Is Taylor Swift the Beatles of her generation? Music legend Billy Joel thinks so

Billy Joel says Taylor Swift is "this generation's Beatles".The "We Didn't Start The Fire" legend compared the country-turned-pop singer to the iconic "Hey Jude" band as he weighed in on both the "Shake If Off" star and "Easy On...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Why JK Rowling has been snubbed from the Harry Potter reunion

She single-handedly created one of the most distinguished fictional worlds in literary, cinematic and popular culture history.But Harry Potter author JK Rowling has not been invited to star in the franchise's upcoming reunion special,...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Madonna's rare photo with three younger sisters during father's 90th birthday celebrations

This story was one of NZ Herald Entertainment's top stories for 2021 Queen of pop Madonna has posed for a very rare photo alongside her three younger sisters, as the family celebrates the 90th birthday of Madonna's father Silvio...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

'Our national treasure': Tributes flow for Betty White as the world reacts to her death

Tributes are flowing in for actress and comedy legend Betty White who passed away at the age of 99, just three weeks before her 100th birthday. News of her death has left Hollywood and the US in a state of shock on New Year's Eve,...

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The Witcher Showrunner Reveals Her Biggest Regret From Season 1

Netflix’s The Witcher series has recently launched its second season, but in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich spoke about one of her biggest regrets from the first season of the show.

RELATED: The Witcher Showrunner Talks Future of the Series & Spin-Offs

“I have to say that in season one, I don’t think that we paid enough attention to Ciri’s story,” Hissrich said when asked about adapting so many strong female characters in the series. “It’s one of my big regrets watching that season. And so we worked really hard this season to make sure that we felt like we were on the path a lot more with Ciri, with Freya and sort of allowing her to fully explore this character.”

Hissrich went on to note that their focus is continuing on showing that Ciri will be one of the most important characters in the series as it continues.

“And I also think setting up the fact that Ciri becomes increasingly important in the series as it goes. Any book lover will tell you that she starts to become the center of this narrative. And we also wanted to make sure we were setting that up.”

RELATED: The Witcher Season 2 Tops Netflix List with Over 140 Million Hours Streamed

Season 2 introduced a handful of new characters portrayed by Kristofer Hivju (Game of Thrones), Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve), Paul Bullion (Peaky Blinders), Yasen Atour (Young Wallender), Agnes Bjorn, Basil Eidenbenz (Fast and Furious 9), Aisha Fabienne Ross (The Danish Girl), Mecia Simson (Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model), and more.

Based on the stories and novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is created and executive produced by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, who also serves as the showrunner. Sean Daniel and Jason Brown of Sean Daniel Company executive produce along with Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko of Platige Image.

The post The Witcher Showrunner Reveals Her Biggest Regret From Season 1 appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Betty White Passes Away, The Golden Girls Star Was 99

The entertainment world is in mourning as legendary actress and comedian Betty White has passed away at the age of 99. According to TMZ, White passed away at her home on Friday morning. The Golden Girls actress was going to turn 100 on January 17.

“I thought she would live forever. I’ll miss her terribly,” said White’s agent Jeff Witjas confirming the passing. “I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her husband. She believed she’d be with him again.”

White is most famous for her acting as she had breakout roles in the 70s and 80s. She played Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1973 to 1977 and then starred in The Golden Girls as Rose Nylund from 1985 through 1992. White stayed active even in her later years as she starred in TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland from 2010 through 2015. The comedy legend also stayed active doing voice acting as she voiced Yoshie in the English dub of Ponyo, Grammy Norma in The Lorax, and Bitey White in Toy Story 4.

Betty White: First Lady Of Television — and our hearts. Rest in Peace pic.twitter.com/AInUQ80HHn

— Netflix (@netflix) December 31, 2021

White began her career in the 1930s when she was just eight years old. She became the first woman to produce a sitcom (Life in Elizabeth) and was a staple on game show panels. Her television career spans over nine decades, which has earned her a Guinness World Record. She’s received eight Emmy awards over her career, three American Comedy Awards, and a Grammy Award.

A documentary film Betty White: 100 Years Young – A Birthday Celebration was scheduled to release in January and was to feature a star-studded cast of entertainers reflecting on White’s career that included Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli, James Corden, Wendy Malick, and Jennifer Love Hewitt. No word yet on if the special will be retooled or released as planned.

Thank you for being our friend.

NBC will miss our Golden Girl. pic.twitter.com/J2EEGxxuHZ

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) December 31, 2021

ComingSoon sends condolences to White’s friends and family.

The post Betty White Passes Away, The Golden Girls Star Was 99 appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Iconic actress and TV legend Betty White dies aged 99

Betty White, the trailblazing television star with a nine-decade career, has passed away at the age of 99.The beloved Golden Girls actress was just weeks off her milestone 100th birthday on January 17. White is understood to have...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Best of 2021: ComingSoon’s Top 20 Games of the Year

Even with all of the delays, an ongoing pandemic, and a ton of general chaos, 2021 was still full of fantastic games on every modern system. But, as is the case every year, there are some standouts that rank above the rest. Here are ComingSoon’s top 20 games of 2021.

Last Stop

RELATED: Last Stop Review: A Very British (and Good) X-Files Episode

Last Stop has very few mechanics to speak of, which puts almost all of the burden on its dialogue and story. But thankfully its narrative can withstand such pressure. This delightfully British sci-fi tale is told from three different perspectives with characters that are all dealing with their own paranormal aberrations. Quick, funny dialogue and interesting otherworldly premises mean the story moves at a good clip and is entertaining along the way as it draws players in with its humor and keeps them locked in because of the mystery unpinning it all. That mystery comes to a head in the final act and is a hard swing that works because of all the heavy lifting done in the prior chapters. Last Stop is rough around the edges with its wooden animation and sparse visuals, but the shortcomings sit on the periphery of a compelling story.

Before Your Eyes

Before Your Eyes is not like any other game on this list. Although also playable through clicking the mouse, it’s unique in that it can also be played by blinking. GoodbyeWorld Games uses that unorthodox control method to construct a tale that symbolically uses blinking to reinforce its themes and makes it more than a staring contest with a webcam. It’s a beautiful story that doesn’t overstay its welcome and uses its time to take players on an emotional journey that elegantly marries its control method with its narrative in a way no other game can match.

