Saturday, December 31, 2022

60 Movies We Can't Wait to See in 2023

Between theatrical releases and streaming exclusives, 2023 already has a massive movie catalogue. The long-delayed Aquaman sequel and The Flash movie finally land while the MCU kicks off the Multiverse Saga with Phase Five's Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Marvels.

On top of that, Harrison Ford returns one final time as Indiana Jones, Tom Cruise kicks off the endgame of the Mission: Impossible series, and Timothée Chalamet plays a young Willy Wonka (while also reprising his role as Paul Atreides in the Dune sequel). And speaking of comebacks, The Hunger Games franchise is cooking up a prequel, Tobin Bell will return as maniacal trap-man Jigsaw, and Keanu Reeves will Gun Fu his way back into our lives as John Wick.

Ghostface, Optimus Prime, Magic Mike, and Miles Morales are also all back for more while directors like Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan, Greta Gerwig, M. Night Shyamalan, and Ari Aster present new and exciting projects. Here are 60 movies we're excited about for 2023 across theaters and streaming.

M3GAN

US Date: Jan 6

UK/AU Date: Jan 13 (UK), TBA (AU)

2023 kicks things off with Blumhouse's killer AI doll flick, M3GAN, from Malignant writer Akela Cooper (with a story by Cooper and Malignant director James Wan). Get Out/Girls' Allison Williams plays a brilliant roboticist who develops a life-like android that starts to lethally protect her recently orphaned niece.

Knock at the Cabin

US Date: Feb 3

UK/AU Date: Feb 3 (UK), TBA (AU)

Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, and Rupert Grint star in M. Night Shyamalan's latest, about a vacationing family of three that is taken hostage by four strangers who demand they make the ultimate sacrifice to avert the apocalypse.

Magic Mike's Last Dance

US Date: Feb 10

UK/AU Date: Feb 10 (UK), TBA (AU)

The Ocean's movies are no longer Steven Soderbergh's sole trilogy as Channing Tatum returns for Magic Mike's Last Dance, co-starring Salma Hayek Pinault, Gavin Spokes, and Caitlin Gerard. In the film, Tatum's Mike Lane heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can't refuse -- and an agenda all her own.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

US Date: Feb 17

UK/AU Date: Feb 17 (UK), TBA (AU)

Jonathan Majors, who made his MCU debut on Loki as "He Who Remains," makes a big splash as villainous variant Kang the Conquerer in Ant-Man's third movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, and Randall Park all return for this fuller exploration of the Quantum Realm, which Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige said officially kicks off Phase Five and "The Multiverse Saga."

Cocaine Bear

US Date: Feb 24

UK/AU Date: Feb 24 (UK), TBA (AU)

Loosely based (um...yeah!) on a true incident in the '80s involving a bear and a duffle bag of narcotics, Cocaine Bear looks to unleash its crazy fury on moviegoers this February. Directed by Elizabeth Banks, and starring Keri Russell (plus Matthew Rhys and Margo Martindale - is this an Americans reunion?), Cocaine Bear follows an American black bear that goes on a murderous rampage in a small Georgia town. O'Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Ray Liotta (in one of his final roles) also star.

Creed III

US Date: March 3

UK/AU Date: March 3 (UK), TBA (AU)

Star Michael B. Jordan takes over official directing duties from Ryan Coogler (who still co-wrote the story) for Creed III, this time following Adonis Creed as he contends with a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy (Jonathan Majors) who resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. Co-starring Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad.

Scream 6

US Date: March 10

UK/AU Date: March 31 (UK), TBA (AU)

There's no official title yet for Scream 6, but what we do know is that the story follows the survivors of the latest Ghostface killings, sisters Samantha and Tara Carpenter (Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega) and twins Chad and Mindy Meeks (Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown), leaving Woodsboro behind and starting a new chapter of their lives in New York City - only to again be plagued by a streak of murders by a new Ghostface killer. Courteney Cox returns as legacy Scream-er Gale Weathers, joined by Dermot Mulroney and Ready or Not's Henry Czerny and Samara Weaving.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods

US Date: March 17

UK/AU Date: March 17 (UK), TBA (AU)

Zachary Levi is back for more superhero silliness with Shazam! Fury of the Gods, featuring Billy Batson and his foster siblings battling the Daughters of Atlas, who look to use a weapon that could destroy the world. Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler are Hespera, Kalypso, and Anthea while Djimon Hounsou returns as the wizard, Shazam.

John Wick: Chapter 4

US Date: March 24

UK/AU Date: March 24 (UK), TBA (AU)

In this hotly-anticipated fourth John Wick flick, Keanu Reeves' unbeatable hitman uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes. Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Hiroyuki Sanada, Lance Reddick, and Clancy Brown also star.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

US Date: March 31

UK/AU Date: April 7 (UK), TBA (AU)

The directing duo behind Game Night, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (star of Freaks and Geeks), transport us into the Forgotten Realms with a Dungeons & Dragons movie starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Hugh Grant. In Honor Among Thieves, a charming thief (Pine) and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a long-lost relic.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie

US Date: April 7

UK/AU Date: March 31 (UK), TBA (AU)

Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen, and Charles Martinet lend their voices to this big-screen animated take on Nintendo's game-changing platformer. The plot is a famliar one, of course: A plumber named Mario travels through an underground labyrinth with his brother, Luigi, to defeat a tyrant named Bowser. From Titans Go! To the Movies' Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath comes this star-studded adventure.

Renfield

US Date: April 14

UK/AU Date: April 14 (UK), TBA (AU)

The Lego Batman Movie's Chris McKay delivers Nicolas Cage as Dracula in this horror-comedy centered around the Count's sniveling henchman, Renfield (played by Nicholas Hoult). The story follows Renfield as he finds a new lease on life in modern-day New Orleans when he falls in love with Rebecca Quincy, a feisty but perennially aggressive traffic cop played by Awkwafina.

Evil Dead Rise

US Date: April 21

UK/AU Date: April 21 (UK), TBA (AU)

Once slated for HBO Max, Evil Dead franchise offshoot Evil Dead Rise is now getting a theatrical release. The story centers on two sisters who clash with Deadites in a cramped L.A. apartment building, forcing them both into a primal battle for survival. Original Dead trio Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Robert Tapert are all executive producing.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

US Date: May 5

UK/AU Date: May 5 (UK), TBA (AU)

Writer/director James Gunn bids farewell to Marvel Studios (as he heads off to creatively lead the DCEU) with a third Guardians of the Galaxy film. As Peter Quill still searches the far reaches of space for 2014 Gamora, the Guardians must contend with the threat of the High Evolutionary (Peacemaker's Chukwudi Iwuji) along with High Priestess Ayesha and the Sovereign's creation, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter).

Fast X

US Date: May 19

UK/AU Date: May 19 (UK), TBA (AU)

With a budget reportedly ballooning out of control after longtime Fast franchise director Justin Lin stepped down from the film in April, Fast X is still headed our way, acting as the first half of a two-part finale for the Fast and Furious franchise. Familiar faces will be joined by Fast newbies Jason Momoa and Brie Larson.

