Josh Ruben’s Werewolves Within Getting Limited Edition VHS Release

The fan-favorite horror-comedy Werewolves Within is getting a limited edition VHS release from Broke Horror Fan. The tape will go on sale next Tuesday, December 7 at 12:00 p.m. ET via Witter Entertainment.

According to Broke Horror Fan, the movie will arrive on VHS “in a black clamshell case with three versions to choose from: a standard edition with new art by Neil Fraser (125 stocked), a variant with the theatrical art (limited to 25), and a big box edition with Fraser’s art and a purple VHS tape (limited to 100).” A letter from director Josh Ruben will be included with each tape.

The site also notes that the VHS release was approved by the director and is officially licensed from RLJE Films and IFC Films.

RELATED: Werewolves Within Writer Mishna Wolff Discusses Crafting A Satisfying Mystery

Werewolves Within “centers on the small town of Beaverfield as a proposed gas pipeline creates divisions within the town and a snowstorm traps its residents together inside the local inn, with newly arrived forest ranger Finn (Sam Richardson) and postal worker Cecily (Milana Vayntrub) teaming up to try and keep the peace and uncover the truth behind a mysterious creature that has begun terrorizing the community,” reads the official synopsis.

Directed by Josh Ruben (Scare Me) and written by Mishna Wolff (I’m Down), the cast includes Sam Richardson (Detroiters), Milana Vayntrub (This is Us), George Basil (Crashing), Sarah Burns (Barry), Michael Chernus (Tommy), Catherine Curtin (Orange Is the New Black), Wayne Duvall (The Hunt), Harvey Guillén (What We Do In The Shadows), Rebecca Henderson (Russian Doll), Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock), Michaela Watkins (Brittany Runs a Marathon), and Glenn Fleshler (True Detective).

RELATED: Werewolves Within: Josh Ruben Talks Knives Out Similarities, Ubisoft’s Input

Werewolves Within was produced by Altman, Margaret Boykin, and Andrew Lieberman for Ubisoft Film & Television, Matt Miller, Natalie Metzger, and Benjamin Wiessner for Vanishing Angle and Richardson.

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Halle Berry Agrees to Multi-Picture Deal With Netflix

Halle Berry has agreed to a multi-picture deal with Netflix following the success of their film Bruised, according to a recent report from Deadline.

RELATED: Interview: Halle Berry Talks Bruised, Her Love for Mixed Martial Arts

The deal will continue to see Berry both star in and produce films for Netflix, and also comes after her latest project with the company, Bruised, quickly debuted as the #1 film on the streamer for its weekly U.S. charts. The film has gone on to stay successful, charting at #2 on Netflix’s Top 10 Global English Film list.

According to Netflix, Bruised was the #1 film on the streaming platform in a total of 21 countries and was watched for 47.7 million hours in its first five days on the site.

“My directorial debut, Bruised, was a labor of love and I knew that Scott [Stuber] and Ted [Sarandos] would treat it with great care,” said Berry in a statement. “The Netflix team has not only been collaborative and creative, but extremely passionate and a delight to work with. I am beyond grateful for the partnership and look forward to telling more stories together.”

“There are few people with a career like Halle Berry. She’s an award-winning actress, producer and as audiences saw this past week, she’s an incredible director,” added Stuber, who serves as Head of Global Film at Netflix. “We’re thrilled to be in her corner as she delivers power in front of and behind the camera in Bruised and look forward to telling more stories together.”

RELATED: Interview: UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko on Filming Bruised

Berry already has a handful of new projects coming with Netflix outside of the deal, including executive producing the sci-fi film The Mothership, and starring in the action film Our Man From Jersey alongside Mark Wahlberg. Outside of Netflix, Berry will also star in Roland Emmerich’s latest film, Moonfall, which is set to launch next year.

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Nicolas Cage to Play Dracula in Upcoming Film Renfield

Nicolas Cage is gearing up to play Dracula in Universal’s upcoming film Renfield, according to a recent report from Deadline.

MORE: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Signs Film Deal with Netflix via Newly-Launched Production Company

The film is set to star Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, the familiar henchman of Dracula. Renfield will be directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War), with a script based on an original story outline from Robert Kirkman, who co-created The Walking Dead, Invincible, and many other comics for Image Comics.

In the original Dracula novel, R.M. Renfield was a servant of Dracula who is introduced as an inmate at a mental asylum. Initially thought to be suffering from delusions, it is later revealed that he is under the control of Dracula. It’s currently unclear how much of the original source material the upcoming film will draw from, but Deadline did report that the film is believed to be set in the “present day,” and will not be a period piece.

MORE: Batgirl Set Photo Reveals HBO Max Film Has Begun Shooting

For Cage, this will mark his next venture, as he’s currently in the process of filming the western Butcher’s Crossing. This year, Cage has starred in a handful of films, including Willy’s Wonderland, Prisoners of the Ghostland, and Pig, the latter of which earned him rave reviews for his performance in Michael Sarnoski’s film.

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And Just Like That… Trailer Introduces a New Chapter of Sex and the City

HBO Max has released the official And Just Like That… trailer introducing a new chapter of Sex and the City. The 10-episode Max Original series will debut with two episodes on Thursday, December 9, with the following eight episodes to premiere weekly on Thursdays through February 3.

RELATED: And Just Like That… Release Date Revealed in Teaser Trailer

“The new chapter of the groundbreaking HBO series Sex and the City, from executive producer Michael Patrick King, follows Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), and Charlotte (Kristin Davis) as they navigate the journey from the complicated reality of life and friendship in their 30s to the even more complicated reality of life and friendship in their 50s,” reads the official logline.

Check out the official And Just Like That… trailer below:

The original Sex and the City series was set and shot in New York City. Nominated for over 50 Emmy Awards, and winning seven, the HBO show had 94 episodes broadcast over six seasons, premiering on June 6, 1998, and concluding on February 22, 2004. It was followed by a Sex and the City movie in 2008, which was followed by Sex and the City 2 in 2010, both of which were successful at the box office. A Sex and the City 3 was developed in 2016 but ultimately canceled, reportedly due to co-star Kim Cattrall’s unwillingness to revisit the part of Samantha.

RELATED: HBO Max December 2021 Schedule: New TV & Movie Additions

And Just Like That… is executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, and Michael Patrick King.

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Big GTA Trilogy Update Fixes San Andreas Fog, Physical Releases Delayed

Rockstar Games has set the release date for the physical versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition. The Xbox versions of the game, as well as the PlayStation 4 one, will release physically on December 17, 2021. The Nintendo Switch cartridge still has no official release date, but is currently set for sometime in “early 2022.” Rockstar has also coincidentally updated the trilogy with a big bug-fixing patch.

RELATED: Rockstar Apologizes for Busted GTA Remasters, Promises Some Fixes

The release dates for the physical versions of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition have changed.

