SDCC Announces Air Date of 'Doctor Who' Season 9; Releases First Official Trailer

Jenna Coleman, Peter Capaldi and Michelle Gomez
courtesy the Irish Examiner

During the "Doctor Who" panel, in the infamous Hall H of San Diego Comic Con, the official date for the upcoming ninth season was revealed. The new season is set to air on the BBC, Saturday, September 19th.

Peter Capaldi, the Doctor and first time con-goer, was asked by moderator, Chris Hardwick, during the Doctor Who panel if it has been like any other show he's been on before. It's a well documented fact that Peter Capaldi is a long-time Whovian, so his response was quite touching; "It's the only show that's in my bones." He also admitted to getting teary eyed the first time he saw the TARDIS in person when he guest starred alongside David Tennant, in the 2008 episode, "The Fires of Pompeii."

In addition to the release date of the next season, attendees were treated to an exclusive look at the first official season 9 trailer. In it, we see old villains return, new foes arrive and what looks to be a lot of action. Not only are we treated to glimpses of what appear to be Missy and Clara working together, but we're also shown a brief interaction between Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor and Maisie Williams' (Game of Thrones) yet unknown character.

What do you think, Whovians? Are you excited for the new season and do you have any guesses who Maisie Williams will be playing? Let us know your thoughts & theories in the comments!

-Nowal Massari

UFO Does a Fly By Over an Argentinian Soccer Match?

Courtesy YouTube

What the heck is going on in South America during soccer games? Last week we reported on a mysterious "ghost" running through a stadium and now we have a video of a unidentified flying object soaring over a game in Argentina.

The report is thanks to Inexplicata: The Journal of Hispanic Ufology via Unexplained Mysteries and they write that the occurrence was over the San Lorenzo Stadium "during the last game against Botafogo for the Libertadores de America Cup, ending in a 3-0 victory by San Lorenzo." Good to at least know who won. The crowd was simply cheering for the game but the chanting was a bit reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind so you never know!

The anomaly moves left to right in an odd and rapid fashion and the video slows it down and enhances the image so you can take a better look and judge for yourselves. Is it a UFO? Well yes because it's not identified as anything specifically from our world, yet, but we'd love your opinion on what it might be. A hoax? A new type of experimental aircraft? A soccer superfan from Mars? Mothra? Let us know if we should start making tinfoil hats or if it's simply something of this world.



-Larissa Mrykalo

Cast for "Star Wars: Episode VII" Finally Revealed

First Official Cast Photo Provided by StarWars.com

"Star Wars" fans, we've got some huge news for you! The official site of the franchise has officially released the cast list for the upcoming installment. The cast will introduce some new faces, but more importantly, it will bring back some familiar ones.

New to the "Star Wars" Universe are actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow. Returning to the far, far away galaxy will be Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker. The newest edition of the "Star Wars" saga will be directed by J.J. Abrams, with a screenplay co-written by him and Lawrence Kasdan. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Kathleen Kennedy are producing the film, and John Williams will be returning to compose the score.

Of the new project, Abrams stated, "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud."

"Star Wars: Episode VII" is set to hit theaters on December 18, 2015.

-Nowal Massari

Stadium 'Ghost' Runs Through Soccer Fans

Courtesy Fox Sports/YouTube

Un Fantasma! Was the dark figure darting through the stands and looking like it was passing directly through the spectators at this soccer game, a ghost? According to Nine MSN, "The human silhouette was captured moving through the bleachers during a Fox Sports live transmission of Bolivia's The Strongest versus Defensor Sporting, of Uruguay, in La Paz's Hernando Siles Stadium on Thursday."

Apparently this is not the first time spectral activity has occurred in this city's oldest stadium and another figure was purportedly seen near its northern end. The article mentioned that skeptics are labeling this as a "reflection or double exposure of one of the players on the field." All we know is that it looks strange and that the addition of "The X-Files" theme in the background makes it extra fantasmatastic (not a word, but it should be?).

Check out the video below and let us know what you think is running around in this stadium...



-Larissa Mrykalo

'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

Police in Zimbabwe Recently Terrified By a 'Goblin'

This goblin cutie is courtesy of nerdapproved.com

gob·lin ˈgäblin (noun)
1. a mischievous, ugly, dwarflike creature of folklore.

Do you believe in goblins? Well, apparently they still do in some parts of the world, including Zimbabwe. A family from Bulawayo, the second largest city in the African country, "...dumped its tenant's 'goblin' at the Tshabalala Police Station, sending cops fleeing in different directions." This is according to Bulawayo24 News who also report that the incident occurred on Wednesday, January 15.

According to one of the officers, "We heard some screaming from the charge office and most officers who had knocked off rushed to see what was happening. At first everyone gathered around the suitcase, wanting to see what was inside."

And rightly so, it's also reported by an officer that "...a traditional healer who had come with the family opened the suitcase and a weird looking creature jumped out of a bottle that was filled with blood." It didn't smell very good either and it resulted in an empty police station. People fled through windows and doors when the creature, that's described as looking like either a "snake with the head of a dog and others said it was a dog with scales like a pangolin," escaped its bottle of blood.

So what happened to the goblin? The healer who opened the suitcase, captured and burned the creature. This incident was confirmed by Bulawayo deputy police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Bhekimpilo Ndlovu.

