Monthly Archives: April 2020

Scoob! Theatrical Release Scrapped in Favor of VOD Debut

Warner Bros. announced Tuesday that, due to the closure of movie theaters because of the coronavirus pandemic, they are dropping plans to release their animated film Scoob! theatrically and will instead debut it on premium VOD and digital ownership in the U.S. and Canada on May 15, 2020. Scoob! will be available for a 48-hour rental via Premium Video On Demand for $19.99 or premium digital ownership for $24.99 beginning on Friday, May 15 (prices listed U.S. SRP).  The title will be available on participating digital platforms. (Scoob!'s original theatrical release date was May 15.) Scoob! becomes the second major animated family film following Trolls World Tour to forego their theatrical release in favor of a VOD/digital debut. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/07/scoob-final-trailer-easter-eggs-and-hanna-barbera-references] “While we’re all eager to be able to once again show our films in theaters, we’re navigating new, unprecedented times which call for creative thinking and adaptability in how we distribute our content,” said Ann Sarnoff, Chair and CEO, Warner Bros.. “We know fans are eager to see Scoob! and we’re delighted we can deliver this feel-good movie for families to enjoy while they’re home together.” [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=scoob-images&captions=true"] Scoob! is directed by Tony Cervone and features a voice cast that includes Will Forte as Scooby-Doo’s best friend, Shaggy; Mark Wahlberg as Blue Falcon; Jason Isaacs as Dick Dastardly; Gina Rodriguez as Velma; Zac Efron as Fred; Amanda Seyfried as Daphne; Kiersey Clemons as Falcon Fury pilot Dee Dee Skyes; Ken Jeong as the Falcon Force’s Dynomutt; Tracy Morgan as Captain Caveman; and Frank Welker as Scooby-Doo. For more on Scoob!, check out what the director recently told us about updating the classic characters for CG.

Netflix Acquires Movie About Sherlock’s Teen Sister Starring Henry Cavill

Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown and The Witcher's Henry Cavill are staying in the Netflix family. Legendary Entertainment announced today that Netflix has acquired global rights, excluding China, to Enola Holmes, starring Brown and Cavill. Based on Nancy Springer’s Edgar Award-nominated book series, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, Enola Holmes sees Brown playing the title character, the young sister of Sherlock Holmes, played by Cavill. Here's the official plot synopsis:

"Enola Holmes tells the story of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes’ rebellious teen sister Enola, a gifted super-sleuth in her own right who often outsmarts her brilliant siblings. When her mother mysteriously disappears on her 16th birthday, Enola seeks help from her older brothers. But soon realizing they’re less interested in solving the case than in packing her off to finishing school, Enola does the only thing a smart, resourceful and fearless young 1880s woman can do… she runs away to London to find her.

Meeting a cast of memorable characters along the way, Enola’s caught in the middle of a conspiracy that could alter the course of political history. Enola Holmes puts a dynamic new female twist on the world’s greatest detective and his brilliant family."

Award winner Harry Bradbeer (Fleabag, Killing Eve) directs Enola Holmes from a screenplay adaptation penned by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). In addition to Brown and Cavill, the cast of Enola Holmes includes Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Claflin, Adeel Akhtar, Fiona Shaw, Frances de la Tour, Louis Partridge, and Burn Gorman. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=netflix-spotlight-april-2020&captions=true"] No word yet on when Enola Holmes will debut on Netflix.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s First DLC Arrives April 28

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s first story DLC will be released on April 28. Titled, “New Power Awakens — Part 1,” the DLC tells a game exclusive story starring Goku and Vegeta as they train to become “Super Saiyan Gods” and defeat Beerus. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-dragon-ball-game-review&captions=true"] Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a semi-open world action-adventure game that essentially retells the main storylines from the Dragon Ball Z anime. But with the first story DLC, developers at CyberConnect 2 are going to branch from the anime storylines and tell an original tale. The DLC will allow players to earn more Experience Points, and the storyline can be accessed at any point during the main game. A Music Compilation Pack will also be available on the same day as the DLC’s release. While there are plenty of Dragon Ball Z video games, Kakarot is slightly different in that it combines the arena combat elements with a semi-open world. In a way, the open-world parts are reminiscent of the Yakuza series while the arena fights that make up the combat portions will be familiar with anyone who has played the Dragon Ball Tenkaichi games. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/01/03/dragon-ball-z-kakarot-this-time-on-dragon-ball-z-kakarot-trailer"] IGN reviewed Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot and gave it a 7 out of 10 citing how “underneath it all is a game that overflows with nostalgic love for the source material.” [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The Saint Reboot Movie Eyes Chris Pine for Titular Hero