Xbox Series X / Xbox One and PS4 will now release on December 17. The Nintendo Switch version is coming in early 2022.

Check your local retailer for availability. pic.twitter.com/6avP8yp6la

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) November 30, 2021

This is only a 10-day delay for most platforms. Aside from the PS5 and PC ports, the physical versions of the game were originally slated to come out on December 7.

The delay comes alongside a large update that contains a ton of small fixes across all three games. The patch has various stability improvements, reimplements the cinematic camera, and fixes typos on the signs in each game. It will also no longer rain indoors during cutscenes.

There are also a ton of other improvements that are specific to each game, but the fog in San Andreas is one of the more noteworthy ones. As stated by Eurogamer, there is a new “Ground Haze” option that allows players to add back the smogginess that was missing from the title when it launched in its updated format. The move was already met with praise from fans, who were happy to see the game’s world look more like the original game. Some players criticized the clear skies because it made the game look smaller than it was as it was possible to see the whole map from up high.

RELATED: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Trailer Reveals Release Date, New Visuals, & Features

Since its launch, however, Rockstar has been working on fixing the game, delivering a post-launch update about a week after the game launches with fixes for every platform. This 1.03 update is just the latest in what is likely to be a wide variety of updates coming to the game.

GTA Trilogy 1.03 Update Patch Notes

General – PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC

• Stability improvements
• Added the cinematic camera, which can be toggled by cycling through the camera modes when in game
• Fixed a number of misspellings on texture art/signage
• Fixed a number of instances where rain would appear indoors during cutscenes

Grand Theft Auto III – The Definitive Edition

• Adjusted the rain during the Give Me Liberty intro cutscene so it matches what is visible during gameplay
• Improved the resolution of the signs on taxi front doors
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside the mansion during the cutscene to the mission Cutting the Grass
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside Donald Love’s apartment during the cutscene to the mission Liberator
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside Luigi’s Club during the cutscene to the mission Don’t Spank Ma Bitch Up
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside Joey’s Garage during the cutscene to the mission Cipriani’s Chauffeur
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside during the cutscene to the mission Bomb Da Base: Act I
• Fixed an issue where the rain appears under water when falling
• Fixed an issue where grass could be seen inside Joey’s garage during the outro of the mission Drive Misty For Me
• Fixed an issue where a wall texture near the hospital in Portland appeared incorrectly while driving
• Fixed an issue where pink or black textures would appear on the floor of the Turtle Head Fish Co.
• Fixed an issue in the audio menu where the Dialog Volume slider did not adjust the sample audio being played
• Fixed an issue where UI would overlap the timer when doing taxi or vigilante missions
• Fixed an issue with missing object collision on walls below the Callahan Bridge in Chinatown
• Fixed an issue where the player was able to stretch a two-seater vehicle using the car crusher
• Fixed several camera issues when playing RC missions
• Fixed an issue where misaligned text would appear after delivering to the Import Garage
• Fixed an issue where the mission title would linger on screen too long at the beginning of any mission
• Fixed an issue with texture display on the Staunton Pay ‘n’ Spray sign
• Fixed an issue where the wheels were not connected to the vehicle being worked on by Joey
• Fixed a spelling error on the Deli and Pizza storefront on Staunton Island

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – The Definitive Edition

• Ad banners added to the sides of the Rumpo, Coach, Benson, and Boxville vehicles
• Fixed an issue where the cutscene at the end of the mission Shakedown would hang as it transitioned back to gameplay
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside during the cutscene to the mission Publicity Tour
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside during the cutscene to the mission Alloy Wheels of Steel
• Fixed an issue where rain could be seen inside the limo during the cutscene to the mission Two Bit Hit
• Fixed an issue with Tommy’s hands when wearing the Havana Outfit in the mission Shakedown
• Fixed an issue in the mission Cop Land where the mission would fail when the café would blow up
• Fixed an issue where the Diaz mansion had missing textures during the outro to the mission Rub Out
• Fixed a crash at the end of the mission Checkpoint Charlie
• Fixed a crash encountered during the Bloodring Arena Event
• Fixed an issue where texture corruption could be seen on the roads during extended play sessions
• Fixed a 10 second pause when listening to the radio station V-Rock
• Fixed a 15 second pause when listening to the radio station Wildstyle Radio
• Fixed an issue during the cutscene for Supply and Demand where ambient characters were present during the cutscene
• Fixed a hole in the game world near Café Robina
• Fixed a spelling error on the Welcome to Vice City billboard near the airport
• Fixed an error with the Shaft Hot Dog stand logo
• Fixed several texture issues that appeared on island walls
• Fixed an issue where crates could not be destroyed during the mission Gun Runner, preventing game progression
• Fixed an issue where the flamethrower was damaging items behind Tommy
• Fixed a hole in the game world when standing on Tommy’s wardrobe in the Ocean View Hotel
• Fixed an issue where the ramped Packer vehicle textures would corrupt while Tommy is standing in close proximity
• Fixed an issue where corrupt textures would appear on the road if failing the mission Hog Tied
• Fixed an issue where corrupt textures would appear on the road if failing the mission Boomshine Saigon
• Fixed an issue where glass particles would appear oversized when shattering the windows of the Gash Store
• Fixed several texture corruption issues that appeared on the Enforcer police van
• Fixed an issue where the barrel of the minigun did not spin when fired
• Fixed an issue where the main rotor speed of helicopters did not match the rear rotor speed
• Fixed an issue on the mini map where the swimming pool shaped like the Rockstar Games logo was incorrectly reflected on the mini map for Starfish Island
• Fixed a texture corruption issue on traffic lights and foliage when raining on the mainland
• Fixed an issue where the sign was not properly animating on Hyman Memorial Stadium
• Fixed a spelling error on the Mavis Bookstore window
• Fixed a spelling error when the player is busted during the Paramedic missions
• Fixed an issue where Tommy appears small while standing in front of buildings in Little Havana
• Fixed an issue where Lance would be duplicated after restarting the mission Copland
• Fixed an issue where the open graves behind Funeraria Romero were not visible

