Bill Skarsgård is taking on a new challenge as he ventures into the world of video games.

The actor has landed a leading role in an upcoming action-espionage title from Japanese video game designer Hideo Kojima.

The news was confirmed during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast, but the actor has yet to share it publicly himself.

Skarsgård’s likeness and performance will feature prominently in a new game from Kojima Productions, as announced during the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast.

Titled “Physint,” the game will also feature stars Charlee Fraser, Don Lee and Minami Hamabe, while filmmaker Jordan Peele is also involved in the project.

“‘Physint’ is the third original IP from Kojima Productions and has been described by Hideo Kojima as the culmination of his 40-year career as a video game creator,” read a statement about the project.

“With the full support of Xbox, ‘Physint’ will use cutting-edge technology and a stellar cast to create a game experience like no other, with the aim of setting a new benchmark for the action-espionage genre.”

Hideo Kojima Reveals Why He Chose Bill Skarsgård

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Skarsgård’s upcoming role in Kojima’s Physint appears to be his first major video game role.

Despite the actor’s limited experience in the medium, Kojima was eager to collaborate with him, having long admired his work.

“We are both long-time fans of each other’s work, and we’ve decided to embark on this new adventure together,” the video game designer said in the announcement.

“The costume fittings, scans, and camera tests we conducted with Bill and Charlee earlier this year gave me tremendous confidence in the direction of the project,” he added.

Fans Cheer Bill Skarsgård’s ‘Physint’ Casting

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Online, fans welcomed the news that Skarsgård had been picked to play the project’s lead role.

“Wow, Bill Skarsgard wasn’t in my mind, i thought it was Robert Pattinson who’s going to play the main character role. But goddd, i have so much hype for this project,” one fan wrote.

“He’s just a really good actor one of my personal favs after his performance as Pennywise so I’m happy he’s in Physint I cant wait,” another individual said of Skarsgård.

“Very excited, great casting choices. I’m sure they’ll put on some brilliant performances. Congratulations XBOX! a solid W after so long,” another wrote.

Bill Skarsgård’s Career Keeps Growing Beyond ‘IT’

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Skarsgård has built a diverse career across horror, action and drama, but his performance as the terrifying Pennywise in “IT” helped establish him as one of the horror genre’s most recognizable actors.

Among his most recent projects are Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire” and “The Death of Robin Hood,” the latter alongside Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer. Both films received critical acclaim, adding to his growing filmography.

Looking ahead, the actor will star in Peter Berg’s upcoming “The Mosquito Bowl” and Andrew Niccol’s “Lords of War.”

Skarsgård Sets His Sights On Another Pennywise Return

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Following the success of the “IT” movies, Skarsgård returned to his iconic clown role in the spinoff series “IT: Welcome to Derry.”

The first season explored Pennywise’s origins and ended with the possibility of the malevolent entity returning after its usual 27-year cycle.

With a second season recently greenlit, Skarsgård is set to reprise his role in the HBO production. However, other returning cast members have yet to be announced, leaving it unclear how many of his first-season co-stars will join him.

Pierce Brosnan made a rare public appearance with his family earlier this week.

The famed James Bond star was spotted alongside his wife, Keely Shaye Smith, and their sons, Dylan and Paris Brosnan, at the 2026 Indiewood Film Festival at TCL Chinese Theatre.

The family stepped out to support “Seniors,” which marks Paris’ feature film acting debut.

The tight-knit group walked the red carpet together, joined by the sons’ partners, Alex Lee-Aillon and Avery Wheless. Their presence made the premiere a full-fledged family celebration in support of Paris’ appearance in “Seniors.”

Pierce looked as suave as ever in a tailored blue suit, exuding effortless charm alongside Keely, who wore a pink lace mini dress with a white blazer.

Meanwhile, Paris took center stage as the star of the night in a classic black suit, while Dylan rounded out the group in a dashing tan suit.

The outing marked a rare public reunion for the family, who last appeared together at the GQ Men of the Year party in 2022.

Paris Brosnan Reflects On His ‘Seniors’ Film Debut

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On Thursday, September 17, Paris marked the premiere by sharing event photos on Instagram, along with a heartfelt note about his time filming “Seniors.”

“Last summer I got to spend a few weeks in Indiana making ‘Seniors’ alongside the students at Huntington University and the incredible John Rhys-Davies,” he wrote, adding that the project shows “how much we can learn from different generations.”

