The Mandalorian Season 2: Robert Rodriguez, Peyton Reed Confirm They’re Directing Episodes
One-man movie-making machine Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, Machete) and regular Marvel collaborator Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Ant-Man and its sequels) have both confirmed they will be directing episodes of season two of The Mandalorian.
The directors each revealed the news via Twitter, with Rodriguez quipping he’d had the “rare privilege of directing the biggest star in the universe” while posing with a puppet of “The Child” (colloquially known as Baby Yoda) and Reed simply sharing a shot of his director’s chair with Din Djarin’s helmet perched on it.I am truly humbled to say I have now had the very rare privilege of directing the biggest star in the universe. @StarWars #TheMandalorian #MayThe4th #StarWarsDay pic.twitter.com/pcmzOHfgaW
— Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) May 5, 2020
It was announced in February that a second season of the popular Star Wars streaming series will debut on Disney+ in October 2020. Joining the series in front of the camera will be veteran actor Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens), who has been cast in season two in an unspecified role as an unknown bounty hunter. Rosario Dawson has also been reportedly cast as Ahsoka Tano, the breakout character from Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie and TV series. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sideshow-collectibles-the-child-life-sized-statue&captions=true"] While The Mandalorian only wrapped production on season two in March, pre-production on season three has apparently already begun. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/03/the-mandalorian-season-1-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter sporadically @MrLukeReilly.#MayThe4thBeWithYou pic.twitter.com/XUk5Xfs0JE
— Peyton Reed (@MrPeytonReed) May 4, 2020
Streets Of Rage 4 Review – The Beat-‘Em-Up Boys Are Back In Town
Everybody has a favorite old game series that they'd like to see make a comeback, but modernizing a long-dormant franchise requires a deft touch. Not only do you have to please the old fans--who see their longtime favorites through rose-tinted nostalgia goggles--but you also have to find a way to make the game appealing to a newer audience. Fortunately for longtime Sega and beat-'em-up fans, Streets of Rage 4 adeptly walks the tightrope of classic and modern appeal while busting some heads in the process.
Taking place a decade after the third game (which released 26 years ago), Streets of Rage 4 reunites Axel and Blaze to unmask an evil plot devised by the children of series uber-antagonist Mr. X. Joining them are two new fighters: Cherry, a hard-rockin' young woman with deft moves and (literal) killer guitar riffs, and Floyd, a cybernetically-enhanced hulk who might not have speed or high jumps, but definitely has a myriad of ways to get his giant metal fists up in somebody's business. As the story unfolds, you meet characters old and new, sometimes in surprising places... but don't expect much from the plot, as it exists simply to take you to new and exciting locales where you pound a rogue's gallery of enemies into the pavement.
And there is a good amount of pavement-pounding to be had. The 12 stages in Streets of Rage 4 offer a lot of variety in scenery, obstacles, and enemies. While the clean, sharp lines of the new art are very different from the low-res, gritty pixel look fans have come to love, the HD hand-drawn characters and backgrounds look spectacular, and are packed with fun details and little Easter eggs that'll take you by surprise. The stages are fairly typical beat-'em-up settings--a dive bar, some sewers, back alleys, Chinatown--but the animations of crowds, steam, critters, and machines make these archetypal stages feel fresh and exciting. Equally excellent is the soundtrack, a techno/dance-inspired collection of hot beats from Eastern and Western game music composers, including veteran Streets of Rage alumni Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima.
Continue Reading at GameSpotStreets Of Rage 4 Review – The Beat-‘Em-Up Boys Are Back In Town
Everybody has a favorite old game series that they'd like to see make a comeback, but modernizing a long-dormant franchise requires a deft touch. Not only do you have to please the old fans--who see their longtime favorites through rose-tinted nostalgia goggles--but you also have to find a way to make the game appealing to a newer audience. Fortunately for longtime Sega and beat-'em-up fans, Streets of Rage 4 adeptly walks the tightrope of classic and modern appeal while busting some heads in the process.
