Shazam! Fury of the Gods: Helen Mirren Cast as Villain Hespera
Academy Award-winning actress Helen Mirren has joined the cast of Shazam! Fury of the Gods as the villain Hespera.
The Hollywood Reporter says Mirren will join Rachel Zegler in the Shazam sequel as sisters who "both my or may not be of ill intent." Zachary Levi will reprise his role as the adult version of Billy Batson who gains superpowers after inciting an ancient incantation.
Mirren is no stranger to comic book movies or playing villains in big studio franchises having starred in RED as Victoria Winslow and appearing in the Fast and Furious franchise as Magdalene "Queenie" Shaw.
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Not much is known about Hespera as there's no DC Comics character counterpart. In the synopsis, Mirren's character is called the daughter of Atlas, who is a character in the DC universe created by Jack Kirby. Atlas re-appeared in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman and is closer to his roots in mythology given that Greek Gods are very much a thing in the DC world.
With that in mind, Mirren's character could be based on The Hesperides, who are nymph daughters of Atlas, depending on the telling of the myths.
Shazam! Fury of the Gods was announced at last year's DC FanDome and will follow the adventures of Billy Batson, Freddy Freeman, and the Marvel Family. The post-credits for the first Shazam saw the villain Doctor Sivana meet an alien named Mister Mind, but it's unclear how this storyline will interact with Mirren's casting as Hespera.
Funny enough the Shazam sequel won't intersect with 2021's Black Adam starring Dwayne Johnson. And there's still a bunch of DC movies coming out before Shazam 2, including The Suicide Squad, The Flash, and Aquaman 2. Also, check out IGN's review of Zack Snyder's Justice League here.
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Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.
(Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
John Wick 4 and 5 Moving Forward Without Series Writer Derek Kolstad
Although John Wick will be returning for two more sequels, it seems that the series will continue without some of its original team. Screenwriter Derek Kolstad will not be involved in John Wick: Chapter 4 or Chapter 5.
Kolstad is the major architect of the John Wick universe, having solo writing credit on the first two movies and shared credit with Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams on John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.
The screenwriter revealed the news in an interview with Collider, saying it wasn't his choice to leave the series. "No, it wasn't my decision. When you think of the contractually of these things, the third one I shared the credit with any number of people, they didn't have to come back to me, and so they didn't."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/19/john-wick-3-best-fight-scenes"]
Still, Kolstad did not wish anyone working on the movies ill will, saying he's still rooting for series director Chad Stahelski.
"I'm still close with Chad [Stahelski], still close with [John Wick co-director] David [Leitch]. I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm excited to see... Seeing what the industry is and how things go, I just believe that you bless everything and hope it all the best, and to the players involved who are doing other things elsewhere. And yeah, it's personal, so I'm never going to talk shit about John Wick. I want this thing to survive and thrive."
Although Kolstad is no longer penning the Keanu Reeves-starring series, he still has plenty of things in the works. The writer is currently developing an adaptation of the action-horror manga Hellsing for Amazon Studios, which he describes as a dream project. Additionally, Kolstad is the sole screenwriter on the upcoming Bob Odenkirk action movie Nobody, which releases this Friday.
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The next two John Wick sequels are set to be filmed back-to-back this year, with John Wick: Chapter 4 eyeing a May 27, 2022 release date. Additionally, a spinoff TV series titled The Continental is still on the way.
In our review of Nobody, IGN gave the film an 8, calling it "gruesome and violent, but also wickedly funny and surprisingly poignant."
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J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
John Wick 4 and 5 Moving Forward Without Series Writer Derek Kolstad
Although John Wick will be returning for two more sequels, it seems that the series will continue without some of its original team. Screenwriter Derek Kolstad will not be involved in John Wick: Chapter 4 or Chapter 5.
Kolstad is the major architect of the John Wick universe, having solo writing credit on the first two movies and shared credit with Shay Hatten, Chris Collins, and Marc Abrams on John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum.