So what do you thing it was? A product of a ritualistic taxidermy. A Tokoloshe? Was it just mass hysteria thanks to superstitious beliefs in that part of the world? Whose blood was in that bottle? Maybe it was just a real goblin and now I need to build a goblin trap!

-Larissa Mrykalo

Historic Louisiana Plantation Burnt to the Ground by Ghost Hunting Group

The LeBeau Plantation- built in the 1850s served as a hotel and casino
but has been vacant since the 1980s

A group of alleged "paranormal investigators" have been arrested and charged with arson, burglary and criminal damage after breaking into the historic LeBeau Plantation and setting it on fire. The seven men, ranging in ages from 17 to 31, broke into the 160-year-old landmark to investigate the claims that it was haunted. Abandoning their investigation, the men decided to get drunk and high, and that's when things went even further downhill.

Initially the fire was believed to be an accident, however the suspects alerted the authorities that they had intentionally set the fire after not receiving any evidence of the paranormal. "They were in there looking for ghosts, drinking, smoking dope, and for some reason they made a decision- a concious decision- before they left to set this building on fire," local sheriff, James Pohlmann said. "St. Bernard lost a part of its history today, and these seven individuals are responsible for that."

Fire-fighters responded to the call around 2am on Friday morning, but by the time they arrived, the building was engulfed in flames. They were able to keep the three alarm fire under control, but were unable to save the abandoned building. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the fire.

True paranormal investigators everywhere are speaking out in disgust over the actions of these men. "Ghost Hunters" team member, Amy Bruni, took to her Facebook page to share her thoughts on the matter:

Everyone keeps asking me about the idiots who burned down a historic plantation while "investigating."

I wish the world would realize that beyond the shows, beyond the hype - there is a very real field here, that has been in existence since the 1800's. Watching a tv show, having a couple of beers and breaking into an abandoned building does not make you a Paranormal Investigator. It makes you a jack ass.

I'm so saddened when I hear stories like this. Have respect for these locations, their ghosts, their memories - and for this entire field. It's not a joke. It's not a thrill. People who truly love it, know that.

I believe wholeheartedly that "Ghost Hunters" sets a good example for those who want to investigate and that's why I have been a part of it for so many years. TAPS holds on to their integrity like gold and will continue to do so, even when the cameras stop rolling.

Investigate responsibly, my friends.
xoxo,
-a


-Nowal Massari

Area 51 does exist, says government

Warning sign near Area 51, courtesy Wikipedia

Yup, it exists, admits the government. After denying it for more than six decades, the CIA has officially the existence of Area 51, the test site outside of Rachel, Nev., and 90 miles north of Las Vegas.

Through a public records request from George Washington University's National Security Archive, the location and purpose of Area 51 -- as a Cold War testing facility for the U-2 spy plane program -- was acknolwedged. National Security Archive senior fellow Jeffrey Richelson has previously requested info on the U-2 program, but mentions of Area 51 had been redacted. In the new 400-page report he has received, those mentions are restored.

However, the report does not speak to the existence of crashed UFOs or alien bodies, other than to discuss the relationship between U-2s and UFO sightings.

"There is a section on the relationship between the U-2 program being responsible for UFO sightings," Jeffrey Richelson told the Los Angeles Times on Friday. "But if people are looking for sections on dead aliens and inter-species contact, they’ll be disappointed. It’s just not there."

Still, Richelson tells the Times that the report proves the the CIA is becoming less secretive about Area 51's existence, which "bodes well for future information requests about the Cold War weapons."

OK, cue the conspiracy theorists. What do you think about the admission of Area 51's existence? Most UFO fanatics who have roadtripped out there already knew some sort of government facility existed in the Nevada desert (as did Will Smith's character in ID4). Do you think this new report proves there's no big deal to the test site out there or that that's exactly what "they" want us to think?

-Aaron Sagers

Ricin letter sender just acting as 'actress'

Richardson

On Friday, news broke that an actress from The Walking Dead and The Vampire Diaries had been arrested for sending Ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama and NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

It seems, however, that the term "actress" was thrown around quite liberally, as Executive Producers from both series (Glen Mazzara and Julie Plec, respectively) have absolutely no recollection of the woman appearing on their shows.

Richardson's IMDB page is just as memorable as her roles, which is not at all. No acting credits appear on her page, but there are a few meaningless factoids about her.

Mazzara and Plec both took to Twitter after the announcement to ask fans if they recognized her, as neither of them recalled her. Fans of The Walking Dead did some digging, and found an image of her as a Walker, but she was merely a non-speaking extra. Plec stated if that had been her role on one show, she probably portrayed the equivalent on her show, The Vampire Diaries.

@glenmazzara If she played an equivalent part to one she supposedly played on TVD, she was third background from the right. Or something.
— julieplec (@julieplec) June 8, 2013

According to reports, Richardson (also known as Shannon Guess/Shannon Rogers) had previously called the FBI and blamed her husband for sending the poisoned letters, but it was later found that she had sent them herself. If convicted for the charge of mailing threatening communications to the POTUS, the 35-year-old mother of 5 could face up to 10 years in Federal prison.

-Nowal Massari