Netflix has picked up the ‘Arrow’ star Stephen Amell and his cousin Robbie Amell’s science fiction sequel ‘Code 8: Part 2.’
“Netflix has acquired the global rights to Canadian sci-fi sequel ‘Code 8: Part 2’ from Collective Pictures,” the company said in a press release. “The film will shoot in Canada later this year and be released globally by Netflix.”
The synopsis explains that after “witnessing the murder of her brother and subsequent cover-up, a teenage girl with abnormal abilities seeks the help of an ex-con (Robbie Amell) and his former partner-in-crime (Stephen Amell). Together, they face a unit of corrupt police officers who deploy advanced robotic technology to prevent themselves from being exposed.”
As D-Rezzed previously reported, returning director Jeff Chan said, “We’re beyond thrilled to get the team back together and bring more of the Code 8 universe to our very passionate fans. We know this is a sequel that will push the story to new heights.”
“There’s nothing better than working with family and friends,” Robbie Amell agreed. “’Code 8′ was the embodiment of that. I can’t wait to get back to work on the sequel.”
“’Code 8′ is an incredibly personal and special project for all of us,” Stephen Amell added. “We built the world in the first one and now we’re ready to blow it out!”
The original ‘Code 8’ was crowdfunded through Indiegogo, raising $2.5 million from more than 35,000 backers. It rose to become the second-largest crowdfunded original film of all time. The Amells co-produced the film, making it with XYZ Films. The movie was distributed on Netflix where it became one of their top 10 films upon release.
The streaming service Quibi was set to do a spin-off series with the Amells returning to produce. Following the app’s closure and the sale of its features to Roku, the series appears to be in limbo.
Netflix Picks Up ‘Code 8: Part 2’ For Streaming Release
Interview: Stephen Rutterford Talks Supernatural Thriller ‘Finding Ophelia’
Today we spoke with writer/director Stephen Rutterford about his upcoming supernatural thriller called Finding Ophelia. The film stars Jimmy Levar and will be available on June 23rd via Tubi, Amazon Video, and GooglePlay.
Finding Ophelia is a unique cinematic experience. Liken it to being in a dream. Not everything will make sense, but you’ll certainly remember the visuals and sounds. It was a nice departure from the other supernatural films that have come our way this year.
New York Advertising Executive William Edgar (Jimmy Levar) is mesmerized by a series of
hypnotic dreams that blur the lines between fantasy and reality. His life is thrown into disarray when forced to choose between his career, his relationships and his romantic obsession with a mysterious woman (Christina Chu). Doing whatever it takes to find her, leads down a bizarre, dark path of signs and wonders, William soon discovers that finding the girl of your dreams can be a nightmare.
‘The Tomorrow War’ Starring Chris Pratt Drops Final Trailer
Chris McKay’s live-action directorial debut ‘The Tomorrow War’ dropped its final trailer. Starring Chris Pratt as a soldier drafted in the past to fight an alien invasion in the future, the movie is set to premiere on Amazon Prime on July 2, 2021. With this new teaser, we get an up-close and personal look at the alien creatures trying to erase humanity.
Check out the trailer:
The official synopsis explains that “Time travelers arrive from 2051 to deliver an urgent message: 30 years in the future mankind is losing a war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians to be transported to the future and join the fight. Determined to save the world for his daughter, Dan Forester teams up with a brilliant scientist and his estranged father to rewrite the planet’s fate.”
During a press junket, co-star Jasmine Mathews praised Pratt for his portrayal of Dan Forester in the film to SyFy.
“Chris is great. The way he is able to not only manage himself as an actor and as an executive producer on this project, but also really tune into people’s well-being on set, making sure that everybody’s good mentally and advocating for those that may need a break,” she said. “He’s always sort of watching for things like that and it’s beautiful to have him as one of our leaders on this because we really felt safe and taken care of. He’s hilarious, so we were always laughing in between takes.”
Pratt, who is also serving as executive producer, shared a behind-the-scenes look of the movie on social media where we learn that the aliens are called “Whitespikes,” and to them, humanity is a food supply.
“The watermark for terrifying aliens in cinema is set by the Xenomorph in Aliens and the Predator itself,” he wrote. “Get ready for a creature we truly believe sets a new bar. The biggest, baddest alien of them all, the (Whitespike.) We are food. And they are hungry.”
‘The Tomorrow War’ also stars Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Edwin Hodge, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Keith Powers.
Kevin Hart Hints ‘Borderlands’ Film Could Spawn A Trilogy
‘Borderlands’ is one of the most popular first-person shooting games on the market. Its loot-driven multiplayer co-op gameplay, sci-fi Western setting, and sense of humor have made it a staple in the gaming community.
