It's a new year and new geek showbiz news is popping; time for another round-up!

Netflix and Universal Studio Group division UCP are developing an anime series based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  Scott Pilgrim creator Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski will serve as showrunners if the series goes forward.  Animation will be done by Science SARU.  Oni Press repackaged the graphic novels in color editions in 2019 (see "’Scott Pilgrim’ Gets Makeover").

Production of Star Trek: Picard was shut down last week after over 50 people on the set tested positive for COVID-19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  The outbreak affected both cast and crew in multiple zones on set, and CBS/Paramount was forced to cancel filming for the first week back from the holiday break.  CBS/Paramount is currently filming Season 2 and Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard together in Los Angeles.  A first teaser was released last year (see "’Teaser for ‘Picard’").

Marvel Studios and Sony have delayed Morbius from January 28, 2022 to April 1, 2022 due to concerns that the Omicron Covid variant would impact theater attendance, according to The Hollywood Reporter.  This is at least the third time Morbius was pushed back: the first time was from July 31, 2020 to March 19, 2021 (see "Sony Pushes Back 'Morbius"), then the second time was from March 19, 2021 to January 28, 2022.

Fargo TV series creator Noah Hawley is developing an Alien TV series for FX, he said in an interview with Esquire.  He told the magazine he was wrestling with the world-building; he described the earth of the future on which the movies were set as being "trapped between the primordial past and the artificial intelligence of the future, where both are trying to kill us."

Warner Bros. Pictures released the main trailer for The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz (see trailer below).  The main trailer prominently features Paul Dano as The Riddler as well as Colin Farrell as Oswald Copplepot.  This movie will be released on March 4, 2022. The original DC Fandome trailer for this movie can be viewed here.

AMC has acquired Houston-based anime distributor Sentai Holdings, LLC, the company announced.  Sentai operates the consumer streamer HIDIVE as well as its distribution to third-party streamers including Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Amazon Prime.  Sentai was formed from the bones of ADV Films by John Ledford, the founder of both companies.  Sentai senior management Ledford, Griffin Vance, and Paul Clinkscales will continue in senior roles.