Far Cry 6

RELATED: Far Cry 6 Review: A Solid Evolution, Not a Revolution

Far Cry 6 is more Far Cry, but it’s also the smoothest Far Cry. This latest entry takes players into the Cuba-like territory of Yara and gives them the tools to wreak havoc as they burn a trail of destruction across the vast island and kick fascist ass. A lot of this ass-kicking is fairly standard for the open-world genre, yet excels over the other entries in the series because of its stronger upgrade loop, an expanded arsenal, and more refined gunplay. While it ends on a sour note, leads players by the nose too much, and might be one open-world too many for some, it, when compared to its predecessors, has the widest array of tools and the most unique setting; two factors that are crucial for any Far Cry game.

Mario Party Superstars

RELATED: Mario Party Superstars Review: A Celebration & Step Forward

A perfect blend of nostalgia and quality of life improvements, Mario Party Superstars is the best the series has ever been. Featuring boards from the classic N64 trilogy and mini-games that span the entirety of Mario Party‘s history, this is the best the series has ever played. Throw in online play that works shockingly well, including the ability to pick up a match where you left off, and you have a package that celebrates its past while showing that the future is bright for Nintendo’s party game.

Dodgeball Academia

Dodgeball Academia is much more than the My Hero Academia and Pokémon-esque RPG that it looks like on the surface. Instead, it’s a clever and original spin on the genre that knows how to remind players of what they might already love and infuses it with some original flair.

Fights play out like dodgeball matches where players use their grade-school knowledge of the sport as a base. But the nuance comes in how the game applies its RPG mechanics to those widely known rules. Characters have their own unique stats and skills that give players agency in how they stack and upgrade their party. And, unlike Pokémon, the real-time nature of it all makes it mechanically engaging to participate in as players always have to rely on their timing and reflexes to throw, catch, and dodge dodgeballs. The game also constantly changes and adds rules and variables over its 10-hour runtime, meaning it stays fresh for its satisfyingly well-paced campaign.

Dodgeball Academia doesn’t make the most of its wacky cast of characters and, despite some funny and self-aware dialogue, has a fairly weak story. But regardless of its small weaknesses, it is still simultaneously one of the best traditional Pokémon games, best anime games, and best dodgeball games of the year, which is especially impressive since it had competition in all three of those genres in 2021.

Operation: Tango

Operation: Tango is one of the best cooperative games to release this year. Similar to Spaceteam and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, players will only find success through constant and clear communication. With one spy on the ground and a hacker that is aiding them through a computer, each stage is a blast to replay and see the level from the other perspective. While some of the puzzles can be quite tricky, some laughs and a good time are guaranteed when playing with a friend.

Inscryption

Inscryption is one hell of a deck-building roguelite. Its mechanics are easy to understand yet filled with depth as players figure out the ins and outs of each of the different cards. Players are given control over their builds as they progress down the procedurally-generated path, meaning no two runs are the same.

If Inscryption were judged purely on its gameplay, then it would still be a good game. But it’s so much more than that and all of those extra features are what puts it on a whole other level. Inscryption is a fourth-wall-breaking game bent on pulling the rug from under players and twisting and turning in ways that are as exciting narratively as they are for the gameplay. These surprising gear shifts are always consistent with the game’s ruleset and cunningly put the same systems in a new light without being unfaithful to its foundation. Inscryption keeps players guessing and engages them through its addictive gameplay, and even though it dips a little too far into unfair territory at the end, it’s still a mysterious, unforgettable card game that is way more than it lets on.

Life is Strange: True Colors

RELATED: Life Is Strange: True Colors Review: A Return to Form

Life is Strange: True Colors does away with the cringeworthy dialogue and stilted animation that has plagued the prior entries and is finally the first Life is Strange game that is able to appeal to those outside of its niche audience. True Colors‘ protagonist, Alex Chen, is able to charm a wider range of people because of her personality that covers the gamut of human emotions, making her more than a bundle of shallow clichés who only talks in dated teen slang. Her powers as an empath also give life to the supporting cast as it lets players see how these characters are feeling, a gameplay mechanic that succeeds in humanizing the many small-town residents.

Its themes of empathy are only strengthened by its incredible and lively facial animation that conveys nuance and subtleties better than many games. It’s disappointing that these powers aren’t more gamified or morally explored and the ending feels sudden for those who haven’t read some of the optional items scattered around, but True Colors is the best installment yet and a sign that the series is in good hands at Deck Nine.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

RELATED: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Review

Insomniac Games has been making Ratchet & Clank games for 19 years so it’s impressive that the team can still crank out a quality one after all these years. And not only is Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart a great game, but it’s also one of the best in the entire series.

The third-person shooting is as fast and explosive as it has been in the past, but Rift Apart excels because of its unbeatable arsenal. Ratchet’s tools of destruction can’t be matched from its shield gun that intuitively doubles as a shotgun to its sprinkler gun that temporarily turns enemies into plants. Each gives players plenty of options in firefights and the RPG systems infused into each one ensure that there’s always something to upgrade and improve.

Rift Apart gameplay is classic Ratchet, but its presentation is what brings it into the current generation. Rift Apart is a visual showpiece like few other games on the PlayStation 5, with its wonderfully detailed and bustling environments and brilliantly animated characters — something that helps bring new protagonist Rivet to life. The absurdly quick loading is the most cutting edge feature as it warps players around completely unique environments at a moment’s notice, allowing for some impressive set pieces and gameplay opportunities. Rift Apart doesn’t push the series into a new direction or make good on the overarching narrative, but it’s still an excellent entry and one of the PS5’s best exclusives.

Hitman 3

Hitman 3 shows that IO Interactive’s whole “World of Assassination” initiative was a great idea worth sticking to. This trilogy-ender retains the comedic, stealth-based core that sees players sleuthing around an open sandbox as they search for inventive ways to execute their targets, meaning it is almost endlessly replayable. That much is expected for a game that also acts as a hub for those previous two titles.

