Sharknado gets a two-day theatrical re-release and a Barbie-inspired poster to celebrate its 10th anniversary

2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Sharknado, and so far celebrations have included a screening on legendary movie host Joe Bob Briggs’ Shudder series The Last Drive-In and an all-day Sharknado franchise marathon on Syfy. If that wasn’t enough, The Asylum has now announced that they’ll be giving the movie a two-day theatrical re-release on August 15th and 16th! A new, Barbie-inspired poster has been created to promote this theatrical re-release, and you can check it out at the bottom of this article. The Hollywood Reporter got the exclusive first look at the poster.

Sharknado has been “fully remastered with hundreds of new special effects” for this event. The trailer for the re-release, which you can watch in the embed above, promises this version of the movie will deliver new kills, new thrills, more sharks, and more ‘nado.

Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante from a screenplay by Thunder Levin, Sharknado has the following synopsis: Nature’s deadliest killer takes to the skies in the ultimate gill-ty pleasure as a group of friends try to save the Santa Monica coast from shark-infested tornadoes.

The film stars Ian Ziering, John Heard, Tara Reid, Cassie Scerbo, Jaason Simmons, Aubrey Peeples, Chuck Hittinger, Christopher Wolfe, and Robbie Rist.

Sharknado first aired on Syfy on July 11, 2013, and its initial airings caught enough attention and viewers that it spawned a franchise. Sharknado 2: The Second One followed on July 30, 2014, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! on July 22, 2015, Sharknado: The 4th Awakens on July 31, 2016, Sharknado 5: Global Swarming on August 6, 2017, and
The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time on August 19, 2018. Along the way, Ziering appeared in the 2015 movie Lavalantula as his Sharknado character, and there was a faux documentary spin-off called Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness. There was also a nod to Sharknado in the 2022 Asylum release 2025 Armageddon.

Are you a fan of Sharknado, and will you be heading out to see it on the big screen during the theatrical re-release? Let us know by leaving a comment below – and while you’re scrolling down, take a look at the Barbie-inspired poster:

While fans of the DCEU are hopeful for more extended cuts of the movies, David Ayer puts a stop to one recent rumor.

When the Snyder Cut of Justice League became a successful campaign, the DC film followers tried to manifest the release of another extended version of a project that had divided audiences, 2016’s Suicide Squad from David Ayer. Suicide Squad had a long list of talent going for it, and it seemed like it would deliver after an immensely popular trailer featuring Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody was released. The reception upon the premiere failed to capture the excitement produced by the trailer, and fans have been somewhat recently clamoring for an “Ayer Cut” of the film. It has been rumored that James Gunn may be release the cut prior to his Superman: Legacy film restarts the universe of DC characters. David Ayer himself would put the kibosh on that rumor through his Twitter.

A trailer has been released for the thriller Control, starring Kevin Spacey as someone who traps a government official in a smart car

A couple weeks ago, Kevin Spacey’s sex offenses trial ended with the actor being found “not guilty of all nine charges related to sexual misconduct, including seven of sexual assault.” So now Cupsogue Pictures has gone ahead and unveiled a trailer for the upcoming low budget thriller Control, which happens to have Spacey in the cast. You won’t see him in the trailer embedded above, but his voice is quite prominent. According to Variety, Spacey’s performance in the film is entirely vocal.

Spacey’s Control character is a menacing presence who manages to hijack a government official’s smart car in order to exact revenge.

The government official, Home Secretary Stella Simmons, is played by Lauren Metcalfe, who has previously had small roles on Bridgerton and the TV series version of War of the Worlds that starred Gabriel Bryne. Mark Hampton (Liaison) is also in the cast as Prime Minister David Addams.

Control was written and directed by Gene Fallaize, who made his feature directorial debut with the 2017 horror film Cain Hill. Fallaize told Variety, “I don’t regret casting Kevin and I would do it all over again. When we met with Kevin, we said, you know, [the meeting] is for us as much as it is him. And we came away from there feeling nothing but good vibes and positivity and we didn’t get anything bad from him at all. So we said, ‘Okay, let’s go for it.’ It’s a risk but feel it’s a risk worth taking.“

Tricoast Worldwide represents the global rights to the film and is currently in negotiations with distributors to secure releases for Control in the UK and the US.

What did you think of the Control trailer? Does this look like a movie you would want to check out? Let us know by leaving a comment below – and let us know what you think of the possibility of a Kevin Spacey comeback. Do you welcome it now that the trial is over, or do you have a negative view of him?

We’ll keep you updated on Control as the movie makes its way out into the world.