It came as no surprise that it would get a movie adaption. ‘Central Intelligence’ actor Kevin Hart has been cast as Roland, a stoic soldier from the first game. In an interview with Collider, he shed some light on some of the film’s content and even a bit of the future.
“Once again, it’s all about the shock factor,” Hart explained. “This is me stepping into action full speed ahead, no comedy. I’m responsible for the action.”
Hart also discussed a conversation he had with director Eli Roth on the importance of how Roland is portrayed.
“(Roth) said, ‘Kevin, if you tell me that you can show up prepared and that you want to come in and knock this out, then you’re my guy.’ So I went, I did some training with some Navy SEALS, I got real good with weapons, I got real good with my hand-to-hand combat,” the ‘Die Hart’ actor said. “And the experience here in Budapest filming Borderlands has been unreal. Cate Blanchett, Jamie Lee Curtis, myself, Flo [Munteanu], Ariana [Greenblatt]… I mean, our cast is unreal. He truly is knocking this movie out the park. And I can say visually, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Hart also hinted that there might be future films if ‘Borderlands’ is successful.
“Somehow I find myself in these spaces where you get a part of these IPs that are hitting the big screen and have the potential to become so much more,” he said. “‘Borderlands,’ nobody knows what to expect, but if this thing comes and it smacks people correctly, you could be looking at ‘Borderlands 2,’ ‘Borderlands 3.’ It’s that good.”
Borderlands also stars Cate Blanchett as Lilith, Jamie Lee Curtis as Patricia Tannis, Jack Black as Claptrap, Ariana Greenblatt as Tiny Tina, Florian Munteanu, Haley Bennett, Édgar Ramírez, Janina Gavankar, Gina Gershon, Cheyenne Jackson, and Penn Jillette. Filming officially began on April 1, 2021, through Lionsgate.
Terrible 3DO Game ‘Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties’ Is Being Resurrected
If you were a gamer like me in the mid-1990s, you were probably more forgiving of some of the oddities that came out in the 32bit era. For every new system like the 3DO, CD-i, or Jaguar, there would be a flood of one-off games that could only be categorized as WTF.
Not everything can be a cult classic like the CD-i Zelda games, though. Sometimes you get the weird dumpster fire like what we saw with Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties. It was the story of a guy, a gal, and a creepy sexual predator. Ya know, for kids!
Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties was a choose-your-own-adventure game that sucked. I’m not gonna candy coat it. It was a bad game. Apart from some nudity unlocked via a controller input code, there was little else to entice gamers to buy.
The game played up Jeanne Basone’s great looks as Jane. In reality, it was the only thing that would move copies off the shelves. There’s no real gameplay. This isn’t an FMV like Sewer Shark or Night Trap, where the player is always playing an active role in the story.
PDWT boils down to the player occasionally choosing a decision from a list. Some of the choices progress the story, and the others result in a prolonged voiceover where you’re berated for the wrong decision. Dragon’s Lair, this is not.
Regardless, it grew to have a following. Like many other games that found their way into infamous status, there’s potential to revive them. That’s exactly what Limited Run Games is going to do.
Finally, the most requested and anticipated game of ALL TIME. We're bringing Plumbers Don't Wear Ties to PS4, PS5, PC, and Switch physically and digitally! Follow us for more info. #LRG3 pic.twitter.com/zNNcvfLf5i
— Limited Run Games (@LimitedRunGames) June 14, 2021
OK, I’ll admit that this could be interesting. If the release includes behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and other goodies, it may win my money. Right now, details are slim. Will the video be remastered in HD?
PDWT isn’t without entertainment value, as long as you’re not actually playing it. Sitting through a playthrough is even tedious. However, the AVGN made this trek through tepid titillation bearable:
If you want to hear more from Basone’s experience with the game, check out this interview:
Remember seeing this game on shelves during the 3DO’s short run? Would you be willing to throw down money to own something so niche? Let us know in the comments.
CD Projekt Red’s Ransomware Incident Did Lead To Leaks
Four months ago, CD Projekt Red was the victim of a ransomware attack that resulted in an unspecified amount of data being nabbed by HelloKitty. The source code for Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the things lifted by the ransom group. CDPR wasn’t too concerned at the time, but everyone with a pulse felt it was only a matter of time until the other shoe dropped.
Well, it turns out that the ransomware attack was a bit more serious than CD Projekt Red led us to believe. ArsTechnica pointed us towards a statement released by the company:
This message is a follow-up on the February security breach which targeted the CD PROJEKT Group. Today, we have learned new information regarding the breach, and now have reason to believe that internal data illegally obtained during the attack is currently being circulated on the Internet.
