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David O. Russell’s next movie has added yet another big name to its cast. According to Collider, music superstar Taylor Swift will appear in the film, adding to its already impressive cast.

Swift has appeared in movies before, as she had parts in The Lorax, Valentine’s Day, The Giver, and Cats most recently.

She joins a cast for the film that includes Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, Rami Malek, John David Washington, and more. You can see the full list of the cast so far below.

The project remains largely a mystery, as no plot details have been divulged so far. What we do know is that it’s an original idea that the five-time Oscar nominee Russell came up with.

Cast For David O. Russell’s New Movie:

• Christian Bale
• Margot Robbie
• John David Washington
• Rami Malek
• Robert De Niro
• Mike Myers
• Chris Rock
• Anya Taylor-Joy
• Timothy Olyphant
• Michael Shannon
• Zoe Saldana
• Andrea Riseborough
• Matthias Schoenaerts
• Alessandro Nivola

Russell also directed The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook, and American Hustle. He was at one point attached to direct the Uncharted movie before he left the project. The new movie will be his first since 2015’s Joy, which starred Jennifer Lawrence.

It’s been nearly three decades since the Super Mario Bros. movie arrived in theaters, with a tagline boldly proclaiming “This ain’t no game.” Now, after all of this time, an extended version of the film has been unearthed, restored, and released online for all to see.

This version of the film–dubbed “The Morton Jankel Cut” after co-directors Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel–has been released by The Super Mario Brothers Archive, a group of fans who celebrate the movie and have been involved in the special features on previous home releases of the film. They’ve teamed with film restorationist and filmmaker Garrett Gilchrist to present a version of the movie that has never been seen by anyone outside of the production team. Their hope is that this cut will resonate more with fans than the theatrical cut of the film, which was panned critically and flopped at the box office. You can watch it for yourself at the link above

For years, Super Mario Bros. has been looked down on because it doesn’t resemble the game it’s based on. Now, with the new cut, Gilchrist and the Super Mario Bros. Archive team hopes people will see why that’s the case. “It’s always going to be a controversial film,” Gilchrist told GameSpot. “The directors, Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel, thought they were making Max Headroom again. They wanted this cyberpunk dystopia. And I think they were pitching the movie more for teenagers, like a Star Wars film. Or even Roger Rabbit, which is a little bit adult in many ways and was obviously an inspiration for this film in some respects.”

He continued, “Which, if you think about it, your average adult back then didn’t give a damn about the Nintendo NES or Super Mario Bros. So of course, whoever was writing that film, or was directing that film, was going to come in and bring their own sensibility to it, beyond the film being about Mario and Luigi, who fight Koopa. That’s a given.”

That movie didn’t make it to theaters, though. Thankfully, however, an extended version of the film still existed in the form of an old VHS tape that belonged to producer Roland Joffé. Ryan Hoss and Steven Applebaum from The Super Mario Bros. Archive tried locating an extended version of the movie for years, before fellow fan and Super Mario Bros. Archive community member Ryan Parente got his hands on it.

Beyond a number of extended scenes that make up the new 20 minutes of footage that was previously unreleased, there are also some new scenes–including one in particular that reframes two characters in the film. “Iggy and Spike rap! They do a whole rap, which Fisher Stevens and Richard Edson wrote, about how they want to overthrow King Koopa,” Gilchrist said. “It’s stupid, and it’s great. They turn from these unthinking comic relief henchmen into anti-fascists in a couple of scenes. And then they rap about it. Iggy and Spike are introduced as very broad comic characters, which doesn’t always work. But there’s a lot more of them in this cut and you get to understand them a lot more. They grow and change as characters and I liked them a lot more than I thought I would.”

With the footage in hand, Gilchrist and the Super Mario Bros. Archive team started a two-year journey to get this new cut into the state it’s in now–which the filmmaker points out isn’t as polished as he’d like. To achieve this new version of the movie, Gilchrist got digitized transfers from that original VHS and the mass market VHS of the film sold in the ’90s, thanks to Skip Elsheimer from A/V Geeks. He also looked to the Blu-ray release and material from trailers and other rare VHS tapes. Interestingly enough, according to Gilchrist, the movie was released onto VHS in open matte 4:3 aspect ratio. The subsequent DVD and Blu-ray releases are in widescreen and lose some of the picture, compared to the VHS. Gilchrist thought the film worked in either version and stuck with the 4:3 ratio for this extended cut.

