Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy has discussed a list of Star Wars projects as she exits her role as company president — though curiously there was no mention of the previously-announced standalone movie set to feature Rey Skywalker.

The project, revealed by Kennedy with fanfare three years ago at Star Wars Celebration 2023, is planned to feature the return of Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker, and reveal how the character founds a new era of the Jedi Order.

Kennedy announced the project on-stage alongside Ridley and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who was confirmed to be helming the project. But in the years since — as with so many other Star Wars movies — little more has been said.

Outgoing Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy has indicated it may be some time before we see another Indiana Jones movie, saying: “I don’t think anybody is interested right now in exploring it.”

It’s been two-and-a-half years since the critically panned Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny came out, and Lucasfilm has yet to indicate that a follow-up is in the works.

In an interview with Deadline confirming her exit from Lucasfilm after 14 years, Kennedy stood by Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which saw Harrison Ford reprise his role as the much-loved whip-cracking archeologist. Indeed, Kennedy said the reason Lucasfilm went forward with the film was Ford was so keen to do it.

“I have no regrets about that because Harrison wanted to do that more than anything,” she said. “He did not want Indy to end with the fourth movie. He wanted a chance at another, and we did that for him. I think that was the right thing to do. He wanted to do that movie.”

The question now is, will there be another Indiana Jones movie? Harrison Ford, who is approaching his 84th birthday, has said he’s done playing the character, so if Disney were to greenlight a new Indy film or TV series, it would have to be with another actor in the iconic role.

“I don’t think Indy will ever be done, but I don’t think anybody is interested right now in exploring it,” Kennedy confirmed. “But these are timeless movies, and Indy will never be done.”

IGN’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny review returned a 4/10. We said: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny fails to recapture Spielberg’s magic. With uninspired action and conflicting themes and character motivations, it’s proof that some things should just be allowed to end.”

In February last year, Harrison Ford said he didn’t care that Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny flopped critically and commercially, insisting "s**t happens."

The legendary actor of Star Wars fame told The Wall Street Journal Magazine that, even though he "felt there was another story to tell" in the Indiana Jones universe, he didn’t care that the fifth film was critically panned and is estimated to have lost $100 million after a box office disaster.

"When [Indy] had suffered the consequences of the life that he had to live, I wanted one more chance to pick him up and shake the dust off his ass and stick him out there, bereft of some of his vigor, to see what happened," Ford said. "I’m still happy I made that movie."

Following the release of Dial of Destiny, director James Mangold told Variety he had no interest in continuing with Indiana Jones. "I refuse. I just can't do it," he said. "The amount of lore and Easter eggs and fan service starts to become antithetical to any of this stuff at a certain point. It isn't storytelling anymore. It's large-scale advertising."

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

New details on the cancelation of the Game of Thrones Jon Snow sequel have emerged, with HBO reported to have found Kit Harington’s idea for it too depressing to move forward with.

As part of a sweeping interview with Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin, The Hollywood Reporter said Harington worked with two writers from drama series Gunpowder to come up with the story, which would have seen Snow living alone as a broken man with PTSD following his exile to north of the Wall as a compromise after he killed Daenerys Targaryen.

The story would have also shown Snow having chased off Ghost, his much-loved direwolf, and ditched Longclaw, his Valyrian steel bastard sword. According to THR, in this story Snow would have spent his time building cabins and burning them back down again, with Harington calling for his character to die and avoid being a hero.

It’s worth noting that Harington has spoken about the personal difficulties he faced coming out of the end of Game of Thrones. According to a recently published New York Times profile, Harington had become a “dry drunk” and spent time in rehab after wrapping up work on the hit show. After he emerged, he “was also finding it hard to escape Jon Snow.” Harington took a year out and prepared to act again, but the pandemic hit, tearing up his plans.

When work became possible again, Harington told his agent he wanted a “no swords” rule for vetting potential jobs, but he took on the role of Black Knight in high-profile Marvel flop The Eternals, which was released in November 2021. After the movie's disastrous box office, Harington apparently “toyed” with the idea of reprising his role as Jon Snow for a spinoff, but eventually decided against it.

As part of the profile, Harington said he was “genuinely angered” by a fan-made petition that called for the final season of Game of Thrones to be remade with “competent writers.” In 2019, following the release of Game of Thrones Season 8 and its subsequent backlash, this fan petition went viral, securing nearly 2 million signatures.

