From Jack Nicholson to Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix, plenty of actors have taken up the role of Joker in DC's various Batman films. Now, Barry Keoghan — who appeared as the Clown Prince of Crime in Matt Reeves' The Batman — has shared why it's difficult to play the character.

“It's very intimidating [playing the Joker]," Keoghan told Collider. "Heath Ledger was the best for me. So you have a lot of people to draw from and that. But again, you bring your version to it. That's what I do with any character I play, is no one has seen my version of it."

But while Keoghan names the bar he is compared against, he also relished the challenge of the role. "And again, going back to it, I don't want to be like so-and-so, and follow that method and that method. I want to do me. I want to bring my version, because I feel that is new in a way, and unique, that when you bring your version no one has seen it. And that may make people relate to it. So it was intimidating, but I was excited for it.”

It makes sense that Keoghan pointed to Ledger's iconic version of Joker, as The Dark Knight still marks the character's peak for many Batman fans. The actor was famous for his commitment to the role, and his performance eventually earned a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Ledger's Joker won IGN's Batman villain face-off earlier this year, proving the performance's staying power nearly a decade-and-a-half later.

While Keoghan hasn't been invited back for The Batman 2 just yet, the actor said he'll jump at the opportunity if he gets the call. And, The Batman director Matt Reeves has considered doing a project in the "Arkham space" featuring Keoghan.

Keoghan briefly appeared in The Batman, showing up at the end after The Riddler is locked up in Arkham Asylum. The Riddler meets Keoghan's Joker, who is in a neighboring cell. There is also a deleted scene featuring Joker, in which Batman goes to his nemesis for assistance in the Riddler investigation.

For more, check out Keoghan's audition for The Riddler that's been on the internet for years. Or, check out every DC movie and series affected by the Warner Bros, Discovery merger.

Logan Plant is a freelance writer for IGN covering video game and entertainment news. He has over six years of experience in the gaming industry with bylines at IGN, Nintendo Wire, Switch Player Magazine, and Lifewire. Find him on Twitter @LoganJPlant.

If you needed another reason to feel very, very old right now, 2023 marks the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi. But the upside to that milestone is that Star Wars fans can expect all sorts of new toys and merch celebrating the final chapter in the Original Trilogy next year. That includes a new batch of Hasbro figures that faithfully recreate Kenner's vintage toys.

IGN can exclusively reveal the latest series of Star Wars retro Collection figures. All six figures - Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Han Solo (Endor), Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard), Princess Leia (Boushh) and the Imperial Biker Scout - are based on the original Kenner molds and come packaged in vintage-inspired cardbacks.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at all six return of the Jedi figures:

As with the original figures, each of these Retro figures measures 3.75 inches tall and features limited articulation. Each figure is priced at $11.99, and all six are slated for release in Summer 2023. Preorders will go live on Hasbro Pulse and various other sites beginning on Wednesday, October 19.

These figures are part of the larger "Bring Home the Galaxy" event, with Lucasfilm revealing new collectibles and toys for the next nine weeks leading up to the holidays. You can see other big reveals at the official Star Wars site.

This isn't the first time Hasbro has recreated the classic Kenner Star Wars figures. Earlier this year they released a boxset featuring six figures from the original Star Wars, and the company has even applied the vintage aesthetic to modern Star Wars projects like The Mandalorian.

IGN also recently got a first look at Hasbro's Indiana Jones: the Adventures Series line, which features the first new Indy figures since 2008.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Warner Bros. Games has announced Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, a mobile RPG featuring a cinematic story set to arrive in 2023.

Onslaught will feature a vast roster of Mortal Kombat characters that players can collect and unleash against enemies in real-time group battles.

It's being made by NetherRealm Studios, the developer behind Mortal Kombat 10 and 11 and both Injustice games, and will only appear on mobile. Promising the first cinematic story experience on the platform, players will fight to stop a dark and dangerous threat from wreaking havoc across the realms.

