Back in the 1990s, long before the MCU existed, the screen rights to Marvel’s many characters were dealt out to various studios, with several movies in development at the time that never got many and several that soon eventually did (Blade, X-Men, Spider-Man). One unrealized Marvel movie from the 1990s was 20th Century Fox’s Silver Surfer, which was to have been directed by Aussie filmmaker Geoffrey Wright (1992’s Romper Stomper). Now, a storyboard artist who worked on the project has revealed some artwork from the film — and revealed the two actors who were reportedly up for the lead roles.
In a series of revealing tweets (via THR), artist Gabriel Hardman revealed storyboards for a series of movies he worked on that never got made, including 1997’s Silver Surfer. Hardman said Wright “wanted Ewan McGregor as Surfer and Steven Berkoff as Galactus.” You can see his storyboards in the tweet below.
Here are some boards from the unmade Silver Surfer (1997). I couldn’t find much. pic.twitter.com/KafXcaAHiS
In 1997, McGregor was coming off the success of indie films like Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, and Emma and was still a few years away from joining the Star Wars franchise as young Obi-Wan Kenobi. Berkoff, meanwhile, is a veteran stage and screen actor and playwright who played the villain in Octopussy, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Beverly Hills Cop.
Back when studios still deemed comic book movies a risky prospect and visual effects were prohibitively expensive, Hardman revealed that “Surfer spent most of the movie as a human because vfx would have been too costly then.”
While the Silver Surfer movie obviously never got made, the character did make his feature film debut in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne). McGregor, meanwhile, went on to play the villain Black Mask in this year’s Birds of Prey.
This is an advanced spoiler-free review of the series premiere of Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, titled “Santa Muerte,” which is currently available to stream for free on YouTube and SHO.com.
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After nearly four years off the air, Showtime’s supernatural darling returns with a provocative new entry that leaves gloomy Victorian London behind for the sunny skies of Los Angeles circa 1938. But don’t let those calming warm temperatures fool you, Penny Dreadful: City of Angeles is just as harrowing as its predecessor.
Leading the supernatural charge in this new iteration is Game of Thrones’ Natalie Dormer, who plays a dark goddess called Magda. While not all of her intentions are laid bare in the premiere, it appears that she’s attempting to infiltrate various facets of Los Angeles’ political and social spheres in order to create more chaos and death. But the really cool aspect of Magda is that she has the ability to take the appearance of anyone she chooses. It appears that Dormer is having a lot of fun portraying these different versions of herself, reminiscent of Tatiana Maslany’s memorable performance in Orphan Black. And whether she’s playing a seductive goddess decked out in tight black leather or an ambitious secretary, Dormer excels every time.
The other supernatural force to be reckoned with is Lorenza Izzo’s Santa Muerte, the Angel of Holy Death and Magda’s sister. It appears that Logan is going to challenge the cliché version of Death from a stoic and indifferent figure to a person the viewer can actually relate to. Unlike her sister, Santa Muerte doesn’t get out much unless it has to do with ferrying the dead to the afterlife, but the episode has moments where we get a sense of the emotional toll it takes on Muerte for her to do her particular job.
On the non-supernatural side of things, the series is tackling a lot of topics here: Nazi spies, the construction of a massive automotive transit system that will cause thousands of Mexican-Americans to lose their homes, and oh yeah, there’s also the gruesome ritualistic murder of a Beverly Hills family that needs solving. Collectively, each storyline receives equal attentiveness; but some characters, like Thomas Kretschmann’s Nazi-supporting Richard Goss and Michael Gladis’ racist Councilman Townsend, are closer to caricatures than fully-realized people.
While not as much of a head-turner in name or appearance as Dormer, we spend most of our time with the LAPD’s first Mexican-American detective, Tiago Vega, who makes for an effective central figure due to his connections to both the Caucasian and Mexican communities of Los Angeles. His mother is a devout believer in Santa Muerte and all other supernatural matters, while Vega’s LAPD cohorts rely on the evidence they can see with their own eyes. Vega’s struggle to cope with the spiritual history of his people and the new world he so desperately wants to fit into provides a satisfying tension that thrums underneath everything else the season premiere is tackling.
The original Penny Dreadful series made our favorite 50 TV opening credits from 2008-2018. Watch the video below to see who else made our list.
Google has announced that it will broadcast a Stadia Connect event on Tuesday, April 28 at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 4 PM GMT to highlight “a few new games” coming to the cloud gaming platform.
The latest Stadia Connect event can be watched on the platform’s official YouTube channel. Google did not go into detail about what it will show off during the upcoming livestream.
This announcement follows the company giving away two months of Stadia Pro for free earlier this month. The only requirement to get two months of free Stadia Pro access is a Gmail account.
