Apple TV has picked up the upcoming film ‘Finch,’ a science fiction drama starring Tom Hanks (‘Sully’) for their streaming service. The movie was filmed by Steven Spielberg’s production company Amblin Entertainment. It will now be distributed by Apple Original Films.
Deadline is reporting that Apple won the distribution rights after “a very competitive weekend auction” and plans on releasing the sci-fi feature in the fall, right around awards season.
‘Finch’ will be directed by Miguel Sapochnik, best known for 2010’s ‘Repo Men’ as well as several episodes of ‘Game of Thrones,’ including “Battle of the Bastards.” He has also directed episodes for such shows as ‘House,’ ‘Fringe,’ ‘Under The Dome,’ as well as the television film ‘Hieroglyph.’ He will also direct the pilot for ‘GoT’ prequel HBO series ‘House of the Dragon.’
Originally titled, ‘Bios,’ the movie tells the story of a man named Finch who survived a cataclysmic solar event that has left the world a wasteland and has lived underground for a decade. His only companion is a dog named Goodyear, and realizing he is dying, the engineer builds a robot (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to take care of the canine after he is gone. The three are forced to go on a dangerous journey across the American West to show the robot the “joy and wonder of what it means to be alive.”
‘Finch’ also stars Lora Martinez-Cunningham, Andrea Good, Oscar Avila, and Madeleine Dennis. It is written by screenwriters Craig Luck and Ivor Powell, the latter who is producing the film with Kevin Misher, Jack Rapke, and Jackie Levine.
Steven Spielberg told the Hollywood Reporter in 2017 that the film “is an original, emotionally stirring tale that at its core is very much an Amblin movie. I can think of no one more perfect to embody this story about the meaning of being human than Tom Hanks.”
Apple Picks Up Tom Hanks Sci-Fi Film ‘Finch’ For Streaming
New Trailer Released For John Carpenter’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Horror Anthology
John Carpenter might be known for writing and directing some of the most well-known cult classic films within the science fiction and horror genres, but he has expanded his skills into music as well as comic books.
Through his publication company Storm King Comics, he has released seven volumes of the ‘Tales of Science Fiction’ that features story melding the sci-fi and horror genres. Early in May, Storm King announced the release of the latest entry ‘Hell.’
The announcement was released alongside a trailer to promote the upcoming eight-issue miniseries.
According to the official synopsis, “In New York City, a massive monster is destroyed by a subway train… and its surviving reptilian companion can speak English. In Columbia, a scientist crawls up from the depths of the Earth, bringing news of a miraculous new mineral power source… and demons below. In Texas, a convicted murderer is spared at the last minute by an international conglomerate… which wants to organize an expedition to the center of the Earth, with him as a guide. Because like the scientist, he’s been there. The whole team is headed straight to Hell.”
Dread Central reports that the comic book miniseries is based on stories by John Carpenter and Sandy King, the premier issue is written by David J. Schow with artwork from Andres Esparza and Sergio Martinez.
‘Hell’ follows the anthology series ‘Vortex 2.0,’ a sequel to the very first entry into the ‘Tales of Science Fiction’ anthology series.
Storm King Comics is an imprint of Storm King Productions, a production company founded by John Carpenter and his wife Sandy King.
Carpenter has directed several well-known films such as ‘Assault on Precinct 13,’ ‘Escape from New York,’ ‘Big Trouble in Little China,’ ‘In the Mouth of Madness,’ and the original ‘Halloween,’ which started the Michael Myers horror franchise.
Demon Slayer Confirmed #1 Movie in the US after Second Weekend in Theaters
Demon Slayer – The Movie: Mugen Train hit theaters in the US on April 23rd with a strong start. After just a few days later, it was discovered the movie had been made available on the Playstation Store for purchase. On Tuesday, April 27th, at around 1 a.m., a tweet was posted by @Wario64 with a screenshot of the movie page on Playstation.
Demon Slayer Mugen Train is available on US PSN/PS4 right now pic.twitter.com/OAFdSTb9QI
— Wario64 (@Wario64) April 27, 2021
The listing was up for just a few hours. Which gave people plenty of time to buy and watch. This can cause concern in the entertainment business due to piracy distribution and box office numbers. Funimation has not made a statement. However, it appears to not have had a harmful effect after this weekends box office numbers were released.
As of Sunday, the movie, which was distributed by Funimation and Aniplex of America, ended the second weekend with a total box office of over $34.1 million, which officially makes it the third highest-grossing anime box office release. It also beat out Mortal Kombat, with Mortal Kombat trailing behind at $34.087 million.
Demon Slayer The Movie surpasses the previous anime box office record 3rd runner up Dragon Ball Super: Broly (over US $30 million in 2019). The anime movies who still hold the number 1 and 2 spots are Pokemon: The First Movie (over US $85 million in 1999) and Pokemon The Movie 2000 (over US $43 million). Next to Pokemon: The First Movie, Demon Slayer is the second anime movie to ever rank #1 at the weekend box office in U.S. history.
