Monthly Archives: September 2020
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Release Date Moved to Match Xbox Series X Launch
Assassin's Creed Valhalla's release date has moved up one week to November 10, 2020, to match the launch of both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Revealed via Assassin's Creed on Twitter, Assassin's Creed Valhalla will also be released on November 10 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Google Stadia, and PC. It will be available as a launch title for PS5, but we still have yet to hear of its release date.
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Assassin's Creed Valhalla was originally scheduled to be released on November 17, 2020, but with the announcements of both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S' price and release dates, Ubisoft has decided to ensure fans with these new next-gen consoles will be able to play the latest entry in the Asssassin's Creed franchise on day one.
In our hands-on with Assassin's Creed Valhalla, we said it "looks to be, as is the tradition of the series, an iterative update on its predecessors. If the new approach to RPG design and gear-based progression has put you off the series, this slice of the game indicates that you’ll likely be unconvinced by Valhalla’s barely altered direction. But the few changes it makes to those systems suggests developer Ubisoft Montreal may have a newfound confidence in its RPG abilities, and a willingness to embrace more of the genre’s toolset."
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As previously mentioned, this news is timed with the reveal that the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will both launch on November 10, 2020, and will cost $499 and $299, respectively. Pre-orders for both of Microsoft's next-gen systems will open on September 22, 2020.
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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Xbox Series S: First Gameplay Footage Shown
Microsoft has shown off the first gameplay footage from Xbox Series S, showing previously announced Series X games on the lower-powered console, and footage comparisons to Xbox One.
In a video explaining Xbox Series S features, footage from Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Watch Dogs Legion, Outriders, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Call of the Sea, Tetris Effect: Connected, The Medium was shown, all of which was being displayed on Xbox Series S.
You can check out screenshots from games running on Series S below:
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We also saw current and last-gen games shown, including Gears 5 (which will run multiplayer at 120 FPS on Series S and Series X), The Outer Worlds (which was shown to load dramatically faster on Series S), Skate 3, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Minecraft Dungeons, and Black. We saw an extended montage of Quick Resume, switching between four different current-gen and past-gen games almost instantly.
System architect Jason Ronald explained that development on next-gen games has been made "as easy as possible" so that games can be built seamlessly for Series S and X. He added that developers will typically optimise their game for Series X first and then scale down rendering resoluton for Series S, but keeping all of the new consoles' next-gen features.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/09/inside-the-xbox-series-s"]
Ronald also explained how Series S will resemble and differ from Series X, explaining that they both include the same CPU architecture running at 3.6GHz, but have separate GPUs. The Series S GPU is designed specifically for a 1440p output, at up to 120 frames per second (with upscaling for 4K TVs). However, all next-gen features should be otherwise the same.
Series S was formally announced yesterday at a $299 / £249 price point. Xbox Series X was today announced at a $499 price point, and pre-orders for both consoles will open on September 22, ahead of a November 10 release. Xbox All Access has also expanded to 12 countries, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes a bonus EA Play subscription.
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Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Will Include EA Play From This Holiday
Xbox has announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will also include EA Play, the EA subscription service, for no additional cost, starting this Holiday season.
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The announcement on the Xbox Wire website explains that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC members will get EA Play at no additional cost, starting from this holiday. Game Pass Ultimate users will be able to access EA Play games on all Xbox consoles plus Windows 10 PCs, while Game Pass PC members - naturally - just get access to the PC version.
Xbox also notes that some EA Play games will also be available for Game Pass Ultimate users to play on Android devices through xCloud. EA games supported by the streaming service have not yet been anounced.
An EA Play membership - previously known as EA Access and Origin Access on PC - unlocks full access to over 60 EA games, including FIFA 20, Titanfall 2, Need for Speed Heat, Battlefield V, the Mass Effect games, and The Sims series. It also provides free trials of up to 10 hours for brand new games not currently part of the membership, including the upcoming FIFA 21, as well as some members-only challenges and rewards.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/09/09/ea-play-with-xbox-game-pass-ultimate-official-trailer"]
The news comes at the same time as the full reveal of the new Xbox line up, including prices and launch dates for both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
We've repeatedly called Xbox Game Pass one of the best deals in gaming, and the Xbox Series consoles will seemingly make it even better, with all Microsoft Studios games launching on the service, and Game Pass bridging console generations. This month, Game Pass Ultimate members will also get access to the xCloud game streaming service as part of their subscription.
For now, here's our rundown of the best Xbox Game Pass games you can get as part of your membership today.
