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In Dan Farah’s The Age of Disclosure, one of the buzziest documentaries to premiere at SXSW this year, it takes interviews with 34 people from all levels of government and military to make the case that we’re not alone in the universe, and that we should all be paranoid about the vast conspiracy keeping civilians from finding out.

In Robert Stone’s Starman, premiering at SXSW to generally less buzz, only one person is interviewed, but he makes his own case for why we’re not alone, using this conviction to reflect on several decades of human progress and the fact that, no matter what else is happening out in the stars, we only have one Earth.

I’m not really valorizing one philosophical mindset over the other, nor exactly stating a preference for one filmmaking approach or the other. I’m just noting that while The Age of Disclosure...

Often referred to by Chinese literary critics as the most influential piece of science fiction of the last two decades, Liu Cixin‘s “The Three-Body Problem” – known simply as “Three Body” within national borders – finally got its comic book adaptation after spanning across multiple media. The final result, while unpleasantly drab and standardized in its visual approach to the subject, does justice to the original thanks to its compelling writing.

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In 2007 Beijing, a mysterious streak of suicides involving the most illuminated physicists draws military and government attention to the organization knows as the Frontiers of Science, which all victims apparently had some sort of tie with. Nanotechnology researcher Wang Miao, who had been approached by one of the Frontiers leaders before, eventually accepts to infiltrate their ranks after making a startling discovery: A ticking countdown printed on its cornea, whose meaning...

As fans wonder who the future of Star Wars will be handled by, it may be time to give respect to the original creator, George Lucas. The filmmaker wrote and directed the first film in 1977, triggering one of the most profitable and largest cinematic universes. The space opera began as a tribute to some of the serials he watched as a kid.

Originally intended for children, Lucas reportedly was a fan of fantastical sci-fi stories and did not want to get into the hard science aspect of it like Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. One of his biggest inspirations and his initial idea was reportedly to adapt the campy comic book series Flash Gordon.

George Lucas was initially inspired by the Flash Gordon comics to make Star Wars George Lucas | Credits: YouTube/Star Wars

While Star Wars is one of the most popular sci-fi franchises in the world,...

The devil works hard, but Denis Villeneuve works harder. Evidently not content with having already directed four of the best science fiction movies of the 21st century, the Dune: Part Twodirector is gearing up to helm an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Rendezvous With Rama. First announced in 2021, the project has excited sci-fi fans and cinephiles alike and, if all goes well, will potentially begin filming after Dune: Messiah — which will star Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Anya Taylor-Joy.

When I was four, my parents took me to a planetarium for the first time. It was a huge one, in Chicago; it seemed as big as space itself. I enjoyed many more visits to planetariums over the years, but none could ever match the experience I had when I was four. I looked up at that epic black domed sky and thought the stars and planets were real. I felt in sync with them, almost part of them, enthralled, immersed, and wonderstruck.

That’s the sensation I had watching “Starman.” It’s a documentary about space exploration that puts you in touch with your inner wide-eyed child. It’s the intergalactic meditation as blissed-out mind-bender. The film’s director, Robert Stone, made what I consider to be the single greatest documentary about the American space program — the six-hour-long “Chasing the Moon,” which was shown on PBS in 2019. It was a film that explored,...

Here's one of those bits of movie news that has you leaning further and further forward the more you read Deadline are reporting that Nightcrawler star Jake Gyllenhaal is being lined up to lead M. Night Shyamalan's next movie. And as if that isn't enough to already grab our collective attention, said film is reportedly an original supernatural romantic thriller, co-created by Shyamalan alongside The Notebook author Nicholas Sparks.

Now, you might've picked up on the fact that we say this superrommer (as nobody will ever call it) has been co-created by Shyamalan and Sparks as opposed to co-written by, but that's not an error. Rather, in a similar vein to Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's parallel, multimedia collaboration on 2001: A Space Odyssey, the filmmaker and author have conceived this creative project together, but will be writing the story in their preferred mediums separately. Both versions...

The Chinese “Year of the (Wood) Snake” starts January 29, 2025, kicking off more than two weeks of parties, customs and copious feasts:

“…the holiday, also known as the ‘Spring Festival’, celebrates the arrival of spring and the start of a new year based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar…

“…in a year expected to be one of positive transformation with the shedding of the ego, letting go of the past, letting go of anger, letting go of love lost.

“The snake matches up with the years of people born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001…

“…with famous snakes in pop culture including Robert Downey Jr., Bob Dylan, Buzz Aldrin, Jack Kirby…

“…Audrey Hepburn, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Tom Brady, J.K. Rowling, Linda McCartney, Tim Allen, Liv Tyler, Howard Hughes, Grace Kelly, Paul Simon, Dean Martin, Brooke Shields, Arthur C. Clarke, Elizabeth Olsen, Brie Larson…

“…Joan Crawford, Carole King, Elizabeth Hurley, Kim Basinger, Ernest Borgnine, Henry Fonda,...