But Hitman 3 goes a step further by tweaking the formula in its suite of memorable levels. The Berlin stage inverts the mechanics of the game and sees Agent 47 as the prey. The mansion in Dartmoor lets users (literally) put on their best detective gear and solve a murder mystery right before they commit a murder of their own. Even though a few of these deviations don’t completely pan out, Hitman 3’s ability to both deliver traditional Hitman gameplay while also experimenting with it speaks volumes about the flexibility and quality of the series that ended on its most brilliant and well-crafted kill.

Bowser’s Fury

Released alongside a sped-up port of Super Mario 3D World, Bowser’s Fury is a bite-sized yet incredibly intriguing look at the future of Mario. While its scope and ambition can’t quite compare to Super Mario Odyssey, Bowser’s Fury shows how an open-world Mario game would work. There are plenty of highlights in its relatively short run time, which include kaiju-esque fights against a giant bowser and the return of Cat Mario. It’s the perfect addition to an excellent port that could’ve sold just fine on its own.

9. WarioWare: Get It Together!

RELATED: WarioWare: Get It Together! Review: A Refreshing Reinvention

The WarioWare series has always lived on the border of experimental and surreal, but Get It Together! is the biggest shake-up in the series’ history. Rather than changing the way you interact with the microgames like Touched, Twisted, or Smooth Moves, the Switch offering inserts the series’ entertaining cast of characters into the action. Having control over multiple characters adds an additional layer to the puzzle-solving as players have to determine their individual skills on top of figuring out what they need to accomplish, all in a split second. Throw in some great cooperative play and you have a worthy sequel in Nintendo’s most eccentric series.

Pokémon Unite

RELATED: Pokémon Unite Review: An Accessible MOBA That’s Fun for All

The word “accessible” is rarely thrown around when talking about multiplayer online battle arena games, but that’s exactly what makes Pokémon Unite so great. Featuring quick 10-minute matches rather than potentially hour-long skirmishes, Unite simplifies the MOBA formula and takes full advantage of the wide array of pocket monster designs. With a great sports aesthetic, natural use of evolutions, and a compelling gameplay loop, Pokémon Unite was a great free-to-play surprise.

Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7 are two of the best entries in the series so Resident Evil Village split the difference and combined the best elements of both titles. Village has RE4’s pitch-perfect pacing that quickly shifts players from beat to beat as well as its action-focused gameplay that has some survival elements but is more about chaotically blasting away threats. And putting those elements within RE7’s first-person perspective is what evokes that previous horror title that thoughtfully reinvented the series.

Although Village is far more than just a collage of Resident Evil’s finest. Village’s setting and environments are among the most beautiful and unique in the whole franchise and run the gamut from wide-open fields to cramped factories to dark, wet caves. Each of these places even offers its own brand of horror, meaning it doesn’t just rely on one trick or style for the whole game. These constant changes work with the aforementioned pacing to create an experience that is consistently surprising the player with little to no fluff in between; a true rarity in AAA gaming. Even though it mostly applies to the gameplay, the no-fat approach helps the narrative, which is a bizarre and personal tale that is easily one of the strongest stories in the franchise.

Village does stray from the Resident Evil formula in a few ways. But it still keeps enough of its core tenets in tact and results in an entry that feels more like an inventive step forward instead of a misguided spin-off that would be better off with a different name.

Guardians of the Galaxy

RELATED: Guardians of the Galaxy Review: Flarkin’ Fantastic

Marvel’s Avengers made it hard to trust Square Enix with another Marvel game, but Eidos-Montréal’s Guardians of the Galaxy more than overcame that stigma. Guardians succeeded in all the places Avengers failed. Its narrative is wonderfully told with goofy, well-acted characters that meaningfully change and grow over the course of the game. And they grow because of the antagonist that pushes them physically as well as emotionally, a telling sign of a great opposing force. All of the silly (and downright hilarious at times) banter is funny in the moment, but bonds players to these characters in the long haul so that they care for the plights of these emotionally distraught heroes. They never shut the flark up, but the dialogue is somehow good enough to keep that from being a problem.

Eidos-Montréal did a wonderful job realizing these broken yet deadly dorks but didn’t slouch in the gameplay department either. After some tweaking, players are treated to a combat system that rewards meter management and synergy, something a possible sequel can further streamline and expand upon. With some gorgeous alien worlds, an ‘80s soundtrack that intelligently relates to the action on screen, and an exceptional story that strikes a wide array of tones, Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the best games under the Marvel banner.

The Forgotten City

RELATED: The Forgotten City Is a Clever GOTY Contender You Shouldn’t Miss

A game based on a Skyrim mod sounds like a recipe for mediocrity. The Forgotten City is not only more than that dour descriptor, it’s also one of the most thoroughly written and engaging narratives of the year. Its premise — a city stuck in a time loop where everyone dies if one person sins — grabs players from the jump and doesn’t let go as its mystery is inherently intriguing.

What starts out as a case that tasks players with finding one sinner in a hidden Ancient Roman city turns into a tale with rich themes and big questions that games hardly ever come close to asking. But it goes far beyond just asking them as it provides thoughtful answers to almost every single topic it brings up, resulting in an unforgettable finale that feels like a boss fight with a philosophy textbook.

It doesn’t just pin all of its ambitions on its ending, either, as its cast of characters provide their own side stories full of intrigue that all cleverly integrate into one another. While obviously not as big as other games, it more than makes up for it in its depth, where its intimate interactions make the city feel alive with characters that actually live with and know one another. The Forgotten City also makes players feel smart by letting them discover all of this by themselves, with subtle hints that guide them without being overbearing. Respecting the player’s intelligence and then rewarding them with a well-woven tale is just one of many of The Forgotten City’s qualities and is hopefully a sign of what’s to come from new developer Modern Storyteller.

It Takes Two

Hazelight Studios has always focused on storytelling from a dual perspective and It Takes Two is its strongest and most refined effort within that category. This co-op title takes a bickering couple on the precipice of a divorce and shrinks them down into a Nintendo-esque platformer; untrodden waters that Nintendo itself would never dare breach.

This more mature setup allows it to explore more interesting topics, but it doesn’t lose its heart. The game is unexpectedly hilarious at times with witty lines and solid performances that more than balance out the sad effects divorce has on a family. Working through a separation makes sense in the mechanics, too, as players are forced to collaborate to progress. Every level gives each player some unique tool that they then must use in conjunction with the other player, which allows for some ingenious platforming challenges that offer a decent challenge for hardcore players and newcomers alike.

