Famed slasher horror movie screenwriter and Scream creator Kevin Williamson has revealed what it is that scares him. In 1996, the now 56-year-old launched his career with what was to be the first entry in Wes Craven’s iconic Scream franchise. Williamson’s script was filled with everything that an excellent slasher horror film needs, but it also added its unique elements of comedy and offered a diverse range of horror movie references.
The success of the first Scream launched a late 1990’s revival of the slasher genre, providing Williamson with the task of writing Scream 2 and a successful big-screen adaptation of Lois Duncan’s novel I Know What You Did Last Summer in 1997. Williamson continued to work with Craven right up until the late director’s final film, Scream 4. The only movie in the Craven Scream era that Williamson didn’t write was 2000’s Scream 3 – an entry in the series that many fans inarguably site as the worst of the franchise. As the fifth installment in the franchise prepares to launch this coming January, Williamson remains connected to the concept he created a quarter of a century ago. He may not be credited as a writer on the new Scream film, but he worked with writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick on the script.
Related: Everything We Know About Scream 2022
With such a lengthy and beloved horror movie career to his credit, some fans might wonder if the films he’s written are a true reflection of what actually scares him. After all, the age-old writer’s adage of write what you know could be a credible starting point for Williamson’s work. Fortunately, the Scream maestro took the time to answer that recently while speaking to ComicBook.com. When asked what’s the question he most often gets from fans regarding Scream, Williamson said:
I guess one of the questions is, “What scares you?” I get that question a lot or some version of that question. What’s so funny, though, is Wes told me that that was his number one question whenever someone would ask him. The number one question asked, “What scares you?” It’s like, I’m afraid of the dark just like anybody else. I’m afraid of things I can’t see. I’m afraid of the unknown. I’m afraid of whatever this brain can conjure up, because that’s really what it’s about.
Without directly saying as much, Williamson clarifies that he feels that fear is primarily a product of one’s mind – which is likely why he’s such a great horror writer. The masked killer(s) of Scream literally thrives on the concept of anonymity, often inducing their victims into a continuous cycle of cat and mouse hysteria before finally taking action. Williamson’s response leaves the concept of fear wide open, providing fans with a bit of insight into his point of view when creating the scenes that make audiences jump.
In the grand history of horror films, it’s hard to say precisely where Williamson fits in. Indeed, some might balk at the idea of the Scream screenwriter being on par with horror screenwriting legends like George Romero or William Peter Blatty. Still, Williamson’s contributions to the genre are nothing to scoff at. Fear may be subjective, but carving out enough of the basic elements to scare audiences for decades is a tremendous challenge – one that Williamson has consistently been up for.
Next: Why Scream 2022 Isn’t Scream 5 (Is It A Reboot?)
The Batman will have a lot of surprises at DC FanDome 2021, that’s according to star Robert Pattinson. The Twilight alum is set to debut as Warner Bros’ new iteration of the Caped Crusader via Matt Reeves’ upcoming standalone. As with its predecessors, there’s high anticipation for what this latest reimagining of the iconic superhero will be like; fortunately, more details about the project will be revealed at the upcoming DC-exclusive event.
Ben Affleck was supposed to star, direct, and write the project, but after the actor’s exit from the DCEU, the movie was overhauled into a solo film with no connections whatsoever to the aforementioned franchise. Instead, Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne will exist in an entirely different reality, offering it full creative freedom when it comes to crafting this version of the titular hero’s arc. The Batman boasts a star-studded cast such as Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as the Penguin, and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth. Paul Dano as the Riddler is set to be the story’s primary antagonist.
Related: Every Actor Playing Batman In Upcoming DC Releases
Plot details about the film are still scant at the moment, but expect more details to emerge as the blockbuster will be one of the main focuses at DC FanDome 2021. Speaking with Variety, Pattinson teases what they have in store for fans at the event, revealing that he and Kravitz filmed something for it. Pattinson stated, “Me and Zoë [Kravitz] did some stuff. It’s a fun little thing. There are lots of little surprises for it.” Aside from that, he didn’t give anything else away, but chances are that Reeves will also be present, providing fresh information about The Batman‘s mysterious story.
