Willow Sequel Series From Ron Howard Is in ‘Active Development’

Ron Howard has shared an optimistic update about the Willow sequel series that he is attempting to bring to the Disney+ streaming service, although he also admitted that he hasn't been given a green light on the project just yet. Speaking to Andy Cohen on his Radio Andy Sirius XM show, Howard revealed that the Willow sequel is still in "active development" as the team behind the project are currently working through all of the early pre-production stages. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2012/12/13/willow-blu-ray-trailer"] "I was in a two-hour story meeting last night," Howard said, confirming that creative discussions are ongoing. "The writer Jon Kasdan is leading the charge. They have a great group of writers and it's in very active development. The scripts are going great. So, they have to get through the season and the budget. And so forth, there's no green light there yet, but I'm very optimistic about it. I love [Kasdan's] take on it." Howard, who directed the 1988 fantasy film, revealed that he and Kasdan had been in "really serious discussions" about a Willow follow-up a couple of months ago. At that time, he confirmed that the sequel would be a continuation of the original film rather than a reboot of the material, which would see actor Warwick Davis reprise his role as a more mature Willow Ufgood. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=hidden-gems-on-disney-plus-11-classic-movies-to-watch&captions=true"] Willow originated as a dark fantasy story from George Lucas. It tells the tale of an amateur wizard who is tasked with protecting a special baby from an evil queen who is attempting to take over the world. The film also stars Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, an egocentric mercenary who ultimately teams up with Willow to shield the child from the forces of darkness that threaten to destroy anyone who stands in the queen's path. The adventure-packed film was a modest financial success and earned two Oscar nominations for Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Visual Effects. Although it also earned two Razzie nominations for Worst Screenplay and Worst Supporting Actor. Willow's reviews were equally as mixed upon its release, however, the film's reputation has largely improved over time, with many now regarding it as a very entertaining fantasy epic. To find out more about the other Lucasfilms, check out our rundown of all of the ambitious movies that were not Star Wars. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Bruce Lee’s Warrior Season 2 Trailer and Release Window Revealed

IGN can officially reveal that one of TV's best martial arts series is returning to Cinemax this fall. Warrior Season 2 will debut in October exclusively on Cinemax and MaxGo, featuring another batch of action-packed episodes. Here's how the premium network describes the upcoming season: "The series follows Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy who emigrates from China to San Francisco under mysterious circumstances. After proving his worth as a fighter, Ah Sahm becomes a hatchet man for the Hop Wei, one of Chinatown’s most powerful Tongs (Chinese organized crime family). Season two follows rival Chinatown Tongs as they fight for dominance amidst the growing anti-Chinese fervor that threatens to destroy them all." Be sure to check out our exclusive first look at the second season of Warrior, with the exciting teaser trailer below: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/30/warrior-season-2-exclusive-teaser-trailer-2020-andrew-koji-olivia-cheng"] In our Season 1 review, we said Warrior is "efficient, energetic, and enjoyable; It's American history brought to vivid life with so much punching." Back in 2019, executive producer Justin Lin (Fast & Furious, Star Trek Beyond) shared what initially attracted him to the Bruce Lee-inspired series: “I’ve always admired Bruce Lee for his trailblazing efforts opening doors for Asians in entertainment and beyond,” Lin explained. “So I was intrigued when Danielle [Woodrow] told me about the urban legend of his never-produced idea for a TV show and suggested we bring it to life. Then, when Shannon [Lee] shared with us her father’s writings – rich with Lee’s unique philosophies on life, and through a point of view rarely depicted on screen – Danielle and I knew that Perfect Storm had to make it." IGN can also exclusively reveal these never-before-seen images from Season 2, featuring Andrew Koji, Kieran Bew, Celine Buckens, Olivia Cheng, Dianne Doan, Dean Jagger, Langley Kirkwood, Hoon Lee. Jason Tobin, Dustin Nguyen, Maria Elena Laas, Miranda Raison, Tom Weston-Jones, Chen Tang, Joanna Vanderham, and Perry Yung in the gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=warrior-season-2-gallery&captions=true"] What do you think of the trailer? Let us know in the comments. Warrior Season 2 debuts on Cinemax and MaxGo in October 2020.

