Monthly Archives: February 2021

Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story Get First Look Photo

Apple TV+ has revealed a first-look image for its upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Lisey's Story, which will premiere on the streamer in summer 2021. The announcement was made during Television Critics Association winter press tour, with an image of Julianne Moore's Lisey standing with her back to the camera in a creepy field. You can check out the screenshot of Moore in the photo below:

Lisey's Story _ Apple TV+ TCA first look image

Here's how Apple describes the upcoming limited series: "Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King and adapted by the author himself, "Lisey’s Story" is a deeply personal thriller that follows Lisey Landon (played by Moore) two years after the death of her husband, famous novelist Scott Landon (played by Clive Owen). A series of unsettling events causes Lisey to face memories of her marriage to Scott that she has deliberately blocked out of her mind." Joining Moore and Owen is an impressive ensemble cast, including Joan Allen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Dane DeHaan, and Ron Cephas Jones. Lisey's Story is directed by Pablo Larraín (Jakie), with every episode in the series written by King. King, Moore, and Larraín executive produce alongside J.J. Abrams, Ben Stephenson, and Juan de Dios Larraín. Lisey's Story will debut on Apple TV+ in summer 2021. What do you think of the photo? Let us know in the comments. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/20/apple-tv-plus-review-2019"] [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.

Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story Get First Look Photo

Apple TV+ has revealed a first-look image for its upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Lisey's Story, which will premiere on the streamer in summer 2021. The announcement was made during Television Critics Association winter press tour, with an image of Julianne Moore's Lisey standing with her back to the camera in a creepy field. You can check out the screenshot of Moore in the photo below:

Lisey's Story _ Apple TV+ TCA first look image

Here's how Apple describes the upcoming limited series: "Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King and adapted by the author himself, "Lisey’s Story" is a deeply personal thriller that follows Lisey Landon (played by Moore) two years after the death of her husband, famous novelist Scott Landon (played by Clive Owen). A series of unsettling events causes Lisey to face memories of her marriage to Scott that she has deliberately blocked out of her mind." Joining Moore and Owen is an impressive ensemble cast, including Joan Allen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Dane DeHaan, and Ron Cephas Jones. Lisey's Story is directed by Pablo Larraín (Jakie), with every episode in the series written by King. King, Moore, and Larraín executive produce alongside J.J. Abrams, Ben Stephenson, and Juan de Dios Larraín. Lisey's Story will debut on Apple TV+ in summer 2021. What do you think of the photo? Let us know in the comments. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/20/apple-tv-plus-review-2019"] [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.

Joaquin Phoenix to Star in Midsommar Director’s Next Movie

Joaquin Phoenix is teaming up with Hereditary and Midsommar director Ari Aster for his next movie, Disappointment Blvd. According to Deadline, the project secured a distributor after Phoenix signed onto the project, with A24, the studio behind Aster's previous two movies, Hereditary and Midsommar, agreeing to finance and produce the movie alongside Aster and Lars Knudsen who will also be producing under their Square Peg production banner. Specific details are being kept under wraps about the movie, which will be written and directed by Aster. However, the outlet notes that the plot of Disappointment Blvd. is described as "an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time," which sounds like it could possibly be a departure from Aster's last two movies. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/21/joker-todd-phillips-releases-joaquin-phoenix-screen-test-ign-news"] Aster made his feature film directorial debut in 2018 with the blood-curdling, horror-drama Hereditary, which made plenty of audiences' toes curl throughout its 2-hour, 7-minute runtime. He then followed up with the lyrical and surreal folk-horror tale Midsommar, which slow-burned on the big screen for a straight 2 hours, 28 minutes in 2019. He previously referred to his next project as a "nightmare comedy" that would clock in at four hours long, though it wasn't clear if he was being serious about the runtime. He did, however, confirm that he had completed a "new draft" of the script but it's not known whether this project is the same movie as the one that has just been announced. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-most-controversial-horror-movies&captions=true"] No production dates have been scheduled for the movie, though it is possible that Phoenix will shoot Disappointment Blvd. before production begins on Kitbag, his project with Ridley Scott, as the filmmaker has a packed production slate with his crime thriller Gucci coming up next. If so, Disappointment Blvd. will be the first movie Phoenix has filmed since winning an Oscar for Joker. Joker was nominated for a total of 11 Academy Awards last year, with Phoenix taking home the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in the DC movie. It marked Phoenix's fourth Oscar nomination overall and his first-ever win, having previously been nominated for 2000's Gladiator, 2005's Walk the Line, and 2012's The Master. Phoenix will appear next in Mike Mills' road trip drama C'mon C'mon, which was filmed back in 2019. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.

