TimeSplitters Studio Free Radicals Reforms to Make a New Entry at Last
After years of speculation, fan requests, and false starts, TimeSplitters is finally returning for real, courtesy of publisher Deep Silver and a number of the original developers.
Deep Silver announced today that a number of "key original members" of Free Radical Design have joined together to reform the studio under the same name, including founders Steve Ellis and David Doak. The studio will serve as a subsidiary of Deep Silver.
"To finally be able to confirm that the studio has been formed and that we have a plan for the next TimeSplitters game is incredible," said Ellis. who is serving as the studio development director. "While we cannot tell you anything more at the moment, we look forward to sharing information in the future."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/17/game-scoop-494-its-time-for-timesplitters-to-return"]
Sadly, we may have to wait quite a while to see what Free Radicals is cooking up; development is not expected to begin on the new TimeSplitters for a few months, with the team expecting to spend some time building out its studio in Nottingham first.
TimeSplitters was a first-person shooter series masterminded by Doak, Ellis, Karl Kilton and Graeme Norgate after the four left Rare years before. TimeSplitters was first released in 2000 as a launch game for the PlayStation 2, and echoed elements from previous Rare shooters such as GoldenEye 007. It took place across multiple different time periods with 18 separate characters battling against the titular foe, creatures who can travel through time and wreck history using special crystals.
It got a sequel in TimeSplitters 2 in 2002, and a further entry in 2005 called TimeSplitters: Future Perfect. After Free Radicals struggled to find a publisher for a fourth game, the rights languished at Crytek for years before Deep Silver parent Koch Media bought them up in 2018.
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Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.
Paul Dano’s Riddler Looks A Lot Like the Zodiac Killer in Leaked Batman Art
It's been nearly nine months since the first trailer for Warner Bros.' The Batman debuted, giving fans their first look at Paul Dano's Riddler. Though the villain was only seen in brief shots interspersed throughout the footage, the design seen showed a clear departure from the Riddler's usual green suit or Jim Carrey's flashy rhinestone number in 1995's Batman Forever.
Now, a new leaked image of a 2022 calendar for The Batman offers another close look at the new cinematic incarnation of Riddler. The art depicts a leather mouthpiece, some gaping eyeholes, and the villain's calling card question mark circled in a crosshairs symbol.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"]
The design bears a striking resemblance to the portrayal of the infamous serial killer Zodiac (depicted in David Fincher's 2007 thriller of the same name). The Zodiac Killer was active in the Bay Area during the 1960s and '70s, taking the lives of five known victims and sending cryptic communication to local law enforcement and journalists.
The criminal was never apprehended nor captured on film. Fincher's production drew from accounts given by the Zodiac's survivors to create its costume. The killer was reported to wear a crosshairs insignia on his chest as well as a bag-like mask to obscure his features.
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It has been stated that The Batman will employ a noir approach to the DC superhero, with a story that will emphasize his detective skills. The evident decision to draw aesthetics from true crime might be a reflection of director Matt Reeves' conception of the film's story as a criminal investigation.
After facing production delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Batman is now set to hit theaters on March 4, 2022. For more about how Paul Dano's Riddler might factor into the film, read our examination of what puzzle he could have in store for Robert Pattinson's Batman.
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J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
Paul Dano’s Riddler Looks A Lot Like the Zodiac Killer in Leaked Batman Art
It's been nearly nine months since the first trailer for Warner Bros.' The Batman debuted, giving fans their first look at Paul Dano's Riddler. Though the villain was only seen in brief shots interspersed throughout the footage, the design seen showed a clear departure from the Riddler's usual green suit or Jim Carrey's flashy rhinestone number in 1995's Batman Forever.
Now, a new leaked image of a 2022 calendar for The Batman offers another close look at the new cinematic incarnation of Riddler. The art depicts a leather mouthpiece, some gaping eyeholes, and the villain's calling card question mark circled in a crosshairs symbol.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/23/the-batman-trailer-dc-fandome-official-footage"]
The design bears a striking resemblance to the portrayal of the infamous serial killer Zodiac (depicted in David Fincher's 2007 thriller of the same name). The Zodiac Killer was active in the Bay Area during the 1960s and '70s, taking the lives of five known victims and sending cryptic communication to local law enforcement and journalists.
