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WARNER BROS. GAMES AND NETEASE ANNOUNCE HARRY POTTER: MAGIC AWAKENED FOR AMERICAS, EUROPE AND OCEANIA TERRITORIES

SAN FRANCISCO and HANGZHOU, China, Feb. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Warner Bros. Games and NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES; HKEX: 9999) today announced Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, a free-to-play immersive collectible card (CCG) and massively multiplayer (MMO) wizarding dueling game featuring a blend of strategy roleplay (RPG), for worldwide launch in 2022. Starting today, players in the Americas, Europe and Oceania are invited to pre-register on Google Play and the game’s official website at www.MagicAwakened.com. Pre-registrants will be notified upon the game’s release and receive exclusive in-game rewards at launch.

To view and share the Harry Potter: Magic Awakened Official Announcement Trailer, visit: https://go.wbgames.com/HPMA_Announce_Trailer

To download official Harry Potter: Magic Awakened assets, visit: https://go.wbgames.com/HPMA_Announce_Assets

Co-developed and co-published by Warner Bros. Games and NetEase Games, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened will launch globally later this year for iOS and Android as the latest title under Portkey Games, the label dedicated to creating new mobile and videogame experiences inspired by the Wizarding World that place the player at the centre of their own adventure. Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a multiplayer wizarding dueling game that offers an immersive role-playing journey with deep strategy play that fulfills the fan fantasy – all beautifully rendered in a unique art style.

Merging the talents of two gaming and online entertainment powerhouses, both companies collaborated on every aspect of development to ensure an accurate representation of the wizarding world, from early concepting and art design, to the story’s plot and overall gameplay system. Released in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regions in September 2021, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened was the biggest mobile game launch of 2021, topping local App Stores as the no. 1 game and surpassing all new globally released mobile titles in revenue in its first four months of the year, according to analytics platforms including Sensor Tower. Pre-registrations and closed beta tests will also begin for players residing in other Asia territories later this year.

“With Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, we have worked jointly with NetEase Games to create the most robust multiplayer experience set in the wizarding world and we are very excited to launch the game globally,” said David Haddad, President, Warner Bros. Games. “Harry Potter: Magic Awakened utilizes the best-in-class development and publishing capabilities of both NetEase Games and Warner Bros. Games to bring players a captivating gameplay experience with compelling features, an in-depth collectible card system and beautifully distinct art style.”

“Harry Potter: Magic Awakened has been a huge success with our current players and the fan reception has been extraordinary,” said William Ding, Founder and CEO of NetEase, Inc. “We are excited to open this title to a worldwide audience, and we believe fans of one of the world’s biggest brands will be delighted that they can embark on adventures and experience an immersive story through a marvelous journey in the wizarding world, with infinite possibilities empowered by magic.”

In Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, players will begin as young witches and wizards who have just received their acceptance letters to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Fans can customize their own character and go on to experience all the hallmarks of a magical education including purchasing school supplies at Diagon Alley, wearing the Sorting Hat to be sorted into a House and competing in the Duelling Club.

Witches and wizards will also embark on a riveting new story, featuring familiar faces from the original Harry Potter series and new characters alike. As players progress, they will learn spells and charms that can be cast through the form of cards. Players need to accumulate magical knowledge to master these spells, devise unique strategies and form winning combinations – learning what to cast and when – as they venture through increasingly challenging trials, duel other players and master the magic in their own illustrious wizarding journey.

Starting today, players from the Americas, Europe and Oceania can pre-register for Harry Potter: Magic Awakened on Google Play or the game’s official website at www.MagicAwakened.com to receive exclusive rewards once the title is released. Players can unlock additional rewards including in-game currency, cosmetic items and a Niffler card after surpassing each pre-registration tier.

To learn more about Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, visit www.MagicAwakened.com or join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

All official assets can be found on the Warner Bros. Games Press Site. To access, please visit WarnerBrosGames-Press.com and click the “Register Now” button.

