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Science-Fiction Weekly – Star Wars Battlefront II, Star Trek, Stargate, Godzilla
The second season of Stranger Things is damn good – even better than the first. Outside of a meandering seventh episode, I loved the sense of discovery that was sewn into each character and plot line, never once feeling like the show was running in circles or retreating to familiar territory covered in the first season. This is a show that dares to take chances, and doesn't race toward a conclusion. The creators clearly have a vision for where this thing is going next, and has appropriately paced the narrative to get there.
Similar praise can be showered upon Star Trek: Discovery, which was just picked up for a second season. Showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg signed on to return, and it sounds like it's a huge hit for CBS. "In just six episodes, Star Trek: Discovery has driven subscriber growth, critical acclaim and huge global fan interest for the first premium version of this great franchise," said Marc DeBevoise, president of CBS Interactive. "This series has a remarkable creative team and cast who have demonstrated their ability to carry on the Star Trek legacy." That's great news. We need more sci-fi shows that aren't only found on Syfy.
And we're getting one soon in Stargate Origins, a prequel web series to the long-running (and excellent) Stargate TV shows. We can always use more Stargate in our lives, but this may not be the way you want to consume it. Stargate Origins is a 10-episode series, with each episode running only 10 minutes in length. A release date hasn't be shared yet, but you can take your first look at what MGM is cooking up in this behind-the-scenes video.
Polygon Pictures' forthcoming Godzilla: Planet of Monsters Netflix movie is looking mighty nice. The latest trailer gives us a good look at the 3D animation style, which I think fits this property incredibly well. Planet of Monsters isn't another origin story; the plot summary makes it sound like an ending. In the year 2048, humankind has admitted defeat against the kaiju, leaving earth for a planet 11.9 light-years away. Their new home isn't what they hoped it would be. They are left with one choice: find a way to take back Earth before the last of their species dies.
Solo: A Star Wars Story's reshoots apparently accounted for "nearly all of the film." This shocking bit of information comes from "inside sources" that talked to The Resistance Broadcast. You can hear their discussion about the topic on this week's podcast (starting at the 15:50 mark). If this information is true, Ron Howard was apparently a busy man, and Disney invested heavily in making sure this prequel story is up the company's lofty expectations for quality. The previous directors, Christopher Miller and Phil Lord shot for roughly six months before being removed from the project by Disney. Although they only had a few weeks left of shooting, Howard ended up directing another four months of material, which the Resistance Broadcast says is over 80 percent of the film. Shooting is now complete, and, for the time being, it appears Disney is happy with the direction Howard is going with the Solo, which I think is a terrible (but appropriate) name for a Star Wars film.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi advertising is all over movie theaters, and one piece contains a potential spoiler. If you go to an IMAX theater, you'll see a standee that prominently features Luke Skywalker on both the "light" and "dark" sides. Some people strongly believe that Luke is going to the dark side in this film; others think he is embracing both to create an interesting "grey" Jedi. I don't think Lucasfilm would spoil a big plot point like this, and believe Luke is featured on both sides since this is essentially his movie, as The Force Awakens was Han Solo's. Some theaters may not get both light and dark sides, so they added Luke to both of them. Speculate away in the comments section below.
Fan uproar over Star Wars Battlefront II's loot crate system has been heard and addressed by developer DICE. In the final game, fans will find Epic Star Cards, the rarest of goods, are no longer tucked away in crates. You'll now need to reach specific ranks to craft upgraded Star Cards. Weapons can now be reached through milestones, and class-specific gear and items are unlocked by playing with them. Stay vocal, people. Your feedback clearly made a huge change to Battlefront II, and hopefully all of EA's games moving forward. You'll be able to get your hands on this promising Star Wars experience on November 17. For now, check out the new launch trailer below.
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