A Dangerous Deal in the Depths of Elbaph: One Piece Episode 1161 is Here

Luffy meets the self-proclaimed destroyer of the world and might just shake his hand. Episode 1161 puts the Straw Hat captain face-to-face with the Accursed Prince, and things are about to get very complicated.

Okay, I'll be honest I've been waiting for this episode since the moment Loki showed up chained in the shadows of Elbaph. And now it's finally here. One Piece Episode 1161, titled "A Dangerous Deal! Loki of the Underworld and Luffy," airs today on Fuji TV, and as a fan who's been following this arc obsessively, I have a lot of thoughts.

Where We Left Off

In last week's episode, Luffy stumbled upon Loki a colossal giant being held captive somewhere in the depths of Elbaph. Their first exchange was brief but loaded. Loki asked Luffy who he was; Luffy, being Luffy, introduced himself and casually declared that he'd become King of the Pirates. Then came the kicker. When Luffy asked the giant for his name and the name of the place, Loki looked him dead in the eye and said:

"I am the Sun God... Loki."

And then episode over. Classic One Piece. The scene cut before they could say another word to each other. Oda and the anime team love doing this to us, and yet here we are, refreshing our feeds every week like clockwork.

 

What's Actually Happening in Episode 1161

Based on the preview scenes and episode synopsis that have been released, things are picking up right where they left off. Luffy and Loki will continue their conversation and Loki, rather than staying hostile, is apparently going to try to cut a deal with the Straw Hat captain.

Here's the part that has my attention: Loki claims to have information about Shanks. He's dangling that in front of Luffy like bait on a hook and honestly, it might just work. We all know how deeply Luffy feels about Shanks. The man who inspired him to set sail, the one who gave him his straw hat. If Loki is offering real intel on Shanks' whereabouts or plans, Luffy is going to have a very hard time walking away.

The working theory? Loki wants Luffy to break his chains. That would be the most logical exchange. Free me, and I'll tell you what you want to know about the Red-Haired Emperor.

The Problem: Loki Is No Ordinary Prisoner

Here's where this gets genuinely fascinating from a story perspective. Loki isn't just some random captive. He literally called himself the Sun God and declared that he would be the one to bring about the destruction of the world. That's not a small claim, even by One Piece standards and this is a series where half the characters want to either rule or sink the world.

Among the people of Elbaph, Loki is called the Accursed Prince. They want nothing to do with him. They believe his greed for power has already brought widespread destruction, and keeping him chained is the only way to protect what remains. So when Luffy a rational human being who somehow never acts rationally potentially considers freeing this guy, you start to understand why the Giant Warrior Pirates might not be thrilled about the Straw Hats being in Elbaph at all.

Luffy might look at all of that and shrug. He trusts his own strength. He knows he can stop someone if things go sideways. But the rest of us watching? We are significantly more nervous about this.

The Rest of the Crew Gets Their Moment Too

While Luffy and Loki are center stage, the episode isn't forgetting the rest of the Straw Hats. Nami and the others are still being pursued by someone connected to the Sun God mythology and given the cold, harsh environment around Elbaph, things are getting increasingly tense for her group. Expect some action and a few close calls on that front.

The crew that traveled with the Giant Warrior Pirates is also still making their way to the island. In the previous episode, they finally gave up searching for Luffy's group correctly reasoning that if anyone can handle themselves, it's Luffy and the Thousand Sunny crew. A reasonable conclusion. We've seen it proven enough times. But the delay means the crew is still fragmented going into this episode, which adds a layer of vulnerability to an already dangerous situation.

Episode at a Glance

Episode1161 "A Dangerous Deal! Loki of the Underworld and Luffy"

Air dateMay 10, 2026 · Fuji TV (Japan)

StreamingCrunchyroll & Netflix (JP audio / EN sub)

Dubbed versionNo official date yet coming in the next few weeks

ArcElbaph Arc

What I Think Happens Next

Luffy accepting Loki's deal feels almost inevitable. He won't do it out of calculation he'll do it because anything related to Shanks immediately bypasses his normal filters. And honestly, that's what makes Luffy such a compelling protagonist. He's not a strategist. He's a force of will who trusts that whatever happens next, he can deal with it.

Whether that optimism is going to hold up against the Accursed Prince of Elbaph is the question Episode 1161 is clearly beginning to answer. Either way, we're finally getting into the thick of things and after weeks of buildup, that alone is worth celebrating.

Watch it on Crunchyroll or Netflix today. And when Luffy inevitably does something incredibly reckless in the next few minutes of screen time, remember: this is why we love him.

Stranger Things Season 5 and Its Controversial Reception

Look, I need to be honest with you. When I first saw the headlines about Stranger Things Season 5 getting slammed by critics, my heart sank a little. After years of watching Mike, Eleven, and the gang fight monsters and navigate the absolute chaos of growing up, the idea that their final chapter was being labeled the "worst" felt... wrong somehow.

The Weight of Expectations

Here's the thing about Stranger Things: it stopped being just a show somewhere around 2017. It became this cultural touchstone that reminded us what it felt like to ride bikes until streetlights came on, to believe in the impossible, and to know that friendship could literally save the world. So yeah, when the final season dropped, we weren't just watching a TV show end we were saying goodbye to something that mattered.

And that's exactly why the Rotten Tomatoes score stung so much.

Let's Talk About Those Early Seasons

Remember Season 1? God, that was special. It came out of nowhere and just grabbed us. The Duffer Brothers created something that felt simultaneously nostalgic and completely new. Critics ate it up, and honestly, they were right to.

Seasons 2 and 3 had their bumps sure, the show got bigger, louder, maybe stretched itself a bit thin at times. But we loved it anyway because we loved these characters. We'd invested in them. Season 4 went darker and longer, splitting itself into two volumes like it was the next Marvel event, and you know what? Most of us were still on board.

So What Happened with Season 5?

The critical consensus suggests Season 5 is the weakest link. Not terrible, mind you, just... less. And I get where some of that comes from, even if it frustrates me.

The Fatigue Factor

After eight years, some critics felt like they'd seen this dance before. Another threat to Hawkins, another race against time, another tearful reunion. When you've been covering the show professionally, maybe that formula starts to show its seams. For those of us who grew up alongside these kids though? That familiarity feels comforting, not repetitive.

The Episode Length Problem

Okay, I'll admit it some of these episodes are long. Like, cancel-your-evening long. The Duffers clearly wanted to give us a cinematic experience, and they delivered on that front. But there were moments where I found myself checking how much time was left, wondering if we really needed that particular subplot or extended sequence.

Character Goodbyes That Didn't Land

With this many characters to service, somebody was going to get shortchanged. Some arcs felt rushed while others overstayed their welcome. It's an impossible balancing act, but that doesn't make it less disappointing when your favorite character doesn't get the ending they deserve.

The Critics vs. Fans Thing

Here's where it gets interesting. While critics were lukewarm, fans? Fans were feeling this season. The audience scores tell a different story—one of emotional satisfaction, of catharsis, of finally getting to see these characters we've loved for nearly a decade find some kind of peace.

Why the divide? Because we're watching different shows.

Critics are analyzing structure, pacing, originality. They're asking whether the story justifies its runtime and if the mythology pays off in satisfying ways. Fair questions, honestly.

