As well as a Hummer for all you fabulous gas-guzzlers*

It looks like two vehicles driven by the most famous doll in the world are preparing to hit the garages of dazzling arcade racer Forza Horizon 5 — The Corvette and Hummer driven by Margot Robbie in upcoming movie, Barbie, will be arriving in-game at some point in the near future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_RsVstmcls

The two vehicles were noted by Forza fan IdleSloth, who spotted placeholders in the game's Promo menu. The two cars featured are the "1956 Barbie Movie Corvette EV", (featured in the Chevrolet section), and the "2022 Barbie Movie Hummer EV Pickup", (featured under GMC). Videos of the vehicles in Showcase Mode were later uploaded by another Forza devotee, Aziial.

No dates for the drop have been announced, so it is assumed the two *electric vehicles will arrive as free downloads or in-game rewards to cross-promote the movie itself, which premieres July 21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN7qCE4uI_s

Directed by Greta Gerwig, Barbie follows the adventures of the titular doll, as she and her long-time pal Ken (Ryan Gosling) leave Barbieland to visit the "real world" and get a taste of reality. A huge ensemble cast includes Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Will Ferrell, Michael Cera, America Ferrara, Issa Rae, and Helen Mirren. Response to recent trailers has been extremely positive, and all that's left is the waiting game before we find out with the talent both in front of and behind the lens can live up to the hype.

Forza Horizon 5 is available now on PC and Xbox platforms. Barbie premieres in U.S. theaters July 21.

The post Barbie’s curvy Corvette is coming to Forza Horizon 5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Kasting Kall

New Line continues to drip-feed kasting news for its upcoming movie sequel Mortal Kombat 2, announcing that British-Hong Kong actor Adeline Rudolph has bagged one of the film's most koveted roles, that of the Edenian princess, Kitana.

As noted in The Hollywood Reporter, Rudolph — who TV fans will recognize from streaming series such as Resident Evil, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and Riverdale — will don the mask and gather the fans of the hugely popular Mortal Kombat hero, daughter of Sindel and sister to the wicked Mileena. The casting sees Rudolph reunited with fellow Sabrina alumni Tati Gabrielle, who is expected to receive the role of Kitana's best friend and confidant, Jade. Rudolph seems a solid choice for Kitana, carrying the sly grace, strong presence, and timeless beauty of the deadly-but-honorable, noblewoman.

The success of New Line's original Mortal Kombat movie, directed by Simon McQuoid and starring martial arts actors Joe Taslim and Hiroyuki Sanada, has clearly allowed the new production to produce a sequel with a little more ambition and star power. The Boys' Karl Urban is tipped to play Tinseltown star Johnny Cage, and there are still all manner of potential roles to be filled, ahead of preliminary shooting this summer. McQuoid will return to direct, given his continued enthusiasm for the brand and project.

Mortal Kombat 2 is not to be confused with Mortal Kombat II. Nor is it the sequel to upcoming video game Mortal Kombat 1, nor the original 1995 Mortal Kombat movie.

Adeline Rudolph to Play Kitana in New Line’s Mortal Kombat 2 [The Hollywood Reporter]

The post Sabrina’s Adeline Rudolph bags koveted Kitana role in Mortal Kombat 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Get ready for something even wackier than Paul W.S. Anderson

Did you come across a preview for the upcoming Resident Evil: Death Island that got you all hyped? Well, we have great news, then. It turns out Capcom has already made many other Resident Evil animated movies in the past...

...And most of them are so beyond bonkers that even fans of the games wouldn't believe it.

Biohazard 4D-Executer (2000)

The first attempt at a Resident Evil animated project is Biohazard 4D-Executer, a name only an exec completely drunk on that sweet '00s juice would pick. You can tell Capcom doesn't care much for it because you can find it on many Youtube channels in its entirety. The CGI 20-minute short feels more like an experiment than a full-blown attempt. It doesn't really prime for its animation and you could say it barely rivals the cutscenes from Resident Evil 3. It did, however, mark the beginning of a weird era.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugdW2MY4pHA

Strong points: Historically important. This is the patient zero of Resident Evil movies. This is the one we have to go back in time to prevent from happening if we don't want to see Milla Jovovich running on walls to roundhouse-kick zombie dogs. Also, it's a relatively original tale in the world of Resident Evil that won't bother anyone for too long.

Biohazard 4: Incubate (2006)

Incubate still isn't Capcom's first Resident Evil animated feature film, but it's yet another interesting experiment. Following up on the massive success of Resident Evil 4, Capcom released this straight-to-DVD compilation of RE4 cutscenes featuring added explainers of what happened in that village prior to the arrival of Leon S. Kennedy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSCQmLKks7M

Strong points: The animation rivals that of its contemporary RE game, but only because it's straight-up a bunch of RE4 cutscenes.

Resident Evil: Degeneration (2008)

The 2008 release Resident Evil: Degeneration marks the start of Capcom's attempt at taking over the crowded CGI Zombie movie market. It takes place between RE4 and RE5 and, though fans might not recognize it as canon, it's the one that explains where Tricell (Resident Evil 5's Nu-Umbrella) came from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBljxfU2G_E

Strong points: Degeneration represents the best and worst when it comes to animated Resident Evil. On the one hand, it's the most sober approach to the genre. On the other, it doesn't feature amazing animation and, more importantly, it's not silly enough. More on that later.

Resident Evil: Damnation (2012)

What lies at the core of the success of the Resident Evil games? We'd bet on the surprisingly cerebral gameplay that lies hiding beneath a supremely dense layer of camp. This probably won't come as a surprise, but the movies don't feature any sort of gameplay. Capcom seemingly decided to make up for that by tripling the amount of camp.

Damnation came out in 2012 and bridges the events between RE 5 and RE 6. It's a step up from Damnation because it features much better animation and also because this is when things begin to get ridiculous.

Forget the days of survival horror. The Marvel Cinematic Universe ruled the world in 2012, so it's high time that you saw a Chris Redfield stand in leading an army of Lickers against the Tyrant in broad daylight. No, really:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmSH3-1V188

Strong points: They tried something new.

Resident Evil: Vendetta (2017)

You could base an entire mental health check solely on someone's response to 2017's Resident Evil: Vendetta. Loathe it and you're healthy, Love it and you're awesome.*

This one takes place between RE 6 and  RE 7, but instead of creating the expected bridge to the seventh installment, it takes a detour to Rabid Racoon City. Remember all those times when Resident Evil 6 was just too much? Well, Vendetta feels like Resident Evil 6 2.

Whereas Damnation tried to emulate the MCU, Vendetta needed desperately to be John Wick on steroids — down to the number of dogs killed in the process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki9TniAUA1Q

People who complained that the series veered too much into action territory after Resident Evil 4 shouldn't watch this one for their own sake. Each set piece is bigger and dumber than the previous one.

https://youtu.be/se8GcTc6cPM

Strong points: An experience so bafflingly special you'll think no one will believe you if you try to put it into words. That's why we mostly used videos.

Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)

Infinite Darkness came out between 7 and Village but nobody cares because this continues Leon's story.

