<![CDATA[ Latest from TechRadar in Entertainment ]]> https://www.techradar.com Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 en <![CDATA[ Do you still need a TV licence? What the BBC’s new free YouTube shows could mean for your £175 bill ]]> Another huge streaming partnership has been announced, and this time it involves the BBC.

This week, the company announced a huge deal with YouTube, which will allow the BBC to produce entertainment content 'aimed at YouTube's digital-native younger audience', according to the broadcasting giant. As early as February, the BBC will begin showing content on YouTube spanning entertainment, news, and sports, starting with the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

Though the BBC ensures that some of this new content will still be available to view on iPlayer and Sounds, it raises a lot of questions about the company's ongoing business plan debate. As it stands, the BBC currently relies on the £175 television license fee for its programming, but this deal with YouTube will see a major shift in its model.

For the first time, new BBC programmes will be ad-supported, but you'll only see ads when you stream them outside of the UK. As the TV license is currently under review and is expected to be phased out by 2027, this will provide a new means of generating funds.

Just like the recent Netflix and Warner Bros. deal, this unexpected partnership has raised many questions that are yet to be answered. Luckily, we've been in touch with a bunch of analysts who've had a few things to say.

Why is the BBC doing this?

As mentioned, the BBC has felt a need to rethink the way it connects with younger audiences, many of whom have swapped traditional TV viewing for the likes of the best streaming services. Paolo Pescatore, founder and analyst at PP Foresight, agrees, sharing, “The BBC needs to reconnect, especially with younger audiences."

Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in Killing Eve season 4

(Image credit: BBC)

Looks as though the BBC is abandoning public service broadcasting, right? Well, Abi Watson, Head of Publishing at Enders Analysis, believes otherwise, who told us, “It has an obligation to produce creative, high-quality, distinctive content – and that isn’t platform-specific, which does involve the BBC experimenting with new formats, not just recycling linear TV for digital spaces.”

That aside, the other determining factor for the BBC's decision to go ham on digital viewing rests on shifting viewing habits, which Watson also touched on. “Second, it has a duty to reach audiences where they actually are. Viewing habits have shifted materially: around 10% of TV-set viewing in the UK now goes to YouTube, and for under-35s, it’s closer to a quarter," she added.

What does this mean for the TV licence?

In short, it doesn’t change anything for now – while you won’t need a TV licence to watch the BBC’s YouTube content in the UK, you do still need one to watch or record live TV, or use BBC iPlayer. And that’s the case even if you’re only watching on a phone.

Until now, the BBC has solely relied on the TV license fee for funding, but now that its funding model is being deliberated, it's going down the ad-supported programming route. As mentioned, ads will not be shown when you're watching content in the UK, but the idea of it raises a couple of points.

The cast of BBC crime drama series Line of Duty

(Image credit: BBC)

On the one hand, it gives the BBC another source for bringing in funds, and as Watson puts it, “content distributed on YouTube can generate modest incremental revenue overseas through advertising. That revenue sits within the BBC’s commercial arm, and any profits made are returned to the public service side and reinvested.” On the other hand, value is at risk.

“A growing overlap between public service broadcasting and commercial platform access risks complicating how its value is perceived by audiences. This could intensify over time if YouTube and other third-party services become the primary way people discover and consume BBC content," says Peter Ingram, Research Manager at Ampere Analysis.

For Pescatore, it's going to fuel scrutiny for both value and funding, who told us, "all eyes will be on the BBC as it continues to reinvent itself during uncertain, challenging times, even as consumer patterns change and it uses YouTube as a funnel to grow engagement on its own platforms without undermining them.”

What can viewers expect?

For starters, the BBC/ YouTube deal will see a huge boost in the BBC's presence in digital broadcasting. The company has used YouTube in the past to promote snippets of its shows on its YouTube channel, but this is the first time the BBC will be able to produce fresh and original content for the platform. For Ingram, visibility is the main end result.

“The most immediate impact will be increased visibility of BBC content on YouTube, including a mix of new releases and catalogue titles distributed across 50 distinct content channels. Importantly, content created for YouTube is still expected to be made available across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, meaning existing audiences don’t lose access,” said Ingram.

The cast of the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey

This aside, the other big change you can expect is the significant shift that will come with the BBC's funding process, as well as content designed for YouTube but is still quintessentially BBC.

“The BBC’s first YouTube-first commissioning brief is for a new factual channel run by BBC Three, with around £2m of spend split across two producers. That tells you a lot: this is a test-and-learn exercise, not a wholesale reallocation of budgets. Alongside that, our understanding is that the initial content focus will be kids and sports, genres that already work well on YouTube and where the BBC has clear strengths. Viewers should expect recognisably BBC content, but designed for YouTube formats and viewing habits from the outset,” Watson told us.

As we've said, these changes are coming very soon, kicking off with the Winter Olympic Games in February. It seems as though the BBC has a very clear vision of the direction it wants to go in with its YouTube-centric content, but it'll be interesting to see what this does to its funding model, given its current state of deliberation.

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]]> https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/do-you-still-need-a-tv-licence-what-the-bbcs-new-free-youtube-shows-could-mean-for-your-gbp175-bill SL4t7g3Rcqc5ZbbiPBMbGU Sun, 25 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 18:39:49 +0000 <![CDATA[ ‘We set some pretty high ambition levels’ — Lego on why Smart Bricks needed custom wireless charging ]]> Even though we’re a few weeks out from Lego unveiling its Smart Play system – one of the biggest changes to the iconic brick in years – there’s still plenty of discussion around the first three sets. Much of it centers on the all-important Smart Brick.

One of the more understated, but genuinely impressive, parts of Lego’s new Smart Play system isn’t the lights or speaker inside the Smart Brick. It’s how the brick stays powered – and how it gets recharged without disrupting play.

Much like an iPhone 17 or Pixel 10 Pro, the Smart Brick is placed on a special, bright yellow Lego wireless charger to fuel up. How long it lasts depends heavily on play style, but Lego says a typical play session should get close to 40 minutes of active use. The brick can remain in standby for far longer, and Lego notes that this charging approach won’t damage the battery cells over time.

Like the custom silicon and other technology inside the Smart Brick, the wireless charging system itself isn’t off the shelf. It’s not Qi-based and doesn’t rely on existing consumer wireless charging standards – and according to Lego, that was very much intentional.

“We didn’t just want that you could put it anywhere,” Tom Donaldson, Head of Lego’s Creative Play Lab, told me. “We actually wanted to be able to charge at height when you’re in a model.”

That distinction matters. The goal wasn’t simply the freedom to place Smart Bricks on a charging pad, but the ability to charge Smart Bricks while they’re still embedded in a build.

Donaldson confirmed in a one-on-one conversation with TechRadar that the underlying technology was designed with pass-through power in mind – meaning energy can travel through other Lego bricks.

In practical terms, a Smart Brick could remain inside something like a Lego car and still receive power by driving or parking the model on the charger. Donaldson confirmed that capability, though he was careful not to dive into the technical specifics.

“This is an entry-level charger, so I can’t talk too much about it,” he said, before adding that the underlying technology was designed so bricks could stay inside a model while charging.

“That’s actually quite advanced compared to at least where we started the program,” Donaldson said. “And so we really set some pretty high ambition levels there – and that’s why we went proprietary.”

Development of Smart Play’s charging technology began roughly eight years ago, long before today’s more flexible wireless charging approaches had matured. At the time, standard solutions simply couldn’t support Lego’s goal of uninterrupted play – where Smart Bricks behave like normal Lego bricks, not electronics that constantly need to be removed, aligned, or plugged in.

For now, bundled with the three Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets available for preorder, builders get a first-generation Lego wireless charger. It supports charging up to two Smart Bricks at once, in any orientation, and is vaguely reminiscent of Apple’s canceled AirPower concept – albeit one that actually ships.

In that sense, the charger isn’t just a technical solution. It’s a philosophical one, keeping the technology in the background so Smart Play still feels like Lego first, and tech second.

You can also preorder it on Amazon in the United States here.

Lego UK: £139.99

Lego Australia: AU$249.99View Deal

You can also preorder the X-Wing on Amazon in the US.

Lego UK £79.99

Lego Australia: AU$149.99View Deal

It's also available at Amazon in the United States here.

Lego UK: £59.99

Lego Australia: AU$99.99View Deal

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]]> https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/we-set-some-pretty-high-ambition-levels-lego-on-why-smart-bricks-needed-custom-wireless-charging uig5ohAtPzoCiA8wFBJY6U Fri, 23 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:14:41 +0000 <![CDATA[ I watched Disneyland Handcrafted — and it’s the kind of documentary you want to rewatch ]]> There’s a certain joy that comes with walking into a Disney park anywhere in the world – but it’s hard to argue that any of them carry quite the same weight as Disneyland. This is the original park, the one Walt Disney himself saw open to the world.

As Disneyland celebrates its 70th anniversary – the gates first opened on July 17, 1955 – Disney has released a new documentary you can watch right now from the comfort of your home. Disneyland Handcrafted, now streaming on Disney+ and YouTube, pulls back the curtain on how the park came to life and why that hands-on, detail-obsessed approach still defines Disney today.

Much like The Imagineering Story, the Disney+ series that explored the creation of iconic attractions across Disney Parks worldwide, Disneyland Handcrafted comes from Leslie Iwerks and her team. Fittingly, the documentary itself was made in just one year – the same amount of time it took to build Disneyland – and it offers a rare, unvarnished look at the process.

The film draws entirely on archival material uncovered and restored in close collaboration with the Walt Disney Archives, including raw 16mm footage that had never been shown.

Walt Disney’s early embrace of television meant cameramen were on site throughout Disneyland’s construction, capturing the park as it took shape under intense pressure and tight timelines. There was even a rig on a tall tower where Sleeping Beauty Castle would eventually stand, with cameras capturing a time-lapse.

Decades later, Iwerks and her team painstakingly digitized, restored, and, in some cases, recolored that footage, preserving moments that had been frozen in time.

Running an hour and 18 minutes – available with a Disney+ subscription or, surprisingly, free on YouTube – Disneyland Handcrafted isn’t all pixie dust. It captures the real fear that Disneyland might not be ready in time and doesn’t shy away from the chaos of opening day, when plenty did go wrong. There’s tension, uncertainty, and risk – something that often gets smoothed over in more polished retellings.

Even after one viewing, Disneyland Handcrafted already feels like the kind of documentary that rewards a second. While no Disney+ viewing stats have been shared, it premiered on January 22, 2026 on YouTube and is already at over 87,000 views.

Still, the film lands on something deeply inspiring. These cast members took an orange grove in Anaheim, California, and built an entire Main Street inspired by the early 1900s, created first-of-their-kind rides, multiple lands, assembled a full riverboat off-site and moved it piece by piece, laid down an entire railroad — and yes, they even built a castle.

What makes Disneyland Handcrafted especially compelling now is how clearly it connects to the work Imagineers are still doing today. Many of the ideas that shaped Disneyland in 1955 weren’t limited by imagination, but by what technology – and construction equipment – could realistically support at the time. That same dynamic continues across Disney Parks, and more broadly Disney Experiences, where concepts can live for decades before the technology finally catches up.

Take the Haunted Mansion Parlor aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Treasure and upcoming Disney Destiny. The space brings to life an idea original Imagineers once envisioned for the Haunted Mansion attraction itself – a ghostly aquarium filled with “ghost fish.” It was a concept far ahead of its time, waiting for the right combination of illusion, engineering, and show technology to finally come into existence.

Image 1 of 4

A still of Disneyland Construction from 'Disneyland Handcrafted'

(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
Image 2 of 4

A still of Disneyland Construction from 'Disneyland Handcrafted'

(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
Image 3 of 4

A still of Disneyland Construction from 'Disneyland Handcrafted'

(Image credit: Disney Experiences)
Image 4 of 4

A still of Disneyland Construction from 'Disneyland Handcrafted'

(Image credit: Disney Expereinces)

Or consider the Walt Disney animatronic now on display at Disneyland, a figure that blends storytelling, movement, and performance in a way early Imagineers could have only dreamed of.

From an orange grove in Anaheim to Main Street, U.S.A., from a hand-built riverboat to an entire railroad, the original Disneyland team didn’t wait for perfect conditions – they built anyway. Today’s Imagineers are doing much the same thing, carrying forward ideas sparked decades ago and finally giving them form. Different tools, same ambition.

I’ll have more to share soon, including a full review of Disneyland Handcrafted and a conversation with director Leslie Iwerks about the making of the documentary, what surprised her most during production, and why Disney’s earliest lessons still resonate today.