Harington was said to have been “shocked” by the negative response to the final season. “That [petition] genuinely angered me,” Harington said, because he knew how much effort the show’s writers, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, had put in. “Like, how dare you? Sorry, that’s just how I feel. I think it was a level of idiocy that can only come about through social media.”

During a Game of Thrones fan convention in 2022, Harington hinted that his spinoff would focus on his character's struggle to overcome past traumas following the Season 8 finale. "He's gotta go back up to the place with all this history and live out his life thinking about how he killed Dany, and live out his life thinking about Ygritte dying in his arms, and live out his life thinking about how he hung Olly, and live out his life thinking about all of this trauma, and that, that's interesting," Harington said at the time.

As THR points out, Harington’s story idea for the Jon Snow sequel had echoes of his personal struggles, but it was too depressing even for HBO. According to the report, HBO found the “broken Jon Snow” idea “too much of a bummer” and “pushed it aside.”

Last month, Harington indicated he was done playing Jon Snow for good. "No, god no," Harington told Variety, when asked whether he'd reprise his old role again for an audiobook version. "I don't wanna go anywhere near it. I spent 10 years doing that. Thanks, I'm alright."

With Harington distancing himself from playing Jon Snow again, HBO is now said to be in "very early development" on a Game of Thrones spinoff starring Arya Stark. As part of the same interview, Martin opened up about his "abysmal" working relationship with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal, and revealed his struggle to complete Winds of Winter.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Magic: The Gathering is set to have another big year in 2026, but there's no harm in looking back at the best of 2025 as well right now, especially with the latest discounts available on booster boxes and more.

My favorite deal in Amazon's latest MTG sale is on the Edge of Eternities Booster Box, featuring 30 packs, which has dropped to just $139.99 today. That's just $1 off its best price ever ($139.98), and a brilliant offer to kick off the year with.

HBO's new Harry Potter series will be scored by Hans Zimmer, the award-winning composer behind Interstellar, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Gladiator and countless other blockbusters.

Zimmer will work with Kara Talve and Anže Rozman from Bleeding Fingers Music, an Emmy Award-winning collective of muscians he co-founded, to produce the new Harry Potter TV series score. Their work will first be heard when the show launches via HBO Max in 2027.

Warner Bros.' previous Harry Potter movie series initially featured a soundtrack from the legendary John Williams, though other composers took over for later entries. Still, Williams' themes remained throughout, and became synonymous with the franchise's sound. It'll be interesting to hear how Zimmer takes this legacy on.

Amazon has announced that its MMO, New World, will be officially taken offline from all platforms on January 31, 2027.

The game is now delisted, which means it is no longer available for purchase. You can still play New World until January next year, with the Nighthaven season extended until the servers are taken offline.

“We want to thank the players for your dedication and passion,” a statement on the New World website reads. “We are grateful for the time spent crafting the world of Aeternum with you. Together we built something special. While we are saddened to say goodbye, we’re honored that we were able to share so much with the community.

“It has been our pleasure to work on New World: Aeternum and evolve this unforgettable adventure with you all. We look forward to one more year together, and giving this fantastic adventure a sendoff worthy of a legendary hero. From the bottom of all our hearts, thank you for sharing this world with us.”

Amazon announced plans to put New World into maintenance mode back in October, as part of a round of layoffs affecting an eye-watering 14,000 roles. At the time, Amazon said New World would remain online during 2026.

New World was a rare hit for Amazon in the video game space, and followed multiple flops that resulted in game and studio closures. The MMO set in an alternate 1600s America saw huge player numbers on Steam, with a whopping 913,634 peak concurrents on Valve's platform back in 2021. Player numbers significantly declined following that peak, however.

Bloomberg had reported that Amazon was cutting back especially on MMOs, but would continue to develop Amazon Games Montreal’s March of Giants, its new Tomb Raider game in the works at Crystal Dynamics, and "casual and AI-focused games" for its cloud gaming service Luna. UK studio Maverick Games were said to be continuing to work on its racing game, too. Following the news about New World, there was concern over the status of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings MMO. Amazon has yet to provide an update on it.

But is there hope for New World yet? Alistair McFarlane, COO and company director at Rust developer Facepunch Studios, tweeted to offer Amazon $25 million for New World, adding: “Games should never die.” “If you need tips about buying cancelled games, lmk,” Hypixel Studios founder Simon Collins-Laflamme, who rescued Hytale after years spent in the doldrums at League of Legends maker Riot Games, replied.