IGN Fan Fest 2021: Everything You Need To Know to Celebrate With Us

IGN Fan Fest is a virtual event where fans from all over the world can come together and celebrate their most anticipated movies, TV shows, and games. From Zack Snyder’s Justice League to Arkane’s DEATHLOOP, we’re super excited to bring you exclusive interviews with cast members from some of the buzziest upcoming TV shows, exclusive new looks at gameplay from unreleased games, and sneak peeks at some of the biggest movies coming this year. If you don’t want to miss it, here’s everything you need to know to join in on the fun.

IGN Fan Fest 2021 Dates and Start Time

IGN Fan Fest 2021 is a two-day event, taking place on February 26 and February 27. On the first day, the show starts at 8am PT/ 11am ET/ 4pm GMT. On the second day, it starts a bit later at 10am PT/ 1pm ET/ 6pm GMT. Below, are the panels confirmed for the event: Make sure to check out our full IGN Fan Fest panel schedule for dates and times.

How to Watch IGN Fan Fest 2021

As a free and live virtual event, IGN Fan Fest will be streamed across IGN.com and all of our social channels. We’ll also be embedding the stream in this article, so feel free to bookmark this page for easy access. Here’s the full list of places we’ll be streaming IGN Fan Fest so you can watch it on your preferred platform:  

IGN Fan Fest 2021 Schedule

In addition to our panels, we’ll also have some exclusive new reveals sprinkled throughout the show. Look out for teases from upcoming titles including The Day Before, Raya and the Last Dragon, Hood: Outlaws and Legends, The Flash Season 7, Boundary, Chaos Walking, Pacific Rim: The Black, and The Irregulars, as well as an exclusive announcement about space survival sim Breathedge from Hypertain Digital, plus more surprises. Here’s the full IGN Fan Fest panel schedule:

Friday, February 26

8am PT/ 11am ET/ 4pm GMT

Netflix's Shadow and Bone: Exclusive Cast Q&A and Sneak Peek

Prepare to enter the Grishaverse. We’re bringing together the cast and creators of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone -- stars Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, showrunner/executive producer Eric Heisserer, and author/executive producer Leigh Bardugo -- for their first group appearance to offer an exclusive sneak peek at the epic fantasy series, discover how the show will adapt Bardugo’s ambitious novels for the screen, and will peel back the curtain on some of your most burning questions. 8:45am PT/ 11:45am ET/ 4:45pm GMT

Godzilla vs Kong: Breaking Down Cinema's Biggest Brawl with Adam Wingard

Director Adam Wingard takes fans behind-the-scenes of the BIGGEST showdown of the year in an extended Q&A about Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Godzilla vs. Kong, answering fan questions and offering a sneak peek at the super-sized blockbuster ahead of its March release in theaters internationally and in the U.S., and in the U.S. on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release. 9:15am PT/ 12:15am ET/ 5:15pm GMT

An Inside Look at Bethesda's DEATHLOOP

The developers behind DEATHLOOP, Game Director Dinga Bakaba and Art Director Sebastien Mitton, will take you deeper inside the innovative first-person shooter with an exclusive inside look at the new title from Arkane Lyon, the award-winning studio behind the critically acclaimed Dishonored franchise. DEATHLOOP will continue Arkane’s signature gameplay design, challenging gamers to play their own way. 9:55am PT/ 12:55am ET/ 5:55pm GMT

Amazon Prime Video's Invincible: Extended Sneak Peek

Join creator Robert Kirkman and stars Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Gillian Jacobs, Zazie Beetz and Jason Mantzoukas for a preview of Amazon Prime Video's new, action-packed adult animation series, Invincible -- plus, get an exclusive extended look at the first episode!

Saturday, February 27

10am PT/ 1pm ET/ 6pm GMT

Justice League: Inside the Snyder Cut with Zack Snyder

Zack Snyder will offer fans an inside look into the making of the Snyder Cut, answering all of our questions -- and yours! -- about the HBO Max release of Zack Snyder's Justice League. 11am PT/ 2pm ET/ 7pm GMT

Introducing Netflix's Jupiter's Legacy

Ahead of the upcoming epic new superhero series Jupiter’s Legacy, comic creator Mark Millar and series star Josh Duhamel come together for the exclusive first interview about the highly anticipated project. In this exclusive conversation, we’ll get new details from Millar and Duhamel on how the expansive graphic novels jumped from page to screen in Netflix’s new series. New character details, new plot details and an Easter egg from Frank Quitely, we’re delivering answers on this superhero saga that has been years in the making. 11:30am PT/ 2:30pm ET/ 7:30pm GMT

Batman Beyond: Cast Reunion and Table Read

Relive the beloved animated series in a whole new way with the cast reunion of Batman Beyond and table read of fan-favorite Batman Beyond episode “Out of the Past.” Join stars Kevin Conroy and Will Friedle, casting and voice director Andrea Romano and returning guest voice stars Michael Rosenbaum and Cree Summer for this special event.