Football Manager 2021 Is Still Coming This Year, But Later than Planned

Sports Interactive has announced that Football Manager 2021 is still coming this year, but will do so later than planned. Fans have been wondering about the whereabouts of Football Manager 2021 as word on it has been quiet. Studio director Miles Jacobson released a statement today to quell fans' fears on what that silence could mean, saying the game is still coming but will come out "a little later than we'd originally planned." Given the last five mainline Football Manager games have arrived in early November, it seems likely that this was the planned release window for this year's entry. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=21-football-manager-2020-screenshots&captions=true"] "What I can confirm today is that, despite all the problems going on in the world, there will be new Football Manager games released later this year," Jacobson said in a blog post. "They will be delivered a little later than we'd originally planned, but they'll have exceptionally strong feature sets...albeit different to those we thought we'd settled on back in January when I completed my 'dream feature set.'" Jacobson didn't expand on what that dream feature set would have been, nor what features have made it into the final version. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/29/euro-2020-in-football-manager-feat-football-ramble-daily-part-1"] Sports Interactive says it's taken a monumental effort to make Football Manager 2021's release possible this year and has required a lot of flexibility from the team. The game has changed scope on an almost "weekly basis" scaling both upward and downward, but Jacobson says it believes fans will appreciate all of the improvements and new features in this year's game. "Our games will be on more platforms and available on more stores than ever before when they're released later this year but, with regards to features and release dates, it's a little too early for us to talk about the specifics right now. Please cut us a little bit of slack and rest assured that we will once again deliver a set of games that provide hundreds of hours of entertainment and remain the best value for money on the market — and something to help you escape from the real world at the moment, at least for a while." While waiting for the latest iteration in the series, check out our thoughts on last year's game in our Football Manager 2020 review. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

HBO’s Lovecraft Country: Episode Details and Debut Dates Revealed

HBO has released all-new episode details for Lovecraft Country, the upcoming supernatural horror series from executive producers Misha Green, Jordan Peele, and J.J. Abrams. ComingSoon.net has shared an overview of the first half of season one of Lovecraft Country, which outlines episode titles, plot synopses, and debut dates for the first five episodes of the highly anticipated new series, which is set to debut on HBO's premium cable network on Sunday, August 16. The series premiere will also be available to stream on HBO Max shortly after airing, with all subsequent episodes in the show's ten-episode run added to the platform each week. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/25/hbos-lovecraft-country-official-panel-comic-con-2020"] Check out the full episode details below:

Episode 1: Sundown (August 16 at 9:00 pm ET/PT)

Veteran and pulp-fiction aficionado Atticus Freeman (Jonathan Majors) travels from the Jim Crow South to his South Side of Chicago hometown in search of his missing father Montrose (Michael Kenneth Williams). After recruiting his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) to join him, the trio sets out for "Ardham," MA, where they think Montrose may have gone looking for insight into Atticus' late mother's ancestry. As they journey across the Midwest, Tic, Leti, and George encounter dangers lurking at every turn, especially after sundown.

Episode 2: Whitey's on the Moon (August 23 at 9:00 pm ET/PT)

Inexplicably recovered from their terrifying night, Leti and George luxuriate in their new surroundings, while Atticus grows suspicious of their Ardham Lodge hosts – Christina Braithwhite (Abbey Lee) and her elusive father Samuel (Tony Goldwyn) – who unveil cryptic plans for Atticus' role in their upcoming "Sons of Adam" ceremony. Later, after Tic, Leti, and George stumble upon a clue that could lead them to Montrose, each takes an unwelcome walk down memory lane. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/06/05/hbos-lovecraft-country-teaser-trailer"]

Episode 3: Holy Ghost (August 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Hoping to mend her relationship with her sister Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku), Leti turns a ramshackle Victorian on Chicago's North Side into a boarding house – an endeavor that stokes neighborhood racism and awakens dormant spirits stuck in the house. Meanwhile, Atticus remains burdened by a guilty conscience as George's wife Hippolyta (Aunjanue Ellis) presses him for the full story of what happened in Ardham.

Episode 4: A History of Violence (September 6 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After Christina mysteriously shows up at her doorstep, Leti confronts Atticus about his plan to surreptitiously return to Florida. Later, in search of missing pages to a crucial text, Leti, Tic, and Montrose head to Boston, with Hippolyta and Diana (Jada Harris) along for the ride. Back in Chicago, a handsome stranger nurses Ruby's disappointment over a squandered job opportunity.

Episode 5: Strange Case (September 13 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT)

After making a devil's bargain with William, Ruby steps into the charmed shoes of a white woman, but her transformation only fortifies her resentment of the racial divide. A betrayal by Montrose unleashes Atticus' pent up rage, leaving Leti deeply disturbed and sending Montrose into the comforting arms of his secret lover. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=20-hidden-horror-gems-worth-streaming&captions=true"] All five episodes have been penned by Misha Green, however, Jonathan Kidd and Sonya Winton joined her on episode five. Yann Demange directed the first episode while Daniel Sackheim helmed episodes two and three; Victoria Mahoney took over directorial duties for episode four and Cheryl Dunye stepped up to direct episode five of the subversive horror-drama, which has a monstrous new poster. Lovecraft Country debuts on HBO and HBO Max on August 16, 2020. For more on WarnerMedia's streaming service, read our review round-up of the best and worst HBO Max originals. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Bulletstorm Dev Announces Next-Gen Action-Adventure Game Led By Just Cause 3 Director

