Cineworld Posts $3 Billion 2020 Loss Due To Coronavirus

Theater chain Cineworld, which also owns Regal stateside, is forging a path to re-open in the U.K. starting in May, but is expressing uncertainty “about its ability to continue as a going concern,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. This sentiment is a graver doubling down on the chain’s reaction last year to theaters losing its foothold on debut windows–last summer, Cineworld said striking a compromise between theatrical and home digital releases of new movies is a model it “do[es] not see any business sense in.”

Cineworld recently reported lower 2020 financials, including its first-ever full-year loss, which helps explain the decidedly not-sunny outlook from the theater chain. But it’s hardly a shock that it’s feeling the effects of COVID-19–which has ravaged many chains around the world, large and small. The theater chain group in full reported a $3 billion loss in 2020, compared to a $212 million profit in 2019.

And just like in the United States with how individual citizens have recently gotten coronavirus-related stimulus relief, Cineworld has announced it’s secured binding commitments for $213 million in additional cash to boost its financial flexibility “in the event of continued disruption as a result of COVID-19.”

“Although the group is now looking to re-opening and recovery from the impact of the pandemic, material uncertainty around its ability to continue as a going concern remains,” Cineworld said in a statement. “There can be no certainty as to the future impact of COVID-19 on the group. Governments strengthening of restrictions on social gathering may lead to closure of cinemas or studios delaying movie releases. This would have a negative impact on the group’s financial performance and likely require the need to raise additional liquidity.”

Cineworld anticipates re-opening its stateside theaters starting April 2. Cineworld CEO Moshe “Mooky” Greidinger said, “We have worked hard to strengthen the long-term prospects of the business and, looking forward, Cineworld enters 2021 confident about the next chapter in our development.”

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This Star Wars Watch Costs $150,000

The Switzerland-based design studio Kross has partnered with Lucasfilm to create one of the most exorbitant branded watches we’ve ever seen. The Death Star Ultimate Collector Set is a super high-end watch that carries a premium price tag: $150,000. Yes, really.

This watch, made with collectors in mind, is designed to look like the Death Star. As you can see in the gallery below, it has an incredible amount of fine detail and it’s pretty snazzy and sleek. For your $150,000, you also get a movie prop Kyber crystal from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and a Kyber crystal container to house the watch when you’re not wearing it.

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The Kyber crystal is the power source of the planet-killing Death Star laser, and the prop you get in the bundle was actually used in Rogue One. This is an officially branded piece of merchandise made with the support of Lucasfilm.

Only 10 of these watches were made, and none have sold yet. Kross previously made the 1989 Batmobile desk clock, which sells for $29,900.

If you’re looking for some more reasonably priced Star Wars merch, you can check out the latest Star Wars Lego toys here.

In other recent Star Wars news, Marvel boss Kevin Feige recently clarified his involvement in the Star Wars film franchise, saying his new movie represents the extent of his contribution.

New Lego Star Wars Sets Available For Preorder

Lego is introducing another set of Star Wars building sets, and you can preorder them now. The latest trio of sets include helmet busts of the iconic villain Darth Vader and Imperial Scout Trooper along with a model based on the Imperial probe droid.

The new offerings are part of Lego’s line of building sets for adults for display pieces, recommended for 18+. That usually means a slightly more complex build, and these sets include the company’s special brick separator tool for correcting any mistakes you make while building. They also each include display stands and nameplates.

This is the latest addition to the Lego helmets collection, which has also made models after Boba Fett, Stormtroopers, and TIE Pilots. It has also ventured outside the Star Wars galaxy with an Iron Man helmet model based on the Marvel character.

$70

This 834-piece Lego building set forms a bust of Darth Vader that measures over 8″ high. A stand and name plate come as part of the build set.

$50

This 471-piece Lego building set forms a bust of the Scout Trooper helmet design as seen in Return of the Jedi. It includes a display stand and name plate.

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This 683-piece Lego building set reconstructs the Imperial probe droid as seen in The Empire Strikes Back. It includes a white base to represent the ice planet Hoth and a transparent brick pole to create a floating effect.

Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Justice Is Gray Now Available On HBO Max

HBO Max has launched another version of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Titled “Justice Is Gray,” the latest version of the four-hour film is entirely in black and white.

Launching a week after the original film arrived to the streaming service, Snyder’s colorless superhero flick was something we knew was coming down the line, we just didn’t know it would arrive this quickly. Back in February, Snyder revealed that there would be multiple versions of Justice League, saying, “For me, it’s my favorite version of the movie. I understand that people want to see it in color, and that’s great, and I really want them to enjoy it in color. But for me, the ultimate version is the black and white IMAX version of the movie, which is sort of the penultimate ridiculous movie that shouldn’t exist at its highest most fetishistic level, and I really, really love that.”

Snyder also explained that he wasn’t sure when it would arrive to the streaming service, but to everyone’s surprise, the wait time was only one week after the release of the full color one.

The director of the recut movie didn’t take a cut himself for his work on the reshoots, which cost $70 million. “I’m not getting paid,” Snyder said. “I didn’t want to be beholden to anyone, and it allowed me to keep my negotiation powers.”