With an international box office of US $315 million ahead of its release in North America, it’s also the highest-grossing anime film ever worldwide, which includes surpassing Studio Ghlibli’s 2001 Spirited Away‘s worldwide #1 spot.
The movie takes place right after the last episode of the first season.
Movie synopsis: After completing their rehabilitation training, Tanjiro and his comrades arrive at their next mission on the Mugen Train, where over 40 people have disappeared. Together with one of the most powerful swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku, they face the nightmare on board.
See the English dub trailer here:
Demon Slayer – The Movie: Mugen Train will officially be available digitally on June 22nd.
You can purchase movie tickets here.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Will Be An XBOX Exclusive For Only 3 Months?
‘S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’ is something we’ve been eagerly awaiting for years. Even before it was announced, those of us who played the original wanted more.
It was a bit of a head-scratcher when the sequel was announced as an XBOX exclusive. It’s known as a PC game. Can a console really do the beloved FPS justice with a controller?
Upon release, ‘STALKER 2’ will be free to members of XBOX Game Pass. Non-members can still get the game but at full price. If you’ve not been able to find an XBOX Series X or S, then you’ll be out of luck. Well, for a little while, maybe.
The Verge has been reporting on leaked legal documents regarding Microsoft, publishers, and the split the company takes from games. The amount of money MS gets from game sales is an entirely different topic. What we’re focusing on is how soon PC and maybe PS5 owners can get STALKER 2.
The image below is allegedly part of a leak, but take it with a grain of salt.
Below is a pretty spoiler-free trailer of the title. It leaves a lot to be desired, in my opinion.
The gameplay trailer is light on story elements but heavy on atmosphere. But, if you’ve seen Chernobyl in other videogames, there aren’t many surprises. Regardless, the optimizations made for the Series X look good. Where’s the gameplay, though? STALKER isn’t about just wandering around an irradiated ghost town; it’s about shoot-shoots and horror!
I guess that means we gotta do reading, like cavemen:
The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is a unique, dangerous and ever-changing environment. It promises a lot — the artifacts of unbelievable value can be yours if you dare to claim them. The price you may pay, on the other hand, is no less than your own life.
One of the biggest open-worlds to date, filled with radiation, mutants and anomalies, is yours to explore. All the choices across the way not only define your own epic story, but influence the future itself. Be mindful about what you see, do and plan, as you will have to find your way through the Zone or be forever lost to it.
If you’ve been struggling to find a PS5 or XBOX Series X, check out Matt Swider’s Twitter. He has been posting which websites have stock and exactly when they go live. He has been amazingly accurate. The consoles are still selling out within seconds. Keep that in mind.
Are you looking forward to ‘STALKER 2’? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking to pick up the original, it’s available on Steam.
[Source: The Verge]
‘League of Legends’ Animated Series ‘Arcane’ Is Coming To Netflix
Netflix announced that they are partnering with Riot Games to release an animated adaption of their hit RPG League of Legends in the form of ‘Arcane.’ Co-produced with Fortiche Productions, this will be Riot Games first foray into television.
According to a press release from Netflix, the animated series is set “in the utopian region of Piltover and the oppressed underground of Zaun, the story follows the origins of two iconic League champions-and the power that will tear them apart.”
Zaun, also known as the City of Iron and Glass, is a toxic area in the game that was negatively affected by industrialization.
“League of Legends has inspired global fervor and fandom and we’re thrilled to be the home of the first television series set in this universe, ‘Arcane,'” said Dominique Bazay, Director, Original Animation for Netflix. “The series promises to be a visually spectacular thrill ride that will have viewers on the edge of their seats.”
Riot Games Global President of Entertainment Shauna Spenley added, “Arcane was created as a love letter to our players and fans, who have been asking us for more cinematic experiences that dive deeper into the worlds and champions in League of Legends. Netflix, with its incredible global brand and shared goal of delivering premium, high quality content, is the perfect partner to help us bring Arcane to players around the globe.”
‘Arcane’ is set to premiere on Netflix worldwide in Fall 2021.
League of Legends was released in 2009 by Riot Games to gamer and audience-acclaim. Since its inception, it has had several spin-offs and sequels including Teamfight Tactics, Legends of Runeterra, VALORANT, League of Legends: Wild Rift, and the story-driven version Ruined King: A League of Legends Story from Riot Forge and Airship Syndicate.
The gaming franchise has also made headway into esports with its League of Legends World Championship. The 2020 competition saw record-setting viewership, boasting over 23 million viewers for its final match.
