FX is hosting a panel for its upcoming Sons of Anarchy spin-off, Mayans MC, this weekend at San Diego Comic-Con. In the meantime, the company has given fans another look at the highly anticipated biker drama with a new trailer, which introduces the cast and sets the tone for the series. Spoilers for Sons of Anarchy follow.
Mayans MC takes place after the death of Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) in Sons of Anarchy. The series is set on the California/Mexico border and follows Ezekiel "EZ" Reyes (JD Pardo), an ex-con struggling to "carve out his new outlaw identity in a town where he once was the golden boy who had the American Dream within his grasp."
EZ is a prospect for the Mayans, a rival charter of the Sons. The cast also features Edward James Olmos (Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica, Dexter), Sarah Bolger, Clayton Cardenas, Richard Cabral, Michael Irby, Raoul Trujillo, Antonio Jaramillo, and Carla Baratta.
Mayans MC is co-created by Elgin James (Lowriders) and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter, who will return to the universe as an executive producer on the series. The first two episodes are directed by Norberto Barba (Preacher).
The first season of Mayans MC is scheduled to premiere on FX on September 4 and will consist of 10 episodes. For more news, trailers, and announcements from Comic-Con, be sure to check out our complete SDCC 2018 coverage below.
The live-action Justice League movie was originally directed by Zack Snyder, but the film was handed off to Joss Whedon when Snyder left the project because of a family tragedy. Though the movie does have its fans, Justice League mostly received negative reviews. This got fans wondering if the film would have been better had Snyder stayed on, and whether Warner Bros. had any plans of releasing Snyder's cut of the movie.
In a Wall Street Journal report, Warner Bros. revealed the company has no plans of releasing a Snyder cut of Justice League. When asked if Warner Bros. planned on using San Diego Comic-Con to announce release dates for an alternate version of Justice League, a Warner Bros. senior executive confirmed the studio had no plans of even mentioning a Snyder cut before adding no such cut exists.
The news probably comes as a disappointment to those who have long suspected that a Snyder cut of Justice League is being kept secret behind closed doors. Rumors of its existence have been backed by early trailers and promotional material that aired before Snyder left the project. The first photo of Jason Momoa as Aquaman is accompanied by the phrase "Unite the seven" which implies the League was originally going to be composed of seven heroes. However, Whedon's Justice League only features six: Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Superman. Considering Justice League has a scene of a past Green Lantern helping Earth battle Steppenwolf, fans theorize the seventh member was supposed to be Hal Jordan or John Stewart.
All of Kiersey Clemons' scenes as Iris West were cut as well, although she's still scheduled to appear in the upcoming The Flash: Flashpoint movie. Early trailers also had scenes of Victor before he became Cyborg, as well as Batman looking at a hologram of someone wearing a cape; all of this was cut.
Despite the lack of a Snyder cut, it's probably still safe to assume that Snyder and Whedon have different visions when it comes to how the DC Cinematic Universe's Justice League was supposed to form. Regardless, it looks like Whedon's version is the only one we're ever going to get.
San Diego Comic-Con is upon us, and that means tons of reveal trailers, comic announcements, cosplay, and of course, exclusive Funko Pops. The collectible doodads have become a staple of the annual show, and this year it's offering a whopping 58 in all. Among them are some Disney homages that mix characters from big new and upcoming movies with some more obscure parts of Disney history.
Funko celebrated the mix of characters with a quick video showing them in 360 degrees. They include King Mickey from Kingdom Hearts, Ralph and Fix-It Felix from Wreck-It Ralph and the upcoming Wreck-It Ralph Breaks the Internet, and even Pain and Panic from Disney's Hercules. (Muse: Honey, you mean Hunk-ules).
If you happen to be attending SDCC you can get your hands on these tchotchkes, but it's not as simple as just walking up to the Funko booth and walking away with an armful of nostalgia. Oh no. You have to follow some guidelines, like using an Exclusives Portal to book a time to visit the booth and purchase your wares. Then you can place them in your vault as your retirement savings and never ever open them because you're not a monster.
Between now and July 30, you can play a trial version of EA's new game, Unravel 2, for free on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. The demo comes with the game's first two levels and lets you play for up to 10 hours. Just make sure you remember to close out of the game between play sessions to stop the timer.
Unravel 2 is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer starring Yarny, a red doll made from--you guessed it--yarn. This sequel adds a second doll that can be controlled by another player over local co-op. The game takes place in the real world, from the perspective of the tiny yarn dolls.
Because of their diminutive size, the ordinary items you encounter often halt your progress. You and your (optional) co-op partner are tasked with figuring out how to get through each predicament. Often, the solution involves using your doll's yarn to grapple and swing between obstacles.
GameSpot's reviewer found this sequel to be a big improvement over the 2016 original. From our 8/10 Unravel 2 review: "In almost every moment you're given ample time and space to breathe and take in the stunning photorealistic world from the viewpoint of the tiniest creatures. It's a game with boisterous birds, chases through meadows, and most importantly a cheerful partnership with a companion who's always got your back."
EA announced and released Unravel 2 during its press conference that coincided with E3 2018. The full game comes with six levels, each of which take about 30 minutes to complete. It costs $20 across all platforms.
For almost its entire history, Hearthstone has struggled with the Charge mechanic. By allowing minions to hit the enemy hero the same turn they're played, it created some frustrating one-turn-kill combos. Kobolds & Catacombs introduced Rush to solve the pervasive problem, and it doesn't seem like Charge will be coming back anytime soon.
"We've been moving away from Charge," lead designer Mike Donais told GameSpot. "We found out that Rush is even more fun. It still gives you the fantasy of being able to play your minion and attack right away, but it doesn't set up the sadness that the opponent has if he just dies from an empty board. So we've been focusing a lot more on Rush."
The question came up in regards to The Boomsday Project, the upcoming expansion due August 7. Kobolds and Catacombs notably introduced no new Charge cards, and with the new Magnetic ability, it would be easy to see how Charge could be exploited all over again. Though card reveals are still ongoing, it sounded as if we shouldn't expect any new Charge cards in this expansion either.
"We're really liking how Rush is working out," he said. "The audiences seem to really like Rush too. We might experiment with Charge in the future still, but right now, we're focused on Rush. It seems to be solving those problems."
Aside from frustrating combos, Charge also limited the design space for new cards, since they could conceivably be combined with Charge. Blizzard experimented with cards that limited the Charge effect before settling on Rush. The new mechanic works similarly to Charge, but doesn't allow you to attack the enemy hero on the turn it's first played. While some Charge cards remain in the game, it seems Rush will be the new normal.
Street Fighter's Ryu is joining forces with the Power Rangers in a live-action movie titled Power Rangers: Legacy Wars Street Fighter Showdown. The short film is based on the plot of mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars. A new teaser trailer showcases Ryu and Chun-Li being summoned to the Rangers' world, before Ryu is gifted with his very own Power Coin that he uses to tap into the Morphin Grid and become the Ryu Ranger.
Power Rangers: Legacy Wars follows the events of the 2017 Power Rangers film. Rita Repulsa infects the Morphin Grid with a virus that corrupts all generations of Rangers from every movie and TV show. The incarnation of Jason from the 2017 movie is the only Ranger who's spared, and he goes to work freeing his fellow Rangers from Rita's control.
Despite Jason's efforts, Rita's power continues to grow and she begins to enlist the help of villains from alternate realities. She discovers the remains of Street Fighter's M. Bison and resurrects him in her world. Unable to defeat a united front of Rita, M. Bison, the two villains' minions, and the Rangers who are still infected, Jason and his team of freed Rangers enlist Ryu's help to take back the Morphin Grid.
