Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer and director Ryan Coogler has revealed how the film's script changed following the death of its star Chadwick Boseman - and what the movie would originally have centered on.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Coogler explained that Black Panther's sequel was originally a much more intimate, focused story on Boseman's T'Challa. Following his death in 2020, however, Marvel decided against recasting the character and Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole instead wrote a different script.

"The script we wrote before Chadwick passed was very much rooted in T’Challa’s perspective," Coogler said. "It was a massive movie but also simultaneously a character study that delved deeply into his psyche and situation."

The rewrite would take that original story, acknowedge T'Challa's death, and instead focus on a different - as yet unrevealed - character's point of view as they become a new Black Panther. “The Black Panther has existed in Wakanda for centuries, so the notion of someone else picking up the mantle didn’t seem inorganic,” said Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore. “But once that had to become a reality, then it was, ‘OK, what makes the most sense for the story? Who actually makes the most sense to take this thing on?’"

Though we still don't have a confirmed name for the new Black Panther hero, the film will focus on their journey as Wakanda comes under threat once again. It doesn't ignore T'Challa's (or Boseman's) death though, as Lupita Nyong’o - who plays Nakia - said the script was rewritten to reflect the mourning of both actor and character.

"Ryan wrote something that so honored the truth of what every one of us was feeling, those of us who knew Chadwick," she said. "He created something that could honour that and carry the story forward. By the end, I was weeping."

As for who's taking on the role of Black Panther, a trailer from earlier in October alongside some leaked LEGO sets all but confirm who it will be, though Marvel has yet to make it official and likely won't until the film premieres next month.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Square Enix has debuted two new Final Fantasy 16 characters that are both connected to pretty significant summons (known in this game as Eikons).

Revealed in a blog post that accompanied a new trailer (below), Square Enix introduced Dion Lesage as Dominant (a summon host) of Bahamut and Barnabas Thatmr, Dominant of Odin.

Dion is the crown prince of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, one of Final Fantasy 16's six realms, and is also the leader of the Dragoons, its noblest order of knights. Combining his own abilities with the power of Bahamut, Dion is a lethal force in battle and is beloved by his people.

This might not be the case throughout all of the game, however, as Square Enix alludes to a darker turn of events. "Shadows are gathering in the Empire," it said, "and they may be enough to quell Bahamut’s light."

Another ruler, Barnabas controls the Kingdom of Waloed but didn't start in as high and mighty position as Dion. He "arrived on the shores of Ash as a wanderer with not land or title of his own. It was his skill with a blade that won him a kingdom," Square Enix said.

Barnabas used the power of Odin to conquer the entire Eastern continent for himself, and despite now having a colossal army to do his bidding, he still wants to be at the heart of battle.

Square Enix is in the habit of introducing new characters alongside each trailer for Final Fantasy 16, unveiling Kupka and Harman (Dominants of Titan and Garuda respectively) back in June.

The latest trailer shed more light on the game's overall story, seemingly centred around the land of Valisthea as its crystals slowly fade. It also shows off the aforementioned kingdoms in detail, including the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and Kingdom of Waloed.

Final Fantasy 16 is now playable from start to finish but Square Enix's all-star development team are taking until summer next year to get everything right. We're slowly but surely learning more about it, however, including its non-open world map, how summons work, and the name of its most popular puppy character.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Square Enix has debuted two new Final Fantasy 16 characters that are both connected to pretty significant summons (known in this game as Eikons).

Revealed in a blog post that accompanied a new trailer (below), Square Enix introduced Dion Lesage as Dominant (a summon host) of Bahamut and Barnabas Thatmr, Dominant of Odin.

Dion is the crown prince of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, one of Final Fantasy 16's six realms, and is also the leader of the Dragoons, its noblest order of knights. Combining his own abilities with the power of Bahamut, Dion is a lethal force in battle and is beloved by his people.

This might not be the case throughout all of the game, however, as Square Enix alludes to a darker turn of events. "Shadows are gathering in the Empire," it said, "and they may be enough to quell Bahamut’s light."

Another ruler, Barnabas controls the Kingdom of Waloed but didn't start in as high and mighty position as Dion. He "arrived on the shores of Ash as a wanderer with not land or title of his own. It was his skill with a blade that won him a kingdom," Square Enix said.

Barnabas used the power of Odin to conquer the entire Eastern continent for himself, and despite now having a colossal army to do his bidding, he still wants to be at the heart of battle.

Square Enix is in the habit of introducing new characters alongside each trailer for Final Fantasy 16, unveiling Kupka and Harman (Dominants of Titan and Garuda respectively) back in June.

The latest trailer shed more light on the game's overall story, seemingly centred around the land of Valisthea as its crystals slowly fade. It also shows off the aforementioned kingdoms in detail, including the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and Kingdom of Waloed.