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Xbox Series X Will Cost $499, Pre-Orders Open This Month
Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox Series X will retail at $499 USD / £449, and that both Xbox Series consoles will be released on November 10. Pre-orders will open on September 22.
Both consoles will join the Xbox All Access program (a subscription service that gets you a console and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership), with Series X coming in at $34.99 / £28.99 a month, and Series S at $24.99 / £20.99. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and will also now include an EA Play membership from this holiday season.
Ahead of September 22, make sure to check out our Xbox Series X pre-order guide.
Xbox All Access has also now expanded to 12 countries, which you can see below (with the retailers offering the service):This is the tweet...
Xbox Series X: $499 (ERP) Xbox Series S: $299 (ERP) Release date: November 10 Pre-order starts September 22: https://t.co/Dz5bRsAuwQ | #PowerYourDreams pic.twitter.com/MadZl4OOKJ — Xbox (@Xbox) September 9, 2020
- Australia at Telstra
- Canada at EB Games
- Denmark at Elgiganten
- Finland at Gigantti
- France at FNAC
- New Zealand at Spark
- Norway at Elkjøp
- Poland at Media Expert
- South Korea at SK Telecom
- Sweden at Elgiganten
- UK at GAME and Smyths Toys
- United States at Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Microsoft Store, and Walmart
Star Wars: Daisy Ridley Says Rey’s Parentage Changed Several Times, Included Being a Kenobi
Daisy Ridley has spoken about how Rey's parentage changed multiple times during the course of the creation of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, and at one point there was even a link to the Kenobi family.
Spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker follow.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/12/18/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-review"]
The reveals came while Ridley was talking to Josh Gad on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Asked if she knew Rey's parentage from the beginning of Episode 7, Ridley was blunt: "No. At the beginning there was toying with an Obi-Wan connection, and then- there were, like, different versions. And then it really went to that she was no one.
"And then it came to Episode 9, and J.J. pitched me the film and was like, 'Oh yeah, Palpatine's your grandaddy,' and I was like, 'Awesome.' And then two weeks later he was like, 'Oh, we're not sure'. So it kept changing, so then [audio cuts out] filming and I wasn't sure what the answer was going to be."
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Gad followed up by asking who Rey's grandmother is, to which Ridley replied: "You tell me, Josh". Clearly there's no canon answer to the question that was left on the writer's room floor, at least to Ridley's knowledge.
The interview also posed the question of if Ridley would like to reprise to the role of Rey. "I'd say never say never, but to me Rise of Skywalker was tied up with a bow," she said.
Ridley isn't the only Star Wars cast member looking back at the series. John Boyega recently discussed the sequels in a much more negative light, criticising the way the films sidelined Finn. If the future of Star Wars is more your speed, then take a look at what's in store for The Mandalorian Season 2.
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Nintendo Reportedly Asking Developers to Make 4K-Ready Games, Suggesting Switch Upgrade
Nintendo is reportedly asking developers to make 4K-ready games, which could suggest that a new, higher-resolution console is on the way
A Bloomberg report about Nintendo's plans to boost Switch production includes a brief mention of Nintendo's apparent request. Third-party developers have reportedly been asked "to make their games 4K-ready," which implies the company is at least considering a model of the console that can output at a higher resolution than Switch is currently capable of.
That report comes shortly after we heard rumours of a new Nintendo Switch model with a better display. Those rumours say the console is currently in production, and is due for release in Q1 2021. Rumours of a Switch Pro have been bubbling for some time, with numerous reports arriving in January suggesting that the console would launch later in 2020. Nintendo was quick to bat away these rumours, noting that they had "no plans" to launch a new Nintendo Switch model this year.
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As for the current Switch models, Bloomberg notes that, after recovering from the effects of the Coronavirus on its supply chain, Nintendo has apparently increased production of the console once again to meet demand, with 30 million units set as the new goal for this fiscal year, according to the report's sources.
In other Nintendo news, demand for the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection has made it the second best-selling game of 2020 on Amazon, coming in just behind Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Nintendo Switch eShop also just received a series of customer-friendly improvements, such as being able to cancel pre-orders without payment up to a week before release.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Nintendo Reportedly Asking Developers to Make 4K-Ready Games, Suggesting Switch Upgrade
Nintendo is reportedly asking developers to make 4K-ready games, which could suggest that a new, higher-resolution console is on the way
A Bloomberg report about Nintendo's plans to boost Switch production includes a brief mention of Nintendo's apparent request. Third-party developers have reportedly been asked "to make their games 4K-ready," which implies the company is at least considering a model of the console that can output at a higher resolution than Switch is currently capable of.