Taking place a decade after the third game (which released 26 years ago), Streets of Rage 4 reunites Axel and Blaze to unmask an evil plot devised by the children of series uber-antagonist Mr. X. Joining them are two new fighters: Cherry, a hard-rockin' young woman with deft moves and (literal) killer guitar riffs, and Floyd, a cybernetically-enhanced hulk who might not have speed or high jumps, but definitely has a myriad of ways to get his giant metal fists up in somebody's business. As the story unfolds, you meet characters old and new, sometimes in surprising places... but don't expect much from the plot, as it exists simply to take you to new and exciting locales where you pound a rogue's gallery of enemies into the pavement.
And there is a good amount of pavement-pounding to be had. The 12 stages in Streets of Rage 4 offer a lot of variety in scenery, obstacles, and enemies. While the clean, sharp lines of the new art are very different from the low-res, gritty pixel look fans have come to love, the HD hand-drawn characters and backgrounds look spectacular, and are packed with fun details and little Easter eggs that'll take you by surprise. The stages are fairly typical beat-'em-up settings--a dive bar, some sewers, back alleys, Chinatown--but the animations of crowds, steam, critters, and machines make these archetypal stages feel fresh and exciting. Equally excellent is the soundtrack, a techno/dance-inspired collection of hot beats from Eastern and Western game music composers, including veteran Streets of Rage alumni Yuzo Koshiro and Motohiro Kawashima.
Continue Reading at GameSpotTom Cruise in Space Movie to Be Directed by Edge of Tomorrow Helmer
Update: Filmmaker Doug Liman, who directed Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow and American Made, will direct Cruise and Elon Musk's action film to be filmed in outer space.
"This is not some loose attachment. Liman and Cruise hatched this whole thing together, with Liman writing the first draft of the screenplay and producing along with Cruise," Deadline reports. "Liman and Cruise are collaborators and pals who are both pilots and bonded over an adventurous spirit."
Our original report follows.
Update: NASA has confirmed that it's working on a movie with Tom Cruise, to be filmed aboard the real International Space Station.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine explained that the decision has been taken in part "to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists".
[poilib element="accentDivider"] Tom Cruise has hung off the sides of planes, piloted helicopters and planes, scaled skyscrapers, and pretty much spent his entire action film career performing many of his own death-defying stunts. And now he's reportedly setting his sights on the biggest stunt of all: filming a movie in outer space. Cruise is reportedly teaming with Elon Musk's SpaceX and working with NASA to make the first narrative film ever shot in space -- and an action movie, at that! "It’s not a Mission: Impossible film and no studio is in the mix at this stage," Deadline reports. "But this is real, albeit in the early stages of liftoff." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/top-gun-maverick-big-game-spot"] Cruise's latest project, the back-to-back production of Mission: Impossible 7 and 8, is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. M:I 7 was about to film in Italy when the countrywide quarantine forced the production to shut down. The delays have now prompted Paramount to set new release dates for both films. Cruise's next release is Top Gun: Maverick, which flies into theaters this December. [poilib element="accentDivider"]NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA’s ambitious plans a reality. pic.twitter.com/CaPwfXtfUv
— Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) May 5, 2020
Netflix’s Extraction 2 Moving Forward With Joe Russo Scripting
Netflix's Extraction is getting a sequel, with the first film's scripter Joe Russo -- he of Avengers directing fame -- returning to write the screenplay for the next installment.
Deadline reports that as the Chris Hemsworth-starring action thriller heads towards becoming the most-watched feature film ever for the streaming service, Russo has closed a deal to pen a follow-up. AGBO, Russo's production company with his brother (and fellow Avengers director) Anthony, is said to be "putting the pieces together and are optimistic that Sam Hargrave returns as director, and that Chris Hemsworth will reprise as mercenary Tyler Rake, though those deals won’t be made by Netflix until the script is ready."
Slight spoilers follow for Extraction 1...