Rob Zombie’s feature debut House of 1000 Corpses is getting a two-night theatrical re-release for its 20th anniversary

2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of writer/director Rob Zombie’s feature debut House of 1000 Corpses (watch it HERE), and to celebrate the occasion Lionsgate gave the film a new Blu-ray release and Trick or Treat Studios is selling a House of 1000 Corpses coloring book. Now Fathom Events has announced that they will be giving the film a theatrical re-release for two nights this Halloween season, on October 8th and October 11th.

House of 1000 Corpses has the following synopsis: Two young couples take a misguided tour onto the back roads of America in search of a local legend known as Dr. Satan. Lost and stranded, they are set upon by a bizarre family of psychotics. Murder, cannibalism and satanic rituals are just a few of the 1000+ horrors that await.

The film stars Sid Haig, Erin Daniels, Bill Moseley, Karen Black, Sheri Moon Zombie, Rainn Wilson, Dennis Fimple, Walton Goggins, Chris Hardwick, Jennifer Jostyn, Matthew McGrory, Robert Mukes, Walter Phelan, Michael J. Pollard, Tom Towles, Harrison Young, Irwin Keyes, and Jake McKinnon.

For the Fathom Events re-release, “each screening includes an exclusive featurette by writer/director Rob Zombie, providing unique insight into his directorial debut and this cult favorite that almost didn’t see the light of day.” As mentioned, House of 1000 Corpses did have trouble getting out into the world, but once it did it was successful enough to spawn a franchise, being followed by two sequels: The Devil’s Rejects and 3 from Hell.

I saw House of 1000 Corpses during its initial theatrical run, even though the closest theatre showing the movie was 80 miles away from my home. It’s crazy to think that was already 20 years ago. I was kind of disappointed with the movie at the time and greatly prefer the follow-up The Devil’s Rejects, but I have still watched House of 1000 Corpses many times over the decades.

Are you a fan of House of 1000 Corpses, and will you be attending the Fathom Events re-release in October? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Tickets will be available through the Fathom Events website starting on August 11th.

Meg 2 director Ben Wheatley is ready to take his giant animals to land, as he has expressed interest in the Godzilla and King Kong franchises.

After exploring the world of mega sharks, it only seems natural to want to delve into kaiju and giant primates. And that’s just what Ben Wheatley, the director of Meg 2: The Trench, hopes to do some day, displaying an admiration for the likes of Godzilla and King Kong, two of the biggest and baddest beasts to walk the planet.

Meg 2 director Wheatley recently told Screen Rant that not only did his sequel take inspiration from movies like Jaws – the movie that essentially launched sharksploitation – but also those within the Godzilla universe. “I take a lot of influence from [Jaws]. And then I really love the kind of 70s Godzilla stuff, then Shin Godzilla, and the current cycle of legendary Godzilla movies. It’s all that stuff…” When asked specifically if he would want to direct a Godzilla or even King Kong movie, Wheatley bluntly said, “Yeah, of course. That’s one of the great series of movies that’s around. They’re always good; I always enjoy them. Definitely, there’s unfinished business for me with giant monsters. I’ll definitely return to that if I’m allowed.”

Whether or not Wheatley is “allowed” may partly depend a lot on how Meg 2: The Trench does at the box office. It opened with $30 million, which was enough to chomp at Oppenheimer but still considerably less than the original. That first movie was nominated for the Worst Remake, Rip-off or Sequel Razzie as a Jaws knockoff and, based on reviews, Meg 2 could follow suit.

Neither Godzilla nor King Kong has been featured in a major motion picture since, well, Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). But they will stomp their way back to theaters with Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, with Adam Wingard returning to direct. As for Meg 2‘s Ben Wheatley, he might continue finding inspiration from the 24-hour Godzilla channel on Pluto.

Do you think directing something like Meg 2: The Trench sets you up to continue exploring giant monsters on the big screen? Do you think Ben Wheatley would be a good choice to direct an entry in either the Godzilla or King Kong franchises? Give us your take below!

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie cruises past a $1 billion-dollar milestone after an incredible third weekend in theaters.

Moviegoers brought plenty of Kenergy to theaters over the weekend, helping Greta Gerwig’s Barbie cross the $1B global mark! According to Box Office Mojo, Barbie rollerbladed past the milestone for a $1,031,481,000 worldwide total. The total finds Gerwig becoming the first woman to surpass the billion-dollar climacteric as a solo director.

“As distribution chiefs, we’re not often rendered speechless by a film’s performance, but Barbillion has blown even our most optimistic predictions out of the water,” said Warner Bros’ Jeff Goldstein, President of Domestic Distribution, and Andrew Cripps, President of International Distribution. “This is a watershed moment for Barbie, and no one but Greta Gerwig could have brought this cross-generational icon and her world to life in such a funny, emotional and entertaining story, one that is resonating with all four quadrants of moviegoers and literally turning the entire world pink. Long lines and repeat viewings prove that movies are back in a big, big way, and we look forward to seeing just how far Barbie can go in the real world.”

