Mission Impossible 7 is being delayed once again, moving from September 2022 to July 14, 2023. Mission Impossible 8 meanwhile is being moved from its original July 2023 date to June 28, 2024, THR reports.

The new delays follow a string of similar complications for the beleaguered Tom Cruise blockbuster films, which have been one of the most high-profile Hollywood victims of the COVID pandemic's impact on the film industry and beyond. MI7 was initially scheduled for July 23, 2021, but Paramount has periodically delayed release several months, including dates in November 2021 and May 2022.

Filming on MI7 hasn't been able to escape the impact of COVID either. In December 2020, a recording emerged of Tom Cruise berating film production members for allegedly breaking COVID safety protocols. Cruise, who also serves as a producer, reportedly went so far as to purchase robots to enforce safety protocols on-set.

That still hasn't stopped the infamously thrill-hungry Cruise from performing what he says is the most dangerous stunt he's ever pulled off while working on MI7.

Hollywood has been hit by a rash of film delays thanks to COVID and the ensuing complications and safety protocols put in place. Sony's Morbius, the Marvel vampire pic starring Jared Leto, has been delayed to April 2022, almost two whole years after its original 2020 date. Meanwhile, John Wick Chapter 4 has been pushed back all the way to 2023.

Mission Impossible: Fallout released all the way back in July 2018. Mission Impossible 7 is expected to follow the events of Fallout, although plot details are scarce. What we do know is that Cruise returns as IMF Agent Ethan Hunt, alongside Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, and Vanessa Kirby, who played a shadowy arms dealer in Fallout, but didn't factor into much more beyond a couple scenes.

It's also been reported that Eugene Kittredge, the former director of the IMF who last appeared in the original Mission: Impossible, will make some sort of appearance.

Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer for IGN.

Paramount+ has released a new trailer for the upcoming Star Trek: Picard Season 2, which is set to premiere on March 3 exclusively on the online streamer. The action-heavy trailer also includes the return of Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan.

You can check out the trailer in the embed below. With Picard once again out in the stars, familiar faces like Goldberg’s Guinan and John de Lancie’s Q resurface to put the retired Star Fleet captain into peril, this time, the past.

Welcome to the road not taken. Stream the new season of #StarTrekPicard March 3 exclusively on @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/Hj8qluTsIT

— Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) January 21, 2022

Star Trek: Picard premiered in 2020 and saw the long-awaited return of Patrick Stewart as retired Captain Jean-Luc Picard. After the first season, he is thrust into a new adventure that takes him and his crew of new and familiar faces to the past.

With the second season on the horizon, Paramount+ is already working on the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which has resumed production after a COVID-19 outbreak on the set.

Star Trek: Picard is just one of several Star Trek shows currently in production. Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for a fifth season, ahead of the fourth season premiere; and the comedic spinoff, Lower Decks, is also set to return for a fourth season this summer.

You can check out IGN’s review of the first season of Star Trek: Picard, where we called the series a bit rushed towards the climax, but thematically resonant throughout.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Paramount+ has released a new trailer for the upcoming Star Trek: Picard Season 2, which is set to premiere on March 3 exclusively on the online streamer. The action-heavy trailer also includes the return of Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan.

You can check out the trailer in the embed below. With Picard once again out in the stars, familiar faces like Goldberg’s Guinan and John de Lancie’s Q resurface to put the retired Star Fleet captain into peril, this time, the past.

Welcome to the road not taken. Stream the new season of #StarTrekPicard March 3 exclusively on @ParamountPlus. pic.twitter.com/Hj8qluTsIT

— Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) January 21, 2022

Star Trek: Picard premiered in 2020 and saw the long-awaited return of Patrick Stewart as retired Captain Jean-Luc Picard. After the first season, he is thrust into a new adventure that takes him and his crew of new and familiar faces to the past.

With the second season on the horizon, Paramount+ is already working on the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which has resumed production after a COVID-19 outbreak on the set.

Star Trek: Picard is just one of several Star Trek shows currently in production. Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for a fifth season, ahead of the fourth season premiere; and the comedic spinoff, Lower Decks, is also set to return for a fourth season this summer.

