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The director of Netflix's BioShock movie offers a major update on the script's status. The movie adaptation of the acclaimed video game franchise of the same name was announced in 2022, with earlier drafts of the screenplay by Michael Green (Logan) and the latest draft by Justin Rhodes (Secret Level). The project encountered some delays during the Writers Guild strike in 2023 but has since resumed development.

In an interview with IGN, director Francis Lawrence provided an update on BioShock. While still in development, the director shared that he had received "a draft" of the script and there was a "very strong possibility" that the project will move forward soon. Lawrence further detailed the challenges of adapting the franchise for movies. Read his comments below:

Bioshock is still in development. I just actually just got a draft. We have a meeting with the writer tomorrow [May 7th], so that's definitely a very strong possibility as well.

Fresh off the success of his summer blockbuster, Twisters, director Lee Isaac Chung has lined up his next film, which is described as a sci-fi family drama.

Per Deadline, Chung is set to direct The Traveler for Skydance, an adaptation of Joseph Eckert's novel, Traveler. The film has reportedly been in the making for many years, as MGM showed interest in the original script written by Austin Everett back in 2019. However, the latest draft was written by Justin Rhodes, best known as the screenwriter behind Terminator: Dark Fate and an episode of the Prime Video series, Secret Level.

Related Twisters BTS Clip Reveals the On-Set Creation of a Storm

Exclusive: A BTS clip from Twisters reveals how the filmmakers were able to simulate a strong storm using giant fans.

The outlet describes the film as "an intimate family drama that exponentially develops into a vast science fiction odyssey," further...

It has been a whirlwind few years for filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung — and not just because his last rodeo was tornado-based disaster movie Twisters. Just half a decade ago Chung, struggling to get by as an indie director, was about ready to quit directing to pursue a career as a film lecturer. But now, one Minari, a fistful of Oscar nominations, and a brace of Star Wars gigs helming episodes of The Mandalorian and Skeleton Crew later, the world it seems is Chung's oyster. And, per Deadline's reporting, we're learning that the next cinematic pearl from the Korean-American auteur is set to be an adaptation of Joseph Eckert's sci-fi novel Traveler.

Described as an "intimate family drama" (so far so Chung) that unfurls into "a vast science fiction odyssey" (perhaps a little less Chung), The Traveler was initially adapted for screen by writer Austin Everett, who made the Black...

Exclusive: On the heels of Twisters, which grossed over $370 million worldwide in theaters last summer, Oscar nominee Lee Isaac Chung has closed a deal with Skydance to direct The Traveler, a feature adaptation of the novel Traveler by Joseph Eckert.

While the project is in the early stages and the logline is being kept under wraps, sources described The Traveler as an intimate family drama that exponentially develops into a vast science fiction odyssey. The novel explores the life of Scott Treder, a 47-year-old biology technician who begins experiencing involuntary jumps through time, and there’s been interest in mounting a feature adaptation for some time. An early version of the script, penned by Austin Everett, garnered significant industry attention a few years ago, making the Blood List, Hit List, and the Black List, with MGM looking to develop it back in 2019, as we were first to report.

Justin Rhodes...

Quick Links What Is Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear About? How Does Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear About End?

The following contains spoilers for Secret Level Episode 5, "Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear," which debuted Dec. 10 on Prime Video.

Gamers and superhero movie fans alike have rejoiced over Henry Cavill being cast in the Warhammer 40,000 Prime Video series. Cavill is a big fan of the popular miniature game, which eventually became a video game. It dealt with Space Marines protecting the Imperium from mystical beings, demons, aliens, and other enemies.

Interestingly, Prime Video's Secret Level already has a Warhammer 40,000 story called "And They Shall Know No Fear." It plays into how fearless and conditioned these soldiers are, all building to a harrowing journey and emotive ending.

What Is Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear About? Secret Level...

Quick Links What Is Unreal Tournament: Xan About? How Does Unreal Tournament: Xan Conclude?

The following contains spoilers for Secret Level Episode 2, "Sifu: It Takes a Life," which debuted Dec. 10 on Prime Video.

One of the best aspects of Prime Video's Secret Level is that it introduces fans to a mix of games, some of which are quite popular and iconic, such as Pac-Man, and some that are less retro. Unreal Tournament falls in the middle ground, as it has a niche fanbase. It was released in the 1990s as a first-person shooter in a gladiator arena.