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
[ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/02/netflixs-extraction-ending-explained]
Owing to the open-ended finale of the first film, the exact setting of Extraction 2 remains up in the air.
“We’re not committing yet to whether [the] story goes forward, or backward in time," said Joe Russo. "We left a big loose ending that leaves question marks for the audience.”
There's no deal yet for Hemsworth to return for a sequel, and it sounds like the once and future Thor's involvement won't be broached until after Russo has figured out the story and written a script to share with his Avengers actor.
Last week, Russo, Hargrave, and Hemsworth joined IGN for our WFH Theater to view the film with fans and provide commentary, answer questions, and just generally have a good time. You can watch the Extraction WFH Theater here. You can also check out our Extraction ending explained here, where Hemsworth himself weighs in on the film's final moments.
What would you like to see in Extraction 2? Should Hemsworth return, or should a different actor lead the charge this time out? Let's discuss in the comments!
[poilib element="poll" parameters="id=ab6a0381-e1e2-4d9e-9e24-5b83da8c3607"]
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=extraction-gallery&captions=true"]
How Dave Filoni Went From Avatar: The Last Airbender to The Mandalorian
On Star Wars Day (aka May the 4th), Disney+ debuted its new docuseries, Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, which gives fans a behind the scenes look at how the cast and crew brought this innovative series to life. Hosted by Mando showrunner Jon Favreau, the premiere focused on the five directors that worked on Season 1 -- Deborah Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Taika Waititi -- with each of them sharing a bit about their respective experiences on and off the set.
Clone Wars creative director Dave Filoni shared an endearing story about his journey from working on Nickelodeon's iconic animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender, to landing a gig directing a big-budget live-action series like The Mandalorian. When Filoni was first approached to work on a Clone Wars series by Lucasfilm Animation, he revealed that he thought it was all a prank.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/23/disney-gallery-star-wars-the-mandalorian-official-trailer"]
"I almost didn’t get the job because I thought it was a practical joke," Filoni explained. "I was working at Nickelodeon and someone called from Lucasfilm Animation, and I’m like, ‘there’s is no Lucasfilm Animation.’ And I thought I had been so excited about Revenge of the Sith coming out and talking about it all the time, but the guys from SpongeBob were just busting my chops over Star Wars. So I thought it was a prank call from this producer I’d never heard of from (in air quotes) 'Lucasfilm Animation.' Because you get so tired of being picked on, so you’re just like, 'this is the SpongeBob guys.'"
Filoni went on to describe his first meeting with Star Wars creator George Lucas and how he initially thought he wasn't going to get the job. "And when I met him I had to go up to the main house and I had to sit there at a table," Filoni said. "He’s got my art portfolio and he’s going through it… And I’m sitting there like, 'yeah, I’m not getting this.' Because [Lucas] sees the best in the business. And all I can really think of is, 'when I’m in line for Revenge of the Sith, I can outclass any nerd there because I’ve been in a room with George Lucas.'''
Fortunately for Filoni, Lucas liked what he saw and he got the job on the spot. Filoni's fellow collaborators had nothing but praise for the Clone Wars veteran, with Taika Waititi calling him "an encyclopedia of Star Wars lore." The Mandalorian himself, Pedro Pascal said, "You wouldn’t be able to do this show without Dave Filoni. He is the truest lover of the material. He’s so well-informed and he knows exactly what would fit and make sense."
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=disney-gallery-the-mandalorian-images&captions=true"]
For more Star Wars, Disney announced a new Star Wars movie directed by Taika Waititi, our review of the series finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and check out this stunning Star Wars concept art.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.
Amazon Removes The New Mutants From Pre-Order
UPDATE: Amazon has now removed The New Mutants from being available for pre-order. Our original report follows.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
The New Mutants, 20th Century Studios' long-delayed X-Men spin-off movie, is now available for pre-order on Amazon Prime. This is curious because the Marvel Comics adaptation had been meant for a theatrical release. Is this pre-order, short of an official Disney statement, proof that The New Mutants is bypassing theaters entirely and going straight to premium video-on-demand?