The game plays out as a online tag team-based fighting game, where players take control of a primary Leader who can call in two supporting Assist fighters during combat. Characters' moves are divided into three categories--Strike, Defense, and Breaker--which behave in a rock-paper-scissors format where Strike overcomes Breaker, which breaks through Defense, which can block Strike. Each character has their own collection of moves, so players need to strategize how to construct their team. You can practice different combinations in a Training Mode against computer players. Having certain Zords and Megazords unlocks larger scale battles.
In May 2018, Street Fighter's Ryu, Guile, Chun-Li, Akuma, Cammy, and M. Bison were added to the game, but the teaser for the upcoming film only includes Ryu, Chun-Li, and M. Bison. Ryu is the only one seen accessing the Morphin Grid to become a Ranger.
Ryu Ranger is now playable in Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, and Power Rangers: Legacy Wars Street Fighter Showdown is scheduled to premier sometime this fall.
It's here. We've reached the start of San Diego Comic-Con 2018, perhaps the year's biggest entertainment event. As always, it will see the actors from and creators behind your favorite TV shows, movies, comic books, and more gather to meet and talk to fans. The annual celebration of all things nerdy runs from now through July 22 in San Diego, CA, and GameSpot is here to help you figure out what, exactly, you should keep an eye out for. To kick things off, we've already gotten a new trailer for Titans, DC's upcoming TV show, and details on DC Universe. We're also moving into the first panels, so expect lots more.
While there are four days packed with panels, screenings, and other events, this post is going to focus on the schedule for Thursday, the official first day of Comic-Con. Still, though it's the start of the event, there's more than enough to do. When it comes to big panels, Thursday has everything from movies, to TV shows, to a massive reunion 10 years in the making.
The morning kicks off with a look at the upcoming film The Predator, which is sure to include some new footage from the movie, as well as fun stories from the cast and director Shane Black. There's also a panel for WWE's Mattel action figures. While it's happening mostly to talk about the upcoming toy line, the panel will also include a Q&A with Matt Hardy, Zack Ryder, Curt Hawkins, and a "surprise superstar or two."
Thursday will also see new Doctor Who star Jodie Whittaker make her SDCC debut, as the BBC America series returns to San Diego for the first time since Peter Capaldi's exit. Rounding out the day is the 10th anniversary reunion of the Breaking Bad cast, who will gather to talk with fans and reminisce about the series.
There's plenty more to see on Thursday, which you can check out in our full list of daily highlights below. Also make sure to take a look at our schedule of must-see panels for the entire convention, or else you might miss out on something amazing.
SDCC Thursday Schedule
The Predator (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Hall H)
Blade Runner: Revelations (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Room 6BCF)
WWE Elite Squad (11:15 am - 12:15 pm - Room 6A)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars 10th anniversary celebration (11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Room 6BCF)
Doctor Who (11:45 am - 12:45 pm; Hall H)
Nightflyers (3:00 pm - 3:50 pm; Indigo Ballroom)
Better Call Saul (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Hall H)
Breaking Bad 10th anniversary reunion (4:30 pm - 5:30 pm; Hall H)
Marvel's Iron Fist (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
The mothership has landed. We've officially reached the start of San Diego Comic-Con 2018, which will see the casts and creators of your favorite TV shows, movies, comic books, and more gather to meet and talk to fans. The annual celebration of all things nerdy runs from today through July 22 in San Diego, CA, and there's something for just about anyone, spanning genres from horror to sci-fi and beyond. We've already gotten a Titans trailer and DC Universe news, and we'll soon have panels for the likes of Breaking Bad, The Predator, and Doctor Who.
With a seemingly countless number of events packed into four days, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you want to see at Comic-Con. After all, this will be the first chance many have to watch sneak peeks and new trailers for upcoming movies and TV shows, as well as shows returning in the fall. Luckily for you, though, GameSpot has studied the SDCC schedule closely to pick out the panels you probably won't want to miss.
Some events are an easy choice to attend, especially where movie fans are concerned. Though Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm are both opting not to bring presentations to Comic-Con this year, there is more than enough to experience.
Thursday will see a panel for The Predator that will surely include new footage. Meanwhile, Friday sees Universal Pictures presenting panels for the upcoming Halloween film starring Jamie Lee Curtis, as well as M. Night Shyamalan's Glass--a sequel to both Unbreakable and Split. Saturday kicks things off right with the annual Warner Bros. presentation. That's where you'll likely get new looks at things like Aquaman, Wonder Woman 1984, and maybe even the upcoming Shazam.
TV is no slouch this year either. While HBO will not be bringing Game of Thrones or Westworld to the event, there is no shortage of shows. The CW's entire superhero roster is returning with individual panels. Other shows represented with panels include The Walking Dead, Vikings, Riverdale, Star Trek: Discovery, Preacher, Legion, and so many more returning favorites.
As far as new shows are concerned, SDCC has those covered as well. Castle Rock, the upcoming Hulu series set in the Stephen King universe, has a panel, as well as USA's TV spin-off of The Purge, Syfy's Deadly Class adaptation, and FX's Sons of Anarchy follow-up Mayans MC. There are also reunion panels featuring the casts of Breaking Bad, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Twin Peaks.
You can take a look at the full list of GameSpot's San Diego Comic-Con highlights below; we've also got roundups of what to look for on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you aren't able to make it to San Diego this year, make sure to keep your eyes on GameSpot Universe as we bring you the best moments, trailers, and more from the weekend.
Thursday
The Predator (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Hall H)
Blade Runner: Revelations (10:30 am - 11:30 am - Room 6BCF)
WWE Elite Squad (11:15 am - 12:15 pm - Room 6A)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars 10th anniversary celebration (11:45 am - 12:45 pm - Room 6BCF)
Doctor Who (11:45 am - 12:45 pm; Hall H)
Nightflyers (3:00 pm - 3:50 pm; Indigo Ballroom)
Better Call Saul (3:30 pm - 4:30 pm - Hall H)
Breaking Bad 10th anniversary reunion (4:30 pm - 5:30 pm; Hall H)
Marvel's Iron Fist (6:00 pm - 7:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Friday
Fear the Walking Dead (11:15 am - 12:15 pm; Hall H)
Vikings (11:30 am - 12:30 pm; Ballroom 20)
The Walking Dead (12:15 pm - 1:15 pm; Hall H)
Hulu's Castle Rock (12:45 pm - 2:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Star Trek: Discovery (1:30 pm - 2:30 pm; Hall H)
Universal Pictures' Glass and Halloween (3:45 pm - 4:45 pm; Hall H)
Bumblebee (5:00 pm - 6:00 pm; Hall H)
Sony Pictures (6:15 pm - 7:15 pm; Hall H)
Preacher (7:30 pm - 8:30 pm; Hall H)
Saturday
Warner Brothers (10:30 am - 12:30 pm; Hall H)
Black Lightning (11:00 am - 11:45 am; Ballroom 20)
My Hero Academia (11:15 am - 12:15 am; Room 6A)
The Simpsons (12:00 pm - 12:45 pm; Ballroom 20)
Krypton (12:00 pm - 12:50 pm; Indigo Ballroom)
The Gifted (2:30 pm - 3:15 pm; Ballroom 20)
Supergirl (3:30 pm - 4:15 pm; Ballroom 20)
Arrow (4:15 pm - 5:00 pm; Ballroom 20)
Batman: The Animated Series on Blu-ray (4:15 pm - 5:15 pm; Room 6DE)
Walmart is running a deal right now that can save you $30 if you're in the market for a Nintendo Switch. The offer includes a Nintendo Switch console, with either gray or red-and-blue Joy-Cons, and one game from a selection of six, all for $330. That saves you up to $30, assuming the game you choose retails for $60 (which most of them do). You can get the offer here.
You can find GameSpot's reviews of the games below, but as for the Switch itself, it's a lauded piece of hardware. From GameSpot's Nintendo Switch review: "You can find more powerful consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One on sale for cheaper than the $299.99 Switch, but you're paying for the form factor here. There's something special about being able to play Breath of the Wild on the big screen in the living room and then continuing where you left off 15 minutes later on the bus."