But fans? We're watching our friends. We're remembering where we were when we first binged Season 1. We're thinking about how these characters helped us through middle school, high school, maybe even college. When Eleven has a big moment, we're not critiquing the dialogue we're feeling seven years of growth and struggle crystallize in that instant.

What Season 5 Got Right

Despite the criticism, there's so much to love here. The performances are phenomenal you can feel the years of chemistry between these actors. The production value is insane; the Upside Down has never looked more terrifyingly beautiful. And those emotional beats? When they land, they land.

The season commits to being dark and final in a way that feels earned. These aren't kids anymore. The stakes aren't just about saving the town they're about confronting what all this trauma has done to them. That's heavy stuff, and not every critic appreciated the tonal shift, but it felt honest to me.

The Final Season Curse

Let's be real: final seasons almost never satisfy everyone. Game of Thrones, Lost, Dexter (both times), even The Sopranos endings are impossible. Everyone has their own version of how the story should conclude, and no single ending can honor all those imagined finales.

Stranger Things Season 5 was doomed to disappoint someone. The fact that it disappoints critics more than fans probably says something about what the show values most: emotional truth over narrative perfection.

Does the Score Matter?

In ten years, will we remember that Season 5 had a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes? Probably not. We'll remember how we felt watching it. We'll remember the moments that made us cry or cheer or hide behind our hands.

Scores are snapshots of critical consensus at a specific moment. They don't account for how stories grow on us, how our perspectives shift, or how nostalgia transforms our relationship with art. Some of the most beloved shows and movies of all time were critically panned on release.

What I'll Remember

I'll remember that Stranger Things gave us eight years of genuine magic. I'll remember that it made an entire generation fall in love with Kate Bush and care about Dungeons & Dragons. I'll remember that it showed us that stories about friendship and courage and growing up never get old even when the formula does.

Is Season 5 perfect? No. Is it the worst thing ever made? Also no. It's a messy, ambitious, deeply emotional conclusion to a story that meant something to millions of people. The Rotten Tomatoes score is just one data point in a much bigger, more complicated picture.

The Bottom Line

The "worst Rotten Tomatoes score in the franchise" sounds damning in a headline. But zoom out and you see a show that took risks, stuck the landing for most fans, and concluded with its heart intact. That's worth more than any score.

The Upside Down might be closed for good, but the impact of Stranger Things will linger. And honestly? That's the only review that matters.

Netflix's "Last Samurai Standing" Season 2 Is Happening – Here's What We Know

I'll be honest when I first heard that Last Samurai Standing was coming back for a second season, I got way too excited for someone who watches way too much Netflix. But if you caught Season 1, you know exactly why this news hit differently. This wasn't your typical reality show that you half-watch while scrolling through your phone. This was something else entirely.

What Made Season 1 So Damn Good

The premise sounds simple enough: contestants dress up in samurai armor and compete in elimination challenges. But calling it "simple" is like calling a katana "just a knife." The show managed to pull off something really special by mixing the intensity of a survival competition with the visual drama of a period piece. Every episode felt like you were watching something that belonged in a theater, not just on your TV.

What really got me hooked was how much strategy mattered. Sure, physical skill counted, but the smartest fighters weren't always the strongest ones. You'd see someone get eliminated not because they couldn't swing a sword, but because they misread their opponent or made one bad tactical decision. It felt real in a way that most competition shows don't.

And the whole honor thing? That wasn't just set dressing. The show actually explored what it meant to win the "right way," which added this whole layer of moral complexity you don't usually get from reality TV. Some contestants would rather lose with dignity than win through manipulation. Others? Not so much. That tension made for incredible television.

The Announcement That Broke the Internet

According to reports from Hypebeast and other sources, Netflix officially greenlit Season 2. No specific release date yet, but the fact that they're moving forward at all says something. Netflix has gotten pretty ruthless about canceling shows that don't perform, so a renewal means the numbers must've been solid.

The fan reaction was immediate and loud. Within hours of the announcement, social media was flooded with speculation threads, fan theories, and wish lists for what Season 2 should include. People were debating which contestants might return, what new challenges could look like, and whether the show would stick to its original format or shake things up.

What Season 2 Might Bring

Here's where things get interesting. Season 1 set a high bar, so how do you top it without losing what made it work in the first place?

The obvious move is to make everything harder. New arenas, more complex challenges, higher stakes. If Season 1 was about testing physical and mental limits, Season 2 could be about pushing contestants past what they thought was possible. There's talk about introducing more psychological elements too more mind games, more strategic depth, maybe even team-based competitions that force rivals to work together.

There's also the question of who's competing. Some Season 1 favorites built serious fanbases, and bringing them back would generate instant buzz. But fresh blood could be equally exciting. New personalities mean new strategies, new dynamics, and unpredictable outcomes. Personally, I'd love to see a mix veterans who know what they're getting into versus hungry newcomers with nothing to lose.

And then there's the international angle. Season 1 already had global appeal, but what if Season 2 brought in contestants from different countries? That could add another layer of cultural exchange and competition style that would make things even more interesting.

Why This Show Matters

Look, there's a ton of content out there competing for your attention. But Last Samurai Standing feels different because it respects its source material while making something genuinely new. It's not trying to be a history documentary, but it's also not treating samurai culture like a costume party. There's real reverence there, mixed with modern storytelling sensibilities.

The production quality alone sets it apart. Every shot looks expensive in the best way possible. The lighting, the camera work, the set design it all serves the story. You're not just watching people compete; you're watching something that feels epic in scope.

Plus, it's sparked this whole renewed interest in samurai culture. You see it popping up in fashion, in gaming discussions, in people actually reading about bushidō philosophy. That kind of cultural impact is rare for a reality competition show.

What's Next

Netflix hasn't locked down an exact release date, which probably means they're taking their time to get it right. That's actually encouraging. Rushed productions rarely end well, and this show deserves the full treatment.

In the meantime, there's plenty to do. Rewatching Season 1 with fresh eyes reveals a lot of details you miss the first time through. Following official channels for updates keeps you in the loop. And honestly, the speculation with other fans is half the fun. Everyone has their theories about what's coming, and being part of that conversation makes the wait feel less painful.

Final Thoughts

Last Samurai Standing Season 2 isn't just another sequel trying to cash in on previous success. It's a chance to build on something that already worked incredibly well and push it even further. The foundation is solid now it's about seeing how high they can build.

Whether you're in it for the competition, the cultural elements, the strategy, or just because it looks gorgeous on screen, Season 2 has a lot of potential. The first season proved this show could deliver. Now we get to see if they can do it again, but bigger.

When it finally drops, I know exactly where I'll be: glued to my screen, probably yelling at my TV like the outcome isn't already decided. If that sounds like your kind of experience too, then yeah the hype is absolutely justified.

Netflix Unveils First Teaser Trailer for ‘Last Samurai Standing’

Netflix has released the initial teaser trailer for Last Samurai Standing, a gripping six-episode historical drama and action epic based on Shōgo Imamura’s Ikusagami novels. Set to premiere on November 13, the series will be exclusively available on Netflix and will also feature a special screening at the 30th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea later this month.

