Dwayne Johnson will produce a reboot of The Scorpion King, but will reportedly not return for the lead role. Deadline reports that Universal Pictures will likely get a new actor to play the role given Johnson's busy schedule, but Johnson is passionate enough about the project that there's still a chance he will appear in the movie. The reboot will take place in modern times and will be written by Straight Outta Compton writer Jonathan Herman. "The Scorpion King was my very first role ever on the silver screen and I’m honored and excited to reimagine and deliver this cool mythology to a whole new generation," Johnson said in a statement. "I wouldn’t have had the career I’m lucky enough to have had it not been for The Scorpion King and I’m thrilled that we at Seven Bucks Productions can help create those same opportunities for other hard-working actors today. I believe Jonathan Herman will put in the hard work to deliver a fantastic script for our global audience." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dwayne-the-rock-johnsons-10-best-movies&captions=true"] Johnson first appeared as The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns and reprised the character in a spin-off movie that was released in theaters a year after. Both movies were box office hits and, as Johnson says, put him on the road to movie stardom. The Scorpion King became a franchise in itself with four direct-to-video installments without any involvement from Johnson. The most recent, The Scorpion King: Book of Souls, was released in 2018. The Scorpion King reboot is the latest project for Herman at Universal. The Oscar-nominated writer also re-wrote Fast and Furious 9 and worked on the remake of Scarface, according to Deadline. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/04/22/igns-top-25-cheesy-action-movies"] Johnson was recently in the news for partnering up with Microsoft to give away new Xbox consoles to children's hospitals. He has plenty of reason to be in good spirits as Johnson is the highest-paid actor in the world for the second year in a row. Johnson will next appear in the Disney movie Jungle Cruise, which is currently set for release in July 2021. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who will forever be a fan of The Game Plan.

UPDATE 2: Warner Bros. officially announced Wednesday that Mads Mikkelsen has been cast as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts 3. Mikkelsen replaces Johnny Depp, who resigned from the role earlier this month (see the details below). Mikkelsen (Rogue One, Hannibal, Doctor Strange) joins a cast that includes Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Callum Turner, William Nadylam, Poppy Corby-Tuech, Jessica Williams, Victoria Yeates, and Jude Law. Directed by David Yates, Fantastic Beasts 3 opens July 15, 2022. UPDATE: IGN spoke to actor Mads Mikkelsen on Monday to promote our exclusive Chaos Walking trailer debut -- which you can see on IGN tomorrow, Thursday, November 19 at 6am PT/9am ET -- during which time we asked the Rogue One and Hannibal star about the news that he's poised to replace Johnny Depp as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. Depp resigned from the role earlier this month (see the original report below), with the trades pegging Mikkelsen as director David Yates' top choice to replace him in the role of the sinister wizard. Except Mikkelsen says it's all just a "rumor" ... for now. "Oh, that is on the rumor basis as we speak," Mikkelsen told IGN over the phone. "So I know as much as you do from the newspapers. So I'm waiting for that phone call." Maybe Mikkelsen is simply playing coy until the deal is sealed or perhaps word of the studio's desire to cast him leaked before they were ready to make him an offer. In any event, as soon as Depp's replacement is official then we'll let you know! [poilib element="accentDivider"] Shortly after being asked to resign from the upcoming Fantastic Beasts 3, Johnny Depp's replacement may already have been found. Mads Mikkelsen is allegedly in early talks to play Grindlewald in the upcoming sequel. According to a report by Deadline Mikkelsen is apparently director David Yates' top choice to replace Johnny Depp, who was let go from the project recently due to ongoing abuse allegations. Although Depp only filmed one scene for the film so far, he will still retain his multi-million dollar salary due to the type of contract he originally signed which guaranteed his pay even if his role was recast. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=actors-who-were-replaced-during-production&captions=true"] Mikkelsen is known for portraying Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the TV series Hannibal and Galen Erso in Rogue One. The Danish actor also played a pivotal role as Clifford Unger in Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding, contributing both motion capture and vocals for the performance. Filming for Fantastic Beasts 3 was stopped earlier this year due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and with Depp's departure, WB confirmed Fantastic Beasts 3 would be released in summer 2022 instead of its past November 2021 release date. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/11/24/best-25-harry-potter-characters] It was previously announced that Fantastic Beasts is also now going to be a 5-part series of films after it was extended from its original three-film run. For more, check out some other actors who were replaced during movie production and what director Yates has said about the film's upcoming battles. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Editor's Note: This story previously incorrectly stated that Fantastic Beasts 3's release date had not shifted. The article has been updated to reflect the accurate change to its release. Matthew Adler is a Features, News, Previews, Reviews, and Wikis writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

