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Academy Award-winning actor Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of The Lambs, The Father) has signed on to play Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud in the film Freud’s Last Session. The movie is based on the stage play by Mark St. Germain (The God Committee), who adapted the script, with Matthew Brown (The Man Who Knew Infinity) directing.

“Set on the eve of WWII and towards the end of his life, Freud’s Last Session sees Freud (Hopkins) invite iconic author C.S. Lewis for a debate over the existence of God. Exploring Freud’s unique relationship with his lesbian daughter Anna and Lewis’ unconventional romance with his best friend’s mother, the film interweaves past, present and fantasy, bursting from the confines of Freud’s study on a dynamic journey.”

Director, Brown, said of the project:

“Beyond my own intellectual curiosity and inclination towards this piece, there is a deep recognition of how incredibly timely and important this film is. We live in an age that is so ideologically polarized, where everyone is stuck in their own tribes, with no real dialogue. I want to make a film for all audiences that is emotional, thought-provoking and creative. A film that asks the big questions, while investigating what is at the heart of the human condition: love, faith and mortality.”

The film is set to sell at Cannes this month, and will begin shooting in the fourth quarter of 2022 in London.

In preparation for the release of Stranger Things 4 this weekend, we’ve got a new promo video for you to watch. It features the cast of the series recapping the first three seasons of the series. It’s a wonderful reminder of the events that have taken place over the course series so far and it’s a great way to set up what’s coming in Season 4. There are a few things that I forgot about, so this is a good way to be reminded of some things. Check it out!

In the new season, “It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.”

The new season’s cast includes Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler) with Matthew Modine (Dr. Brenner) and Paul Reiser (Dr. Owens).

Additional cast members include Jamie Campbell Bower (Peter Ballard), Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson), Eduardo Franco (Argyle), Sherman Augustus (Lt. Colonel Sullivan), Mason Dye (Jason Carver), Nikola Djuricko (Yuri), Tom Wlaschiha (Dmitri), Myles Truitt (Patrick), Regina Ting Chen (Ms. Kelly), Grace Van Dien (Chrissy), Logan Riley Bruner (Fred Benson), Logan Allen (Jake), Elodie Grace Orkin (Angela), John Reynolds (Officer Callahan), Rob Morgan (Chief Powell), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie) and Robert Englund (Victor Creel).

The directors of this season include The Duffer Brothers (401, 402, 407, 408, 409), Shawn Levy (403, 404), and Nimród Antal (405, 406).

Stranger Things 4 arrives on Netflix on May 27, 2022, which will drop the first seven of nine episodes. The additional episodes will be released on July 1st.

If you’re sick of Pokémon but still like the concept, then you will be interested in trying out Nexomon. A new Nexomon + Nexomon: Exctinction: Complete Collection will be coming out later this year physically on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Not only will you get both games in the same launcher, but some new Nexomon are being introduced in this collection. Here’s what you can expect to find:

Prismazor is a wildly popular plant Nexomon in the Nexomon community and even won a popularity contest among tamers. It not only looks impressive but also battles with incredible skill. This Nexomon is an all-rounder, and it is proven to be the go-to Nexomon for most experienced tamers.

Carnagrius are not particularly fond of humans. A long time ago, humans destroyed their natural habitat making them very cautious of tamers. Although it is tough to earn a Carnagrius trust, once a tamer achieves this feat, they become inseparable.

Jeeta is the fastest Nexomon to date. Not a single Nexomon comes even close to matching its full speed. Jeeta uses its electrified nervous system to jumpstart its muscles like no other Nexomon. You won’t even see it coming.

It actually looks pretty good, the graphics are nice and with over 600 Nexomon to discover, it’s sure to keep you entertained for hours. 

From the director of Your Name, Makoto Shinkai‘s newest movie, Suzume No Tojimari, will be distributed globally with a joint effort from Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures, and Wild Bunch International. Releasing in Japan on November 11, 2022, other territories can expect to see it early 2023. In North America, Crunchyroll is the sole distributor.  In Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East and portions of Europe, the film will be distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment. In French- and German-speaking Europe, the film will be co-distributed by Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures and Wild Bunch International.  

Shinkai has made a name for himself in the world of animation with his previous films Your Name and Weathering With You. Suzume No Tojimari looks like it should also be really good. Here’s the official synopsis:

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—

“Suzume no Tojimari” is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation. 

Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.

Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…

Never-before-seen scenery, encounters and farewells… A myriad of challenges await her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts. 

Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

It sounds and looks great so far. You can check out the trailer below.

Nerdburger Games recently launched their Kickstarter for their new solo tabletop RPG Secrets of the Vibrant Sea. Described as rules-lite RPG mixed with a choose-your-own-adventure, Secrets of the Vibrant Sea lets you play a character exploring an ocean.

You’ll need to roll dice to help determine outcomes and consequences of your choices and it sounds like a lot of fun. If you get the urge to play a roleplaying game and can’t find others for any reason, you can just take some time and play this game. As for replayability, the Kickstarter promises that the inhabitants change each time you play and there’s a wide variety of things you can do, gear you can have, and more which is always promising.

The Vibrant Sea is a long-forgotten realm of mystery, wonders, and deep, dark secrets. Your character has found their way to the Vibrant Isle and will explore the Vibrant Sea around it. But will they and their friends be able to stop the darkness that threatens to destroy this wonderful place?

Secrets of the Vibrant Sea is a solo tabletop roleplaying game where you portray a character exploring a fantastical ocean. As you play the game, you’ll improve your boat, improve yourself, and explore many dozens of the sea’s beautiful wonders and murky caves.

And you’ll meet the inhabitants who call the ocean their home.

This ocean is a mystical realm filled with the spirits of those who died seeking the magic of this place. Your character will join forces with locals to face these angry ghosts and stop their plans…plans that would destroy the island and lay waste to The Vibrant Sea.

You can back Secrets of the Vibrant Sea now on Kickstarter and for as little as $15, you’ll be able to get a PDF copy which is currently estimated for delivery in September.

Asmodee recently announced a new studio called Access+ which will help create board games that are accessible to even more players, particularly those with cognitive disabilities. The new studio is starting by adapting three of Asmodee’s greatest hits to become Spot It! Access+, Cortex Access+, and Timeline Access+ which will be available in France, Belgium, and Canada later this year and a worldwide release in 2023.

To help make thsese titles more accessible to individuals with cognitive abilities, Asmodee has brought in an external scientific committee of expert care professionals. The goal of the Access+ team and its partners is to “adapt and test the material, rules and difficulty of its titles to stimulate cognitive functions, promote positive emotions and social relationships and provide the joy in discovering (or rediscovering) the pleasure of playing together.” Talking about starting up Access+, Mikaël Le Bourhis, who is the head of Asmodee Research said:

Over several years, Asmodee has invested in scientific research to demonstrate the societal impact board games can have. Now we’re ready to put that research into practice with Access+, creating games that not only are fun to play but provide real, tested benefits to those with special needs, starting with cognitive impairment.

Stéphane Carville, CEO of Asmodee, added:

Access+ is launched because, at Asmodee, we believe board games are universal. By starting to adapt some of our most popular titles to fit the needs of all, we can strive to make board gaming as inclusive and accessible as possible. As an industry leader, we want to create products that can truly make a difference in people’s lives. Board gaming is social by nature, and Access+ titles allow families and friends to re-introduce the fun of board gaming to their loved ones with special needs, creating moments of happiness that can only come from shared experiences.

Some features of Access+ games to make them more accessible include bigger and thicker cards that are easier to hold, adapted rules, various difficulty options, and even a single-player version to promote autonomy. Each of the Access+ games will also come with a booklet that breaks down the scientific benefits of playing the game.

Lucasfilm’s upcoming Star Wars series The Acolyte is going to be a mystery-thriller that will take fans into “a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark side powers in the final days of the High Republic era.” This is an era that has not been explored before in TV and or film, and I’ve been pretty curious about what this show is actually going to deliver.

Well, thanks to showrunner Leslye Headland (Russian Doll), we have some new details to share with you about some things we can expect from the show, its tone, and style. She told Vanity Fair:

“[The Mandalorian creator] Jon Favreau said that when you’re working in this world, you want to go back to what George [Lucas] was inspired by. There were westerns and then of course, Akira Kurosawa samurai films, and the fact that he originally offered [the role of] Obi-Wan Kenobi to Toshiro Mifune.”

The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett drew heavily from western and samurai genre films, but The Acolyte is going to take a slightly different approach. She is looking at Chinese martial arts movies, specifically, wuxia movies, for inspiration.

Wuxia films are martial arts movies that also incorporate fantasy elements. They also tell stories of working-class warriors who follow a code of chivalry in which they fight for social equality and righteousness, redress wrongs, remove oppressors, and bring retribution for past misdeeds.