And with a winter storm bearing down on much of the Midwest and East Coast, Disneyland Handcrafted feels like the perfect watch – a warm, nostalgic trip back to where it all began, best enjoyed from the couch.

You can see the Disneyland Handcrafted trailer above, with the full documentary streaming right now on Disney+ and available for free on YouTube.

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]]> https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-watched-disneyland-handcrafted-and-its-the-kind-of-documentary-you-want-to-rewatch StrBTqDMXYM72kYiPfQE28 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 21:00:00 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 19:59:57 +0000 <![CDATA[ I watched the first trailer for ‘The Muppet Show’ — and it looks like the inspirational, celebrational, muppetsational comeback fans have been waiting for when it comes to Disney+ ]]>
  • Disney+ unveils first full The Muppet Show special trailer
  • Sabrina Carpenter stars
  • It hews closely to the original

    • I'm old enough to remember the confusion over a certain puppet when The Muppet Show first aired in 1976. While excited that it would feature a cast of Muppet characters, I was confused because only one, Kermit the Frog, was instantly recognizable to me. Where were Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie? Other than Kermit, these Sesame Street stars lacked the creative freedom necessary to launch and stage a weekly comedy show, one that ran for five seasons, and that is returning as if dethawed from cryofreeze on Disney+.

    The special, which airs on February 4, got its first official trailer on Friday (January 23, 2026). It's a time warp of sorts, in that the cast of Muppet characters, sets, and even joke setups appear unchanged from the original. However, there's also a winking acknowledgement that this special, which is produced by and stars The Studio's Seth Rogen, is a risk, or at least a challenge, and one these fabric stars might not meet.

    There's a steady stream of jokes about this not being a dream job, how it only continues if this one succeeds, and as Statler and Waldorf joked from their balcony seats, the Muppets did it for the money.

    Watching the 90-second clips, I found myself grinning from ear-to-ear. It was all so familiar and yet somehow fresh. That could be the presence of celebrity guest Sabrina Carpenter, who mixes it up with Miss Piggy, or the perfect blend of classic and contemporary.

    The Muppets was always a show that operated on two levels. There were the jokes and sight gags that probably appealed to kids wandering over from Sesame Street, and the winking jokes and references that appealed to adults and parents.

    Take this exchange between Kermit and Carpenter:

    Kermit: "We're still working out a few kinks."

    Carpenter: "That's alright, I love a kink."

    Surely that joke's meant for adults, especially Gen Z, who are perhaps less familiar with The Muppet brand but also have a different take on some social mores.

    If the clip is anything to judge by, the new show's sets and shot style are sometimes close to the original but also look a tiny bit more real in some of the behind-the-scenes interactions.

    This, however, is not The Muppets. That ill-fated 2015 revival was more of a documentary about the Muppet's "real lives" as they tried to support a Miss Piggy-centered show. I have few good memories about it.

    At this point, it's unclear whether the special will lead to a more or a regular series. With Disney's brand ownership, I'm sure they'd like to revive Muppet Mania and ride a series of The Muppet Show specials into another new movie.

    Those have been hit-or-miss affairs, too, but perhaps Disney can start viewing Muppet Movies like the Star Trek franchise: every even or odd one is good; you just know you have to deal with the occasional dud to get to the golden Muppet nugget.

    Whatever the case, I plan to watch The Muppet Show special and hope that this is really what we call The Muppet Show.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-watched-the-first-trailer-for-the-muppet-show-and-it-looks-like-the-inspirational-celebrational-muppetsational-comeback-fans-have-been-waiting-for-when-it-comes-to-disney 6DpLo5kXtCBpQwNxNhnHpV Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:00:42 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 20:00:43 +0000     <![CDATA[ Die My Love missing a best cinematography nod is the most outrageous 2026 Oscars snub — but Seamus McGarvey's starter camera kit is exactly what any budding filmmaker needs ]]> When I had the chance to speak to Die My Love cinematographer Seamus McGarvey some months ago, I didn't even question that he'd be nominated for an Oscar. He was fresh from an awards win at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs) and is currently on the longlist for a BAFTA.

    So when the 2026 Oscar nominations came out on January 22, I was aghast to find he was missing. With some of the most striking, risky, and startling visuals we've seen on screen in the past year, Die My Love's look is just as much of a character as Grace (Jennifer Lawrence) and Jackson (Robert Pattinson).

    Thankfully, the movie is now available to stream on MUBI as of today (January 23), so you can see what I mean for yourself. If you're a budding filmmaker or tech nerd – of course, you're the latter, that's why you're on this website – and want to know how to replicate Die My Love's distinct abstract flavor, I've got the answers for you.

    Die My Love brings back ektachrome in a big, bold way

    "I just love telling stories with whatever camera I can get my hands on," McGarvey tells me. "But when I have the joy of shooting on film when the budget allows for it, it's great because it's a poetic distance from the real.

    "I think early on, Lynne [Ramsay] and I had discussions about what film stock to use and how we were going to approach the day and night scenes, and the peculiar depiction of postpartum depression in a woman who's recently given birth. It's a type of madness, really, that a person feels, so we wanted to find a way of expressing that pictorially, not being quite tethered in night or day. So we both said, why not Ektachrome? Because it's a color film,but not real, it makes everything look slightly hyper-real.

    He continues, "The connotation of it is that things have gone wrong and the color is over-ripe and almost rotten, so that we thought that's perfect. So when we tested that, we realized that that was the film stock to use for the daytime stuff. All the nighttime scenes in the film that you see are shot in plain daylight, like midday or full sun. But we wanted there to be a strange, almost nightmarish moonlit quality. So that was done in the grade and with filters, very heavily smoked up filters that we used with candle smoke.

    "That was great fun to do, because you just smoke up a clear glass and then paint out the bits that you want to see, and the rest falls into murky, inky blackness. Even the Sun becomes a moon."

    Watch any of those nighttime scenes and tell me that you aren't convinced Lawrence is having the worst nightmare of her life at 4am. At this stage in the movie, we, as viewers, can no longer tell what is grounded in reality and what is suspended in the mind of a woman slowly losing hers.

    I'd go as far as to say these are some of the best cinematic scenes of 2025, and certainly are the most unexpectedly haunting.

    'Art is how we look and feel, not what we use to shoot with'

    Jennifer Lawrence holds a gun in a doorway

    Just one example of our day-to-nighttime scenes. (Image credit: MUBI)

    But what about those of us who aspire to create things like this but have no idea where to start?

    "I think you can tell a story with any camera, even your iPhone and or whatever digital device you use," McGarvey explains. "As they say, it's about looking with your heart and brain, and it's about the kind of looking at the world, looking at art that inspires you, and take that in whatever camera you use.

    "There's a real beauty to using a big phone camera, like a Panavision, Panaflex camera that we used and PVintage lenses. But conversely, I have here in my flat a Sony a7 camera that I put little lenses on, and the results can be really beautiful. So for very little money, you can shoot great stuff. I've gotten trouble for saying that I shot stuff on the first Avengers movie, on an iPhone, which I did. But there you go."

    Not only do I now have to head to Disney+ and watch the Avengers films immediately, McGarvey's subtle symbiosis of artistry and technological craft is also truly inspiring. I haven't picked up a camera since I was a teenager, but even I want to have a go.

    "I think if you use a camera with joy, enthusiasm, and thought and think into the story, it's not about the technique, technology, or the camera itself. I'm very lucky to work with great people who guide me when I work on these fancy cameras. I know about film cameras, but these new cameras and large-format digital cameras, I have no idea. If all the people that I work with went away for the day, I would not be able to even switch on the camera. That's how bad it is.

    "So I prefer simplicity, because it focuses you on the looking. As an artist, director, or a young filmmaker like yourself and others, simplicity is all when you're embarking on a career in telling stories with a camera. You know you can get more elaborate as the day goes on, but starting with talking about equipment alone is maybe a backwards step. Let our wonderful, imaginative, dreaming brains make our films. The equipment will be under our arms to decide what to use for whatever scenario we want to depict."

    You heard the man, people... get snapping.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/die-my-love-missing-a-best-cinematography-nod-is-the-most-outrageous-2026-oscars-snub-but-seamus-mcgarveys-starter-camera-kit-is-exactly-what-any-budding-filmmaker-needs Xu9QVcRVamFghTfzt3TWwn Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:29:42 +0000     <![CDATA[ Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 reveals the most distressing gladiator death in the Starz show to date — and its cast 'felt completely shaken' after filming ]]> WARNING: spoilers for Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 ahead.

    Spartacus: House of Ashur might technically be ancient history, but I don't know whether I'm coming or going from week to week. I'd just got my head around the Brothers Ferox being behind Opiter's (Arlo Gibson) death in episode 6, before Satyrus (Leigh Gill) is the only one left alive in episode 7... but we've moved on at lightning speed.

    In Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8, the main focus has shifted. Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) is upsetting every woman around him because of his blossoming feelings for Viridia (India Shaw-Smith), and Achillia (Tenika Davis) is slowly on her way back to full strength. However, it's Celadus (Dan Hamill) and Tarchon (Jordi Webber) who you need to be keeping an eye on.

    While Tarchon feels threatened by Achillia and seeks to ruin her return to glory, Celadus severs the pair's bond once he gets wind of Tarchon's behavior. The two then have to enter the gladiator arena at the end of episode 8, and only one of them leaves alive.

    For Hamill and Webber, it was a monumental episode in completely different ways. But for one star, their fictional death was "really hard and a little traumatic" to process.

    Celadus' shock death in Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 'didn't require any acting techniques whatsoever'

    "I'm not gonna lie about this... it sucked," Hamill explained about filming Celadus' death. "It was really hard and a little bit traumatic. I had to convince my nervous system that I was done. There's a lot of different acting techniques, but for this one, we didn't need any. We could flick into these people's time and space, and so it was real. So I felt a bit shook after.

    "It's really tricky to make your nervous system feel like it's going to die. But to be fair, there's a lot of pressure on this thing. We're honoring a legacy, and to do it half-hearted, we'd kick ourselves. It's also a pleasure to be able to access those things and to do it in an arena with 350 people. This is the biggest physical flex we've ever had, but we also had to be emotional athletes.

    He continues, "To keep doing it take after take for hours on end was an actor's dream workout. But I definitely had to take myself on holiday and self-soothe and get things [out of] my system. It was a lot."

    When the episode closes out, and Celadus is left on the floor in a pool of blood, the sorrow is real. But it's also worth digging deeper into why he held back and invited death in – and it's all to do with the House of Proculus' female gladiator.

    Bought to take Achillia on in battle, Celadus sees their romance reflected in her eyes, unable to bring himself to fight. It's a completely different story from Tarchon's time in the arena, who tries to avenge the accidental death of a Roman civilian who falls into the pit.

    Gladiators spar while Korris watches on

    It's Tarchon vs. Achillia, always. (Image credit: Starz)

    "It was glory, but it was clouded," Webber tells me. "It was everything that I'd wanted, but I couldn't have a genuinely happy moment of having proven myself, like I did this. But then there were also multiple things happening at the time. I had love on my mind. I just executed this master plan with a lot of Roman guards around me. So it's just like, 'well, actually, I don't know if I'm going to die or not.'

    "There's too many big things going on in my life right now to really just revel in that," he adds, and boy, did he not realize the half of it. How Tarchon and Achillia each cope with the loss of Celadus will be revealed in Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 9... but I'm going to guess now that it's not great.

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/spartacus-house-of-ashur-episode-8-interview SuUp2TzkGuQHRmnsWLPr7c Fri, 23 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:42:20 +0000     <![CDATA[ Sinners leads 2026 Oscar nominations with record-breaking 16 nods — and it's been joined by a surprise Apple TV movie on the Best Picture shortlist ]]>
  • The 2026 Oscar nominations have been revealed
  • Sinners leads the pack with a record-breaking 16 nods
  • There's a surprise entry among this year's Best Picture nominees

    • The 2026 Oscar nominations have been announced – and, while Sinners has received a record-breaking 16 nominations, it's not the movie or talking point that should be dominating online discussions.

    Revealed today (January 22), this year's Academy Award nominees list is filled with names that many of us expected to see.

    As mentioned, Sinners, the Ryan Coogler-directed supernatural thriller/period drama that's out now on HBO Max, leads the way with 16 award nods. That's the most in Oscar history, too, with Sinners – one of the 35 best movies we saw in 2025 – surpassing the 14 nominations that All About Eve (1950), Titanic (1997), and La La Land (2016) share.