One of the biggest launch games for the PlayStation 5 this week is Spider-Man: Miles Morales. IGN was able to speak with the devs for an in-depth tech breakdown, but the devs at Insomniac says we’re just “scratching the surface” of what the PS5 can do. Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PS5 offers a variety of options, whether it’s the ray-tracing enabled fidelity mode, or the smoother frame rate performance mode. Insomniac’s core technology director Mike Fitzgerald says that these options, wrapped around the faster load times of the custom SSD, are just the first steps for the PS5. “It feels like we’re just scratching the surface of what you can do with hardware like [the PS5],” says Fitzgerald. “That we sort of can take a game model like Spider-Man and make everything really fast. Even the Ratchet and Clank game we’re working on is leaning into that, a lot.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/10/spider-man-miles-morales-performance-review-ps5-vs-ps4-pro-vs-ps4"] Fitzgerald says that developers will have “years and years of scraping more and more performance” out of the PS5 and doing things that are “crazier and crazier.” For a full breakdown of the tech powering Spider-Man: Miles Morales, check out IGN’s tech breakdown in the video above. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-spider-man-miles-morales-review-screenshots&captions=true"] When asked about the different modes offered for Miles Morales, Fitzgerald says it’s a good thing “because it means we’re giving different options for different types of players.” “Feels like we can serve both of those audiences. We never really offered an option in our games before, right? Every game we’ve done sort of locked at 30… but it’s sort of nice to lean into [the different options].” For more, check out IGN’s review of Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the PS5 review for a full rundown of Sony’s next-gen launch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.

Critical Role has announced two new graphic novels that will explore the origins of members of the Mighty Nein, based on the second series of the immensely popular TTRPPG Dungeons & Dragons show.

Dubbed “The Mighty Nein Origins,” and made in collaboration with Dark Horse Comics, the first volume will be released on June 16, 2021, while the second volume on July 14, 2021. The new series will explore what each character of the Mighty Nein was up to before joining the group that becomes the focus of Critical Role’s current livestream series.

Volume one features Jester Lavorre, the blue-skinned cleric played by voice actress Laura Bailey from The Last of Us Part II, Uncharted, Gears 5, and countless other game and TV credits. It’s written by Sam Maggs (Captain Marvel, The Unstoppable Wasp), features line art by Hunter Severn Bonyun (who also did line art for previous Critical Role graphic novels), colors by Cathy Le, and is co-directed by Laura Bailey and Critical Role dungeon master Matthew Mercer.

“Jester Lavorre had an unconventional upbringing, even for one born in cosmopolitan Nicodranas,” Critical Role’s announcement reads. “Daughter of the famed Ruby of the Sea, she had many opportunities for mischief as a small child, of which she took full advantage. Dive into the mystery of Jester’s early years, her first meeting with the Traveler, and the fateful events that set her on a path to eventually join the Mighty Nein.”

Volume two features wizard Caleb Widogast, the Mighty Nein member played by Liam O’Brien.

“In The Mighty Nein Origins: Caleb Widogast, Bren Aldric Ermendrud is chosen to attend the exclusive Soltryce Academy, preparing for an important future in service to the Empire,” the announcement reads. “But nobody––least of all Bren himself––can foresee the cruelty he will endure, and the ways in which it will break and remake him. Witness the events that transform Bren into the Mighty Nein’s Caleb Widogast, and how they inform the path he’ll take in the future.”

