We're back with another round-up of horror and sci-fi news, including a casting update for Hannibal’s third season, Scream Factory's new title announcement and their revealed special features for the Exterminators of the Year 3000 Blu-ray, and also an upcoming special screening of Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard that will include a Q&A with director B. Harrison Smith and cast members Billy Zane, Dee Wallace Stone, and Felissa Rose.
TVLine reports that Tony award-winning Nina Arianda (Broadway's Venus in Fur, Rob the Mob, Midnight in Paris) will play a recurring role on Hannibal in the third season that premieres this summer. Arianda plays a character named Molly—a strong single mother who is a romantic interest for one key character.
In other, previously announced Hannibal Season 3 casting news, Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit films) will play The Tooth Fairy serial killer (aka Francis Dolarhyde) from Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel (played by Ralph Fiennes in Brett Ratner's 2002 film adaptation) and Joe Anderson (The Grey, The Ruins) is replacing Michael Pitt as the villainous Mason Verger after Pitt decided to drop out of the role, likely due to a busy schedule.
Season 3 of Hannibal will feature Gillian Anderson as a series regular in the role of Bedelia du Maurier, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, and, of course, Mads Mikkelsen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, along with many more names both old and new.
In case you missed it, check out Jemma's Season 3 preview interview with the cast and producers of Hannibal:
Nina Arianda:
In Scream Factory news, the distributor has announced they will release Stigmata (1999), the Patricia Arquette-starring horror-thriller, on Blu-ray beginning May 12th. In addition to Arquette, the film stars Gabriel Byrne, Jonathan Pryce, and Nia Long:
"Fans of the 1999 possession-themed shocker STIGMATA will be pleased to know that we will be bringing it to the Blu-ray format for the first time on May 12th!
Starring Patricia Arquette (recent Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actress in Boyhood), Gabriel Byrne (The Usual Suspects, In Treatment) and Jonathan Pryce (Brazil, Tomorrow Never Dies) the movie was a surprise hit at the time of its release, grossing nearly $90M at the box-office internationally.
No details on extras at this time but you can expect most (if not all) extras that were on the prior 2000 MGM DVD release to be ported over. We will keep you posted closer to street date. Pre-order links will go up next month.
As for future film announcements, we're hoping to reveal more to you this Spring. If our plans go accordingly, we will have a VERY busy "Summer of Fear Part 2" and Fall slate. Stay tuned!"
Synopsis (via Blu-ray.com): "Frankie Paige (Arquette) has absolutely no faith in God. All of that changes when she suddenly begins to suffer the Stigmata - the living wounds of the crucified Christ. Frankie's miraculous bleeding comes to the attention of the Vatican's top investigator, Father Kiernan (Byrne). But when Cardinal Houseman (Pryce), discovers that Frankie is actually channeling an extraordinary and provacative message that could destroy the Church, he's convinced that she - and the force possessing her - must be forever silenced. Determined to stop this deadly conspiracy, Kiernan risks his faith - and his life - to save her and the message that will change the destiny of mankind forever."
Scream Factory also revealed the special features and cover art for their Exterminators of the Year 3000 Blu-ray that's slated for a March 3rd release:
Press Release – "An Italian-made exploitation classic now on Blu-ray for the first time! Scream Factory is proud to present Exterminators of the Year 3000, a futuristic film of survival, on March 3, 2015.
In a post-apocalyptic future where the earth is a desert and water is the most precious substance of all, a band of survivors must turn to a mysterious stranger to battle a ruthless gang of motorcycle psychos for control of the wasteland and the water. A glorious crash of guns, nuclear fallout, and synthesizers make this a must-see for anyone who’s been longing for the day in which they can finally get beyond Thunderdome.
Bonus Features:
- Audio Commentary with actor Robert Iannucci
- Interview with actor Robert Iannucci
- TV Spots
About Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory, LLC is a diversified multi-platform media company devoted to producing, uncovering, preserving and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their entire careers sharing their music, television and film favorites with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD and Blu-Ray™ offerings serve up feature films, classic and contemporary TV series, animation, live music and comedy specials in lavish packages crammed with extras. Shout’s audio division boasts GRAMMY®-nominated box sets, Broadway cast albums, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. In addition, Shout! Factory maintains a vast digital distribution network which delivers video and audio content to all the leading digital service providers in North America. Shout! Factory also owns and operates Timeless Media Group, Biograph Records, Majordomo Records, HighTone Records and Video Time Machine. These riches are the result of a creative acquisition mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit shoutfactory.com"
If you live in Los Angeles and are a fan of Billy Zane, Dee Wallace Stone, Felissa Rose, and zombies, then you'll want to take note of a special, free screening of B. Harrison Smith's Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard on January 27th (ahead of the film's release on Blu-ray and DVD via Anchor Bay on February 3rd). The screening will take place at USC's School of Cinematic Arts and will feature a Q&A with cast members Billy Zane, Dee Wallace Stone, Felissa Rose, Gabrielle Stone, Michael Kean, and more:
Press Release – "WHAT: Join director B. Harrison Smith (USC Class of ’85) for a special sneak preview screening of his new thriller ZOMBIE KILLERS: ELEPHANT’S GRAVEYARD at his alma mater, where he’ll introduce the film as well as moderate a Q&A with fellow cast mates Billy (Titanic) Zane, Dee (E.T. The Extraterrestrial) Wallace Stone, Felissa (Sleepaway Camp) Rose, and crew members after the screening on Tuesday evening, January 27th at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. See it before the February 3rd release on Blu-ray™ and DVD!
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, January 27th; 7:00pm
WHERE:
USC School of Cinematic Arts
Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Bldg. Lobby
900 E. 34th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007TICKETS: Tickets are FREE but RSVPs are required!
WHO: Stars Billy Zane, Dee Wallace Stone, Felissa Rose, Gabrielle Stone and ZeroGravityBand lead Michael Kean, making his feature debut; Director / co-writer B. Harrison Smith; Executive Producer Jeff Trainer; Director of Photography Charlie Anderson.
DETAILS: Anchor Bay Entertainment presents Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard, an exciting survival thriller about a fallen world that’s provocative as it is chilling. Directed by B. Harrison Smith, the film boasts a stellar genre cast including Billy Zane (Electrick Children,Titanic, Dead Calm), Dee Wallace (E.T., The Howling), Mischa Barton (“The O.C.,” Walled In), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp, Camp Dread), and Brian Anthony Wilson (Law Abiding Citizen).
The rural town of Elwood has always been a “bubble” against the backdrop of an organism-based epidemic where infected humans don’t die, instead they roam to spread the infection in a grisly, horrific way. Those who escape must survive—by any means necessary. But at what price? The "Zombie Killers" are a small band of young adults, trained by military vet Seiler (Zane), who have sworn to protect the town and aim for the head if anything threatens Elwood's last survivors."
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
