With the recently released Mass Effect: Legendary Edition bundling together the original trilogy into one galaxy-spanning package, players have been diving back into the remastered games to relive Commander Shepard’s glory days. The sci-fi RPGs are known for their well-written characters, stellar voice acting, and expansive universe. They are also known for some odd graphical glitches. With such a heavy emphasis on story and spoken dialogue, the Mass Effect games all feature numerous cutscenes in which the protagonist has lengthy conversations with various characters. These scenes usually involve lots of up-close camera work on the character's faces, which can reveal some oddities in the animations and faces of the Mass Effect crew. Sometimes these are minor, like poor lip-sync, but sometimes they can be much worse. Reddit user TheSilversky64 has uploaded a video clip to the Mass Effect Reddit community that showcases one of these trips to the uncanny valley. In the short clip taken from Mass Effect 3, when Commander Shepard goes to speak to Asari archaeologist Dr. Liara T’Soni, her head twists around until it is facing backward like something out of The Exorcist film. Of course, player character Commander Shepard doesn't acknowledge Liara's strange behavior, further adding to the hilarity. The post has been a hit on Reddit, earning over 1,000 upvotes and nearly 100 comments as of writing. Other Reddit users have begun poking fun at the bizarre glitch, citing that it reminds them of a poorly received title in the franchise, Mass Effect: Andromeda, which became infamous for its flawed facial animation and graphical glitches. Andromeda was developed by a different team than the original games and follows a different set of characters and narratives, though the controversy around the game is what is remembered most. While Mass Effect: Andromeda wasn’t a particularly well-received title, the original Mass Effect games featuring Commander Shepard were critically acclaimed. So much so that publisher Electronic Arts has revealed that Mass Effect: Legendary Edition greatly exceeded sales expectations, although it has not released any concrete sales numbers. With the remastered trilogy being such a big success for EA, it will be interesting to see if the company continues remastering more titles. Of course, many fans would like to see new titles in the Mass Effect franchise rather than remasters, and it has been confirmed that Bioware is in fact working on an unnamed title to continue the franchise. Very little is known about the next Mass Effect, but being that Bioware is currently also working on the next game in the Dragon Age franchise and seems to have released more information on that title, it is possible that the new Mass Effect is still early in development. When it does come, hopefully Liara's terrifying head twist does not re-appear. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Much like any game with an exciting ensemble cast that is able to grow as a live-service, Marvel's Avengers fans have always speculated about which characters might appear. Black Panther's War for Wakanda DLC expansion has not even released yet, but fans are continuing to share their hopes for the next post-launch addition to Marvel's Avengers' roster. Spider-Man, for instance, is slated to be a hotly anticipated DLC addition and was marketed as a PlayStation-exclusive. Besides a recent update sharing that Spider-Man's inclusion into Marvel's Avengers is moving forward as planned, fans are impatiently waiting for substantial information about the next characters that will debut in the game. Reddit user bogeyj asks, if players could only choose between Doctor Strange or Scarlet Witch, which character they would choose to be added into Marvel's Avengers. Fans debate the merit that each character would bring to gameplay and what their roles in a team-oriented multiplayer game may propose. Doctor Stephen Strange's mysticism and dark arts could produce visually striking spells and incantations on-screen, and Wanda Maximoff's chaos magic could warp reality to generate interesting moments in gameplay and take advantage of next-gen system hardware. Fans seem to celebrate both characters as being equally deserving, with perhaps a slight edge toward Scarlet Witch since she is considered to be more of a "core Avenger." While Clint Barton and Kate Bishop have been worthwhile additions, fans believe that the potential for characters with more diverse gameplay mechanics should be a priority moving forward. Further, fans agree that Scarlet Witch's inclusion would combat the current gender diversity in Marvel's Avengers' predominantly male roster. Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch are perhaps the most fan-requested of the many Marvel characters because of their current popularity in the MCU. But another reason why they may be highly requested is because magic usage would bring about completely new gameplay and combat that Marvel's Avengers is currently lacking. Jay_R_Kay argues that "if the game will allow two archers, they should be able to allow two magic users." This would ultimately tip the scales for power-balancing in Marvel's Avengers and allow for exciting gameplay between the two. Neither character is currently announced for Marvel's Avengers, but fan speculation demonstrates that players would prefer to have characters included that diversify gameplay. In the meantime, players are excited for Black Panther's upcoming addition to Marvel's Avengers and for more news about Spider-Man's long-awaited arrival. Marvel's Avengers is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