Final Fantasy 16 is now playable from start to finish but Square Enix's all-star development team are taking until summer next year to get everything right. We're slowly but surely learning more about it, however, including its non-open world map, how summons work, and the name of its most popular puppy character.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Fallout: London won’t feature a ghoul-ified Queen Elizabeth after all.

The ambitious Fallout 4 mod builds a whole new part of the Fallout universe by recreating a post-apocalyptic London. However, in a new development update, creator Dean Carter confirmed that it’s removing the planned characters based on Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

“We have always maintained that if she was to pass away before the mod was complete we would change it,” said Carter (via The Verge). “Do not expect them in there. There’s no point asking in the comments. There’s no point moaning. It’s the official stance of the mod, and it will not change.”

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, and Fallout: London soon announced via Twitter that the planned character would be removed.

“Fallout: London will honor our previous statement; That in the event of Her Majesty’s death, our feature for her within the mod will be removed and any previously drawn-up plans or artwork are now considered null and void.”

Earlier concept art shows both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles depicted as ‘ghouls’ – Fallout’s take on zombies, who are essentially humans mutated when the nuclear bombs dropped across the world on October 23, 2077.

The Queen featured the monarch in one of her classic suit and hat combos, flanked by ravenous, ghoulish corgis. Meanwhile, King Charles was featured wearing either a top hat or a crown, with a disheveled morning suit completing his look. Considering the Queen’s recent death, it’s obvious why this might be considered inappropriate.

Although both these characters won’t appear, it looks as though the Fallout: London team is planning a replacement. However, at the moment, they were unable to provide specifics, telling fans to “wait and see”.

Fallout: London is expected to release sometime in 2023 and has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from both fans and Bethesda, who have since hired members of the Fallout: London team.

Unfortunately, Fallout 5 is still years away, with plans to release it sometime after Elder Scrolls VI. Want to read more about Fallout? Check out the impressive Fallout: London trailer as well as the first details from the upcoming Fallout TV show.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Fallout: London won’t feature a ghoul-ified Queen Elizabeth after all.

The ambitious Fallout 4 mod builds a whole new part of the Fallout universe by recreating a post-apocalyptic London. However, in a new development update, creator Dean Carter confirmed that it’s removing the planned characters based on Queen Elizabeth and King Charles.

“We have always maintained that if she was to pass away before the mod was complete we would change it,” said Carter (via The Verge). “Do not expect them in there. There’s no point asking in the comments. There’s no point moaning. It’s the official stance of the mod, and it will not change.”

Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022, and Fallout: London soon announced via Twitter that the planned character would be removed.

“Fallout: London will honor our previous statement; That in the event of Her Majesty’s death, our feature for her within the mod will be removed and any previously drawn-up plans or artwork are now considered null and void.”

Earlier concept art shows both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles depicted as ‘ghouls’ – Fallout’s take on zombies, who are essentially humans mutated when the nuclear bombs dropped across the world on October 23, 2077.

The Queen featured the monarch in one of her classic suit and hat combos, flanked by ravenous, ghoulish corgis. Meanwhile, King Charles was featured wearing either a top hat or a crown, with a disheveled morning suit completing his look. Considering the Queen’s recent death, it’s obvious why this might be considered inappropriate.

Although both these characters won’t appear, it looks as though the Fallout: London team is planning a replacement. However, at the moment, they were unable to provide specifics, telling fans to “wait and see”.

Fallout: London is expected to release sometime in 2023 and has been met with a lot of enthusiasm from both fans and Bethesda, who have since hired members of the Fallout: London team.

Unfortunately, Fallout 5 is still years away, with plans to release it sometime after Elder Scrolls VI. Want to read more about Fallout? Check out the impressive Fallout: London trailer as well as the first details from the upcoming Fallout TV show.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Scientists have detected a phenomenally powerful outburst of cosmic radiation - known as a gamma-ray burst - which likely occured when an enormous star died and transformed into an all-consuming black hole.

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic cosmic explosions to light up the cosmos since the Big Bang event that is thought to have created it. Astronomers believe that the majority of GRBs take place when a truly massive star collapses inward at the end of its life, having run out of the materials needed to maintain the nuclear fusion reaction at its core.

This spectacular implosion heralds the birth of a black hole, during which the newly formed singularity blasts out jets of gamma radiation that, travelling at close to the speed of light, can shine a million trillion times (yes, a million trillion) brighter than the Sun. An outpouring of X-ray radiation is also released as the fast moving jets collide with the clouds of gas cast off by the dead star.

On Sunday, October 9, detectors aboard NASA’s fleet of orbital spacecraft were triggered when a powerful wave of gamma rays and X-rays flooded through the solar system, signalling the occurrence of an extraordinarily powerful gamma-ray burst.

