The Geek Generation Network

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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All the Marvel shows from Disney+ Day 2021

Disney+ unleashed a huge amount of Marvel news for Disney+ Day, providing updates on 12 different shows.

Here’s the rundown:

Moon Knight, starring Oscar Isaac as Marc Spector, a complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities who live inside him find themselves thrust into a deadly war of the gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. Moon Knight will debut next year.

She-Hulk, starring Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who specializes in superhuman-oriented legal cases. The show will welcome a host of Marvel characters to the series, including Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Tim Roth’s Abomination. She-Hulk will arrive in 2022.

Ms. Marvel, starring Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan, a 16-year old Pakistani American from Jersey City. Kamala is an aspiring artist, an avid gamer, and a huge fan of the Avengers, Captain Marvel in particular. She’s always struggled to find her place in the world, until she gets super powers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Ms. Marvel will premiere in the summer of 2022.

Echo, starring Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, is a live-action spinoff of the upcoming Hawkeye series.

Ironheart, starring Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man.

Agatha: House of Harkness, starring Kathryn Hahn returning as her character from WandaVision.

Secret Invasion, a series starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn as the Skrull Talos, who met one another in Captain Marvel.

Season 2 of Marvel’s What If… ?, in which The Watcher returns to meet new heroes and explore more strange new worlds in the MCU’s multiverse.

Marvel Zombies, an animated series that reimagines the Marvel Universe as a new generation of heroes battle against an ever-spreading zombie scourge.

I Am Groot, a series of original shorts exploring Baby Groot’s glory days growing up, and getting into trouble, among the stars.

X-Men ’97, an animated series that explores new stories in the iconic ‘90s timeline of the original series.

Spider-Man: Freshman Year, an animated series that follows Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, with a journey unlike we’ve ever seen and a style that celebrates the character’s early comic book roots.

Baymax! series get first trailer

Disney has revealed that a new Big Hero 6 spinoff show titled Baymax! will be coming to Disney Plus in Summer 2022.

Alongside the reveal, Disney also shared a short teaser for the series, which shows off Baymax as he attempts to save the world, one patient at a time. While little has been revealed about the show’s plot, it seems as if it will follow the character as he attempts to help ordinary citizens to better their lives across the city of San Fransokyo.

From slowly attempting to master the skills of a coffee shop barista to delivering a lengthy speech on the applications of band-aids to a group of school children it seems that Baymax might have his work cut out for him.

Boba Fett arrives in Fortnite on December 24th

Epic Games has announced that the bounty hunter Boba Fett will arrive in Fortnite on December 24th, the weekend before The Book of Boba Fett debuts on Disney+. Epic hasn’t said much more about the crossover, but judging by the teaser art the studio shared, Fett’s partner Fennec Shand will also make an appearance.

AcornBandit [Twitter]

Avatar: The Last Airbender Series Recap

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/dea938b4-494a-47ca-8d1c-50fd81a6cfed/stream.mp3

Book Three Cover Art by Mirggles!

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Star Wars: Rogue Squadron movie delayed

Rogue Squadron, the Star Wars feature project due to be directed by Wonder Woman filmmaker Patty Jenkins, has been delayed.

Jenkins and writer Matthew Robinson have been developing the movie for Lucasfilm for over a year, with the goal of starting production in 2022. However, sources have told The Hollywood Reporter that the producers and filmmaking team came to the realization that Jenkins’ schedule and other commitments wouldn’t allow for the window needed to make the movie within that timeframe.

As a result, Rogue Squadron has been taken off the production schedule. The hope is that once Jenkins’ fulfills her previous commitments, she’ll be able to return to the project.

Disney+ will allow you to watch 13 Marvel films in IMAX format

Disney+ has announced that it’s adding an expanded IMAX aspect ratio for 13 Marvel titles on November 12th, the company’s advertised Disney+ Day. The IMAX aspect ratio will look up to 26% taller than the typical widescreen format, so the horizontal black bars will almost disappear during scenes shot in IMAX.

The new feature, being referred to as IMAX Enhanced, isn’t delivering the large film format’s true aspect ratio, which is more square. But, as evidenced by Zack Snyder’s Justice League, this version will make better use of your screen’s viewable space.

The full list of Marvel movies to receive IMAX Enhanced format are:

New Among Us update includes a store, achievements, and roles

Among Us has released a hefty update that includes new roles for Crewmates, achievements, and a storefront with cosmetics.

The new storefront is full of hats, skins, pets, visors, nameplate panels, and bundles that include multiple cosmetics. Playing the game gives players XP, pods, and beans. Beans are free-to-play currency that unlock store items, but players can also spend real money on stars for immediate unlocks.