EVO 2021 is currently ongoing. EVO is widely regarded as the biggest fighting game tournament event of the year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's event has gone fully online. It's not the same, but everyone understands it's a matter of making the best of a bad situation. EVO, like fans in the fighting game community, is ready to bring back the crowds, though. That's why EVO 2022 has now been confirmed to be returning to Vegas with live audiences. The announcement was made as part of today's EVO festivities on Twitch, though a more thorough announcement was shared later on the official EVO website. The announcement confirms that EVO 2022 will be run between August 5 and 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The announcement makes no explicit mention of crowds being invited to the event, but it is heavily implied. EVO 2022 will be a live event, barring any changes in the pandemic or restrictions made in Las Vegas. A trailer for EVO 2022 explores the message the event is trying to convey by announcing EVO's return to a live event. It shows clips of EVO tournaments going back to the event's origins. In each clip, the trailer shows how the EVO audience makes the biggest moments what they are. EVO's grown from audiences of small groups packed into dark rooms to having thousands of fans cheering for each game's top players. The final words of the trailer capture the overall sentiment, saying, "We missed you, FGC." Obviously, there are a lot of questions that can't be answered right now. The COVID-19 pandemic has entered a new wave in the United States due to the Delta variant, and it's more than possible that there will be additional waves in the future. For now, despite the severity of the Delta variant, restrictions have remained thin. In-person events are occurring across the country, especially in Las Vegas. As such, it's unlikely EVO 2022 would be canceled regardless of the state of the pandemic in August 2020. That says nothing about the safety of such an event, however. All that EVO officials and members of the FGC can do is wait and see. Depending on the conditions of the pandemic, it's possible that EVO could impose mask rules, mandatory vaccines for attendees, remove the audience entirely, or worst case cancel EVO 2022 and go online once again. There's no denying that EVO, and all fighting game tournaments, are incomparably better in-person. There's an electricity in the air when a crowd watches a close match. In-person events are better for esports players, too, as network lag is removed. Plus, it's just that much more fun being face to face with an opponent. Needless to say, the FGC is hoping everything goes smoothly so EVO 2022 can be held without reservation.

Final Fantasy 14 has grown a sizeable fanbase over the many years since its release, with a particularly high draw being the memorable world and characters. As with many popular games, some fans decide to pay tribute through expressive art, with one fan choosing to represent a character through cosplay. Final Fantasy 14 took a different direction than the other games with its MMO structure, but at its core keeps the elements that make it a Final Fantasy game. One such element is of characters with personality and memorable designs, some of which are difficult to replicate with real-life fashion. Undeterred by the difficulty of cosplaying, cosplayer Datura_Cereus manages to accurately capture the spirit of the Final Fantasy 14 character Gaia in a brilliantly realized outfit. The intention of Tetsuya Nomura's original character design is conveyed through carefully-picked gothic-inspired pieces that make up Datura's cosplay, complete with a massive hammer and a flowing cape. The hammer parallels Gaia's weapon from the game. The art of cosplay is difficult to master, and it can take much more than a costume to make a good one. Knowledge of the character being cosplayed is paramount, as the expression, pose and general demeanor all play into creating a convincing cosplay in-character. Even taking only the hammer into account, other Final Fantasy characters may have held the weapon differently by resting it on the other shoulder or struggling to lift it. Gaia, however, brandishes the hammer with confidence, and that important detail is well represented by the casual, almost relaxed pose of the cosplay image. Despite the game's age, Square Enix continues to support Final Fantasy 14 with regular content updates and expansion packs, the most recent being Endwalker. The Spotify debut of Final Fantasy 14 Shadowbringers' soundtrack also indicates the developers and artists still hold an interest in bringing the content to players even outside the context of the game. This naturally extends to cosplays as well; even those not actively playing Final Fantasy 14 may still recognize some of the character designs, as they hold such an iconic place in modern MMO gaming. Final Fantasy cosplays are not new to the fan community, with many cosplays representing characters from a wide range of Final Fantasy games. With Final Fantasy 14 still receiving regular support and having an active fan community, cosplays are likely to continue for a long time. Neither the developers at Square Enix nor the fans show any signs of slowing down. Final Fantasy 14 is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.