Fortnite’s Latest Leaks Hint at a Street Fighter Crossover Event

A Fortnite and Street Fighter crossover event appears to be on its way, according to newly leaked assets. Fortnite dataminers, including ShiinaBR and Lucas7yoshi, posted images on Twitter that point towards the iconic fighting franchise being the next entry in Fortnite Season 2 Chapter 5. According to ShiinaBR, Fortnite's latest multiverse portal has been labelled 'Skirmish', and the images embedded in their tweet suggests that Street Fighter's world is about to collide with Fortnite. The pictures appear to show Street Fighter 2's Suzaku Castle level, and an accompanying audio file hints that Ryu will be part of the Street Fighter crossover. A warped version of Ryu's theme can be heard playing alongside the leaked images, so it wouldn't be a complete surprise to see Ryu added in as a character or earnable skin. Meanwhile, Lucas7yoshi's tweet seemingly shows how the Street Fighter portal will look when it arrives in-game. Again, the portal shows Sukazu Castle acting as an entry point to Fortnite's map, but it doesn't provide any other details on what other characters or content might bridge the gap between the two games. Fortnite dataminers have allegedly been unable to decipher which Street Fighter characters will be added to Fortnite. According to Eurogamer, two encrypted files have been found in Fortnite's code, but their identities are unknown. Given how popular Ryu and Chun-Li are among the Street Fighter fanbase, though, it's possible that they will be the fighters that enter Fortnite's world. If the rumours are true, Street Fighters will be the latest series to cross over into Fortnite in recent times. Characters from the Marvel, Star Wars, Terminator, Predator, and Walking Dead franchises have all arrived at some point in Season 2 Chapter 5, while video game characters including Master Chief and Kratos have also been turned up as skins. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/19/xboxs-backward-compatibility-gets-a-boost-next-gen-console-watch"] In other Epic Games news, Valve is looking to distance itself from the ongoing Apple-Epic antitrust lawsuit. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Tom Power is a UK-based freelance journalist. Follow him on Twitter.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League Will Be Released Worldwide Alongside US Launch

Warner has confirmed that Zack Snyder's Justice League will be released on the same day worldwide as its US launch on HBO Max on March 18. No concrete details have been offered about where worldwide audiences can watch the movie, but Warner says additional details for specific markets will be shared in the coming weeks. It is confirmed that HBO Europe and HBO Asia users can access it via HBO Go, and that there will be Premium Video On Demand options. While this will be a worldwide release, a few territories will miss out. Warner states that China, France, and Japan release dates are yet to be determined. The news comes just days after Zack Snyder himself criticised Warner's handling of the film's international distribution, calling it "not amazing." For more, check out why Zack Snyder's Justice League isn't widescreen, and our breakdown of the latest trailer featuring The Joker.  [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/14/zack-snyders-justice-league-official-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Valve Is Resisting Being Dragged Into the Epic-Apple Lawsuit