That said, this CGI-animated series does a great job of reinterpreting the original story: battling robots, humans, aliens and hybrids to survive and become a champion. This comes via "Unreal Tournament: Xan." It details what the tournament is about and builds to a very emotive, intense finale that unleashes a new kind of chaos.

Plot: A new adult-animated anthology series featuring original stories set within the worlds of some of the world’s most beloved video games. From the creative minds behind Love, Death + Robots, each of the 15 episodes is a celebration of games and gamers.

Review: Deadpool director Tim Miller is a major animation supporter and spent a decade trying to bring a new feature film anthology based on the cult classic film Heavy Metal, based on the long-running magazine of the same name, to the big screen. When that project failed to come together, Miller helped develop Love, Death + Robots at Netflix, a concept similar to Heavy Metal but with a focus on contemporary animation styles. The three-volume animated anthology was popular with genre fans and had some cross-over appeal with mainstream audiences. Miller aims to reach a different subculture with animated shorts collected in the new Prime Video series Secret Level.

You know that fake commercial in Tropic Thunder where Tugg Speedman and the Scorcher franchise keep coming back again… again… and again? That’s pretty much the Terminator franchise by 2019. Where over and over again it respawns and says “I’ll be back… but this time it’ll be different. It’ll be a re-imagining! Accompanied by another trilogy. No, this time we’re back with the old cast! And it’ll be like before!” It’s like Jim Carrey yelling at Matthew Broderick in The Cable Guy “I can fix it! I can make it cool again, Stephen!” But will they? For some! Not for all. This is the story of what happened to Terminator: Dark Fate. The film that may have killed the Terminator movie franchise for good.

When Terminator Genisys performed poorly at the domestic box office, Skydance Productions (which suspiciously sounds like Skynet) was left with a choice.

James Cameron really likes Terminator: Dark Fate, but he knows why the movie flopped at the box office. Released on November 1, 2019, Terminator: Dark Fate was the sixth film in the Terminator franchise and a follow-up to Terminator 2: Judgment Day that ignored the previous sequels. Not only did Arnold Schwarzenegger return as the Terminator, but Linda Hamilton also returned to the role of Sarah Connor after 28 years, and with James Cameron returning to the franchise as a producer, it seemed like a recipe for success. Despite the best reviews in the franchise since T2, Dark Fate became a major box office bomb, grossing only $62 million domestically on a budget of $185 million. Even the $261 million wasn't enough to save Dark Fate, which grossed well below less-loved sequels like Terminator: Genisys and Terminator: Salvation.

Speaking with Empire Magazine about The Terminator's 40th anniversary, James Cameron touched upon Terminator: Dark Fate's box office.

The following contains spoilers for Season 1 of Terminator Zero, now streaming on Netflix.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Terminator Zero is the fact that Skynet isn't the only artificial intelligence in this narrative. This second AI is the entity known as Kokoro. It gives the franchise a fresh feel. 2019's Terminator: Dark Fate moved away from Skynet, admittedly, when it introduced Legion in a rebooted timeline.

But the existence of a second AI in this particular timeline is noteworthy because Skynet still exists. It's not defunct or replaced by Legion. With that in mind, here is a comprehensive analysis of Kokoro. And how she is being set up to change the property in a massive way.

What is The Purpose of Terminator Zero's Kokoro? Kokoro Was Meant to Battle Skynet

Related Bleach Gets 20th-Anniversary Zanpakuto to "Experience the Ultimate Zangetsu" in New Bandai Release

A replica of Ichigo Kurosakis Zanpakuto,...

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Terminator franchise has been one of the most popular of all time. While the recent movies didn't get as much love, the James Cameron films remain top-tier stuff. To that point, Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day are regarded as some of the best action movies ever.

Now, Netflix is getting in on the sci-fi property. This comes via the anime, Terminator Zero. Interestingly, from the latest trailer, it looks like the war between man and machine will be taking shocking twists and turns in Japan. It foreshadows a ton of unpredictable swerves in a medium that holds so much potential for spectacle.

Your browser does not support the video tag. Terminator Zero Will Homage the Past Terminators Robert Patrick's T-1000 Makes a Spiritual Comeback

Related "That Body-Horror, Serial-Killer Feel": Terminator Zero Creators Take Netflix Show Back to Its Roots

Netflix's...