Netflix's 2021 RE: Infinite Darkness is the complete antithesis to 4-D Executer, Capcom's first animated RE thing. It features top-notch rendering and animation but holy crap, does it overstay its welcome. Whereas viewers can just suffer through the entirety of 4-D Executer in 20 minutes, Infinite Darkness is a four-part tv series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-js-Eww1OI

Dividing what should be a 90-minute film into four parts feels reductive. Also, even at its best, Infinite Darkness never even comes close to the entertainment value of Vendetta. Yes, it does provide a much more sober experience than Vendetta, but we no longer want to turn that train around.

Strong Points: Looks good and provides one more Netflix show to talk crap about.

*Don't use the Resident Evil series as a way to check up on someone's mental health.

The post All Resident Evil animated movies in chronological order appeared first on Destructoid.

The Last Cardriver

Sony Pictures Entertainment, (yes, really), has released the first full trailer for its upcoming big-screen adaptation of one of the most successful driving simulators of all time, Gran Turismo. The new film, directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9, CHAPPiE) will arrive in theaters this August.

The picture will tell a somewhat dramatized version of the very real story of die-hard Gran Turismo fan Jann Mardenborough, who won a series of Nissan-sponsored Gran Turismo tournaments, before eventually going on to become a bona-fide championship racing car driver. Mardenborough will be portrayed in the movie by Archie Madekwe (Midsommer) and will be joined by cast members Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings), Djimon Hounson (Guardians of the Galaxy), David Harbour (Stranger Things) and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVPzGBvPrzw&ab_channel=SonyPicturesEntertainment

'Now that's what I'm talkin' about!'

While I see the potential in this surprising adaptation — great cars driving fast makes for an awesome spectacle, after all — I can't help but wonder if we might not ultimately be looking at a two-hour ad for PlayStation hardware, Gran Turismo games, and car manufacturers. There's a possibility that Gran Turismo, with its real-world storytelling and use of legitimate branding, might give the 007 franchise a run for its money when it comes to product placement. Also, Video Game Fans are Dorks Jokes. Well done.

Ah, I'm sure they'll be plenty of sleek and sexy vehicles for car fans, and maybe Geri will give us a few lines of "Wannabe" into the bargain. This whole trailer has a vibe very reminiscent of Top Gun Maverick, but we'll have to see whether Gran Turismo also takes 1.49 billion dollars when it finally accelerates into the cinemas this August. I hope CHAPPiE shows up in a cameo, doing some Funny Rap Dancing.

For the rest of us "couch-surfing losers", Gran Turismo 7 is available now on PlayStation platforms.

The post Check out the first trailer for the Gran Turismo movie appeared first on Destructoid.

Get set for 26 sequels

In a moment that seemed inevitable from the day one, Illumination's colorful flick The Super Mario Bros Movie has surpassed $1 billion USD in global box office takings.

The Nintendo-infused adventure is officially the first film to do so this surpassing, surpassing the likes of Marvel's Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, Warner Bros.' John Wick: Chapter 4, and FOX' Avatar: The Way of Water. It also becomes one of only a handful of films to take 10 figures since the COVID-19 pandemic, joining pictures such as Top Gun: Maverick, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Jurassic World Dominion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjNcTBXTk4I&ab_channel=Illumination

Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, the movie sees Mario (Chris Pratt) whisked away to the Mushroom Kingdom, where he joins newfound pals Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) on a quest to rescue his missing brother Luigi (Charlie Day) while also freeing the kingdom and its people from the tyranny of the evil Bowser (Jack Black).

While critics have been fairly negative toward the film's writing, breathless pacing, and use of licesend music, clearly this was a movie that was always set for success, and has brought families and Nintendo fans flocking to the theaters in droves. Given The Super Mario Bros Movie's success in comparison to the previously "Cannot Miss" superhero genre, we can likely expect a rush on video game projects from the Hollywood bigwigs. If Marvel's incoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 doesn't make similar bank, then it's almost guaranteed that the suits will hitch themselves to the new bandwagon.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now showing at theaters worldwide.

‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Officially Smashes $1 Billion Globally [Variety]

The post The Super Mario Bros. Movie smashes $1 billion box office appeared first on Destructoid.

That's a lot more than Six Golden Coins

Universal's smash-hit flick The Super Mario Bros Movie is now officially the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, having bagged an incredible $677 million USD at the global box office in just its first two weeks of release.

The Illumination-produced feature, which stars Chris Pratt as the iconic Nintendo mascot, had already surpassed a $500 million box office by the midway point of last week, but has since gone on to record another amazing weekend, pushing the numbers up by over $100 million, surpassing Marvel's latest endeavor, Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, to become the highest-grossing film of 2023 so far.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjNcTBXTk4I&ab_channel=Illumination

Additionally, The Super Mario Bros Movie has also topped the box office for both Warner Bros.' 2019 release, Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, as well as Universal's own 2016 feature, Warcraft, to officially become the biggest video game movie ever. And given that we are a mere two weeks into Mario & Co.'s box office busting, the number-crunchers are eagerly anticipating the possibility that the film may eventually hit the platinum prestige of a one billion dollar box office.

As I've noted before, the Hollywood bigwigs own the most easily turned of heads, and it would not be a surprise to see an absolute plethora of video game adaptations greenlit in the coming 10 years, to what, I'm sure, will be varying reward.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now showing at European and U.S. theatres. It will open in Japan April 28. You can check out our own CJ Andriessen's thoughts on the film in our review.

The post Super Mario Bros Movie passes $600 million box office, now biggest video game adaptation ever appeared first on Destructoid.

Strap your tool belt on, kid. We’re going in.

If there was ever a time for Nintendo to expand beyond games and enter the film industry, it’s right now. With the smashing success of the Nintendo Switch and a continuous stream of titles that easily eclipse the ten million mark in sales, this is arguably the most popular the company has been in its 100+ year history.

And that popularity can only grow as the millennials who have been with the brand since the early days of little gray boxes are starting to have families of their own, introducing their kids to the plumbers, the princesses, and the piranha plants that have defined their lives. This is a prime time for Nintendo to get out there with a product that’ll appeal to the original generation of Nintendo fans and those who will carry the torch in the future, and releasing a bright and beautiful animated film is a perfect way to do that.

I just wish it would have picked a better company than Illumination to do it with.

[caption id="attachment_372968" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Illumination[/caption]

The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic
Written by Matthew Fogel
Produced by Universal Pictures, Illumination, Nintendo
Released: April 5, 2023

For all the bluster and brouhaha that we had to endure in the months following the revelation that Chris Pratt would voice Mario, that should have been what people focused on. Despite its astounding success at the box office, Illumination doesn’t really make good films. Its first picture, Despicable Me, is the only movie from the company with a Rotten Tomatoes score over 80% and a Metacritic score over 70. I know The Super Mario Bros. Movie has sparked yet another tired debate about whether or not reviewers matter anymore, but let’s not pretend this company isn’t out there just coasting on the popularity of its Minions. Illumination isn’t a studio that’s going to take chances or attempt to subvert expectations. It has a dog-eared playbook it sticks to with every one of its films, The Super Mario Bros. Movie included.

That doesn't mean there's no love for the property here. The animation team did an incredible job in bringing every inch of the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond to the big screen. The art direction may be overly clean and without a unique personality, but it looks good enough. And great attention was paid to implementing many different elements from the games into the world, telling the audience the filmmakers have more than just cursory knowledge and appreciation of the series they're adapting.

