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Prepare Yourself For The Next Great Spy Thriller Movie: ‘Tetris?’

Tony Schaab - Senior Editor — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:00:27 +0000

There are certain video games that have a natural path that can be traced in terms of what a move about that game would be about. Assassin’s Creed and time-travel undercover ops. Uncharted and a treasure-hunting mystery. Sonic the Hedgehog and a fast blue animal with rings. Super Mario Bros and plumbing. And the like. So, when the news came down about an upcoming film called ‘Tetris,’ it makes one’s brain start to think of the possibilities: will this be a movie along the same lines as Hasbro’s now-scuttled plans for turning its games into film properties? Will it be a tale about giant blocky alien ships invading Earth, and the only way for us to defeat them is to get them lined up next to each other so our missiles can make them “disappear?” (I’d watch that, probably.) Could it be a horror movie based on an ancient puzzle, and when the pieces align just so, it sends the user into a shadowy nether-realm? (I’d definitely watch that.) Well, no, that’s all wrong – and probably the furthest thing from our mind is actually the correct answer: ‘Tetris’ will be an espionage-style thriller, telling the true(ish) story of how the game […]

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Star Wars Short Film ‘Hunted’ From Lucasfilm & EA Shows The Empire’s Point Of View

Tony Schaab - Senior Editor — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 15:18:59 +0000

Depending upon which Star Wars fan you talk to on any given day, the franchise has had its fair share of perceived hits and misses, not only recently but across its 40-plus years of history. If you’re fan like I am, you may take particular interest in any Star Wars tale that doesn’t specifically center around someone named Skywalker – and if that kind of Star Wars is your cup of tea blue milk, then you are in luck with ‘Hunted,’ an amazing new short film released last week to help herald the arrival of the franchise’s newest video game. The 7-minute mini-movie takes a character approach that is fairly unique in the Star Wars universe: it follows the plight of the Galactic Empire as (ostensibly) the “good guys,” or at least the side of the whole good-versus-evil battle that’s being persecuted. Taking place shortly after the Battle of Endor (aka the events shown to us at the end of ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ and the “original trilogy”), ‘Hunted’ flips the narrative and shows the Rebellion as the aggressors in the conflict, ruthlessly destroying an Empire base and looking to take no prisoners as the battle mops up. […]

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Nintendo Vs. Sega Documentary ‘Console Wars’ Coming To CBS All Access This Month

Tony Schaab - Senior Editor — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:51:17 +0000

Video games have evolved to a point where anyone with a smartphone can play brand-new games with cutting-edge graphics right in the palm of their hands. Dedicated video-game consoles still exist, of course, for the more “hard-core” gaming fans out there, and the concept of the console itself is nothing new, dating back several decades. Two of the biggest early players in the video-game console explosion of the 1980s and 1990s are Nintendo and Sega, and their not-always-above-board business-fueled rivalry is being freshly presented in the new documentary ‘Console Wars,’ coming exclusively to CBS All Access on September 23rd of this year. This documentary is not to be confused with ‘High Score,’ the six-episode limited series on Netflix that takes a more “30,000-foot view” of the beginnings and history of the entire video-game business. Rather, ‘Console Wars’ will be turning its focus squarely on industry mega-giant Nintendo and their burgeoning feud with upstart console contender Sega, as the two companies famously clashed time and time again over customers, marketing, and sales tactics in the console explosion of the 1990s. An Official Selection of the 2020 SXSW Film Festival, Console Wars takes viewers back to 1990 when Sega, a fledgling arcade […]

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HBO’s ‘The Last Of Us’ Adaptation Will Include Elements Cut From The Original Game

Jax Motes — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 14:00:49 +0000

HBO’s series adaptation of the Sony Playstation game ‘The Last of Us’ will incorporate elements designed for the game but never used, according to producer Craig Mazin (‘Chernobyl’). Mazin is collaborating closely with game director Neil Druckmann, who has been filling him in on some lost nuggets that will finally find their way into the ‘Last of Us’ universe. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Mazin teased: “Neil, at one point, he’s like, ‘You know, there was one thing we were talking about for a while,’ and then he told me what it was. I was like, ‘Well, that’s going in. You couldn’t stop me from doing that.’ So we’re doing that. And there’s quite a few things like that where it’s not like, ‘Oh, we just decided, oh, wouldn’t it be cool if there was one episode where Joel and Ellie get on motorcycles and confront a motorcycle gang?’ That’s not what we do. There’s no episodic nonsense here. This is all pretty much curated. The things that are new and enhancing of the storyline we’re doing are connected in organic, serious ways that fans and newcomers alike will appreciate.” ‘The Last of Us’ is a post-apocalyptic shooter game, […]