Cosmicubes, which are branching cosmetic trees, can be purchased with beans or stars, and the contents within can be unlocked by using pods that are earned through gameplay.

New roles were revealed including the previously announced alien Shapeshifter who can disguise themselves as Crewmates. Crewmate roles include the Scientist, who can check on crew vitals at any time, the Engineer who can use vents, and the Guardian Angel, which is a dead crewmate who can save allies from getting one-hit killed by Impostors. These roles can be customized in the settings or disabled for those who don’t like them.

Konami pulls Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3 from digital stores

Konami is removing Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 from digital storefronts for the time being due to licensing issues, making them no longer available to purchase at this time. The publisher said it’s working on renewing the licenses for select historical archive footage used in-game. Along with the individual games, Konami is also pulling bundles that include either game.

It’s unclear when both games will return to stores, or whether Konami will keep the footage in question, but the company has called the removals a temporary decision and said it will work towards making these products available for purchase once again.

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Spider-Man comes to Marvel’s Avengers as a PlayStation exclusive

Crystal Dynamics has finally revealed when Spider-Man will arrive in Marvel’s Avengers video game. The webslinger will join the PS4 and PS5 versions of the game on November 30th as a PlayStation exclusive.

There will be a hero event to accompany Spidey’s debut. After discovering AIM’s plan to make its Synthoid army unstoppable, Spider-Man teams up with the Avengers to tackle the threat. Unfortunately, Crystal Dynamics hasn’t yet offered a proper look at its take on the hero.

The studio initially said it would add Spider-Man early this year, but that didn’t pan out. Along with Spider-Man, an update later this month will add more cosmetic items (including outfits inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe), a new type of enemy called Echoes and a Klaw raid. The resource and gear upgrade systems will also be reworked and the power level cap will be increased.

Jenna Dewan’s Lucy Lane returning for Superman & Lois

Jenna Dewan is set to reprise her role as Lucy Lane for the upcoming second season of Superman & Lois. The actress, who will be credited as a recurring role, appeared as the sister of Lois Lane on Supergirl during the first season of the CBS turned CW drama. This will be her first time back in the Arrowverse since 2016, and will mark the first time that Lucy and Lois Lane have shared the screen in this continuity.

Chloe Zhao confirms a cameo in an Eternals post-credits scene

Spoiler warning if you haven’t yet seen Marvel’s Eternals.

Like most Marvel movies, Eternals contained two additional scenes throughout the end credits. The second of these features Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman approaching and opening a case that reveals a sword inside. As he prepares to touch the sword, Dane says, “I’m sorry, I have to try.” He’s then interrupted by the voice of an offscreen character who says, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”

In an interview with Fandom, director Chloe Zhao confirmed the identity of this voice as Mahershala Ali’s Blade, making this the official debut of the daywalker in the MCU. What this means for the future of Blade’s story remains to be seen.

AcornBandit [Twitter]

The End of Book Three

https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/cd1f98f8-bb89-483b-b775-ebf99ce13693/stream.mp3

Book Three Cover Art by Mirggles!

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

https://feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/1154164306-the-geek-generation-geek-news-brief-2021-11-05.mp3

Gael Garcia Bernal cast as Werewolf by Night for Marvel’s Disney+ Halloween special

Golden Globe winning actor Gael Garcia Bernal has been set to lead the cast of Marvel’s werewolf-focused Halloween special that will air on Disney+.

While details about the project are being kept strictly under wraps, individuals with knowledge say the character may be based on Werewolf by Night, a name used by two separate Marvel characters.

Daniel Dae Kim cast as Fire Lord Ozai in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender

Daniel Dae Kim has joined the cast of Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender series.

Kim will play Fire Lord Ozai, the ruthlessly driven leader of the Fire Nation who demands that everyone live up to his impossible standards, especially his teenage son, Prince Zuko. Ozai’s drive to conquer and unite the world under firebender rule is a family burden – he believes that it’s his destiny to finish a war started by his ancestors.

Kim is no stranger to the Avatar franchise, as he provided the voice of General Fong in the series and video game, as well as Hiroshi Sato on The Legend of Korra.

Gal Gadot to play the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action Snow White

According to Deadline, Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot is in final negotiations to play the Evil Queen in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Snow White.

Rachel Zegler is set to play the titular character, with Marc Webb directing.