In addition to my $50 this past weekend, Barbie cruised in a pink convertible with $74M in the trunk from 20,335 screens in 69 overseas markets. There’s no telling how much the film could make before exiting theaters, though the total will be markedly higher by the end of such a successful run.

According to reports, Gerwig was approached about making a Barbie sequel months ago, but her team delayed negotiations until after the movie’s premiere. With the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ongoing, it could be a while before we hear about any movement on another Barbie Land adventure.

Greta Gerwig directs Barbie from a screenplay she wrote with Noah Baumbach, based on Mattel’s rich history with the Barbie toy brand. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman (Marriage Story, Gravity), Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Robbie Brenner, with Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Ynon Kreiz, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich, and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.

What do you think about Barbie reaching the $1B milestone? Would Gerwig, Margot Robbie, and Ryan Gosling sign for a sequel? Is it best to leave Barbie to stand on its tip-toes as a one-off cinematic gem? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The French Connection and The Exorcist director William Friedkin died in the city of Los Angeles at the age of 87.

William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director behind The Exorcist, The French Connection, To Live and Die in L.A., The Boys in the Band, and more, is dead at 87. Friedkin died in Los Angeles, said his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing.

Born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Friedkin started directing television before disgusting audiences with projectile pea soup and dealings with demons. In the mid-’60s, Friedkin shot an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Hour and helmed various telefilms. Before the era was over, he got behind the camera for features like Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party (1968), and The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968).

He started the ’70s off with a band by directing The Boys in the Band. With his name already on the lips of executives everywhere, he moved on to The French Connection, a show-stopping thriller starring Gene Hackman as Detective Popeye Doyle. The French Connection won multiple Oscars, including the prize for Best Picture. Fueled by his monumental win at one of the industry’s most significant celebrations, Friedkin set his sights on a film that would scare the daylights out of moviegoers, The Exorcist.

The 1973 horror classic stars Linda Blair as Reagan MacNeil, a young girl possessed by a demon who compels two Catholic priests to question everything they know about their beliefs and occupation. In addition to winning the Best Picture prize at the Oscars, The Exorcist won the statues for Lead Actress Ellen Burstyn and screenwriter William Peter Blatty and Supporting nominations for Blair and Jason Miller.

The Exorcist is considered one of the scariest movies of all time by some horror buffs, and a restored version of the film is playing at the Venice Film Festival next month. Additionally, Ellen Burstyn is reprising her role in a remake, thanks to Blumhouse. Meanwhile, The Exorcist: Believer comes to theaters in October. David Gordon Green directs, with Burstyn, Jennifer Nettles, and Ann Dowd leading the cast.

The Exorcist is a project that never left Friedkin’s soul for long. One of his final projects, The Devil and Father Amorth, finds the director filming an honest-to-God exorcism. Friedkin loved capturing the juxtaposition between good and evil and sharing it with audiences worldwide.

Later, Friedkin directed Cruising, a controversial film the MPAA gave an X rating because of its graphic sex scenes. Disappointed by the organization’s prudish view, Friendkin lopped 40 minutes off the movie starring Al Pacino and Paul Sorvino to secure an R rating.

After helming To Live and Die in L.A., a thriller starring William Petersen and Willem Dafoe, Friedkin shot various music videos (including songs for Wang Chung and Barbra Streisand), 1990’s The Guardian, the Tales From the Crypt episode “On a Deadman’s Chest,” the sports drama Blue Chips, Jade, and the 1998 MGM telefilm 12 Angry Men, starring Jack Lemmon, Courtney B. Vance, George C. Scott, Ossie Davis, James Gandolfini, Edward James Olmos, Tony Danza, Petersen, and others.

Like most filmmakers who find themselves passing on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for one reason or another, Friedkin did have regrets. “I’ve burned bridges and relationships to the point that I consider myself lucky to still be around. I never played by the rules, often to my own detriment. I’ve been rude, exercised bad judgment, squandered most of the gifts God gave me, and treated the love and friendship of others as I did Basquiat’s art and Prince’s music. When you are immune to the feelings of others, can you be a good father, a good husband, a good friend? Do I have regrets? You bet.” If nothing else, Friedkin’s words prove that even the most enigmatic of filmmakers can fall prey to their own ego and sometimes unwillingness to see the forest for the trees.

We here at JoBlo wish Mr. Friedkin’s family, friends, and fans peace and healing during this difficult time. To say we’re admirers of Friedkin’s work is an understatement, and we wish him safe travels to the Great Hereafter. We will cherish his cinematic gifts and remember how he helped challenge the industry and beyond.