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A Live-Action/Animated Movie Based On ‘Beyond Good & Evil’ Is Heading To Netflix From ‘Detective Pikachu’ Director

Jax Motes — Sat, 01 Aug 2020 00:04:36 +0000

Netflix is developing a movie based on the 2003 Ubisoft video game ‘Beyond Good & Evil’ to be directed by Rob Letterman, who helmed last year’s ‘Detective Pikachu’, which took in $436 million in worldwide ticket sales, making it the highest-grossing movie based on a video game ever. Like that film, ‘Beyond Good & Evil’ will be a live-action/animation hybrid. Among Letterman’s previous directorial efforts have been ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, ‘Goosebumps’ (which also mixed live-action and animation), and the fully animated ‘Monsters vs. Aliens’ and ‘Shark Tale’. Letterman and producers Jason Altman and Margaret Boykin (for Ubisoft Film & Television) are currently seeking writers. ‘Beyond Good & Evil’ is set on a mining planet in outer space in the 25th century, and follows Jade, an intrepid photojournalist who becomes instrumental in a resistance movement against alien invaders called DomZ. She is accompanied by Pey’j, a paternal boar-like creature. The game is a mixture of adventure, puzzle-solving, and combat. It was critically acclaimed when it was released in 2003 and even nominated for Game of the Year, but was a financial flop. Even so, because of its quality, it has developed a cult following. A sequel, ‘Beyond Good & Evil 2’ has […]

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Netflix Is Delivering A ‘Splinter Cell’ Anime From The Creator Of John Wick

Jax Motes — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 21:14:02 +0000

Netflix is developing an anime series based on Ubisoft’s hit game franchise ‘Splinter Cell’, based on a concept by Tom Clancy. Derek Kolstad will write and serve as executive producer. Kolstad created the ‘John Wick’ film franchise, having written the screenplays for the first two movies, and co-writing the third. Reportedly, Netflix has already committed to two seasons, for a total of 16 episodes. Alongside ‘Assassin’s Creed’, ‘Splinter Cell’ has become one of Ubisoft’s top game franchises, having sold over 31 million copies on various platforms. The main character is a secret agent named Sam Fisher, who works for the shadowy “Third Echelon.” There have been seven games in the franchise, with the last, ‘Splinter Cell: Blacklist’ having been released in 2013. There has been talk of a new game being developed, but nothing official has been announced. Thanks to the popularity of the games, a series of novels have also been released to tie-in to each installment of the game. Even though the game is based on an idea by bestselling author Tom Clancy, the ‘Splinter Cell’ novels are credited to David Michaels, which is a pseudonym for various ghostwriters. Like the games, the last novel was published in […]

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San Diego Comic-Con’s @Home Event Was A Flop According To Social Media

Jax Motes — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 21:57:02 +0000

It appears that Comic-Con@Home was a bust. Obviously, due to COVID-19, an actual in-person con couldn’t be held, so instead, organizers offered up streaming panels, featuring creators, cast members, and fans of popular comic books, TV shows, video games, and movies, and unlike the usual, these were absolutely free to everyone in the world. However, the social media analytics firm, ListenFirst, reports (via Variety) that buzz surrounding SDCC@Home was not just quieter than normal, it was practically muted. Tweets mentioning SDCC@H were only 5% those of 2019’s Comic-Con! That’s 93,681 tweets versus 1,719,000 last year. Specifically, tweets about the TV show panels were down 93%, and those about movies were down a mindblowing 99%! Ironically, SDCC@H’s most viewed panel was for a movie– ‘The New Mutants’. It has racked up over 208,000 views since its release last Thursday. The ‘New Mutants’ panel offered a Q&A with director Josh Boone and the cast, a first look at the movie’s opening scene, a new trailer, and six posters, copies of which were raffled off to viewers. Then again, ironically, the trailer that was released on July 16, announcing the panel, has 303,000 views! So more people have watched the advertisement for the […]

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Comic-Con@Home: Sunday Panel Schedule