25m, final offer @amazongames

— Alistair McFarlane (@Alistair_McF) January 15, 2026

It sounds like McFarlane has thought about this, explaining what should happen to New World rather than closure: “As with everything we do at Facepunch, empower the community. Give them control, make servers publicly hostable. A game will live forever in the hands of a dedicated community.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Amazon has some certifiably fantastic deals on TCGs right now, and that's including an all-time new best price on the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Boxes.

It was a huge deal last year when these were even in stock, let alone at a new best price. At $75, I'd snap this up ASAP, as it's even cheaper than the market price seen at trusted resellers like TCGplayer.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson "got spooked by the online negativity" while considering his future with the franchise, according to outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.

In a Deadline interview published alongside the news of her departure, Kennedy suggested that Johnson was put off continuing early plans with Lucasfilm for him to produce his own Star Wars trilogy, following the intense online backlash to The Last Jedi.

It's a notable admission from Kennedy, especially after numerous interviews with Johnson and others previously blamed the filmmaker's work on hit Netflix murder mystery movie series Knives Out as the main reason why he was now too busy to continue on Star Wars. Kennedy mentions Knives Out too, but then goes further — describing the online response to The Last Jedi as "the rough part."

Magic: The Gathering has a busy 2026 planned, but the last set to be revealed was a crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Yes, it marks our second trip to New York in less than a year, thanks to last year's Spider-Man set (seriously, there are infinite dimensions we could travel to!), but the Heroes in a Half Shell are doing things a little differently.

Not only does it offer our first Universes Beyond Commander Deck since Final Fantasy, but there are some new product types, too. Here's everything you can preorder.

TMNT MTG Preorders in a Half Shell

As you can probably imagine, there are more products coming than you can shake a Bo Staff at launching on March 6, with pre-release a week prior from February 27 to March 5.

The foundation, as expected, is Play Boosters, and Amazon has a box for $148.20 right now - that's a 29% saving.

LEGO's upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time set featuring Link and Zelda's climactic battle with Ganon has leaked online, alongside its pricing and release details.

The Final Battle will be a 1,003-piece design that launches on March 1, according to Brick Tap. The set will be priced at $129.99 / €119.99 / $99.99 — a cost that has raised eyebrows among fans when compared to other, non-licensed LEGO offerings.

At least the design itself is going down well, with fans praising the look of Ganon in his pig-human guise, and the inclusion of three The Legend of Zelda minifigurines: Link, Zelda, and a human form of Ganondorf. You'll also get a set of recovery hearts, Navi, and the Megaton Hammer.

First look at the new LEGO Zelda set releasing in March! pic.twitter.com/i27p8JSjCk

— Brick Tap (@BrickTapNews) January 16, 2026

The set features the flaming rooftops of Hyrule Castle, where Ocarina of Time's dramatic final boss fight takes place in the classic N64 video game. LEGO had teased this location previously in an earlier sneak peek at the set — presumably an official reveal isn't far off.

"It’s INCREDIBLE," wrote Zelda fan TheLegendofCap via reddit. "I’m buying this day one for sure. Happy we’re getting a Ganondorf minifigure." Added Donkeyrocket: "Yeah, the Deku Tree set is pretty cool but I’d be far more eager to have this one as a display piece. Really good size and detail."

LEGO's first foray into The Legend of Zelda came in September 2024, when it launched a Great Deku Tree set. This included versions of the tree from both Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild, as well as two sets of Link and Zelda minifigures.

Earlier this week, LEGO unveiled its initial wave of Pokémon toys to a mostly positive reaction, albeit with some disappointment for its angular Pikachu and Poké Ball design. The range's other sets — Eevee, and a giant combined Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise creation — have been praised, however. And of course, the range is already selling fast and appearing for higher prices on eBay.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

This week, Nintendo finally removed an infamous, adults only-themed island from Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Existing since 2020, the suggestive fan creation was almost as old as the game, and gained much attention from Japanese streamers for its distorted, humorous world view and huge level of detail. Despite years of work being deleted, the island’s creator expressed gratitude to both Nintendo and those who have visited over the years.

Literally named Adults’ Island (otonatachi no shima 大人たちの島), the suggestive location was crafted by a dedicated Animal Crossing player who goes by @churip_ccc on X. As spotted by Automaton, the island’s creator took to Twitter / X to comment on its removal from the game. “Nintendo, I apologize from the bottom of my heart,” they said in a tweet with 3.1 million views so far. “Rather, thank you for turning a blind eye these past five years. To everyone who visited Adults’ Island and all the streamers who featured it, thank you.”

