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CNET
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Everything You Need to Know About the Sonic the Hedgehog Magic: The Gathering Drop
Magic: The Gathering hit a goldmine earlier this month when it released its Final Fantasy set based on one of the most popular video game franchises of all time. Final Fantasy was reportedly the best-selling Magic set before it even released, thanks to extensive preorders. Now Wizards of the Coast is hoping to repeat that success with Secret Lair drops themed around video game icon Sonic the Hedgehog, launching Monday, July 14. Wizards of the Coast/Sega Wizards of the Coast/Sega Wizards of the Coast/Sega Wizards of the Coast/Sega Depending on which century you were born in, you'll either recognize Sonic as the star of 1991's Sega Genesis video game Sonic the Hedgehog, or as the star of Paramount Pictures' Sonic the Hedgehog movies. (Or maybe you know him from Smash Bros. or Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, or any of the countless other places he shows up.) Now he's joining the storied Magic: The Gathering card game in a year where Magic is aggressively investing in crossovers with other properties. Those crossovers started years ago with The Walking Dead, which became an official Magic series called Universes Beyond when it released a Secret Lair drop for Stranger Things. We've gotten Magic cards for everything from Street Fighter to Lord of the Rings, The Evil Dead, Jurassic Park and even SpongeBob. Lord of the Rings was the first full Universes Beyond set, but it set the table for Final Fantasy last month, and we're getting full sets for both Spider-Man and Avatar: The Last Airbender later this year. The new Sonic Magic: The Gathering cards are different from the game's Final Fantasy set because these are Secret Lair products -- limited-run drops of a handful of cards, rather than a full set of hundreds of Standard-legal cards. That means you can't build decks for most tournament formats around Sonic. Like many Secret Lair crossover products, these cards seem aimed at the casual multiplayer Commander format that lets you build decks around your favorite characters and play with a group of friends. Sonic being a legendary creature with white mana, blue mana and red mana in his color identity, means that a Sonic Commander deck allows you to include his allies Tails, Knuckles and Amy Rose in the deck. Shadow costs red and black mana, which means he doesn't fit in a Sonic Commander deck, but he would fit in a Dr. Eggman deck. And, gang, these cards are kinda wild. Whenever Sonic attacks, he puts power-increasing counters on other creatures with flash or haste, which not-so-coincidentally includes all of the aforementioned allies that fit in his deck. And Sonic having the haste ability himself means he can attack the same turn you cast him, virtually guaranteeing one activation. Tails can draw cards when flying vehicles enter -- a nice nod to his plane, which first showed up in the late stages of Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Knuckles has a lot going on, including the ability to create treasure tokens that can help you cast spells -- or just outright win the game if you have enough while he's on the battlefield. There's also some mechanical synergy between these cards and the new Final Fantasy cards. Amy Rose automatically attaches equipment when she attacks and then can buff the power of other creatures, making her a great fit for the Limit Break Commander deck led by Cloud (or Tifa), which cares about equipment and power stats! Wizards of the Coast/Sega Similarly, Dr. Eggman gets to draw cards at the beginning of your end step -- if you also control Y'Shtola Rhul from the critically acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy XIV, you get an extra end step, allowing you to draw two cards instead of one for the low, low cost of ending your turn. All of that adds up to mechanically fun Magic cards that feature a lifelong favorite character for me. And it'll add up financially if I can get my hands on either the foil Sonic: Friends & Foes collection ($40) or the non-foil collection ($30), the cards in which are less likely to warp from the foil treatment. There are two other Sonic Secret Lair drops announced, including one that focuses on reprinted artifacts like vehicles and equipment and another that rounds up existing cards that synergize with the new cards. Both will be available in $40 foil or $30 non-foil versions. All three Secret Lair sets go on sale Monday, July 14, at noon ET/9 a.m. ET. When they do, and I cannot stress this enough, you gotta go fast to get 'em.
