NBC’s The Player Promises ’80s Action Fun
NBC's new thriller The Player - created by John Rogers (Leverage) - stars Strike Back's Philip Winchester as a former military operative who becomes a reluctant pawn in a perverse game of chance. Wesley Snipes co-stars as the mysterious "pit boss" of a giant game where the stakes are measured in criminal acts and human lives.
Winchester, Snipes, and Rogers all appeared at the TCA Press Tour to answer questions about their series - which premieres September 14th on NBC - and talk about how it marks the return of super-up action movies and TV shows from the past.
"'Ridiculous' is a valid, artistic choice," joked Rogers about The Player's heightened premise. "'Pulp' is the word we really landed on when we were developing the show. You know, to me Shonda Rhimes is 'pulp.' 'Pulp' is any story that's high velocity, big characters making big decisions, big emotional stakes, and every episode is a thrill ride. And it doesn't matter what context it is. We just decided to do it within the genre of action. And, nicely enough, we've all done a lot of action. And, of course, Wesley has done a lot of action, Philip has done a lot of action, our stunt guys are some of the best in the business. So we all have a very good idea of what you can really do and what goes overboard, mostly when Philip and the stunt guys and Wesley are really doing it. So we want to be very careful about that. But, look, you're showing up to have a good time and have your fun ride, so we're going to knock your socks off every week."
App Store Update: August 14
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Monsters Ate My Metropolis – (Freemium)
"From the people who brought you Robot Unicorn Attack 2 and Giant Boulder of Death — the monsters are back, and they're dealing out destruction! Pick your favorite kaiju, assemble a deck of special cards and time your attacks to destroy the city. Battle rival players from around the world to decide who's king of the monsters. Unlockable monsters, rare prizes, leaderboards, tournaments and more make this the card game to topple them all!"
Capcom Cup Dates Announced
The finale to the Ultra Street Fighter IV Capcom Pro Tour finally has a date.
Capcom has announced on its Pro Tour website that Capcom Cup will take place on December 6 in San Francisco. The reveal coincided with the announcement of dates for PlayStation Experience.
Capcom Cup will be open to PlayStation Experience attendees, but for those wanting a VIP experience can upgrade to a package that includes:
- Premium front area seating at the event
Friday the 13th Show Called True Detective Meets Twin Peaks
The recently announced Friday the 13th television series will feel like a "cross between the first season of True Detective and Twin Peaks on acid," according to showrunner Steven Long Mitchell.
Speaking with Legion of Leia, Mitchell describes the upcoming CW series as a reimagining of the classic 80s slasher that – rather than focusing solely on "a guy with a machete chasing girls in tube tops" – takes a more "sophisticated" approach as a horror/crime thriller.
This Is the End Goes Halloween Horror Nights
Seth Rogen and James Franco's end of the world comedy This Is the End is coming to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood. This Is the End 3D will be the theme park's first-ever 3D comedy-horror maze.
Just like the 2013 comedy, attendees will begin the maze by making their way to an A-list party at a recreation of James Franco's Hollywood Hills home from the film, where they'll be trapped once the apocalypse strikes.
"This Is the End brings a new dimension of fear to Halloween Horror Nights by fusing the best of two extreme worlds—horror and comedy—to create a literal and figurative three-dimensional experiential version of the film," said Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of Halloween Horror Nights John Murdy. "Our collaboration with James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill to transform this outrageous movie into a terrifying maze underscores the impact of Halloween Horror Nights as one the most influential Halloween events around."
Daily Deals: Batman Arkham Knight, Free Movie Rental With Chromecast, Deals On All Three Consoles
Arkham Knight just got its first real price drop, down $15 to a reasonable $45 on PS4 and Xbox One.
$350 PlayStation 4 With The Last of Us Remastered
Save $50 on the retail price of the PS4. This is the lowest price I've seen on this bundle in a while.
The Legend of Legacy Gets Dated for North America
Atlus has announced The Legend of Legacy will release in North America on October 13.
This 3DS exclusive, which launched in Japan earlier this year, will be priced at $40 USD ($50 CA) and come bundled with a number of extras, including a collector's box, Masashi Hamauzu's original soundtrack, and a 40-page hardcover art book.
Here's a look at the launch edition bundle.
NBC Developing DC Comics Universe Comedy Series
NBC has given a pilot production commitment to Powerless, a half-hour comedy taking place in the DC Comics universe.
According to Deadline, Powerless is a workplace comedy set at "one of the worst insurance companies in America." The potential series will focus on the lives of ordinary, powerless people in a world filled with superheroes and villains. The intent is to evoke series like The Office in its tone, with a comic book twist.
While there's no official word on which characters will appear on the show, Deadline reports NBC is not expected to use DC's biggest brands, which, of course, include Batman and Superman.
Benicio Del Toro Believes He’ll Be in Star Wars
Oscar winner Benicio del Toro is quite confident he'll be in Star Wars: Episode VIII.
“I can’t tell you much about it but I think that it might happen," the actor told ET. "It looks like it’s gonna happen, so I’m very excited. I can’t talk too much about it. The script is hard to get. They told me they’d cut my finger if I talk about it."
Last month we heard he was being offered to play the villain in Star Wars: Episode VIII, and now that the Guardians of the Galaxy star appears to be on board, we'll likely see it happen.
Sony Announces PlayStation Experience Dates
Sony has revealed that its two-day community event, PlayStation Experience, will take place in San Francisco on December 5-6.
Detailed on the PlayStation Blog, Sony says to expect hands-on time with big 2015 and 2016 games, major announcements, and "patented PlayStation surprises." The event will be held in the Moscone Center, which is also the home of GDC.
If you register for PlayStation Experience before September 20, tickets cost $60 for a full two-day pass. After September 20, the same tickets will run you $75. One-day passes for Saturday are $45, and one-day passes for Sunday are $40.