The Little Mermaid

US Date: May 26

UK/AU Date: May 26 (UK), TBA (AU)

Rob Marshall directs this live-action remake of Disney's 1989 animated musical classic, The Little Mermaid. Starring Halle Bailey as Ariel, the film will once more tell the story of the youngest daughter of King Triton (Javier Bardem), the ruler of the underwater kingdom Atlantica, who becomes fascinated by the world of humans. After falling deeply in love with the handsome Prince Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), Ariel's quest delivers her into the clutches of the scheming sea witch Ursula (Melissa McCarthy). Daveed Diggs, Jacob Tremblay, and Awkwafina also star in voice roles.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

US Date: June 2

UK/AU Date: June 2 (UK), TBA (AU)

The dazzling, animated Lord and Miller-produced Spider-Verse returns as Miles Morales goes on an adventure across the multiverse with Gwen Stacy and a new team of Spider-people (including Oscar Isaac as Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099). Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Luna Lauren Vélez return with new voices provided by Issa Rae (as Jessica Drew/Spider-Woman), Jason Schwartzman (as the Spot), and Daniel Kaluuya (as Hobart "Hobie" Brown/Spider-Punk).

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

US Date: June 9

UK/AU Date: June 9 (UK), TBA (AU)

Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback star in this '90s-set Transformers prequel about a pair of archaeologists from Brooklyn who discover an ancient conflict through a globe-trotting adventure that ties in with three factions of Transformers: the Maximals, the Predacons and the Terrorcons. Peter Cullen returns to voice Optimus Prime while Pete Davidson debuts as Mirage and YouTube star Liza Koshy plays Arcee.

Elemental

US Date: June 16

UK/AU Date: June 6 (UK), TBA (AU)

Pixar Studios' 2023 offering is set in a city where fire, water, land and air residents all live together. When a fiery young woman, Ember, and a go-with-the-flow guy, Wade, meet up, they discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.

The Flash

US Date: June 16

UK/AU Date: June 16 (UK), TBA (AU)

Taking cues from DC's Flashpoint comic arc, The Flash movie was originally rumored to serve as a "reset" for the DCEU as speedster Barry Allen travels through time to prevent the murder of his mother, but unwittingly causes changes that result in the creation of a multiverse. Besieged by star Ezra Miller's serious legal troubles, The Flash was even in danger of being shelved by Warner Bros. As of now, The Flash is still a go, with Miller being joined by Kiersey Clemons and, reportedly, Michael Shannon (as Zod), Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton as Batman (though Keaton's return as Batman in Batgirl won't be seen now) and Sasha Calle as Supergirl.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

US Date: June 30

UK/AU Date: June 30 (UK), TBA (AU)

Harrison Ford returns one final time as archaeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones in the fifth installment of the franchise, directed by 3:10 to Yuma/Logan's James Mangold. Set in 1969, Indiana Jones finds himself uneasy over the fact that the U.S. government has recruited former Nazis to help beat the Soviet Union in the Space Race. One in particular, Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), is a NASA member and ex-Nazi who wishes to make the world into a better place -- as he sees fit. John Rhys-Davies reprises his role as Sallah, joined by new cast members Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Antonio Banderas, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, and Boyd Holbrook.

Harold and the Purple Crayon

US Date: June 30

UK/AU Date: June 30 (UK), June 29 (AU)

Zachary Levi, Zooey Deschanel, Lil Rel Howery, and Ravi Patel star in this live-action adaptation of Crockett Johnson's famous 1955 children’s book about a young boy named Harold who embarks on a magical mission with the help of his purple crayon.

Insidious: Fear the Dark

US Date: July 7

UK/AU Date: July 7 (UK), TBA (AU)

Directed by star Patrick Wilson, in his directorial debut, this fifth installment in the Insidious franchise (created by Leigh Whannell) serves as a direct sequel to Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2. Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Ty Simpkins are back as the Lambert family, now 10 years on from the previous two films. As Josh Lambert (Wilson) heads East to drop his son (Simpkins) off at an idyllic, ivy-covered university, the college dream becomes a nightmare when the repressed demons of his past suddenly return to haunt them both.

Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

US Date: July 14

UK/AU Date: July 14 (UK), TBA (AU)

The first half of (what's being said is) a two-part finale for the Mission: Impossible franchise, Dead Reckoning Part One brings back Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby and Henry Czerny (from the very first M:I movie) as Ethan Hunt and his team must confront their biggest global challenge yet. New faces include Hayley Atwell, Shea Whigham, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Rob Delaney, and Cary Elwes.

Oppenheimer

US Date: July 21

UK/AU Date: July 21 (UK), TBA (AU)

Christopher Nolan's first film since his blow-up with Warner Bros. (over the studio's simultaneous theatrical and HBO Max streaming release strategy) is the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. The all-star cast features Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer, plus Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Gary Oldman, Jack Quaid, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, and Florence Pugh.

Barbie

US Date: July 21

UK/AU Date: July 21 (UK), TBA (AU)

Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women) directs Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling -- from a script written by Gerwig and Noah Baumbach -- in Barbie, a live-action romantic comedy based on the iconic Mattel toy line. Co-starring Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Simu Liu as another Ken, Kate McKinnon, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Issa Rae, and Michael Cera.

The Marvels

US Date: July 28

UK/AU Date: July 28 (UK), TBA (AU)

Following the events of Endgame, WandaVision, and Ms. Marvel, The Marvels will bring together Brie Larson's Carol Danvers, Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau, and Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan for a cosmic adventure that reportedly features the three swapping places with one another each time they use their powers. Samuel L. Jackson will play, of course, Nick Fury (though the movie is being released after the Secret Invasion series on Disney+) while Zawe Ashton has reportedly been cast as the villain.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

US Date: Aug 4

UK/AU Date: Aug 4 (UK), TBA (AU)

This animated reboot of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film franchise brings Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael back to the big screen for the first time since 2016. Directed by Jeff Rowe (writer of Gravity Falls and The Mitchells vs. the Machines), and produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, Mutant Mayhem cowabungas its way into theaters next August.

Meg 2: The Trench

US Date: Aug 4

UK/AU Date: Aug 4 (UK), TBA (AU)

Jason Statham is back as rescue diver Jonas Taylor in this meg-a-powered sequel, based on Steve Alten's sequel novel to Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror. After dealing with a thought-to-be-extinct megalodon in the first movie, Taylor must now contend with another prehistoric monster - the Kronosaurus. Original Meg stars Cliff Curtis and Page Kennedy return as well.

Haunted Mansion

US Date: Aug 11

UK/AU Date: Aug 11 (UK), TBA (AU)

Jared Leto stars as Hatbox Ghost while Jamie Lee Curtis portrays Madame Leota in this big-screen spookfest based on the famed Disney park attraction. Also starring Rosario Dawson, LaKeith Stanfield, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Winona Ryder, and Dan Levy, Haunted Mansion follows a single mom and her nine-year-old son, who are looking to start a new life and move into a strangely affordable mansion in New Orleans... only to discover that the place is much more than they bargained for.

