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Category: News

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Production Shifts Location

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Production Shifts Location

    Earlier this year we shared the news that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was set to film this coming Fall in London. James Gunn confirmed a UK shoot in March in the tweet below, but as we know, when it comes to movie production timelines and locations, nothing is final until the shoot begins.

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1369427359170957320?s=19

    We have learned that the third and apparently final Gunn-led Guardians film is now on track to be one of 3 MCU productions to film in Atlanta this Fall. Gunn is scheduled to complete filming on the HBO Max series Peacemaker, currently shooting in British Columbia, sometime next month and will have plenty of time for post-production on that series before getting going on Vol. 3 before 2021 comes to a close. Gunn will also be filming the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special during this time which may be why they’ll get cameras rolling so early relative to their current release date.

  • New ‘American Horror’ Story Spin-Off Set Photos Offer First Look at Danny Trejo and Charles Melton

    New ‘American Horror’ Story Spin-Off Set Photos Offer First Look at Danny Trejo and Charles Melton

    One of the best parts of American Horror Story is its ability to constantly reinvent itself every season, keeping around familiar faces, while remaining fresh and inventive. What started with a haunted house moved on to a slasher-infested campground or the end of the world. Now, the series aims to do so each episode with its anthology spin-off titled American Horror Stories. We previously reported that the series would kick off with yet another return to the Murder House. It’ll introduce a new set of characters daring to journey within, but now we have more insight into other episodes

    New photos from the series’ set reveal that the production has set up shop at the Los Cerritos Center in Cerritos, California. What’s stands out is that the mall has been completely redecorated for what seems to be a Christmas-themed episode. First spotted by fans, actors Dany Trejo and Charles Melton appear to be the big stars of this episode. Trejo seems to be playing a mall Santa, who could be the main threat that Melton‘s character faces. It isn’t the actor’s first time on AHS, as he previously had a guest appearance in the Hotel storyline. Here is a closer look at both actors on set

     

    Trejo’s role in the upcoming episode wouldn’t be the first time the series has seen a psychotic Santa. In the second season, episode “Holy Night” introduced us to Leigh Emerson. The episode opened in 1962 with Leigh murdering a charity collection Santa, stealing his costume, and proceeding to go on a killing spree. Could Trejo‘s character be inspired by those killings and is following in the footsteps?

    Source: Instagram (Trejo), Instagram (Melton)

  • CW Picks Up ‘Naomi’ Series and Passes on ‘Black Lightning’ Spin-Off

    CW Picks Up ‘Naomi’ Series and Passes on ‘Black Lightning’ Spin-Off

    The year 2019 marked the debut of yet another original character from Brian Michael Bendis, Naomi. He is best known for creating characters like Jessica Jones, Miles Morales, Ironheart, and Daisy Johnson. The story of his latest work followed the bright, young mind of Naomi. She slowly discovers that something larger at play going on in her small town of Port Oswego. The mystery expanded as Naomi began to dig deeper and deeper to discover just where she really came from, as she begins to develop abilities that rival even the might of Superman.

    It was announced late last year that Ava DuVernay had begun development on a series surrounding the character for the CW network, writing and serving as executive producer on the series alongside Jill Blankenship. The project received a pilot order from the network and quickly jumped into production as it rounded out its cast. It’s now been confirmed that the CW has picked up the superhero drama to series. It’s currently unknown how many episodes the season will run and no timeframe for release has been given. DuVernay shared her enthusiasm on Twitter about the series pick-up:

    https://twitter.com/ava/status/1396894030533775360?s=20

    For those unfamiliar with the character of Naomi and interested in her story, the best place to start would be Naomi issues #1-6. Naomi joins Bendis’ run on Young Justice in issue 10 and remains on the team till its end on issue #20. Naomi joins a packed roster alongside Stargirl, Superman and Lois, Batwoman, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. Alongside the news of a series pickup, the CW has confirmed that they’ve passed on the planned Painkiller series that was set to spin-off Black Lightning as the series reaches its end.

    Source: THR, Twitter

  • RUMOR: Square Enix and Team Ninja Developing a ‘Nioh’-Inspired ‘Final Fantasy’ Spin-Off

    RUMOR: Square Enix and Team Ninja Developing a ‘Nioh’-Inspired ‘Final Fantasy’ Spin-Off

    Square-Enix has started to expand its franchises with Marvel’s Avengers, Tomb Raider, Nier, and many more. Still, at the heart of the companies history lies the iconic Final Fantasy franchise. It has seen a resurgence as of late with the help of last year’s Final Fantasy VII Remake release and the reveal of Final Fantasy XVI. As E3 is just around the corner, we are seeing various rumors hit the web and one that may hint at one more entry in the classic franchise getting added to the latest console generation.

