Fandango is already feeling the magic of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked as advanced ticket sales accumulate faster than a hail of asbestos in a Poppy Field. What’s wrong? Need help understanding that reference? Look it up. I’ll give you a hint. The health-related fallout caused by the original Wizard of Oz is a nightmare. Anyway, Fandango announced today that Wicked is the ticket broker’s number two first-day ticket pre-seller of 2024, only behind Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine. Wicked is also the best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of 2024 and the third best PG-rated first-day ticket pre-seller of all time, only behind the theatrical hits of Frozen II and The Lion King (2019).

“Fan anticipation for the cinematic masterpiece Wicked is incredibly high for what is set to be a one-of-a-kind must-see theatrical event,” said Jerramy Hainline, EVP of Fandango Ticketing. “The success of the film’s first-day ticket sales is a testament to fans’ love for this iconic property, and the off-the-charts appetite to see this beloved story come to life on the big screen.”

Wicked stars Ariana Grande as Glinda, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, and more.

To celebrate Wicked’s momentous first-day ticket sales, Fandango is offering fans a chance to visit Oz. Moviegoers who purchase a ticket on Fandango to Wicked will automatically be entered to win a trip to the film’s Los Angeles premiere! But wait, there’s more! When fans buy a ticket to Wicked in IMAX, they will receive an exclusive Wicked Collector’s Pin Pack, which includes a Shiz University pin and an exclusive IMAX pin.

Earlier this week (almost like they planned its launch in time for Wicked), Fandango piloted its new movie ticket membership program, Fandango FanClub. The service rewards moviegoers with savings every time they go to the movies. To celebrate the launch, Fandango is offering ticket buyers who join Fanclub a limited-time offer of two free movie tickets after a 7-day free trial, which they can use towards tickets to any movie, including Wicked. For a monthly fee of $9.99, FanClub members will receive one $10 movie ticket promo code per month, waived convenience fees on all ticket purchases, and more perks, such as early access to special bundles and offers.

Wicked comes to theaters on November 22, 2024.

The post Advanced tickets for Wicked soar like an army of flying monkeys as the anticipated musical prepares to cast a spell on the box office appeared first on JoBlo.

Fall savings are officially in full swing, folks. If there’s a game you’ve been looking for, chances are that it’s currently on sale on one of the various console or PC storefronts right now. Such is the case with PlayStation, which just kicked off its massive seasonal sale that features thousands of discounted games,…

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Fall savings are officially in full swing, folks. If there’s a game you’ve been looking for, chances are that it’s currently on sale on one of the various console or PC storefronts right now. Such is the case with PlayStation, which just kicked off its massive seasonal sale that features thousands of discounted games,…

Read more…

The longest time frame between James Bond movie releases was six years, with the mark being hit twice: first between Timothy Dalton’s final outing, 1989’s License to Kill, and Pierce Brosnan’s debut, 1995’s GoldenEye; the most recent came between 2015’s Spectre and 2021’s No Time to Die. It has now been three years since that Daniel Craig farewell hit the screen…but will it be another three? According to one key figure at Amazon (who acquired MGM in 2022), patience is still key.

Speaking with The Guardian, Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said, “The global audience will be patient. We don’t want too much time between films, but we are not concerned at this point.” That comment seems to sit somewhere in the middle. Are the studios not concerned because they have a specific vision for the future? Or because they feel like they’re on track for a timely enough release for the next James Bond movie? At the same time, we do wonder what “at this point” really means…

Even though Amazon snatched up MGM for $8.5 billion, Eon Productions still gets final say in all things 007. With that, the next James Bond movie can’t cast their new actor without their approval. On this, Salke stated, “There are a lot of ideas [about potential actors] that have popped up that I thought are interesting. I think there are a lot of different ways we can go. We have a good and close relationship with Eon and Barbara and Michael. We are not looking to disrupt the way those wonderful films are made. For us, we are taking their lead.”

It’s a bit disheartening that there has been no movement on who will lead the future of James Bond, as no star or director has been announced for the first post-Craig movie. The likes of Sam Mendes, Christopher Nolan and Edward Berger have already made it aware they are not tied to the franchise, although The Fall Guy’s Aaron Taylor-Johnson has already gotten approval from past 007s Pierce Brosnan and George Lazenby.

Are you remaining patient and optimistic about the future of the James Bond franchise? Do you think it will surpass that six-year threshold?

The post How much longer can James Bond fans be “patient” over new movie? appeared first on JoBlo.

Runewords, and not “Rude words” like you thought, are a new mechanic in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, letting you add new customizable, conditional buffs to your equipment. These socketable items can be dropped by enemies and chests across Diablo IV—here’s how to find them and use them.

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Runewords, and not “Rude words” like you thought, are a new mechanic in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, letting you add new customizable, conditional buffs to your equipment. These socketable items can be dropped by enemies and chests across Diablo IV—here’s how to find them and use them.