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While the Snyder Cut of Justice League now lives in the wild, there’s no real talk of Snyder doing a future DC movie at this time or a sequel to JL. However, if Snyder were to continue his story of the superhero team, the next arc would feature the New Gods. “All of the New Gods would be rolling in at some point,” explained Snyder. “In the full invasion of Earth… I think you’d have to go full pedal-to-the-metal with the New Gods at that point. ‘Cause the third movie is a New Gods invasion movie in a lot of ways.”

Considering that Snyder is so open to talking about future storylines, that doesn’t leave a lot of hope for a sequel. However, you can watch the color and black and white versions of Zack Snyder’s Justice League–or the Joss Whedon theatrical cut–on HBO Max right now.

For more on the Snyder Cut, check out the differences between the two movies and learn more about Martian Manhunter being included in the film.

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Rejoice: On This Day In 3019, The One Ring And Sauron Were Destroyed In Middle-earth

March 25 is a special day in the Lord of the Rings universe. It was on March 25, in the year 3019 of the Third Age, that The One Ring and Sauron were destroyed at Mt. Doom. Frodo’s perilous journey began the prior September, and he struggled for months to bring the Ring to Mordor and eventually cast it into the fire from whence it came.

What actually happened was Gollum stole the ring again from Frodo, but he fell into the Cracks of Doom, thus destroying the Ring and ridding Middle-earth of the great terror.

The internet is celebrating this momentous Middle-earth memory. Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt marked the Gondorian New Year, as it’s known, with a tweet featuring an image of the white tree of Gondor. Plenty of other people on Twitter and across social media are celebrating the occasion as well.

Tolkien, who was Christian, likely did not randomly choose March 25 for such an important day in Middle-earth history. March 25 is also known in religious circles to be the day of creation, when God decreed, “Let there be light.”

Another important event that happened in Middle-earth on March 25 was the birth of Elanor the Fair, the daughter of Samwise Gamgee and Rosie Cotton. In giving Elanor this birthday, Tolkien is seemingly discussing life and death coming full circle.

You can read more about important Middle-earth events for March 25 on Tolkien Gateway.

As it happens, Daedalic will announce more details on its new game, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum later today during the Future Games Show, and it’s probably no coincidence this is happening on March 25.

The Gollum game is not the only new Lord of the Rings title in the works, as Amazon is developing a new free-to-play Lord of the Rings MMO. Additionally, The Lord of the Rings Online is reportedly coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X in the future.

Outside of games, Amazon’s Lord of the Rings TV series continues production, just recently bringing on Doctor Who and Preacher director Wayne Che Yip.

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Humankind Delayed To August 2021 So Dev Can Respond To Feedback

Humankind, the 4X strategy game from Amplitude Studios, has been delayed to August 2021. The studio said it is taking extra time to implement changes based on the feedback of early players from the game’s OpenDev program.

“Through the OpenDev program, you have given us invaluable feedback on the game. While Humankind is already a great game, many of you think it could be even better, and after analyzing all your great feedback, we realized that we could make even further improvements to make Humankind the best game that it can be,” the studio said. “These improvements take time, however, so we have decided to move the release date.”

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The new release date for Humankind is August 17, 2021.

“This will give us time to further polish the game for a great day one experience, address the feedback from the OpenDev scenarios, and keep working with our community to improve the game,” the studio said. “We want to thank you all for your passion for our dream, the feedback you have given, and the support for this decision many of you have already expressed.”

Now until release, Amplitude will be focusing on improving Humankind’s pacing and balancing across numerous gameplay systems and features, as well as further enhancing the game’s diplomacy tools. The studio will also take more time to improve the onboarding experience, while the studio is looking to enhance the user interface and overall experience in various areas. You can read Amplitude’s ridiculously in-depth blog post here to learn more.

Amplitude also released some early stats for Humankind from its OpenDev release, and this includes 26,000 games played, 2.7 million turns played, and 8.5 million districts built. Check out the infographic above to see more stats.

For more on Humankind, check out GameSpot’s preview, Making History In Humankind Makes 4X Less Confusing.

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Dota 2 Update Aims To Make The Game Easier For Newbies

Valve is issuing an update that aims to make Dota 2 more inviting for new players, set to coincide with the release of the Netflix anime adaptation, Dragon’s Blood. The plans include a smaller pool of heroes for beginners and a dedicated character aimed to nudge you in the right direction.

In a lengthy blog post detailing the changes, Valve says that linear tutorials aren’t effective at learning the game, which can be “overwhelming” for new players. The new tools will provide a “gradual learning opportunities rather than relying on a single dump of complex information.”

A new player quest system will set simpler objectives for new players, guiding them toward some basic skills, and a set of quest rewards will give them cosmetic goodies for sticking with the objectives. A “New Player Mode” will be available with a limited pool of characters, and new players will always be queued against other solo new players instead of parties or vets. New players can also leave this mode at any time without a penalty, and a bot will take their place. The bots have said to be upgraded to be smarter and more flexible as well, to make them more effective learning tools.

