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Monster Hunter roars to life at Universal Studios Japan
Slaying giant beasts on your 3DS is all well and good, but if you want to meet the creatures of Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise face to face, you're going to need a plane ticket to Osaka. There, at Universal Studios Japan, you'll find a new Monster Hunter-themed attraction dubbed "Monster Hunter The Real." The event runs through May 11 and includes shops selling food and drink modeled after items found in the game, as well as a display where you can view real-world mockups of the game's various weapons and sets of armor. As you'd expect, the real draw of the exhibit is its gigantic beasts. That video you see above was captured by YouTube user "ExorcistPlexLife" during a 2012 incarnation of the event, and it depicts an animatronic Gold Rathian looking far more sedate than the last time he crushed you into a fine paste. More details on Monster Hunter The Real are available at 4Gamer, though if you don't read Japanese you'll have to settle for gawking at a few dozen recent images of the event. [Image: Capcom]
Warcraft movie initial cast revealed
The Warcraft movie from Legendary and Universal Pictures has received its first set of stars. Don't start riding around your epic mount in celebration just yet though, because while each of the actors Universal has closed a deal with is talented, they're not the big-name stars that generally set audience excitement meters to 'OMG Hype.' We also don't know to which characters these actors have been assigned. Legendary Pictures tweeted that the initial Warcraft cast includes Travis Fimmel (Vikings), Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma), Robert Kazinsky (Pacific Rim), Toby Kebbell (Wrath of the Titans) and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol). Slashfilm also reports that Universal is in final negotiations with Dominic Cooper (Captain America: The First Avenger). As we previously noted, the film's plot is something of an origin story for the conflict between orcs and humans, and takes place long before the events of World of Warcraft - hence the title being just "Warcraft." We'll have to wait a bit longer than originally anticipated to see which of the above actors will be taking up arms for Horde or Alliance (or indeed if those factions will yet exist in the film's timeline), as the movie was recently pushed back from its December 2015 release date to March 11, 2016.
Resident Evil haunted maze joins Universal Halloween Horror Nights
Resident Evil: Escape from Raccoon City is the latest maze added to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights 2013, starting on September 20. Capcom is in on the fright fest, and it's helping Universal craft a world that begins on the streets of Raccoon City, in the area that kicks off Resident Evil 2. Visitors will have to navigate a city filled with Hunters, Lickers and Nemeses, mostly pulled from Resident Evil 2 and 3 – "not the films," Universal notes. Universal Studios Japan got a taste of Resident Evil at its horror night in 2012, and it looked a little something like this. Silent Hill took the video game spotlight in last year's Halloween Horror Nights. Escape from Raccoon City joins The Walking Dead, Cabin in the Woods, Evil Dead, La Llorona, Afterlife: Death's Vengeance, Havoc: Derailed, and An American Werewolf in London at Universal this September. [Thanks, Billy!]
Variety: Gears of War movie script back in the works
The ethereal Gears of War movie is back in the headlines, with Variety reporting that producer Scott Stuber has signed on with the project. There's still no writer or distributor attached, but Stuber will work with his own studio, called Bluegrass Films, and Epic Games to develop a script and finance the project. Universal Studios currently has first look rights to whatever he can come up with.Stuber has produced a number of big-budget films, including Battleship, Ted, and the upcoming 47 Ronin. A movie based on Gears of War was originally set for a release in 2010, but that project allegedly fell apart due to "creative differences."
HBO extends exclusive, $2 billion deal with Universal Studios until 2022
HBO is determined to maintain its position as pay TV's top dog and will break the bank to ensure it does. It's inked a decade-long extension to a deal that gives it exclusive rights to Universal Studios movie catalogue until 2022. While neither HBO nor Universal have talked figures, Hollywood sources "in the know" think the Emmy Award-farm is paying around $200 million a year. All of these exclusive deals make us slightly nervous -- after all, it looks like we'll have to sign up with four or five different providers just for a decent selection...oh, so that's the idea then.
Visit Silent Hill during Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights this October
You know, we were just saying the other day how we wished we could spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a trip across the country to be tortured by grotesque manifestations of our terrible inner demons and dark secrets. How serendipitous then that Universal Studios and Konami should announce a partnership that fulfills that exact wish!Well, maybe the Silent Hill portion of Universal Studio's upcoming Halloween Horror Nights attraction won't actually transform life into an unending fount of misery and soullessness, but walking around a replica Silent Hill does sound like a pretty sweet idea.The announcement video above specifically calls out Fog World, Otherworld, Pyramid Head and the Nurses as parts of the Silent Hill mythos that will be brought to life by the attraction, so if you're seeking redemption for the terrible sins you've committed, maybe book a flight to Hollywood or Orlando this October.