The screenwriter revealed the news in an interview with Collider, saying it wasn't his choice to leave the series. "No, it wasn't my decision. When you think of the contractually of these things, the third one I shared the credit with any number of people, they didn't have to come back to me, and so they didn't."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/05/19/john-wick-3-best-fight-scenes"]
Still, Kolstad did not wish anyone working on the movies ill will, saying he's still rooting for series director Chad Stahelski.
"I'm still close with Chad [Stahelski], still close with [John Wick co-director] David [Leitch]. I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm excited to see... Seeing what the industry is and how things go, I just believe that you bless everything and hope it all the best, and to the players involved who are doing other things elsewhere. And yeah, it's personal, so I'm never going to talk shit about John Wick. I want this thing to survive and thrive."
Although Kolstad is no longer penning the Keanu Reeves-starring series, he still has plenty of things in the works. The writer is currently developing an adaptation of the action-horror manga Hellsing for Amazon Studios, which he describes as a dream project. Additionally, Kolstad is the sole screenwriter on the upcoming Bob Odenkirk action movie Nobody, which releases this Friday.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=john-wick-chapter-three-photos&captions=true"]
The next two John Wick sequels are set to be filmed back-to-back this year, with John Wick: Chapter 4 eyeing a May 27, 2022 release date. Additionally, a spinoff TV series titled The Continental is still on the way.
In our review of Nobody, IGN gave the film an 8, calling it "gruesome and violent, but also wickedly funny and surprisingly poignant."
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
Everything Coming to Amazon Prime Video in April 2021
To get kick things off this month, Amazon Prime Video is releasing Tom Clancy's Without Remorse starring Michael B. Jordan (Creed) on April 30. Per Amazon, this film centers on "the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs."
The streamer is also dropping a new horror anthology series, titled Them, which will debut on April 9. Season 1 of Them, which is set in the 1950s, "centers on a Black family who moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration. The family’s idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them," according to a synopsis from Amazon.
You can watch the thrilling trailer for Them in the video below:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/09/amazons-them-official-teaser-trailer-2021"]
Also be sure to check out the slideshow gallery below for a spotlight of some of the most notable April Amazon Prime Video releases, followed by the full list:
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April 1
- A Hologram For The King (2016)
- Anna Karenina (2012)
- Art of Falling in Love (2019) (UP Faith & Family)
- A Simple Plan (1998)
- Because I Said So (2007)
- Bob Roberts (1992)
- Brüno (2009)
- Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)
- Chato's Land (1972)
- Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin' (1983)
- Cohen And Tate (1989)
- Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)
- Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
- Evan Almighty (2007)
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
- Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
- Frankie & Alice (2014)
- Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003)
- Gunfighters Of Abilene (1959)
- Hancock (2008)
- Head Of State (2003)
- How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Inception (2010)
- Johnny English (2003)
- Lady In A Cage (1964)
- Larry Crowne (2011)
- League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
- Lords Of Dogtown (2005)
- Love in Harmony Valley (2020) (UP Faith & Family)
- Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)
- Madea Goes To Jail (2009)
- Mad Max (1980)
- Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)
- Men Of Honor (2000)
- Milk (2009)
- Minority Report (2002)
- Monster's Ball (2001)
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
- Motel Hell (1980)
- My Cousin Vinny (1992)
- New In Town (1992)
- Open Range (2003)
- Platoon (1986)
- Shaft (2000)
- Shooter (2007)
- Sleeping With The Enemy (1991)
- Smiley Face Killers (2020)