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – The Definitive Edition  

• Introduced cloud cover at high altitude
• Added alternate walking and running animations when CJ is at Max Fat or Max Muscle
• Fixed several issues with grass textures that did not display properly
• Fixed a white outline in Cesar’s hairline during the cutscene to the mission King in Exile
• Fixed an issue with CJ’s body in the cutscene to the mission The Meat Business
• Fixed an issue with CJ’s body during the opening cutscene to the mission Supply Lines
• Fixed an issue with Cesar’s fingers during the end scene of the mission Cesar Vialpando
• Fixed an issue with Cesar’s fingers during the end scene of the mission Wu Zi Mu
• Fixed a save game issue at the end of the mission Blood Bowl
• Fixed a crash that occurred during the mission Dam and Blast
• Fixed a texture corruption issue that occurred after prolonged gameplay
• Fixed an issue where CJ and Big Smoke would get stuck near the end of the mission Just Business
• Fixed a crash that occurred when drowning near the Ocean Beach end of South Bridge
• Fixed an issue where CJ’s face would obscure the camera when looking behind him while riding a quad bike
• Fixed an issue where CJ’s face would obscure the camera when looking behind him while piloting the Hydra in first person view
• Fixed a crash experienced when retrying a checkpoint during the mission Ice Cold Killa
• Fixed a spelling error on a Mexican food advertisement
• Fixed a spelling error on a guitar store shop front
• Fixed an issue where players were able to purchase cornrows at the barbershop without sufficient funds
• Fixed a missing bridge in the Shady Creeks section of the map
• Fixed a bug where the burger on the Burger Shot sign was not spinning
• Fixed a spelling error on the FleischBerg factory sign
• Fixed multiple issues in cutscenes where CJ’s arms clip through his body while at Max Fat
• Fixed a lighting issue in the Rockshore West Safehouse
• Fixed an issue where the Wasted or Busted screen could be seen when loading an autosave file
• Fixed graphical corruption on CJ’s head and body during the motel sequence of the mission Reuniting the Families
• Fixed an issue where window panes are translucent at the Dillmore gas station during the mission Tanker Commander
• Fixed an issue where tattoos would project out of CJ’s lower arm when he has a muscular body type
• Fixed an issue where rain drops did not appear on the water surface
• Fixed an issue where various map icons, such as mission blips, would pop in and out of the radar while panning and rotating the camera
• Fixed an issue where NPC’s who wear numbered jerseys no longer had a random number overlapping the number 7
• Fixed an issue where the rain was not displayed corrected when flying during rainy or stormy weather conditions
• Fixed an issue with the audio not playing properly when using the changing room at any of CJ’s properties
• Fixed an issue where CJ’s forklift would not act as intended during the mission Robbing Uncle Sam
• Fixed an issue with the shape of the Donut and Nut props at the Tuff Nuts donut shop
• Fixed a spelling error with the storefront Sayonara
• Fixed an issue where the Dodo plane had an inverted nose cone
• Fixed an issue where boat propellers did not spin properly
• Fixed an issue where the minigun barrel did not spin when fired
• Fixed an issue where the incorrect police station sign did not appear in Las Venturas
• Fixed an issue where the wrong prices were appearing on the Burger Shot’s outside menu
• Fixed an issue where CJ appeared too dark when in the 69 Cent store
• Fixed an issue where haircuts would be swapped out with the Caesar haircut anytime CJ wore a hat
• Fixed an issue where the radar would disappear after getting caught in the mission Home Invasion
• Fixed an issue where police cars could clip through the ground
• Fixed an issue where the UFO prop did not rotate at the Lil’ Probe Inn

Xbox One – All Titles

• Fixed an issue where the game would not respond for several seconds after exiting certain interiors
• Fixed an issue where the player was unable to unlock achievements that other users on other accounts (linked to the same Social Club account) had previously unlocked

PC – All Titles

• Fixed a bug where players were unable to highlight or select Cancel or Confirm using a controller on the Mission Failed! screen
• Fixed a bug where players with special characters in the PC account name were unable to save gameplay progress
• Fixed the in game layout when playing with an ultra-wide screen monitor
• Fixed an issue where options were not being properly highlighted when hovering a mouse over them
• Fixed an issue where clicking sections in the game menus too quickly would prevent those menu options from being displayed
• Fixed an issue where the player was unable to select a UI element with a controller if the mouse cursor is already hovering over it
• Fixed an issue where, when in Fullscreen, changing the Resolution setting would briefly show the old resolution value
• Fixed an issue where graphics settings were not saving after restarting the game

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New texts reveal how CNN host Chris Cuomo tried to smooth over brother's sexual misconduct scandal

American news giant CNN has responded after new texts sent by host Chris Cuomo in relation to his brother Andrew's ongoing sexual misconduct scandal were released.In early 2021, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo faced a flood...

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Astroworld tragedy: 9-year-old victim's family reject Travis Scott's offer to pay for funeral

The family of the youngest victim of the Astroworld Festival tragedy has rejected an offer from Travis Scott to pay for their son's funeral expenses. Nine-year-old Ezra Blount died on November 14 after suffering injuries during...

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Michael Buble lets big news slip to Kiwi radio hosts, Toni, Jase and Sam

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from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Five Iconic Performances From Red Notice Star Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson recently returned on-screen as Red Notice hit Netflix. In addition to producing the movie, the 49-year-old actor played John Hartley, an FBI profiler teaming up with Ryan Reynolds’ Nolan Booth to catch the most-wanted art thief in the world, Gal Gadot’s Sarah Black, a.k.a. The Bishop.

RELATED: Red Notice Review: Netflix’s Heist Film Hinges on Its Three Magnetic Leads

After going full-time on his acting career in 2004, the former WWE champion has played many memorable roles. Here are his five best performances to rewatch after diving into the latest outing of the charismatic star:

Get Smart

The first Hollywood appearances of Johnson were a couple of hits as both The Mummy Returns and The Scorpion King did well at the box office. After that, “The Rock” struggled to establish himself as a credible action hero for a few years. Surprisingly, the former WWE star gained some reputation after switching to comedy. The litmus test that he didn’t fade in the genre was his performance with Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway in 2008’s Get Smart. Directed by Peter Segal, the long-feature adaptation of the ’60s series follows the misadventures of Maxwell Smart (Carell) in his attempt to become a field agent of the U.S. spy agency Control. In the story, Johnson is Agent 23, Max’s idol and the best spy at Control, who seems to be hiding something behind his dazzling smile and pleasant attitude.

Fast Five

It’s hard to argue with the claim that director Justin Lin’s work and Johnson’s charisma saved Fast and Furious, refueling the fans’ interest in the franchise. In his first appearance as Luke Hobbs in the high-octane action film franchise, Johnson portrayed a one-person army chasing Dominic Toretto’s gang as they planned the greatest heist attempted in Rio de Janeiro. The battle without quarters between Johnson and Vin Diesel recalled the Steve Austin/The Rock rivalry from the Attitude Era.

Fast Five is one of five movies in the franchise starring Johnson. While it’s not the highest-grossing Fast and Furious movie, it outperformed even the most optimistic expectations at the time. While Johnson took a break from the saga after seemingly arguing with Diesel, fans are still hoping for the showdown between the Diplomatic Security Service agent and Toretto. The fact that Diesel seems to have buried the hatchet after asking for Johnson’s return bodes well for the future.

