The latest trailer for Marvel's next movie, Ant-Man and The Wasp, just dropped, and it looks like a fun, ground-level superhero movie. Finally, a comic book movie where the stakes aren't, "Some bad guy is going to kill us all if we don't stop them" (we hope). While the Ant-Man sequel won't be on a cosmic level with Thanos and company, the new trailer does introduce us to a new threat--Ghost--and some connections to Marvel comics.
So what's the second trailer all about? We're breaking down a few of the important moments from this trailer to see what we can learn about the movie as a whole. There weren't too many major moments, but it does give us a good idea of when the movie takes place and how this movie delves into the secret history of super-powered people in the MCU.
If you haven't seen the latest Avengers movie, there may be some minor Infinity War spoilers here, but don't worry; it's nothing major. And if you want to catch up on all the MCU movies before seeing the latest Avengers joint, you may want to watch them all in order.
Ant-Man and The Wasp features Paul Rudd returning as Scott Lang, while Evangeline Lilly stars as the other titular character, the Wasp--Hope Pym. We also get Michael Douglas back as Hank Pym and Michael Peña as Luis. The cast also expands with a number of new actors; most notably, it seems the addition of Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Randall Park.
Like the first movie, Ant-Man and The Wasp is directed by Peyton Reed. Its release date is set for July 6 in the US, but UK audiences will have to wait nearly an extra month, as it doesn't arrive in theaters there until August 3.
Speaking with Modern Myth Media last year, Reed shared some of his plans for the new movie: "For me, as a comic nerd, I have always thought of Ant-Man and Wasp as a team. That's a lot of what the second movie is really about--how they work together, and what their personal and professional relationships are like. To show her finally fully formed in this movie is really exciting. We really get to introduce this character into that universe. To me she's not a supporting character in this movie. It's every bit as much her movie as it is Scott Lang's."
Read on for the full breakdown of trailer #2.
It Takes Place After Civil War, Before Infinity War
In the opening scene, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is talking to his daughter, and she asks, "How long have you been Ant-Man again?" He tells her that it hasn't been long, as we see a giant Ant-Man riding on the back of a truck, chasing an SUV. Because of the costume, we know this takes place after Captain America: Civil War and because we learned in Infinity War that Scott is no longer on the run from the government and on house arrest. We're assuming that what he's doing here is super-illegal, or he's working with the government to stop these baddies.
This Tiny Building Is A Major Part Of The Movie
We saw in the first trailer that Pym is on the run, and he shrunk down his entire building. This is not the same Pym Technology Headquarters from the first film, as that was destroyed. This one if more discreet, and in this scene, it's in the hands of Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins). He will be a featured villain in this film. In the comics, Burch is the head of Cross Industries, an advanced weapons manufacturer. While he mainly messed with Tony Stark by claiming Stark's old Iron Man suit rights, it's easy for that character to transition into Ant-Man's world. In the scene above, he's most likely trying to steal all of Pym's technology for himself to manufacture.
Luis And Friends Have A Security Company
One of the highlights from the first movie was Luis (Michael Pena). Apparently, Luis and the heist team from Ant-Man has gone legit. From the looks of the scene, Luis is working for or running a security company, as behind him are electronic locks and other security equipment.
Who Is Ghost?
Both Ant-Man and Wasp will be fighting Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who can phase through objects. In the comics, the Ghost suit was worn by John Morley, and he first appeared in Iron Man #219 back in 1987. The character was a mercenary for hire who sabotaged corporations, many of which were corrupt. In a sense, he was a vigilante for hire. Although, many times, corporations were hiring him to destroy their competition. His suit, which he claims he invented the tech for, can allow the user to phase through matter, become invisible, and disrupt electronic devices.
Lots Of Quantum Realm
The Quantum Realm was established in Ant-Man and used again in Doctor Strange. When Pym Particles make a person or object subatomic, said thing enters this alternate dimension where space and time are irrelevant. Lang went into the Quantum Realm at the end of Ant-Man--this is also where Janet Van Dyne, the original Wasp, ended up--and Doctor Strange briefly visited it when the Ancient One sent him travelling through numerous dimensions early on in his solo film. In the comics, this place is called the Microverse, but Marvel changed the name for the big screen, most likely because Paramount owns the movie rights to Micronauts, which was formerly part of Marvel.
Pym Tech Isn't Just For Costumes Anymore
In Ant-Man, we saw people shrink using Pym Particles as well as objects that Lang threw his shrinking discs at. Now, that technology is housed in a van, shrinking the automobile and everyone inside of it. The tech has an old-school look to it though, so maybe this is something Pym developed decades ago that he's kept locked in a warehouse.