Prior to Pattinson’s comment, it was already reported that a new trailer for The Batman will debut at DC FanDome. This makes sense, considering that the first look at the project was unveiled at last year’s virtual convention. Going by that, Reeves’ potential appearance could bring significant updates to what’s known about the movie thus far. Last year, the filmmaker was surprisingly very generous in sharing story details about the blockbuster, revealing that it will tackle the systemic corruption in Gotham and how Bruce’s family ties into all of this. Hopefully, they’ll talk more about The Batman‘s villains this time and how they fit in the narrative. Perhaps, other cast members could also make an appearance and talk about their respective characters.
As The Batman nears its theatrical release, its presentation at DC FanDome 2021 could very well be the start of Warner Bros’ marketing campaign for the blockbuster. That means that aside from promotional materials, expect tie-in merchandise to flood retailers. While toys aren’t always movie-accurate, they can still offer fresh details about what to expect from a highly anticipated movie.
More: DC FanDome 2021 News & Updates: Everything We Know
The Pokémon Company recently revealed Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ boss battles will pit players against noble Pokémon, particularly strong monsters corrupted by a mysterious power. While the game’s primary objective is to complete the Hisui region’s Pokédex, players are also tasked by the Galaxy Expedition Team with stopping the noble Pokémon’s rampages.
With its open world and new catching and combat systems, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a significant departure from other Pokémon games in the series. Players are responsible for capturing and documenting the Pokémon of the ancient Sinnoh region, known as Hisui, and along the way, they’ll unravel the mystery of Arceus and confront Pokémon enraged by an unknown force.
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Having “received a mysterious blessing,” according to the Pokémon Legends: Arceus website, noble Pokémon are much more powerful than other monsters in the region. The only confirmed noble Pokémon so far is Kleavor, a Bug/Rock-type evolution for Scyther with axe-like appendages. Wyrdeer, the new evolution for Stantler, is also featured with Kleavor on the game’s website. That said, the site says only “Some [blessed] Pokémon, known as nobles, are particularly powerful, while others are said to willingly assist the people of the region,” which seems to imply the rideable Wyrdeer is not a noble.
Each noble is protected by a human warden, tasked with making offerings of food and water to the nobles and keeping their territories safe. Four Pokémon Legends: Arceus wardens have been revealed so far: Mai, Iscan, Lian, and Arezu. Unfortunately, a “strange phenomenon” is driving the noble Pokémon into a frenzy, and the wardens seem unable to stop it without the player character’s help. When frenzied, noble Pokémon glow yellow and grow in size, making them even more intimidating.
Using Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ active combat system, players must throw balms made of the nobles’ favorite foods to calm the rampaging Pokémon. It appears the boss fights will play out in a series of rounds. Players will alternate between battling the noble with their own Pokémon, weakening it and sending it into a daze that prevents it from moving or attacking, and throwing more balms to calm it, with progress represented by a yellow bar at the top of the screen.
Fans won’t know if all of Pokémon Legends: Arceus’ tradition-breaking will come together to make a compelling game until they can finally play it. For now, though, noble Pokémon add another factor of uniqueness to the Hisui region, separating it from Sinnoh’s shadow.
Next: Every Rideable Pokémon Confirmed For Legends: Arceus So Far
Pokémon Legends: Arceus will be released on January 22, 2022, for Nintendo Switch.
Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action star, Dallas Liu, is opening up about the pressure of starring in the series as Zuko. Avatar: The Last Airbender is an ambitious project that Netflix has undertaken to create a live-action TV series based on the beloved animated show that ran from 2005 – 2008. The series is truly starting to take shape, especially now that Netflix announced Avatar: The Last Airbender’s cast. Leading the cast will be Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, and Dallas Liu as Zuko.