Epic Meiji-Era Battle Royale

The teaser immerses viewers in a thrilling Meiji-era conflict, where 292 warriors converge on Kyoto’s Tenryūji Temple at dusk. Each warrior carries a single wooden tag, which they must seize or defend in a deadly race to Tokyo. Filmed over several days with over 1,000 cast and crew members, the temple battle scene blends cutting-edge CGI with practical effects, delivering some of the most intense action sequences ever seen in Japanese television. Producer-star Junichi Okada, who also oversees action planning, collaborates with director Michihito Fujii to create a visually stunning spectacle.

 

Star-Studded Cast

The series boasts an impressive ensemble, with new cast members recently announced:

•     Gaku Hamada as Superintendent General Toshiyoshi Kawaji
•     Taiiku Okazaki as swordsman Jinroku Keage
•     Arata Iura as Home Minister Toshimichi Okubo
•     Tetsushi Tanaka as Bureau of Communications chief Hisoka Maejima
•     Ayumu Nakajima as Okubo’s secretary Shinpei Nagase

They join an already stellar lineup, including Yūmia Fujisaka, Kaya Kiyohara, Masahiro Higashide, and Kazunari Ninomiya, in a gripping tale of honor, betrayal, and survival.

Premiere Details

Last Samurai Standing will debut its six episodes on November 13, exclusively on Netflix, with a special screening at the Busan International Film Festival. This highly anticipated series promises to captivate audiences with its blend of historical drama and breathtaking action.

Netflix: Live-Action 'Assassin's Creed' Series Greenlit

After five years of anticipation, Netflix has officially greenlit a live-action adaptation of Ubisoft's iconic Assassin's Creed franchise. Fans of the series can finally rejoice as this thrilling project moves forward.

The Storyline

Described as a "high-octane thriller," the show delves into a secret war that shapes humanity's destiny. The narrative revolves around two shadowy factions: one determined to manipulate and control the future of mankind, while the other fights to uphold the values of free will. The series promises to take viewers on a journey through pivotal historical events as its characters engage in a battle for humanity's future. While a cast list has yet to be revealed, the excitement surrounding the project is palpable.

Visionary Leadership

Emmy nominees Roberto Patino and David Wiener are at the helm as creators, showrunners, and executive producers of the series. In a joint statement, they expressed their long-standing admiration for Assassin's Creed since its inception in 2007. “Every day we work on this show, we come away excited and humbled by the possibilities that Assassin’s Creed opens to us,” they stated. They emphasized that beneath the action and spectacle lies a profound human story—one that explores themes of identity, purpose, and the struggle for connection across cultures and time.

 

Collaborative Efforts

Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s Vice President of Scripted Series, shared his enthusiasm about the partnership with Ubisoft. “When we first announced our collaboration in 2020, we aimed to bring the expansive world of Assassin’s Creed to life in bold new ways,” he noted. “Now, after years of dedicated teamwork, it’s inspiring to see how far that vision has come.” He expressed confidence that the series will honor the legacy of the franchise while inviting both longtime fans and newcomers to experience the thrill of the Brotherhood in a fresh manner.

A Promising Future

Joining Patino and Wiener in the executive production team are Gerard Guillemot, Margaret Boykin, Austin Dill from Ubisoft Film & Television, and Matt O’Toole. Boykin expressed her excitement about this collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to work alongside Roberto, David, and our Netflix partners to bring this beloved franchise to series. We aim to deliver an experience that resonates with fans and introduces its unforgettable worlds and timeless themes to new audiences globally.”

What’s Next?

As fans eagerly await further updates, including a trailer and release date, the anticipation for this groundbreaking series continues to build. Stay tuned for more information on what promises to be an unforgettable journey into the world of Assassin's Creed.

Netflix Adaptation - Demon City Trailer

February is shaping up to be an exciting month for fans of gritty, action-packed revenge stories. Netflix is set to release Demon City, a live-action adaptation of Masamichi Kawabe’s Oni Goroshi manga. The streaming giant has just dropped the first trailer for the film, offering a brutal and thrilling glimpse into this dark tale of vengeance.

A Legendary Hitman’s Quest for Revenge

The official Netflix Asia YouTube channel released the trailer, introducing viewers to the film’s protagonist, Shuhei Sakata, portrayed by Japanese actor Toma Ikuta. Shuhei is a legendary hitman whose life is shattered when the Kimen-gumi, a mysterious criminal organization with a demonic motif, frames him for the murder of his wife and daughter. After being shot in the head, Shuhei falls into a coma, only to awaken 12 years later with one goal: to exact revenge on those who destroyed his life.

 

The Story of Demon City

The official synopsis for Demon City sets the stage for a gripping narrative:
"Just as hitman Shuhei Sakata is about to leave his violent past behind for the sake of his family, the Kimen-gumi murders his wife and daughter, framing him for the crime and tarnishing his name. Shot in the head, he miraculously survives but falls into a coma. Twelve years later, the Kimen-gumi attacks him again, reigniting his dormant killer instincts and setting him on a path of vengeance. However, what awaits him is a truth that could change his destiny forever."

Stellar Cast and Creative Team

Demon City boasts an impressive cast, including Matsuya Onoe, Masahiro Higashide, Masanobu Takashima, and Mio Tanaka. The film is directed by Seiji Tanaka, known for his work on the 2018 film Melancholic, who also penned the screenplay. With its intense action and emotional depth, Demon City promises to be a standout addition to Netflix’s growing library of live-action adaptations.

A Must-Watch for Fans of Revenge Stories

Fans of revenge-driven narratives, such as 91 Days, Ninja Kamui, and Vinland Saga, will find plenty to love in Demon City. Similarly, those who enjoy the John Wick series, starring Keanu Reeves as the iconic hitman, will likely be drawn to the film’s high-stakes action and relentless pursuit of justice. Mark your calendars: Demon City premieres on Netflix on February 27, 2025.

 

 

Netflix’s Expanding Live-Action Anime Universe

Demon City is just one of many live-action anime adaptations Netflix has in store for its subscribers. The highly anticipated Season 2 of One Piece is set to release in 2025, continuing Monkey D. Luffy’s journey to become the King of the Pirates. Other notable adaptations include Yu Yu Hakusho, Alice in Borderland, Bleach, City Hunter, and the Fullmetal Alchemist films.

Anime Fans Have Even More to Look Forward To

Netflix’s anime library continues to grow, offering something for every fan. The highly anticipated adaptation of Sakamoto Days is currently airing new episodes weekly, with both English-subtitled and dubbed versions available. Additionally, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 premiered in January, delighting fans of the anime and video game series. Looking ahead, the Devil May Cry anime TV series, starring Johnny Yong Bosch as Dante, is set to premiere on April 3, 2025. Netflix recently revealed the opening theme song for the series, and true to the Capcom franchise, it’s as bold and thrilling as fans would expect.

With Demon City and a host of other exciting projects on the horizon, Netflix is proving to be a powerhouse for both live-action and anime content. Whether you’re a fan of revenge thrillers, epic adventures, or supernatural battles, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

 

Netflix Arcane Season 2 Release Dates

More than two years since Arcane's first season hit screens, Netflix is teasing the return of the steampunk animation. The highly anticipated second season is scheduled to premiere in November 2024. In the lead-up to the release, the streaming giant is building anticipation by offering a brief glimpse into what viewers can expect in the latest installment of the League of Legends spin-off. 