Dr. Bill Foster And Project Goliath
At the end of the trailer, Lang is talking to Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne) about Project Goliath and how both men have used Pym Particles to grow. Black Goliath, as he was referred to in the comics, first appeared in Avengers #32 in 1966. Foster worked alongside Pym--who was going by the name Goliath--and developed his own version of the growth formula. He became a superhero and eventually changed his name to Giant Man. Sadly, Foster met his end during Civil War, when he was killed by Ragnarok, a cybernetic clone of Thor.
The first four months of 2018 have already seen some great TV shows, including Westworld, Altered Carbon, The End of the F***ing World, Black Lightning, Everything Sucks, and the return of Jessica Jones. But there's loads more to come. While fans will have to wait until 2019 before we get more Stranger Things and Game of Thrones, there are still a ton of small screen goodies worth getting excited about. There's the return of some of 2017's best shows (Mindhunter, Ozark, Black Mirror), more offerings from Marvel and DC, some lavish reworkings of classic sci-fi and horror properties, and a handful of intriguing new titles. So here's the biggest TV shows to watch over the rest of the year...
Arrested Development Season 5
Netflix, May (probably)
Even the most optimistic comedy fan doubted that much-loved comedy Arrested Development would return after it was cancelled back in 2006, but in 2013, that's exactly what happened. Unfortunately, Season 4 was met with a mixed response from fans, many of whom disliked the unusual structure that focused on one character at a time. Nevertheless, it was clearly popular enough for Netflix to greenlight a fifth season. We don't know exactly when the continuing misadventures of the Bluth family will hit the service, but creator Mitch Hurwitz has promised it "real soon," so it will almost certainly be this month. In addition, a re-edited version of Season 4 hits the service on May 4, which should make for fascinating viewing and will hopefully solve some of the issues that fans had with the original version.
Safe
Netflix, May 10
Dexter star Michael C. Hall stars in this new crime drama, which hits Netflix this month. It's created and written by best-selling author Harlan Coben and focuses on a grieving widower whose daughter goes missing, leading to a variety of buried secrets coming to the surface. It's set in the UK, and although it's initially a bit weird to hear Hall with a British accent, it still looks like a gripping ride.
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Amazon, May 11
Although the original run of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends ended in 1964, it is considered one of the greatest cartoons of all time. The characters have remained part of pop culture ever since, via reruns, DVD releases, video games, and the 2000 movie, and they are now set to return to screens. The new show is produced by DreamWorks Animation, who have had recent success with shows likes Voltron: Legendary Defender and Trollhunters, and it premieres in May on Amazon. Rocket J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle J. Moose look and sound much as they ever did, the villains are still vaguely Russian-sounding, and it's refreshing to see that the show has kept the more basic 2D animation style of the original. Welcome back, guys.
13 Reasons Why Season 2
Netflix, May 18
The first season of Netflix's teen drama was one of the most controversial shows of 2017, with its harrowing depiction of suicide dividing many critics and viewers. Season 2 arrives this month, and creator/showrunner Brian Yorkey has stated that although the show will still continue to deal with some heavy subjects--including sexual assault and gun violence--it won't be nearly as graphic. While Season 1 took its name from a collection of cassettes left by the tragic Hannah, this one uses a series of polaroid photos to tell its story.
Cloak and Dagger
Freeform, June 7
On the fact of it, the upcoming Marvel show Cloak and Dagger seems similar to Hulu's own Marvel series Runaways--runaway teens coming to terms with their emerging superpowers. But Cloak and Dagger, based on the popular '80s comic book, should make for a more darker and emotional ride. Aubrey Joseph and Olivia Holt play two kids who are living on the streets of New York, using their control over darkness and light to fight a drug epidemic sweeping the city.
Marvel's Luke Cage/Daredevil
Netflix, June 22 (Luke Cage)
Iron Fist and The Defenders may have cracked the impeccable partnership Netflix cemented with Marvel but that doesn't mean all hope is lost with the comic book giant's street level heroes. While Frank Castle came in to disrupt Marvel's small screen universe, it's clear that Daredevil and Luke Cage still have more work to do.
Sharp Objects
June, HBO
The HBO drama is inspired by Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. The series stars Amy Adams as a journalist who heads home after a stint in a psychiatric facility, only to find herself investigating the murder of two girls. If you take the tone and subject matter of Flynn's previous work (Gone Girl) and add Jean-Marc Vallee's (Big Little Lies) directorial skills into the mix, it's easy to see Sharp Objects' edgy allure.
Jack Ryan
Amazon, August 31
Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan has been portrayed by almost as many actors as James Bond, in a much shorter space of time; John Krasinski will be the fifth star to play the character since 1990. According to director Daniel Sackheim, this new 10-part TV adaptation of Clancy's best-selling spy novels will take Harrison Ford's more down-to-earth interpretation as the basis for the character, rather than the more heroic version played by Ben Affleck and Chris Pine. And of course, Krasinski is now the director and star of one of the year's biggest movies--A Quiet Place--ensuring that Jack Ryan will get plenty of attention when it premieres in August.