Liu is a young actor on the rise, best known for his role in Tekken, PEN15, and Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings. Liu has made great strides as an actor and, despite his tender age, he has already appeared in a Marvel film and in an Emmy-nominated TV series. However, portraying Zuko in the Avatar live-action series will be, by far, the biggest role he has tackled yet. Since the animated series premiered, Zuko has shone through as one of the obvious fan favorites and one of the more complex characters. Considering Dev Patel’s miscasting as Zuko in the only other Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action adaption, the stakes are high to get Zuko right this time around.
Related: What Happened To Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Original Aang Voice Actor?
In an interview with ComicBook, Liu opened up about the pressure surrounding his casting as Zuko. Liu first spoke on the pressure surrounding the live-action project as whole. While he has faith in the project, he understands it is no small undertaking to try to reboot a series that was so beloved by fans. Meanwhile, the fact that he is portraying one of the show’s fan favorites, Zuko, is quite nerve-wracking for him as he feels the pressure to perform especially well for his character. Check out Liu’s full statement below:
I mean, because it is such a beloved show I feel like there is some pressure to do a great job and not that I’m doubting anyone or the project at all, but this is the biggest project and the biggest role that I’ve been able to take part in now, especially leading with a character like Zuko, who’s so complex and one of, if not the favorite, one of the favorites of the show with his fire bending and his history. I mean, he’s such an incredible character and he has one of my favorite character developments in all of the animated series. So, I mean, I’m just as much of a fan of Zuko as everyone else is. So I mean, obviously I’m excited because this is like a dream, but at the same time, it gets a little nerve-wracking. You know? To do a good job, and I mean, at the end of the day I can only do what I’m capable of, but I hope that people enjoy my performance.
Liu’s feelings towards portraying Zuko are quite understandable. Attempts at rebooting the Avatar: The Last Airbender have been scarce, and M. Night Shyamalan’s adaption badly missed the mark. Meanwhile, translating a previously animated film to live-action is difficult in and of itself, considering the attachment that viewers formed to the characters. However, so far, Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender series seems to be heading in the right direction, considering the casting choices were done with respect to the original characters’ ages, ethnicities, and archetypes. In this manner, Liu already bears some likeness and relatability to Zuko. Meanwhile, his acting career and martial arts skills further prove that he is capable of taking on the role.
The pressure that Liu feels regarding Avatar: The Last Airbender is also representative of his dedication to the project. Liu himself is an Avatar and Zuko fan and has demonstrated quite thorough knowledge of the series. The fact that he feels pressure to do well, demonstrates his understanding of how important the series is for viewers and of the complexity of Zuko. In addition to this, the sneak peak Liu shared of quoting Zuko’s fan-favorite line was further proof that he has potential for the role. It remains to be seen how Liu will ultimately pull off Zuko in the Avatar: The Last Airbender series, but for now, he is demonstrating an understanding of the show and character that bodes well for his portrayal.
More: Avatar: The Last Airbender Upcoming Movies’ Animation Change Is A Mistake
Choosing design themes in Animal Crossing: New Horizons can be difficult, but one of the best ways to carry any aesthetic throughout an island is to make use of the cutest villager house exteriors. Although there are seemingly endless design options in New Horizons, there are only a few buildings in the game. Of these, only player houses can be customized to fit in with the rest of the island’s décor. The lack of design choices for buildings like Resident Services or the Museum can feel limiting at times, but fortunately, players have many more options available when selecting villager homes, the most common buildings in the game. As many as 10 New Horizons villagers can live on an island at one time, each with their own house design. With almost 400 recruitable villagers in New Horizons, there are plenty of cute villager home options available, no matter the island theme.
There are a variety of motivations for selecting which New Horizons villagers should move to an island, with some players looking for a specific personality type or animal species. One of the most important details to consider for decoration purposes, though, is what the exterior of the villager’s house looks like. Each villager’s house in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is unique from the others, inspired by its individual villager in color and design. Their houses’ interior designs in New Horizons can change depending on items they receive or when they move onto the island. However, every villager’s house exterior will always be the same.