That report comes shortly after we heard rumours of a new Nintendo Switch model with a better display. Those rumours say the console is currently in production, and is due for release in Q1 2021. Rumours of a Switch Pro have been bubbling for some time, with numerous reports arriving in January suggesting that the console would launch later in 2020. Nintendo was quick to bat away these rumours, noting that they had "no plans" to launch a new Nintendo Switch model this year.
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As for the current Switch models, Bloomberg notes that, after recovering from the effects of the Coronavirus on its supply chain, Nintendo has apparently increased production of the console once again to meet demand, with 30 million units set as the new goal for this fiscal year, according to the report's sources.
In other Nintendo news, demand for the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection has made it the second best-selling game of 2020 on Amazon, coming in just behind Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The Nintendo Switch eShop also just received a series of customer-friendly improvements, such as being able to cancel pre-orders without payment up to a week before release.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
Academy Announces New Inclusion Rules for Best Picture Consideration
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday announced a wave of new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category.
The Academy explains that the Oscars rules changes are part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative and the body's overall push for diversity and equitable representation in front of and behind the camera in order to reflect a more diverse, global filmgoing audience.
“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a statement.
[ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/10/2020-oscars-winners-revealed-ign-news]
Here's how the Academy breaks down how and when these changes will be implemented and what will be required:
A2. General ensemble cast At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:
A3. Main storyline/subject matter The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).
At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:
B2. Other key roles At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc. B3. Overall crew composition At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:
The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups (must also include racial or ethnic groups) in most of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. The mini-major or independent studios/distributors must have a minimum of two apprentices/interns from the above-underrepresented groups (at least one from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group) in at least one of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew) The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the following underrepresented groups:
All categories other than Best Picture will be held to their current eligibility requirements. Films in the specialty feature categories (Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, International Feature Film) submitted for Best Picture/General Entry consideration will be addressed separately. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/23/the-weirdest-oscar-nominations-ever"]
"For the 94th Oscars (2022) and 95th Oscars (2023), submitting a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form will be required for Best Picture consideration, however, meeting inclusion thresholds will not be required for eligibility in the Best Picture category until the 96th Oscars (2024)."
Read on for the Academy's standards for eligibility for the Oscar races in the years ahead. For the 96th Oscars (2024), a film must meet TWO out of FOUR of the following standards to be deemed eligible:STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria: A1. Lead or significant supporting actors At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
A2. General ensemble cast At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
A3. Main storyline/subject matter The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD B: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT TEAM
To achieve Standard B, the film must meet ONE of the criteria below: B1. Creative leadership and department heads At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads—Casting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writer—are from the following underrepresented groups:- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:
- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
B2. Other key roles At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc. B3. Overall crew composition At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD C: INDUSTRY ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES
To achieve Standard C, the film must meet BOTH criteria below: C1. Paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities The film’s distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships that are from the following underrepresented groups and satisfy the criteria below:- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups (must also include racial or ethnic groups) in most of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. The mini-major or independent studios/distributors must have a minimum of two apprentices/interns from the above-underrepresented groups (at least one from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group) in at least one of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew) The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD D: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
To achieve Standard D, the film must meet the criterion below: D1. Representation in marketing, publicity, and distribution The studio and/or film company has multiple in-house senior executives from among the following underrepresented groups (must include individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups) on their marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams.-
Women
Racial or ethnic group:
- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
All categories other than Best Picture will be held to their current eligibility requirements. Films in the specialty feature categories (Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, International Feature Film) submitted for Best Picture/General Entry consideration will be addressed separately. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/23/the-weirdest-oscar-nominations-ever"]
Academy Announces New Inclusion Rules for Best Picture Consideration
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Tuesday announced a wave of new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the Best Picture category.
The Academy explains that the Oscars rules changes are part of its Academy Aperture 2025 initiative and the body's overall push for diversity and equitable representation in front of and behind the camera in order to reflect a more diverse, global filmgoing audience.
“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson in a statement.
[ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/10/2020-oscars-winners-revealed-ign-news]
Here's how the Academy breaks down how and when these changes will be implemented and what will be required:
A2. General ensemble cast At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:
A3. Main storyline/subject matter The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).