Doctor Who Season 11
BBC, October
It's always exciting when a new actor takes on the role as the iconic Timelord, but the debut of the thirteenth doctor this October is a really big deal. Jodie Whittaker replaces Peter Capaldi and is the first woman to play the Doctor. Whittaker had a brief appearance at the end of the recent Christmas Special, but fans will have to wait until October to see how her portrayal differs from previous incarnations. There's a new showrunner too, as Broadchurch's Chris Chibnall succeeds Steven Moffat. Finally, the Doctor's assistant is to be played by comedian Bradley Walsh.
The Purge
Syfy
The Purge is one of the most successful horror franchises of recent years--the three movies to date have made more than $319 million worldwide on modest budgets, and the fourth movie is set to hit theatres in July. But if that weren't enough, there's also a 10-episode TV show on the way. It's being produced for Syfy and will be overseen by franchise creator James DeMonaco, who also wrote and directed the first three films. It's set once more in a dystopian future where the annual Purge allows citizens to get all their violent, criminal impulses out, and according to early reports, will focus on a Marine who returns home to protect his sister on Purge Night. There's no premiere date yet, but it was recently announced The People v. O. J. Simpson director Anthony Hemingway will helm the first episode, so there's a good chance we might see it before the year is out.
Maniac
Netflix
Maniac will probably be one of the weirder series of the year. Given the names attached, though, the show comes with huge buzz. Cary Fukunaga helms the dark comedy, which stars Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, and Justin Theroux. The story centers on a patient living in a psychiatric hospital who escapes reality by living his life inside a fantasy world maintained solely inside his own mind. It sounds bonkers, but if Fukunaga brings the same sensibilities he brought to True Detective, the network may have a winner on its hands.
Titans
DC digital channel
While the quality of DC's movie output has been variable (to say the least), its roster of TV shows remains remarkably consistent. Titans is the latest addition. A live-action version of the Teen Titans, it's been in development since 2014, but shifting channels and cancelled pilots has meant very slow progress to the screen. But it is finally set to premiere in 2018, on DC's currently untitled new digital service. Australian actor Brenton Thwaites (Gods of Egypt, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) plays Dick Grayson/Robin, leading a team of young superheroes that includes Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Netflix
The Coen Brothers are coming to TV. That sentence alone should get people excited. The duo--who brought classics like Fargo, The Big Lebowski, and No Country for Old Men to the big screen--will both write and direct a new western anthology series for Netflix. The six episode program will star Tim Blake Nelson, with each episode following a different character and story. Not much else has been announced regarding the series, but that's fine. The Coen Brothers are coming to TV and that's pretty awesome.
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix
A comic book property outside of Marvel's purview is on its way to Netflix. The Umbrella Academy comes from the mind of My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. The series tells the story of some not-pregnant women who suddenly give birth to a bunch of superpowered babies. Taking place in an alternate timeline--one where JFK is still very much alive--the story follows seven kids as they undergo training to save the world. Ellen Page has been tapped to star in the program, and Way will serve as producer.
Picnic at Hanging Rock
Amazon, TBC
The classic 1975 movie Picnic at Hanging Rock is one of the most distinctive movies of that decade; it's a haunting, dreamlike drama about the mysterious disappearance of a group of Australian schoolgirls while on a trip to the Outback in 1900. Amazon is bringing a new version to the small screen later this year, and the first trailer suggests it will expand on the story of the original while keeping its super-creepy vibe. It stars Natalie Dormer (Margaery Tyrell from Game of Thrones) as the school's headmistress, and the cast also features Orange is the New Black's Yael Stone and Samara Weaving, who starred in last year's Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter.
The Twilight Zone
CBS: All Access
Since anthology TV shows are all the rage now, it seems only right that the granddaddy that started it all come out of retirement. Jordan Peele (Get Out, Key and Peele) and Simon Kinberg (Deadpool, Logan) have teamed up to bring a new Twilight Zone to the masses. Sure, multiple versions of The Twilight Zone have graced the big and small screen over the past 60 years--some better than others--but now seems like the perfect time for the series to return.
Ozark, Season 2
Netflix
When Ozark premiered last year, many compared it to Breaking Bad, both in terms of its plot (an ordinary family man who chooses a life of crime) and its mix of violent thrills and dark humor. But the show quickly grew into its own thing and emerged as one of 2017's most enjoyable original series. Season 2 already has a teaser and has been shooting since last fall, so there's a good chance of it arriving in 2018. Jason Bateman returns as money-laundering dad Marty Byrde, with Laura Linney as his estranged but equally duplicitous wife Wendy. As Bateman says: "It's a good escalation of everything as far: danger, the business challenges, and--domestically--our relationship."
