Constantine is hardly DC’s highest-profile character, but he’s apparently one of the most adaptable; HBO Max is prepping a new series for the character in partnership with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, according to a report from Deadline.
The series will focus on a slightly younger version of John Constantine, the lead character from the Hellblazer comics. The creators are apparently looking for a non-white actor for the role. According to the report, the show will focus on the comic’s horror roots more than the religious focus that previous incarnations have generally focused on. Newcomer Guy Bolton is writing the pilot script, and the series will reportedly connect to HBO Max’s planned Justice League Dark, which Abrams is also producing.
John Constantine, DC’s master of the dark arts, first appeared in Saga of the Swamp Thing #37 in 1985, with his appearance based on British musician Sting. He appeared in live action first in the 2005 film Constantine, played by Keanu Reeves and laid dormant for almost a decade before NBC revived him for a television show of the same name. There, British actor Matt Ryan portrayed a more comics-accurate version of the character in the one-season show. After its abrupt cancelation, the CW worked out a deal to bring the character and actor over for a single appearance on Arrow, where he helped Sara Lance reclaim her soul after being revived in a Lazarus Pit. The character was popular enough that the CW’s timey-wimey superhero show DC’s Legends of Tomorrow brought Ryan on to reprise the character in season 3, and he’s been with the crew since.
DC previously preferred to keep its live-action incarnations to one actor playing one character, but the success of the CW’s The Flash weakened that resolve, and the on-screen appearances of three different Barry Allen Flashes and three Supermen for the CW’s Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover all but shattered it. While it’s uncertain whether the HBO Max version of Constantine and the CW’s version will both air at the same time, its absolutely possible (though its unlikely that they’ll cross over).
The show is in the early stages of planning, so we don’t know when it’ll premiere, but when it does it will join HBO Max’s growing list of dark DC Comics shows alongside the likes of James Gunn’s Peacemaker, Justice League Dark, and DC Universe shows Doom Patrol and Titans, along with more traditional superhero fare like the announced Green Lantern show.
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One of the biggest surprises from February 17’s Nintendo Direct was the announcement of Splatoon 3. The multiplayer-shooter series moves away from Inkopolis to a new region in 2022. That’s quite a ways away, and while there likely won’t be any Splatoon-related shortages, you can reserve your copy of the squid-ink shooter at Best Buy right now.
While there aren’t many details about Splatoon 3, we do know a few things. For one, the game is set in the Splatlands region as well as one of the region’s most populated cities, Splatsville. Nintendo says “battle-hardened Inklings and Octolings” call this metropolis home. The desert motif gives me Mad Max vibes, but you likely won’t be driving any cars with blades and spikes attached to them.
In addition to the new setting, Nintendo has teased a number of other details. The trailer showed an Inkling (sporting a new braid hairstyle) accompanied by a Salmonid, which were enemies in Splatoon 2’s co-op mode. Additionally, the traditional 4v4 Turf War mode was shown taking place in the Splatlands desert. Things kick off with the Inklings in some sort of aerial drone before they choose where they want to land and head into battle.
Nintendo also detailed two new movement mechanics and a new weapon. The first movement technique is the squid roll, which Inklings can use in squid form. This gives them the ability to launch out of their ink and twirl through the air. Squid surge, on the other hand, quickly shoots players up walls and launches them at the top. As for the new weapon, it looks like a bow that can shoot three strings of ink. A number of classic weapons also make appearances with unique looks.
When 2020 passed without a single Marvel Cinematic Universe release, fans were anxious for the next piece of the massive puzzle. The releases of Black Widow and Eternals on the big screen were delayed, while Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier was pushed after production was halted during the pandemic. Then, at long last, there was a light at the end of the tunnel. WandaVision became the first MCU Phase 4 entry and, it should be argued, it’s also one of the strongest projects Marvel Studios has released yet.
Not only did WandaVision end the drought of MCU entries, but it’s helping to redefine what a live-action Marvel story can be. On one hand, WandaVision is a celebration of TV history, with different episodes paying tribute to different eras of family sitcoms–from 1950s shows like I Love Lucy to early-’00s favorites like Malcolm in the Middle. Each episode has painstakingly recreated the shows it’s inspired by, from the ridiculously silly special effects of old sitcoms to the fourth-wall-breaking moments of later eras, in which characters speak directly to the camera–not to mention a new era-appropriate theme song each week.
Beyond that, though, WandaVision is a story of loss, trauma, and coping with post-traumatic stress disorder. That’s surprising given the characters of Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) have more or less been third-tier players in the MCU. Now, they’re thrust to the forefront and given the kind of character development most of the MCU roster could benefit greatly from, telling a genuinely heartbreaking story.
Which is why it’s so surprising to find criticism of the show that calls it a Marvel movie stretched into nine episodes of television, or a series lacking a central villain that gives it the kind of depth people have come to expect from the MCU. Complaints like this are missing the point of WandaVision completely.