Pain & Gain

In 2013, Johnson teamed up with The Rock director Michael Bay in one of the rare comedies helmed by Bay. The script deals with three bodybuilders who take by force what they can’t achieve with hard work. The former WWE star portrays Paul Doyle, a former convict with a cocaine addiction who turned to Christianity. The film is filled with over-the-top action as Paul and his pals, Daniel (Mark Wahlberg) and Adrian (Anthony Mackie), get their share of the American Dream by any means. Once more, Johnson showed excellent synergy with his fellow actors and proved he was unfairly overlooked as an actor.

Hercules

Johnson’s performance in 2014’s adaptation of the graphic novel by Steve Moore was a statement at the time as he held the entire story on his massive shoulders. In the story, Hercules uses the legendary tales surrounding his alleged divine origin to gain fame. Together with a band of mercenaries, he brings peace to Thrace, a land devastated by civil war and invasions.

Johnson took on a real Herculean task in delivering an entertaining performance as the titular mythological hero. While he dealt with a flawed script, the Californian actor perfectly embodied the not-so-much son of Zeus. He explored Hercules’ physicality in a way never seen before in the sword-and-sandal genre. Arguably, Johnson was the only actor who could keep the audience constantly guessing about his character’s nature, either divine or simply human.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

A group of teenagers finds themselves mysteriously trapped inside of a video game. After taking the physical shame of the adult avatars they picked, the game challenges the players to face dangerous adventures. While making their way out of the game and back to their old lives, the four teenagers will learn to work together and overcome their insecurity in this coming-of-age story. Both critics and general audiences liked the movie, which received a sequel in 2019’s Jumanji: The Next Level.

When it was first announced that 1995’s Jumanji would have a direct sequel, fans didn’t know what to expect. The result was an entertaining comedy directed by Jake Kasdan. The cast also saw Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black, all in great shape for the occasion. The bulked actor ironically jokes about his statuary physique without ever being predictable and shines throughout his role. The characters might be a bit stereotyped, but they work very well together.

Do you agree with the list of Johnson’s five best performances? Which one do you like the most? Let us know in the comments!

The post Five Iconic Performances From Red Notice Star Dwayne Johnson appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Signs Film Deal with Netflix via Newly-Launched Production Company

Emmy-winning actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II has officially signed a first-look film deal with Netflix. The acclaimed 35-year-old actor, through his newly-launched production company called House Eleven10, is set to star and produce feature films for the streamer.

“I am so proud of the vision of House Eleven10, and couldn’t be more excited about Netflix’s shared passion for the ideas we’d like to put into the world,” Abdul-Mateen said in a statement (via Deadline). “I want our films and shows to be soulful in their world-building and dynamic in their character. We want to employ a creative process that makes space for magic and humanity in various narrative universes, and across all genres. Lastly, House Eleven10 seeks to showcase the talent of traditionally underrepresented or overlooked communities within the industry by including diverse filmmakers, writers, and staff throughout our projects.”

RELATED: Tom Burke to Replace Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Mad Max Spin-Off Furiosa

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is best known for his performances in films such as The Greatest Showman, First Match, Boundaries, Aquaman, Us, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and most recently in the Candyman continuation from director Nia DaCosta and Oscar-winning scribe Jordan Peele. He also gained recognition for his work on HBO’s Watchmen, which earned him his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series.

The Netflix marks the latest collaboration between him and the streamer after previously working together on Baz Luhrmann’s musical series The Get Down, a Black Mirror episode, and acclaimed biopic The Trial of the Chicago 7.

RELATED: Ambulance Trailer: Jake Gyllenhaal & Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Lead Michael Bay-Helmed Thriller

Abdul-Mateen will next be seen in Michael Bay’s action thriller Ambulance, and in Warner Bros. Pictures’ long-awaited The Matrix Resurrections starring alongside Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss. He is also currently in production for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, where he is set to reprise his villainous role as Black Manta.

The post Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Signs Film Deal with Netflix via Newly-Launched Production Company appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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MercurySteam Developing Third-Person Action RPG Codenamed ‘Project Iron’

Developer MercurySteam is already ready to follow up on the huge success of Metroid Dread, as the team has announced that they are working on a brand-new third-person action role-playing game.

RELATED: Metroid Dread Overview Trailer Details Story & Gameplay

The announcement came in a release from Digital Bros, as the company revealed that they have signed a co-publishing and development agreement with MercurySteam to develop the game, which is currently dubbed “Project Iron.” According to the announcement, the game will be a third-person action RPG “set in a dark fantasy world.” Not too much else on the game has been announced, but it will be a multiplatform release.

“We are thrilled to work with the team at MercurySteam, a proven studio that over the years has created numerous phenomenal IPs – including the recent hit release Metroid Dread in partnership with Nintendo,” said Raffi and Rami Galante, co-CEOs of Digital Bros Group. “With MercurySteam’s creative vision and talent and 505 Games extensive experience, gamers can expect a high-quality, captivating and engaging
videogame.”

MORE: Pokémon Go Season of Heritage Gets Release Date, New Details

MercurySteam is perhaps best known for its work on various games in the “Metroidvania” genre, including having worked on two Metroid titles and three Castlevania games, with the latest being the highly popular Metroid Dread. While the studio doesn’t have any prior experience crafting role-playing games, the developer has proven to be extremely talented, and with their last game being such a huge hit, expectations will be high for whatever “Project Iron” might be.

The post MercurySteam Developing Third-Person Action RPG Codenamed ‘Project Iron’ appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Home of rocker Marilyn Manson searched in sex assault investigation

Media storage devices and other items were seized as a search warrant was served on the home of rocker Marilyn Manson in a months-long investigation of sexual assault and domestic violence, authorities said Tuesday.Manson, 52, whose...

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House of Gucci: Tom Ford compares movie to 'living through a hurricane'

A top fashion designer has joined luxury label Gucci in a scathing take-down of the new movie House of Gucci. The movie, directed by Ridley Scott, stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and Jared Leto. The film is based on the 2001 book The...

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Black artist Josephine Baker honoured at France's Pantheon

Josephine Baker — the US-born entertainer, anti-Nazi spy and civil rights activist — was inducted into France's Pantheon, becoming the first black woman to receive the nation's highest honour.Baker's voice resonated through streets...

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Aliens: Fireteam Elite Arriving on Game Pass Alongside Alien DLC, Updates, & New Content

Aliens: Fireteam Elite got overshadowed by Back 4 Blood for a few reasons, one of which was the latter’s launch-day inclusion on Game Pass. And while it is a few months after its release, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is now hitting Game Pass for PC and Xbox on December 14. This day will also bring a new season of content, updates, and DLC partially themed around Ridley Scott’s 1979 film to the co-op shooter.