Following the initial detection of the event - which has been designated GRB 221009A - astronomers across the globe raced to train a multitude of the world's most powerful telescopes on the aftermath of the explosion. A range of orbital spacecraft also joined the effort, including NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.

Together, the keen robotic eyes were able to capture the evolving light signature of the explosion over optical, infrared, gamma, and X-ray wavelengths. The signal originated roughly 2.4 billion light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Sagitta, and lasted for a few hundred seconds. According to these early observations, GRB 221009A is the brightest GRB to ever be recorded since the advent of modern science, potentially by as much as a factor of 10.

“Given that most other long GRBs result from a massive star collapsing, we have every reason to believe that we will find direct evidence of a supernova,” explains Ph.D. student Jillian Rastinejad of Northwestern University, Illinois, who helped image the event. “But that will take more work and time to confirm, and the universe could always surprise us.”

However, there is a clock on the scientific community’s observations of GRB 221009A - as in a little over a month the gamma-ray source will be temporarily shrouded by the glare from our Sun.

When it becomes visible once more early next year, astronomers will get back to work unravelling the secrets as to how such a powerful explosion of light came to be.

Stay tuned to IGN’s science page to keep up to date with the weird world of science.

Anthony Wood is a freelance science writer for IGN

Scientists have detected a phenomenally powerful outburst of cosmic radiation - known as a gamma-ray burst - which likely occured when an enormous star died and transformed into an all-consuming black hole.

Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the most energetic cosmic explosions to light up the cosmos since the Big Bang event that is thought to have created it. Astronomers believe that the majority of GRBs take place when a truly massive star collapses inward at the end of its life, having run out of the materials needed to maintain the nuclear fusion reaction at its core.

This spectacular implosion heralds the birth of a black hole, during which the newly formed singularity blasts out jets of gamma radiation that, travelling at close to the speed of light, can shine a million trillion times (yes, a million trillion) brighter than the Sun. An outpouring of X-ray radiation is also released as the fast moving jets collide with the clouds of gas cast off by the dead star.

On Sunday, October 9, detectors aboard NASA’s fleet of orbital spacecraft were triggered when a powerful wave of gamma rays and X-rays flooded through the solar system, signalling the occurrence of an extraordinarily powerful gamma-ray burst.

Following the initial detection of the event - which has been designated GRB 221009A - astronomers across the globe raced to train a multitude of the world's most powerful telescopes on the aftermath of the explosion. A range of orbital spacecraft also joined the effort, including NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory.

Together, the keen robotic eyes were able to capture the evolving light signature of the explosion over optical, infrared, gamma, and X-ray wavelengths. The signal originated roughly 2.4 billion light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Sagitta, and lasted for a few hundred seconds. According to these early observations, GRB 221009A is the brightest GRB to ever be recorded since the advent of modern science, potentially by as much as a factor of 10.

“Given that most other long GRBs result from a massive star collapsing, we have every reason to believe that we will find direct evidence of a supernova,” explains Ph.D. student Jillian Rastinejad of Northwestern University, Illinois, who helped image the event. “But that will take more work and time to confirm, and the universe could always surprise us.”

However, there is a clock on the scientific community’s observations of GRB 221009A - as in a little over a month the gamma-ray source will be temporarily shrouded by the glare from our Sun.

When it becomes visible once more early next year, astronomers will get back to work unravelling the secrets as to how such a powerful explosion of light came to be.

Stay tuned to IGN’s science page to keep up to date with the weird world of science.

Anthony Wood is a freelance science writer for IGN

Warner Bros. Discovery is releasing an NFT bundle for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring that includes the 4K version of the film and several collectible assets.

As reported by Variety, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has partnered with blockchain company Eluvio to launch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Web3 Movie Experience — an NFT bundle that includes the extended version of the 2001 film in 4K UHD, over eight hours of special features, image galleries, and hidden AR collectibles.

The Fellowship of the Ring NFTs will launch on October 21, with a "Mystery Edition" priced at $30 and an "Epic Edition" available for $100. The more expensive option features navigation menus for The Shire, Rivendell, and Mines of Moria (as opposed to the "surprise" one offered in the mystery package) along with location-specific key art and extra image galleries.

The Fellowship of the Ring Web3 Movie Experience marks the first time a major studio has released a movie as an NFT, but it's unlikely to be the last. Warner Bros. has set up a website for its WB Movieverse venture and reportedly plans to build out its NFT marketplace with other titles that will presumably appear in those "coming soon" slots on the homepage.

Warner Bros. Entertainment's EVP and General Manager Jessica Schell described Peter Jackson's debut Lord of the Rings film as an "evergreen" title with a passionate fanbase. She said they wanted to make the NFTs available to fans while offering some level of "scarcity and exclusivity," so have minted 999 copies of the Epic Edition and 10,000 of the Mystery Edition.

