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THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT Is Heading to Television

Nearly two decades ago, Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez unleashed their found footage film, The Blair Witch Project, and it quickly became one of the most successful independent movies of all time. While the subsequent sequels have failed to recapture that lightning in a bottle, Lionsgate is charting a new course for the franchise by bringing the Blair Witch to TV.

According to Deadline, the Blair Witch television series is one of several projects under Lionsgate’s new digital initiative, Studio L. The initial report doesn’t state who is developing the new Blair Witch show, but Sánchez talked about the possibility of a TV series last year during his appearance on the Diminishing Returns podcast. More specifically, he mentioned a desire to “bring in a whole bunch of interesting directors to direct episodes.”

The big question is whether the Blair Witch can work for television when neither Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 nor the more recent Blair Witch sequel (which we liked) managed to find a large audience. The original movie had a memorable gimmick that made some viewers buy into the possibility that the footage was real. That’s a trick that’s not going to work again in any format.

That said, it’s not impossible for a Blair Witch TV show to carve out its own place, especially if the creative team actually explores the mythology of the Blair Witch. The legend was supposedly linked to a woman named Elly Kedward, who was killed in 1785 for practicing witchcraft. Whether Kedward is truly the creature behind the multiple disappearances remains to be seen. But there’s something out there, and that’s a mystery that’s still worth exploring.

Are you intrigued by the potential Blair Witch television show? Let us know in the comment section below!

Images: Lionsgate

More from the nerdosphere!

Could Star Wars Resistence be a sequel trilogy-era series?
Joss Whedon exits DC’s Batgirl movie because he couldn’t think of a story
Listen to Edgar Wright’s favorite movie songs

SAILOR MOON Inspires Amazing Ice Skating Routine

Ice skating and ice dancing are simply all the rage right now thanks to those games going on in Korea. But maybe the coolest — and definitely the nerdiest — ice skating routing actually happened last year,  at the 2017 ISU World Team Trophy. 18-year-old Russian figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva is not only a world class figure skater, she’s an enormous Sailor Moon geek, and she showed her love for the classic ’90s anime series by performing a routine inspired by one of the episodes. Medvedeva’s performance even included the classic transformation sequence, and is set to “Moonlight Densetsu,” the original Japanese theme song for the show.



Although there have been videos of the performance shown on YouTube ever since she first performed it last year, now a fan has synced up her performance with the Sailor Moon episode itself, and you really get to see how flawless the whole performance really is, and how she absolutely does Usagi Tsukino proud. Evgenia Medvedeva’s routine actually got her first place, although the event was held in Tokyo, so you can say she was maybe playing to the audience a bit. You can watch the entire side-by-side comparison video above.

Here’s hoping that this performance inspires more nerdy and cosplay inspired ice skating routines. I want to see some Marvel inspired ice skaters, some Star Wars ice dancing, and at least one Wonder Woman out there. Because if I seriously have to watch even one more routine set to music from Moulin Rouge, I might just blow a gasket.

What do you think of this fabulous Sailor Moon inspired routine? Do you wish we saw more geeky ice skating routines? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

 Images: Toei Animation

Other things from the nerd sphere

Joss Whedon has exited DC’s Batgirl movie
Our Game Night review and why it’s the dark comedy we’ve always wanted
The Andromeda galaxy may not be as big as we thought

9 Rad Women We’d Love to See Tackle BATGIRL

Joss Whedon has officially left DC’s burgeoning Batgirl project. And while there’s a LOT to be said about that, this piece is all about looking ahead at the future of Barbara Gordon in the DCEU. Ever since Walter Hamada was announced as the new Warner Bros. President of DC Films we knew change was in the air, and today’s shock announcement has confirmed as much. So now we live in the DCEU AJW (After Joss Whedon), where should Batgirl go next? We have some ideas, especially following the record breaking success of Wonder Woman. So here are our picks for women we would love to see helming a Batgirl movie.

Dee Rees

When this news dropped, there was one name that immediately came to our minds, Dee Rees. The director of Mudbound is an unbelievable talent who’s showcased her ability to tell eclectic stories focused on women—and specifically black womanhood—that tie into larger thematic arcs in incredible movies like Pariah, Bessie, and Mudbound. Her latest movie should’ve been an major Oscar contender, and though it was snubbed for most of the big awards, it did put Rees firmly in the sights of mainstream Hollywood. We would love to see Rees’ intimate and interior take on Barbara Gordon. She would surely add a unique vision, with the nuance and layers needed to tell a truly great Batgirl story.

