Famed U.S. Lake Monster is Getting a Mini-Series

Photo credit: Sandi Mansi, 1977

Cryptozoologists, believers and skeptics alike have long been enchanted by the mythos of many a monster.

One of the more famous aquatic creatures would have to be none other than Scotland's very own Loch Ness monster. While Nessie has been making news for decades, her lesser known relative will be getting his time in the spotlight this June in a mini-series titled "On the trail of ... Champ."

Champ is said to reside in the waters of Lake Champlain. Much like his (or her) cousin across the pond, Champ has been reported as resembling long extinct dinosaurs; a Plesiosaur or a Tanystropheus, depending on who you ask. As urban legends are wont to do, there are varying accounts in size, which have the beast ringing between 10 and 30 feet in length.

Filmmaker Aleksander Petakov and the crew behind Small Town Monsters (Beast of Whitehall 2016) spent the summer and part of fall in 2017 filming their documentary, in what is now the largest and most well-funded search for Champ on record.

This six-to-eight episode mini-series is just the beginning for "On the trail of..." which will be searching the Eastern United Stated for everyone's favorite hairy humanoid, Bigfoot, in 2019.

A crowdfunding campaign to fund post production costs will be launching on January 25. Petakov and Small Town Monsters will unleash their footage on DVD and VIDI Space streaming June 15, and you'll be able to catch it on Amazon sometime in July. VIDI Space is a new streaming platform founded by Nick Groff, Elizabeth Saint, and Justin Narragon, which will feature supernatural and paranormal content.

Join the search yourself and check out the trailer!

-Nowal Massari

Syfy's "Z Nation" Cast and Character Details Revealed

Images courtesy IMDB

Syfy recently revealed the cast members for their upcoming zombie drama, "Z Nation." This 13 episode action-horror series is brought to viewers by The Asylum, the production team behind "Sharknado," and will debut this fall.

Harold Perrineau, Tom Everett Scott, DJ Qualls, Michael Welch and Kellita Smith will be joining the post-apocalyptic serial. For more details on the characters and the show, check out the full press release!

"I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse" Coming to BBC Three

Courtesy The Telegraph

While some people may be "over" the zombie phenomenon, there is no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. According to BBC and Deadline, the virus has infected the world of reality television and will soon be shambling onto screens in the form of a game show.

In a nod that fans of George A. Romero will be sure to appreciate, the show takes place in a zombie infested mall a la "Dawn of the Dead." The ultimate goal of the show, as with any zompoc media, is to survive the hordes until the Army shows up to rescue you. To make things interesting, if a contestant is bitten on the show, they are taken out of the game in a particularly gruesome manner. Here are a few more details via the BBC:

New Extended Trailer for del Toro's 'The Strain' Gives Us Plot Clues

Courtesy FX

A just-released 30-second trailer for the new Guillermo del Toro series, "The Strain" paints a very ominous picture. It was nice to see FX give us more than a few seconds of tease and damn this series looks to be deliciously creepy. The official synopsis for the series hints at lots of virally-induced grim death and one of our favorites...vampires. The series is based on the 2009 vampire/horror novel written by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan. Two books followed in the trilogy, "The Fall" and "The Night Eternal."

Let us know what you think of this extended look. Tune in for the first of 13 episodes on FX this July 13 at 10 p.m. ET.

Here's the official synopsis from FX:
"The Strain" is a high concept thriller from Academy Award® nominated Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, author Chuck Hogan and writer/producer Carlton Cuse, which is based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy of the same title written by del Toro and Hogan. It tells the story of “Dr. Ephraim Goodweather,” the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.



-Larissa Mrykalo

'Friday the 13th' Returning to The Small Screen

Courtesy IMDB

Jason Voorhees has been hacking and slashing his way across the big screen since the 1980s, but soon, he will be making his killer debut on the small screen. According to Deadline, Crystal Lake Entertainment, along with Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films, have inked a deal to produce an hour-long dramatic series based off of characters and settings from the original "Friday the 13th" series.

Sean S. Cunningham, director of the 1980 film, is set to act as an executive producer on the upcoming project alongside Ted Fox (Fox Entertainment), Steve B. Harris (Diversion3 Entertainment), Mark Canton (Atmosphere Entertainment MM), and Randall Emmett & George Furla (EFO Films). Producer of the feature films and Horror Inc. president, Robert Barsamian, is slated to produce the new series. Roy Knyrim of SOTA FX will be providing special FX makeup for the series.

Marilyn Manson to Join 'Salem'

Courtesy WGN

Marilyn Manson, worlds foremost shock rocker, has recently joined up with WGN America's newest show "Salem." Currently, there is no mention of his role with the show, whether he will be acting or providing music, but stay tuned for the details as we get them! Be sure to catch "Salem" on WGN America, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET.

Series Synopsis:
Set in the volatile world of 17th century Massachusetts, 'Salem' explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth hiding behind the veil of this infamous period in American history. In Salem, witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem.

-Nowal Massari

Courtesy WGN America Salem Twitter

Two Brand New "Doctor Who" Comics From Titan Comics Coming Soon

Titan Comics is releasing two all new "Doctor Who" comic series and we've got a sneak peek at the covers for both issues!

First up, the Tenth Doctor will be returning in a brand new on-going series, which means a new companion and adventures throughout all of time and space. The first five issue arc will be presented by artist Elena Casagrande and written by Eisner Award winner, Nick Abadzis. The second arc will come from series architect Robbie Morrison.

The Eleventh Doctor will also be getting a new on-going series, taking on that wibbly-wobbly thing we call time and yelling "Geronimo!" in the face of danger. Series architects Rob Williams and Al Ewing, along with artist Simon Fraser, will be taking helm
of the TARDIS for this new series with the Eleventh Doctor.

If both first issue covers look familiar, they are by Alice X. Zhang, who's Doctor Who artwork has been floating around the internet unnamed for quite awhile. Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor and The Eleventh Doctor will hit shelves July 23, 2014. Until then, just keep Ponding and check out the gorgeous first issue covers below. Allons-y!

'Star Wars: Episode VII' to Begin Filming in May

Buckle up fellow nerds, for the ride has begun. Director J.J. Abrams has confirmed that filming of the latest "Star Wars" installment will begin in May 2014. According to Hitfix, Abrams has stated that filming will run from May until September, with a majority of filming taking place in the UK.

During the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, Abrams stated that a May shoot date was most likely, saying "That's the current plan,[...]We have our script and we’re full steam ahead. Have script, will travel." With a tentative December 18, 2015 release date, this means that the film could spend up to a year in post-production once filming wraps in September.

Will we be seeing these familiar faces?

Sources state that casting is nearly complete, no actual cast information has been confirmed at this time. That doesn't stop rumors from blasting through the internet, though!

Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill have all been rumored to make appearances in the upcoming film, while actors such as Dame Judi Dench, Zac Efron, Benedict Cumberbatch and Gary Oldman have all been recently linked to the project. Oldman actually confirmed via Metro that he had been approached for the film by producers, revealing "They’ve called. I’m more cynical about it now. I’ll believe it when I’m on the plane home. The deal isn’t done, but yeah, they’ve inquired." Joking, Oldman added "I mean Planet of the Apes, Harry Potter, Batman and Star Wars – bloody hell!"

As audiences are well aware of by now, Abrams is incredibly secretive about his projects and the upcoming Star Wars movie is absolutely no exception. With casting and plot completely hush-hush, it looks as though fans and detractors alike will have to impatiently wait a little longer for details.

-Nowal Massari