The same can be said of the film's music. Composer Brian Tyler did a fantastic job seamlessly incorporating so many Koji Kondo works into his original score. It’s arguably the best part of the film, which is why it’s so disappointing several sequences were injected with predictable pop songs rather than letting Tyler work his magic. And when I say predictable pop songs, I mean predictable. Nobody should be using “Holding Out for a Hero” after Jennifer Saunders's mic drop in Shrek 2, “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” has been done to death, and going with a-ha's “Take On Me” for a brief karting sequence was enough to pull me right out of the film. Surprisingly, it was the voice acting that was able to pull me back in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjNcTBXTk4I

It's clear Jack Black is reveling in his role as Bowser, but he's not the only one going all out with his performance. Keegan-Michael Key, who plays the central Toad of the film, is outstanding, as are Kevin Michael Richardson (Kamek) and Fred Armisen (Cranky Kong), who seems to be channeling about six of his different SNL characters for the role. Despite the endless arguments and social media posts, Chris Pratt (Mario) is okay with a Brooklyn-adjacent accent layered on top of his regular voice. Charlie Day (Luigi) takes the same approach, and the two do come off sounding like brothers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Anna-Taylor Joy (Princess Peach) sounds like Anna-Taylor Joy, while Seth Rogen (Donkey Kong) decided to attempt a cocky teenage version of himself, complete with "the Seth Rogen laugh."

The voice acting gets the job done, even if the story they're telling doesn't. The Super Mario Bros. Movie is hurriedly paced following its opening sequence in Brooklyn, allowing no time for original ideas or character development. Mario comes into this movie fully formed, already a tenacious go-getter who can handle himself well on a platform stage. Princess Peach also doesn't stray far from when we first meet her. If I were being generous with the term, I'd argue the only character here that does exhibit some growth is Luigi. But because he's sidelined for most of the film, his big moment doesn't have the impact it should.

It's surprising how many moments of this movie did not land with the audience at my screening. While a few points elicited laughter from the entire crowd, this reviewer included, many of its more obvious jokes failed to generate any reaction at all. Nearly all of its action sequences fell similarly flat. The only thing in this film that received any type of sustained response was the Mario Kart sequence. Once the first kart popped up on the screen, every kid around me started chirping “Mario Kart 8” like they were the seagulls from Finding Nemo.

[caption id="attachment_372970" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Illumination[/caption]

Beyond that scene, I didn’t really get the sense any of the kids in the theater were engaging with the film. It could be that I couldn’t hear them over the child next to me who would NOT SHUT UP, or it could be they just weren’t connecting with a movie that seems to be trying to speedrun itself.

At just 92 minutes, The Super Mario Bros. Movie doesn’t have a lot of time to work with. And the filmmakers did themselves no favors by trying to pack in as much as they could into such a brief runtime. From Mario Kart to Smash Bros. to a Bowser ballad the filmmakers probably should have just let Jack Black write himself, there isn’t one moment of respite throughout this film. Even when characters find themselves in peril, it’s resolved so quickly I wonder why that sequence was included at all, outside of using it as an opportunity to pop in a few more references from the games.

To be clear, I'm not anti-reference. I don’t necessarily have an issue with the filmmakers including details that connect this movie to the games. In fact, I enjoyed quite a few of them, particularly how they weren’t afraid of using elements from the more recent titles in the series (Cat Suit, Ice Flower) rather than just sticking to the classics. However, many of the references here are so inconsequential that they were clearly included, Chekov’s gun be damned, with the expectation they'll find their way into 50 different YouTube videos about “Things You Missed in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.” The backgrounds of the early scenes in Brooklyn are littered with early Nintendo references, the type designed to turn the adults in the audience into the Pointing Rick Dalton meme.

[caption id="attachment_372971" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Illumination[/caption]

Again, the references here would be fine if they were in a movie attempting to tell an interesting story. But Illumination films don't tell interesting stories. Maybe they will in the future with Mike White (School of Rock, The White Lotus) on tap to pen the next two films from the studio. For now, they're settling with an experience designed to shuffle audiences from set piece to set piece as quickly as possible, never once asking you to think about what it is you're seeing on the screen.

The end result is The Super Mario Bros. Movie is a rather torpid piece of entertainment. I’ve seen many people online trying to deflect criticism of this film by stating it’s a kid’s movie, but that’s a rather lousy line of defense. Just because something is made for kids doesn’t mean it has to be superficial. Children are far more capable and cognizant than adults are willing to give them credit for, and we should be offering them more than literal eye candy, something beautiful to look at that provides zero sustenance.

Or, just make a Mario Kart movie because that seemed to be the only thing the kids at my screening actually cared about.

The post Review: The Super Mario Bros. Movie appeared first on Destructoid.

OF COURSE!

Following on from the news earlier this week that Legendary Entertainment has acquired the film and TV rights to Street Fighter, Capcom has confirmed that a brand new movie is in the works at the Dune, Godzilla, and Jurassic World production studio.

Of course, there is basically nothing else to go on — I'd be surprised if a script has even been rough drafted at this point — but we can likely expect the picture to be a live-action affair, and to feature a relatively violent affair involving lots of punches, kicks, and spinning piledrivers... Well, Maybe not the last one. We'll see. Whether the events of the movie will focus on classic SF adventures, encompass modern characters such as Luke and Juri, or be some wild amalgamation of the universe is, for now, all up for speculation.

https://twitter.com/StreetFighter/status/1643660498150227977?s=20

Capcom will no doubt be looking to at least match, (and hopefully surpass), the critical and financial bar raised by Warner Bros. 2021 release, Mortal Kombat. And given Hollywood's increasing lean towards "somewhat good" video game movies, SF fans will be hoping to see an authentic and exciting adventure that steps high above the poorly paced slog that is Street Fighter (1994) and the head-scratchingly off-brand Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009)

In the meantime, we can all concentrate on the upcoming launch of Street Fighter 6, a title that Capcom hopes will propel the legendary fighting franchise back to the forefront of the gaming scene. And given the initial response to the character roster, the new modes, and the hugely successful beta tests, Ryu and chums are gearing up to deliver a whole new era of entertainment for the 35-year-old franchise.

The post Capcom confirms Street Fighter movie in the works following license sale appeared first on Destructoid.

Flee from 8-bit Colin Farrell

The Oscars celebration may be over, but The Banshees of Inisherin live on in video game form. Over on this site, you can play Banshees: The Game, a pixel-y game based on the Academy Award-nominated film.

Created by Cogs & Marvel, this little retro-style game does indeed take after The Banshees of Inisherin. It's got some lovely pixel work, including great illustrations of Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

How exactly does it play? Well, it's basically Pac-Man. And that leads me to my first big point: for full disclosure, I have not seen this film. I'm only vaguely aware of The Banshees of Inisherin, mostly in that it stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, is a bit of a dark comedy, and is set on a fictional Irish isle. It's also, as I've learned in the course of writing this article, from the same star pairing and director (Martin McDonagh) that created In Bruges, which has certainly piqued my interest.

That unfamiliarity did not help when I found that this video game is essentially Pac-Man, but with Brendan Gleeson's character steadily picking up fingers before heading to the pub. Certainly a far cry from little dots and cherries.

