Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson takes to the virtual DC Fandome stage and though it was not a full trailer, Johnson confirmed that Black Adam is still in very early pre-production stage but we did get a lovely comic book animated short by Jim Lee himself giving us the Origin of Black Adam.
Johnson continues to say that Black Adam has been a passion project for him and his team for ten years and the primary focus is to deliver the best film and story for the fans, to meet their expectations. The film will be an origin story for the character of Black Adam, who was a slave along with this family but was given the powers of Shazam but chose to deliver brutal unrelenting Justice and was imprisoned for 5000 years and is now released.
Black Adam Concept Art
The story looks promising, it featuring the JSA (Justice Society of America) dates it before modern DCU stories, standard now for powerful characters to be introduced in the past just as Wonder Woman has by her origin being told in World War II and the sequel in 1984. But what interesting was how Johnson ended the segment….with a warning.
“The Hierarchy of Power in the DCU is changing! Tell Batman, Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and even Superman. Black Adam is coming”
Now a trailer leaked earlier today, I have chosen not to watch it but wait for the official released trailer to see exactly what they are going to show us to make a point just how different this Snyder Cut really is from the theatrical release. So much hype from fans who have demanded this version of the film to be released and with HBO MAX money, Warner Bros chose to “give in” to that demand.
The panel itself was interesting to see the original cast ask put fan questions to Snyder himself who talked about how Flash and Cyborg had a far richer role in his original cut of the film. It was interesting to see how many of the “Fan Questions” are just basically there to make it known how the original theatrical version was well…dog shit in the eyes of many fans, this is just one big love in for Snyder himself and quite frankly…they could and perhaps should have just did the intro and play the trailer instead of all this loving it up for those who helped the “Snyder Cut” movement grow. For me, we get it and understand what happened to an extent and at this point, Im not sure if this was WB Pictures and DC taking this on the chin as part of the deal to get Snyder to return or if they simply did not check this pre-recorded footage before DC Fandome started the segment. This was one very….strange panel to me. But finally lets look at the trailer:
This trailer absolutely has a very different tone to the theatrical release, this even as just a teaser trailer definitely looks more than just a bunch of deleted scenes being added back in with a different way that Steppenwolf came to Earth, a very different reintroduction of Superman and bigger roles for both Flash and Cyborg. As someone who was not really into this whole Snyder Cut movement…..I really want to see his version!
Snyder did announce that Justice League: Snyder Cut will be cut up into four 1 hour parts, and a way to bring it all together as one release is being worked on as well as international distribution for outside the US.
Justice League: Snyder Cut will release exclusively on HBO Max in 2021, will wait for more information on international distribution as we head to its release.
DC Fandome is delivering all the gems in just its opening hours and following a brand new trailer for Wonder Woman 1984, it was followed up with the first official Trailer for James Gunn’s Suicide Squad…and I an hoping it will have the same vibrance and fun of Guardians of the Galaxy!
From the incredible funny ‘Team Vs Team’ Panel hosted by James Gunn himself, we also got to see the full cast for the first time for the film and it is one heck of bunch of Celebrity names:
Idris Elba – Bloodsport
Margot Robbie – Harley Quinn
John Cena – Peacemaker
Viola Davis – Amanda Waller
Jai Courtney – Captain Boomerang
Joel Kinnaman – Rick Flag
David Dastmalchian – Polka-Dot Man
Daniela Melchior – Ratcatcher II
Steve Agee – King Shark (mo-cap)
Sean Gunn – Weasel (mo-cap)
Flula Borg – Javelin
Nathan Fillion – TDK
Peter Capaldi – The Thinker
Pete Davidson – Blackguard
Alice Braga – Solsoria
Mayling Ng as Mongal
Michael Rooker – Savant
THE SUICIDE SQUAD, A James Gunn Film Only In Cinemas 2021!
DC Fandome, the 24 hour online event has kicked off today Saturday 22nd August and it began with a Wonder Woman 1984 panel with the stars and director ‘Zooming’ in. Setting the town for the whole DC Fandome special event and fans managed to get their questions asked by the cast including Gal Gadot and Chris pine but we also finally had a brand new trailer!