It Takes Two is around a dozen hours, but never loses its charm and consistently comes up with brilliantly designed scenarios, some of which are boiled down to competitive mini-games scattered around the levels that intelligently replace collectibles. It once again shows how Hazelight excels at creating amazing cooperative titles that are uniquely built around two players.

Lost Judgment

Sega’s Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio had an incredibly busy year but Lost Judgment was the crown jewel of its offerings. The sequel to 2019’s Judgment sees detective Takayuki Yagami return for another mystery that spans both Kamurocho and Yokohama, which is where Yakuza: Like A Dragon took place. It manages to outdo its predecessor thanks to several smart additions, such as giving players a skateboard to quickly traverse the map without having to spend money on taxis, and a more focused collection of side content that mostly takes place around a school and its various clubs. Throw in a story that serves as a scathing indictment of Japan’s justice system and you’ve got an action game that isn’t afraid to provide social commentary and a narrative that examines morality in intriguing ways.

Returnal

Returnal is Housemarque’s coming-out party. Resogun, Super Stardust HD, Nex Machina, and Matterfall were all great games, but the sheer scope and quality of Returnal seemed like a bold and unavoidable declaration of the studio’s talent. This PS5-exclusive title took roguelite conventions and stuck them in a big AAA game, which is not a space the genre typically is associated with.

But it worked. By mixing elements of third-person shooters, roguelites, and bullet hells into one game, Housemarque was able to create a quilt of established genres that felt completely new when stitched together like so. Smooth gunplay and traversal controls and an array of different guns ensure that the shooting and bullet hell portions are satisfying. Unique level layouts, a host of upgrades, and a wealth of perks — the roguelite portions of the formula — provide the necessary dynamic elements that keep the shooting from growing stale and players from growing complacent. Returnal is also a difficult game, but rewarding because it gives players the fluid controls and means they need to succeed.

Returnal’s addictive gameplay is more than enough, yet its narrative is what helps push it into true classic status. The game has a mystifying and multilayered story on a spooky alien world that constantly intrigues the player through a rich and well-paced mystery that unfolds gradually over the campaign and works in tandem with its roguelite nature. It gives players enough to go on without fully revealing itself, leaving it up to multiple interpretations that can vary drastically between players, which is something video games don’t often nail. Returnal knows how to captivate players through its narrative and gameplay, both of which are immensely deep and thrilling for those willing to invest the time and effort.

Metroid Dread

RELATED: Metroid Dread Has Had a 16-Year-Long, Rumor-Heavy Development

The possibility of a new 2D Metroid seemed slim and the onslaught of Metroid-like games that have come out over the past decade would mean that any possible Metroid would have a lot of stiff competition. But despite the obstacles, Metroid Dread is still one of the best entries the genre has seen for quite some time.

The general flow of Dread is familiar — gain power-ups to get access to new places. However, the way in which it presents and polishes that age-old formula is truly spectacular. The path forward is not always spelled out, but subtly implied through incredible design that pushes the player toward the next objective. This waypoint-free approach yields a sense of exploration that’s key to the genre and its sublime layout keeps it from becoming tedious or aimless.

Dread also lives up to its name through the E.M.M.I. robots that chase Samus Aran in certain areas. These Terminator-like beings put the bounty hunter on the defensive and completely change the flow of gameplay in a way the series has never seen. The tension of narrowly avoiding these death bots or hitting a tough counter and escaping their grasp is electrifying every single time. It’s a stark contrast to the other boss fights in the game that are more traditional yet challenging and satisfying in their own ways as they push players to recognize patterns in order to come out victorious.

And while the narrative isn’t the deepest tale of the year, it does contain some truly shocking revelations that are highlights in a game full of them. Samus, however, is the strongest part of the package as she is wonderfully characterized through action in a way like Doom 2016’s iteration of the Doom Slayer. She’s effortlessly badass, performing acrobatic dodges and trick shots that wouldn’t look out of place in an anime series. Between the franchise’s legacy, outside competition, and a sporadic 16-year development cycle, Metroid Dread had a lot to live up to. But it has smashed those expectations and demonstrated why it’s still the queen of the genre it is named after.

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Marvel’s Avengers’ Black Widow Gets Another MCU Skin

Just after adding a costume from the Hawkeye Disney+ series and Black Widow’s Avenger: Infinity War skin, Crystal Dynamics has put yet another MCU skin in the game for Black Widow. This time, it’s her skin from her solo film, Black Widow.

You get to make your own choices now.

Inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Marvel Studios' Black Widow Outfit features Natasha's black suit in the latter half of the film.

Available in the Marketplace on December 30! pic.twitter.com/ho6syvGxuR

— Marvel's Avengers (@PlayAvengers) December 29, 2021

RELATED: She-Hulk Will Reportedly Be Marvel’s Avengers’ Next Hero

Some players may remember that Crystal Dynamics already implemented a skin from the film into the game. And that is true, since the team started selling her white suit to the action RPG back in July. However, Crystal Dynamics has added the black suit that she wore in the latter half of the film. The skin is 1,400 credits (aroudn $14), the standard price for premium MCU skins.

RELATED: Insomniac’s Spider-Man Is Impossible to Ignore While Playing Avengers’ Spidey

There are plenty of MCU skins and the list is growing quite rapidly. It stretches from the original Iron Man suit from the 2008 film to Black Panther’s Captain America: Civil War suit to Avengers: Endgame‘s Hulk, just to name a few.

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She-Hulk Will Reportedly Be Marvel’s Avengers’ Next Hero

Marvel’s Avengers already has one green hero and it sounds like the game is about to get one more. She-Hulk is reportedly the next hero coming to the action RPG. However, Crystal Dynamics has not confirmed or denied who the next playable character will be.

Krizia Bajos will be playing Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk when she appears in Marvel's Avengers pic.twitter.com/u5yinWl8vT

— Miller (@mmmmmmmmiller) December 30, 2021

The leak comes from a streamer that goes by Miller. In November, Miller teased that She-Hulk would be the next hero in the Avengers game. And then he recently went one step further and said that actor Krizia Bajos will be playing She-Hulk. Miller also previously reported that Christopher Judge would play Black Panther in the game and spread the slides revealing the existence of a Marvel MMO. Bajos quote tweeted it, simply replying with a green heart emoji.