The creator of Adults’ Island first publicized the location’s Dream Address in 2020, and it was quickly picked up and featured by streamers in Japan. Plastered with colorful Japanese signboards, vending machines, arcade cabinets and a lot of attention to detail, the island mimicked an entertainment and red-light district in the evening. While not explicit, the version of the characters that it presents turned Animal Crossings’ cute and wholesome image on its head.

In the future, the human race has been divided into 14 different color castes that determine every individual's role and placement in the hierarchical structure of society. This underlying idea is at the core of Pierce Brown’s epic science fiction series, Red Rising, and tells the story of one man, Darrow of Lykos, and his mission to tear it all down.

First released in 2014, the first title, Red Rising, introduces us to the series' protagonist, Darrow, a Red Helldiver of Mars and the lowest of the citizens. Events out of Darrow’s control put him on a path that will see him go from the bottom of society to the top, becoming a symbol and legend that strikes fear into his enemies and inspires hope in his allies. Unlike many other science fiction series, Red Rising isn’t a tale of a utopian society that has spread out amongst the stars. Instead, it is a world of war, betrayal, and uneasy alliances, where some of the worst societal practices have flourished and evolved. Yet it is still a universe where hope still finds a way to survive, and joy and love can still be found, even in the darkest and most profound places.

Compared to other series, like Brandon Sanderson’s Cosmere or George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, reading through the Red Rising series is a straightforward affair. The series is divided into two arcs, with the first three novels - Red Rising, Golden Son, and Morning Star- being referred to as the “Red Rising Trilogy”. The second half, which takes place 10 years later, being the “Iron Gold Quadrilogy” and consisting of the remaining novels. Despite being a science fiction series, this series deals with mature themes and graphic violence, and isn’t advised for younger readers.

How Many Books are There in the Red Rising Saga?

Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series will comprise seven books in total, but currently, all but the final book have been released. The first three titles, composing the Red Rising Trilogy, are told strictly through the viewpoint of the character, Darrow. In contrast, the rest of the books, the Iron Gold Quadrilogy, are told through multiple characters' viewpoints.

Red Rising Trilogy Reading Order

Red Rising

Iron Gold Quadrilogy Reading Order

Iron Gold

The Colors of the Society, Explained

In the world of Red Rising, humanity is divided into distinct castes, each associated with a specific color, with individuals born with both a sigil and eye color that correspond to their class. Ruled over by golds, this “Society” has been in charge for over 700 years by the start of the first book. Here is a breakdown of all 14 colors and their respective roles within the Society.

The High Colors

• Golds
  • Rules over all other colors.
• Silvers
  • Composed of business owners
• Whites
  • Members of the clergy and judges
• Coppers
  • The lawyers, administrators, and bureaucrats of the Society

The Mid Colors

• Blues
  • Pilots and the bridge crew of ships
• Yellows
  • Doctors and scientists
• Greens
  • Programmers and techs
• Violets
  • Artisans and creatives
• Oranges
  • Mechanics and engineers
• Grays
  • Infantry, police, and security

Low Colors

• Brown
  • Janitors, cooks, and groundskeepers
• Obsidians
  • Large soldiers bred for war
• Pinks
  • Pleasure workers and slaves
• Reds
  • Miners and laborers

Warning: This review contains full spoilers for The Pitt Season 2, Episode 2!

“Was The Pitt always this funny?”

That’s a question I found myself mulling over a lot while watching Season 2, Episode 2. Season 1 certainly had its moments of levity, but there definitely seems to be more of a concerted effort to inject some humor into the mix this time around. Not that this is a bad thing by any stretch. We’ve seen how dire things can get at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, and no doubt the situation will take a turn for the worse soon enough. We might as well have some fun before then.

There’s a lot to be entertained by in Episode 2, whether it’s rookie nurse Emma Nolan (Laëtitia Hollard) undergoing her first day trial by fire or our heroic doctors responding to the dreaded penile injection gone awry. Then you have Javadi’s (Shabana Azeez) personal and professional struggles and Mel’s (Taylor Dearden) sorry situation, where a seemingly innocuous and very flirtatious patient turns out to be a real POS.

Rather than immediately hit the ground running with a barrage of depressing medical cases, the goal is clearly to explore the more surreal side of life in emergency medicine. And why not? Hell, it’s the 4th of July, so it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing the obligatory, gnarly fireworks accidents start rolling through. If anything, it seems like the show is attempting to lull us into a false sense of security before the other shoe drops.

