The new Saints Row, announced at Gamescom, is a total reboot for the series–not just in setting and characters but in tone. While it looks primed to carry forward the same playfully zany spirit as its predecessors, the new game–simply called Saints Row–is clearly taking a step back and allowing developer Volition some breathing room without having to constantly top itself with ever-expanding wacky hijinks.
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Elijah Wood Recalls His Unusual And Elaborate Audition For The Lord Of The Rings
Elijah Wood famously portrayed Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings film series, and now the actor has shared some new details on his unusual and elaborate audition process for the movie. It involved filming three different sequences at a time when audition tapes were not common. Before telling his story, Wood recalled the earliest days of The Lord of the Rings and why he was excited from the get-go.
Speaking to GQ, Wood said he wasn’t actually surprised when he learned in the late ’90s that Peter Jackson, a relatively low-profile New Zealand filmmaker known for independent movies like Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners, would be tackling The Lord of the Rings. Wood said 1994’s Heavenly Creatures stood out to him in particular because it established what Jackson was capable of as a filmmaker. The movie combined fantasy with emotional honesty and depth, and he thought Jackson would do right by The Lord of the Rings by keeping these elements in mind.
Wood had read The Hobbit but not The Lord of the Rings at the time, and when his agent called to tell him they were looking to cast roles for the film, he jumped at the chance to try out for Frodo. The studio wasn’t sending the script to actors, so he drove to the studio office and sat by himself for two hours reading the script.
“Driving home, I was so immersed in the world. It was so palpable and lifelike. It really came to life off of the page,” Wood said.
In an effort to go the extra mile to get the part, Wood created a VHS audition tape, which was uncommon for the time. “I had never made my own audition tape before. And this was long before the time when that was common. I just had this impulse. Partially because I was a little nervous and second, I just didn’t want to go into a white room and do it that way. I was just like, ‘I’ve got to do something different,'” Wood said.
So Wood hired a voice/dialect coach to learn how to best give voice to Frodo. He also enlisted some friends, including writer/filmmaker George Wang, to film three audition tapes. Two were shot at Griffith Park in Los Angeles and another was filmed at Wood’s home.
“There’s three scenes. Each was sort of a different aspect of Frodo along the journey. The last one being like quite deeply affected by the Ring,” Wood said. “We went into the Miramax offices that night, when Miramax was still a thing, and cut the scenes together and then I took that tape–it was output to VHS [laughs], and I took that tape to [The Lord of the Rings casting director] Victoria Burrows’ office and then they FedEx’ed it to Peter [Jackson]. And then I got a call from Peter himself, which was amazing. Totally mind-blowing, and the adventure and opportunity of a lifetime.”
The full interview is a delight, as the first nine minutes are dedicated exclusively to The Lord of the Rings. Wood shares other interesting anecdotes and stories about the cast and crew and uprooting his life and moving to New Zealand to film the epic fantasy trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring celebrates its 20th anniversary this December, and a new 4K Blu-ray bundle of the three movies is on the way with new bonus features. A new Lord of the Rings animated film is currently in the works, while Amazon’s TV show will debut in September 2022.
Gearbox Opens New Office In Montreal To Create “Groundbreaking Entertainment”
Gearbox, the Texas-based game developer known best for the Borderlands series, has announced the formation of a new studio in Montreal. This is the company’s second big expansion into Canada, following the foundation of a studio in Quebec in 2015.
Gearbox is investing CAD $200 million into the studio, which will be known as Gearbox Studio Montreal. The company is hoping to create 250 jobs, boosting its total headcount across North America to more than 850. Sébastien Caisse, Ph.D and Pierre-André Déry are co-leading the team.
“The Gearbox Entertainment Company is ambitiously looking both internationally and domestically to grow our creative engine and meet the incredible demand our customers have for talent-crafted experiences with our intellectual property,” Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said.
The Montreal-based Gearbox team will contribute to Gearbox franchise and make “new, original ideas.” The projects are described as “groundbreaking entertainment.”
“I know the incredible local game development community will welcome Gearbox Studio Montreal and its balance between major studio muscle and local team culture as a needed addition to the city,” Pitchford said.
Gearbox said its Montreal team will be staffed by a “diverse and passionate group working to bring entertainment and joy to the world.”
Montreal is one of North America’s biggest game development hubs. Companies like Ubisoft, EA, Bethesda, and Square Enix are among the big-name companies that have offices there.
Earlier this year, Gearbox was acquired by Embracer Group in a $1.3 billion sale. Thanks to the acquisition, Pitchford has said Gearbox is looking to grow in a big way.
“Far from riding off into the sunset, we are now positioned to launch new IP, do more with our existing brands, grow our base of incredibly talented team members, and capitalize on new opportunities in our mission to entertain the world. This just the start,” he said.
Gearbox’s next big game is the Borderlands spinoff Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, which launches in 2022.
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Why Lilly Wachowski Didn’t Return For Matrix 4
The fourth Matrix movie, recently confirmed to be titled The Matrix: Resurrections, sees the return of Lana Wachowski writing, directing, and producing. Her sister Lilly, who collaborated with Lana on the original three Matrix movies, is not attached to the project, and has explained why in a recent interview.
