The state said it acted because the Trump administration is sitting on its hands.
Tenet’s Release Date Might Be In Doubt (Again)
Director Christopher Nolan has long been an outspoken advocate for all films, its culture, and also the future of his upcoming new film Tenet. Nolan has steadfastly been pushing for Tenet to be released in theaters this summer and to be viewed by audiences first on the big screen, but the realities of COVID-19 have possibly pushed this release date further back and into the realm of wishful thinking. Although August 12 is still the current, expected, release date, Vulture is now reporting there is growing skepticism Tenet will be released this summer at all.
Citing a report from movie-industry analyst Eric Handler, Vulture is speculating that what could do Tenet in is a lack of theaters able to stay open amidst doubts over safety to see movies out in public–and the movie being pulled can only harm theaters further. An anonymous high-ranking executive told Vulture, “The theaters are going to lose the biggest if Tenet doesn’t come out next month… They’re going to spend $100 million on face masks and [disinfection] sprays. Then the theaters aren’t going to open in August? They’re most at risk.”
Further fanning the flames of uncertainty is the fact that industry pundits like Richard Rushfield, who runs the popular entertainment newsletter The Ankler, aren’t sure if movie theaters are even able to deliver pre-COVID audience numbers right now. “Between now and the end of the year, 50 percent loss is probably the best-case scenario.” Rushfield told Vulture. He estimated that 80 percent is a more likely, realistic number to expect.
Square Enix Opens New “Action Game Brand”
Japanese video game giant Square Enix has established a brand-new studio of sorts that brings internal and external action game developers together under one umbrella.
That conglomerate is called Balan Company, an “action game brand” that will unveil its first project in the future–though when remains unclear. The group’s official website simply features a red curtain with a white top hat sitting on a stage. The text reads: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the show of wonders brought to you by the Balan Company. We thank you for your patience while we make preparation for the grand opening.” Whatever is coming sounds like it may be extremely theatrical.
Square Enix has not publicly clarified what Balan Company is, but the studio did share a teaser for the group on its official Twitter account.
AHS Hotel Episode 7 “Flicker” Breakdown
Ryan and Greg break down American Horror Story Hotel Episode 7 “Flicker.”
New PS5 DualSense Controller Hands-On Tomorrow: Here’s Where To Watch
More details about the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller will be revealed tomorrow, July 17, by Geoff Keighley. The stream, part of Kieghley’s Summer Game Fest, will be at 9 AM PST / noon EST on the event’s official website.
The stream was announced on Twitter by Keighley with a short video of him holding the controller, which you can see below.
This is the #PlayStation5 DualSense Controller. Tomorrow at Noon ET / 9 am PT, it’s time to go hands on. Can’t wait to tell you about my experience. https://t.co/Hp7WuLrjXk #SummerGameFest pic.twitter.com/hvxTouNrc1
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) July 16, 2020
The DualSense controller features haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a built-in microphone. The controller will also feature a rechargeable battery, just like the DualShock 4.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Update Adds Valhalla-Like Viking Armor
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey completed its extensive DLC roadmap last year, and since then it’s been issuing occasional daily challenge updates or extra costumes. With the new Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on the way, a small update has hit that lets you get into the Viking mood.
The title update 1.5.4 patch notes were posted to Reddit, and it is about 3-4 GB across all platforms. It has some bug fixes but also teases a new item pack in a seeming homage to Valhalla. The Northern Traveler’s Set looks very much like Viking armor, complete with furs and an ornate axe. The patch does not mention exactly how or when to obtain them.
Valhalla, of course, actually does take place during the Viking Age, as you manage your band of settlers and lay siege to Saxon fortresses. We recently got much more detail about Valhalla, including more information on the hero Eivor, the revised romance mechanics, going fishing, and how you can recruit Viking cats–or just regular cats that happen to hang out with Vikings, but “Viking cats” is so much cuter.
Disney+ Home Alone Reboot Sets Many Cast Members
Although no release date has yet been given for the upcoming Disney+ Home Alone reboot, information is starting to come out about its cast. The reboot has added Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live), Ally Maki (Toy Story 4), and Chris Parnell (Archer). The news comes from Deadline, who also is reporting that Archie Yates (Jojo Rabbit), Rob Delaney (Deadpool 2), and Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) will star in the film.
The film’s official synopsis is as follows: “The new Home Alone film will follow a husband and wife who go to war with a young boy, Max, who has stolen from them. Max is an energetic, witty nine-year-old boy with a mischievous side. He feels wise beyond his years and has the personality to easily converse with adults–plus the uncanny ability to relentlessly push their buttons. But, he also displays a sense of innocence and a kind heart, much like the original protagonist.”
Rumors have persisted but remain unconfirmed that actor Macaulay Culkin, who starred in the original ’90s film and its sequel, could make a cameo in this new version of Home Alone.
Marvel’s New Mutants: The Ridiculous Road To Theaters (Or Streaming Services), Explained
By now, several months into a pandemic that has shut down production and pushed back the release of more movies and TV shows than any of us can or should be able to remember off the tops of our heads, we’ve all become a little numb to the concept of delays. They’ve gone from being a once-in-a-blue-moon oddity to a normal part of pop culture. It no longer feels weird or ominous or even like a punchline.
But that wasn’t always the case. In the distant, halcyon past a movie getting bumped to a new release date could spark all sorts of speculation, even elevate the movie itself to a sort of meme status amongst fans–and no movie did that better or with more panache than Fox’s New Mutants, a movie that is still not out yet, here in 2020, some three years after it’s intended premiere. To make matters even more hilarious, Fox (or, well, Disney now, who, in the intervening years, acquired the 20th Century studio) has stubbornly refused to even acknowledge the possibility that something has gone terribly, terribly wrong for the New Mutants. There’s even going to be a Comic-Con At Home panel for the movie where, if there’s any justice in the world, we’ll finally be able to stop pretending it’s ever going to hit theaters and get a date for its streaming debut.
Supreme Court Leaves In Place Voting Restrictions On Former Felons In Florida
Bloodstained: Curse Of The Moon 2 Review – Twice In A Blue Moon
The first thing you should know about Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is that it features a playable corgi named Hachi who pilots an enchanted mecha-tank. The second thing you should know is that the classic Castlevania homage is in every way a marked improvement over the first Curse of the Moon. In fact, silly and meme-able as it is, the corgi represents a more playful spirit in this sequel that makes the whole experience richer.
The first Curse of the Moon was a short and sweet diversion, a little treat for Bloodstained backers and a neat idea to contextualize the new franchise venture from Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi. It essentially presented an alternative history, where Bloodstained was a known retro franchise and the then-upcoming Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was a bold reinvention a la Symphony of the Night.
For all its charms, though, Curse of the Moon played it pretty straight with its influences. The tone was moody and gothic and the heroes were stoic slabs of granite. Then Ritual of the Night came out and mixed its macabre and demonic imagery with elements that were self-consciously goofy, like giant kitten heads peeking through the castle windows. In that context, Hachi the corgi feels like developer Inti Creates embracing the cheeky oddball quality of the Bloodstained universe, now that it has been more well-defined. If you happen to die as Hachi–and how dare you, you monster–the game is sure to show a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it animation of the little dog bailing out just before his mech explodes.