Amazing Heroes Toyline Gets An All-Female 7th Wave
Fresh Monkey Fiction uses the MARVEL ‘Secret Wars’ body style for a series of action figures based on obscure comic books and pulp heroes. The initial wave was a favorite because it gave us indie comic hero Madman and some real forgotten comic icons like Black Terror and Black Bat.
Had it not been for Figures.com, I wouldn’t have known about the original run a couple of years ago. There’s a reason you don’t see these on store shelves. Each line is produced in a very limited. There’s no massive factory churning these out in bulk. According to FMF, “Amazing Heroes action figures are produced in small numbers, sometimes as low as 100 pcs per character.”
The 7th wave of ‘Amazing Heroes’ will focus solely on female heroes. Much like the previous waves, this one will contain both Golden Age and more recent heroic women. Included will be:
- Cassie Hack
- Miss Fury
- Miss Masque
- Black Cat
- Phantom Lady
- Queen of the Jungle
- Lady Satan
- Fantomah
- Bullet Girl
- The Blank Slate
We’ll be offering these figures for pre-order through July 15th. You can track our progress by following the percentage meter on the right of this page. If we hit 100% by July 15th we’ll move this wave into production.
As of today, the funding campaign for this line is at 30%. If this series of heroines interests you, head on over to the Big Bad Toy Store and put in your preorder. These toys can’t get made without your help!
Which non-MARVEL and DC heroes would you like to see show up in the ‘Amazing Heroes’ line? Let us know in the comments.
[Source: Figures.com]
English Dub Cast Announced For ‘Combatants Will Be Dispatched!’ Anime
Funimation has announced that the JC Staff produced anime ‘Combatants Will Be Dispatched!’ has announced that the series is getting an English voice cast.
Known for her roles in ‘Fullmetal Alchemist,’ ‘Neon Genesis Evangelion,’ and ‘Fairy Tail,’ Monica Rial will take the role of one of robot hero Alice Kisaragi. Voiced by Miyu Tomita in Japanese, Alice is the “Kisaragi Company Pretty Girl Android” who is rumored to have a powerful self-destruct sequence.
‘My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising’ voice actor Brendan Blaber is taken on the role of the insufferable Agent 6, an advanced scout who has to fight demons in the Kingdom of Grace in order to conquer the Kingdom of Grace. The character is voiced by Yusuke Shirai in the Japanese version.
Rounding out the cast is ‘Keijo!!!’s Amber Lee Connors who is taking over of Snow, a Kingdom of Grace Royal Guard commander who gets demoted to serving as Agent 6’s executive officer while blowing money on expensive swords. Snow is voiced by Sayaka Kikuchi.
They are joined by Mallorie Rodak, Molly Searcy, Cris George, Emily Neves, and Bryn Apprill. Anthony Bowling will serve as ADR director with Tyler Walker as the scriptwriter.
The series is an adaption of the fantasy manga and light novel series ‘Sentōin, Haken Shimasu!’ written by Natsume Akatsuki and illustrated by Kakao Lanthanum. Media Factory released a manga version that features artwork by Masaaki Kiasa.
According to the official Funimation synopsis, “Turns out, evil takes initiative! With world domination close at hand, the Kisaragi Corporation turns its sights on interstellar conquest, and who better to take over a magical world than two randomly assigned minions—Combatant Agent Six and his android partner Alice? But Six’s path up the evil corporate ladder won’t be easy—a Demon Lord’s army is hatching its own nefarious plan!”
The Munsters Family ReAction Figures Available Now!
I love covering Super7’s ReAction figure line. Being a kid of the ’80s, these limited possibility 3.75″ action figures were a staple of that decade’s childhood. From ‘Star Wars’ to ‘Robocop’ to ‘DC Superpowers,’ they were all on the same scale. We’d have giant battles with Batman flying the Millenium Falcon or with Doctor Doom driving the Batmobile.
Ah, scale consistency is a boon for people obsessed with uniformity.
Anyway, the ReAction line has encompassed nearly every pop culture franchise under the sun. If you loved it in the 1980s, it probably had a figure or two from Super7. Hell, even bands like the Misfits and Slayer have their one toy in the line now.
What I’ve been grateful for in this series, though, is the oddities. Toys that would have never really been super popular but would warm the heart anyway. One such property would be ‘The Munsters.’ Yes, a CBS series from 1964. It may sound strange, but if you’ve ever watched the show, you’d know why the Munsters family would make great action figures.
They may not have been as popular as the Addams Family, but the good-natured show has earned its place in pop culture. Whether it’d be Fred Gwynne’s lovable Herman or Al Lewis’s feisty Grandpa, I want them on my display shelves.
The only figure of this line I’m hesitant about is Lily Munster. Yvonne De Carlo was a stunning woman with amazing eyes. Her plastic counterpart is … off-putting. It’s not easy to capture fine details in this line because that’s the point of it. However, the paint application on her eyes needs to improve.
