Yearly Archives: 2020

SNL’s Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles Will Haunt Your Dreams

This week's Saturday Night Live, which adopted a unique "At Home" format, and featured surprise host Tom Hanks and a fun swipe at Tiger King's Carole Baskin, aired a new animated short, catching us up on the now-miserable lives of Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello -- as the Middle-Aged Mutant Ninja Turtles! Watch April and Mikey try to keep their marriage alive. Cringe in fear as Donny gets some disturbing news from his doctor. And what happened to ol' Shredder? Prepare yourself for some scintillating adulting... Looking for shows to binge during these quaran-tainment times? Here are some IGN-recommented series to take in... [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=6-video-games-that-should-be-netflix-shows&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

‘SNL at Home’ Spoofs Tiger King’s Carole Baskin

Saturday Night Live returned to TV, after over a month off the air, using a new format that saw the cast engaging in social distancing, presenting monologues and segments they'd made at home - plus a surprise host in the form of coronavirus survivor Tom Hanks (who also appeared from his home)! Many wondered what kind of skits and comedy bits the cast could deliver from their New York City apartments, or if there'd even be room for the errant Tiger King gag, but comedian/impressionist Chloe Fineman came through with a spoof of MasterClass: the online subscription platform featuring hundreds of video lessons from "masters" of their field. Fineman gave us a MasterClass: Quarantine Edition featuring her takes on Timothée Chalamet, Dance Moms' Jojo Siwa and - yes - a killer impersonation of Carole Baskin. Check it out... It should be noted that SNL's own Kate McKinnon is set to play Carole Baskin in an upcoming Tiger King limited series. The last SNL to air was back on March 7 and featured host Daniel Craig, whose movie No Time to Die had already been bumped to November. Craig spoofed James Bond along with his Southern accent in Rian Johnson's Knives Out. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=everything-coming-to-nbcuniversals-peacock&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Tom Hanks Acts as the Surprise Host for ‘SNL at Home’

A few days back, it was announced that SNL would return this week using a new "At Home" format. Having been off the air for a little over over a month, the series would now include the cast and crew engaging in social distancing, airing monologues and segments they've made at home. What wasn't announced for SNL at Home were the host and/or musical guest - or even if there would be anything resembling those roles at all. In a surprise move, from his own residence, Tom Hanks acted as SNL at Home's host, referring to himself as the "celebrity canary in the coal mine for coronavirus," having been diagnosed with COVID-19, along with wife Rita Wilson, back at the beginning of March while down they were in Australia where Hanks was filming an Elvis Presley biopic. Check it out... "There's no such thing as Saturdays any more, every day is just today," Hanks quipped, also remarking "This is the first time I’ve worn anything but sweat pants since March 11." And if you think you were shocked by Hanks being the host, take a look at son Colin Hanks' tweet... The last SNL to air was back on March 7 and featured host Daniel Craig, whose movie No Time to Die had already been bumped to November. Craig spoofed James Bond along with his Southern accent in Rian Johnson's Knives Out. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/08/quibi-review-2020"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Dwayne Johnson Reveals the Action Movie Role He Wanted But Didn’t Get

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, like many self-isolating celebrities, is doing his best to engage with fans via social media. In Johnson's case, his social distancing has led to many online Q&A sessions where the current biggest box office draw in the world chats with his followers, answering queries and offering up engaging anecdotes. Johnson's latest story takes us back a decade, to a time when it wasn't as easy for him to get headlining roles. "Was there a movie role I really wanted, but lost to another actor?" Johnson started. "Yup. The role was Jack Reacher. The actor was Tom Cruise. Business is business and I’m happy he got it." Here, take a look at Johnson explain his loss. Which turned into an immediate gain because, very soon after, he landed a big role in Fast Five.