Dracula, The Mummy and six other horror classics coming in a Blu-ray set October 2nd (video)
Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection will arrive on shelves October 2nd, and pack eight classic horror movies, all restored so they can be seen in the highest quality possible. Among the releases is Creature from the Black Lagoon restored for Blu-ray 3D (yes, like Dial M for Murder it was originally shot and released in 3D back in 1954), as well as Dracula, Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man and Phantom of the Opera. This is all a part of the ongoing Universal centennial celebration that's seeing its vaults unleash many of our favorites for the first time in high definition. After the break you can check out a featurette detailing the process undertaken to prep Dracula for Blu-ray release, as well as a press release with details on all of the flicks and which extras are included for each movie. Of course, the downside of a pack like this is that it's pricey -- the MSRP is $160, but it's available for preorder on Amazon currently priced at $112.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Blu-ray full specs revealed, arrives in October
We already got an early peek at the trailer, but Universal has finally issued a press release that breaks down everything that will be included in the E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial 30th Anniversary Blu-ray. The disc will include only the 1982 theatrical version of the movie, a Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound audio track and two brand-new featurettes. Those include an interview with the director Steven Spielberg and a behind the scenes look in The E.T. Journals. There's also support for the pocket BLU remote app, Ultraviolet and standard Digital Copy, and more. It certainly seems to be a package befitting the fourth-highest performing movie of all time, check after the break for another look at the trailer and the full press release. It's already up for preorder on Amazon for $24.49, although we'll have to keep waiting for an exact release date.
Universal Studios films appear in iCloud, Fox still unavailable
One advantage to iCloud is the ability to re-download movies that you purchased through iTunes. When the download feature became available in March, only four of the six major movie studios were on-board with the service. The two holdouts, Universal and 20th Century Fox, had contracts with HBO that prevented their participation in the service. HBO reportedly loosened its agreement and now Universal movies are available for download via iCloud, according to a MacRumors report. Movies from 20th Century Fox are still not available in iCloud, but negotiations supposedly are under way and iCloud support should be coming soon.
Universal Studios' films now available on iCloud, Fox still grounded
Back in early March, it became clear that content from Fox and Universal Studios would be held back from being available in the all-encompassing iCloud, presumably due to the HBO release window stranglehold impacting both libraries. Today, however, the tides of change are having an impact of their own. Mac Rumors is reporting that Universal titles no longer boast the unfortunate warning that they used to, allowing iTunes users to enjoy titles from iTunes in the Cloud. Regrettably, Fox titles still exhibit the hold back, but we're told that negotiations are ongoing to remedy that. So, movie plans back on for this evening?
Bioshock film adaptation loses director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
It's been a couple years since we've caught wind of any movement on the Bioshock movie adaptation announced back in 2008. Last we heard, pre-production on the film had been halted while discussions were held regarding the project's necessary budget and potential rating upon release.Those talks are still ongoing, but once-attached director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has apparently run out of patience. "To be honest, by now, I'm completely out of that, and developing other stuff," Fresnadillo said in a statement to The Playlist. "Right now it's on hold. The studio and the video game company, they have to reach some kind of agreement about the budget and the rating."Here, Hollywood, allow us to resolve four years' worth of negotiations in four seconds: Make Bioshock's budget "all of the money" and let it have an R rating. Problem solved.
HBO in talks to relax iCloud ban on Universal, Fox movies for Apple TV
Remember when it was revealed that Fox and Universal's movie libraries wouldn't be able to stream via iCloud to your Apple TV? The reason was that both studios were locked into an exclusive window with HBO. Fortunately, the cable channel is already entering into negotiations with the studios to relax that rule for people who have already bought their movies -- having already done so for stablemate Warner Bros. A settlement is expected to be forthcoming in the next few weeks, at which point we can get back to the important things in life: the second series of Game of Thrones.
Redbox deal with Universal keeps DVDs, Blu-rays on 28-day delay through 2014
So far, Redbox has maintained that it's only willing to delay rentals of new releases a maximum of one month, but while Warner pushes for a longer window the rental kiosk chain has reached an agreement with Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The new deal keeps the delay window at 28 days, and promises to keep the discs flowing through August 2014. Despite Redbox's threat to start offering Warner movies day and date due to their dispute, so far it's still taken a couple of weeks for new releases like Harold & Kumar and J Edgar to make their way into kiosks. So far there's no word of other studios backing Warner's push for a 56-day delay between the date movies go on sale at retail and the earliest budget renters like Redbox and Netflix will offer them, which is a good sign. Not mentioned in the press release? Whether or not this deal could affect the availability of content for Redbox's internet streaming service that's on the way with Verizon.
Universal celebrates 100 years of movies, finally brings classics like Jaws and E.T. to Blu-ray
Blu-ray fans waiting to see classic flicks like E.T. and Jaws on the format can rejoice, as Universal has officially announced they will be released this year as a part of its centennial celebration. After being in the moving picture business for 100 years the studio has a lot to celebrate, and plans "extensive restorations" of 13 movies including To Kill a Mockingbird, All Quiet on the Western Front, Jaws, The Sting, Out of Africa, Frankenstein and Schindler's List. There's also the special celebration logo seen above, but really, as long as they finally deliver a proper edition of Spielberg's 1982 classic sci-fi flick, they can put whichever picture they want up before it -- check the press release after the break for details, lists and Tumblr links.