For eight seasons, TheWalking Dead has followed Rick Grimes and his band of survivors as they traverse a post-apocalyptic landscape filled with animated corpses. These days, though, it's less about the hordes of the dead and more about armies of the living, as groups like the Saviors threaten the existence of the protagonists (spoilers to follow). Season 8 ended on a climactic note, with Negan captured and the saviors beaten, but it also left a Carl-shaped hole in our hearts. With Comic-Con fast approaching, we want to know what's in store for next season.
What It's About
So what's up with Season 9? So far, there have not been any major plot details released, but we do know that Andrew Lincoln will reportedly be leaving after it ends. That could mean we'll see some drama as the show begins to position Norman Reedus' Daryl as the main character. In addition, Lauren Cohan will only appear in six episodes, and given the discord between Rick and Maggie over Negan's fate, some sources are reporting that she may even be this season's villain, or at least an enemy of Rick's.
Who's Who
Crew
Scott Gimple executive produces the show.
Angela Kang is the new showrunner.
Cast
Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually) plays Rick, the show's tough but well-intentioned protagonist who finished last season by defeating the Saviors at the cost of many lives.
Lauren Cohan (Vampire Diaries) plays the hardcore leader of the hilltop, Maggie, who is now on rough terms with Rick because of how badly she wants to kill Negan.
Norman Reedus (The Boondock Saints) returns as the crossbow-wielding Daryl.
Danai Gurira (Black Panther) continues the badassery as Michonne, Rick's lady friend.
Melissa McBride (The Mist) is sticking around to play Carol.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Rampage) is still around as Negan, who is rotting in a cell.
Lauren Ridloff (Children of a Lesser God) was confirmed by Entertainment Weekly to have been cast in the role of Connie, a deaf survivor who is skilled at reading people. The actor was nominated for a Tony this year.
What's Been Released So Far
So far, there hasn't been much media released from AMC about the next season of The Walking Dead, but we do know some information about it.
As its ratings declined, the show hired a new showrunner, Angela Kang, who reports that this season will focus on its female characters and will begin some time after Season 8 ended. The show will also be adding a new character named Connie who is hearing-impaired, a departure from her character in the comics. Considering all the cast shake-ups occurring next season, we're expecting some pretty major changes to the show.
What We Want At Comic-Con
The Walking Dead has a released trailers at Comic-Con in the past, so we're hoping that they will do that this year and give us a first look at the new season.
We know that Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, showrunner Angela Kang, and Scott Gimple (among other executive producers) will attend a panel on Friday at 12:15. They will reportedly give a sneak peak into the new season as well as discuss it.
We would love it if they dropped a trailer and gave us a better idea of what Maggie and Rick's roles will be, given their role adjustments in the coming season. Other than that, we'll have to wait until the season premieres in October.
It's time once again for San Diego Comic-Con 2018. We've got a full SDCC schedule to help you follow along and know what to expect when. This year doesn't feature a major Marvel movie presence, but there's plenty else to look forward to. One thing that remains unchanged is that this is a public event, which means there are a ton of people in attendance. And that means getting into Hall H is a nightmare.
As is customary, Hall H is the convention's biggest stage, and it's where the biggest panels happen. Thursday's lineup includes The Predator, Doctor Who, a Breaking Bad 10th anniversary event, and more. Because of that, the line to get in gets very, very long, and on Thursday morning that's already the case. As seen in the image we snapped below, there are seven large tents, each filled with a queue to get in. You have to make your way through all of this in order to get in. Further below, you can see some tweets further demonstrating what the line is like.
Some of the many tents outside of Hall H
There's limited space inside, and not everyone will necessarily get a seat, which is what leads to people even spending the night in line to ensure they have a spot. It doesn't make for a great experience for anyone.
Whatever the particulars outside, we're expecting news on everything from Halloween to Legion to The Walking Dead over the course of SDCC, which runs from now through Sunday, July 22. We'll report back with all of the major happenings; we've already gotten a Titans trailer and pricing for DC Universe, while our sister site CNET spent some time in a padded asylum room.
The Legendary Pokemon Regice has been a fixture of Raid Battles since it debuted in Pokemon Go last month, but it won't be available for much longer. The Legendary Titan is only scheduled to appear until this Thursday, July 19, making this your last opportunity to add one to your collection before it leaves the game.
As with other Legendary Pokemon, players will first need to team up with other Trainers in-person at Gyms to battle Regice, and only after the Legendary has been defeated will they earn a chance to capture it. Just as its name implies, Regice is an Ice-type, which makes it especially vulnerable to Fire, Rock, Steel, and Fighting Pokemon, such as Blaziken, Machamp, and Tyranitar.
Regice originally debuted in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire as one-third of the Legendary Titan trio, along with Registeel and Regirock. The remaining two Legendaries are also slated to debut in Pokemon Go later this summer, although Niantic has yet to announce the exact date when either will begin appearing in Raid Battles.
In the meantime, Pokemon Go players will soon have another chance to catch a previous Legendary Pokemon. As a reward for achieving the Global Challenge goal during the Pokemon Go Fest event this past weekend, Niantic will host a special Zapdos Day on July 21. The Legendary bird will be available around the globe for a three-hour window of time that day, and players will even have a chance to encounter a Shiny variant.
Beyond Zapdos Day, players still have a chance to capture a special summer-style Pikachu, which is available for a limited time to celebrate Pokemon Go's second anniversary. Niantic has also revealed the first details for the next Pokemon Go Community Day. Unlike previous events, it will take place on two days, August 11 and 12, and feature Eevee.
Stephen King is one of the most widely adapted authors ever. His books have inspired movies, TV shows, reboots, spin-offs, and more. It's almost difficult to keep track of which famous horror films are King adaptations. In that spirit, Hulu is developing a series that puts many of his famous work in one show.
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 is here, so let's review what we already know about Castle Rock. We'll also take a look at what we're hoping to learn during SDCC.
What It's About
Castle Rock is a Hulu original series which will combine several of Stephen King's storylines to create one big, scary show in which all the horror occurs. Henry Deaver is the main character who returns to Castle Rock after getting a phone call from Shawshank Prison from a man he doesn't know, but says he refuses to talk to anyone other than Deaver. The show will follow several different characters as they try to get through the ensuing violence and contemplate what exactly they did to deserve all the terrible things that have happened in their town.
Who's Who
Crew
JJ Abrams (Star Trek) is executive producing.
Sam Shaw and Dustin Thomas are credited as show creators.
Cast
Andre Holland (Moonlight) stars as Henry Deaver, an attorney returning to his creepy hometown after he fled to avoid the backlash after an accident that he has no memory of, killed his father and left him as the only suspect.
Bill Skarsgard (It) plays a mysterious young man found locked up in a prison where he's not supposed to be. He says he will only talk to Henry Deaver, despite never having met the man.
Sissy Spacek (Carrie) plays Ruth Deaver, Henry's adoptive mother who suffers from dementia.
Scott Glenn (Silence of the Lambs) plays Alan Pangborn, from Needful Things and The Dark Half, a bitter, retired sheriff.
Terry O'Quinn (Lost) plays Dale Lacey.
Melanie Lynskey (Two and a Half Men) plays Molly Strand, a real estate agent.
Jane Levy (Don't Breathe) plays Jackie Torrence.
What's Been Released So Far
The first trailer to be released for Castle Rock was a teaser, followed by a full-length trailer. They don't give much away in terms of plot, but instead offer just enough information to make the show look creepy and intriguing.
