CBS’ MacGyver Reboot to Be More Character-Driven
Quite fittingly, CBS's reboot of MacGyver premieres this September following the network's successful reboot of Hawaii Five‑0 on Friday nights. Though this MacGyver, naturally, comes with a few updates. Ditching the "lone wolf" aspects of the original '80s series, a markedly younger MacGyver (Lucas Till) is now surrounded by a support team of operatives as part of a clandestine organization within the U.S. government.
Executive producer Peter Lenkov (24, Hawaii Five‑0) and director/executive producer James Wan (Saw, Furious 7, Aquaman) appeared at the Television Critics Association summer press tour to explain how they chose to bring the famous TV character into the 21st Century. "I wanted it to stand out a little bit from the original show," Lenkov said. "I wanted that character to have a family around him, people that he relies on. I feel that TV shows nowadays are very character‑driven, so I really wanted to sort of explore his character. And how do you do that? By really having him interact with people close to him."
Another Halo Wars 2 Beta Coming in Early 2017
343 Industries and Creative Assembly have announced that another beta for Halo Wars 2 will be held sometime early next year. The beta will be available for both Windows 10 and Xbox One users.
The team behind Microsoft's upcoming strategy sequel also detailed several changes and improvements that are being made to the game—in addition to the prior beta's connectivity issues, which have already been remedied for the final release.
General enhancements, included improved stability, pacing and overall game flow are being worked on, as well as adjustments to the controller layout to make for a more intuitive and faster experience for players. Likewise, Leader Powers are being tweaked so that they're easier to understand and utilize.
Why The CW Is Reviving Jim Caviezel’s Frequency as a TV Show
The CW is bringing back a familiar tale with the network's upcoming sci-fi series Frequency. Based on the 2000 film starring Jim Caviezel and Dennis Quaid, the show stars Peyton List as a woman who is able to communicate through time with her father and prevents his death, thus causing potentially disastrous ripple effects in the present.
Frequency comes from Supernatural's Jeremy Carver, who admitted during a 2016 summer TV press tour panel that he's been a fan of the film since its debut. He actually went to Frequency's 2000 Los Angeles premiere because he was friends with someone who worked on the movie, "and I loved it."
Peyton List as Raimy Sullivan on Frequency
Some Versions of No Man’s Sky Have Online Logo Covered Up
Limited Edition versions of No Man’s Sky in Europe come with a sticker covering the original PEGI rating and a logo denoting online play.
According to PCGamesN, multiple sources - including retailers in the UK and the Netherlands - have confirmed the existence of the sticker. That’s as well as further corroborating posts on Reddit and Imgur.
The Limited Edition box ships with an incorrect PEGI rating of 12, as well as logos to inform players the game contains violence and online play. The sticker covering these logos shows and accurate PEGI rating of 7, the violence logo, but now also implies No Man’s Sky does not contain online play.
Gotham: 9 Things We Learned About Season 3
I spoke with Gotham's executive producers John Stephens and Ken Woodruff and several cast members this week at FOX's Television Critics Association after party about what fans can expect from Season 3, which premieres September 19th. We've already learned that "proto" versions of Killer Croc and Harley Quinn will appear this season, although "you may have already seen Harley as a person that you thought you had met and known for a long time."
New Overwatch Animated Short Coming Next Week
Blizzard will reveal its fifth Overwatch animated short, "The Last Bastion" next Thursday, August 18.
Announced as part of the developer's plans for Gamescom, the short will be broadcast on the developer's stage and livestream from 9am PT/12pm ET/5pm UK/2am AU
"'The Last Bastion' tells the origin story of the inquisitive transforming robot, Bastion", reads Blizzard's announcement. "In this episode, we follow the forgotten battle automaton as it unexpectedly reactivates after laying dormant in the wilderness for over a decade.
"Fascinated by its unfamiliar surroundings, the curious omnic begins to investigate, but quickly discovers its core combat programming may have a different directive..."
Get Your First Look at Pokemon Sun & Moon’s Team Skull
The latest Pokémon Sun & Moon trailer gives us our first look at Team Skull members.
The video shows us two of the generic Team Skull (this game's Team Rocket equivalent) grunts, Team Skull’s “Big Sister” in charge of smacking about disobeying grunts, Plumeria, and the team’s big bad, leader Guzma.
Also revealed were three new Alolan-form Pokémon in Raichu, Meowth, and Marowak. Raichu is now an Electric/Psychic type, while Meowth is Dark, and Marowak is Fire/Ghost (!!!).
New Pokémon showcased are Morelull, the Grass/Fairy spore Pokémon, the Water sea cucumber Pokémon Pyukumuku (who uses its insides as projectile weaponry), and another Water type Wishiwashi, the latter of which takes on a demon fish form when it’s in danger.
Scarface: Magnificent Seven Director May Helm Remake
Antoine Fuqua could be directing the upcoming Scarface remake.
According to Deadline, Fuqua is currently in talks with Universal. This will be the third time the story has been told, after the original released in 1932, followed by the remake with Al Pacino in 1983.
This remake will differ in that it will be set in contemporary Los Angeles. Jonathan Herman (Straight Outta Compton) wrote the most recent story draft, and it will be produced by Marc Shmuger, Scott Stuber, and Dylan Clark. Marty Bregman, one of the producers on the 1983 Scarface movie, is also on board to produce.
Comic Book Reviews for August 10, 2016
This week's comic book lineup included several major releases from DC, including the debuts of All-Star Batman, Deathstroke and Superwoman and the release of Teen Titans: Earth One Vol. 2. Marvel delivered the penultimate chapter of Darth Vader and began the "Dead No More" storyline in Amazing Spider-Man. In the indie world, the big news this week was the debut of Jonathan Hickman and Tomm Coker's The Black Monday Murders. But none of those books could top the week's clear winner, Vision #10.
Scroll down to check out our reviews for these and various other new releases, and be sure to let us know your favorite books of the week in the comments below.
Also, you might notice a new face in the Review Crew. Levi Hunt is moving on to greener pastures, and this week we welcome new reviewer Joe Ruggirello into the fold.
Motorsport Manager Is a Different Kind of Racing Simulator
When it comes to sports management simulations there’s football, and then there’s everything else. In 1982 British publisher Addictive Games released Football Manager, a text-based football management simulation that singlehandedly established a new genre of video games. Premier Manager, Championship Manager, and SEGA’s own Football Manager would all reap success following in its wake.
While there’s no shortage of management sims built around other sports – baseball, hockey, cricket, and even professional cycling to name just a few – motor racing is one of the oldest non-football examples. Indeed, Addictive Games followed up the original Football Manager with Grand Prix Manager (published on its ‘Silicon Joy’ sub-label) way back in 1984.