Star Trek and Wonder Woman star Chris Pine is reportedly in negotiations to star in a reboot of The Saint at Paramount, Variety reports. The Saint will be helmed by Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher, with a script written by Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie). The Saint "follows Simon Templar, better known as The Saint, a Robin Hood-esque criminal and thief for hire who goes on a globetrotting adventure," according to a synopsis. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Variety also revealed that "Paramount sees the reboot as the potential start for a long-running movie series." The Saint is based on a series of books and short stories written by Leslie Charteris in the late 1920s. James Bond alum Roger Moore portrayed the titular hero in a UK television adaption in the 1960s. And in 1997, Val Kilmer took up the mantle in a live-action film directed by Phillip Noyce (Salt). As of the time of writing, no official production start date has been announced by the Studio. Pine's next big-screen appearance will be in Wonder Woman 1984, which was recently postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/08/wonder-woman-1984-official-trailer-1"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

One-Punch Man Movie Adaptation in Development from Venom Writers

Sony Pictures may have just delayed Venom 2, but the studio is developing a live-action movie adaptation of the popular manga One-Punch Man, with a screenplay from the writers of the original Venom movie. Variety broke the news, with sources indicating Sony is eager to add another major franchise to its library. The One-Punch Man movie will be written Scott Rosenberg and Jeff Pinkner, who also penned 2017's Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its 2019 sequel. Avi and Ari Arad will serve as producers. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-live-action-anime-remake-currently-in-development&captions=true"] There's currently no release date for One-Punch Man, nor any word on potential directors or cast members. Created by Japanese artist ONE, One-Punch Man tells the story of Saitama, a powerful superhero with the ability to defeat any opponent with a single punch. Bored by his flawless battle record, Saitama embarks on a quest to find an opponent who can actually challenge him. The series originally debuted as a web comic in 2009 before transitioning to the magazine Shueisha’s Young Jump Next in 2012. The manga has already been adapted into a popular anime series and multiple video games, including the recent One-Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows. One-Punch Man is the latest attempt by Hollywood to adapt a popular manga/anime franchise, but there are plenty of other live-action anime adaptations in the works. One of those is the perpetually troubled Akira remake, which may no longer be directed by Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi. Netflix's Cowboy Bebop live-action series has run into its own problems recently. The series was put on hiatus after star John Cho was injured on set. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/04/09/one-punch-man-season-1-recap-in-5-minutes"] For more on the world of anime, check out IGN's picks for the best anime series of the past decade. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Hunger Games Movie Prequel Officially Announced

The Hunger Games franchise is back. Lionsgate announced Tuesday that the studio is developing a feature film version of Suzanne Collins’s prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Francis Lawrence, who directed Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part 1, and Mockingjay Part 2, will return to helm this film. No word yet on casting or a release date for the film. Collins' novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will be published by Scholastic simultaneously in print, digital and audio formats in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand on May 19. Here's the official synopsis:

"The film will focus on Coriolanus Snow at age 18, years before he would become the tyrannical President of Panem. Young Coriolanus is handsome and charming, and though the Snow family has fallen on hard times, he sees a chance for a change in his fortunes when he is chosen to be a mentor for the Tenth Hunger Games… only to have his elation dashed when he is assigned to mentor the girl tribute from impoverished District 12."

Collins will write the film’s treatment and will also serve as an executive producer. Oscar-winner Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3, Catching Fire) will adapt the screenplay. Hunger Games producer Nina Jacobson is back to produce this entry along with her Color Force partner Brad Simpson. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/11/23/ranking-the-hunger-games-movies] “Suzanne’s new book has been worth the wait. It offers everything fans could hope for and expect from The Hunger Games while also breaking new ground and introducing an entirely new canvas of characters," said Joe Drake, chairman of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, in the announcement. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is creatively thrilling and takes this world to complex new dimensions that open up amazing cinematic possibilities. We’re thrilled to reunite this filmmaking team with this very unique franchise, and we can’t wait to begin production.” The Hunger Games film franchise earned over $3 billion at the worldwide box office.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage Release Date Pushed Back One Week

Update 3/30/2021: Venom: Let There Be Carnage has seen another short delay, and has moved from its September 17, 2021 release date to September 24, 2021. Update 3/17/2021:The Venom sequel has been delayed out of its previously confirmed June 2021 release date. Venom: Let There Be Carnage will now be released in theaters, including 3D, IMAX, and other premium large formats, on September 17, 2021, rather than June 25 of this year. Original story follows: [poilib element="accentDivider"] Sony Pictures officially announced that the release of Venom 2 has been pushed to next year. The sequel, now titled Venom: Let There Be Carnage, will now hit theaters June 25, 2021. It was originally slated to open October 2, 2020. Check out the video below for our breakdown of the news: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/venom-2-tease-delivers-bittersweet-news-ign-now"] That June 25, 2021 was originally held by The Batman, which has since shifted to October 1, 2021. Sony released this short video to announce the release date and title change: Andy Serkis is directing the Venom sequel, which sees Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Woody Harrelson reprising their roles from the 2018 blockbuster as Eddie Brock, Anne Weying, and Cletus Kasady, respectively. [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/16/carnage-explained-who-is-the-psychopathic-symbiote-and-foe-of-venom] Naomie Harris plays the villainous Shriek in the film. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the latest high-profile Hollywood film impacted due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, which has brought film productions worldwide to a halt and caused studios to postpone the releases of their films. Sony previously delayed the release dates for Uncharted, Morbius, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=venom-marvels-most-powerful-symbiotes-ranked&captions=true"] 2018's Venom grossed over $800 million worldwide. For more on Venom, check out our ranking of Marvel's most powerful symbiotes, learn how to kill Venom, and find out everything you need to know about Shriek and Carnage, the villains of Venom 2.