Set against the backdrop of the divided city of Piltover, sisters Vi and Jinx find themselves entangled in the conflicts of their respective factions and the undercity of Zaun beneath Piltover. The teaser also provides a sneak peek at Warwick, the human-turned-werewolf, who prowls the streets of Zaun in search of victims. Once a gangster attempting to escape his past, Warwick now grapples with being trapped by his newfound animalistic abilities.

 

Check out Netflix's latest teaser for Arcane Season Two above. The series is set to hit the streaming platform in November 2024.

• Development Details:

  • "Arcane" is the first animated television series set in the League of Legends universe.
  • It was developed and produced by Riot Games, the creators of League of Legends.

• Premiere and Reception:

  • "Arcane" premiered on Netflix on November 6, 2021, and received critical acclaim for its animation quality, storytelling, and character development.

• Artistic Collaboration:

  • The animation for "Arcane" was done by Fortiche Productions, a French animation studio known for its work on various video game trailers.

• Focus on Piltover and Zaun:

  • The series primarily explores the cities of Piltover and Zaun, showcasing the stark contrast between the affluent topside and the impoverished undercity.

• Character Backgrounds:

  • Vi and Jinx, central characters in "Arcane," are champions in the League of Legends game, and their complex relationship is explored in the series.

• Realism in Animation:

  • The animation style of "Arcane" is notable for its realistic depiction of characters and environments, contributing to the immersive storytelling experience.

• Global Fan Base:

  • The League of Legends community, which spans across the globe, eagerly anticipated the release of "Arcane," and the series attracted both existing fans and newcomers to the franchise.

• Musical Score:

  • The series features a compelling musical score composed by Trevor Morris, adding emotional depth to the narrative.

 

Netflix’s Zombieverse Trailer And Release Dates

Netflix has just unveiled the thrilling official trailer for "Zombieverse," an exciting new South Korean zombie apocalypse reality TV show. Set to premiere on August 8, the series follows ten "survivors" as they make their daring escape from a zombie-infested Seoul.

The popularity of the zombie apocalypse genre has been on the rise in recent years, especially in Asian entertainment, and Netflix has embraced this trend with several zombie-themed TV shows, including South Korean titles like "All of Us Are Dead," "Sweet Home," "Hellbound," and "Kingdom." Drawing inspiration from successful shows like "Physical: 100" and "Singles' Inferno," it seems that Netflix aims to take the post-apocalyptic genre to new heights by infusing it with the captivating elements of unscripted reality TV. "Zombieverse" promises to be an exceptional experience, boasting a star-studded cast of celebrities, TV personalities, and influencers. Among the notable names are Tsuki from the K-pop group Billie, the talented actress Lee Si-young from "Sweet Home," Dex, a popular YouTuber and contestant from "Singles' Inferno" season two, and the renowned comedian Park Na-rae, among others. If you're curious to catch a glimpse of the action-packed and celebrity-filled "Zombieverse," be sure to check out the trailer above. It's bound to keep you on the edge of your seat!

The Sandman Season 2 Release Dates

What are the Plot & Release Expectations with The Sandman Season 2? “Season of Mists” is considered one of the most prominent sections in Gaiman’s version which is to arrive in the second season. Dream’s meddlesome family members may have a key role to play in this season. Something truly evil is running in the mind of Lucifer played by Gwendoline Christie. You are right! we are also craving to get some more episodes really soon from the team. But they can not deliver it within a week, technically it takes much time to create shows. If we make a hard guess, The Sandman debuted on 5th August this year and may complete its script for season 2 within 1-2 months. Assuming that the series can take 6-8 months in the filming and production phase, we can expect The Sandman Season 2 to have a release in its anniversary month, August. It may or may not be further time than this. Of course, we have to wait for the showrunner to keep updating us with details and teaser trailers for The Sandman Season 2.

Buckle up fans! the dark fantasy story ride is not over yet. The critically acclaimed DC’s The Sandman, published by Neil Gaiman took 32 years to finally release as an independent series. The Sandman has finally risen and made his first in-person appearance with season 1 which premiered recently on 5th August. We got 10 episodes to this story right now and more is yet to arrive in The Sandman Season 2. During the 2022 Geeked Week Event, Netflix announced the release date and trailer of this highly anticipated DC project which received huge amounts of applause from fans who believe it to be the best comic book ever written. The wait is almost over and The Sandman is coming as a series on Netflix this August. The Sandman comic is written by Neil Gaiman and was released in the year 1989.

Dream is the Lord of Nightmares and punishes humans who anger him. The comic series became an overnight classic and blockbuster. For so many years, it was in the state of planning to be brought up as a live-action adaptation. The project was never finalized and was shelved many times but finally, the action thriller is coming in the form of Netflix’s The Sandman which is sharing Tom Sturridge as the lead character. It follows the adventures of Morpheus a.k.a. Dream. He is one of the seven immortal siblings responsible for maintaining reality. As the king of the Nightmare Realms, Dream is the one responsible for making humans dream, either when their eyes are closed or when they’re imagining a better future for themselves.

It is the story of Dream, one of seven siblings who govern the human realm, each having its own definition. These seven are Dream, Despair, Desire, Death, Destiny, Delirium, and Destruction. The show featured Morpheus aka Dream, the Lord of Nightmares, getting captured by a human cult in the early 1900s. He takes almost a century to release from his trap. After breaking free from the Human Realm, Morpheus encounters a roller coaster of adventures.

In his absence, the Nightmare Kingdom fell into ruins due to the lack of a leader. This affected humans’ capacity for dreaming adversely but the worse is yet to come. Since Dream was trapped, many of the nightmares he handles escaped from the kingdom and reached Earth. What can you expect from nightmares? They are bad! One of these nightmares is Corinthian, who becomes a serial killer in the dimension of humans on Earth.

The Sandman Season 2 hasn’t received a green signal from the streaming service Netflix as of now but the team is secretly working on a new season. Yes! The Sandman Season 2 is happening. This was confirmed by the executive producer David S. Goyer that he is already working on the script for its second installment. Surprisingly, Season 1 had covered only 16 issues out of the total 75 issues of the DC Comic book and plenty of seasons can be created using this.

During the show’s premiere in London, Allan Heinberg told NME, “We’ve got as many [seasons] as they’ll let us have. If enough viewers show up, we can go for quite a long while.” He is ready to provide spin-off miniseries too if viewers keep enjoying their fantastic stories. It appears that Morpheus is not going to stop now after waiting for over 30 years. We can expect a confirmation from Netflix once the script is ready and the show goes on the floor for filming.

The popular show is based on the popular 1989 DC comic, The Sandman written by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. Neil has joined David S. Goyer and Allan Heinberg as the showrunner while the show is produced by DC Entertainment and Warner. Bros Television in association with The Blank Corporation and Phantom Four.

The Sandman Season 1 has released on 5th August with a total of 10 episodes. The following star cast is expected to return in The Sandman Season 2:

    Tom Sturridge as Dream
    Donna Preston as Despair
    Boyd Holbrook as Corinthian
    Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Death
    Mason Alexander Park as Desire
    Gwendoline Christie as Lucifer
    Vivienne Acheampong
    Charles Dance
    Asim Chaudhry
    Sanjeev Bhaskar

Jenna Coleman, Niamh Walsh, Joely Richardson, and Razane Jammal have played key roles in Season 1.