After a long time spent restoring the footage from the extended cut–along with the mass market VHS to make the two sources match–they arrived at this version of the film. “I think if you get on its wavelength there’s a lot to like there,” he said of the new cut. “I do think the workprint is a better film, and that this extended cut is a better film.”

Don’t go into this new version expecting a more faithful adaptation of the games, though. “It’s not the Mario movie that fans and kids were asking for, and it is kind of broad and dumbed-down, but as this bonkers cyberpunk fantasy aimed at thirteen-year-olds? It’s kind of cool and crazy that this film even exists,” Gilchrist said.

As for what happens next, that remains a mystery. Those involved would certainly still love to see this extended version of the movie released officially. What’s more, Gilchrist has learned of an international DVD release of the film in its original 4:3 aspect ratio, which means he may not be done with Super Mario Bros. just yet.

“I’ll probably try again,” he said. “But this might be the best way to experience the film, honestly. An all VHS cut that’s a little rough around the edges. Much like the film itself, it has a lot to offer if you’re in the right mood for it. Or maybe even if you’re not.”

You can find Gilchrist’s work online through Archive.org and Twitter. The Super Mario Bros. Archive team is also available on Twitter.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will launch June 9, publisher Sega announced. Rather than a new game, New Genesis is a Realm Reborn-style revamp of the existing game that overhauls nearly every aspect of it–though the original will still be available–complete with an entirely new progression system that is separate from the original game.

The company recently held a closed beta test for New Genesis back in May, and then another in June. Though New Genesis will change essentially every aspect of PSO2, the original version of the game will still be playable, with characters shared across both games. However, as mentioned above, all character progress will be independent across the two different versions.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis will be available on both PC and Xbox One. The server maintenance that would’ve normally happened on June 9 will be moved forward a few days, though the exact timing of that is not clear. Additionally, an ongoing “road to New Genesis event” will give players login bonuses in celebration of the new content pack, so keep an eye out for that.

Seth Rogen is leading a new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot movie in partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount. Rogen himself confirmed on Twitter that he will produce a new TMNT movie that is scheduled to come to theaters on August 11, 2023.

The new TMNT film comes from Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures. Brendan O’Brien, who wrote the Rogen-starring comedy Neighbors and its sequel, is writing the new TMNT film, according to Variety.

Directing the new TMNT film is Jeff Rowe, whose latest movie, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, proved to be a big success on Netflix.

Rogen announced the new TMNT film by way of a document that appears to be hand-written by Leonardo, in which he references another TMNT characters like Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and April O’Neil.

The TMNT series has been spun into film before, most recently by action movie veteran Michael Bay. He produced 2014’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and 2016’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows. TMNT movies have made more than $1 billion at the box office over the years, so it’s little surprise to see the franchise return once again.

It’s still early days for the new TMNT film, so we don’t know yet if it’ll be live-action or CG, or a hybrid. Also unknown is who may star in the film.

Rogen is known for his particular brand of comedy, and for smoking pot, so it’ll be interesting to see what he does with a franchise aimed particularly at younger people and the family audience.

E3 is fast approaching, and Guerrilla Collective will once again be putting on a digital games showcase full of announcements, gameplay, and trailers from a variety of publishers across the industry to coincide with the summer game season. The event will take place on the first two Saturdays of June.

Guerrilla Collective Day 1 Stream Start Time

Day 1 of the Guerrilla Collective digital event will be on June 5, with more than 28 games detailed on the event’s official site set to be featured in some capacity, with “lots exclusives” set to be revealed the day of the event. The stream starts at the times below:

• 8 AM PT
• 11 AM ET
• 4 PM BST
• 1 AM AEST

Guerrilla Collective Day 2 Stream Start Time

Day 2 of the Guerrilla Collective digital event will be on June 12, with even more games set to be featured and additional exclusive announcements. The stream starts at the times below:

• 8 AM
• 11 AM ET
• 4 PM BST
• 1 AM AEST

How To Watch Guerrilla Collective Stream

The Guerrilla Collective stream will be available for viewing on the event’s official Twitch channel.

What To Expect

On the June 5 stream, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is slated to make an appearance. It recently became known that the popular Metroidvania title may be getting a sequel, so it’s possible it could make its debut here. Much the same can be said about Ghostrunner, which is set to appear in some form on the June 12 stream. It was recently announced by publisher 505 Games that Ghostrunner sequel is currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, so an announcement trailer premiering during the show would definitely make sense. As for what else Guerrilla Collective has in store, fans will just have to tune in and find out.