Fast forward to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s next big screen adventure finds her facing two all-new foes: Max Lord and The Cheetah.
With director Patty Jenkins back at the helm and Gal Gadot returning in the title role, “Wonder Woman 1984” is Warner Bros. Pictures’ follow up to the DC Super Hero’s first outing, 2017’s record-breaking “Wonder Woman,” which took in $822 million at the worldwide box office.
The film also stars Chris Pine as Steve Trevor, Kristen Wiig as The Cheetah, Pedro Pascal as Max Lord, Robin Wright as Antiope, and Connie Nielsen as Hippolyta. Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Zack Snyder, Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot and Stephen Jones are producing the film. Rebecca Steel Roven Oakley, Richard Suckle, Marianne Jenkins, Geoff Johns, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Wesley Coller are the executive producers. Patty Jenkins directed from a screenplay she wrote with Geoff Johns & David Callaham, story by Jenkins & Johns, based on characters from DC.
Joining the director behind the scenes are several members of her “Wonder Woman” team, including director of photography Matthew Jensen, Oscar-nominated production designer Aline Bonetto (“Amélie”), and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”). Oscar-nominated editor Richard Pearson (“United 93”) is cutting the film. The music is by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer (“Dunkirk,” “The Lion King”). Warner Bros. Pictures Presents an Atlas Entertainment/Stone Quarry Production, a Patty Jenkins Film, “Wonder Woman 1984.”
Set to open in theaters on October 2, 2020 in 2D and 3D in select cinemas and IMAX, it will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Rumoured, reported and leaked……but finally DC Comic fans and gamers know the game coming from WB Montreal….Gotham Knights!
Batman is dead.
It is now up to the Batman Family – Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin – to protect Gotham City, bring hope to its citizens, discipline to its cops, and fear to its criminals. You must evolve into the new Dark Knight and save Gotham from chaos.
Your legacy begins now. Step into the Knight.
My Thoughts…
Well there we go, the rumours are true and The Court of Owls does seem to be the backbone of ‘Gotham Knights’ seemingly carrying on from Arkham Knight ending possibly but having Kevin Conroy voice Bruce Wayne as he leaves a final message to his Batfamily of Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Redhood to pass on the torch and duty of protecting Gotham City has be very intrigued and I also really like the reveal trailer.
Now the DC Fandome panel did continue to show some actual gameplay, focused on Batgirl and it certainly bares a striking resemblence to what fans of the Arkham series will instantly recognise which is not surprising as both WB Montreal did release Arkham Origins, the less that warmly received prequel story that did not feature the same voice cast as the original Arkham series, something that having Kevin Conroy voicing Bruce Wayne in the trailer suggests might not be an issue with Gotham Knights.
The gameplay did look to be a little different but navigating the world and the combat looked to me at least to be very Arkham, and the chance to play as Batgirl, Nightwing, Robin and Red Hood is enough to have this on my radar. Now interestingly it is a 2021 title and it did not confirm which platforms it will release on, so will it be just for PS5 and Xbox Series X or will it include the current or by the time of release, old gen consoles PS4 and Xbox One.
Time will tell and no doubt on the road to 2021 release we will see a lot more of this game but the setting of the Court of Owls, the focus on playing the Batfamily and not Batman certainly has this DC Fan…..on board!
*Update – taken from the WB Games Press Release we have some further clarification on Gotham Knights – Gotham Knights is playable either solo or as a two-player, online cooperative experience and will be available in 2021 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox Series X and Xbox One X and PC.
Hot on the heels of its Nintendo Switch release, Crytek announced today that Crysis Remastered is coming to PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on September 18th. The game will be available as a digital release via the Epic Games Store, the PlayStation Store, and the Microsoft Store for GBP 26.99 / USD 29.99 / EUR 29.99.
Co-developed with Saber Interactive, the classic first person shooter will focus on the original game’s single-player campaigns and is slated to contain high-quality textures up to 8K, HDR support, temporal anti-aliasing, Screen Space Directional Occlusion (SSDO), Global Illumination (SVOGI), state-of-the-art depth fields, new light settings, motion blur, parallax occlusion mapping, Screen Space Reflections and Shadows (SSR & SSS) as well as new and updated particle effects and more. Further additions such as ray tracing enhance the game with a major visual upgrade.