The actor also noted that the project’s themes hit close to home. He then thanked the entire cast, crew, supporters, and Huntington University community for helping make the film a reality.

Pierce Brosnan And Keely Celebrate 25 Years Of Marriage

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For Brosnan, the red carpet outing also marked another chapter in his enduring love story with Keely.

They met at a beach party in Mexico in April 1994, while Keely was working as an entertainment journalist. After several years of dating, they married in August 2001 at Ballintubber Abbey in Ireland.

The couple frequently celebrates each other on social media and in interviews, sharing heartfelt tributes to their decades-long partnership. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in August 2026.

Inside Pierce Brosnan’s Blended Family

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Pierce is the father of five children from his two marriages: three with his late first wife, Cassandra Harris, and two sons with Keely.

His journey into fatherhood began when he married Cassandra. He formally adopted her two children, Charlotte and Christopher, and the couple welcomed a son, Sean, in 1983.

After Cassandra died of ovarian cancer in 1991, Pierce raised their young family as a single dad. Charlotte tragically died of the same disease in 2013, at age 41.

The family expanded after Pierce met Keely, with sons Dylan and Paris born in 1997 and 2001, respectively. Through his children, Pierce is also a proud grandfather of four: Isabella and Lucas Smith, Marley May, and Jaxxon Brosnan.

Pierce Brosnan’s Children Forge Their Own Career Paths

Brosnan’s four surviving children have pursued careers spanning film, modeling, music, and mental health.

Dylan is a filmmaker, musician, and model. He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and has composed music for short films. He has also modeled for major luxury fashion brands, including Saint Laurent and Burberry.

Paris is also a model and actor. Before his feature film acting debut in the indie movie “Seniors,” he walked the runway for high-end designers such as Dolce & Gabbana and Balmain.

Sean transitioned into the mental health field after spending years acting and directing. He currently runs his own mental health and wellness practice.

Meanwhile, Christopher has largely retreated from public life in recent years. He previously worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, including as an assistant director or crew member on several of his father’s major films, such as “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “The World Is Not Enough.”

Hollywood has spent more than two decades trying to turn Resident Evil into a successful live-action franchise, and mostly failing. Paul W.S. Anderson’s movies built an increasingly explosive mythology of their own, while Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City crammed the first two games into one movie. Both approaches borrowed plenty from Capcom, but neither captured the specific panic of wasting your ammunition, opening the wrong door, and realizing the game has something much worse planned for you.

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil solves that problem without adapting an existing storyline or recruiting Leon Kennedy, Jill Valentine, or Chris Redfield. It recreates the experience of playing the games through limited supplies, locked doors, escalating objectives, revolting creatures, and one increasingly furious man who cannot believe any of this is happening to him. The result is an adaptation built around what players do instead of which characters they recognize, which is exactly what the franchise needed.

Bryan Is the Perfect ‘Resident Evil’ Player Character

Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier whose final delivery of the night takes him toward Raccoon City at the worst possible time. He is not a cop, soldier, or government agent who has spent years surviving bioweapon outbreaks. He is just some guy who was already having a terrible night before the monsters arrived. That makes Bryan much closer to the person holding the controller than the franchise’s established heroes. Leon and Jill have survived enough mutated nightmares that audiences expect them to know what to do. Bryan wastes ammunition, misses important details, makes terrible decisions, and keeps entering places that no sensible person should enter because the story has given him another objective.

His near-constant cussing may be the movie’s most accurate connection to the games. Bryan mutters while searching unfamiliar spaces, begs enemies to stay dead, and becomes personally offended every time the night gets worse. Anyone who has ever sworn at a locked door or demanded to know why a game gave them a shotgun without shotgun shells will recognize him immediately. But Abrams never plays that frustration like Bryan knows he is inside a video game. He is simply reacting to an absurd situation with the same panic, anger, and disbelief that players usually provide from the other side of the screen.

‘Resident Evil’ Turns Each Set Piece Into a New Level

Image via Columbia Pictures

Cregger has described Bryan as an avatar and discussed designing the movie around the games’ power progression. That meant each new location needed to challenge Bryan in a completely different way while still pushing him toward his final destination. In an interview with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff at Fantastic Fest, Cregger admitted that translating that structure into a movie created a new production problem with practically every sequence:

“This whole movie was just like… I didn’t even think about it when I’m writing it, but then when we get there, I’m just like, ‘Okay, it’s just one set piece after set piece after set piece,’ and each one is a completely new, very complicated riddle that has to be solved. I would love to do a movie of just two people in a diner, just talking. That just sounds so refreshing.”