    As I alluded to, though, despite Sinners' record-breaking nomination haul, there's a bigger talking point at hand. That being, F1: The Movie receiving an unexpected nod for this year's Best Picture award.

    Brad Pitt's Sonny Burch standing on a racetrack in Apple's F1 movie

    The Brad Pitt-starring F1 movie has been nominated for Best Picture ahead of the 2026 Oscars (Image credit: Apple Original Films/Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Now, this isn't to say that F1, which you can watch right now on Apple TV, doesn't deserve to be put forward for such a prestigious prize. My surprise stems from the fact that, until now, it's largely been nominated for behind-the-camera awards, including Best Sound, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Stunts, and Best Visual Effects.

    In fact, the only time the Apple Original Movie has earned a Best Picture nod was at the Astra Midseason Film Awards. It isn't up for the Best Film accolade at the 2026 BAFTAs, nor did it get put forward for similar gongs at this year's Critics Choice Awards or Golden Globes. That makes its Best Picture Oscar nomination all the more remarkable.

    So, what chance does it have of pulling off an almighty shock at this year's Oscars and landing Apple its second Best Picture Academy Award after CODA's hugely unexpected win in 2022? They're effectively zero, in my view. From Netflix hits like Frankenstein and Train Dreams, to Sinners and its Warner Bros. sibling One Battle after Another, and even A24's Marty Supreme, the competition is simply too strong. It's a huge achievement for F1 to be nominated for this type of award and, quite simply, Apple should take pride in the fact that it has been.

    2026 Oscars nomination list in full: every movie that's up for an Academy Award

    Leonardo DiCaprio's Bob wielding a rifle in One Battle After Another

    One Battle After Another is the second-most nominated film for this year's Academy Awards (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Best Picture

    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • F1
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • The Secret Agent
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners
    • Train Dreams

    Best Actor

    • Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme
    • Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
    • Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
    • Michael B Jordan – Sinners
    • Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

    Best Actress

    • Jessie Buckley – Hamnet
    • Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
    • Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
    • Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
    • Emma Stone – Bugonia

    Best Supporting Actress

    • Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
    • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
    • Amy Madigan – Weapons
    • Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners
    • Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

    Best Supporting Actor

    • Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another
    • Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
    • Delroy Lindo – Sinners
    • Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
    • Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

    Best Casting

    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • The Secret Agent

    Best Director

    • Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another
    • Ryan Coogler – Sinners
    • Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
    • Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
    • Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

    Best Adapted Screenplay

    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • One Battle After Another
    • Train Dreams

    Best Original Screenplay

    • Blue Moon
    • It Was Just an Accident
    • Marty Supreme
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners

    Best Original Song

    • Dear Me – Diane Warren: Relentless
    • Golden – KPop Demon Hunters
    • I Lied to You – Sinners
    • Sweet Dreams of Joy – Viva Verdi!
    • Train Dreams – Train Dreams

    Best Original Score

    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners

    Best International Feature

    • It Was Just an Accident
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sirât
    • The Secret Agent
    • The Voice of Hind Rajab

    Best Animated Feature

    • Arco
    • Elio
    • KPop Demon Hunters
    • Little Amélie
    • Zootopia 2

    Best Documentary Feature

    • Come See Me in the Good Light
    • Cutting Through the Rocks
    • Mr. Nobody Against Putin
    • The Alabama Solution
    • The Perfect Neighbor

    Best Costume Design

    • Avatar: Fire and Ash
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • Sinners

    Best Make-Up and Hairstyling

    • Frankenstein
    • Kokuho
    • Sinners
    • The Smashing Machine
    • The Ugly Stepsister

    Best Production Design

    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners

    Best Sound

    • Frankenstein
    • F1
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Sirât

    Best Editing

    • F1
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners

    Best Cinematography

    • Frankenstein
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Train Dreams

    Best Visual Effects

    • Avatar: Fire and Ash
    • F1
    • Jurassic World Rebirth
    • Sinners
    • The Lost Bus

    Best Live-Action Short

    • A Friend of Dorothy
    • Butcher's Stain
    • Jane Austin's Period Drama
    • The Singers
    • Two People Exchanging Saliva

    Best Animated Short

    • Butterfly
    • Forevergreen
    • Retirement Plan
    • The Girl Who Cried Pearls
    • The Three Sisters

    Best Documentary Short

    • All the Empty Rooms
    • Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud
    • Children No More: Were and Are Gone
    • The Devil Is Busy
    • Perfectly a Strangeness

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/sinners-leads-2026-oscar-nominations-with-record-breaking-16-nods-and-its-been-joined-by-a-surprise-apple-tv-movie-on-the-best-picture-shortlist 4JpopY9htngardBnUDapcS Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:40:19 +0000 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 16:42:34 +0000     <![CDATA[ Not every actor is anti-AI — Chris Pratt says ‘a lot more movies will be made’ thanks to the tech, even if new sci-fi thriller Mercy doesn't agree ]]> A positive angle on AI in film? I wouldn't have believed it unless I was writing it myself. This Friday (January 23), the new Amazon MGM studios movie Mercy is released in theaters, following detective Chris (Chris Pratt) after his imprisonment in an AI-generated courtroom for a murder he didn't commit.

    Its messaging on whether AI is a good or bad thing in society is extremely ambivalent, instead asking us to assess whether both technology and humans are capable of making mistakes. For an industry that's embroiled in a divisive battle over how to use it, it's the safest direction to take.

    While Frankenstein director Guillermo Del Toro and actors unions, such as Equity, have been outspoken in their condemnations of AI usage, not everybody has the same opinion. Luckily for us at TechRadar, we were able to dig deeper into the possible positives with Pratt himself.

    Not only does the Guardians of the Galaxy actor frequently use AI in his free time, but he also believes in it bringing more "opportunities" to the future of filmmaking.

    'We're in a creative revolution right now'

    @techradar

    ♬ original sound - TechRadar

    "Over the course of the past year, I decided in the makeup trailer of the projects that I've [been] working on that instead of scrolling, I wanted to educate myself," Pratt tells me. "So I've been using a lot of different AI platforms to learn a lot of different things. I love it. I think it's fantastic, amazing tool. You can get so much stuff done using AI. It's incredible."

    It almost goes without saying that not everybody in film and TV – or indeed audiences – is going to feel the same way. Look on TikTok and you'll see trends dedicated to taking life offline again, committing to analogue consumption of media.

    If you do stay online, you'll see news announcements with public figures like Matthew McConaughey and Michael Caine, who have partnered with studio ElevenLabs for AI audio deals.

    There's no clear winner, nor is there any single way to effectively to amalgamate AI into existing life. But for Pratt, he feels hope rather than fear.

    "Well first of all, I understand that there's a harsh reality with introducing new technologies," Pratt adds. "We're in a bit of an intellectual and creative revolution right now. So I think that there are people who have had steady jobs in the film business that are probably going to be displaced by AI. That should be first and foremost recognized as what's troubling and painful, and my heart goes out to people who would lose their jobs in this industry.

    "Secondly, I think implementing this new tool is going to potentially create incredible opportunities for people to tell stories. I think you're going to see a lot more movies and a lot more of people's visions being brought to screen because of generative AI and what it can do to help take those visions and put it up on a screen. For the jobs that it offsets, I'm hopeful that it will create incredible opportunities for people to use it as a tool. It almost becomes a new department in collaboration of many."

    Am I completely convinced by Pratt's line of thinking? Absolutely not. Much like any significant change, I think things are likely going to get worse before they get better. There's also the risk of handcraft (e.g. VFX, animation) being lost, especially if generative AI is more cost-effective for studios.

    However, I do like the fact that somebody sees a light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is a Hollywood A-Lister. I just hope that independent movies and lower-profile actors can use AI to their advantage, rather than be wiped out by it.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/not-every-actor-is-anti-ai-chris-pratt-says-a-lot-more-movies-will-be-made-thanks-to-the-tech-even-if-new-sci-fi-thriller-mercy-doesnt-agree dhGDJ2AcWxjhpfYuStCFGd Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:48:04 +0000     <![CDATA[ Mercy review: Chris Pratt's new AI sci-fi thriller is so haphazard, you'll wonder if ChatGPT could do a better job of writing it ]]> I need everyone in the movie industry to listen up and repeat the following pact: "I solemnly swear to never make a film told through the lens of social media ever again. Never will I sit my main character in front of a screen, digesting the rest of the storyline through open internet tabs, Instagram feeds and MacBook files. I will only include digital elements if it effectively serves the plot."

    Agreed? Great, because Chris Pratt's new AI sci-fi thriller Mercy is the latest victim of this heinous crime. With a 101 minute runtime, Pratt spends 90 of those sitting in the same chair, wrongly accused of a murder he didn't commit. Instead of being given a defense lawyer like a normal society would, he has to face off against an AI-generated judge in a 'mercy' courtroom (who conveniently looks exactly like Rebecca Ferguson).

    If he can't prove his innocence past a certain percentage, he'll be fried on the spot. Override the algorithm sufficiently, and he'll walk free. Cue an entire movie of sifting through ring cam footage, facetiming witnesses and finding crucial evidence on his daughter's private Finsta account.

    After about 15 minutes of this, the gimmick wears off pretty quickly. Pratt himself is clearly loving it (possibly due to the ease of his character also being called Chris) but unsurprisingly, this doesn't translate offscreen. Mercy is mundane in its own unique way, but there are few surprises – it'll hit you over the head with its ambivalent AI messaging.

    Mercy refuses to call AI a hero or a villain, and that's a missed opportunity

    "Maybe humans and AI both make mistakes" is a line of dialogue in Mercy that I've only slightly paraphrased, and it sums up the movie's moral vagueness in one nifty sentence. Sure, we've just spent an hour and 40 minutes watching an AI-generated court judge nearly kill Chris over a wrongful conviction, but we all make mistakes, right?

    This was Amazon MGM Studios' chance to lay down the AI line by deciding what side of the industry argument they're on. Instead, they've chosen to sit on the fence, and that transforms any vim and vigor Mercy did have into pure monotony. If we're not using storytelling to send home a powerful message, especially about something so ever-changing, then what's the point?

    Of course, the point is to make a bit of money at the box office by seeming to touch on a topical subject. It's the same way that a social media influencer might look like they're supporting a social campaign, but are actually doing the surface-level bare minimum to help it. Mercy could have been an industry-changing heavyweight piece of art, but no – let's play around with some CGI graphics instead.

    For a big-budget studio, these graphics feel incredibly cheap. This is where the most obvious connection to Prime Video's take on War of the Worlds, starring Ice Cube, comes into play. Both have the same function and aesthetic look – almost as if Amazon is ashamed that is uninspired slop is all it's got to offer.

    @techradar

    ♬ original sound - TechRadar

    Rebecca Ferguson is our one and only savior

    Rebecca Ferguson as an AI judge

    Rebecca Ferguson is our AI judge. (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

    Almost no movie (perhaps with the exception of 2023 thriller Missing) can use tech, screens and social media as its sole method of storytelling to its advantage – the concept is as lame as lame comes. But our AI-fashioned Rebecca Ferguson is the jewel in our crown of criminal offenses.

    Even as a non-human entity, Ferguson shines. She's far from a voice of reason, but seeing the cracks in her generated facade is easily the most satisfying payoff in this otherwise faltering farce. She's also the only source of continuity when Mercy decides to finally let Chris out of his chair for an unhinged 15-minute duration, abandoning all of its narrative mechanics without warning.

    You get where I'm coming from here. ChatGPT could probably have written a much stronger script and overarching plot, while watching any other takes on AI or the digital world would be a more shrewd use of your time. Our best case scenario is hoping Mercy is popular enough to finance more Guardians of the Galaxy or Star-Lord content, and then never speak of it again.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/mercy-review RkKSjF8FRZkmGDz8ijN3VX Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:53:40 +0000     <![CDATA[ Avengers: Doomsday's action will 'eclipse everything else Marvel has ever done', insider says — and details about its first scene seem to have leaked online ]]>
  • Avengers: Doomsday's opening scene is going to make people "lose their minds"
  • One insider also says it'll "eclipse everything else Marvel's ever done"
  • Details about the set-piece have apparently leaked online

    • Avengers: Doomsday's opening sequence is reportedly "going to eclipse everything else Marvel's ever done" and will make people "lose their f****** minds."

    That's according to industry insider John Campea, who's whipped fans into a frenzy over what he's heard about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie's beginning.

    Speaking on the latest edition of his self-titled YouTube show, Campea claimed that someone close to the film's production had teased that it not only opens with a major set-piece, but will also be the most action-filled Marvel movie of all time.