Gina Prince-Bythewood

Gina Prince-Bythewood has long been one of Hollywood’s most underrated directors. Her feature debut, Love and Basketball, was a critical and commercial hit, and she’s directed Hollywood superstars like Jennifer Hudson, Dakota Fanning, and Queen Latifah. In 2014 she made the critically acclaimed Beyond the Lights starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw which, despite being fantastic, struggled to get picked up for major release. Even though Gina is currently directing Sony’s Spider-verse Black Cat / Silver Sable movie, Silver & Black (and working on Freeform’s Cloak + Dagger TV show), we would love to see her cross over to Warner Bros. and showcase some of her rad talents on a romance-centric Batgirl about young Babs coming to terms with her roles and responsibilities.

Amma Asante

Amma Asante has a knack for telling fantastic stories centered around women, which is of course just what a Batgirl movie needs. With her 2013 film Belle, Asante established herself as an important, original voice in cinema, turning the idea of homogeneous period drama on its head with the true story of a young black woman raised by aristocracy in 18th century England. Asante’s bright, lush aesthetic set her apart and would make her a great candidate to adapt the iconic Babs Tarr, Cameron Stewart, and Brenden Fletcher Batgirl arc from DC a few years ago. The fresh take focuses on Babs as she moves out of Gotham and tries to work out who she is, not just as Batgirl but also as Barbara Gordon. We want this movie!

Catherine Hardwicke

The woman who made, arguably, the only good Twilight movie deserves another shot at franchise filmmaking. Hardwicke broke out with her controversial teen girl tale, Thirteen. A female-centric take on movies like Kids, Thirteen is still a powerful and stirring movie about friendship, girlhood, and the dangers of being a teenage girl. Obviously the Twilight series is much maligned, but on rewatching Hardwicke’s original entry still has indie sensibilities and an interesting aesthetic. If DC so badly wants a dark take on Barbara Gordon that still fits inside their shared universe, then Hardwicke is truly the woman who could deliver it.

Andrea Arnold

Ever since Andrea Arnold broke out with her harrowing debut, Red Road, she’s been a go-to for authentic stories about young women. Arnold would be an out there choice—all of her movies have been micro-budget indie flicks, mostly starring unknowns. But when has that ever stopped Hollywood when it comes to awarding men films (we see you, Trevorrow)? Plus, Arnold clearly has an eye for talent as the star of her latest movie American Honey, Sasha Lane, has just been cast in the upcoming Hellboy reboot. We adore Arnold’s singular vision, and she already has one of our favorite literary adaptations under her belt with her brutalist version Wuthering Heights. If DC wants a woman who can truly get inside the head of Barbara Gordon and her Gotham, as well as someone who can find an unknown young actress to embody her, Arnold is the only choice.

Karyn Kusama

Karyn Kusama made one of the best movies of the last decade with The Invitation, and she also made your favorite underrated feminist horror movie Jennifer’s Body. We’d love to see Kusama turn her talents to the DCEU, with an atmospheric take on Gotham centered around our young heroine. Kusama’s talent for creating simmering tension could bring a mood to Gotham unlike any we’ve ever seen. We also know Karyn doesn’t mess around when it comes to making films with fantastic female leads, so we want Karyn to get that call. Plus, Kusama would also make a killer Cass Cain movie, so DC has Batgirl options if they hit her up.

Ava DuVernay

We know Ava is currently helming all kinds of movies for Disney, most recently the already-record-breaking A Wrinkle in Time, making DuVernay the first female African American director to be given a 100 million plus budget. But we would still love to see her handle a story based around Batgirl! Ava’s talents are huge in scope, and after seeing what we have so far of A Wrinkle in Time, we’d love to see her tackle a young Barbara Gordon story. One focused on family, on growing up with a dad in the police force, who allies himself with a vigilante. A story that shows how and why Babs chose to pick up the mask and take on the mantle of Batgirl.

Claire Denis

You probably haven’t heard of Claire Denis, which is honestly criminal as the visionary director sparked the notorious New French Extremity movement with her brilliant 2001 erotic horror movie, Trouble Every Day. At the time she was shunned by mainstream cinema, though men—like Gaspar Noe and Alejandra Aja—who then followed her lead have crafted expansive careers for themselves as cinematic bad boys. Denis has since had a vibrant independent film career, so if DC decided to go the R-rated route that Whedon hinted at, we’d love to see Denis called in to subvert the violent misogyny of comics like The Killing Joke to create a violently original take on Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl.