[caption id="attachment_369326" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Yeah, I've got no clue. Now, at this juncture, I must assume that The Banshees of Inisherin is about Brendan Gleeson desperately trying to reclaim the fingers he needs to hold his pint at the pub, before Colin Farrell catches up to him.

As deeply relatable as that sentiment is, I'm sure folks who have actually seen and enjoyed this award-nominated film find some dark humor in this set-up. It's certainly made me curious what it's all about. And really, a Pac-Man clone where you pick up fingers isn't even close to scraping the depths of movie-to-game adaptations. You can play Banshees: The Game yourself here.

The post The Banshees of Inisherin gets transformed into a retro browser game appeared first on Destructoid.

Bring Sandwiches

As part of this afternoon's Capcom Spotlight live stream, we got to see a new blink-and-you'll-miss it teaser for Resident Evil: Death Island, the CGI animated movie currently in production at Sony Pictures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUTrBXdVPAE&ab_channel=ONEMedia

The new teaser revealed that veteran hero Jill Valentine will be joining Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield on their latest volley against the undead. The narrative of the film will the Resident Evil protagonists cross paths as their respective missions lead them to the abandoned Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. One can only assume that they'll find a lot more to uncover at the haunting prison complex than Clint Eastwood's papier mache head.

Resident Evil: Death Island is the next in a growing timeline of CGI films featuring heroes and villains from Capcom's survival horror series. Previous releases have included Resident Evil: Degeneration, Resident Evil: Vendetta, and the Netflix series Resident Evil Infinite Darkness. While there is not a specific release date for Death Island, Capcom and Sony are expecting to release the picture at some point in 2023.

The post Jill Valentine is squadding up for Resident Evil: Death Island appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's-a-go slightly earlier than expected

Universal and Illumination are moving up the premiere date of The Super Mario Bros. Movie. The animated film is now hitting theaters on April 5 in several markets including the U.S., up from April 7.

While it hits two day earlier in the U.S., other regions will still have to wait a bit longer into April and May; Japan, specifically, will see The Super Mario Bros. Movie debut on April 28.

https://twitter.com/supermariomovie/status/1630599058564976641

Nothing's been indicated as to why the date shifted. But hey, that's a little bit of Mario slightly earlier than expected.

Warp pipe to the future

Before April arrives, we're due for at least one more blast of information about the upcoming film. Nintendo has confirmed that the final trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie will air on March 9 in a special movie-focused Direct. The company also says no game information will be included in this Direct, so bad news for anyone hoping for a Mario game to pop up out of the warp pipe.

And honestly, I'm not sure how much more I need to see about the film before I walk into a theater. While I'm still a little iffy on some aspects, I was already in for a viewing when I heard Jack Black's Bowser for the first time. Anything else, all the fun jokes and references, that's just bonus.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie hits theaters in the U.S. on April 5, 2023.

The post The Super Mario Bros. Movie is premiering two days earlier now appeared first on Destructoid.

Horror studio creeps into the indie gaming scene

Blumhouse Productions, the film production company behind a litany of modern horror classics, has announced the establishment of new division Blumhouse Games, with which it expects to oversee the development and publishing of independent horror releases on PC, console, and mobile platforms.

The new gaming division plans to work alongside indie developers with the creation, marketing and publishing of their own titles. Following its initial movie model, Blumhouse Games is expected to focus on lower-budgeted titles, spreading the word with impactful marketing and ensuring a fast and lucrative turnaround. The new division will be led by Zach Wood, a journeyman within the gaming industry who has worked as a producer for the best part of 25 years, having worked with Iron Galaxy, Arkane Studios, and Sony Santa Monica.

"Through my time in the industry, I’ve had the good fortune of working closely with developers to bring their ideas to life," said Wood of the new endeavor. "There’s a unique opportunity for horror and genre in the indie game space, and I’m thrilled about teaming up with Blumhouse to meaningfully leverage the company’s brand, reputation, and creative talent."

Blumhouse Productions was founded in 2000 by U.S. producer Jason Blum, following incredible success in the horror field with titles such as The Purge, Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Happy Death Day, and Jordan Peele's breakout hit, Get Out. Since its inception, Blumhouse has been responsible for several hugely popular releases, including the Halloween trilogy, Ma, The Black Phone and, most recently, the campy killer doll release, M3GAN.

The gaming division forms part of BH growth, which already encompasses non-movie projects such as books, podcasts, and "haunted house" attractions.

But let's get to the point: We need a Blumhouse All-Stars platform brawler.

Or a M3GAN game.

At least stick my g3rl in Mortal Kombat 12.

The post Blumhouse Productions establishes game dev division appeared first on Destructoid.

Bring back Ditto Girl

Production company Legendary Entertainment has offered a non-committal commitment to the idea that it is still working on a sequel to the hit 2019 movie Pokemon: Detective Pikachu — Speaking in comments to Polygon, a spokesperson for the production company stated that plans for the film were "still in active development".

The original film — directed by Rob Letterman and starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton — was a delightful love letter to the world of Pokemon. The movie smartly blended live-action with wonderful CGI iterations of the much-beloved critters, for a fun adventure packed out with characters, references, and smart sight gags. Pulling in a $433 million box office, a sequel had been already announced even before the final edit had premiered on the big screen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bILE5BEyhdo&ab_channel=WarnerBros.Pictures

Since then, however, production has been very quiet. The writers of the original film, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, noted in a recent interview that they had heard nothing of their own involvement in the sequel, but would gladly pen a second film if asked. Samit had suggested that the "ongoing conversation" about the movie was "complex" and involved a lot of red tape and hoop-leaping over rights and licenses.

Smith himself also remains in the dark as to the sequel's status. "I would love to participate in Detective Pikachu 2," Smith told entertainment outlet Inverse in a 2021 interview. "I don’t know if it’s going to happen. I think we have to just kind of bury our hopes. I don’t think it’s going to happen. I really hope so though. Honestly, I’m such a huge fan, who knows, who knows? I hope so."

The common denominator from all parties appears to be that the fate of Detective Pikachu 2 lies, as always, in the hands of the money men — Who owns what? What do they want to do with it? Where do the rights lie for such-and-such a character? Are we making a streaming show instead? And, as is often the case, the opportunity to simply make a fine, solid, financially lucrative piece of entertainment might get buried alongside the bureaucracy of ensuring everyone makes all the money Goddamit.

Where did Pokémon: Detective Pikachu 2 go? [Polygon]

The post Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2 apparently still in the works, despite total silence appeared first on Destructoid.

No sign of the DK Rap, unfortunately

This weekend saw the production company Illumination release a short teaser for its fun-looking Super Mario Bros. Movie, an adaptation of one of gaming's most beloved and successful franchises of all time — Notably, the clip features up our first opportunity to hear Seth Rogan's performance of the mighty Donkey Kong, one of many familiar faces that will be showing up in the colorful adventure.