“I’m positive that the role of Jack Reacher, because it was an established character, an IP that was well known and beloved around the world, that I wouldn’t have had the creative space to do what I wanted with the character,” Johnson said. “I look back in gratitude that I didn’t get Jack Reacher.” Looking for things to  while indefinitely indoors? Apple TV+ is currently streaming these 8 series for free while next week's Watch from Home Theater, here at IGN, will be a watch-along of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story with writers Gary Whitta and Chris Weitz! [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=dwayne-the-rock-johnsons-10-best-movies&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Watch Kevin Feige’s Very First Tease in 2006 of His MCU Plan

Here at IGN we occasionally like to showcase something from geekdom's rich history -- a pop-culture Time Capsule, if you will, that gives us a peek in to the past, perhaps providing a new appreciation for previous projects. If you'd like, please check out the past few Time Capsules: [poilib element="accentDivider"] It's hard to imagine a time when the only superhero movies hitting theaters involved Spider-Man, Batman, Blade, or the errant Painkiller Jane, but rest assured, what the village elders told you is true: There was a time before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if it doesn't readily feel like it. Heck, there was even a time before superhero movies in general. History books merely refer to this era as "The Big Dark." Back in the '90s, when the company was in dire straits and needed fast cash, Marvel licensed its heroes out to any movie studio willing to shell out the bells. It's how we wound up with 19 Punisher movies. But even the most successful of these films - like the Sam Raimi Spider-verse, the "Let's face it, you're here to see Wolverine"-verse, and a few others that did well enough to warrant sequels (Blade, Ghost Rider, Fantastic Four, etc) -- only ever existed in their own bubble. There was no crossing the streams when it came to supers. Everyone super stayed in their super lanes. Back in 2006, at San Diego Comic-Con, Kevin Feige -- when asked about the potential for crossovers in Marvel's new slate of films (which at the time were to be Captain America, Nick Fury, and Thor, after Iron man and Hulk) -- explained: "If you listen to the characters I named, and what we're working on currently, and you put them all together, there's no coincidence that they may someday equal the Avengers." Here, check out the snippet below of Feige on the panel (at the :27 mark). (If the embed doesn't work, watch it here.) It's just a brief blurb, which was included in a larger documentary about the MCU. See, before smartphones were commonplace, aka "The Big Big Dark," SDCC panels weren't blasted out everywhere online. [extreme old man voice] When I was a kid the internet was called staring directly at the sunnnnnn. It's kind of cute to hear Feige, who's now Chief Emperor Overlord of All Things Marvel, act so hopeful and optimistic about this "larger mosaic." Using words like "may" and "possibility" and "it would be great if people would watch something other than Uncle Ben dying." Because Marvel movies now rule the multiplexes. Or, at least, they will again someday when multiplexes start flexing their plexes again. It's no secret that Phase 4, and humanity in general, is off to a rocky start here in 2020. Black Widow, which was to have opened in May but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, will now take the November 6, 2020, slot originally occupied by The Eternals. The Eternals now moves to Feb. 12, 2021 and Shang-Chi now takes May 7, 2021. For the rest of the new Phase 4 date switcheroos, head here. The following year, at 2007's SDCC, the Marvel panel was for Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Iron Man was the first, and most important, seed of the saga. A for Hulk... well, Hulk as a headliner is like getting a shake as your "drink" at a fast-food restaurant. It just doesn't go down smooth. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-cinematic-universe-every-upcoming-movie-and-tv-show&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Why Jesse Eisenberg Isn’t Officially a Part of the Snyder Cut Movement

There's a reason why Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star Jesse Eisenberg hasn't made any public remarks about the Snyder Cut version of Justice League in the way Ben Affleck, Jason Momoa, and others have. It turns out, he hasn't even watched the regular theatrical version of Justice League. In an interview with the Toronto Sun this week, Eisenberg explained that he wasn't sure how to weigh in on the Snyder Cut because "I don’t watch anything I’ve been in, and I haven’t seen either Batman v Superman or Justice League." "I know that I had a smaller part in one of them," he added, "but I get pretty uncomfortable watching myself. So I’m not aware of a Snyder Cut." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=batman-ranking-the-movie-batsuits&captions=true"] "I’m not part of, I don’t even know what to call it: the movement," Eisenberg added. "I like Zack Snyder and I worked with him for a while just by virtue of these movies taking so long to film. I love his style and aesthetic and if there’s a movie he wanted to see released, I’m sure it would be great." Meanwhile, Zack Snyder recently joined a growing list of filmmakers and artists who have taken to social media to help entertain fans during the pandemic. Snyder marked the fourth anniversary of the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice by releasing a new director's commentary track for the Ultimate Cut of the DC movie, revealing new tidbits about Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman, and more. Looking for more? Find out what Snyder himself had to say about the existence of the Snyder Cut and the real reason Affleck dropped out of The Batman. In Eisenberg news, here's IGN's review of claustrophobic sci-fi mindbender Vivarium, starring Eisenberg and Imogen Poots - plus a clip from the film! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/30/vivarium-clip-1"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Apple Will Finance Scorsese’s Next Movie

