Monthly Archives: March 2020

Watchmen’s Damon Lindelof Would Love To Work in the MCU and Star Wars Universe

While doing press for his new movie The Hunt, which is finally being released after being delayed last August, Watchmen creator and showrunner Damon Lindeof expressed interest in doing projects for both Marvel and Star Wars. Lindelof's new excitement over the MCU stems from the upcoming Disney+ Phase 4 series, WandaVision. Here's what the former Lost showrunner told Fandom. “I think that doing something in the Marvel universe, anywhere in the Marvel Universe, would be really potentially exciting for me," he said, "especially as they start to get a little bit more experimental." “Some of the things that I’ve seen for Wandavision, for example, just feel like, ‘Okay, now we’re getting somewhere’. Particularly in a television space." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvels-wandavision-all-the-tv-sitcom-influences&captions=true"] "And, at some point," Lindelof added, "but certainly not in the immediate future, I feel like I would love to do something in the Star Wars universe. Maybe a decade from now when I would no longer be blamed for ruining it. That would be a hoot.” Marvel's WandaVision was initially slated to debut in 2021, but the release date was recently moved up to December 2020, edging closer towards the release of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier in August. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/11/the-hunt-review"] While little is known about the plot of WandaVision, Paul Bettany has previously described it as "the oddest of all the Marvel endeavours so far." Meanwhile, Marvel's Chief Creative Officer Kevin Feige said that the series will feature Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff finally becoming/being named Scarlet Witch. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Cinema Chains Across Europe Shut Down Due to Coronavirus

Update: According to Variety, the French government has now decided to close all movie theaters, restaurants, and stores in order to stem the spread of COVID-19. The decision comes after the French government recently banned public gatherings of more than 100 people. The new restrictions were announced by Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and will take effect at midnight local time for an indefinite length of time. Though the announcement says stores will close, high-priority establishments like pharmacies, grocery stores, gas stations, banks, and newspaper stands will remain open. Phillippe said the decision was made after consultations with medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of COVID-19/coronavirus. Original story as follows: Several cinema chains across Europe are closing their doors for the time being as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to The Hollywood Reporter, some of Spain's largest theater chains such as Cinesa, Golem, Kinépolis, and Yelmo shut down Friday, March 13, after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a state of emergency for Spain as a result of COVID-19. Spain has more than 4200 confirmed cases with 120 deaths as of Friday. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] The French government tightened event regulations Friday with a ban on all gatherings of more than 100 people. The French Cinemas Association said theaters will remain open but viewings will not exceed 100 people, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Italy's government enacted similar measures before the country's quarantine was put into place. The country's box office numbers saw a decrease of more than 60% as a result. Germany's government has not enacted a country-wide policy like France at this time but some of its individual municipalities have shut down their respective theaters. This includes places like Bielefeld, Bonn, Kassel, and Stuttgart. European countries that have shut down theaters country-wide include Italy and Poland for now. Those theaters have been shut down for at least two weeks, according to THR. Denmark, Norway and Greece have followed suit and shut down their theaters for two weeks as well. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/13/how-coronavirus-delays-are-impacting-2020-movies-ign-now"] The European box office is expected to take a hit with theaters closing en masse like this due to COVID-19. Elsewhere, movies like Mulan and The New Mutants have been delayed as a result of the crisis. No Time to Die was also delayed. The movie industry isn't the only entertainment industry affected by the virus. Theme parks like DisneylandDisney World, Disneyland Paris and Universal Studios Hollywood have closed its gates for now and one of the world's largest gaming conferences, E3, was cancelled too. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