Related: Animal Crossing Design Ideas To Get Ready For Fall 2021
Outdoor decoration is such a large part of New Horizons, and villager house exteriors make a great source of inspiration for designing an island. The huge variety in house styles is created through different combinations of roofs, doors, textures, house shapes, and colors. There are so many details to choose from, but just as with the villagers themselves, some house designs are more helpful to certain themes than others. These Animal Crossing: New Horizons villager house exteriors are some of the cutest ones available in the game.
Diana is a deer villager in New Horizons with a clean exterior that’s elegant and regal, perhaps as a credit to her appearance-obsessed, snooty personality type. Although the stone-like texture makes the house feel warm and inviting, it is the smaller details that really make the house visually intriguing. The consistent arches and delicate design on the white iron grill door make Diana’s house a great option for players that want to bring a classier building to their island.
Drake, the lazy duck villager, has appeared in every Animal Crossing game since Animal Crossing: Wild World. His house’s exterior and interior have evolved subtly throughout the games, generally sticking to a camp/cabin aesthetic. In New Horizons, Drake has a beautiful pine or forest green house with brown, wooden trim and a wooden door. The earthy tones and accents on this house make it perfect for a natural or forest-themed New Horizons island, which Drake is sure to enjoy.
In New Horizons, Pekoe is a normal cub villager with a really cute home. The Eastern-style house has a great color combination of red, white, black, and gold. Pekoe’s window and imperial door have intricate designs, and her red lantern complements these details perfectly. Its unique shape with sharp edges makes this house a perfect option for a New Horizons island with a city aesthetic. Alternatively, Pekoe’s house would make the perfect addition to a more rural, traditional neighborhood as well, especially one that makes use of New Horizons’ many Asian-styled decorations.
Related: ACNH Tips For Making Your Island More Welcoming To Visitors & Villagers
Étoile is a normal sheep villager who was introduced to New Horizons a year after the game’s release. As of now, she can only be invited to join an island through her amiibo card, but her house is definitely one of the cutest ones available. Étoile’s design is based on the Sanrio characters Kiki and Lala from the Little Twin Stars series. Kiki and Lala are often depicted with blue and pink hair respectively, which explains the pastel pink and pale-blue coloring of the house’s exterior. Étoile’s New Horizons home would fit in well with a fairycore theme or an island with a colorful and whimsical aesthetic.
In New Horizons, Ed is a smug horse villager. He is vivid blue in color with a bright yellow mane and tail, which starkly contrast with his mostly white house. Aside from its aqua tile roof, this home is a blank canvas with clean lines. Its sleek design would look great anywhere on anisland, whether placed on a high cliff or on an New Horizons beach by the ocean. This home can be adapted to fit almost any island theme, especially if players gift Ed with a wreath to brighten up his front door.
One of the most visually unique and long-standing villagers in the Animal Crossing series is Tangy, the peppy cat. Her house mimics her orange and green coloring, which itself mimics citrus fruit with a leaf attached on top. The white trim gives it a crisp feel, complementing the other bright colors well. Tangy’s house would be perfect for a tropicore island, especially during the New Horizons summer season when the grass is the brightest green. Adding palm trees, fruit-themed furniture, or bright flowers around Tangy’s house would make it pop even more.
Related: Animal Crossing’s Best Design Tricks With Glitches
In New Horizons, Ava is a normal chicken villager with a unique house. This house’s geometric design is carried throughout the square, boxy building with its brick accents and the designs on the window and door. The red bricks match the curved shingles on the roof very well in color and style, bringing the whole design together. Ava’s house is very neutral and the brick accents would stand out in any environment, making it a great addition to any New Horizons island.
Pancetti is a snooty pig villager in New Horizons. Although her house is fairly standard with few notable details, it is the interesting color palette that immediately draws the eye. The muted mustard yellow, burnt-orange exterior with mahogany trim highlights the unexpected blue of the house’s simple door perfectly. Pancetti’s house would look beautiful in a cozy, autumnal theme, especially when the leaves are most colorful in ACNH’s mid-to-late fall season. There are so many cute villager home exterior designs available in Animal Crossing: New Horizons that are sure to inspire creativity for many seasons to come.
Next: Why Animal Crossing’s Brewster & The Roost Cafe Update Is A Big Deal