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About Warner Bros. Games

Warner Bros. Games is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third-party game titles. Additional information about Warner Bros. Games can be found at www.warnerbrosgames.com.

About NetEase, Inc.:

As a leading internet technology company based in China, NetEase, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES; HKEX: 9999) is dedicated to providing premium online services centered around innovative and diverse content, community, communication and commerce. NetEase develops and operates some of China’s most popular mobile and PC-client games. In more recent years, NetEase has expanded into international markets including Japan and North America. In addition to its self-developed game content, NetEase partners with other leading game developers, such as Blizzard Entertainment and Mojang AB (a Microsoft subsidiary), to operate globally renowned games in China. NetEase’s other innovative service offerings include the intelligent learning services of its majority-controlled subsidiary, Youdao (NYSE: DAO); music streaming through its leading NetEase Cloud Music (HKEX: 9899) business; and its private label e-commerce platform, Yanxuan. For more information, please visit: http://ir.netease.com.

About Portkey Games:

Portkey Games, from Warner Bros. Games, is the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and videogame experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. Portkey Games offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the Wizarding World setting to create new and unique experiences. The label was created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the magic of the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can define their own Wizarding World story.

WIZARDING WORLD, Harry Potter and FANTASTIC BEASTS Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter: MAGIC AWAKENED, PORTKEY GAMES, WIZARDING WORLD, Harry Potter and FANTASTIC BEASTS characters, names and related indicia © and ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “aim,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “estimates,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” “goal,” “targets,” “guidance,” “commits” and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about business plans and projections and statements about the launch of new games and their popularity among players in different markets, are or contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. All information contained in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. You should not rely upon these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The parties do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Contacts:

Warner Bros. Games

Maral Kaloustian
Warner Bros. Games
[email protected] 

NetEase, Inc.

Investor Enquiries:

Margaret Shi
NetEase, Inc.
[email protected]
Tel: (+86) 571-8985-3378
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetEase_Global

Media Enquiries:

Li Ruohan
NetEase, Inc.
[email protected]
Tel: (+86) 571-8985-2668
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NetEase_Global   

Zhou Zhaoxi
NetEase Games
[email protected]
Tel. (+86) 20-85105163 ext.57169

SOURCE NetEase, Inc.

5 new Indian films on OTT platforms to watch this Christmas weekend

Update: Check out this week’s binge-watch list.

The holiday season is well and truly on us. And befitting the occasion, OTT platforms are also ready with some high profile releases, many of them straight-on-the-streaming-platform ones.

US Trailer for ‘The Last Matinee’ Uruguayan Horror Homage to Cinema

US Trailer for ‘The Last Matinee’ Uruguayan Horror Homage to Cinema

by
July 13, 2021
Source: YouTube

“Today, you may feel the Universe owes you. Nonetheless, someone else’s sacrifice won’t save you.” Dark Star Pictures + Bloody Disgusting have revealed a new official US trailer for an Uruguayan horror film titled The Last Matinee. Not only is it a tribute to the spooky magic of watching horror movies in dingy, dark cinemas. But it’s also a horror movie set inside an old cinema. This premiered at the Sitges Film Festival and at many other genre festivals last year, now opening in the US this August. The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick them off, one by one. The only person to notice that something strange is going on is the projectionist’s daughter. The Last Matinee stars Luciana Grasso, Ricardo Islas, Julieta Spinelli, Franco Duran, and Pedro Duarte. This looks damn good, Uruguay seems to be offering some of the finest indie horror gems recently.