Speaking on a panel about Showtime TV show Work in Progress, on which she is the showrunner, Lilly explained why she didn’t want to return to the franchise. “There was something about the idea of going backwards and being a part of something that I had done before that was expressly unappealing,” Wachowski explained on the panel, as quoted by The Wrap.
“Like, I didn’t want to have gone through my transition and gone through this massive upheaval in my life, the sense of loss from my mom and dad, to want to go back to something that I had done before and sort of walk over old paths that I had walked in, felt emotionally unfulfilling and really the opposite,” she continued. “Like I was going to go back and live in these old shoes in a way. And I didn’t want to do that.”
Wachowski also said that she had been “completely exhausted” after a packed filming schedule that included Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending, and Sense8 season one, which was part of the reason why she didn’t join Lana for the second season of the Netflix show.
“My world was like falling apart, to some extent, even while I was like, you know, cracking out of my egg. So I needed this time away from this industry,” Wachowski said. “I needed to, like, reconnect to myself as an artist. And I did that by going back to school and painting and stuff. And I made that decision. So I started painting that summer with my mom and then Lana got the call from Netflix that they wanted to order up another season [of Sense8]. And I said, ‘I can’t do it. I don’t want to do it.'”
Lilly has previously stated that she has found herself less interested in sci-fi in general since her transition. Her latest project has been Work in Progress, a Showtime TV comedy about a middle-aged queer woman navigating a transformative period of her life.
Ghost Of Tsushima Iki Island Hidden Sidequest Guide – A Helping Hand
One of the more vague Tales you’ll encounter during your time on Iki Island is A Helping Hand. This Tale has you assisting a peasant who’s trying to build a new house after the Mongols burned down his home. Unlike other Tales in the game, A Helping Hand isn’t marked on the map, so it’s a bit tricky to find, and you might not even know it exists. And even when you trigger it, you may not know where to find the peasant next to continue the quest. To help you complete the Tale, we’ve compiled a guide detailing all the steps. It’s worth noting that if the peasant doesn’t appear in the locations we describe after starting the quest, then try checking back at those spots later.
For more about Ghost of Tsushima’s Iki Island expansion, be sure to read our full review. Otherwise, be sure to check out our other Iki Island guides roundup and our guides roundup for the base game.
Table of Contents [hide]
Where To Find The Peasant
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The peasant can be found north of Tatsu’s Ladder on the northeastern side of Iki Island. He’s just up a path near a campfire and a tree stump; you’ll see smoke from a distance marking his location. Talk to him, and he’ll ask if you have three pieces of wood to spare. If you have the resources on hand, then hand them over, but if you need to find some more, you can always bid him farewell for now and return once you’ve got the goods. Regardless, the peasant will be grateful for your contribution.
The Peasant’s Second Request
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Next, the peasant can be found in either of two locations: in a field of pampas grass slightly southeast of Zasho River or atop a hill north of Kidafure Battleground. Like before, you’ll be able to pinpoint his location from the smoke of his campfire. This time he needs six predator hides to help insulate his house’s roof. Hand them over, and he’ll be overwhelmed by your continued kindness.
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The Peasant’s Final Request
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Finally, the peasant will be digging for precious metals on the beach west of Yahata Lighthouse. When you speak to him, you’ll discover that he needs metal to finish building his home. Donate ten pieces of iron to him, and your generosity will greatly humble him. He will then ask you to visit his build sight, located in a grassy clearing west of Fort Sakai.
Completing The House (And The Tale)
Follow the peasant’s directions to his build sight. For more clarity, you can find it south of Sly Hunter’s Forest. When you arrive, you’ll see that the house is finished. Talk to the peasant to complete the quest. Your reward is a minor Legend increase and the Charm of Iron Grip–a handy range charm that makes your bow aim never shake or force a shot no matter how long your hold it.
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Pokemon Go PokeStop And Gym Interaction Distance Increased To 80m Following Fan Backlash
Pokemon Go will be returning the interaction radius of PokeStops and Gyms to 80m following an outcry from fans. Developer Niantic announced the change on Twitter, adding that the interaction distance would remain 80m “from now on.”
Trainers – we’re looking forward to sharing our plans as a result of the task force on September 1, but one thing does not have to wait! From now on, 80 meters will be the base interaction radius for PokéStops and Gyms globally. (1/2)
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) August 25, 2021
“Thank you to everyone who made your voices heard. We’ve heard you and understand that this has been a welcome benefit to many players. We’ll share more next week,” Niantic wrote in a follow-up tweet.
Niantic had previously announced that it was putting together an internal task force to address fans’ concerns about the reduced interaction distance. It said that it will announce more changes and findings from the task force on September 1. The interaction distance in Pokemon Go was originally 40m, however that distance had been doubled in response to COVID, making it easier for players to interact with PokeStops and Gyms without having to physically interact with other people.
Niantic recently chose to revert the interaction distance back to 40m in the United States and New Zealand after being at 80m for nearly a year. This decision sparked controversy, as the community felt the game was in a better state and more accessible with the increased distance.