The clip rolls out with footage we've seen before, as our boy Mario finds himself on the receiving end of a beatdown from the banana-lovin' ape. Looking to the skies to save him, Mario hits a Question Block and bags himself a Cat Suit, as featured in Wii U release Super Mario 3D World. Unfortunately, Mario's solemn "Meow" fails to impress Kong, who promptly mocks him before continuing the ass-kicking.

https://twitter.com/supermariomovie/status/1619795800686739456?s=20&t=fwHS1JERA9tBi1kQ8j3riw

I'd love to think that the "Meow" line is a sly dig at the notorious first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog, but it's probably just a coincidence. Anyway, you can check out Seth Rogan's snippet of dialogue in the tweet embedded above, and you can watch the original trailer in our previous report. Seth Rogan will be joined by and ensemble cast that includes Chris Pratt (Mario), Anya Taylor-Joy (Peach), Keegan Michael-Key (Toad), Jack Black (Bowser), and Charlie Day (Luigi)

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is scheduled to launch in theaters in the UK and Europe in late-March. It will premiere in North America on April 7. And, you know what? it's really not looking too bad.

The post New Super Mario Bros. Movie clip debuts Seth Rogan’s Donkey Kong appeared first on Destructoid.

Grab the popcorn

Squanch Games' newest release High on Life has certainly gotten a lot of buzz this year, for better and for worse. The game has been highly anticipated by Justin Roiland fans, and has at the very least encouraged curiosity among the core gamer base. High on Life is finally out today, and there are plenty of surprises waiting ahead, including the fact that you can watch four different licensed full-length movies in the game, as well as a bunch of new shorts from Justin Roiland and pals.

Basically, there's a TV in the living room of the player character's house, and instead of just having a blank screen sitting there, the developers decided it would be more fun to create, and license, some content that players could actually watch, if they wanted to. I will say that there is something cozy to me in hunkering down in your house to watch TV while you're supposed to be out saving the world.

https://twitter.com/pearsonsmith/status/1602483788382359554

There are over twenty animated shorts in the game, many of which are parodies of the classic TV commercials and infomercials that we know and love. Executive producer Matty Studivan said that Roiland had been wanted to get back to the popular "Interdimensional Cable" bit from Rick & Morty, and that the game was a way to breathe new life into the idea.

The real star of the show here, though, are those four full-length movies. These include the 1994 sci-fi comedy Tammy & The T-Rex, as well as 1978 horror film Vampire Hookers, 1987 slasher Blood Harvest, and we're still waiting for confirmation on what the fourth one is. You can sit down and watch a movie when it comes on, and the movies will change depending on what part of the game you're in. The official High on Life Twitter even issued a warning to streamers because some of the movies apparently have nudity in them, so I guess there's that to look forward to.

The post You can watch full-length movies in High on Life appeared first on Destructoid.

From Funkotron to Hollywood

In a pretty surprising announcement that I don't think anybody saw coming, Amazon Studios has announced that it has begun pre-production on a new feature film adaptation of the classic Sega Mega Drive adventure ToeJam & Earl — The new movie was announced yesterday in The Hollywood Reporter.

The new film is being produced by Unanimous Media — the studio founded by Stephen Curry — with a screenplay penned by Amos Vernon and Nunzio Randazzo, who have worked on the Hotel Transylvania franchise, as well as the upcoming Disney+ series, Superfudge. The movie will be co-produced by Story Kitchen, headed up by John Wick scribe Derek Kolstad and Sonic the Hedgehog producer Dmitri Johnson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQlK-jTIiwU

ToeJam & Earl, created by Mark Voorsanger and Greg Johnson, hit the 16-bit market in 1991 and concerns the esoteric adventures of two hep-cat space aliens, who become marooned on Earth after their spaceship crashlands on our horrible little planet. From there, the two tripped-out protagonists must gather together the remnants of their ship, while avoiding delightfully satirical characters that symbolize the bizarre nature of human life.

Something of a cult classic, ToeJam & Earl would be followed by two sequels: 1993's Panic of Funkotron and 2002's Mission to Earth. More recently, 2019 saw the release of crowdfunded title Back in the Groove, which returned the franchise to its split-screen, 3/4 perspective mechanics. While TJ & E have been a part of gaming for many decades, the franchise is tightly held, with most of the games merely "good" at best. As such it seems an odd choice for a modern movie adaptation. However, the colorful universe and way-out characters and situations should make for some pretty twisted entertainment.

The untitled ToeJam & Earl movie is currently in pre-production at Amazon Studios.

The post ToeJam & Earl movie in the works at Amazon Studios appeared first on Destructoid.

Because y'all love IPs and Content

In a quarterly earnings call held yesterday, Polish studio CD Projekt RED noted that it would be looking into more opportunities "in the transmedia space" following the smash success of Netflix anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners — an animated adaptation of the developer's hi-tech RPG Cyberpunk 2077.

While CDPR has already noted that it does not have plans to produce a second season of the flashy 'n' savvy series, the studio has been made very aware of the lucrative and creative potential of such projects, and, as reported by VGC, has made clear that it will be looking into similar adaptations in the future — be it through film, animation, and/or streaming series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5YUmkWf_Y

Premiering in September of this year, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners offered up 10 episodes of rebellious, electric action, winning over fans with its flashy visuals, futuristic vistas, and gun-toting breakout star, Rebecca. The success of Edgerunners is hardly teaching CDPR any new lessons, given the global praise heaped upon The Witcher — another Netflix production that resides within CDPR's big book of brands.

The success of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is another example of modern media's creeping realization that adaptation and crossover is a far easier route to the Big Bucks than creating a fresh universe from scratch. You already have the world and its "rules" laid out for you, and you even a potential crossover audience from the get-go. Fans of a brand in one form of media are often given to swiftly switching over to another, and vice versa. As such, we can expect to see many more examples of this in the continuing era of digital entertainment.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is now available exclusively on Netflix.

CD Projekt planning more transmedia projects following the success of Cyberpunk Edgerunners [VGC]

The post CDPR to look into further projects following Cyberpunk Edgerunners’ success appeared first on Destructoid.

DC Extended Universe to cover all mediums

James Gunn, director of big-screen comic-book epics such as Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad, has suggested that upcoming video games set within the DC Comics universe are to be included in the overall lore of the DC Universe at large.

Gunn, who was recently assigned the role of co-chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, made the comments in a recent Twitter exchange, confirming plans to have DC Studios' future projects — be they cinematic, animated, televisual, or in the medium of gaming — essentially inhabit the same universe. This broadens the scope for character arcs far beyond that of almost any "cinematic universe" to date.

While the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, it's difficult not to see the potential for chaos in these plans. The idea that, for example, Rocksteady's oft-delayed title Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League might lay arcs for characters in upcoming films, or TV shows, (or vice versa). Gunn's comments also come after the initial efforts for a fully connected DC extended universe have essentially resulted in a plethora of mediocre to terrible movies — with the better efforts, such as Matt Reeves' The Batman, being distinctly disconnected from DC Comics cinematic canon at large.

DC Comics has struggled in its efforts to present a coherent and reliable connected universe when it was only focused on one arcing medium, (cinema), the idea of trying to build a similar project via multiple mediums seems to be something of a herculean task. Still, the new co-CEO clearly sees potential in the concept, so we'll just have to wait and see what the future brings for Batman, Joker, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.

But not Batgirl. Apparently.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League launches in 2023 on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

The post James Gunn: DC Comics video games to become part of DC extended universe appeared first on Destructoid.

