LOTR: Sean Bean Had to Cheat During His Mordor Meme Speech

A majority of The Lord of the Rings trilogy cast, plus Oscar-winning LOTR director Peter Jackson, reunited this weekend for Josh Gad's Reunited Apart YouTube series as a way to raise money for the charity No Kid Hungry. During the episode, which lasted almost an hour, Jackson dug into the famous Mordor speech made by Sean Bean's Boromir during the formation of the Fellowship. You know the one. It includes the lines "One does not simply walk into Mordor. Its black gates are guarded by more than just orcs. There is evil there that does not sleep. The Great Eye is ever watchful." Yup. it's the speech that launched a million "One Does Not..." memes over the past several years. "That entire speech that Sean had to deliver at the Council of Elrond was written the night before," Jackson explained. "It's long and we gave it to Sean the morning he arrived. What Sean did, which I thought was really clever, is he got a print-out of the speech taped to his knee." "It was on his knee and when he did that scene, you'll see [Jackson mimes Bean looking down, pretending to be deep in thought]." "If you watch the scene now, you'll see every time that Sean has to check his script." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazons-the-lord-of-the-rings-every-confirmed-actor&captions=true"] Amazon's massive Lord of the Rings TV series production was one of many projects shut down due to the coronavirus over the past few months, though New Zealand began slowly reopening for business after the first week of May, allowing for shooting to eventually resume for both LOTR: The Series and James Cameron's Avatar 2. Back in January, one of the LOTR series' lead actors was replaced when Robert Aramayo (Game of Thrones) joined the show, replacing Will Poulter (Black Mirror) as a young hero named Beldor. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/19/lord-of-the-rings-series-gets-early-season-2-renewal-from-amazon-ign-now"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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Star Wars Stormtroopers Encourage Social Distancing at Reopened Disney Springs

With Disney theme parks having lost $1 billion due to coronavirus closures, and tentative plans in place to reopen Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this July, Disney World's shopping district, Disney Springs, in Orlando, recently reopened to the public back on May 20...with some added advice from a pair of Stormtroopers. The following video comes from the Disney Springs YouTube account and it shows a couple of First Order Stormtroopers performing a handful of pre-recorded balcony skits about social-distancing and protecting oneself and others by using masks. Take a look... [youtube clip_id="_cCmJX7fOmU"] "Yeah, I'm going to need you to move one male bantha's length away, please," says one Stormtrooper as she suffers the aggressive arrogance of her cocky co-worker. When Walt Disney World Resort starts up again next month, the company's plan outlines a limited capacity for the park, with visitors having to secure a reservation for the day they wish to attend in advance. The capacity of the park will then incrementally increase as the county furthers its reopening phases. Looking for more Star Wars news floating around the galaxy? There's a new “#MakeSolo2Happen" movement online, a new Star Wars movie from Taika Waititi in the works, and some new quotes from Mark Hamill about if he'd ever want to play Luke Skywalker again. If you're looking to travel way back in the realm of Star Wars fandom, check out these pictures and video from A New Hope's first ever tour of the sci-fi fan convention circuit back in the summer of 1976. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/06/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-blooper-clip"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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The Batman's Riddler Praises Matt Reeves' Script as 'Really Powerful'

Though production on Matt Reeves' The Batman was shut down due to the coronavirus crisis, it hasn't stopped the stars of the film from heaping praise onto it - from Jeffrey Wright touting the "most badass" Batmobile to Andy Serkis teasing the emotional relationship between Alfred and Bruce. Now Paul Dano, who plays The Riddler in the movie, has opened up a little about the project while discussing his 2018 directorial debut, Wildlife, with The Playlist. When Dano was asked when he thought The Batman's filming might resume he answered “I was filming. I flew home to visit my baby and then didn’t get to fly back [because of the pandemic], which is a really strange thing." “But I feel really good about it," he continued. "I think Matt Reeves is the real deal. I was really surprised by his script, which I think is, is potentially really powerful. Hopefully we’ll get to get back to it sometime soon. I’m not sure.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-cast-every-actor-and-character&captions=true"] It was recently revealed that Robert Pattinson had just started working on Christopher Nolan's time-imploding adventure Tenet when he learned he had been cast as The Batman. Pattinson, in his interview with Total Film, went on to discuss the production stop. "We’d really gotten into a really good rhythm as well, so it’s kind of strange to be pausing. But, again, it’s a hard movie. I mean, obviously it’s Batman, so it’s kind of nice.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/20/big-changes-for-the-batman-and-other-dc-movies-ign-now"] In other Caped Crusader news, here's why it's time for a new live-action Robin - plus, what The Batman can learn from Batman & Robin. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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Will We See J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the Next Spider-Man Movie?

One of the great surprises in Spider-Man: Far From Home came right at the end, mid-credits, when actor J.K. Simmons -- who played J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, along with voicing the character in various Marvel animated series and Sony's Spider-Man video game -- portrayed ol' flat-top once more as an official part of the MCU. In Far From Home, Jameson was the host of an online crackpot conspiracy show called The Daily Bugle, who believed Quentin Beck's lies hook, line, and sinker - claiming that Mysterio was the greatest superhero of all time. In a recent edition of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Simmons was asked if fans should expect to see Jameson again in the next Spider-Man film. Simmons made it clear that while he'd signed on for sequels, it was up for the studio to decide if the character was returning or not. "I don't know if I would use the word expect," he said, as a way of tempering the anticipation. "It's great to have the opportunity, as these things evolve," he added, "to be one of the holdovers from the previous version." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phase-4-official-lineup&captions=true"] Simmons also thought back to his first time auditioning for Raimi's first Spider-Man film, which is something he had to do despite having worked with Raimi on two other films (For Love of the Game, The Gift). Simmons described the process as "nerve-wracking." "The producers and the people at Sony, they needed to be convinced," he said, "because obviously, there were a lot of much more high-profile actors that they had in mind that would help with the box office." Plus, Simmons audition was the scene where the Green Goblin busted through the wall of Jameson's Daily Bugle office and choked him, lifting him up in the air. "I'm holding the script pages," Simmons remembered, "reading the scene on the audition, but then at the same time, trying to...[choking noises]...pretending I'm being lifted by the neck and choked." You can actually check out Simmons' screen test here, as part of one of our recent Time Capsules. The video also includes a shirtless and shredded Tobey Maguire kicking some bad guy butt. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/30/hbo-max-streaming-service-review"] Check out this updated look at Sony's slate of upcoming films -- including the Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2, Venom 2, and Morbius. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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Suicide Squad Director Says His Film Became a 'Comedy' Because of Deadpool

This past week, following a notable uptick in “#ReleaseTheAyerCut online movement, Suicide Squad director David Ayer said that a director’s cut of the film would be “easy to complete.” This news came on the heels of Warner Bros. spending a reported $20 - $30 million to complete Zack Snyder's “Snyder Cut” of Justice League - which is set to release in 2021 on HBO Max. Ayer is back on Twitter this weekend, answering fans' queries about his original cut of Suicide Squad. Particularly, the choice to beat it "into a comedy" following the mixed reception of Batman v Superman and the blockbuster status of Deadpool. Check it out...