While casting for Snow White was long and thorough, studio execs always had their eye on Gadot for the role that started it all when it comes to classic Disney villains. Gadot was also intrigued at the opportunity of joining stars like Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett, who previously played iconic villains from the Disney vault. After scheduling was worked out, a deal closed this week.

Skyrim is getting a board game

Just in case you were running out of ways to play Skyrim, Modiphius Entertainment has announced that they’re working on The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – The Adventure Game. This new version of Skyrim is a tabletop board game that will allow you to revisit Tamriel’s frozen north as an agent of the Imperial Blades. You can play either by yourself or with up to three other friends.

The narrative-driven game will ship with two campaigns made up of three chapters. Modiphius says each one should take about 90 to 120 minutes to complete. Provided you don’t get distracted by side quests and exploration, you can expect your initial playthrough to take about 12 hours, in which you can “save” your progress at any point and pick up where you left off. With a deck of about 600 cards, no two sessions should play out exactly the same.

While the physical edition is the company’s focus, Skyrim – The Adventure Game will have a demo version coming soon to Tabletop Simulator on PC.

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Chris Pratt to voice Garfield in a new animated movie

Chris Pratt has secured another major character for his voice acting resume, as the actor will provide the voice of Garfield in a new animated movie.

The new Garfield film will be released by Sony Pictures with a script by Finding Nemo’s David Reynolds and directed by Chicken Little’s Mark Dindal. The same duo previously worked together on Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove.

Previous voice actors for Garfield include the late Lorenzo Music who originated the role on television, and Bill Murray who took over for the two previous films. While Murray’s Garfield movies were a live-action and CG-hybrid, the new film will be fully animated.

Ava DuVernay explains why the New Gods movie was cancelled

Director Ava DuVernay has shed some light on why the New Gods movie she was co-writing and set to direct was cancelled by Warner Bros. Pictures. In a new interview with Sirius XM, DuVernay addressed the topic by saying that Darkseid’s appearance in Zack Snyder’s Justice League was the primary reason.

The director said, “I loved New Gods, which is the project that got axed. The studio decided that they did not want to pursue a certain part of the comic world based on some things that were going on with another film in that world. So, before I even was able to kind of complete m y script with Tom King, they axed it.”

Despite what happened, DuVernay is still producing DC’s Naomi TV series on The CW and DC’s DMZ adaptation on HBO Max.

Blizzard delays Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV

Activision Blizzard is once again delaying Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV. The company said that while they’re still planning to deliver a substantial amount of content next year, they’re now planning for a later launch for Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV than originally envisioned.

They went on to say that while their teams have made great strides towards completion, they believe giving their teams extra time to complete production and continue growing their creative resources to support the titles after launch will ensure that these games will engage their communities for many years into the future.

No release window has been set for either delayed title.

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Amy Hennig’s new studio is making a game with Marvel

Skydance New Media, the game development studio headed by former Uncharted creative director Amy Hennig, will partner with Marvel Entertainment to produce a new video game.

The upcoming title will be a narrative-driven, action-adventure game, featuring a completely original story and take on the Marvel Universe. The companies did not announce which Marvel characters would be featured in the game, nor a release date or platforms for the project.

Hennig said of the project, “I can’t imagine a better partner than Marvel for our first game. The Marvel Universe epitomizes all the action, mystery, and thrills of the pulp adventure genre that I adore and lends itself perfectly to an interactive experience. It’s an honor to be able to tell an original story with all the humanity, complexity, and humor that makes Marvel characters so enduring and to enable our players to embody these heroes that they love.”

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is coming to VR on Oculus Quest 2

One of the most-loved entries in Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto series is coming to VR. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that a version of 2004’s GTA: San Andreas is in development for the company’s Quest 2 VR headset.

As stated by Zuckerberg, “This new version of what I think is one of the greatest games ever made will offer players an entirely new way to experience this iconic open world in virtual reality.”

No other details, like price, a release date, or game footage have been revealed, but many outlets are comparing the effort to the recently released and surprisingly successful VR adaptation of Capcom’s Resident Evil 4.

Bill Murray implies that he’ll play a part in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Bill Murray is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in an unknown role. In a recent interview with a German outlet, Murray said, “You know, recently I made a Marvel movie. I probably won’t tell you, but never mind. In any case, some people were quite surprised why I decided on such a project. But for me the thing was quite clear: I got to know the director – and really liked him very much. He was funny, humble, everything you want from a director. And with the cheerleader story Bring It On he made years ago, which I think is damn good. So I agreed, although I’m not interested in these huge comic book adaptations as an actor otherwise.”