Watchmen
HBO
Zack Snyder's Watchmen movie was visually stunning, to be sure. The story, however, was a bit lacking. Is it possible a TV series is the right way to go? We'll soon see, as HBO has tapped Damon Lindelof (LOST, The Leftovers) to helm a small-screen adaptation of Alan Moore's iconic graphic novel. There's huge buzz behind the series, but fans have sort of been left in the dark on what to expect. Will this draw from Moore's comic, the 2012 prequel story, or DC's 2017 sequel, Doomsday Clock?
The Haunting of Hill House
Netflix
Mike Flanagan (Oculus, Gerald's Game) is one of the best horror directors working today, and 2018 will see him turn his talents to TV. Produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, this is an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1959 novel, which was also turned into the classic 1963 movie The Haunting (the less said about the 1999 remake the better). Annabeth Gish (Sons of Anarchy, The West Wing) stars as Mrs. Dudley, the caretaker of a haunted estate, with roles for Timothy Hutton (All the Money in the World) and Gerald's Game's Carla Gugino. Flanagan has written and directed the whole 10-part series, and this could be one of the year's great horror shows.
Luther, Series 5
BBC
Fans of Luther were both excited and dismayed when the series returned for a two-episode fourth season in 2015. With a busy actor like Idris Elba playing the title role, sometimes schedules can be tight. That said, it looks like Elba has donned his signature tweed coat for another go-round as brilliant detective John Luther. We don't know what sort of gruesome crimes he will be investigating, but one thing is for certain: Idris Elba is at his best when the world is at its worst. Right now, John Luther is the hero we need and deserve.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Netflix
Channeling the success of Riverdale, another Archie Comics story was in the works at The CW. But due to their concern of having too many witch shows--the network's Charmed reboot is still on the horizon--the untitled Sabrina the Teenage Witch series was handed over to Netflix. The series will explore the origins of the half-witch, half-mortal as she battles the evil forces that threaten her friends and family. Tonally, Deadline describes the series as being "in the vein of Rosemary's Baby and The Exorcist."
Mindhunter Season 2
Netflix
This is another Netflix show without a confirmed release date, but star Jonathan Groff has said that the second season of the period crime thriller is to start shooting early this year, so a late 2018 premiere is possible. The first season of Mindhunter showed that producer David Fincher was just at home with small-screen serial killer thrills as he is in movies such as Zodiac and Seven. The balance between a seriously dark crime procedural and a beautifully performed, character-driven drama was exceptional, so hopes are extremely high for Season 2.
Black Mirror, Season 5
Netflix
Netflix has confirmed that Charlie Brooker's hugely acclaimed sci-fi anthology series will return for a fifth season. While the streaming giant is yet to announce a release date, the previous two seasons arrived a year apart, so there's good chance we might see Black Mirror Season 5 before the end of the year. Season 4 was the strongest season to date, so expect the next one to deliver more disturbing but darkly funny predictions about the way technology continues to shape our lives. Can't wait.
Castle Rock
Hulu
The Stephen King renaissance has shown no sign of slowing down and with Castle Rock, Hulu's aiming to bring the author's story universe to the small-screen. The program's cast features names like Sissy Spacek, Bill Skarsgard, and Melanie Lynskey. But what makes Castle Rock so special is the connected nature of the anthology series itself. Fans should expect to see familiar stories, characters, and themes that originated in the author's previous works. There may be a decent wait before Pennywise the Dancing Clown returns to the big-screen, but that's okay. We're about to head back into Shawshank Prison, and that's pretty dang cool.
The Federal Trade Commission has warned several companies, including Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony, that its warnings against third-party repair are illegal. Motherboard reports that the stickers you may have seen on your own console tells users that third-party repair or opening your own console voids the warranty, but that policy is actually illegal.
A Freedom of Information Act request from Motherboard found six companies were sent letters on April 9. Those were the three major console manufacturers, along with HTC, Asus, and Hyundai. According to the letter, the companies have 30 days to change their warranty policies on their websites, and if they fail to comply the FTC may take legal action.
"Warranty language that implies to a consumer acting reasonably under the circumstances that warranty coverage requires the consumer to purchase an article or service identified by brand, trade or corporate name is similarly deceptive and prohibited," the letters reportedly said.
The letters cite specific language that violates the law, and in the case of the PlayStation 4, warns against using a sticker as a "seal" to prevent users from opening up the console. This method was also used by HTC and Asus, and the FTC says it is "particularly concerned" about it.
Specifically, the FTC is citing the 1975 Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which disallows repair restrictions on warranties for any manufacturer charging more than $5 for a product. One company that is conspicuously absent from these warning letters was Apple, which is also known to steer customers away from third-party repair.
Who's ready to stay inside and stare at their TV all week? The first week of May brings a lot of new titles to Netflix, including classic movies, original TV shows and films, and even an installment of High School Musical--if that's your sort of thing.
When it comes to originals, the first week of May not only sees the arrival of John Mulaney's new comedy special Kid Gorgeous Live at Radio City, but new seasons of Busted, Dear White People, The Rain, and Kong: King of the Apes. If you haven't heard of that last one, you're missing out on something special.