    "What this person indicated to me was the sheer volume of action is going to eclipse everything else Marvel's ever done alone," Campea teased. "You never know how it's actually going to play out on screen, but what they indicated to me was the sheer amount and volume of action in this thing, when you're talking in terms of minutes on screen and scope, is going to blow away everything Marvel's ever done."

    Name-dropping X-2: X-Men United and Batman v Superman, which Campea cited as two comic book films with his favorite opening numbers, he added: "I think the opening sequence of Doomsday is going to eclipse those. It all depends on how it executes. People are going to lose their f****** minds. This movie starts with its foot through the floor and shoots you like a cannon out of the gate."

    Is Avengers: Doomsday's opening sequence tied to the footage in one of its teasers?

    Cyclops screaming as he unleashes a powerful optic blast while kneeling in Avengers: Doomsday

    Did Doomsday's X-Men trailer give us a glimpse at its action-centric opener? (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

    It's unclear if Campea's source told him what happens in the Marvel Phase 6 flick's opening salvo, or if they just teased its supposedly epic scale.

    Regardless, in the past 24 hours, major details about said sequence appear to have already leaked online. Unsurprisingly, the information that's seemingly come to light has spread like wildfire across social media. and fueled further excitement among Marvel fans.

    I won't be linking out to or discussing those leaks due to the potentially massive spoilers they contain. However, one of Avengers 5's recently released teasers might provide a clue about what its opening sequence could depict.

    Indeed, of the four trailers unveiled by Marvel so far, Avengers: Doomsday's X-Men teaser is the only one that includes any action-heavy footage. Admittedly, it's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment of James Marsden's Cyclops unleashing a trademark optic blast towards the end of a major battle.

    Nonetheless, if this bite-sized clip is taken from the next Avengers film's curtain raiser, it suggests that one of this year's most exciting new movies is going all-out to top its comic book movie siblings in the action-spectacle stakes.

    For more on the highly-anticipated superhero flick, get the lowdown on everything we know so far about Avengers: Doomsday.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/avengers-doomsdays-action-will-eclipse-everything-else-marvel-has-ever-done-insider-says-and-details-about-its-first-scene-seem-to-have-leaked-online HLy5TmtjdjdhBABu2xibka Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:26:47 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 12:27:59 +0000     <![CDATA[ The Brave and the Bold's writer has seemingly been named — and Batman fans aren't pleased with who's been picked to pen the DCU movie ]]>
  • The Brave and the Bold's writer has reportedly been revealed
  • They wrote the scripts for Birds of Prey and The Flash
  • DCU co-CEO James Gunn is yet to comment on the DCU Batman movie rumor

    • The Brave and the Bold writer's identity has reportedly been revealed – and DC fans are voicing their displeasure over the hire.

    According to industry insider Jeff Sneider, the DC Universe's (DCU) Batman movie will be penned by Christina Hodson. The Hollywood scribe is best known for writing the scripts for Birds of Prey and The Flash, aka two films set in the now-defunct DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

    Christina Hodson posing for photos at an even for DCEU movie Birds of Prey

    Hodson's previous writing credits include two DCEU films that flopped at the global box office (Image credit: Justin Goff Photos/Getty Images)

    Ordinarily, I'd caution against believing what you read on the internet. That's particularly true of rumors that come from people like Sneider, who's believed to have good contacts within the industry, but whose track record with leaks is mixed at best.

    On this occasion, though, another industry insider, who goes by the moniker Apocalyptic Horseman on X/Twitter, has said Hodson is penning the script for the DCU's Batman flick. Apocalyptic Horseman is far more reliable when it comes to scoops and other industry gossip, so there appears to be some credence to this rumor.

    The revelation about Hodson's involvement comes a few days after DCU co-chief James Gunn provided a small update on The Brave and the Bold's development.

    Responding to one fan during a Q&A session on Threads, Gunn implied that, while work was ongoing on the DCU Chapter One film, it could be a long time before it's released in theaters. That's because, from a Batman project perspective, DC Studios' current priority is to film The Batman Part II and ensure it'll meet its October 2, 2027 launch date.

    That movie, which exists independently of the DCU, is the sequel to the 2022 Robert Pattinson-starring film The Batman and is due to start shooting sometime in early 2026. With Gunn also saying there won't be movement on TB&TB until an "actionable script" is ready, it's going to be a long time before The Dark Knight officially makes his DCU debut.

    How have DC Comics fans reacted to Christina Hodson's hiring?

    Not well. Indeed, a thread on the DC Cinematic Reddit page is full of opinions ranging from general bemusement to downright frustration. Similar sentiments have been expressed on other social media platforms, including X/Twitter.

    In the grand scheme of things, though these opinions are held by a fraction – albeit a very vocal one – of the global DC Comics fanbase. So, while they give us an insight into what people are making of Hodson's involvement, it's impossible to determine if the majority of people hold a similar view.

    It's not all bad news for some, though. As others have pointed out, Hodson was the head writer for Bumblebee, which is widely considered to be one of the better Transformers movies around. Meanwhile, in the aforementioned Reddit thread, some observers highlighted a scene from The Flash, one involving Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne, and argued that it shows Hodson has a "great understanding" of the iconic character and his crimefighting alter-ego.

    Comment from r/DC_Cinematic

    For what it's worth, Gunn is yet to confirm or deny – at the time of publication, anyway – that Hodson is penning TB&TB's screenplay.

    If Hodson's involvement is announced in due course, it'll mark the first major update we've received about the DCU's Batman film for months. Indeed, aside from Gunn's replies to fans on Threads, June 2025 was the last time he discussed its development, with the DC Studios co-CEO saying "I think I have a way in" with The Brave and the Bold's story.

    While we wait for more news on TB&TB, find out everything we know so far about The Batman Part II. Or, learn more about this year's new movies from DC Studios by checking out my complete guide to Supergirl and what we know about Clayface.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-brave-and-the-bolds-writer-has-seemingly-been-named-and-batman-fans-arent-pleased-with-whos-been-picked-to-pen-the-dcu-movie g3yUBHm5y523gviTQ8Ecq6 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:26:58 +0000 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:30:15 +0000     <![CDATA[ ‘I can’t stand what it writes’: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon share their views on using AI to write movies, but admit it could become a new editing tool ]]> Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are busy with promoting their new Netflix movie The Rip, and their recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Podcast has everyone talking about AI’s place in film production.

    As well as their discussion about the best streaming services allegedly ‘dumbing down’ movies to cater to doomscrollers and background viewers, the long-time collaborators had a few things to say about the direction of AI and whether or not it’s a valuable means of enhancing human creativity for movie making.

    Affleck didn’t hold back, claiming that generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT will never be able to replicate the nuance of art produced by humans: “If you try to get ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to write you something, it’s really sh***y, because by its nature it goes to the mean, to the average”, he starts, implying that the standard of writing is no match to a full-fledged story written by a screenwriter.

    But his rant doesn’t end there: “I just can’t stand to see what it even writes” he added, doubling down on his views. This is when Matt Damon stepped in.

    Screenwriting aside, generative AI tools are also used for facial modification when creating certain expressions, or even adding actors to a scene without having to have them on set. Much like Affleck’s statements on AI-generated writing, Damon slammed it for similar reasons.

    Following an anecdote about a scene from Benny Safdie’s latest movie The Smashing Machine, Damon recalls being moved by Dwayne Johnson’s performance in a particular scene due to his raw display of emotion which he drew from a traumatic experience. “You can have AI understand Dwayne’s face and move it in to different (expressions), no f*****g AI can do that”, says Damon.

    From a creative perspective, these views are reasonable – nothing that AI produces can compare to a script that’s rich in depth or an acting performance that comes from the heart – but Affleck doesn’t rule generative AI out altogether.

    “It’s going to be a tool like visual effects”

    Though Affleck acknowledged AI’s incapacities, sharing “I think it’s very unlikely that (AI) is going to be able to write anything meaningful, or that it’s going to be making movies from whole cloth”, that’s not to say he doesn’t believe it will be a useful movie making tool.

    In a similar light to enhancement technology like CGI and other visual effects tools, Affleck believes AI will play a similar role in future movie production: “The guilds are going to manage this where it’s like 'if this is a tool that can actually help us'" he starts.

    From a union and business point of view, he puts it this way: "For example, we don't have to go to the North Pole, we can shoot the scene here in our parkas and whatever but make it appear very realistically as if we're in the North Pole, it'll save us a lot of money and time".

    It could be that the same applies for the written aspect of movies he says. Not in the sense that AI will be writing full scripts, but it may well become part of generating ideas during the creative process, even if it's simply asking for help when you're struggling to build context, which Affleck also highlighted.

    As a writer but also a fan of movies, what draws me in the most is the idea that there's a whole army of creatives behind every aspect of a movie, and one of the most valued parts is knowing that a strong script and compelling acting performances are all coming from talented and intelligent humans. AI in movie production was inevitable, but I fear that Affleck is really downplaying the influence it could have in years to come.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-cant-stand-what-it-writes-ben-affleck-and-matt-damon-share-their-views-on-using-ai-to-write-movies-but-admit-it-could-become-a-new-editing-tool iGi4E2JRueoLQzyz6tpW3B Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:05:46 +0000 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:05:46 +0000     <![CDATA[ Netflix will add live-action Universal movies to its back catalog sooner than it said it would — including the new Jurassic Park film ]]>
  • New Universal live-action movies will debut on Netflix earlier than expected
  • The former's latest film projects weren't due to land on the streamer until 2027
  • The streaming giant has confirmed they'll join its library from late January onwards

    • Update: Responding to TechRadar's request for comment, a Netflix spokesperson said: "We can confirm that the live-action film pay-1b licensing deal is starting earlier than announced, with the first film being Megan 2.0. The animation portion of the deal was already active."

    Original story follows.

    Netflix will reportedly become the new streaming home for Universal Pictures' latest live-action movies earlier than anticipated.

    According to fansite What's on Netflix (WoN), the streaming giant will take over from Prime Video as the at-home destination for Universal films before the end of January 2026.

    The reveal comes over a year after Netflix announced it had entered a multi-year deal with Universal Filmed Entertainment Group (UFEG) for the US rights to live-action films from Universal Pictures and subsidiary Focus Features. Per an October 2024 Netflix press release, Netflix confirmed it had renewed its exclusive licensing agreement with UFEG for its animated offerings and, beginning 2027, it would be able to show UFEG's live-action flicks no later than eight months after their initial theatrical launch.

    Hiccup looking at Toothless as he holds his right hand on its nose in Universal's How to Train Your Dragon remake

    How to Train Your Dragon's live-action remake is another movie that may land on Netflix in early 2026 (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

    Now, though, WoN has suggested that partnership will start an entire year earlier than Netflix and Universal first revealed. Per the website's sources, Megan 2.0 will lead the charge, with the horror sci-fi thriller dropping on the world's best streaming service on January 26. It'll be followed by many more of Universal's 2025 big-screen projects, including Jurassic World: Rebirth on February 28 and Bugonia on April 26.

    I've reached out to Netflix for comment on WoN's report, but hadn't received a response by the time of publication. I'll update this article if I hear back.

    Another streaming victory to add to the Netflix trophy cabinet

    Emma Stone's Michelle wearing white makeup with her head shaved in Bugonia

    Focus Features film Bugonia is also expect to make its Netflix debut before mid-2026 (Image credit: Focus Features)

    At the time of writing, Prime Video holds the US rights to add new movies from UFEG to its back catalog. That's been the case since the multi-year licensing deal, which began in 2022, was first announced in July 2021 (per an Amazon MGM Studios press blast).

    Back then, it was suggested (per the Los Angeles Times) that Amazon and Universal had entered a five-year partnership. However, Netflix is now seemingly set to become the new holder of what's referred to as a Pay-1B window. That's the term for a 10-month period whereby Netflix can exclusively show Universal films to its userbase before they re-join Peacock TV, aka the streamer owned by UEFG's parent company NBCUniversal.

    If WoN's report is accurate, it begs the question how Netflix managed to secure the Pay-1B window rights for Universal live-action movies a year earlier than expected. After all, Amazon's deal with Universal still has 12 months to run.

    With many more highly-anticipated Universal-developed films available to stream at home in the months and years ahead – Wicked: For Good and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie being two such productions – it doesn't make sense for Amazon to pull the plug on this deal a year earlier than expected. Nevertheless, it seems this mini-streaming war has seen Netflix come out on top again. And, with the streaming titan having a larger subscriber base than Prime Video, Universal films will have more people to entertain than before.