Those complicated riddles become the movie’s version of individual levels. Bryan receives an objective, enters a new environment, finds supplies, encounters something horrible, and escapes into an even worse part of the map. Each location introduces its own rules and obstacles, giving the movie the same forward momentum as a playthrough that refuses to offer a comfortable stopping point. Bryan’s growing arsenal reinforces that progression. He moves from a pistol to a shotgun and eventually a machine gun, but better weapons never turn him into an unstoppable action hero. He becomes marginally better at surviving while the monsters become much larger, faster, and more disgusting, until he himself becomes one.

That balance is essential to Resident Evil. Finding a shotgun should provide approximately five seconds of relief before the player starts wondering why the game decided they needed one. Cregger lets Bryan become stronger without allowing him, or the audience, to become comfortable. The familiar references also support the structure instead of becoming a parade of Easter eggs. Typewriters, herbs, padlocks, healing supplies, and recognizable creatures appear throughout the movie because they belong to the franchise’s visual and mechanical language. Even viewers who have never touched the games understand what it means when Bryan finds a weapon, enters a new area, or discovers another door he cannot open yet.

A Faithful Adaptation Does Not Need Leon Kennedy

Image via CAPCOM

I would happily watch Leon Kennedy stumble through Raccoon City again, but recognition is not the same thing as understanding. The Anderson movies pulled characters and monsters from the games into their own mythology, while Welcome to Raccoon City recreated famous locations and story beats. Cregger leaves those heroes alone and tells an original story on the edges of the outbreak, yet his movie understands what players actually do inside that world. A direct adaptation can rebuild the Spencer Mansion or Raccoon City Police Department, but a movie cannot give viewers the agency that makes exploring them terrifying. They cannot decide whether to use a healing item, conserve their last two bullets, or open the extremely suspicious door at the end of the hall. Cregger replaces that agency with Bryan’s frustration, desperation, and increasingly questionable choices.

Bryan is not replacing Leon, Jill, or Chris, nor does he need to. He represents the poor bastard controlling them, except he has been dropped into their world without their training or seemingly endless tolerance for getting bitten. Watching him struggle is more recognizable to players than watching another highly trained hero confidently mow down monsters. After years of movies adapting Resident Evil’s stories, Cregger adapts its verbs: search, conserve, unlock, run, shoot, swear, and somehow survive long enough to reach the next objective until you can’t anymore. Bryan’s miserable journey captures what lore and Easter eggs cannot. Faithfulness is not only about what players see in Resident Evil: it is also about everything the games put them through.

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Release Date

September 18, 2026

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Runtime

90 Minutes

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Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Miri Yoon, Robert Kulzer, Roy Lee, Zach Cregger, David Minkowski

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There are some movies where you can feel the tension building with every second, and then there are movies where you spend most of your time wondering why the characters haven’t simply turned around and gone home. Fall 2: Deadpoint definitely knows how to make you uncomfortable with heights, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite reach the dizzying heights of its predecessor.

Following the events of the first Fall, this sequel introduces us to Jax, played by Harriet Slater, who is dealing with the death of her sister, Shiloh. She meets Shiloh’s adventurous friend Luce, played by Arsema Thomas, and the two decide to take on an incredibly dangerous climbing adventure in Thailand. Their destination is Mount Kwan, where they attempt to navigate a terrifying plank trail thousands of feet above the ground.

Naturally, things don’t exactly go according to plan.

A rockslide leaves Jax and Luce stranded high above the ground, and from there, the movie becomes another battle against the elements, gravity and, apparently, common sense.

And this is where my biggest problem with Fall 2: Deadpoint comes in.

We’ve already seen this movie.

Well… not literally this movie, but we have seen the basic concept. Two people get themselves into an incredibly dangerous situation at a ridiculous height, they become trapped, and then we watch them desperately try to survive. The original Fall took a very simple concept and managed to squeeze an impressive amount of tension out of it. The sequel changes the location, changes the characters and adds some twists, but it still feels like we’re watching the same movie trying to climb a different mountain.

The biggest problem is that the danger doesn’t always feel as fresh or as frightening as it should. There are certainly some moments where the heights will make your stomach drop, and the cinematography does a good job of reminding you just how high these characters are. Looking down from those planks is enough to make anyone’s palms sweaty.

But once you’ve established that falling equals death, there are only so many times you can show someone almost falling before the effect starts to wear off.

