Monthly Archives: April 2021

Loki and Falcon & Winter Soldier Could Get Multiple Seasons, WandaVision Far Less Likely

It's looking possible that Marvel's The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, as well as the upcoming Loki series, could see multiple seasons – but WandaVision looks more likely than ever to be a one-and-done show. IndieWire revealed that Falcon and Winter Soldier would be submitted to the Emmy Awards in the Drama Series category, whereas WandaVision will be submitted to the Limited or Anthology Series categories. In part, that's because Marvel Studios doesn't want its streaming series to compete with one another for the same awards – but it also speaks to the studio's future plans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-cinematic-universe-every-upcoming-movie-and-tv-show&captions=true"] Marvel Studios VP of Production & Development Nate Moore wouldn't outright confirm a Falcon and Winter Soldier Season 2, but does "absolutely" want to leave the possibility open. “We’ve definitely kicked around ideas because we always like to keep thinking about where things can go, but we also, frankly, in the crush of the pandemic, we’re just trying to finish the show and make sure it got out in a timely matter. Hopefully at the end of this season, you will see the potential for what we could tell in a subsequent season.” IndieWire asked Moore if there were other yet-to-be released Marvel shows that could also see multiple seasons. “The one that comes to mind — and that probably isn’t a secret — I think there’s a lot of storytelling in ‘Loki’ that’s really irreverent and clever and cool," he replied, "but also lends itself to multiple seasons in a way where it’s not a one-off,” WandaVision, however, is a different story. The 'mystery box' nature of that show means that it's fundamentally revealed its secrets after the finale, and will now tie into other Marvel movies – and its creators seem to consider that show's story entirely closed. “I think ‘WandaVision’ is a show you can only do once," said Moore. "She can’t go back into that reality." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/marvel-studios-loki-official-trailer-2"] While we know that WandaVision will tie into the upcoming Doctor Strange and Spider-Man movies, we don't yet know exactly where the finale of Falcon and Winter Soldier will leave the MCU – but we've got theories ahead of this week's final episode. It seems we'll be coming up with theories about an entirely new season once that one's done. The next big show to theorise about will be Loki, which arrives in June. Right now, we're wondering if the trailers are teasing Lady Loki, and star Tom Hiddleston has been teasing us by saying there are clues to be found in the show's logo. [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.

This Week’s Huge Call of Duty: Warzone Changes Arrive in a 25GB Update

Call of Duty: Warzone is set to receive a major Season 3 update on April 22 – widely expected to see the existing Verdansk map being nuked – which will arrive as part of a 25GB patch. Revealed in a bumper post on the Call of Duty blog, the update will first address the games' metanarrative, introducing a "Hunt for Adler" event where players will have to complete in-game challenges across Black Ops Cold War and Warzone to learn of the character's whereabouts, unlocking skins and charms in the process. Three new Operators will also be brought to the game across the season, including the "alpine warfare specialist" Wraith, a Dublin-born MI6 operative called Knight and an ex-hitman called Antonov. Wraith is available at Tier 0 in the Season Three Battle Pass, with the remaining Operators unlockable via Season Three Store bundles. A special Cold War variant of Captain Price will also be provided to players who own or purchase Black Ops Cold War when the season starts. BOCW-S3-Announcement-001 The April 22 update will also introduce six new weapons to the game, including the PPSh-41 SMG, the Swiss K31 Sniper Rifle, The CARV.2 Tactical Rifle, the fully-auto AMP63 Pistol and two new melee weapons. Players will be able to wield a Ballistic Knife that can "silently fire lethal retrievable blades" and a Baseball Bat which is good for walloping miscreants. The return of the Ballistic Knife coincides with the return of the melee/projectile-focused Sticks and Stones game mode popularized by earlier games in the Black Ops series. Black Ops Cold War multiplayer fans will also be pleased to hear that the update is set to introduce new Prestige Levels up to Prestige 15 as well as four new maps. Yamantau (6v6) and Diesel (6v6/2v2/3v3) will arrive during launch week, whereas Black Ops II's Standoff (6v6) and Duga (Multi-Team) will arrive within the season. The Multi-Team tag also alludes to the new Multi-Team Elimination mode coming during the season, where "multiple teams of four will fight to survive ever-expanding radiation zones" on some of the game's biggest maps. Season Three will also introduce a new Strafe Run Scorestreak, a Cargo Truck vehicle in large Multi-Team maps and a new Field Upgrade and Outbreak map for Zombies fans. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/call-of-duty-warzone-cheaters-don-nightvision-goggles-to-brag"] For Warzone in particular, the blog post explains that the zombie map invasion has "hit a critical level." The update notes tease that the combat zone "has become too dangerous for even a Tier 1 Operator to survive in" and ponders whether a "conflagration" (a huge fire) could be imminent. Players have been asked to make themselves available for "Operation Rapid Sunder," which is said to kick off on April 21, with first instructions arriving at 12 PM PT. It's thought by many that this could be when the Warzone map will be nuked and, according to leaks, revise the Verdansk map with a style closer to the 1980s theming of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Netflix’s DOTA 2 Anime Has Already Earned a Second Season