At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:
B2. Other key roles At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc. B3. Overall crew composition At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:
The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups (must also include racial or ethnic groups) in most of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. The mini-major or independent studios/distributors must have a minimum of two apprentices/interns from the above-underrepresented groups (at least one from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group) in at least one of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew) The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the following underrepresented groups:
All categories other than Best Picture will be held to their current eligibility requirements. Films in the specialty feature categories (Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, International Feature Film) submitted for Best Picture/General Entry consideration will be addressed separately. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/23/the-weirdest-oscar-nominations-ever"]
"For the 94th Oscars (2022) and 95th Oscars (2023), submitting a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form will be required for Best Picture consideration, however, meeting inclusion thresholds will not be required for eligibility in the Best Picture category until the 96th Oscars (2024)."
Read on for the Academy's standards for eligibility for the Oscar races in the years ahead. For the 96th Oscars (2024), a film must meet TWO out of FOUR of the following standards to be deemed eligible:STANDARD A: ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria: A1. Lead or significant supporting actors At least one of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
A2. General ensemble cast At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two of the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
A3. Main storyline/subject matter The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD B: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT TEAM
To achieve Standard B, the film must meet ONE of the criteria below: B1. Creative leadership and department heads At least two of the following creative leadership positions and department heads—Casting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writer—are from the following underrepresented groups:- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
At least one of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:
- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
B2. Other key roles At least six other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc. B3. Overall crew composition At least 30% of the film’s crew is from the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD C: INDUSTRY ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES
To achieve Standard C, the film must meet BOTH criteria below: C1. Paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities The film’s distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships that are from the following underrepresented groups and satisfy the criteria below:- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups (must also include racial or ethnic groups) in most of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. The mini-major or independent studios/distributors must have a minimum of two apprentices/interns from the above-underrepresented groups (at least one from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group) in at least one of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing, and publicity. C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew) The film’s production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the following underrepresented groups:
- Women
- Racial or ethnic group
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD D: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
To achieve Standard D, the film must meet the criterion below: D1. Representation in marketing, publicity, and distribution The studio and/or film company has multiple in-house senior executives from among the following underrepresented groups (must include individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups) on their marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams.-
Women
Racial or ethnic group:
- Asian
- Hispanic/Latinx
- Black/African American
- Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
- Middle Eastern/North African
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- Other underrepresented race or ethnicity
- LGBTQ+
- People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
All categories other than Best Picture will be held to their current eligibility requirements. Films in the specialty feature categories (Animated Feature Film, Documentary Feature, International Feature Film) submitted for Best Picture/General Entry consideration will be addressed separately. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/01/23/the-weirdest-oscar-nominations-ever"]
Borat 2 Has Reportedly Already Been Filmed and Screened
UPDATE: Borat 2 is reportedly already done filming and has even been screened for some industry people.
According to Collider, Borat 2 has already been shot on location around L.A. Plot details and even who is involved in making the film beyond star-creator Sacha Baron Cohen remains murky.
"It’s unclear who is paying for the sequel, but it wouldn’t surprise us if Borat 2 was being financed by a deep-pocketed streamer," Collider reports, adding, "Some believe it will be released prior to the election in an effort to reach younger voters."
Our original report from August 21 follows.
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Borat 2 is seemingly being filmed in Los Angeles as recent footage of the character has surfaced on YouTube.
Borat, or as it was officially titled, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, was released in 2006 as a comedy. It found an audience that still quotes the movie today but over the years, the film has continued to draw criticism for its depiction of someone from Kazakhstan, especially as it's portrayed by Sacha Baron Cohen, who is not Kazakh.
Cohen, who plays the character, is seemingly bringing the character back for new audiences as seen in the footage here. You can check out what appears to be Cohen as the character below.
If that's not enough to make you believe Cohen is up to something with the character, here's a shot from later in the video where you can see a camera crew filming Cohen's antics.
Assuming Cohen is filming Borat 2, it would be the first major character of his to make a return for a sequel. Borat was Cohen's breakout role for many but other characters like Bruno and Da Ali G have gone on to find their own fame. As arguably Cohen's most popular character, it makes sense for Borat to receive a sequel out of his entire catalog of characters.
There's no official confirmation or word of Borat 2 but the proof of something related to the character is in the video. Perhaps it's something for TV or YouTube. Only time will tell. Borat is about a Kazakh journalist that travels to and throughout the U.S. to make a documentary. It features actual interviews between Borat and people in the U.S, often completely unscripted.
For more Cohen, read about a possible comedy interview series he has in the works and then read about Bruno's best TV moments. If you're looking for something funny, be sure to check out IGN's list of the 25 best comedies.
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Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.