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The Witcher: Blood Origin Casts Jodie Turner-Smith in Starring Role

The Witcher: Blood Origin, Netflix’s upcoming prequel series to The Witcher, has officially announced its first cast member: Jodie Turner-Smith will play the role of Éile, “an elite warrior blessed with the voice of a goddess”.

Turner-Smith is best known for her starring role alongside Daniel Kaluuya in Queen & Slim, and also appeared in Syfy’s Nightflyers, based on the George R.R. Martin novella.

A Netflix press release describes Éile as, “an elite warrior blessed with the voice of a goddess, [who] has left her clan and position as Queen’s guardian to follow her heart as a nomadic musician. A grand reckoning on the continent forces her to return to the way of the blade in her quest for vengeance and redemption.”

Jodie Photo
Photo Credit: Netflix

There’s not a lot more to go on about Éile, as Blood Origin is a prequel set 1,200 years before the main Witcher show – a period never explored in any depth in the original Witcher novels.

The show’s logline reads: “Set in an elven world 1200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time – the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal “conjunction of the spheres,” when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one.”

Blood Origin is being developed by the original series’ showrunner, Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, and Declan de Barra, who wrote the season 1 episode ‘Of Banquets, Bastards and Burials’, and will comprise 6 episodes.

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Blood Origin doesn’t yet have a release date, but it’s not the only ongoing Witcher TV production – there’s also an anime adaptation, and Season 2 of the core show is on the way, due for release this year. It previously had to halt production due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. We’re also expecting Season 3 to come along too.

Here’s what to expect from The Witcher Season 2. The show will be set in a single timeline this time around, solving perhaps the biggest issue we had in our Witcher Season 1 review.

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Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Apple Launches “Time To Walk” Exercise Program With Dolly Parton, Shawn Mendes, And More

Apple is rolling out a new Apple Watch feature for its premium subscription service where celebrities and athletes talk to you as you walk.

The feature is called “Time to Walk,” and Apple says it’s an “inspiring new audio walking experience” that Fitness+ subscribers can use to motivate themselves during exercise.

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Time to Walk features celebrities like iconic singer/songwriter Dolly Parton, basketball player Draymond Green, actress Uzo Aduba, and singer Shawn Mendes who have individual episodes where they share stories, photos, and music that mean something to them.

“Walking is the most popular physical activity in the world, and one of the healthiest things we can do for our bodies. A walk can often be more than just exercise: It can help clear the mind, solve a problem, or welcome a new perspective,” Apple boss Jay Blahnik said in a a release. “Even throughout this challenging period of time, one activity that has remained available to many is walking.”

As an example, Parton’s episode sees the singer reflect on her life and career from her upbringing in rural Tennessee to her international stardom. Green’s episode sees the athlete discuss the virtues of failure, while Aduba talks about lifelong relationships; Mendes discusses how his effort to slow down his life has helped him personally and professionally.

“Each Time to Walk episode is shaped by the guest’s personal, life-shaping moments and includes lessons learned, meaningful memories, thoughts on purpose and gratitude, moments of levity, and other thought-provoking topics, recorded while walking outside or in locations that are meaningful to them,” Apple said in its announcement.

At certain moments, photos will appear on Apple Watch, while a playlist of songs selected by the guest will pop up after the storytime has ended.

There are four episodes out right now, and new ones from different guests will appear every Monday until the end of April. Each episode is between 25 and 40 minutes.

Apple Fitness+ costs $10/month or $80/year, though one subscription can be shared with up to six family members at no extra cost. The service requires an Apple Watch Series 3 or later, along with an iPhone 6 or later, or iPhone SE.

Id Software Appears To Be Making a VR Game

A rating on an Australian classifications board suggests id Software may be at work on a new VR Game. And based on the rating, at least, this VR game will be a pretty grisly one.

The rating for “Project 2021A” was filed on January 22, 2021, with Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax, and id Software listed by name. The name doesn’t give any clues as to the content, but the ratings for specific types of objectionable material may shed more light. According to the board, it has a very high impact under the Violence category, strong Themes, and some mild language.