Headland is hoping that this set The Acolyte apart from the other Star Wars projects that have been made. She also says that the story is more on a personal level for the characters:

“So I actually went more toward martial arts films, and storylines that are a little bit more personal and less global and galactic. Those warriors were on missions that were deeply personal, with people feeling wronged and having to make it right. Wuxia films and martial arts films from King Hu and the Shaw Brothers, like ‘Come Drink With Me’ and ‘[A] Touch Of Zen.’ They’re monks that are also martial arts heroes.”

This is a great approach to tackling a Star Wars story and I’m sure it will pay off in the end. The Acolyte takes place roughly 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It was also previously explained that the show “specifically explores the rise of the Dark Side in those final days of the High Republic era.” When talking about why she wanted to set the series during this time, she said:

“The truth is that I, as a major mega fan, came to them with this idea. And I said, ‘I think the best place to put this is in an era you guys have not quite explored yet.’ They were very enthusiastic. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to explore that [existing] world, but I think that they already were because ‘The Mandalorian’ and a lot of the other television projects were really relying on legacy characters.”

An acolyte in the Star Wars universe refers to “a Sith who has just begun their training under an experienced Sith Lord.” Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give, The Darkest Minds) is set to star in the series, and I’m excited about watching it!

Back in February, Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers wrote a letter to fans revealing that the series would air its upcoming fourth season and go on to wrap up the series with a fifth and final season. They said they’d been in discussions about a spin-off that would take the universe they created into a weird and different direction. And as it turns out, only one member of the cast knows what that plan is.

In a recent statement given to Variety, the Duffers said:

“We do have an idea for a spinoff that we’re super excited about … but we haven’t told anyone the idea yet, much less written it. We think everyone — including Netflix — will be surprised when they hear the concept, because it’s very, very different. But somehow Finn Wolfhard — who is one crazy smart kid — correctly guessed what it was going to be about. But aside from Finn, no one else knows!”

And I bet it will be a good long time before we do find out what it’s about! We still have Seasons 4 and 5 to watch, and who knows what will go down in the series between now and then? It will be fun to theorize about though, and it’s good to know that the Duffers’ insane talent will bring us awesome new content beyond the ending flagship series.

Stranger Things Season 4 part 1 will debut this Friday, May 27th, and Season 4 part 2 will drop on July 1st.

MultiVersus is a new game coming out from Warner Bros. Games that will pit your favorite Warner Bros. characters against each other. We have characters from a lot of different universes including Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, DC, Game of Thrones, Steven Universe, Adventure Time, and it looks like even the Iron Giant will be making an appearance and more.

The trailer showed off a lot of different pairings of fighters including a match made in heaven, Harley Quinn and Tasmanian Devil. The game looks great so far with great animation and voice work. A closed Alpha test is scheduled for May 19-27 and an open Beta is scheduled for July with a full release slated for later this year.

Check out the trailer below and let me know what you think, will you be checking this game out?

Mad Max: Fury Road director George Miller has announced that he is teaming back up with composer Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL, to create the epic musical score for next installment of the Mad Max franchise, Furiosa.

Junkie XL sis an incredible job on Fury Road! I loved the musical score of that film, and I have no doubt he’s going to deliver some more badass music for Furiosa. Miller and Junkie XL also recently worked together on the upcoming movie 3000 Years of Longing, which looks crazy good!

Holkenborg said in a statement: “What a week in Cannes for George and ‘3000 Years of Longing,’ which I sadly had to miss, but can’t wait for people to see this remarkable film. Also! Very grateful to continue my journey with George with his next installment of the Mad Max series: ‘Furiosa.’”

Furiosa stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Taylor-Joy will play the title role, a younger version of Furiosa and Hemsworth is playing a character named Dementus, the villain of the story.

When previously talking about Furiosa, Miller hinted that the backstory is one he would like to explore: “Yeah, she’s a pretty compelling character so it would be great to tell her story. Her backstory is really interesting. We only allude to it in this movie because this movie is on the run; people don’t have much time for recreational talk. But you pick up, you have a sense of her having gone through stuff. That’s what the film is trying to do. You’re trying to put a lot of iceberg under the tip, I like saying. One of the things that’s really gratifying, people are reading the film more than just the surface — the events of the movie, and just picking up a lot of stuff underneath it, which is very deliberate……So in many ways, the audience is picking up a lot about Furiosa — or enough to intrigue. And she’s got an interesting story.”

The movie is currently in production and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!