The 25 Hottest Movies Opening This Summer
It's that magical time of year again, when Hollywood lets their buckets of blockbusters rain down upon us in all of their glory. To help you suss out which movies should be on your list over the coming months, we showcase these 25 must-see flicks opening from the end of April until the end of August.
Check out our list below, and then let us know in the comments which movies you're most looking forward to seeing as well!
Release Date: May 5 (US), Apr. 28 (UK), Apr. 25 (AU)
Fire up the tape deck, Star-Lord is back! The first Marvel movie of the year sees the return of everyone's favorite band of misfits (which also includes Gamora, Drax, and Rocket Raccoon) and as much off-kilter action and humor as there was the first time out. Plus, there's even more Baby Groot as well as Kurt Russell (as Ego the Living Planet, no less). Ooga chaka indeed!
Nioh: Dragon of the North DLC Release Date Announced
Nioh's upcoming Dragon of the North DLC will release for PlayStation 4 on May 2.
Team Ninja shared the news in a post on PlayStation Blog, detailing the new content. Dragon of the North adds a new chapter that centers around Lord Masamune Date (aka the "One-Eyed Dragon"), the conceited ruler of the Sendai feudal domain during the Keicho Era.
The DLC is set in the Oshu region and takes place after William is victorious in bringing peace to Japan. However, the time of peace appears to have been short-lived, as new troubles arise when Masamune begins gathering spirit stones.
The Phoenix Force Finds a New Host
The Phoenix Force returned in Thanos #6 this week, and it found itself a new host.
Warning: this article contains spoilers for Thanos #6!
So far, the series has followed Thanos' desperate quest to stave off his impending death, even as his son Thane and Death plot to accelerate that death. That family squabble came to a head in this issue, as Thane took possession of one of the few powers in the universe greater than Thanos - the Phoenix Force.
Thane wasted little time in confronting his father and showing Thanos the true power of the Phoenix.
For Honor Season 2 Adds New Heroes, Maps, Gear
Ubisoft announced For Honor Season 2, Shadow and Might, hits consoles and PC May 16.
Season 2 adds two new heroes, the Shinobi and Centurion, as well as a pair of new maps and "new customization items and gameplay updates." The update also introduces Epic gear, "a new level of gear rarity."
For Honor's Shinobi and Centurion
The Shinobi are armed with a "traditional Japanese Kusarigama," while the Centurion brings a traditional Roman gladius to the battlefield, using it for "strategic close-quarters combat."
Bears Get Bopped in Image Comics’ Latest
Bears. Beards. Brawls. Such is the conceit of Shirtless Bear-Fighter!, a title as wonderfully wild as it is completely literal. The latest from Image Comics, Shirtless Bear-Fighter! tells the story of Shirtless, the buffed-up, bushy-bearded result of a Jungle Book-style rearing gone tragically wrong. With bears in the streets and revenge on his mind, Shirtless is left to do the one thing he does best--and what he does best isn't beary nice.
In advance of the book's June 21 release, IGN conducted an email interview with writers Jody LeHeup and Sebastian Girner, wherein they discussed their inspiration, their collaboration with artists Nil Vendrell and Mike Spicer, and which bears are most deserving of a fist to the face. We also have three exclusive pages from the series' first issue.
Boondock Saints TV Series in Development
The 1999 vigilante flick The Boondock Saints is being revived as a TV series titled The Boondock Saints: Origins.
Don Carmody Television (DCTV) has joined up with The Boondock Saints creator Troy Duffy to bring the Saints to the small screen. DCTV and Duffy have also launched a 'fan-focused pre-order campaign' which will allow fans to pre-order the series on digital download and DVD, as well as gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes content, merchandise, and a limited edition subscription box. You can pre-order and check out all the details at the newly launched website BoondocksBack.com.
The announcement follows Duffy's first attempt at spinning his franchise into a prequel TV series back in 2015.
Star Wars: How the Jedi’s Failings Might’ve Inspired Luke to End the Order
Recently, the world was gifted with the first teaser for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and we all learned for the first time about Luke Skywalker’s newfound antipathy toward the Jedi Order with his line, “I only know one truth: It’s time for the Jedi to end.”
The internet has been abuzz ever since the trailer dropped, piling on theories about Luke’s statement, philosophical thinkpieces, speculation about the Gray Jedi and the Order of the Whills, and so much more. And we at IGN of course have our own take on Luke’s new outlook, so let’s delve a little deeper into some of the failures of the Jedi Order and the Old Republic which might be informing Luke’s philosophy -- the times those ancient organizations took a swing and missed. We’ll also take a look at the trajectory of these failings, leading up to Luke’s current status as a refugee from the battle between the Dark side of the Force, and the Light.
The Scariest $#!% in It
For over 30 years, Stephen King’s It has remained one of the most frightening novels that King has ever written. And it’s not just because we’re all afraid of clowns, although Pennywise definitely isn’t doing any favors for people with coulrophobia. Pennywise is more than just a clown or even a man. He, or It, is something far beyond human comprehension, and Pennywise has many different ways to strike at his victims. No matter how far away they run, Pennywise can always reach them. And he always comes back.
King’s story was adapted as a TV miniseries back in 1990, with Tim Curry in the leading role as Pennywise. Next fall, Bill Skarsgård will step into Pennywise’s creepy clown shoes in a new adaptation of Stephen King’s It. The upcoming movie will take place in the past, as a group of children calling themselves “the Losers” become aware of Pennywise and attempt to stop his reign of terror. The first trailer for the film looks like it may have captured the tone and menace of the original work.
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Feels the Influence of the MCU
Many themes run through Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite, but “partnership” is on point. Capcom is working closely with editors from Marvel Comics to form a world that truly feels like a combination of the best of both - for example, in Avengers Tower, instead of the infamous Jarvis, Tony Stark communes with a Dr. Light artificial intelligence.
Partnership extends beyond the story and sets and into the battles. Infinite pairs teams of two, a departure from the Versus tradition of three-person squads. In place of a third spandex-clad anchor, you take one of the six Infinity Stones into the fight. Each of the Stones gives your team access to all new attacks and effects, acting almost like the third member of your squad. The Infinity Stones give the ability to create space between you and an enemy, explore new combo options, increase your damage or speed, and more. For example, the Time gem allows your fighters to dash around the screen, coaxing mobility from even the slowest and most cumbersome of the cast, and when fully charged, it infuses your heroes with speed that bend the rules of what the mechanics allow. The versatility presented by the Stones means that gone are the days of ignoring characters that might be your favorites from comics or other games simply because they don’t synergize with your team or their weaknesses are hard to overcome. Now, choose two fighters you think are cool and get to work.
Yes, the Doof Warrior Will Be in the Next Mad Max Film
The Doof Warrior, the blind guitarist from Mad Max: Fury Road, will show up in the next film, according to director George Miller.
In an interview with The Independent, Miller confirmed the character will make some sort of an appearance in the next Mad Max movie. The director revealed that, thanks to the long delay of completing and releasing Fury Road, Miller was able to really get into the backstories of every single character in the film. As a result, Miller knows the who Doof Warrior's "mother was."