Originally conceived as a sci-fi thriller with philosophical undertones, Species emerged as one of 1995’s weirdest monster movies.

The early 90s digital effects revolution birthed many monsters. Sam Neill and Laura Dern were menaced by velociraptors in the ground-breaking Jurassic Park in 1993. Tom Sizemore and Penelope Ann Miller were chased around a museum by a rhino-like behemoth in The Relic (1996). Samuel L Jackson was rudely interrupted mid-monologue by an intellectual shark in Deep Blue Sea (1999).

Few monster movies were as eclectically cast or as zany as 1995’s Species. Somehow, director Roger Donaldson managed to convince such acting greats as Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker and Alfred Molina to appear as members of a specialist team on the trail of a randy human-alien hybrid monster (Natasha Henstridge) seducing assorted men in Los Angeles.

It’s all delightful B-movie hokum, even if the film’s classier elements – the quality cast, the design of...

Denis Villeneuve already has several sci-fi projects under his belt, and all of them were highly critically acclaimed. His most recent ‘Dune: Part Two’ earned 5 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture nomination, ‘Dune’ released in 2021 earned won 6 Oscars.

Villeneuve is currently in the early stages of development of the second book in the ‘Dune’ series – ‘Dune Messiah’ and it will serve as the sequel to the previous two films.

Now in his most recent interview, Villeneuve admitted that he is eyeing one more sci-fi project, a notable sci-fi epic ‘Rendezvous with Rama.’

Villeneuve said ‘Rendezvous with Rama’ is similar to ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ as it involves astronauts encountering another civilization. Unlike ‘Dune,’ it focuses on realistic, future technology, making it “hard science fiction,” which he’s excited to explore for the first time in his career. He hopes to take on such a project at least once in his life.

Taylor Sheridan is now known for being the brains behind the neo-Western TV series Yellowstone, which recently wrapped up its series finale. While the actor turned TV juggernaut hit it big with the Oscar-nominated screenplay for Hell or High Water and the Paramount series, his debut Sicario is still regarded as one of the best films of the past two decades.

The Emily Blunt and Benicio Del Toro starrer was directed by Denis Villeneuve and was critically acclaimed for its nuanced exploration of the border conflict. However, neither Villeneuve nor Blunt returned for Sicario: Day of the Soldado, leading to a much lesser positive reception. Del Toro’s apprehension at the absence of the core talent might not bid well for the upcoming Sicario 3.

Benicio Del Toro was reportedly initially apprehensive about returning to Sicario: Day of the Soldado A still from Sicario | Credits: Lionsgate

Taylor Sheridan’s screenwriting...

The first rule of Hogwarts is you do not talk about Hogwarts. The second rule of Hogwarts is you do not talk about Hogwarts. But let’s break those rules for a moment because, apparently, Harry Potter nearly took a much darker, edgier turn in the hands of Fight Club director David Fincher. Over the course of his illustrious 35-year career, Fincher has been attached to numerous projects that ultimately didn’t materialise, including sequels to his (unfairly criticised) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, to the adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's Rendezvous with Rama, and the less said about the ill fated sequel to World War Z the better, but if you want your mind blown, just picture Hogwarts in the vein of Tyler Durden.

Harry Potter is one of the most beloved fantasy film franchises of all time. Fans travel the globe to visit the Harry Potter Studio Tour in London, or to get their own wand from Ollivanders at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida. Some dedicated fans even visit King's Cross Station in London on what would be the first official day of Hogwarts every year. You may have even been asked what house you're in. But imagine how different the franchise would be if David Fincher got his hands on it. Would Harry open a box with Dumbledore's head in it? Or is Voldemort actually part of Harry Potter's fractured psyche? It's safe to say it would be weird. Well, David Fincher has clued fans in on just how weird his Harry Potter movie could have gotten.

Speaking to Variety, the acclaimed director of Fight Club and Se...

The groundbreaking science fiction masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is heading to streaming.

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, Tubi subscribers can experience the cinematic epic that has captivated audiences for decades. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a visual and narrative journey that explores themes of human evolution, artificial intelligence, and the mysteries of the universe. Featuring revolutionary visual effects, an iconic score, and a meticulously crafted story, the film has inspired countless filmmakers and remains a touchstone in the sci-fi genre.

Related A Rare Stanley Kubrick Interview Explains 2001: A Space Odyssey's Ending

Decades after its release, 2001: A Space Odyssey's ending still confuses many, yet a rare interview with director Stanley Kubrick explains it all.

The Legacy of 2001: A Space Odyssey

Released in 1968, Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey redefined what science fiction could achieve on the big screen.

