Monthly Archives: August 2017
Ex Machina Director’s Next Film Release Date Announced
Annihilation, directed by Ex Machina's Alex Garland, will be released in theaters early next year.
IGN can confirm that Annihilation the adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's novel of the same name, will hit theaters on February 23, 2018. The film joins a fellow Paramount Pictures release — the next Cloverfield film, previously known as God Particle, which the studio pushed from its packed October 27 release, will also have a February debut.
Annihilation stars Natalie Portman as a biologist who is sent into a mysterious place known as Area X as part of an expedition to explore the strange environment. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson play those joining her on the expedition, while Oscar Isaac, who starred in Garland's Ex Machina, plays the Biologist's husband.
The Best Anakin Skywalker Tales Beyond the Movies
The first six films of the Star Wars saga focus on Anakin Skywalker. From slave to powerful Sith Lord, Anakin carved a unique journey across the galaxy. He got a later start than most younglings to Jedi training, and though Obi-Wan Kenobi did the best he could to teach the boy, he may not have been 100 percent ready to take a Padawan learner under his wing. On top of that, Sheev Palpatine was operating from the sidelines and behind the scenes, pulling every string possible to influence and manipulate Anakin.
Those factors and more affected Anakin's development. Inch by inch, he was pushed; he made the decision to turn away from the light side towards the temptation of the dark side. But before he became Darth Vader, Sith and villain, he was a Jedi -- considered by some to be a hero. And if you want more of prequel era Anakin Skywalker, these are the stories you should read and watch...
Kermit the Frog Goes Super Saiyan in This Ridiculous Dragon Ball Xenoverse Mod
It’s not everyday you get to see a Muppet fight Majin Buu. But the wonderful montage video below from YouTuber Dante’s Gaming shows Kermit The Frog laying down the hurt on most of the Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 roster.
Kermit is playable basically as a custom skin for Trunks, but it’s still a marvelous and strange mod to see in action. The mod itself was made by modders LeonExodia and CaliKingz01, and can be downloaded at xenoversemods.com. I wasn’t even aware Xenoverse had a modding community, but you can also find skins for Fox McCloud, Bugs Bunny, and the Power Rangers.
Voltron LEGO Is Really Happening
Voltron: Defender of the Universe is getting an homage in brick form. A LEGO Ideas submission immortalizing the giant robot has been approved, and will come to retail and online stores.
The LEGO Ideas blog (via Brothers Brick) made the announcement alongside another Ideas winner, modeled after a ship in a bottle. The model from software architect Leandro Tayag is more than 2,100 pieces, and includes the individual lions that can be pieced together to form Voltron. As the design is based on the 1980s Defender of the Universe, it's a slightly different look than that of the current Netflix reboot, Legendary Defender.
Conan Exiles Gets Free Frozen North Expansion Soon
The first expansion for Conan Exiles, called The Frozen North, will arrive August 16 on PC and Xbox One.
The free update will bring a large new frosty landmass to the game. Developer Funcom says it'll make Conan Exiles 70 percent bigger.
The Frozen North not only offers a new climate, but a new religion, an additional crafting system with brewing, and fresh mechanics like beekeeping and cooking.
Conan Exiles creative director Joel Bylos touched on other enhancements in a press release, saying The Frozen North "brings with it significant improvements to core aspects of the game, such as combat, artificial intelligence and more.”
The game is currently available on Steam Early Access. Conan Exiles, along with The Frozen North update, will come out August 16 on Xbox One, with the full release hitting those platforms and PlayStation 4 early next year.
Death Stranding: First Graphics Demo Revealed
Kojima Productions has showcased an early look at the advanced lighting and fog system that's being developed for Death Stranding.
During a tech presentation at SIGGRAPH, a graphics demo was revealed for the game, which is being built on Guerrilla Games' Decima Engine, the same engine that powers Horizon: Zero Dawn.
Watch the demo below to see the stunning engine in action, which features the location shown in the Death Stranding trailer that debuted at PSX 2016.
NASA Seeks “Planetary Protection Officer” to Save Earth From Alien Contamination
NASA has a job opening that sounds straight out of science-fiction. The "planetary protection officer" position will ensure that Earth is not contaminated by matter brought back from space, and that humans do not contaminate planets and moons during exploration.
The Independent reports that the job oversees "the avoidance of organic-constituent and biological contamination in human and robotic space exploration.” This is part of an ongoing policy of planetary protection, applying to any space mission that could carry Earth organisms into space, or vice-versa.
Pacific Rim 2: The Kaiju “Have Grown More Intelligent”
Pacific Rim: Uprising star John Boyega told me during a phone chat this week that not only are the Jaegers "much more swift" in the forthcoming sequel, but their enemy, the Kaiju, "have grown more intelligent" in their campaign against the surface world.
Be mindful of SPOILERS ahead about the first Pacific Rim and the sequel. (And look for our full interview with John Boyega about his new drama, Detroit, tomorrow.)
"As you know, Pacific Rim 1 ended with Stacker Pentecost
dying, and Raleigh
dying as well, and they feel like they've closed the Breach, but unfortunately the enemy has grown more intelligent and has other ways of doing things, and we are met with a rogue character," Boyega explained.
Thumper Coming to Xbox One Soon
Thumper is headed to Xbox One on August 18. The self-described "rhythm violence" game from Drool first debuted on PC and PlayStation 4 on October 10, 2016.
Once it launches on Xbox One, Thumper will officially be available on all major current gen platforms, including Windows, PS4/PSVR, and Nintendo Switch.
Thumper is an on-rails rhythm game where you control a space beetle plummeting into an abyss. You earn points by "thumping" on glowing notes on the track, but must also avoid dangers like sharp turns and spike pits by nailing precise button-presses. There are nine levels, each with a mini boss and a final boss.
Check out our Thumper guide for tips and tricks on its basic controls and how to score extra points.
Divergent Series: Ascendant May Become Starz TV Show
The Divergent film franchise is reportedly making the move to TV.
Entertainment Weekly reports Starz is in the early stages of developing a TV adaptation of Ascendant, the second part of the final book Allegiant. Starz was recently acquired by Lionsgate, the studio behind the movies.
Adam Cozad (The Legend of Tarzan) will reportedly pen the show and will executive produce alongside Lee Toland Krieger (Age of Adaline). The duo were previously set to write and direct what was supposed to be a film adaptation of Ascendant instead.
It's currently unclear if the films' original cast, including Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Ansel Elgort, will return for the show. News of The Divergent Series: Ascendent potentially becoming a TV series instead first surfaced in 2016.