    Fanbyte revealed that a spin-off titled Final Fantasy Origin is in development alongside Team Ninja, who are the masterminds behind Ninja Gaiden, Nioh, and another Final Fantasy spin-off Dissidia NT. It is described as a Souls or Nioh-inspired game that’ll be They also go on to say that it’ll be an exclusive entry for PlayStation 5 and will be released on PC later. They claim even the logo and demo plans have leaked that would confirm its release at E3. The demo is currently titled “Stranger in Paradise,” which is common for gaming titles to avoid it leaking early. There are also plans to release a public alpha this summer.

    It is uncertain how far along the game is, but if there is a demo ready they might be eyeing a 2022 release. The 16th entry in the franchise might need some time as they promised an ambitious story. Now, the title also could hint at an action-RPG retelling of the original first two entries that were published under the Final Fantasy Origins banner on the original PlayStation. It would be an interesting idea to bring the original games into the modern age. Yet, it could also just be the franchise’s return to its fantastical roots. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait for too long.

    Source: Fanbyte

  • Timothée Chalamet Joins Warner Bros.’ ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ Prequel

    Timothée Chalamet Joins Warner Bros.’ ‘Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory’ Prequel

    It looks like Warner Bros. wants to bring back a cinematic and literary classic, as they are currently developing a prequel focused on Roald Dahl‘s Willy Wonka. Deadline has revealed that the production company and Roald Dahl Story Co.’s will explore the adventures of a young Willy Wonka before he created his iconic chocolate factory. It will feature musical numbers and continue the musical theme of the original film. That is not all, as Timothée Chalamet has been cast in the titular role of the crazy chocolatier. He has been in negotiation for some time, but as he will show off his singing and dancing skills, they needed to find time for training to ensure he can prep for the production. The film will be directed by Paul King based on a screenplay by Simon Farnaby. The script was also developed by prior writers Simon Rich, Simon Stephenson, Jeff Nathanson, and Steven Levenson.

    It will be the third adaption of the classic novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after Gene Wilder‘s 1971 version and then Johnny Depp in 2005. This incarnation of the famous childhood classic will be the first not to follow the story of Charlie Bucket. It is uncertain which direction they will take with this “origin story.” We could explore his childhood and what inspired him to take on the iconic mantle, or we’ll get to see a man explore the world and uncover candies that no one has ever seen before. At this point, anything is possible.

    Source: Deadline

  • Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis Join FX’s ‘Shogun’

    Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis Join FX’s ‘Shogun’

    It looks like FX found its leading duo for the upcoming adaptation of James Clavell‘s Shogun novel. Variety reports that Hiroyuki Sanada and Cosmo Jarvis will play the lead roles for the adaptation that’ll see two ambitious men come together in feudal Japan. English sailor John Blackthorne shipwrecks in Japan and meets the land’s daimyo Lord Toranaga. The only casting missing is for the mysterious female samurai Lady Mariko, whose casting may be revealed in the coming weeks.

    The series was announced during Disney’s Investors conference and was confirmed to also release on Disney’s Hulu streaming service. It was described as Game of Thrones in feudal Japan, which is an interesting concept. Tim Van Patten, the producer behind Boardwalk Empire, is producing the series that will be developed by Counterpart‘s Justin Marks. His wife, Rachel Kondo, will serve as a supervising producer. Marks might be better known for his work on Disney’s live-action Jungle Book.

    The series originally already entered a phase of pre-production before getting halted. With the casting underway, it seems nothing is stopping the production from heading to Japan to bring the mini-series to life. The casting is a good sign for the series’ work, as Sanada has recently been on a hot streak with his work on Army of the Dead, Mortal Kombat, Westworld, and many more. Jarvis might be familiar to fans of Raised by Wolves and Peaky Blinders but also appeared in Lady Macbeth and Calm With Horses. It’ll be interesting to see how they bring this iconic book to the small screen.

    Source: Variety, SlashFilm

  • Sony Currently Not Developing a ‘God of War’ Film or Series

    Sony Currently Not Developing a ‘God of War’ Film or Series

    Sony is currently on a new high developing film or TV series based on their most popular franchises. The new direction will be kicked off with the Tom Holland-led Uncharted film. We also already heard of a TV series based on Twisted Metal and the recent hit Ghost of Tsushima getting a film treatment. Of course, it led to speculation that some of their other classic IPs would also get some cinematic love moving forward, but it looks like one project remains a pure gaming property for now. In a New York Times article on the resurgence of gaming adaptations, Sony’s spokesman confirms that a God of War adaptation is currently not in development.

    So, the question is why aren’t they developing something surrounding one of their most popular franchises? There could be multiple reasons as the next entry is around the corner. Sony might not want to cause any confusion with the franchises’ move towards Nordic mythology while any adaptations return to their Greek roots. It would be a clever way to help newcomers to the franchise explore the character’s origins.

    As the article states, it doesn’t exclude that a project might be in the pipeline later down the line. There is a good chance we could potentially see them start development at a later time, as they will focus on current projects. Ghost of Tsushima, Uncharted, Twisted Metal, and what other projects are kind development might take up enough time. A project recreating the Greek pantheon might be quite costly and better off kept if other investments pay off.

    Source: NY Times

  • Gil Birmingham’s Casting Revealed in ‘Eternals’ Poster

    Gil Birmingham’s Casting Revealed in ‘Eternals’ Poster

    After a long wait, the first teaser for Marvel Studios’ Eternals has finally dropped. It includes first looks at the massive cast that consists of Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Don Lee, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, and many more. We also got a brand new poster that teases the visuals the film is going for with the official cast listing. Now, if you take a closer look at the bottom, it also includes more names that haven’t been heavily promoted. We thought we knew the entire cast of the film, but it looks like some well-known names found their way onto the poster as it confirms that Yellowstone‘s Chief Thomas Rainwater, Gil Birmingham, has joined the film in an unknown role. His inclusion also showcases the diversity of the film’s cast.

     

     

    It is unclear which role he might have but going by his placement he will have a prominent role in the film. There is a chance he could be doing the voice for one of the Celestials or even the film’s main antagonist, the Deviant Kro. So far, that is the only main character whose actor has not been revealed. Either way, the addition of Birmingham is great to see and hopefully, his role might mean we’ll see plenty more of him in the near future. The first teaser gave us a glimpse of these new alien beings that supervised the development of our world. Hopefully, the next trailer will offer a closer look at the story and why the alien race finally intervenes in humanity’s development.

    Source: Twitter

  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases a Big Summer

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Teases a Big Summer

    Marvel’s Avengers released its second event with the Red Room Takeover. Of course, that also means we get our weekly developer stream that offers insight into what is happening with the game. They went through the usual bug discussions. Yet, there was also some curious teases about what we can expect this summer. Without further ado, let’s jump into the updates

    • They have discussed some ongoing bugs. Some Red Room Takeover players have an issue with loading the second wave, which is getting looked at. There is also a bug that you won’t receive the reward that is getting looked at.
    • Champion levels have a UI issue, where they say +3 rather than 3%. They work as intended but will offer clarification soon.
    • The largest hint involved future updates, especially regarding new enemy types. It got confirmed that we will get a large batch of new enemies this summer, which could hint at Black Panther’s release. A brief mention also mentioned multiple villain sectors getting included in the expansion. There was a brief tease that Wakanda will be the most comic-inspired of all their design.
    • If you haven’t unlocked the nameplate for the Hulu MODOK show, you can unlock it by finishing the boss battle with the iconic Marvel villain.

     

    Marvel's Avengers gets a Black Panther expansion later this year • Eurogamer.net

     

    • Patrol Mode will not include a mini-map, but you can expect a new update that helps guide you through the open world.
    • Omega-Level Threats may release in the next patch, but that is not definite. They are currently working on three with the Cloning Lab to follow the first one’s release. There is also a big maybe in regards to a MODOK multiplayer mission.
    • They are looking into implementing the possibility to play multiple heroes as a permanent addition due to its popularity after the Tachyon Anomaly event.
    • Crystal Dynamics is taking a closer look at the feedback on the skins, especially regarding hair.
    • Elevator conversations are being looked into due to newer generations’ faster loading time skipping the elevator sequences.
    • Gear 2.0 will see incremental changes that offer more flexibility on how to establish your build.

    It sounds like some larger updates are definitely in development. Crystal Dynamics has confirmed that the current event was intended as a minor update, as they are trying to focus their work on what is heading our way. Here’s hoping the upcoming E3 and Summer Game Fest events will offer more details on what the future holds for the game.

    Source: Twitch

  • REPORT: Dan Trachtenberg’s ‘Predator’ Adds Amber Midthunder in Leading Role

    REPORT: Dan Trachtenberg’s ‘Predator’ Adds Amber Midthunder in Leading Role

    Around three months, we broke the first plot details on Dan Trachtenbergs‘s adaptation of Predator. Originally, the film was given the title Skulls before it was revealed by DiscussingFilm that it was actually part of the well-known franchise that started back in 1984. Now, it looks like DiscussingFilm shared that Amber Midthunder was cast in the film’s lead role. The Native American actress may be well-known to Legion fans and CW’s Roswell, New Mexico series. She will take on the role of a Comanche woman, who breaks her tribe’s gender norms and becomes a warrior, as she faces an unlikely nemesis. It will be based on a screenplay by Patrick Aison, who previously worked on USA’s Treadstone.

    The film is eyeing a production start in Calgary, Alberta. John Davis will produce the film under Davis Entertainment, who also worked on Chronicle, Shane Black‘s The Predator, and Shaft. It is uncertain if the film will embrace its horror roots, or lean more into the action direction. The direction teased seems rather interesting, as moving away from the typical guns could make for some more creative action sequences between Midthunder‘s character and the Predator alien. Whatever direction they choose to go, Trachtenberg will definitely offer a creative new approach to the classic franchise.

    Source: DiscussingFilm