Netflix has announced that DOTA: Dragon's Blood has already earned itself a second season: Book Two. No release date for DOTA: Dragon's Blood: Book Two has been announced, but in classic Netflix fashion the streamer has announced another season "is coming". The Netflix Geeked Twitter account has posted a single image to offer a quick glimpse at what is to come, though. The image features Luna and a character that looks like Pangolier, a furry Dota 2 hero who belongs to the sword-fighting organisation, Nivan Gallants. "i know what you’re thinking, and it's not who you think it is..." Netflix said in a follow-up tweet, suggesting that the character with Luna is not Pangolier from the game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/03/02/dota-dragons-blood-official-season-1-trailer-2021"] With no extra information out there for now, you can catch up with everything DOTA: Dragon's Blood here on IGN. We've got our glowing review, as well as a look at how the show influenced the pick rate of Dragon Knight in Dota 2. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

LEGO Luigi Officially Announced After Leak

Update 04/20/2021: LEGO has now officially announced a Luigi figure to join its LEGO Super Mario set. The Luigi Starter Course is scheduled to arrive on August 1, and will come in at $59.99 USD / £49.99 / $89.99 AUD.The set includes 280 pieces, and can be combined with all previous LEGO Super Mario sets. The set description says, "Players earn digital coins for helping LEGO Luigi complete spinning seesaw and flying challenges, interactions with Pink Yoshi and defeating Boom Boom and a Bone Goomba. The nougat-brown-coloured bricks in this Tower biome also trigger different reactions from LEGO Luigi, and the ? Block offers extra rewards." [poilib element="accentDivider"] A LEGO Luigi starter course set has seemingly leaked after a recent LEGO Mario firmware update teased its arrival. As reported by TheBrickFan, the LEGO Super Mario Adventures With Luigi set was leaked on Amazon China over the weekend. The set was previously teased by LEGO Super Mario himself, in a spooky bit of marketing which saw LEGO Mario start to cry out for his brother following a firmware update. Amazon's listing came with a number of official images for the set, which you can see in the gallery below: [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=lego-super-mario-adventures-with-luigi-leaked-images&captions=true"] The set contains Luigi sporting the same reactive LCD screen as his brother, as well as a set of new side characters including a Bone Goomba, a Boom Boom and a pink Yoshi. The listing (which has now been taken down) apparently featured a release date of July 9 and noted that the set would be compatible with the rest of the LEGO Super Mario sets. LEGO is yet to officially address and reveal the Luigi starter set, but it's thought an announcement can't be too far away given the firmware marketing push and this substantial leak. Here are our impressions of the initial set, where we noted how LEGO Super Mario is great... once it clicks. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.