Set in the year 2050, this animated series finds a fugitive King Kong on the run after an evil genius framed him for causing mass destruction. Oh yeah, the villain also has plans to rule the world with robotic dinosaurs. Clearly this is the best show of all time.
Elsewhere on Netflix, a new season of Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V has been added, joined by movies like Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, Amelie, Shrek, Scream 2, and Red Dragon.
These are just a few of the titles that begin streaming this week. You can check out the entire list below. Then make sure to take a look at everything Netflix is adding and removing in the month of May.
May 1
27: Gone Too Soon
A Life of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana
Amelie
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures: Season 1
Beautiful Girls
Darc
God's Own Country
Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
High School Musical 3: Senior Year
John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous Live at Radio City (Netflix Original)
Mr. Woodcock
My Perfect Romance
Pocoyo & Cars
Pocoyo & The Space Circus
Queens of Comedy: Season 1
Reasonable Doubt
Red Dragon
Scream 2
Shrek
Simon: Season 1
Sliding Doors
Sometimes (Netflix Original)
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Carter Effect
The Clapper
The Reaping
The Strange Name Movie
Yu-Gi-Oh! Arc-V: Season 2
May 2
Jailbreak
A Little Help with Carol Burnett (Netflix Original)
Anon (Netflix Original)
Busted!: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
Dear White People: Volume 2 (Netflix Original)
End Game (Netflix Original)
Forgive Us Our Debts (Netflix Original)
Kong: King of the Apes: Season 2 (Netflix Original)
Lo más sencillo es complicarlo todo
Manhunt (Netflix Original)
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Tina Fey (Netflix Original)
No Estoy Loca
The Rain: Season 1 (Netflix Original)
May 5
Faces Places
May 6
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale (Netflix Original)
Although the Han Solo is--clearly--the main character in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story, his friend and rival Lando Calrissian is also set to play a major part in the story. The smooth-talking gambler is played by Atlanta star Donald Glover, and he now presents a new promotional video for the Star Wars spin-off.
Fans looking for some new footage from Solo might be disappointed, but the video is still pretty cool. Glover takes us on a tour of the franchise's most iconic ship--the Millennium Falcon. We see the living quarters, with leather seats and a kick-ass sound system, the coffee and cocktail bar, and the ship's bedroom, "where the magic happens." Glover also tells us that the ship never looked better than when Lando owned it, and to finish things off, demonstrates the ship's hyperspace capabilities. Check it out above.
This video follows one released earlier this week that delivered quite a bit of new footage, including exchanges between Han and Lando, plus some new aliens. We've also had this TV spot, and the second trailer was released in March.
Solo: A Star Wars Story also stars Alden Ehrenreich as Han and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, plus Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Emilia Clarke. It hits theaters on May 25, 2018. Ehrenreich recently let slip that his contract covers three appearances as Han, so we could be seeing more of the actor in the iconic role.
In related news, it was announced in February that Jungle Book director Jon Favreau is developing a new live-action Star Wars TV show. The series is set to premiere on Disney's streaming platform, which launches next year. This is in addition to the two new Star Wars movie series in the work, one from Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, the other overseen by Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
A major update is on the way to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds on PC. The patch is being deployed tonight, May 2, and will be preceded by a round of maintenance, during which time servers will be taken offline as developer PUBG Corp. rolls the new content out to the live game.
Update #12 arrives shortly after the end of PUBG's current ranked season, which formally concluded on May 1. Maintenance is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET (3 AM BST on May 3) and is expected to last approximately four hours, although there is always a chance it may wrap up sooner or later than estimated.
Following the maintenance period, the update will be available for all players on PC. It introduces a new gun to the game--the SLR--as well as the ability to choose which map you'd prefer to be matched up on. PUBG Corp. has also added a new vehicle to Miramar: the Mirado, a four-seat car that can be found in downtown areas and on main city streets.
Additionally, Update 12 makes sweeping changes to weapon balance. PUBG Corp. says the reason for these adjustments is to ensure that no specific weapon feels "objectively better" than the others. The update also introduces a slate of new attachments, including the duckbill for shotguns, several grips, and two new scopes.
Finally, the new patch makes an assortment of bug fixes and a handful of improvements to Miramar, namely adding and removing some buildings and cover. You can find the full patch notes for Update 12 on Steam.
As promised, Rockstar Games has released a brand-new trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2, its eagerly anticipated open-world action game. This trailer is a more extensive look at the game's story, setting the mood for it and offering a better grasp of its narrative.
"America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed," reads Rockstar's official description. "After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee.
"With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him ... Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age."
Click image to view in full screen
The game feels like the end of the road for outlaws, who seem to feel their time has come. In one scene a group of people discuss Dutch, leader of the Van der Linde gang and antagonist of the first game. In a later scene a group of people are shown holding up the bank, and a voice refers to the "Sons of Dutch." Notably, we also see John Marston for the first time.