RELATED: Aliens: Fireteam Elite Review: Co-Op Thrills Inspired by James Cameron

As was the case with the first season, this second season will yield new cosmetics in addition to another mode and feature (however, this season will not have a new class). Point Defense is a defensive mode where players have to “protect, repair, and hold” three points that are under attack from the xenomorphs. There is a shop where players can spend their Fabrication Points on consumables. There are 20 rewards for surviving on various difficulty levels.

Players will also be able to track their stats with the new lifetime stats feature. This includes career stats, performance with each class and weapon, completed difficulties, and best completion time. There will also be over 30 new items that range from weapons, attachments, weapon skins, decals, head accessories, emotes, and Challenge Cards.

RELATED: How Back 4 Blood Is Trying to Build the Biggest Audience Possible

While that portion of the season will be free, there will also be premium DLC. The Nostromo Salvage Pack DLC will be available to those with the Deluxe Edition and $9.99 separately and comes with 20 items, skins, weapon colors, decals, head accessories, emotes, and more. The two new skins are modeled after the “space trucker” outfits from the first film.

Cold Iron still has at least two more seasons planned for the game. The third season coming in Q2 2022 will have a new class, another big feature, four new weapons, new perks, Challenge Cards, and cosmetics. The fourth season slated for Q3 2022 is supposed to have another mode, feature, new attachments, cosmetics, and more Challenge Cards.

The post Aliens: Fireteam Elite Arriving on Game Pass Alongside Alien DLC, Updates, & New Content appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Pokémon Go Season of Heritage Gets Release Date, New Details

A brand new season of Pokémon Go is almost here, with Niantic officially detailing the upcoming Season of Heritage that players will be diving into next week starting on December 1.

It will feature a multitude of changes to the hit mobile game. The in-game story behind the season will focus on Professor Willow requesting help in order to unlock a mysterious door. Each week, players will have to complete various activities in order to progress the story forward, with the first coming on December 5.

The next season seems heavily tied to the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus, which also focuses on the history of Pokémon. While Pokémon Go has usually done smaller tie-ins for games coming out, it seems like Niantic is going big this time and featuring an entirely new season around the highly anticipated title.

RELATED: Pokémon GO Partnering with Ed Sheeran for New Event

As is the case with every new Season, Pokémon Go will see new monthly bonuses land, with December’s being that players will earn two Stardusts for their first catch of the day. Alongside the bonuses, new avatar times will also become available with the Deino Hat Avatar Item acting as the ultimate prize for the month of December. Players can earn this item by collecting 120,000 Stardust total, with various rewards also unlocking as you earn more and more Stardust. As far as the actual Pokémon in the game go, the areas the Pokémon pop up in are undergoing a bit of a chance.

Niantic has detailed some of the changes to which Pokémon will show up where, with Pokémon like Porygon, Snubbull, Glameow, Bronzor, and more appearing in cities now, while Caterpie, Taillow, Croagnuk, and Joltik will pop up in forest areas. Eggs are also being refreshed as well, with new Pokémon appearing in certain eggs during the latest season.

RELATED: Pokémon Go Developer Releases New Game, Pikmin Bloom

Finally, Niantic has announced three new community days for its game, with the first arriving on December 18 and December 19. The theme of the first community day is “2021 recap,” where the company will undoubtedly take a look back at what it has accomplished throughout the year. The next two dates — January 16 and February 12, respectively — have no themes, so fans will have to wait a bit to find out what’s in store for them then.

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Vikings: Valhalla Photos Set 2022 Debut For Netflix Sequel Series

Netflix has revealed first-look photos for the upcoming spin-off Vikings: Valhalla, which serves as the sequel to History’s hit historical action drama of the same name. It is scheduled to make its debut on February 25, 2022.

The Vikings: Valhalla photos, which you can check out below, provide a new look at the main cast including Sam Corlett, Frida Gustavsson, and Leo Suter as they portray some of the most famous Vikings in history.

VIKINGS: VALHALLA – February 25, 2022
Set 100 years after the original series, Valhalla chronicles the journey of some of history’s most famous Vikings – Leif Eriksson, Freydis Eriksdotter, and Harald Sigurdsson as they fight for survival and glory. Here’s your first look. pic.twitter.com/ds18i4oB2Q

— Netflix Geeked (@NetflixGeeked) November 30, 2021

RELATED: House of the Dragon Teaser Previews Game of Thrones Prequel, Reveals New Cast Members

Vikings: Valhalla, set over a hundred years after the end of the original series, is a new adventure that blends historical authenticity and drama with gritty, immersive action. It hails from showrunner and executive produced by Jeb Stuart.

“Set over a thousand years ago in the early 11th century, the series chronicles the heroic adventures of some of the most famous Vikings who ever lived – the legendary explorer Leif Eriksson, his fiery and headstrong sister Freydis Eriksdotter, and the ambitious Nordic prince Harald Sigurdsson,” reads the synopsis. “As tensions between the Vikings and the English royals reach a bloody breaking point and as the Vikings themselves clash over their conflicting Christian and pagan beliefs, these three Vikings begin an epic journey that will take them across oceans and through battlefields, from Kattegat to England and beyond, as they fight for survival and glory.”

The spin-off stars Sam Corlett as Leif Eriksson, Frida Gustavsson as Freydis Eriksdotter, Leo Suter as Harald Sigurdsson, Caroline Henderson as Jark Haakon, Bradley Freegard as King Canute, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson as Olaf Haraldsson, Pollyanna McIntosh as Ælfgifu of Northampton, Asbjørn Krogh as Jarl Kare, David Oakes as Earl Godwin, Pääru Oja as Arne Gormsson, Louis Davison as Prince Edmund, and more.

RELATED: Sci-Fi Horror Series Nocterra in the Works From Netflix & James Wan

Vikings: Valhalla is executive produced by Morgan O’Sullivan, Michael Hirst, Sheila Hockin, Steve Stark, James Flynn, John Weber, Sherry Marsh, and Alan Gasmer, Paul Buccieri.

Created by Michael Hirst for the History channel, the original series ran on-air for six seasons from 2013 to 2021. It starred Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Alexander Ludwig, and more.

 

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Adele announces 2022 Las Vegas residency at Caesar's Palace

Adele has announced a Las Vegas residency at the Colosseum inside the world-famous Caesars Palace Hotel.After much speculation over the Can I Get It singer landing a stint in Sin City, including allegedly getting advice from Celine...

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Starfield Will Be ‘More Grounded’ Than Previous Bethesda Games

A featurette on Bethesda’s highly anticipated upcoming game Starfield has been released, diving into new concept art for the game and how the team is looking to approach the realm of sci-fi.

RELATED: Starfield Planned To Be Fully Shown in Summer 2022, More Revealed in AMA

In the video, Director of Bethesda Game Studios Todd Howard was joined by Art Director Matt Carofano and Studio Director Angela Browder to discuss the upcoming title. Howard noted that it was important to remember how long players likely will be playing Starfield, using The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim as an example of players still going through a title up to 10 years later.