Experts are Split on Whether Mars Astronauts Should Eat Dead Crew Members

Should astronauts exploring Mars eat the corpses of their crew members in a last-ditch effort to survive? No space agency has an official policy on cannibalism, at least for now. But in terms of ethical theory, experts are split on what to do if a space mission has gone completely awry. Talking to Popular Science, Emory University bioethicist Paul Wolpe explained that there are split opinions on the topic of eating humans in a bid for survival. “There are two kinds of approaches to it,” he explained. “One says even though we owe the body an enormous amount of respect, life is primary, and if the only way one could possibly survive would be to eat a body, it’s acceptable but not desirable.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/04/13/nasa-releases-image-of-blue-sand-dunes-on-mars"] The grisly concept in relation to space exploration comes courtesy of The Martian, Andy Weir’s sci-fi novel about a manned mission to Mars. Such a mission is gradually on its way to becoming science fact; NASA’s current activities on Mars is essentially the predecessor to an eventual crewed mission to the red planet. Potentially happening in the 2040s, NASA’s Mars expedition will take an estimated three years to complete. That’s three years where anything could happen, including the deaths of astronaut crew members, or the loss of food supplies. In The Martian, a contingency plan is devised in which all but one of the crew members would commit suicide. Their bodies would become a food source for the remaining crew member. “That’s a time-honored tradition,” says bioethicist Paul Wolpe, referring to extremes taken by explorers on Earth. “People have committed suicide to save others, and in fact religiously that’s totally acceptable. We can’t draw straws to see who we’re going to kill to eat, but there are many times when we’ve considered people heroes who jump on the grenade to save their buddies.” In less grim Martian news, NASA’s Perseverance rover has been able to capture what it sounds like on Mars, and will be able to collect rock and soil samples to be brought back to Earth. The mission has had its own challenges - the Ingenuity helicopter rotors had technical issues - but thankfully machines on Mars don’t have to make ethical decisions on if they need to eat each other to survive. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer. 

Yoko Taro Is Working On a Completely New Game, and Yes It’ll Be Weird

Yoko Taro, the creator of Nier, has confirmed he is the creative director of a brand-new Square Enix game. During a video presentation live stream for the upcoming Nier Replican ver. 1.22474487139, the director revealed that he has started on his next project at Square Enix. He is currently the creative director of Nier Reincarnation, a Nier mobile game. As reported by Gematsu, Taro says his next game is an indie, digital-only title that is “difficult to explain,” and a “somewhat unusual game,” that is mysterious and he has “no idea how to explain or sell.” So basically a Yoko Taro game. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/25/nier-replicant-ver122474487139-opening-movie"] Taro is likely being humble as Nier Automata has sold 5.5 million units worldwide since its 2017 launch. A hugely successful figure for a relatively unknown spinoff of the Drakengard series. While Taro has maintained he will work on any project as long as he’s being paid, the director has kept a relatively low profile since Nier Automata. He has served as creative director on the mobile game SINoAlice, as well as scenario writer on the Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Nier raid cycle. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=nier-replicant-screenshots&captions=true"] While Taro hasn’t explained if this is a new series or related to Nier, Taro’s next project definitely has our interest. Meanwhile, the Nier remake/update is set to be released this week and you can check out our final preview here. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor.