You can check out IGN’s review of the first season of Star Trek: Picard, where we called the series a bit rushed towards the climax, but thematically resonant throughout.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN's News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

The story has been updated with a response from Activision Blizzard. Read the full statement from the company below.

A group of Raven Software QA employees have become the first Activision Blizzard workers to form a union by launching the Game Workers Alliance with Communications Workers of America.

As per a press release, Quality Assurance workers at Raven Software have announced that they are launching the Game Workers Alliance (CWA), a union that marks the first of its kind at Activision Blizzard. Members at the department have requested voluntary recognition from Activision Blizzard management in alignment with the desire of a supermajority of their workforce.

The launch of the union comes after workers in the department (as well as other current staff and former employees at the company) entered their fifth week of strike action in solidarity with members of the QA department whose contracts were terminated last month. The current strike action marks the third time workers have downed tools at Activision Blizzard since the company became involved in a lawsuit over sexual harassment and misconduct claims last year.

“We formed the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products. It’s extremely important that workers have a real seat at the table to positively shape the company going forward,” said Raven QA Lead Brent Reel.

Speaking on the formation of the union, Communications Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens highlighted the benefits that unionizing could have for employees at the company, while also asking for management at Activison Blizzard to grant voluntary recognition in a timely manner. “Raven QA workers are taking an important next step toward improving their working conditions by joining together in a union, and we are excited to be supporting their efforts," said Steffens.

"We ask that Activision Blizzard management respect Raven QA workers by voluntarily recognizing CWA's representation without hesitation. A collective bargaining agreement will give Raven QA employees a voice at work, improving the games they produce and making the company stronger. Voluntary recognition is the rational way forward.”

According to the press release, the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) believes that its formation will help to provide structure for workers so that they can push for further positive changes at the company surrounding working conditions, wages, benefits, and transparency on the job without fear of retaliation.

The formation of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) comes just days after Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for a sizeable $68.7 billion. Following news of the deal, Spencer somewhat addressed Microsoft's efforts to create inclusive environments for all of its studios. "Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players," Spencer wrote.

"We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard."

For more from Activision Blizzard, make sure to check out this article detailing how Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra has promised to improve the culture at the studio moving forward.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

The story has been updated with a response from Activision Blizzard. Read the full statement from the company below.

A group of Raven Software QA employees have become the first Activision Blizzard workers to form a union by launching the Game Workers Alliance with Communications Workers of America.

As per a press release, Quality Assurance workers at Raven Software have announced that they are launching the Game Workers Alliance (CWA), a union that marks the first of its kind at Activision Blizzard. Members at the department have requested voluntary recognition from Activision Blizzard management in alignment with the desire of a supermajority of their workforce.

The launch of the union comes after workers in the department (as well as other current staff and former employees at the company) entered their fifth week of strike action in solidarity with members of the QA department whose contracts were terminated last month. The current strike action marks the third time workers have downed tools at Activision Blizzard since the company became involved in a lawsuit over sexual harassment and misconduct claims last year.

“We formed the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) because my colleagues and I want to have our voices heard and we want to see changes that reflect the wants and needs of both the gaming community and the workers who create these incredible products. It’s extremely important that workers have a real seat at the table to positively shape the company going forward,” said Raven QA Lead Brent Reel.

Speaking on the formation of the union, Communications Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Sara Steffens highlighted the benefits that unionizing could have for employees at the company, while also asking for management at Activison Blizzard to grant voluntary recognition in a timely manner. “Raven QA workers are taking an important next step toward improving their working conditions by joining together in a union, and we are excited to be supporting their efforts," said Steffens.

"We ask that Activision Blizzard management respect Raven QA workers by voluntarily recognizing CWA's representation without hesitation. A collective bargaining agreement will give Raven QA employees a voice at work, improving the games they produce and making the company stronger. Voluntary recognition is the rational way forward.”

According to the press release, the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) believes that its formation will help to provide structure for workers so that they can push for further positive changes at the company surrounding working conditions, wages, benefits, and transparency on the job without fear of retaliation.