Volume two is written by Jody Houser (Avengers, Orphan Black, Straner Things: The Game Master), with line art by Selina Espiritu (Critical Role comics), colors by Diana Sousu (Edge of Spider-Geddon), and direction from Liam O’Brien and Matthew Mercer.

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You can pre-order both volumes through local comic book stores, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and TFAW. Digital versions can be ordered through Dark Horse Digital, ComiXology, Barnes & Noble, and other services set to be announced later.

Critical Role broke records last year for their Kickstarter campaign to fund an animated series based on the adventures of Vox Machina, the group’s first series. The group raised more than $11 million, making it the fifth-most successful Kickstarter ever. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/5th level monk for IGN. Use inspiration on him on Twitter.

Netflix has officially renewed The Umbrella Academy for Season 3. The upcoming third season will once again feature 10 new episodes, just as the past two seasons have. The Umbrella Academy Season 3 will see the cast from Season 2 reprise their roles including Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Justin H. Min, Ritu Arya, and Colm Feore. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-best-superhero-movies-and-tv-shows-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true"] Also returning is showrunner Steve Blackman who will also serve as executive producer. Currently, there is no release window for the upcoming season. While no plot details have been released yet, the comics may point to the introduction of parallel universes or supervillains potentially arriving in Season 3. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/31/the-umbrella-academy-s2-5-things-to-know-before-you-watch] The Umbrella Academy Season 2 was a big hit when it debuted earlier this year, becoming Netflix's most-watched show since 2019's The Witcher. IGN also thought the show was amazing with our review stating that "Umbrella Academy finds its groove by honing its signature style and humor, making for a funnier, more focused Season 2." It may be surprising to see a Netflix show get picked up for a third season these days, as Netflix is notorious for canceling shows after Season 2 due to the rising costs and waning viewership. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/31/the-umbrella-academy-season-2-review] For more on the The Umbrella Academy, check out our explainer of Season 2's wild ending and what the cast had to say about Ben's big moment. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matthew Adler is a Features, News, Previews, Reviews, and Wikis writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Xbox and Activision are using Microsoft's xCloud streaming service to develop games during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from Bloomberg. It's no secret that developing games is difficult. It's also not a secret that developing games during a global pandemic is even more difficult, as likely evidenced by the game delays we've seen this year. Microsoft reportedly built an app for creating and testing games over the internet using xCloud, according to Bloomberg, and Xbox and Microsoft have been using it to develop games. It even helped Microsoft ship its new batch of consoles. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/14/50-games-coming-to-project-xcloud-x019"] "It enabled us to ship our console on time," xCloud principal software engineering manager, Daniel Kennett, told Bloomberg. Microsoft repurposed xCloud to allow developers to access their high-end computers in their office from the confines of their home. The repurposed xCloud tool can display high resolutions and reproduce audio in surround sound, according to Bloomberg, and nearly 60 studios are using it to work on new games and test how they work. Xbox is, of course, using xCloud to do this, but Activision Blizzard Inc. is as well, the report notes. It's also being used to fix hardware bugs by Xbox. Microsoft's game streaming service allows employees to connect to each other's computers where they can make changes to art or other things remotely. Those changes can then be shared on Microsoft Teams, which helped restore a sense of normalcy, Kennett said. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=forza-motorsport-xbox-series-x-screenshots&captions=true"] "Being stuck at home and not being able to walk around the floor and see where stuff's at is brutal," he said. The Bloomberg report also includes some information about the new Forza game, or rather, how early prototypes of the new Forza game are being run on old Xbox One systems through xCloud and another tool developed by Microsoft. The report doesn't include anything particularly new about the next Forza game — we already know it's coming — but it's a nice confirmation that development on the game is still happening despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Read about what Xbox boss Phil Spencer believes the impact of COVID-19 on games will be and then read about how COVID-19 virtualized gaming events and local communities. Check out how a recent COVID-19 vaccine announcement caused game companies' stock to drop after that. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

This week in Red Dead Online, score special bonuses for Collectors, Bounty Hunters, and more.

