Happy St Patrick's Day! In today's sci-fi news digest: X-Men , Jonathan Ross, Star Wars , The Amazing Spider-Man sequels, Fenella Fielding, Douglas Adams and more...
• After this year's X-Men: Days Of Future Past will come 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse which means The Wolverine 2 will be... 2017 at the absolute earliest? James Mangold is writing it but whether Hugh Jackman will return after 15 years in the role is not yet clear, say ComingSoon.net .
• Lupita Nyong'o, young star of 12 Years A Slave , has met with JJ Abrams to discuss a role in Star Wars Episode VII , say The Hollywood Reporter . "One possibility is that of a descendent of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which has been described as a non-Caucasian role. That is separate from the search for two roles, female and male, for characters in their twenties."
• The shortlist for this year's prestigious Arthur C Clarke Award for science fiction literature will be revealed tomorrow. The final winner will be announced in May, but the unveiling of the shortlist usually provokes much debate, so check back here tomorrow night to find out who's on it this year.
• Director Marc Webb won't be making The Amazing Spider-Man 4 , according to The Daily Beast . Films two (out soon, on the cover of SFX 246) and three are his work, but someone else will step in for the fourth installment, scheduled for a 4 May 2018 release with Sony.
• London-based public artist Martin Firrell launched his latest video portrait project, a recent study of Carry On Screaming star Fenella Fielding, on Friday night in London. The interactive piece , packed with quotes on life and love by the 86-year-old actress, is live online now.
• A film made directly for the BBC's iPlayer looks set to take viewers inside the life of Geek Syndicate founders Barry Nugent and David Monteith. To accompany a history of science fiction, the online piece intends to celebrate how " fans are as important as the creators in making the genre possible ." Nugent spoke to SFX this weekend: "After talking with them, both Dave and I are confident this isn't going to be one of those 'look and laugh at the geeks' docs. This is going to be looking at the fans and their stories. It's about the nature of being a sci-fi fan, in all its forms."
• London Super Comic Con took place at the weekend, featuring friends of SFX like Tony Lee, 2000 AD , Mark Buckingham, Jonathan Ross and loads more. The ExCeL venue was packed with cosplayers, panel discussions, signings, merch booths and more. Our sister mag Comic Heroes was the media partner of the main stage and here's a Vine enabling you to glimpse inside the hall . Find out more about future such events at www.londonsupercomicconvention.com and look out for a full write-up in SFX issue 248.
• Last week saw Doctor Who 's Lalla Ward and noted biologist Richard Dawkins discuss their friendship with Douglas Adams at Highgate Cemetery (where Adams is buried). The intimate evening – coinciding with the late author's 62nd birthday – enabled 60ish people to hear anecdotes about the Hitchhiker's writer's personal and professional life. If you ever make it up to Highgate, Douglas Adams is usually included on summer tours of the East Cemetery and there are special late-opening events on 5 June, 3 July and 7 August with tours at 7:30pm. The next discussion session SFX readers might find relevant is one on the life and work of scientist Michael Faraday (Tuesday 3 April).
• And finally, the latest issue of Comic Review is available for download now with Captain Marvel on the cover. Remember our chums on Comic Heroes mag also produce this weekly iPad/iPhone mag and it's just 99p (or free if you already get Comic Heroes via Apple Newsstand ).