Gran Turismo

US Date: Aug 11

UK/AU Date: Aug 11 (UK), TBA (AU)

From District 9's Neil Blomkamp comes a live-action adaptation of the Grand Turismo video game series starring David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and Djimon Hounsou. Based on a true story, the film tracks a teenage Gran Turismo player (Archie Madekwe) who applies their skills to competitions the world over on the road to becoming a real racecar driver.

Blue Beetle

US Date: Aug 18

UK/AU Date: Aug 18 (UK), TBA (AU)

Originally intended to be an HBO Max exclusive, DC's Blue Beetle, starring Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña, George Lopez, and Susan Sarandon, is now slated for theaters. Blue Beetle tells the story of a teenager in El Paso, TX, who gains superpowers when an alien Blue Beetle scarab grafts onto him, forming a powerful exoskeleton around his body.

The Equalizer 3

US Date: Sept 1

UK/AU Date: Sept 1 (UK), TBA (AU)

The successful Antoine Fuqua/Denzel Washington action franchise, based on the '80s TV series The Equalizer, continues, with Washington reuniting with his Man on Fire co-star Dakota Fanning for this particular adventure. With much of the production taking place in various cities and towns in Italy, The Equalizer 3 looks to have an international setting.

The Nun 2

US Date: Sept 8

UK/AU Date: TBA (UK), TBA (AU)

A sequel to 2018's The Nun, and the ninth installment in The Conjuring Universe, The Nun 2 brings Taissa Farmiga's Sister Irene back as she once again comes face to face with the demonic force Valak - aka the Nun.

A Haunting in Venice

US Date: Sept 15

UK/AU Date: Sept 15 (UK), TBA (AU)

Kenneth Branagh's Hercule Poirot mystery franchise continues with A Haunting in Venice (based on the Agatha Christie novel Hallow'een Party). This time the star-studded cast features Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, and Michelle Yeoh. Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer.

The Expendables 4

US Date: Sept 22

UK/AU Date: Sept 22 (UK), TBA (AU)

Sylvester Stallone's Expendables saga continues on with Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture all returning for one more ride. This time -- with additional cast members Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, Megan Fox, Andy García, Tony Jaa, Jacob Scipio, Iko Uwais, and Levy Tran -- the team will square up against an arms dealer who commands the might of a massive private army.

Kraven the Hunter

US Date: Oct 6

UK/AU Date: Oct 6 (UK), TBA (AU)

Sony's Spider-verse of villains (Morbius, Venom), which the studio is attempting to turn into franchisable heroes, adds one more with Kraven the Hunter, starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei Kravinoff, a big-game hunter who's also an... animal lover? Russell Crowe also stars alongside Christopher Abbott and Alessandro Nivola, who've been cast as the villains of the film. Additionally, Fred Hechinger will play Chameleon, Kraven's half-brother who is a master of disguise.

The Exorcist

US Date: Oct 13

UK/AU Date: Oct 13 (UK), TBA (AU)

Now that he's resurrected the Halloween franchise with a new sequel trilogy, director David Gordon Green is tackling The Exorcist next, once again ignoring the previous sequels. His film will serve only as a decades-later follow-up to William Friedkin's original 1973 film. Ellen Burstyn returns as once-besieged mother Chris MacNeil, joining Leslie Odom Jr. and Ann Dowd. In this new tale, a father of a possessed child, desperate for help, goes in search of someone who has had similar experiences - Burstyn's Chris.

Saw 10

US Date: Oct 27

UK/AU Date: Oct 27 (UK), TBA (AU)

After a detour with Spiral: From the Book of Saw, the original recipe Saw saga is back with Saw 10 (or Saw X?), once more featuring Tobin Bell in the role of John Kramer - aka Jigsaw. We're not sure how that will play out necessarily since the character's been stone dead for more than half the franchise but, assuredly, life will find a way. The full plot is under wraps for now but... you know, it's Saw.

Dune: Part Two

US Date: Nov 3

UK/AU Date: Nov 3 (UK), TBA (AU)

The second half of Denis Villeneuve's two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune arrives in November, continuing the journey of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) as he unites with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen and seeks revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. New cast members include Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux, and Christopher Walken.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

US Date: Nov 17

UK/AU Date: Nov 17 (UK), TBA (AU)

Serving as a prequel story to The Hunger Games franchise, this fifth installment (based on Suzanne Collins' 2020 book) features Tom Blyth as a young Coriolanus Snow. Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, and Jason Schwartzman also star in this story, which details the Tenth Annual Hunger Games as Coriolanus Snow turns 18 and worries about his future.

Wonka

US Date: Dec 15

UK/AU Date: Dec 15 (UK), TBA (AU)

Everything's coming up Chalamet at the end of 2023 because after Dune: Part Two there's Wonka, directed by Paul King (Paddington and Paddington 2). This new take on Roald Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features the actor as a young Willy Wonka, detailing his adventures prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory. Co-starring Olivia Colman, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, Sally Hawkins, and Jim Carter.

The Color Purple

US Date: Dec 20

UK/AU Date: Dec 20 (UK), TBA (AU)

The musical stage adaptation of Alice Walker's novel, The Color Purple, about the life-long struggles of an African American woman living in the south during the early 1900s, is coming to the big screen. The film will star Fantasia, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, Corey Hawkins, Ciara, Danielle Brooks, and Louis Gossett Jr. This will be the second film adaptation of the novel, following Steven Spielberg's 1985 film.

Untitled Ghostbusters: Afterlife Sequel

US Date: Dec 20

UK/AU Date: July 14 (UK), TBA (AU)

Not much is known about the Ghostbusters: Afterlife follow-up at this point other than it will continue the adventures of the Spengler family. Jason Reitman will once again direct, joining the returning cast of Paul Rudd, Mckenna Grace, Carrie Coon, and Finn Wolfhard.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

US Date: Dec 25

UK/AU Date: Dec 29 (UK), TBA (AU)

By the time Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom comes out, it will be five years since the original Aquaman made a billion bucks at the box office, as James Wan's sequel found itself being bumped from 2022 entirely after a series of COVID-related delays and post-production issues. Still, if all goes well, a year from now we'll get Jason Momoa's return as Arthur Curry, who forges an uneasy alliance with an unlikely ally in a bid to save Atlantis and the rest of the planet. Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Temuera Morrison, and Nicole Kidman are all back as well.

Disappointment Blvd.

US Date: TBA 2023

UK/AU Date: TBA (UK), TBA (AU)

Writer/director Ari Aster's next project, after his A24 one-two punch of Hereditary and Midsommar, is a horror-comedy starring Joaquin Phoenix, Nathan Lane, Patti LuPone, Amy Ryan, Parker Posey, Michael Gandolfini, Zoe Lister-Jones, and Richard Kind. No real story details at this time other than the film being an intimate, decades-spanning portrait of one of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time.