    This isn't the only licensing deal Netflix has struck recently. Last Friday (January 16), Netflix renewed its global streaming rights deal for Sony Pictures movies, which is believed to have cost $7 billion. Expect to see huge films from the latter, such as The Legend of Zelda Movie and multiple Spider-Man flicks, make their way onto the platform in the years to come, then.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/netflix-will-reportedly-add-live-action-universal-movies-to-its-back-catalog-sooner-than-it-said-it-would-including-the-new-jurassic-park-film gEFyKAB49fuiaKV7Z3TS77 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Tue, 20 Jan 2026 09:20:27 +0000     <![CDATA[ 'We're entering... a post-truth era, where it's almost impossible to tell if something's real or not'; Cameo CEO on the uncharted territory of AI ]]> There's a place where you can have Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) wish you happy birthday, Elmo lift your spirits, or Chuck Norris round-house kick your question into an answer. That's the magic of Cameo, the destination for personalized celebrity video messages. But it, like so many others, faces growing and not insignificant challenges in the age of AI.

    "We're entering...a post-truth era, where it's almost impossible to tell if something's real or not," Cameo CEO and Co-founder Steve Galanis told me during a recent, wide-ranging conversation.

    Steven Galanis, CEO and Co-founder of Cameo

    (Image credit: Cameo)

    Cameo has been around for almost a decade and, in that time, become almost shorthand for celebrity shoutouts. The videos that the stars make on the platform and are delivered by Cameo to paying customers (Cameo takes a 30% cut) have become a sort of cultural touchstone, and the messages are sometimes viral and newsworthy in their own right (with the occasional home-grown controversy thrown in).

    The platform's heyday was arguably in 2020, during the pandemic, but Cameo persists, and there are still countless A-, B-, C-, D-List and beyond celebrities making anywhere from six figures to – likely – lunch money on the platform. The world it faces now, though, is significantly different than the one in which it launched in 2017. It's different to the world that existed six years, or even one year ago.

    Trust and verify

    Cameo's onboarding process asks you to submit images of your photo ID (they also gather bank information) to, as Galanis told me, verify they're real people, but that may no longer be enough. "We weren't worrying about this a year ago or two years ago; we didn't see this happening. Now, when there's someone I know is real, I need to know, is the video that they're making real?"

    This is the "post-truth era" Galanis was referring to. It's a point he hammered home repeatedly and something that Cameo is grappling with right now.

    While the platform verifies every celebrity on the platform, it does not automatically catch AI-generated content and, in fact, relies on customers to report it.

    Cameo

    (Image credit: Future)

    Galanis told me about a "long-time talent" on Cameo where customers noticed they were "clearly doing fake videos". Cameo investigated and "even though it's the real person that's on Cameo, they were uploading AI versions of their video, sending it to customers, and that is not something that we allow on our platform," he told me.

    It's not that Cameo does nothing to authenticate its content, though the authentication largely revolves around verifying that the celebrity you're engaging with is actually that person. To guard against AI deep fakes of its stable of celebrities, Cameo uses C2PA (Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity) digital watermarks.

    Galanis, though, knows that's not the end of it and sees authenticity as "a continuum and it really is a big problem, and we're thinking a lot about it here".

    What he'd like, though, is for the world at large to think more broadly about content verification and truth, "As a society, it's vital that we go and solve these issues of real versus fake, authentic, or not," he told me.

    Fighting a giant

    Steven Galanis, CEO and Co-founder of Cameo

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    One party that might not be helping Galanis's cause, though, is OpenAI. The AI giant is famous not just for its powerful ChatGPT generative chatbot, but for the Sora app, which is letting anyone create short, vertical AI videos featuring themselves and "cameos".

    Yes, that's right, OpenAI stepped right on the Cameo brand to introduce a platform that can take AI avatars of almost anyone (who gives permission) and create videos of them doing almost anything.

    Cameo and Galanis, naturally, sued.

    The reasons for fighting OpenAI were obvious to Galanis. Cameo's been responsible for creating what he calls "10 million magical moments," but there's also the concern about what happens to his brand. What "if, suddenly," he explained, "you had a product called Cameo that was all fake AI slop videos as opposed to the real ones. You look at what that would do to our Google rankings, or when the social media suddenly gets flooded with Cameos that aren't real. That would be existential for us as a brand."

    Cameo's won some early legal battles, and there's no mention in the Sora app of "cameos", but Galanis is still concerned: "We are in a David versus Goliath battle for our very existence."

    We are in a David versus Goliath battle for our very existence.

    Steven Galanis

    Despite everything, Galanis sounds net-positive about AI. He says he uses it often in his daily life, and he worries about "luddites" who try to avoid it.

    Galanis recounted a recent visit to his alma mater, Duke University, where he was a history major, and how the professors quizzed him about letting students use AI. For him, it seems less a question about what happens in university than what comes after for these students.

    "The reality is, if they come work for me or they come work for any company, companies are demanding their people are using these tools."

    Even on Cameo today, there is a new class of AI celebrities that are gaining traction, including Marcus the Worm, a wholly AI-generated creation that can charge $150 per personalized message.

    The new Cameo frontier

    AI's transformative nature also stands to open up new opportunities for Cameo and its partners. Years ago, Illumination Animation (makers of the popular Despicable Me franchise) wanted to put Minions on Cameo but realized there was just one voice actor to do it, and it would've been impossible to scale the personalized requests.

    "Now, what you can do with companies like Eleven Labs, and others that have done amazing work on generative AI and then voice models, you can now go and take that voice actor, and he can continue, [and] he or she can monetize by having their voice out in the marketplace."

    In other words, the original voice actor could put his voice in, say Eleven Labs, let it create a model that can then have him recite personalized responses (maybe with a generative AI Minion video from Illumination), and, with his permission, he gets paid for each generative, yet personalized, response.

    That's the potential upside, but Galanis is less sanguine about how AI companies build and train their models and generate IP-related content. His business doesn't own the videos of its celebrities' posts and won't train AI models based on them.

    A world where all the content that they've ever made gets stolen, and people could kind of use this stuff for free, that would be existentially bad for our talent and, by extension, it would be existentially bad for us.

    Steven Galanis

    "Our entire business relies on people being able and willing to pay a premium for the IP of the talent that we work with. So in a world where all the content that they've ever made gets stolen, and people could kind of use this stuff for free, that would be existentially bad for our talent and, by extension, it would be existentially bad for us."

    Cameo and Galanis's role, he told me, is to maintain the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) of his clients (celebrities) even as platforms like Sora indicate that NIL, perhaps, doesn't matter anymore.

    Galanis believes Cameo can act as stewards of the talent's IP, but he's also a realist about the challenges they (and the rest of us) face.

    "This stuff is getting exponentially better every day, right? So, while you might easily be able to pass that, like, 'real or fake?' test today, I've seen things that are coming, and I'm telling you, like, you don't know."

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/were-entering-a-post-truth-era-where-its-almost-impossible-to-tell-if-somethings-real-or-not-cameo-ceo-on-the-unchartered-territory-of-ai XkGEwSRMuPp2FEU2qbxTtW Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:39:08 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 16:19:19 +0000     <![CDATA[ How to watch The Secret of Me on Channel 4 — it's *FREE* ]]>
  • Watch The Secret of Me for free on Channel 4 (UK restricted)
  • Watch The Secret of Me for free on ABC iView (AUS restricted)
  • Abroad? Watch Channel 4 outside UK with this VPN

    • The Secret of Me – the intersex documentary directed by Grace Hughes-Hallett (producer of Three Identical Strangers) – follows Jim Ambrose, born “Kristi”. During a feminist studies class, "Kristi" discovers the shocking truth: doctors and his parents kept his intersex medical history from him his entire life.

    Having already picked up a slew of awards, you can watch The Secret of Me online and for free with our quick guide below...

    Can I watch The Secret of Me for FREE?

    Watch The Secret of Me from anywhere with a VPN

    If you're keen to watch The Secret of Me but you're away from home and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could always use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do.

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    Can I watch The Secret of Me online in the US?

    US flag

    As far as we know, The Secret of Me hasn’t been given permission for take off by any US streaming services. Should it get the green light, though, we’ll be sure to update the latest information here.

    A UK fan abroad? You’ll need a VPN to connect to Channel 4, which will allow you to stream the show just like you would back home.

    How to watch The Secret of Me for FREE in the UK

    UK flag

    The Dougray Scott-led thriller The Secret of Me touches down on Channel 4 from Sunday, Nov 16. There are six, one-hour episodes in total.

    If you don’t have cable or satellite, you can stream each episode live as it airs on the FREE Channel 4 service, or on-demand soon after episodes have been broadcast.

    Outside the UK? To access Channel 4 from abroad, you'll need to download a good VPN, as detailed below.

    Where can I watch The Secret of Me in Canada?

    Canadian flag

    The Secret of Me hasn’t been acquired for broadcast in Canada yet.

    However, British citizens in Canada could simply purchase a VPN and enjoy every episode via Channel 4 just like you would back home.

    Can I watch The Secret of Me online in Australia?

    Australian flag

    The Secret of Me is available to watch on ABC iView in Australia from January 18, 2026.

    NB: If you’re out of the country – say, an Aussie citizen abroad trying to connect to iView, sign up to a VPN to use the same services you have access to back home.

    Can I watch The Secret of Me online free in New Zealand?

    New Zealand flag

    Although Kiwis can’t watch The Secret of Me online just yet, the six-part drama will likely arrive on TVNZ and TVNZ Plus in the future.

    Traveling away from home? Don’t forget that if you’re a Brit in New Zealand, you can use a VPN to tune into Channel 4 while on the move.

    The Secret of Me official trailer

    The Secret of Me (2025) cast

    • Jim Ambrose – the central subject whose life story anchors the film
    • Cheryl Chase – appearing as themselves / contributor
    • Tiger Devore – appearing as themselves / contributor

    Who directed The Secret of Me?

    The film is directed by Grace Hughes‑Hallett, known for her work on Three Identical Strangers. It was produced by Rogan Productions and premiered at SXSW 2025.

    VPN services are evaluated and tested by us in view of legal recreational use. For example:a) Access to services from other countries, (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).b) Safeguarding your online security and making your online privacy more robust when abroad.Future plc does not support nor condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. We do not endorse nor approve of consuming pirated content that is paid-for.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/watch-the-secret-of-me-on-channel-4-its-free o5Thuhiugo8Bc65sSQM8wQ Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:22:00 +0000 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:22:01 +0000     <![CDATA[ A fresh Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer release rumor is gathering pace online — and Marvel fans think it could be unveiled very soon ]]>
  • The first trailer for Spider-Man 4 is rumored to be releasing very soon
  • One leaker has suggested it could arrive "within a matter of days"
  • The Marvel Phase 6 movie will launch in theaters on July 31

    • Spider-Man: Brand New Day's first trailer could drop "within a matter of days", if a new rumor is to be believed.

    Last Friday (January 16), industry insider and X/Twitter user AlexFromCC informed their followers that its arrival "may be imminent" as Sony prepares to kickstart its promotional campaign for the Marvel Phase 6 movie.

    Before you get too excited, fellow webheads, some context is needed.

    When it comes to leaks, AlexFromCC's track record is mixed at best. Furthermore, the vague details within their latest post – phrases like "no date yet, as far as I know" and "time will tell" – could be viewed as 'get out of jail free' cards if what they've heard about an inaugural teaser for Spider-Man 4 doesn't come to pass.

    I've reached out to Sony for comment on the trailer rumor but, at the time of publication, had not received a response. I'll update this article if I hear back.

    When could the Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer come out?

    Tom Holland wearing his new Spider-Man suit and smiling in a behind the scenes video for Spider-Man: Brand New Day

    Marvel fans believe the first trailer for Spider-Man 4 could drop sometime this week (Image credit: Sony Pictures/Marvel Entertainment)

    If we take AlexFromCC's leak at face value, and if you buy into the hype that it's generated among Spider-Man fans, it could drop as soon as today (Monday, January 19).

    A quick glance at r/MarvelStudiosSpoilers and r/Spiderman reveals threads full of comments from Marvel fans suggesting it might be broadcast during the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship match. The game, which sees the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Miami Hurricanes, kicks off at 7:30pm ET / 4:30pm PT.

    Again, I want to stress that there's no confirmation that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film's first official footage will be shown during this event. So, why are fans increasingly confident that it will be? Two words: Avengers: Doomsday.