Another look at the new Mario movie

We're getting another look at The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and soon. Nintendo is hosting a world premiere for The Super Mario Bros. Movie second trailer tomorrow, November 29.

The Direct, as Nintendo is dubbing it, will air live at 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET. There's no estimation on how long this one will be, though given its prior Direct, this movie teaser will likely be on the shorter side.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1597350002028064768/

As Nintendo states in its tweet, no game information will be included in this Nintendo Direct. Much like the first Super Mario Bros. Movie Direct, this one will seemingly focus on just the film. And also, hopefully, more selfie cam talking heads with the cast.

Mario goes to the movies

In our first trailer for the new Mario movie in September, we got a pretty good look and feel for what's in store. It seems like a Mario isekai, with the plumber waking up in the Mushroom Kingdom and setting off for adventure.

Meanwhile, Jack Black's Bowser absolutely stole the show. Both his pre-trailer guest spot and his in-trailer performance as the King of the Koopas was excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPpazvJrHm0

There are still some principal performances we're waiting on, though. No sign of Peach or Donkey Kong yet, and we got maybe a smidgeon of Charlie Day's Luigi at the end there.

Considering the teaser image for the new Direct features the stained-glass art of Peach's castle, we'll hopefully get more of the cast this time around.

The stream goes live at 2 p.m. PT over here on Nintendo's YouTube. Nintendo and Illumination's film is set to debut on April 7, 2023.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohJrpHUoZ10

The post The Super Mario Bros. Movie gets second trailer in a Direct tomorrow appeared first on Destructoid.

More virtual Keanu

Lionsgate is toying with the idea of another John Wick video game. The entertainment company's CEO said in a recent earnings call that the studio is fielding proposals.

As reported by IndieWire, Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said the company has been "fielding proposals" around a John Wick game.

"I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but we believe there is a big AAA game to be made out of John Wick," said Feltheimer. "We have been fielding proposals. We certainly are interested in moving that forward, but I don’t want to say anything more about that at this time."

It's not a major commitment. But it is interest in a franchise that's already seen some adaptation, and could see more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7XM597XO94

I'm thinkin' I'm back

John Wick has already had his own game, in the form of Bithell Games' John Wick Hex. The studio imagined Wick's action-heavy shootouts in turn-based strategy puzzles, in a way that reminded me a bit of Invisible, Inc.

It sounds like John Wick Hex turned out alright, too. But the CEO's choice of words, in "big" and "AAA," bring to mind a hefty investment.

Considering the only other John Wick adaptation we have in the virtual space aside from Hex is a Fortnite cameo, there's still room. A studio like Sloclap could absolutely tackle something fast-paced and action-heavy in the Wick universe. Though my personal choice would be to give this the Alpha Protocol treatment. Either way, I'm all for more digital Keanu.

The post Lionsgate is interested in a ‘big AAA’ John Wick game appeared first on Destructoid.

Truffle Shuffle Super

Those naughty MultiVersus dataminers are at it again, delving into the code of Player First Games' madcap platform fighter and pulling out clues pertaining to upcoming characters and stages — In fact, just this weekend, one such digger ventured into the new update and surfaced with a reference to the iconic 1985 classic, The Goonies.

Directed by Richard Donner and written by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies tells the tale of a group of misfit children, who embark upon a wild adventure of danger and intrigue while exploring the legend of notorious pirate One-Eyed Willie. The Goonies has transcended generations due to its dopey slapstick comedy, Indiana Jones-esque action, and litany of quotable lines and memorable characters. Today, decades after its release, it remains something of a rite of passage for young film fans.

https://twitter.com/multiversusie/status/1584180607177101317?s=20&t=CI339P3hx-XJ070QVSuVqg

The data pulled from the new MultiVersus update includes a "Character Universe" code — essentially a folder in which data is stored by IP, (for example "DC Comics" or "Gremlins"), this would suggest the possibility of one or more Goonies characters might be in the works for the star-studded fighter, though we are probably more likely to get Sloth than we are Mama Fratelli. Of course, this code could also be a "just in case" placeholder, with no confirmed plan to bring in The Goonies anytime soon. We shall see.

The Goonies is the latest in a number of unannounced IPs and characters to be found lurking within the MultiVersus code. Previous datamines have uncovered dialogue and/or references pertaining to DC Comics supervillain Joker, The Ghost with the Most, Beetlejuice, and The Wizard of Oz's very own Wicked Witch of the West. To date, none of these characters have been officially confirmed by Player First Games.

MultiVersus is available now in open beta on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The post MultiVersus dataminers dig up reference to The Goonies appeared first on Destructoid.

Little Goody Two-Shoes himself

It's sure been a busy gaming year for Evil Dead's premier deadite slayer Ash Williams, not only has the chainsaw-bedecked smart-ass received his own brand new video game, but he is now joining the star-studded roster of Epic Games' juggernaut battle royale release, Fortnite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-23660L8hAY

Ash, boomstick and all, is one of several additions to Fortnite's annual Halloween event — the amusingly titled "Fortnitemares".  This celebration of everything spooky and ooky kicks off across all platforms today, bringing with it themed maps, modes, characters, and weapons.  There will be a selection of free seasonal cosmetics dolled out to all players who partake in the event, with Ash Williams, Rick & Morty character Queen Summer, and the Meseeks — all arriving as paid DLC.  Look at Ash's cute doe-eyes.

Additionally, keep your eyes peeled for some Gothic-looking "Alteration Altars" that will be springing up around the island, as visiting one will grant your character some limited-time werewolf powers! Cursed players will be granted new "Howler Claw" attacks, as well as a lofty double jump ability and heightened animal senses, which will allow you to track your nearby opponents with ease.  If you hear a heartbeat on the soundtrack, then watch out, as it means one of the lycanthropic beasties is onto you.

Players completing an array of Fortnitemare Quests will also unlock fun weapons and gear, including the pumpkin launcher firearm, bone-based Back Bling, and skeletal gliders. New spoopy outfits are also available from the Fortnite store, including the very cool Sinister Glare and Undying Sorrow skins that were designed by contest winners @Dreowings and @kitsunexkitsu respectively.  All in all, there's a lot of scary stuff going on in the world of Fortnite, so fans should ensure that they get into the spirit of the season.

Fortnitemares kicks on today, October 18 and will run until November 1. For full details on the new update, check out the official Fortnite blog.

The post Evil Dead’s Ash Williams joins Fortnite Halloween festivities appeared first on Destructoid.

Bring back chunky Mario

I think it's pretty safe to say that Mario is one of the most instantly recognizable and beloved video game characters in history, and I think we chose well to have him represent the medium we hold so dear. There are many facts to what makes Mario so universally adored (which is in no small part thanks to the decades-spanning voice performance of Charles Martinet), but one of them is his chunky little character design, which doesn't look as prominent in his upcoming movie.

Even compared to other human characters on the roster like Princess Peach, Mario's proportions are much more distinct. He's short, he's round, and his little circular torso acts as the point from which the rest of his limbs emanate. It's an iconic look, and considering we've seen it so many times over the years, it's easy to sense that something feels off, even if we can't pinpoint exactly what it is.

https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/y1587k/mario_from_the_mario_movie_if_he_looked_more_like/

Thanks to some fans on the internet, now we have a side-by-side comparing the classic Mario look to the new design for the movie. The changes are subtle, but they're definitely there. It may not be as jarring as when Ugly Sonic made his debut, but something about Mario doesn't feel quite right to me. Of course that's in part because Chris Pratt's voice is coming out of him.