It looks like Valve is being dragged into the Epic-Apple antitrust lawsuit, as court documents reveal the company has been subpoenaed by Apple for Steam commercial data – but Valve is pushing back. A joint letter from Apple and Valve has been submitted to the court, which talks about Apple's attempts to retrieve data from Valve.  Apple says that "Epic’s various mobile and non-mobile distribution options are central to disputed issues of market definition and market power." As a result, Apple wants to look at Valve's data to inform its case, given that it is one of these distribution options. Back in August 2020, Apple swiftly removed Fortnite from the iOS App Store as Epic Games altered the price of V-Bucks and introduced a direct payment system, in response to platform-based fees. Epic then hit back with an antitrust lawsuit and the "Free Fortnite" campaign. Apple then filed a counter-suit, and legal proceedings are currently ongoing. Earlier this week, Epic brought the case to Europe by filing an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union. "Fortnite’s “multiplatform nature” suggests other (or all) digital distribution channels “may be economic substitutes," the document reads, referring to a previous case. As the dominant distributor of games on PC, Apple seems to be arguing that Steam is relevant to its case, as it is still a potential platform for Fortnite to be held on, despite how unlikely that would be given that Steam and Epic Game Store are direct competitors. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/18/ign-first-half-life-alyx-gabe-newell-interview"] The document says the two companies have "engaged in several meet and confers," but that Valve has ultimately "refused to produce" the information Apple wants. Valve has apparently provided a small set of documents, but Apple says they are "so heavily redacted" that the company cannot discern anything from them. Essentially, Apple is now once again asking Valve to provide documents that show a number of figures relating to the Steam platform. According to the document, these include "total yearly sales of apps and in-app products; annual advertising revenues from Steam; annual sales of external products attributable to Steam; annual revenues from Steam; and annual earnings (whether gross or net) from Steam." Valve is arguing that it would be an "overwhelming amount of work" to produce even one item as part of the data request, pointing to one of Apple's specific requests, which asked Valve to identify the "dates on sale, plus every price and price change" of 436 games that are both on the Epic Game Store and Steam, from 2015 to the present day. Ultimately, Valve says that Apple's "overbroad demands impose too heavy a burden on a non-party" and that the company has not shown "substantial need" for the information it wants. "Fortnite is not available on Steam, and Epic has publicly and unequivocally stated it will not offer Fortnite on Steam unless Valve changes its business model," Valve's position reads. "Somehow, in a dispute over mobile apps, a maker of PC games that does not compete in the mobile market or sell “apps” is being portrayed as a key figure. It’s not. The extensive and highly confidential information Apple demands about a subset of the PC games available on Steam does not show the size or parameters of the relevant market and would be massively burdensome to pull together. Apple’s demands for further production should be rejected," the document reads. In other Valve news, Steam keeps breaking its own concurrent players record, surpassing 26.4 million users in February. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Time Before Time: Image Comics Series Combines Criminal and Looper

If the thought of a comic book series that combines the gritty, character-focused drama of Criminal with the time travel shenanigans of Back to the Future and Looper sounds appealing, then good news. That's exactly what you'll get from Time Before Time. Time Before Time is a new collaboration between Declan Shalvey (Injection, Moon Knight) and Write It In Blood creators Rory McConville and Joe Palmer. Shalvey and McConville are co-writing the series, with Palmer drawing, Chris O'Halloran handling colors and Shalvey also providing cover art. Get a closer look at this time-bending crime drama in the slideshow gallery below, including several exclusive new pages: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=time-before-time-1-preview&captions=true"] Time Before Time is set in a world where a criminal organization known only as The Syndicate rules a very special kind of underground market. Their agents can use time travel to smuggle people back in time to start a new life. The series follows two of these agents, Tatsuo and Oscar, as they attempt to break free and steal their boss' time machine for themselves. Naturally, that plan is easier said than done. “I loved what this team did on Write It In Blood so I'm really excited to take that crew and work on something more ambitious," Shalvey told IGN. "This is a book with miles of potential, brilliantly realized by Joe Palmer and Chris O'Halloran. Their work to me, looks like the baby of Aeon Flux and Hellboy. I think readers will enjoy the gorgeous pages, but also the core story that follows Tatsuo into a more and more complicated set of troubles. With TIME BEFORE TIME, Rory and myself get to write a crime drama that's injected with even more dramatic twists and the compelling visuals that sci-fi provides." “It’s been great to reunite with the Write It In Blood team, as well as collaborating with Dec, whose work I’ve been a huge fan of for years," added McConville. "Time travel stories are my favourite type of sci-fi and getting to write one with so many twists and turns is incredibly thrilling. Joe and Chris continue to be a fantastic combo and I can’t wait for people to see some of the eye-popping pages they’ve been working on." “In TIME BEFORE TIME, Declan and Rory have written a time hopping adventure in which the past can’t be altered, so the emotional stakes are always high," said Palmer. "The whole team has put a lot of love into this book, and I’m really excited for readers to be able to get their hands on it. Buckle up, because this wild ride goes all over the place.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/01/04/what-to-expect-from-marvel-in-2021"] Look for Time Before Time #1 to arrive in comic shops and on digital platforms on May 12, 2021. For more killer comics to look for this spring, see Dark Horse's newest The Witcher series and learn why Marvel's next Star Wars crossover will answer a lingering Boba Fett mystery. Then, check out our interview with Todd McFarlane about his ambitious expansion of the Spawn franchise. [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.

Little Nightmares Creator Confirms It’s Done With the Series – But Namco Could Carry It On Regardless

Tarsier Studios – the creator of Little Nightmares – has confirmed to IGN that Little Nightmares 2 is its last game in the series. However, IP owner and publisher Bandai Namco is "energised" to make more Little Nightmares games regardless. Yesterday, Tarsier parent company Embracer announced that the developer would now be focusing on new IP, leading to speculation around Little Nightmares' future. Speaking to IGN today, Tarsier CEO Andreas Johnsson made clear that the move means the company will no longer make games in the series.