Here is a list of games confirmed to be featured:

Day 1:

• Aeon Drive
• AK-Xolotl
• Chernobylite
• Kung Fu Kickball
• Kraken Academy
• Omno
• Endling
• Industria
• Tinkertown
• Lamentum
• My Lovely Wife
• Moroi
• Fire Tonight
• Beasts of Maravilla Island
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
• Onsen Master
• Rubi: The Wayward Mira
• Run Die Run Again
• Anno: Mutationem
• Super Space Club
• Eternal Cylinder
• The Light Bringer
• Trifox
• Ynglet
• Zodiac Legion
• The Legend of Tianding
• Tamarindo’s Freaking Dinner

Day 2:

• Akatori
• Archvale
• Behind The Frame
• Grime
• Happy’s Humble Burger Farm
• Hello Neighbor 2
• Trash Sailors
• Black Book
• Death Trash
• Demon’s Mirror
• Despot’s Game
• Loot River
• No Longer home
• Potion Craft
• Rawmen
• Serial Cleaners
• Slime Heroes
• Batora: Lost Haven
• Blooming Business: Casino
• Kitsune Tails
• Severed Steel
• The Light of the Darkness
• Unmetal
• Venice 2089
• White Shadows
• Wolfstride
• Ghostrunner
• Elderand
• Sable

Ubisoft has a lot of games in the works, some of which we know almost nothing about. However, we’ll most likely get some information at Ubisoft’s big E3 2021 event, which will take place on June 12. Check below for more information on when the stream will occur, how to watch it, and what it might feature.

Ubisoft Forward E3 2021 Stream Start Time

Ubisoft’s event will kick off on Saturday, June 12, at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET/8 PM BST. This is the first day of E3 2021, which is fully remote this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chances are good that it’ll be similar to previous Ubisoft Forward events, which included game announcements, gameplay reveals, and some developer commentary.

How To Watch Ubisoft Forward E3 2021 Stream

The company has yet to specify where it’ll stream the event. Past Ubisoft Forwards were streamed through the company’s YouTube channel and Twitch channel, as well as on GameSpot. As soon as Ubisoft announces more details, we will update this story and include an embedded stream.

What To Expect

Ubisoft has already announced a handful of games that are currently in the works at its studios, and chances are we’ll get updates on each of them. Far Cry 6 is coming on October 7, and Ubisoft just recently revealed gameplay for the title. In addition, the extreme sports game Riders Republic and the roller derby game Roller Champions are scheduled for launch later this year, as is Rainbow Six Quarantine. We could conceivably get updates for some long-in-development titles like Skull and Bones and Beyond Good and Evil 2, although these are less likely.

Ubisoft is just one of many companies holding events during E3 2021. For more information about the rest of E3, be sure to check out our roundup of all the E3 2021 livestreams that are currently scheduled.

The new media company spinning off from the merger between Warner Bros. and Discovery will imaginatively be called–wait for it: Warner Bros. Discovery. According to The Wall Street Journal, the merger between the two companies won’t be finalized and fully integrated until sometime in 2022.

Discovery CEO David Zaslav will be in charge of the merged group, which will marry WarnerMedia’s formidable roster of iconic characters and properties with Discovery’s sizable archive of unscripted shows and growing businesses sports business in Europe and also news. AT&T shareholders will own 71% of the new company. Zaslav announced the new name Tuesday from a town hall with WarnerMedia employees from the Warner Bros. studio’s Burbank lot, alongside WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar.

“Warner Bros. Discovery will aspire to be the most innovative, exciting and fun place to tell stories in the world–that is what the company will be about,” Zaslav said in a statement. “We love the new company’s name because it represents the combination of Warner Bros.’ fabled hundred year legacy of creative, authentic storytelling and taking bold risks to bring the most amazing stories to life, with Discovery’s global brand that has always stood brightly for integrity, innovation and inspiration.”

Zaslav added that the hope for the Warner Bros. Discovery family will be to make it “the best and most exciting place in the world to tell big, important, and impactful stories across any genre–and across any platform: film, television, and streaming.”

The company’s tagline will be, “the stuff that dreams are made of,” which is a nod to the 1941 Warner Bros. film, The Maltese Falcon.