Howard also touched on the living world aspect of their games, going back through their history of titles like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and the world of Fallout. Howard said a sci-fi world has always been something that they’ve wanted to try and tackle, and after diving into the worlds of fantasy epics and post-apocalyptic stories, now was their chance. “Going to space, I think there’s a magic in just defying gravity and taking off from a planet,” Howard said. “It’s an extremely difficult human endeavor.”

Carofano then touched on Starfield, saying that the game has “more realistic, science-based backing to it,” and noted the difference in approach the studio has when it comes to their past games and Starfield. “Whereas Skyrim is sort of an epic fantasy, this is a more grounded game and a grounded setting about exploration.”

Howard also noted that the mechanics of the world of Starfield will be unlike anything they’ve done before, but it will still have the staples of a Bethesda game, including playing in first-person, having small personal touches like coffee cups and other items littered about, and more. “Being able to watch the sunset and nighttime come, and just sit there and watch the world go by seems like it’s not gameplay,” explained Howard. “But it is vital to how you feel through the rest of it.”

RELATED: Bethesda Shows Off Three New Starfield Locations

Alongside the history of the studio and the discussion on Starfield, some concept art for the game was also included in the video, as well as some shots showcasing some of the other planets and worlds players will get to visit when it launches next year.

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Batgirl Set Photo Reveals HBO Max Film Has Begun Shooting

Batgirl co-director Adil El Arbi revealed today that the HBO Max film has begun filming. On Instagram, El Arbi posted a set photo and confirmed that it is day one of shooting for the upcoming DC Extended Universe film.

Check out the Batgirl set photo below:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Adil El Arbi (@adilelarbi)

RELATED: Batgirl Concept Art & Costume Details Revealed for HBO Max Film

Batgirl will center on Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City police commissioner James Gordon. The character was first seen in the 1967 Batman series with the late Yvonne Craig playing Barbara. Batgirl’s first comic book appearance was in Detective Comics #357 by writer Gardner Fox and artist Carmine Infantino.

Batgirl is being helmed by Bad Boys for Life directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah from a screenplay by Christina Hodson (Bumblebee, Birds of Prey, The Flash) with Kristin Burr (Cruella) producing. The movie will release exclusively on HBO Max.

RELATED: Brendan Fraser Cast as Villain in HBO Max’s Live-Action Batgirl Movie

Batgirl/Barbara Gordon’s last appearance in a live-action big-screen feature was in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin, released in 1997 and starring Alicia Silverstone in the role alongside George Clooney’s Batman and Chris O’Donnell’s Robin.

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House of Gucci Review: Ridley Scott’s Crime Drama Rings Emotionally Hollow

After bringing us the historical epic known as The Last Duel, director Ridley Scott gives us his second movie of the year with House of Gucci, a biographical crime drama about Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), a woman who marries into the wealthy Gucci family. As they build an empire of luxurious fashion, the family is sent down paths of darkness, control, and manipulation.

This film gave us one of the most promising trailers of the year. The advertising for this movie was enchanting, assuring a film about money, betrayal, family, power, sex, loyalty, scandal, ambition, and murder. Somehow, this movie has all of those things, but it’s one of the most boring misfires of the year. This movie could have been a cult classic, but it miraculously fails at everything it wants to be.

House of Gucci assembles one of the most impressive casts of the year. Lady Gaga portrays our protagonist, and Adam Driver plays Maurizio Gucci, the man Patrizia marries and builds the Gucci dynasty with. Our supporting cast includes the talent of Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, and Al Pacino. These are all very skilled actors, and they’re all doing an excellent job. Leto is swinging for the fences, and at times, he feels like he’s in a different movie from everyone else, but he’s fascinating to watch as a result.

But this film is devoid of any life. This movie offers nothing for its viewers, from the bleak color grading to Scott’s surprising lack of a visual style. The film assembles an all-star cast and allows each to shine, but it has some of the blandest dialogue possible in a biopic. While Patrizia’s actions throughout the film are mildly interesting, the conversations have zero bites, and the story is unbearably thin. Every scene feels like it leads to nothing and the result is a movie that’s tedious to watch.

Perhaps the reason this film fails is the fact that it rings emotionally hollow. The movie doesn’t make you laugh or cry; it’s not funny or dramatic. It doesn’t make you angry. It doesn’t satisfy you. It’s just a long series of scenes where things happen, and you don’t care. One of the characters dies halfway through, and rather than soaking up the drama of the moment, the movie simply cuts to the middle of their funeral. The only time you care about anything is toward the final act when Patrizia’s life begins to spiral, and Gaga’s performance makes you feel bad for her.

Gaga is fully committed to her role, Driver is perfectly acceptable in his role, and even Pacino gets a chance to shout at the top of his lungs during a scene. But the editing and the musical score are all completely uninspired. In addition, the staging of every scene is so unremarkable that one hour feels like three. It genuinely feels like Scott was on cruise control during the entire production.

With a script that feels like the first draft of a great biopic, House of Gucci is ultimately an overlong slog. It’s a bloated film that goes on and on, recounting true events without an ounce of flair. Everyone who worked on this movie has done much better work, which makes this film so disappointing. You may be invested in the performances, but without a story strong enough to support its runtime of over two and a half hours, you will wait patiently for the credits to roll before bolting out of the theater and buying a ticket to a better movie.

SCORE: 4/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 4 equates to “Poor.” The negatives overweigh the positive aspects making it a struggle to get through.

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Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7 – Set Your Heart Ablaze Review

Demon Slayer‘s Mugen Train Arc comes to a close with “Set Your Heart Ablaze,” and boy what an ending it is. Rengoku’s battle with Akaza comes to a bombastic end, and while there’s still nothing substantially new in this TV version, it makes sense. 

RELATED: Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 6 – Akaza Review

The end of the Mugen Train film managed to strike a phenomenal balance between action and emotion and makes the end of Rengoku all the more poignant. There’s a legitimate tension in the final episode’s action scenes, as Rengoku and Akaza use their sheer strength to grapple against each other; no special moves, no crazy attacks, just gritty strength. One of the things I find so interesting about Mugen Train is how melancholic its ending is. 

Rengoku and the others successfully keep the demons from killing anyone, but it results in the death of one of the strongest Hashira of the Demon Slayer core. The final scenes even show Tanjiro and his friends wracked by despair. Tanjiro grapples with how “useless” he feels, and there’s no resolution that proves him wrong. I have to respect Mugen Train for putting such a bleak ending in, even while Rengoku provides the party with words of encouragement. 

The best sequence of the entire episode is when it shows all the other Hashira learning about Rengokus death. It’s fascinating to see each one react in their own way; from the passive acceptance of Giyu Tomioka, to the sincere shock of Mitsuri Kanroji As Demon Slayer heads into its second season we’ll start seeing more of each of the other Hashira, and it’s great to see a little bit of their respective personalities come out. 

