Monthly Archives: December 2019
Rise of Skywalker Receives Lowest CinemaScore of Sequel Trilogy
It's not the greatest news to land after learning that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has opened in China with the lowest box office numbers of the new trilogy, but Episode IX has also received the lowest CinemaScore of the modern-era Skywalker films.
It's not a failing grade by any means, but after both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi got "A"s, and with Last Jedi being the film that fans were supposedly the most split over, this "B+" rating feels fairly telling with regards to how polarizing the final chapter is.
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s Hidden Planet Explained
Warning: this article contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker brings back Emperor Palpatine one last time to help close out the Skywalker Saga. In the process, the movie reveals more about the Sith, including introducing the hidden planet Exegol and a new gadget called the Sith Wayfinder.
If these new additions to the franchise have you feeling a little lost, fear not. From the importance of the Wayfinder to Exegol and its strange Sith cultists, here's how The Rise of Skywalker adds to the fascinating mythology of the Sith.
Exegol: The Sith Home Planet
The Rise of Skywalker introduces several new planets to the Star Wars galaxy, but Exegol is easily the most significant. Much like Ahch-To in The Last Jedi, this remote world is hidden to all but a select few who have a map to its location. It's a place where the Sith can hide and consolidate their power. And because the Dark Side is unusually strong on this world, it's a place where a man like Palpatine can unleash his full power as a Dark Lord of the Sith.
The Witcher: How Episode 5 Pays Tribute to ‘Bathtub Geralt’
If you know The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then you know. If you don't know the game, then you probably still know something about "that ripped dude in a bathtub, right?"
Now that Netflix's The Witcher is out in the world (check out all of our Witcher Season 1 reviews here), with Henry Cavill starring as Geralt of Rivia, many are wondering if it can be the "next Game of Thrones." The series has a lot of source material at its disposal. Fans will be looking for the show to not only service the Polish fantasy short-story series, by Andrzej Sapkowski -- particularly the sagas contained in "The Last Wish" -- but also the world, tone, and various aesthetics established in the video games by CD Projekt Red. And that includes not just things like characters' various looks, behaviors, and fighting styles, but also, you know, the famous scene that opens Witcher 3 -- Geralt's sultry steam bath.
Carrie TV Series Reportedly in Development at FX
Stephen King's famous story of a tormented telekinetic teen, Carrie, is making its way to TV.
Carrie became an iconic name in horror not just because of King's 1974 book, which was his first published novel, but also because of the 1976 Brian De Palma film starring Sissy Spacek. Less notable sequels and remakes occurred decades later, but the original film has maintained its status as a spooky-season must-watch.
Reported by Collider, FX and MGM Television are currently developing King's Carrie into a limited series. Sources tell Collider that the titular Carrie White character might be played by either a trans performer or an actress of color.
The Witcher: Bringing the Epic Story to Life From Book to Screen
We're rolling out sneak peeks for Netflix's The Witcher all month long as part of our IGN First exclusive set visit. Keep it locked right here for never-before-seen interviews and behind the scenes footage of the White Wolf, Ciri, and Yennefer. For more Witcher be sure to check out our reviews for every Witcher episode, Henry Cavill discussing the common misconceptions about Geralt, Anya Chalotra breaking down Yennefer's incredible transformation, Freya Allan on how Ciri fits into the Season 1 storyline, and our chat with David J. Peterson on how he created the "Elder Speech" language for the series.
James Cameron Thinks Avatar Will Wind Up Beating Endgame at the Box Office
It took a decade of interconnected movies and a re-release, but Avengers: Endgame managed to topple Avatar and become the highest-grossing movie of all time.
That victory won't last for long, according to James Cameron, who, while talking to USA Today, predicted that Avatar will beat Endgame, restoring his franchise back at the top of the heap.
Was Rey’s Arc in Rise of Skywalker Part of JJ Abrams’ Plan All Along?
J.J. Abrams has opened up about the process of developing Rey's character in the sequel trilogy, explaining that he had a long term plan for her, but that the details were more "shapes in the fog" rather than an elaborate roadmap. He also admits that parts of her planned story arc had to be adjusted as the saga continued to expand.
In an interview with IGN, the director of The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker discussed the completion of Rey's arc in Episode IX, explaining how he carried ideas forward from his original plan established during The Force Awakens, even though ultimately they were only "building blocks" to manage plot points.
Star Wars: Rey and Kylo Ren’s Force Connection Explained
Warning: this article contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker adds new layers to the Force and the never-ending war between the Jedi and Sith. During the movie we learn that Rey and Kylo Ren are two halves of a Force Dyad, a phenomenon meant to explain the close bond they've shared over the course of the sequel trilogy.
The concept of a Force Dyad is new to the franchise, but it's certainly one that builds on what we've previously seen with these two characters. Read on to learn more about what a Force Dyad actually is and why Rey and Ben are so different from the Jedi and Sith who have come before.
How The Witcher’s Season 1 Finale Sets Up Season 2
Warning! Full spoilers for Season 1 of Netflix's The Witcher follow. This article also mentions some storylines from The Witcher novels. To learn more about the proper reading order for Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher books, click here.
Season 1 of The Witcher ends with a heartwarming embrace between Ciri (Freya Allan) and Geralt (Henry Cavill), as the two weary travelers fulfill their destinies. On the battlefield, Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) finally lets her chaos explode in order to defeat the Nilfgaardian army, but does it end up costing the powerful sorceress her life? This particular storyline comes from one of Andrzej Sapkowski's short stories, titled "Something More," which does mention the Battle of Sodden Hill that Yennefer participates in. And while there are a few differences from book to screen, the main narrative is pretty close to how Sapkowski tells it. But what does the Season 1 finale reveal about where Season 2's story is likely headed, and what's the deal with Geralt's vision of his childhood and the mysterious woman named Visenna?