    Robert Downey Jr sitting in a chair and holding a finger to his lips during Marvel's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal

    Avengers: Doomsday's official trailer is reportedly going to drop during the 2026 Super Bowl (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

    Following the release of Doomsday's four teasers, MCU devotees are convinced that this movie's first trailer will debut during the 2026 Super Bowl, which takes place on Sunday, February 8. Considering those teasers have accumulated over one billion streams combined over the past four weeks, the next Avengers flick's first look is the trailer that everyone wants to see during this year's NFL Championship decider.

    As popular a character as Spider-Man is, Sony may not want to go toe-to-toe with another of 2026's most exciting new movies from a first trailer reveal standpoint. Why risk doing so and see Doomsday's trailer not only overshadow Brand New Day's, but also dominate online discussions in the aftermath of both teasers' unveilings? That would be reason enough for Sony to unleash Spider-Man 4's teaser trailer between now and February 8, so it has time to shine before more Avengers 5 footage drops.

    We'll find out if AlexFromCC was right all along about the release of Spider-Man 4's first teasers very, very soon. In the meantime, find out everything we know so far about Spider-Man: Brand New Day and, if you're feeling particularly brave, learn a thing or two about what could be shown in its first round of footage via this Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer leak piece.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/a-fresh-spider-man-brand-new-day-trailer-release-rumor-is-gathering-pace-online-and-marvel-fans-think-it-could-be-unveiled-very-soon 9wKduwb68Ghq3bVNY39csR Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:17:53 +0000 Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:21:08 +0000     <![CDATA[ ‘People love the unexpected’ — Disney on 25 years of Lego Star Wars, Smart Play, and why it's just getting started ]]> When Disney looks to expand its Star Wars offering beyond film and television, it does so carefully, with new ideas designed to both serve the overarching story while, importantly, feeling like natural additions to a franchise that spans generations of fans, as well as light years.

    Over the years, that approach has resulted in screen-accurate lightsabers, annual collaborations with Columbia Sportswear, and an ever-expanding lineup of toys and collectibles. Disney’s latest collaboration with Lego, however, takes a different approach.

    Lego’s new Smart Play system introduces sound and responsiveness directly into physical sets – without relying on apps, screens, or cloud connectivity – and it launches with three Lego Star Wars builds arriving on March 1.

    For Divya Dalal, Vice President of Global Hardlines at Disney Consumer Products, the technology is intentionally designed not to stand on its own.

    “It’s meant to enhance the play experience and add to the fun,” Dalal told me. “All of the sounds and interactivity – they’re what bring the sets to life.”

    From Disney’s perspective, the collaboration builds on more than 25 years of Lego Star Wars history, a legacy rooted in storytelling through play rather than static display.

    “Yes, you can display it, but ideally, you’re recreating your stories of how you know it,” Dalal added. “But now you get to do it in a new immersive way that makes someone want to play it over and over because it’s a different story.”

    Whether it’s the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, or Throne Room set, builders are given the foundations rather than a fixed script. The Smart Brick, Smart Minifigures, and Smart Tags add reactive sound and character responses, allowing players to take familiar Star Wars moments and reimagine them in their own way.

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    At the same time, Disney was deliberate about what Smart Play would not include.

    “It’s just taking the elements of what they like and putting it in a really safe environment within the essence of why you buy a Lego Star Wars set,” Dalal said.

    That balance reflects how kids play today, blending digital sensibilities with hands-on creativity while keeping the focus on physical building.

    “We are meeting kids where they are today in the digital age, while also grounding the tech in traditional physical building sets,” Dalal continued. “DCP is constantly innovating to level up play.”

    Lego UCS Death Star

    (Image credit: Lego)

    Over its 25-year run, Lego Star Wars has expanded in nearly every direction — from premium, $1,000 collector builds like the Death Star to more affordable sets aimed at younger fans. The line has evolved alongside the franchise itself, tying into not just the films, but animated series like The Clone Wars and, more recently, Disney+ shows. Smart Play signals the next evolution of that approach, one that suggests Lego Star Wars is still very much growing rather than settling into repetition.

    That evolution is defined as much by restraint as by ambition. Even compared to Lego’s previous technology-driven experiments, Smart Play is notably pared back: there are no screens, no listening microphones, and no AI. The system also avoids active network connections or any reliance on the cloud.

    While other parts of Disney are actively exploring AI-powered experiences, Smart Play reflects a different philosophy. As Dalal framed it, the technology exists to extend play and amplify fun – not to compete for attention or introduce complexity for its own sake.

    Star Wars, Dalal explained, is uniquely suited to this kind of approach.

    “Star Wars stories offer an endless play pattern given the galaxy is so vast,” she said. “The Smart Play system is a tool to help kids unlock their creativity and tell their own Star Wars stories.”

    A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

    A photo posted by on

    That sense of scale is reinforced by the franchise’s instantly recognizable audio cues – from music to ship noises – which lend themselves naturally to reactive play.

    “I think you have to have the right pairing of tech to IP,” Dalal said. “And the Star Wars galaxy specifically offers endless storytelling and instantly recognizable elements from the saga like music, ship noises, and more.”

    Rather than directing play, Smart Play is designed to reward curiosity. The Smart Brick responds differently depending on which characters or elements are nearby, encouraging experimentation and surprise.

    “People love the unexpected,” Dalal said. “There are fun Easter eggs within the sets and so many different ways to engage with the products.”

    For Disney and Lego, Smart Play reflects a shared belief that technology should support storytelling, not overshadow it. By keeping the tech under the hood, Lego Star Wars preserves what has made the line successful for decades, while opening the door to new ways of playing within a galaxy that continues to expand.

    “Fans have enjoyed Lego Star Wars sets for over 25 years,” Dalal noted. “This innovation is the perfect hybrid of physical and digital play, and will bring Star Wars home in a fresh and exciting way.”

    You can also preorder it on Amazon in the United States here.

    Lego UK: £139.99

    Lego Australia: AU$249.99View Deal

    You can also preorder the X-Wing on Amazon in the US.

    Lego UK £79.99

    Lego Australia: AU$149.99View Deal

    It's also available at Amazon in the United States here.

    Lego UK: £59.99

    Lego Australia: AU$99.99View Deal

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/its-meant-to-enhance-the-play-experience-disney-on-why-star-wars-was-the-right-place-to-launch-smart-play-and-how-people-love-the-unexpected B54LSNTPRRBVL7EXq9GKc8 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:30:00 +0000 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 23:33:53 +0000     <![CDATA[ 'We're competitive – we want to win': Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos rejects rumors that Warner Bros. movies won't stay in theaters for 45 days if $82bn buyout is approved ]]>
  • Netflix has clarified its stance on films landing in theaters amid its deal to buy Warner Bros.
  • Company head Ted Sarandos rejected the idea that they'll only be available for a 17-day period
  • Sarandos also disputed claims that he called the cinemagoing experience "outdated"

    • Netflix CEO ted Sarandos has clarified the company's stance on the theatrical release window model ahead of its potential deal to buy Warner Bros.

    Speaking to The New York Times, Sarandos dispelled rumors that Netflix would reduce the amount of time that new movies developed by Warner Bros. would spend in theaters. And, to prove he was serious, Sarandos stated that, if Netflix's $82.7bn deal to acquire Warner Bros. is eventually approved, any new films that the famous studio makes will stay in cinemas for the industry-accepted 45-day period.

    Rumors that Netflix might alter the theatrical release model for Warner Bros. movies first surfaced in a Deadline article. As part of a January 2, 2026, report discussing the Stranger Things 5 finale's performance on the big screen, Deadline claimed that its sources said: "Netflix have been proponents of a 17-day window, which would steamroll the theatrical business, while circuits such as AMC believe the line needs to be held around 45 days."

    A stern-looking Clark Kent standing in the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman movie

    Fans had worried that films, such as the sequel to 2025's Superman, would only be released in theaters for a 17-day period (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures/DC Studios)

    This new information came to light two weeks after Netflix reiterated its desire to continue releasing Warner Bros. movies via the traditional 45-day window. Indeed, The Hollywood Reporter quotes Sarandos as saying: "Our intentions, when we buy Warner Bros., will be to continue to release Warner Bros. studio movies in theaters with the traditional windows."

    Now, responding to a comment from The New York Times that people believe the world's best streaming service had performed a U-turn on that promise, Sarandos argued that simply wasn't the case.

    "I understand that folks are emotional about it because they love it and they don’t want it to go away," he said. "And they think that we’ve been doing things to make it go away. We haven’t.

    "When this deal closes, we will own a theatrical distribution engine that is phenomenal and produces billions of dollars of theatrical revenue that we don’t want to put at risk," Sarandos continued. "We will run that business largely like it is today, with 45-day windows. I’m giving you a hard number. If we’re going to be in the theatrical business, and we are, we’re competitive people – we want to win. I want to win opening weekend. I want to win [the] box office."

    Rumi, Zoey, and Mira cheer as they sit at a table full of food in Kpop Demon Hunters

    Netflix wants its own suite of film content, including Kpop Demon Hunters, to sit alongside Warner's theatre-first movies (Image credit: Netflix)

    During the same interview, Sarandos rebuffed suggestions that he and Netflix have looked down on the cinemagoing experience – and, depending on what you read, that the streaming titan wants to kill it for good.

    Replying to a question about previous comments he made about said experienced being an "outdated idea", Sarandos said: "You have to listen to that quote again. I said 'outmoded for some'.

    "I mean, like the town that [Warner Bros. period horror film] Sinners is supposed to be set in does not have a movie theater there. For those folks, it’s certainly outmoded. You’re not going to get in the car and go to the next town to go see a movie. But my daughter lives in Manhattan. She could walk to six multiplexes, and she’s in the theaters twice a week. Not outmoded for her at all.

    "I would say one of the other myths about all this is that we thought of going to the theaters as competition for Netflix," Sarandos added. "It absolutely is not. When you go out to see a movie in the theater, if it was a good movie, when you come home, the first thing you want to do is watch another movie. If anything, I think it helps, you know, encourage the love of films.

    "I did not get in this business to hurt the theatrical business. I got into this business to help consumers, to help movie fans."

    Looking for more Netflix coverage to check out? Read my review of The RIP, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's new Netflix action-crime thriller. Once you're done, catch up on the news that Netflix and Sony Pictures have renewed their multi-billion dollar partnership for the latter's movies to stream first on the former's platform.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/netflix/were-competitive-we-want-to-win-netflix-co-ceo-ted-sarandos-rejects-rumors-that-warner-bros-movies-wont-stay-in-theaters-for-45-days-if-usd82bn-buyout-is-approved wcTn9pqygNDU8qFcLSiQeJ Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:19:32 +0000 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:19:33 +0000     <![CDATA[ Heirs to the Empire: can Star Wars' new leadership team save the spluttering sci-fi franchise? ]]> It's official: Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as overseer of the Star Wars franchise.

    After months of speculation, Kennedy's 14-year spell in charge of the Disney subsidiary – and, by proxy, her time managing its flagship sci-fi property – will soon come to an end. Kennedy's impending departure was first announced on the official Star Wars website last night (January 15).

    As well as announcing Kennedy's exit, Lucasfilm and parent company Disney revealed who will succeed her. Dave Filoni, who's been viewed as Kennedy's natural heir for some time, will become Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer for the Star Wars franchise, with Lynwen Brennan also serving as Co-President.

    With over 30 years' experience working across various Star Wars and other Lucasfilm-developed projects, Filoni and Brennan are viewed as a safe pair of hands who could lead that iconic galaxy far, far away into new and potentially exciting territory. The big question on everyone's minds now, though, is: will they?

    The rule of two

    A collage of Kathleen Kennedy, Dave Filoni, and Lynwen Brennan smiling and looking into the camera

    Outgoing Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy (left) is being replaced by Dave Filoni (center) and Lynwen Brennand (right) (Image credit: starwars.com)

    Filoni and Brennan clearly have the talent, dedication, expertise, and fanatical affection for the Star Wars universe that should help to usher in a new era of original storytelling.

    There's plenty of evidence to suggest they will. Ever since Filoni joined Lucasfilm to direct Star Wars: The Clone Wars' animated feature film, the avid Star Wars fan has become increasingly involved in steering the direction of the franchise. His influence has been most notable in the era of streaming, with Filoni creating and executively producing numerous Disney+ shows amid the explosion of the streaming sector, and the subsequent race between studios to grab viewers' attention.

    Not every project has been a success (more on these later). However, Filoni has helped oversee critically-acclaimed and/or hugely popular small-screen endeavors, including Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, and, of course, The Mandalorian.