The Josh Boone-directed film's Amazon Prime pre-order page was pointed out by CBR, who also noted that The New Mutants has yet to be made available for pre-order on other VOD platforms such as Apple, Vudu, Google Play, and YouTube. It's also not available for pre-order at Movies Anywhere.
Amazon Prime lists The New Mutants as available for pre-order purchase on both SD and HD for the price of $25.99. There is no release date listed.
(Editor's note: This report originally referred to New Mutants as R-rated but it is, in fact, PG-13. Furthermore, Den of Geek points out why Hulu or Disney Plus are likely not options for New Mutants given an existing Fox/HBO cable deal.)
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/06/the-new-mutants-official-trailer-2"]
So did Amazon simply jump in the gun in setting up a pre-order page? Or is this a sign that The New Mutants is finally getting pushed to digital as many have long suspected, especially after it was pulled from Disney's release schedule in March due to the coronavirus pandemic?
Disney exec chairman Bob Iger recently said to expect more small movies originally meant for theatrical release to pivot to digital as they did with Artemis Fowl.
IGN reached out to Disney for comment on The New Mutants being up for pre-order but had not heard back at time of publish. We will update this report if we receive an official response.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"]
The New Mutants' original theatrical release date was previously postponed from April 13, 2018, to August 2019 and then to April 3, 2020 before Disney pulled it last month. If and when The New Mutants is released we know it will be the cut that director Josh Boone intended.
The cast includes Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Blu Hunt, Charlie Heaton, Henry Zaga, and Alice Braga.
Stunning Star Wars Concept Art Takes Over Disney Plus
As part of the annual “May the Fourth Be With You” celebration, the unofficial Star Wars holiday, Disney+ is doing a Star Wars concept art takeover. When you visit the subscription service home page, and when you click on select Star Wars titles such as The Empire Strikes Back, The Clone Wars, and The Mandalorian, you’ll notice original art on display by the likes of Ralph McQuarrie, Doug Chiang, and more.
“A week-long concept art takeover on the service kicks off today, with each Star Wars film’s and series’ artwork updated to feature the stunning works that brought the saga to life,” says a post on StarWars.com.
Check out all of the gorgeous concept paintings below:
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=star-wars-concept-art-takeover-on-disney&captions=true"]
Note that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was added to Disney+ but did not receive the concept art treatment.
Eagle-eyed fans will also see that the Star Wars brand tile on the Disney+ homepage has been updated with animation of the signature hyperspace jump.
Which piece of concept art is your personal favorite? Let us know in the comments.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/02/star-wars-order-66-supercut-from-the-clone-wars-to-jedi-fallen-order"]
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
Doom Eternal’s Soundtrack Controversy, Explained
Id Software and Doom Eternal executive producer Marty Stratton has issued a public statement about its current relationship with Doom Eternal composer Mick Gordon after weeks of speculation that there was some kind of trouble between the two parties over the recently released Doom Eternal soundtrack.
After a slight delay, the Doom Eternal soundtrack part of the game’s collector’s edition was released on April 20, a month after the game was released. But fans quickly found something amiss with the sound mixing leading to a backlash against id Software and in particular id’s lead audio engineer Chad Mossholder.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/12/doom-eternal-launch-trailer"]
The controversy began in April when a viral Twitter thread highlighted the sound-mixing for the newly released Doom Eternal soundtrack. Twitter users @thatADCDguy posted side-by-side visual comparisons of the BFG Division track from Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal and noted that the mixing for the Doom Eternal version was less dynamic.
Gordon responded in a tweet that he didn’t mix those and if he did, he would have done differently. A supposed social media DM from Gordon also seemed to indicate that he would no longer be working with id Software going forward.