Some plots details were discussed when a few members of the cast and crew did an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Creators Thomas and Shaw talked about their philosophy in created the show and said, "Our intention was always to tell an original story in the tune of Stephen King." They also talked about Stephen King giving his seal of approval to the show in a review that he emailed to JJ Abrams.
What We Want At Comic-Con
It is officially confirmed that Hulu will premiere the first episode of Castle Rock in a screening at Comic-Con on Friday, so that will probably answer many of our questions about the show, including one of the most pressing: Who is Skarsgard's character?
Whether or not you're at Comic-Con, you'll get to see the show for yourself soon, as it debuts on July 25.
Riverdale is an adaptation of the Archie comic books. The show follows a teenage Archie and his classmates Betty, Veronica, and Jughead Jones along with a host of other teenagers as they navigate the mysterious and occasionally dangerous waters of high school in the small town of Riverdale. The show has been very successful and is now getting ready to release a third season.
With San Diego Comic-Con here, let's review what we know about the new season. We'll also take a look at what we're hoping to hear about during SDCC.
What It's About
The third season, which comes out in a few months, is set a short time ahead of where the series left off after the shocking Season 2 finale. It takes place over Labour Day, so Archie's murder trial should be underway by this point.
Cosmopolitan reports that this season is going to deal with the tragedy that occurs in Season 2 and will back up a bit from all the murder. A representative of the show hinted that all the deaths may not be a coincidence and said that while the show will keep its dark tone, the relationships will continue to be integral to the story. Also, expect some new characters, potentially including Jughead's mom.
Who's Who
Crew
The show was created by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Carrie), which explains some of the darker elements, as Sacasa is known for working in the horror genre.
Cast
The show stars KJ Apa (A Dog's Purpose) as Archie, the teenage musician who we last saw getting carted off to face trial for a murder we know he didn't commit.
Lili Reinhart (Miss Stevens) plays Betty, an intelligent teenager.
Camila Mendes will continue to play Veronica, a rich New York socialite.
Cole Sprouse (The Suite Life of Zack and Cody) plays Jughead Jones, a damaged bad boy.
What's Been Released So Far
No official trailer has been released, but the cast of Riverdale is very fond of posting photos from behind the scenes as well as from their lives, so there have been a lot of glimpses at the production of Season 3 from Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram.
Perhaps the most revealing photo came from the creator, who tweeted a photo of the cover page of the script for the first episode. The episode was titled "Labour Day," which reveals that the show will begin a few months after the events of the Season 2 finale.
What We Want At Comic-Con
though the show has been to Comic-Con before, Riverdale will be making its first appearance ever in Hall H on Sunday and will be sharing a video presentation for fans. It's possible that the presentation will include footage from Season 3, but this is pure speculation; ideally the presentation will include a trailer that gives us a better idea as to the plot of the third season, which premieres October 10.
Doctor Who is a sci-fi show that debuted in the 1960s, was cancelled in 1989, and was then came back in 2005. It follows an alien lifeform known only as the Doctor who uses a device called the TARDIS to travel through space and time. The Doctor generally has a companion or two and has the ability to regenerate after he or she dies, which conveniently gives the show the ability to recast the role over and over again. The show's reboot has been very popular and will now enter its eleventh season with a brand-new Doctor and companion.
San Diego Comic-Con 2018 has arrived, so let's review what we know about the upcoming season, and take a look at what we're hoping to see during SDCC.
What It's About
BBC is being incredibly tight-lipped about the plot details of the eleventh season of Doctor Who, which is to be expected, but one big, amazing detail is that the newest Doctor will be a woman for the first time in the entire 54-year run of the show. Jodie Whittaker was cast as the thirteenth doctor last year.
The other detail we do know is that it has been reported that the Doctor will encounter civil rights activist Rosa Parks in an episode.
Who's Who
Crew
Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch) is the showrunner following Steven Moffat's departure; he had been the showrunner since 2007.
Matt Strevens is executive producing the show.
Cast
Jodie Whittaker (Broadchurch) plays the Doctor.
Tosin Cole (Burning Sands) plays Ryan, who is presumably a new companion of the Doctor's.
Mandip Gill (Hollyoaks) plays Yasmin, who is likely also a companion.
Bradley Walsh (The Chase) plays Graham, another potential new companion.
What's Been Released So Far
So far, a teaser trailer has come out in conjunction with the World Cup which introduced the world to Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. The teaser gives away nothing about the plot, but instead shows normal people, and some future cast members, reacting to hints that the new Doctor has arrived, followed by debuting the Doctor herself.
What We Want At Comic-Con
BBC America will have a Doctor Whopresentation coming to Hall H on Thursday which will feature Chris Chibnall, Matt Strevens, Jodie Whittaker, and her two co-stars, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill.
Hopefully we will get a full-length trailer and some more details about what this season will entail. There is both a new Doctor and new showrunner this season, so we want to know what changes are in store and what Chibnall's vision is for the future of the show, which will premiere this fall.
Shazam is one of the oldest DC characters out there. First debuted in 1939 when the character's name was still Captain Marvel, the comic books became very popular, but legal issues prevented it from really taking off. The series has come back a few times without major success. Now DC is taking it to the big screen.
We're here to give you the details on everything we know so far about the film. With San Diego Comic-Con upon us, we'll review what's been announced and share some thoughts on what we hope to see at SDCC.
What It's About
Shazam is an upcoming movie in the DC Extended Universe which follows a superhero of the same name. He discovers as a boy that he can turn into a superhero by saying the word "shazam," which is technically an acronym for a slew of gods and heroes from various cultures (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, and Mercury).
When he says the word, he transforms into a fully grown adult with superpowers. At first, young Billy Batson spends a lot of time playing with his powers, but he has to get it together and become the superhero Shazam in order to fight the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana.
Who's Who
Crew
David Sandberg (Lights Out) is directing Shazam.
Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke are penning the script.
Cast
Zachary Levi, (Chuck) , stars as the superhero version of Shazam, who is literally a boy inside a man's body.
Asher Angel (Andi Mack) plays Billy Batson, the young version of Shazam.
Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Secret Service) plays the villainous Doctor Sivana.
What's Been Released So Far
The film is many months from its release, so no trailers have dropped, but a few photos have come out. The very first look at Levi in costume was a set photo that the actor posted on Reddit. Another photo features both versions of Billy Batson, one as a kid, and the other in full super-gear. Zachary Levi also featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly.
We've also seen a poster featuring Levi in costume and sipping on a comically large beverage, which appears to confirm the director's earlier statements that this movie will have a lighter tone than the other films in the DCEU.
What We Want At Comic-Con
Along with Shazam, Warner Bros. is presenting Aquaman and Wonder Woman: 1984 at Comic-Con. Since Shazam is not coming out for a while, we're not expecting much information on the film at the Hall H presentation, but it's still possible that there will be something new announced.
This movie doesn't have too much mystery around it, so we really just want to see some footage from the film, ideally a trailer. It would also be great to get some clarification on the rumors around Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's involvement. Initially, he was tapped to play Black Adam, Shazam's nemesis, but now reports say that he won't be in the movie. The director essentially said that Black Adam was in and out of earlier versions of the script, but he pulled focus from Shazam. Now, it looks like DC is developing a Black Adam movie.
Altogether, we hope we get some new information at Comic-Con to hold us over until the movie comes out April 5, 2019, but we're not expecting much.
Iron Fist is a Netflix adaptation of a Marvel comic book which follows Danny Rand, a man who was raised by monks in the K'un Lun temple after his parents died in a plane crash that he miraculously survived. The monks raised him to be a formidable martial artist, and Danny wants to return to New York to take his rightful place at his father's company, with the help of his superpower, the Iron Fist, which gives him super strength.
What It's About
The show is on its second season. The first season didn't receive great reviews, so it's up to new showrunner Raven Metzner to turn things around. Netflix has kept the plot details for Season 2 under wraps, so we don't know much other than the clues we got from the first one.