Make no mistake about it, while the show fits into the larger picture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and there is likely a “greater power” behind so much of the terror that’s unfolding (we see you, Mephisto), searching for a “big bad” on which to blame the events of the show is a waste of time, because it’s already been introduced. The trauma Wanda has experienced is the villain of this story.
This is a woman who was experimented on, watched her twin brother murdered in front of her, found herself responsible for an untold number of accidental deaths that led to the Sokovia Accords, then chose to kill the only being she loved to save the universe, only for Thanos to rewind time and kill him even more brutally in front of her, rendering what she did pointless.
Throughout each episode of WandaVision, this character is brought face-to-face with everything that haunts her, from the reappearance of her dead brother to seeing her beloved Vision as he was in death, to seeing this picture-perfect reality she’s conjured being ripped apart at the seams. What’s worse, this is all presented as torment she’s bringing upon herself, creating victims of not only the actual people of Westview but whatever’s left of Vision in the process.
It would be difficult to tell a story of this magnitude comprehensively in a single movie, if only because there’s so much to unpack. And now it’s being doled out in episodic doses every week, leaving viewers to sit with each installment for days, theorizing, discussing, and digging deeper while the anticipation builds for the next installment.
That might not be ideal for those trained to expect their MCU stories in larger chunks or even people accustomed to Netflix’s full-season releases of shows. However, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to entertainment. Different types of stories are told differently and releasing all of WandaVision at one time would not only be far less exciting, it would be a disservice to the individual episodes.
WandaVision is appointment TV. Every Friday (or Thursday night, depending on how late you stay up), the next chapter of the story unfolds. Sure, it would be great if the episodes weren’t dropping at midnight on the west coast, but having a new episode of the series to look forward to watching–and look forward to talking about–each week also keeps the MCU alive while movie theaters remain closed.
Beyond that, though, these episodic releases show WandaVision is in no way simply a Marvel movie’s worth of story stretched to take up an entire TV show. Having a season of TV allows for much more exploration of the characters and plot than you’d get in a single film. It makes for a richer experience, and it sets the tone for what’s to come in the MCU.
After all, following Endgame, in which the Avengers finally bested Thanos, saved the universe, and saw at least two core characters take their final bow, the future of the MCU is going to be different. There are new characters and teams on the way, the expansion of the universe through TV shows on Disney+, and years of new stories to tell. Kicking it all off is a show that has managed to spotlight underutilized characters, bring back seldom-seen fan-favorites like Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Agent Woo (Randall Park), set up future films like the next Captain Marvel and Doctor Strange movies, and also adapt tried and true TV formulas, some of which are over half a century old, making them feel new and fresh again.
After nearly a year of movie theaters being closed and so any blockbusters being delayed, getting a weekly dose of the MCU is a reason to celebrate. More than that, however, getting a weekly jolt to the system like WandaVision, a show that manages to expand the Marvel universe while focusing in on two characters, is a gift that should be hard to complain about.
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Knockout City is EA’s take on what a high-energy and high-flying take on dodgeball would be in the far future. Coming from Velan Studios, the game is a tactical team-based arena brawler that takes the concept of dodgeball and amps it up by several degrees. Described as a “dodge-brawler” by the developers, Knockout City puts you in the role of a newcomer to the big city who joins a gang and has to defend their new territory from rivals looking to take over. These engagements take place on several dodgeball arenas across the city, set in construction sites, rooftops of skyscrapers, and even on the busy streets of downtown.
We had the chance to get some hands-on time with Knockout City’s upcoming closed beta, which will occur on February 20th through the 21st. In the beta, players will be able to customize their “dodge-brawler” and join other crew members to face off against rivals in the Team KO match type, which is Knockout City’s take on the classic 3v3 team deathmatch mode. In this gameplay video, you can see all the different types of moves, team cross-ups, and tricks you can pull on your enemies to score a hit.
Coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch on May 21st, Knockout City is shaping up to be a fun and accessible take on classic multiplayer combat. We’ll have more on Knockout City coming up as we approach its launch.
Showcased during the recent Nintendo Direct, Velan Studios’ Knockout City is a team-based action dodgeball game with a similar vibe and energy to games like Splatoon and Ninjala. As another title in the slate of EA Originals, this online-focused “dodge-brawler”–as the developers call it–is the next online game coming from EA that aims to be a fun and accessible take on classic multiplayer battles. Ahead of its launch on May 21, which will have a free trial for a set amount of time, select players will even be able to get some hands-on time with the upcoming closed beta on February 20.
Before the game’s public reveal, I had a chance to get some early hands-on time with the upcoming Closed Beta while also speaking with Velan Studios CEO Karthik Bala about the game’s making. The core concept of Knockout City is that it’s a fast-paced and tactical take on the familiar game of dodgeball. Set in a future metropolis that’s run by different gangs, you’ll take your new “dodge-brawler” up the ranks, customizing their look and style, honing your skills with a variety of different attack balls, and even coming up with tactical ways to use your own teammates as cannonballs to strike against the opposing team.
