Most of the film and television news this week has been dominated by Netflix’s Geeked Week, a massive showcase of all their genre series, movies, animation projects and games. We scrounged around for some non-Netflix related news today, but if you missed our Geeked Week coverage, you can catch up here.
As for gaming, it’s the Used-to-Be-E3 period, so game previews and announcements are dropping thick and fast. We’ll be keeping an eye on indie-centric Wholesome Direct 2022 this Saturday, and the big daddy Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase 2022 on Sunday. Expect tons of news and dozens of trailers.
Anyway, moving on to everything else now.
Film
First up is the Black Adam trailer, the latest comic book to screen adaptation from DC/Warner Brothers. The trailer looks… fine… we guess. It’s DCEU, so you know it’s just going to be a massive CGI-fest, but we’ll somehow end up watching it; Noelle because Black Adam is her favourite character from Injustice 2, and Tracy because she loves Dwayne Johnson and will watch literally anything he’s in. So you have that interesting review to look forward to when Black Adam hits theatres this October.
We’ve spoken a few times now about Predator prequel Prey, which is coming to Hulu (and Disney+ in South Africa) on 5 August. Finally, the full trailer is here for the film, which mixes up the franchise’s “Man vs. Merciless, Technologically Superior Alien” formula. Prey shifts the action to the American Great Plains in the 1700s, and has the Predator facing off against Comanche warrior Naru (Amber Midthunder). In a cinematic first, audiences will be able to select an alternate all-Comanche dub of the film, or watch it in its default English-Comanche language format.
In more child-friendly news, there’s a teaser trailer for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest film, Strange World. Helmed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-directed/written by Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon). Strange World sees Jake Gyllenhaal voice Searcher Clade, the son of a steadfast explorer, who isn’t much cut out for the journey his family is on. Strange World releases on 23 November 2022.
In other news, Todd Phillips has revealed that a sequel to Joker is in the works. According to the low-key announcement on Instagram, Phillips, who wrote and directed the 2019 solo outing for the Batman villain, is working on a script for Joker: Folie à Deux with Joker co-writer Scott Silver. The second part of the post seemingly confirms that Joaquin Phoenix will also be involved, as Phillips shared a moody photo of Phoenix reading the script.
Apple have closed on a massive deal for an as-yet-untitled Formula One Racing film from Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. Starring Brad Pitt, with Sir Lewis Hamilton onboard to produce and advise, the biggest news here isn’t the top-tier team involved in the film, but the Apple deal that is combining both the theatrical run and streaming into one tempting package deal. The Hollywood Reporter has the details on why this is a big deal.
Lastly, a small tidbit from Netflix Geeked Week that we haven’t covered yet: Anthony Hopkins is joining the cast of Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon as Jimmy, a sentient JC1435 mechanized battle robot and one-time defender of the slain King.
Television
Courtesy of Summer Game Fest, where a PS5 remake (and PC version) of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us: Part I was revealed, we got our first official still from the upcoming HBO series adaptation of the post-apocalyptic survival game. Here’s Pedro Pascal as Joel, and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, hiding from the franchise’s fungus-transformed enemies, known as Clickers. The Last of Us TV series is expected to debut in 2023.
Some bitter-sweet news for Ted Lasso fans. Writer and Roy Kent actor Brett Goldstein, has said that the show’s third season is being written as its last. As reported by Variety, when asked in an interview with Sunday Times on whether the currently developing season 3 is the final season, Goldstein responded that “We are writing it like that. It was planned as three. Spoiler alert — everyone dies.” I’m going to assume that last bit was a joke, but who knows?
Ok, we promise that this is the last time we mention Netflix. Keen-eared listeners picked up a familiar voice in the latest trailer for The Sandman, and Netflix confirmed it: legendary voice actor and Star Wars lead Mark Hamill has joined the cast of The Sandman. Hamill, who has lent his voice to a Netflix project before in Masters of the Universe: Revelation, will voice Mervyn Pumpkinhead, the jaded, wise-cracking janitor of Dream’s realm.
Books & Comics
It’s now a bit harder to impulse buy ebooks… so that’s a win for your wallet, we guess. You can no longer purchase books via Amazon’s Android Kindle app due to new Google policies that Amazon was previously exempt from. In short, the etailer didn’t want to pay a commission to Google for every single purchase made via the platform.
As a workaround, Amazon advises that you create a wishlist on your Kindle app, then open the Amazon site, and shop that same wishlist linked to your profile. Even with 1-click purchasing enabled, so many steps are likely to put off lazy shoppers.
Gaming
As already mentioned, we’re knee-deep in gaming showcases at the moment, with a couple of biggies coming this weekend. We now also know that the annual Annapurna Interactive Showcase is set for 28 July.
We don’t want to get bogged down in announcements from yesterday’s jam-packed Summer Game Fest, but below you can find a few new games that stood out for us, plus read a full recap here. And you can always watch the hefty three-hour showcase in its entirety, which ends with indie-focused Day of the Devs, full of future gems. These are the games coming to PlayStation specifially.
Whittling things down was tough, but of the new game announcements, these two stood out most of all.
Brace for more psychological horror in space, in the form of Fort Solis. The thriller is being developed by new indie studio Fallen Leaf, as well as Black Drakkar Games, and features the heavy involvement of veteran game voice actors Troy Baker and Roger Clark. Fort Solis centres on a Mars settlement where things go horribly wrong, and the official word is that there will be a lot of exploring and discovering, but at a fast pace. Fort Solis is coming to PC, though has no set release date.
Then, from South African devs Free Lives (the makers of Bro Force, Genital Jousting and more) plus publisher Devolver Digital, there’s Anger Foot. You can play the demo right now for this “ultra fast blast of shattered doors, broken bones, and crumpled energy drinks.” In terms of gameplay, you’ll be clearing out slums, sewers, and skyscrapers as you grab new weapons, unlock new sneakers, and upgrade your powers in absurd and wonderful ways. Anger Foot comes to PC in 2023.
Finally, this is very cool. You’ll soon be able to enjoy Xbox gaming on your Samsung Smart TV with no Xbox console required. All you need is a Samsung 2022 Smart TV, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, and to live in a region where cloud gaming is available. Learn more here.