Who's Who
Crew
Raven Metzner (Elektra) is the showrunner this season.
Cast
Finn Jones (Game of Thrones) plays Iron Fist / Danny Rand, the protagonist crusading to reclaim his family's legacy.
Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones) plays Colleen Wing, a martial arts specialist, dojo owner, and Rand's ally.
Jessica Stroup (90210) plays Joy Meachum, who is currently running Rand Industries with her brother.
Tom Pelphrey (Guiding Light)plays Ward Meachum, Joy's brother who runs the company with her and knew Danny Rand as a child.
David Wenham (Lion) plays Harold Meachum, Joy and Ward's father who took over Rand Industries once Danny Rand's father died.
Rosario Dawson (Luke Cage) plays Claire Temple, who joins Henwick's dojo.
What's Been Released So Far
So far, pretty much nothing has been released in the way of plot details. We do know that Misty Knight will feature in this season to team up with Colleen, her friend in the comic books, but other than that, we will have to wait until Comic-Con to get details on the show's sophomore season.
Rand also appeared in Luke Cage Season 2, which didn't necessarily give any plot details away; it was just really cool.
What We Want At Comic-Con
Iron Fist will definitely make an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, and while we don't know exactly who will attend, we do know that Marvel's Jeph Loeb will be there. We also know that Netflix will be releasing some of the first plot details about the second season at the presentation.
Obviously, since so few details have been released, we have a ton of questions. In brief, we just want to get an idea of what next season's plot will look like. Hopefully, we'll get the answers to that, and how Misty Knight will feature in the show, before Season 2 is released in December.
If you're looking to escape the heat, or you prefer streaming to barbecues--or you're just pumped to watch something because of what's happening at San Diego Comic-Con--it looks like July is your month. Netflix is making moves this month, releasing originals, bringing back some old movies, and giving the boot to more than a few long-timers--here's everything that's new to stream on the service.
All kinds of titles are coming throughout this month, and a lot of them are classics or just kind of old like Jurassic Park (one and three), Her, Get Smart, Bo Burnham's What, Happy Gilmore, Kevin Hart's Let Me Explain, and Interview With A Vampire.
Orange Is The New Black, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary, and Shameless are among the TV shows getting new seasons added to Netflix as well as several original series like Jerry Seinfeld's Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
Sadly, a lot of favorites are leaving Netflix this July so get to your devices ASAP because you might not be able to see these ones for a while. Some notables include all five Bring It On movies, all four Lethal Weapon movies, V for Vendetta, Tropic Thunder, and Breakfast At Tiffany's. Many of the month's removals are already gone as of July 1, but you still have some time for certain others.
If you'd like to know about everything arriving and leaving Netflix in July, check out the list below. We've also got a roundup of some of the best new additions to watch in the video above.
Arriving on Netflix July 2018
July 1
Blue Bloods: Season 8
Bo Burnham: what.
Chocolat
Deceived
Finding Neverland
Get Smart
Happy Gilmore
Hawaii Five-O: Season 8
Interview with the Vampire
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park III
Madam Secretary: Season 4
Menace II Society
NCIS: Season 15
Pandorum
Penelope
Queens of Comedy: Season 2
Rica, Famosa, Latina: Seasons 1-4
Scooby-Doo
Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
Spanglish
Stealth
Swordfish
The Boondock Saints
The Lost World: Jurassic Park
The Princess Diaries
The Voices
Traitor
Troy
Van Helsing
We Own the Night
We the Marines
What We Started
July 2
Dance Academy: The Comeback
Good Witch: Season 4
Romina
The Sinner: Season 1
July 3
The Comedy Lineup - Netflix Original
July 5
Blue Valentine
July 6
Anne with an E: Season 2- Netflix Original
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: New 2018: Freshly Brewed- Netflix Original
First Team: Juventus: Part B- Netflix Original
Free Rein: Season 2- Netflix Original
Inside the World's Toughest Prisons: Season 2- Netflix Original
Sacred Games- Netflix Original
Samantha!- Netflix Original
Somebody Feed Phil: The Second Course-Netflix Original
The Fosters: Season 5 New Episodes
The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter- Netflix Original Film
The Skin of The Wolf- Netflix Original Film
White Fang- Netflix Original Film
July 7
Scream 4
July 9
Lockup: Extended Stay: Collection 1
July 10
Drug Lords: Season 2 - Netflix Original
July 12
Gone Baby Gone
July 13
How It Ends- Netflix Original Film
Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now- Netflix Original
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
Sugar Rush- Netflix Original
The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants- Netflix Original
July 15
Bonusfamiljen: Season 2- Netflix Original
Going for Gold
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale: Part 2- Netflix Original
July 20
Amazing Interiors- Netflix Original
Dark Tourist- Netflix Original
Deep Undercover: Collection 3
Duck Duck Goose- Netflix Original Film
Father of the Year- Netflix Original Film
Fix It and Finish It: Collection 3
Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh: Season 4- Netflix Original
Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot- Netflix Original
Last Chance U: EMCC & Life After- Netflix Original
Last Chance U: INDY: Part 1- NEtflix Original
Luna Petunia: Return to Amazia: Season 2- Netflix Original
July 22
An Education
Bolt
July 24
The Warning- Netflix Original Film
Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial- Netflix Original
July 27
Cupcake & Dino - General Services- Netflix Original
Extinction-Netflix Original
Orange Is the New Black: Season 6-Netflix Original
Roman Empire: Reign of Blood: Master of Rome- Netflix Original
The Bleeding Edge- Netflix Original
The Worst Witch: Season 2- Netflix Original
Welcome to the Family- Netflix Original
July 28
Shameless: Season 8
The Company Men
July 29
Her
Sofia the First: Season 4
July 30
A Very Secret Service: Season 2-Netflix Original
July 31
Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 3- Netflix Original
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale has kicked off on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS. As before, the new season brings with it an assortment of new challenges to complete, as well as a variety of Battle Pass rewards to unlock. This time, however, Epic has made a few notable changes to the way certain Battle Pass challenges operate. Here's everything you need to know about the new Season 5 challenges and details on all of the ones available so far.
Once again, players who purchase the Season 5 Battle Pass will get a set of objectives to complete every week, which in turn will go toward leveling the Battle Pass up and unlocking new rewards. Unlike past seasons, however, weekly challenges are now divided into two categories, Free (which are available to all Fortnite players) and Battle Pass (which are reserved for those who've purchased the Pass). That means that even if you haven't bought the Battle Pass, you'll still be able to complete certain objectives and earn rewards.
If you do decide to pick up the Battle Pass partway through the season, you'll be also able to retroactively unlock any premium rewards you've earned based on the tier that you've already reached. However, one of the advantages of purchasing the Battle Pass early is bonus XP, which is awarded for playing in general and for playing in a party with friends. Since leveling up with XP translates into Battle Stars, you'll want to grab the Battle Pass as soon as you can and take advantage of these bonuses.
Drift challenges, on the other hand, task you with gaining a certain amount of XP. There are five Drift challenges to complete in total in Season 5, each of which reward you with a new style option for the Drift skin. If you manage to complete four out of the five Drift challenges, you'll also unlock the Rift Edge, an alternative for the pickaxe.
You'll find a complete list of all Season 5 challenges available so far below, along with links to our maps and guides that will help you complete them all. You can see all of the new skins, cosmetics, emotes, sprays, and other items to unlock this season in our gallery of Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards.