Grand Theft Auto games are known for their variable game systems. Released in 2008 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and later PC, Grand Theft Auto 4 pushed the gaming medium to new heights at its time of release. Set in Liberty City, a fictionalized version of New York, Rockstar Games’ sprawling crime drama featured a massive, living game world and highly advanced physics. Modern Grand Theft Auto games run on Rockstar’s impressive RAGE engine, one of the few game engines to use the highly realistic Euphoria physics middleware which makes collisions and ragdolls very distinctive. Given the open nature of the title, the advanced physics system, and the reactiveness of the NPCs inhabiting Liberty City, Grand Theft Auto 4 is a highly dynamic game where missions can play out in a variety of ways. Sometimes, even cutscenes can play out in strange ways depending on the game world’s state. Reddit user Alexisonxanax posted a video of Grand Theft Auto 4’s “Rigged to Blow'' mission, in which protagonist Niko Bellic is tasked with driving a truck rigged with a bomb to a garage before detonating it. Normally, the mission ends with a cutscene where Niko runs away from the bomb before safely diving away as it explodes in the distance. In Alexisonxanax’s version, things play out a little differently. Rather than having Niko safely run away from the blast radius, Alexisonxanax’s clip has Niko get hit by a passing car, throwing him into the street. The hilarity continues when a second car then narrowly misses him before skidding to a stop. Finally, the bomb detonates and Niko dives away from the explosion after a significant delay. The post has become a hit on Reddit, earning over one thousand upvotes from GTA 4 fans as of writing. The RAGE engine that Grand Theft Auto 4 was built on was considerably ahead of its time, particularly when it came to its physics simulation. RAGE is still being used today, albeit in an upgraded state, in other Rockstar Games’ titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2. These titles have also been praised for their dynamic, living worlds and advanced physics systems, which in a game like Red Dead Redemption 2, can lead to characters getting caught in a horse’s stirrups. Of course, other game engines can provide realistic physics systems as well, but NaturalMotion’s Euphoria technology is one of the best. It’s expected that the much anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 will use the same RAGE engine with further upgrades. With that game being so far off, players will have to settle for the upcoming next-gen release of Grand Theft Auto 5, which is expected this fall. Grand Theft Auto 4 is available on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

This past week Activision Blizzard began teasing its next Call of Duty release. At the same time, leakers across the industry spoiled the surprise, sharing official assets for Call of Duty: Vanguard, which aims to take a WW2 theme and add a unique spin. Among the leaked information about Call of Duty: Vanguard is a key aspect of the game that Call of Duty multiplayer fans will want to know about. News has leaked about Call of Duty: Vanguard's launch maps, of which there are many. The leaked information comes from reliable insider Tom Henderson, who reports that Call of Duty: Vanguard will have a massive 20 maps available at launch - with a catch. Setting aside the catch for a moment, Call of Duty: Vanguard is set to feature 16 maps designed for 6v6 multiplayer. That alone is twice the number of 6v6 maps that launched for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and significantly more than what most Call of Duty games deliver. As for the additional four maps, those are particularly interesting. Henderson says that those four maps are for what he describes as a new "mini battle royale" mode that will have similar mechanics to Warzone. Why Call of Duty: Vanguard will feature this new battle royale mode, as opposed to it being added to Warzone, isn't clear. However, if it's going to be available at launch with four maps, then it must be something Activision Blizzard sees as a feature that could prove to be a game seller. One interesting detail that Henderson shared is that, up until a few weeks ago, he was told that Call of Duty: Vanguard would only have 8-10 6v6 maps. He says that there's been a "massive ramp-up recently" to double that number of maps. He doesn't speculate regarding why this might be, however. It's possible that Activision Blizzard had the maps ready but wanted to save them for seasonal DLC, only to decide they'd be better for launch. 16 maps instead of 8 maps at launch does appeal to certain subsections of the Call of Duty player base in different ways. For example, it creates a more diverse field of play for esports, which could prove beneficial to the Call of Duty League. It's also more appealing to the casual Call of Duty player, who won't grow as bored if there's a lot of map diversity on day one. To be fair, Call of Duty: Vanguard has yet to be officially announced, so it's possible that Henderson and other leakers have their information wrong. At the same time, it's possible that Activision Blizzard's plans have changed. Regardless, Call of Duty fans should maintain some skepticism on this massive amount of maps, including a new battle royale mode, until Call of Duty: Vanguard is officially unveiled. Call of Duty: Vanguard is rumored to be in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Call of Duty: Warzone fans that are continuing to stick with the game