- So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993)
- That Thing You Do! (1996)
- The Abyss (1989)
- The Dead Zone (1983)
- The Devil's Double (2011)
- The Gift (2000)
- The Happening (2008)
- The Hunting Party (1971)
- The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
- The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
- The Pawnbroker (1964)
- The Program (1993)
- The Replacement Killers (1998)
- The Skull (1965)
- The Sum Of All Fears (2002)
- Untraceable (2008)
- Valerie (1957)
- Waiting To Exhale (1995)
- What About Bob? (1991)
- Aber Bergen: Season 1 (MHz Choice)
- After the First 48: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
- Anne+: Season 1 (Topic)
- Couples Therapy: Season 1 (Showtime)
- Creepshow: Season 1 (Shudder)
- Engine Masters: Season 1 (MotorTrend)
- Garfield & Friends: Season 1 (Boomerang)
- Ice Road Truckers: Season 1 (History Vault)
- Jacqueline and Jilly: Season 1 (ALLBLK)
- Keeping Faith: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
- Rectify: Season 1 (AMC+)
- Survivor's Remorse: Seasons 1-4
- The Adventures of Napkin Man: Season 1 (Kidstream)
- The Restaurant: Season 1 (Sundance Now)
April 2
- Unhinged (2020)
April 3
- Blair Witch (2016)
April 7
- Girl From Monaco (2009)
- High-Rise (2016)
- Pulse (2005)
- Ragnarok (2009)
- The Answer Man (2009)
- The Priest (2009)
- Trollhunter (2011)
April 9
- THEM - Amazon Original Series: Limited Series
April 12
- Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
- Spontaneous (2020)
April 14
- Burden (2020)
- Cézanne Et Moi (2017)
- Terror's Advocate (2007)
April 16
- Somewhere (2010)
- Wander (2020)
April 21
- Merantau (2010)
- Muay Thai Giant (2011)
- The Hero Of Color City (2014)
- Venus And Serena (2013)
April 26
- The Artist (2012)
April 28
- Arrival (2016)
- Barry Munday (2010)
- Harlem Aria (2010)
- Kiltro (2008)
- The Commune (2017)
- The Warlords (2010)
April 30
- Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse - Amazon Original Movie (2021)
Everything Coming to Amazon Prime Video in April 2021
To get kick things off this month, Amazon Prime Video is releasing Tom Clancy's Without Remorse starring Michael B. Jordan (Creed) on April 30. Per Amazon, this film centers on "the explosive origin story of action hero John Clark – one of the most popular characters in author Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan universe. When a squad of Russian soldiers kills his family in retaliation for his role in a top-secret op, Sr. Chief John Kelly (Jordan) pursues the assassins at all costs."
The streamer is also dropping a new horror anthology series, titled Them, which will debut on April 9. Season 1 of Them, which is set in the 1950s, "centers on a Black family who moves from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration. The family’s idyllic home becomes ground zero where malevolent forces, next door and otherworldly, threaten to taunt, ravage and destroy them," according to a synopsis from Amazon.
You can watch the thrilling trailer for Them in the video below:
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/09/amazons-them-official-teaser-trailer-2021"]
Also be sure to check out the slideshow gallery below for a spotlight of some of the most notable April Amazon Prime Video releases, followed by the full list:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=amazon-prime-video-spotlight-april-2021&captions=true"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
April 1
- A Hologram For The King (2016)
- Anna Karenina (2012)
- Art of Falling in Love (2019) (UP Faith & Family)
- A Simple Plan (1998)
- Because I Said So (2007)
- Bob Roberts (1992)
- Brüno (2009)
- Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter (1974)
- Chato's Land (1972)
- Cheech & Chong's Still Smokin' (1983)
- Cohen And Tate (1989)
- Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)
- Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009)
- Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
- Evan Almighty (2007)
- Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
- Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994)
- Frankie & Alice (2014)
- Girl With A Pearl Earring (2003)
- Gunfighters Of Abilene (1959)
- Hancock (2008)
- Head Of State (2003)
- How To Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Inception (2010)
- Johnny English (2003)
- Lady In A Cage (1964)
- Larry Crowne (2011)
- League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
- Lords Of Dogtown (2005)