Writers/consultants Dave Baker and Eric Calderon have revealed more details about the shelved Alien vs. Predator anime series

In early 2020, we heard mention of an Alien vs. Predator anime series that had been made before the 20th Century Fox / Disney merger and never released. A few months ago, Joshua Izzo, who made Alien Day an official event while working at Fox, confirmed that an Alien vs. Predator anime series was produced, all ten episodes were completed, and now they’re just sitting in the Disney vault. Now the anime’s writers/consultants Dave Baker and Eric Calderon have revealed more details about the shelved series during an interview on the Best TV Never Made podcast!

The interview takes up two episodes, both of which can be found on the Best TV Never Made website. The show is hosted by Peter Holmstrom and Ryan Matsunaga.

Like Izzo said, the anime was originally envisioned as an adaptation of the Dark Horse Comics that followed the character Machiko Noguchi, and the idea was that three Machiko story arcs would play out over the 10 episodes, which could then be cut together into a trilogy of animated movies. The first episodes would be an adaptation of the Aliens vs. Predator comics, the next batch of episodes would be an adaptation of the follow-up Aliens vs. Predator: War, and then it would wrap up with a new Machiko story. Several scripts had been written for that approach when a director was brought in – and even though this director had never seen Predator, they wanted to come up with their own original story. They did happen to be a huge fan of Aliens, so there was going to be a lot of echoes of Aliens in this anime.

At first, the director suggested a story that would be set on a deep space freighter where an evil genius called The Game Master would gather Aliens, Predators, and humans together for a death match to find out who’s the strongest. Baker and Calderon convinced them to abandon that idea and figure out a different approach.

The podcast breaks it down for us: “The 10 episode series mainly focused on a teenage engineer who has to protect a young girl (around 6 years old) named Leen, very similar to the relationship between Ripley and Newt. This character is eventually discovered to be a genetically modified alien-human hybrid who can control aliens through pheromones. A b-plot follows Hank, a soldier type character modeled after Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Dutch from Predator, who had an encounter with a Predator many years ago and has PTSD as a result of it. That Predator has now returned to conclude their battle. This Predator was dubbed Einhander as it has only one hand. It was inspired by the Predator named Ahab from the Dark Horse comics.“

And since the director was heavily influenced by Aliens, “the main human villain became a businessman type who betrays the main characters at a certain point.” The director wanted to call the character Douglas Fairbanks, but the name was shortened to Fairbanks when he found out that Douglas Fairbanks was the name of a famous actor.

Baker and Calderon never directly say the name of the director during their interview. To hear more details about the anime that we may or may not ever have the chance to see, and to hear all about their experience working on the project, head over to the Best TV Never Made website and listen to the Alien vs. Predator: The Anime episodes.

Do you hope to see the Alien vs. Predator anime someday? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

A new clip from The Last Voyage of the Demeter shows Dracula (played by Javier Botet) attacking ship crew members

Universal Pictures’ The Last Voyage of the Demeter, which is based on a single chapter, the Captain’s Log, from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula, is set to reach theatres this Friday, August 11th… and if you don’t want to wait for more days to see the film’s version of Dracula in action, all you have to do is watch the new clip embedded above! The clip shows Dracula, played by Javier Botet (Mama), attacking the crew of the titular ship.

Escaping development hell twenty years after the script was first written (Bragi F. Schut, Stefan Ruzowitzky, and Zak Olkewicz all receive writing credits on the finished film), The Last Voyage of the Demeter tells the story of the merchant ship Demeter, which was chartered to carry private cargo – fifty unmarked wooden crates – from Carpathia to London. Strange events befall the doomed crew as they attempt to survive the ocean voyage, stalked each night by a merciless presence onboard the ship. When the Demeter finally arrives off the shores of England, it is a charred, derelict wreck. There is no trace of the crew. 

The film stars Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) as Clemens, a doctor who joins the Demeter crew; Aisling Franciosi (The Nightingale) as an unwitting stowaway; Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) as the ship’s captain; and David Dastmalchian (the Ant-Man franchise) as the Demeter’s first mate. Also in the cast are Jon Jon Briones (American Horror Story), Stefan Kapicic (Deadpool films), Nikolai Nikolaeff (Stranger Things), and the aforementioned Javier Botet.

Directed by André Øvredal (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), The Last Voyage of the Demeter is coming to us from DreamWorks Pictures. The project was produced by Brad Fischer and Mike Medavoy and Arnold Messer for Phoenix Pictures. Matthew Hirsch serves as executive producer. 

What did you think of the “Dracula attacks crew” from The Last Voyage of the Demeter? Will you be watching this movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

I won’t be making it out to the theatre this week, but I’m really looking forward to seeing The Last Voyage of the Demeter at some point down the line.