This trailer nailed the tone and intention of the film I made. Methodical. Layered. Complex, beautiful and sad. After the BVS reviews shell shocked the leadership at the time, and the success of Deadpool - My soulful drama was beaten into a “comedy” https://t.co/vrMw8QE2iZ

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) May 30, 2020

Ayer was responding to a compliment regarding the original teaser for Suicide Squad, explaining that it accurately reflected his vision of the film which was "Methodical. Layered. Complex, beautiful and sad." In an earlier tweet, Ayer mentioned how the reshoots were meant to course correct the movie for being "too dark" while also praising the performances of Jared Leto and Margot Robbie...

This was reshot because the tone was “too dark” - My first act was a normally constructed film. I took my inspiration from Nolan. There were real scenes with incredible acting between Jared and Margot. Joker was terrifying. Harley was complex. https://t.co/KeJHmI6EA7

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) May 30, 2020

Ayer, soon after, praised Warner Bros. now, tweeting that "The studio is in a great place today and encouraging filmmakers to make their vision"...

They do. They absolutely do. This was just a moment in the past - Those involved have moved on. The studio is in a great place today and encouraging filmmakers to make their vision. https://t.co/AhOhgvn5Qi

— David Ayer (@DavidAyerMovies) May 30, 2020

In related news, James Gunn's reboot of the Suicide Squad is still headed out way, as Gunn said there's no reason for his film to be delayed due to COVID-19 since it wrapped filming earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-confirmed-for-dcs-the-suicide-squad&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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Chris Evans Thinks a Captain America Return Would Be Too 'Risky'

As the MCU's Phase 4 finds itself a bit delayed - with Black Widow being postponed until November and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still needing to finish production -- Chris Evans recently nixed the idea of possibly returning to his role as Captain America after the character was given a grand send-off in Avengers: Endgame. Appearing on the U.K.'s The Graham Norton Show, Evans was asked if his time as Cap was truly over. "Yes, I think it is," Evans responded. "It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he continued. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way." Obviously, it would be difficult to bring Steve Rogers back to the MCU at this point given how the character opted, at the finish of Endgame, to travel back in time to live a life with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. Difficult, but not impossible. This is why "never say never" is often the prevailing message when it comes to Hollywood. "It's not a hard no," Evans added, "but it's not an eager yes either. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/mcu-phase-4-theory-black-widow-is-setting-up-an-avengers-level-villain-ign-now"] If you're looking for a deeper dive into Black Widow, here's a closer look at Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova and our theory about how the film might be setting up a new Avengers-level villain that's not Taskmaster. Also, if you're trying to keep track of everything, check out the new MCU: Phase 4 release schedule. Meanwhile, a superfan mapped out every scene in the MCU's first three phases in chronological order. https://ift.tt/3eyZ00i [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-plot-thread-the-mcu-abandoned&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

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Planet of the Apes Director to Fans: 'You're in Good Hands'

Given how beloved Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy is, fans may be a little wary now that a new Apes movie is in the works at Disney. But director Wes Ball is seeking to reassure fans that the series remains "in good hands" and will honor the legacy of that trilogy. Ball teased the new Planet of the Apes movie with Discussing Film, reiterating earlier comments that the movie isn't a reboot, but is set within the same universe as 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. In fact, many of the same writers and crew members from the previous movies have carried over to the Disney project. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-quickest-movie-franchise-reboots&captions=true"] Ball said, "We were using the same material, the same kind of technology, we were using a lot of the same people involved – I had asked Andy Serkis to join Mouse Guard [Bell's previous film, which wound up being a casualty of the Disney/Fox merger]. So it was kind of [a] natural fit. I understand where it came from and my big thing was: what do you do for a Planet of the Apes sequel? One, those last three movies are one of the great trilogies we have in modern movie history. They are just so well done. They honored the original movies they sprang from, the Charlton Heston movies, but they grounded it in a modern sensibility and it just worked. Caesar is one of the great movie characters that we’ll have throughout time. So what do you do to follow that up, right? At the same time, I wasn’t interested in doing a part four either. We want to also do our own thing." Ball elaborated on what sets the new movie apart from the Apes trilogy, saying, "We have a take. We have a way of staying in the universe that was created before us, but we’re also opening ourselves up in being able to do some really cool new stuff. ... I’m trying to be careful here. I’ll say this, for fans of the original three don’t worry – you’re in good hands. The original writers and producers that came up with Rise and Dawn, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, they’re also on board with this. Josh Friedman is writing this thing, a lot of the same crew is kind of involved. We will feel like we’re part of that original trilogy, but at the same time we’re able to do some really cool new stuff. It will be really exciting to see on the biggest screen possible." As you might expect, Ball is unsure when exactly filming will begin given the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he seems optimistic the film will continue taking shape in the months to come. If anything, the series' continued reliance on motion capture and computer effects may be an asset in 2020. "Planet of the Apes is moving forward and we have a giant art team cranking away on some incredible concept art," Ball said. "We’ve got the screenplay continuing to move forward, that will take the time that it takes and so that’s all good. Planet of the Apes is moving forward baby! Not only that, but we could actually be in virtual production relatively soon because it’s largely a CG movie." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/15/craziest-planet-of-the-apes-twist-endings"] It was first rumored in December that Ball would be directing a new Planet of the Apes movie. The filmmaker confirmed that news via Twitter that same day and said, "I would only do this if I felt I could offer something special while still honoring what’s come before." While the last Planet of the Apes movie hit theaters in 2017, the franchise has seen plenty of life elsewhere. There's been a cinematic adventure game, "an often infuriating VR game," and a graphic novel based on Rod Serling's early screenplay drafts of the original movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

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Ryan Gosling Is Universal's New Wolfman

Blade Runner 2049 star Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to star in Universal's upcoming reimagining of the horror classic, Wolfman, which is being written by Orange Is the New Black's Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. Per Variety, Universal has been meeting with potential directors for the project and a decision could be made soon. Variety goes on to say that one of the filmmakers in contention for the job is Cory Finley, who recently directed HBO's Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney. It's important to note that while Gosling originally pitched the idea for this new Wolfman tale, he has not officially closed a deal with the studio. At present, Gosling's next role will be in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's adaption of Martian author Andy Weir's upcoming novel, which is due for publication in Spring 2021. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"] Universal's first attempt at launching its very own Monsterverse (dubbed "The Dark Universe") did not go according to plan after 2017's The Mummy starring Tom Cruise failed to make a lasting impact at the box office. However, the studio has recently found success with The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss, which earned an impressive $98.3 million on a budget of only $7 million. For more on Universal's upcoming monsters movies, there's a new Dracula film that will be directed by Destroyer's Karyn Kusama, and find out what Brendan Fraser had to say about the possibility of returning for another Mummy movie. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/the-invisible-man-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

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Phantasy Star Online 2's Long-Awaited North American Release Hobbled by Bugs