For the first time a Crytek game will feature ray tracing on Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro powered by CRYENGINE’s proprietary software based ray tracing solution. The PC version will additionally support hardware-based ray tracing on Nvidia RTX GPUs.
In Crysis, what begins as a simple rescue mission becomes the battleground of a new war as alien invaders swarm over a North Korean island chain. Armed with a powerful Nanosuit, players can become invisible to stalk enemy patrols, or boost strength to lay waste to vehicles. The Nanosuit’s speed, strength, armour, and cloaking allow creative solutions for every kind of fight, while a huge arsenal of modular weaponry provides unprecedented control over play style. In the ever-changing environment, adapt tactics and gear to dominate your enemies, in an enormous sandbox world.
This years cool toy from Kids@Play is the Harry Potter Magical Capsules.
The Magical Capsules offer a brand-new way to unbox and collect the enchanting creatures and wizards of the Wizarding World. Perfect for Harry Potter fans.
Each bronze Hogwarts crest contains an iconic character from the Harry Potter series.
There are 10 characters to collect in Series 1, you will find them listed on the collector card. Inside each crest you will discover 2 clues and 5 magical surprises. In an unboxing journey of discovery, you must use colour-coded, heat, and water-reveal mechanisms to unlock the surprise character hidden within a secret chamber. Each pack contains 1 Hogwarts characters, 1 Fantastic Beast Pet, 1 wand and 3 accessories.
Each crest contains two clues to the character inside.
Open compartment number 1 to reveal a heat reveal Hogwart’s Crest. Which House could your character be in?
Open compartment number 2 to reveal a spell name. I can’t see it…its written in secret ink and will only be revealed when you dip the paper in water!
So you know the Hogwart’s House and the spell name….real Harry Potter fans will know who is hidden inside the crest….
Open it up to reveal 4 wrapped parcels…save the biggest till last…to finally know which character you’ve got!
Will you find Harry, Hermione, Ron, Luna, or Snape?
Follow the clues, use your spells, and you will find enchanted creatures and wizards within.
The Harry Potter Magical Capsules Series 1 sets are available now priced £9.99.
It’s been quite some time since Portal first came out. Ever since then, we have witnessed the release of similar games and even ones that feel more like walking simulators with the occasional puzzle thrown in for good measure. Now the time has come for another one to come out in the form of Superliminal.
Well it is certainly a very busy time for DC comic fans as again, just two days before DC Fandome, more DC Film news is coming out and Vanity Fair has reported that both Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck will reprise their Batman roles for the upcoming solo ‘The Flash’ film which is now confirmed to feature a DC Multiverse of heroes including now, multiple BatMan versions:
In an Adaptation of ‘Flashpoint’, an iconic Flash comic story arc which sees the hero go back in time to prevent the murder of his mother but has dramatic impact on the timeline creating a terrible alternate timeline when he returns. Ezra Miller is returning to the role his had in Justice League and will be directed by Andy Muschietti who in an interview said about Affleck’s return following him agreeing to return after reading the script last week:
“His Batman has a dichotomy that is very strong, which is his masculinity—because of the way he looks, and the imposing figure that he has, and his jawline —but he’s also very vulnerable, he knows how to deliver from the inside out, that vulnerability. He just needs a story that allows him to bring that contrast, that balance.
“He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before, it’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”
Keaton of course has a special place in the hearts of DC film fans as his portrayal of Batman in the 1989 film really kicked off a new era of Comic Book films so his return especially with the exploration of a DC Multiverse could be the return for his Batman fans have been hoping for. In fact for me, the Multiverse could be the best way forward for the DCU following the disaster that was the attempt to jump boost the DCU with Justice League.
For me however this is also a very good sign that Ben Affleck is in a much better place than he was when he not only gave up writing and directing a standalone Batman film but also leaving the role. His own personal issues have been fully reported but just to see him being happy to return to the role that helped launch Miller’s Flash character is a good sign, even if it means maybe one last time. Perhaps even the Matt Reeves ‘The Batman’ film progressing as well as it is has meant less pressure on him to carry the role and this could be the send off he would have wanted.