RELATED: The Avengers Game Is Giving Players a Free Spider-Man Skin

However, Bajos deleted the tweet later on, which gives more credence to this report. And even though she deleted the tweet, her liked tweets are still full of tweets regarding She-Hulk and further point to her involvement with the game. Bajos has played small roles in other video games like Far Cry 6, The Last of Us Part II, and Cyberpunk 2077, to name a few.

Crystal Dynamics has not discussed the next character coming to the game, but it’s unlikely that this hero will be another console exclusive like Spider-Man, even considering She-Hulk’s skin that’s as green as Xbox’s marquee colors. She-Hulk also makes some sense as an addition considering the game has both Hawkeye and Kate Bishop, two linked heroes with interwoven backstories. And since the game already features Hulk, adding his female counterpart would seem like a natural next step. The She-Hulk Disney+ series is also gearing up, which would be another argument in favor of the green hero, especially since the game has been adding many skins from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

RELATED: Insomniac’s Spider-Man Is Impossible to Ignore While Playing Avengers’ Spidey

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Crunchyroll Winter Anime Slate Revealed, Over 30 Series Streaming

Crunchyroll has officially revealed its winter slate of anime, with the streaming platform set to bring more than 20 titles to its service starting next month.

RELATED: Funimation Winter Anime Slate Revealed, Over 20 Series Streaming

The full list of anime coming to Crunchyroll features both shows that are being simulcast to the streaming service, as well as exclusive options as well. The full list of anime coming to the service, and when they’ll be available, are as follows:

New to Crunchyroll for Winter 2022 Season

• Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 (Simulcast begins January 9)
• FreakAngels (Simulcast begins January 27)
• My Dress-Up Darling
• Orient
• Sabikui Bisco
• In the Land of Leadale
• Princess Connect! Re: Dive Season 2
• Love of Kill
• The Strongest Sage With the Weakest Crest
• Miss Kuoitsu From the Monster Development Department
• Life with an Ordinary Guy Who Reincarnated into a Total Fantasy Knockout
• Akebi’s Sailor Uniform
• CUE!
• Tokyo 24th Ward
• Theatre of Darkness: Yamishibai Season 10
• World’s End Harem

New OVA & TV Specials Coming in Winter 2022

• The Irregular at Magic High School: Reminiscence Arc
• Lord El-Melloi II’s Case Files {Rail Zeppelin} Grace note

Simulcasts Continuing from Fall 2021

• Demon Slayer: Entertainment District Arc
• Blade Runner: Black Lotus
• Platinum End
• Boruto: Naruto Next Generations
• One Piece
• Case Closed
• Digimon Ghost Game
• Dragon Quest: The Adventure of Dai
• Kiyo in Kyoto: From the Maiko House
• Tropical Rouge Pretty Cure
• Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon -The Second Act-

RELATED: Chainsaw Man Anime Trailer Confirms 2022 Release

Crunchyroll did say that the schedule is subject to change and that more content will also be announced and added in the coming days, so fans should be ready for even more great shows to hit the streaming service soon.

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Are Movie Musicals Dead on the Big Screen?

As cinemas have reopened around the world throughout 2021, the big question on everyone’s minds has been how attendance habits will have changed since before the initial shutdowns in March 2020. Since then, a lot of big movies having shorter theatrical windows or even going straight to streaming entirely has become the norm for films in many genres. It seems like the only genre that is consistently bringing in the big bucks at the box office is that of comic book movies, but studios are still hoping other projects will be able to break out and become hits in their own right.

RELATED: West Side Story Review: Spielberg’s Musical Shines With Spectacle

One genre, in particular, that seemed poised to have some potential box office hits on its hands this year was the movie musical. Three stage-to-screen adaptations of Broadway musicals all hit cinemas this year, including In the Heights, Dear Evan Hansen, and West Side Story. While Dear Evan Hansen became an instant meme thanks to the casting of its too-old original Broadway lead Ben Platt in the title role, prospects looked good for the other two. Both had been planned for 2020 releases and seemed poised to do pretty well, but somewhere along the line the hype died away and neither ended up having the success the studios hoped for. Even an animated Disney musical with songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda in Encanto couldn’t draw in a very big theatrical audience.

So, is the movie musical’s day on the big screen dead? It’s not exactly looking great. These films — especially ones based on well-known Broadway shows — are less likely to get people worried about “spoilers” as the major blockbusters, and therefore there’s less pressure for audiences to see them as soon as they come out. Even for a lot of the biggest musical fans, the soundtracks can “get them by” until they can see the movie at a time and place that’s convenient for them.

For movie musicals to do well theatrically as of late (we’re talking before the pandemic) they needed to have some major star power, like Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling in La La Land or Hugh Jackman, Zendaya, and Zac Efron in The Greatest Showman. And, of course, some level of quality is always key as well, as evidenced by the spectacular failure of Cats. But star power doesn’t seem to mean as much in the pandemic era, as evidenced by the recent underperformances of star-studded movies across a variety of genres.

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like the movie musical’s cultural impact is going away anytime soon, even if its big-screen prospects are. What’s interesting about Encanto is that now that it’s hit Disney+, there’s suddenly more buzz surrounding the film. The same goes for the straight-to-streaming movie musical Tick, Tick… Boom! (funnily enough, was directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda) which was released on Netflix in November and has generated way more audience and awards buzz than any of the live-action theatrical musical films of 2021. Given the shorter theatrical-to-streaming wait periods for movies nowadays, enough people are waiting out movies where many of them are given a significant second life and relevance once they debut on a streaming service, just like several of the professional stage musicals such as Hamilton.

RELATED: Tick, Tick…BOOM! Review: Andrew Garfield Stars in Cinematic Wonder

So for now, it looks like the movie musical’s relevance lives on streaming services. However, a lot of the bigger budget ones need successful theatrical runs in order to be profitable (and the “spectacle” side of the genre to be sustainable). Theatre fans may turn up their noses at the casting of Ariana Grande in Wicked, but it might be a necessary compromise in order to keep big-budget musicals — and the glitz and spectacle that comes with it — alive in a post-pandemic world.