Here’s the official US trailer (+ new poster) for Maxi Contenti’s The Last Matinee, direct from YouTube:

And here’s the original Uruguayan trailer for Maxi Contenti’s The Last Matinee, also found on YouTube:

On a stormy night in Montevideo in 1993, an engineering student named Ana (Luciana Grasso) takes over the duties of her father, a projectionist at a declining movie theatre, due to his ill health. Unbeknownst to her, the audience watching the film that she is running are being murdered by a black-gloved killer. The Last Matinee, also known as Al Morir la Matinée in Spanish, is directed by Uruguayan filmmaker Maxi Contenti (aka Maximiliano Contenti), director of the films Muñeco viviente V and Neptunia (co-director) previously. The screenplay is by Manuel Facal and Maxi Contenti. This already opened in Uruguay last fall and also premiered at the Sitges Film Festival last year. Dark Star Pictures + B-D will release Contenti’s The Last Matinee in select US theaters on August 6th, then on VOD starting August 24th, 2021 this summer.

Find more posts: Horror, To Watch, Trailer

Bad CGI Dinosaurs Family Adventure Movie ‘Dinosaur Cove’ Trailer

Bad CGI Dinosaurs Family Adventure Movie ‘Dinosaur Cove’ Trailer

by
January 28, 2022
Source: YouTube

“I’m not making this up! And I’m not seeing things that aren’t there…” Crystal Creek Media has debuted an official trailer for a cheesy family adventure movie called Dinosaur Cove, from the same director behind A Horse Called Bear, Courageous Love, Christmas Coupon, and Skydog previously. Reeling from the recent loss of his mother, Riley Harrison claims that he has seen a real dinosaur, to which his dad Wyatt and love interest Dr. Starr quickly write off. But the nefarious creators responsible for the creature and its release try to recover it and capture young Riley before the public finds out about their diabolical dino plans. The film stars Brayden Eaton, Jared Withrow, Holly Houk, Addilyn Houk, James Pilachowski, Emily Buckner, Ray Morgis, and Mo El-Zaatari. It looks like the kind of movie you want to avoid at all costs, unless you have kids obsessed with dinosaurs. There’s only one good shot of this Pterodactyl in here anyway.

Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Daniel Knudsen’s Dinosaur Cove, direct from YouTube:

Centers around a young boy, Riley Harrison (Brayden Eaton), who stumbles across a top-secret project in the small town of Dinosaur Cove. Reeling from the recent loss of his mother, Riley claims he has seen a real dinosaur, to which his dad Wyatt Harrison (Jared Withrow), and love interest Dr. Starr (Holly Houk) quickly write it off as a fantasy coping mechanism for his grief. However, the two villians Mr. Bigg (Mo El-Zaatari) and Dr. Vandersaurean (James Pilachowski) responsible for the creature and its accidental release, try in desperation to recover it and capture young Riley before the public finds out about their diabolical plans. With the help of Riley’s newfound friends Mark (Regan Miller) and Savannah (Addilyn Houk), he begins an adventure of prehistoric proportions. Dinosaur Cove is directed by American actor / filmmaker Daniel Knudsen, director of the movies Late for Church, Creed of Gold, A Horse Called Bear, Courageous Love, Christmas Coupon, and Skydog previously. The screenplay is written by Derrick Steele. Crystal Creek Media will release Dinosaur Cove direct-to-VOD in the US coming up soon in 2022. Anyone?

Find more posts: To Watch, Trailer

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses Trailer Has Landed

Next month, TBS in conjunction with Cartoon Network, has a new special coming where contestants will represent the Hogwarts house they have placed themselves in and compete in an ultimate fan quiz show against competitors from rival houses.

This show is a celebration of the legacy of films since it’s been 20 years since the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Take a look!

Here is the write-up:

“Only one house can win. ❤️💚🏆💙💛 With celebrity guests, original film actors, and the House Cup at stake, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses will be the greatest fan competition in Wizarding World history!”

Hosted by Dame Helen Mirren, the show will feature several celebrity guests like: Tom Felton, Dan Folger, Shirley Henderson, Matthew Lewis, Simon Fisher-Becker, Pete Davidson, Jay Leno, and Luke Youngblood.

Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics says it’s a celebration for fans of all ages:

“To celebrate the dedicated fans old and new who have passionately kept the Wizarding World magic alive in so many forms for decades, these exciting specials will celebrate their Harry Potter fandom in a must-see multiplatform TV event.

All Potter fans can gear up for this ultimate one-of-a-kind celebration by embracing their inner Hermione Granger and studying their Wizarding World knowledge. For fans who have always wanted to discover what it might be like to take the OWL exams, this is as close as they are going to get!“

You can catch this show on TBS, Sunday’s starting on November 28th and running through December 19th.

According to Entertainment Weekly the episodes will go like this:

“Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff” and continue with Ravenclaw and Slytherin going head to head before the two winning houses compete in a wildcard episode and finally, the grand finale.”

There will also be an interactive competition element that will invite fans from around the world to play via digital quiz events. These events will be on the WizardingWorld.com site starting Nov. 26 and will run through Dec. 10.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Sources: Comicbook.com, EW

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson says he’s starring in another video game movie | VGC

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has revealed that he’ll be starring in another movie based on a video game.

Although he didn’t confirm the game in question, Johnson told Men’s Journal that it’s based on something he’s “played for years”.

When asked about his connection with video games and whether he had plans to make any more game-related movies in the future, Johnson shared that he was a big fan of the Madden games before adding: “I can’t tell you which game in particular we’re doing, but there will be an announcement this year.

“We’re going to bring one of the biggest, most badass games to the screen – one that I’ve played for years.

“I’m really excited to bring it to fans around the world. Of course we’re going to do right by our gamer friends, but really we’re just going to make a great movie.”

Johnson is no stranger to movies about video games. One of his earlier film roles was in the 2005 movie adaptation of Doom, where he played squad leader Sarge.

More recently, he also starred in the 2018 film Rampage, which was based on the Midway arcade games of the same name.

He was also in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel Jumanji: The Next Level, in which he plays a video game character.

Johnson has also dabbled with video game appearances. The 2006 game Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run starred Johnson as the protagonist, while most recently he’s portrayed The Foundation in Fortnite, where he made an appearance during the end of Season 2.

Other upcoming movies based on video game properties include February’s Uncharted film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, April’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 featuring Jim Carrey and Idris Elba, and December’s Illumination-produced Super Mario animated movie, in which Chris Pratt will voice the Nintendo mascot.

40 Tiny Details From “Harry Potter” That Are Too Good To Go Unnoticed

Did we miss your favorite Harry Potter movie detail? Let us know in the comments!

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Couple accidentally bought house from popular Christmas movie, now has to deal with surprise visitors

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for December 22

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what’s clicking on Foxnews.com.

It’s important to Google a house before buying it.

A couple in the United Kingdom say they bought a house, not realizing that it had been featured in a popular holiday movie. Now, they have to deal with fans of the movie stopping by to take pictures and ask questions.

Filmmakers for ‘The Holiday’ recreated the house on a studio lot to make it easier to film.
(SWNS)

Jon and Cressida Bromley accidentally bought the house from the 2006 Christmas rom-com ‘The Holiday,’ Southwest News (SWNS) reports. To be more accurate, they bought the house that the cottage in the film was directly based on.

During preproduction on the film, researchers from the studio found the house and fell in love with it. Unfortunately, the location was too isolated to bring the cast and crew to. Instead, the studio built a near-perfect replica of the house on a studio lot.

‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ HOUSE AVAILABLE FOR OVERNIGHT CHRISTMAS STAYS

Jon and Cressida Bromley accidentally bought the house from the 2006 Christmas rom-com ‘The Holiday.’
(SWNS)

The Bromleys, however, didn’t know any of this when they bought the house in 2019.

“I came to see it on my own to begin with and just literally fell in love with it straight away,” Jon told SWNS. “Just everything was beautiful – low ceilings, it’s beamed, it’s got a massive inglenook fireplace with a log burner in. Then we saw it in Country Life article saying something like ‘the inspiration for ‘The Holiday’ cottage is back on the market.’ I thought ‘bloody hell!'”