Something I noticed about the fan redesign is its focus on shapes -- a classic principle of character design. While movie Mario has more realistic proportions by animated character standards (which has actually drawn a lot of comparisons to Wreck-It Ralph's Fix-It Felix), the fan interpretation brings a lot of the roundness back into Mario's design, especially when it comes to his eyes, hands, feet, and torso.

I wouldn't mind the visual changes as much if Mario's new voice was truer to the character, but the combination of the new body and voice are a bit too uncanny for my taste.

The post This Mario Movie fan edit is a nod to the original character design appeared first on Destructoid.

Giiiiiiizmo CACA!

As if the chaotic, madcap world of MultiVersus wasn't already total mania, things are getting set to go completely off the deep end this week, with the arrival of the malevolent, dangerous, and utterly unpredictable Stripe, the chief antagonist of Joe Dante's 1984 horror-comedy, Gremlins.

As the alpha male of cutie-pie Gizmo's villainous brethren, Stripe quickly establishes his dominance as the self-styled "leader" of the mischievous/homicidal batch of Mogwai — rendered vile due to the breaking of the golden "Never feed them after midnight" rule. Following a terrifying rampage across the sleepy town of Kingston Falls, Stripe's arrogance finally oversteps his cunning, and he eventually finds himself bursting into an explosion of goo, hit with the harmful rays of the dawn's early light.

https://twitter.com/multiversus/status/1578280212508291072?s=20&t=e4TXOWOLxyXe9zk1n_UOXA

Player First Games has teased Stripe's arrival with a short video, recalling the moment in sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch where the film "breaks", (only to be restored by Hulk Hogan... Look, just watch it). While there is no gameplay footage of Stripe in action, his new player card reveals that he is an assassin-class character, and will thus sacrifice health for damage and speed. In addition, he appears to be packing a crossbow and a frikkin' chainsaw — tools that he puts to nefarious use in the two movies.

While Stripe is no doubt set to take MultiVersus' violence to a whole new level, he would do well not to underestimate our pal Gizmo, who is already on the game's star-studded roster. The sweet Mogwai has conquered Stripe before, and it ain't no thing to do it again.

MultiVersus is currently available as a free-to-play beta on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. Stripe will arrive later this week as part of the title's Season One content, which has already seen the arrival of LeBron, Gizmo and Rick & Morty. DC Comics' anti-hero Black Adam, as well as several currently unconfirmed characters, are expected to arrive in the coming weeks and months.

The post Gremlins’ Stripe coming to raise hell in MultiVersus this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Say Hi to Ol' Chief Woodenhead

Indie outfit DreadXP, in association with AMC Networks and Cartel Entertainment, has announced that it has begun the development of a brand new video game based on the iconic horror anthology series Creepshow. Platforms or a release window were not announced.

The new game has been inspired by the TV series currently airing on horror network Shudder, which is itself styled after a trilogy of comically dark movies written and produced by author Stephen King and late director George A. Romero. While horror anthology films have been released in abundance over the past 50 years, the original Creepshow (1982) is still considered perhaps one of the genre's finest examples — even if the sequels are the very epitome of the law of diminishing returns.

Check out the trailer for this B-movie classic to get a taste of its kooky E.C. Comics vibe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owdnnaNs2RI

Much like the films and TV series, the Creepshow game will be an anthology, featuring self-contained stories that will apparently span a wide variety of tones and genres. Creepshow's trademark shock & gore tactics will be in full effect, as will its delightfully naughty comedic tone. Darkstone Digital's Brian Clarke will serve as creative director, spearheading several developers' efforts to bring a unique twisted tale to the compilation. A fun experimental concept, I'm sure you'll agree.

Creepshow represents one of several retro-themed horror titles currently in the works. Gun Interactive is currently hard at work on an asymmetrical multiplayer title based upon Tobe Hooper's seminal 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre while, more recently, Teravision Games revealed it was making a similar title based upon the dopey 1988 release Killer Klowns from Outer Space. I'm all for this return to the golden genre that gives me lifeblood, of course I am, I just ask that these games be, y'know, good?

Creepshow is currently in development at DreadXP.

Creepshow video game in development from DreadXP [FlickeringMyth]

The post Creepshow anthology game in the works at DreadXP appeared first on Destructoid.

The mouse is in your house

Sony Interactive Entertainment and Disney have announced that the shiny PS5 platform now has its own native Disney+ app available for download. This will allow users on the platform to access the Disney streaming service on their console in magnificent 4K HDR resolutions.

"A key part of our global expansion strategy is to meet consumers wherever they are, which is why we're excited to enhance both Disney Plus and Star Plus for PlayStation 5 users," notes EVP of product and design for Disney, Jerrell Jimerson in comments to The Verge. "The ability to support 4K HDR video streaming on the platform will also improve the viewing experience for fans."

With the arrival of the Disney+ app, subscribers will now have access to an enormous archive of film, TV, and animated content from The House of Mouse. This includes films and shows from the Marvel Cinematic Universe — such as recent Chud-aggravator She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, as well as thousands of hours of classic FOX programming such as the good episodes of The Simpsons and nothing else. Of course, you can also check out Disney's legendary catalog of classic animated movies, all starring wicked queens that I fancy.

Now that the PlayStation 5 platform offers access to Disney+, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, HBO Max, as well as an abundance of rad video games via the PlayStation Plus service, you basically don't have to leave the couch ever again. Better get started this weekend, however, I'm pretty sure none of us have the time necessary to watch every single episode of every single Star Wars show before we shuffle on.

And I still gotta find space and time for the celluloid excellence that is Hocus Pocus 2.

The post Oh Boy! PS5 now has a 4K HDR supporting Disney+ app appeared first on Destructoid.

October 6 at 1:05PM PT

So we heard that a Mario movie update was on the way, but thanks to a new tweet from Nintendo, they're making it a bit more official with a Mario movie Direct.

In tandem with the October New York Comic Con event, we'll get our first real look at the "world premiere trailer" for the film, which is still set to debut on April 7, 2023 at 1:05 PM PT (4:05PM ET). Basically all we have to go on still is the cast list, as Nintendo hasn't provided a clear look at what the movie's aesthetic is (in terms of sight or sound): unless this new potential movie poster is something to go by.

The first impression of this project is crucial. The Mario voice is what everyone is waiting to hear, and after the studio (and Mario's performer Chris Pratt) have been hyping it up for months, they need to deliver. If the film is visually anything like this presumed poster, I think people will be happy.

As a note, Nintendo has confirmed that there will be no game information featured during this October 6 Mario movie Direct.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1577297501408968706

Watch the Mario movie Nintendo Direct here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMPCXuvL8EM

The post Nintendo is streaming a Mario movie Direct on October 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

Teaser scheduled for New York Comic Con 2022

Nervous times for fans of Nintendo's favorite plumber, Mario Mario, as Illumination has announced that it is getting set to release the first teaser trailer for its upcoming animated movie based on the legendary Super Mario Bros. franchise.

https://twitter.com/NY_Comic_Con/status/1572979063656005632?s=20&t=FJcw9pEAcjZ34Qi8a6o7_A

The teaser trailer will make its grand debut during October's New York Comic Con event, which is a regular stomping ground for previews of upcoming films and TV shows. The trailer will be made available online, October 6, at 13:00 PT / 16:00 ET / 21:00 BST, and will give us all our very first look at the new movie in action.