Fortnite: Battle Royale Season 5 Challenges
Road Trip
Complete all challenges from any week -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 2 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 3 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 4 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 5 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 6 different weeks -- loading screen
Complete all challenges from any 7 different weeks -- loading screen
Reward: Mystery Legendary item (likely a skin)
Drift
Gain 10,000 XP -- Drift Stage 1 style
Gain 25,000 XP -- Drift Stage 2 style
Gain 50,000 XP -- Drift Stage 3 style
Gain 100,000 XP -- Drift Stage 4 style
Gain 200,000 XP -- Drift Stage 4 style
Reward: Rift Edge (Epic harvesting tool)
Week 1
Free
Deal damage with SMGs to opponents (500) -- 5 Battle Stars
Season 5 of Fortnite: Battle Royale rolls on with a new set of challenges to complete on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and iOS. As usual, Week 2's challenges consist of seven different objectives, which run the gamut from eliminating a certain number of players to searching a specific area of the island, but one of the potentially trickier tasks is to score a basket on five different hoops.
To complete this challenge, you will first need to have unlocked the basketball--one of the new toy items introduced in Season 5. The basketball is earned upon reaching tier 11 of the Season 5 Battle Pass. Fortunately, this can be accomplished fairly quickly, so if you own the Battle Pass and have been playing regularly, there's a good chance you already have the basketball. Once unlocked, you use the toy in the same way you would use an emote by assigning it to an emote slot before a match and pressing the corresponding key or button.
Provided you know where to look, completing this challenge is simply a matter of finding a basketball hoop, then using the basketball toy to sink a shot. There are at least nine hoops scattered across the island, and the challenge doesn't need to be completed within a single match, so the easiest way to reach your goal would be to land near one of the courts at the start of a game and sink a quick shot before having to deal with other players. You can see the location of each hoop below.
northeastern side of Greasy Grove
northwestern side of Tilted Towers
near the second-northernmost house in Snobby Shores
near the indoor soccer field in the unnamed area east of Snobby Shores
eastern side of Junk Junction
near a house on top of the mountain south of Salty Springs
southern side of Retail Row
in the picnic area just east of Retail Row
northeastern side of Paradise Palms
Be aware that you'll need to score a basket at five different locations to complete this challenge; only the first one you sink at a court will count toward your total, so you won't be able to take a shortcut by throwing the basketball into both hoops on the same court. Once you've scored five baskets, you'll be rewarded with five Battle Stars.
The other challenge that may trip you up this week is to search between an oasis, rock archway, and dinosaurs. The remaining tasks are all fairly straightforward, and they include searching chests in Loot Lake, dealing damage to opponents with Assault Rifles, and searching seven Ammo Boxes in a single match. You can see the full list of Week 2 Challenges below.
Completing challenges will rank up your Battle Pass, which in turn will unlock new skins, emotes, back blings, contrails, toys, and an assortment of other rewards during Season 5. You can see everything you can earn in our gallery of all the new Fortnite Season 5 Battle Pass rewards. For our complete Fortnite Season 5 coverage, be sure to check out the links at the bottom of this story.
Fortnite Season 5, Week 2 Challenges
Free
Deal damage with Assault Rifles to opponents (1000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search seven Ammo Boxes in a single match (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Eliminate opponents in Paradise Palms (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Score a basket on different hoops (5)-- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Loot Lake (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search between an oasis, rock archway, and dinosaurs (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Hot on the heels of the brutal trailer for the upcoming DC show Titans, we have details of how much it will cost to subscribe to the studio's new streaming service. DC Universe launches in the fall and will offer a host of DC live-action and animated shows.
DC has confirmed that an annual subscription to the service will cost $74.99, with monthly subs available at $7.99. You can pre-order the annual subscription from DCUniverse.com right now, which will give you a bonus of three free months, as well as signing up at the DC Booth at this weekend's San Diego Comic-Con.
In addition, DC are running a SDCC promotion. Fans who pre-order an annual sub between July 19 and July 22 will be entered into a competition to win two tickets for the US premiere of Aquaman in December.
While Titans is the first of DC's new shows that we've seen any footage from, we know there are several others on the way. The service will also feature the live-action series Swamp Thing and Doom Patrol, plus the animated Harley Quinnand the third season of Young Justice, with the subtitle Outsiders.
In addition, the service is set to dip into the back catalogue of DC shows and movies, as well as offering comic books that will be available through the service's app. For more, check out our guide to everything you need to know about DC Universe.
It may not be a surprise, but it's official: Madden NFL 19 is coming to PS4 and Xbox One on August 10. This year's installment features improvements to the graphics and animation, thanks to Real Player Motion Technology. Players will also have better tools for building their roster and new ways to train and develop the players. You can find more details here.
Whether you buy the new edition each year or you're looking to get into the franchise for the first time in 2018, you might be wondering what editions are available, how much they cost, and where to pre-order Madden NFL 19. We have you covered below.
Pre-Order Bonus
Pre-order Madden NFL 19, and you'll receive one elite player from the NFL team of your choice and five Gold Team Fantasy Packs.
Madden NFL 19 Standard Edition
Suggested retail price: $60
This is the standard version of the game. Pre-ordering it from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate, but Newegg has it for $10 off. The cover athlete is the Pittsburgh Steelers' Antonio Brown.
Where to buy the Standard Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One: $60 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
The Hall of Fame Edition has 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, wide receiver, Terrell Owens on the cover. It costs $20 more than the standard edition, but it gets you the core game, plus a number of extras. It also lets you choose between Owens or four other NFL legends (Brian Urlacher, Rod Woodson, Dan Marino, and Terrell Davis) to add to your team. Additionally, you get 12 Gold Team Fantasy Packs, one Elite Madden 19 cover athlete (TBA), and two All-Madden Uniforms.
As above, pre-ordering from Best Buy gets you a $10 reward certificate redeemable at Best Buy, but Newegg gives you $10 off the price from the start. And if you pre-order it anywhere, you get access to the game three days early (August 7).
Where to buy the Hall of Fame Edition:
Best Buy - PS4 / Xbox One - $80 ($10 reward certificate with pre-order)
Ubisoft has announced Special Operations 2, a free update for Ghost Recon: Wildlands that introduces new PvE and PvP features to the PS4, Xbox One, and PC open-world shooter. The new content will be available from July 24 for those that own the Year 2 pass and July 31 for everyone else.
The first of the two major additions is Ghost Mode, a new PvE experience that is designed to put a player's skills to the test. It tasks players with taking down the Santa Blanca Cartel, but makes it a little trickier by activating permadeath, limiting the number of weapons you can carry at a time, making reloading more realistic, and turning on friendly fire.
Ghost War, meanwhile, is getting two new classes and two maps for players to duke it out on. On top of those, features are being added to make matches "spectator and tournament friendly." You can take a look at the full feature list for both modes below, courtesy of Ubisoft.
Ghost Mode
Permadeath: If players are not revived when down, their game is over and progression is reset.
New Loadout: Players will only be able to use one main weapon and one handgun.
Real Reloading: When players reload with a partially full clip, remaining bullets will be lost.
Friendly Fire: Players' shots and actions can cause damage to teammates.
Gear Management: Players can only switch weapons at ammo boxes or by looting enemies.
Teammate Removal: For a true solo experience, players can now choose to play without AI teammates (also available in the main campaign of the game).
Ghost War
New PvP Classes and Maps: Two new PvP classes and two PvP maps will be introduced, including a highly requested snow-terrain map.
Observer Mode: A new spectate feature that can be used to watch and showcase custom PvP matches through specific tools and a free-roam camera.
New Ranked Features: Introduction of a new Progression Bar that tracks Ranked progress, showing players their position in the current league.
Post-Match Celebration Screen: A new post-match screen where the winning team is showcased.
Social Items: A new feature consisting of emotes, voice lines and victory poses to further personalize players' experiences (also available in the main campaign of the game).
Early access to Special Operations 2 is included in the Ghost Recon: Wildlands Year 2 pass, which is available for $30. Those that purchase it will be able to play the new Ghost Mode and try out the new Ghost War classes a week early. Exclusive customization packs are also included as part of the pass. For everyone else, the new features will be accessible from July 31.
