Bunch of Casting News

Firaxis Games has announced the development of a new Civilization game, which may be called Civilization VII. The upcoming game will be the first new mainline entry in the series since Civilization VI was released in 2016. Heather Hazen, the incoming studio head at Firaxis, said in a press release, “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to carry on the studio’s storied legacy, beginning with the announcement that Firaxis is in development on the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise. I’m lucky to be working with some of the best developers in our industry, and we have plans to take the Civilization franchise to exciting new heights for our millions of players around the world.” Although the game’s release date is unclear, it is exciting news for fans of the series. Civilization games are turn-based strategy games where players lead a civilization from the Stone Age to the Modern Era, developing technologies, exploring the world, and engaging in diplomacy and warfare with other civilizations. Firaxis has a reputation for releasing high-quality strategy games, and the Civilization series is one of its most successful franchises. The games have sold over 50 million copies worldwide, and Civilization VI has received numerous awards and critical acclaim. While Ed Beach will continue to serve as creative director on the new Civilization, the company has also announced some key staffing changes. Longtime studio head Steve Martin and creative director Jake Solomon are leaving the company. It is unclear what impact this will have on the development of the game. It will be interesting to see what new features and improvements the new Civilization game will bring to the series. Civilization VI introduced new mechanics like unstacked cities, districts, and an updated research tree. The game was also praised for its graphics, music, and modding support. It’s unclear what the new game will be called, what new features it will introduce, and when it will be released. However, the news that a new Civilization game is in development is exciting for fans of the series. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the franchise that a new game is still highly anticipated even six years after the release of the last mainline entry. Source: The Verge

22 Feb 202352s

Microsoft has signed a 10-year contract to bring Xbox games to Nintendo consoles, which includes offering the game Call of Duty on the same day as Xbox and PlayStation with full feature and content parity. The move may be aimed at addressing antitrust concerns about Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft has also announced it will bring Xbox games and Call of Duty to Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service. The deals come as Microsoft’s $68.7bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard faces opposition from regulators. The Federal Trade Commission filed suit in January to halt the deal, while the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has come out strongly against it, citing concerns about competition and quality parity across systems.

22 Feb 202346s

The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, is finally out in theaters worldwide. The movie gives us a glimpse of what's to come in the MCU, introducing Kang the Conqueror as the primary villain for Phases 5 and 6. As we gear up for Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, there's a rumor going around that Tom Holland's Spider-Man will lead the team in Avengers 5 and that Spider-Man 4 may premiere before Avengers 6. Although we've been waiting for Sony and Marvel to announce Spider-Man 4, it's no surprise that they plan to continue using the popular superhero. However, the events of No Way Home erased much of the character's history, leaving him isolated and without access to Stark tech. Meanwhile, the Avengers are no longer a group, and Spider-Man's friends don't recognize him, but they remember fighting alongside him. According to an insider, Spider-Man is likely to be part of Captain America's new Avengers team in New World Order, set to fight against Kang in Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. The insider also claims that Holland has signed his contract and will lead the team in Kang Dynasty, but it's unlikely that he will be the only superhero in charge. While Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is set to premiere in May 2025, and Secret Wars a year later, Marvel may still have plenty of time to squeeze in more movies between them as they haven't announced many Phase 6 titles yet.

21 Feb 20231min

Universal Pictures is developing a live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon” trilogy with a March 14, 2025, release date. Dean DeBlois, the filmmaker behind the original animated trilogy, will be writing, directing, and producing the film. The movie will feature the friendship between a young Viking boy and a dragon he nurses back to health. This story revolves around the quest to combat humanity’s prejudice against dragons, first love, and the ache of overcoming the loss of a parent. The original trilogy was well received by the audience, earning more than $1.6 billion at the box office. DeBlois is making his live-action debut with the feature, and veteran movie and theater producer Marc Platt will produce the film. Platt will be working with Adam Siegel, the president of Marc Platt Productions. One of the creative challenges facing the filmmakers is making the dragons both appealing and realistic. The budget for the film has been worked out by the studio, and the casting process is already underway.

21 Feb 202354s

Blizzard, the renowned video game developer, has announced that it will be holding two playable open beta tests for the highly anticipated game Diablo 4. The beta tests will be held in March, and gamers around the world will have the opportunity to play the game on all platforms. The first beta weekend, scheduled for March 17-19, will be available exclusively to players who have pre-ordered Diablo 4. This early access will allow players to explore the game’s prologue and first act, as well as the opening zone, Fractured Peaks, and level their characters up to level 25. They will also be able to take on side quests and dungeons beyond the story of Act 1. The second beta weekend, scheduled for March 24-26, will be available to all players. Similar to the first beta weekend, players will be able to play the game’s prologue and first act, level their characters up to level 25, and take on side quests and dungeons. It’s worth noting that progress made during the beta will carry over from weekend to weekend during the beta, but not to the full game. So, while players won’t be able to continue from where they left off in the beta, they will still be able to get a good sense of the game’s mechanics and get a feel for the gameplay. To participate in the beta, players will need a Battle.net account to redeem their beta code. The beta will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. In conclusion, the Diablo 4 open beta tests offer players an early hands-on experience with the game before its official release. Gamers can explore the game’s opening zone, level up their characters, and take on side quests and dungeons. If you’re a fan of the Diablo franchise, or just a gamer looking for a new game to play, be sure to mark your calendars for the beta weekends in March. Source: Polygon