Spider-Verse Sequel Gets New Directing Trio, Including Soul Filmmaker

Sony Pictures Animation has assembled the team for its Spider-Verse sequel. Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson will direct the upcoming follow-up to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, per Variety. Dos Santos’ involvement had been previously reported, though the three filmmakers have been collaborating from the start. The first Spider-Verse movie was also directed by a trio of filmmakers:  Peter Ramsey, Bob Persichetti, and Rodney Rothman. Ramsey is returning to executive produce the sequel. The writing-directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller of The Lego Movie and 21 Jump Street are teaming up with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings screenwriter David Callaham to write the upcoming sequel. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/12/21/why-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-is-igns-2018-movie-of-the-year"] “We are so lucky to have Joaquim, Justin and Kemp on the Spider-Verse team,” Lord and Miller said in a statement. “We are huge fans of Joaquim’s work — he makes his characters so heartfelt and unique, and he can tell an emotional story with an action sequence the way a musical does through a song. Justin is a maverick filmmaker who relentlessly pursues visual innovation and surprise but always in support of the emotional storytelling. Kemp’s work is incisive and ambitious and funny — with a writer’s wisdom and a director’s heart — he just knows what matters in every scene. "All three of them elevate every project they take on, and they are certainly raising our game," the statement continues. "We honestly just like them and want to be their friends and we’re hoping working on this movie together for the next few years will totally make that happen.” Powers has been quite busy over the past few months. He is currently nominated for the Oscar for best adapted screenplay for his work on One Night in Miami, which he adapted from his play of the same name. Additionally, Powers is the co-director on Pixar’s Soul, which is Oscar-nominated in the categories of best animated feature, best original score and best sound. Powers also wrote on the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. Dos Santos and Thompson are both mainstays at Sony Pictures Animation. Dos Santos has worked on both The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender for Nickelodeon, as well as directing the mini-series G.I. Joe: Resolute. Thompson worked as a production designer on the first Spider-Verse, as well as the two Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs movies. The Spider-Verse sequel will mark the directorial debut feature of both animation veterans. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=spider-man-into-the-spider-verse-trailer-every-easter-egg-reference-and-cameo-we-found&captions=true"] Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was a critical and commercial smash when it released in December 2018. Sony Animation’s innovative approach to capture the graphic style of comic books was awarded with the studio’s first Oscar win for best animated feature. The film went on to gross $373.5 million worldwide. We named Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse IGN's movie of the year in 2018, calling it a "visual experience unlike anything we've seen before" in our review. The sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is set to hit theaters on October 7, 2022. [poilib element="accentDivider"] J. Kim Murphy is a freelance entertainment writer.

Zack Snyder Reveals Batman v Superman’s Original, Bonkers Title

Zack Snyder revealed several alternate titles for Superman: Dawn of Justice over the weekend, including one that sounds like it could have been pulled from a Pokemon game. As reported by Coming Soon, Snyder told an assembled crowd at Justice Con that naming Batman v Superman involved some intense negotiation with Warner Bros. Even the decision to use a "v" instead of "versus" required protracted wrangling between all parties. According to Snyder, Warner Bros. ultimately settled on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but he pushed hard for more esoteric titles. "I was like, ‘Guys, can't we just do something like Son of Sun and Knight of Night or something that’s a little bit more poetic?’ And they were like, 'Absolutely not' [Laughs]. I was like, ‘Is it a court case?" [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/21/the-true-story-behind-the-snyder-cut"] Screenwriter Chris Terrio added that other possible names axed Batman and Superman entirely, choosing instead to focus on the creation of the Justice League. Options included "Justice League: Foundations" and "Justice League: Rising." Warner Bros., of course, got their way, but there's something appropriately Snyder-esque in calling it "Son of Sun and Knight of Night." Snyder would later step down from his role as Justice League director and be replaced by Joss Whedon, seemingly bringing his tenure with the DC Cinematic Universe to a close. But with the recent success of the Justice League's Snyder Cut, Snyder's star is once again in ascent. Who knows, maybe it's time to consider a Snyder Cut of the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice title? [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is a Senior News Editor at IGN.

