The week’s most share-worthy genre news, gathered for OtherWorldly Culture: the Smile curse changes directors, Ridley Scott returns to his Alien prequel saga, Fangoria hands out its Chainsaw Awards, Joe Bob Briggs fights for the drive-in in a new Dark Horse hardcover, LaKeith Stanfield plays an alien boyfriend, Scout Taylor-Compton steps behind the camera, a WWE star picks up his sword for real, and Sarah Snook faces down The Birds at HBO.
Smile 3 Is Officially Moving Forward, With David Bruckner Directing
Paramount is moving ahead with Smile 3, but the curse is changing hands behind the camera. Variety reports David Bruckner, director of The Ritual, The Night House and the 2022 Hellraiser, will direct the third film from a screenplay by Nick Antosca, creator of Channel Zero and Apple’s Cape Fear series. Franchise creator Parker Finn, who wrote and directed both earlier films, pitched the framework for this installment and stays on as a producer with Temple Hill while he directs his Possession remake. No plot, cast or release date has been announced yet.
Source: Bloody Disgusting — reporting Variety
Ridley Scott Is Developing a New Alien Film Following Prometheus and Covenant
The Alien saga is returning to Ridley Scott’s prequel storyline. The Hollywood Reporter, via SYFY, confirms a new film in development at 20th Century Studios that follows Prometheus and Alien: Covenant rather than Alien: Romulus. Scott produces through Scott Free but is not currently attached to direct. Aaron Guzikowski, creator of Raised by Wolves and writer of Prisoners, is writing the script. The connective figure is David, Michael Fassbender’s android, though Fassbender is not believed to be attached at this early stage. A separate Romulus follow-up also remains in development, and no release window has been set.
Source: SYFY — reporting The Hollywood Reporter
Obsession and Backrooms Lead the 2026 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Winners
Obsession and Backrooms were the big winners at the 2026 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, the fan-voted ceremony hosted by Devon Sawa that premiered October 25 on Shudder. Curry Barker’s Obsession led with five wins, including Best Wide Release Movie, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Performance for Inde Navarrette and the write-in Best Kill honor. Kane Parsons’ Backrooms took three, including Best First Feature, Best Cinematography and Best Score. Other winners included Dust Bunny, Exit 8, V/H/S/Halloween, Frankenstein for costume and makeup effects, and Indy, the canine star of Good Boy, who earned a special Goodest Boy award.
Source: Fangoria
Joe Bob Briggs Fights for the Drive-In in New Dark Horse Hardcover
Joe Bob is back in print. Dark Horse Books will publish Joe Bob Fights for the Drive-In, an art book-sized hardcover collecting Joe Bob Briggs’ classic drive-in columns from Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In and Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In, both long out of print, plus previously uncollected reviews unseen since they ran in newspapers and magazines decades ago. The 240-page edition features cover art by Eric Powell, illustrations by Mike Norton and an introduction by Wayne Newton. It arrives July 20, 2027 for $54.99, with preorders open now.
Source: Dark Horse Comics
LaKeith Stanfield Plays an Alien Opposite Joey King in Sci-Fi Rom-Com Safe Space
LaKeith Stanfield will play an alien in Safe Space, a science fiction romantic comedy opposite Joey King, according to Variety. King stars as Sherrie, a smart but insecure scientist trying to move on from a toxic relationship with a co-worker, who instead rebounds with Stanfield’s gorgeous alien visitor, setting up an intensely toxic romance of a very different kind. Gillian Wallace Horvat, director of I Blame Society, directs the satire of modern dating, intimacy and screen-driven connection. The project is seeking financing, with production planned for the second quarter of 2027 in the United States.
Source: ComingSoon — reporting Variety
Scout Taylor-Compton Directs Deadly Board Game Horror Survive: The Game
Scout Taylor-Compton, who played Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s Halloween films, is stepping behind the camera to direct Survive: The Game. Deadline reports she co-wrote the film with Michael Kennedy, and filming is now underway in Spain. A group of friends finds an ancient board game inside a secluded cabin with a violent history, and every roll brings deadly consequences to life, forcing them to finish the game to survive while confronting dark versions of themselves. Olivia Holt, Rohan Campbell and Jaimie Alexander star, and Randy Wayne produces, his fourth collaboration with Taylor-Compton.
Source: HorrorFuel — reporting Deadline
Rock Artist Kurt Deimer Stars in Southern Slasher Hellbilly Hollow, Now Streaming
Rock and horror share top billing in Hellbilly Hollow, now available on streaming and transactional video on demand as of October 27. Rock artist Kurt Deimer co-stars with director Kevin Wayne as killer siblings Tickles and Bull, hunting visitors at a real Alabama haunted attraction where the film was shot on location in Vincent. Deimer performs eight original songs in the film, and Roy Mayorga, drummer for Ministry, Soulfly and Stone Sour, composed the original score. Danny Vinson and Sandra Ellis Lafferty also star in the Southern slasher, built around practical carnival set pieces.
Source: EIN Presswire
Drew McIntyre Leads WWE’s Agent of Shadows, Premiered October 23 on ReelShort
WWE’s first collaboration with ReelShort, the microdrama Agent of Shadows, premiered October 23, and Drew McIntyre finally gets to use his sword on screen. McIntyre stars as Roscoe, the tech-savvy right-hand man to secret agent Adam Hawke, who must protect a daughter he never knew he had from a criminal organization. Jacob Fatu, Joe Hendry, Booker T, Michael Hayes and Nikkita Lyons also appear in the vertical short-form series. McIntyre told interviewers he pitched using his trademark claymore in WWE for years, and this production, born of a partnership announced in July, finally let him.
Source: Slam Wrestling
‘The Birds’ Limited Series Starring Sarah Snook Lands at HBO for Development
The Birds are flocking to HBO. A limited series adaptation of Daphne du Maurier’s classic story — the source of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film — is in development at the network, with Sarah Snook (Succession, All Her Fault) set to star. Tom Spezialy is attached to the project, with David Heyman’s Heyday Television producing alongside Universal Content Productions. Details on the new take are being kept under wraps, but with Snook leading and that pedigree behind the camera, this is one remake announcement that has earned our attention.
Source: Deadline
That’s the week in briefs — see you next Saturday.
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Text in this article partially by Muse AI. Minimal editing by Tim Kretschmann. The future is upon us.
Some images were also created using the Muse AI tools.
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