"We are pushing the boundaries of Mortal Kombat to allow players to experience the franchise in new ways, while still staying true to its core visceral nature," said chief creative office of NetherRealm Studios Ed Boon.

"With Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, we reimagined Mortal Kombat into a strategic team-based collection RPG with fast-paced, group melee combat that both new and existing fans can enjoy."

President of Warner Bros. Games David Haddad reiterated the goal to tap into new markets and reach new audiences. "Mortal Kombat is a legendary franchise and pop culture phenomenon, and it continues to engage players and advance the fighting genre across multiple platforms," he said.

"Onslaught is a testament to why Mortal Kombat has been a top gaming franchise for over 30 years, as the NetherRealm team continues to innovate and bring new gameplay to fans.”

A new website was also launched, though it so far only features a newsletter sign-up page for those eager to hear more about Onslaught.

It's unclear when we'll hear or see more about the game. In our 9/10 review of NetherRealm's latest, IGN said: "Mortal Kombat 11 is the best game in the 27-year-old series thanks to deep, methodical new mechanics and fun story."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

It's no surprise that Bethesda is hiding a ton of easter eggs around Starfield's 1,000 planets, and one of them appears to be a reference to its landmark RPG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

As reported by PCGamesN, an infamous NPC from Oblivion called the Adoring Fan might just be making a return in Starfield. A video released by the developer last week shows the character creation menu and its Traits system, one of which is called "Hero Worshipped".

It reads: "You've earned the attention of an annoying 'Adoring Fan' who will show up randomly and jabber at you incessantly. On the plus side, he'll give you gifts."

To fans of Bethesda's previous games, this sounds very similar to the yellow-haired Adoring Fan from Oblivion, who would follow the player constantly after they become Grand Champion of the Cyrodiil Arena.

The Adoring Fan provided no bonus in combat as he refused to fight, and would instead yap in the player's ear for the rest of their game. Even when killed, he'd simply respawn three days later.

Based on the brief Starfield description (which subject to change, given the game is still months from being released), the Adoring Fan won't be a permanent thorn in the side as he only seems to show up occasionally.

We'll find out for sure when Starfield launches in 2023, of course, though the game currently lacks an exact release date. We know Bethesda isn't shy when it comes to including easter eggs, as fans already think they've spotted real-life NASA projects and what appears to be our own solar system.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

DC went above and beyond to stop details of Matt Reeves' The Batman leaking as star Paul Dano revealed he was given a lockable binder with a tracking device to keep movie documents safe.

Speaking to GQ Hype, Dano explained that he was given hard copies of scripts and other production materials, alongside the special binder to keep them all secure.

"Don't lose this," the production crew would tell him. "Put it in your special binder." Dano said he'd grown used to film companies deploying various tactics to keep their films under wraps during production, "but this was the first time I had a binder with a locking code on it. Then they added a tracking device."

The tactic seemingly worked, as very little of The Batman leaked ahead of its March 2022 premiere, though locked binders weren't the only spoiler prevention method used. Reeves even shot fake scenes in order to protect a major reveal in the film's final act.

The film quickly found commercial and critical success, reaching $480 million at the global box office within two weeks of being in cinemas. DC clearly has faith in Reeves' vision for the Robert Pattinson-led Batman franchise too, quickly confirming that a sequel was on the way alongside two spin-off shows.

While the shows are confirmed to be focused on Colin Farrell's Penguin and the Gotham PD, the cast and crew have share what they'd like to explore in the full sequel. Pattinson himself wans to take on the Court of Owls saga while director Matt Reeves hopes to bring Mr. Freeze to his dark and gritty Batman universe.

This could just be the beginning of a much larger universe, however, as Reeves is reportedly in talks with other directors and writers to create films based on Batman villains including Scarecrow, Clayface, and Professor Pyg.