All that sounds like it would be right at home in one of id’s existing franchises, like the recently revitalized Doom series. Id Software has already dabbled in VR with Doom VFR in 2017, but the listing suggests this is a new project altogether.

The news is also significant in light of the pending acquisition deal with Microsoft. Once that acquisition is complete, Microsoft will own all of Bethesda’s studios, including id Software. Microsoft has stated it will consider multiplatform releases on a case-by-case basis going forward, hinting that it may keep some for its own platforms or to bulk up its Game Pass offerings. But Xbox head Phil Spencer also hasn’t been keen on bringing VR to the console businesses, first strongly dismissing the idea and later clarifying that he just meant to clearly state his priorities. Either way, VR is not a priority for Xbox, so this mystery project may remain PC-only.

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Netflix’s Witcher Prequel Series Brings On Actress Jodie Turner-Smith

Netflix’s Witcher series is the streaming company’s most popular original TV show ever, so it was no surprise when a spin-off prequel series was announced. This show is still some time off, but we’ve now learned about another actor who may join the cast for Blood Origin.

Deadline reports that Jodie Turner-Smith (The Last Ship, Queen & Slim) is in talks to join Blood Origin, though a deal hasn’t been made yet, it seems.

The site reported that Turner-Smith is signing on to play Eile, who is described as an “elite warrior blessed with the voice of a goddess, who has left her clan and position as Queen’s guardian to follow her heart as a nomadic musician.”

“A grand reckoning on the continent forces her to return to the way of the blade in her quest for vengeance and redemption,” her character description says.

Blood Origin is the second Witcher spin-off that Netflix is developing, following on from The Witcher: Nightmare Of The Wolf, which is an animated movie focusing on Vesemir.

Blood Origin takes place more than 1,000 years before Geralt came on the scene, following the story of “the very first Witcher.” For more on Blood Origin, check out GameSpot’s roundup of everything we know about the show.

As for the main Witcher show, the second season is currently filming, but a premiere date has not been announced. Series star Henry Cavill is currently rehabbing from an injury, but filming is moving ahead with other scenes as he recovers.

With 76 million member households watching The Witcher season 1 over its first four weeks, The Witcher is Netflix’s most popular TV show ever for its first season.

Madden NFL 21 Is Free Later This Week As Part Of Virtual Pro Bowl Festivities

Due to COVID-19, there will be no in-person Pro Bowl the week before the Super Bowl as usual, but the event is living on through the Pro Bowl: Madden NFL 21 Edition, and now EA has shared more details about it. This includes a celebrity competition and a free play period for everyone.

The event itself, which is sponsored by Verizon, takes place on Sunday, January 31 at 5 PM ET on the NFL’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as EA Madden NFL Twitch.

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In this special version of the Pro Bowl, celebrities and athletes will duke it out. Participants include Snoop Dogg, Deshaun Watson, Derrick Henry, and Keyshawn Johnson competing for the AFC, with Bubba Wallace, Marshawn Lynch, Kyler Murray, and Jamal Adams representing the NFC.

Everyone will play Madden 21 from their homes, and each team will rotate in a new player from the celebrity/player roster each quarter. The commentators for the game include Hall of Famer Michael Strahan and Fox Sports host Charissa Thompson.

Ninja, FaZe Swagg, AustinShow, and AMP will broadcast their own “watch parties” alongside the event itself, which will be re-broadcast at 8 PM EST and 12:30 AM EST on NFL Network.

“We’re further blurring the lines between reality and the virtual worlds of our games, creating new opportunities to connect fans through the sport they love,” EA boss David Tinson said.

NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said in his own statement, “Bringing our all-star game to a virtual stage in Madden has allowed fans to engage and enjoy the Pro Bowl, despite the unprecedented challenges of the last year. We’re excited for fans to celebrate the best players in the NFL all on one field this weekend.”