Ubisoft has been regularly updating Wildlands with new content. Perhaps the most notable update included a cameo from Sam Fisher, star of the publisher's stealth series Splinter Cell. It had been a while since we'd seen Fisher, and he called attention to that by cheekily pointing out that he was essentially the last of the dying breed of video game heroes. Fisher even references Metal Gear Solid protagonists Snake and Big Boss, whose futures are uncertain.
The start of Comic-Con 2018 has brought with it the first trailer for the DC Universe original series Titans--a live-action take on Teen Titans--and it's most definitely not what you were expecting. Without the constraints of network TV, DC is going dark with this show.
How dark? As you can see in the teaser trailer below, Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites) doesn't have the same hangups with killing bad guys that his mentor Bruce Wayne did. In the midst of crashing skulls and snapping necks, he offers a simple "F*** Batman," when told the Dark Knight would handle things differently.
As the trailer shows, Dick has grown up to become a police officer. As an adult, he'll become the leader of the Titans, which should be interesting given he will be enforcing the laws in two very different ways.
The trailer also gives looks at the rest of the Titans, including Raven (Teagan Croft), Beast Boy (Ryan Potter), and Starfire (Anna Diop). And for those worried about the costume photos that show Beast Boy without green skin, which you can see below, the trailer makes it clear that his skin definitely has the same pigmentation fans have come to expect.
Titans represents a few things for the future of DC on TV. For one, the graphic violence on display in the trailer is a far cry from the sanitized-for-TV fights on The CW. Beyond that, though, it shows that DC Entertainment is committed to making its new streaming service stand out.
Speaking to a group of reporters during a demo of DC Universe, DC Entertainment Publisher and Chief Creative Officer Jim Lee said that the 10-episode first season of Titans would launch with the service. From there, the goal is to debut a new episode of original content--Young Justice: Outsiders, Doom Patrol, Swamp Thing, etc.--every week, 52 weeks a year.
A launch date has not been announced for the DC Universe streaming service just yet. However, it's expected to launch in the fall. In the meantime, watch that trailer a few dozen more times and get ready to watch the Titans bust some skulls.
When MoviePass announced in August 2017 that it was changing its business model to a monthly subscription that cost $9.95 and allowed users to see a movie every day, the floodgates were officially open. Since then, the idea of a movie ticket subscription service has become the norm for those that like to see a lot of movies.
Now, though, there's competition. MoviePass isn't the only subscription service in the game anymore--and it might not even be the best, either. To find out which subscription service offers the best value, GameSpot put MoviePass, Sinemia, and AMC's Stubs A-List to the test.
MoviePass
The service that started it all. MoviePass was the first to offer a massive number of movie tickets for a low monthly price and has made quite a name for itself in the process. How can you not when charging $9.95 a month for a movie ticket every day?
What Works
If you go to the movies a lot, MoviePass is a great option. The ability to see up to 31 movies every month for a $10 flat rate is hard to beat--even if there aren't 31 movies released in any given month. In theory, you could stay up to date on every major release. Additionally, MoviePass offers in-app ticket purchases from select theaters, which is a nice perk.
What Doesn't Work
The theaters that offer in-app ticket purchases are rare. The only other option is to check into the theater when you arrive and buy your ticket on the spot. All tickets must be purchased the day of the screening, so you can't plan ahead too far. Another wrinkle is that premium formats (3D, IMAX, etc.) are not available with the service at this point.
Additionally, MoviePass has begun assessing upcharges--Peak Pricing--for "in-demand" movies. However, the company hasn't revealed how it will determine what is in demand or how much the upcharge will be in all cases. According to the company, the new charge will start at $2.
The biggest knock against MoviePass, though, is the service itself. The terms of the subscription keep changing. Over the last year, this service has not only begun restricting you from seeing a movie a second time but is also requiring users to submit photos of their ticket stubs and is tinkering with temporarily locking specific movies in certain locations. When attempting to buy a ticket to a screening of Red Sparrow back in March, the title was simply blocked out on the app. When I tweeted MoviePass to ask why, it quickly responded, "As we continue to enhance our service for everyone, certain inventory may not be available at all times." Of course, there was no warning that this would be happening.
AMC Stubs A-List
The newest player on the block is AMC's response to MoviePass. The world's largest movie theater chain has integrated a subscription service to its loyalty points system. AMC Stubs A-List offers three tickets each week for the monthly price of $19.95.
What Works
The most exciting thing about A-List is it's all contained within the AMC Theaters app--it's where you find the movies, buy the tickets, and have them scanned at the theater. With that in mind, it's also linked to your Stubs account. As a member, you get access to Stubs Premium, which allows you to collect points from concession purchases that earn you rewards.
The nicest perk of A-List, though, is access to premium formats. Not only can you watch movies repeatedly, but you have access to IMAX, 3D, Dolby, and AMC Prime screenings. There are no restrictions.
What Doesn't Work
The big problem with A-List is it only works at AMC theaters. While it is the world's largest theater chain, that doesn't mean everybody lives near one. If there's not an AMC in your neighborhood, you're out of luck.
Of course, there's also the fact that you're paying twice as much as MoviePass for less than half of the movies. However, this should only concern you if you know you'll be seeing more than three movies each week.
Sinemia
Sinemia is seemingly a dark horse that came out of nowhere. However, it's been around since 2014 with offerings in the UK, Canada, Turkey, and Australia. It made its presence known in the US market in May with four different pricing options:
$4.99 per month for 1 standard movie ticket
$6.99 per month for 2 standard movie tickets
$9.99 per month for 2 of any movie ticket (3D, 4D, IMAX)
$14.99 per month for 3 of any movie ticket (3D, 4D, IMAX)
What Works
The best thing about Sinemia is it allows you to purchase tickets to just about any movie theater. Those locked out on MoviePass typically aren't in Sinemia and it also works for the AMC theaters found in A-List. There are also a variety of plans to meet your moviegoing needs, provided you don't head to the theater multiple times each week.
For fans of premium format films, the top two plan options give access to IMAX, 3D, 4DX, and practically any other upcharge option a theater might offer--and it's all included in your monthly price.
What Doesn't Work
The biggest issue with Sinemia is the app itself. In trying to simplify the design, it's become a bit confusing. Want to buy a ticket to an upcoming film? Head to the planning tab. From there, though, you'll have to switch over to the Fandango app to find a theater and showtime.
After manually entering the information into the Sinemia app, a temporary credit card number will be unlocked that you can then transfer back over to the Fandango app--or Atom Tickets or MovieTickets.com--to purchase there. It can make for a difficult process.
There also doesn't seem to be a simple way within the app to find out how many tickets you have left. These are all problems that could be addressed in a redesign. Still, given that you're paying up to $15 each month for three tickets, it could make the hassle more than it's worth.
The Bottom Line
Truthfully, each of these subscriptions has some merit. Sinemia offers the least tickets, but access to premium theaters and formats. MoviePass offers the most tickets, but more restrictions and a constant state of flux when it comes to service rules. Meanwhile, AMC Stubs A-List offers a middle-of-the-road number of tickets for the highest price, but with surprisingly few restrictions outside of only being available at AMC theaters.
In the end, though, there is a clear winner. While it may be the newest on the scene, AMC Stubs A-List is exactly what I'm looking for when it comes to a movie ticket subscription. Everything is housed within the app, it's really easy to use, and IMAX, 3D, and other premium formats are offered--what's not to love?
That said, if you don't live near an AMC theater but still want to see tons of movies every month, MoviePass may be your best bet. However, if you're part of the 88% of MoviePass's audience that the company says sees two or fewer movies each month, check out Sinemia. It may not be the best-designed app, but it allows you to easily treat yourself to IMAX and 3D screenings.
Disclosure: Sinemia provided GameSpot with a trial subscription to evaluate the service for this story.
