Monthly Archives: May 2020
Chris Evans Thinks a Captain America Return Would Be Too ‘Risky’
As the MCU's Phase 4 finds itself a bit delayed - with Black Widow being postponed until November and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still needing to finish production -- Chris Evans recently nixed the idea of possibly returning to his role as Captain America after the character was given a grand send-off in Avengers: Endgame.
Appearing on the U.K.'s The Graham Norton Show, Evans was asked if his time as Cap was truly over.
"Yes, I think it is," Evans responded.
"It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he continued. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way."
Obviously, it would be difficult to bring Steve Rogers back to the MCU at this point given how the character opted, at the finish of Endgame, to travel back in time to live a life with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. Difficult, but not impossible. This is why "never say never" is often the prevailing message when it comes to Hollywood. "It's not a hard no," Evans added, "but it's not an eager yes either. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/mcu-phase-4-theory-black-widow-is-setting-up-an-avengers-level-villain-ign-now"]
If you're looking for a deeper dive into Black Widow, here's a closer look at Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova and our theory about how the film might be setting up a new Avengers-level villain that's not Taskmaster.
Also, if you're trying to keep track of everything, check out the new MCU: Phase 4 release schedule. Meanwhile, a superfan mapped out every scene in the MCU's first three phases in chronological order.
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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.
Chris Evans Thinks a Captain America Return Would Be Too ‘Risky’
As the MCU's Phase 4 finds itself a bit delayed - with Black Widow being postponed until November and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still needing to finish production -- Chris Evans recently nixed the idea of possibly returning to his role as Captain America after the character was given a grand send-off in Avengers: Endgame.
Appearing on the U.K.'s The Graham Norton Show, Evans was asked if his time as Cap was truly over.
"Yes, I think it is," Evans responded.
"It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he continued. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way."
Obviously, it would be difficult to bring Steve Rogers back to the MCU at this point given how the character opted, at the finish of Endgame, to travel back in time to live a life with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. Difficult, but not impossible. This is why "never say never" is often the prevailing message when it comes to Hollywood. "It's not a hard no," Evans added, "but it's not an eager yes either. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/mcu-phase-4-theory-black-widow-is-setting-up-an-avengers-level-villain-ign-now"]
If you're looking for a deeper dive into Black Widow, here's a closer look at Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova and our theory about how the film might be setting up a new Avengers-level villain that's not Taskmaster.
Also, if you're trying to keep track of everything, check out the new MCU: Phase 4 release schedule. Meanwhile, a superfan mapped out every scene in the MCU's first three phases in chronological order.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-plot-thread-the-mcu-abandoned&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.
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Review – Friendship Never Ends
When the credits roll at the end of Mortal Kombat 11's excellent story mode, the slate has been wiped clean. After a variety of entertaining time-travelling hijinks, everyone's second-favourite Shaolin monk, Liu Kang, has ascended into godhood and is ready to begin writing an all-new chapter in Mortal Kombat history. It's as close to a perfect ending as you can get to the almost 30 years of convoluted lore this series has. But now, there's Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 11's optional expansion that tacks on a handful of new chapters to that narrative. And while the idea of a story-focussed add-on to this fighting game is an exciting prospect--and it certainly has its high moments--when the credits roll for the second time there isn't that same sense of gratification.
At the beginning of Aftermath, which immediately follows the end of Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang is interrupted by the nefarious sorcerer Shang Tsung. Along with the righteous wind god Fujin and badass indigenous shaman Nightwolf, the trio stops Liu Kang from proceeding with his rebuilding plans with the warning that they need to go back in time, again, to retrieve a MacGuffin in order to stop the process from going to shit. Over five chapters and a cinema-appropriate two-and-a-half-hour running time, the five Mortal Kombat characters that have now been introduced to MK11 as post-release content get to make their mark in the story. The chapters cover the hijinks of Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and the banshee queen Sindel from the Fighters Pack 1 DLC, as well as two characters newly introduced in Aftermath: Fujin and the four-armed Sheeva.
