew up on the animated series. Skeleton Crew fills the gap in between. George Lucas’ movies always included Disney-friendly elements that were never too heavy-handed to nub-snub.

Skeleton Crew is Star Wars at its Disneyest, and it works.

Have you seen Star Wars: Skeleton Crew? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Nick Smith's new audiobook, Undead on Arrival, is available from Amazon (affiliate link).

Daredevil: Born Again this March

Marvel Television has dropped an official trailer for the long-awaited Daredevil: Born Again.



Read the official synopsis:

"In Marvel Television’s “Daredevil: Born Again,” Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), a blind lawyer with heightened abilities is fighting for justice through his bustling law firm, while former mob boss Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) pursues his own political endeavors in New York. When their past identities begin to emerge, both men find themselves on an inevitable collision course."

Daredevil was a fan-favourite spin-off series on Netflix and the gritty gang are back on Disney+ after being teased in Hawkeye and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Personally, I really enjoyed Daredevil when it debuted a decade ago in 2015 and was quoted in publicity for a superhero series that championed diversity. Marvel's live-action spin-off series on Netflix were all cancelled by the streamer in 2018 ahead of Disney+.

The series also stars Margarita Levieva, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Zabryna Guevara, Nikki James, Genneya Walton, Arty Froushan, Clark Johnson, Michael Gandolfini, with Ayelet Zurer and Jon Bernthal. Dario Scardapane is showrunner. Episodes are directed by Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead, Michael Cuesta, Jeffrey Nachmanoff, and David Boyd; and executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Sana Amanat, Chris Gary, Dario Scardapane, Christopher Ord & Matthew Corman, and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead.

Daredevil: Born Again will premiere on 4th March on Disney+.

Are you looking forward to Daredevil: Born Again? What did you think of the trailer? Let me know in the comments below.

Micronauts coming soon from Super7

Exciting news for Micronauts fans (myself included): Hasbro has licensed Mego's beloved seventies toy line to the fine folks at Super7. The Micronauts attained a cult following and were briefly resurrected by Palisades Toys in 2002.

“The return of Micronauts really represents what Hasbro and our licensing business are all about – bringing unique interactive fun and collectible experiences for fans across multiple generations,” Marianne James, Senior Vice President, Global Licensing at Hasbro, tells IGN. “The team at Super7 have done an incredible job reintroducing the line for a new generation while capturing what made the original 1970s lineup so special. We look forward to exploring even more licensing opportunities with world-class partners like Super7 to give fans unique offerings from the brand like never before.”

The Micronauts, Mego’s rebranded name for Microman in the US, was a storied interchangeable toy line from Takara (the Japanese toy company that would go on to create Transformers).

The 3½ inch action figures and accessories scaled perfectly with Kenner’s Star Wars toys, so they inhabited a shared universe in my childhood bedroom. Ironic, as Mego infamously passed on Star Wars. Incidentally, Mego reused Microman tooling for Disney’s The Black Hole and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century toys, which I also collected.

Super7 co-founder and CEO Brian Flynn says, "As kids, Micronauts were undeniably some of the coolest action figures ever made. Their clear bodies and interchangeable pieces were like nothing else, and their fantastical designs were out of this world (in space!) and ignited imaginations everywhere. From the colossal Biotron and the magnetic Baron Karza to the dynamic Microtron and the translucent Time Travellers, Micronauts had it all - from aliens to robots to heroes! Being able to revisit the fantastical world of Micronauts with the same childhood excitement is nothing short of a dream come true for all of us here at Super7."

Marvel Comics released a tie-in comic (reprinted in Star Wars Weekly and Future Tense) following the adventures of Commander Rann (my Xbox Gamertag) and his battle with the evil Baron Karza. The latter, a Darth Vader lookalike, was a cherished holiday gift in 1978.

The original comic book series is being reprinted in partnership between Marvel Comics and Hasbro. The omnibus editions are available here (affiliate link).

In June 2016, Hasbro announced a limited edition Micronauts Classic Collection toy set. The San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) exclusive included three Micronauts: Galactic Warrior, Pharoid and Orbital Defender, and featured packaging artwork by artist Ken Kelly.

The first wave of Micronauts action figures from Super7's ReAction+ line features the villainous Baron Karza and heroic Biotron with 12 points of articulation and an O-Ring construction. In the future, I'd like to see Acroyear and Force Commander.

Will you be collecting these Micronauts action figures? Which Micronauts would you like to see re-released by Super7? The fate of the Microverse is literally in your hands. Let me know in the comments below.

Alien: Romulus to terrorise on Disney+

Alien: Romulus is finally bursting onto Disney+ in the UK!

During the holidays, I finally found time to watch the latest instalment in the Alien franchise from Fede Álvarez (Don't Breathe). I was impressed with its cast, stunning cinematography, Benjamin Wallfisch's stirring soundtrack (replete with callbacks to Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Elliot Goldenthal and Harry Gregson-Williams) and ingenious use of sound design.

In his review, our US-based film and television critic Nick Smith wrote, "Alien: Romulus is really aimed at 18 to 25-year-old moviegoers who haven’t seen those creaky old Alien movies and want to take a ghost train trip to the future."

In the wake of Alien: Romulus' $350 million box office success, not too shabby for an originally straight-to-streaming movie on Hulu on Disney+, I'm hopeful the sequel will see Álvarez fully unleashed.

Alien fans (myself included) can look forward to Alien: Earth this summer on Disney+. Noah Hawley's (Fargo) live-action spin-off series is set two years before Alien.

Alien: Romulus starts streaming on 15th January on Disney+.

Have you seen Alien: Romulus? Are you looking forward to seeing it on Disney+? Let me know in the comments below.

The Last of Us at CES

A new teaser trailer for season two of The Last of Us dropped during Sony's presentation at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.



Read the official synopsis:

“After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Bella Ramsey, Pedro Pascal and Gabriel Luna are back and we also see Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, Danny Ramirez as Manny, and Jeffrey Wright as Isaac. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars.

In related news, Sony showcased its Future Immersive Entertainment Concept. According to Sony, it combines Crystal LED panels, audio, haptics, scent, and atmospherics with a PlayStation game like The Last of Us to create an interactive experience. For now, this is only a proof-of-concept.

The Last of Us returns this April on HBO and Sky Atlantic.

Are you looking forward to the second season of The Last of Us? Let me know in the comments below.