While Murray never confirmed the specific movie he worked on, the logical connection is Peyton Reed, the director of both his cheerleading movie Bring It On, and Marvel’s Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Dune: Part Two announced for 2023

Legendary Pictures has confirmed plans to release Dune: Part Two, by tweeting out “This is only the beginning… Thank you to those who have experienced Dune so far, and those who are going in the days and weeks ahead. We’re excited to continue the journey!”

The studio expects the movie to premiere on October 20th, 2023, with director, producer, and co-screenwriter Denis Villeneuve returning.

Brendan Fraser to play villain in Warner Bros. upcoming Batgirl movie

Brendan Fraser is set to join Leslie Grace in Warner Bros. and DC Films’ upcoming Batgirl movie. While not confirmed, sources told Deadline that they believe Fraser will play the supervillain Firefly.

The film is set for release on HBO Max, marking one of the first major DC properties to debut exclusively on the streamer, though a specific release date has not yet been announced.

Sony sets 2023 release dates for two new Marvel movies

Sony continues to plot the future of their Marvel universe, as the studio has confirmed 2023 release dates for two mystery Marvel projects. The unnamed films are scheduled to hit theaters on June 23 and October 6 of 2023. It’s likely that one of these films will be Venom 3, but at this point that’s purely speculation.

Sony is currently set to release Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 17th, Morbius on January 28, 2022, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 on October 7, 2022.

Ryan Gosling cast as Ken in upcoming Barbie film

Deadline is reporting that Ryan Gosling will be playing Ken in Warner Bros.’ upcoming Barbie movie, starring opposite Margot Robbie.

Given his busy schedule, Gosling initially passed on playing the part, but insiders add that as pre-production time increased and the studio remained persistent with him being their only choice, an opening in his schedule appeared, allowing him to sign on.

Plot details are unknown at this time, but given director Greta Gerwig’s track record, one can expect that this won’t be your typical take on the doll’s story.

Host: Rob Logan [Twitter] [Twitch]

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Overwatch hero McCree renamed to Cole Cassidy

Blizzard has revealed the new name for the Overwatch hero that’s currently known as Jesse McCree, and it’s Cole Cassidy.

The name change will take effect in-game on October 26th, with the company tweeting out a monologue from the gunslinger himself.

“The first thing a renegade loses is their name, and this one gave up his long ago. Running from his past meant running from himself, and each passing year only widened that divide between who he had been and what he had become. But in every cowboy’s life, there comes a time when he has to stop and make a stand. To make this new Overwatch better — to make things right — he had to be honest with his team and himself. The cowboy he was rode into the sunset, and Cole Cassidy faced the world at dawn.”

Blizzard changed McCree’s name as part of a broader plan to remove references to real-life developers and former employees of the studio in the wake of a lawsuit related to the company’s former real life employee Jesse McCree.

Jon Watts compares Spider-Man: No Way Home to Avengers: Endgame

In a recent interview with Empire, director Jon Watts teased how big Spider-Man: No Way Home could be, saying, “We’re definitely trying to be ambitious… It’s Spider-Man: Endgame.”

Tom Holland, the man behind the mask, also spoke about the film saying, “When I was first pitched the idea, I was like, ‘Wow, that would be awesome if we could pull it off, but there’s just no way it’s going to work. You’re just not going to be able to get everyone to do what they need to do. It’s just not going to happen.’ But it did happen. And it’s crazy.”

Spider-Man: No Way Home is scheduled to hit theaters on December 17.

Star Wars: Ahsoka will also include Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker

Hayden Christensen will be returning to the role of Anakin Skywalker for Disney+’s upcoming series Star Wars: Ahsoka.

It’s unclear how Skywalker, or for that matter, Darth Vader, will figure into Ahsoka, which, like The Mandalorian, is set five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, and therefore after Vader’s death. As Ahsoka Tano was Anakin’s padawan, it could be in flashbacks, though it’s also just as likely that Anakin will be appear in the form of a Force Ghost.

While the news comes from several sources that informed The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has yet to officially comment.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition release date

Grand Theft Auto’s remastered trilogy, which includes Grand Theft Auto 3, GTA: Vice City, and GTA: San Andreas, is releasing digitally on November 11th, with a physical release for consoles following on December 7th.

The updated versions will feature new aiming and shooting controls, modeled off the much smoother controls from GTA 5. They will also feature that later game’s weapon and radio station wheels, as well as an improved mini-map that allows players to set their destination.

Rockstar also promised updated character and vehicle models, a new weather system, and a suite of graphical improvements and resolution updates. The Nintendo Switch version will also have its own special control updates, including gyro aiming controls and touch-screen camera options.