The director of two of the most revolutionary sci-fi films of all time has teased his return to the franchise. While speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day director James Cameron revealed he may not be done with the Terminator yet. It's been more than 20 years since the release of Terminator 2, and although Cameron hasn't directed a Terminator film since then, he is credited as a producer on Terminator: Dark Fate, the legacy sequel that brought back both Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger and was directed by Tim Miller. Cameron also has credit for the screenplay of Terminator: Dark Fate, which was also compiled by an ensemble of David Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray, Charles Eglee, and Josh Friedman. When asked about what Terminator stuff he was working on, Cameron simply said, "It's totally classified. I don't want to have to send out a...

Chris Pratt and his famous father-in-law, Arnold Schwarzenegger, have yet to co-star in a new movie together. Perhaps a Terminator franchise film with the two in the leads is not out of the question.

In a conversation with TMZ, Pratt was asked about the possibility of making a movie with Schwarzenegger, who's been married to the Fubar star's daughter, Katherine Schwarzenegger, since 2019. After Pratt suggested that people would "lose their minds" over such a movie, the actor was specifically asked if he'd be up for doing a Terminator film. Pratt was very enthusiastic when he responded that he's "in" for potentially doing a Terminator film with Schwarzenegger.

Related Ahsoka and House of the Dragon Stars Join Netflix's New Terminator Series

Star Wars: Ahsoka's Rosario Dawson is among the new cast members revealed for Netflix's upcoming Terminator series.

"Oh, man, that would be pretty great, wouldn't it? Do you...

Wes Ball boldly took over the Planet of the Apes reboot, introducing a new hero chimpanzee named Noa. Terminator: Dark Fate introduced a new ruthless AI, Legion, learning from Skynet's mistakes and evolving for a modern audience. Dark Fate revamped the Terminator franchise with a more emotional T-800, creating a genuine hero symbol in Carl.

When Wes Ball took over the Planet of the Apes reboot, fans were intrigued to see what would transpire after the reign of Caesar. Surprisingly, the torch didn't pass to Caesar's son, Cornelius. It went to Noa (another heroic chimpanzee from centuries into the future) after the rise of Proximus Caesar.

It was a bold decision by writer, Josh Friedman, who laid the foundation for Ball to set up a new war between humans and apes. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Friedman has tackled apocalyptic stories. He helped revive one of cinema's most beloved...

Linda Hamilton has expressed disinterest in returning as Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise, stating the story has been "done to death". Although Sarah Connor is considered an iconic character by fans, Hamilton herself does not see her that way. Hamilton asserts that she is very different from her character in real life, despite fans treating her like a savior.

Linda Hamilton is almost as synonymous with the Terminator franchise as its titular mechanical assassin-turned-ally, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, after three times out in the world of time-traveling robots and machines ruling the world, Sarah Connor will probably not be returning to screens again – at least not with Hamilton in the role.

Hamilton originally portrayed Sarah Connor in James Cameron's 1984 film The Terminator, and reprised her role again in the masterpiece sequel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. While the actress then ducked out of the franchise, making way for...

MGM continues to develop "RoboCop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "RoboCop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'.

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

David S. Goyer might be the one screenwriter on the planet who's contributed the most to the resurgence of the comic book adaptations. He wrote every film in the Blade trilogy, as well as helping shape the direction of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and the early DC Extended Universe with Man of Steel and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. He also helped develop Netflix's adaption of the legendary Sandman comics and even penned a few comics himself — including a lengthy run on the Justice Society of America. Yet for all of his accomplishments, Goyer has been at the helm of several projects that never made it to fruition. A Green Lantern Corps movie he co-wrote with fellow Terminator: Dark Fate scribe Justin Rhodes never saw the light of day - though James Gunn & Peter Safran may be taking a similar route with the upcoming Lanterns show on Max.

When Neill Blomkamp was named the director of Sony‘s Gran Turismo, fans of the time-honored racing video game franchise rejoiced. Blomkamp is known for his unique approach to filmmaking, bringing style, eye-popping visuals, and spectacle to the playing field. With an inspiring story at its foundation, Gran Turismo could become a stand-out for racing cinema in a time when movies like Ford v Ferrari, Michael Mann’s Ferrari, and the Fast and the Furious franchise offer thrills on and off the track. Imagine Blomkamp applying that level of care and detail to Robocop, a fan-favorite franchise in dire need of a reboot or sequel worth celebrating. While speaking with Blomkamp for Gran Turismo, we asked the filmmaker about the defunct Robocop Returns, a would-be sequel to Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 original.