despite its prevalent cheating problem will need every edge they can get in a fight. Fortunately, one of the newest Call of Duty: Warzone weapons could provide that advantage if players set up their class correctly. Call of Duty: Warzone Season 5 offers two new weapons for players to unlock. While it remains to be seen how the TEC-9 SMG will perform in the game’s current meta, it seems like the EM2 Assault Rifle will be able to hold its own. The weapon is free to all players, and it can be unlocked by progressing through the battle royale game’s latest battle pass. According to the popular Call of Duty YouTuber JGOD, there is one EM2 build that is better than others. Once players reached tier 15 of Call of Duty: Warzone’s Season 5 battle pass and can access the gun, they will want to begin leveling it up. According to the content creator, the gun “melts” if certain attachments are used. Like other Assault Rifles, it is fully automatic, with this particular weapon excelling at medium range. Its main downside is its slower fire rate, which comes with the benefit of low recoil. However, while this may see the weapon struggling to outperform other guns in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it should fit well in Call of Duty: Warzone. While the EM2 Assault Rifle boasts a built-in optic, JGOD recommends removing it. Instead of the default scope, he equips the gun with the Axial Arms 3x. A go-to optic in most Call of Duty: Warzone loadouts, the sight provides a lot of extra range while still being usable up close. The Agency Suppressor is another no-brainer, as its stat boosts and radar suppression make it a must. The 27.4” Ranger Barrel will help those that want to boost the weapon’s range. The Field Agent Grip will further improve the weapon’s accuracy, while the STANAG 40 Rnd Drum will give players a good bit of ammo to work with. Considering the gun’s slower fire rate, this should be more than enough ammo for players that are trying out the EM2. Given that the gun is not built for close-range fights, though, equipping the Overkill perk would be wise. Players can them use an SMG in their other gun slot, with weapons like the Bullfrog SMG and MAC-10 being solid options. Optic: Axial Arms 3x Muzzle: Agency Suppressor Barrel: 27.4″ Ranger Underbarrel: Field Agent Grip Magazine: STANAG 40 Rnd Drum For Call of Duty: Warzone players that are looking for something fresh, giving the EM2 a spin seems worthwhile. While it could certainly be nerfed so that it is more in line with the game’s other weapons, JGOD’s footage makes it clear that the gun is strong in its current state. Call of Duty: Warzone is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

Destiny 2, like any game with a large fanbase, has many creatives in the community. One talented fan has cooked up a surprise in the form of baked goods inspired by iconic weapons from the game. The hybrid first-person shooter/MMO Destiny 2 features a wide array of powerful weapons, divided into several classes. Exotic class weapons are the highest tier of weapons available in the game, with each having an ability unique to the specific weapon type, and naturally being incredibly rare. Twitter user and Destiny 2 player Hikari_Light04 posted today edible versions of twelve Exotic-class weapons, with each cookie taking on the shape of a different gun. The cookies are also embossed with the weapon name, making it easy to tell which cookie represents which weapon. Iconic weapons like the high-powered Wardcliff Coil, Wavesplitter and Xenophage are represented here, and have a surprising amount of detail placed into the carving of the edges. Each weapon has the shape well crafted to mimic the weapons from the game, with special attention paid to the blocky structures on the top of the Wavesplitter and the scope on Hard Light. The cookies are an excellent, if unusual, way to pay tribute to a part of Destiny 2's range of weapons. Even though cookies are a surprisingly common theme in gaming recently with games like Cookie Clicker coming to Steam, cookie-themed tributes to games are somewhat less common, considering they already fit into the niche of players that also bake. The uniqueness of this creation, however, gives the art piece an air of confidence, as uncommon mediums are a great way to make the art stand out among the many other pieces of Destiny 2 fan art. Cookies may be an uncommon way to make fan art, but Destiny 2 hosted a cookie-themed event before for the holidays, so the medium is not entirely unprecedented. The event, the Dawning, was held in 2018 and featured a mechanic where players could bake cookies to earn in-game rewards, though they would have to collect the ingredients first. While Hikari probably will not earn an in-game reward for the real-life cookies, the senior community manager of Bungie retweeting the post could be considered a reward in itself. With Destiny 2 making major changes in Season 15, the developers at Bungie are showing that the game still has a long road ahead of it support-wise. If Bungie keeps its handling of Destiny 2 consistent, the fanbase will continue supporting the game with creative art pieces. Destiny 2 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

