Burning Man: Welcome to our world! Upwards of 70,000 punters were turned away from America’s Burning Man festival after organisers were forced to close the gates following a freak downpour on opening day. The week-long event eventually kicked off a day late last Tuesday (26 August). The fest – described as ‘similar to an acid trip’ – is a multi-cultural, spiritual gathering held in Nevada’s Black Rock desert. While an onslaught of rain is nothing to a seasoned T in the Park-er, nudity is permitted at Burning Man in celebration of art and self-expression – so let’s hope the weather cleared up or else there will have been a few people heading home with a stuffy nose (as well as a few other things I imagine).

Top reads: The Monogram Murders (Hercule Poirot Mystery 1) by Sophie Hannah; Since the publication of her first book in 1920, Agatha Christie wrote 33 novels, two plays and more than 50 short stories featuring Hercule Poirot. Now, for the first time ever, the guardians of her legacy have approved a brand new novel featuring Dame Agatha’s most beloved creation. In the hands of internationally bestselling author Sophie Hannah, Poirot plunges into a mystery set in 1920s London – a diabolically clever puzzle that can only be solved by the talented Belgian detective and his ‘little grey cells’.

Latest at the movies: Sex Tape; In an attempt to reignite their sex life, married couple Annie (Cameron Diaz) and Jay (Jason Segel) record their bedroom antics but accidentally end up synching the video to several iPads they’ve given out over the years. Cue a hilariously frantic race against time to get their electronics back.

From superhero to super spoof: Thor’s Chris Hemsworth and Pacific Rim’s Charlie Day have signed on to star in New Line Cinema’s reboot-sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation. The movie will see the now-adult Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms), his wife (Christina Applegate) and kids on a road trip similar to the adventures his parents (Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo) took him on when younger. Hemsworth will co-star as Stone Crandall, an up-and-coming anchorman and the husband of Rusty’s sister Audrey (still to be cast). Day will cameo as a river-rafting guide. Filming is set to start in September under the direction of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (the writers behind Horrible Bosses).

Blade Runner: A sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic is definitely in the works after the director praised a draft script written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green. Scott stated, “It’s written and it’s damn good. Of course it involves Harrison, who is a survivor after all these years despite the accident (a joke reference to Ford’s Star Wars injury). So yes, that will happen.” Scott is next scheduled to shoot The Martian with Matt Damon. Once that wraps, the Oscar-nominated director will look to start production on either Blade Runner 2 or Prometheus 2.

The Cellar: Mary Elizabeth Winstead is currently in negotiations to star in Paramount and Bad Robot’s The Cellar. The movie itself reportedly revolves around a young woman who wakes up in an underground cellar after a severe car accident and fears she has been abducted. Her captor, a doomsday prepper, tells her he saved her life but there’s been a terrible chemical attack that has left the outside uninhabitable. Not sure what to believe and as tensions rise, she decides she must escape – regardless of the terrors that await. I’m loving the sound of this. What would you do? What would I do? I’d need a peek outside just to be sure – probably killing myself and everyone else in the process. Winstead is a cracking wee actress. I first spotted her stylish bangs in Black Christmas (2006) and thereafter enjoyed her performances in the likes of The Thing, Death Proof and Live Free or Die Hard. I hope she lands the lead role and look forward to finding out what happens when her character – most likely – makes it outside.

AHS Freak Show: Step right up – the first promo poster featuring the cast of American Horror Story: Freak Show has arrived. As well as Sarah Paulson’s Siamese twins, Bette and Dot Tattler, we’ve got Kathy Bates’ bearded lady Effil Darling, Michael Chiklis’ strong man Wendell Del Toredo, and Jessica Lange’s ringleader Elsa Mars. AHS alums Frances Conroy, Dennis O’Hare, Angela Bassett and Evan Peters also appear in the pic. I cannot wait for the new season to kick off in October. Set in Florida in 1952, the story revolves around the conflict between the freaks and the “evil forces” who do not understand them. If the first three series are anything to go by, we’re in for a thrillingly rough ride.

The Collector: A copy of the first Superman comic has sold for a record $3.2m (£1.9m). The Man of Steel made his debut in Action Comics #1, which cost 10 cents in 1938. Around 50 unrestored originals are thought to have survived, and this edition is described as the most immaculate. New York dealers Metropolis Comics claim to have bought it, beating the previous record of $2.16m (£1.4m) set by another copy of the same comic in 2011. Now, comic collecting is a funny business. You’ve got more chance of making money by storing whisky than holding onto a recent edition of The Amazing Spider-Man or Guardians of the Galaxy. Unless the story arc makes a bold social statement or kills a superhero off, there’s no point in retaining a comic that revolves around a character that has already been seen on the big screen. What you want is to keep an eye out for first edition printings and the introduction of new stories, heroes and villains. Then you wait. It could be 50+ years (Ant-Man, 1962), might be 10 (The Walking Dead, 2003). Unless you’ve got the cash to buy and space to hoard 1000s of different comics, the gamble is saving the right ones that may possibly feature a future Batman or Joker. While my own copy of Marvel’s Witches is worthless a decade on, my Runaways and Heroes for Hire sets may be worth a few bob if they’re adapted for television or film at some point. That being said, I don’t personally stockpile my comics in the hope to cash in one day. I keep the stories I love for sentimental reasons and recycle the rest. I wouldn’t give up my Witches for £100. £1m?! SOLD!

Rockstar Games vs Lindsay Lohan: Grand Theft Auto V developer Rockstar has hit back at Lindsay Lohan, claiming her lawsuit against the studio is simply for publicity. The Mean Girls star believes that the GTA V character of Lacey Jonas is an “unequivocal” reference to her and wants Rockstar along with Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. to pay damages for using her image without permission. Take-Two argue the actress’ voice, name and likeness aren’t used, and the only resemblance is that Jonas is also a young, blonde woman. In New York court papers made public last Tuesday (26 August), Take-Two and Rockstar call the case frivolous and maintain it was “filed for publicity purposes.” They want it dismissed and want Lohan to cough up the dough for their legal fees. Lohan, a former Disney darling (The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, Herbie: Fully Loaded), was destined for big things before running into multiple legal issues over the past few years - mostly involving drink, drugs and driving. The GTA games, on the other hand, have went from strength to strength and in September last year the latest instalment made $800m on opening day alone. If Lohan was looking for publicity, she’s certainly got it - I just don’t think she’s going to like the outcome. Instead, she should have sued the creators of The L Word as the character of Niki Stevens was rumoured to be based on the 28-year-old after she worked with TLW’s Angela Robinson on Herbie.