MacBooks have been on the back burner of Apple's product stack for years, but today they're finally getting a big update. Apple just announced a new line of MacBooks powered by Apple's own ARM processors that have only lived in its iPhones and iPads thus far. The MacBook Air is the first MacBook that will come running Apple's own M1 processor. Equipped with an 8-core ARM processor, Apple claims its CPU is 3.5x faster while the GPU is 5x faster than the previous model. Also armed with the latest flash technology, the MacBook AIr also features 2x faster SSD performance. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=apple-macbook-event-2020&captions=true"] Apple seems to be putting a lot of emphasis on the MacBook Air's graphical power as the company stresses that it's 5x faster at integrating 3D effects into video in Final Cut Pro. Alternatively, this will be the first MacBook Air capable of playing and editing full-quality 4K ProRes video in Final Cut Pro. Compared to Windows laptops, Apple claims the MacBook Air is 3x faster and faster than 98% of PC laptops sold last year. The MacBook Air otherwise is outfitted with 13.3-inch (2,560 x 1,600) display, Wi-Fi 6, Two Thunderbolt ports with USB 4 support, and lastly  Touch ID just like the previous model. Additionally, the MacBook Air with M1 promises up to 18 hours of battery life for video playback and 15 hours of web browsing time. The MacBook Air also runs completely silent now that it doesn't feature an internal cooling fan. The MacBook Air starts at $999 and it's available starting next week. Educational users get a slight discount and will be able to pick it up for $899. It's available for preorder now. Configurations start with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

MacBook Pro

For MacBook users looking for more power, Apple also announced the first M1-powered MacBook Pro. The new Pro model aims to deliver 2.8x faster CPU and 5x faster GPU – the latter of which will allow the MacBook Pro to drive the Apple Pro Display XDR at its full 6K resolution. With all the added performance, the new MacBook Pro can playback 8K ProRes video in Resolve without dropping a single frame. Apple claims the new MacBook Pro will be up to 3x faster than best-selling Windows laptop in its class. Also battery life has been extended to 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback. What isn't so impressive about the MacBook Pro it has two fewer Thunderbolt ports even if they now support USB 4. Sadly, both of these ports are also located on the left side of the notebook, so users won't be able to charge their machine or have peripherals connected from either side. The MacBook Pro retails for $1,299 to start and educational users pay $1,199. It's available for preorder now and will ship next week. The base spec MacBook Pro comes with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. While storage is expandable up to 2TB, memory is limited to a disappointing 16GB.

Mac Mini

If you're more of a desktop fan than a laptop user, the M1 processor is also coming to an updated Mac Mini. The new model supposedly has a 3x faster CPU and 6x faster GPU. The graphics on the Mac Mini are so good users can expect 4x higher frame per second while playing games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and 6x faster complex timeline renders in Final Cut Pro. As for the Windows desktop to Mac Mini comparison, Apple claims it can offer 5x faster performance than the top selling PC. Apple has also revised the ports on the back of the Mac Mini. Rather than having four USB-C Thunderbolt ports, the new Mac Mini comes with only two that double as USB4 ports. At least the, has Mac Mini retained its HDMI 2.0 and two USB-A ports. The HDMI port is herty enough to drive a 4K TV or 4K monitor at 60Hz, but the Thunderbolt port has more bandwidth to drive an up to 6K resolution at 60Hz. The Mac Mini will start at $699, $100 less than the previous quad-core Intel model, and it's available for preorder now to arrive next week. The starting configuration for the Mac Mini comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