One of the best things about Mass Effect is its creative cast of squadmates that fight at the player's side. The sci-fi RPG features a wide variety of characters, both human and alien, that players can choose from before each mission. With some squad members making an appearance through the entire trilogy, it's not surprising that fans have developed a few favorites over the years. One Mass Effect fan in particular has a gift with cosplaying, and recently revealed one of their best pieces yet: a Garrus Vakarian cosplay that's so realistic, it's causing fans to swoon. The C-Sec Officer gone rogue has always been a favorite for ME fans. Garrus is a talented sharpshooter that's bold, cunning, and occasionally a bit awkward. But most of all, he's a friend to Shepard all the way through the series, ready to tackle any kind of mission, no matter the odds. His recurring role in the trilogy makes him easily recognizable to fans, and his charming personality makes him a popular romance choice with female characters. Considering his popularity, it's no surprise that Garrus frequently appears in Mass Effect fan art. That being said, Garrus is one of the most complex Mass Effect companions to pull off, especially for cosplay. His design is extremely alien, with exaggerated hands, feet, and hips. His chest-plate is also massive, which is no doubt a pain for designers to recreate from scratch. Overall, the Turian's physical appearance is quite different from a human, so any artist looking to wear the outfit will need to be creative with their tools. And yet, this fan-made design, created by Twitter user Smelms, works perfectly. An experienced costume designer and cosplayer, Smelms has created the perfect Garrus cosplay, sporting his iconic blue armor and all. The design even features the scarring that Garrus receives during Mass Effect 2's recruitment mission. The most impressive part is just how realistic it turned out. Creating a costume that looks exactly like a fictional character is already a difficult task. Being able to perfectly recreate an alien, of all characters, is an incredible feat. Fans are head over heels for this cosplay, sharing plenty of love in the comments of the tweet. Smelms' post has received over three thousand likes since it was first revealed, and the compliments are still rolling in. It's arguably one of the best costumes ever made for Garrus, if not Mass Effect in general. The only thing that could possibly make this cosplay better is adding Mass Effect's female Shepard into the mix. The release of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition has been incredibly successful thus far. The return to the original trilogy has reminded players what they love most about the series. Years later, fans are still enjoying their adventures through the galaxy, making new friends and new enemies as they go. If BioWare can continue to create characters that inspire the community, in the same way that the squadmates in Mass Effect inspire fans now, then Dragon Age 4 may experience the same success in the future. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition is currently available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Being a streamer on Twitch or YouTube can be a lucrative career path that often results in million-dollar sponsorship deals and a level of celebrity on par with that of actors and musicians. The wealth and fame can be tempting. When Dr. Disrespect revealed the specs of the gaming PC he uses for streaming, it was estimated that the rig easily hit the $10,000 mark. But creating content on a public platform can also come with some very serious downsides. Rivals and jealous viewers often come hand in hand with admirers. There are multiple stories of streamers who have had fans show up on their doorsteps, sometimes with less than friendly intentions. And swatting, the act of making a prank call to dispatch armed police officers to a person’s home, occurs at an alarming frequency and has led to deaths in the past. Twitch streamer xQc recently revealed that he had to move house because of the excessive police raids. Content creator Amouranth has admitted that she’s considered quitting streaming altogether due to the increased and ongoing harassment about her controversial ASMR and hot tub streams. But things have now gotten even more serious because, on the evening of August 13, someone started a fire on the side of the Twitch streamer’s home near where the trashcan is kept. In a Twitter post about the incident, Amouranth shared that investigators strongly suspect arson. Luckily, it seems that her house had surveillance cameras, and police are also reviewing security footage from neighbors and any other possible sources to catch the suspect. Unfortunately, Amouranth also revealed that this is not the first time that something like this has happened. Little more than a year ago, on July 4, 2020, somebody planned to shoot fireworks at the Twitch streamer’s house. That person was caught before they could act and was arrested. Amouranth also stated that she gets “garden variety swatting” on a weekly basis, but she has a good working relationship with the local police and her house is flagged, which can mean the difference between a life and death standoff with law enforcement. Her labeling the potentially deadly activity as “garden variety” is a reflection of just how rampant and how much an accepted part of popular Twitch streamers’ lives swatting has become. In addition to these dangerous activities, malicious Twitch viewers also frequently engage in hate raids, during which a mob of people show up in a streamer’s chat and barrage them with harassment and hate speech. This occurs most frequently with minority Twitch streamers, like members of the LGBTQA community and people of color. It has become such an ongoing and unbearable occurrence that the hashtags #TwitchDoBetter and #BeBetterTwitch began trending on Twitter.