The Batman Production Halted for Two Weeks

Update: Production on Warner Bros.' The Batman has officially been halted for two weeks, a company spokesperson has confirmed to IGN. It was previously reported that production on The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the titular caped crusader, was relocating from London to Liverpool. Warner Bros. reportedly made the decision to just stop production altogether out of safety concerns. Deadline reports that no one from the cast or production crew has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Warner Bros. has stated it will "monitor the situation closely" as COVID-19 developments continue. Original story as follows: It appears as though, while other movie productions across the globe have shut down due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, Matt Reeves' The Batman is still filming. Variety film reporter Justin Kroll states that a source close to Warner Bros. says the studio's films The Batman, Matrix 4, and King Richard (starring Will Smith) are still in production. Here's Kroll's tweet... In Kroll's chain, he also mentions that Fantastic Beasts 3 is still set to start filming on Monday. Also mentioned, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, The Little Things (starring Denzel Washington), and Reminisce (starring Hugh Jackman, written directed by Westworld's Lisa Joy) have all finished filming and are now in post-production. DC films Black Adam and Aqauaman 2 haven't started production yet, and won't for a little while. Obviously, productions could come to a halt if Warner Bros. changes its mind. The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz, began filming in the U.K. at the end of January. The film's take on the Batmobile has many influences, from the comics to the original TV series. For more on the new movie, here's everything we know so far about The Batman. Then check out IGN's ranking of all the movie Batsuits and our pick for the best movie Batman. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/07/designing-the-perfect-batsuit"] Regarding the entertainment industry's response to the pandemic, here is a running list of every movie release that's been delayed and every TV and movie production that's been shut down. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Comcast is Suspending Data Cap for 60 Days After Coronavirus Outbreak

Update: Comcast announced Friday, March 13, some additional changes to its internet services during the COVID-19 crisis. The company is offering Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone which will see Xfinity WiFi hotspots available to anyone who needs them, including those who aren't current Xfinity Internet customers. This will be in effect for 60 days. You can view a map of these hotspots here. Once at a hotspot, Comcast said to select the "xfinitywifi" network name in the list of available hotspots before launching a browser. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/13/how-coronavirus-delays-are-impacting-2020-movies-ign-now"] Comcast is also pausing its current data plans meaning that for the next 60 days, all customers will have access to unlimited data for no additional charge. Comcast also said that it will not disconnect internet service or charge late fees to customers that contact the company to let them know that they can't pay their internet bill at this time. For customers with children home from school due to the virus, Comcast said it's created "new educational collections for all grade levels" in a partnership with Common Sense Media. To access these collections, customers need to say "education" into their X1 Flex voice remotes. Customers can also say "Coronavirus" into the remote to access a collection of information related to the virus. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/13/how-coronavirus-delays-are-impacting-2020-movies-ign-now"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Original story as follows: Internet providers are playing nicely as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Well, Comcast and AT&T are at least so far. As reported on by Vice, AT&T is the first major internet service provider to suspend broadband data caps during the COVID-19 outbreak. AT&T told Vice that the suspension on broadband data caps is in effect and will be until further notice. "Many of our AT&T Internet customers already have unlimited home internet access, and we are waiving internet data overage for the remaining customers," an AT&T spokesperson told Vice. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/11/e3-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-concerns-ign-daily-fix"] Comcast is the second major ISP to confirm a change in its internet access amid the COVID-19 crisis, as reported by Variety, but it's not dropping broadband data caps. Instead, Comcast announced that it is offering free broadband to low-income households and that the company will be boosting internet speeds. Comcast's change will go into effect Monday, March 16, and it will bring two new features to the Internet Essentials Program. The first feature is for low-income households. Low-income families that live in an area with access to Comcast can sign up as a new customer to receive 60 free days of the Internet Essentials service. This service usually comes with a price tag of $9.95 per month. The second feature is Comcast's increase in speeds. The increased speeds will only apply to those with the Internet Essentials service. The service currently offers 15 Mbps for download and 2 Mbps for upload, but starting Monday, the service will jump to 25 and 3 respectively. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] "Our hope is that broader access and faster speeds will help all of our Internet Essentials customers more easily work from home, access educational resources, obtain important government health care alerts, and stay in contact with their families during this difficult time," Comcast Cable's President of Consumer Services Dana Strong said in a statement to Variety. Only those who qualify for programs like the National School Lunch Program or SNAP are eligible for Comcast's Internet Essentials service. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/how-coronavirus-is-impacting-the-games-industry"] The COVID-19 outbreak has led to many changes in the past few days and weeks, including the suspension of the NBA basketball season. It's led to movie delays such as Mulan and No Time to Die, and has led to the closure of theme parks like Disney World and Universal Studios Hollywood. Earlier this week, one of the world's largest video game conferences, E3, was cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes

Steam Just Shattered its Concurrent Player Record

Steam, the ever-popular digital PC gaming platform, has just broken its own previous record for most concurrent players.