And unfortunately, that’s where the movie starts to lose its grip.

Harriet Slater does a decent job as Jax, particularly when the story focuses on her grief and the emotional connection to her sister. Arsema Thomas also brings some energy to Luce, and the two leads do what they can with the material they’re given.

The problem is that the characters sometimes make decisions that had me sitting there thinking, “Why would you do that?!”

When you’re watching a survival thriller, you want to be shouting at the screen because you’re scared for the characters. Here, I was occasionally shouting because I couldn’t understand their decision-making.

The movie also tries to compensate for its fairly predictable survival formula by throwing in some twists. Unfortunately, some of these twists feel more ridiculous than shocking. Instead of making me gasp, they occasionally made me raise an eyebrow.

And then there is the ending.

Without getting into spoilers, let’s just say the movie clearly wants to leave the door open for another instalment. Considering how this sequel already struggles to escape the shadow of the first movie, I’m not sure another climb is necessarily what this franchise needs.

The original Fall worked because of its simplicity. Two people. One tower. Nowhere to go. A terrifying situation.

Fall 2: Deadpoint tries to build on that formula, but in doing so, it makes the story more complicated without necessarily making it more interesting. Some of the twists feel unnecessary, while the emotional story doesn’t receive quite enough attention.

That doesn’t mean the movie is completely without merit.

There are still some genuinely impressive visuals, and if you suffer from a fear of heights, there are moments where you will definitely feel uncomfortable. The setting gives the filmmakers plenty of opportunities to create some spectacular-looking sequences, and there are times when the movie succeeds in making you feel just how isolated these characters are.

Unfortunately, for me, those moments weren’t enough to carry the entire film.

Fall 2: Deadpoint isn’t a complete disaster, but it feels like a sequel that was made because the first movie was successful rather than because there was a truly compelling story left to tell. It takes the basic formula and stretches it further, but bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better.

I wanted more tension, more believable character decisions and a stronger emotional connection. Instead, I got plenty of climbing, plenty of screaming and plenty of moments where I was wondering how these people managed to get themselves into this situation in the first place.

⭐ My Rating: 2/5

Fall 2: Deadpoint had me looking down, but unfortunately, it wasn’t because I was impressed by the view. The movie has some decent thrills and uncomfortable height sequences, but it spends too much time trying to recreate the magic of the original instead of finding its own footing.

In the end, this sequel falls short of the original and leaves the franchise dangling somewhere between suspense and silliness.

Hopefully, if there’s another Fall movie, the filmmakers can finally give the audience something to climb on board with.

After a summer off, the start of the next network TV season is officially around the corner. Starting this week and going into next month, all of the hit network shows that took the last month will be getting ready to return. For the Fall lineup, procedurals, reality competition shows, and sitcoms alike will be starting their latest seasons, or premiering for the first time. Other hit shows won’t be returning yet, but they will be airing their new seasons as part of the Spring lineup for their respective networks.

It’s always tough to say goodbye to a beloved network TV show for the summer, especially for fans of intense procedural dramas that left off on game-changing cliffhangers. This new season of network TV will introduce new characters, pick back up with ongoing storylines, and shake things up with new storylines. These are 6 upcoming network TV shows, new and returning, that we are looking forward to – ranked by our hype.

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‘9-1-1: Nashville’ Season 2

Premiere Date: October 15

Image via ABC

9-1-1‘s second spin-off, 9-1-1 Nashville, premiered with its first season on ABC last fall. The series follows the firefighters and paramedics of Station 113 in Nashville, as well as the complex dynamic that Captain Don Hart (Chris O’Donnell) has with his family and his ex, Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes). Don has been married to his wife, Blythe (Jessica Capshaw), for a very long time, and they have a son named Ryan (Michael Provost) who also works at the firehouse. The series kicks off when Don meets Blue (Hunter McVey), his son with Dixie, for the first time.

Season 1 of 9-1-1: Nashville focused on extending the universe of 9-1-1 once again, this time to include Nashville and to introduce these new characters. The core group working at the 113 is made up of Don, Ryan, Blue, and firefighters Roxie Alba (Juani Feliz) and Taylor Thompson (Hailey Kilgore). Blythe’s sister-in-law, Cammie Raleigh (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), works as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. While each episode follows the weekly procedural model of the first responders taking calls and helping people, 9-1-1: Nashville also leans heavily on its family drama elements, particularly through the rivalry between Blythe and Dixie. Last season ended on an intense cliffhanger, and it will be exciting to see how the events of the Season 1 finale affect the coming season.