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Mad About You

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Ice Pops

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Bryan Andrews, director of the MCU’s first animated series, What If…?, has suggested it “would be amazing” if Marvel ever decided to pursue a live-action Captain Carter movie. Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), a member of the British military, made her first MCU appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger, working with the Strategic Scientific Reserve on the Super Soldier project. Carter helped Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) as he became Captain America and eventually developed into his love interest. The fourth streaming television series officially set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, What If…? is an anthology series that imagines what might have happened if major events in the MCU films had played out differently. Featuring the voices of many of the original Marvel actors, the series also serves as the final performance of Chadwick Boseman, who recorded lines for several episodes, including one that imagines what might have happened if Black Panther’s T’Challa became Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill. In addition to Boseman’s final performance, the series also features the voices of Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Don Cheadle, Michael Douglas, Karen Gillan, and, of course, Hayley Atwell. In the lead-up to the series release on Disney+, producer Brad Winderbaum previously confirmed that Atwell’s Captain Carter would continue to feature heavily as the show moved into future seasons. Playing an alternate version of Peggy Carter, Atwell is returning to voice a variant of her character that received the Super Soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. Now, in an interview with THR, Andrews suggests that both writer A.C. Bradley and himself would be keen to see Atwell tackle a live-action version of the animated character. He said: I know A.C. and I feel totally the same in this, and while we don’t know if this is necessarily going to happen, it would be amazing if they would just do a Captain Carter movie. Just get Hayley Atwell in the suit, give her her own franchise and just have her blow doors like hells to the yeah. Andrews certainly is not alone in hoping that Atwell will headline her own MCU film. Ever since the first glimpses of What If…? revealed Captain Carter, fans have been crying out for Marvel to bring Atwell’s Super Soldier to the big screen. Having already secured a strong and devoted fanbase off the back of her Agent Carter spin-off series, Atwell donning the suit and shield in a solo film would certainly soothe the wounds inflicted by her 2016 series cancellation. While Bradley admits that he doesn’t “know if this is necessarily going to happen,” having Marvel’s own creatives float the idea certainly bodes well for eager fans. With the events of Loki opening up the MCU to the endless possibilities of the Marvel Multiverse, there's no reason that a Captain Carter film couldn’t feature in the franchise’s future plans. In the meantime, fans will have to hope that Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige listens closely to the buzz being generated by her appearance in What If…?. Marvel's What If...? premieres on August 11 and airs new episodes every Wednesday.

Seth MacFarlane reveals that production on The Orville season 3 has officially wrapped and expresses his hope for the sci-fi comedy's future. Created by and starring MacFarlane, the series centers on Ed Mercer and the crew of the starship USS Orville as they journey through space on various missions for the Planetary Union. Alongside MacFarlane, the main cast for the series includes Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, Halston Sage, J. Lee, Mark Jackson and Jessica Szohr. First premiering on Fox in 2017, The Orville initially received generally negative reviews from critics for its tonal inconsistency between a loving homage to Star Trek and a campy parody of the iconic franchise. Having drawn in larger viewership for Fox, the series was renewed for season 2, which premiered in 2018 to much acclaim from critics for having found better footing in its balance of tones and storytelling and remained strong with its ratings. After originally being renewed for season 3 at Fox, the decision was made to shift the series to Hulu due to frequent production delays in connection to the COVID-19 pandemic since filming began in October 2019. After nearly two years of work on the next chapter of the series, MacFarlane has taken to Twitter to reveal that production on The Orville season 3 has officially wrapped. The creator/star paired the announcement with a heartfelt message to his cast and crew for their work on the new season as well as expressed his desire to reunite for more of the series in the future. Given the sheer amount of stops and starts The Orville season 3 has experienced since production began in late 2019, MacFarlane's news should come as a happy surprise to fans. While critical reception leapt high with season 2, the series has amassed a large fanbase since its 2017 premiere that remained consistent across both seasons, all of whom have been eager to see what the next chapter holds for the series. Though MacFarlane's recent comments about wanting to divorce Family Guy from Fox due to comments made by Fox News' Tucker Carlson may have put doubt in many about the future of his sci-fi series, it seems the door may still be open for more. In addition to MacFarlane expressing a hope to return to space with the cast and crew of The Orville, producer Tom Costantino recently confirmed that Hulu has not canceled the series early after a false report came out claiming as such. While the prolific creator may have just signed a creative overall deal with NBCUniversal, The Orville's shift to the Disney-owned Hulu may prove a more enticing reason for MacFarlane to return for another season of the sci-fi comedy. Only time will tell what the future holds for the series and its season 3 premiere on Hulu.