In a lengthy post on the Doom Eternal subreddit, Stratton attempted to clear the air as to why the soundtrack for the new shooter was not fully mixed by composer Mick Gordon’s whose award-winning work on Doom 2016 has defined the rebooted Doom series. The reason for this was because of some complications on the production side of things, and according to Stratton, a shifting deadline. After agreeing with Gordon on the contract for a soundtrack by early March, Gordon reached out to id requesting an extension. “On February 24, Mick reached out to communicate that he and his team were fine with the terms of the agreement but that there was a lot more work involved than anticipated, a lot of content to wade through,” Stratton writes. “He apologized and asked that ‘ideally’ he be given an additional four weeks to get everything together. He offered that the extra time would allow him to provide upwards of 30 tracks and a run-time over two hours[.]” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/24/doom-eternal-final-review"] Stratton says that id agreed to the extension with a new deadline set for mid-April. However, once April arrived Stratton says “we grew increasingly concerned about Mick delivering the OST to us on time. I personally asked our Lead Audio Designer at id, Chad [Mossholder], to being work on id versions of the tracks” as a backup plan. Mossholder would mix music Gordon previously submitted for use in-game into soundtrack form, which requires a different kind of sound-mixing. Stratton says that as the deadline approached Gordon was the one who suggested he and Mossholder combine the work they both completed into a full soundtrack, leading to the final version of the Doom Eternal OST that includes tracks mixed by Gordon and tracks edited by Mossholder using Gordon’s original music he previously submitted for use in-game. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=10-best-id-software-weapons&captions=true"] “As for the immediate future, we are at the point of moving on and won’t be working with Mick on the [Doom Eternal] DLC we currently have in production,” says Stratton. “I’m as disappointed as anyone that we’re at this point, but as we have many times before, we will adapt to changing circumstances and pursue the most unique and talented artists in the industry with whom to collaborate.” The ending to Stratton’s statement makes clear that, as far as the DLC is concerned, Gordon will not be involved with music for that. It’s unclear if the two parties will collaborate again, but this episode appears to have frayed the relationship between the two parties somewhat. This would be a shame as our Doom Eternal review highlights the music, but there are times when production issues can affect a working relationship. IGN has reached out to Gordon for a statement. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.I didn't mix those and wouldn't have done that. You'll be able to spot the small handful of tracks I mixed (Meathook, Command and Control, etc...)
— Mick Gordon (@Mick_Gordon) April 19, 2020
Battlestar Galactica Reboot Hires Its Key Creative Force
The Battlestar Galactica reboot is moving forward at NBC Universal's new streaming service Peacock.
According to Deadline, Michael Lesslie will create, write and executive produce the series. Lesslie was the showrunner on AMC's The Little Drummer Girl and was also the screenwriter of the Assassin's Creed movie.
Battlestar Galactica began as a 1978 TV series from creator Glen A. Larson before being revamped by Ronald D. Moore in 2004. That beloved Sci-Fi Channel series ran until 2009.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/09/18/battlestar-galactic-reboot-coming-to-nbcs-peacock"]
Two short-lived BSG TV spin-off series have been produced in the past, Galactica 1980 and the prequel Caprica.
This Battlestar reboot will also be exec produced by Mr. Robot's Sam Esmail. Deadline says Lesslie will completely reimagine the world of BSG.
“I am beyond excited to be taking on this iconic and inspirational show. As a lifelong devotee, I know that the possibilities of Battlestar Galactica’s world are infinite and that each iteration has raised the bar for epic and intelligent sci-fi storytelling," Leslie said.
"The teams at Esmail Corp, UCP and Peacock are second to none, and I already know that we are going to honour Glen A Larson and Ronald D Moore’s landmark series and break new boundaries with our own vision. It’s a dream come true – one I just can’t wait to share with fans, new and old alike. So say we all.”
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=tvs-most-divisive-series-finales&captions=true"]
No word yet on what exactly Lesslie's take is on the saga of the surviving humans, led by Commander Adama, and their struggle to survive against the cybernetic Cylons.
What do you think of Battlestar Galactica being rebooted again? Let us know in the comments.