The relatively brief running time of the whole thing allows it to be mostly filled with great moments. The blockbuster flair present in the original story mode is again in full force, as is the excellent fight choreography that makes you want to leap out of your chair. There's still that weird disconnect when an extravagant fight cinematic transitions into the more rigid nature of the game's actual one-on-one fights, but there are some good moments that lie in the gameplay portions too, like the handful of battles where you have an assist character to call on.
Continue Reading at GameSpotMortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Review – Friendship Never Ends
When the credits roll at the end of Mortal Kombat 11's excellent story mode, the slate has been wiped clean. After a variety of entertaining time-travelling hijinks, everyone's second-favourite Shaolin monk, Liu Kang, has ascended into godhood and is ready to begin writing an all-new chapter in Mortal Kombat history. It's as close to a perfect ending as you can get to the almost 30 years of convoluted lore this series has. But now, there's Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 11's optional expansion that tacks on a handful of new chapters to that narrative. And while the idea of a story-focussed add-on to this fighting game is an exciting prospect--and it certainly has its high moments--when the credits roll for the second time there isn't that same sense of gratification.
At the beginning of Aftermath, which immediately follows the end of Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang is interrupted by the nefarious sorcerer Shang Tsung. Along with the righteous wind god Fujin and badass indigenous shaman Nightwolf, the trio stops Liu Kang from proceeding with his rebuilding plans with the warning that they need to go back in time, again, to retrieve a MacGuffin in order to stop the process from going to shit. Over five chapters and a cinema-appropriate two-and-a-half-hour running time, the five Mortal Kombat characters that have now been introduced to MK11 as post-release content get to make their mark in the story. The chapters cover the hijinks of Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and the banshee queen Sindel from the Fighters Pack 1 DLC, as well as two characters newly introduced in Aftermath: Fujin and the four-armed Sheeva.
The relatively brief running time of the whole thing allows it to be mostly filled with great moments. The blockbuster flair present in the original story mode is again in full force, as is the excellent fight choreography that makes you want to leap out of your chair. There's still that weird disconnect when an extravagant fight cinematic transitions into the more rigid nature of the game's actual one-on-one fights, but there are some good moments that lie in the gameplay portions too, like the handful of battles where you have an assist character to call on.
Continue Reading at GameSpotPlanet of the Apes Director to Fans: ‘You’re in Good Hands’
Given how beloved Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy is, fans may be a little wary now that a new Apes movie is in the works at Disney. But director Wes Ball is seeking to reassure fans that the series remains "in good hands" and will honor the legacy of that trilogy.
Ball teased the new Planet of the Apes movie with Discussing Film, reiterating earlier comments that the movie isn't a reboot, but is set within the same universe as 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. In fact, many of the same writers and crew members from the previous movies have carried over to the Disney project.
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Ball said, "We were using the same material, the same kind of technology, we were using a lot of the same people involved – I had asked Andy Serkis to join Mouse Guard [Bell's previous film, which wound up being a casualty of the Disney/Fox merger]. So it was kind of [a] natural fit. I understand where it came from and my big thing was: what do you do for a Planet of the Apes sequel? One, those last three movies are one of the great trilogies we have in modern movie history. They are just so well done. They honored the original movies they sprang from, the Charlton Heston movies, but they grounded it in a modern sensibility and it just worked. Caesar is one of the great movie characters that we’ll have throughout time. So what do you do to follow that up, right? At the same time, I wasn’t interested in doing a part four either. We want to also do our own thing."
Ball elaborated on what sets the new movie apart from the Apes trilogy, saying, "We have a take. We have a way of staying in the universe that was created before us, but we’re also opening ourselves up in being able to do some really cool new stuff. ... I’m trying to be careful here. I’ll say this, for fans of the original three don’t worry – you’re in good hands. The original writers and producers that came up with Rise and Dawn, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, they’re also on board with this. Josh Friedman is writing this thing, a lot of the same crew is kind of involved. We will feel like we’re part of that original trilogy, but at the same time we’re able to do some really cool new stuff. It will be really exciting to see on the biggest screen possible."
