Category: Gamespot

Following the news that The Wire actor Michael K. Williams dropped out of the Han Solo Star Wars movie, we now know who has replaced him, apparently. Director Ron Howard, who himself took over for original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller after they were fired, posted a picture of actor Paul Bettany on set.

The picture itself didn’t confirm anything, as Bettany could have just been visiting. But according to SlashFilm’s sources, Bettany will play the character that Williams was originally set to, but with a big change. The character is now a human instead of a motion-capture alien, according to the report.

This is the third time Howard and Bettany have worked together, following A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code.

The Han Solo movie stars Alden Ehrenreich as Solo and Joonas Suotamo as Chewbacca, while Donald Glover will portray Lando Calrissian. Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Emilia Clarke also star. It hits theaters on May 25, 2018.

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Recently, we learned that a new Joker origin movie is in the works with legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese involved as a producer. Now, a new report has more exciting and interesting news about the film in the area of potential casting.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Oscar winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio is being eyed to play the Joker. No offer has been made to DiCaprio, so this is not a done deal by any stretch; THR also reports that Scorsese’s deal is not finalised.

It sounds like a longshot for DiCaprio to come aboard, but it’s an exciting prospect to think about regardless. “The chances of landing DiCaprio could be slim to none. But the attempt in itself sends a signal to talent that Warners wants to hire serious filmmakers to make serious films,” THR reported.

Scorsese and DiCaprio have worked together on many big-name movies including The Departed, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Wolf of Wall Street. The new Joker movie is to be directed by The Hangover‘s Todd Phillips.

Jared Leto played the Joker in Suicide Squad and will reprise the role in its sequel, as well as a spinoff movie, but he won’t play the role in the new origin film. Sources told THR that Leto made his unhappiness known to his CAA agents about the possibility of there being two Jokers.

The untitled Joker spinoff will be a “gritty and grounded hard-boiled crime film set in the early ’80s Gotham City.” Interestingly, WB is reportedly setting up the film not as a DC movie but rather like one of Scorsese’s ’80s-set movies like Raging Bull or Taxi Driver.

Phillips is writing the script alongside 8 Mile‘s Scott Silver. No release date has been set, and overall it still sounds like very early days.

Would you like to see DiCaprio play the Joker? Let us know in the comments below!

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PC‘s ambitious Monster Hunter-like game Dauntless is still a few months away from release, but players now have a chance to try the title early. Beginning today, the cooperative action-RPG enters into closed beta.

According to developer Phoenix Labs, the Dauntless closed beta will “build upon” the game’s live service with a regular stream of updates and content. This will include new weapons and gear, story expansions, and Behemoths to slay.

Players who’d like to jump into the closed beta can gain access by purchasing one of the Founder’s Packs from the game’s website. Along with beta access, each pack contains an assortment of items to use in-game. The cheapest option retails for $40 and grants players “champion status” for 90 days, increasing Behemoth drops. It also includes a kit of consumable items, an in-game title and forum icon, and an exclusive flare. The $70 Hero pack, meanwhile, contains all of the aforementioned items along with 10 Chromo Cores to dye your gear and 10 Transmog Stones to change your gear’s appearance but retain its stats.

Those who are attending PAX West in Seattle this weekend will also have a chance to try the game. Phoenix Labs is featuring hands-on demos of the Dauntless closed beta at its booth. Phoenix says that players who “emerge victorious from battle” will earn exclusive rewards and be granted access to the beta.

Dauntless is still without a firm release date, but Phoenix Labs says it will release as a free-to-play downloadable game by the end of 2017. An open beta will also be available, though that, likewise, doesn’t currently have a date. We got to play Dauntless at E3 2017 earlier this summer and found that, despite its similarities to Capcom’s series, it isn’t just a simple Monster Hunter clone.

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Apple has confirmed it will hold its next big conference on September 12 in Cupertino, California, where it is expected to reveal its new iPhone 8. In an invite (via CNET), the company announced the event will happen at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM BST (3 AM AET on September 13 in Australia).

Although the iPhone is not specifically mentioned in the invite, Apple traditionally unveils its new phone models in September of each year, before releasing them later in the same month. The company is expected to reveal both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7s, as well as an iPhone 7s Plus and other products such as a new Apple Watch model and potentially a new Apple TV.