Desperados 3 Release Date Set for June

THQ Nordic and Mimimi Games have revealed that Desperados 3 will be released on June 16. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/21/desperados-iii-john-cooper-trailer"] The third entry in the long-dormant Desperados series will be available on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, in both standard and deluxe editions. For a limited time, the digital deluxe edition is being offered for pre-order at the same price as the standard edition at $49.99/£44.99. A collector’s edition will also be made available, which includes three post-launch DLC packs, and physical items, priced at $109.99/£99.99. Desperados 3 is the prequel to 2001’s Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, and is a Wild West-themed tactics game played from an isometric perspective. You’ll have a team of five gunslingers in your gang, each with unique skills and abilities to help hold your ground in six-shooter showdowns. There’s an emphasis on stealth tactics, but “blazing guns” is promised by the developer as a valid option. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/21/desperados-reveal-trailer-gamescom-2018"] If you’re a seasoned enough player but don’t remember Desperados, then you may well recall Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, the World War 2 tactics game. Desperados 3 shares much in common with Pyro Studio’s WW2 classic, albeit with the added learnings of two decades of video game design. For more, check out the character trailers for Doctor McCoy and Isabelle Moreau, who both offer unique playstyles to Desperados 3. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. You can follow him on Twitter

Watch 10 Cloverfield Lane with Director Dan Trachtenberg – WFH Theater

Here at IGN, we're always looking for new ways to bring our community together to embrace what we're most passionate about. That's why we launched Watch From Home Theater, a weekly live show where we unite some of your favorite IGN personalities and special celebrity guests to have a digital movie night together with you watching some of our favorite films of all time. This Wednesday, April 22nd at 5 p.m. PT, we're watching 10 Cloverfield Lane with director Dan Trachtenberg! Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman and John Gallagher Jr., 2016's 10 Cloverfield Lane told the story of a young woman who, after getting in a car accident, is held in a shelter with two men who claim the outside world is affected by a widespread mysterious attack. 10 Cloverfield Lane was one of IGN's top picks for Best Horror Movie in 2016. IGN's review of 10 Cloverfield Lane praised it as a "remarkable debut for director Dan Trachtenberg," saying that "while its story is smaller than the one told in the original Cloverfield, it is no less effective in its ability to unnerve and excite, and ultimately reminds us that humans can be much more frightening than sharp teeth and tentacles." Trachtenberg's directorial efforts stand at the intersection of science fiction and horror, from his 2011 short film Portal: No Escape up through his recent work helming the pilot for Amazon's The Boys and the Black Mirror episode "Playtest" (one of our picks for the top 10 episodes of Black Mirror), so we're really excited to revisit this movie with him now! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/01/15/10-cloverfield-lane-trailer-1"] So grab your copy of 10 Cloverfield Lane and sync up with us for this one-of-a-kind movie night! While we won't be playing the movie in our stream, we encourage you to watch 10 Cloverfield Lane along with us on your own devices for the full live commentary experience. If you don't already own the movie, you can rent 10 Cloverfield Lane on any of the digital platforms below: This isn’t just a show or an opportunity to watch a movie; it’s a hangout with passionate people who share one thing in common -- their love of film. Each week, we'll invite our viewers to join in the conversation using our WFH Theater Discord channel to chat with our host, Clint Gage, as well as our celebrity guest and IGN staff. With running commentaries that range from insightful to silly, each viewing will take on a life of its own based on each film. This week we'll be hosting two episodes of WFH Theater, so be sure to also join in the watch-along fun on Thursday, April 23rd when we watch Jurassic Park with original movie star Joseph Mazzello, who played Tim Murphy. If you missed our first episode, you can watch our live commentary of The Invisible Man with director Leigh Whannell below in its entirety! [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/25/watch-the-invisible-man-w-director-leigh-whannell-watch-from-home-theater"] You can also watch our second episode, where we watched Night of the Living Dead with The Walking Dead EP and special makeup effects master Greg Nicotero: [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/watch-night-of-the-living-dead-w-the-walking-dead-ep-greg-nicotero"] Have any questions for us in the meantime? Drop them in the comments below and we'll do our best to answer before showtime. We're excited to watch with you!