As previously detailed, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the "story of outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang as they rob, fight and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive." Interestingly, there's also a character in the trailer who looks a lot like Red Dead Redemption's much-loved protagonist, John Marston (see the fourth image in the gallery above).
Other scenes featured in the video include a train robbery, as well as hijacking of a horse and carriage. You can see all of that in the video at the top of this page.
This is the third trailer to be released to date. The previous Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer arrived on September 29, 2017 and provided a fleeting look at the game's story, combat, and characters. We also got another look at Arthur Morgan, the game's protagonist, as well as the Van der Linde gang. See our full Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer breakdown for more on them.
Red Dead Redemption 2 will release on October 26, 2018. It will be available for PS4 and Xbox One. Take-Two, the parent company of developer Rockstar Games, has said it is "confident" that the game won't have another delay.
"The entire focus of this organisation is on delivering the highest quality entertainment experiences of any kind," CEO Strauss Zelnick said during an earnings call held in February. "More often than not, we feel proud that we're able to do that. All of our labels are focused on releasing a title when they reach that apex of effort and perfection. And in this instance, Rockstar Games felt more polish was required, and naturally we are in favour of that decision [to delay Red Dead Redemption 2]. The date of October 26 is set, and I am confident that will be the release date. We are incredibly excited about it."
If you're eager to dip into the world of Red Dead Redemption as soon as possible, the first Red Dead Redemption was recently updated for Xbox One X. With this patch installed, Red Dead Redemption on Xbox One X runs at a higher resolution and features other visual improvements. It's very impressive and currently stands as the definitive way to play Red Dead Redemption.
By Anonymous on May 02, 2018 11:06 pm The hero of Red Dead Redemption returns for the new game, while the Cyberpunk 2077 dev gets listed for an "RPG" at E3.
Many of Stephen King's novels take place in a shared universe, with the author leaving little clues throughout his stories. Now, King is working with J.J. Abrams to bring this idea to light on Hulu. The new series is Castle Rock, named after a town in Maine where King's novels Cujo, Needful Things, The Dead Zone, and The Dark Half are set.
Hulu revealed that the series will premiere on its service on July 25. The first three episodes will debut that day, and it's unclear at this time how Hulu will release the rest of the 10-episode season. It's likely that it will be weekly.
The new trailer for Castle Rock, which you can see above, doesn't give an exceptionally clear idea of what the show will be about, aside from the fact that something creepy is happening in this Maine town. Shawshank Prison seems to be a focal point for this and the first trailer for the series.
André Holland stars as Henry Deaver, and what's interesting is that plenty of Holland's co-stars have appeared or starred in previous works adapted from King's material. Melanie Lynskey--who plays Molly Strand--starred in 2002's TV miniseries Rose Red. Both Bill Skarsgard (Pennywise) and Chosen Jacobs appeared in 2017's remake of It, and they will be playing a Shawshank Prisoner and Wendell Deaver, respectively. Terry O'Quinn plays Dale Lacy, and he starred in 1985's Silver Bullet. However, the most noted actor in Castle Rock is Sissy Spacek who plays Ruth Deaver on the Hulu series; in 1976, she starred in the iconic horror film Carrie.
This isn't by accident, but will these actors have a connection to their previous roles? As of right now, there are a lot more questions than answers, but hopefully, the Shawshank Prisoner makes at least one reference to Pennywise the Clown.
This is the second time King and Abrams have collaborated for Hulu, with the first being 2016's 11.22.63, a series starring James Franco about a man who travels back in time to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Sam Shaw (Masters of Sex) and Dustin Thomason (Lie To Me) developed Castle Rock and will executive produce the series alongside J.J. Abrams, Ben Stephenson, and Liz Glotzer. The series comes from Abrams' Bad Robot Productions and is associated with Warner Bros. Television.
The era of TV reboots and revivals is strong. Whether they're already available, like the Roseanne revival and Netflix's Lost in Space reboot, or the new iterations of Charmed, Roswell, and Magnum PI that are currently in various stages of development and production, what's old is new again--even The Karate Kid.
When YouTube Red first launched in 2015, it was with the intention of building an original programming library. After all, if Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu could do it, why not the internet's foremost video hosting service? Thus far, the results have been mixed. While originals like Step Up: High Water and Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television have met with moderate success, the service has yet to find a breakout show that could really help it make an impact.
That is, until now. Cobra Kai should not be good. It's reviving a movie from over three decades ago and follows a down-on-his-luck loser as he gets reacquainted with an old foe that has gone on to be a huge success. It stars two actors who excelled in the original film but didn't end up becoming the box office titans or massive stars they might have hoped for. While Ralph Macchio and William Zabka have carved out respectable careers with guest appearances on TV shows and smaller roles in films, neither was able to ride the The Karate Kid wave to become household names like some of their '80s counterparts--Kiefer Sutherland and Rob Lowe come to mind.