Netflix Films

The Pale Blue Eye

US: Jan 6

Christian Bale, Gillian Anderson, and Toby Jones star in Scott Cooper's adaptation of the 2003 novel The Pale Blue Eye, about a veteran detective, Augustus Landor (Bale), investigating a series of murders at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York - aided by a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling), who is a young cadet at the academy.

Your Place or Mine

US: Feb 10

The Valentine's Day-ready rom-com, about two long-distance best friends who change each other's lives when she decides to pursue a lifelong dream and he volunteers to keep an eye on her teenage son, stars Reese Witherspoon, Ashton Kutcher, Tig Notaro, Zoë Chao, and Steve Zahn.

Murder Mystery 2

US/UK: Feb 10

Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston are back as amateur sleuths Nick and Audrey Spitz in this sequel to Netflix's 2019 original. This time Mark Strong, Mélanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Tony Goldwyn join the craziness.

Luther

US/UK: 2023

After five spread-out seasons, Idris Elba's gritty, scary crime procedural, Luther, is getting a movie. Written by series creator Neil Cross, Luther will pair Elba with Cynthia Erivo and Andy Serkis.

Heart of Stone

US: 2023

Heart of Stone is a spy thriller featuring Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone, a CIA agent who's the only woman standing between her powerful, global, peace-keeping organization and the loss of its most valuable — and dangerous — asset. Jamie Dornan also stars.

Extraction 2

US: 2023

Chris Hemsworth returns to game-changing Extraction action for this Joe Russo-penned/Sam Hargrave-directed sequel featuring the presumed dead Tyler Rake and another high-stakes mission.

The Mother

US: May 2023

Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Fiennes, Omari Hardwick, and Gael García Bernal star in this action drama about an ex-assassin (Lopez) coming out of hiding to protect the estranged daughter she left earlier in her life.

Havoc

US/UK: 2023

Written and directed by Gareth Evans (The Raid, The Raid 2), Havoc stars Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker, and Timothy Olyphant in the story of a detective who must fight his way through a criminal underworld to rescue a politician's estranged son while untangling his city's dark web of conspiracy and corruption.

Maestro

US: 2023

Directed and co-written by Bradley Cooper, Maestro stars Cooper as musician/composer Leonard Bernstein. Carey Mulligan, Jeremy Strong, Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, and Sarah Silverman also star in this Martin Scorsese/Steven Spielberg/Todd Phillips-produced film.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley

US: 2023

After decades in development hell, a new Beverly Hills Cop is finally upon us, with Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Bronson Pinchot, and Paul Reiser all back on board (with Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Kevin Bacon also along for the ride). The story features Murphy's Axel Foley, after the death of an old friend, heading back to Beverly Hills to investigate corruption within the force of the Beverly Hills Police Department with his daughter and her ex-boyfriend.

Spy Kids: Armageddon

US: 2023

A full reboot of the Spy Kids franchise -- still written, directed, and produced by Robert Rodriguez -- is headed to Netflix. This time though, the secret agent parents are Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi and their kids unwittingly help a powerful Game Developer unleash a computer virus that gives him control of all technology.

Amazon Prime Video Movies

Shotgun Wedding

US: Jan 27

Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel star in this action-comedy about a couple's extravagant destination wedding getting hijacked by pirates. In the process of saving their families, the duo rediscovers why they fell in love in the first place.

Red One

US: 2023

Jake Kazdan directs Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans -- as well as Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, J. K. Simmons, and Nick Kroll -- in the new holiday adventure, Red One.

Apple TV+ Movies

Killers of the Flower Moon

US: 2023

Martin Scorsese directs Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro in this crime drama about members of the Osage tribe in northeastern Oklahoma being murdered under mysterious circumstances in the 1920s, sparking a major FBI investigation directed by a 29-year-old J. Edgar Hoover and former Texas Ranger Tom White (Jesse Plemons). Brendan Fraser, John Lithgow, and Tantoo Cardinal also star.

What movies are you most looking forward to in 2023? Discuss in the comments!

Friday, December 30, 2022

Destiny 2: Where Is Xur Today? Location and Exotic Items for December 30-January 3

The bringer of new guns for the new year, Xûr, is now live in Destiny 2 for the weekend until next week's reset. If you're looking to get your some shiny new Exotic armor or weapons for your Guardian, look no further.

Each week, Xûr has a random assortment of Exotic armor, one for each Guardian class, as well as a random Exotic Weapon and an Exotic Engram available for purchase. In addition to his Exotic wares, he's got a random collection of Legendary weapons and armor to deck out your Guardians.

We've rounded up all the info on Xûr for the week including where to find Xûr, which Exotic weapons and armor are available, as well as which Legendary weapons you should pick up, either for PvE or PvP.

Where Is Xûr Today?

Xûr's location can be found at The Tower on December 30 through January 3. To reach him, travel to the landing point at The Courtyard and make your way to the Hangar. Hang a left when entering the hangar and you'll come face-to-face with space Amazon.com.

What's Xûr Selling Today?

Exotic Engram

Prometheus Lens - Exotic Trace Rifle

Shards of Galanor - Exotic Hunter Gauntlets

  • 8 Mobility
  • 15 Resilience
  • 9 Recovery
  • 6 Discipline
  • 14 Intellect
  • 8 Strength
  • Total: 60

Doom Fang Pauldron - Exotic Titan Gauntlets

  • 12 Mobility
  • 3 Resilience
  • 18 Recovery
  • 6 Discipline
  • 21 Intellect
  • 2 Strength
  • Total: 62

Skull of Dire Ahamkara - Exotic Warlock Helmet

  • 7 Mobility
  • 11 Resilience
  • 15 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 12 Intellect
  • 16 Strength
  • Total: 63

Exotics this week has some truly terrible rolls, so I'd skip it unless you need to add Prometheus Lens to your collection.

Exotic Weapons

Hawkmoon - Exotic Hand Cannon

  • Paracausal Shot
  • Chambered Compensator
  • Alloy Magazine
  • Rangefinder
  • Polymer Grip

Dead Man's Tale - Exotic Scout Rifle

  • Cranial Spike
  • Smallbore
  • Armor-Piercing Rounds
  • Fourth Time's The Charm
  • Composite Stock

This week's Hawkmoon roll is pretty dang good, but we've certainly seen better perks for Dead Man's Tale. Definitely grab Hawkmoon if you haven't snagged a good roll yet!