RELATED: Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles Reveals Two New Characters

As a finale episode “Set Your Heart Ablaze” works impeccably well. The ending was already great in the film version, but now it feels like a proper finale.

SCORE: 9/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 9 equates to “Excellent.” Entertainment that reaches this level is at the top of its type. The gold standard that every creator aims to reach.

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Disclosure: The critic watched the episode on Funimation for ComingSoon’s Demon Slayer Mugen Train Arc Episode 7 – Set Your Heart Ablaze review.

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Tales of Dunk & Egg: Steve Conrad to Pen Game of Thrones Prequel

According to Variety, HBO has enlisted Ultra City Smiths creator Steve Conrad to pen the screenplay for the network’s potential new Game of Thrones spin-off prequel titled Tales of Dunk & Egg, based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novellas of the same name. Should the project secure an official series order, Conrad would also serve as its executive producer through his Elephant Pictures.

RELATED: House of the Dragon Teaser Previews Game of Thrones Prequel, Reveals New Cast Members

Set in the world of Martin’s epic fantasy novels A Song of Ice and Fire, Tales of Dunk & Egg is expected to follow the adventures of Dunk (Ser Duncan the Tall) and Egg (the future king Aegon V. Targaryen) 90 years before the events of the main novel. It is comprised of three stories including 1998’s The Hedge Knight, 2003’s The Sworn Sword, and 2010’s The Mystery Knight; all three were published in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in 2015.

In addition to this project, HBO is also developing a number of Game of Thrones spin-offs such as 10,000 Ships, and Sea Snake along with three untitled animated series for HBO Max.

RELATED: HBO Orders The Weeknd-Led Drama The Idol, Cast Revealed

HBO’s first Game of Thrones prequel is the upcoming House of the Dragon series which will chronicle the rise and the downfall of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. It is currently eyeing a 2022 debut.

The 10-episode series will be led by Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, and Emma D’Arcy as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. It will also feature Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Sonoya Mizuno, Milly Alcock, Emily Carey, and more.

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Five revelations from TVNZ documentary Scribe: Return of the Crusader

REVIEW:Scribe was on top of the world in the early 2000s. He achieved success as a rapper that paved the way for aspiring hip-hop musicians in Aotearoa. But his success crumbled as quickly as it appeared. The rapper, whose full...

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Ivanna Sakhno Joins Disney+’s Star Wars: Ahsoka Series

Ivanna Sakhno (Pacific Rim: Uprising, High Fidelity) has joined Disney+’s limited series Star Wars: Ahsoka, starring opposite Rosario Dawson and Natasha Liu Bordizzo in The Mandalorian spin-off, according to Deadline. Sakhno will reportedly play a new character in the project.

RELATED: Natasha Liu Bordizzo to Play Sabine Wren in Disney+’s Star Wars: Ahsoka

Dawson stars as Ahsoka Tano in the limited series after the character made their live-action debut on the streamer’s The Mandalorian. Star Wars: Ahsoka is expected to continue the character’s story. Bordizzo is playing Sabine Wren from the animated series Star Wars Rebels.

The limited series is written by Dave Filoni who executive produces along with Jon Favreau and Kathleen Kennedy. No additional details about the project have been released.

RELATED: The Book of Boba Fett Character Posters & TV Spot Released

Star Wars: Ahsoka will begin production in March 2022 according to the outlet. The series is also expected to feature an appearance by Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, reuniting the two characters likely in flashbacks.

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Actor David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu dies aged 68

WARNING: This story contains images of an indigenous Australian who has died. Legendary Australian actor David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu died on Monday night.South Australian Premier Steven Marshall announced the news after...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Bill Cosby prosecutors ask US Supreme Court to review case

Prosecutors asked the US Supreme Court to review the ruling that overturned Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction, arguing in a petition on Monday that a dangerous precedent could be set if press releases are treated as immunity...

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Chucky Series Renewed for Second Season at SYFY & USA Network

SYFY and USA Network’s hit series Chucky has been renewed for a second season after reaching 9.5 million viewers in its first season across all platforms. The Season 1 finale will air Tuesday, November 30 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on USA and SYFY. The first season will be available to stream on Peacock beginning December 1.

RELATED: Chucky Season 1 Episode 7 Recap & Analysis: Twice the Grieving, Double the Loss

“We’re thrilled to start pulling the strings on a second season of puppet mayhem with Chucky,” said executive producer Don Mancini. “Many thanks to our partners at USA, SYFY and UCP for their incredible support and guidance bringing Chucky to the small screen, bigger than ever. And to the fans, Chucky sends his still-undying thanks and a message: ‘This isn’t over, not by a long shot. You better watch your backs in 2022!’”

Check out the Season 2 announcement video below:

Season 1 is led by a group of young stars including Zackary Arthur, Teo Briones, Bjorgvin Arnarson, and Alyvia Alyn Lind along with Devon Sawa, Lexa Doig, and Barbara Alyn Woods. Joining them are franchise vets Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, and Fiona Dourif, who reprised their roles as the voice of the titular killer doll, Tiffany, and Nica Pierce, respectively.

Chucky is “set in an idyllic American town thrown into chaos as a series of horrifying murders sweep through and threaten to expose the town’s hypocrisies and secrets, all of which come on the heels of a vintage Chucky doll turning up at a suburban yard sale,” reads the official synopsis. “At the same time, the titular doll must deal with the arrival of enemies and allies from his past who threaten to expose the truth behind the killings and the untold origins as a seemingly ordinary child turned demonic killer.”

RELATED: Chucky Featurette: Child’s Play Franchise Creator Don Mancini Teases Season 1

Chucky is created and executive produced by franchise creator Don Mancini, who is also serving as the showrunner and directed the pilot episode. The series is produced by UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, and also executive produced by David Kirschner, Nick Antosca, Alex Hedlund, and Harley Peyton.

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Hot Wheels Unleashed & Sackboy: A Big Adventure Release Free Thanksgiving DLC

Thanksgiving doesn’t often get represented in games like Halloween or any of the various winter festivities, but Hot Wheels Unleashed and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are addressing that. Both titles are offering free Thanksgiving-themed DLC to their users.

Hot Wheels Unleashed‘s Thanksgiving Pack gives players three new cars that admittedly don’t have much in common with the holiday. The Hot Seat is oddly a car with a toilet seat on it. The second vehicle is the Rigor Motor, which is a coffin with wheels and an engine that is based on the Hot Wheels model of the same name. The BMW 3.0 CSL Racing is the most basic of the three as it appears to be just a fairly normal car.