Was Satyajit Ray advised to file a lawsuit against Steven Spielberg? (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

In 1982, when E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial took over the world, Satyajit Ray was low-key advised to sue Steven Spielberg. Yup, you heard that right. Ray’s unmade script, The Alien, was said to be the real inspiration behind Spielberg’s iconic film, and some big names, like sci-fi legend Arthur C. Clarke, thought Ray had a case. Clarke even told Ray to “file a copyright case and not take it lying down.”

But Ray, being the legend he was, didn’t go down that road. Instead, he called out the whole thing chilly, saying he didn’t want beef with Spielberg or Lucas. He thought their alien stories were getting too complicated when he was helped, pure, and—let’s be ahead of its time.

But Ray didn’t go into total courtroom drama. “Other than this personal complaint,...

At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, The Direct had the opportunity to speak with the creators of the upcoming TV series based on Arthur C. Clarke’s ‘Venus Prime’.

Set to start production in Canada later in the year, the series will be directed and produced by Jonathan Frakes, known for his extensive work in the ‘Star Trek’ universe.

The series, which will consist of six episodes, is generating considerable excitement with David Cormican and Dwayne Hill as executive producers and showrunners.

Hill shared his enthusiasm at Sdcc, detailing their innovative use of a large volume wall for filming, which allows extensive pre-visualization and could revolutionize the way the series is shot.

He highlighted Frakes’ expertise with this technology, hinting at the groundbreaking potential of their production techniques.

Cormican described the project as both thrilling and daunting, given the legacy of Arthur C. Clarke, one of the legendary figures in science fiction.

At San Diego Comic-Con (Sdcc) 2024, The Direct was able to exclusively catch up with some of the creative team behind Arthur C. Clarke's Venus Prime TV series.

In July 2024, it was announced that Jonathan Frakes, best known for his role in Star Trek, will direct and produce the upcoming sci-fi series Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime.

The six-episode series, set to begin production later this year in Canada, has also seen the addition of David Cormican (Tokyo Trial) and Dwayne Hill (Northern Rescue) to executive producers and showrunners.

Read full article on The Direct.

Sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke once famously said “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying”. Well, it seems that Olivia Rodrigo is already ready for the latter option.

Olivia Rodrigo in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | Credits: Disney Channel

The American singer-songwriter has recently found fame when people found out about her iconic music and discography. Being just 21 years of age, Rodrigo is quite famous around the world not just for her songs, but for her interviews as well.

Olivia Rodrigo is Prepared For an Alien Invasion

It has been the discussion of thousands of sci-fi movies that we meet someone from beyond the world. Men in Black, E.T., and Independence Day are some of the well-known franchises that deal with the threat (or friendship) of aliens.

Olivia Rodrigo in her music video Bad Idea, Right? | Credits:...

Finally, Rick and Morty will take on the genre that’s been begging for a masterful, Dan Harmon-style parody – true crime podcasts.

Of course, the exploitative murder porn podcasting sphere is such an easy target that Rick and Morty needs fewer than fifteen seconds to tear it apart, so, in the Rick and Morty Season 8 sneak peek that Harmon and his team debuted at New York Comic Con earlier today, the series tackles a popular and significant subgenre within the science fiction canon that was long overdue for a part-parody-part-pastiche in the Rick and Morty fashion. After spending the last seven seasons dissecting and satirizing so many tropes, literary devices, genres and franchises ranging from Terminator to Die Hard to the entire idea of a heist movie, Rick and Morty Season 8 will return to its roots as it lands on a classic sci-fi set up after wandering aimlessly towards...

For decades, Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone has had a lasting impact on television viewers as well as the science-fiction genre, leading to the series being rebooted in 1985 and recently again in 2019 by Jordan Peele. Even though the first reboot wasn't as successful as the original, it did feature the talent of iconic filmmakers like Wes Craven, Steven Spielberg, and John Landis, as well as popular stars such as Bruce Willis, Shelley Duvall, Frances McDormand, and Morgan Freeman. While the series had plenty of star appeal and endless material from famous sci-fi authors including, Ray Bradbury and Arthur C. Clarke, it also brought the work of incredible then-fairly unknown writers into the mainstream Hollywood spotlight, most notably Game of Thrones author, George R.R. Martin.

2001: A Space Odyssey is a beloved classic of science fiction and Hal 9000 is the movie's most iconic character. Hal is the closest thing to an antagonist in the film and the focus of its second act. While he ultimately becomes a sinister and terrifying force, the truth of why he malfunctioned and what prompted his betrayal is much more complicated than some fans may believe. Indeed, Hal is actually a tragic character, arguably a victim and not responsible for his own actions.

It's ironic that, in a story about extraterrestrial intervention and human evolution, a computer became the biggest star. Hal often appears to possess just as much humanity as the crew of Discovery One, making his murderous actions and his cold, calculating nature all the more horrifying. However, despite having sentience and many human qualities, Hal was still a machine and bound by his programming. This, unfortunately, created...