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 23

Premiere Date: October 15

Image via ABC

After over two decades, Grey’s Anatomy will once again be returning this fall for its twenty-third season. The end of Season 22 saw the exit of Dr. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Dr. Teddy Altman (Kim Raver), who decided to move to Paris as a family with their children after Teddy received a dream job offer. The other doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial, meanwhile, were forced to reevaluate their priorities at the end of last season in the wake of a major bridge collapse.

Most notably, 11 seasons after Derek’s (Patrick Dempsey) death, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has decided that she is ready to remarry. The season ended with Meredith proposing to her longtime partner, Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman), who immediately accepted. After the events of last season, the rest of the doctors are sure to be in for some messy personal drama in Season 23, but it will be exciting to see Meredith take this next step in her relationship for the first time since Derek.

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‘St. Denis Medical’ Season 3

Premiere Date: November 2

Image via NBC

NBC’s hilarious medical sitcom, St. Denis Medical, will be returning later this fall for its third season. The series follows the doctors, nurses, and other staff of the Emergency Department of St. Denis Medical Center in Oregon. While the series came in with a strong start when it premiered two years ago, Season 2 elevated St. Denis Medical to one of the best sitcoms of recent years. Last season was laugh-out-loud funny and deeply emotional, and it evolved the main character dynamics in compelling and surprising ways.

The Season 2 finale of St. Denis Medical saw everyone rallying around Dr. Ron Leonard (David Alan Grier) to support him through his heart surgery. As of the end of the season, Ron made it out of the surgery alright, but not without making a surprising confession while high on pain medication. Meanwhile, after two seasons of buildup, Serena (Kahyun Kim) and Matt (Mekki Leeper) are now officially a couple. As St. Denis Medical gets ready to return, we look forward to seeing how the show ups its hilarity from last season, as well as how the character dynamics continue to change in the coming season.

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‘Line of Fire’ Season 1

Premiere Date: September 21

Image via NBC

NBC’s newest procedural drama, Line of Fire, premieres on the network this month. It follows the Hollingsworth family, all of whom work as law enforcement agents. At the helm of it all are Secret Service Agent Mike Hollingsworth (Peter Krause) and US Marshal Jane Hollingsworth (Hope Davis), a married couple with three adult children: Secret Service Agent Micah Hollingsworth (Tommy O’Brien), FBI Agent Claire Hollingsworth (Kat Cunning), and new Department of Justice analyst Russ Hollingsworth (Taylor Bloom).

The Hollingsworths often cross paths on the job. The series kicks off when they learn about a recent murder, and they receive insider information that one of them was actually the intended target. As it turns out, someone is killing government agents, and none of the Hollingsworths are safe. All they can do is just continue doing their jobs while staying vigilant, all while not truly knowing who they can and cannot trust.

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‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 6

Premiere Date: October 7

Image via Disney/Gilles Mingasson

Abbott Elementary will officially be back next month for its sixth season, and we absolutely cannot wait for its return. Last season was absolutely hilarious, with iconic storylines like the one that saw the faculty, staff, and students of Abbott have to temporarily relocate to an abandoned mall due to damage to the school building. The season also saw the heartbreaking yet understandable breakup between Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), but thankfully, they were able to work through it and get back together.

Season 6 of Abbott Elementary is in for a major shakeup after last season ended with the district announcing the upcoming shutdown of 20 schools. Abbott will be staying open, but they will have to take in a number of new students. Because of this change, Ava (Janelle James) has promoted Gregory to her Assistant Principal. Gregory now finally has a version of his dream job, and he’s thinking about proposing to Janine soon. The other teachers, however, will definitely struggle to adjust to having more students in their classes next season, and Abbott Elementary will no doubt utilize this change in funny and clever ways.

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‘9-1-1’ Season 10

Premiere Date: October 15

With characters that we love dearly and the promise of an explosive multiple-episode opening emergency to kick off each new season, there is no upcoming season of network TV that we are more excited about than 9-1-1 Season 10. It’s already been announced that 9-1-1‘s tenth season will open with a volcano eruption, and that Eddie (Ryan Guzman) and Maddie (Jennifer Love Hewitt) will finally get to share their first scene together this season.