It has also been revealed that September’s Community Day in Pokemon Go will feature Oshawott, the water-type starter from Pokemon Black and White, and the upcoming Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
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The Flash Announces Next Big Crossover Event
CW has revealed that its next big crossover event for The Flash is a five-part special called “Armageddon.”
The Flash has tackled Crisis on Infinite Earths, brought back a Flash from the 1990s and more for its annual crossover events, and this year’s event will see the team battle to save the world, yet again.
Beginning November 16 at 8 p.m. EST, Armageddon will take place across five different parts and it will see the return of some fan-favorite heroes, too.
“Team Flash will widen its roster to include Javicia Leslie as Batwoman, Brandon Routh as The Atom, Cress Williams as Black Lightning, Chyler Leigh as Sentinel, Kat McNamara as Mia Queen, and Osric Chau as Ryan Choi,” a press release from CW reads. “In addition, Tom Cavanagh and Neal McDonough return as the adversaries we love to hate – Eobard Thawne/Reverse Flash and Damien Darhk.”
Armageddon represents Leslie’s first crossover appearance as Batwoman after she was cast to replace Ruby Rose as a new Batwoman last year. It also (kind of) marks the return of Williams’ Black Lightning after CW’s Black Lightning show came to an end after its fourth season.
Armageddon will kick off on November 16, marking the start of Season 8 of The Flash.
While waiting for that, check out how this crossover event was teased earlier this year and then read about Jordan Fisher’s casting to play Bart Allen/Impulse in the series.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
Dr. Disrespect Says He’s Suing Twitch Over Ban
Guy Beahm, better known as Dr. Disrespect, was permanently banned from Twitch last June. Now, the streamer is suing Twitch over it.
Dr. Disrespect announced the news on his YouTube channel yesterday, according to Dot Esports, and said the reason he’s suing the company is because of why he was banned.
He didn’t quite reveal exactly why he was banned, and Twitch doesn’t usually publicize its reasoning for bans like this, but he said “there’s a reason why we’re suing the f**k out of them.”
“I can’t talk about it, but a lot of people ask me, ‘do you know the reason?’ Yeah, I do know the reason why now,” Dr. Disrespect said. “I’ve known for months now the reason why and I’ll just say this right now champs, ‘there’s a reason why we’re suing the f**k out of them.’ I don’t know how else to put it. The amount of damages and you just don’t — nah, no, no.”
Dr. Disrespect seems to become frustrated in talking about this in the video, which is why he seemingly cuts himself off before saying more. He also said that a year later, despite what people might think, he’s making “a fourth, a quarter” of what he made on Twitch.
“The Twitch ban has really, really affected us not just from a financial standpoint but from a networking standpoint,” he said on YouTube. “From all the relationships we built over the past five years in terms of Activision and EA, all the big sponsors and partnerships, they have to question, ‘why did you get banned?'”
He continued and said “whether it’s obvious or not, [the] blacklisting and shadowbanning” of him is happening.
“As well as you think we’re doing and again, I think we’re doing well enough, it’s been extremely disheartening and it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and it f**king sucks,” Dr. Disrespect said.
Dot Esports notes that at the time of Dr. Disrespect’s permanent ban on Twitch, he had more than 23,000 subscribers and averaged just as many viewers as well. IGN reached out to Twitch at the time of his ban but the company did not comment specifically on the situation, instead opting to provide the following general statement:
“As is our process, we take appropriate action when we have evidence that a streamer has acted in violation of our Community Guidelines or Terms of Service. These apply to all streamers regardless of status or prominence in the community.”
Despite Dr. Disrespect stating he personally knows the reason why he was banned, that information is still not available to the public. However, the reasoning could come out in court, although that’s not guaranteed.
Catch up on Dr. Disrespect’s permanent ban that occurred last year and then read about how he won’t be returning to Twitch and is “not interested” in an exclusive partnership. In other news about the streamer, Dr. Disrespect revealed last week that he’s starting up a new game studio.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.
My Hero Academia’s Third Move Gets An English Release Date and a Theatrical Release
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission, the third feature film release for the popular anime, officially has an English release date. Funimation revealed today that the third My Hero Academia film will be out in the U.S. at the end of October.
First released in Japan back in August, My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission sees Deku and his friend Rody get falsely accused of a crime — part of a nefarious plan to eliminate all the world’s Quirks. It’s up to Deku and his friend to put a stop to Humarise’s plans before it’s too late.
The film was ultimately very successful in Japan, earning more money than any film in the series to date. Like Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, it has succeeded despite COVID-19, which has impacted the box office numbers for even major blockbuster releases.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission’s English release will also include a theatrical run in more than 1,500 theaters across the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Tickets will go on sale on October 1.
It comes on the heels of the launch of the series’ fifth season on Funimation. The third film film will feature the same cast and creative team as the first two moves, with Justin Briner playing Izuku Midoriya and David Matranga playing Shoto Todoroki.
My Hero Academia: World Heroes’ Mission arrives in North America on October 29, with a streaming date still to be revealed.