Science fiction productions dont come better than 2001: A Space Odyssey. Premiering in 1968, the flick is a triumph all around and a perfect introduction to Stanley Kubricks oeuvre.

Steven Spielberg accurately described it as the "big bang" of the post-Golden Age era, while George Lucas labeled it "hugely inspirational," adding that Kubrick was "the filmmaker's filmmaker." Martin Scorsese proudly included it among his cherished films of all time and Sydney Pollack called it "groundbreaking." William Friedkin gave an opinion too, calling it "the grandfather of all such films," whereas Ridley Scott declared that no one could match what Kubrick had done.

2001: A Space Odyssey AdventureMystery Sci-Fi Release Date April 2, 1968Director Stanley KubrickCast Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, Daniel Richter, Leonard Rossiter, Margaret TyzackRuntime 141

It isnt by accident or luck that the film sparkles with entrancing touches of serendipity. Kubrick snatched renowned sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke for screenplay duties.

Exclusive: David Cormican, who produced Freeform’s ShadowHunters and Lifetime’s The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, has new representation.

Cormican and his Fun Republic Pictures banner has signed with Paradigm. The agency will work with Cormican across scripted feature film and TV as well as publishing, brand partnerships, content finance, marketing, and mergers and acquisitions opportunities.

It comes as Cormican is preparing for the television adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime, which is set to go into production in Canada next year with Star Trek alum Jonathan Frakes directing. Cormican is writing, will exec produce and serve as co-showrunner.

He recently produced Michal Kunes-Kováč debut feature film Réveillon, is currently in production on Trevor Cameron’s debut narrative feature film #VanLife, a thriller which stars Michelle Thrush, Tamoh Penikett and Justin Derickson and is in post-production on the Michael Jai White action film Hostile Takeover.

He is...

Denis Villeneuve's last two feature films were 2021's "Dune" and 2024's "Dune: Part Two," collectively an adaptation of Frank Herbert's celebrated 1965 sci-fi epic set in the distant, distant future. Villeneuve's "Dune" films removed a lot of the eerie mysticism of Herbert's works, focusing instead on the book's sociopolitical underpinnings. They told a story of how religions are deliberately wielded by cynical political power-seekers to topple existing regimes, and how those regimes can, in turn, be manipulated by different shady religious zealots. The main character of the film was Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a young prince who escaped assassination, fled into the deserts of the planet Arrakis, took solace among the remote desert-dwelling people, and -- thanks to the machinations of his mother -- became the desert's Messiah. He then returned to overthrow the killer Harkonnen family.

All of this, it should be noted, was to gain control of Arrakis,...

Denis Villeneuve has provided a big update on the future of the Dune franchise after Dune 3, and it makes the best and worst possible future a reality. The brilliant director has shepherded Warner Bros. and Legendary's live-action Dune franchise for the last several years, helming Dune and Dune: Part Two in short order. While he's now attached to Dune 3's development and is working towards getting the movie ready to begin production in the coming years, the franchise's future beyond that point is already in question, especially when it comes to Villeneuve's involvement.

After the success of Dune: Part Two, the director indicated that he wanted to take a break from the franchise before adapting Frank Herbert's Dune: Messiah for a third film. However, development has moved forward faster than expected, with a 2026 release date already in mind, leading Villeneuve to confirm that Dune 3 will be his last movie in the franchise.

Steady your sandworms and sound the space bagpipes — Dune news coming through! It's been an interesting few months for fans of the Dcu (that's the Dune Cinematic Universe), with confirmation coming back in April that a Dune Part Three is officially in the works at Legendary, and then further reports in June placing an 'Untitled Event Film' from director Denis Villeneuve in Warner Bros.' slate for December 2026. Now, in an interview with Vanity Fair for their "Little Gold Men" podcast, Villeneuve has confirmed that Dune: Messiah is currently being written — and, more importantly, the Quebecois filmmaker's third trip to Arrakis will also be his last.

When asked about his progress on a follow-up to Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve — who says he sees Dune: Messiah as its own thing and his first two Frank Herbert adaptations as a self-contained diptych ("It's not like a trilogy") — revealed his desire to exit...

An artificial intelligence researcher analyzes Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey for accurate AI depictions. The 1968 Stanley Kubrick movie starring Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Daniel Richter is based on a short story by sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke. The movie follows Dr. Dave Bowman (Dullea) and other astronauts as they embark on a mysterious mission. As time goes on, their ships computer system, Hal, begins to exhibit increasingly strange behavior.