Last season of 9-1-1 saw Chimney (Kenneth Choi) step up as Captain of the 118 in the wake of Bobby’s (Peter Krause) death. The 118 also welcomed Harry Grant (Elijah M. Cooper) to the firehouse after he realized that that was his dream. May Grant (Corinne Massiah) decided to become a nurse, which will give 9-1-1 the opportunity to spend more time at the hospital this coming season. Athena Grant (Angela Bassett), meanwhile, left her position as a sergeant to become a detective. In addition to all of these professional changes for so many main characters, Buck (Oliver Stark) made a major personal change by deciding to foster Theo (Lincoln and Theodore Sykes), his biological son and the son of his deceased friend.

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9-1-1

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Release Date

January 3, 2018

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Showrunner

Tim Minear

Directors

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Bradley Buecker, David Grossman, Brenna Malloy, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Jann Turner, Jennifer Lynch, Marita Grabiak, Sarah Boyd, John J. Gray, Barbara Brown, Robert M. Williams Jr., Kristen Reidel, Marcus Stokes, Tasha Smith, Millicent Shelton, Juan Carlos Coto, John Gray, Greg Sirota, Alonso Alvarez, James Wong, Kevin Hooks, Varda Bar-Kar, Shauna Duggins, Sharat Raju

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Nick Reiner’s attorneys are claiming he hasn’t received ‘even $5’ from his family trust as he awaits trial over the death of his parents Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.

New legal documents filed this week and obtained by People show Nick’s attorneys responded to objections to their client, 32, accessing his family trust, the outlet reported on Friday, September 18.

Per People, Nick’s legal team responded to successor trustee Jodi Pais Montgomery and former trustee Paul R. Kanin in two separate replies filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, September 17.

“In the meantime, Nick still has not been able to access even $5 from his trust to buy basic subsistence items from the jail commissary,” Nick’s attorneys, Anita P. Wu and Geoffrey A. Neri, wrote in response to Montgomery.

In response to Kanin, Nick’s attorneys argued, “Nick has been unable to access money that is lawfully his own — to re-engage criminal defense counsel, or even for basic subsistence items from the jail commissary.”

According to an indictment obtained by Us on August 12, Nick is accused of the first-degree murders of his parents at their Los Angeles home on December 14, 2025. Rob was 78, and Michele was 70.

Nick, who has struggled with addiction and mental health issues over the years, previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder by means of lying in wait after the indictment was unsealed.

Back in June, Nick first attempted to gain access to his share of a $1.5 million trust fund set up by his late parents.

At the time, Nick argued that he should have received half of that sum when he turned 30 in September 2023. (The trust was established by his parents upon his birth in 1993.)

In early August, however, lawyers for Nick’s previous and current trustee — Kanin and Montgomery — sought to block him from receiving any money from the trust due to California’s “Slayer Statute.”

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Related: Nick Reiner’s Former Attorney Says He’s ‘Entitled’ to Trust Fund

Nick Reiner‘s legal team appeared in court seeking access to a trust fund established by his late parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. “The main thing to take away from today’s hearing and moving forward is Nick Reiner is very much entitled to his own money, his own funds. That’s what this process is about,” […]

The “Slayer Statute” law states that “a person who feloniously and intentionally kills the decedent is not entitled” to any financial assets or property from the person or people they killed.

Nick’s legal team appeared in court on August 17 seeking access to the trust fund.

“The main thing to take away from today’s hearing and moving forward is Nick Reiner is very much entitled to his own money, his own funds. That’s what this process is about,” Nick’s former attorney Alan Jackson told Us and other reporters outside of court at the time. “He’s made a determination that he wants to be able to use his funds that are in his trust account to decide on his criminal counsel. When he is allowed to do that, he will then be able to defend himself in the way that the constitution indicates he should and can defend himself.”

A contest offering aspiring musicians the chance to open for Ed Sheeran has become another point of attention amid the controversy surrounding his Loop Tour. Guitar Center launched a competition for a chance to play at one of the singer’s concerts, but the opportunity has attracted more than just hopeful performers.

As backlash surrounding Sheeran’s tour continues, some people have found a different way to make their voices heard through the contest.

On September 14, Ed Sheeran’s tour promoter, Messina Touring Group, announced Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour following the rapper’s pro-Palestine remarks during a performance at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

That same day, Guitar Center launched a competition series, “Open for Legends,” allowing undiscovered musicians a chance to be the opening act for Sheeran’s show in Mexico City on December 11.

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Participants must be at least 18 years old and have a valid U.S. passport. Bands can have no more than five members, and prior experience performing in front of an audience is required. Those interested in the opportunity must submit a video featuring original music.