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Though Fifty Shades of Grey may not have been everyone’s cup of tea, it did break box office records and proved that indie darling Johnson could pack those theatre seats. If DC wants a new Nolan to helm their movies, Johnson might be the choice. The pair share indie sensibilities, but Taylor-Johnson has a big budget blockbuster under her belt. She’s also shown a talent for telling stories about young people as they grow into their larger role in life. Even after Fifty Shades of Grey, a Sam Taylor-Johnson Batgirl movie would be a surprisingly safe bet for DC.

Who would you like to see behind the lens on a Batgirl film? Are you hooked on one of our choices or do you have a luminary director of your own? Swing into the comments and let us know!

Need to Catch Up on Babs?

Here are the details of Joss Whedon’s departure from the project.
Here’s who we fancast in the Whedon iteration of the film!
And finally, here are the Batgirl stories we’d like to see adapted from the comics!

Images: Netflix, New Line, Disney, BFI, Film 4, XYZ Films, Fox Searchlight, Canal +, Universal

THE TICK’s Griffin Newman Talks New Episodes, Playing Arthur, and the STAR WARS Prequels

New episodes of The Tick drop on Amazon this week, so who better to help us get ready for them than our favorite sidekick and co-host of one of our favorite podcasts, Arthur himself Griffin Newman. On today’s Nerdist News Talks Back he talked to us about Arthur’s growing relationship with the Tick, finding the right balance for his character, and more, along with what we make of J.J. Abrams finishing the script for Episode IX, and the positive reactions to Aquaman‘s first test screenings.

Guest host Amy Vorpahl, Nerdist managing editor Alicia Lutes, and Nerdist News writer Joey Clift welcomed to the studio today special guest Griffin Newman, who plays Arthur on Amazon’s The Tick when he’s not hosting the Blank Check podcast. They started with J.J. Abrams’ announcement he’s in the unusual position of having a finished script early since he’s done writing Episode IX. Does this mean anything after all the reshoots and rewrites for The Force Awakens? Do we expect the movie to be totally original after all the criticism he just remade A New Hope last time? What lessons could he take from the prequels? (Seriously) Are we worried about his co-writer Chris Terrio’s mixed history (Argo, Batman v Superman)? And are we concerned about Alden Ehrenreich’s Han Solo?



Reports also say responses to Aquaman test screenings are positive, with the movie having plenty of action and emotion. Are we looking forward to it more now, or are we still feeling burned by the DCEU? Do we think they trusted director James Wan to make the movie he wanted?

Finally it was time to get to The Tick, and Griffin explained why the show’s independence from other superhero franchises is so appealing. How come he “always loved Arthur as a kid?” How will Arthur and The Tick learn to “work together more” in these new episodes? And why did Jackie Earle Haley do a five minute drum solo with his fingers at a table read?

As big fans of his Blank Check podcast, we also wanted to know how the self-proclaimed “connoisseur of context” used his meticulous show prep to get ready to play Arthur. How does he “service” the show this show while also not “breaking the rules of Arthur?” How did something Tom Holland did as Spider-Man help him find that balance? And why does he think the upcoming episodes mean season two “could go anywhere?”



Don’t forget we have a new schedule: Nerdist News Talks Back airs live at 1 p.m. PT Monday to Thursday on our YouTube and Alpha channels, and our new show Nerdist News What the Fridays, an hour-long recap of the biggest pop culture stories from the week, airs live at 1 p.m. PT only at Alpha.

But we want to hear from you right now about your thoughts on what Griffin Newman had to say about Arthur and The Tick, so talk back to us in the comments below.

Could STAR WARS RESISTANCE Be a Sequel Trilogy-Era TV Series?

The Star Wars prequels got their own animated TV series with The Clone Wars, and Rebels has explored the time period from right before the original trilogy. Do we now know the title for the first show set during the sequels—and could it be a live-action series instead?

In news we came across at Slashfilm, the fan site Yakface unearthed four new trademarks from Disney for Star Wars Resistance, covering everything from toys, clothing, paper products, and every type of digital media you can think of. While this could be for another type of medium they have plannned, like a new game for example, it might very well be for a new TV series set in the galaxy far, far away. But from what we know about Disney and Lucasfilm’s grand plans for ever-more Star Wars content, this very well could be the title for their next animated series, or the live-action show they’ve promised.

In November Disney CEO Bob Iger announced plans for a long-awaited live-actions series that would only be available on their upcoming new streaming service that is set to debut in 2019. However with Star Wars Rebels coming to an end, Resistance might end up being their latest animated series, which they are also developing.

Either way, the potential title seems to indicate the new show is set during the sequel trilogy time period. If it debuts in 2019 on Disney’s streaming service, that limits when it can take place. It can’t come after Episode IX, because it doesn’t hit theaters until 2019. There’s also not a time period between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi to explore.