Sasha Luccioni is an AI researcher at Hugging Face, a global startup that works on responsible AI. In a recent video for Insider, Luccioni rated Kubricks 1968 film for AI accuracy. Overall, she gave it a 2/10. One of the scenes Luccioni analyzed was the lip-reading scene. While there are applications of AI that do lip-reading, they are more often for assistance than surveillance, according to the AI researcher. Additionally, for the lip-reading to be successful, the person speaking...

Since its release in 1968, Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey has been revered by many as one of the most influential movies ever made. The special effects, depiction of space travel, and manner of storytelling were way ahead of their time. More importantly, the movie showed that science fiction filmmaking could be an art form, revealing the genre's potential and permanently demolishing the myth that it was strictly for kids. It painted a vision of humanity both wondrous and bleak while providing a long, dark stare into the mysteries of the cosmos.

Perhaps it's no surprise, then, that decades after its release, movie-goers still debate back and forth about the true meaning of the iconic sci-fi movie's infamously ambiguous ending. 2001: A Space Odyssey's ending reveals its answers obliquely at best, running against the time-honored Hollywood tradition of being as clear to the audience as possible. Its deliberate...

Author Arthur C. Clarke loved technology and science. With the help of what he loved, the author’s book series, “Venus Prime,” will be made into a television show. At Sdcc, the creators and producers of the newly announced series recently revealed how this could be done.

“Venus Prime” follows an amnesiac woman with biomechanically enhanced abilities who must uncover the truth about her past and purpose while escaping and evading the deadly forces trying to harness her talents to rule the galaxy. The creators behind the new series revealed at Sdcc that they are opening up a worldwide casting call for the female lead.

It was also revealed that “Star Trek” alum Jonathan Frakes is set to direct a couple of episodes of the sci-fi series. The series is still in early production, so no release date has been announced. The creators said to expect big news in the early part of next year.

Quick Links Innovation for Survival and Domination Humanity's Downfall by Way of Design What Happens When Technology Works Against Us?

Science fiction and social commentary have always walked hand in hand with one another. During the Cold War, the supposed communist threat was depicted in the form of invaders from Mars. Gene Roddenberry used the original Star Trek series to platform topics of prejudice, war, and religion. Looking at 20th-century science fiction from a modern perspective, many topics are still relevant today. This is the case with Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Years before George Lucas would take space opera to new heights with Star Wars, Kubrick took us on a journey that depicted the human race's need for domination through technological innovation.

As the discussion regarding AI and an ever-growing dependency on technology continues, there's a lot in Kubrick's magnum opus that is more relevant than ever.

Ben Burtt created the sound of my childhood. He gets that a lot.

“Yeah, I hear that often,” says the legendary sound designer, creator of the lightsabre swish and Darth Vader’s electronic wheezing, the voice of R2-D2, Chewbacca and, for a younger generation, that of Pixar’s Wall-e. “I guess I altered the DNA of a lot of young people.”

Burtt, a 12-time Oscar nominee, and four-time winner — he earned Special Achievement Awards for his work on Star Wars and Raiders of the Los Ark, and Oscars for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade — is being honored by the Locarno Film Festival at its 2024 edition with the Vision Award Ticinomoda, a prize dedicated to creatives whose work has extended the horizons of cinema.

“It might seem odd, giving the Vision Award to someone who is a sound designer and sound editor,” admits Locarno artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro,...

Volume Global, in association with Navajo Entertainment, Claxson Media, Fun Republic Pictures, Karma Film, Julijette, Palatin Media and Washington Square Entertainment, presented the highly anticipated adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime to an enthusiastic crowd at Comic-Con International in San Diego.

The panel, titled ‘Jonathan Frakes unveils ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ TV series,’ took place on Thursday, July 25th, at the San Diego Convention Center as part of Comic-Con International’s 2024 lineup.

Moderated by Comic-Con mainstay and legend Gary Miereanu, the panel featured special virtual appearances from director and Executive Producer Jonathan Frakes, and Executive Producer Lucas Vivo Garcia Lagos, while the Emmy-nominated Co-Showrunners David Cormican and Dwayne Hill, shared the stage with Miereanu along with fellow Executive Producer and Volume Global’s Michael Hamilton Wright.

Fans of the bestselling book franchise were treated to an in-depth discussion about the upcoming TV series adaptation based on the...

San Diego Comic-Con's 2024 Panel Schedule: What to Expect - Main Image

2024 San Diego Comic-Congoers, here's a schedule guide to every single movie, television, comics, and other panels and activities to expect from this year's geek extravaganza, running from Thursday, July 25 to Sunday, July 28.

Keep in mind that some of the activities and attending panel members are still subject to change.

Thursday, July 25 Panel & Other Exclusives

On Thursday, July 25, the major panel rooms comic-congoers should look for are Hall H, Ballroom 20, Indigo Ballroom, 6Bcf, and 6A. Check out which rooms and panel schedule you're looking forward to attending at the Sdcc 2024!