While nothing has been revealed in regards to the movie's narrative or visual style, we do, of course, know that the famous pipe-plunging hero will be portrayed by Chris Pratt, star of the great Guardians of the Galaxy and terrible Jurassic World movies. Joining Pratt in the Mushroom Kingdom will be Anna Taylor-Joy as Princess Daisy, Jack Black as Bowser, Charlie Day as Luigi and... sigh... Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong.

Look, we'll see soon enough, ok? And, either way, we'll always have the Bob Hoskins flick... Oh wait, that was pretty dreadful. Well, the Sonic movies are kinda fun.

The post Super Mario movie to showcase teaser trailer October 6 appeared first on Destructoid.

In Space, No-One Can Eat Ice Cream

Of all of the announcements, of all of the franchises, of all of the adaptations, I wouldn't have put a single penny on this one. And yet, here we are, less than 24 hours from the Gamescom Opening Night Live presentation and the news that somebody, somewhere, decided to put pen to paper and sign a contract to produce a brand new video game, in 2023, based on Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Asymmetrical horror games are all the rage right now, despite being something of a mixed bag and a niche market. Major franchises such as Friday the 13th and The Evil Dead have both had a shake of the multiplayer scythe, while Behavior Interactive's Dead by Daylight is a literal who's who of horror's grimmest superstars, having played host to Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Hell Priest, Leatherface, and Ghostface, among others.

But Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Now there's a real outlier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilwcOZTBa64

Independently produced in 1988, Killer Klowns from Outer Space was written and directed by New York-based siblings Charles, Stephen, and Edward Chiodo, who had, since an early age, developed a love for claymation, prosthetics, animatronics, and all manner of practical special effects. Having cut their teeth in the film industry designing the homicidal fluffballs of Critters (1986), the brothers decided to try their hand at producing their own special-effect-laden take on the horror-comedy genre, that had blown up big time in the wake of Ivan Reitman's seminal classic, Ghostbusters (1984).

Shot in and around the Santa Cruz county of Watsonville, KKfOS was created with a relatively modest budget, with much of its $1.8 million USD being used to finance shooting permits, rental vehicles, and the materials for a widely ambitious range of practical effects. Set against the backdrop of the fictional Crescent Cove, the narrative tells a simplistic tale of a party of invading aliens, depicted as hideous and grotesque circus clowns, complete with a "Big Top" shaped flying saucer. Upon their unwelcome arrival, the "Klowns" embark upon a campaign of chaos throughout the sleepy suburb, capturing humans within candy-floss-style cocoons to be used as sustenance on their home planet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETiSMS4i1as

Going all-in with its circus theme, the Klowns' methods of murder and mayhem reflect that of circus shenanigans. There are sentient balloon animals, tiny cars, human-eating shadow puppets, giant balloons, acidic cream pies, and — the aliens' piece de resistance — the deadly popcorn gun. As the residents of Crescent Cove fall victim to these perilous pierrots, it is up to the obligatory teenage couple in love, Mike Tobacco and Debbie Stone, to find a way to rid the town of this terror lest they become the finale of the Greatest Show not on Earth.

Releasing in the summer of 1988, KKfOS won over the hearts, but not the heads of the day's critics, who were not particularly entertained by the film's flattish, skit-style storytelling, but were undeniably impressed, even charmed by its colorful visuals, inventive design ideas, goofy concept, and overall sense of sick silliness. Today, despite the film having massed a much larger and more devoted audience as a cult movie, these initial reviews do stand as fair commentary.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space falls down a little on both the "Horror" and the "Comedy" of horror/comedy — it isn't particularly scary and it isn't particularly funny. It is, however, delightfully creative, and a wonderful reminder of a time when practical effects were not only a true and underappreciated art form, but were most definitely taken for granted — especially when compared to contemporary times where every single movie is shot against a green screen in an Atlanta car park.

Time has, in its own weird way, been strangely kind to the movie as a whole, mostly thanks to the impressively gross Klown costumes and some nice uses of animatronics, claymation, and standard animation — all blended relatively seamlessly into the live-action. Also of note is the theme song, by punk band The Dickies, which remains a cleverly written and frustratingly catchy... erm... "banger."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CzLdg0PpLI

There have been several efforts to revitalize the Killer Klowns brand in recent years. Most notably, a 3D sequel was announced in 2012, back at the height of that bizarre "idiots dressing up as clowns at night" phase. This project has seemingly fallen into disarray, with numerous pushbacks and mixed messages as to its completion date. In 2018, the Killer Klowns rights were licensed by SyFy, with a view to making a TV series. Again, nothing is yet to emerge from this project.

And thus, the charming movie that barely anyone saw, that youngsters today might not even know, and that has repeatedly failed to find its way back to the big (or small) screen, has, somehow, been selected to receive a video game adaptation treatment 35 years later. It is, undeniably, a bizarre and twisted tale, the kind one could only expect from such a strange franchise. So keep watching the skies, watch out for the pint-sized cars, and double-check that pizza delivery. If you ever wonder why the population's going down, blame it on the plunder from the likes of the Killer Klowns.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox.

The post Killer Klowns from Outer Space: Looking back at a kandy-kovered kult klassic appeared first on Destructoid.

A new movie could be just around the Bend

It looks like another silver screen Sony adaptation could be on the way. Deadline reports that Sony is currently working on a movie rendition of Days Gone, its post-apocalyptic zombie game with bikers.

According to Deadline, Sam Heughan (Outlander) is "circling" the project and screenwriter Sheldon Turner is adapting. Turner and Jennifer Klein are reportedly set to produce, along with Sony PlayStation Productions.

In case you've forgotten, Days Gone is Sony Bend's biker-zombie action game. Released in 2019, Days Gone was like a mixture of The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy, following Deacon "Deke" St. John as he tries to survive in a zombie-infested Pacific Northwest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Ztt2bXI64

Deadline reports that it's heard Turner's script will be a "love ballad to motorcycle movies." Which, well, lines up with Days Gone for sure.

Video game theater

If plans go through, this will mark another in a growing catalogue of Sony's video game adaptations. Uncharted pulled in some solid numbers, even if the reception seems mixed. And HBO's The Last of Us is on the horizon, turning Joel and Ellie's cross-continental adventure into a miniseries that hopefully won't be disrupted by whatever the heck is going on over there right now.

Of the many Sony properties still around, Days Gone certainly seems like it could draw in a more mainstream movie-going audience. It's got bikers, zombies, and grit. You could probably have some pretty sick action sequences with massive "Freaker" hordes and revving motorcycles.

We'll have to see if this particular Sony production ends up moving forward or not. There are a few others, like the Twisted Metal adaptation, that are also in the works. Plus, the Ghost of Tsushima film, the Horizon series at Netflix, and projects for Gran Turismo and God of War. Sony's screen adaptations have only just begun, it seems.

The post Sony is reportedly developing a Days Gone movie appeared first on Destructoid.