While talking to Blomkamp about his approach to Robocop Returns, he said his version would have emulated Verhoeven’s style,...

Linda Hamilton with a rocket launcher. A gloopy shape-changing robot. Arnold Schwarzenegger with a cool beard. The trailer for Terminator: Dark Fate was filled with elements designed to appeal to fans of the long-running, and often lackluster, sci-fi franchise. But none were as important as a simple block of text declaring, “Producer James Cameron Returns.”

While Cameron created the franchise with the stripped-down The Terminator in 1984, and then returned with the definitive action blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991, he remained hands-off for everything that followed. And everything that followed failed to live up to the standard Cameron set. Sure, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have their defenders, but no one would argue that either entry holds a candle to the first two movies.

Based on a story by Cameron, Terminator: Dark Fate found Hamilton’s Sarah Connor called away from destroying...

Some fans were excited when they heard that Terminator franchise creator James Cameron was going to be involved with the making of a new Terminator sequel after being absent from a few previous entries in the franchise. But when Terminator: Dark Fate (watch it Here) arrived in theatres back in 2019, it wasn’t met with much enthusiasm. It turned out to be another box office failure, continuing Terminator‘s three film losing streak. Speaking with Deadline, Cameron said he feels the casting was at least partly to blame for the movie’s failure, saying that having Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton in the lead roles make it look like a movie for granddads.

Directed by Tim Miller from a screenplay by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, and Billy Ray, Terminator: Dark Fate only acknowledged the events of The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day, ignoring the other sequels. The film...

MGM continues to develop "RoboCop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "RoboCop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'.

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

MGM continues to develop "RoboCop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "RoboCop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'.

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

MGM continues to develop "RoboCop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "RoboCop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'. 

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

MGM continues to develop "Robocop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "Robocop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'.

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

MGM continues to develop "Robocop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "Robocop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'.

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

Stars: Mackenzie Davis, Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes, Tom Hopper, Brett Azar, Diego Boneta, Tábata Cerez, Steven Cree, Pete Ploszek | Written by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray | Directed by Tim Miller

You’re terminated… The stakes seem higher than ever these days, whether a Aaa action film is a success or a failure. The amount of money that needs to be pumped into these films, plus the global marketing often means that new ideas are cast aside for the more likely bet of a sequel, prequel or remake. Very quickly then the talk now turns to a “franchise” rather than a film series as, of course now we are talking about funko pops and various other plastic tat that we nerds can’t seem to resist.

On the one hand, it has meant that kids from the 1980s, like me have got to wallow in our own crapulence for years.

Stars: Mackenzie Davis, Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes, Tom Hopper, Brett Azar, Diego Boneta, Tábata Cerez, Steven Cree, Pete Ploszek | Written by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray | Directed by Tim Miller

Although the best in the franchise since Terminator 2: Judgment Day, this is clearly a dying franchise trying to take one last gasp before it fades away…. Even with the return of Linda Hamilton and James Cameron, Terminator: Dark Fate can’t seem to find its place in the Terminator franchise. It’s a movie we were told would be the third film in Cameron’s trilogy, telling us to ignore all the sequels that followed T2. It’s the promise of something better, the promise of a return to form and to capture the magic the first two films had. After the film is over, there is a horrible bitter taste, and much...

Hollywood, Calif. – From producer James Cameron and director Tim Miller (Deadpool), comes “the Terminator movie we’ve been waiting for”. Terminator: Dark Fate arrives two weeks early on Digital January 14, 2020 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD January 28 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

The Digital*, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray releases are packed with over an hour of bonus content, including deleted and extended scenes, in-depth featurettes taking fans through the process of reimagining the world after Judgment Day, a look at the climactic final showdown, and a visual effects breakdown.

In addition, the Digital release will include access to two more featurettes and previz sequences showcasing how the action was planned out prior to filming. Plus, select digital platforms will offer film commentary by director Tim Miller and editor Julian Clarke, as well as an introduction and commentary on the deleted scenes

The 4K Ultra HD disc and 4K...

It’s been a difficult few weeks for Terminator: Dark Fate director Tim Miller, who’s seen the movie bomb at the box office, with the long-running franchise seemingly at risk of being retired. Miller’s recently been trying to explain some of the issues he faced with the picture though, which he’d intended to be a fresh take on the Terminator mythos, including problems with producer James Cameron over the finished product.