As you might expect, Ball is unsure when exactly filming will begin given the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he seems optimistic the film will continue taking shape in the months to come. If anything, the series' continued reliance on motion capture and computer effects may be an asset in 2020.
"Planet of the Apes is moving forward and we have a giant art team cranking away on some incredible concept art," Ball said. "We’ve got the screenplay continuing to move forward, that will take the time that it takes and so that’s all good. Planet of the Apes is moving forward baby! Not only that, but we could actually be in virtual production relatively soon because it’s largely a CG movie."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/15/craziest-planet-of-the-apes-twist-endings"]
It was first rumored in December that Ball would be directing a new Planet of the Apes movie. The filmmaker confirmed that news via Twitter that same day and said, "I would only do this if I felt I could offer something special while still honoring what’s come before."
While the last Planet of the Apes movie hit theaters in 2017, the franchise has seen plenty of life elsewhere. There's been a cinematic adventure game, "an often infuriating VR game," and a graphic novel based on Rod Serling's early screenplay drafts of the original movie.
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Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Planet of the Apes Director to Fans: ‘You’re in Good Hands’
Given how beloved Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy is, fans may be a little wary now that a new Apes movie is in the works at Disney. But director Wes Ball is seeking to reassure fans that the series remains "in good hands" and will honor the legacy of that trilogy.
Ball teased the new Planet of the Apes movie with Discussing Film, reiterating earlier comments that the movie isn't a reboot, but is set within the same universe as 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. In fact, many of the same writers and crew members from the previous movies have carried over to the Disney project.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-quickest-movie-franchise-reboots&captions=true"]
Ball said, "We were using the same material, the same kind of technology, we were using a lot of the same people involved – I had asked Andy Serkis to join Mouse Guard [Bell's previous film, which wound up being a casualty of the Disney/Fox merger]. So it was kind of [a] natural fit. I understand where it came from and my big thing was: what do you do for a Planet of the Apes sequel? One, those last three movies are one of the great trilogies we have in modern movie history. They are just so well done. They honored the original movies they sprang from, the Charlton Heston movies, but they grounded it in a modern sensibility and it just worked. Caesar is one of the great movie characters that we’ll have throughout time. So what do you do to follow that up, right? At the same time, I wasn’t interested in doing a part four either. We want to also do our own thing."
Ball elaborated on what sets the new movie apart from the Apes trilogy, saying, "We have a take. We have a way of staying in the universe that was created before us, but we’re also opening ourselves up in being able to do some really cool new stuff. ... I’m trying to be careful here. I’ll say this, for fans of the original three don’t worry – you’re in good hands. The original writers and producers that came up with Rise and Dawn, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, they’re also on board with this. Josh Friedman is writing this thing, a lot of the same crew is kind of involved. We will feel like we’re part of that original trilogy, but at the same time we’re able to do some really cool new stuff. It will be really exciting to see on the biggest screen possible."
As you might expect, Ball is unsure when exactly filming will begin given the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he seems optimistic the film will continue taking shape in the months to come. If anything, the series' continued reliance on motion capture and computer effects may be an asset in 2020.
"Planet of the Apes is moving forward and we have a giant art team cranking away on some incredible concept art," Ball said. "We’ve got the screenplay continuing to move forward, that will take the time that it takes and so that’s all good. Planet of the Apes is moving forward baby! Not only that, but we could actually be in virtual production relatively soon because it’s largely a CG movie."
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/15/craziest-planet-of-the-apes-twist-endings"]
It was first rumored in December that Ball would be directing a new Planet of the Apes movie. The filmmaker confirmed that news via Twitter that same day and said, "I would only do this if I felt I could offer something special while still honoring what’s come before."
While the last Planet of the Apes movie hit theaters in 2017, the franchise has seen plenty of life elsewhere. There's been a cinematic adventure game, "an often infuriating VR game," and a graphic novel based on Rod Serling's early screenplay drafts of the original movie.
[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.