UPDATE: Apple has reportedly come aboard to finance and serve as the key creative studio behind Martin Scorsese's next film, Killers of the Flower Moon, with Paramount Pictures set to give the film a wide theatrical release. According to Deadline, the budget for the period piece is between $180-$200 million. Killers of the Flower Moon will star Scorsese veterans Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Our original report from April follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Martin Scorsese may be looking to work with a streaming service again for his next feature film after traditional movie production outfit Paramount Pictures is reconsidering the project due to its $200 million price tag. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Scorsese’s representatives have been talking with Apple and Netflix, which produced and distributed his last film The Irishman, to potentially produce his next movie. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-reviewed-movies-of-2019&captions=true"] Titled “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the movie was originally set to be produced by Paramount Pictures, but the talks between Scorsese and Paramount hit a snag after the budget grew to more than $200 million. According to the report, Paramount previously agreed to make Scorsese’s next big-budget movie in 2019 before the global coronavirus pandemic. However, due to the hit from the economic downturn and the impact of COVID-19 on Hollywood’s movie production this made Paramount reconsider. The company has allowed Scorsese’s representatives to reach out to other studios, like Apple and Netflix on the project. Killers of the Flower Moon is based on a bestselling 2017 nonfiction book about a federal law enforcement agency, the precursor to the FBI, as it investigates the murder of the Osage Nation Native Americans living on oil-rich Oklahoma in the 1920s. The movie is set to star Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/31/the-irishman-official-teaser-trailer"] Scorsese previously worked with Netflix on his last big-budget picture, The Irishman about a hitman who reportedly killed Jimmy Hoffa. Netflix reportedly paid $173 million to produce the movie. As traditional movie producers are looking to develop cheaper movies, streaming services like Apple and Netflix have been stepping up to fun big-budget projects. However, there’s a chance Scorsese’s movie could go forward at Paramount, though with a co-financier. In the meantime, you can still watch The Irishman on Netflix, or perhaps just Tiger King again. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The Batman Director Reveals How Much of the Movie Has Been Filmed

Filmmaker Matt Reeves said The Batman was about 25 percent of the way through its planned production schedule when it had to shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that he is using this time to review the footage they've shot and tweak the tone of the DC film. “We’re not officially editing right now," Reeves told Deadline, “We’ve actually shot a quarter of the movie and I have been pouring through dailies, looking at takes, and what’s to come.” Reeves said that, given how complex and huge productions like The Batman are, there's never enough time to prep for them as a director would like. Now he has the time to adjust and plan ahead based on what he's seeing in the dailies. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/15/the-batman-is-the-bat-symbol-really-the-gun-that-killed-his-parents] "I would say that the changes really have to do with 'Oh, seeing the tone of this' with these scenes we haven’t done which connect to that part of the storyline. It feels like there might be an opportunity to explore some of that unexpected tone that we found," Reeves explained. "It also gives me a moment to think about the larger sequences that have yet to come up and how I want to realize those." Those tweaks in tone will not necessitate any script changes, which Reeves said took him two years to write. He calls the script "a very specific mystery noir that’s been really thought-out by me and my partners.” In a separate interview with IndieWire, Reeves once again reiterated that his film is set early in Batman's career but that he "wanted to do not an origin tale, but a tale that would still acknowledge his origins, in that it formed who he is.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-batman-how-robert-pattinsons-batsuit-draws-from-the-past&captions=true"] “Like this guy, he’s majorly struggling, and this is how he’s trying to rise above that struggle. But that doesn’t mean that he even fully understands," Reeves said. "It’s that whole idea of the shadow self and what’s driving you, and how much of that you can incorporate, and how much of it you’re doing that you’re unaware of.” Reeves said his story for The Batman has "a humanist bent" that "feels very psychological, very emotional." The filmmaker said The Batman will explore all that along with the corruption rampant in Gotham City. "That feels very current. I think it always does," Reeves observed. "There’s almost no time when you can’t do a story about corruption. But today, it still seems incredibly resonant and maybe, from my perspective, maybe more so than maybe at other time." For more on The Batman, check out Reeves' picks for his favorite Batman movies, the two detective movies that The Batman hopes to emulate, learn what composer Michael Giacchino had to say about scoring the film, and trace the origins of the new Batmobile.