The criminal was never apprehended nor captured on film. Fincher's production drew from accounts given by the Zodiac's survivors to create its costume. The killer was reported to wear a crosshairs insignia on his chest as well as a bag-like mask to obscure his features.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-how-robert-pattinsons-batsuit-draws-from-the-past&captions=true"]
It has been stated that The Batman will employ a noir approach to the DC superhero, with a story that will emphasize his detective skills. The evident decision to draw aesthetics from true crime might be a reflection of director Matt Reeves' conception of the film's story as a criminal investigation.
After facing production delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Batman is now set to hit theaters on March 4, 2022. For more about how Paul Dano's Riddler might factor into the film, read our examination of what puzzle he could have in store for Robert Pattinson's Batman.
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J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
Kevin Feige Regrets Whitewashing The Ancient One in Doctor Strange: ‘It Was a Wake-Up Call’
After Tilda Swinton was announced to be playing The Ancient One in 2016's Doctor Strange, the production came under fire for casting a white actress as a character that has been historically portrayed as an Asian male. Though Marvel Studios offered a justification for Swinton's casting at the time, Kevin Feige has now stated that he regrets the decision.
"We thought we were being so smart, and so cutting-edge," Feige told Men's Health in a cover story about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu. "We're not going to do the cliché of the wizened, old, wise Asian man. But it was a wake-up call to say, ‘Well, wait a minute, is there any other way to figure it out? Is there any other way to both not fall into the cliché and cast an Asian actor?’ And the answer to that, of course, is yes.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/20/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-trailer-breakdown"]
In his comments, Feige cites Marvel Studios' stance at the time. Fearing that casting an Asian actor would play into negative stereotypes, the production decided to erase The Ancient One's Asianness entirely.
“We talked about Asian actors who could do it... but when I envisioned that character being played by an Asian actress, it was a straight-up Dragon Lady," director Scott Derrickson stated in 2016 in response to the backlash. "I know the history of cinema and the portrayal of the Dragon Lady in Anna May Wong films, and the continued stereotype throughout film history and even more in television... I really felt like I was going to be contributing to a bad stereotype.”
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Marvel Studios' official statement at the time echoed Derrickson's sentiments, explaining the decision to cast Swinton as a matter of reinventing The Ancient One.
"The Ancient One is a title that is not exclusively held by any one character, but rather a moniker passed down through time, and in this particular film the embodiment is Celtic," Marvel wrote in its official statement.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be Marvel Studios' first Asian-led feature film. The film stars Liu as Shang-Chi and Tony Leung as Wenwu, who many fans theorize will be the MCU's version of the Mandarin after Ben Kingsley's portrayal of the character in Iron Man 3 turned out to be a red herring.
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J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
Kevin Feige Regrets Whitewashing The Ancient One in Doctor Strange: ‘It Was a Wake-Up Call’
After Tilda Swinton was announced to be playing The Ancient One in 2016's Doctor Strange, the production came under fire for casting a white actress as a character that has been historically portrayed as an Asian male. Though Marvel Studios offered a justification for Swinton's casting at the time, Kevin Feige has now stated that he regrets the decision.
"We thought we were being so smart, and so cutting-edge," Feige told Men's Health in a cover story about Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu. "We're not going to do the cliché of the wizened, old, wise Asian man. But it was a wake-up call to say, ‘Well, wait a minute, is there any other way to figure it out? Is there any other way to both not fall into the cliché and cast an Asian actor?’ And the answer to that, of course, is yes.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/20/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-trailer-breakdown"]
In his comments, Feige cites Marvel Studios' stance at the time. Fearing that casting an Asian actor would play into negative stereotypes, the production decided to erase The Ancient One's Asianness entirely.
“We talked about Asian actors who could do it... but when I envisioned that character being played by an Asian actress, it was a straight-up Dragon Lady," director Scott Derrickson stated in 2016 in response to the backlash. "I know the history of cinema and the portrayal of the Dragon Lady in Anna May Wong films, and the continued stereotype throughout film history and even more in television... I really felt like I was going to be contributing to a bad stereotype.”
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=doctor-strange-and-the-multiverse-of-madness-cast&captions=true"]
Marvel Studios' official statement at the time echoed Derrickson's sentiments, explaining the decision to cast Swinton as a matter of reinventing The Ancient One.