With all of that in mind, Cobra Kai might not sound like the best idea for YouTube Red to take a gamble on. Thankfully, though, they did. And while everything leading up to its release--trailers, its classification as a comedy, and that bizarre used car salesman commercial starring Macchio in character as Daniel--might have seemed silly and not very faithful to the tone of the original movie, the series itself is the opposite.
Cobra Kai--named after the evil dojo Zabka's Johnny is now reopening--feels like a trip back to the world of the original film, where Johnny thought he was God's gift to humanity. Now, though, that world has passed him by. It helps that he is just as much a jerk as he used to be. In the first two episodes, he makes xenophobic comments and only intervenes to fend off some street thugs from attacking someone when his 1980s Pontiac Trans Am--which has seen better days--takes some minor damage. These are the exact types of things he would have done in the original movie, but they seem so disconnected with the world in 2018.
His is the story of someone who peaked in high school and is holding onto any thread of that former glory he can, whether it's through his muscle car, staring at girls much too young for him, or a rebellious attitude that leads him to lose his job after losing his temper. He is shown to be varying levels of racist, homophobic, and sexist, as well as completely stuck in the past. Yet, as the world leaves him in the dust, Johnny becomes a somewhat sympathetic figure.
To contrast that, there's Daniel. Since beating his nemesis at the All-Valley Karate Tournament over 30 years earlier in the original Karate Kid, Daniel's life has gone well. He owns a successful car dealership, he has a nice house and a beautiful family, and he's a member of the local country club. Like Johnny, though, he's lost his way. He's taken the things he learned from his mentor and sensei Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and turned them into a gimmick to sell cars. In his commercials he karate chops prices and offers free bonsai trees to every customer.
After they cross paths again, Johnny becomes determined to turn his luck around and reopens the Cobra Kai dojo--and reinstate its brutal rules. Even all these years later, pain, fear, and defeat do not exist in this dojo. However, he's not as hard-edged a sensei as John Kreese (Martin Kove) was to him. He still has a foul mouth and doesn't seem to care much about his kids, but even in the first two episodes, it's clear that Johnny is changing. He's finally being forced to grow up.
It just so happens that in doing so, he's coming into direct opposition with Daniel once again. This time, though, neither are the hero or the villain of the story. They're both operating in a grey space; both think what they are doing is right--Johnny by passing on the knowledge he still deeply values to a new group of kids, Daniel by putting a stop to what he sees as the epitome of evil.
What it shows is that, in their hearts, both of them are men that will either confront and defeat their past or remain stuck in it forever. Daniel has is successful and loves his family dearly, yet his vendetta against the Cobra Kai dojo has never died. Meanwhile, instead of cleaning up his life like a normal person would, Johnny is doing it by teaching kids how to beat up other kids, simply because it's what he was taught is the right thing to do.
With these two being the center of the series, Cobra Kai is something that will live or die on the performances of Zabka and Macchio. Thankfully, both are embracing their history with these characters as the leads of the show. This isn't a parody of The Karate Kid. Johnny and Daniel simply feel like they've grown up.
Likewise, the young supporting cast infuses new life into the franchise as Daniel and Johnny set out to train the next karate kids (no, not the Hilary Swank movie). In particular, Xolo Maridueña (Parenthood) and Mary Mouser (Scandal) shine as Johnny's first student and Daniel's daughter, respectively.
The cast, combined with the creative team of Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle writers Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, and Hot Tub Time Machine scribe Josh Heald, have created something special. There are some laughs, a good dose of karate action, and the tense chemistry between Zabka and Macchio is as palpable as ever. It's essentially everything a fan of the original could hope for in a revival and introduces enough new faces and stakes to potentially make new fans of the next generation.
Whether Cobra Kai can maintain the quality and tone it packs into the first two episodes of the series as it continues remains to be seen, but it certainly has the potential to be exactly what YouTube Red needs--quality content that could appeal to a wider audience. Now it's up to that audience to decide if it's worth their time and something they want to invest in.
All 10 episodes of Cobra Kai Season 1 will be available to stream Wednesday, May 2, on YouTube Red.
Humble Bundle has launched its latest collection of games you can get at an enormous discount in the US. It's called the Humble CryEngine Bundle, and as you can probably guess, it contains games built on the CryEngine. What games are those? We'll dive in below, but note that the deal ends on May 15.
As usual, you can pay what you want for this Humble Bundle, and the bundles comes in three tiers. To get the first tier, you only need to spend $1. To get the games in the first two tiers, you have to spend the average amount people have spent on the bundle. That varies over time, but the number tends to go up the longer the bundle is available. And finally, to get the games in the third tier, you have to spend at least $15.