This also raises the question of which of these bizarre cases is going to take a turn for the tragic first. I certainly have my concerns about Louie (Ernest Harden Jr.), as he seems like a guy who might have finally pushed his luck too far. And there’s the cloud surrounding the mysteriously injury-prone girl. As relatively lighthearted as the show feels at present, it sure hasn’t forgotten that life in the ER is one plagued by human misery.

It’s also nice to see the new interns start to develop more coherent personalities. Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson) is rapidly becoming the character everyone loves to hate with his insufferable know-it-all routine. I can only imagine that he’ll get blasted with a cold, hard dose of reality before long. In the meantime, his abrasiveness helps take the pressure off of Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), who still isn’t doing much to endear herself to Robby (Noah Wyle). Of course she’s a big proponent of generative AI in the ER…

My main complaint with the direction of the season at this early stage is that we don’t get enough focus on Dr. Langdon (Frank Ball) as he tries to readjust to life in The Pitt. It really feels like he, not Robby, should be the focal point of Season 2 in light of everything he’s been through and his isolation from the rest of the group. Ball makes the most of what he’s given, though, with the quiet scene between him and Dearden’s Mel post-head injury easily being the highlight of the episode.

Now is the time to retire that pedal-powered bike of yours and upgrade to electric. The price of electric assisted bikes has plummeted over the past year. Nowadays you can find a decent bike for well under $500. To kickstart the new year, AliExpress is offering the 5th Wheel AB17 500W 375Wh Electric Bike for a rock bottom price of $231.02 after you apply $30 off coupon code "30USAFF". This bike ships locally from a warehouse in the United States, with most orders being delivered within a week. That means you don't have to worry about tariffs, import fees, or egregiously long shipping times.

5th Wheel AB17 500W 375Wh Electric Bike for $231

Switch 2 owners, if there's one upgrade you'll absolutely need, it's additional storage. The Switch 2 only has 256GB of onboard storage, and chances are you'll run out of space down the road. Fortunately, Amazon just lowered the price of the 256GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express card, which will double your available storage, to just $34.99. This matches the best deal that I saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You don't have to worry about performance, either. We recently reviewed this exact card and strongly recommend it.

256GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express Memory Card

Nintendo Switch 2 compatible

Buydig - via its official eBay store - just dropped the price of the 65" LG Evo C5 4K OLED TV to $1,197.59 with free delivery after applying a 20% off coupon code "FAVEFINDS20". This price is actually lower than last year's Black Friday deal at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart and so I expect this deal to expire quickly. LG is the best selling OLED TV brand globally and the C-series is the most popular model. Buydig is an authorized LG reseller with over 600,000 positive feedback.

65" LG Evo C5 4K OLED TV for $1,197.59

Spoilers follow for the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series premiere, “Kids These Days,” and Episode 2, “Beta Test,” both of which are available on Paramount Plus now.

It’s crazy to think that, with Starfleet Academy, we are now on our sixth modern Star Trek television series in less than 10 years. This new age of Alex Kurtzman-led Trek started in 2017 with Star Trek: Discovery, and while there have of course been highs and lows during that period, the one thing we can all hopefully agree on is that Kurtzman has tried to do different things with each show. From the “rebel with a cause” antics of Michael Burnham to the aged Admiral Picard flying around with a band of space pirates to the self-referential animation of the Lower Decks gang, these series have approached Gene Roddenberry’s world from new and varied angles.

And that trend continues with Starfleet Academy, which based on the first two episodes, both of which were directed by Kurtzman, not only gives us exactly what the title promises – a story about a school for prospective Starfleeters – but also what feels like a fresh and fun take on Star Trek itself.

Holly Hunter leads a wide and varied cast as Chancellor Nahla Ake, a once and future Starfleet captain who has been tasked with rebooting the Academy after a century of darkness for the United Federation of Planets in the aftermath of that galactic catastrophe known as The Burn. (Long story.) Reluctant to return to the Command Red uniform, it’s the chance to redeem herself – and the Starfleet of her past – for a misguided decision from years earlier that finally brings her back into the fold. That incident saw her sentencing a woman named Anisha Mir (a guest-starring Tatiana Maslany) to a “rehabilitation camp” as punishment for crimes committed, but with the consequence of the woman being separated from her child, Caleb.

So right off the bat you’ve got Star Trek touching on real-world issues, but the script by series creator Gaia Violo doesn’t actually have all that much to say about this topic beyond “family separation = bad.” Regardless, this is the plot tissue that will no doubt be driving the Ake character throughout the season, as well as the now Academy-age Caleb (Sandro Rosta), who Ake is reunited with in the “present” time – and thus given the chance to redeem the mistake she made all those years earlier.