Bethesda usually plays its cards close to the vest, but it outlined some long-term plans at E3 2018 by announcing both the long-rumored Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. With both games on the horizon, producer Todd Howard and marketing boss Pete Hines are committing their studios to single-player experiences, but again urging patience in the same breath.
"We've been talking about it for a decade, we started putting things on paper five, six years ago, and active development was from when we finished Fallout 4, so two and a half, three years," Howard told The Guardian. "Everyone should be very patient [for Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6]. It's gonna take a while for what we have in mind to come out."
The more immediate release will be Fallout 76, which is an always-online multiplayer game. That said, single-player games aren't going anywhere in Bethesda's company culture. "Single-player is still a thing; it might continue to grow or evolve, but it's part of who we are, and we still think there's room to be successful," Hines said. "That doesn't mean that we should keep doing things the way we did five or 10 years ago--we've got to continue to change how we approach it."
Howard added that he understands players concerns that single-player games are becoming less prominent, and says it would be his concern as well.
"Games have gotten so big and interesting that they've moved beyond the toy/entertainment space," he said. "It's not just a diversion from their regular lives; for a lot of people it becomes an important part of their lives. I think we see that across a lot of games now, where people are getting joy and personal pride out of the time they spend in them ... Games are unique in that. They can put you in a place; they transport you. That's why we've always done big, open-world stuff: it's what a game does really well. We like technology, we like storytelling, we like art. But saying, 'Hey, look what we made the game do'--that is, on a day-to-day basis, on a week-to-week basis, the most rewarding."
All that means the company's long-term plans are pretty well set, which echoes what we've heard before. In June, Howard told us that he already knows the release date for Elder Scrolls 6, but that it would be "foolish" to say it now.
We've seen some big sales this season, ranging from the Steam Summer Sale to the PlayStation Mid-Year Sale. Now Xbox owners can get in on the fun, because the Ultimate Game Sale is live on the Microsoft Store. Between now and July 30, over 700 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games and add-ons are on sale for up to 65% off. And if you're an Xbox Live Gold member, you get an extra 10% off select titles. Let's dive in and what kind of deals are on offer.
Whether you're currently a member or not, you can save $20 off a 12-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold, bringing the online service down to $40 / £26.50. In addition to letting you play online, the subscription also gets you free games each month, making it one of the best deals around for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners.
Microsoft's other gaming-related subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, is also on sale right now. For $10 / £8, you can get a three-month membership that lets you download and play a selection of over a hundred games on your Xbox One, including first-party games the same day they're released.
As expected, many Xbox One-exclusive games are discounted during the Ultimate Game Sale. You can get Gears of War 4 for $20 / £17 and the console exclusive PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds for $22.50 / £19. The cartoonish platformer Cuphead is on sale for $16 / £13.39, while Quantum Break is $20 / £14.40 and ReCore is down to $15 / £11.
Far Cry 5, which just got some Mars DLC, is on sale for $40 / £36 (DLC not included). You can get yourself ready for this fall's Destiny 2: Forsaken release by grabbing Destiny 2 and the Expansion Pass for $20 / £16.50.
All of those and literally hundreds of other games are on sale right now. We have more highlights below, or you can hop over to the Microsoft Store for the complete list.
It looks like the epic media battle to buy Fox's entertainment assets is nearing its end. It has been reported that Comcast will bow out of the bidding war with Disney, paving the way for the latter studio to take control of properties such as the X-Men, Alien, and Avatar.
According to Variety, Comcast will instead focus on buying the European satellite TV provider Sky. With no other company involved in this multi-billion dollar bidding war, it looks certain that Disney will gain control of Fox's entertainment properties.
In a statement, Comcast said that it "does not intend to pursue further the acquisition of the Twenty-First Century Fox assets and, instead, will focus on our recommended offer for Sky." In an separate statement, Comcast chairman-CEO Brian L. Roberts conceded the battle to Disney. "I'd like to congratulate Bob Iger and the team at Disney and commend the Murdoch family and Fox for creating such a desirable and respected company," he said.
The Disney/Fox deal will unite Fox's Marvel assets, which include the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is owned by Disney. Disney itself has stressed this, saying in an earlier statement that buying Fox will help create "richer, more complex worlds of inter-related characters and stories that audiences have shown they love." In addition, successful properties such as Avatar--which currently has two sequels in production--The Simpsons, and the Alien and Predator series will become part of Disney's roster.
We're into the second week of Fortnite Season 5, which means there's a fresh set of challenges to take on. If you're new to the game, this means that you can score some extra XP and Battle Stars for successfully completing specific objectives in-game. For the latest season, challenges are separated into two sections for Free and Battle Pass.
This week the free challenges, which anyone can do, involve dealing damage with assault rifles, searching seven ammo boxes in one match, and killing three enemy players in Paradise Palms.
The challenges for Battle Pass owners, meanwhile, are to score a basket on five different hoops on the island, search seven chests in Loot Lake, search between an oasis, rock archway, and dinosaurs, and kill two enemies with a sniper rifle.
All of these challenges should be relatively straightforward since they require either shooting enemies or scouring the game world for Ammo Boxes or Chests. The trickier of the bunch is the search between an oasis, rock archway, and dinosaur, but we've grabbed some images to show you exactly where to look. Alternatively, simply watch the video above for a step-by-step walkthrough.
You can also see the full breakdown of Fortnite Season 5 Week 2's challenges below.
Free
Deal damage with Assault Rifles to opponents (1000) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search seven Ammo Boxes in a single match (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Eliminate opponents in Paradise Pals (3) -- 10 Battle Stars
Battle Pass
Score a basket on different hoops (5)-- 5 Battle Stars
Search chests in Loot Lake (7) -- 5 Battle Stars
Search between an oasis, rock archway, and dinosaurs (1) -- 10 Battle Stars
Sniper Rifle Eliminations (2) -- 10 Battle Stars
Epic recently launched Fortnite's 5.0 update, bringing a heap of new content to the game's Battle Royale and Save the World modes. Along with a fresh crop of skins, back bling, and gliders, the update introduces the ATK vehicle. On top of that, there were changes to the Switch and mobile versions of Fortnite. Take a look below to see all our Fortnite Season 5 coverage.
World of Warcraft's seventh expansion, Battle for Azeroth, is only a few weeks away. In addition to rolling out a big pre-patch that implements new features and sets the stage for the upcoming expansion, Blizzard has now lowered the barrier of entry for players interested in just jumping in to the long-running MMO.
Blizzard has announced that World of Warcraft and all of its current six expansions are now included in the game's monthly subscription fee. Previously, players had to at least purchase the base game and subscribe in order to play, but now they'll get access to all of the game's content through the 2016 Legion expansion simply by paying WoW's $15 per month subscription.
For players who have yet to take the plunge or have since fallen out of WoW but are interested in its upcoming expansion, this is a good opportunity to catch up on the game before Battle for Azeroth arrives. However, those who'd like to play the upcoming expansion will still need to purchase it when it releases. The standard edition of Battle for Azeroth costs $50, while the Digital Deluxe edition runs for $70 and includes two mounts, a pet, and WoW-themed content for other Blizzard games such as Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm.
Battle for Azeroth launches next month, on August 14. It adds a variety of new content and areas to explore to the long-running MMO, including two continents--Kul Tiras and Zandalar--as well as several new islands. It also raises the game's level cap to 120 and introduces a number of new dungeons and raids to undertake.
Ahead of Battle for Azeroth's release, Blizzard recently rolled out a big pre-expansion patch for the game. Most notably, the patch implemented the new War Mode system, which allows players to toggle PvP on or off from Orgrimmar or Stormwind, and reworks the PvP talent system. New events in Teldrassil and Lordaeron are also slated to begin the week of July 24 and continue until the expansion launches.
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