News Shotgun 9/11/21
- Teddy Ruxpin movie in development: 80s favorite Teddy Ruxpin is getting a movie developed from DJ2 Entertainment, who was behind the recent Sonic the Hedgehog movie. The plan is to make a live-action/animated hybrid and, if it does well, expand into an animated series. If you’re unfamiliar, Teddy Ruxpin was an animatronic bear that talked via cassette tapes that were placed into a player on his back and it was one of the most technologically advanced toys of the 80s.
- Halloween Kills getting a day and date streaming release: If you can’t get to theaters on October 15th for Halloween Kills, you can subscribe to one of Peacock’s pay plans and see the movie day and date with its theatrical release. Peacock previously had The Boss Baby: Family Business as a day and date movie for subscribers to their service.
- NIMH getting new animated series: The NIMH series of books by Robert C. O’Brien are getting a new adult-oriented animated series from Fox. The books were most memorably adapted as The Secret of NIMH by the legendary Don Bluth in 1982. The series will be based on the original trilogy of books that began with Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH where a field mouse named Mrs. Frisby seeks help to move her home in a field before farmers plow it and finds the Rats of NIMH, who are super-intelligent rats that escaped a laboratory and knew Mrs. Frisby’s husband, Jonathan.
- Spider-Man 2 and Wolverine games coming from Insomniac: At this past week’s big Playstation Showcase, it was revealed that Spider-Man 2 and a Wolverine game are coming to the PS5 from Insomniac Games. Spider-Man 2 is the third game in the Spider-Man series that includes Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales and features a full team-up between Peter and Miles as they face Kraven the Hunter and Venom, the latter of which is voiced by Tony Todd. There are no details about the Wolverine game besides a teaser CG trailer so we don’t know if it will be an open-world action game like Spider-Man or something more linear.
- Rosario Dawson and Owen Wilson join The Haunted Mansion movie: Owen Wilson and Rosario Dawson joined the cast of the new take on Disney’s The Haunted Mansion this week, joining the previously cast LaKeith Stanfield and Tiffany Haddish. The movie is set in New Orleans and follows a single father (Stanfield) who moves in with his family while Haddish is a psychic who communicates with the dead. It’s not clear who Wilson and Dawson will be playing. The movie is being directed by Justin Simien, who previously directed Dear White People and Bad Hair.
- “Active Discussions” are happening to bring back 24: According to Fox president Michael Thorn and 24 executive producer, Howard Gordon both hinted in recent interviews that there are “active discussions” to bring back 24 in some form, possibly with Kiefer Sutherland returning as Jack Bauer. The most recent spin on 24 was 24: Legacy that followed Corey Hawkins and there were discussions about a legal-thriller spin-off and a prequel following a young Jack but neither of those projects materialized.
- RIP Michael K. Williams: The incredible Michael K. Williams was unfortunately found dead earlier this week, he was 54. Williams was probably best known for playing Omar Little on The Wire but also appeared in shows like Hap and Leonard, Boardwalk Empire, and Lovecraft Country. Although he was best known for dramas, he also showed a comedic side with memorable turns on Community and F is For Family and starring on IFC’s The Spoils Before Dying.
- Andy Garcia joins Expendables 4: The recently announced Expendables 4 as added the always great Andy Garcia to its ensemble cast. It’s not clear what Garcia’s role in the movie will be but he’ll join Stallone, Jason Statham, Randy Couture, Dolph Lundgren, Megan Fox, 50 Cent, and Tony Jaa. Simon Waugh, who directed Act of Valor and Need for Speed, is directing the movie.