We are not yet able to confirm the exact contents of the data in question, though we believe it may include current/former employee and contractor details in addition to data related to our games. Furthermore, we cannot confirm whether or not the data involved may have been manipulated or tampered with following the breach.
Currently, we are working together with an extensive network of appropriate services, experts, and law enforcement agencies, including the General Police Headquarters of Poland. We have also contacted Interpol and Europol. The information we shared in February with the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (PUODO) has also been updated.
That’s not assuring. This looks only to have affected those in and around CDPR and not the overall customer base. However, it could drastically affect employees and contractors. The company isn’t being totally transparent at this point. Was payroll info stolen? Private messages? Private details about employees?
What a terrible one-two blow to CDPR. First Cyberpunk 2077 hits the market to massive backlash and near-universal refunds; now, untold amounts of data were leaked then circulated.
[Source: ArsTechnica]
Get A Look At the Hella Manipulative Powers in Life is Strange: True Colors
With E3 2021 wrapped up, we got a look at many upcoming games. From the mega titles like Halo to the smaller fare like Life is Strange: True Colors, we’ve gained a better understanding of what’s hitting shelves soon.
Life is Strange: True Colors continues the series’s indie aesthetic and focuses on the consequences of superpowers. To coincide with E3, Square Enix has released a new video showcasing the title’s lead character Alex Chen and her ability to see, hear, and interact with the emotions of others.
Brought to life through full performance capture by rising talent Erika Mori, players will navigate Haven Springs as Alex Chen, a young woman who has long suppressed her ‘curse’: the psychic power of Empathy, a supernatural ability that allows her to experience, absorb and influence the strong emotions of others – which she sees as blazing, colored auras.
When her brother dies, in a suspicious accident, Alex must at last embrace her volatile power to find the truth, and uncover the dark secrets buried by a small town. Alex Chen’s journey, power and future are all fully under the player’s control.
The psychic power of Empathy affects every interaction and relationship Alex has in the game and is fully under the player’s control. Use it to reveal the secrets of Haven Springs, the hidden facets of Alex’s past, and the future of her journey to find a place to call home.
Wait. She uses her powers to manipulate relationships? Man, that isn’t endearing at all. Maybe it translates better within the game’s full scope, but this is Life is Strange, after all. Subtlety isn’t the series’s strength.
These games unintentionally hilarious, in my opinion. Think about reading a Tumblr article that is hyper-charged with social and political commentary, and you have Life is Strange‘s script. You should totally play them. Please start with the first one, because it is hilarious!
We will all get to see what new memes await us when the game launches on September 10, 2021.
What are your thoughts on Life is Strange? Am I just too much of a boomer to “get it”? Let me know in the comments.
[Source: ComingSoon]
MS Flight Simulator Free On Game Pass July 27th
I’ve got a soft spot for flight sims. The very first one I had was subLOGIC’s Flight Simulator II on the Commodore 64. The game was simple, slow, but a technical wonder for a small kid in 1984.
Fast forward 37 years, and Microsoft’s Flight Simulator is a thing of beauty. From the detailed plans and cockpits to the picturesque landscapes, it’s a dream to play. That is if you have a PC. Console owners weren’t as lucky.
That all will change on July 27th, 2021, based on what we saw over at PC Mag. Flight Simulator is coming to XBOX Series X|S. Microsoft is making some hefty promises, alluding to this version being on par with the experience Flight Simulator owners have on PC.
As the longest-running game franchise at Microsoft, Microsoft Flight Simulator has a rich history on PC that spans nearly four decades. We are excited to expand beyond PC and give more aspiring pilots a chance to take flight by bringing this robust simulation to consoles. Today, we can share that Microsoft Flight Simulator will take flight on the Xbox Series X|S on July 27 and will be included with Xbox Game Pass. Simmers on Xbox Series X|S can pre-order and pre-install the experience now and expect the same level of depth as the PC version, with the most authentic and realistic flight simulator we have ever created.
From light planes to wide-body jets, you’ll test your piloting skills against the challenges of real-time weather, including accurate worldwide cloud cover and cloud layers, wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain, and lightning – all in a dynamic and living world. With the power of satellite data and cloud-based AI, you’ll travel the entire planet in amazing detail with over 37,000 airports, 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountain ranges, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic, and more.
Launching Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC last year was only the beginning of our journey to make the best simulation possible. As we continue adding to the experience with free World Updates (Japan, US, France, Benelux, UK, and Ireland so far and many more to come), themed DLCs, and true-to-life aircraft, Xbox Series X|S simmers will enjoy these updates on console as well. We continue to work with third-party partners to bring additional peripherals to Xbox Series X|S that will enhance your immersive console experience.