Hall H has a limit of 6,500 seats with 3 paneled slots and one Tba'd show. Expect the filmmaker and main cast members of each of the following shows to grace the stage with their appearance.

Of course, who could forget Spongebob SquarePants' iconic live table read:

Transformers: One — 11:45 Am-12:...

Star Trek: The Next Generation legend, Jonathan Frakes, is set to bring a new sci-fi universe to television, as it was recently announced he would direct a new show based on the works of Arthur C. Clarke.

Per Variety, Frakes will produce and direct all six episodes of the new sci-fi series, Arthur C. Clarkes Venus Prime. The new show is based on the series of novels written by Paul Preuss, a collaborator of Clarke's, which takes inspiration from characters and places from Clarke's short stories. Preuss will also be involved as a consultant for the show. David Cormican and Dwayne Hill are set to executive produce and will serve as showrunners for the series. Production on the show is expected to begin near the end of the year.

Related The Star Trek Universe Is in Very Good Hands Jonathan Frakes Bids Farewell to Star Trek: Discovery

In an interview with Cbr,...

A new six-episode series adaptation of author Paul Preuss’ novels, “Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime,” is set to enter production later this year, and Variety reports that “Star Trek” stalwart Jonathan Frakes will direct.

Jonathan Frakes joins the producing team that includes showrunners and executive producers David Cormican (“Tokyo Trial”) and Dwayne Hill (“Northern Rescue”).

“When the materials for ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ were presented to me, I couldn’t help but devour them,” Frakes told Variety. “When asked if I wanted to direct what I read —my answer was a resounding and immediate ‘Hell, yes!’ Working on such a tremendous piece of IP from the mind of another sci-fi legend (who is also a contemporary of the true #1 Gene Roddenberry), will be both an honor and a dream for me.”

Arthur C. Clarke collaborator Paul Preuss is also on board as a consultant.

The official synopsis...

“Star Trek” alum Jonathan Frakes is set to direct sci-fi series “Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime.” He has also joined the producing team.

“Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime” has also upped writers David Cormican (“Tokyo Trial”) and Dwayne Hill (“Northern Rescue”) to exec producers and showrunners. The six-episode series is set to go into production at the end of this year in Canada.

“When the materials for ‘Arthur C. Clarke’s Venus Prime’ were presented to me, I couldn’t help but devour them,” Frakes said. “When asked if I wanted to direct what I read —my answer was a resounding and immediate ‘Hell, yes!’ Working on such a tremendous piece of IP from the mind of another sci-fi legend (who is also a contemporary of the true #1 Gene Roddenberry), will be both an honor and a dream for me.”

Claxson and Navajo acquired the rights to the book series from iBooks,...

Warner Bros has announced that Denis Villeneuve’s next film will release in December 2026. There’s speculation that the director could be making Dune: Messiah next after all…

Not so long ago, director Denis Villeneuve had said that he wanted to take a break from the sands of Arrakis before he made his trilogy-closing sequel to Dune: Part Two.

Over the weekend, however, there has been growing speculation that Villeneuve may make Dune: Messiah next after all.

On the 26th June, Warner Bros announced a couple of films on its upcoming slate, neither of which are titled. One is an ‘event film’ directed by Villeneuve and scheduled for the 18th December 2026. The other, per The Hollywood Reporter, is another film in the MonsterVerse franchise, following this year’s Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire; that one’s due out on the 26th March 2027.

There’s nothing official to suggest that...

As Duke Leto Atreides once sort of said, "A great director doesn't seek to make movies — he's called to it." And speaking of great directors, perpetually booked and busy Quebecois auteur Denis Villeneuve is already back at it and gearing up for his next film. As reported by Deadline, the _Blade Runner 2049_filmmaker has been revealed to be the helmsman of Warner Bros. 'Untitled Event Film', slated for release in December 2026.

Now, Villeneuve is a man with many project plates spinning, including a long-gestating adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's sci-fi Rendezvous With Rama and a recently announced cinematic take on Annie Jacobsen's speculative non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario. However, according to Deadline's sources, Warner Bros. and Legendary are holding that coveted December launch date in the hopes another hotly anticipated Villeneuve adaptation, Dune: Messiah, will fill it. The trade outlet's reporting at the very least confirms that...

Exclusive: A key principle underpinning DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot — directed and written by Chris Sanders, produced by Jeff Hermann and starring Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of Roz the robot — is that kindness matters, say the filmmakers.

Based on Peter Brown’s 2016 bestseller, the movie is releasing in U.S. theaters on September 27 and in the UK on October 18. It follows the adventures of Rozzum unit 7134, aka “Roz,” when she — the filmmakers confirmed her gender as female — is shipwrecked on a remote island, inhabited only by humans, and how she must learn by interacting with and exploring her environment.

