There has been lots of movement on geek film projects in the last few weeks and we round that news up here.

The Sony Pictures film version of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower has cast its gunslinger and Man in Black, EW is reporting. Idris Elba will portray the gunslinger Roland Deschain and Matthew McConaughey will portray the Man in Black, aka Randall Flagg, aka The Ageless Stranger (among many other names) (see “Geek Movie News Round-Up”). Deadline also reported actress Abbey Lee is in talks to play Tirana.  Director and co-writer Nikolaj Arcel said he will start shooting the film in South Africa in seven weeks, with a release date of Jan. 13, 2017.

There has been a lot of casting news for Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant in the past few weeks. Katherine Waterston will play the lead (see “Geek Film News Round-Up -- Pre-Holidays 2015”), and she will now be joined by Billy Crudup (Spotlight), according to Deadline; Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down), according to The Wrap;   Demian Bichir (Hateful Eight), according to THR; and Aussie actor Alex England, also according to  Deadline. If that wasn’t enough Xenomorph chow, Jussie Smollett, Amy Seimetz, Carmen Ejogo and Callie Hernandez have also been added to the cast, according to Deadline. The movie recently shifted release dates to Aug. 4, 2017 (see “Best in Shows--Q3 2017”).

Legendary Pictures has announced  Steven S. DeKnight to direct Pacific Rim 2, according to Deadline. This will be DeKnight’s feature directorial debut. He recently served as executive producer and head writer of Marvel’s Daredevil and also created the international hit series Spartacus.

Julianne Moore is currently in talks to play the villain for Kingsman 2, the sequel to the surprise hit Kingsman: The Secret Service,  according to THR. Matthew Vaughn will return to direct the sequel, which is rumored to be moving from a London setting to the United States.

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{IMAGE_6} Tommy Flanagan has been cast as one of the ravagers in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,  Heroic Hollywood has reported. He is set to play Yondu’s right hand man. The Scottish actor is best known for is supporting roles in Braveheart, Glatiator, and on Sons of Anarchy.

Emily Blunt has been cast as the voice of a new character in My Little Pony: The Movie, according to Variety.  Blunt joins Kristin Chenoweth, who will also voice a new character, with the “Mane 6” pony character voice actors from the animated show reprising their roles: Tara Strong, Cathy Weseluck, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain and Ashleigh Ball (see “'Best In Shows' Update“). The film is due in theaters on Nov. 3, 2017.