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MAFS Australia's Martha Kalifatidis reveals unexpected Covid side effect

Married At First Sight couple Martha Kalifatidis and Michael Brunelli have caught Covid-19.The newly engaged couple, who met on the show in 2019, had recently been in Los Angeles but believe they caught the virus on Christmas Day...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

The Book of Boba Fett – Chapter 1 Review: An Underwhelming Debut

After two seasons of the successful Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, a spin-off is arriving on Disney+. The first episode of The Book of Boba Fett has premiered and this space Western stars Temeura Morrison as Boba Fett, a former bounty hunter turned crime lord who navigates the galaxy’s underworld with assassin Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen). “Chapter 1: Stranger in a Strange Land” shows how Boba escaped the Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi and what happened to him after.

As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more inclined to like this show than your casual audience member. There’s a lot to enjoy about this episode, with many scenes that longtime fans of the protagonist with a cult following will love. For example, the opening sequence where we get a brief flashback to the moments after Boba’s father’s death in the Battle of Geonosis will send a grin to those who have seen Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.

RELATED: How Boba Fett Survived the Sarlacc Pit in Return of the Jedi

However, as the series premiere to a spin-off of one of the best pieces of Star Wars entertainment in recent years, this episode was underwhelming. It’s a show made for the fans who have clamored for more of the iconic bounty hunter, but the first episode doesn’t set up very much to hook the audience and keep them watching. Perhaps the primary cause of this is the premiere’s failure to introduce ideas that haven’t been previously established.

One of the first scenes in “Chapter 1” features Boba escaping from the Sarlacc after Han Solo accidentally launched him there. It’s an enjoyable sequence that quickly leads to his armor being stolen by Jawas and him getting captured by Tusken raiders. It’s fun to return to the desert planet of Tatooine and see the creatures introduced in A New Hope, but the sequences with these characters don’t feel as if they amount to very much.

The episode shines in its moments where we get to see Boba being the badass hero we’ve always known he was. The scene where Boba takes down a massiff that charges at him is an excellent example of this, as well as the scene where an assassin tries to escape, but Boba fires a rocket at him. Furthermore, the sequence near the end where Boba takes down the giant creature is a fantastic Star Wars set piece that ends “Stranger in a Strange Land” on a hopeful note as he gains the respect of the Tuskens.

RELATED: The Book of Boba Fett Featurette Spotlights Temuera Morrison’s Performance

But the moments in between pull the episode down. In addition, the episode’s structure is strange, beginning with a 12-minute flashback sequence, then bringing us to the events after the end-credits scene of The Mandalorian Season 2, where Boba establishes himself as a crime lord but then features another 9-minute flashback. The pacing of the flashbacks can be monotonous, and the story doesn’t feel as if it’s setting up any questions beyond what we’ve seen before. We know Boba wants to be a unique crime lord, but the episode doesn’t set up a mystery that will keep us watching.

Furthermore, the episode’s main action sequence with the assassins fighting Boba, Fennec, and the two Gamorrean guards is entertaining. Still, it’s not entirely on the level of the action setpiece Boba and Fennec shared in “Chapter 14” of The Mandalorian. Perhaps it will take its time to pick up, but the show may have benefitted from debuting its second episode as well. Because while the premiere of The Book of Boba Fett has its moments and hints at becoming something greater, the result does not equal the sum of its parts.

SCORE: 5/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 5 equates to “Mediocre.” The positives and negatives wind up negating each other, making it a wash.

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Disclosure: The critic watched the episode on Disney+ for ComingSoon’s The Book of Boba Fett Season 1 Episode 1 – Chapter 1 review.

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BBC's 'unbelievable' interview with Alan Dershowitz after Ghislaine Maxwell verdict

The United Kingdom's public broadcaster, the BBC, has acknowledged it breached its own editorial standards with a live TV segment that aired after the Ghislaine Maxwell verdict.Maxwell, a close associate of billionaire paedophile...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Mysterious ‘High-End RPG’ Remake in Development for PS5

Developer Mutan Insight is currently hiring staff to work on a new “high-end RPG (remake)” for the PlayStation 5 that possibly uses Unreal Engine 5, according to a recent job listing.

MORE: Report: Chrono Cross Remake or Remaster in Development

The listings (via Gematsu) call for a 3D motion designer, 3D art director, 3D background designer, and a 2D character designer. The game itself isn’t mentioned at all outside of the fact that it will be a remake of an RPG. The posting implies that it uses Unreal Engine 5, but doesn’t outright confirm it.

Mutan Insight has worked on a handful of titles in the past, including having done character models for the Atelier and Blue Reflection series, as well as background models on Final Fantasy XV‘s Episode Ardyn DLC. Given Mutan’s past work, it seems possible that it won’t be the team mainly developing whatever RPG is getting remade. Instead, it’s more likely that the studio is helping with the production of the game, and is looking to bring in extra people that are more familiar with Unreal Engine to help out.

While it’s currently unknown what game is set to be remade, there have been rumors floating around that a Chrono Cross remake is secretly in the works, according to a few sources. Folk singer Éabha McMahon said she was making music a PlayStation game with Michael McGlynn, who was seen with the Chrono series’ composter Yasunori Mitsuda. Chrono Cross was also in the infamous Nvidia leak. And finally, industry insider and XboxEra Co-Founder Nick “Shpeshal_Nick” Baker noted that it exists and his source told him it was a multiplatform game.

“Now, when I hear ‘JRPG’ and ‘multiplat,’ I automatically assume PC, PlayStation, Switch,” the insider said at the time. “That’s my assumption. That’s not what I was told. That’s just my assumption. All my source said to me was ‘multiplat.’ That’s what they said.”

MORE: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Locks 3 Missions Behind Digital Deluxe Version

Chrono Cross, which was originally released in 1999 in Japan, is a huge favorite amongst RPG fans. With the reverence for the series and the Final Fantasy VII remake, leaks, reports, and Square Enix’s past relationship with Mutan Insight, some fans are hoping that this news means that a Chrono Cross remake may actually be this mysterious RPG.