Legendary Weapons

Whispering Slab - Combat Bow

  • Agile Bowstring/Elastic Bowstring
  • Fiberglass Arrowshaft/Helical Fletching
  • Killing Wind
  • Vorpal Weapon
  • Accuracy Masterwork

Dire Promise - Hand Cannon

  • Steady Hand HCS/Truesight HCS
  • Extended Mag/High-Caliber Rounds
  • Auto-Loading Holster
  • Elemental Capacitor
  • Stability Masterwork

Escape Velocity - Submachine Gun

  • IS 2 Classic/IS 5 Circle
  • Tactical Mag/Alloy Magazine
  • Overflow
  • Vorpal Weapon
  • Range Masterwork

Timeline's Vertex - Fusion Rifle

  • Signal MS5/Transmission MS7
  • Accelerated Coils/Partical Repeater
  • Firmly Planted
  • Disruption Break
  • Range Masterwork

Fractethyst - Shotgun

  • Barrel Shroud/Corkscrew Rifling
  • Appended Mag/Light Mag
  • Full Auto Trigger System
  • Adrenaline Junkie
  • Handling Masterwork

Falling Guillotine - Sword

  • Hungry Edge/Honed Edge/Jagged Edge
  • Balanced Guard/Swordmaster's Guard
  • Energy Transfer
  • Surrounded
  • Impact Masterwork

Stars In Shadow - Pulse Rifle

  • Chambered Compensator/Extended Barrel
  • Steady Rounds/Flared Magwell
  • Field Prep
  • Vorpal Weapon
  • One Quiet Moment
  • Stability Masterwork

Lots of mid-tier weapons this week, but my top picks are Falling Guillotine (which is always good) and Stars In Shadow with Field Prep and Vorpal Weapon. Really though, this week doesn't have a lot of exciting weapons, unfortunately.

Warlock Legendary Armor

For Warlocks, Xûr is selling the Simulator set which includes:

Simulator Gauntlets

  • 2 Mobility
  • 23 Resilience
  • 7 Recovery
  • 7 Discipline
  • 16 Intellect
  • 9 Strength
  • Total: 64

Simulator Chest Armor

  • 6 Mobility
  • 13 Resilience
  • 9 Recovery
  • 6 Discipline
  • 2 Intellect
  • 23 Strength
  • Total: 59

Simulator Helmet

  • 7 Mobility
  • 17 Resilience
  • 7 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 7 Intellect
  • 20 Strength
  • Total: 60

Simulator Leg Armor

  • 2 Mobility
  • 6 Resilience
  • 24 Recovery
  • 20 Discipline
  • 6 Intellect
  • 2 Strength
  • Total: 60

Simulator Bond

Warlocks have one good roll this week with the gauntlets! Definitely grab them this week if you're hoping to build a low Mobility and high Resilience build.

Titan Legendary Armor

For Titans, Xûr is selling the Simulator set which includes:

Simulator Gauntlets

  • 9 Mobility
  • 20 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 14 Discipline
  • 7 Intellect
  • 10 Strength
  • Total: 62

Simulator Chest Armor

  • 9 Mobility
  • 2 Resilience
  • 22 Recovery
  • 18 Discipline
  • 6 Intellect
  • 6 Strength
  • Total: 63

Simulator Helmet

  • 8 Mobility
  • 2 Resilience
  • 19 Recovery
  • 13 Discipline
  • 16 Intellect
  • 2 Strength
  • Total: 60

Simulator Leg Armor

  • 2 Mobility
  • 27 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 16 Discipline
  • 12 Intellect
  • 2 Strength
  • Total: 61

Simulator Mark

Titans got skunked this week. The only roll worth noting are the legs with a massive 27 Resilience, but everything else is so low, it sorta ruins the excitement.

Hunter Legendary Armor

For Hunters, Xûr is selling the Simulator set which includes:

Simulator Gauntlets

  • 2 Mobility
  • 7 Resilience
  • 21 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 12 Intellect
  • 12 Strength
  • Total: 56

Simulator Chest Armor

  • 12 Mobility
  • 6 Resilience
  • 9 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 11 Intellect
  • 17 Strength
  • Total: 57

Simulator Helmet

  • 2 Mobility
  • 27 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 2 Discipline
  • 9 Intellect
  • 21 Strength
  • Total: 63

Lost Pacific Leg Armor

  • 13 Mobility
  • 14 Resilience
  • 2 Recovery
  • 10 Discipline
  • 12 Intellect
  • 10 Strength
  • Total: 61

Simulator Cloak

Hunters have one decent roll with high Resilience and Strength, but it's sadly a just an okay roll is most other regards.

That's a wrap on Xûr for this week, Guardians! What are your Destiny 2 New Year resolutions? Let us know in the comments! For more on Destiny, check out all the news from the Lightfall reveal and read about how Sony's purchase of Bungie fits into its larger plans.

Travis Northup is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @TieGuyTravis and read his games coverage here.

The Biggest News Stories in 2022: Musk's Twitter Takeover, Acquisition Mania, DC's New Leaders, and More

News cycles across most industries spun chaotically throughout 2022 — and games, entertainment, and tech were no exception. Headlines here were comparatively tame, though it was nonetheless an eventful year in our little corner of the internet: Elon Musk took over Twitter, Xbox made the industry’s biggest acquisition yet (deal pending), GTA 6 gameplay leaked, Will Smith earned a 10-year ban from the Oscars, and Winnie the Pooh broke into the public domain with bloodlust.

As we look back on the year that was, we’ve compiled a list of the 20 biggest news stories published on IGN in 2022. This list covers games, movies, television, comics, and tech, and is based on a combination of website traffic and significance.

20. PS5 Has Seemingly Been Jailbroken, and People are Already Installing PT on It

In early October, nearly two years after the release of PS5, a modder was able to jailbreak Sony’s new-gen console, providing access to the console’s debug menu and the ability to install unauthorized software. This quickly led to people installing P.T., Konami’s delisted “playable teaser” for the now-canceled Silent Hills.

P.T., which captivated gaming communities for weeks and remains the subject of a fascinating behind-the-scenes saga, has been delisted from the PlayStation Store since May 2015. At the time this news story was published, modders were able to install P.T. but unable to launch it. That changed just a few weeks later when, through a fairly convoluted process, modder Lance McDonald was able to get it up and running on PS5.

19. Inside the Growing Discontent Behind Nintendo’s Fun Facade

In May, IGN published an in-depth report on the growing frustration within Nintendo of America.

The report, written by IGN’s Kat Bailey, detailed the discrepancies between the treatment of full-time NoA employees and contracted workers and the overall struggles within the company since 2015 when Nintendo was struggling with the Wii U and mourning the loss of its former CEO, Satoru Iwata.

Former Nintendo employees and contractors described a work environment that became increasingly micromanaged. Sources described having to maintain exhaustive timesheets that accounted for virtually every minute of their day, leading to increased paranoia about taking breaks or letting their Microsoft Teams status shift to idle. Social media posts were also closely monitored, which begat paranoia among employees that their online engagement could result in being reprimanded or fired.

“You couldn't even really go to the bathroom without someone noticing you were away from your desk," one source recounted.

Contractors especially bore these burdens: These individuals were handed similar responsibilities to full-time employees, yet they were restricted from accessing most of NoA’s main campus and unable to attend the company’s holiday parties or join its diversity groups. The overall result is a culture that enables an air of superiority among full-time employees and a feeling of being “second-class citizens” among contractors.