Hopefully at DC Fandome this weekend we will learn even more about ‘The Flash’ film as well as other DCU films planned for the next few years.
Just two days away from DC Fandome this weekend but the teases have already begun as Matt Reeves has revealed the new look Bat Logo for his film ‘The Batman’:
Designed by DC Comics icon Jim Lee, the Bat symbol is probably the most accurate bat looking logo for some years, especially on the big screen and I really like it!
The comic art style really makes the new Batman look incredible with that drawn on red style, nad I do really like the logo for the film as well, clean and very much taken inspiration from the iconic moment the bat smashed through the window at Wayne Manor and inspired Bruce to take on the look that would become the Dark Knight.
Hoping for a teaser trailer at DC Fandome but this is certainly making me all the more excited for the event and ‘The Batman’ film.
With fans still aching for a release date, pricing and pre-order information from Sony, today saw the very first TV advert for the PlayStation 5 released:
The first ever video-game based on the award-winning television series Peaky Blinders – one of the most popular dramas on global TV in recent years- Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is out today on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game is being published by Curve Digital and has been developed by award winning indie studio, FuturLab in collaboration with the creative and production teams behind Peaky Blinders, the independent production company Caryn Mandabach Productions.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a puzzle-adventure game where players take on the roles of Tommy Shelby and his gang as they seek to take control of the streets of Birmingham in the early 20th century.
Set immediately before the events of the first season, players join the Shelby family’s criminal organisation as they unearth a sinister plot to put Tommy out of business. The game is designed to sync with Tommy’s talent for planning out complex scenarios in his head, with players setting out strategies by taking control of key members of the Shelby family down on the ground.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind will allow players to set and rewind each character’s path in order to tune all of their actions for perfect coordination, tactically utilising characters and stealth to solve increasingly complex puzzles.
James Marsden, Founder, FuturLab said:
“After having the pleasure of working with this license, we’re super excited to see the hard work from all involved come to fruition today. Our concept came down to a simple idea at the heart of the show: The Soldier’s Minute; where everything in a battle can be decided. This idea inspired us to offer the player an opportunity to feel as smart and powerful as Tommy Shebly, coordinating all the Peaky Blinders to pull off daring acts in perfect sync..”
Simon Byron, Publishing Director, Curve Digital added:
“There’s often scepticism about licensed titles, which is why we have been so delighted to work with FuturLab and their concept – The Soldier’s Minute – it felt like a fresh, innovative approach to how to design a licensed game, and was clearly a perfect fit for the franchise. We hope the game resonates with fans now that they can get their hands on the title.”
“James and his team at FuturLab found an ingenious way to take the DNA of Peaky Blinders and turn it into an utterly compelling game. I’m thrilled beyond measure that both fans of the show and players new to our world will finally be able to experience it for themselves.’
In Peaky Blinders: Mastermind players CAN: –
Witness the rise of Tommy Shelby as the true leader of the Peaky Blinders in early 20th century Birmingham
Utilise Tommy’s prowess for planning to set up complex scenarios
Control Tommy, Arthur, Polly and more on the ground as they pull off mission after mission
Peaky Blinders Season 1 to 5 are currently on Netflix in the UK. The fifth season launched on BBC One in autumn 2019 to its highest ratings yet.
Created and written by Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things, Eastern Promises and Locke), the multi-award-winning BBC One and Netflix series is produced by Peaky Blinders official brand owner Caryn Mandabach Productions and by Banijay UK’s Tiger Aspect Productions.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Discover everything you need to know about the Battletoads’ new adventure in an exclusive interview with Xbox’s Major Nelson. Get ready for a ‘toadally’ awesome multi-genre journey with Rash, Zitz and Pimple as they try to free the galaxy from the grip of the evil Topians!
You can play Battletoads on Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass, Windows 10 and Steam and it’s available now!
Today BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. released part 2 of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope Dev Diary from actor Will Poulter, who voices three characters in the game.
The video delves into some of the exciting and horrific aspects players will get to experience when they dive into the frightening story of The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope. Will also shares some insight into the characters and how the cast brought them to life.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope will launch on October 30th for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC Digital.