- Love in Harmony Valley (2020) (UP Faith & Family)
- Madea's Big Happy Family (2011)
- Madea Goes To Jail (2009)
- Mad Max (1980)
- Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World (2003)
- Men Of Honor (2000)
- Milk (2009)
- Minority Report (2002)
- Monster's Ball (2001)
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
- Motel Hell (1980)
- My Cousin Vinny (1992)
- New In Town (1992)
- Open Range (2003)
- Platoon (1986)
- Shaft (2000)
- Shooter (2007)
- Sleeping With The Enemy (1991)
- Smiley Face Killers (2020)
- So I Married An Axe Murderer (1993)
- That Thing You Do! (1996)
- The Abyss (1989)
- The Dead Zone (1983)
- The Devil's Double (2011)
- The Gift (2000)
- The Happening (2008)
- The Hunting Party (1971)
- The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)
- The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
- The Pawnbroker (1964)
- The Program (1993)
- The Replacement Killers (1998)
- The Skull (1965)
- The Sum Of All Fears (2002)
- Untraceable (2008)
- Valerie (1957)
- Waiting To Exhale (1995)
- What About Bob? (1991)
- Aber Bergen: Season 1 (MHz Choice)
- After the First 48: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
- Anne+: Season 1 (Topic)
- Couples Therapy: Season 1 (Showtime)
- Creepshow: Season 1 (Shudder)
- Engine Masters: Season 1 (MotorTrend)
- Garfield & Friends: Season 1 (Boomerang)
- Ice Road Truckers: Season 1 (History Vault)
- Jacqueline and Jilly: Season 1 (ALLBLK)
- Keeping Faith: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
- Rectify: Season 1 (AMC+)
- Survivor's Remorse: Seasons 1-4
- The Adventures of Napkin Man: Season 1 (Kidstream)
- The Restaurant: Season 1 (Sundance Now)
April 2
- Unhinged (2020)
April 3
- Blair Witch (2016)
April 7
- Girl From Monaco (2009)
- High-Rise (2016)
- Pulse (2005)
- Ragnarok (2009)
- The Answer Man (2009)
- The Priest (2009)
- Trollhunter (2011)
April 9
- THEM - Amazon Original Series: Limited Series
April 12
- Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
- Spontaneous (2020)
April 14
- Burden (2020)
- Cézanne Et Moi (2017)
- Terror's Advocate (2007)
April 16
- Somewhere (2010)
- Wander (2020)
April 21
- Merantau (2010)
- Muay Thai Giant (2011)
- The Hero Of Color City (2014)
- Venus And Serena (2013)
April 26
- The Artist (2012)
April 28
- Arrival (2016)
- Barry Munday (2010)
- Harlem Aria (2010)
- Kiltro (2008)
- The Commune (2017)
- The Warlords (2010)
April 30
- Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse - Amazon Original Movie (2021)
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 Review
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 is a workout for your hands.
That isn't a result of inaccessible controls; with this DLC, id Software has added the option to fully remap console controls. Even with that flexibility, after a few hours with the new DLC expansion to the 2020 shooter, my palms and knuckles begin to ache. I'm playing on PS5, and the DualSense is a beefy controller. The Ancient Gods Part 2 pushes you to use every square inch of it. There are a lot of demons to kill here and with Ancient Gods Part 2, id Software has given us the Doom Slayer's most expansive arsenal of weapons to do so yet. Far from being just a set of three new levels, Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 introduces multiple new enemies, a new traversal mechanic and a new weapon, all of which alter the flow of battle for the better.
I had my frustrations with The Ancient Gods Part 1, most stemming from the introduction of new enemies (like the Blood Maykr and the Turret) that required pinpoint accuracy to eradicate, which had a tendency to slow fights to a crawl. But The Ancient Gods Part 2 thankfully leans back in the other direction. One new addition to the bestiary, the Cursed Prowler, can (as the name suggests) curse you if it manages to land a hit with its projectile attack. To break the curse, you need to kill the Cursed Prowler. Simple enough. But this durable creature can only be killed with a Blood Punch. And, if you don't have a Blood Punch ready, you'll need to Glory Kill other monsters to build your meter up. So, instead of rooting you in one spot with your eye to the scope, the Cursed Prowler encourages you to dive into the fray. It can be frustrating to get hit with a curse and begin losing health in the middle of a tough battle, but it's a change for the better: one toward frenetic movement and away from the occasional aim-down-sights inertia of the first DLC.