Robin Hood Remake from Disney Reportedly on the Way

Disney is reportedly pursuing a remake of Robin Hood for its Disney+ streaming service. The new version of the movie will be a musical and use a live-action/CGI hybrid visual style to create a world where anthropomorphic animals are the characters of the classic Robin Hood story. The Hollywood Reporter says Kari Granlund, who's credited on the screenplay for Disney's Lady and the Tramp remake, is writing the script and Disney is also reportedly eyeing Carlos López Estrada, the indie director behind Blindspotting and Summertime. The report doesn't say whether the remake will use the same songs as Disney's original Robin Hood movie. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-upcoming-disney-and-pixar-animated-movie&captions=true"] Disney's adaptation of the Robin Hood folklore was released in 1973. The Disney version follows the familiar story of Robin Hood, a thief who steals from the rich and gives to the poor while trying to win over the love of his life, except the Disney film is a comedy musical that also turned the characters into animals. Robin Hood and Maid Marian are foxes, Prince John is a lion, and so on. The New York Times says the original film was a blockbuster hit when it was first released. It's the latest in a long line of Disney remakes on the way. Disney will release Mulan in theaters on July 24 and Cruella in May 2021. The studio was also reportedly in production on remakes of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan when the coronavirus shut down the industry, according to Variety [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/11/disneys-live-action-peter-pan-and-wendy-casts-its-two-lead-characters-ign-news"] This news comes only a few days after Disney chief executive Bob Iger said smaller movies that have theatrical potential will come to Disney+ instead. The studio recently ditched theatrical plans for Artemis Fowl, which was supposed to hit theaters next month. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Petey Oneto is a freelance writer for IGN who loves that rooster from the original Robin Hood movie. I hope my boy gets the full $200 million Lion King CGI treatment.

Cyberpunk 2077 Will Get At Least Two DLC Expansions, Which Will Be Announced Before Launch

Cyberpunk 2077 will receive additional DLC post-launch, including a multiplayer mode. During a recent investors call reviewing the company’s most recent financial quarter, CD Projekt president Adam Kiciński revealed additional details about Cyberpunk’s DLC including potential length and announcement window. During a Polish-language meeting with investors, Kiciński was asked about DLC for Cyberpubnk 2077 which is set to be released on September 17. Kiciński was asked how big the DLC will be and when they’ll be announced. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=100-new-cyberpunk-2077-screenshots-gangs-characters-and-playstyles-revealed&captions=true"] As translated by IGN Poland, Kiciński revealed that players can “expect no less than Witcher 3 [expansion size].” Considering that the Blood and Wine and Hearts and Stone DLC combined to at around 40 hours of extra content, give or take, that’s quite a bold statement. As for when players can expect an announcement for the DLC, Kiciński told investors “expect a similar scenario [to what] we had for The Witcher 3.” CD Projekt famously announced both Witcher 3 expansions a week before the game’s launch, meaning CD Projekt could potentially announce DLC for Cyberpunk shortly before the game is released. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/27/cyberpunk-2077-gameplay-demo"] CD Projekt Red is currently developing the game while working from home. However, the developers stated that Cyberpunk 2077 is mostly complete and that current work focuses on polishing the game before its September release. The company recently revealed additional lore details like all the different gang factions in Night City. For more, check out IGN’s Cyberpunk 2077 preview and Cyberpunk 2077 wiki for our full coverage. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.