Michael Dorn Teases Star Trek Return, But Paramount Shoots Down Rumors

Worf actor Michael Dorn says that he's being "summoned back into action" on Twitter today, but Paramount has shot down the possibility of the beloved character appearing on one of the numerous Star Trek shows currently airing on Paramount+. "Unfortunately, I can confirm that this has nothing to do with a Star Trek Universe on Paramount+ original series," a Paramount representative told IGN. Dorn kicked off speculation that he would be joining Picard Season 2 when he tweeted "Starfleet calls" earlier today. Dorn last appeared in 2002's Star Trek Nemesis, but he has been attached to several Star Trek-related projects over the years, including Star Trek Online and the fan-made web series Star Trek Continues, where he had a cameo as the voice of a computer. Dorn has also pitched the idea of a show featuring "Captain Worf" on and off over the years. Worf received a mention in Picard Season 1, but as recently as January 2021, Dorn said he had not been contacted about a potential appearance in the show. As for whether he would be interested, Dorn rattled off a list of contingencies. "It really depends on quite a few things. It depends on the role. It depends on how they want to present it. The one thing you have to realize is that I have to get into makeup. You are talking about three hours. For me to do that, it really has to be kind of worth it, you know what I mean? I don't want to get in makeup and just stand around and scowl at people." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/30/star-trek-picard-jonathan-frakes-confirms-he-will-return-to-direct-in-season-2-ign-news"] Worf is a beloved character in the Star Trek mythos, playing a massive role in both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek Deep Space Nine. If he were to return to Star Trek, he would have a multitude of options. Paramount+ is currently producing several Star Trek projects, including Star Trek Discovery, a Section 31 spinoff, and the animated series Star Trek Lower Decks. Some of the possibilities include the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, which is set after Star Trek Nemesis in the TNG era; Star Trek: Prodigy, a show geared toward kids featuring Captain Janeway as a hologram; Star Trek Discovery, where he could hypothetically reprise the role of Colonel Worf. A film is also in the works, to be released in 2023. One way or another, we'll know soon enough when it will once again be a good day to die. In the meantime, filming has begun on the second season of Star Trek: Picard, with the release on Paramount+, set for some time in 2022. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor at IGN.

Worf Actor Teases Star Trek Return, But Paramount Shoots Down Rumors

Worf actor Michael Dorn says that he's being "summoned back into action" on Twitter today, but Paramount has shot down the possibility of the beloved character appearing on one of the numerous Star Trek shows currently airing on Paramount+. "Unfortunately, I can confirm that this has nothing to do with a Star Trek Universe on Paramount+ original series," a Paramount representative told IGN. Dorn kicked off speculation that he would be joining Picard Season 2 when he tweeted "Starfleet calls" earlier today. Dorn last appeared in 2002's Star Trek Nemesis, but he has been attached to several Star Trek-related projects over the years, including Star Trek Online and the fan-made web series Star Trek Continues, where he had a cameo as the voice of a computer. Dorn has also pitched the idea of a show featuring "Captain Worf" on and off over the years. Worf received a mention in Picard Season 1, but as recently as January 2021, Dorn said he had not been contacted about a potential appearance in the show. As for whether he would be interested, Dorn rattled off a list of contingencies. "It really depends on quite a few things. It depends on the role. It depends on how they want to present it. The one thing you have to realize is that I have to get into makeup. You are talking about three hours. For me to do that, it really has to be kind of worth it, you know what I mean? I don't want to get in makeup and just stand around and scowl at people." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/30/star-trek-picard-jonathan-frakes-confirms-he-will-return-to-direct-in-season-2-ign-news"] Worf is a beloved character in the Star Trek mythos, playing a massive role in both Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek Deep Space Nine. If he were to return to Star Trek, he would have a multitude of options. Paramount+ is currently producing several Star Trek projects, including Star Trek Discovery, a Section 31 spinoff, and the animated series Star Trek Lower Decks. Some of the possibilities include the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks, which is set after Star Trek Nemesis in the TNG era; Star Trek: Prodigy, a show geared toward kids featuring Captain Janeway as a hologram; Star Trek Discovery, where he could hypothetically reprise the role of Colonel Worf. A film is also in the works, to be released in 2023. One way or another, we'll know soon enough when it will once again be a good day to die. In the meantime, filming has begun on the second season of Star Trek: Picard, with the release on Paramount+, set for some time in 2022. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Kat Bailey is Senior News Editor at IGN.