The Mummy Online's beta is under wraps
Seeing as how Halloween is right around the corner, it seems like a perfect time to tap into your inner monster and unleash the spooky spirit of the holiday. And what better way to do so than to wrap yourself in gauze, drain your bodily fluids, be buried alive, and brew a vengeful spirit over the next two thousand years? Or, you know, you could just play The Mummy Online, which has recently gone into closed beta. Bigpoint's online version of Universal Studios' classic horror franchise looks to retain the best of the recent films as it mashes scares and high adventure thrills together. The game is free-to-play in your browser, and is presented in a top-down, isometric format. Applications for the closed beta are currently being accepted. You can get a closer look at The Mummy Online in the gallery below, but beware! Opening this gallery will unleash an ancient curse upon your spleen! %Gallery-137305%
Bigpoint unleashes new Mummy Online site and trailer
It's been almost a year since Bigpoint announced The Mummy Online, and we were starting to suspect that the project had been sealed back up in a tomb... forever. We even listed it as one of our top MMOs that went MIA in 2010. But it turns out that Bigpoint was just running quiet as it whipped up a whole new site and trailer for us to enjoy. The Mummy Online is a continuation of the hit film series, which seeks to meld high adventure with historical horror. Bigpoint's Arash Amini feels that there's a lot of material for the team to mine: "Working with such a rich franchise not only enables us to leverage an incredible story; it also lends itself to further exploration and development perfectly suited for an online game that can evolve over time." This free-to-play browser title is set at the southern tip of the Nile, where tombs, burial grounds, oases, and ruins wait for the intrepid grave robber. It looks to have fast-paced action (with guns!) in a 3-D isometric viewpoint. Bigpoint's hoping to get The Mummy Online to release by this fall, but in the meantime you can check out the lore and screenshots on the official site as well as the teaser trailer below.
Animal House, Blues Brothers, Dazed & Confused and Fast Times at Ridgemont High coming to Blu-ray
Universal is bringing some of the funniest flicks of the 70s and 80s out on Blu-ray this summer when it delivers Animal House, Blues Brothers, Dazed & Confused and Fast Times at Ridgemont High. They're getting a pretty good treatment as well, with some HD extras, u-control and other bonus tie ins. Only only real question is what took so long? Animal House and Blues Brothers arrive July 26th, while Dazed & Confused and Fast Times at Ridgemont High are scheduled for August 9th - details and specs follow after the break.
SEE buys Planet Calypso for $6 million, talks with Massively for an encore
For $6 million you could buy a heck of a lot of tacos -- or one virtual planet. Wisely, SEE Virtual Worlds went the latter route, snapping up Planet Calypso from MindArk and saving itself massive heartburn. The sci-fi-themed Planet Calypso operates under the umbrella of Entropia Universe and boasts 950,000 registered accounts since coming online in 2003. As part of the deal, SEE Virtual Worlds also acquired all of the assets of First Planet Company, a former subsidiary of MindArk, which has been transformed into SEE Digital Studios. Under this reorganization, SEE Digital Studios is now responsible for developing and operating Planet Calypso, Planet Michael and Universal Monsters. The company is expected to hire on additional team members for these projects. Fresh from the champagne celebration, SEE Virtual Worlds President Corey Redmond sat down with us to discuss this deal and the future of these three titles. Hit the jump to boogie with Michael Jackson, scream in terror at the Wolfman, and navigate the economy of virtual worlds.
BlockBuster Express to distribute Warner Bros DVD rentals 28 days after release
It was only a couple of weeks ago that BlockBuster Express and Warner Bros were trialling the release of DVD titles into the former company's rental kiosks on their day of commercial release, but it seems like that's a future we're not going to see any more of. The pair have now announced a partnership whereby NCR's Blockbuster Express will offer WB's new DVD titles for rent 28 days after launch, matching Redbox and Netflix who are also subject to a four-week delay. This follows similar deals being concluded by NCR with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox, with the major benefits being lower acquisition costs and a direct relationship with the studio. Update: We initially conflated Blockbuster with Blockbuster Express-branded DVD kiosks operated by NCR. The post has now been updated to rectify this unforgivable misguidance.
Stake or be staked: Van Helsing MMO to take the fight to classic movie monsters
It's the perfect time of year to announce a horror-themed MMO, so we're not surprised that at least one studio has stepped up to do so. SEE Virtual Worlds, the same company that's working on Planet Michael (which may or may not still have you giggling sporadically), is turning the world of Van Helsing into a MMO with the blessing of Universal Studios. With eight decades of movie monsters under its belt, Universal Studios is not lacking for iconic ghoulies and gremlins: The Wolf Man, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Mummy, Dracula and the Creature from the Black Lagoon have frightened generations of children and lingered in the imaginations of millions more. In the game, players will step into the role of a Van Helsing-type figure who's tasked with taking down the hairiest, slimiest and most bitey of them all. Both Planet Michael and the Universal Monsters MMO will exist within Entropia Universe's domain, which houses virtual worlds and utilizes a real-world cash exchange economy. You can read the full Hollywood Reporter article here.