"The Ancient One is a title that is not exclusively held by any one character, but rather a moniker passed down through time, and in this particular film the embodiment is Celtic," Marvel wrote in its official statement.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be Marvel Studios' first Asian-led feature film. The film stars Liu as Shang-Chi and Tony Leung as Wenwu, who many fans theorize will be the MCU's version of the Mandarin after Ben Kingsley's portrayal of the character in Iron Man 3 turned out to be a red herring.
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J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.
How to Watch M.O.D.O.K. Early with Co-Creators Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt
On May 20, IGN will be hosting a watch-along of the first two episodes of Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. with co-creator Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, co-creator and the voice of M.O.D.O.K. himself, one day before it is set to premiere on Hulu. From when it airs to what you can expect from the event, here is everything you need to know to join us.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/marvels-modok-official-season-1-trailer"]
M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along Start Time
Our M.O.D.O.K. watch-along with Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt will take place on Thursday, May 20 at 4pm PT/7pm ET/12am BST (5/21)/9am AEST (5/21). The length of the event will be 90 minutes and will include the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K.Where to Watch the M.O.D.O.K. With IGN, Jordan Blum, and Patton Oswalt (April 2021)
If you’re interested in watching the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K. early, we’ll be hosting the stream here and across our many channels on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch:- IGN.com (homepage)
- IGN's Facebook Channel
- IGN’s Twitter
- IGN's Twitch Channel
- IGN’s Youtube Channel
- IGN's TikTok
- IGN's iOS App
- IGN's Android App
- IGN's PlayStation 4 App
- IGN's Xbox One App
- Roku
- IGN App for Android TV
- IGN for Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus
- Pluto TV
- Plex Live TV
What to Expect at the M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along
In addition to watching the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K. early, fans will also get to hear behind-the-scenes stories and commentary from co-creators Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt. If you can't make the event, IGN will also be publishing a recap of the M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along that will include all the best stories from Blum and Oswalt and anything else exciting that happens throughout. Alongside Oswalt's M.O.D.O.K., Jon Hamm will be lending his voice to Tony Stark/Iron Man, Whoopie Goldberg will play Marian Pouncy/Poundcakes, Bill Hader will play The Leader and Angar the Screamer, and Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Wonder Man. Theses stars join a main cast that includes Melissa Fumero, Aimee Garcia, Ben Schwartz, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Beck Bennett, Jon Daly, and Sam Richardson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/marvels-modok-official-teaser-trailer-2021-patton-oswalt-ben-schwartz"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.How to Watch M.O.D.O.K. Early with Co-Creators Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt
On May 20, IGN will be hosting a watch-along of the first two episodes of Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. with co-creator Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt, co-creator and the voice of M.O.D.O.K. himself, one day before it is set to premiere on Hulu. From when it airs to what you can expect from the event, here is everything you need to know to join us.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/marvels-modok-official-season-1-trailer"]
M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along Start Time
Our M.O.D.O.K. watch-along with Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt will take place on Thursday, May 20 at 4pm PT/7pm ET/12am BST (5/21)/9am AEST (5/21). The length of the event will be 90 minutes and will include the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K.Where to Watch the M.O.D.O.K. With IGN, Jordan Blum, and Patton Oswalt (April 2021)
If you’re interested in watching the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K. early, we’ll be hosting the stream here and across our many channels on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch:- IGN.com (homepage)
- IGN's Facebook Channel
- IGN’s Twitter
- IGN's Twitch Channel
- IGN’s Youtube Channel
- IGN's TikTok
- IGN's iOS App
- IGN's Android App
- IGN's PlayStation 4 App
- IGN's Xbox One App
- Roku
- IGN App for Android TV
- IGN for Amazon Fire TV
- Apple TV
- IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus
- Pluto TV
- Plex Live TV
What to Expect at the M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along
In addition to watching the first two episodes of M.O.D.O.K. early, fans will also get to hear behind-the-scenes stories and commentary from co-creators Jordan Blum and Patton Oswalt. If you can't make the event, IGN will also be publishing a recap of the M.O.D.O.K. Watch-Along that will include all the best stories from Blum and Oswalt and anything else exciting that happens throughout. Alongside Oswalt's M.O.D.O.K., Jon Hamm will be lending his voice to Tony Stark/Iron Man, Whoopie Goldberg will play Marian Pouncy/Poundcakes, Bill Hader will play The Leader and Angar the Screamer, and Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Wonder Man. Theses stars join a main cast that includes Melissa Fumero, Aimee Garcia, Ben Schwartz, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Beck Bennett, Jon Daly, and Sam Richardson. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/marvels-modok-official-teaser-trailer-2021-patton-oswalt-ben-schwartz"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.Official Formula 1 Decals Are Coming to Rocket League
Rocket League is partnering with Formula 1 and will be bringing officially licensed Formula 1 skins to the game later this week.