The formation of the Game Workers Alliance (CWA) comes just days after Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for a sizeable $68.7 billion. Following news of the deal, Spencer somewhat addressed Microsoft's efforts to create inclusive environments for all of its studios. "Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players," Spencer wrote.

"We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard."

For more from Activision Blizzard, make sure to check out this article detailing how Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra has promised to improve the culture at the studio moving forward.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly turned up late and left early from a 'fireside chat' meeting that was meant to reassure employees of Activision Blizzard about the future.

As reported by The Washington Post, the meeting, which was scheduled to last half an hour and was billed as a 'fireside chat', allegedly only lasted 16 minutes after Kotick himself turned up seven minutes late and finished the meeting early.

Kotick reportedly discussed a number of points during the meeting including the future of the company as it prepares to begin life under Microsoft, and the CEO's own status within the company. Sources told The Washington Post that they'd become suspicious over potential layoffs after Kotick told those in attendance that “the transition is going to be smooth because [Microsoft is] committed to trying to retain as many of our people as possible.”

During the meeting, Kotick reiterated that he would remain on as CEO of the company throughout the transitional process and for as long as Microsoft needed him afterward. “This is a company that I’ve now been here for 31 years, and there is nothing more important to me, other than my children, than this company,” Kotick said.

“I can tell you that my commitment to the company is [to] remain in my role. Once the deal closes, what I’ve committed to Microsoft is I will stay as long as is necessary to ensure that we have a great integration and a great transition.”

One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, allegedly told the Washington Post after the fireside meeting that they were optimistic over the deal with Microsoft but remained "wary" of Kotick. “All the fear and anger felt is still tied up in Bobby Kotick and what harm he will inflict until the torch is passed to Microsoft,” the Blizzard employee said.

“He likened Activision to be as important as his children, and I feel like he will not let go of it. With no mention of the strike, the lawsuit or any of the continuing issues, there may as well have not been a Q&A at all. We could’ve read a press release and slept an extra 15 minutes.”

Over the past twelve months, shareholders, employees, and members of the ABK Workers Alliance alike have called for Kotick's resignation after a report claimed that the CEO knew about alleged sexual assault and harassment allegations within company-owned studios, but did not disclose the information to the company's board, among other allegations. Following the announcement of Microsoft's intention to acquire Activision Blizzard, the ABK Workers Alliance stated that it would continue to demand Kotick's resignation.

For more news surrounding Activision Blizzard, be sure to check out this piece detailing how Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra plans to improve the culture of the studio moving forward.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Thumbnail credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick reportedly turned up late and left early from a 'fireside chat' meeting that was meant to reassure employees of Activision Blizzard about the future.

As reported by The Washington Post, the meeting, which was scheduled to last half an hour and was billed as a 'fireside chat', allegedly only lasted 16 minutes after Kotick himself turned up seven minutes late and finished the meeting early.

Kotick reportedly discussed a number of points during the meeting including the future of the company as it prepares to begin life under Microsoft, and the CEO's own status within the company. Sources told The Washington Post that they'd become suspicious over potential layoffs after Kotick told those in attendance that “the transition is going to be smooth because [Microsoft is] committed to trying to retain as many of our people as possible.”

During the meeting, Kotick reiterated that he would remain on as CEO of the company throughout the transitional process and for as long as Microsoft needed him afterward. “This is a company that I’ve now been here for 31 years, and there is nothing more important to me, other than my children, than this company,” Kotick said.

“I can tell you that my commitment to the company is [to] remain in my role. Once the deal closes, what I’ve committed to Microsoft is I will stay as long as is necessary to ensure that we have a great integration and a great transition.”

One employee, who wished to remain anonymous, allegedly told the Washington Post after the fireside meeting that they were optimistic over the deal with Microsoft but remained "wary" of Kotick. “All the fear and anger felt is still tied up in Bobby Kotick and what harm he will inflict until the torch is passed to Microsoft,” the Blizzard employee said.

“He likened Activision to be as important as his children, and I feel like he will not let go of it. With no mention of the strike, the lawsuit or any of the continuing issues, there may as well have not been a Q&A at all. We could’ve read a press release and slept an extra 15 minutes.”