Sega has responded to players who are currently struggling with the PC version of Phantasy Star Online 2, the popular MMORPG that recently received a long-awaited North American release. The launch has been plagued with issues when it comes to downloading and installing the game from the Windows Store. “We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and the negative experience some of you have had when trying to download and install [Phantasy Star Online 2],” says the North American Phantasy Star Online 2 team in a series of tweets published late last night. “Please know that we are working hard to solve these problems and that we appreciate your patience.” The team says it’s “working closely” with Microsoft to help solve some of the issues when trying to launch the game on Windows 10. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/08/phantasy-star-online-2-the-first-18-minutes"] Phantasy Star Online 2 is a long-running, free-to-play MMO that was released in Japan back in 2012. After eight years, an official North American release was announced at E3 2019 for PC and Xbox One during the Microsoft press conference. However, since its official release on May 27, 2020 players have encountered a variety of problems trying to get the PC version up and running from the Windows Store. Rather than a single issue, there appears to be a variety of different problems affecting different players. According to an extensive bug list compiled on Reddit, the launcher suffers from read/write install issues that can clog up PC storage space, corrupted downloads, non-functioning settings menu, and other random errors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/21-minutes-of-phantasy-star-online-2-exploration-gameplay"] One issue I’ve personally encountered with the PC version is being unable to select which drive to install Phantasy Star Online 2. Instead, the installation will only default to my primary drive without offering me a choice to select a different storage solution. Some players have taken the matter into their own hands. The developers behind the Arks Layer fan launcher — which is what allowed international players to access the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Online 2 these past eight years — have announced plans to update their launcher to support updates and patches for North American servers. They are also looking into solutions that could potentially bypass the Windows Store.

IGN previously reached out to the Phantasy Star Online 2 team to ask whether the developers were aware of the complaints and what plans there might be to address them. The developers eventually sent us a link to the publicly available statements released over Twitter.

[poilib element="accentDivider"]

Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

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3 Boys Hospitalized for Trying to Gain Super Powers Via Spider-Bite

Three Bolivian boys ended up hospitalized after they let a black widow bite them in the hopes they would gain super powers a la Spider-Man. "The Marvel-loving siblings — ages 12, 10 and 8 — found the spider while herding goats in Chayanta," according to the New York Post (via Telemundo). "Thinking it would give them superhero powers, they prodded it with a stick until it bit each of them in turn." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-top-25-best-spider-man-comics&captions=true"] The reports, citing local Bolivian officials, say the boys' mother found them crying. The boys were hospitalized with "fevers, tremors and muscle pains" before ultimately being discharged almost a week after they were bitten by the non-radioactive, non-power-granting spider. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/28/ranking-the-spider-man-movies-2019-edition"] Black widows are among the most venomous spiders but generally only pose a threat to humans when disturbed. As ill-advised as it is for kids to let a deadly arachnid bite them, at least they didn't surgically alter their faces to look like Red Skull.

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As Next-Gen Approaches, Switch Still Has 'Great Potential,' Witcher 3 Port Dev Says

When games like The Witcher 3 are porter to the Nintendo Switch it highlights just how capable a system Nintendo’s hybrid console is. And according to The Witcher 3 port developers, Saber Interactive, there’s the Switch is capable of much more. In an interview with WCCTech, Saber founder Matthew Karch says that the studio’s upcoming Switch version of World War Z “is actually more challenging than the port of The Witcher 3” and that there is “still a lot of great potential in the hardware and the platform.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-witcher-3-on-switch-screenshots&captions=true"] When Witcher 3 was announced for the Nintendo Switch there was some commotion considering the sheer size of CD Projekt Red’s RPG. In IGN’s review of The Witcher 3 on Switch, we were surprised by just how capable the port was, though wouldn’t say it was better than its PC or PS4/Xbox One counterparts. Karch also teased that upcoming Switch ports will be similarly impressive saying that he feels there are “more developers can get out of the Switch hardware, and we think fans will be surprised at some of the upcoming titles for it.” The comments are especially notable as the games industry prepares for the launch of next-gen systems like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. While the Switch has shown to be capable of playing current-gen games like Doom Eternal, there are some questions about what next-gen means for the Nintendo Switch. The question has fueled speculation about the rumored, but unconfirmed, Switch Pro. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/11/the-witcher-3-nintendo-switch-trailer-e3-2019"] Saber is a developer best known for supporting studios on ambitious ports. Saber helped develop ports for The Witcher 3, Vampyr, and World War Z. The studio is also assisting Crytek on Crysis Remastered, which will also come to the Nintendo Switch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

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The Last of Us Part 2 State of Play Impressions

BEYOND! On this week's episode of Podcast Beyond!, host Jonathon Dornbush is joined by Lucy O'Brien to break down everything we learned in the The Last of Us Part 2 State of Play presentation. We also discuss a bit of our hopes for the PS5 reveal event, which, naturally, was only a rumor when we recorded and then was officially announced 12 hours later. Ain't timing grand? Watch the new episode below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/29/the-last-of-us-part-2-state-of-play-impressions-beyond-episode-647"] Note: Unfortunately, we had a version of this episode that, due to technical issues, we lost the recording of, which featured the full cast. We'll return next week with coverage of the PS5 reveal event and more! Download or listen to the show on these platforms: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"]

• Direct Download

• YouTube (Link to come!)

• Apple Podcasts/iTunes

• Spotify

• Stitcher

• PlayerFM

• Podbay

• TuneIn

• Podbean

• Feedburner

Podcast Beyond! is live every Wednesday. For the latest on PS5, check out the PS5 full specs list, why we're excited about PS5's 3D audio focus, and an analysis of what teraflops really mean for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=97140c9d-47ff-415a-94e4-2c5eb2c11481"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond!, and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

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Will Disney 'Kill' Mulan's Theatrical Release in Favor of Digital?

Will Disney still release its live-action reimagining of Mulan in theaters in July as it's long claimed it would? Obviously, any theatrical release is entirely dependent on when cinemas reopen following worldwide COVID-19 closures but a Wall Street analyst claims Disney may ultimately opt to "kill" Mulan's theatrical release in favor of a digital debut. And that such a move may ultimately be better for Disney's business than pushing it out to theaters that cannot run at full capacity. Analyst Michael Nathanson of the firm MoffettNathanson said on an investors' conference call that if Mulan can gross even half of the usual $1 billion Disney's pre-pandemic spate of blockbusters usually made "it will be a freakin’ home run." Nathan, who Deadline describes as usually bullish on Disney's business, recently downgraded the company's shares in light of how hard hit and widespread the damage inflicted on Disney has been due to COVID-19 closures. [poilib element="quoteBox" parameters="excerpt=%22I%20don%E2%80%99t%20think%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20given%20that%20Mulan%E2%80%98s%20going%20to%20be%20released%20as%20we%20think.%22"]As Deadline reports: "Exhibitors and Disney alike have held firm that they are moving forward with the July plan, but Nathanson isn’t sure the studio will follow through. Beyond the viability of theaters, he said, the company would have to 'un-furlough a lot of their employees' in distribution and marketing. 'I don’t think it’s a given that Mulan‘s going to be released as we think.'” As with Tenet, Hollywood's other major July release, Mulan's theatrical run depends on 80% of cinemas worldwide being open within the next three weeks, including major American markets like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. (And, remember, theaters will still be required to practice social distancing so attendance will be limited.) If theaters in such markets still remain closed, it's likely Disney will have to push Mulan's release date again. Or, as analyst Nathanson suspects, Disney will opt to release Mulan digitally instead. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/3cQnthX] Pointing to the premium video-on-demand success of Universal's Trolls World Tour, Nathanson believes Mulan shifting to PVOD and then early Disney+ debut could actually be more beneficial to Disney than may be immediately apparent. Disney has pushed Artemis Fowl to a Disney+ release instead, while studio brass has left the door open to pushing smaller movies to digital instead of theatrical. He believes a Mulan digital release could serve as "a bit of a boost" to Disney+ and help Disney's stock in the long run: “If they do kill Mulan, that could help the narrative. In a perverse way, that could be better for Disney stock in the long run than having Mulan go to theaters.” (It should be noted that Mulan was tracking to be the biggest box office hit of 2020, domestically, before the pandemic struck the U.S.) [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] This analysis doesn't appear to account for what sort of backlash Disney could face from theatrical exhibitors should it pull such a high-profile movie as Mulan and release it on digital instead. AMC Theaters is at war with Universal over the studio's decision to drop theatrical releases for Trolls World Tour and The King of Staten Island in favor of VOD, and Warner Bros. has been careful to reiterate that Tenet will be a theatrical release after shifting Scoob! to digital. Would you be more willing to watch Mulan in theaters or on digital? Let us know in the comments!