As part of a new multi-year partnership between Formula 1 and Rocket League developer Psyonix, the two have announced that the official Formula 1 designs will be heading to the game as Decals.
From May 20 to May 26, Rocket League players can purchase the Formula 1 Fan Pack in the Item Shop for 2000 Credits. The Fan Pack includes a Formula 1 2021 Car with a unique Decal, ten F1 team Decals, and Pirelli Wheels. There's also a free Formula 1 Player Banner available starting on May 20.
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All 10 Formula 1 team will be present in the Fan Pack. This includes:
- Alfa Romero Racing ORLEN
- Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda
- Alpine F1 Team
- Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team
- Scuderia Ferrari
- Uralkali Haas F1 Team
- McLaren F1 Team
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
- Red Bull Racing Honda
- Williams Racing
Official Formula 1 Decals Are Coming to Rocket League
Rocket League is partnering with Formula 1 and will be bringing officially licensed Formula 1 skins to the game later this week.
As part of a new multi-year partnership between Formula 1 and Rocket League developer Psyonix, the two have announced that the official Formula 1 designs will be heading to the game as Decals.
From May 20 to May 26, Rocket League players can purchase the Formula 1 Fan Pack in the Item Shop for 2000 Credits. The Fan Pack includes a Formula 1 2021 Car with a unique Decal, ten F1 team Decals, and Pirelli Wheels. There's also a free Formula 1 Player Banner available starting on May 20.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=rocket-league-f1-decals&captions=true"]
All 10 Formula 1 team will be present in the Fan Pack. This includes:
- Alfa Romero Racing ORLEN
- Scuderia AlphaTauri Honda
- Alpine F1 Team
- Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team
- Scuderia Ferrari
- Uralkali Haas F1 Team
- McLaren F1 Team
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
- Red Bull Racing Honda
- Williams Racing
Barack Obama Says There Is Footage of UFOs And ‘We Don’t Know Exactly What They Are’
Going back to the days of President Jimmy Carter, who vowed to ask about UFOs when he got into office, people have imagined becoming President of the United States just so they could ask about aliens, Area 51, and all the other mysteries that defined shows like X-Files in the 90s.
President Barack Obama is one of the handful of people in American to have actually had the opportunity to make good on that dream, and he says he didn't waste it.
In an appearance on The Late Late Show With James Corden, Obama says he asked whether the U.S. government actually has alien specimens. The answer, alas, was no. "The truth is that when I came into office, I asked, 'Is there a lab somewhere where we're keeping the alien specimens in stasis.' They did a little bit of research and the answer was no," Obama says.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/27/pentagon-officially-declassifies-and-releases-3-navy-videos-purportedly-showing-ufos"]
He does, however, acknowledge that there have been some strange events that cannot easily be explained. "But what is true, and I'm actually being serious here, there is footage and records of objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are," Obama says. We can't explain how they move, their trajectory... they do not have an easily explainable pattern. So I think people still take seriously trying to investigate and figure out what that is."
Obama went on to joke that Corden's bandleader Reggie Watts was perhaps an alien himself.
UFOs, of course, are a bigger and bigger part of the discourse these days. Just last month, the Defense Department confirmed that footage of shared photos and videos of U.A.P.s (Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon) had indeed been taken by Navy personnel, and that they were investigating.
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U.S. intelligence agencies are expected to deliver a report on U.A.P.s next month. It is intended to make public what the Pentagon knows about encounters with UFO, NBC News reports.
While you wait, find out why scientists are calling for evidence of potential UFOs. And if you want a chaser, here are the best sci-fi movies on Netflix right now.
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Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN.