Since it was formally showcased to the world in all of its putrid, grotesque and oddly promising glory almost two years ago, all has been quiet on the front of Universal's Monsters Universe - and there's good reason for that.
Let it be known that Disney and Lucasfilm have big plans for their Star Wars cinematic universe, and though they may not be mapped out point to point and scene for scene, it's fair to say that the companies have a general idea about the rebooted trilogy and the Anthology series. Should all release dates remain in place, that would place Colin Trevorrow's Episode IX as the final installment in this run of new movies - but what of the future beyond 2019?
Lara Croft has taken one small step toward returning to the big screen today, with The Hollywood Reporter bringing word that the long-gestating Tomb Raider reboot has found a director in Roar Uthaug.
Come Friday, Lionsgate will hope to send off Katniss Everdeen on a high note with the release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2. And eager to capitalize on the YA audience, the first all-too-brief teaser for Snow White prequel The Huntsman: Winter's War has debuted online, with Universal poised to attach the full-length trailer to Mockingjay - Part 2's theatrical run.
If Lucasfilm has been a thriving hub of activity in recent years since the Disney acquisition, the studio is only set to ramp up production even more so moving forward as its rebooted Star Wars universe begins to take shape. Working in tandem with the House of Mouse, the likes of company president Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm CCO John Knoll remain heavily involved in the new franchise, and as revealed to Wired, it was Knoll who first pinpointed the pitch for upcoming standalone prequel, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Releasing today, November 17, across PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in North America, Star Wars Battlefront very much represents the beginning of a journey for its publisher EA. Citing its ten-year partnership deal with Disney, the company's CFO Blake Jorgensen hinted at the potential for the future of the IP in the video game industry, including sequels to Battlefront and the fact that EA's deal also covers the new trilogy and its Anthology series.
Tom Cruise won't be the only 80s action star donning the overalls of the titular Naval Fighter Weapons School once more, now that Val Kilmer has announced that he'll be reprising his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky for Top Gun 2, providing a healthy bout of airborne competition for Maverick once more.
Microsoft and developer Turn 10 have rolled out optional microtransactions for Xbox One racing facsimile Forza Motorsport 6. Introduced via an in-game Token system, the new feature allows players to purchase additional cars, modifications and other extras without having to progress through the ranks, though the studio was quick to note that the in-game purchases are entirely optional.
Six years ago, Jeanne Marie Laskas' GQ exposé Game Brain flew in the face of tradition when it drew a line under the health concerns of playing in the über-popular NFL league. Shedding light on the research of the brilliant, yet rather odd Dr. Bennet Omalu, the Nigerian caused all manner of controversy when he connected the rise in CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) cases with the strenuous nature of the sport.
Though the mega-publisher has flirted with the concept in the past, EA now stands on the verge of building an Assassin's Creed-style action game, with former Ubisoft employee Jade Raymond taking point on the new IP.