18. Johnny Depp Will Never Return to Pirates of the Caribbean

Following his high-profile defamation suit against Amber Heard, his ex-wife, Johnny Depp said he wouldn’t return to his role as Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Depp says he was dropped from Pirates 6 following the publication of Heard’s op-ed in the Washington Post. A report in the Daily Mail claimed Disney was done with Depp, though longtime Pirates producer Jerry Bruckheimer has since refuted that report.

Regardless of Disney’s position, Depp says his time with the role has come to an end: “That is true,” Depp replied when asked if “nothing on this earth would get [him] to go back and work with Disney on a Pirates of the Caribbean film.”

Disney is now moving forward on a Pirates reboot, seemingly without Depp. A female-led spinoff starring Margot Robbie may eventually be filmed as well.

17. The Sims 4 is Adding Custom Pronounces at Last

The Sims 4 added custom pronouns to its Create-a-Sim feature earlier this year. The new system expands the previously binary pronoun options — he/him, she/her — to include they/they and custom options.

It’s another step in developer Maxis’s long-running commitment to inclusivity, which dates back to its debut of same-sex relationships in 2000 and its expansion of racial and cultural diversity in the years since.

“This kind of virtual affirmation, especially from a large, mainstream video game like The Sims, can go a long way in reminding LGBTQIA+ players that they are seen, valued, and understood,” said Stephanie DeBiase, gaming and future tech coordinator for the It Gets Better Project, which assisted Maxis in the implementation of this feature.

16. 'There's Further to Go’: Tom Hiddleston Says Loki's Bisexuality is a 'Small Step’

The third episode of Disney+’s Loki confirmed the character’s bisexuality, making him the first canonically LGBTQ character in MCU history. Following the reveal, Loki actor Tom Hiddleston said it was a “small step” for representation, adding “there’s further to go.”

Director Kate Herron echoed Hiddleston’s sentiment: "It is a part of who he is and who I am too. I know this is a small step but I'm happy, and my heart is so full, to say that this is now canon in [the] MCU."

15. The World's Second Biggest Theater Chain is Filing for Bankruptcy

Among the many industries affected by the pandemic were movie theaters, which saw dramatic decreases in revenue due to government restrictions and changes in consumer behavior. In August 2022, nearly two and a half years after the pandemic began, the world’s second-biggest theater chain filed for bankruptcy.

Cineworld, which owns Regal Cinemas, filed for bankruptcy after amassing nearly $5 billion in debt. The filing came after post-pandemic revenues failed to meet expectations across its 751 theaters worldwide.

"Despite a gradual recovery of demand since reopening in April 2021, recent admission levels have been below expectations," said Cineworld in a statement. "These lower levels of admissions are due to a limited film slate that is anticipated to continue until November 2022 and are expected to negatively impact trading and the group’s liquidity position in the near term."

More recently, Cineworld says it expects to come out of bankruptcy without auctioning off any of its businesses, according to Bloomberg.

14. Scientist Uses Facial Reconstruction Tech on Skyrim Skeleton

Real-world facial reconstruction technology was used to render a life-like image of a skeleton from Skyrim. Ancestral Whispers, a facial reconstruction organization, posted its result on Twitter of the reconstructed Atmoran (a fictional race of ancient men from the world of Elder Scrolls).

Jonah Lobe, who designed the skeleton while working for Bethesda, took notice and replied, praising the render's accuracy: "I wanted them to look thuggish, thick-jawed, thick-browed and sort of Neanderthal-like. This is that.”

13. Chris Hemsworth Is Taking a Break from Acting Following Alzheimer's Revelation

Chris Hemsworth, best known for his role as Thor in the MCU, announced he was taking a break from acting after discovering he possessed a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease.

“It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication,” Hemsworth said of the discovery. “It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off. And since we finished [filming Limitless], I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do. Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”

Hemsworth discovered the predisposition while filming the National Geographic show Limitless. Specifically, the actor found he has two copies of the APOE4 gene, which may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Disney offered to remove the vulnerable scene from airing, but Hemsworth insisted it remained in the final edit: “Look, if this is a motivator for people to take better care of themselves and also understand that there are steps you can take—then fantastic. My concern was I just didn’t want to manipulate it and overdramatize it and make it into some sort of hokey grab at empathy or whatever for entertainment.”

Hemsworth most recently starred in Thor: Love and Thunder. The actor has also wrapped filming for two upcoming movies: Extraction 2 and the Mad Max prequel Furosia.

12. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey is a Nightmare Reimagining of the Beloved Bear

IGN readers (and the internet at large) were deeply disturbed and disturbingly fascinated by the reveal of Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, an upcoming horror movie that sees the beloved childhood bear reimagined as a sadistic serial killer.

In Blood and Honey Pooh and Piglet go “back to their animal roots,” after Christopher Robin leaves them to go to college. “They’ve essentially become feral,” said director Ryhs Frake-Waterfield. “They’re no longer tame: they’re like a vicious bear and pig who want to go around and try and find prey.”

The film was made possible in 2022 when the character entered the public domain. It hits theaters on February 15, 2023. A Blood and Honey sequel is already being planned.

11. Deadpool 3 is Coming in 2024, Hugh Jackman Returns as Wolverine

Deadpool’s long-awaited entry into the MCU is scheduled for November 8, 2024, and the Merc with a Mouth is bringing a friend: Deadpool 3 will reunite Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.

The duo announced the news in a video posted to Twitter, in which Reynolds asks Jackman if he wants to play Wolverine one more time, to which Jackman responds, “Yeah, sure, Ryan.”

Jackman previously said he was done with the role following 2017’s Logan, making the surprise announcement that much more impactful. The duo says their characters’ pairing has been brewing for a long time, ever since Disney completed its acquisition of 21st Century Fox in 2019.

For more, check out our six burning questions about Deadpool and Wolverine’s MCU debuts.

10. We Spoke to 'Let Me Solo Her,' The Elden Ring Community Hero We Need and Deserve

It’s your 345th attempt to kill Malenia. Tired of the grind, you decide to call in reinforcements. You lay down a summoning sign outside the arena and wait. Moments later, the call is answered: A man appears before you wearing only the skimpiest of underwear and a jar over his head. His name reads “Let me solo her.” So you do, and so he does, single-handedly crushing Elden Ring’s hardest boss with ease. He bows. And then he’s gone.

This experience has been repeated well over 1,000 times by the count of the person behind Let Me Solo Her (LMSH), whom IGN’s Rebekah Valentine spoke with back in April. (“I think I'm around 1400 by now,” LMSH wrote in a YouTube comment posted in June.)

LMSH is a legend in the Elden Ring community. His journey toward began mastering Malenia began during his initial run of Elden Ring, when it took him 242 attempts to kill what many believe to be the game’s hardest boss. Following his own struggle, he decided to help others: "I chose Malenia to help others because I fell in love with her design. All her attacks are very graceful and she is unforgiving as a boss. Her infamous waterfowl dance is considered to be the [hardest] to dodge moveset from a FromSoft boss to date, so I decided to prove to others that it was not impossible."