She forms a connection with the island’s animals “and becomes something she didn’t expect to be,” says Hermann.

Roz discovers a goose egg and adopts the egg, out of which hatches a gosling Roz names Brightbill, voiced by Kit Conner.

Also in the movie are Pedro Pascal...

Screenwriter Eric Roth has written an adaptation of the sci-fi short story called I Am Waiting For You, reportedly for Dune director Denis Villeneuve.

Having made what is currently the highest grossing film of 2024, Dune: Part Two, the logical question is: what does director Denis Villeneuve make next? There’s been talk about turning his Dune saga into a trilogy with Dune: Messiah, but the filmmaker has previously said “it would be healthy” to make something slightly different before he returns to Arrakis.

Among the potential films we know about there’s his long-discussed Cleopatra epic; an adaptation of Arthur C Clarke’s sci-fi novel Rendezvous With Rama, an adaptation of the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario.

Then there’s a slightly more mysterious sci-fi film said to be “about space and time”, written by Eric Roth, who also wrote the adapted screenplay of Rendezvous With Rama. When Roth...

Following his groundbreaking adaptation of Dune, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve is poised to set even higher standards with his upcoming take on Arthur C. Clarke’s revered novel, Rendezvous With Rama. Initially announced in 2021, the filmmaker has shared that its development is underway, as he navigates other projects, including Cleopatra and the Dune threequel, all of which are concurrently in the writing stages.

Filmmaker Denis Villeneuve | Credit: Deadline Hollywood via YouTube

However, the adaptation of Clarke’s iconic science fiction narrative has already marked a significant milestone, as after being pursued by esteemed filmmakers in the industry, an adaptation has finally progressed to the development phase under Villeneuve’s direction.

Rendezvous With Rama Faced a Decade of Developmental Challenges

Rendezvous With Rama revolves around a group of explorers, aboard the spaceship The Endeavor, as they set out to investigate a massive cylindrical alien starship entering the Solar System. Arthur C. Clarke’s novel explores various narratives,...

Veteran director David Fincer worked alongside iconic actor Morgan Freeman when they created and shot the 1995 film Se7en. Portraying the role of Detective Somerset in the crime/mystery film, Freeman loved Fincher’s work and the two decided to work together again.

Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman in Seven

However, Fincher never got to make his dream film with Morgan Freeman due to the latter’s failing health in the year 2008. With passing time and no hopes left, Fincher’s dream film was later picked up by Dune director Denis Villeneuve and he describes it as “Arrival on steroids”!

David Fincher Wanted His Dream Film With Morgan Freeman

Rendezvous With Rama is a 1973 sci-fi novel by writer Arthur C. Clarke (who also wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey). Naturally, veteran director David Fincher wanted to adapt the 1972 novel into a film starring Morgan Freeman in one of the lead roles.

David Fincher.

Lately, it seems as if there are new headlines every day about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence — everything from the technology ruthlessly taking our jobs to it perilously increasing our carbon footprint to fuel the necessary computing power. The headlines are concerning, and some even predict doomsday-like scenarios in the near future. Just like many of humankind’s inventions, AI will surely prove to be both beneficial and harmful depending on its application, but it won’t be the substantial power it will consume or the jobs it will take that pose the biggest risks. It’s the threat to our creativity and thereby our humanity itself.

Our innate creativity is what sets us apart from all other living beings. It helps us relate to our world and to each other. From the earliest forms of communication, which can be traced back 64,000 years ago through cave paintings made by Neanderthals found in Spain,...

Denis Villeneuve took the world by storm with his epic Dune franchise, which will eventually see the release of a third iteration. However, the director in himself is not staying put and is already working on another potential fantasy franchise which is bound to excite fans. The director revealed in a recent interview that he has an adaptation based on Arthur C. Clarke’s 1973 science-fiction novel, Rendezvous with Rama, in the works.

Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya in Dune. | Warner Bros.

The novel, which focuses on an interstellar object that enters the solar system in 2131, revolves around Jimmy Pak, an explorer aboard the spaceship The Endeavor. Pak and his team is sent to investigate the 50-km-long spaceship that has entered the solar system.

The novel in itself includes everything a space fantasy series might need. Humungous-spider-like alien creatures, large spaceships akin to Star Wars, the existence of cultural and religious notions...

The iconic opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey showcases ape-like hominids competing for a watering hole. Primatologist Mireya Mayor explains the scene's realism by highlighting territorial behavior and human evolution, giving it a 5 out of 10. The opening scene symbolizes human progress, transitioning from primitive beings to advanced, cosmic explorers, reflecting Kubrick's grand narrative.

An ape expert breaks down the iconic opening scene from Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey. Written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, 2001: A Space Odyssey is a definitive sci-fi story thats widely regarded as one of the best and most influential films of all time. This partially comes from 2001's legendary opening scene, The Dawn of Man, which features a group of hominins fighting and destroying some bones.