MORE: DC Universe Online Developer Making Marvel MMO

Sackboy: A Big Adventure players get access to the Gobble Wobble costume that puts Sackboy in a turkey outfit. It also comes with an emote called the “Gobble Wobble Waddle.” This is a little less bizarre than LittleBigPlanet‘s usual Thanksgiving costume, which just puts a cooked turkey over the player’s head. The tradition started with the first game and is something the official LittleBigPlanet Twitter account even recently pointed out.

This new turkey costume is just one of many free cosmetics that Sumo Digital has released since its 2020 launch, as the studio has put out costumes from The Last of Us Part II, Returnal, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, and Destruction AllStars in addition some skins based around other holidays and themes.

MORE: Dauntless PS5 & XSX|S Versions Announced, Includes Several Upgrades

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Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night Review

While the title for Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night is a complicated mouthful, the film adaptation is an easy watch that is plenty of fun regardless of your knowledge of the series.

RELATED: Sword Art Online Progressive & Eternals Partner for Collab Poster

As the name alludes to, Aria of a Starless Night is an adaptation of the Sword Art Online: Progressive light novel series. This differs from the original source material as it tells the story through the lens of the female lead, Asuna, rather than Kirito. Not only does this allow for her personality to truly shine, but it also gives a fun spin on the trapped-in-a-MMO story as she’s not a prototypical gamer and isn’t sure how many features work.

The most significant difference from Kirito’s story is that Asuna originally teams with a real-life friend of hers named Mito, who Inori Minase wonderfully voices. This leads to an intriguing mentor dynamic as Mito guides Asuna through the early stages and winds up saving her life several times. Since it was a new character that didn’t really gel with the rest of the SAO story, I kept expecting Mito to meet a tragic fate and be written out of the arc. However, that doesn’t happen, and Progressive winds up being much more interesting due to it as it explores the friendship and qualities of both Mito and Asuna.

One of the biggest strengths of Aria of a Starless Night is that it gives time to its moments and allows characters to breathe. Despite running 97 minutes, the film only takes players up to the first two episodes of the anime. While this might seem like a slow pace and dragging things out, it works to its advantage as Asuna’s journey is fleshed out, and we get to see glimpses of her home life before she started playing SAO. Anyone that has become a fan of Asuna over the years will definitely want to check this out as the character fits the protagonist role wonderfully and carries the film.

While new elements are introduced, this first arc is still quite faithful to the original Sword Art Online story. It ends with the first-floor boss fight against Illfang that has become an iconic part of the series, and the battle feels even more epic in movie form. While the end results are never really in doubt due to its retelling nature, the action is just as gripping and remains an entertaining and rewarding watch.

RELATED: Sword Art Online The Movie -Progressive- Scherzo of Dark Twilight Announced

A second Progressive film has already been announced, which moves the story forward a bit rather than being a direct continuation, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out, but this retelling of Sword Art Online already has a winning formula. With a fresh perspective that sees Asuna in the forefront, an interesting character addition, and new looks at memorable story beats, Aria of a Starless Night is a success at retelling the series’ beginning in a way that is approachable while still being rewarding for longtime fans.

SCORE: 8/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.

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Disclosure: Critic received a screening link for our Sword Art Online the Movie -Progressive- Aria of a Starless Night review.

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Ridley Scott’s Four Best Films to Rewatch After House of Gucci

2021 marked the return of British director Ridley Scott with two long features following a four-year hiatus. Earlier this year, Scott released The Last Duel, a new foray into the historical genre. Now, his House of Gucci crime drama is currently playing in theaters. Since his directorial debut with The Duelists in 1977 and over his 27 works, Scott reshaped Hollywood canons with some iconic films.

Let’s revisit four of his best movies:

Alien

Scott’s first big statement behind the camera came with 1979’s Alien. After detecting a distress signal, the spaceship Nostromo visits an unknown moon. An alien entity attaches itself to one crew member, giving birth to a deadly creature who hunts down the seven humans on the ship one by one. Dallas (Tom Skerritt), the captain, and Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the warrant officer, will attempt their best to get rid of the alien and bring back the crew alive on Earth.

Soon after its release, Alien met the public taste and became a box-office success. The combination between Scott’s direction, the editing, and a very claustrophobic scenography is a suspenseful story that revolutionized the genre. It was also one of the first sci-fi movies with a woman as the leading character. Additionally, the film features many sexual references throughout the story, including the creature’s iconic and well-known shape. Alien ultimately took home a Best Art Direction nomination and won the Best Visual Effects award at the 1980 Academy Awards.

The franchise will soon welcome a live-action TV series that is in pre-production at FX. Filming should start next year.

Blade Runner

Three years after Alien, Scott came up with a loose adaptation of the Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? novel by Philip K. Dick. In a dystopian future, a group of ‘replicants’ led by the elusive Roy (Rutger Hauer) escapes from the control of the Tyrell Corporation. The bounty hunter Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) offers to ‘retire’ the rogue androids by putting them away. Under the heavy rain of a polluted Los Angeles, Rick and his assistant Rachel (Sean Young) will track down the replicants one by one. Their encounter with Roy will lead them to discover a hard truth about their identity.

Fans didn’t appreciate Scott’s work when it hit theaters, and it bombed at the box office. However, time proved him right as the film is now considered a cult classic and innovator of the sci-fi genre. Syd Mead’s scenography and Vangelis’ score underlie the inhumanity of the social contest where the dark story takes place. Scott released the director’s cut in 1993, unhappy with the producers’ editing when the movie debuted.

Recently, he announced a 10-hour live-action series for the legendary sci-fi franchise, implying that Deckard’s adventures might not be over just yet.

Thelma & Louise

1991 saw Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) embark on a fishing trip to take a load off. Following a rape attempt that ends with a murder, the titular characters’ ordinary lives turn into an emotional roller coaster. Once again, Scott leaves the floor to some strong, rebellious leading ladies. Neither Thelma nor Louise accepts anything less from life than being the masters of their destiny. Penned by the debutante Callie Khouri, the story is a hymn to women’s empowerment, resulting in a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award. Scott’s movie deals with some heavy topics at the core, but does so with a light-hearted touch and fun.

Gladiator

After taking an extended break from historical movies following 1492: Conquest of Paradise, Scott returned to the genre right at the new millennium’s dawn. Set in 180 AD, the story opens with the refusal of Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe), general of the Roman army, to swear loyalty to the Roman Empire’s new ruler, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix). After Maximus’ desertion, he is captured and sold by some slave traders as a gladiator. One victory after another in the arena, Maximus earns his way to Rome. Inside the Colosseum, he gets the chance to stand in front of the Emperor.

While the film’s historicity is questionable, Scott reignited the peplum genre thanks to a good drama with a heartbreaking finale. The movie brought fans and critics together in applauding it as one of Scott’s best works. Among a plethora of other accolades, it landed 12 nominations at the Academy Awards, winning the Best Picture, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Visual Effects awards, in addition to the one for Russell Crowe as Best Actor.

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