In other Stadia news, Google opened a new studio in California that will be led by former PlayStation exec Shannon Studstill, who worked on 2018’s God of War. This new team will focus on “delivering exclusive games, using new gameplay mechanics, creative ways to play together and unique interaction models that we’re just starting to explore,” the company said. “While we’re not ready to share specific game plans yet, rest assured we are listening to what gamers want and adding our own Stadia twists to create new IP and experiences.”
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Ever since The Office ended in 2013, fans have been clamoring for a reunion – and despite pretty much everyone involved admitting that reassembling the busy and successful cast would be a gargantuan task, there could be a glimmer of hope on the horizon (especially following the news that the Parks and Recreation cast is reuniting for a scripted special for charity).
“It’s so personally satisfying for me to work with Steve again, and I have talked with Steve about the fact that in a year or so we’re gonna start on Peacock as a rerun and I’m sure that they would love something, some sort of a… something,” Daniels told IGN. “I’m a little reluctant to open up the characters’ endings because we wrote specifically to an ending, but as we hang around we sometimes think about [it]. And there is a script that was written in Season 1; there was an extra script written that was never shot, called ‘Pet Day,’ so I don’t know, sometimes we joke around about gathering to do Pet Day.”
Rumors of an Office reunion have been percolating for years, with former NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt fanning the flames back in 2018 by publicly expressing interest in a revival.
Ever since then, the cast and writers have been grilled about a potential reunion at every opportunity – soon after Greenblatt’s comments, star John Krasinski told IGN, “I love the idea of coming back together… I think it’d be impossible to get us all together to do a run of the series, but [British shows] have the Christmas specials.”
“Some of the most fun memories, personally or professionally, are intertwined and connected with that show, without a doubt,” Carell said.
“Listen, I know everyone’s talking about a reunion; hopefully one day, we just get to reunite as people, and just all get to say hi,” Krasinski responded.
The upcoming Disney+ series following Rebel Alliance member Cassian Andor has two new actors joining the series. The show will be a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, set five years before the 2016 movie.
Both Genevieve O’Reilly and Denise Gough have signed on to appear on the series, according to The Hollywood Reporter. They’ll join Diego Luna who will reprise his role as Andor.
O’Reilly has already appeared in the Star Wars universe multiple times. She’s played Mon Mothma in 2005’s Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, and on the animated series Star Wars: Rebels. It’s been confirmed she’ll be playing Mothma once again for the Disney+ show.
As for Gough, her role in the upcoming show has not revealed. Her most notable work comes from the video game Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, where she voiced Yennefer. She’s also provided voice over work for Mass Effect: Andromeda and Star Wars: Battlefront, while also acting in movies and television.
Stellan Skarsgard and Kyle Soller also recently joined the cast. Much like Gough, their roles are unknown at this time. Alan Tudyk will also be on the new series, reprising his role of K-2SO from Rogue One. Disney has described the show as a “spy thriller;” however, it is unknown when it will air. Originally, the show was going to debut in 2021, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, production has yet to begin.
And speaking of things you should be watching, consider listening to GameSpot’s weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. With new episodes premiering every Wednesday, you can watch a video version of the podcast over on GameSpot Universe or listen to audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.
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It’s 2020. If you’re not gaming on your Nintendo Switch during the morning commute, you’re doing it on your smartphone. Just one problem: touchscreen controls on smartphones and tablets can be…awkward.
That’s why we’d recommend a phone controller to any serious mobile gamer. There are heaps that work with both iOS and Android, and luck for you we’ve rounded up the ones we consider to be the best. Get a load of these.
The mobile controller market is filled with unknown names, but you’ll certainly recognize this one. The Xbox One controller gained Bluetooth support in 2016, making it compatible with PC, Android and iOS devices. And we’re thrilled, because Microsoft has fine-tuned the Xbox One controller to perfection.
The controller runs on two AA batteries, which is a good or bad thing depending on your preference, but personally, we like having one less thing to charge. The controller doesn’t have a grip, so you’ll need to supply your own – or find something to prop your phone/tablet up against.
Another well-rounded controller, the SteelSeries Stratus Duo is absolutely loaded with buttons: two joysticks, a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two shoulder buttons, two triggers, and three front-facing buttons.
It’s a superior controller to the Status XL thanks to the new, more comfortable design and the rechargeable battery, which the XL doesn’t have. Best for Android phone and PC users only – for iPhone, check out the SteelSeries Nimbus below.
If you’re a PlayStation 4 gamer at home and don’t like the idea of rewiring your brain to a different layout, the Nimbus takes the PS4’s same analog stick layout, along with a four-way directional pad, four action buttons, two bumpers, and two triggers.
This is the iPhone user’s answer to the SteelSeries Stratus Duo, complete with a Lightning port to recharge the battery, which should net you a little over 40 hours of playtime. There’s no mount, annoyingly, but we do like the haptic feedback motors that give our mobile gaming a little extra edge.
