Did You Catch This BvS Easter Egg in Joker?
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Joker!
There aren’t many Easter eggs or direct comic book references in Joker, but there’s one cinematic connection to an existing Batman film that even the editor of Joker didn’t catch.
During the riots that envelop Gotham City late in the film, the Waynes exit a movie theater before they’re gunned down in an alley. While the year Joker is set in is never explicitly stated, all four movies playing at the theater the Waynes leave were released in 1981: Blow Out, Zorro the Gay Blade, Arthur, and Excalibur.
While the Waynes going to see a Zorro movie has long been part of Batman’s origin lore (the swashbuckler being a direct influence on the character), Joker isn’t the only DC film to set the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne in 1981 near a cinema where one of the aforementioned films was playing.
He-Man: Sony May Shop Their Masters of the Universe Movie to Netflix
Netflix may soon become the one-stop shop for all things He-Man. In addition to the current She-Ra and the Princesses of Power animated series and Kevin Smith's upcoming anime Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Netflix could become the exclusive home of Sony's long-gestating Masters of the Universe movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony chairman Tom Rothman is seriously weighing the option of selling Masters of the Universe to Netflix rather than taking a financial risk with a theatrical release. THR's sources describe this as the safe choice for Sony, especially as the studio responds to rising marketing costs and the underwhelming box office return on Men in Black: International this past summer.
He-Man: Sony May Shop Their Masters of the Universe Movie to Netflix
Netflix may soon become the one-stop shop for all things He-Man. In addition to the current She-Ra and the Princesses of Power animated series and Kevin Smith's upcoming anime Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Netflix could become the exclusive home of Sony's long-gestating Masters of the Universe movie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony chairman Tom Rothman is seriously weighing the option of selling Masters of the Universe to Netflix rather than taking a financial risk with a theatrical release. THR's sources describe this as the safe choice for Sony, especially as the studio responds to rising marketing costs and the underwhelming box office return on Men in Black: International this past summer.
Joker: Jared Leto Upset About Joaquin Phoenix Movie
DC’s new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix may be breaking box office records and garnering awards attention, but not everyone is happy about the flick starring Batman’s arch-nemesis. According to a report by THR, Suicide Squad Joker actor Jared Leto was “alienated and upset” when Warner Bros. gave another Joker movie the green light.
This tidbit comes from a report focused on Martin Scorsese’s involvement in Todd Phillips’ Joker movie and merely mentions Leto in passing, but even that little bit of insight speaks volumes.
Joker: Jared Leto Upset About Joaquin Phoenix Movie
DC’s new Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix may be breaking box office records and garnering awards attention, but not everyone is happy about the flick starring Batman’s arch-nemesis. According to a report by THR, Suicide Squad Joker actor Jared Leto was “alienated and upset” when Warner Bros. gave another Joker movie the green light.
This tidbit comes from a report focused on Martin Scorsese’s involvement in Todd Phillips’ Joker movie and merely mentions Leto in passing, but even that little bit of insight speaks volumes.
When CGI Characters Dominate Live-Action Movies
CGI has truly altered the movie landscape over the past several decades. It's allowed studios to build armies of life-like orcs, transform ordinary actors into superheroes and generally make the impossible happen on the big screen in live-action movies that purport to be set in a "real world." Sure, CGI can often be used as a crutch, but when applied properly it's been responsible for creating some of our favorite movie characters.
With new films like the Will Smith-starring Gemini Man and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman reminding us just how far special effects have come, we figured it was time to update this rundown of our favorite CGI characters in live-action movies. We've included both motion capture performances and entirely digital creations here, so check out our full list -- including everything from Terminators to Gollum to the T-Rex to good old Yoda himself -- in the slideshow below:
The Best Board Games to Play Solo
Traditionally a group activity, board games are a great way to spend an evening with friends and family, sharing in conversation and friendly competition. But sometimes assembling a group of adults with conflicting schedules can be tough. Luckily, more and more board games are being designed with solo play in mind. From cooperative board games that scale down well to one player or let a single player play two-handed, to board games designed exclusively to be played solo, it's official: it's no longer weird to play a board game by yourself. So grab your favorite drink, turn on a podcast or playlist, and crack open one of these great single-player games.
Mage Knight
‘Boycott Blizzard’ Reactions Intensify as Senators Weigh in, Fans Protest
Update 10/9:
Public reaction against Blizzard is steadily intensifying after the company banned Hearthstone player Ng Wai "blitzchung" Chung for voicing support for the Hong Kong liberation movement. Blizzard banned blitzchung from Hearthstone esports for a year, and revoked his tournament prize money.
Overwatch fans have begun making the character Mei a symbol of the Hong Kong liberation movement, and collegiate Hearthstone players openly protested Blizzard's decision during a Hearthstone championship livestream. A prominent Hearthstone caster has also stepped down from casting the Grandmasters finals at BlizzCon.
Fans turn Overwatch hero Mei into protest symbol
The Matrix 4 Casts Aquaman Star in Lead Role
The cast of Matrix 4 has a new star. Actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who played Black Manta in 2018’s Aquaman, is set to star alongside returning actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann-Moss, according to Variety.
Variety’s sources report that Abdul-Mateen and other actors met with director Lana Wachowski over the past week, with Abdul-Mateen emerging as the director’s final choice.
Check out our super fast rundown of the entire Matrix trilogy:
Abdul-Mateen also previously starred in Jordan Peele’s Us as main character Adelaide’s father, in Baywatch as a police officer that rebuffs Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s actions, and as W.D. Wheeler in Hugh Jackman’s The Greatest Showman. Abdul-Mateen also had starring or minor roles in Black Mirror’s “Striking Vipers” episode, The Get Down, The Handmaid’s Tale, and in the upcoming Watchmen HBO series. Abdul-Mateen is also slated to play Candyman in the 2020 Jordan Peele adaptation.
Oxenfree Creator Explains How Xbox Game Pass Works for Developers
With the emergence of subscription gaming services like Xbox Game Pass, it’s an interesting time to be a gamer and a game developer. With more and more games of all shapes and sizes landing on subscription services, it makes one wonder what benefits developers are seeing that we average players might not.
On this month’s episode of IGN Unfiltered, Oxenfree and Afterparty developer Sean Krankel explains what makes it so tantalizing for indie developers to make the transition to Xbox Game Pass.