The first 20 minutes of the hour-and-15-minute pilot are overly concerned with this business, plus some loud, CGI-y action scenes that aren’t terribly interesting. Modern Star Trek often goes big with the visuals and has the money to do so, which can be great under the right circumstances, but if the characters and story aren’t there, it’s in service of nothing. So it’s a great relief when Caleb arrives at Starfleet Academy – or rather, the USS Athena, which is a starship and also part of the Academy facilities – and meets his fellow cadets. For once he gets a shave and a haircut (and perhaps most importantly, one of those spiffy Starfleet-issue uniforms), the character and actor seem to lighten up, as does the show.

The core group of cadets, i.e. our main cast, includes Karim Diané’s Jay-Den Kraag, a young Klingon who – gasp – wants to be a doctor, Kerrice Brooks’ Sam, a hologram who doesn’t quite know how to fit in with organic beings, Bella Shepard’s Genesis Lythe, the daughter of an admiral who seemingly has it all figured out, and George Hawkins’ Darem Reymi, a member of a shape-shifting(-ish) species who’s kind of a dick… except totally isn’t, as it turns out by episode’s end.

There’s a moment early in the episode, when this group all run into each other in a corridor, that made me start to fall for the lot of them. Darem tries to pick a fight with Jay-Den over a pair of space-binoculars the Klingon has dropped, and Caleb gets in the middle of the altercation. It’s fairly standard “first day of school” stuff, but after the situation is resolved and everyone else leaves, Jay-Den tells Caleb, in a very un-Klingon moment, that his mother gave him the binoculars. “She taught me to see the… beauty in things,” he says. You can see him struggling to even say the words, while simultaneously reaching out to this stranger who showed him compassion. And immediately the potential for one of those great, classic Star Trek friendships is born.

And by the way, the resolution to that almost-fight? It comes from Robert Picardo’s The Doctor, who is back from Star Trek: Voyager even though this show is set about 800 years after that beloved 1990s series. (The Doctor’s a hologram, after all.) We don’t get too much yet on what he’s been up to in the intervening eight centuries, but Picardo is fun as ever in his dual job of ship’s medical officer and Academy instructor/babystitter.

Indeed, the cast is chock-full of what appear will be recurring and supporting players, like Gina Yashere’s Lura Thok, the half-Klingon/half-Jem’Hadar/all-hilarious first officer of the Athena, various cadets who are already familiar by the end of Episode 2, and Discovery holdovers like Tig Notaro’s Jett Reno and Oded Fehr’s Admiral Vance. It’s giving off vibes of Deep Space Nine’s deep bench of players beyond the main cast, so here’s hoping the show’s writers can pull off that juggling act, particularly in the shorter seasons of the modern era (Starfleet Academy Season 1 has 10 episodes).

And then there’s Paul Giamatti’s Nus Braka, the villain of the first episode whose past is tied to that of Chancellor Ake and Caleb. The actor plays the half-Klingon/half-Tellarite for hoots, and he is a funny and disruptive presence, but I wonder how many episodes he’ll actually get this season. He’s been billed as a recurring character, but I could see too much of Nus becoming a bad thing. Plus, space pirates have never felt big enough to be long-term Star Trek baddies.

As for Hunter, she doesn’t seem terribly comfortable in the role in these first two episodes. Obviously they’re trying for something different here, with the no-shoes, curl up with a good book in the captain’s chair vibe, and I’m here for it. But some of her line readings are a bit rough, and you know what Harrison Ford used to say to George Lucas, master of that other spacefaring epic – “You can type this shit, but you sure can't say it.” Hopefully Hunter, who after all is an Oscar-winning actress, is still just getting used to the role and the whole outer space scene.

If you're in need of at-home printing but you don't want to deal with the upfront cost of buying a printer or the hassle of purchasing ink cartridges when they run out, then HP is offering a plan that might be perfect for you.

HP's All-in-One Plan is a convenient service that leases you a printer for a low monthly fee. Along with the printer, you get an unlimited supply of ink, continuous warranty coverage, and a monthy allotment of prints. There are several plans to choose from, with each offering a different printer and print allotment depending on your needs.

Bowflex isn't the only option when it comes to adjustable dumbbell sets. PowerBlock is another trusted brand at a much lower price point. For a limited time, Woot is offering a pair of PowerBlock EXP Stage 1 Adjustable Dumbbells (5-50lbs) for just $239.99, or 50% cheaper than the Bowflex SelectTech 552. There's a $5 shipping fee, which is reasonable when you consider the fact that the package is going to weigh over 100 pounds. Amazon Prime members get free shipping.