Continue Reading at GameSpotDoom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 Review
Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 is a workout for your hands.
That isn't a result of inaccessible controls; with this DLC, id Software has added the option to fully remap console controls. Even with that flexibility, after a few hours with the new DLC expansion to the 2020 shooter, my palms and knuckles begin to ache. I'm playing on PS5, and the DualSense is a beefy controller. The Ancient Gods Part 2 pushes you to use every square inch of it. There are a lot of demons to kill here and with Ancient Gods Part 2, id Software has given us the Doom Slayer's most expansive arsenal of weapons to do so yet. Far from being just a set of three new levels, Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods Part 2 introduces multiple new enemies, a new traversal mechanic and a new weapon, all of which alter the flow of battle for the better.
I had my frustrations with The Ancient Gods Part 1, most stemming from the introduction of new enemies (like the Blood Maykr and the Turret) that required pinpoint accuracy to eradicate, which had a tendency to slow fights to a crawl. But The Ancient Gods Part 2 thankfully leans back in the other direction. One new addition to the bestiary, the Cursed Prowler, can (as the name suggests) curse you if it manages to land a hit with its projectile attack. To break the curse, you need to kill the Cursed Prowler. Simple enough. But this durable creature can only be killed with a Blood Punch. And, if you don't have a Blood Punch ready, you'll need to Glory Kill other monsters to build your meter up. So, instead of rooting you in one spot with your eye to the scope, the Cursed Prowler encourages you to dive into the fray. It can be frustrating to get hit with a curse and begin losing health in the middle of a tough battle, but it's a change for the better: one toward frenetic movement and away from the occasional aim-down-sights inertia of the first DLC.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMy Hero Academia: Season 5 US Release Date Revealed
Funimation has announced that My Hero Academia's fifth season will debut on Saturday, March 27 across multiple global territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Brazil, and Mexico.
My Hero Academia's newest season will be available on Funimation, Crunchyroll, and in North America on Funimation's streaming partner Hulu.
The fifth season will kick off with "the Joint Training Arc, which sees Class 1-A and Class 1-B's students pitted against each other in a series of team battles that demonstrates just how much each respective class has grown."
Not only will this new season provide long-awaited answers, it will also feature the series' 100th episode.
Season 4 ended in early 2020 and, in our review of the finale, we said that it "ends with a bang as Endeavor finally steps up to fill the void All Might left with a spectacular battle."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/everything-we-know-about-my-hero-academia-season-5"]
Not only is My Hero Academia's newest season one of our most anticipated for the year, this series has become one of our favorite anime series of both the last decade and of all time.
My Hero Academia also took home the award for Best Fight Scene and Best VA Performance (English) in the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
The fifth season will kick off with "the Joint Training Arc, which sees Class 1-A and Class 1-B's students pitted against each other in a series of team battles that demonstrates just how much each respective class has grown."
Not only will this new season provide long-awaited answers, it will also feature the series' 100th episode.
Season 4 ended in early 2020 and, in our review of the finale, we said that it "ends with a bang as Endeavor finally steps up to fill the void All Might left with a spectacular battle."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/everything-we-know-about-my-hero-academia-season-5"]
Not only is My Hero Academia's newest season one of our most anticipated for the year, this series has become one of our favorite anime series of both the last decade and of all time.
My Hero Academia also took home the award for Best Fight Scene and Best VA Performance (English) in the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.My Hero Academia: Season 5 US Release Date Revealed
Funimation has announced that My Hero Academia's fifth season will debut on Saturday, March 27 across multiple global territories, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia, Brazil, and Mexico.