Snoop Dogg also released a statement on the upcoming virtual Pro Bowl: “I’m a Madden NFL star. So Kyler and Marshawn better watch out–my team is comin’ in to win that championship title for the AFC.”

To celebrate the event, EA is offering a free play trial of Madden NFL 21 from January 28-31. January 28 is the day that Madden 21 launches on the Google Stadia streaming service, and the free trial will be available there in addition to on console.

Super Bowl LV is scheduled for Sunday, February 7. The Kansas City Chiefs will take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the title.

Now Playing: Madden NFL 21 Video Review

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Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Is The Best-Selling Musou Game Of All Time

Japanese publisher Koei Tecmo has revealed in its third-quarter earnings report that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has sold over 3.5 million units worldwide since release. Not only has the game been a big hit for Koei Tecmo, but it has also become the single best-selling Musou/Warriors game of all time.

For comparison, the first Nioh game managed to sell three million units on both PC and PS4 by February 2020. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity was only available on the Nintendo Switch and had sold three million units by the end of December 2020.

The rest of the quarter also saw tremendous growth for the publisher, as its mobile division continued to grow and other games sold consistently well. Romance Of The Three Kingdoms XIV and Atelier Ryza 2 sold 100,000 units and 220,000 units respectively in Japanese and Asian markets, which helped Koei Tecmo achieve a 64.7% year-on-year increase in profits.

Nioh 2 has now shipped over 1.4 million units on PS4 since it was released in March 2020, with those numbers likely to climb even higher when a PC and PS5 re-release arrives in February.

In GameSpot’s Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity review, critic Suriel Vazquez scored the game a 6/10.

“The main reason I dove into Age of Calamity is because I love its world and the history it tries to remember. So for a game to retread them and proclaim to have something new to say when its inspiration’s most striking moments come from what it leaves unsaid is a big ask. But my problem with Age of Calamity isn’t that it fails to live up to that responsibility. It’s that it doesn’t even try. It doesn’t have the courage to see things through.”

Now Playing: Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Video Review

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Torchwood Star Wants A Reboot, Even If His (Dead) Character Isn’t In It

Actor Gareth David-Lloyd has come forward to say he is interested in appearing in a reboot or revival of the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.

David-Lloyd, who played Ianto Jones on the show, told MetroUK that he wants Torchwood to come back even if Ianto isn’t part of it. As fans will recall, Ianto died during the Children of Earth storyline, but David-Lloyd believes Ianto could come back in some fashion. After all, Torchwood is sci-fi, so the time travel and alternate universe possibilities are there.

“There’s the scope for it to come back; I’d love it to come back whether Ianto would be part of it or not,” he said. “I think maybe bringing him back easily would sort of cheapen the drama that was created in Children Of Earth, but I’d obviously jump at the chance to play him on screen again. Maybe in an alternate universe or something like that? Or Ianto from the future? I’m not sure! But the popularity is definitely there.”

David-Lloyd said the success of Torchwood has allowed him to tour the world and appear at numerous fan conventions. Ianto was one of the most beloved characters on the show, and his death was tragic and unexpected.

“It’s still a really popular show and there’s a new wave of audience that have been getting into it. The kids that were too young to watch it at the time have watched it now and that’ll keep happening. I think it’s aged really well too,” he said.

In addition to his starring role on Torchwood, David-Lloyd is known for voicing Solas in the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Torchwood also starred John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness. This character recently returned to the Doctor Who universe in the show’s latest holiday episode.

WWE Content Moving To Peacock In $1 Billion Deal, Ending The WWE Network

WWE and its content is moving away from the WWE Network streaming service and finding a new home on Peacock, after the wrestling company made a new deal with NBC Universal. This deal also means the end of the WWE Network come mid-March.

NBCU is paying WWE $1 billion for a five-year deal to bring WWE to Peacock, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. As part of this, WWE will close its WWE Network streaming service in the US, with Peacock getting this content exclusively in the US going forward.