Now, however, the Deadpool director has pointed to a lack of female writers for the woman-centric movie as another reason for the film’s struggles. Although each had a varying role to play in the final product, Terminator: Dark Fate is credited to six different scribes: James Cameron, David Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Charles H. Eglee, Billy Ray and Josh Friedman.

When asked on the Kcrw The Business podcast about the lack of diversity in this group,...

‘RoboCop.’

Abe Forsythe was six when Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop, which starred Peter Weller as a terminally ill cop turned powerful cyborg, opened in cinemas in 1987.

He was 12 or 13 when he saw the MGM production and it made a lasting impression. So he was thrilled when MGM asked him to write and direct RoboCop Returns, a direct sequel to Verhoeven’s opus.

The Little Monsters and Down Under filmmaker is keen to shoot the film produced by Ed Neumier and Michael Miner, screenwriters of the original, and Atlas Entertainment’s Richard Suckle in Australia, taking advantage of the Location Offset and local crew and cast.

“RoboCop delivered as a smart, futuristic action movie and a social satire and commentary,” Forsythe tells If. “A lot of what it predicted is happening now. One of the exciting things about the property is to continue what the original film did.”

Neumeier and Miner...

After pitting a school teacher and an elementary school class against a petting zoo full of zombies in Little Monsters, filmmaker Abe Forsythe is now turning his attention to "the future of law enforcement."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abe Forsythe will direct Robocop Returns for MGM. In what will be the fifth film entry in the RoboCop franchise (which also includes several TV series), Robocop Returns is being described as a "direct follow-up" to 1987's RoboCop, which was directed by Paul Verhoeven from a screenplay by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner.

The screenplay for the new film was originally written by Neumeier and Miner, who are producing the new film alongside Atlas Entertainment’s Richard Suckle. Justin Rhodes (co-writer of Terminator: Dark Fate) reportedly wrote the latest draft of the screenplay, which Forsythe will rewrite.

Neill Blomkamp was previously going to direct the new RoboCop film, but this past...

Joseph Baxter Nov 21, 2019

After the exit of Neill Blomkamp, classic franchise revival RoboCop Returns has procured in a director in Little Monsters’ Abe Forsythe.

RoboCop Returns has received yet another lease on life in the form of a new director in Abe Forsythe!

The film, planned as a direct follow-up to the continuity of the classic cinematic RoboCop Trilogy, will move forward at studio MGM with Abe Forsythe, who's been tapped to occupy the director’s chair and rewrite the existing script penned by Justin Rhodes, reports THR. The appointment of Forsythe occurs after the developing revival film endured the exit of its previous director, Neill Blomkamp, back in August after being attached to the picture for a year.

Forsythe, an up-and-coming Australian helmer, made recent impact stateside as the writer/director of Little Monsters, an irreverent zombie-outbreak-themed rom-com movie starring 12 Years a Slave Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o – a film that,...

MGM continues to develop "Robocop Returns" as a direct sequel to director Paul Verhoeven's original, satirical, ultra-violent "Robocop" (1987) feature with director Abe Forsythe ("Little Monsters") on board to rewrite a screenplay by Justin Rhodes ("Terminator: Dark Fate"), Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner:

"In the original film, Detroit is on the verge of collapse due to financial mismanagement and a high crime rate. The city signs a deal with the mega-corporation 'Omni Consumer Products' (Ocp) to run Detroit's police department in exchange for letting Ocp rebuild run-down sections of the city into a high-end utopia. Senior Vice President 'Dick Jones' demonstrates a new law enforcement robot, 'Ed-209'. 

"However, the robot malfunctions, killing an executive. 'Bob Morton', an ambitious executive, uses the opportunity to introduce his own experimental cyborg design, 'RoboCop'. The chairman, aka 'The Old Man' is dismayed at the Ed-209 failure and approves Morton's plan,...

In today’s film news roundup, Adam Driver is honored, Robocop will be reborn and Hola Mexico Film Festival and The Montalbán Theatre are teaming for a screening series for potential Oscar nominees.

Honors

Sffilm has selected Adam Driver as the recipient of the Sffilm award for acting, formerly the Peter J. Owens Award.

Driver, who received an Oscar nomination this year for “BlacKkKlansman,” will be honored at the organization’s annual fundraising celebration honoring achievement in filmmaking craft on Dec. 3 at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts Exhibition Center. Other honorees are Chinoye Chukwu, Marielle Heller and Lulu Wang.