Jax Motes — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 11:00:28 +0000

Due to the COVID-19 shutdowns, one of the biggest pop culture events of the year, San Diego Comic-Con International, will not be held, but organizers have managed to pull together some of the biggest names in entertainment to provide a virtual Comic-Con that millions will be able to view from the safety and comfort of their homes. Just because the Con wraps up on Sunday doesn’t mean that the day isn’t packed full of panels to appeal to fans of all stripes. There is a celebration of the original ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ movies. There will also be a virtual gathering of various ‘Power Rangers’ from throughout the years. And ‘The 100’ creators and cast may be gathered for their final panel. Check out all of the Sunday panels below. Times are Pacific.: 10:00 AM Animated Illustration Celebrating 80 Years of Will Eisner’s The Spirit Emily the Strange Virtual Panel Experience First TMNT Film 30th Anniversary Hoops Imagination & Fun for Kids – The IDW Way! Little Fish: From Physical to Digital, Thriving and Growing Motherland: Fort Salem: A World of Magic, Action, and Intrigue Over30Cosplay: Virtual Costuming and Cosplay Advice and Support for the Mature Cosplayer Turning Fandoms […]

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Comic-Con@Home: Saturday Panel Schedule

Jax Motes — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 11:00:38 +0000

Due to the COVID-19 shutdowns, one of the biggest pop culture events of the year, San Diego Comic-Con International, will not be held, but organizers have managed to pull together some of the biggest names in entertainment to provide a virtual Comic-Con that millions will be able to view from the safety and comfort of their homes. Below are the panels for Saturday and once again, there seems to be something for every sort of fan, whether your thing is technology, gaming, manga and anime, animation, collecting or just about anything else that’s good and nerdy. ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ returns for a victory lap, in celebration of its final season. Keanu Reeves will pop up twice, as part of a retrospective for ‘Constantine’ and for his upcoming film, ‘Bill & Ted Face the Music’. Peacock will make its Comic-Con debut to promote its new series ‘Brave New World’, while HBO will plug its upcoming ‘Lovecraft Country’. Of course, there are plenty more panels to choose from. Check out the listing below. Times are Pacific.: 10:00 AM (Nearly) A Decade of Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales Cosmos: Possible Worlds Dynamite’s Two Huge Crossovers Revealed! Inglorious Treksperts: 30 Years of Best of Both […]

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‘Just Cause’ Movie Coming From ‘Stuber’ Director And Writer Of ‘John Wick’

Jax Motes — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 19:32:41 +0000

The latest video game getting a big-screen adaptation is Avalanche Studios/Eidos Interactive’s ‘Just Cause’, which will hail from Constantin Film and Prime Universe Films. Michael Dowse (‘Stuber’, ‘Coffee & Kareem’) will direct from a script by Derek Kolstad, who wrote the first two ‘John Wick’ movies and co-wrote the third, and was a staff writer on Disney+’s ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’. He also came up with the story for the upcoming Quibi series ‘Die Hart’ starring Kevin Hart and John Travolta. ‘Just Cause’ is an open-world adventure game which also incorporates elements from third-person shooters and racing games. The main character is Rico “The Scorpion” Rodriguez, an agent of a secret government agency, referred to only as “the Agency.” Each game in the series sends Rodriguez to free an island nation from evil drug lords/terrorists/mercenaries, most notably, the Black Hand. Reportedly, the movie will also pit Rodriguez against the Black Hand. It is also stated that he will be accompanied by a female co-lead. The first ‘Just Cause’ game included a female agent named Maria Kane. There are various female NPCs throughout the various games. ‘Just Cause’ was previously slated to get the big-screen treatment in 2017, with […]

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Paul W.S. Anderson Says The Creatures In ‘Monster Hunter’ Are More Detailed And “Look Even Better” Than Those In ‘Jurassic World’

Jax Motes — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 14:00:52 +0000

Fans may be looking forward to ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’, but before that arrives, there may be something even better! Writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson is very proud of his upcoming movie, ‘Monster Hunter’, based on the Capcom video game series. In fact, it sounds as though Anderson is confident that ‘Monster Hunter’ will surpass ‘Jurassic World’, at when it comes to visuals. Speaking to Empire Magazine, Anderson said: “All our monsters are 50-60 feet tall. They’re really amazing. We’re building them in even more detail than the dinosaurs of Jurassic World. And they look even better, because we shot on real locations in South Africa and Namibia, which gives the animators something to really match into: real wind, real dust, real sun-flare. The monsters are the only CG thing in there.” On top of that, when asked to describe ‘Monster Hunter’, he replied: “Lawrence of Arabia … but with monsters!” While it’s true that ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ is filming at Pinewood Studios in England, those movies aren’t shot entirely against a green screen. Both previous ‘Jurassic World’ pics were partially filmed in Hawaii. And portions of ‘Dominion’ have already been shot in Vancouver Island, and Merritt, British Columbia, with plans for additional filming […]

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‘Monster Hunter’ Moves From Fall To April 2021