“One of the key things we’re trying to do is differentiate ourselves through live events and sports, and this premium content is a cornerstone of our strategy,” Peacock boss Rick Cordella said.

However, this new agreement will mean the shut down of the WWE Network come mid-March, WWE’s streaming service which has been running since 2014. Originally, the service was the home to classic wrestling shows, live PPV matches, and original programming.

WrestleMania, WWE Icons, and Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions will be exclusive to Peacock in the US from around mid-March. Additionally, historical WWE events will be available to re-watch on Peacock. The WWE Network branding will continue to appear on Peacock.

This seems like a good deal for fans of the WWE, as all of the content will be available on Peacock for $5 per month (with ads) or $10 per month without them. On the WWE Network, everything cost $10/month.

“We are thrilled to bring WWE Network to Peacock beginning March 18, and to continue to create best-in-class sports entertainment content that will not only put smiles on people’s faces, but provide our fans with an experience worthy of their passion,” said WWE’s chief branding officer Stephanie McMahon in press release.

The WWE Network comes to Peacock on March 18, and at that time, there will be 17,000 hours of new, original, and back-catalog programming available on demand.

This includes all of the following:

WWE Network On Peacock Includes

  • All live pay-per-view events including WrestleMania and SummerSlam; Fastlane will be the first WWE pay-per-view to stream on Peacock on Sunday, March 21.
  • Original series like Steve Austin Broken Skull Sessions, Undertaker: The Last Ride and the all-new WWE Icons;
  • In-ring shows like NXT, NXT UK and WWE 205 Live, as well as replays of Raw and SmackDown;
  • WWE Network archives, including every WWE, WCW and ECW pay-per-view event in history;
  • Groundbreaking documentaries, including WWE 24, WWE Untold, and WWE 365;
  • And, starting in 2022, one signature documentary annually.

Peacock is just getting started, but it already has 26 million subscribers. One of the platform’s marquee offerings is The Office, which continues to be massively popular and successful many years after going off the air.

As for the wrestling side of things, the next big PPV is none other than the Royal Rumble, airing on Sunday, January 31. Make sure to come back to GameSpot that evening to check out live results from the event along with a review of the show.

A Quiet Place 2 Delayed Until September

A Quiet Place: Part 2 has been delayed until September. The horror sequel is the latest movie in the last few days to have its release pushed to the fall.

The movie will now hit theaters on September 17, 2021. A Quiet Place: Part 2 was originally scheduled for March 20, 2020 and was one of the first films to be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was initially pushed to September 2020, and then to April 2021. However, with theaters still closed across the world and the likely situation in April extremely uncertain, Paramount has opted to shift the film again.

A Quiet Place: Part 2 stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Djimon Hounsou, and Cillian Murphy. It’s written and directed by John Krasinski, who also helmed the first movie. Check out the trailer here. There’s also a third movie in the works, to be directed by Jeff Nichols (Midnight Special).

Other movies that have been delayed until later in the year or early 2022 include the Bond film No Time To Die, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Uncharted, Morbius, Last Night in Soho, and The King’s Man. For more, check GameSpot’s guide to all the movies that have been delayed due to the pandemic.

One big title that will be with us very soon is Godzilla vs. Kong. The much-anticipated monster showdown is set to hit HBO Max and theaters simultaneously on March 26. Check out the first Godzilla vs. Kong trailer.

Now Playing: A Quiet Place Part 2 (2020) – Big Game Spot

Daily Deals: Tons of Savings On Figurines, Statues and Amiibo

Hello and welcome to our Sunday deals page. It’s a great day to be a figurine collector, because GameStop is running a huge sale today only, where you can get various figurines and statues for up to 30% off. This includes some great ones from the Marvel and Star Wars lines, as well as various videogames. Best Buy got in on the action as well, adding some nice Smash Brothers Amiibos to the mix, and of course there’s tons of awesome deals on various games and software down below.

The Best Daily Deals for January 22

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More Video Game Deals

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