Apart from opening for Sheeran, the winner will also receive a $2,000 gift card, $15,000 in cash, covered round-trip travel and accommodations.

The Contest Has Recieved Many Spam Entries

The contest has been affected by the controversy surrounding Sheeran’s tour. According to reports, the competition has been flooded with spam entries, many uploading pro-Palestine videos and expressing their disapproval of Sheeran.

Political protest videos, memes, and non-musical clips were uploaded, prompting Guitar Center to scrub the site of content not related to the competition.

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One video titled “EDSHRANCOMPLICIT” featured a man flipping the bird to the camera. Another entry, meanwhile, uploaded a video with links to Palestine support organizations, as noted by Entertainment Weekly.

Guitar Center Addressed The Invalid Contest Entries

Days after the contest was launched, Guitar Center released a statement about the contest, explaining that “Open for Legends” was not launched as a result of Sheeran losing Macklemore as a supporting act. Instead, they had been developing it for months before it was announced.

They also addressed the bogus contest entries. “As with any open submission process, we received entries that were not legitimate applications to participate in the program. Those submissions will not be considered so that the opportunity can remain focused on musicians who are seeking to showcase their talent,” the statement read, per Rolling Stone.

Ed Sheeran’s Supporting Acts And Band Made A Stand

The remaining dates of Sheeran’s tour was left with no supporting acts and backing band after Macklemore was booted. As previously reported by The Blast, openers Aaron Rowe, Lukas Graham, and Finneas announced their exits from the Loop Tour, each taking to social media to state their departure and express their support for Palestine.

Sheeran’s longtime collaborator and backing band, Beoga, also left the tour, sharing they supported Macklemore’s speech. “As founding members of the Irish Artists for Palestine movement, we are committed activists for justice and will continue to be,” the band noted.

The Loop Tour Will Reportedly Proceed With Ed Sheeran Performing Solo

Sheeran has since spoken out about the controversy, explaining that it wasn’t his decision to remove Macklemore from the tour, but the promoter’s.

“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change,” he wrote, adding that fans who go to his concerts “do not expect a political forum.”

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The Loop Tour has 17 remaining dates, and according to reports, the performances will proceed without supporting acts. A source told TMZ that while plans have been constantly changing since the controversy, Sheeran performing solo is not a concern since he had already performed big venues in the past without a band.

If there is one thing everyone can agree on, it is that nothing is perfect, especially with video games, as more gamers and opinions flood the community, which will hate even the best titles. Legendary games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or modern classics such as God of War aren’t spared hate, criticism, or discourse, proving that there isn’t a single video game that everyone can say is perfect.

Despite that, some games can be considered to be universally beloved, and that is why this list will feature six video games since the 2000s that are universally beloved. Based on aspects such as gameplay, design, narrative, visuals, originality, influence, fan opinion, critical acclaim, and overall quality, these six titles are some of the few that many gamers can come together and appreciate, whether that be critically or emotionally.

6

‘The Last of Us’ (2013)

Image via Naughty Dog

The Last of Us is a great example of a beloved video game that received the exact opposite reaction when the sequel dropped, with many gamers upset with the story and how it handled some characters. At least they have the first game, which follows Joel, a veteran during the zombie apocalypse who must escort a girl across the country. When he learns that she may hold the cure to the outbreak, the mission to deliver her safely makes it more complicated, but will he be able to do it when he gets there?

The Last of Us is renowned for its narrative prestige that proved video games could bring that type of storytelling to games. The dynamics between Joel and Ellie were fantastic and a staple of the experience, making it even more painful when the sequel was released. The Last of Us is more than just a great story, however, as it also features engaging gameplay that brings out the best in the survival horror genre. Eerie, tense, and haunting, this game will have gamers on the edge of their seat, which is why almost everyone who has played it loved it. This is a video game narrative so good that there is even a TV show of it that is well received, proving the source material is just flawless.

5

‘Elden Ring’ (2022)

Image via Bandai Namco Entertainment

The 2020s still have a way to go, but the decade is already home to a plethora of modern hits, like FromSoftware’s magnum opus, Elden Ring. After the death of one of her sons, Queen Marika shatters the titular ring into many pieces, leaving her demigod children to claim them. As the Tarnished, players must travel the Lands Between and defeat the demigods to collect the shards, restore the ring, and become the Elden Lord.