As for the outfit (or lack thereof), it’s essentially a flex: "It is a running tradition of Soulsborne games that the naked players are the most powerful beings in the game. Why wear armor if you don't plan on getting hit at all? And the pot is a good luck charm from the character Iron Fist Alexander whom I admire."

9. The Flash: Ezra Miller's Legal Problems Keep Growing as They Delete Their Instagram And Seemingly Disappear

It was a turbulent year for The Flash actor Ezra Miller. Back in June, a court was reportedly unable to locate Miller after they deleted their Instagram account and seemingly went off the grid. The court was looking to serve an order of protection against Miller after the parents of an 18-year-old accused the actor of “psychologically manipulating, physically intimidating and endangering the safety and welfare of [their child].”

This latest report added to a yearslong string of legal trouble for Miller, which has reportedly included a prior order of protection, an arrest for disorderly conduct in Hawaii, and an arrest for felony burglary in Vermont. Miller pleaded not guilty to the burglary charge, for which they face a maximum prison sentence of 26 years and over $2,000 in fines.

In August, Miller apologized for their behavior, citing “complex mental health issues.” Despite the legal troubles, WB is seemingly moving forward with Miller as its Flash, as the company brought the actor back for reshoots in October. The Flash movie hits theaters on June 16, 2023.

8. MCU Phase 6 Will Begin With Fantastic Four, End With Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars

During San Diego Comic-Con, Disney revealed its initial plans for MCU’s Phase 6, which will conclude with Avengers: Secret Wars on May 1, 2026. Marvel also confirmed Phase 6 will bring an end to The Multiverse Saga that kicked off with Phase 4.

At the time, Marvel announced Phase 6 would begin with Fantastic Four on November 8, 2024. However, Deadpool 3 has since taken that November slot, while Fantastic Four has been pushed to February 14, 2025. The only other confirmed Phase 6 movie is Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, currently scheduled for May 2, 2025.

Marvel recently wrapped Phase 4 with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. Phase 5 kicks off in February with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

7. Rockstar Finally Says GTA 6 is in Development, Then Gameplay Videos Reportedly Leak

In early February, Rockstar announced the inevitable: it was developing a new Grand Theft Auto game. In fact, the studio said active development on GTA 6 (unofficial title) was “well underway.”

While the announcement was no surprise, it was welcome news to GTA fans who’ve been waiting on a new entry since the release of Grand Theft Auto 5 in 2013. What was surprising, however, was what followed.

In July, Bloomberg got the scoop on the first (unofficial) GTA 6 details. The outlet reported Rockstar’s next big open-world adventure would feature two protagonists: a pair of bank robbers comprised of a Latina woman and a yet-to-be-detailed man. The duo and the game’s story are said to be inspired by real-life criminals Bonnie & Clyde.

The report stated GTA 6 will be set in Vice City and updated with "new missions and cities on a regular basis.” The game was said to originally include a massive map with territories spanning North and South America, though those plans were scrapped, in part, to reduce crunch.

Then, in September, 90 videos leaked showing early gameplay footage of GTA 6. The leak, which showcased robberies, gunplay, fully voiced conversations, and more, seemed to corroborate the aforementioned Bloomberg report, as the videos showed both male and female protagonists, as well as the reported Vice City setting.

Rockstar quickly confirmed the legitimacy of the leak, saying the videos were illegally obtained and distributed following a network intrusion. "We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way,” said Rockstar. “Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned and we remain as committed as ever to delivering an experience to you, our players, that truly exceeds your expectations.”

6. Bob Iger to Return as Disney CEO in Surprising Shake-Up, Bob Chapek Departing

In November Disney announced a major shake-up atop its corporate ladder, replacing Bob Chapek with Bob Iger as CEO. Chapek succeeded Iger as Disney’s CEO in 2020; Iger previously held the position from 2005 to 2020.

“The Board has concluded that as Disney embarks on an increasingly complex period of industry transformation, Bob Iger is uniquely situated to lead the company through this pivotal period,” the company said alongside the announcement.

Iger led Disney through historic growth during his previous fifteen-year stint as CEO. It was under Iger that Disney acquired Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm, and 21st Century Fox — moves that have contributed greatly to the company’s continued box-office dominance. Iger also led Disney through its launch of Disney+.

“I am deeply honored to be asked to again lead this remarkable team, with a clear mission focused on creative excellence to inspire generations through unrivaled, bold storytelling,” said Iger.

Chapek inherited the difficult task of running Disney — a company reliant on in-person engagement at the box office and its parks — through the pandemic. The company’s most recent quarterly earnings report showed a loss of nearly $1.5 billion in the streaming division alone; the company's stock subsequently dropped to a two-year low.

On top of pandemic-related challenges, Chapek struggled with several public-facing dilemmas, including a falling out with Iger, the Scarlett Johansson-Black Widow pay dispute, and Disney’s initial response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

5. The Witcher Renewed for Season 4 by Netflix, Liam Hemsworth to Replace Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia

In yet another surprising move, Netflix announced Liam Hemsworth will replace Henry Cavill as Geralt of Rivia beginning with The Witcher: Season 4.

“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures, and alas, I will be laying down my medallion and my swords for Season 4," Cavill said. "As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam's take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men.”

Cavill earned acclaim for his portrayal of the mutated monster-slayer, both for his performance and his reverence for the source material. “Cavill clearly relishes the role; he’s often shared his adoration of the books and the CD Projekt Red video games, and that shines through,” Matt Purslow wrote in IGN’s The Witcher: Season 1 review. “His look and demeanor for the show is essentially a high-end cosplay of Geralt from the games. His gravelly vocal performance captures the character’s decades-long weariness, which, when combined with mostly curt, short lines of dialogue helps convey a man who often has little interest in the debauched kings or squabbling people who hire him.”

The news followed Cavill’s announcement that he’d be returning to the role of Superman in the DCEU. Fortunately for fans of Cavill’s portrayal, there’s still more to come; Season 3 of the Witcher is scheduled to hit Netflix in Summer 2023.

As for Hemsworth, the Hunger Games actor said he, too, is a fan of The Witcher, adding he’s “over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia.”

4. Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock Live at the Oscars for Making a Jada Pinkett Smith Joke

Will Smith, the charming, multi-talented performer who won audiences over with a unique mix of bravado and vulnerability for the last 30 years, fell from grace after walking on stage and assaulting Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards in March.

“The Slap,” as it’s become known, took the air out of a night meant for celebration and marred what would have otherwise been a career moment for Smith, who went on to win his first Best Actor Oscar for his role in King Richard.

The drama began when Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair: “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it!” Smith then walked on stage nonchalantly, approached Rock, and slapped him across the face. Smith said he took issue with the dig at his wife’s medical condition (alopecia, which results in hair loss). Smith has since apologized numerous times and is now on something of an apology tour while promoting his upcoming Apple TV+ film, Emancipation.

The Academy responded by banning Smith from the Oscars, and all other Academy events, for the next 10 years. Rock addressed the moment during a stand-up routine shortly after: “Yeah, that sh*t hurt, motherf***er. But I shook that sh*t off and went to work the next day. I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut.” More recently, during his European tour with Dave Chapelle, Rock responded to Smith’s apology video by saying “f*ck your hostage video.”