It would be remiss of us to include the Xbox One controller and not mention Sony’s DualShock 4, which also works with both iPhone and Android devices. If you’re a PS4 player at home, you’ll probably already have one of these PS4 controllers hanging around; pairing it with your mobile device is nice and easy.
While we personally prefer the comfort of the Xbox One controller, the DualShock 4 is still a fantastic gamepad. In fact, those who find the Xbox One’s a little too chunky are more likely to prefer Sony’s alternative. It does, however, have a far inferior battery life. You can also pick up a phone mount from one of the many PS4 accessory makers.
If Nintendo’s SNES is a major feature of your childhood memories, then this one’s for you. The 8BitDo SN30 is both a great mobile controller and a shameless appeal to nostalgia. And sure, you could actually use it on your Nintendo Switch for the ultimate throwback, but it also makes a great retro accessory for your Android phone (sorry iPhone users, but this one’s not compatible).
Better still, the controller’s color options are based on variations of Nintendo’s original Game Boy Pocket. The price is good, too.
As another of the more established names on this list, it’s no surprise to see Razer turn in one of the more “elite” mobile controllers on our list. It can connect over Bluetooth or wired via one of the USB-C cables that Razer bundles in the box.
The controller also has a built-in dock for your phone, which slides upwards and should have no problem handling most Android handsets. Our favorite bit is the companion app, which lets you map buttons and adjust the sensitivity of the analog sticks. The downsides: it’s an expensive controller, one we’d only recommend for the most ardent of mobile gamers. Android only.
What You Need to Know About Mobile gaming controllers
Compatibility: First things first, make sure the controller works with your mobile device. A lot of mobile controllers are Android-only, but there are plenty of iPhone options too. And pay special attention to the version compatibility, especially if you’re running an old version of Android or iOS, as some controllers will need newer versions to work.
The games: Some games are better suited to specific control types, so you need to think about the types of games you tend towards. More of a touchscreen puzzle player? A mobile controller might sooner find itself in a draw collecting dust. But if you play a lot of first-person shooters or find yourself longing for more precision in your platformers, then chances are your gaming experience will improve vastly with something more tactile.
Mounting: If you’re playing with a mobile controller, then you’ll need something to hold up your phone or tablet. Some controllers come with a mount, some don’t. You could also get a stand for the phone, which is great if you have a surface to play it on, but less helpful when you’re trying to cram in a quick game of Fortnite on the bus. A mount, either built-in or attachable, is recommended.
Hugh Langley is a tech journalist who’s fascinated by wearables, health tech, the smart home, and more. You can find him tweeting (often nonsense) over at @hughlangley.
Disney is reportedly considering keeping their theme parks and resorts, such as Disneyland in Anaheim and Disney World in Orlando, closed until at least the beginning of the new year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Disney parks remain indefinitely closed at the moment.
According to the Los Angeles Times (via ScreenRant), the global financial advisory firm UBS informed their clients Monday that the “Walt Disney Co. is likely to wait until Jan. 1 to open its theme parks.”
And once they do, UBS predicts that Disney “will see only about 50% of 2019 attendance” and that they can expect reduced profitability until there’s a vaccine for the coronavirus. Disney’s stock dropped earlier this week following a downgrade from UBS.
Disney Executive Chairman Bob Iger recently said Disney parks and resorts will implement new screening measures and health precautions once they reopen, including possibly taking visitors’ temperatures, in order to ensure employee and customer safety.
Disney is reportedly losing upwards of $30 million a day as a large swath of their businesses remain closed, a downturn in the media giant’s fortunes that has seen their rival Netflix become more valuable than them.
There have been some great gaming laptop deals over the past couple of months, and now, Newegg has a new one for a limited time. You can snag an Asus Tuf gaming laptop for $1,000, down from its original price of $1,300. This deal is valid for less than 12 hours, so you’ll need to act fast. It boasts an RTX 2060 graphics card, a Ryzen 7 R7-3750H processor, and a 1080p 144Hz display, which makes it an excellent choice for PC shooter fans that want the freedom a laptop provides.
The Asus Tuf laptop’s specs are powerful enough to run all of today’s most popular shooters at medium-to-high settings, from Fortnite and Valorant to Call of Duty: Warzone and Rainbow Six Siege. though you may want to lower your settings if you want to take full advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate. This means that the screen can display up to 144 frames per second, which makes it much easier to react to things happening on your screen, such as an enemy coming around a corner.
Asus Tuf gaming laptop with RTX 2060 and 144Hz display
$1,000 ($1,300)
Asus Tuf gaming laptop
The laptop also comes equipped with a 512GB SSD, which is enough space for a handful of games depending on the size. Two of the largest games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Rainbow Six Siege, weigh in at 168GB and 110GB respectively, while games like Fortnite and CS:GO take up around 20GB of space.