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Jon Favreau on Early Baby Yoda Art Being 'Too Cute' or 'Too Ugly'

When The Mandalorian first debuted on Disney+ one character, in particular, sparked an internet frenzy unlike any other... Baby Yoda! And while we wait for more adventures with the little green guy in Season 2 later this year, the streamer is giving fans fascinating new behind the scenes footage, featuring the cast and crew breaking down how Baby Yoda was brought to life. In episode 2 of Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, titled "Practical," showrunner Jon Favreau explains the long process of creating one of the Star Wars universe's most adorable characters: "We got lots and lots of drawings, and some of them were too cute, and some of them were too ugly, and some of them were the wrong proportions," Favreau said. "But they were all informing, as we gave notes on each drawing, Dave [Filoni] and I started zeroing in on what it was. And finally, it was one image that Chris Alzmann did that had him wrapped up in what looked like a piece of a flight jacket or something, and his eyes looked a little weird. But we found it charming, and that’s what became the rallying image that we said, 'this is good.' And it developed from there… And that when the people from Legacy came in, and that’s when it became 'The Baby.'" [caption id="attachment_2358599" align="aligncenter" width="720"] "Some of them were too cute, and some of them were too ugly." - Jon Favreau[/caption] Another interesting reveal about the Baby Yoda puppet is that it took 3 months for the team at Legacy to build, and at any given time, there are three to four puppeteers controlling various aspects of his movements: Jason Matthews (eyes), Trevor Hensley (gross body moves and his head), Hiroshi ‘Kan’ Ikeuchi (ears and mouth), Mike Manzel (walking sequences, arm movements), Tamara Carlson Woodard (rotates in with a lot of the other puppeteers as needed and also made the costume). From the perspective of the actors, Gina Carano admitted that Baby Yoda stole every scene she shared with him. "Jon Favreau came up to me and he was like, ‘you did pretty good that time, that was a pretty good scene,'" Carano said jokingly. "But the baby kicked your ass.'" For Mando himself, Pedro Pascal said, "[Baby Yoda] activates your primal childhood dreams. We’re all going to be second fiddle to this little guy. That’s how cool he is." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/disney-gallery-star-wars-the-mandalorian-official-trailer"] For on The Mandalorian, find out why it takes three guys to play Mando and learn about Dave Filoni's epic journey from Avatar: The Last Airbender to the Star Wars universe. [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

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Netflix's Cowboy Bebop: More Than Half of Season 1 Has Been Filmed

Netflix's live-action Cowboy Bebop series hit an unfortunate snag last year when star John Cho was injured on set. Now executive producer Marty Adelstein (TNT's Snowpiercer) has provided an update on how many episodes were filmed before the series went on hiatus. In an interview with Syfy Wire, Adelstein revealed the series was deep into production by the time Cho injured his knee, triggering what was expected to be a seven-to-nine-month shutdown while Cho recovers. According to Adelstein, the first three Cowboy Bebop episodes have been completed, while Episodes 4 and 5 are in post-production and filming had begun on Episode 6 before the hiatus. This contradicts earlier reports indicating production had only been underway for a week before Cho's injury. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-live-action-remake-currently-in-development&captions=true"] "So, we have finished three episodes. I think we’re into [shooting] six; then John Cho tore his ACL, unfortunately. But I have to tell you I really like the show. It’s really fun," Adelstein told Syfy Wire. "And we have gone out of our way, because of all these anime movies that have come out and been accused of being whitewashed, we have really gone out of our way. The characters are all sort of multiethnic, and it’s a great cast. And the two episodes I have seen are so much fun. It’s really fun." Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any update on when production on Cowboy Bebop will resume. Obviously, the COVID-19 pandemic creates additional problems for the series on top of Cho's lengthy recovery process. Adelstein also had new updates to share on Netflix's live-action One Piece series. While COVID-19 will likely delay the start of filming until at least September, the first season of One Piece has been written, and Adelstein is hopeful casting will begin in June (possibly as soon as next week, in fact). "We were supposed to start filming in August in Cape Town, South Africa. We anticipate the date being able to film [now is] September, at the latest," Adelstein said. "We have basically all 10 scripts written. We will start casting when we go back. My suspicion is June 1, but we will start doing our casting. We have a lot of names that we’re talking about, and we should be in production in September. We have been working very closely with Sensei Oda. So, we’re going to get started, and this one is very big. I mean, Snowpiercer was a big production; this is even bigger." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/07/john-cho-talks-upcoming-cowboy-bebop-netflix-series"] Speaking to IGN in January 2020, Cho said he hasn't yet been in contact with original Cowboy Bebop director Shinichirō Watanabe, and noted one of the main challenges with the series has been maintaining the "unique" and "weird" tone of the anime. "I think that was the big thing I was focusing on all the time was...we got to keep it strange and that's hard to do, but I watched some of the stuff and I'm really happy with it," Cho said. While we wait for more news on both shows, check out our breakdown of all the live-action anime remakes currently in development. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

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Pattinson Was Cast as Batman on His First Day of Filming Tenet

Robert Pattinson had just started working on Christopher Nolan's time-bending espionage thriller Tenet when he learned he had been cast as The Batman. In a new interview with Total Film (via Batman-News), Pattinson recalls the "insane" and "very, very intense weekend" when he won the role of Batman just as he was starting a new movie from the director of the Dark Knight trilogy. Pattinson said he learned he'd been cast as Batman on "(the) morning of the first day" of filming Tenet. "That was a crazy way to start Chris’ film," Pattinson said. "I think I was doing the screen test, as well, on the Saturday before I started." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-how-robert-pattinsons-batsuit-draws-from-the-past&captions=true"] Pattinson then went straight from shooting Tenet to working on The Batman, a transition the actor says left him feeling "loopy." But then just seven weeks into filming, production on The Batman was shut down indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We’d really gotten into a really good rhythm as well, so it’s kind of strange to be pausing," Pattinson said. "But, again, it’s a hard movie. I mean, obviously it’s Batman, so it’s kind of nice.” Pattinson said "having some time off is not the worst thing in the world" given the whirlwind of going straight from one major production into another. "But hopefully it’ll be sooner rather than later that everything is hopefully in a better place.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/tenet-official-trailer-2"] For more on The Batman, learn what Jeffrey Wright had to say about Jim Gordon and the "badass" new Batmobile, what Robert Pattinson had to say about his Bat-fitness regiment and Andy Serkis' revelations about Alfred and the film's tone. And for more on Tenet, discover why Christopher Nolan broke his big tradition for the film, find out why Nolan decided to blow up a real 747 rather than use visual effects, and learn what John David Washington said about the plot.