21 Feb 202353s

This is a test run for something I'd like to do. Practice makes perfect. XD Blizzard Entertainment, the publisher behind popular video games such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch 2, is facing backlash from its employees after a meeting held on Thursday by Blizzard president Mike Ybarra. According to reports, Blizzard staff expressed their disappointment with the leadership and publicly challenged Ybarra’s statements. The reduced profit-sharing plan also came as a shock to employees, with the company cutting their bonus down to 58% of what was promised. The return-to-office mandate was another issue that caused frustration among employees, with the new policy requiring workers to come back to the office for three days a week after two years of working from home. The cost of commuting and moving for employees who were hired out-of-state during the pandemic was also highlighted as an additional expense. Blizzard spokesperson, Andrew Reynolds, said the company would make exceptions “for medical or religious reasons” and honor its current long-term remote agreements. Customer service workers will also continue to work remotely. Blizzard workers have taken to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the company, highlighting the low morale that followed the meeting. Some workers are even calling for the industry’s first labor unions. The gaming industry has been widely criticized for undervaluing roles such as QA and customer service, which are essential but vulnerable to low pay and crunch. Ybarra’s comments have been interpreted as a slight to these roles, which are among the first to unionize. This influx of social media postings from Blizzard workers can be seen as a form of solidarity, with employees showing their discontent with the company’s leadership. It is rare for the gaming industry to see such an outward display of defiance from workers. Blizzard Entertainment’s management needs to address the concerns of its employees and make changes that benefit everyone. The industry should focus on valuing all its workers equally, promoting a culture of fair play, and avoiding the negative impact of low morale, high turnover, and bad publicity. Source: Polygon Tags: #BlizzardEntertainment #gamingindustry #employeebacklash #lowmorale #laborunions #reducedbonus #returntooffice #fairtreatment #management #leadership #Overwatch2 #WorldofWarcraft #QA #customerservice #solidarity #publicoutcry #socialmedia #negativeimpact #highturnover #fairplay #culture #valuingworkers

19 Feb 20231min

Millennium Media is reviving the Hellboy franchise and is currently in the process of developing a new live-action film. The project is reportedly far into development, as it has already been written and has a director attached. Brian Taylor, who co-directed Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, has been chosen to direct the new Hellboy film. The current working title for the reboot is Hellboy: The Crooked Man, although it is unclear if this will be the official title and if the film will be based on the storyline of the same name. The miniseries follows Hellboy in 1956, as he encounters a man named Tom, who had sold his soul to a demon. Together, they travel back to the Appalachian mountains to confront the demon and try to save Tom’s soul. While the plot details of the new film are currently under wraps, it is expected to feature more recognizable characters and monsters from the Hellboy universe. The previous reboot, released in 2019, left out key characters from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.), which is likely to be rectified in this new iteration. It is also expected to be another reboot, which means that neither Ron Perlman nor David Harbour will be reprising the role of Hellboy. Harbour, who starred in the 2019 reboot, is currently busy with other projects, including Stranger Things Season 5 and Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts. Furthermore, the new Hellboy film currently has no distributor attached, although it is expected that Millennium Media will look towards selling the project to a streaming service. Netflix, Amazon, and Peacock are among the potential contenders to distribute the film. The previous Hellboy film, which starred David Harbour as the titular character, was a critical and financial failure. It earned $55 million at the worldwide box office on a production budget of $50 million. Despite the lackluster performance, Millennium Media is keen to give the franchise another shot. Fans of the Hellboy franchise can expect to hear more details about the new film in the coming weeks as it gears up for a potential April production start. While there is no certainty that the new film will succeed where the previous one failed, the presence of experienced comic book property developers like Brian Taylor gives some hope that the reboot will be more successful.

18 Feb 202358s

Ted Lasso’s third season will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 15, with new episodes airing every Wednesday thereafter. The teaser for the upcoming season shows the AFC Richmond squad ready to believe again despite the defection of “wonder kid” Nate Shelley to Premier League side West Ham. The 12-episode season will continue the story from the second season, with Roy Kent stepping up as assistant coach, Rebecca focused on defeating Rupert, and Keeley navigating her own PR agency. Ted is struggling with work pressures and personal issues. The second season was highly acclaimed and won several Emmy awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series.

18 Feb 202353s