Michael Keaton is back as Batman in the upcoming The Flash movie and he recently described how it felt wearing the Batsuit once again. Keaton played the Caped Crusader about thirty years ago in Tim Burton's 1989 Batman film and in 1992's Batman Returns. Considered one of the best portrayals of the superhero, Keaton surprised fans when he was announced to reprise his role in the new movie. For years now, Ezra Miller was pegged to play Barry Allen in a standalone movie, with the DCEU Flash movie announced back in 2014. Since then, however, production for The Flash saw its fair share of difficulties, seeing multiple writers and directors attached to and dropped from the project. After several delays, the film was finally redeveloped to be part of the DCEU and began filming with Andy Muschietti (director of It) behind the camera. The movie is now scheduled to premiere on November 4, 2022 with Miller as the titular character, as well as a host of other DC superheroes. In an interview on the YouTube channel Jake's Takes (via ComicBook), Keaton describes how he felt wearing the Batsuit once again in the new The Flash movie. Keaton describes it as being "shocking normal" but also "weird." Keaton also talks about how he was filled with a ton of memories when playing the role, although he wouldn't confirm if he says the iconic "I'm Batman" line in the new movie. View Keaton's full quote below: "It was shockingly normal. It was weird. Like I went 'Oh, oh yeah, that's right.' But also then you start to play the scenes and a lot of memories, a lot of interesting sense memories (start to come back)." Recent set photos from The Flash have revealed Keaton's Batmobile and Batcave in the new movie, which has already supplied plenty of nostalgia for viewers, since they're the same ones used in Burton's Batman films. This raises the question of why hasn't Keaton's Batman updated his "Bat-gear" since the 1989 flick? Will Keaton's Batman have trouble letting go of the past? These questions are further evidenced by the fact that Keaton will not be the only actor portraying the Caped Crusader in The Flash, as Ben Affleck's Batman will also reprise his version of the character in the movie. Affleck recently played the Dark Knight in Zack Snyder's 2016 film, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and both iterations of Justice League. Given The Flash will feature at least two versions of Batman, it will be interesting to see how Keaton's version fits into the movie. Keaton's casting as Batman in The Flash instantly gave way to praise. Because of his deadpan portrayal of the hero, Keaton's Batman was a hit with critics and audiences when Burton's films were released back in the day. While Keaton's return is highly anticipated his overall impact on the film depends entirely on the purpose of his return. If his version is thrown into the movie just for nostalgic sake, fans may leave the film disappointed. On the other hand, if his return is justified by an engaging story, then people will definitely be pleased.

Tom Hardy reveals that Sony is very pleased with Venom: Let There Be Carnage and is teasing development on a potential third installment. The Hardy-led series first began in 2018 with the film centered on the titular symbiote as he bonds with disgraced investigative journalist Eddie Brock and becomes a vigilante in San Francisco. Venom also marked the first installment in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, which also includes the upcoming sequel, Jared Leto's Morbius and the Aaron Taylor-Johnson-led Kraven the Hunter, with various others in secretive development. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set one year after its predecessor as Brock struggles to adjust to his life as the host of Venom and utilizing his super-human abilities to be a lethal vigilante. Attempting to reignite his journalistic career, Brock turns to interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady ahead of his planned execution, however upon receiving some of Brock's blood and a failed execution transforms into the dangerous symbiote Carnage and goes on a rampage through San Francisco. Hardy returns to lead the cast alongside Woody Harrelson as Kasady/Carnage, Michelle Williams, Reid Scott and Peggy Lu with Venom newcomers Naomie Harris as super-powered villain and Kasady's love interest Shriek and Stephen Graham as a local detective searching for the remains of Kasady's murder victims. In anticipation of the sequel's release, Esquire caught up with Hardy to discuss Venom: Let There Be Carnage. In reflecting on the future, Hardy teased that the gears are indeed turning on the story for a third film and revealed that the studio is happy with the sequel, though noted a threequel hasn't been officially ordered yet. See what Hardy said below: “I’m thinking about the third movie as well, because I think you need to write that at the same time. A third won’t be greenlit until the second is successful, but the studio were really, really pleased with number two.” Upon its release in 2018, Venom became quite infamous for splitting critics and audiences, scoring a low 30 percent "Rotten" rating from the former on Rotten Tomatoes while the latter gave it an 81 percent "Fresh" approval rating. Though Hardy had signed on for three films, development on a sequel wasn't officially announced until a year after its release, which didn't come as a surprise to the fans who propelled it to its $856 million box office haul but did to those aware of its negative reception. However, this elongated gap may have just paid off for the film in allowing Hardy and story co-writer/screenwriter Kelly Marcel hone in on the lessons needing to be learned from the first film. While Sony may be pleased with Venom: Let There Be Carnage, it will ultimately be up to fans and critics of whether Hardy and the creative team have course corrected in a positive direction. Given the first film didn't screen for reviewers prior to its release, a true testament to the studio's faith in the sequel will be whether they hold press screenings this time around or still hold off until its release. Only time will tell what audiences can expect from the next chapter in the SPUMC when it arrives on September 24.

