The race to produce “Doctor Who” takes shape, DC and “Star Trek” enter a new corporate era, and fresh horror trailers promise trouble in the classroom, the woods and the family home.
The News That Matters
A new team could soon be holding the keys to the TARDIS. Beverly Crusher is getting a missing chapter written by the woman who knows her best. And, as Halloween approaches, the horror calendar is filling with unsettling transformations and things best left undisturbed.
Our latest horror and sci-fi news roundup brings together the major franchise developments, this month’s releases and three new horror films to watch for.
Doctor Who: the race to take charge of the TARDIS
- Programme: Doctor Who
- Development: Production bids and BBC tender
The next regeneration of “Doctor Who” is taking shape behind the cameras. Deadline reports that Hat Trick Mercurio, the company run by Jed Mercurio and Jimmy Mulville, has submitted a bid to produce the series, with the “Line of Duty” creator attached as an executive producer.
The same Deadline report says World Productions has submitted a separate proposal, described as leading ITV Studios’ effort to secure the contract. STV Studios, meanwhile, is reported to have teamed up with Screen Scotland on a bid that would relocate production to Scotland.
The BBC’s competitive tender invites production companies to pitch their creative and production plans for the programme. It does not mean the BBC is selling “Doctor Who”: the broadcaster retains ownership of the property, as confirmed by the official Doctor Who website.
As Radio Times reports, the tender targets a return in 2028–29. Deadline reports that bidder interviews are planned for January 2027, followed by a contract award in March. These are plans for the selection process and a target broadcast window; a winning producer and exact premiere date have not been announced.
DC: Gunn and Safran stay, with “Clayface” approaching
- Studio: DC Studios
- Featured film: Clayface
Paramount’s official announcement confirms that its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery completed on 6 October, creating the combined company Skydance. According to Bleeding Cool’s report on the reporting arrangements, James Gunn and Peter Safran remain in charge of DC Studios, reporting directly to David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz.
Gunn has clarified that this preserves DC Studios’ direct access to the parent company’s leadership, as under former Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav. The structure continues under new bosses.
For horror fans, the immediate attraction is “Clayface”, opening in UK and US cinemas on 23 October, as listed by ODEON and the official film website. Directed by James Watkins and starring Tom Rhys Harries, the film takes DC into body horror through the story of an actor’s terrifying transformation. It is a very different prospect from the usual superhero spectacle.
Star Trek: Beverly Crusher’s missing years get their own story
- Comic: Star Trek: Crusher
- Writer: Gates McFadden
Gates McFadden is returning to Beverly Crusher as a writer. According to IDW’s announcement, published by First Comics News, her limited comic series “Star Trek: Crusher” is scheduled to begin in summer 2027, with art by Megan Levens and colours by Charlie Kirchoff.
The series will explore the gap between “Star Trek: Nemesis” and Crusher’s return in “Star Trek: Picard”. It gives McFadden the opportunity to develop the character’s unseen years herself, moving from performing Beverly’s dialogue to writing her next adventure.
On screen, Nerdist reports that a new “Star Trek” feature remains in development with John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. That ongoing project, previously reported by TheWrap, predates the completed merger.
For viewers, HBO Max’s current guidance says there are no immediate changes to either its service or Paramount+, including their apps, subscriptions and content. The services remain separate for now, although Skydance has stated a longer-term intention to combine them, as reported by Bleeding Cool.
Star Wars: “Galactic Racer” hits the starting line
- Game: Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- Developer: Fuse Games
As confirmed by StarWars.com, “Star Wars: Galactic Racer” launched on 6 October for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, putting players behind the controls of speeders and podracers in the galaxy’s underground racing scene.
Developed by Fuse Games, it follows racer Shade through the Galactic League in the New Republic era. The launch trailer featured on StarWars.com adds the salt-covered world of Crait to the attractions, while veteran podracer Sebulba returns to the circuit.
Amazon has also confirmed launch-day access through Luna for Prime members in eligible regions. Its announcement covers the single-player campaign, alongside Arcade and Scenarios modes — useful detail for anyone planning to try it through cloud gaming.
Marvel: “VisionQuest” prepares for its Disney+ debut
- Series: VisionQuest
- Platform: Disney+
Marvel has confirmed that “VisionQuest” arrives on Disney+ on 14 October, with Paul Bettany returning as Vision and Ruaridh Mollica playing Tommy, the son of Vision and Wanda Maximoff.
Ahead of the launch, Mollica’s September interview with SFX, reported by PinkNews, offers some context for his portrayal. Asked about Tommy’s bisexuality, established in the comics, the actor said he was unsure whether the series explicitly addresses it, but hoped his own experience as a bisexual actor would inform the character.
His comments describe his approach to the role. They do not confirm a particular relationship or storyline in the finished series.
“New Group”: Shudder turns conformity into cosmic horror
- Film: New Group
- Writer-director: Yûta Shimotsu
A school gymnastics routine becomes something altogether more disturbing in “New Group”, the new film from Japanese writer-director Yûta Shimotsu, whose previous feature was “Best Wishes to All”.
As detailed in Bloody Disgusting’s trailer report, Shudder’s trailer introduces a world in which high-school student Ai watches a strange collective mentality take hold of the people around her. Ordinary group behaviour gives way to grotesque physical horror, with the pressure to fit in becoming a threat to survival.
Anna Yamada, Yuzu Aoki and Pierre Taki star. The announced Shudder streaming debut is 6 November. A matching UK release has not been independently confirmed for this roundup.
“Creature of the Pines”: a documentary takes a dangerous turn
- Film: Creature of the Pines
- Writers-directors: Chris Ruppert and Tyler Transue
According to Bloody Disgusting’s trailer report, “Creature of the Pines” heads into New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, where a sceptical documentary team investigates unexplained disappearances. Their research draws them deeper into the wilderness — and closer to something that has been watching them.
The new trailer introduces the film’s found-footage approach and cryptid threat: an apparently hidden creature at the centre of the local mystery.
Chris Ruppert and Tyler Transue write and direct, with Greg Poppa, Eric Melaragni, Austin Green and Kelly Warren starring. The announced Screambox streaming date is 13 October; a UK release has not been independently confirmed.
“Doom Scroll”: a family celebration becomes a siege
- Film: Doom Scroll
- Director: Natalie Bailey
Jason Alexander and Josh Radnor lead the cast of “Doom Scroll”, a Passover-set horror-comedy that has completed filming in the Canary Islands, according to Dread Central’s coverage of Deadline’s production report.
Directed by Natalie Bailey, the film centres on a family’s Seder celebration being invaded by attackers pursuing revenge, online attention and power. A college student must protect his relatives as an ancient myth takes a frighteningly real form.
The ensemble also includes David Mazouz, Inbar Lavi, Betsy Brandt and Erin Darke. There is no release date in the production-wrap announcement.
Movieversalfilm Takeaway
Familiar worlds remain most interesting when they offer a fresh perspective: a different creative team, an overlooked character or a new way to explore a beloved setting. The same is true of horror, where an unsettling idea matters more than a recognisable name. These projects will ultimately stand or fall on the stories they tell.
Which has your attention: the next era of “Doctor Who”, Beverly Crusher’s untold story, or October’s horror releases?