My Hero Academia's newest season will be available on Funimation, Crunchyroll, and in North America on Funimation's streaming partner Hulu.
The fifth season will kick off with "the Joint Training Arc, which sees Class 1-A and Class 1-B's students pitted against each other in a series of team battles that demonstrates just how much each respective class has grown."
Not only will this new season provide long-awaited answers, it will also feature the series' 100th episode.
Season 4 ended in early 2020 and, in our review of the finale, we said that it "ends with a bang as Endeavor finally steps up to fill the void All Might left with a spectacular battle."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/everything-we-know-about-my-hero-academia-season-5"]
Not only is My Hero Academia's newest season one of our most anticipated for the year, this series has become one of our favorite anime series of both the last decade and of all time.
My Hero Academia also took home the award for Best Fight Scene and Best VA Performance (English) in the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
The fifth season will kick off with "the Joint Training Arc, which sees Class 1-A and Class 1-B's students pitted against each other in a series of team battles that demonstrates just how much each respective class has grown."
Not only will this new season provide long-awaited answers, it will also feature the series' 100th episode.
Season 4 ended in early 2020 and, in our review of the finale, we said that it "ends with a bang as Endeavor finally steps up to fill the void All Might left with a spectacular battle."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/11/everything-we-know-about-my-hero-academia-season-5"]
Not only is My Hero Academia's newest season one of our most anticipated for the year, this series has become one of our favorite anime series of both the last decade and of all time.
My Hero Academia also took home the award for Best Fight Scene and Best VA Performance (English) in the 2020 Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.Warner Bros. Movie Day-and-Date HBO Max Releases Could End in 2022
A new deal struck between Warner Bros. and Cineworld's Regal cinemas seem to indicate that day-and-date HBO Max releases could end in 2022.
This news comes by way of Deadline, which reports that Cineworld and Warner Bros. have signed a multi-year agreement that contains two key facets. The first is that Regal cinemas will show Warner Bros.' 2021 releases in its U.S. theaters, when they open, the same day those movies release on HBO Max. The second is that beginning in 2022, all Warner Bros. theatrical releases will have an exclusivity window of 45 days in U.S. Regal theaters.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/12/03/warner-bros-and-hbo-max-2021-movies-announcement-trailer"]
"We are very happy for the agreement with Warner Bros.," Cineworld CEO, Mooky Greidinger, said. "This agreement shows the studio's commitment to the theatrical business and we see this agreement as an important milestone in our 100-year relationship with Warner Bros."
With release exclusivity going to Regal theaters for Warner Bros. movies next year, it seems that 2022 marks the end of the deal between the studio and HBO Max that sees all of its 2021 movies released to the streaming service the same day they hit theaters.
On the UK side of things, Cineworld will get a 31-day window of theatrical exclusivity for Warner Bros. movies before those movies going to VOD, and "an extended window of 45 days for films that open to an agreed-upon box office threshold," according to Deadline.
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Cineworld has also announced that it is reopening Regal cinemas in the U.S. this April, six months after its theaters closed their doors.
Deadline reports that the reopening will take a phased approach. A limited number of theaters will open on April 2, which is just in time for moviegoers to catch Godzilla Vs. Kong, which opens March 31 in the U.S., on the big screen. Following that, a wider reopening will take place on April 16, which is the same day Mortal Kombat hits theaters. The company expects to open its UK theaters in May.
"We have long awaited this moment when we can welcome audiences back to our Regal theaters and restore our essential role within the communities we serve," Greidinger said. "With the health and safety of our customers, staff, and communities as our top priority, we continue to take all the necessary precautions and abide by our CinemaSafe guidelines to confidently provide a safe and comfortable experience."
Regal closed its U.S. movie theaters last year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Cineworld, and many other theater chains in Europe, closed its doors last year for the same reason. The pandemic not only affected theaters but moviemaking as well. Check out IGN's list of every film and show affected by COVID-19.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.