Ryan Gosling Is Universal’s New Wolfman
Blade Runner 2049 star Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to star in Universal's upcoming reimagining of the horror classic, Wolfman, which is being written by Orange Is the New Black's Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo.
Per Variety, Universal has been meeting with potential directors for the project and a decision could be made soon. Variety goes on to say that one of the filmmakers in contention for the job is Cory Finley, who recently directed HBO's Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.
It's important to note that while Gosling originally pitched the idea for this new Wolfman tale, he has not officially closed a deal with the studio. At present, Gosling's next role will be in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's adaptation of Martian author Andy Weir's upcoming novel, which is due for publication in Spring 2021.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"]
Universal's first attempt at launching its very own Monsterverse (dubbed "The Dark Universe") did not go according to plan after 2017's The Mummy starring Tom Cruise failed to make a lasting impact at the box office. However, the studio has recently found success with The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss, which earned an impressive $98.3 million on a budget of only $7 million.
For more on Universal's upcoming monsters movies, there's a new Dracula film that will be directed by Destroyer's Karyn Kusama, and find out what Brendan Fraser had to say about the possibility of returning for another Mummy movie.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/the-invisible-man-review"]
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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.
Ryan Gosling Is Universal’s New Wolfman
Blade Runner 2049 star Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to star in Universal's upcoming reimagining of the horror classic, Wolfman, which is being written by Orange Is the New Black's Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo.
Per Variety, Universal has been meeting with potential directors for the project and a decision could be made soon. Variety goes on to say that one of the filmmakers in contention for the job is Cory Finley, who recently directed HBO's Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.
It's important to note that while Gosling originally pitched the idea for this new Wolfman tale, he has not officially closed a deal with the studio. At present, Gosling's next role will be in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's adaption of Martian author Andy Weir's upcoming novel, which is due for publication in Spring 2021.
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"]
Universal's first attempt at launching its very own Monsterverse (dubbed "The Dark Universe") did not go according to plan after 2017's The Mummy starring Tom Cruise failed to make a lasting impact at the box office. However, the studio has recently found success with The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss, which earned an impressive $98.3 million on a budget of only $7 million.
For more on Universal's upcoming monsters movies, there's a new Dracula film that will be directed by Destroyer's Karyn Kusama, and find out what Brendan Fraser had to say about the possibility of returning for another Mummy movie.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/the-invisible-man-review"]
[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.
Sega ‘Working Closely’ With Microsoft to Fix Phantasy Star Online 2 PC Bugs
Update:
In an additional statement to IGN, Sega has confirmed that in regards to the installation issues, there are several different factors that require the help of Microsoft to solve. Sega says it's working closely with Microsoft on the matter and are planning to notify players.
Here's the full statement below:
"Yes, we are aware of some issues. Among them, we have investigated the issue of not being able to install. We've determined that this is caused by a number of different factors, some of which we believe cannot be addressed by our side alone. We are currently working with Microsoft about this issue in order to resolve it. We are preparing to put out a notice about measures to avoid some of the causes. We will continue to work with Microsoft to investigate and implement measures in order to resolve the situation.