    Brennan's 25-year+ career at Lucasfilm has been less forward-facing than her new studio presidential partner's, but it's nonetheless been an impressive rise through the ranks for the company stalwart. Initially joining Lucasfilm division Industrial Light & Magic in 1999, Brennan became leader of said sub-company in 2009, before being promoted to Lucasfilm General Manager in 2015. Eleven years on from her last career advancement, Brennan is now set to use her evident leadership and business skills to co-run the place she's called home for 27 years.

    Will the Force reawaken under Filoni and Brennan's leadership?

    Din Djarin and Grogu in a snowy setting in The Mandalorian season 2

    Will Lucasfilm translate The Mandalorian's success on the small screen into theaters? (Image credit: Disney)

    Prepared as Filoni and Brennan no doubt are to assume control of Lucasfilm, there's no denying that they're taking charge of an incredibly popular franchise that's lost its way in recent years.

    For starters, it's been eight years since the last Star Wars movie – the overly cautious and predictable The Rise of Skywalker – was released in theaters. And, while that big-screen hiatus will come to an end in mid-2026 with the arrival of The Mandalorian and Grogu, it's debatable how well it'll perform – and, perhaps more importantly, if it's the right movie to end the drought.

    Indeed, to all intents and purposes, Mando and Baby Yoda's silver-screen debut seems to be a reworked version of what should have been The Mandalorian season 4. Throw in the lack of buzz around the movie, the sluggish nature of its marketing push – it's out in four months and we've only seen one trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu – and the fact that it's coming off the back of the series' worst-rated installment (that being season 3), and the Filoni-Brennan era may get off to an inauspicious start if the movie doesn't hit the ground running.

    Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of Star Wars Starfighter, sitting on a vehicle

    Star Wars: Starfighter is one of two films we'll see in that galaxy far, far away in the next 18 months (Image credit: Disney / Lucasfilm)

    There are other movie-based issues to be tackled too. The Mandalorian and Grogu and the Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter, which arrives in May 2027, notwithstanding, all other new Star Wars movies have been trapped in development hell for a while.

    In a wide-ranging Deadline interview as part of her farewell tour, Kennedy confirmed that scripts for various films had been turned in by Taiki Waititi, Donald Glover, James Mangold/Beau Willimon, and Adam Driver/Scott Burns/Steven Soderbergh. Given that some of those have been in the works for years with no sign of actually getting made, plus Kennedy's comments that "we’re in an era where companies are so risk-averse" about making original, creatively distinct movies, it's unclear if they'll ever see the light of day.

    Cassian looking at someone off-camera from a TIE fighter cockpit in Andor season 2

    Star Wars: Andor was an incredibly expensive endeavor, but proved to be worth the outlay (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

    Then there's the TV side of the money-spinning IP. The rapid rise of the streaming industry saw Lucasfilm pivot away from big-screen offerings in favor of telling stories via Disney+, aka one of the world's best streaming services.

    And, for a time, that decision paid off. The Mandalorian was a key driver behind millions signing up in the early days of Disney+. Other TV series have also been popular (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars: Ahsoka) enough among viewers, and/or rightly earned widespread acclaim and awards for their creative endeavors (Andor, Star Wars: Visions).

    There have been notable duds, though. The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew are two such examples that didn't resonate with audiences and, where The Acolyte is concerned, led to accusations from some fans that the franchise had become too woke and no longer appealed to its predominantly white, heterosexual male demographic. Given the backlash and/or poor viewership, neither title got a second season.

    The main promotional artwork for Star Wars: The Acolyte showing the Disney Plus series' main cast in various poses

    Divisive Star Wars TV series The Acolyte was canceled after one season (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

    Filoni and Brennan's in-trays will be full of other pressing matters that require their attention when they officially replace Kennedy. To me, though, the three biggest problems they need to solve are getting Star Wars back on the big screen, favoring quality over quantity with their movie and TV show output, and – most important of all – greenlighting projects that continue to take big, creative swings that appeal to every Star Wars fan.

    Nail those and Kennedy's heirs to the throne might turn this stuttering ship around. Fail, and the Force will no longer be with one of Disney's biggest IPs.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/heirs-to-the-empire-can-star-wars-new-leadership-team-save-the-spluttering-sci-fi-franchise hasenmEqR84EphwD3s3btU Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:19:56 +0000 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:33:30 +0000     <![CDATA[ Galaxy’s Edge is no longer locked to one Star Wars timeline — and that’s a big deal for Disneyland fans ]]>
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is expanding beyond a single era at Disneyland
  • Characters like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, and Han Solo will become permanent fixtures starting April 29, 2026
  • The update deepens immersion and includes a new soundscape featuring John Williams' iconic work

    • It's hard to believe, but it's been nearly 7-years since Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge opened at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Disney World's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida. These themed lands marked the first time you could essentially step foot into the Star Wars universe.

    In the years since, Galaxy's Edge on the East Coast and West Coast has evolved – we've seen more lightsabers, err, scrap metal, come to the forefront, and new visitors like Luke Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, the adorable BDX droids, as well as The Mandalorian and Grogu arrive from time to time.

    Now, though, Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland is updating its story. While both lands since launch have focused on the most recent trio of films – allowing Rey and Kylo Ren to roam – the West Coast version is going back in time a bit, and I simply couldn't be more excited.

    -Darth Vader at Disneyland's Galaxy Edge

    (Image credit: Disney Experiences/Disneyland)

    Disneyland has confirmed that starting on April 29, 2026 – that's 103 days away if you're counting – Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker will all be permanent fixtures at Galaxy's Edge. Effectively, Batuu – the formal location name for Galaxy's Edge – will contain multiple timelines or parts of the Star Wars universe.

    Maybe most importantly, you'll finally be able to have a moment as a park guest with Han and Leia in front of the Millennium Falcon, with Chewbacca nearby as well. Darth Vader, alongside Imperial Stormtroopers, will be on Batuu looking for Luke Skywalker, who'll be roaming the outpost.

    Luke, Leia, and Han will be closer to shops and the Millennium Falcon, while Darth Vader and the Imperial Stormtroopers will take over the former First Order area. R2-D2, The Mandalorian with Grogu, and Ahsoka Tano will also be roaming.

    Rey will remain near the Resistance section of the land, home to one of the most impressive rides – Rise of the Resistance. It's a personal favorite and one that merges multiple ride systems into one – seriously, watch the ride-through on Disney+ (and check out the deal below for a cheap subscription if you're not currently signed up).

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    To increase immersion and match the new locals you’ll begin seeing in Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland’s team – along with members of Walt Disney Imagineering – will update props throughout the land and refresh surface graphics. I’m keen to see this, but even more exciting is a new soundscape.

    Galaxy’s Edge is already packed with speakers hidden in plain sight to immerse you in Batuu. Many park goers, myself included, instinctively look up when hearing a ship whip by, blaster fire, or other environmental effects.

    Complementing Vader will undoubtedly be the Imperial March at points, but Disneyland isn’t messing around when it comes to authenticity.

    A look at the Millenium Falcon at Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.

    (Image credit: Disney Parks)

    Six scores from the Star Wars films, composed by John Williams, will be used as you enter Batuu and wander throughout the land. As you pass through the main tunnel into Galaxy’s Edge, the Force Theme and instantly recognizable Main Title will play, alongside cues like The Emperor, Han Solo and the Princess, and The Desert and the Robot Auction.

    Oga’s Cantina – a staple bar and eatery since Galaxy’s Edge opened – is being slightly rethemed. Since it will be set during the Galactic Civil War and founded by Oga Garra, it makes sense that the Cantina Band will be frequently played there.

    The Mandalorian and Grogu arrive at the Millenium Falcon in May

    Image 1 of 4

    Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Mandalorian and Grogu

    (Image credit: Disney Parks)
    Image 2 of 4

    Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Mandalorian and Grogu – Endor

    (Image credit: Disney)
    Image 3 of 4

    Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Mandalorian and Grogu – Tatooine

    (Image credit: Disney)
    Image 4 of 4

    Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – The Mandalorian and Grogu –Cloud City

    (Image credit: Disney)

    The formal start date for this redesign is April 29, 2026, though you may see enhancements and prop changes ahead of that. Disney Experiences has also confirmed that Rise of the Resistance will remain unchanged, while the new ride experience for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is still on track to debut on May 22, 2026.

    That update is a major technical undertaking for Walt Disney Imagineering, which has deepened its partnership with Epic Games, as the ride system uses Unreal Engine for real-time rendering. Essentially, it powers all the screens in the Falcon’s cockpit, and with the update, it'll be upgraded to Unreal Engine 5.

    The ride will be themed to The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the May 22, 2026 timing isn’t coincidental – the film The Mandalorian & Grogu hits theaters that same day.

    A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

    A photo posted by on

    The updated Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will debut at both Disneyland and Disney World in May 2026, but only Galaxy’s Edge on the West Coast will receive Darth Vader, Leia Organa, Han Solo (finally!), and Luke Skywalker beginning April 29, 2026. That’ll likely make Disney World faithful a bit jealous – at least for now.

    And if you’re heading to Galaxy’s Edge at either park, I’d highly recommend checking out the Batuu Bounty Hunters experience. It’s free via the Disney Play app on iOS and Android and uses augmented reality with MagicBand+ as you explore the land. I’ll be curious to see whether it gets updates at Disneyland in April or broader Mandalorian tie-ins by May 2026.

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/galaxys-edge-is-no-longer-locked-to-one-star-wars-timeline-and-thats-a-big-deal-for-disneyland-fans F4KBJwtqvWQRVYywgEY4zg Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:18 +0000 Fri, 16 Jan 2026 10:00:19 +0000     <![CDATA[ So you watched The Bride! trailer — here are 3 movies you need to stream before its release ]]> The trailer for Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! has officially landed (which you can catch up with below), and I think it might be my most anticipated movie of 2026.

    Forget Frankenstein – including the Guillermo Del Toro Netflix version – because Gyllenhaal's second movie takes the narrative in a completely different direction to the character we briefly met in Mary Shelley's original novel.

    Best Actress Oscar hopeful Jessie Buckley stars in the titular role, as groundbreaking scientist Dr. Euphronius (Annette Bening), who brings a murdered young woman back to life to be a companion for Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale). With an all-star cast, it's going to be a knockout, and our first trailer only proves that further.

    Set in 1930s Chicago, The Bride! is set to feature big-scale musical numbers, an unhinged partnership, and hopefully, more music by Florence and the Machine. If all of this reminded you of a certain three films gone by, I don't blame you.

    In fact, I think they're the perfect trilogy to binge before The Bride! releases worldwide on March 6... so let's go through what will get you in the ghoulish mood and where to stream them.

    Chicago

    Release date: December 2, 2002
    Cast: Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Gere, Queen Latifah
    Runtime: 113 minutes
    RT rating: 87%

    Obviously, the original crime-ridden story set in 1930s Chicago is the eponymous musical-movie, starring Renée Zellweger and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Numbers like 'Cell Block Tango', 'Hot Honey Rag', and 'All That Jazz' are now timeless classics, and the seedy mob feel to Roxy (Zellweger) and Velma's (Zeta-Jones) story is perfectly in line with The Bride!'s first look.

    Even as an avid musical hater, I fell in love with Chicago at an early age. I even cut my hair into a bob to look like Velma when I was 14 (please don't do this, the likelihood is that you won't suit it). It's a story that seeps under your skin while oozing with charm and glamour – and I'd bet good money on Gyllenhaal being able to give us some more razzle dazzle come March.

    Joker: Folie à Deux

    Release date: October 4, 2024
    Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Harry Lawtey, Jacob Lofland
    Runtime: 148 minutes
    RT rating: 31%

    Surely, Joker 2 is the movie that The Bride! trailer reminds us all of. An unhinged fantasy partnership between two lovers, dreamlike musical sequences and an inevitable crime spree – they're even both Warner Bros. productions.

    Not many people have the pipes of Lady Gaga, but Brits will know all too well that Buckley can indeed sing (she got her start on a West End competition show called I'd Do Anything). Buckley and Bale together as an acting partnership are a force to be reckoned with, and I bet The Bride! will be a lot more popular than Folie à Deux too.

    For me, the movie was slated much more harshly than it needed to be. It didn't hold a candle to Joker, but there's a great deal to like here. It's truly a fever dream, and I mean that as a compliment.