Over the past twelve months, shareholders, employees, and members of the ABK Workers Alliance alike have called for Kotick's resignation after a report claimed that the CEO knew about alleged sexual assault and harassment allegations within company-owned studios, but did not disclose the information to the company's board, among other allegations. Following the announcement of Microsoft's intention to acquire Activision Blizzard, the ABK Workers Alliance stated that it would continue to demand Kotick's resignation.

For more news surrounding Activision Blizzard, be sure to check out this piece detailing how Blizzard boss Mike Ybarra plans to improve the culture of the studio moving forward.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Thumbnail credit: Michael Kovac/Getty Images

Netflix is aiming to have the 'absolute best' gaming service in the industry as it looks to expand its array of playable titles in 2022.

During a recent earnings interview, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was asked about how the company will approach interactive content over the long term. His answer was simple: "We have to be differentially great at it, there's no point of just being in it," said Hastings during the interview.

Hastings effectively pointed to the idea of Netflix becoming a gaming service that's competitive with the current industry heavyweights. "We're definitely 'crawl, walk, run' and, like, 'Let's nail the thing, and not just be in it for the sake of being in it or for a press release'. But we've got to please our members by having the absolute best in the category."

Hastings finished bullishly, asking the intervieweer to ask the question again when Netflix was "winning games".

Netflix began rolling out its gaming service in November 2021, allowing players with an active Netflix subscription to jump into a set of mobile games for no extra cost. The service initially included five games that rolled out to Android and Apple devices across 190 countries including Stranger Things: The Game, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Card Blast, Teeter, and Shooting Hoops.

In the shorter term, Netflix plans to keep building on that early offering. As part of a shareholder letter dated January 20, the company spoke further about its gaming service's future:

"Since launch, we released an additional five games, bringing the total to ten for 2021. It’s still very early days but we’re pleased with our progress. In 2022, we’ll expand our portfolio of games across both casual and core gaming genres as we continue to program a breadth of game types to learn what our members enjoy most."

Hopefully, we'll also hear what;s coming from Night School, the award-winning developer of Oxenfree, which Netflix bought last year.

Following the launch of Netflix's gaming services, Xbox boss commended the company on its decision to move into video games. “I think it’s smart what [Netflix is] doing,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer says. “They’re buying some studios. They’re learning about the creative process of interactive entertainment. And I think it’s a very smart way for them to move into the space.”

Netflix began the new year by adding two further games into its fold and bringing its total to twelve. The company's newest games include the hidden object game Krispee Street and its Hearthstone style roguelike deckbuilding game Arcanium: Rise of Akhan. A full list of Netflix's available games can be seen below.

Netflix's Available Games

• Arcanium: Rise of Akhan
• Asphalt Xtreme
• Bowling Ballers
• Card Blast
• Dominoes Café
• Knittens
• Krispee Street
• Shooting Hoops
• Stranger Things: 1984
• Stranger Things 3: The Game
• Teeter (Up)
• Wonderputt Forever

For more from Netflix, make sure to check out this article detailing how the streaming service recently confirmed that it has given the go-ahead for the second season of its Korean survival-horror series Squid Game.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Netflix is aiming to have the 'absolute best' gaming service in the industry as it looks to expand its array of playable titles in 2022.

During a recent earnings interview, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings was asked about how the company will approach interactive content over the long term. His answer was simple: "We have to be differentially great at it, there's no point of just being in it," said Hastings during the interview.

Hastings effectively pointed to the idea of Netflix becoming a gaming service that's competitive with the current industry heavyweights. "We're definitely 'crawl, walk, run' and, like, 'Let's nail the thing, and not just be in it for the sake of being in it or for a press release'. But we've got to please our members by having the absolute best in the category."

Hastings finished bullishly, asking the intervieweer to ask the question again when Netflix was "winning games".

Netflix began rolling out its gaming service in November 2021, allowing players with an active Netflix subscription to jump into a set of mobile games for no extra cost. The service initially included five games that rolled out to Android and Apple devices across 190 countries including Stranger Things: The Game, Stranger Things 3: The Game, Card Blast, Teeter, and Shooting Hoops.