We are also aware of the fact that the Windows10 version may run slower in the lobby. We have found a bug that seems to be the cause of this issue and will implement a fix in an update coming soon.Original story follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Sega has responded to players who are currently struggling with the PC version of Phantasy Star Online 2, the popular MMORPG that recently received a long-awaited North American release. The launch has been plagued with issues when it comes to downloading and installing the game from the Windows Store. “We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and the negative experience some of you have had when trying to download and install [Phantasy Star Online 2],” says the North American Phantasy Star Online 2 team in a series of tweets published late last night. “Please know that we are working hard to solve these problems and that we appreciate your patience.” The team says it’s “working closely” with Microsoft to help solve some of the issues when trying to launch the game on Windows 10. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/08/phantasy-star-online-2-the-first-18-minutes"] Phantasy Star Online 2 is a long-running, free-to-play MMO that was released in Japan back in 2012. After eight years, an official North American release was announced at E3 2019 for PC and Xbox One during the Microsoft press conference. However, since its official release on May 27, 2020 players have encountered a variety of problems trying to get the PC version up and running from the Windows Store. Rather than a single issue, there appears to be a variety of different problems affecting different players. According to an extensive bug list compiled on Reddit, the launcher suffers from read/write install issues that can clog up PC storage space, corrupted downloads, non-functioning settings menu, and other random errors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/21-minutes-of-phantasy-star-online-2-exploration-gameplay"] One issue I’ve personally encountered with the PC version is being unable to select which drive to install Phantasy Star Online 2. Instead, the installation will only default to my primary drive without offering me a choice to select a different storage solution. Some players have taken the matter into their own hands. The developers behind the Arks Layer fan launcher — which is what allowed international players to access the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Online 2 these past eight years — have announced plans to update their launcher to support updates and patches for North American servers. They are also looking into solutions that could potentially bypass the Windows Store.
IGN previously reached out to the Phantasy Star Online 2 team to ask whether the developers were aware of the complaints and what plans there might be to address them. The developers eventually sent us a link to the publicly available statements released over Twitter.
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Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.
Sega ‘Working Closely’ With Microsoft to Fix Phantasy Star Online 2 PC Bugs
Update:
In an additional statement to IGN, Sega has confirmed that in regards to the installation issues, there are several different factors that require the help of Microsoft to solve. Sega says it's working closely with Microsoft on the matter and are planning to notify players.
Here's the full statement below:
"Yes, we are aware of some issues. Among them, we have investigated the issue of not being able to install. We've determined that this is caused by a number of different factors, some of which we believe cannot be addressed by our side alone. We are currently working with Microsoft about this issue in order to resolve it. We are preparing to put out a notice about measures to avoid some of the causes. We will continue to work with Microsoft to investigate and implement measures in order to resolve the situation.
We are also aware of the fact that the Windows10 version may run slower in the lobby. We have found a bug that seems to be the cause of this issue and will implement a fix in an update coming soon.Original story follows. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Sega has responded to players who are currently struggling with the PC version of Phantasy Star Online 2, the popular MMORPG that recently received a long-awaited North American release. The launch has been plagued with issues when it comes to downloading and installing the game from the Windows Store. “We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and the negative experience some of you have had when trying to download and install [Phantasy Star Online 2],” says the North American Phantasy Star Online 2 team in a series of tweets published late last night. “Please know that we are working hard to solve these problems and that we appreciate your patience.” The team says it’s “working closely” with Microsoft to help solve some of the issues when trying to launch the game on Windows 10. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/08/phantasy-star-online-2-the-first-18-minutes"] Phantasy Star Online 2 is a long-running, free-to-play MMO that was released in Japan back in 2012. After eight years, an official North American release was announced at E3 2019 for PC and Xbox One during the Microsoft press conference. However, since its official release on May 27, 2020 players have encountered a variety of problems trying to get the PC version up and running from the Windows Store. Rather than a single issue, there appears to be a variety of different problems affecting different players. According to an extensive bug list compiled on Reddit, the launcher suffers from read/write install issues that can clog up PC storage space, corrupted downloads, non-functioning settings menu, and other random errors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/13/21-minutes-of-phantasy-star-online-2-exploration-gameplay"] One issue I’ve personally encountered with the PC version is being unable to select which drive to install Phantasy Star Online 2. Instead, the installation will only default to my primary drive without offering me a choice to select a different storage solution. Some players have taken the matter into their own hands. The developers behind the Arks Layer fan launcher — which is what allowed international players to access the Japanese version of Phantasy Star Online 2 these past eight years — have announced plans to update their launcher to support updates and patches for North American servers. They are also looking into solutions that could potentially bypass the Windows Store.
IGN previously reached out to the Phantasy Star Online 2 team to ask whether the developers were aware of the complaints and what plans there might be to address them. The developers eventually sent us a link to the publicly available statements released over Twitter.
[poilib element="accentDivider"]
Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.