NFTs and cryptocurrencies have seen a massive wave of attention in the tech space in the last year, and continue to be controversial subjects. They are largely unregulated entities often exploited for scam purposes and have been accused of having a huge negative impact on the environment due to the energy consumed during the electronic mining of currency.

The NFT drop for The Fellowship of the Ring comes amid Prime Video's release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The much-anticipated series has just wrapped its first season. IGN called it "a strong successor to Peter Jackson's beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy" filled with "some of the most remarkable sets and scenes ever on TV."

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Warner Bros. Discovery is releasing an NFT bundle for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring that includes the 4K version of the film and several collectible assets.

As reported by Variety, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has partnered with blockchain company Eluvio to launch The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Web3 Movie Experience — an NFT bundle that includes the extended version of the 2001 film in 4K UHD, over eight hours of special features, image galleries, and hidden AR collectibles.

The Fellowship of the Ring NFTs will launch on October 21, with a "Mystery Edition" priced at $30 and an "Epic Edition" available for $100. The more expensive option features navigation menus for The Shire, Rivendell, and Mines of Moria (as opposed to the "surprise" one offered in the mystery package) along with location-specific key art and extra image galleries.

The Fellowship of the Ring Web3 Movie Experience marks the first time a major studio has released a movie as an NFT, but it's unlikely to be the last. Warner Bros. has set up a website for its WB Movieverse venture and reportedly plans to build out its NFT marketplace with other titles that will presumably appear in those "coming soon" slots on the homepage.

Warner Bros. Entertainment's EVP and General Manager Jessica Schell described Peter Jackson's debut Lord of the Rings film as an "evergreen" title with a passionate fanbase. She said they wanted to make the NFTs available to fans while offering some level of "scarcity and exclusivity," so have minted 999 copies of the Epic Edition and 10,000 of the Mystery Edition.

NFTs and cryptocurrencies have seen a massive wave of attention in the tech space in the last year, and continue to be controversial subjects. They are largely unregulated entities often exploited for scam purposes and have been accused of having a huge negative impact on the environment due to the energy consumed during the electronic mining of currency.

The NFT drop for The Fellowship of the Ring comes amid Prime Video's release of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The much-anticipated series has just wrapped its first season. IGN called it "a strong successor to Peter Jackson's beloved Lord of the Rings trilogy" filled with "some of the most remarkable sets and scenes ever on TV."

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

A new Final Fantasy XVI trailer has arrived, shedding more light on a world that in some ways resembles an even more fantastic version of Ivalice — the realm popularized by Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII.

As revealed in the new trailer, the land of Valisthea is evidently dying as its crystals slowly fade. A voiceover intones, “Darkness spreads as day gives way to twilight, the mother’s flame now all but a flicker. We cannot live without the blessing of the crystals.”

Crystals are a famous part of Final Fantasy's lore going back to the original game. While they haven't been in every single Final Fantasy game, they're generally included as a more nostalgic element in the series. Their inclusion in Final Fantasy XVI suggests that Square Enix is intent on honing in on iconic imagery from the franchise despite differences like the action-oriented combat.

The trailer goes on to highlight the various kingdoms, each with its own theme: The Grand Duchy of Rosaria, “a bastion of tradition”; the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, “where ambition is divine”; the Dhalmekian Republic, “where fortune shifts with the desert sands”; The Iron Kingdom, “forged in faith and fear”; and the Kingdom of Waloed, “indomitable in its isolation.”

As previously revealed by Square Enix, each kingdom has its own summon, or “Eikon.” Rosaria’s Eikon is Phoenix, while the Eikons of several of the other kingdoms have yet to be revealed. The trailer hints at a major war between the various kingdoms as they battle to “claim the fading light” of the crystals.

Both Clive and Joshua make appearances in the trailer, with Joshua once again shown summoning Phoenix, and Clive exploring something called “the Deadlands” with several other party members As in the previous trailer, Eikons play a major role. Aside from Ifrit, a mysterious tapestry featuring a multitude of summons is glimpsed at the end of the trailer, which ought to give knowledgeable Final Fantasy fans an idea of what to expect going forward.

Final Fantasy's Crystals Reborn

First revealed back in 2020, Final Fantasy XVI is the latest entry in the long-running series encompassing dozens of mainline entries and spin-offs. Unlike more recent entries, which have a somewhat futuristic bent, Final Fantasy XVI is more medieval. It is produced by Naoki Yoshida, who has found great success as the director of Final Fantasy XIV.

IGN interviewed Yoshida about Final Fantasy XVI back in June, where he revealed new details on Eikons, party members, and why it won’t be a “Final Fantasy theme park.” We also learned that the puppy in the original trailer has a name, and that it won't be open world.

Final Fantasy XVI is currently in development for PlayStation 5 as a timed exclusive. It is also expected to be released on PC, but Square Enix has not yet confirmed an official release. It is currently slated for release in summer 2023.

Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.