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The update will also introduce a new tooltip character, the wizard seen above. He’ll pop up once in a while to guide new players in the right direction, offering advice when a player may be about to do something dangerous.

A new version of the shop will be more streamlined and help guide players along the path of new craftable choices. Veterans can opt out of the simplified shop interface, but it should help rookies learn the basic steps of upgrades. New players will also find their own dedicated chat channel, and a free three-month trial of Dota Plus while they get their feet wet. Finally, smurfing will be a bannable offense, to keep the new player environment friendly.

Valve is likely expecting an influx of new players whose interest in the game is piqued by the Dota: Dragon’s Blood anime. That anime premieres today on Netflix.

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Spiral: From The Book Of Saw Release Date Moves Forward To May 14

The upcoming horror sequel Spiral: From the Book of Saw has moved forward a week. The latest film in the long-running Saw series will now hit theaters on May 14.

Spiral was originally due to be released in May last year, but was pushed back a year to May 21, 2021. It will now be with us a week earlier. Distributors Lionsgate are sticking to a traditional theatrical-only plan, making Spiral one of the first major films to hit screens this summer. The new release date was announced in a teaser:

In a statement, Lionsgate’s President of Distribution David Spitz said, “With movie theaters now open in New York and Los Angeles and moviegoers returning to their favorite pastime, Spiral puts a fresh spin on a favorite franchise. We know that Saw fans, as well as those experiencing their first Saw adventure, will be on the edge of their seats with this thrilling new film. We are proud to support the exhibitors with one of our most eagerly awaited films. We are confident this film will kick off a robust summer moviegoing season.”

Spiral stars Chris Rock, Max Minghella, Samuel L. Jackson, and Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols. It’s directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who previously helmed Saw II, III, and IV. The first Spiral trailer was released in February last year, shortly before the movie was delayed.

Saw is one of several long-running horror franchises returning to screens over the next 12 months. The Forever Purge hits theatres in July, while Candyman and Halloween Kills arrive in September and October respectively. Beyond that, Scream releases in January 2022, and there’s also a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel expected soon.

Thymesia Looks Like Bloodborne With Weaponized Viral Warfare

Independent games label Team17 has announced that it has entered into a partnership to publish developer OverBorder Studio’s Thymesia later this year on PC. Thymesia is described as a punishing action role-playing game, where players have to survive a world ravaged by a deadly plague by combining weaponized diseases with fast-paced melee combat

While the game’s synopsis has big “read the room” energy considering the current global pandemic climate, anyone intrigued by the idea will be able to step into the boots of Corvus. The survivor of the deadly outbreak, Corvus has the ability to rip diseases from enemies and use them in combat against the numerous monsters in the world of Thymesia.

Overborder Studio says that players can also use an arsenal of Souls-like moves, such as parries, dodges, and other offensive abilities to survive. Corvus can also be customized with different gameplay builds, and the game will offer multiple endings if you can overcome the creatures that have been horrifically mutated by a deadly plague that has ravaged the land.

“Thymesia is a unique title for Team17, and we’re dead excited to be working with OverBorder Studio on this dark and gloomy title,” Team17 producer Craig McCarthy said in a press release. “We’re confident that players are going to enjoy exploring the world and testing their combat skills as Corvus, challenging themselves against the monstrous foes that await.”

Thymesia
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Team17, a veteran of the video game industry that made a name for itself with the Worms series of games, has been busy lately as a publisher of numerous other games. Having distributed games such as Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, Blasphemous, and The Escapists, it also announced this week that it will publish tactical FPS game Ready or Not, which is currently in development from Void Interactive.

A Hat In Time DLC Expansions Finally Release For PS4, Xbox One On March 31

Developer Gears for Breakfast has revealed that the Seal the Deal and Nyakuza Metro DLC expansions for A Hat in Time are finally coming to the Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game. Both DLC expansions will be available on March 31 at 11 AM PT / 1 PM ET.

If you have to choose between one or the other, Seal the Deal is the one you want for new ways to play A Hat in Time. The DLC adds a brand-new chapter, The Arctic Cruise, as well as a punishingly difficult Death Wish mode and local split-screen co-op. Nyakuza Metro is for those looking to spice up their experience with new stickers, flairs, camera filters, badges, and dyes.

On top of both the Seal the Deal and Nyakuza Metro DLC, on March 31, A Hat in Time will get next-gen console improvements. With these upgrades, playing the 3D platformer on Xbox Series X|S or PS5 will boost the game to 60fps.

In GameSpot’s A Hat in Time review, Kallie Plagge writes, “A Hat in Time is slow to start, but it’s brimming with the charm and collectible-finding joy of classic 3D platformers. Collectibles are both fun to find and help guide you to the game’s best secrets, and seeing everything there is to see is its own reward. The platforming isn’t particularly challenging, nor does it do anything especially new, but A Hat in Time’s cleverly themed worlds and witty quips lend it a more contemporary feel that’s just right for satisfying a 3D platforming craving.”

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