The post Mysterious ‘High-End RPG’ Remake in Development for PS5 appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Cobra Kai Season 4 Clip Tease John Kreese and Terry Silver Team-Up

Netflix released another clip from the upcoming fourth season of the hit martial arts dramedy Cobra Kai, which will make its return tomorrow, December 31. The Cobra Kai Season 4 clip reunites Karate Kid antagonists John Kreese and Terry Silver as they team up in an attempt to defeat Daniel and Johnny’s united dojo. The video also gives us a glimpse of Silver’s first interaction with the franchise’s younger characters.

RELATED: Cobra Kai Season 4 Trailer Previews Return of the All Valley Karate Tournament

In Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka revisit their star-making roles from the iconic film franchise, The Karate Kid. The epic adversaries return to the dojo, thirty years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. A down-and-out Johnny Lawrence (Zabka) seeks redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now-successful Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), who has been struggling to maintain balance in his life without the guidance of his mentor, Mr. Miyagi.

“Season 4 finds the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang dojos joining forces to take down Cobra Kai at the All Valley Under 18 Karate Tournament… and whoever loses must hang up their gi,” says the official synopsis. “As Samantha and Miguel try to maintain the dojo alliance and Robby goes all in at Cobra Kai, the fate of the Valley has never been more precarious. What tricks does Kreese have up his sleeve? Can Daniel and Johnny bury their decades-long hatchet to defeat Kreese? Or will Cobra Kai become the face of karate in the valley?”

RELATED: WB Shifts DC’s Blue Beetle From HBO Max to Theaters, Sets 5 Release Dates

Joining Macchio and Zabka are Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Courtney Henggeler, Vanessa Rubio, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni Decenzo, and Martin Kove. The new season will also introduce new characters in the form of Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny and Oona O’Brien as Devon.

Cobra Kai is written and executive produced by Heald, Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg via their Counterbalance Entertainment banner. Executive producers are Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Will Smith, James Lassiter, and Caleeb Pinkett for Overbrook Entertainment, along with Susan Ekins in association with Sony Pictures Television.

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Doctor Strange 2 Delay Caused Changes to Spider-Man: No Way Home

In a recent interview with Variety, Spider-Man: No Way Home scribes Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers opened up about how the pandemic affected their writing process. They revealed that their first ideas for Doctor Strange’s role in No Way Home were immediately changed after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness got delayed.

Originally, the Doctor Strange sequel was set to be released first before the third Tom Holland-led installment, which would have seen Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme as a voice of reason because they were first trying to incorporate things based on what’s happening in Sam Raimi’s sequel.

“We were actually working off of things that were happening in Doctor Strange 2, and trying to incorporate them into our script,” McKenna said. “When we started writing, [Strange] knows firsthand the dangers of screwing with these things. Then we changed it so he was a person who doesn’t know that much about the multiverse. But that makes it even more frightening, to start fooling around with these things, because it’s the fear of the unknown. Either way, he was the voice of reason going, ‘You don’t mess with the fate of an individual’ — and Peter Parker being naive enough to go, ‘Why not? Why can’t we save these people?’”

RELATED: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Teaser Trailer & Poster Revealed

The film currently holds a worldwide gross of over $1 billion and has become Sony’s highest-grossing film of all time. According to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures are already actively beginning to develop their next Spider-Man film together.

Spider-Man: No Way Home sees the return of Tom Holland as the beloved titular wall-crawler, along with Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange. The threequel also features the return of Spider-Man vets J.K. Simmons (Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy) as J. Jonah Jameson, Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2) as Doc Ock, Willem Dafoe (Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy) as the Green Goblin, Jamie Foxx (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) as Electro, Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man 3) as Sandman, and Rhys Ifans (The Amazing Spider-Man) as Lizard.

RELATED: Spider-Man: No Way Home Interview: Stars Reflect on Trilogy

Joining them are Zendaya (Euphoria, Dune) as MJ, Jacob Batalon (50 States of Fright) as Ned, Marisa Tomei (The King of Staten Island) as Aunt May, Jon Favreau as Happy, Tony Revolori (The French Dispatch) as Flash, and Hannibal Buress (Tag) as Coach Wilson.

Spider-Man: No Way Home was directed by Jon Watts from a screenplay written by Chris McKenna, and Erik Sommers.

The post Doctor Strange 2 Delay Caused Changes to Spider-Man: No Way Home appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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View How the Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 Poster Was Made

The second part of the final season of Attack on Titan is nearly here, and to celebrate, a new video detailing just how a new visual of Eren was made has been released.

RELATED: Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 Trailer Promises Tons of Action

The video highlights the creation of a new visual, featuring Eren — the main character of the series — and his journey throughout the entire anime. Different characters, as well as other titans, are shown in pieces of crystals that float in front of Eren. You can check out the making of the visual as well as the new Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 visual below:

The second part of the final season of the hit anime will also be available on Crunchyroll and Hulu and will begin with episode 76. The first part premiered on NHK General TV back in December 2020. It also streamed on Crunchyroll as it aired in Japan.

Attack on Titan began as a manga series written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama. It was serialized in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine between September 2009 and April 2021. The first three seasons of the anime television adaptation were produced by Wit Studios and aired between April 2013 and July 2019. While the manga has concluded, the anime is still ongoing.

RELATED: Attack on Titan to Air Special Episodes Ahead of Final Season Part 2 Premiere

The Attack on Titan franchise has seen much success since it began in 2009 winning several awards, and becoming one of the best-selling manga series of all time. It has spun into other media as well, including video games and a live-action film.

The post View How the Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 Poster Was Made appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Harry Potter Reunion Featurette Highlights Cast’s Return to the Original Set

HBO Max has unveiled a Harry Potter reunion featurette for the long-awaited Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts special, which will start streaming this week on New Year’s Day. The video offers us a behind-the-scenes look at the beloved Harry Potter cast’s reunion as they returned to the original set at Leavesden studio, where they reminisced about their filming experiences. It also features commentaries from Daniel Radcliffe, Gary Oldman, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Tom Felton, and more.

Take a trip down memory lane when Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: #ReturntoHogwarts comes to HBO Max on New Year’s Day. pic.twitter.com/1HKKNPqSuA

— HBO Max (@hbomax) December 30, 2021

RELATED: Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Trailer Shows Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald

The retrospective special Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.