For those who need more than 50 pounds of weight per dumbbell, Woot is also selling PowerBlock expansion kits (50-70 pounds and 70-90 pounds) for just $119.99 each. The Bowflex SelectTech 552, on the other hand, is not expandable and you would have to pay $800 for the upgraded 1090 model.

PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells Are on Sale

Kathleen Kennedy may officially be stepping down as President of Lucasfilm, but has given one parting gift to Star Wars fans eager to see the cancelled The Hunt for Ben Solo movie: Hope.

When asked in an interview with Deadline about the progress on films currently in development in the Star Wars universe, Kennedy confirms that the script for the standalone Ben Solo film was very promising, despite it seemingly no longer being in active production.

“And as you have read, Steve Soderbergh and Adam Driver turned in a script written by Scott Burns”, says Kennedy. “It was just great. Anything’s a possibility if somebody’s willing to take a risk”.

That risk may well now be in the hands of the incoming leadership at Lucasfilm. Replacing Kennedy will be Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan. Filoni will be the creative lead as Lucasfilm’s President and Chief Creative Officer, while Brennan will be Co-President of Lucasfilm. Both have long histories with Star Wars, so it will be exciting to see how they see the future for the almost 50-year-old series.

The revelation that a Ben Solo movie starring Adam Driver was once in production first took place in October 2025, when the Kylo Ren actor stated that the project had been in the works for over two years. Ocean’s Eleven and Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh, who would be helming the film, then stated that he had handed in a version of the plot to Kathleen Kennedy, but was then told that it was the only completed script to date that Disney has turned down for a Lucasfilm project.

Ever since the movie’s death has come to light, superfans of the Star Wars sequels have come out in full force, desperate to see the story of Han and Leia’s son come to life, even going as far as to fly “Save The Hunt for Ben Solo” banners over Walt Disney Studios in California.

Soderbergh’s movie is not the only script to have been submitted to Lucasfilm of late, though, with Kennedy going on to confirm that many other Star Wars projects are on hold. “I’ve got to tread a bit carefully here”, the former Lucasfilm President prefaces. “Jim Mangold and Beau Willimon wrote an incredible script, but it is definitely breaking the mold and it’s on hold. Taika has turned in a script that I think is hilarious and great. It’s not just my decision, especially when I’ve got a foot out the door. Donald Glover has turned in a script.”

“Everything I just reeled off to you is taking a bit of a chance because none of those filmmakers are just walking in trying to do same old, same old”, she continues. “I’m excited by that, but the studio’s nervous about that, and that’s kind of where it sits at the moment.”

The waiting game looks set to continue as Lucasfilm, and in turn, Star Wars, enters a new era. Which dormant Star Wars project would you want to watch the most? Let us know in the comments!

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

The Rip debuts on Netflix on January 16.

Netflix’s The Rip is a deceptively good film, but its compelling premise about cartel stash houses and corrupt law enforcement is nearly undone by an impractical script. And in terms of action, the mostly by-the-numbers approach to gunfights doesn't win it any favors. That said, solid performances from the cast, especially that of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and a last-minute twist save The Rip from mediocrity.

The Rip starts well enough. Hours after the violent death of their captain, Lieutenant Dane Dumars (Matt Damon) and Detective Sergeant JD Byrne (Ben Affleck) are grilled regarding their potential involvement in the incident. Questions about their whereabouts during the crime, personal relationship with the deceased, and notions of stolen drug money are met with aggressive body language and hesitant responses. Subtle shifts in lighting color the interrogations, where a darker room hints at someone being dishonest. Essentially, director Joe Carnahan (Narc, Smokin' Aces, The Grey) does a great job of sowing seeds of doubt early on.

The Rip’s uneasy vibe slowly develops over time. As new information is revealed, it becomes increasingly difficult to pin down who might’ve done what and why. The tension truly ramps up, however, after an “anonymous” tip comes in about a stash house holding a sizable amount of cash. When Dane and his fellow detectives head over to investigate, they end up finding more than they bargained for. The result: a nerve-wracking yet entertaining stand-off between the cops, a drug cartel, and everyone in between.