From my hands-on with Knockout City, I found it to be a surprisingly accessible approach to the conceit of an arena-style action game. Without worrying about choosing the right set of perks, gear options, or even character classes, the game keeps all players on a level playing field and gives all the tools they need to win. When you manage to grab a ball on the field, you can charge it up and fire it at your opponent. However, your opponent can still evade the projectile or even catch it in mid-air. The latter is risky, and it will require careful timing, and if you’re up against a crafty opponent, they can use fake-out moves and gestures to catch you off-guard.
Knockout City takes a back-to-basics approach to team-based multiplayer battles. Yet, the moment-to-moment entanglements you can have with other foes have some echoes to a fighting game, and there were some thrilling moments during a match where I was chasing another player to land a critical strike against them. In my chat with the CEO of Velan Studios, he stated that after nearly six years in development, seeing where the game will evolve with the community will be a fun exercise.
“We’ve been working at this game in a cave, so now we’re going to be sharing that with our player community, and if we get a passionate group of players playing, we want to be able to evolve it, with the player community,” stated Bala. “That’s core to our mission and we’ll see where we can take it. We think we’ve got a super tight core that’s also super fun. We’ve been experimenting with different rule sets and ways to expand on that core, and we see a lot of different possibilities. But I think we’re going to be surprised by what players start dealing with the game as well and where those roads might lead. And so as a developer and as a gamer that’s what’s got me jazzed, and I’m really excited to see where we can take it, with our player community.”
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At launch, Knockout City will be playable as a free trial for all players for a limited time on PC (Steam/Origin), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Though they didn’t specify for how long this free trial period will last, Bela stated that all players will have access to the full game during this time. Once the trial is up, the whole game will cost $20 for those who want to keep playing. Along with this open approach at launch, Knockout City will also have full cross-play and cross-progression between every version of the game, allowing everyone to play together and keep their progress regardless of where they play. During the developer breakdown of the game, the team also stressed that while microtransaction options are in the game, it will only be for cosmetic items, which can be acquired from in-game currency in-game. Players looking to get some hands-on time with the game will be able to join the upcoming closed beta test that lasts from February 20-21. The beta will showcase three maps and let players try out the customization options for characters and compete in 3v3 team KO battles.
My early hands-on with Knockout City showed a game with a lot of promise. It doesn’t go for an experience that offers a robust suite of unlockable upgrades, perks, and character classes to unlock, yet it still offers a fun and fast multiplayer experience that brings out the more crazy and imaginative side of dodgeball. The developers have plans to support the game well after launch with seasons and timed events as well, so we can expect to hear more from the game in the future.
For more on Knockout City and the other games revealed during the Nintendo Direct, be sure to check out our roundup of games shown off during the stream.
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Though the title for this port is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, the visuals for the game don’t seem to have gotten a significant upgrade. Instead, this remaster implements some welcome quality-of-life improvements.
For instance, the Switch version makes use of the Joy-Con controllers for smoother motion controllers. And for those who don’t want or can’t use motion controls, Skyward Sword HD implements an option to play with a button-only control scheme.
And speaking of Joy-Con controllers, Nintendo announced a new version of the Switch’s controllers. These Joy-Con controllers are themed after The Legend of Zelda, with one stylized like the Master Sword and the other like the Hylian Shield.
Nintendo did have more Zelda news to share, but it was, amusingly, just that there was no news to share. The sequel to Breath of the Wild is still being worked on, but Nintendo has no further details to share at this time.
Until then, we’ll have to be content with Skyward Sword HD, which will launch for Nintendo Switch on July 16. Preorders are now live.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild producer Eiji Aonuma made an appearance during the Nintendo Direct to confirm that Nintendo has nothing new to share about the game’s sequel.
Aonuma clarified that development on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is “proceeding smoothy” and that Nintendo will have more information on the game this year.
“For now, we’ll have to ask you to wait just a bit longer,” Aonuma said as he bowed before revealing that an HD remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and branded Joy-Cons are coming to Nintendo Switch on July 16. Preorders for the game are now live on the eshop.
There’s a new Star Wars game coming to Nintendo Switch in 2021. Star Wars Hunters will bring some competitive online play to the console from a galaxy far, far away, Nintendo revealed during today’s Nintendo Direct broadcast.
The trailer for Star Wars Hunters didn’t provide too much in the way of details, though. We know the competitive third-person shooter will be free-to-play and online, and that it takes place between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens, but that’s about it. If you’ll recall, that’s a span that covers about 35 years, so it could entail just about anything.
The short trailer swept through the familiar locale of Jabba’s palace and showed holograms of what look like different potential fighter characters with different weapons. The suggestion is that you’ll mix melee weapons with gunplay, with the opportunity to wield heavy blasters, dual pistols, clubs, and lightsabers. The characters in the holograms included a Wookiee, a stormtrooper, and a guy who looked to be sporting something like Mandalorian armor.
We don’t have a firm release date on Star Wars Hunters, but Nintendo did say it’d be available sometime later this year.