According to Steam’s own statistics tracker, a peak count of 19,728,027 people were using the service around 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning, a brand new record for the service.

steam users

The previous concurrent user record for Steam was approximately 18,801,944 as of February 2020, making the new record almost a jump of 1 million users.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/14/half-life-2-developers-react-to-50-minute-speedrun"]

Unsurprisingly, this also means that some of Steam’s (and owner Valve’s) most popular games have also set new concurrent players records. Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (also known as CS:GO) managed to peak at 1,007,062 players, while DOTA 2 peaked at 694,829. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has peaked at 525,462 players, while Rainbow Six Siege and Grand Theft Auto Online bring up the rear.

It’s unsurprising news, to say the least, considering many people around the globe are practicing a higher level of caution in the wake of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, and likely avoiding public gatherings. That leaves a lot of time to play video games.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] In the world of film and television, numerous blockbuster movies and programs have seen either their theatrical release dates or production schedules postponed. Meanwhile, when it comes to major streaming platforms, Disney+ has announced that Frozen 2 will be hitting Disney’s service three months early. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/work-from-homer for IGN.

Steam Just Shattered its Concurrent Player Record

Steam, the ever-popular digital PC gaming platform, has just broken its own previous record for most concurrent players.

According to Steam’s own statistics tracker, a peak count of 19,728,027 people were using the service around 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning, a brand new record for the service.

steam users

The previous concurrent user record for Steam was approximately 18,801,944 as of February 2020, making the new record almost a jump of 1 million users.

[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/14/half-life-2-developers-react-to-50-minute-speedrun"]

Unsurprisingly, this also means that some of Steam’s (and owner Valve’s) most popular games have also set new concurrent players records. Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (also known as CS:GO) managed to peak at 1,007,062 players, while DOTA 2 peaked at 694,829. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has peaked at 525,462 players, while Rainbow Six Siege and Grand Theft Auto Online bring up the rear.

It’s unsurprising news, to say the least, considering many people around the globe are practicing a higher level of caution in the wake of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, and likely avoiding public gatherings. That leaves a lot of time to play video games.

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] In the world of film and television, numerous blockbuster movies and programs have seen either their theatrical release dates or production schedules postponed. Meanwhile, when it comes to major streaming platforms, Disney+ has announced that Frozen 2 will be hitting Disney’s service three months early. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/work-from-homer for IGN.

James Gunn Shares 10 Underrated Films to Watch During Self-Quarantine

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues, major conventions are being canceled or postponed and a growing number of movie and TV projects are being suspended. With this, many folks who are now practicing "social distancing" might be looking for things to watch while they remain indoors. And director James Gunn, whose latest film, The Suicide Squad, managed to wrap production before the outbreak reached global status, has some recommendations. Gunn took to Twitter to list 10 of his favorite "underrated/little known" films for people to watch, and to encourage others to list theirs. You can check out Gunn's full Twitter thread below, where he recommends everything from South Korean New Wave (from directors like Bong Joon-ho and Jung Byung-gil) to an old Preston Sturges comedy to Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant "non-sequel" starring Nic Cage. Check it out. Here's the full list of Gunn's #QuarantineAndChill recommendations...

  • Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) – directed by Paul Mazursky
  • Villainess (2017) – directed by Jung Byung-gil
  • Pretty Poison (1968) – directed by Noel Black
  • The Wanderers (1979) – directed by Philip Kaufman
  • Mother (2009) – directed by Bong Joon-ho
  • One Cut of the Dead (2017) – directed by Shinichirou Ueda
  • Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans (2009) – directed by Werner Herzog
  • The Yellow Sea (2010) – directed by Na Hong-jin
  • Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) - directed by Preston Sturges
  • Duck You Sucker (A Fistful of Dynamite) (1971) – directed by Sergio Leone

If you're looking for something a little more "Feel-Good," we've compiled a list of the best comforting watches now available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Go. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=feel-good-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-netflix-amazon-disney-hulu-and-hbo-go&captions=true"] Did you have a list of cult classics or underrated gems, like James Gunn, that you'd like to share? Let everyone know in the comments below@ [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

James Gunn Shares 10 Underrated Films to Watch During Self-Quarantine

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues, major conventions are being canceled or postponed and a growing number of movie and TV projects are being suspended. With this, many folks who are now practicing "social distancing" might be looking for things to watch while they remain indoors. And director James Gunn, whose latest film, The Suicide Squad, managed to wrap production before the outbreak reached global status, has some recommendations. Gunn took to Twitter to list 10 of his favorite "underrated/little known" films for people to watch, and to encourage others to list theirs. You can check out Gunn's full Twitter thread below, where he recommends everything from South Korean New Wave (from directors like Bong Joon-ho and Jung Byung-gil) to an old Preston Sturges comedy to Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant "non-sequel" starring Nic Cage. Check it out. Here's the full list of Gunn's #QuarantineAndChill recommendations...

  • Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969) – directed by Paul Mazursky
  • Villainess (2017) – directed by Jung Byung-gil
  • Pretty Poison (1968) – directed by Noel Black
  • The Wanderers (1979) – directed by Philip Kaufman
  • Mother (2009) – directed by Bong Joon-ho
  • One Cut of the Dead (2017) – directed by Shinichirou Ueda
  • Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans (2009) – directed by Werner Herzog
  • The Yellow Sea (2010) – directed by Na Hong-jin
  • Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) - directed by Preston Sturges
  • Duck You Sucker (A Fistful of Dynamite) (1971) – directed by Sergio Leone

If you're looking for something a little more "Feel-Good," we've compiled a list of the best comforting watches now available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and HBO Go. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=feel-good-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-netflix-amazon-disney-hulu-and-hbo-go&captions=true"] Did you have a list of cult classics or underrated gems, like James Gunn, that you'd like to share? Let everyone know in the comments below@ [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

The Batman Production Halted for Two Weeks

Update: Production on Warner Bros.' The Batman has officially been halted for two weeks, a company spokesperson has confirmed to IGN. It was previously reported that production on The Batman, which stars Robert Pattinson as the titular caped crusader, was relocating from London to Liverpool. Warner Bros. reportedly made the decision to just stop production altogether out of safety concerns. Deadline reports that no one from the cast or production crew has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Warner Bros. has stated it will "monitor the situation closely" as COVID-19 developments continue. Original story as follows: It appears as though, while other movie productions across the globe have shut down due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus, Matt Reeves' The Batman is still filming. Variety film reporter Justin Kroll states that a source close to Warner Bros. says the studio's films The Batman, Matrix 4, and King Richard (starring Will Smith) are still in production. Here's Kroll's tweet... In Kroll's chain, he also mentions that Fantastic Beasts 3 is still set to start filming on Monday. Also mentioned, James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, The Little Things (starring Denzel Washington), and Reminisce (starring Hugh Jackman, written directed by Westworld's Lisa Joy) have all finished filming and are now in post-production. DC films Black Adam and Aqauaman 2 haven't started production yet, and won't for a little while. Obviously, productions could come to a halt if Warner Bros. changes its mind. The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson and Zoe Kravitz, began filming in the U.K. at the end of January. The film's take on the Batmobile has many influences, from the comics to the original TV series. For more on the new movie, here's everything we know so far about The Batman. Then check out IGN's ranking of all the movie Batsuits and our pick for the best movie Batman. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/03/07/designing-the-perfect-batsuit"] Regarding the entertainment industry's response to the pandemic, here is a running list of every movie release that's been delayed and every TV and movie production that's been shut down. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.

Stranger Things Production Shut Down for Two Weeks Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Netflix has announced that it's temporarily shutting down production for its original movies and shows to reduce the spread of coronavirus. All of the streaming giant's scripted television and film projects in the United States and Canada will go on hiatus for two weeks. Included in these productions is Stranger Things, which was in the midst of filming its fourth season. The Warner Bros. Television Group released a statement regarding the situation:
"With the rapidly changing events related to COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, Warner Bros. Television Group is halting production on some of our 70-plus series and pilots currently filming or about to begin. There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 on any of our productions, but the health and safety of our employees, casts and crews remains our top priority. During this time, we will continue to follow the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control as well as local officials and public health professionals in each city where our productions are based.”
[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-delayed-movie-due-to-coronavirus-so-far&captions=true"] Warner Bros. TV is far from the only studio putting a halt to production as all NBC, Amazon, FX, and Apple TV+ series are taking a break from filming as well. AMC has also stopped production on Fear the Walking Dead Season 6, until at least the week of April 13, while pre-production on Season 11 of The Walking Dead has also been delayed for a month, although the writers' room is still active and working on scripts. Meanwhile, here's a quick look at everything we know about Stranger Things: Season 4. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/06/what-will-happen-in-stranger-things-season-4"] Keep it locked into IGN for all the latest news from the entertainment world regarding COVID-19. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.