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Back in 1983, legendary producer Roger Corman brought the world a sword and sorcery film with an awesome title: Deathstalker. It was so successful, it paved the way for three sequels: Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987), Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988), and Deathstalker IV: Match of the Titans (1991). The franchise went dormant for more than thirty years, but earlier this year we learned that it’s being revived by filmmaker Steven Kostanski – whose previous credits include Manborg, Father’s Day, The Void, Leprechaun Returns, Psycho Goreman, Frankie Freako, and episodes of the short-lived Day of the Dead TV series. Kostanski is writing and directing a Deathstalker remake that has Daniel Bernhardt (John Wick) playing the title character… and now that the project is in post-production, the filmmakers recently revealed that the theme song composed for the remake is a collaboration between legendary musician Slash, composer Bear McCreary, and Deathstalker II composer Chuck Cirino! The filmmakers told Kickstarter supporters, “To say we made a mess in our pants when we heard the results would be an understatement.” So this is a promising update – especially for fans of Deathstalker II.

Here’s what the Deathstalker remake is about: The Kingdom of Abraxeon is under siege from The Dreadites, a mysterious horde of warriors, whose sudden appearance is rumored to foretell the return of Nekromemnon, an ancient sorcerer long thought dead. Such times of chaos are times of fortune for men like Deathstalker who, having broken ties with all guilds and banners, now ekes an existence from the spoils recovered in the wake of Dreadite attacks. Our story begins when Deathstalker unknowingly recovers an enchanted amulet from a corpse-ridden battlefield, and finds himself cursed by an arcane magick. Now pursued by a monstrous clan of assassins at the behest of the Dreadite scourge, Deathstalker is forced into a perilous quest to reverse the curse and rid the realm of evil. Death is just the beginning… of great adventure!

One of Bernhardt’s co-stars is Nina Bergman (Hell Hath No Fury). Her character is Grendul, “a confident, tough leader of the Abraxeon Thieves Guild who has a history with Deathstalker.” A picture of Bergman in character, taken by Bernhardt himself, can be seen below.

In addition to this film, there’s also going to be a Deathstalker comic book series from Vault Comics. Kostanski is on the comic’s creative team with writer Tim Seeley, artist Jim Terry, and Slash of Guns N’ Roses.

The Deathstalker remake is coming our way from Hangar 18 Media. Pasha Patriki, Avi Federgreen, and Michael Pazst are producing the film, with Slash and Rodrigo Gudiño of Berserkergang Films serving as executive producers alongside Andrew Thomas Hunt, James Fler, Josh Viola, and Peter Kuplowsky. Scott Weatherall is an associate producer and Melissa A. Smith a co-producer. Raven Banner will be handling international sales and Canadian distribution.

Are you looking forward to the Deathstalker remake, and are you glad to hear that Chuck Cirino has composed the theme song with Slash and Bear McCreary (both of whom are described as being “uber Deathstalker fans”)? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Slash, Bear McCreary, and Chuck Cirino teamed up for the Deathstalker remake theme song appeared first on JoBlo.

2024 has been a year of many big releases, and I’ve played quite a lot of them, which means plenty more games inevitably fall through the cracks. It’s rare that, during a busy release year, I get a chance to check out a game months after it came out, and it’s even more rare that I fall in love with it. But that’s…

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2024 has been a year of many big releases, and I’ve played quite a lot of them, which means plenty more games inevitably fall through the cracks. It’s rare that, during a busy release year, I get a chance to check out a game months after it came out, and it’s even more rare that I fall in love with it. But that’s…

Read more…

Lord Acton once said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority.” I wonder if the members of the cloth plotting in the latest Conclave trailer are familiar with this passage. Lucky for them, director Edward Berger is ready to school them as a wicked plot to influence the appointment of a new Pope unfolds. Imagine being the person who appoints the next Pope after the sudden passing of a world-famous and beloved figure. No, thank you. What if we add a conspiracy to the mix? Clutch your prayer beads tightly, folks; it will be a vicious contest.

Here’s the official synopsis for Conclave courtesy of Focus Features:

From director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence finds himself at the center of a conspiracy and discovers a secret that could shake the very foundation of The Church.

Edward Berger directs Conclave from a script by Peter Straughan, based on the book by Robert Harris. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, Lucian Msamati, Brían F. O’Byrne, Carlos Diehz, Merab Ninidze, and Thomas Loibl lead the cast, with Sergio Castellitto and Isabella Rossellini also starring.

In today’s Conclave trailer, Ralph Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence suspects foul play after the sudden death of the most famous man in the world, the Pope. While attempting to organize the ascension of the holy figure’s successor, Cardinal Lawrence questions the ambitions and loyalty of his compatriots of the cloth as a mystery unravels. With the world watching, evil intent stirs behind closed doors as the choice for a new Pope becomes blurred by doubt and suspicion.

JoBlo’s Chris Bumbray saw Conclave at the Toronto International Film Festival and loved it, saying the film is “phenominally entertaining and has a knockout ending that should generate a lot of talk.”

Will Cardinal Lawrence survive the ordeal? Did someone in his circle bump the former Pope off in a bid for power? We’ll find out when Conclave premieres in select theaters on November 1 and expands nationwide on November 8.

The post Ambition overrides loyalty as the search for a new Pope excelarates in the latest Conclave trailer appeared first on JoBlo.