There are no plans for Super7 to make the Munster Koach or the Dragula, but I’d buy them if the company made ’em. Hopefully, Eddie Munster and Marilyn Munster are in the works.
Do you have a favorite show from decades past that you’d like to see get the ReAction treatment? Let us know in the comments section.
Riot Games To Record and “Evaluate” Voice Comms in ‘Valorant’
Riot Games updated the privacy notice and terms of service on April 30th. Starting with the title Valorant, these tweaks will roll out to other games eventually. The changes laid out came down to the following:
- We’re updating our Privacy Notice to allow us to record and evaluate voice comms when a report for disruptive behavior is submitted, starting with VALORANT. If a violation is detected, we’ll take action and remove the data when it is no longer needed for reviews.
- We’re implementing a new Terms of Service update with an updated global refund policy and adding language around our anti-cheat software for current and future Riot titles.
- Please keep reading to get the full details on why we’re doing this, what’ll happen to your data (and how we’re keeping it safe), and how this will impact you.
The refund policy change is fair enough. Recording someone’s voice, though, is where things get slippery.
There’s doesn’t appear to be a way around the in-game voice communication monitoring. Even those who live in states that require two-party consent for recording sign away said consent with the TOS now. You can either use it or not. There are plenty of other ways to voice chat with your fellow players, either through Discord or another program.
What worries me is the phrasing regarding what will happen with the recordings. Riot Games states, “We’ll take action and remove the data when it is no longer needed for reviews.” What is keeping a Riot Games employee from making these recordings public?
In regards to privacy concerns, Riot games said the following:
“We believe we should collect the absolute minimum data to effectively run our games and continuously improve your experience. When we collect data, we’ll be transparent, we’ll keep it for only as long as is necessary, and we’ll protect it as if it were our own.
We know collecting voice data is a concern for many of you, but be assured that we would never ship anything if we weren’t comfortable having our own data treated the same way. And if you prefer to not have your voice chat captured, you may turn off voice chat.”
As much as I’d like to believe that, I don’t. It was only a few years ago when claims surfaced about Riot Games helping China monitor players. This comes from someone who has worked in tightly monitored security spaces for large companies. It only takes one jerk with access to create giant problems. One thumb drive and a couple of clicks can easily make that data public.
When will Riot Games show us this transparency? Given we live in an age where people are obsessed with outing others for wrong think or inconsequential stupidity, this sounds like a PR nightmare waiting to happen.
Right now, the statement says they’ll be “as transparent as possible.” That doesn’t tell us a whole lot. What’s the bare minimum of transparency at Riot Games?
MotU: Origins Castle Grayskull Available For Pre-Order Now!
The ‘Masters of the Universe: Origins’ line is one of Mattel’s greatest things with the series for many years. Don’t get me wrong. The ‘Classics’ line was cool for collectors, but not so much for kids.
When my kid first saw some ‘Classics,’ she wanted them, but the price tag, $19-$30 apiece if you’re lucky, was too much to swallow. The thing I remember fondly about the old ‘MotU’ figures was the beatings they could take.
We’d drop Skeletor from the second floor down the stairs or launch Stratos into the pond via a slingshot. You’d pick them up, bend the legs back into place and keep on trucking.
The ‘Origins’ line retains that playability meant for kids. The arms and legs of most figures are interchangeable. They easily pop off and are sturdy enough to … play “house” with my daughter’s Barbie dolls.
What this figure line really needs is Castle Grayskull. Not the overly priced Classic version, but a good old-fashioned simple fortress to battle over. Or … play “house” in for some reason.
Well, some websites aren’t allowing scalpers to run the show. Forget Amazon or Walmart. Entertainment Earth is currently taking pre-orders at the original MSRP of $79.99. Sadly, the shipping date through this site isn’t until August. The castle has been showing up at some retailers in-store, but right now, due to COVID, it’s a crapshoot.
This new version of the playset has many of the same features as the original. It even includes the weapon rack, laser turret, and even the flag. Though this flag didn’t come into play in the cartoon, it was meant as a way of showing which faction currently had control of Grayskull. You also get an exclusive all-white version of the Sorceress.
From Mattel:
- Large Castle Grayskull® is a thrilling MOTU® playset for fans who love to play out Masters of the Universe® adventures!
- Exciting diorama style set folds out to reveal four rooms – so much space for creativity and adventure. And fans will love the working elevator and trap door!
- Fits all 5.5-inch Origins figures and comes with a special edition Temple of Darkness Sorceress® figure unique to this playset.
- Includes multiple accessories, so Masters of the Universe® will have all the supplies they need to craft countless tales of the battle between good and evil!
- Authentically designed playset stays true to the traditions of this thrilling action and adventure franchise. A great gift for MOTU® fans ages 6 years old and up who love action and adventure.
Head on over to Entertainment Earth now and secure yours before the collectors market scoops them all up!