Stranger Things S4 Set A New Netflix Premiere Record

Volume 1 now holds the record for the biggest opening weekend of an English-language original series with a total of 287 million hours viewed from May 23 to May 30. The total, however, only comes from three days out of that week as it hit the streamer on May 27. The previous Netflix record was held by Bridgerton season two in late March, with the show raking in 193 million hours of viewing time in its first three days.

In a recent interview, Stranger Things staples Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer opened up about the series coming to an end in season five. “I think the Duffer brothers are going to take the brunt of the pressure on how they’re going to wrap up the story, but for our characters, there’s definitely going to be things that you’ll want as an actor,” Heaton said. “I always trust that they’re going to end the story the right way, but I think there are certain things that every cast member is going to want for their own character.” “Everybody wants a satisfying end and some sense of closure that feels nice. But also just individually as actors, you’d think about all the things that are left unanswered about your character,” Dyer added. “You’re just like: ‘Oh, I need this. And what about that? Why didn’t they ever talk about it?’ So yeah, the pressure is on the Duffer brothers for sure.”

The Gray Man Release Date And Everything You Need To Know

For Netflix’s most ambitious production to date, look no further than The Gray Man, an action thriller based on the New York Times bestseller book series of the same name by writer Mark Greaney. Sharing DNA with such properties as The Bourne Identity and John Wick, The Gray Man follows a former CIA hitman fighting for his life after being betrayed by the country he loved. Netflix is going all-in on this project - it’s one of the most expensive Netflix Originals to date, pulling in Hollywood superstars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans to play the leading roles and filming on set in France and the Czech Republic as well as undisclosed Stateside locations. Reportedly, a prequel and sequel are already in development. Expect high-octane thrills, international intrigue, and masterful performances by some of the best actors in the business. If that sounds like it's right up your alley, here are all the details we have so far for this exciting Netflix thriller movie. Netflix released the first official trailer for The Gray Man on May 24, giving fans a good look at all the large-scale action set-pieces the action-adventure spy film has in store for fans of the genre. For fighting with fists, explosive car chases, Ana de Armas, and of course Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans duking it out while brandishing some great facial hair.

The Gray Man will naturally be a Netflix exclusive on streaming, but it will also be released in theaters on Friday, July 15, 2022. If you’d like the full theater experience for The Gray Man, though, you’ll have to act quickly - it will only be in theaters for a week, after which the film will become available for streaming on July 22. The Gray Man follows Court Gentry, codename Sierra Six, who was once a CIA operative specializing in infiltration and assassination. After an unspecified betrayal lands him in prison, Gentry escapes and begins a new life as an assassin for hire, building a fearsome reputation in the process. However, his old colleagues at the CIA aren’t about to let him go. After uncovering some incriminating evidence against the agency, Gentry becomes the target of Lloyd Hansen, another of the CIA’s top intelligence agents and a man of even fewer scruples than Gentry. The result is a violent manhunt across several countries, with Gentry having only his wit, skill, and resourcefulness to rely on to escape Hansen, every bounty hunter and killer-for-hire on the continent, and the might of the entire United States global intelligence network. The Gray Man is being directed by Anthony and Joseph Russo, collectively known as the Russo Brothers. They’re no strangers to stylish action, having directed four films for the Marvel Cinematic Universe including Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Endgame, the latter of which broke box-office records its opening week and remains a high-water mark for massive multi-continuity movie franchises to this day.

 

Joseph Russo is also one of the screenwriters for this project, along with Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Markus and McFeely are also a mainstay duo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, much like the Russo brothers themselves: all four have previously worked together on Marvel projects, and Markus and McFeely have also written for The Chronicles of Narnia series of films. Ryan Gosling stars as the titular Gray Man, a.k.a. Court Gentry, freelance assassin, and international fugitive. Gosling is perhaps best known for his starring role in the romantic musical La La Land, but he’s earned his acting chops in Drive and Blade Runner 2049. In hot pursuit is Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen, his unhinged former colleague. Evans is of course best known for his work as Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Captain America: The First Avenger through to Avengers: Endgame, in which he also worked under the direction of the Russo brothers. He’s also directed and starred in the romantic drama Before We Go and proved his talent as a villain in Knives Out. Joining the two men is Ana de Armas, who starred alongside Evans in Knives Out and Gosling in Blade Runner 2049. She’s also joined the ranks of Bond girls in No Time to Die. De Armas plays Agent Dani Miranda, who works alongside Hansen to track down Gentry. They’re opposed not only by Gentry but by former handler Donald Fitzroy, played by Billy Bob Thornton. Thornton is a veteran actor whose filmography includes Armageddon, The Man Who Wasn’t There, and Fargo. Other cast members appearing in the movie include Regé-Jean Page, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Alfre Woodard, Wagner Moura, Julia Butters, Callan Mulvey, Eme Ikwuakor, Scott Haze, Michael Gandolfini, Sam Lerner, Robert Kazinsky, and DeObia Oparei. Netflix is currently developing both a prequel and a sequel for The Gray Man. A sequel makes sense - The Gray Man appears to be based on the first book in a six-book series, so there’s plenty of material yet to adapt - but the prequel, intriguingly, will be focusing on the story behind antagonist Lloyd Hansen. It seems Netflix’s ambition for this film reaches far beyond its mind-boggling budget and star-studded cast: they fully expect to make The Gray Man into a franchise. If the movie is as good as its director and cast would suggest, it just might succeed. The Gray Man started filming in March 2021, and wrapped up on July 22 of the same year. Locations included the Château de Chantilly in France and Prague, Czech Republic.

The Witcher Season 3 Release date and time, what to expect, and more

Nobody would say that The Witcher season two ended happily. After all, the season saw not only the death of Geralt’s beloved mare Roach, but also the revelation that the warlike Emperor Emhyr of Nilfgaard is in fact Duny, Ciri’s father. And yet, the season’s close found Yennefer’s magical abilities restored after expelling the demon Voleth Meir, and Ciri continuing her apprenticeship under the close eye of Geralt. The trio, separated over time, came together again to form something of a found family.

But to the surprise of no one, that family faces a terrible threat. With the announcement that production has begun on the third season of the Netflix series comes a synopsis describing the future for the White Wolf and his friends. Details were released via the show’s official Twitter account, indicating a future full of trouble. On the one hand, the new season promises more of the status quo. Since she escaped Cintra, Ciri has been pursued by all manner of soldiers and monsters. But with the season two revelation that she has Elder Blood, Ciri has become even a greater target than before, especially with Voleth Meir rejoining the Wild Hunt. Furthermore, the revelation of Emperor Emhyr’s identity suggests that he will only increase his search for Ciri, bringing the Black Knight Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach closer to Geralt.

But the most intriguing part of the plot synopsis involves Yennifer’s decision to bring Ciri to Aretuza. There, Ciri will surely encounter Yennifer’s old mentor Tissaia and her rival Fringilla. Both figures will tempt Ciri in ways that neither Geralt nor Yennifer imagines, promising even greater power than the young sorceress had anticipated. As Nilfgaard continues its plans for domination, Ciri’s blood and powers could be the turning point for the war.