Which means unless the last movie doesn’t end the story the way we think it will, Star Wars Resistance would likely have to predate The Force Awakens, or take place between The Last Jedi and the final film in the trilogy. Those settings would make for a very different type of story. One would take place while The First Order was growing in strength and the Resistance rose up as an equal to meet it, while the other would see the Resistance needing to find new fighters from across the galaxy willing to help restore it as a formidable foe.

The Last Jedi certainly set up plenty of jumping off points for the latter time period with the kids on Canto Bight and the massive call for help from Crait. Not to mention Luke’s final heroic act would seem like the perfect “spark” to action for plenty of would-be freedom fighters.

Because even if Episode IX gives us the final showdown with The First Order, it looks like the Resistance is just getting started.

What do you think of this possible title? Tell us what you make of it in our comments below.

Get More Star Stuff In Your Noggin

J.J. Abrams has finished Star Wars: Episode IX‘s script, and filming begins in July.
Mark Hamill is finally getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Solo trailer set to the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” proves it’s the greatest trailer song of all time.

Images: Lucasfilm

First Look at JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM’s Mysterious Big Bad

Warning: There are potential spoilers ahead for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom !

Earlier this week, Universal Pictures set a date for Jurassic World 3 in 2021, which heavily suggests that the vast majority of the series’ human characters will be back for another round. But first, Owen Grady and Claire Dearing will have to survive Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom‘s impending volcanic explosion and an island full of panicking dinosaurs. However, there’s going to be at least one brand new dinosaur in the latest sequel that’s looking to put the bite on anyone in its way. Today’s Nerdist News is offering up the first details about Fallen Kingdom‘s new dino adversary!

Join guest host and Isla Nublar explorer, Amy Vorpahl, as she introduces us to the Indoraptor, the new hybrid dinosaur. Last weekend’s Toy Fair offered fans the first real look at the Indoraptor through the various Jurassic World toys that will accompany the movie. So far, the trailers has only offered a few tantalizing hints about the Indoraptor, including the fact that it is much bigger than a standard raptor.

The LEGO Rooftop Dino Battle featured the Indoraptor facing off against another dino on top of a residential home, which may be tied to the trailer scene that featured a young girl in bed as a dinosaur approached her. The real question for us is which dinosaurs were spliced together to create the Indoraptor? And was it created before the events of Jurassic World? Or are we finally seeing the consequences of Dr. Wu’s escape from the island with the dino DNA?

What do you think about the Indoraptor? Be clever boys and girls by leaving a comment below!

Images: Universal Pictures

More of the Nerdist News you need!

Everything you need to know about Marvel’s “Fresh Start” relaunch
How Black Panther sets up the future of the MCU
New Solo Millennium Falcon details have fans scratching their heads

Joss Whedon Exits DC’s BATGIRL Movie

This will be great news to some, and sad news to others, but after a big announcement last year, Joss Whedon has exited the Batgirl movie, according to the The Hollywood Reporter. In a statement, Whedon said “Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story. I’m grateful to Geoff (Johns) and Toby (Emmerich) and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”

The report goes on to say that Whedon couldn’t “crack the code for what the Batgirl story should be.” Which was what was similar to what he said years ago with his Wonder Woman script. The truth is, Whedon was facing a ton of scrutiny making this project in 2018. A white male taking on a female led superhero just wouldn’t fly in today’s climate, and Twitter would simply have a field day with every aspect of the making of this movie, especially after personal scandals rocked Whedon’s world last year. After Justice League, it’s probably the last thing Warner Brothers wants to deal with.

So what happens to the Batgirl movie now? The only reason it was even happening in the first place was because Whedon wanted to do it, but now Warners is committed to making this — if they don’t make it because he steps down, when there are several female filmmakers who would no doubt want to tell the story of Barbara Gordon, it will look really bad. Especially in light of Wonder Woman’s success. And rumors suggest that it is definitely one of the films WB wants made, so I think Batgirl will happen one way or the other.

As for what’s next for Whedon, he’s returning to his signature creation Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new Dark Horse Comics series, and after that? Who knows. He really belongs showrunning a series, so hopefully that’s where he lands next.

Who do you want to see write and direct Batgirl now? Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments.

Images: DC Comics / Warner Brothers

More of the nerdy news you want!

Listen to a whole playlist of Edgar Wright’s favorite movie songs
J.J. Abrams finished writing Episode IX‘s script
Enjoy the Star Trek: The Next Generation stars recast as cats

Jared Leto Joins the Yakuza in Netflix’s THE OUTSIDER Trailer

Sorry, Keanu Reeves, but you no longer have the monopoly on Hollywood action stars going to Asia and doing a whole bunch of killing in the underworld. Jared Leto‘s coming, and it’s no joke…though he retains the basic pale-and-psychotic look of his Joker, minus the special makeup.