M1 and Big Sur

Apple promises the M1 will deliver a giant leap in performance per watt. The 5nm chip packs 16 billion transistors and features an 8-core processor. Unlike traditional computer processors, four of these cores are designed for high-performance while the other four are designed for high-efficiency, and the MacBooks can switch between them depending on whether you're performing heavy duty tasks or trying to conserve battery life. At the same time, the M1 chip also packs an 8-core GPU that promises to deliver two times the performance while using only a third of the power. Big Sur, the first version of macOS coded for Apple's own silicon appears to be much faster, and now Macs will be capable of waking from sleep in an instant. Beyond the basic OS, Apple claims Safari is two times more responsive. As for third party apps, Apple has already been working with software developers to create a suite of universal apps that are coded to work with the M1 or Intel processors. Of course, all of Apple's own apps have already been converted to the Universal platform, meanwhile Adobe promises Lightroom and Photoshop will be ready by next year. Other big names like Omnigroup are working on their own Universal apps as well. The new operating system, macOS Big Sur, will be available this Thursday, November 12th.

The Xbox Series X is finally out and scalpers are already selling the new Microsoft console for over $1000 on sites like Amazon and Ebay. Anyone that's closely followed a new console launch knows that scalping is an unfortunate side effect of the demand. The Xbox Series X was a tough console to preorder back in September when preorders went live across sites like GameStop, Walmart, Target, and more. The sites were crashing all day and the consoles were sold out in a matter of hours. That only increased the demand for the console and now scalpers are trying to cash in on that demand by selling the console for well over its standard purchase price. You can see what Amazon looks like for those trying to get an Xbox Series X ordered today in the screenshot above. The site is no longer selling it from its own warehouses, but third-party sellers are still selling the console there. They are, of course, free to make the price whatever they want, which is why we're seeing prices as high as $1693. Amazon is not unique in this dilemma — the console is listed at $800 and higher on eBay, though prices on the latter retail site haven't gone as high as Amazon's second-hand pricing just yet. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/11/05/xbox-series-x-game-load-times-compared-to-xbox-one-x"] Meanwhile, Xbox and retailers have confirmed that more units will become available at launch and in the weeks to come. Here's where to preorder the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S when they come back online. Here's how to find an Xbox Series X or Series S in stock at launch. In other unfortunate Series X news, we learned today that Amazon is telling buyers that some Xbox Series X preorders won't arrive until the end of December. [poilib element="poll" parameters="id=90443fbf-5223-4380-8add-8ab3f28b2e84"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes. 

Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has responded to rumors that another delay for its hotly anticipated RPG could happen — possibly pushing the title into 2021. Rather than deny the rumors, the developers reaffirmed its new December 10 release date. “As a rule, we don’t comment on rumors or speculation,” a CDPR representative told IGN in response to a request for a comment on the latest delay rumors. “But I will confirm we were just taking time to update all of our assets to reflect the new launch date of December 10th.” The statement was issued after a rumor began circulating that Cyberpunk 2077 could be delayed again for a fourth time after the developers recently pushed the RPG back from a November 19th release date to December 10th. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=100-new-cyberpunk-2077-screenshots-gangs-characters-and-playstyles-revealed&captions=true"] The reason for the most recent delay is, according to CDPR, bringing parity to Cyberpunk 2077 across nine versions of the game that span across current-gen, next-gen, and PC. The 21-day delay is meant to ensure Cyberpunk 2077 runs smoothly on Xbox One/X, Xbox Series X|S, PS4/Pro, PS5, PC, and Stadia. The official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account also updated its header image to include the December 10th release date, doubling-down on the revised date as the official one. [caption id="attachment_243652" align="alignnone" width="601"] The update header for the Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter account. Souce: Twitter[/caption] Cyberpunk 2077 has had a bit of a rocky lead-up until launch, with reports alleging the developers have been given a mandatory crunch to meet its deadline. CDPR co-founder Adam Badowski confirmed the required overtime and said employees will be well compensated for their time. Read IGN’s Cyberpunk 2077 hands-on preview here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is a reporter for IGN.