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Hideo Kojima: 'Big Project' Scrapped, in Planning Stages for Next Game

Hideo Kojima was at work on a big project following Death Stranding, but he has since said it was recently scrapped. An interview published by Livedoor News and translated by Gematsu with Kojima revealed some interesting details about what Kojima has been up to in his post-Death Stranding days. He was at work on this unknown "big project," but his team has now entered the planning stages for what could be Kojima Productions' next big game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=death-stranding-timefall-jacket-replica&captions=true"] "I can't say anything since it's still in the planning stages, but we're doing various work behind the scenes," Kojima told Livedoor News. "Just recently, a big project fell apart, so I'm a bit upset about that." Don't sweat it too much though, Kojima Productions fans — Kojima laughed it off and said it happens often in the video game industry. As for what Kojima is working on now, it's not anything related to Metal Gear Solid or P.T. (Silent Hills). He told Livedoor News that those rumors about acquiring the rights to those franchises are "completely false," or that he "hasn't heard anything about it at least." Elsewhere in the interview, Kojima said Death Stranding is making a profit and has earned enough to make up for the development costs. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/09/death-stranding-pc-ultrawide-support-showcase-2-trailer"] "We surpassed the amount we needed to make a profit, so I think it sold well enough to be called a 'success,' recoupment of development costs included," Kojima said. "We'll release the PC version soon and have already secured enough profit to prepare for what's next, so there's no need to worry." As for what exactly is next, only Kojima and his team likely know. In the meantime, read up on the Half-Life content coming to the PC version of Death Stranding. If you need more Death Stranding in your life, check out this $2000 jacket based on the game. The PC release of Death Stranding is expected to come in July after a recent delay. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

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Attack on Titan's Final Season Gets New Art, First Teaser Trailer

Attack on Titan's fourth and final season has received its first teaser trailer and new key art, hinting at things to come. The teaser reveals the first footage of Attack of Titan's final season, as well as the show's staff and new animation studio MAPPA, the same studio behind Yuri!!! on Ice. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=attack-on-titan-final-season-teaser-trailer-screenshots&captions=true"] As reported by AnimeNewsNetwork, Dorohedoro's Yuichiro Hayashi will be directing the final season while Mob Psycho 100's Hiroshi Seko will take the lead on the scripts. Alongside the keyart, which you can see below, it was also announced that a compilation film titled Shingeki no Kyojin: Chronicle will be released in Japan on July 17, 2020 and will summarize the show's first three seasons. No date was given at the end of the teaser, possibly meaning that Attack on Titan's final season may be delayed from its original Fall 2020 release window. Attack on Titan's first season premiered in 2013, and it took until 2018 and 2019 for fans to receive seasons 2 and 3. At the Fourth Annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards, Attack on Titan's third season took home Best Director, while Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba took home the prize for Anime of the Year. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/03/top-10-most-anticipated-anime-of-2020"] Attack on Titan, which made our list of Best Anime of the Decade (2010-2019), may also be getting another live action adaptation, and it has been reported that director Andy Muschietti had signed on to the film in 2018, but it's been mostly quiet since then. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

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PlayStation Boss Not Interested in Making PS4 Versions of PS5 Games

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan is uninterested in making PS5 games run on PS4 hardware, stating that developers working on next-generation games should “make the most” of the new console’s advanced features. Talking to GamesIndustry, Ryan said “We believe that when you go to all the trouble of creating a next-gen console, that it should include features and benefits that the previous generation does not include. And that, in our view, people should make games that can make the most of those features.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/18/playstation-5-specs-detailed-ign-now"] The PS5 features a variety of new tech that is bespoke to the console, such as a controller that provides haptic feedback to simulate surfaces, and an SSD that offers 100x higher data transfer speeds, allowing for game data to be allocated in different ways compared to traditional mechanical hard drives. Simply put, these things can’t be translated to the PS4 hardware because the older console is not capable of doing so. It appears Ryan would much rather developers take full advantage of the new technology instead of worrying about cross-generation support. “We do believe in generations, and whether it's the DualSense controller, whether it's the 3D audio, whether it's the multiple ways that the SSD can be used,” he said. “We are thinking that it is time to give the PlayStation community something new, something different, that can really only be enjoyed on PS5." This approach is different from that being employed by Microsoft. The plan there is for Xbox Series X games to also work on the older Xbox One hardware, albeit running at lower quality. The approach means developers must consider the limitations of older technology while developing for what is technically the most powerful of the two next-generation consoles. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] We’re set to see more from Sony at the next PlayStation 5 conference, which will take place in June. The console is still set for release this year, and Ryan has said that COVID-19 will not impact the PS5’s price. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

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PS5 Price Has Not Been Affected by COVID-19

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan has said that the coronavirus pandemic has not changed Sony’s price plan for the PS5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/27/ps5-no-delay-because-of-covid-19-says-sony-ign-news"] Talking to BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat, Ryan would not confirm a price, but did state that the pandemic had not changed PlayStation’s pricing plans. He also believes COVID-19 will not impact distribution of the console. “It's obviously introducing a level of complexity any business would prefer not to have to deal with,” he said. “But we're feeling really good about the supply chain, we're going to launch this year and we'll be global." While he notes that hardware engineers have been unable to get to China to complete their work on finalising prototypes, Ryan states that “everybody's just rolled their sleeves up and got on with it”. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Sony has been quiet about the PS5 for some time, but will finally show more from its next-generation console on June 4. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

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PS5 Conference Announced for June 4

Sony has announced that a PS5 conference will be broadcast on Thursday, June 4 at 1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 9pm UK. Confirmed on the PlayStation blog, the show will last around an hour, and will be the first in a series of updates. As you might expect, we'll be seeing PS5 games shown off at the event - Sony hasn't specifically said that we'll see the PS5 unit itself, though.

Join us Thursday, June 4 at 1:00pm Pacific time for a look at the future of gaming on PlayStation 5: https://t.co/Yr8fafcOVd #PS5 pic.twitter.com/F0yBbDmOtC

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 29, 2020

On the PS Blog, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said: "The games coming to PS5 represent the best in the industry from innovative studios that span the globe. Studios, both larger and smaller, those newer and those more established, all have been hard at work developing games that will showcase the potential of the hardware." Speaking to the BBC, Ryan added that the show will attempt to translate some of the excitement of Sony's previous keynotes for an at-home audience: "Normally you would be in Los Angeles in some auditorium with 2000 other people. You'd be able to cut the adrenaline and the testosterone with a knife. We've got to find a way to do that and give the community little bit of a jolt. When you watch the show next week, I think you'll see that we've been able to do that." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] IGN will, of course, be covering the show in its entirety, so make sure to check back with us next Thursday. Earlier today, a report emerged that said all future PS4 games must be compatible with PS5 - as well as claiming PS4 versions of The Last of Us Part 2 and Ghost of Tsushima will be PS5-compatible. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.