With these high stakes in place, The Witcher season three is poised to continue building on the show’s popularity. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich has not indicated which of Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski’s works she plans to adapt for the next season, but the first two entries used material from The Last Wish, The Sword of Destiny, Blood of Elves, and Time of Contempt. Netflix has announced that directors for season three include Stephen Surjik, who has worked on Reacher and The Umbrella Academy, and Loni Peristere, who has helmed episodes of American Horror Story and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

However, Netflix has not yet made public the season’s premiere date. For those dying for more adventures in Sapkowski’s fantasy world, Netflix will be releasing the prequel series The Witcher: Blood Origin later this year. Set 1200 years before The Witcher, Blood Origin follows the creation and adventures of the first Witcher. It stars Sophia Brown as the warrior Eile, Michelle Yeoh as a sword-elf on a mission to retrieve a special blade, and Dylan Moran as a character called Uthrok One-Nut. No further explanation needed.

Hopefully, Blood Origin will keep fans satisfied until we can return to the adventures of Geralt, Ciri, and Yennifer.

Netflix All of Us Are Dead Review

As anyone who has watched Zombieland knows, different zombie dystopias have different zombie rules. The zombies in All of Us Are Dead, which is based on a webtoon translated under the same name, follow basic zombie rules (e.g. they are mindless, undead creatures hungry for brains), with a few quirks thrown in for good measure most especially the inclusion of the “hambie” and the focus on students as undead. “We see many films about zombies, but only a few have students as main characters. In an enclosed space like a school where teenagers are clustered, they have to survive on their own,” said All of Us Are Dead director Lee Jae-kyoo about what sets the Netflix series apart from other zombie fare. “They have to run away from friends becoming zombies. These aspects can make this show different from other zombie films, and make it interesting and fresh.” Let’s discuss the strengths, weaknesses, origins, and exceptions of the undead in All of Us Are Dead…

Zombies in All of Us Are Dead have a heightened sense of smell and hearing while this is mostly a strength, as it can be used to hunt prey, it can also technically be a weaknesses when there is a loud sound or heightened smell, as is the case when a thunder and lightning rainstorm descends upon the school. (This is somewhat reminiscent of the zombies in terrible horror flick Patient Zero.) The undead in the series are also super strong, and more or less impervious to damage these are not slow zombies of Shaun of the Dead. Gwi-nam falls off buildings no less than three times, and keeps on trucking. When we see Nam-ra after the time jump in the final episode, her sunken eye seems to have repaired itself, suggesting some kind of regenerative capability. As we learn later in the series, those affected with The Jonas Virus, as Lee Byeong-chan and Detective Jae-ik call it, are medically dead. Their heart stops, but the virus stimulates their brain stem and moves the body. We see some hints that physically weaker humans, like Cheong-san’s mom, make for physically weaker zombies, but the bone-crunching flexibility of the zombies (Lee had the cast work with a choreographer and dancer to create the undead’s eerily clunky movement) and their determination to eat brains make them much scarier than their human hosts ever could be. While the All of Us Are Dead zombies have heightened smell and hearing, they lose a degree of vision in the process. They’re also pretty dumb, and can be easily tricked by humans working together with a solid plan. As in other zombie stories, taking out the brain stem—with a bullet or by bludgeoning, takes out the zombie altogether. Another potential weakness for these zombies is the fact that the characters in this world have knowledge of movie zombies, making references to Train to Busan almost immediately. While characters don’t utilize this meta knowledge as much as I wanted them to, it sometimes factors into the humans’ decision-making process, giving them a working knowledge of what to do and not do when facing off against a zombie. “We live in a system of violence. A nobody like me can’t change the system. That’s why I decided to change my son.” One of the less intriguing subplots in All of Us Are Dead is the “mystery” of how the zombie virus was created. It all connects back to one man: Lee Byeong-chan, a scientist who used to work for a pharmaceutical company before he was fired and found a job as the science teacher at Hyosan High. When Lee’s son is bullied to the point that he attempts suicide, the teacher develops a substance that he thinks will make him more capable of fighting back. Unfortunately, it, um, turns him into a zombie. Lee’s son is Patient Zero, and his wife quickly follows. The scientist experiments on them for more than a month before the virus eventually spreads because Lee leaves infected mice just bopping around the Hyosan High science lab. (Honestly, he is the worst.) Though the science teacher eventually seems to have a slight change-of-heart after being bitten, telling Jae-ik about the laptop with all of his information, he remains relatively remorseless for the horror he has unleashed.“If this virus manages to learn the human mind, a new breed of human will be born.” All of Us Are Dead throws an In the Flesh-like twist into their zombie story: some humans respond differently to The Jonas Virus. Rather than being turned into a zombie, they are half-human, half-zombie, or a “hambie,” as Dae-su decides to call it. These hambies are something new (“You know how students are not children but not yet adults either? I’m like that. I’m neither a human, nor a monster,” says Nam-ra), with all of the strengths of a zombie while holding onto their brain function. They are hungry, but they more or less keep the personality that defined them before they were infected withe the virus. This leads to horrific consequences when applied to Gwi-nam or even Eun-ji, who have a lack of empathy for other people and use their increased physical might to kill and eat, but allows Nam-ra to help her friends survive using her hambie senses. It takes a while for the Hyosan High students to learn the rules of how The Jonas Virus is spread, but it pretty much only happens if someone is bit by a zombie yes, this includes hambies. Notably, Gyeong-su doesn’t turn when he is scratched by a zombie, but he does turn when Na-yeon (never forget) uses a rag with zombie blood on it to “tend” to the wound. Also notably, Nam-ra does not spread the virus to Su-hyeok when she kisses him which, yes, I was worried about. While the zombies in All of Us Are Dead have some specific quirks, they are more or less your Classic Zombies: Fast Edition. Much of the interest in this zombie show comes not on a fresh take on the genre, but in the way it is all executed. As you can see in the featurette above, Jae-kyoo put a lot of thought into how to make the series visually interesting: “For those who aren’t fans of zombie films, we tried to incorporate many different tools in this for a fun viewing experience,” said Jae-kyoo. “We tried to make the school look animated and bright at first. We gave a lot of thought to lighting and colors for every single space. To perfectly convey our intention, we built a set 100 meters long. So we can safely say that we built a four-story school. And red blood contrasts with their green uniforms. Through this color contrast, we wanted to show the intensity.” Jae-kyoo grounded the genre horror of the zombie apocalypse by using one-takes and long-takes, especially in the first half of the series, to make the drama more immersive and realistic. “Rehearsing was everything,” said Jae-kyoo. “Hundreds of crew and actors spent the whole day rehearsing it. In fact, how the actors acted and reacted changed the whole storyboard. All the cameras did was try to capture how the kids reacted.” Jae-kyoo’s attention to detail expanded to his direction of the young cast, with an emphasis on “realness as well as chemistry among actors.” Following the casting process, which prioritized finding unknowns to play the students, Jae-kyoo held a workshop that allowed the young cast to bond. As part of the process, he had them swap roles in the hope that it would help allow each performer to also understand the other roles in the drama. While All of Us Are Dead may not be doing anything particularly new with the zombie drama, it is being released during the COVID era, which has unfortunately given new life to many of these classic tropes. Interestingly, COVID is mentioned on a news broadcast in-universe, which means these characters too are living in a post-COVID outbreak world. All of Us Are Dead will hit differently in different countries and communities, as not all people have experiences the global pandemic in the same way, but they are relevant no matter where you live on this Earth. At one point in the drama, one teen character asks another: “In some countries, they’re more sad when adults die than when kids die. And in other countries they are sadder when kids die. Which do you think our country is?” Later, someone reflects: “When kids die, you lose hope. When adults die, you lose their wisdom. Hope and wisdom. Which do we value more?” These are questions that are always relevant, as societies are constantly making decisions about how to divvy up their collective resources which is one reason why the zombie genre is so popular but they have become more visible during COVID. All of Us Are Dead comes to some pretty bleak conclusions in its analysis of these themes, but viewers may find some catharsis in that bleakness, in the depiction of collective and sustained trauma, in the recognition that everything is in fact not OK.