Will this mean console owners will also be able to install mods? Doubtful. At least Flight Simulator will be free for XBOX Game Pass subscribers. Let’s also hope that the game will make flight control rigs compatible with the XBOX. If you’re going to play a flight sim, you may as well go full force with all the knobs, buttons, throttles, and yoke.
What do you think about MS moving this long-running game series to consoles? Let us know in the comments.
[Source: PC Mag]
Meme-to-Real Life: The XBOX Series X Fridge Is Real
Console aesthetics are sometimes winning, sometimes fails, and sometimes memes. The XBOX Series X falls into the latter. The console is a black rectangular cuboid, and when stood upright, it resembled a refrigerator. Sure, it wasn’t the funniest meme. However, from that internet infamy, something took root.
We saw over at Bleeding Cool that Microsoft has transformed a meme into a functional product. Microsoft embraced the meme. Sony didn’t bother to do the same, but then again, going full force into the joke that your console looked like female genitalia probably wouldn’t be a good PR move.
The one.
The only.
Xbox Series X Fridge giveaway.
Follow and retweet with #XSXFridgeSweeps for a chance to win the Xbox Series X Fridge.
Ends 11/04/20. Rules: https://t.co/4P5hCSBPcy pic.twitter.com/MAt7xcTTQ4
— Xbox (@Xbox) October 28, 2020
This Tweet was a simple bit of fun, and today, we learned that something more tangible was on the way. Though we won’t be getting a full-sized refrigerator styled after the Series X console, the next best thing is coming. Yes, it’s an XBOX | X mini-fridge.
OK, aside from the lighted icon and the green interior, this is probably the same mini fridge we’ve seen inside of several different themed cases. If you’ve seen the Nuka Cola or TARDIS mini-fridge, expect more or less the same thing. Speaking from experience, these things typically aren’t built for the long haul. I’ve gone through about a half-dozen of these over the years in my office.
What would be useful is an interior camera that would allow me to view my fridge’s contents and temperature via my XBOX Series X. If we’re going to make memes real, go all the way. Give them more function. Add that extra bang for the buck.
I foresee people sticking these in XBOX Series X boxes and selling them on eBay. Remember, the PS5 and XBOX are still scarce. Don’t be surprised if you see a few buyers getting ripped off when a mini-fridge shows up instead of the actual console.
The meme-turned-reality will be on the market this holiday season. The price wasn’t revealed, or if it was going to be a limited run. Expect plenty of streamers to buy this thing up to have in the background.
[Source: Bleeding Cool]
Arcade1Up’s Big Blue Street Fighter Cabinet To Feature 12 Games
I’m doing back-to-back Arcade1Up news today, ya’ll. Earlier it was TMNT, and now it’s Ken and Ryu’s fun with friends and fists!
Get ready for another Street Fighter II Champion Edition cabinet with a twist! To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fighting game that revolutionized the genre, Capcom and Arcade1up are releasing the Big Blue Arcade Machine!
It’s got sharp angles. It’s slim. It’s blue. It’s got all the right moves!
Now let’s talk eye-appeal. A gorgeous cabinet design accentuating the Street Fighter II™ artwork. A matching riser, that provides both height and presence, and a huge light-up marquee that adds additional height will be the focal point of any game room. Feeling blue? You will be, in the best kind of way!
Twelve games, one immense cabinet, unlimited retro gaming fun. Add the Street Fighter™ II Championship Edition Big Blue from Arcade1Up to your home, and execute the “Shoryuken!” in style, no quarters required!
This cabinet will come with these 12 Capcom titles:
- Street Fighter™ II: Championship Edition
- Street Fighter™ II’ Hyper Fighting
- Super Street Fighter™ II Turbo
- Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo™
- Darkstalkers™
- Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge™
- Darkstalkers 3™
- Saturday Night Slam Masters™
- Knights of the Round ™
- Eco Fighters™
- Capcom Sports Club™
- Muscle Bomber Duo™
That list has a few “Jeez; I remember that” titles in it for sure. This really has me jonesing for a MARVEL VS Capcom super cabinet with all the fighting games starring superheroes. Maybe one day.
For comparison, check out Arcade1Up’s older SFII machine that launched a few years ago:
Pre-orders start on July 1st. Don’t forget about the Turtles In Time cabinet as well!
What are your thoughts on this tall pointy blue monster? Should the Alpha series get the same kind of love when its 30th rolls around in 2025? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