“There are times when a world-class actor takes over the consciousness of the film-loving audience, and 2019 is the year of Adam Driver,” said Sffilm’s Rachel Rosen. “The range and scope of his work this year is just incredible, from the epic scale of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker...

Little Monsters director Abe Forsythe has been tapped to direct the upcoming Robocop Returns. The long-awaited project will be a sequel to the 1987 original RoboCop. Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, screenwriters for the original movie, are on board this time around as producers. Neumeier and Miner are considered to be the co-creators of the franchise. Paul Verhoeven directed the iconic first installment, which spawned two sequels and then a modern reboot in 2014, which failed to ignite the franchise for a new generation.

Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner previously wrote the script for RoboCop Returns years ago, along with Justin Rhodes. Neill Blomkamp was attached to direct Robocop with that specific version of the story, but that did not end up working out, despite Blomkamp providing fans with an update in June of this year. Abe Forsythe is now re-writing the script with Rhodes, who recently worked on Terminator: Dark Fate.

In further proof that no franchise can ever truly be left alone these days, it looks as though Robocop Returns is back on track. Neill Blomkamp spent years developing a follow-up that was set to act as a direct sequel to Paul Verhoeven’s classic 1987 original, and constantly kept the fans up-to-date with news about the project.

However, much like his proposed Alien sequel, the District 9 and Elysium director ultimately departed Robocop Returns, sending it right back to development hell. It seemed that it would become another one of those reboots that was constantly spoken about without ever getting close to going in front of cameras, but now news has broken that Little Monsters director Abe Forsythe has been hired as Blomkamp’s replacement.

On paper, this seems like a strange hire. After all, Forsythe’s last movie was a critically-acclaimed zombie rom-com led by Lupita Nyong’o, which is...

“Little Monsters” director Abe Forsythe will direct “Robocop Returns” for MGM, an individual with knowledge of the project told TheWrap.

The project is a long-dormant sequel that had been planned by the original 1987 film’s screenwriters Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, but was canceled when director Paul Verhoeven declined to direct the project and a WGA strike in 1988 followed.

Justin Rhodes, who wrote “Terminator: Dark Fate,” penned the script for “Robocop Returns” with Forsythe rewriting. Neumeier and Miner will serve as producers.

“RoboCop” follows a Detroit police officer who is shot and nearly killed, but is resurrected as an android police officer by a powerful corporation. The film is considered one of the greatest sci-fi movies of all-time, earning three Oscar nominations and winning one for its special effects while earning praise for its satire and exploration of capitalism, law enforcement and corruption.

Also Read: Sorry, 'Joker' Fans: No Sequel...

Since 1984, the Terminator franchise has certainly proved that the future is very much not set. 35 years on and we have seen director James Cameron’s original film and his seminal 1991 sequel, T2: Judgment Day, rightly celebrated as classics. They remain benchmarks that few other Sci-Fi or action films could ever hope to reach, least of all the sequels that have since followed. While the series has increasingly mustered hype or hope, following T2 has proved to be a battle even the human resistance could not win and yet, like Skynet, the franchise has remained inevitable. So, for the third time in history we gear up for an attempt at “Terminator 3”, only this time Cameron is back (in a producing capacity) and Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) has finally returned. So is Tim Miller’s (Deadpool) Terminator: Dark Fate able to succeed where others failed? Yes…and…No!

Dark Fate early...

“Harriet” writer-director Kasi Lemmons was in a reflective mood at Tuesday night’s “Behind the Scene” event at the Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood, sponsored by the Writers Guild of America West.

The biopic, starring Cynthia Erivo as slave-turned-abolitionist Harriet Tubman, has been receiving buzz since its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s Lemmons’ fifth movie in 22 years, going back to “Eve’s Bayou.”

“To make movies, I have to have that incredible focus,” Lemmons explained. “So Harriet was my anchor. She’s easy to love.”

“I wanted to do a movie that felt big even if it wasn’t and I wanted to do with the scope it deserved,” she added. “I wanted to research, feel who she was and bring all that detail into it. At first, I didn’t really understand the textures of Maryland and I didn’t get that it was a...

“Terminator” might not be back any time soon. “Dark Fate,” the most recent installment in the sci-fi series, fell flat at the box office and stands to be a big money loser for Paramount, Skydance and Disney, the studios backing the big-budget tentpole.

The sixth “Terminator” entry debuted with a dismal $29 million in North America and $102 million overseas, disappointing figures for a movie that cost $185 million to produce, plus $80 million to $100 million in global marketing and distribution fees. Unless “Terminator: Dark Fate” sees an exceptionally strong hold in the coming weeks, sources at rival studios estimate the movie could lose $100 million theatrically. It will be able to earn back some of that money in television and streaming licensing deals, as well as through home entertainment sales and rentals.

Paramount, Skydance and Disney (through 20th Century Fox) co-financed the movie, meaning any potential damages will be broken up among the Hollywood companies.

Paramount, Skydance and Disney’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” failed to ignite much traction overseas, launching with a soft $72.9 million from 48 international territories.

The sixth “Terminator” installment debuted with a dismal $29 million in North America, bringing worldwide ticket sales to $123 million. That’s a disappointing result considering the movie cost $185 million before considering global marketing and distribution fees. Disney is releasing the movie in all foreign territories aside from China, where Tencent Pictures is handling distribution. Paramount is distributing the movie in North America. All three companies co-financed the film, meaning any potential losses will be broken up among the different players.

“Terminator: Dark Fate” had the strongest start in China with a tepid $28 million, followed by Korea with $9.8 million and the United Kingdom with $6.9 million. Imax screens accounted for $9 million of global ticket sales, $2.9 million of which came from China.

“Dark Fate” reunites series creator James Cameron with stars Linda Hamilton...

“Terminator: Dark Fate” shot past box office competition but fell significantly short of expectations as Paramount, Skydance Media and Disney’s sci-fi sequel debuted to $29 million in North America.

The sixth installment in the “Terminator” franchise landed in first place on domestic box office charts, but the results are disappointing given the film’s $185 million budget. Heading into the weekend, the movie was expected to collect over $40 million during its first three days in theaters. A start above $40 million seemed attainable since reviews were strong and audience sentiment was overwhelmingly positive. “Joker” could have cannibalized ticket sales for “Terminator” since both film’s catered to younger men. For “Dark Fate,” 60% of opening weekend crowds were male, over half of which were under the age of 30.

International audiences might give the film a boost, though China only brought in a middling $28 million and could continue to stall in coming weeks. Overseas,...

Paramount’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” is falling short of expectations with a projected $27 million opening weekend at 4,086 North American locations.

Though the sixth installment of the sci-fi franchise is dominating domestic moviegoing, the results are a disappointment, given the hefty $185 million cost. “Terminator: Dark Fate” took in $10.6 million on its opening day, including $2.4 million from previews on Halloween night.

Pre-release forecasts for “Dark Fate” had been in the $40 million range. The film had generated buzz due to it being the first franchise entry since 1991’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” with series creator James Cameron and stars Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger returning.

“Dark Fate” centers on Hamilton’s resistance leader Sarah Connor protecting a young girl from a deadly new killer cyborg from the future. Tim Miller (“Deadpool”) directed “Dark Fate” from a screenplay by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes and Billy Ray. New cast members include Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes and Gabriel Luna.

Paramount’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” is stumbling toward a $28 million opening weekend at 4,086 North American locations — significantly below forecasts, early estimates showed on Friday.

Pre-release forecasts for the sixth installment in the sci-fi series had been in the $40 million range. The third weekend of Disney’s “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” and the fifth frame of “Joker” are battling for second place in the $11 million to $12 million range, with “Joker” appearing to lead. The comic-book pic will wind up the weekend with about $297 million in domestic grosses.

Focus Features’ Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet,” starring Cynthia Erivo, is coming in at the high end of forecasts, between $10 million and $11 million at 2,059 sites. But Warner Bros.’ crime drama “Motherless Brooklyn” and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures’ animated adventure “Arctic Dogs” are showing little traction and heading for openings in the $2 million to $3 million range. All three new entries had been forecast to debut around $10 million each.

For as time-hoppy-twisted and messily scripted the last two Terminator franchise entries were, Terminator: Dark Fate isn’t all that more successful beyond slavish recreation. Sarah Connor stopped “Judgment Day” and saved humanity, but what if man’s hubris caused the same artificial intelligence mistakes to still be made – just delayed?

Dark Fate is a familiar reboot hinging on positive revamp qualities (kickass girl gang!) in all the wrong ways. More T-800, more mechanized Two-Face headshots, and more digitized attack sequences that mainstream movies love to lean on nowadays.