"For the last 6 years, our mission at Tarsier Studios has been to create mesmerizing worlds. Little Nightmares was our first attempt and was a huge success. I personally love how Little Nightmares has gathered fans around the world over the course of the last 4 years. From the fan art, extensive fan theories and genuine reactions, it all has been amazing to witness. Our collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has been extremely satisfying, they listened to our creative vision and took our crazy ideas and ambitions to heart.

"That being said, it is bitter sweet to announce that we are leaving the world of Little Nightmares behind us. Little Nightmares will always be dear to us at the studio. Since being acquired by the Embracer Group in December 2019, it is now time for us to embark on a new chapter, create new IPs and explore new worlds. Personally I am very excited to see what our studio creates and counting down the days until we can welcome our fans."

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/04/26/little-nightmares-review"] The move likely comes down to the fact Bandai Namco owns the Little Nightmares IP, meaning Embracer would have to either buy or license the rights to use it for any future games – it seems Embracer would prefer for Tarsier to make something new rather than take that path. Asked for comment on what its plans are for the series, Namco intimated that it could continue making Little Nightmares games without Tarsier's input: "We have nothing to announce at this moment," wrote a spokesperson, "but since we received so much love from fans all around the world with the release of Little Nightmares 2, we feel energised to deliver more content in the future." What studio could take on a new Little Nightmares game is unknown, but it seems clear that the publisher isn't finished with the series itself. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/09/little-nightmares-2-review"] We awarded Little Nightmares an 8.8 review, calling it "gleefully strange, unceasingly grim, and quietly smart." Its new sequel earned a 7/10. We summed that up by saying, "There’s no doubting developer Tarsier Studios’ artistry and ability, but I hope for its next project it leaves these Little Nightmares behind and dares to dream bigger." If you're still working through Little Nightmares 2, we've got a complete walkthrough for you, as well as a guide on how to get to its secret ending. [poilib element="accentDivider"] 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.    

Little Nightmares Creator Confirms It’s Done With the Series – But Namco Could Carry It On Regardless

Tarsier Studios – the creator of Little Nightmares – has confirmed to IGN that Little Nightmares 2 is its last game in the series. However, IP owner and publisher Bandai Namco is "energised" to make more Little Nightmares games regardless. Yesterday, Tarsier parent company Embracer announced that the developer would now be focusing on new IP, leading to speculation around Little Nightmares' future. Speaking to IGN today, Tarsier CEO Andreas Johnsson made clear that the move means the company will no longer make games in the series.

"For the last 6 years, our mission at Tarsier Studios has been to create mesmerizing worlds. Little Nightmares was our first attempt and was a huge success. I personally love how Little Nightmares has gathered fans around the world over the course of the last 4 years. From the fan art, extensive fan theories and genuine reactions, it all has been amazing to witness. Our collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has been extremely satisfying, they listened to our creative vision and took our crazy ideas and ambitions to heart.

"That being said, it is bitter sweet to announce that we are leaving the world of Little Nightmares behind us. Little Nightmares will always be dear to us at the studio. Since being acquired by the Embracer Group in December 2019, it is now time for us to embark on a new chapter, create new IPs and explore new worlds. Personally I am very excited to see what our studio creates and counting down the days until we can welcome our fans."

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/04/26/little-nightmares-review"] The move likely comes down to the fact Bandai Namco owns the Little Nightmares IP, meaning Embracer would have to either buy or license the rights to use it for any future games – it seems Embracer would prefer for Tarsier to make something new rather than take that path. Asked for comment on what its plans are for the series, Namco intimated that it could continue making Little Nightmares games without Tarsier's input: "We have nothing to announce at this moment," wrote a spokesperson, "but since we received so much love from fans all around the world with the release of Little Nightmares 2, we feel energised to deliver more content in the future." What studio could take on a new Little Nightmares game is unknown, but it seems clear that the publisher isn't finished with the series itself. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/09/little-nightmares-2-review"] We awarded Little Nightmares an 8.8 review, calling it "gleefully strange, unceasingly grim, and quietly smart." Its new sequel earned a 7/10. We summed that up by saying, "There’s no doubting developer Tarsier Studios’ artistry and ability, but I hope for its next project it leaves these Little Nightmares behind and dares to dream bigger." If you're still working through Little Nightmares 2, we've got a complete walkthrough for you, as well as a guide on how to get to its secret ending. [poilib element="accentDivider"] 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.