From danish director Martin Zandvliet, whose last film Land of Mine dealt with German POWs in post World War II Denmark, The Outsider is the story of an American GI in post World War II Japan. Escaping from prison with the help of a yakuza-tied cellmate, he is considered indebted to the Japanese underworld, and must pay them back in the expected brutal fashion. Here’s the new trailer:

It’s interesting how timeless the Netflix movie mostly looks—until the end of the trailer, where Leto’s Nick Lowell finds a novel and violent use for a typewriter on somebody who makes a World War II reference, you don’t necessarily know that it’s a period piece. Just watch: there’ll be at least one enterprising fan who recuts this into a fake trailer for the oft-discussed Joker origin movie, and it’ll totally match.

Netflix also unveiled the poster today, which is certainly more eye-catching than the standard Photoshopped-heads template that so many movies go with now.

Now, what method-acting stunt do you suppose the notoriously serious lead actor did for this one? Full-body koi tattoo for real, perhaps? Here’s hoping, for his sake, he never took the yakuza’s infamous finger punishment to its real-world conclusion.

Are you excited for more psycho Leto on March 9th? “Leto” us know in comments below.

Images: Netflix

Disney Parks Release New Concept Art for STAR WARS Resort Hotel

Next year, Disneyland and Walt Disney World will open their new expansions for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which will introduce a planet called Batuu while giving fans several new attractions to explore. While Disneyland will open its expansion first, Walt Disney World is offering something even more enticing: a fully immersive Star Wars hotel that will be directly connected to the park itself. How will the hotel maintain the illusion of a galaxy far, far away? Disney has dropped two new pieces of concept art that depict the way that guests will be able to view space through every window in the hotel.



Via the Disney Parks blog, the video posted above demonstrates that the windows won’t simply show a static image of stars. Instead, guests will be given the sensation of traveling in a starship while watching other ships and planets pass by their view. It’s a small, but clever touch that could be very effective. We’re very curious to learn whether the same visuals will constantly repeat in the windows or if the Disney Imagineers will actually create enough footage to convincingly depict a journey through space.

It’s already been revealed that the Star Wars-themed hotel will also feature costumed performers in-character and several different unfolding stories that are designed to make guests feel like they are a part of this universe. Additionally, guests will be invited to wear clothing inspired by the Star Wars movies and they will also be given opportunities to be active participants in the experience.



Are you excited about the Star Wars resort hotel? Make sure to shoot first in the comment section below!

Image: Disney

More from the Nerdist galaxy

J.J. Abrams has finished Star Wars: Episode IX‘s script, and filming begins in July
Mark Hamill is finally getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Solo trailer set to the Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” proves it’s the greatest trailer song of all time

Listen to Edgar Wright’s Favorite Movie Songs (PLAYLIST)

Edgar Wright had a great 2017. His film, Baby Driver, was a smash box office hit, earning multiple Academy Award nominations, and anyone who saw that film knows Wright has a flair for movie music. The Baby Driver soundtrack is loaded with classic rock and deep cuts, from The Damned’s “Neat Neat Neat” to The Detroit Emeralds’ “Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms).” This is a guy who knows how to effectively mine music catalogues to craft the perfect movie music drop.

Now Wright, who’s also a master list-maker, has stepped in as a guest curator for Spotify ShowStopper to create a playlist of his favorite moments in movie music. Take a listen.

In case you’re curious about which songs line up with which movie, Wright tweeted out a handy guide.

Here’s all 50 movies featured on the playlist: (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/bTXCHDxDbO

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) February 17, 2018

Here’s all 50 movies featured on the playlist: (2 of 2) pic.twitter.com/vjWKR594q7

— edgarwright (@edgarwright) February 17, 2018

There are so many gems in this playlist, it’s hard to know where to start. We’re especially tickled by less-obvious choices, like David Bowie’s “I’m Deranged” from Lost Highway and the main theme from Get Carter. The entire playlist clocks in at 2 hours and 55 minutes, so if you need something to vibe to on a long commute or at your work desk, give it a whirl and pretend you’re dancing – or driving – your way through your own magical movie moment.

We’ve Got More Edgar Wright Lists Below!

Here’s his 50 favorite songs of 2017.
And here’s his 100 favorite horror movies.
Lastly, here he is on the Nerdist podcast!

Image: Gage Skidmore; Wikipedia Commons