In our 10/10 review of the original, IGN said: "Matt Reeves’ violent, thrilling, darkly beautiful take on The Batman more than justifies its place in the franchise’s canon."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Update, October 25: DualSense Edge controller Preorders are live at PS Direct in the UK, see here to login and complete your order. Preorders are not live in the US yet, but are set to go live today at PS Direct. The original story continues below.

We now have an official release date for the new DualSense Edge, an elite wireless controller for PlayStation 5. It will release on January 26, and that means preorders are also set to go live very soon for the new gamepad (October 25 to be exact).

But, where can I preorder the DualSense Edge controller? That and more will be answered in our handy FAQ preorder guide just below. For more news on the DualSense Edge, makes sure you're following @IGNDeals and @IGNUKDeals on Twitter.

Where Can I Preorder the DualSense Edge Controller?

Preorders for the DualSense Edge Controller will be exclusively available from PlayStation Direct in the US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Moreover, it will only begin to be offered at other participating retailers starting February 23, 2023, as well. The likes of Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and more won't be seeing the controller listed for several more months. So if you want to buy one, it'll likely have to be directly from Sony for the time being.

Preorders Live in the UK at PS Direct

When Can I Preorder the DualSense Edge Controller?

DualSense Edge controller preorders will be live from October 25, exclusively at PS Direct until it releases in January. The official release date is January 26, 2023, and the controller will continue to be exclusive to PS Direct until late February (US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg).

What is the DualSense Edge Controller?

Initially revealed at Gamescom's Opening Night Live, DualSense Edge is a high-end controller that appears to be Sony's answer to Xbox's Elite controller range. A PS Blog entry has detailed the highly customisable controller, which allows you to set bespoke control mappings and even deactivate specific buttons.

Visually, the controller is very much alligned with the normal DualSense, but with a few extra elements to bring it up to premium standards. As with the Xbox controller, you can expect swappable thumb stick caps and adjustable dead zones.

What Does the DualSense Edge Controller Include?

• DualSense Edge wireless controller
• USB braided cable
• 2 Standard caps
• 2 High dome caps
• 2 Low dome caps
• 2 Half dome back buttons
• 2 Lever back buttons
• Connector housing
• Carrying case

How Much Does the DualSense Edge Controller Cost?

The price for the DualSense Edge controller is as follows in the US, UK, and Europe: $199.99 / £209.99 / €239.99. Just for comparison, the new Xbox Elite Series 2 Core costs $129.99 / £114.99, while the complete Elite Series 2 package with all the bells and whistles costs $179.99 / £159.99.

DualSense Edge vs. Xbox Elite Series 2

To better understand the DualSense Edge, let’s take a look at the specs (so far), dig into its standout features, and see how it compares to the Xbox Elite Series 2, in addition to the base DualSense and Xbox wireless controllers. We'll provide a brief overview here, but check out our full feature on comparing the two controllers right here on IGN as well.

Adjustable Trigger Hair Locks

The DualSense Edge includes adjustable trigger hair locks on the back of the device, similar to the Elite line. This means you can adjust the travel distance of the controller’s triggers, which is useful when playing competitive shooters or when you want to minimize the dead zone while playing racing games.

Button Mapping

Button remapping is also available on both controllers. The Xbox Elite Series 2 offers three different ways for you to remap buttons, including one that requires going to the Accessories app on your Xbox. The DualSense Edge, as noted in the PlayStation Blog, features an “on-controller user interface” with a dedicated Fn button that will allow you to adjust your controller’s settings and other things like game volume.

Replacable Stick Modules

One thing that certainly provides a competitive edge for the DualSense Edge is the ability to replace the stick modules, something the Xbox Elite controller does not offer. Although the stick modules will be sold separately, the fact that you can change the thumbsticks entirely is a big deal, as there have been reports since the PS5’s launch of controller drift. The option to replace the thumbsticks will help increase the longevity of the DualSense Edge.