UPI
a day ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Movie review: 'Clueless' re-release proves film retro but timeless
1 of 5 | Alicia Silverstone stars in "Clueless," returning to theaters Sunday. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures LOS ANGELES, June 27 (UPI) -- Clueless is returning to theaters Sunday for its 30th anniversary, but it's never really left the culture at large. While there have been many teen comedies since, the film's lingo and fashion remain evergreen and some of the details prove surprisingly prescient. Alicia Silverstone stars as Cher Horowitz, a teenager attending Beverly Hills' fictional Bronson Alcott High School, wearing designer fashion and carrying a cell phone. Cher plays matchmaker for her teachers, and new student Tai (Brittany Murphy), similar to Jane Austen's heroine Emma. In the '90s, words like "whatever" and "as if" were common, following the Bill & Ted and Wayne's World popularization of "no way" and "yeah, right." Clueless made "I'm Audi" synonymous with "I'm out of here" (as in Audi/outtie), with an emphatic "Audi 5000." Those terms may have been usurped by TikTok lingo like "delulu" and "cheugy" but the sentiments haven't changed. Delulu means delusional and "as if" is essentially telling someone they are delusional, "as if" they think that's going to happen. The plaid skirts and knee-high socks were sort of retro at the time of the film's release, but they'd still work now. The music includes a '90s cover of "Kids in America," the satirical "Supermodel," and No Doubt's first hit single, "Just a Girl." Coolio's "Rollin' with my Homies" is pivotal to Tai's heartbreak, just before his "Gangster's Paradise" led the film Dangerous Minds and Mighty Mighty Bosstones appear in the film. Back then, cell phones were only for rich kids, and they were only for talking, not for staring at and scrolling for hours. The brief seconds Cher and Dionne (Stacey Dash) continue their conversation on their phones in the hall before putting them away was a joke. Cher would probably be aghast everyone has a phone now and that they type instead of talking to each other. She was all about making connections and hanging out in person at parties and the mall. The aspects of Clueless that proved most timeless were probably the least expected. Cher debates Haitian refugees in debate class, and later collects donations for victims of a natural disaster at Pismo Beach. In 1995, these probably seemed like generic events that could serve the plot. Cher had to get a middling grade in debate class that she could negotiate to an A, and demonstrate she was learning to think about others. Today, false claims about Haitian immigrants were real talking points of the 2024 presidential campaign. Regardless of their country of origin, immigration has been a major political platform and source of division. Cher's pro-immigration conclusion, "It does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty," is humorously simplistic. Yet her welcoming position would be adopted now by pro-immigration proponents. She was also very accepting when she learns her classmate Christian (Justin Walker) is gay. Coming out in the '90s was a plot point of many TV sitcoms and movies, and Christian wasn't necessarily out when Cher found out. She accepted him, so tolerance wasn't even an issue. Natural disasters have sadly only ramped up since 1995, from Hurricane Katrina to the recent Los Angeles wildfires. Fortunately, those situations have shown people to be supportive of their fellow humans in need. People aren't flocking back to theaters to see Clueless again for its politics, however. The film is still selling tickets because it's funny, charming and makes people feel good. One need not be as wealthy as Cher to enjoy her carefree lifestyle. In fact, Tai is not rich and she proves to enjoy life even more fully without the trappings Cher provides. People with stepsiblings have objected to Cher's romance with ex-stepbrother Josh (Paul Rudd) since 1995, saying even if they are not blood related and their parents have since divorced, they could never see a stepsibling romantically. That may be, but upon reflection it seems well-supported by the movie. Cher's father Mel (Dan Hedaya) says, "You divorce wives, not children." This is a wonderfully inclusive way to show he has no ill will towards his ex-wife's son, and that Josh can always have a place in the Horowitz family. Does that wipe away the stepbrother-ness? Maybe not, but Mel also seems to see there was always a connection between Cher and Josh, which probably existed before the marriage, when he encourages Josh to check on Cher at the party. To revisit Clueless is to enjoy a time capsule of '90s culture. And yet, much of the classic teen comedy proves prescient and evergreen. Fred Topel, who attended film school at Ithaca College, is a UPI entertainment writer based in Los Angeles. He has been a professional film critic since 1999, a Rotten Tomatoes critic since 2001, and a member of the Television Critics Association since 2012 and the Critics Choice Association since 2023. Read more of his work in Entertainment.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dave Bautista Lands Rom-Com Movie Role
After mentioning that he'd love to be in a romantic comedy movie, Dave Bautista is getting his wish. According to a new report from Deadline, Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to The Romantic, a spec script from Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. Bautista is attached to star in the project, with no other casting information available as of now. The movie, according to the report, will follow the story of Francine London, a bestselling romance author who is secretly the six-foot-four Ed Schwenke. 'When Ed's identity comes under scrutiny, he hires a wildcard of a woman to pose as Francine at a romance fiction convention, while evading a cynical female journalist, who hates romance even more than she hates liars. No director is attached at present,' reads the film's synopsis. The news comes years after Bautista said he'd love to be in a rom-com one day. Speaking to Page Six in January 2023, the former WWE star was hopeful for an opportunity eventually. 'I know I'm not your typical rom-com lead,' Bautista said at the time. 'I'm a little rough around the edges. But I always, you know, I look in the mirror and I say, I ask myself, 'Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?' READ MORE: Dave Bautista: Hollywood Is A 'Cakewalk' Compared To The Grind Of Pro Wrestling What do you make of this report? Are you excited to see Dave Bautista in a rom-com? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below. The post Dave Bautista Lands Rom-Com Movie Role appeared first on Wrestlezone.