Watch The Netflix Trailer for Neymar: The Perfect Chaos

Netflix has released the official trailer for its new documentary Neymar: The Perfect Chaos, following the meteoric rise of Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar Jr., who is widely regarded as one of the best footballers in the world.

The upcoming trailer will dive into Neymar’s legacy thus far as well as his early life in São Paulo, Brazil, and private life outside of football. Known for having a dynamic and unruly personality, Neymar has often landed himself in the media spotlight, sometimes for the wrong reasons. The upcoming documentary features interviews with Neymar’s teammates, competitors, and some of the best football stars of all time including Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Kylian Mbappé, Luis Suarez, and Ángel Di María. “Everything he does is about entertainment,” said Beckham in the trailer. News commentators are also heard holding no punches saying, “You’re one of the best players ever. What is your problem?” “I started playing early, got famous early, got rich early, everything went from zero to 100,” said Neymar. “I didn’t choose to be a superstar. I’d much rather be anonymous than famous. I know the responsibility I have. It’s my life. I won’t stop just to please you.” View the Netflix trailer above, and expect Neymar: The Perfect Chaos to premiere as a three-part docuseries on January 25.

Dragon’s Blood Book 2 hits Netflix On January 2022

The second season of DOTA’s animated show Dragon’s Blood will be available to stream on January 6, 2022. As spotted by DOTA 2 community figure Wykrhm Reddy, the Netflix page for DOTA: Dragon’s Blood Book 2 now has a release date and a swanky new trailer to boot.

The trailer is a moody affair, as you might expect. We start with several shots of glowing purple lotuses fading into the wind while one man tells a woman that she’s no longer worshipped and that all that sustains her is a spark of divinity. We then get some shots of the demon marauder Terrorblade looking suitably broody as he hunts for more Eldwurm souls. We also see scenes of conflict and war, which sets us up for a potentially war-heavy season.

Dragon's Blood Book 2 Trailer — The whole season will launch on January 6, 2022. Get hyped. @ashmasterzero @StudioMir2010 @netflix #DragonsBlood #Dota2 pic.twitter.com/YUaCEneOCg

— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) December 9, 2021

If you’ve been out of the loop, the show is being created by Ashley Miller, who has worked on superhero movies like Thor and X-Men: First Class. We also have Kaiju Boulevard and Studio Mir on production duties, who you might recall is working on the animated Witcher prequel The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.

Red Notice Movie Review

You can’t argue with the muscular marquee value of headlining Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot in a slick, fast-paced action thriller laced with playful comedy, even if it’s an empty-calorie entertainment like Red Notice. Like many Netflix star vehicles, writer-director Rawson Marshall Thurber’s busy crime caper has more glossy industrial sheen than unique personality. But it’s diverting enough to justify the sequel so clearly set up in its final scenes, even if it’s unlikely to linger in the minds of many viewers beyond the end credits. Mostly, the derivative adventure keeps you occupied checking off the many films from which it borrows. It starts well enough with an engaging opening that sets up the MacGuffins of the film, which are the three ornate eggs that Mark Antony supposedly gifted to Cleopatra on their wedding day. Two were recovered, with one in a museum in Rome and the other in the private collection of a wealthy arms dealer, while the third exists only in rumor. The Rome-based egg is targeted for thievery on the black market, which spurs FBI special profiler and art specialist John Hartley (Johnson) and Interpol Inspector Das (Ritu Arya) to confirm that it’s still secure. It is not, because famed art thief Nolan Booth (Reynolds) has already absconded with the priceless piece, creating the first of many, many chases involving the two men trying to outmaneuver one another physically, mentally, or, in Reynolds’ case, with an arsenal of “dad joke”-level quips. The other player in this quest is Gadot’s Sarah Black, a slinky art thief who considers herself the greatest in the world, and makes it her life’s work to be just one step ahead of both Hartley and Booth as she’s pursuing the eggs for a buyer willing to pay $300 million for their collection and delivery.

Red Notice starts with a lot of energetic potential but then devolves into a pastiche of other, better films, cribbing scenes that feel like they were lifted straight from a myriad of films from Indiana Jones to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Of the three mega-star leads, Dwayne Johnson acquits himself the best to committing to his FBI profiler as more of a brainy hero rather than just brawn, and it works. Reynolds exists as a quip machine who gets tiresome quick, while Gadot feels like she’s barely in it. While this may be positioned as a new franchise, there’s nothing here that sets up any urgency or excitement to go on more adventures with this trio.

 

 

 

 

In the first act, Thurber teases with a breezy and well-choreographed museum escape that he’s going to subvert the big, loud set pieces expected in these kinds of films with something different, and then he doesn’t deliver. As the players jump from Rome to Bali to London to Valencia and finally, Argentina, playing find the eggs, the less each scenario feels original or fresh. Several action sequences are framed like first-person video games with the camera inside cars during chases, or handheld during fistfights to put us inside the action, but it’s far from innovative or exhilarating. It just feels like gimmicky video game cut scenes that aren’t anything new to the choreography, framing, or even fun of the fights. There’s also the issue of the audience ever buying that Reynolds is going to hold his own longer than a full-blown punch or two with Johnson in a fist fight. Then Gadot is added to the melee, easily holding her own, or just plain besting both of them. While I appreciate that Gadot’s Black at least gets to take her heels off for major fights, none of these people are superheroes, which means the only one brawling with any cred is Johnson, so there’s a lot of suspension of disbelief required.

And that’s carried through to Reynolds’ Booth, who is a test to the nerves with his constant, terrible running commentary of comebacks and snarkery about everything. Yes, it’s Reynolds’ signature schtick, but in Red Notice, he operates like an obnoxious talking doll with a broken pull string. In yet another suspension of disbelief, it’s unbelievable that neither Gadot or Johnson’s characters wouldn’t gag him with a sock by the second act, especially when Booth gets weirdly emotional with Hartley. Who needs bro bonding in a heist, relic, caper? Thurber makes a lot of other odd choices in the film, like not letting Chris Diamantopoulos go full weird with his short-man-syndrome arms dealer, Sotto Voce (yes, that’s the character’s name.) Instead, he’s allowed to rasp his lines like he’s in dire need of a lozenge, but never ends up taking the space an intentional bad guy should have in a movie like this. In fact, there’s no real antagonist of note to hang the stakes of the film on at all, and that’s because Thurber is more interested in maintaining the moral liquidity of all the characters so you’re left guessing about their true intentions instead of feeling any sense of danger at any point. It’s just an endless race from museums to Russian prisons to bullfighting rings and jungles, which all blur together without giving anything time to breathe, as we wait for someone to double-cross someone because that’s all the whole movie keeps giving us.