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Marvel Superfan Maps Out Chronological Order of Every Single Scene in the MCU

A dedicated Marvel superfan has shared a comprehensive list of every single MCU scene, arranged in chronological order. Disney parks reviewer Tony Goldmark proudly announced his staggering achievement on Twitter, as he posted four screenshots mapping out each individual scene, from the 23 MCU movies released so far, in a timeline format.

Well nerds, I fuckin' did it.

Took me a global pandemic and a damn quarantine, but I did it. I figured out the precise chronological order of all the MCU movies (so far) BY SCENE. I'm out of my Goddamn mind. You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/3VXjqk4kjQ — what if a sandwich could make YOU? (@tonygoldmark) May 27, 2020

The lengthy list opens with the prologue of Thor: The Dark World before moving through the Thor franchise and then into Wakanda's history in Black Panther. After that, it continues on with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, then most of Captain America: The First Avenger, and it keeps going until it reaches its conclusion with Spider-Man: Far From Home. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/05/01/russo-brothers-on-the-future-of-the-marvel-cinematic-universe"] "Armed with a Disney+ subscription and a sudden surplus of free time, my goal was to list the exact order (or at least AN exact order) of when every scene from every movie takes place within the MCU chronology," Goldmark wrote in a blog post discussing the now-viral project. He said he set out "a few basic guidelines and caveats" before committing to the herculean task, as he explained that his timeline only covers the 23 MCU movies so far, meaning that no ABC or Netflix shows, shorts or deleted scenes made it into the 118-scene list. Further to this, Goldmark said he assessed flashback sequences on a "case-by-case basis" to determine whether to slot them into their proper place on the timeline or whether to keep them rooted in their respective movie's "present." "My rule was, I could only back up the Endgame time travel scenes into their proper 'time' in non-redundant instances where a full scene, with a proper beginning, middle and end, was completely unaffected by the future Avengers' time-heist shenanigans," he said. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phases-1-3-the-mcus-infinity-saga-ranked&captions=true"] Over the past decade, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a global phenomenon, with a diverse collection of superhero movies enjoying colossal success on a global scale. Last year, Avengers: Endgame earned the title of the highest-grossing movie of all time after generating nearly $2.80 billion worldwide. Before Marvel officially launches its Phase 4 slate, there could be some alternative fan-crafted content on the way, as one Twitter user has revealed that he is now following the timestamps on Goldmark's exhaustive rundown to edit the new order into a colossal chronological supercut of the MCU thus far. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

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Goosebumps: Dead of Night Announced

R.L. Stine's popular children's horror book series Goosebumps is coming to consoles in video game form. Cosmic Forces is partnering with Sony Pictures and Scholastic to create Goosebumps: Dead of Night, which will be released this Summer for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. As you can see in the official announcement trailer above, Goosebumps: Dead of Night is a first-person survival horror game, and its premise involves known Goosebumps villain Slappy the Dummy stealing classic pages from the book series, resulting in a horde of monsters setting out to look for you. Expect puzzle solving and the occasional jump-scare, and actor Jack Black, who is no stranger to video games (Brutal Legend), voices RL Stine. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=goosebumps-dead-of-night-screenshots&captions=true"] Cosmic Forces calls Dead of Night a "reimagining" of their mobile VR game, Goosebumps: Night of Scares. This console version adds improved graphics, additional gameplay chapters, new monsters, and expanded Stine House, improved AI, and more. Check out IGN's reviews of Goosebumps' "scary-good" 2015 film adaptation, along with the "slapdash" 2018 sequel, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s Executive Editor of Previews. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked, and drop-ship him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.

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Dishonored: Original Story ‘Complete,’ But Series Is Not On Hold

Arkane has revealed that the original story of the Dishonored series is “complete”, but the franchise has not been put on hold, as per previous reports. In an interview with IGN Middle East, Arkane Studio’s Co-Creative Director Dinga Bakaba set the record straight about a previous quote from Arkane’s Ricardo Bare, who said in 2018 that Dishonored was “resting for now.” This led fans to believe that the future of the series was uncertain, with outlets reporting that the series had been put on hold. ”It’s weird because for us as a studio, we never did a sequel to a game we made before,” Bakaba told IGN Middle East. “It was interesting to make and everything, but the rumors of putting the IP on hold was highly exaggerated and was misquoted” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/06/10/deathloop-cinematic-reveal-trailer-e3-2019"] Bakaba believes that Bare’s quote was ”over-interpreted.” “I don’t think there was a decision to put [the] Dishonored series on hold,“ he explained. While Arkane has wrapped up the storyline concerning Emily Kaldwin and Corvo Attano and believes the narrative to be complete, this doesn't mean that there can't be any more games in the Dishonored universe in the future. "It’s something where we had a story to tell about the Kaldwins and the Outsider, and that story is over,” he said “So, whatever happens, that Dishonored is complete. This is the best, and most honest answer we can give but, in any case, I don’t think we will be revisiting that [the Kaldwin storyline]. Bakaba goes on to explain that the decision not to revisit "that part" of the Dishonored world was a creative choice and speaks to Arkane's intentions as a studio. Bakaba goes on to explain that Arkane is "not a studio of one game, and I don't think we ever will be." In the years since Dishonored, we've seen Arkane turn to new projects like Prey, and supporting Machinegames in making Wolfenstein: Youngblood. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/11/14/dishonored-2-review"] It’s unclear what’s next for Arkane as far as Dishonored is concerned, but this leaves the door open should they wish to return to the game’s atmospheric world in some respect. We also have Deathloop to look forward to, an action-adventure game directed by Bakaba himself. The game is yet to receive a release date, but we’ll be sure to update you if we hear anything more about it. In other Arkane news, footage of their cancelled Half-Life project ‘Ravenholm’ was recently revealed thanks to a Noclip documentary.  [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN absolutely desperate for another immersive sim from the masters at Arkane. Follow him on Twitter. 

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Report: New PS4 Games Must Be Compatible With PS5 in Future

Sony has reportedly told developers that PS4 games submitted for certification from July 13 onwards must be forwards compatible with PS5. PS4 versions of The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima will also apparently be compatible with PS5. Per a report from Eurogamer, developer documentation on Sony's internal Partner website now includes a step that must be checked, saying that the game has been tested for compatibility with PS5. That compatibility apparently means that the PS4 game's code must run without issues on a PS5, and the game must include all the same features. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] Sony is also seemingly "strongly" recommending that any patch or remaster for a game submitted before July 13 would allow for PS5 compatibility. Any patch for a game submitted after that cut-off must ensure the game remains compatible with PS5. There's a difference between submission and release - games are submitted for certification well before release, so some games arriving after that cut-off date could still be non-compatible with PS5. However, Eurogamer also reports that it has heard that The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima - Sony's final major PS4 exclusives, and neither of which will have hit that cut-off point - will be supported on PS5. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/ps5-conference-coming-soon-ign-daily-fix"] We may learn more about this very soon, with an unannounced PS5 conference reportedly schedule for as early as next week. As for PS5 games, Sony has said we'll hear about a line-up "soon". It would appear Sony's pushing hard for cross-generation compatibility with this generation, with the majority of the 4,000+ PS4 titles apparently slated to run on PS5. Microsoft is making the same kinds of promises - only yesterday, it said Xbox Series X would launch with "thousands" of games due to compatibility support with previous Xbox generations. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter.