Even though the 2020s are young, this decade has produced one of the most universally beloved video games in Elden Ring. Nothing else this decade has as much fan love to an overwhelming amount, proving why it won Game of the Year in 2022. Yes, it may be difficult, but it is because of that difficulty that fans adore it and the feeling they get when overcoming the obstacles. More than that, Elden Ring encourages exploration, rewarding it with lore, boss battles, and worthwhile items. Elden Ring is the most universally loved video game of the 2020s, but this acclaim has seeped into history as a whole to become a landmark of the industry.

4

‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ (2018)

Rockstar is one of the greatest game studios of all time, and while fans hope their next game will make this list in the future, for now their most beloved title is Red Dead Redemption 2. Arthur Morgan is a cowboy during the dying era of the Wild West, but when he learns of his tuberculosis diagnosis, he realizes he doesn’t have much time left. Dedicated to finding redemption, he sets out on one final adventure to find peace of heart before passing away.

There is a vocal part of the community that strongly believes Red Dead Redemption 2 deserved to win Game of the Year over God of War, and whether that is true or not, the fact that there are so many fans proves how beloved it is. The gameplay is good, but the main appeal of Red Dead Redemption 2 is the experience that allows gamers to immerse themselves in the world and role. Arthur is a captivating protagonist that players get to experience the story through, and the setting is just as engaging and complex, with so much detail packed into the Western frontier. Since it is Rockstar’s best video game ever, this title went above and beyond to deliver a gaming experience unlike anything else, showcasing why so many fans adore it.

3

‘Resident Evil 4’ (2005)

Image via Capcom

Being scared is usually a bad thing, but gamers can’t get enough of it, especially when it is done well. Resident Evil is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and while the new game and movie are remarkable, nothing can beat Resident Evil 4. When the daughter of the president of the United States is captured in Spain by a cult, Leon S. Kennedy is assigned to bring her back safely. However, when the cult is infected by a parasite, Leon and Ashley must fight their way through zombie-like creatures to safety.

Changing an already beloved formula isn’t usually the recipe to be adored by fans, but Resident Evil 4 pulled it off miraculously. The innovative over-the-shoulder camera changed the game, literally, making it so much easier and more fluid to play. The inventory management system as well was a fun way to manage items and make every decision important. It made Resident Evil an action franchise, which did upset some fans, but it broke out into a whole new demographic. Resident Evil 4 is a blast from start to finish, and a video game that most fans agree is absolutely outstanding.

2

‘Super Mario Galaxy’ (2007)

Image via Nintendo

Nintendo is a company that doesn’t stop making amazing games, and their biggest franchise is Mario, of course, meaning he has plenty of beloved titles, including Super Mario Galaxy. Bowser disrupts the Mushroom Kingdom’s festival to kidnap Princess Peach, taking her far away into the depths of the galaxy. However, Mario, with the help of Rosalina, sets out on a planet-hopping adventure to bring her back, no matter how many Koopas he needs to stomp on or bosses he needs to take down.

There isn’t a single bad 3D Mario video game, but the most beloved is arguably Super Mario Galaxy, which strikes the perfect amount of nostalgia and great design. The spherical gravity is a one-of-a-kind mechanic that gives new life to the franchise, making it even more fresh and imaginative. The movement is fluid, and the platforming is some of the greatest of all time, only made better by the plenty of gimmicks. Super Mario Galaxy is one of the best Nintendo games ever, only improving with age to remain a staple of the company and gaming in general.

1

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

Image via Valve

Valve may have some shortcomings, but for the most part, they are a beloved gaming studio, best known for their platform, Steam. But they used to be one of the best game makers as well, releasing multiple beloved classics, like Portal 2. Set after the first game, Chell wakes up to the same facility, but this time it is run-down and abandoned. However, one robot companion helps her navigate the facility to escape, that is, until they accidentally wake up GLaDOS, who is itching for revenge after what players did to her in the first game.

Valve has other masterpieces such as Half-Life 2, but there is a bigger audience around Portal 2 that has made it one of the most beloved video games of all time. It is a 2010s video game masterpiece that used its innovative mechanic with the portal gun and expanded on it to create a much more definitive experience. Portal 2 is a masterclass of game design that inherently teaches the player without much instruction while still making the puzzles thought-provoking and stimulating. The game also boasts witty writing and a charming style that enhances the already intriguing narrative. In the end, Portal 2 is the complete package of game design and fun, a combo that the majority of gamers have to admit they love.

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Resident Evil 4

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Released

January 11, 2005

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language

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Engine

RE Engine

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Franchise

Resident Evil

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