Plus, by the second and third act, every set piece feels derivative from another movie. Ocean’s 11, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, National Treasure, The Mummy, and even Mr. and Mrs. Smith could all rightfully accuse Red Notice of stealing their scenes. What makes it even worse is the fact that this cast is up to doing something truly different. Gadot, when she appears, plays Black like she’s having a lot of fun. Reynolds is more than capable of not coming across like a human blooper reel, but that’s all he’s asked to do here. And Johnson does his best to bring a competent hotness to Hartley so he’s not just the muscle, which makes him the MVP here. But the dialogue and strange, forced bromance that Booth demands of Hartley, even if it’s a joke, is tiring and not as engaging as the filmmakers think it is. Red Notice really needed a script with a much lighter touch all around. It should have been sexier and smarter, with less action, and more original storytelling. Instead, it’s a mindless diversion that’s blandly familiar, yet thinks it’s far cleverer than it really is.

Netflix Launches First Mobile Games With Two 'Stranger Things' Titles

Netflix has debuted its first mobile game titles to its global subscribers on Android, Netflix’s VP of Game Development Mike Verdu announced on Tuesday. The inaugural lineup includes two Stranger Things titles Stranger Things: 1984 and Stranger Things 3: The Game which first arrived for Android users exclusively in Poland in August. Additional games available to the platform’s subscribers include Shooting Hoops (Frosty Pop), Card Blast (Amuzo & Rogue Games) and Teeter Up (Frosty Pop).

 “Whether you’re craving a casual game you can start from scratch or an immersive experience that lets you dig deeper into your favorite stories, we want to begin to build a library of games that offers something for everyone,” Verdu said in a blog post. “We’re in the early days of creating a great gaming experience, and we’re excited to take you on this journey with us.” Users who open the Netflix app on their mobile Android devices will now see a designated games tab where they will be able to click on games to download and play. Each game will automatically be playable in the language that the user has set on their Netflix account; however, the language will default to English if the user’s chosen language is not yet available in Netflix’s games. The gaming tab will only appear for adult accounts on the streamer, meaning children’s accounts will not be able to access the mobile games. Parents and guardians are able to create a PIN number in order to unlock games on Netflix for children’s accounts. Netflix’s games are expected to become available on iOS “soon,” according to a Netflix

Marci From Dota: Dragon's Blood Will Be Dota 2's Newest Hero

Dota 2‘s newest hero was announced by Valve during The International 10. Who is it, you ask? Why, it’s no other than Marci, Mirana’s servant and muscle, originally introduced in the Netflix animated series DOTA: Dragon’s Blood. Developer Valve Software announced on Saturday (16 October) that Marci, a character from DOTA: Dragon's Blood the Dota 2 Netflix animated series will be joining the game as a full-fledged hero this fall.

Valve announced Marci will be the 121st hero to join Dota 2's extensive roster of combatants after the upper bracket finals of The International 10 (TI10), this year's iteration of the game's annual world championship tournament, which saw Chinese team PSG.LGD book their ticket to the grand finals and send European powerhouse Team Secret to the lower bracket finals. In DOTA: Dragon's Blood, Marci is the loyal servant of Mirana, Princess of the Moon, among the most iconic Dota 2 heroes and one of the principal characters of its animated series. Marci has become quite the favourite among fans of both Dota 2 and DOTA: Dragon's Blood, due to her expressive and bubbly demeanour — which shines through despite her being mute — that belies her fierce loyalty and proficiency in hand-to-hand combat. It’s already a tradition at this point, that Valve announces a brand new hero towards the tail end of The International. This time around, it turns out to be Marci who Valve says will be released this Fall. It’s going to be interesting to see how Marci will be portrayed in the game, as she will be the game’s first mute character (if Io and Phoenix would not be considered mute). The International 10 continues this weekend, with the Grand Finals commencing on Sunday. As of press time, Invictus Gaming is going against Team Spirit. The winner of this match will go against Team Secret in the lower bracket finals. Meanwhile, PSG.LGD is once again on the precipice, waiting in the Grand Finals for their worthy opponents. Faith_bian and y’ of PSG.LGD are both two-time hopefuls in the tournament, as they’ve originally won the Aegis of the Immortals during TI6 as part of Wings Gaming. Team Secret also has two TI hopefuls: Matumbaman and Puppey.

Netflix Is Expanding Into Video Games

Eyeing an even bigger slice of the media pie, Netflix is planning an imminent expansion into the video game space, and has reportedly tapped a former Electronic Arts and Facebook executive to helm the initiative. Netflix had selected Mike Verdu most recently vice president of augmented reality and virtual reality content at Facebook to serve as vice president of game development. Once installed at the platform, Verdu will report to Chief Operating Officer Greg Peters.

The announcement represents just the latest push by Netflix into a space beyond streaming content like television shows and movies a realm that the platform has signaled to its 200 million subscribers for years that it was eager to delve into. Netflix first hinted at a potential market expansion during the E3 gaming conference in 2019, when it announced a planned mobile game based on the “Stranger Things” franchise. Since then, Netflix has been less than coy about its proposed expansion: In a 2019 letter to shareholders, the company named Fortnite a popular video game known that has something to do with dancing, if I’m not mistaken as its primary competition. And in May of 2021, The Information first reported that Netflix was seeking an executive to boost its investments in the gaming space. It’s also not the first time Netflix has sought to blur the line between traditional streaming content and more avant-garde media, including recent interactive features like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and Carmen Sandiego. If the stock market is to be trusted and let’s face it, it’s not Netflix is making moves that appeal to stakeholders, with shares rising 2% in extended trading on Wednesday following the announcement of Verdu’s appointment. If all this keeps going apace, it looks like we’d all better brace ourselves for My Octopus Teacher: The Interactive Deep Sea Experience by 2025.

Will Smith To Host First-Ever Variety Comedy Special on Netflix

Will Smith is slated to host and star in an upcoming one-hour variety comedy special on Netflix, according to the streaming platform. Produced by Smith’s Westbrook Studios, the show will feature surprise celebrity guests, comedy sketches, musical performances and engaging conversations, among several other planned bits.

The actor-turned-comedian will executive produce the special alongside co-head of Westbrook Studios Terence Carter, Miguel Melendez and Sahara Bushue. Will Smith will host and star in a variety comedy special (his first-ever!) for Netflix. Launching later this year, the hour-long special will include celebrity guests, noteworthy conversation, comedic sketches, musical performances, and more. Smith, revered for his lead roles in both the Bad Boys and Men in Black franchises, received best actor nominations for his starring parts in Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness. In addition to his top-shelf film work, Smith and his Westbrook Studios are currently producing Bel-Air, a remake of the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air series, in which Smith starred during its run from 1990 to 1996. The forthcoming series, which is based on Morgan Cooper’s viral video that dramatically reimagined the popular NBC show, has received a two-season order from Peacock. Next on his agenda, Smith’s variety comedy special will launch globally on Netflix later this year. Until then, take a look at Smith’s last project with Netflix: a documentary series, titled Amend: The Fight for America.