In the shorter term, Netflix plans to keep building on that early offering. As part of a shareholder letter dated January 20, the company spoke further about its gaming service's future:

"Since launch, we released an additional five games, bringing the total to ten for 2021. It’s still very early days but we’re pleased with our progress. In 2022, we’ll expand our portfolio of games across both casual and core gaming genres as we continue to program a breadth of game types to learn what our members enjoy most."

Hopefully, we'll also hear what;s coming from Night School, the award-winning developer of Oxenfree, which Netflix bought last year.

Following the launch of Netflix's gaming services, Xbox boss commended the company on its decision to move into video games. “I think it’s smart what [Netflix is] doing,” Xbox boss Phil Spencer says. “They’re buying some studios. They’re learning about the creative process of interactive entertainment. And I think it’s a very smart way for them to move into the space.”

Netflix began the new year by adding two further games into its fold and bringing its total to twelve. The company's newest games include the hidden object game Krispee Street and its Hearthstone style roguelike deckbuilding game Arcanium: Rise of Akhan. A full list of Netflix's available games can be seen below.

Netflix's Available Games

• Arcanium: Rise of Akhan
• Asphalt Xtreme
• Bowling Ballers
• Card Blast
• Dominoes Café
• Knittens
• Krispee Street
• Shooting Hoops
• Stranger Things: 1984
• Stranger Things 3: The Game
• Teeter (Up)
• Wonderputt Forever

For more from Netflix, make sure to check out this article detailing how the streaming service recently confirmed that it has given the go-ahead for the second season of its Korean survival-horror series Squid Game.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

It looks as though The Batman takes real-life inspiration from the Zodiac Killer, with a far grittier Riddler than we’ve ever seen before. Director Matt Reeves goes as far as to say his superhero detective story is "almost a horror."

During an interview with Movie Maker, director Matt Reeves revealed the grizzly inspiration behind his version of The Riddler:

“The premise of the movie is that the Riddler is kind of molded in an almost Zodiac Killer sort of mode, and is killing very prominent figures in Gotham, and they are the pillars of society,” he said. “These are supposedly legitimate figures. It begins with the mayor, and then it escalates from there.”

Paul Dano stars as The Riddler – a serial killer and nemesis of Batman who weaves an intricate puzzle to solve. But it looks as though, as always, the great and good of Gotham City aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.

“In the wake of the murders, [The Riddler] reveals the ways in which these people were not everything they said they were, and you start to realize there’s some kind of association,” he explained. “And so just like Woodward and Bernstein, you’ve got Gordon and Batman trying to follow the clues to try and make sense of this thing in a classic kind-of-detective story way.”

The Batman stars Robert Pattinson as a younger version of Bruce Wayne, and it looks as though the early days of his vigilante career will be focused on bringing Dano’s obsessive serial killer to justice. But don’t expect it to be easy. Although the recent trailer gives us a glimpse of a focussed and determined Batman, Reeves explains that the film occasionally has more in common with a horror movie, while still acting like a detective story at its heart.

“This idea of a place that is corrupt, and you try to swim against the tide in order to fight against it and make a difference, is quintessential Batman,” he said. “At the center of those noir stories is almost always the detective, right? And that’s why he is the world’s greatest detective. And so, this story is, in addition to being almost a horror movie, and a thriller, and an action movie, at its core, it’s also very much a detective story. It’s very narrative.”

All of that said, there will seemingly still be some pulling back from the true horror at its heart, given that The Batman has been confirmed as a PG-13 movie (as well as being the longest-ever Batman film).

Robert Pattinson stars as The Batman alongside Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, and Paul Dano as The Riddler.

The Batman is directed by Matt Reeves, based on a screenplay by Reeves, and Peter Craig. Walter Hamada is listed as executive producer alongside Simon Emanuel, Chantal Nong, and Michael E. Uslan. Matt Reeves, Dylan Clark, and Toby Hefferman are on board to produce.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.