The top-billed games in the bundle, which you'll only get if you spend $15 or more, are the military-focused games Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 and Homefront: The Revolution. Both games received 5/10 in their GameSpot reviews, so you may want to exercise caution before buying them. Then again, if you've been curious about either one, getting them as part of this extremely discounted bundle is the way to go.
In addition to those games, each tier comes with game asset files, which may be appealing to any game developers out there. Also, Humble Bundle buyers can decide how much of their money goes to charity. This month's featured charity is Extra Life.
By Anonymous on May 02, 2018 10:27 pm Join Alessandro and Ben as they go through the 2D action RPG Dragon's Crown which is getting a PS4 Pro version come May 15th.
Monster Hunter World's recent 3.0 update introduced a new Elder Dragon to the game, but it won't be available for much longer. The first Kulve Taroth Siege ends on PS4 and Xbox One tomorrow, May 3, giving players only a little more time to obtain its new weapons and armor.
The Siege runs until 4:59 PM PT / 7:59 PM ET / 11:59 PM UTC, after which time it will be taken out of the event rotation. If you haven't had a chance to participate in the quest yet, Capcom says it will return to the game "soon," although the publisher hasn't indicated just when it will be available again.
Unlike a typical hunt, Sieges are raid-style quests for up to 16 players at once. Everyone is divided up into groups of four and must track and battle Kulve Taroth, with each group contributing to the Siege's overall progress. The more tracks players gather and parts they break off the monster, the better the rewards everyone will receive at the end of the quest.
The new Elder Dragon brings two new armor sets to craft: Kulve Taroth α and Kulve Taroth β. As usual, players will need to use the materials they gather from the monster and take them to the smithy to create the gear. Players can also craft a corresponding set of Kulve Taroth armor for their Palico. We've detailed exactly how to get the Kulve Taroth gear.
Following the Kulve Taroth Siege, Capcom will roll out the second part of its Street Fighter crossover event. Beginning May 3, players will be able to take part in a new set of Challenge Quests to acquire the Sakura armor. Players can also now participate in an Event Quest to get the Devil May Cry Dante armor.
When the acclaimed comedy Arrested Development returned to screens in 2013, following a seven year absence, it wasn't exactly met with universal acclaim. While fans were happy that Netflix had brought the series back following its cancellation in 2006, the format of the show had changed. Due to scheduling issues, each episode now focused on a separate character rather than cutting between the entire cast, with the events of the season taking place simultaneously across the 15 episodes.
Season 5 of Arrested Development is just around the corner, and creator Mitch Hurwitz has now revealed that a reedited version of Season 4 will hit Netflix this Friday, May 4. Hurwitz took to Twitter to announce the Season 4 "remix", and well as teasing Season 5. In a note, he explained that he has reedited the entire season, taking the longer episodes and reorganising them into 22 shorter, chronological ones.
The season is now titled Arrested Development Season 4 Remix: Fateful Consequences, and Hurwitz describes it as "funny in a new way." Check the full note out below:
As for Arrested Development Season 5, Hurwitz didn't reveal a specific release date, but it he did suggest it was just around the corner. He said it would hit Netflix "real soon," before adding, "if you knew when, you would not be wrong in thinking 'why are we just hearing about this now?'"
In related news, it was revealed last week that there is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Arrested Development in the Marvel blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo helmed many episodes of Arrested Development, and placed an amusing Easter Egg in their Marvel epic. Click here if you want to know what it is.
As promised, Rockstar Games has delivered the first new trailer for its much-anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2--the first in more than six months. Much like the previous ones, this primarily focuses on teasing the game's narrative rather than showcasing significant gameplay, and while we're left to guess what most of it means, there is one reveal of note.
John Marston, the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption, will play a role in RDR2. This game sees you assume the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. But during the course of the trailer, there's a quick shot of a bearded man being held by the neck with some cuts on his nose and right cheek. Yes, there seems to be no doubt that John Marston--another Van der Linde gang member--is back, and we'll apparently find out how he got those scars of his.
Beyond that brief moment, there's no further time spent with Marston, so we don't yet know how significant of a role he'll play. RDR2 is a prequel, and we know based on our breakdown of a previous trailer that a number of familiar faces will also show up. But this is the first indication that Marston himself will be included in some capacity.
Whereas RDR took place in 1911, RDR2 is set in 1899. And although the trailer itself doesn't fill in many details about what the story involves, an accompanying description from Rockstar sets up what's going on. "The end of the Wild West era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed," it reads. "After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him."
Following some previous delays, RDR2 is set to release on October 26 for PS4 and Xbox One. Rockstar and parent company Take-Two insist it won't be delayed again. There's still no word on a PC version.
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The hero of Red Dead Redemption returns for the new game, while the Cyberpunk 2077 dev gets listed for an "RPG" at E3.
Join Alessandro and Ben as they go through the 2D action RPG Dragon's Crown which is getting a PS4 Pro version come May 15th.
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