Rumored Morpheus actor Yahya Abdul-Mateen II opened up about making upcoming sequel The Matrix 4 and working with Keanu Reeves. The original Matrix trilogy is one of the most influential science-fiction franchises of all time and Lana Wachowski is returning to direct the fourth installment in the series, set for release this December. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Jada Pinkett Smith are reprising their roles as Neo, Trinity, and Niobe, respectively, but the cast is otherwise filled with fresh faces. In addition to Mateen, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Jessica Henwick, Christina Ricci, and Priyanka Chopra are all slated to star in the film, but details about their characters are being kept under wraps. Mateen is rumored to be playing a younger version of Laurence Fishburne’s iconic character Morpheus, the one who invited Reeve’s Neo into the matrix in the original 1999 film. With plot details being kept under lock and key, it’s hard to tell how exactly Moss and Reeves are returning – both Trinity and Neo died at the end of The Matrix Revolutions when they journeyed to the machine city to put a stop to the attack on Zion. Morpheus, however, survived the events of the film, but Fishburne won’t be reprising the character in The Matrix 4. Still, rumors point to Morpheus returning in some capacity and the actor who is expected to play a younger version of the character has opened up about filming the highly anticipated sequel. In a new interview with THR, Mateen admits to being starstruck when watching Reeves deliver his first line on set as Neo. Additionally, the actor touched on the new technology Wachowski utilized in the film as well as how the themes of the sequel resonated with the events in the world at large during production. Read his full quote below: I remember Keanu and his first line. I looked up, and there was Keanu, and I said, ‘Oh shit, I’m really in The Matrix.' It was just Keanu in that voice. And the technology that Lana incorporated and the filmmaking, camera rigs that I’ve never seen before. It’s so ambitious. It was really interesting to be making The Matrix 4 at a time when the world was so warped and when reality was so distorted. It could creep in a little bit if you let it. Mateen has quickly risen in the ranks of A-list talent in Hollywood, starring as Black Manta in 2018's Aquaman, a role he'll reprise in the 2022 sequel. Since then, Mateen has had roles in Jordan Peele's Get Out follow-up Us, Netflix's The Trial of the Chicago 7, and HBO's critically acclaimed Watchmen series. The Matrix 4 will be Mateen's second high-profile role of 2021 after he stars in The Marvels director Nia Da Costa's horror movie reboot Candyman, which is slated for release this August. As for The Matrix 4, the Wachowski sister's return to the cyberpunk world of the original trilogy is perhaps one of the most highly-anticipated blockbusters of 2021 despite remaining shrouded in mystery. The return of Reeves and Moss is enough to get audiences excited, but the new cast is just as intriguing and will likely serve as an entry point for those new to the franchise. The Matrix 4 will arrive nearly two decades after the final film in the original trilogy debuted and it will pull double duty in introducing a new generation to the high tech world while serving as a nostalgia trip for longtime fans of the franchise.

Mark Ruffalo references the launch of Marvel's What If...? while wishing Chris Hemsworth a happy birthday. As Thor and the Hulk, Hemsworth and Ruffalo are both members of the original Avengers cast, and they continue to make their presence known in the MCU. Both actors are among the live-action stars making the jump to voice acting with What If...?, the franchise's latest Disney+ series. Premiering today, the series explores the Marvel multiverse through alternate realities, starting with the creation of a timeline where Peggy Carter took the super soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers. Outside of What If...?, Ruffalo and Hemsworth have appeared in a number of Marvel projects together. They've starred in all four Avengers movies, as well as the 2017 film Thor: Ragnarok. By the time Avengers: Endgame came around in 2019, many expected Hemsworth and Ruffalo to start making their exits, much like fellow original stars Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans. However, both actors have a few more projects up their sleeves when it comes to the MCU. Wednesday, August 11 marks Hemsworth's 38th birthday, and Ruffalo took the opportunity to celebrate it with a joke and new behind the scenes image. As today is also the premiere of What If...?, Ruffalo started his birthday message with a playful suggestion for fans: "What if… we all wish @ChrisHemsworth a happy birthday today." He also attached a picture of Hemsworth from the set of Endgame, though it's safe to say he wasn't aware the picture was being taken. Avengers: Endgame, though not the end for their characters, still featured significant moments for Hemsworth and Ruffalo. Thor took the Avengers' loss at the hands of Thanos (Josh Brolin) incredibly hard and spent much of the movie grappling with his trauma. Meanwhile, the Hulk found some peace upon reconciling the "the other guy" with his Bruce Banner persona, thus giving rise to Smart Hulk. For both characters, Avengers: Endgame was new territory. Both Thor and the Hulk are sticking around in the MCU for a little bit longer. Hemsworth will lead his fourth solo movie next year, Thor: Love and Thunder, while Ruffalo will put in another appearance as Bruce in the Disney+ series She-Hulk. Beyond that, their futures are unclear, though Hemsworth has said Thor 4 won't be his last movie. Plus, there's still What If...?. Whether they are a part of season 2 remains to be seen, but fans can count on hearing their voices in the coming weeks during season 1. In the meantime, be sure to wish Hemsworth a happy birthday, per Ruffalo's request.