Speaking with Insider, primatologist Mireya Mayor assesses the iconic 2001: A Space Odysseys opening scene. Mayor goes in-depth about the origins of hominins, which are featured in the scene,...

William Shatner directed The Final Frontier due to contract clause and Jerry Goldsmith returned to score. Spock kills "God," which was a controversial plot point and seen as a low point for Star Trek movies. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy didn't actually meet "God" on Sha Ka Ree, per Roddenberry's vision.

There are three notable things about Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, the fifth movie starring the cast from Star Trek: The Original Series. The first is that James T. Kirk actor, William Shatner, directed the feature as part of his "favored nations" clause in his contract. The second is that legendary composer Jerry Goldsmith returned to score the film for the first time since Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The third is that Spock kills "God." Yet, in The Final Frontier, does Kirk and company actually meet the real God on the planet Sha Ka Ree?

Of course, there...

As the saying goes, the mystery of Denis Villeneuve's upcoming projects isn't a problem to solve, but a reality to experience. And whilst we wait with baited breath for further word on Villeneuve's eagerly awaited Arthur C. Clarke adaptation Rendezvous With Rama (which is still expected to be the Quebecois filmmaker's next feature), we do at least have confirmation of another hotly anticipated Denis sci-fi epic headed our way. Yes folks, with the epic Dune Part Two smashing it at the global box-office, we can finally rest easy in the knowledge that Villeneuve is making further steps towards finishing his Dune trilogy at Legendary Pictures.

Per Deadline, Dune: Messiah — or Dune Part Three if you'd prefer — is in development at Legendary, with the franchise's very own Lisan al-Gaib, Villeneuve himself, set to helm the trilogy closer. And though there's no news as of yet on casting, filming, or even a speculative release date,...

Director Denis Villeneuve is currently developing Dune: Messiah, but it’s also being reported that he’ll adapt the non-fiction book Nuclear War: A Scenario after that.

We heard last month that a sequel to this year’s sci-fi opus Dune: Part Two was greenlit and in the process of being written at Legendary Entertainment. While Dune: Messiah bubbles on the stove, though, it’s being reported that director Denis Villeneuve has another project in the works at Legendary – an adaptation of the book Nuclear War: A Scenario.

A New York Times best seller by Annie Jacobsen, Nuclear War is described by its publisher Penguin as a “edge-of-your-seat thriller” with the author basing her what-if vision of armageddon on interviews with military experts.

Deadline reports that Legendary has bought the rights to the novel, and that Villeneuve is expected to make Nuclear War after he’s finished Dune: Messiah.

It...

Netflix is continuing to roll out its celebration of iconic films, this time turning the page to 1984.

As part of the streaming platform’s “Milestone Movies: The Anniversary Collection,” Netflix has unveiled the 1984 films celebrating their 40-year anniversary in 2024 with classics like “Footloose” and “Sixteen Candles” alongside Oscar contenders “Amadeus” and “Iceman.”

The Milestone Movies hail from Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, and Sony — the distributors that license content to Netflix.

Starting today, April 1, 2024, Netflix subscribers can revisit Brian de Palma’s erotic noir “Body Double” and Kevin Bacon’s breakout performance in “Footloose.” How about a double feature? There’s also “Repo Man” and “Beverly Hills Cop,” streaming just in time for franchise reboot “Beverly Hills Cop: Axle F” out this summer.

In addition to the cinematic celebrations in your Netflix queue, in-person special screenings of select films will continue at the Paris Theater in New York and Los Angeles...

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two has worm-ridden its way to success after debuting with $182 million on opening weekend. The film has earned over $514 million at the international box office, making it the highest-grossing film of 2024 as of now. The Timothée Chalamet starrer has also been widely regarded by critics and audiences as a masterpiece.

The film is a follow-up to 2021’s Dune: Part One, continuing the story of Paul Atreides and his mother Lady Jessica on the desert planet of Arrakis after their family is betrayed by the evil Harkonnens and the Emperor Shaddam IV. Both films are based on Dune by Frank Herbert. While the novel series has four more books, Villeneuve reported is just interested in adapting the second book and wrapping up the story with Dune 3.

Denis Villeneuve Spent Six Years On Arrakis While Filming The Dune Franchise Denis Villeneuve | Credits: CBC

Denis Villeneuve has spent...

I’m just a soul trapped in this circuitry.” The voice singing those lyrics is raw and plaintive, dipping into blue notes. A lone acoustic guitar chugs behind it, punctuating the vocal phrases with tasteful runs. But there’s no human behind the voice, no hands on that guitar. There is, in fact, no guitar. In the space of 15 seconds, this credible, even moving, blues song was generated by the latest AI model from a startup named Suno. All it took to summon it from the void was a simple...