It’s been some twenty years since Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) altered Earth’s doomed fate, or so she thought. Turns out her destruction of Skynet only delayed our technological judegment, as a new A.I. program labeled “Legion” retaliates against humanity with equal devastation. Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) is responsible for rallying survivors and leading resistance factions in the future,...

Paramount’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” has launched with $2.4 million in North American locations on Halloween night previews.

The most recent Thursday night Halloween previews took place in 2013 when “Ender’s Game” pulled in $1.4 million and went on to collect $27 million for the weekend domestically.

“Terminator: Dark Fate,” the sixth installment in the sci-fi series, has been forecast to dominate the weekend with around $40 million at 4,086 North American sites.

It’s the first franchise entry since 1991’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” that has series creator James Cameron and star Linda Hamilton on board, with Arnold Schwarzenegger also returning. Cameron is producing with David Ellison while Schwarzenegger and Hamilton are reprising their respective roles as the original T-800 Terminator and resistance leader Sarah Connor.

“Terminator: Dark Fate” carries a hefty $185 million price tag. Production companies are Paramount Pictures, Cameron’s Lightstorm, Ellison’s Skydance Media, 20th Century Fox and China’s Tencent Pictures.

Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance have a lot riding on “Terminator: Dark Fate,” the latest reboot of the famed sci-fi franchise which hits theaters Friday. The $185 million film, which marks the repairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton for the first time since since “T2: Judgment Day” 28 years ago, is currently projected to gross a modest $35-40 million domestically from 4,000-plus screens.

If the film overperforms and opens to $45 million, it would have the highest raw opening for any “Terminator” film, beating the $44 million opening of the 2003 film “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.” “T2: Judgment Day” still remains the biggest box office hit in the series with $520 million in worldwide ticket sales in 1991 — but on a leaner $102 million budget.

More alarming, Paramount and Skydance are coming off a big failed gamble with “Gemini Man,” a $140 million sci-fi film that tried to drum up interest through Will Smith,...

Paramount’s “Terminator” franchise is back to rule box office charts.

“Terminator: Dark Fate,” the sixth installment in the sci-fi series, should earn $40 million when it bows in over 4,000 North American theaters, while some estimates show that figure could reach $47 million. Though it will launch against three other nationwide releases, “Dark Fate” is expected to easily win the weekend over fellow new offerings: Focus Features’ Harriet Tubman biopic “Harriet,” Warner Bros.’ crime drama “Motherless Brooklyn” and Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures’ animated adventure “Arctic Dogs.” All three anticipate debuts around $10 million.

Should “Terminator” reach the higher end of estimates, “Dark Fate” would earn the distinction of the franchise’s biggest opening yet. That title currently belongs to 2003’s “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” ($44 million), followed by 2009’s “Terminator Salvation” ($42.5 million). The most recent entry, 2015’s “Terminator Genisys” bowed with $27 million and ended its box office run with $89.7 million in North America and $440 million globally.

For decades, the Terminator franchise has opted to largely make Arnold Schwarzenegger its central aspect/selling point. However, since The Terminator and especially Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the series has had severely diminishing returns. So, changes were needed. Original creator James Cameron is back to help shepherd this latest sequel, which ignores everything after the first two outings, and so is Schwarzenegger. That’s not what makes this new version matter though…not in the least. What sets this one apart is the return of Linda Hamilton. Her re-entry into the series turns out to be the secret sauce. Cameron helps re-focus the mythology, but Hamilton is the heart and soul of Terminator. Opening this week, Terminator: Dark Fate understands this, making it the first fully successful sequel within this IP since T2. The film is an action blockbuster, picking up after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, where...

Stars: Mackenzie Davis, Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Luna, Natalia Reyes, Tom Hopper, Brett Azar, Diego Boneta, Tábata Cerez, Steven Cree, Pete Ploszek | Written by David S. Goyer, Justin Rhodes, Billy Ray | Directed by Tim Miller

Although the best in the franchise since Terminator 2: Judgment Day, this is clearly a dying franchise trying to take one last gasp before it fades away.

Even with the return of Linda Hamilton and James Cameron, Terminator: Dark Fate can’t seem to find its place in the Terminator franchise. It’s a movie we were told would be the third film in Cameron’s trilogy, telling us to ignore all the sequels that followed T2. It’s the promise of something better, the promise of a return to form and to capture the magic the first two films had. After the film is over, there is a horrible bitter taste, and much...