3. James Gunn and Peter Safran to Lead DC Films as Co-CEOs

In late October, Warner Bros. Discovery tapped director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) and producer Peter Safran to lead DC Studios as co-CEOs. DC Studios, which replaces DC Films, houses most of WB Discovery’s DC film, TV, and animation projects.

Following the WB-Discovery merger, CEO David Zaslav was said to be looking for a counterpart to Marvel’s Kevin Feige, and the company believes it’s found that in Gunn and Safran. Gunn will head up the studio’s creative efforts and continue directing DC films, while Safran will handle the business end of things and continue producing. The duo replaces Walter Hamada, who left the company in October.

"The opportunity to make DC as great as it can be, and as it should be, that is the reason why I’m doing this job, because I know that Peter and I can do that," Gunn said. Gunn and Safran have already begun work on an eight to 10-year plan for DC. IGN comics writer Jesse Schedeen wrote Gunn and Safran are looking to Star Wars, rather than Marvel, for inspiration on how to craft a successful cinematic universe.

The positive reception to the announcement has been a much-needed win for WB Discovery, which has been scrutinized for various decisions since the merger. Among those decisions were the cancellation of Batgirl and the merging of HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single streaming service that may be called “Max.”

Most recently, reports indicate Gunn and Safran may shutter the Synderverse entirely. According to The Hollywood Reporter, DC Studio’s new leadership duo, in service to a fresh start for the brand, may cancel future Wonder Woman, Superman, and Aquaman films, ending Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, and Jason Momoa’s runs as each respective DC hero.

2. Acquisition Madness: Xbox Buys Activision Blizzard, Sony Buys Bungie, Embracer Group Buys Middle-earth Enterprises

Consolidation continued its rampant run through the games industry in 2022, and no deal was bigger than Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard for $68.7 billion USD. Should the deal go through, it’d be the most-expensive video game-related acquisition by a long shot. It’s currently facing scrutiny from regulatory commissions across the world, including the CMA in the U.K. and the FTC in the U.S., which has now sued Microsoft in an attempt to block the deal.

The biggest hiccup seems to be Sony’s push against making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox consoles. Microsoft responded to that concern by offering Sony a 10-year deal to keep Call of Duty on its rival PlayStation platform — a deal Nintendo subsequently accepted. As of December 7, a ruling on the merger has yet to be made in both the U.K. and the U.S.

Before Microsoft’s made its industry-shaking announcement, Take-Two was home to the biggest games-related acquisition for a single week in January thanks to its $12.7 billion acquisition of mobile gaming giant Zynga. (Microsoft’s announcement came just eight days later.)

Sony, refusing to miss out on January 2022’s acquisition party, snatched up Destiny developer Bungie for a cool $3.6 billion. Later in the year, Embracer Group continued its spending spree by purchasing a number of studios and IPs from Square Enix, including Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, and more. It then snatched up Middle-earth Enterprises, which came with the film, game, merchandise, theme park, and stage play rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Other notable game studio acquisitions in 2022 include Nordisk Games’ purchase of Supermassive Games (Dark Pictures, The Quarry) and NetEase’s purchase of Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Star Wars Eclipse).

1. Elon Musk Completes Takeover of Twitter, Fires CEO and Other Top Executives

The top news story of the year on IGN was Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO completed his $44 billion USD purchase of the social media site on October 27.

The Musk-Twitter saga began in April when Musk purchased 9.2% of the company to become its largest single shareholder. He used his newfound influence to push for an edit button, which was confirmed to be in the works a day later, though Twitter said the feature had been in development well before Musk’s call to action.

Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal seemingly welcomed Musk’s stake in the company at first, planning to appoint Musk to Twitter’s board of directors, saying the entrepreneur would add “great value.”

A week later Musk announced he wouldn’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors, and shortly after he offered to buy the company outright for $44 billion. Twitter’s board responded by unanimously trying to block Musk’s takeover, though just 10 days later it accepted the bid.

After some public back and forth regarding Twitter’s bot numbers, Musk withdrew his offer and was sued by Twitter. Musk avoided trial by voluntarily completing the buyout in October, then promptly fired its CEO, CFO, head of legal policy, trust, and safety, and general counsel.

What’s followed has been a messy series of events, including an ever-changing attempt to overhaul Twitter’s verification system, layoffs of roughly half of Twitter’s staff, the end of remote work for Twitter employees, and mass resignations,

As for the future, Musk says he hopes to step away from running Twitter. Bankruptcy isn’t out of the question either, according to Musk, while the Federal Trade Commission says it’s "tracking recent development at Twitter with deep concern."

We’ll be following this ongoing story throughout 2023. Stay tuned to IGN for the latest.

There you have it: IGN’s 20 most significant news stories of 2022. What do you think was the most impactful story of the year? Which big headlines were you surprised to find missing from our list? Let us know in the comments!

Jordan Sirani is a freelance writer for IGN.

Deal Alert: The PS5 DualSense Controller Is Back Down to $49

The PlayStation 5 DualSense controller has dropped back down to the same price we saw on Black Friday. Walmart has the Black controller for only $49, a 30% price drop from its original $70 MSRP. This is probably going to be your last chance to get a DualSense controller at this price for quite a while.

Sony PS5 DualSense Controller for $49

The new PS5 DualSense is one of the most advanced controllers on the market. Once you've held and tested out this controller, you'll begin to see why it commands such a premium price (although it's still competitive with the price of official Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch controllers). The DualSense features haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, a built-in microphone and speaker, integrated touchpad, internal gyroscope and accelerometer for motion sensing, USB Type-C charging, and native compatibility with Windows (with either the cable or wirelessly over Bluetooth). This is inarguably the best controller for the PS5 at this price.

PS5 God of War Bundle in Stock

Don't have a PS5 yet? You're in luck. The PlayStation 5 console is, thankfully, getting a little easier to find this holiday season. It's still sold out at most places, but not all. Walmart has the PS5 Disc Edition console bundle with God of War: Ragnarok in stock right now. There's no queue or invitations to wait for. No guarantees that they'll stay in stock for much longer.

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IGN UK Podcast #677: The Big 2023 Preview

Cardy and Matt are joined by fresh voice to the podcast, Jen Rothery, who is simply a delight. Together they tackle all of the biggest games, films, and TV shows coming in 2023 and pick out some of their most anticipated ones. With the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Starfield, Final Fantasy 16, Dune: Part Two, Indiana Jones, and Succession to name just a few, we're set for a very fun year.

Got a game for us to play or some feedback you'd like read out on the show? Why not email us: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast #677: The Big 2023 Preview

Nexon's Medieval Fantasy Brawler Warhaven Shutting Down 6 Months After Launching in Early Access

Nexon's medieval fantasy brawler Warhaven is shutting down on April 5, 2024, just six months after it launched on Steam in Early Access...