Jax Motes — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:00:22 +0000

Screen Gems’ ‘Monster Hunter’ is the latest film to be delayed due to theater closures caused by COVID-19. Paul W.S. Anderson (the ‘Resident Evil’ franchise) wrote and directed. His wife, Milla Jovovich stars in the lead role of Lt. Artemis. The cast also includes martial arts superstar Tony Jaa as The Hunter, Ron Perlman as the Admiral, leader of the Hunter’s Crew, T.I. as a sniper named Link, plus Jin Au-Yeung, Aaron Beelner, Schelaine Bennett, Diego Boneta, Meagan Good, Josh Helman, and Jannik Schümann. The film is an adaptation of the Capcom video game series. ‘Monster Hunter’ had been scheduled to open in theaters on September 4, 2020, but has been shifted to April 23, 2021. While this picture probably won’t be a massive hit in the US, it is the type of movie (like the ‘Resident Evil’ flicks) that will likely do very well in other countries like China, which are also crippled by the virus. So that is likely why Screen Gems (a division of Sony) is sticking with plans to release it in theaters instead of going directly to PVOD. Behind our world, there is another — a world of dangerous and powerful monsters that rule their domain with […]

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Henry Cavill Opens Up About Finding The Right Fit For His ‘The Witcher’ Britches

Jax Motes — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:00:24 +0000

There were two major breakout stars of Netflix’s ‘The Witcher’ when it launched last winter. Oh, and there were some actors on it too. Henry Cavill’s physique launched a million admiring memes, whether he was basking in his bath or sauntering around in those oh-so-snug trousers. But getting the right fit for the costume, not to mention the required wigs and contact lenses was a lengthy process. Cavill recently discussed some of the work that went into getting Geralt of Rivia’s look just right. First, he praised his hairdresser, Jackie Rathore, who Cavill says was kept up at nights due to the white hairpieces. “My hairdresser Jackie Rathore is absolutely fantastic. She didn’t have the opportunity to actually build the wig herself, so when she received it, she started doing work on it. She worked, and worked, and worked it; it was quite a difficult process. There’s three of them, so she would take them home every night and be changing individual hairs. She sent them back to get a finer lace, so it’s less visible, and she just worked and worked and worked that thing. She was having nightmares about the wigs.” The costumes for the series were designed […]

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Creators Of ‘Westworld’ Will Turn ‘Fallout’ Into A Series On Amazon Prime Video

Jax Motes — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:00:20 +0000

The creators of ‘Westworld’, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, are set to tackle another ambitious sci-fi series. Nolan and Joy are developing a series adaptations of the Interplay Entertainment/Bethesda Game Studios ‘Fallout’ franchise for Amazon Prime Video. They are producing through their Kilter Films banner, and Amazon is committed to the series which will move immediately into production if execs are happy with the scripts. In a joint statement, Nolan and Joy declared (via Variety): “Fallout is one of the greatest game series of all time. Each chapter of this insanely imaginative story has cost us countless hours we could have spent with family and friends. So we’re incredibly excited to partner with Todd Howard and the rest of the brilliant lunatics at Bethesda to bring this massive, subversive, and darkly funny universe to life with Amazon Studios.” Howard added: “Over the last decade, we looked at many ways to bring Fallout to the screen. But it was clear from the moment I first spoke with Jonah and Lisa a few years ago, that they and the team at Kilter were the ones to do it right. We’re enormous fans of their work and couldn’t be more excited to work […]

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Cate Blanchett Is Sought To Star As Lilith In A Film Adaptation Of ‘Borderlands’

Jax Motes — Wed, 13 May 2020 15:31:03 +0000

It is been reported that Cate Blanchett is in talks to star in the live-action film adaptation of the video game ‘Borderlands’. She is expected to play Lilith, a Siren from the planet Dionysus. While Lilith is a major character in multiple ‘Borderlands’ games, she is usually an NPC, although she was playable in the first. The film adaptation will be delivered by Lionsgate, with horror-meister Eli Roth directing. Craig Mazin, who won an Emmy for writing the HBO miniseries ‘Chernobyl’, is penning the screenplay. An adaptation of ‘Borderlands’ has been in the works since 2016, but it sounds as though it’s finally starting to move forward. The game is a first-person shooter in an immersive world. Players can play the main missions, accept side missions, or explore the world of Pandora (not the one from ‘Avatar’). There are four games in the primary series, and they have sold over 45 million units worldwide. The first ‘Borderlands’ was released in 2009. The most recent, ‘Borderlands 3’, was released last September. The film adaptation will be produced by Avi and Ari Arad via Arad Prods and Erik Feig via Picturestart. Randy Pitchford, who founded Gearbox Software in 1999, and serves as the […]

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