Screen Geek
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Screen Geek
Doug Liman To Direct Feature Film For Stephen King's 'The Stand'
The 1978 novel The Stand from legendary author Stephen King is set to receive its first feature film adaptation. The iconic book, republished as ' The Complete & Uncut Edition ' in 1990, was previously adapted as a live-action miniseries in 1994 and again in 2020. Now The Stand is set to receive the feature film treatment from director Doug Liman. As shared via THR, Paramount Pictures has attached Liman to direct the film which he'll also produce alongside Tyler Thompson of Cross Creek Pictures. At this time, there aren't any writers attached to the project, but they'll certainly have their work cut out for them. The Stand happens to be the longest novel written by King. Many filmmakers have attempted feature film adaptations of The Stand over the years. Ultimately, however, the lengthy material of the book always ended up being adapted for television instead. Major filmmakers previously attached to the title include the likes of George A. Romero and Ben Affleck, and now Liman will have the opportunity to try and finally bring The Stand to the big screen. The Stand is known by fans of King for being his attempt at an epic story in the vein of The Lord of the Rings . However, rather than write a traditional fantasy epic like he later would with The Dark Tower , The Stand takes place in a very real version of the United States. Specifically after a virus, nicknamed Captain Trips, manages to kill off most of the world's population. The survivors later band together into two groups, one good and one bad, and with the bad group being led by none other than Randall Flagg. The character made his debut in The Stand and later became a recurring character throughout King's works, including the Dark Tower series and The Eyes of the Dragon , making The Stand a must-read for any fan eager to understand the inner-workings of the author's growing mythos. Obviously there's a lot to tackle with a feature film adaptation of The Stand , so hopefully we'll have more details regarding this endeavor from director Doug Liman in the near future. Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates as we have them.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paramount Lands Rom-Com Spec ‘The Romantic' From Deborah Kaplan & Harry Elfont; Dave Bautista Aboard To Star
EXCLUSIVE: Paramount Pictures has acquired rights to The Romantic, a romantic comedy spec from Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, with Dave Bautista attaching to star. Maximum Effort will produce under its first-look deal with the studio, alongside Bautista's Dogbone Entertainment. The film tells the story of bestselling romance author Francine London, who has a secret: she's actually a six-foot-four mountain of a man named Ed Schwenke. When Ed's identity comes under scrutiny, he hires a wildcard of a woman to pose as Francine at a romance fiction convention, while evading a cynical female journalist, who hates romance even more than she hates liars. No director is attached at present. More from Deadline Dave Bautista Has 'High Hopes' Of Starring In A Rom-Com: 'Am I That Unattractive?' Amazon MGM Lands Harrison Query's Short Story 'Code Black' For Film; Jake Gyllenhaal In Talks To Star In & Produce Political Thriller Doug Liman Directing Adaptation Of Stephen King's 'The Stand' For Paramount News of the project is notable as Bautista as spoken for years about his desire to star in a rom-com. In a 2023 interview with Page Six, the Dune and Guardians of the Galaxy star said, 'I know I'm not your typical rom-com lead. I'm a little rough around the edges. But I always, you know, I look in the mirror and I say, I ask myself, 'Am I that unattractive? Is there something that unappealing about me that excludes me from these parts?'' Bautista added that while he's 'never had an offer to do a rom-com,' he had 'high hopes' about checking this off his bucket list and would 'keep searching' until he found the right opportunity. Currently weighing an offer for a role in Road House 2 at Amazon MGM, Bautista will next be seen starring in the Aura Entertainment actioner Trap House, as well as the Amazon MGM buddy cop action comedy The Wrecking Crew opposite Jason Momoa, both of which are produced by his Dogbone Entertainment Banner. Recently seen starring opposite Pamela Anderson in the critically acclaimed drama The Last Showgirl, he also has the Zellner Brothers' alien invasion comedy Alpha Gang coming up, and is repped by WME and Karl Austen of Jackoway Austen Tyerman, as is Dogbone. No strangers to the rom-com, Kaplan & Elfont are known for writing and directing Can't Hardly Wait and Josie and the Pussycats, as well as writing the films Made of Honor and Leap Year. Creative partners since meeting at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, they've recently made a pivot into hard comedy with the R-rated Guys with No Friends, which sold to Paramount for over $1M in a multi-studio bidding war. They signed with Verve in May and continue to be represented by Entertainment 360.