The iPhone 8 is rumored to feature face-scanning technology and reportedly won’t have a home button. This next lineup of iPhones–alongside the release of iOS 11–could be particularly good for gamers, as well. Earlier this year, Apple announced several gaming-related projects, such as ARKit for augmented-reality games on iOS, as well as support for Unity, Unreal Engine, and VR headsets on MacOS. Although most of these announcements have been focused on Apple’s desktops, it’s not inconceivable that we see greater attention paid to mobile gaming at the iPhone reveal event.

This year is an important one for Apple as iPhone sales have fallen slightly in the last couple of years. This year also marks the 10-year anniversary of the original iPhone’s launch. In addition, the September event will be the first public conference held in Apple’s new Steve Jobs Theater, named after the late Apple co-founder who died in 2011.

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We finally know when Battlefield 1‘s new expansion is coming out. In the Name of the Tsar’s release date has been revealed as September 19, though Premium Pass members will get two weeks’ early access starting September 5.

Publisher EA is calling In the Name of the Tsar Battlefield 1’s “most extensive expansion yet.” It costs US $15 / £12 / AU $25 (or US $50 / £40 / AU $70 as part of the Premium Pass) and includes six maps, a new mode, and more.

One of the maps, Lupkow Pass, is already out for people who own the Premium Pass. The others are: Albion, Galicia, Brusilov Keep, Tsaritsyn (which you can see the first gameplay of in the video above), and Volga River. Developer DICE’s descriptions, courtesy of the PlayStation Blog, can be found at the bottom of this article.

The new mode, meanwhile, is called Supply Drop. It’s set on the Eastern Front and sees teams compete to recover airdrops that provide them with additional weaponry. New Operations are also included with the expansion, such as the Brusilov Offensive, while more medals, dog tags, and service stars will be added, too.

Following In the Name of the Tsar’s release, an Operations update will follow in October, with a standard update coming after that in November. December brings the third expansion, the “amphibious warfare”-centric Turning Tides. The fourth DLC pack, Apocalypse, focuses on “the most infamous battles” of World War I and launches in early 2018. If you haven’t already purchased the game, EA recently announced and released Battlefield 1’s Revolution edition, which packages the game together with its Premium Pass for US $60 / £55 / AU $90. Alternatively, the shooter is now available for free with EA/Origin Access on Xbox One/PC.

Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar Maps

Lupkow Pass: The vertical fights are as bitter as the cold as you fight amid snow-covered ravines and treacherous mountains. The first map of Battlefield 1 In the Name of the Tsar, Lupkow Pass pits the Austro-Hungarian forces against the dug-in troops of the Russian Imperial Army. With narrow passes and gorges constantly limiting your sightlines, adapting your tactics is key. You’ll want to gain altitude and get a vantage point on the enemy to help secure the win – but an Armored Train may just change the outcome of the battle.

Albion: Partake in the skirmishes of the Albion assault in this massive invasion of the Baltic peninsula, as the German Empire enacts a brutal coastal bombardment against the heavy gun batteries of the Russian forces. While expert vehicle and artillery use is crucial, sharp-eyed infantry that are able to stay ahead of the mayhem can make a serious impact with each capture point.

Galicia: Set during the epic Brusilov Offensive, you’ll find the Russian Empire committed to pushing back the Austro-Hungarian forces from within the Russian countryside. It’s an open map focused on infantry, cavalry, and light vehicles. With plenty of open space to traverse, it’s a great opportunity to make use of the cavalry charge as both lightning-fast transport and a serious threat to enemies on foot.

Brusilov Keep: The Russians have pushed the Austro-Hungarians back into a secluded mountain town along a critical trade route of the Eastern Front, but the opposition is making a strong stand on this infantry-focused map. Set in the shadow of the Carpathian Mountains, there’s a big emphasis on close-range soldier combat here. Your best bet? Top-notch teamwork with your squad.

Tsaritsyn: The Bolsheviks and the Imperials enter the fray among barricaded streets as the old and new regimes fight for the soul of Russia. This up-close and personal infantry fight is as ruthless as they come. Use the house-to-house fighting to your advantage by setting up ambushes for overextending enemies.

Volga River: A ruined rural battleground sets the stage for a tank fight between the Bolsheviks in red and the Imperial Army in white. Makeshift shelters provide cover from the freezing cold and the constant exchange of heavy firepower. As you trade salvos with enemy tanks, remember to keep yourself from being outnumbered. A strategic retreat can give you time to regroup and prevent losing vehicle resources.

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