Joining the blockbuster franchise’s iconic Gryffindor trio is Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets filmmaker Chris Columbus along with Harry Potter cast members including Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, and more.

The highly-anticipated reunion will be honoring the magic behind the making of the films and the beautiful family created at Warner Bros. Studios London two decades ago. It will also celebrate the unparalleled legacy of the Harry Potter film franchise and its indelible impact on the hearts, minds, and imaginations of families and fans around the world.

RELATED: Interview: Chris Columbus Reflects on Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon at the iconic Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. Casey Patterson and Pulse Films are executive producing.

The post Harry Potter Reunion Featurette Highlights Cast’s Return to the Original Set appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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This Is Us Final Season Featurette Drops Ahead of Next Week’s Return

NBC has debuted the This Is Us final season featurette for the upcoming sixth season of the acclaimed drama, featuring commentaries from the main cast including Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, and more. The series is scheduled to make its return next week on Tuesday, January 4.

The video, which you can check out below, teases the drama’s final chapter as the cast discusses its legacy and how they hope that fans will forever remember the show for its special and one-of-a-kind story.

RELATED: Euphoria Season 2 Poster Spotlights Zendaya’s Rue

This Is Us is a refreshingly honest and provocative series that follows a unique ensemble whose paths cross and their life stories intertwine in curious ways. It centers around the Pearson family which are portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson, Mandy Moore as Rebecca Pearson, Justin Hartley as Kevin Pearson, Chrissy Metz as Kate Pearson, and Sterling K. Brown as Randall Pearson.

Catch up on the show with the box set here!

For its first season run in 2016, it received three major Golden Globe nominations including Best Television Series – Drama and a Best Supporting Actress for both Moore and Metz’s performances. As for its second season, Sterling K. Brown has won his first Golden Globe for Best Actor in Television Series Drama along with Ron Cephas Jones who won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor. In 2019, the series has also won a SAG award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

RELATED: Manifest Season 4: Production Begins on Netflix’s Saved Sci-Fi Drama

Joining the cast are Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, Jon Huertas, Alexandra Breckenridge, Eris Baker, Lyric Ross, Asante Blackk, and Caitlin Thompson.

This Is Us is written and created by Dan Fogelman, who also serves as an executive producer along with Don Todd. Jess Rosenthal, Charlie Gogolak, and directors Ken Olin, John Requa, and Glenn Ficarra. The series is produced by 20th Television.

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Kim Kardashian hits back after post of an artwork by daughter North West slammed as fake

This story was one of NZ Herald Entertainment's top stories for 2021 Kim Kardashian is angrily defending herself after making a surprising claim on social media that was met with instant scepticism.Kardashian has been roasted...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Locks 3 Missions Behind Digital Deluxe Version

Not everyone will get full access to the upcoming Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin when it comes out on March 18. The action RPG will lock three additional missions behind the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game, according to Square Enix.

MORE: Stranger of Paradise Trailer Recreates Iconic Final Fantasy Scene

The game’s official Twitter account revealed the news, noting that three new missions — Trials of the Dragon King, Wanderer of the Rift, and Different Future — would be included in the Digital Deluxe Edition of the game. Unfortunately for those looking to play them without pre-ordering the game, the account noted that the missions wouldn’t be available separately.

Pre-order the Digital Deluxe edition of #StrangerOfParadise #FinalFantasy Origin to receive three additional missions when they arrive: Trials of the Dragon King, Wanderer of the Rift, and Different Future: https://t.co/lkkhiQ5Gaz

These missions won't be available separately. pic.twitter.com/wnDlXbNk5w

— STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN (@fforigin) December 29, 2021

While this isn’t the only bonus items players can get for pre-ordering the Digital Deluxe version of the game, users across social media have noted that it is a bit unfair to tie additional missions to pre-ordering the premium version of the game, which currently costs $89.99. The act of tying missions to pre-orders of a game is nothing new, but that has not stopped fans who might have already pre-ordered the game from being angry.

RELATED: Final Fantasy XVI’s Development Delayed, ‘Big Reveal’ Set for 2022

It remains to be seen if Square Enix will add the missions at a later date, or whether or not the missions will stay tied to the Digital Deluxe edition forever. The digital-only edition of the game is available to pre-order now, and also includes early access to the title, two weapons, a Lustrous shield, and the digital artbook and soundtrack.

The post Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Locks 3 Missions Behind Digital Deluxe Version appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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Dr. Dre's massive $100 million payout to ex-wife as pair settle divorce

Dr. Dre is to hand over $100 million to Nicole Young after the pair settled their divorce.The music mogul split from his wife in March 2020 after 24 years of marriage, and it has been reported by Rolling Stone that he's to part...

from nzherald.co.nz - Entertainment

Rebel Moon Concept Art: Zack Snyder Unveils First Look at Netflix Film

Man of Steel director Zack Snyder has officially shared the concept art for his next action sci-fi project with Netflix titled Rebel Moon. He also went on to confirm that the Sofia Boutella-led film is expected to start its production in a few months.

The Rebel Moon concept art, which you can check out below, offers us our first look at the upcoming film featuring an army of robot-like soldiers dressed in black armor with a red glowing light coming from within them. On his Vero post, Snyder said: “Rebel Moon concept art…we are in full swing heading toward principal photography in a few months.”

RELATED: Army of the Dead 2: Zack Snyder Confirms Title For Netflix Sequel

Rebel Moon will be directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he is co-writing with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, based on a story by Snyder and Johnstad. This marks Snyder’s latest project with the streamer, following the 2021 releases of Army of the Dead, and Army of Thieves.

“The film is set in a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that finds itself threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius,” reads the synopsis. “They dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to help them take a stand the Tyrant.”

The film will be led by Sofia Boutella, who is no stranger to the sci-fi and action genres for her roles in 2015’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, 2017’s Atomic Blonde, and 2021’s Settlers.

RELATED: Army of Thieves Review: A Heist Movie With a More Lighthearted Comedic Twist

Rebel Moon will be produced by Deborah Snyder, Wesley Coller, and Zack Snyder for The Stone Quarry along with Grand Electric’s Eric Newman. Sarah Bowen will executive produce for Grand Electric.

The post Rebel Moon Concept Art: Zack Snyder Unveils First Look at Netflix Film appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

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