John Carter 2 (2024), the long-awaited sequel to Disney’s 2012 epic John Carter, promises to reignite the grandeur and adventure of Barsoom while delving deeper into its lore, characters, and the enduring fight for freedom. Directed by a fresh visionary helm, the sequel brings back the charismatic Taylor Kitsch as the тιтular Earth-born hero, John Carter, and Lynn Collins as the fearless Dejah Thoris, alongside a stellar ensemble cast. This installment seeks to expand on the mythical and political intrigues of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Martian saga, delivering a high-stakes tale that intertwines love, loyalty, and the destiny of an entire planet.

Picking up where the first film left off, John Carter 2 sees Carter once again transported to the red sands of Barsoom, where tensions among the warring factions have reached a breaking point. As the city of Helium faces an existential threat from an ancient, awakening force buried deep beneath the planet’s surface, Carter must unite the divided tribes of Barsoom against a common enemy. Alongside Dejah Thoris, now a queen torn between her duty to her people and her love for Carter, he embarks on a perilous journey across Barsoom’s uncharted territories to unlock the secrets of the Ninth Ray—a power that holds the key to Barsoom’s survival.

The film introduces new characters, including a mysterious rogue Thark with questionable loyalties, played by a scene-stealing addition to the cast, and an enigmatic priestess who guards the secrets of Barsoom’s ancient civilizations. These additions add depth and complexity to the narrative, creating layers of intrigue that elevate the stakes. Carter’s journey of self-discovery runs parallel to the larger conflict, as he grapples with his idenтιтy as a man caught between two worlds and his responsibility to a planet that has become his second home.

Visually, John Carter 2 is a feast for the senses, building on the groundbreaking effects of its predecessor. The landscapes of Barsoom are even more vivid and imaginative, with lush new environments and awe-inspiring alien architecture that transport viewers to the heart of the Martian world. The action sequences are more dynamic and fluid, showcasing larger battles, high-flying aerial dogfights, and thrilling one-on-one duels. The film’s pacing balances these grand set pieces with quieter, character-driven moments, ensuring that the story remains grounded in its emotional core.

Taylor Kitsch delivers a compelling performance, bringing a rugged charm and emotional weight to John Carter’s character. Lynn Collins shines as Dejah Thoris, whose leadership and intelligence are showcased even more prominently in this sequel. Their chemistry anchors the film, adding emotional stakes to the unfolding epic. The supporting cast, including the ever-loyal Woola and the formidable Thark warrior Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Dafoe), provides humor, gravitas, and heart to the story.

The film’s score, composed by a renowned modern maestro, elevates the emotional resonance and epic scale, weaving motifs from the first film with new, hauntingly beautiful themes that reflect the story’s deepening complexity.

John Carter 2 is a triumphant return to the world of Barsoom, offering a thrilling blend of high-octane action, intricate world-building, and deeply human storytelling. It redeems and revitalizes the legacy of the original, proving that the stories of Mars—and the heroes who fight for its future—are far from over. With its epic scale, compelling characters, and stunning visuals, this sequel not only honors the spirit of the original but propels the saga into bold, uncharted territory, leaving fans eager for even more adventures on the red planet.

A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

Hoxne Hoard treasures. Photo by Helen Simonsson CC by SA-2.0

November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

Hoxne Village. Photo by Duncan Grey CC BY-SA 2.0

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

Hoxne Hoard: Display case at the British Museum showing a reconstruction of the arrangement of the hoard treasure when excavated in 1992. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Hoxne Hoard: Coins. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

The silver “Hoxne Tigress” – the broken-off handle from an unknown object – is the best known single piece out of some 15,000 in the hoard. Photo by Mike Peel CC BY-SA 4.0

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

A silver-gilt spoon with a marine beast from the Hoxne Hoard. Currently in the British Museum. Photo by JMiall CC BY-SA 3.0

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Reconstruction of the Hoxne treasure chest. Photo by Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-4.0

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

Two gold bracelets from the Hoxne Hoard, in the British Museum. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Three silver-gilt Roman piperatoria or pepper pots from the Hoxne Hoard on display at the British Museum

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

Two toiletry items, one in the shape of a crane-like bird; the other with an empty socket, probably for bristles for a makeup brush. Photo by Fæ CC BY-SA 3.0

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.