Both controllers come with removable thumbsticks, though. The Xbox Elite Series 2 offers a set of six adjustable-tension thumbsticks: two standard, two classic, one tall, and one wide dome. The DualSense Edge will offer three types of stick caps: standard, high dome, and low dome. For more premium controllers, check out our review of the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Microsoft has officially brought the Xbox Elite 2 controllers to the company's Xbox Design Lab after teasing the feature last month.

Like the standard Xbox wireless controller, the Elite 2 controllers on the Xbox Design Lab will allow you to fully customize nearly all of the parts on the controller, such as the triggers, d-pad, and thumbsticks. Microsoft also notes that players can finally choose between a cross-shaped or faceted D-Pad in the Xbox Design Lab, a feature you previously could not do.

This marks the first time Microsoft has allowed the option to fully customize its flagship controller after launching the Xbox Design Lab in 2016. Microsoft would temporarily pause the program ahead of the Xbox Series X/S launch before relaunching it in June 2021, discontinuing custom Xbox One controllers in favor of the Xbox Series X/S controller.

A custom Elite 2 controller on the Xbox Design Lab starts at $149.99, but there is an option to fully customize the Elite 2 controller and all of the Elite components, which retails for $209.99.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Xbox creator Microsoft has laid off hundreds of staff members across multiple departments.

Sources told Insider that less than 1,000 staff were laid off across divisions thought to include Xbox, the forward-looking Microsoft Strategic Missions and Technology organisation, and the office of the Chief Technology Officer.

Studio Alpha - Microsoft's "serious gaming initiative" that focused on war gaming simulations - is also at risk according to one source, alongside the Mission Expansion cloud government team.

Microsoft's Mission Engineering team may also be affected, as its lead Zach Kramer sent an email to employees announcing that it would be "deprioritizing work already underway".

The email continued: "This is hard to do. There are lots of ideas that could potentially have an impact and each of us has worked very hard, but we must make trade-offs as resources are not unlimited and time is the scarcest of them all.

Microsoft veteran KC Lemson was among those affected, announcing on Twitter that she had lost her role as product manager in the CFO's office. Another laid-off staff member told Insider that they had only been hired one month earlier.

"Like all companies, we evaluate our business priorities on a regular basis, and make structural adjustments accordingly," a Microsoft spokesperson said to Insider. "We will continue to invest in our business and hire in key growth areas in the year ahead."

Microsoft announced in July that it planned to lay off less than 1% of its workforce, which currently sits at around 180,000 people, putting towards 1,800 at risk. It's unconfirmed if this most recent wave of lay-offs is related to this July announcement, however.

It comes during a testing period for Microsoft as the company attempts to prove that Xbox's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is good for consumers and the market. The company has faced criticism from various U.S. senators, the city of New York, the U.S. Justice Department, and most recently the UK government.

Activision Blizzard is also steeped in controversy itself, as earlier in October another sexual harassment lawsuit was filed against the company, joining a line of previous allegations that began with the state of California sueing the Call of Duty developer for fostering a "frat boy culture".

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Elden Ring: A Night in the Lands Between is an official concert based on the game's soundtrack - but it's unexpectedly a jazz gig.

As reported by Eurogamer, the concert will put a new spin on the Elden Ring soundtrack as jazz legends Kenny Garrett and Takuya Kuroda take to the stage. The show will include "recognisable melodies from the game's soundtrack... performed live in Jazz format - with improvisation".

It is, of course, an unusual turn to take for such an orchestra-focused soundtrack, something the two jazz musicians acknowedge in a trailer for the event. "The music of Elden Ring, to me it's huge sounding. Like, the melodies are huge, the orchestra is huge, and it's dark. Different, you know, it's not happy music," said Kuroda.

"It's something different," added Garrett. "I mean Elden Ring is going to be something different than I have done before. And you know, what I learned from my mentor Miles Davis is, really, that's how you become a better musician. I'm up for the challenge."