Bulletstorm developer People Can Fly has announced that it is working on a next-gen action-adventure game led by Just Cause 3 director Roland Lesterlin. The game is currently untitled but it will be a AAA "highly ambitious, groundbreaking action adventure title" set to release on next-gen consoles — presumably Xbox Series X and PS5 — as well as streaming platforms and PC. This game is being led by People Can Fly head David Grijns and Lesterlin, who is serving as the creative director on the game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=confirmed-playstation-5-games&captions=true"] "There is electricity in the air at People Can Fly," studio CEO Sebastian Wojciechowski said in a press release according to Gematsu. "Last year, we announced the opening of our New York Studio and revealed Outriders for the first time. Today, we have surpassed 250 staff and are excited to announce the next chapter in the development of our company." The New York-based studio is currently working to hire dozens of new staff members over the next year for this untitled project. People Can Fly will be working with studios in Newcastle, Rzeszow, and Warsaw alongside a soon-to-be startup studio in Montreal. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/28/outriders-preview"] "Our intention from the beginning has been to expand People Can Fly into a multi-project studio and continue to build a global presence for our brand," Wojciechowski said. "We are making this unique moment with the presentation of PCF's refreshed visual identity. With the launch of the next-generation consoles later this year, we are incredibly excited about the future of People Can Fly and the games industry as a whole." People Can Fly is not only busy with this untitled AAA project but it's hard at work on its forthcoming game, Outriders, set to release this holiday season. In the meantime, read about how People Can Fly would love a second life for their Bulletstorm series. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

Cyberpunk 2077: CD Projekt Red Says There’s No Beta Following Email Scam Attempts

CD Projekt Red has made clear that it has no plans for a Cyberpunk 2077 beta, after scam emails appeared to offer recipients the chance to join one. On Twitter, the Cyberpunk 2077 account made clear that recent emails promising beta access were not legitimate. The developer also made clear that any official communication to fans or content creators would come from a CDProjektRed.com address, never from a third-party. It's not clear what the scammers were hoping to gain from unuspecting Cyberpunk fans, but it seems likely that it would have asked for login details for gaming accounts. It goes without saying that you should be vigilant for anyone trying the same in your email inbox. When asked if there were official plans for a Cyberpunk 2077 beta, the account replied: "We do not have plans for that. Sorry!" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077-night-city-wire-episode-1-full-broadcast"] We shouldn't have to wait too long for more Cyberpunk information, even if we aren't getting a hands-on for ourselves – at the end of June, it was said that we'd be getting a second episode of Night City Wire (the game's digital news broadcast) in "just a few weeks". Some of our number were lucky enough to play 4 hours of Cyberpunk 2077, and we offered rundowns of both what the prologue holds for us, and what secrets the open world of Night City holds in its darker corners. Cyberpunk 2077 will be released for Xbox One, PS4 and PC on November 19 (following a delay), and will get a "robust" next-gen upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2021. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/cyberpunk-2077-how-2-ign-editors-played-it-differently"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Disney Pixar Announces New Animated Film Luca

Disney and Pixar have announced a new original animated film called "Luca," which will open in theaters next summer. As the official Twitter announcement reveals, the film will tell the story of "a boy named Luca as he experiences an unforgettable summer in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera." Variety reports that Luca is set to leap into theaters on June 18, 2021. The coming-of-age film is set to be directed by Enrico Casarosa, who previously directed the 2011 Pixar short La Luna about a young boy who helps his father and grandfather harvest stars from the moon. Andrea Warren will serve as a producer on the upcoming feature-length film, which will celebrate the bond that is formed between Luca and his newfound best friend one summer, until their adventures are threatened by Luca's dark secret: he is a sea monster from another world below the water's surface. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-disney-and-pixar-animated-movie&captions=true"] "This is a deeply personal story for me, not only because it's set on the Italian Riviera where I grew up, but because at the core of this film is a celebration of friendship. Childhood friendships often set the course of who we want to become and it is those bonds that are at the heart of our story in Luca," Casarosa said in a statement. "So in addition to the beauty and charm of the Italian seaside, our film will feature an unforgettable summer adventure that will fundamentally change Luca." Luca joins a long line-up of animated movies currently in the works at Disney. Pixar's Soul was originally scheduled to hit theatres this summer, but it was pushed back from its original June 19, 2020 date to November 20, 2020 following the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This shift in the theatrical release schedule prompted Disney to postpone the release of Raya and the Last Dragon from November 25, 2020 to March 12, 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ New Update Has Turned a Glitch Into a Feature

The Version 1.4 Summer Update of Animal Crossing: New Horizons has turned one of the game's most useful glitches into a feature. As spotted by the @ACWorldBlog Twitter account, you can now remove the HUD when using the NookPhone Camera App by clicking in the right analogue stick on your Joy-Con. Earlier in July, a glitch that allowed players to remove the HUD was itself removed, leading to a backlash from fans and content creators, who were using the tweak to capture footage and screenshots of the game without the visually busy elements of the interface. Now they'll be relieved that Nintendo has been listening, and has brought the glitch back into the game as a feature. We reviewed Animal Crossing: New Horizons upon its launch in March of this year, scoring it a 9 and calling it "an expanded, polished, next-generation reboot of a classic." In other New Horizons news, here's the full skinny on the latest content update, which has brought fireworks and dreaming to the game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.