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Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid to Become the First Fighting Game With Cross-Play Across 5 Platforms

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid is set to become the first fighting game to support cross-play across five major gaming platforms. The game launches on Google Stadia as part of June's collection of free games for Stadia Pro subscribers and will feature cross-play with the other platforms the game is already available on. That includes PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The news was revealed via Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid's Twitter account, which noted that Battle for the Grid was the first fighting game to be platform-agnostic in the current generation.

We are the Power Rangers!

Expect the Ranger Nation to grow as PRBFTG will be available for Stadia Pro subscribers starting June That'll make us the first fighting game with full crossplay for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam and Stadia. Tag your Stadia friends below! https://t.co/jT5YldUa5i — Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid (@Battle4TheGrid) May 28, 2020

With fighting games necessitating extremely strong netcode for workable online play, cross-play is something of a rarity in the genre, so Battle for the Grid's move is an admirable one – especially for a game with a smaller playerbase than the traditional big hitters in the fighting game sphere, hopefully allowing fans to find a game more easily. As well as Battle for the Grid, Stadia Pro subscribers can also pick up Little Nightmares, Get Packed, Panzer Dragoon and Superhot as part of the package of free games for the month of June. We reviewed Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid back in March of 2019, calling the game a "mechanically sound 2D fighter." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

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Marvel's Avengers: Devs Discuss Representing Disability

Crystal Dynamics, the developer behind Marvel’s Avengers, and publisher Square Enix have revealed a new wheelchair-using superpowered NPC, which is one of the studio’s many efforts to increase its representation of disability. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/27/marvels-avengers-our-mission-video"] In a blog dedicated to accessibility, staff from Crystal Dynamics explained how accessibility has increased in importance to the studio since efforts first began in 2013. Last year, the studio earned APXP (Accessible Player Experience Practitioner) certification, signalling that it has staff members that are able to understand the experiences of players who have different needs. This has influenced several elements in Marvel’s Avengers, including an NPC called Cerise. She is part of the Inhumans, a group of superpowered people who are one of the core teams in Marvel’s comic canon. Her idle animations have been motion captured by Cherry Thompson, an accessibility specialist who has also been providing feedback on the game. Cerise provides representation for disabled people, but the game’s design also helps cater to disabled players. “One of the examples I am most excited about is a high contrast user interface (UI),” said Meagan Marie, the senior community and social media manager for Marvel’s Avengers. “The high contrast UI feature makes it easier to navigate for low-vision users or people who find some interfaces distracting and difficult to use. The UI team really did a great job on that one.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-avengers-a-day-gameplay-trailer-screenshots&captions=true"] The game will also feature fully remappable controls, character-associated subtitles, campaign-relevant closed captions, and HARM Training Rooms, each of which is helpful for different types of players. Marvel’s Avengers is due to release this September, after being delayed from a May launch. You’ll be able to see more of the game during IGN’s Summer of Gaming event, where we’ll see the Avengers’ War Table feature and co-op gameplay. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter. 

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One Shell Straight to Hell Is a Demonic New Twin-Stick Shooter

IGN can exclusively announce One Shell Straight to Hell, a new twin-stick shooter developed by Shotgun With Glitters. The game will be published by Feardemic, an indie label under Bloober Team, the Poland-based publisher behind Blair Witch and The Medium.

One Shell Straight to Hell employs a voxel-based visual style and inventive gameplay that mixes roguelike and horde-mode style base defense. "Descend into our ever-changing dungeons that overflow with demonic enemies and pit your insane skills and over the top weapon collection against the satanic hordes," reads the game's Steam description. "For your entertainment I have personally manifested a collection of monsters that are madder than the Mad Hatter, and to make it even more challenging, this ludicrous bunch will come in endless waves to lay siege on your fortifications." You can check out a reveal trailer below, and our first-look preview video above: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/29/one-shell-straight-to-hell-reveal-trailer"] Indie fans might recognize the game’s protagonist Padre Alexander, who was also the lead in the developer’s previous title, The Padre. Padre is a holy priest, but also a demon slayer with a sarcastic wit. Wearing a traditional black cassock, Padre is heavily armed with deadly revolvers and knives. It’s kind of like a mix between The Exorcist and manga/anime series Hellsing, the latter of which seems to be a heavy source of inspiration for Padre’s character setting and name. One Shell Straight to Hell is due later this year on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. You can wishlist the game on Steam now. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shin Imai is Deputy Chief Editor at IGN Japan. Follow him on Twitter.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 in Development

A sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog is in the works. Variety reports that Jeff Fowler, who helmed the 2020 film, is returning to direct the sequel from a script by Pat Casey and Josh Miller. The trade says it's confirmed its scoop with Paramount Pictures and Sega. Fowler also confirmed the news via Twitter. "The movie is still in the development stage so decisions have not been made yet regarding casting or a production start date," according to Variety. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://ift.tt/2AePW27] The 2020 original starred Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic. James Marsden and Tika Sumpter. Despite a rocky production that saw a fan backlash that led to a redesign of the title character, Somic the Hedgehog proved a box office success -- albeit a short-lived one as theaters closed due to the coronavirus and the movie made a quick pivot to VOD. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-video-game-movie-in-development-almost&captions=true"] To find out what Sonic the Hedgehog 2 might be about, check out our SPOILER-FILLED breakdown of the first film's ending and how it sets up a sequel and learn what Jim Carrey had to say about how Robotnik's look would evolve for the sequel.

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You Wont Believe Which Avenger Just Got Beat Up by Moon Knight

With new comic books finally trickling back into stores following the recent Diamond Comic Distributors shutdown, Marvel has finally kicked off the eagerly anticipated "Age of Khonshu" storyline in the pages of The Avengers. It was certainly worth the wait, especially with The Avengers #33 revamping Moon Knight to become a serious threat to Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Why is Moon Knight suddenly waging war on his former team? Read on to find out, but beware of spoilers for The Avengers #33 ahead! [poilib element="accentDivider"] [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=see-moon-knight-battle-iron-fist-in-avengers-age-of-khonshu&captions=true"] Marvel has a tendency to drastically revamp Moon Knight and his place in the Marvel Universe every few years, and this new storyline is no exception. This already psychologically troubled hero has seemingly gone full-villain in 2020. This issue features Moon Knight hunting down and battling several Avengers, with each encounter ending with Moon Knight stealing his opponent's power and storing it within a different ankh pendant he wears around his neck. It isn't long before Moon Knight manages to harness the power of the Iron Fist and Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamotto. He even steals Ghost Rider's demonic car. In perhaps the most impressive and unlikely upset of the issue, Moon Knight manages to beat the Mighty Thor himself. He reveals to Thor that the enchanted metal that makes up Mjolnir was actually forged from an ancient moon, giving the mortal Marc Spector control over one of the most powerful weapons in the Marvel Universe. Thor is less than thrilled at this latest development. [caption id="attachment_2358127" align="aligncenter" width="920"] Art by Javier Garron. (Image Credit: Marvel Comics)[/caption] Why has Moon Knight suddenly become so powerful and so villainous? While the character is often compared to Batman, he does have a certain degree of superhuman power that waxes and wanes with both the moon itself and with Spector's connection to the Egyptian mood god Khonshu. Because Spector has seemingly repaired his dysfunctional relationship with Khonshu, and because the Marvel Universe is experiencing its "biggest supermoon in a million years," both Khonshu and his herald are stronger than they've ever been. So what is Khonshu's endgame here? This issue reveals the moon god has tasked Spector with absorbing the powers of every hero connected to the "Avengers of 1,000,000 BC" introduced at the beginning of writer Jason Aaron's Avengers saga. Moon Knight now has Odin's hammer, Iron Fist's mystical chi, Agamatto's magic and Ghost Rider's vehicle. Unfortunately, he still lacks the Starbrand, the Phoenix Force and the might of Black Panther (the one hero who manages to successfully resist Moon Knight in this issue). Even so, Khonshu and his herald seem ready to take on their true enemy. Khonshu apparently wants to wage war on the Devil. [caption id="attachment_2358128" align="aligncenter" width="912"] Art by Javier Garron. (Image Credit: Marvel Comics)[/caption] Presumably, the devil Moon Knight refers to here is Mephisto. Mephisto appeared in a recent issue of the series, where we learned the demon lord may actually be Iron Man's true father. Mephisto's plans appear to be threatening the gods themselves, hence why Khonshu is taking the advantage of the supermoon and launching a preemptive strike against this threat. Let us know what you think of this huge Moon Knight revamp in the comments below. And for more on this kooky Marvel hero, check out our Moon Knight Explained feature and find out what we know so far about the upcoming Disney+ series. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/28/logan-director-shares-test-footage-confirms-hugh-jackman-never-wore-wolverine-mask-ign-news"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