Kuroda draws a comparison between the interactivity of gaming, and the improvisation of jazz, citing the spontaneity of both: "No one can expect what's going to happen. That's what those things have in common, the game and the music. That's why I think jazz is a good platform to do it."

Those looking to attend the event, taking place at The Bourbon Room in Los Angeles, can pick up various tickets. The Elden Lord tier costs $200 and comes with event admission, a dinner, an exclusive t-shirt, commemorative ticket, poster, digital soundtrack, and VIP seats.

The $125 Demigod tier comes with admission, the t-shirt, poster, and soundtrack, while the $75 Tarnished option comes with just admission to the concert. A Night in the Lands Between will also be streamed live with the "Furled Finger" ticket costing $25 just to access the stream, while a $50 Host of Fingers tier also comes with the commemorative ticket and soundtrack.

A video-on-demand will also be available at $15, but both it and the live stream can only be bought from within the U.S.

This won't be the first unique spin on Elden Ring's orchestral soundtrack, as composer Alex Moukala previously recreated its main theme in 15 different styles, from Spanish guitar to trap and traditional Japanese. Also (sort of) in the Elden Ring music world, a streamer managed to defeat its toughest boss, Malenia, Blade of Miquella, using a dance mat and at level one.

Released back in February, Elden Ring has continued to capture the imagination of its players, as proven by the number of adaptations being released. FromSoftware's latest has received an official manga (that's a comedy, weirdly), and just last month an official board game was announced.

In our 10/10 review of the game, IGN said: "Elden Ring is a massive iteration on what FromSoftware began with the Souls series, bringing its relentlessly challenging combat to an incredible open world that gives us the freedom to choose our own path."

To make those choices with the best available information, check out our guide that features everything you could ever hope to know about Elden Ring, including collectible locations, boss strategies, and more.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Apollo Creed is back, and some fans now want Creed 3 to include Clubber Lang storyline.

Creed 3 star Michael B. Jordan unveiled a first look at the upcoming Creed sequel on Twitter with a trio of striking images, showing Apollo and new rival Anderson Dame (Jonathan Majors) taking to the ring.

“You can’t run… from your past,” reads the tagline, leading some fans to speculate that Dame could be connected to the Rocky III character, Clubber Lang (Mr. T). After all, the series hasn't been shy about reintroducing characters from the past - even seeing Ivan Drago return with his son in the last movie.

3/3/23 #creed3 pic.twitter.com/HnlaL9SlU4

— Michael B. Jordan (@michaelb4jordan) October 17, 2022

Clubber Lang first appeared in Rocky III back in 1982, played by the inimitable Mr. T. Lang was a professional boxer from Chicago, Illinois, and one-time world heavyweight champion, taking the title from Rocky Balboa only to lose it back to Balboa in their next fight.

Lang was said to be loosely based on a combination of real-life boxers Sonny Liston, Larry Holmes, and George Foreman. Despite his popularity, Lang bowed out of the Rocky franchise after one appearance – only appearing briefly in Rocky IV during a recap of the earlier fight.

Some think this movie will weave in that history in some respect. "Getting serious Clubber Lang vibes from Jonathan Majors," wrote a Twitter user. “Would it be crazy if that's Clubber [Lang's] kid” said another.

Unlike Drago's connection to Creed in the last movie, there’s no real connection between Lang and Apollo’s dad, Adonis Creed, however, and other fans think this will simply be a storyline about Apollo's own past, not that of the franchise:

“Can't run from your past...we already did Drago,” said one Twitter user. “Creed had no actual connection to Clubber Lang so I don't think that's it...were they in juvie or a group home together? Bet that's it.”

Considering Sylvester Stallone won’t be heading back for Creed 3 this feels like a good time for Apollo to strike out on his own, as well as face a more personal story that’s about him and not his father or his trainer.

Want to read more about Creed 3? Find out why Stallone isn’t returning for Creed 3 and why Stallone is campaigning to get his Rocky rights back.

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