What makes The Rip work as an action thriller, at least initially, is the interactions between these morally ambiguous characters. The idea that longtime friends/co-workers could be swayed to murder one another over large sums of money is compelling. And that’s before witnessing any secret text messages or ominous phone calls threatening violence. Unfortunately, the film’s uneven script often betrays the tension-filled premise. While there are a few good verbal exchanges, some of the dialogue fails to convey the seriousness of the situation. When a person is confronted over their questionable actions and their response is basically a shrug, it makes it seem like they don't care about the potential consequences. Worst of all are the film's transparent attempts at misdirection which only wind up leading to an outcome we've been expecting all along. Of course this guy who seems absurdly guilty isn't the real villain.

That’s not to say that The Rip’s ending is predictable. Key moments still play out in interesting ways, despite how inevitable they may feel. The issue is in how unrealistic some of its characters can be. When a seemingly pragmatic person says something unreasonable, damning even, it’s hard not to see their incriminating banter as anything other than a red herring. This sort of thing sucks all of the tension out of the film as the real culprits become readily apparent; at that point, all of the suspense that has been built up completely vanishes. And so The Rip begins to lose some of its spark. This feeling doesn't change when the bullets start flying either; even if the shootouts were exciting, they don’t last long enough to be impactful.

Thankfully, The Rip is saved by its talented cast and exciting final moments. Steven Yeun is convincing as the apprehensive and seemingly straight-laced Detective Mike Ro. The same can be said of Catalina Moreno and Teyana Taylor, who play Detectives Lolo Salazar and Numa Baptiste respectively. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are the standouts though. Damon’s calm yet commanding demeanor reflects Lieutenant Dumars’ desire to safeguard his team while Affleck’s Byrne is more aggressive by nature. Eager to figure out what side of the law everyone stands on, he’s less likely to mince words – as evidenced by Affleck’s sharp line delivery.

Damon and Affleck are great whenever they're on screen. But they excel when playing opposite one another. Their clashing personalities keep things interesting whether they’re fighting or sharing a heartfelt moment. This is true even to the point of making The Rip’s last-minute twist, which does a good job of addressing the film’s ongoing mystery, feel exhilarating. Being so thoroughly invested in Dumars and Byrne’s plight, I was on the edge of my seat by the time the smoke actually cleared.

After months of rumors, Kathleen Kennedy is officially stepping down as the President of Lucasfilm after 14 years and will be replaced by Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, Walt Disney Studios announced Thursday. Filoni will be the creative lead as Lucasfilm’s President and Chief Creative Officer, Lucasfilm, while Brennan will be Co-President, Lucasfilm. Both execs are longtime Lucasfilm veterans. Lucasfilm’s new leadership split seems reminiscent of how DC Studios is co-led by James Gunn overseeing creative decisions and Peter Safran in charge of the studio’s business side.

“When George Lucas asked me to take over Lucasfilm upon his retirement, I couldn’t have imagined what lay ahead,” said Kennedy in a statement. “It has been a true privilege to spend more than a decade working alongside the extraordinary talent at Lucasfilm. Their creativity and dedication have been an inspiration, and I’m deeply proud of what we’ve accomplished together. I’m excited to continue developing films and television with both longtime collaborators and fresh voices who represent the future of storytelling.”

With so many exciting sporting events happening year-round, it can be tough to know where to stream each one. Thankfully, Fubo should have all your bases covered, no pun intended. Fubo is a live TV streaming service that features over 200 live channels, including 35 regional sports channels and ESPN Unlimited—more than any other streaming service. So, you can bet that Fubo will probably have the game you're looking for.

Not ready to dive in just yet? No problem! Like many other streaming services, Fubo offers a free trial so you can test it out. Check out our full rundown below, including how to activate the free trial, what channels are included in the service, where to watch Fubo, and more.

Does Fubo Have a Free Trial?

The ripple effects from the RAM shortage have already been resonating throughout the PC industry, but the situation just got even worse for PC gamers. The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti has apparently reached end-of-life status, only one year after its release. Nvidia wants to scale back on its lower priced video cards that are equipped with a large amount of VRAM (the 5070 Ti has 16GB). There's pretty much zero chance you'll find a standalone RTX 5070 Ti GPU at even close to MSRP now, but fortunately there's still time to find a reasonable price on a prebuilt gaming PC equipped with one.

At least for the time being, Best Buy is still offering the Acer Nitro 60 gaming PC, which comes equipped with a GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, for $1,799.99 with free delivery after a $500 instant discount. This is currently the best price I've seen for an RTX 5070 Ti prebuilt that also includes a capable CPU and a generous amount of DDR5 RAM and SSD storage.

Acer Nitro 60 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC for $1,800