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Marvel's Iron Man VR Has Gone Gold

Marvel's Iron Man VR has gone gold, developer Camouflaj announced today. And after a couple of delays this year, plus the recent release of a Marvel's Iron Man VR demo, the PSVR exclusive is set to be released on July 3. Speaking to IGN ahead of the gold status announcement, Iron Man VR Game Director Ryan Payton discussed how the studio adjusted to working from home amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as the studio is located in Seattle, one of the earliest sites in the United States majorly affected during the spread of COVID-19. "We took [the pandemic] very seriously and we worked really quickly to make sure that our team was safe," Payton said. "Thankfully our team has been healthy and safe throughout this whole pandemic. And the other thing we're thankful for is that we were in close contact with both Sony and Marvel. We told them that we're going make sure that the team safety is paramount and the highest priority, and we don't know what's going to happen to the game's production. They said that's fine. Let's take care of the team, we'll make things work," he continued.

After years of hard work, we are proud to announce that MARVEL’S IRON MAN VR has officially gone gold! We can’t wait for everyone to #SuitUp when the game releases exclusively for PlayStation VR on July 3. pic.twitter.com/NZnsG12Pgy

— Camouflaj (@Camouflaj) May 28, 2020

Payton noted that, given the timeline of the game's development, as the team acclimated to working from home, it actually lined up with the team's core focus — rather than needing to ideate on VR gameplay ideas, the Camouflaj team could be heads down, hard at work on fine tuning, bug fixing, and polishing the final game. "Strangely enough, in the final months of development, especially now that we've gone gold, it's mainly been focused on bug fixes and final polish and is interestingly compatible with remote work," he explained, while also noting the team has been able to use this time to actually respond and improve the game based on player feedback from the demo. "The one thing that we were looking forward to seeing is how really enthusiastic and hardcore PlayStation VR community was going to respond to the game," he explained. "So seeing the reaction to the game was really encouraging. They also had a lot of specific feedback to the degree that they wanted to tweak the comfort settings. We do have a pretty robust array of settings already in our game, but we're actually adding a number of additional options based on what that really passionate PlayStation VR community is asking for." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/22/iron-man-vr-demo-the-first-19-minutes"]

Exploring Iron Man's World in VR

Payton also explained how the team has been able to refine, polish, and integrate a series of "superhero actions" throughout the game that help exemplify the dream of being Iron Man...in VR, at least. "When you're interacting with the jet [in the demo], you can do these things we call superhero actions, where you can extinguish the fire, you can repair the wing, you can release the landing gear. And that was a feature that came in relatively late into the development of the game," Payton explained. "We just started sprinkling the whole game with a lot of those unique, one-off experiences that really leverage the strengths of VR." The demo, which you can check out gameplay of above, allows players to jump into two early missions in Iron Man VR, which we demoed and enjoyed last year, as well as additional combat challenge missions. Combat challenges will appear in the main game, and as Payton explained, they've allowed the team to take advantage of the large — including larger than you've yet seen — environments in the campaign. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="legacyId=20095320&captions=true"]

Iron Man VR New Gameplay Details

"These are optional missions that we do sprinkle throughout the game. that give the game more breadth. They take advantage of these large environments that we've been building beyond what you've seen. Malibu and the private jet missions are probably the two smallest environments that we have in the game," Payton explained. These missions aren't just there to challenge players either — you'll be able to earn research points from them, which can then in turn be used to upgrade the Impulse Armor Tony Stark has in the game. Players can unlock and advance new abilities, hone in on specific parts of the suit, and more. This upgrading is all done in Tony's garage, an environment that Payton explained helps players live out both the Tony Stark and Iron Man experiences. "One of the first things on our list [for playing as Tony] was allowing players to spend a lot of time in Tony's garage and in between missions, not only see your suit first person, but also to get to inspect the Impulse Armor to see all the incredible work that the team has put into it," he said. "Through those research points, players are able to hone in on certain aspects of the suit, upgrade certain elements to go faster, to upgrade the HUD, and unlock all these auxiliary weapons, which is one of the features that I snuck into the demo." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/19/marvels-iron-man-vr-behind-the-scenes-learning-to-fly-video"] Payton described how one of the upgrades players can acquire, missiles launched from the suit's arms, in another attempt to make the best use out of this being a VR game. "Initially we had a button change for when you're shooting with your pulsars, and then you would change to missiles, and a number of people on the team said, 'That's stupid Ryan, why would you do that? Why use a button when you're in VR and you're Iron Man,'" he joked. "Iron Man would just move his arms down. So that's how the players access these auxiliary weapons...by just moving the Move controllers down horizontally," he explained. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/02/iron-man-vr-hands-on-impressions"] As for that balance between a Tony and Iron Man story, having a villain that can speak to both aspects of the character was key for this original tale, and Payton explained why Ghost was such a good fit for his and the team's story goals. "When we sat down with Marvel and started thinking about the game's story, they really encouraged us to create an original story that really paired nicely with the game that we wanted to create and for VR in particular. One of the story challenges we knew we needed to overcome is that we knew we wanted to tell a where a classic Iron Man story... That's why we got to this idea of finding these deadly machines that Tony had created back when he was an arms dealer," he said. "So you then start asking yourselves these questions, 'Who would get access to these old machines that he used to create before he was a superhero, who would hack those devices? And who would then want to attack Tony using them?' And the moment I posed that question to Marvel, it almost sounds like I'm making this up, [Marvel Games'] Bill Rosemann and a bunch of other people at Marvel looked at each other and at the same time they said, 'Ghost.'" While we'll have to wait longer to see more of how Ghost and Tony face off in Marvel's Iron Man VR you can check out the PSVR bundle announced for the game ahead of its July 3 launch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jonathon Dornbush is IGN's Senior News Editor, host of Podcast Beyond! and PlayStation lead. Talk to him on Twitter @jmdornbush.

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