Monthly Archives: January 2016
That ’70s Show Stars Reunite for Netflix’s The Ranch
Get ready for a That '70s Show reunion on Friday, April 1st when Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson reunite for the new Netflix multi-cam comedy, The Ranch, from Two and a Half Men's Don Reo and Jim Patterson.
Sam Elliott, Debra Winger, and Elisha Cuthbert also star in this new comedy, about a former semi-pro football player (Kutcher) who returns to Colorado to run the family business with his brother and father. Setting this sitcom apart from others of its ilk, however, is the fact that it looks a bit different. In a world where the rule is for sitcoms to be brightly lit, The Ranch goes a bit dark. "You know, when I go home at night I don’t turn on every single light in my house when I come home," EP Patterson told critics at the TCA Winter Press Tour. "I don’t think anyone does. And so that was one of the mandates we said was 'make it like how people live'."
DC Unleashes ‘Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys’
DC has announced a new spinoff from their wildly popular Harley Quinn comic. As revealed by Comic Vine, Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys builds out of the ongoing Harley Quinn series by writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti and revolves around Harley's new team of costumed sidekicks.
This six-issue mini-series will be co-written by Palmiotti and Frank Tieri, with interior art by Mauricet and covers by Conner. The series will pick up after the Gang of Harleys have been active for a few months and find themselves tasked with tracking down their missing boss.
Upcoming Rocket League Patch Ends Season One, Brings New Rewards
An upcoming patch for Rocket League will end the game’s first competitive season, while also bringing exclusive rewards and item rarity tiers.
Bronze, silver, gold, and platinum variant crowns are coming in the form of car toppers. The new items will be delivered as a reward to those who reached at least the “Bronze” level or higher in ranked play. The crown you get is based on your highest division rank, so if you’re a “Silver II” rank in 1v1, but a “Gold I” in 2v2, you’ll receive a gold crown, according to a developer post on the game’s Steam page.
Here's a look at what one of the crowns will look like:
This Transistor Figure Is Too Cute
Supergiant Games has unveiled its latest Transistor collectible and it’s an adorable Red figure.
The figure stands six inches tall and features Red with big blue eyes, holding the mysterious sword known as Transistor. It comes in a translucent box adorned with the game’s unique designs for the collectors who prefer to keep their toys sealed.
According to Supergiant’s blog, the figure, designed by the studio’s art director Jen Zee, has been in the works for over a year in partnership with notable pop culture merchandise retailer We Love Fine.
J.K. Rowling Reveals Severus Snape Secret
Following the tragic passing of Alan Rickman, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has revealed a secret she shared with the actor about his character, Severus Snape.
Back in 2011, Rickman told RTÉ that Rowling offered him "crucial" insight into the wizard's character, which informed his portrayal of Snape in the seven-part film saga. Until now, however, what she told him has remained a mystery.
In response to a fan on Twitter (via News.Mic), Rowling shared the secret:
Filming Wraps On Assassin’s Creed Movie
Filming has wrapped for Ubisoft Motion Picture's upcoming Assassin's Creed flick. Head of content Azaïzia Aymar posted a photo on Twitter confirming that the last shot was taken on January 15.
It is my honor to announce that #assassinscreedmovie last shot was taken minutes ago! Congratulations guys!!! pic.twitter.com/UxsiUDIQQm
— Azaïzia Aymar (@AymarMtl) January 15, 2016
Right in the middle of the photo stands star Michael Fassbender, who plays Callum Lynch in the film. Fassbender said he hadn't played any Assassin's Creed game before landing the role. Back in December the star admitted that he'd finally played one, "mainly to get an idea of the physically of the character."
The X-Files’ Return is This Week’s TV Highlight
Okay. There's a rather large amount of TV to sort through this week. A lot of returning shows. Some popping back in after their December break, others premiering new seasons. On The CW, Arrow and Flash are back while The 100 returns for Season 3 and DC's Legends of tomorrow makes its big debut.
Plus, Heroes Reborn ends while new seasons of Marvel's Agent Carter, Black Sails, Portlandia, and Childrens Hospital start up - and Shawn Ryan's Mad Dogs officially premieres on Amazon.
But the biggest news this week - the highlight, if you will - is The X-Files on FOX. Back, after 13 years away, for a new six-episode miniseries designed to push the show ahead creatively. Into more seasons, in fact, if it does well.
Fan Remake of Metal Gear Solid is a Labor of Love
Konami's 1998 classic Metal Gear Solid is being remade by fans using Unreal Engine 4.
The project, titled Shadow Moses, is not in any way Konami approved, something creator Airam Hernandez is fully aware of.
A post to Shadow Moses's Facebook page clarified that the remake does not have Konami's "full permission." Openly sharing the project from the beginning, Hernandez said, is key to dealing "with any issues that may arise."
Konami wants to continue the Metal Gear Solid franchise despite losing series creator Hideo Kojima. In fact, IGN reported last month that Konami Group is actively searching for a "wide range of highly-skilled development professionals" for a new Metal Gear game. The company is looking to expand its Tokyo and Los Angeles studios, despite the announcement that the California branch would be closing.
Tanner Girls Talk Returning for Netflix Spinoff, Fuller House
Everywhere you look, on February 26th, the Tanner clan returns for more wholesome Full House goodness with Netflix's Fuller House - a decades later spinoff revolving around recently widowed veterinarian D.J. Tanner Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure) living in San Francisco with her younger sister, an aspiring musician, Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin), and lifelong best friend and fellow single mom Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), and Kimmy’s feisty teenage daughter Ramona. All living under one roof and taking care of D.J.’s three boys: Jackson, Max, and her newborn baby, Tommy, Jr.
Cameron Bure, Sweetin, Barber, and executive producers Bob Boyett and Jeff Franklin appeared at the TCA Winter Press Tour to preview their new series and answer questions during a Q&A panel. With Franklin even addressing the fact that, as much as they worked to make it happen, the character of Michell Tanner wasn't a part of the series due to the Olsen twins refusing to return. "I tried," he said. "We all tried to persuade them to come and play. They decided not to at this time. We’re hopeful at some point in the future that they may change their minds and come back and reprise Michelle."
Tom Clancy’s The Division Setting Limited to Manhattan
Though set in the ravaged ruins of New York, Tom Clancy's The Division will reportedly not feature the entire New York City area.
According to The Examiner, the game will only feature one borough of New York: Midtown Manhattan. This contrasts what we've seen leading up to this point from Ubisoft, including an E3 2013 demo set in Brooklyn that will reportedly not appear in the launch version of The Division.
Magnus Jansen, creative director on Tom Clancy's The Division, told The Examiner Midtown Manhattan was chosen "because of the one-to-one re-creation" and because of the way the pandemic happened. According to Jansen, the Manhattan area is a huge experience and "more than enough to sink your teeth into."