The couple explained that they do get visitors from time to time.

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“We had a couple of location scouts,” Jon explained. “There’s a fair few people that come past looking for the house.”
(SWNS)

“We had a couple of location scouts,” Jon explained. “There’s a fair few people that come past looking for the house. Then you get the odd one who goes past and stops and says ‘I recognize that, is this the ‘Holiday’ cottage?’ and ‘do you mind if I take some pictures?'”

Despite the house’s fame, the Bromleys say they still love their cottage and the surrounding area.

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Jon said, “It’s one of those getaways where you go and hide yourself somewhere in a little village. There’s nothing here but a pub next door, no shops. I’m just really proud of it, it’s a very lovely house and we’re very lucky.”

He continued, “It snowed last year and it just has that warmth to it when you walk through. I’m really proud of it.”

Hogwarts Legacy art book could point to a September release date | VGC

An upcoming art book could point to the release date of Hogwarts Legacy.

“The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy” is set to be published by Insight Editions on September 6, 2022.

As spotted by The Rowling Library, the book is authored by Jody Revenson, who has previously written “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Movie Magic” and “Harry Potter Paper Craft”.

September 1 is the date in the Harry Potter books that students return to Hogwarts, making a September release fitting.

Developed by Avalanche Software (Disney Infinity), Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books.

Due to be published by Warner Bros. under its Portkey Games label, Hogwarts Legacy was originally scheduled to be released in 2021 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Last year, Warner delayed the game’s release window to 2022.

The possibility of a further delay to 2023 was raised by journalist Colin Moriarty during a recent podcast, in which he claimed: “I’m hearing behind the scenes that game is not coming out this year, and that it’s in some sort of trouble.”

However, an official update on Wizarding World Digital stated that “the Hogwarts Legacy video game will be arriving this year”.

It reads: “2022 is also the year when the highly anticipated console game from Warner Bros. Games’ Portkey Games label, Hogwarts Legacy, is set to be released.

“Developed by Avalanche Software, this action RPG allows players to be at the centre of their own adventure set during the late 1800s wizarding world.

“From learning powerful spells and brewing potions to honing combat skills and taming magical beasts, this game will allow players to experience the magical world as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before as they determine the fate of the entire wizarding world.”

A Mortal Kombat movie sequel is in development | VGC

A sequel to last year’s Mortal Kombat movie is in the works at New Line Cinema.

The Warner Bros.-owned film studio has hired Fantastic 4 and Moon Knight writer Jeremy Slater to pen the Mortal Kombat 2 script, Deadline reports.

Last year’s Mortal Kombat film was helmed by Simon McQuoid, making his feature directorial debut, and produced by James Wan (Aquaman), Todd Garner (Into the Storm), E. Bennett Walsh (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) and McQuoid.

It released in April and helped drive what was then the US box office’s biggest weekend since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The video game adaptation generated some $22.5 million in its opening weekend and has reportedly exceeded Warner’s expectations.

Its worldwide box office gross stands at almost $84 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

The movie launched simultaneously in cinemas and on HBO Max and is reportedly one of the streaming service’s top feature titles to date.

While it was poorly received by critics, the original Mortal Kombat movie grossed over $120 million worldwide following its release in 1995. Its sequel, 1997’s Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, grossed $50 million.

The Mortal Kombat video game franchise launched in 1992 and had sold 73 million units as of July 2021, according to Warner, including 12 million copies of the latest series entry, 2019’s Mortal Kombat 11.

Other upcoming movies based on video game properties include February’s Uncharted film starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, April’s Sonic the Hedgehog 2 featuring Jim Carrey and Idris Elba, and December’s Illumination-produced Super Mario animated movie, in which Chris Pratt will voice the Nintendo mascot.

Actor Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson recently teased plans to bring “one of the biggest, most badass games” to cinema screens, with an announcement planned for later this year.