Ben 10 and Minecraft have finally crossed over, and the results are now live on the Minecraft Marketplace. Based on a blog post announcing the move, the DLC pack includes both bespoke story content as well as additions to the game’s Free Roam mode.

In the new Story Mode, Ben, Gwen, and Grandpa Max need to recover lost alien DNA from the Omnitrix. Apparently, it’s pretty easy to lose some alien DNA when you can turn into hundreds of different forms. Ben can transform into many different alien heroes across the adventure to defeat foes such as Vilgax, Zombozo, and Kevin 11, who is 10% more powerful than Ben according to our calculations.

If you’re just looking to check out all of Ben’s alien forms, you can jump into the Free Roam mode to give them a test drive. It seems that Ben’s various outfits will give him interesting powers, such as the ability to fly, or to move quickly. Additionally, you can grab Ben’s shirt as a free character creator item.

In other Minecraft news, the game recently received new content through its Caves and Cliffs Part 1 update, which added a new goat mob to the game, among other things. It also got another high-profile crossover in the form of How To Train Your Dragon content.

AMD has announced that it plans to release FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) on June 22. The new supersampling technology serves as competition to Nvidia’s DLSS technology, boosting performance and image quality for games that support the technology.

Unlike Nvidia’s DLSS – an image upscaling technology using AI to upscale lower resolution images and make them appear at a higher resolution without a significant amount of extra performance – AMD says FidelityFX Super Resolution does not require machine learning.

FidelityFX Super Resolution is open-source, according to AMD, meaning the technology will also run on Nvidia’s graphics cards, including the GTX 10-series, which currently does not support Nvidia’s DLSS technology.

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Discussed during AMD’s presentation at Computex 2021, FidelityFX Super Resolution will include four different image upscaling modes: Ultra Quality, Quality, Balanced, and Performance. Ultra quality and Quality will focus on achieving a higher image quality, while Balanced and Performance modes will focus on increasing the frame rate in games.

AMD also demonstrated a test with FidelityFX Super Resolution, running Gearbox Software’s Godfall using an RX 6800 XT graphics card. During the test, Godfall was running at 150FPS while in FidelityFX Super Resolution’s Performance preset, while the other presets ran the game at 124FPS (Balanced), 99FPS (Quality), and 78FPS (Ultra Quality). During each test, the game was set to the ‘epic’ graphical setting with ray tracing enabled, which normally runs at 49FPS natively.

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To showcase that the FidelityFX Super Resolution will also run on Nvidia GPUs, AMD also tested the technology using a GTX 1060 with the same game running in 1440p at 38FPS when enabling FSR’s quality mode.

Nevertheless, this is AMD’s own in-house testing and should be taken with a grain of salt, but with the technology launching later this month, we will not have to wait much longer to see how it stacks up with DLSS.

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Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

One of WWE’s most popular tag teams, The New Day, debuted some glitzy Power Rangers-themed gear on Raw.

Main Event Gear, a leading supplier of in-ring and entrance gear to professional wrestlers, shared a snap on Instagram of New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston wearing Power Rangers tailored threads designed by Jonathan Davenport. Woods donned an outfit inspired by the White Ranger, while Kingston unleashed the Green Ranger into the ring. Check out the glitzy gear below:

The Instagram post contains a carousel of images revealing the design process and pop culture inspiration behind the duo’s new gear. The designs incorporate similar features to the costumes worn by the fist-pumping, multicolored superheroes, with shiny striped embellishments all over the outfits, winged shoulders, and a Rangers-style belt paired with matching boots and gloves.

Over the years, Woods and Kingston have delivered some entertaining entrances on the way to the ring. In particular, Woods is known for pumping up the crowd by breaking out his trademark trombone Francesca as a prelude to The New Day’s chant, so it’s only right that the iconic instrument would also receive the makeover treatment, with a design similar to the White Ranger’s enchanted Saba.

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The New Day has displayed their love of video games and pop culture inside and outside of the ring. In fact, it was announced last year that Woods and Kingston, along with Big E would be coming to Gears 5 as playable DLC characters, with a promo image showing the group decked out in Cog armor ready to take on Locust. The WWE tag team also brought a Final Fantasy 14 collaboration to Wrestlemania 32.

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Adele Ankers is a Freelance Entertainment Journalist. You can reach her on Twitter.