    The Bride of Frankenstein

    Release date: April 19, 1935
    Cast: Boris Karloff, Elsa Lanchester, Colin Clive, Valerie Hobson
    Runtime: 95 minutes
    RT rating: 98%

    Obviously, I've got to include the original 1935 movie. It's our best way to understand the framework of the story Gyllenhaal is working with, even if she has set it in a completely different world. Created as a sequel to 1931 movie Frankenstein, Lanchester played the Bride and a fictional version of Mary Shelley simultaneously.

    Frankly, it's all as bonkers as it sounds in the best possible way. It's got the classic thread-through of an outsider yearning for friendship, and beautifully builds on what the 1931 film set up. In fact, it might culturally stand up as well as the original monster. Gyllenhaal got inspiration for The Bride! because she saw a man with a tattoo of the Bride of Frankenstein... say no more.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/so-you-watched-the-bride-trailer-here-are-3-movies-you-need-to-stream-before-its-release 2J839crwkUydZ9MFqyDeJR Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:59 +0000 Thu, 15 Jan 2026 17:00:59 +0000     <![CDATA[ 'I am literally not in it…but I could be in it.' Kat Dennings says she's 'in Marvel’s system' so she can't rule out an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday ]]>
  • Kat Dennings says she's not in Avengers: Doomsday
  • However, she revealed that after appearing as Darcy Lewis, Marvel scanned her, so she's 'in the system'
  • That means 'they could put me in anything they want'

    • While Marvel has already teased and confirmed much of the cast for the next major installment in the MCU, and we’ve been getting weekly teaser trailers confirming the mainstays who are returning for Avengers Doomsday, one actress is pretty sure she’s not in the movie – but she isn’t making any bets.

    Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, Kat Dennings said, “I'm in the universe and as you know, I can't tell you anything, but I am not in it. I mean, I'm not in it. And I'm telling you right now I'm not in it. If I were in it, which I'm not, I couldn't tell you, but I literally am not.

    “I'm sure they already filmed it. I was here, I'm not in it," she added. "But they did scan me, so to be honest, they could put me in anything they want at this point. Who knows? I’m in the system!”

    It’s quite the take – not just on some of the inner workings at Marvel, which loves to surprise audiences with cameos and guest appearances, as well as end-credit scenes – but also on how the proverbial cookie is made.

    They did scan me, so to be honest, they could put me in anything they want at this point. Who knows? I’m in the system!

    Kat Dennings

    Dennings made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut back in 2013 in Thor: The Dark World, but has also appeared in WandaVision – one of my all-time favorite Disney+ shows – and even made an appearance in the animated What If…? All of these appearances were as lovable scientist Darcy Lewis.

    Could Dennings make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday without the actress’s involvement, or even by visiting the set? It’s possible, but unlikely. Historically, Marvel hasn’t used these body scans without the actor's direct involvement, and they’re typically used to help finalize virtual effects for the film.

    Still, Dennings is clearly pointing out that Hollywood's approach to AI is still evolving, with established studios taking different approaches versus newcomers in the space. After all, 2025 brought us the idea – and release – of an entirely AI-made actor or actress, to very mixed reactions.

    While we might be hoping that Darcy Lewis makes an appearance in Avengers Doomsday – and Marvel could be pulling off some clever PR moves here – as of now, Dennings is not on the official cast list. It’s a lengthy one, though, and I’ll give you a paragraph break before naming a few of them to avoid any spoilers…

    The Avengers: Doomsday logo imposed on an image of 27 actor chairs with Robert Downey Jr standing off to the right side

    (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

    As of now, Avengers: Doomsday has one of the most stacked casts of any Marvel movie yet, including Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the MCU, not as Iron Man but as Dr. Doom. Beyond that, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth will return as Captain America and Thor, as well as much of the cast from Avengers: Endgame.

    We’ll also see the cast of Fantastic Four: The First Steps join the roster, as well as the X-Men enter the fold. It’ll likely be a chaotic film with a lot of action – and, par for the course with the MCU now, lots of jumping between worlds, timelines, and ultimately universes.

    Avengers Doomsday will hit theaters on December 18, 2026, and you can check out our comprehensive guide to the film. You can also get caught up on the MCU by using one of the best streaming services, Disney+ – after all, you've got plenty of time before Doomsday hits the silver screen.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-am-literally-not-in-it-but-i-could-be-in-it-kat-dennings-says-shes-in-marvels-system-so-she-cant-rule-out-an-appearance-in-avengers-doomsday pVbuUdGTbmhyoybtTh4as8 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:22:33 +0000 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 17:28:14 +0000     <![CDATA[ Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 on Starz is delayed — here's what we know about its new release date and time ]]> In Spartacus: House of Ashur, Korris (Graham McTavish) is getting his revenge... and I for one am thrilled.

    At the end of episode 7, he took the Brothers Ferox on single-handedly, only leaving Satyrus (Leigh Gill) alive by the skin of his teeth. Why? The trio killed his secret lover Opiter (Arlo Gibson) at the end of episode 6.

    But how will Satyrus now cope as a lone wolf? What is Korris' next move? And where does all of this leave Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay)?

    The only way we'll find out is to stream Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8, but when does it drop on Starz?

    What time can I watch Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 on Starz?

    Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 8 airs on Starz on Friday, January 23 at 9pm PT/6pm ET.

    This means there is a week's delay, with the streamer not disclosing why we're without an episode on January 16.

    When it does air, you're looking out for these international release times:

    • US – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
    • Canada – 6pm PT / 9pm ET
    • UK – 2am GMT, January 17
    • India – 7:30pm IST, January 17
    • Singapore – 10am SGT, January 17
    • Australia – 1pm AEDT, January 17
    • New Zealand – 3pm NZDT, January 17

    UK viewers can find episodes on MGM+.

    For US fans, episodes of the original Spartacus series are also available to stream on-demand (sorry UK and Australia, you'll need to buy/rent them on Apple TV).

    When do new episodes of Spartacus: House of Ashur come out?

    Cossutia and Viridia watch on

    The women are still the best part of the drama, in my opinion. (Image credit: Starz)

    Now that episode 8 is delayed a week, we've got conflicting information about when episodes 9-10 will drop.

    Rotten Tomatoes is currently stating that both episodes 8 and 9 will release on January 23 with episode 10 on January 30 – the originally expected finale date – while IMDB thinks we have weekly drops from next week, pushing the finale to February 6.

    Our best guess is to assume weekly releases will continue as normal from next week, which gives us this season release schedule:

    • Episode 1: out now
    • Episode 2: out now
    • Episode 3: out now
    • Episode 4: out now
    • Episode 5: out now
    • Episode 6: out now
    • Episode 7: out now
    • Episode 8: January 23, 2026
    • Episode 9: January 30, 2026
    • Episode 10: February 6, 2026

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/spartacus-house-of-ashur-episode-8-release-date-time-starz 2DgEV8GenVmAKyBS2Y4qBX Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Sat, 17 Jan 2026 10:20:14 +0000     <![CDATA[ The most controversial film of 2024 is one of Prime Video's most-watched movies — and it has to be streamed to be believed ]]> Normally when I'm looking for new movies to watch on Prime Video, I'm not expecting titles that most people have written off as a dud. The Amazon streamer's current list of top 10 titles is a wildly mixed bag – and there's one you cannot afford to miss for all the wrong reasons.

    I'm talking about It Ends With Us, the 2024 Coleen Hoover novel adaptation starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Just like the original book, it follows florist Lily Bloom (Lively) as she builds a new life in Boston, where she falls for charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni).

    When Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), appears out of thin air, she's forced to confront the cycle of abuse in her life and make a difficult choice for her future as well as her daughter's safety. It's not exactly a light-hearted watch.

    Well, at least you'd think that way. Thanks to the laughable storyline decisions, a wild press tour and production fallout that's lasted ever since it was released, watching It Ends With Us now means seeing it through entirely new eyes.

    It Ends With Us was an unhinged experience at the time — and watching it now is even more chaotic

    For starters, you've got to take every part of the film's narrative with a pinch of salt. A florist called Lily Bloom? A meet-cute with a neurosurgeon? That's almost exclusively soundtracked by Taylor Swift? Do me a favor.

    There's a line between fictional whimsy and implausibility, and It Ends With Us likes to jump across it like there's puddles either side. You're laughing at it rather than with it until the domestic abuse storyline is introduced... and then you're not too sure what to feel.

    I remember watching this at a press screening like it was yesterday, only becoming increasingly more baffled with what I had watched as time went on. Without any other reactions to compare it to, the second half of the movie left a sobering taste in my mouth, though there were plenty of flaws in the storytelling.

    Then came the press tour leading up to its theatrical release. The creators marketed it as a girl's night out movie, which drew criticism from fans on social media. After that – without straying too much into celebrity news – Lively and Baldoni weren't seen together during the movie's global premieres, with back-and-forth legal battles taking place into 2025.

    Culture informs our worldview, and streaming It Ends With Us in hindsight becomes a completely different experience. It's like the ultimate Easter egg sitting right under your nose... and who wouldn't want to watch chaos that reveals something new without fail?

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/amazon-prime-video/the-most-controversial-film-of-2024-is-one-of-prime-videos-most-watched-movies-and-it-has-to-be-streamed-to-be-believed oraraxgVMd65LpqSRoYPQe Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:54:23 +0000 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 11:54:24 +0000     <![CDATA[ Avengers: Doomsday trailer 4 heralds a team-up between Wakanda and The Fantastic Four — and it could be the final Marvel movie teaser we see for a while ]]>
  • Marvel has unveiled the fourth teaser for Avengers: Doomsday
  • It reveals a team-up that MCU fans have been waiting to see
  • This might be the last trailer we see for a while

    • The fourth – and likely final (for now, anyway) – teaser for Avengers: Doomsday has been released online by Marvel Studios.

    Dropping today (January 13), our latest look at the Marvel Phase 6 movie is, as expected following last week's leak, centered on a meeting between the Wakandans and The Fantastic Four. Indeed, the teaser's final shot shows Shuri, aka the Black Panther, and Wakanda King M'Baku exchanging pleasantries with Ben Grimm/The Thing.

    It's an encounter that marks The Fantastic Four's official arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Yes, they've already appeared in a Marvel Studios production in 2025's The Fantastic Four: First Steps film. However, that movie was set in an alternate reality, so Doomsday is the first time we'll see Marvel's First Family interact with the heroes that populate the MCU.

    Of course, Shuri and M'Baku's rendezvous with The Thing begs the question: how do The Fantastic Four make the leap to the MCU? My article explaining The Fantastic Four: First Steps' ending proposes a couple of theories, as does the post-credits scene of another 2025 MCU film in Thunderbolts. You can read about that in my Thunderbolts ending explained piece.

    Anyway, Doomsday's fourth teaser also reunites us with another superpowered individual in Namor. The ruler of the underwater kingdom known as Talokan was also announced as part of Avengers: Doomsday's initial 27-strong character roster last March. Given his ties to the MCU's Black Panther film series – he was the primary antagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – it isn't a surprise to see him spotlighted, too.

    To some Marvel fans, it might seem like a strange move to release a teaser containing these characters.

    However, Black Panther and The Fantastic Four have an extensive history that stretches back to the former's Marvel Comics debut in 'Fantastic Four #52' in July 1966. Meanwhile, Namor has shared a complicated relationship with Sue Storm and Reed Richards dating back to 1962's 'Fantastic Four #4' – a comic issue that introduced a love triangle that endures to this day.

    Will Marvel reference this romance-laced triad in one of 2026's most exciting new movies? We'll find out when Avengers: Doomsday lands in theaters on December 18.

    Will there be any more Avengers: Doomsday trailers?

    As I discussed in last week's Avengers: Doomsday teaser #3 article, we can't say for certain. However, as the above live video, which first broadcast Doomsday's fourth teaser, shows, it ends with a Marvel-style Doomsday Clock counting down towards the film's release date. Based on that telling evidence, it doesn't look like there'll be any more character-led teasers to look forward to.

    The Korean ratings classification board, via which the first details emerged of Doomsday's first four teasers, had recently sparked a fresh wave of new trailer excitement. Indeed, it rated another teaser on December 30, 2025, and then two more on January 6 and January 8 – incidents that have had MCU fans speculating over the release of more new footage.

    As some people pointed out in threads on r/leaksandrumors and r/marvelstudiospoilers, though, it's likely that further teasers will just contain clips from the previously released trailers. That hasn't stopped others from holding out hope that three new bite-sized trailers will emerge in the weeks ahead, though, before Doomsday's first full trailer potentially debuts during the 2026 Super Bowl.

    At the time of publication, it appears the 'no more teasers' crowd have been proved right. However, we'll find out whether or not that's the case if a fifth Avengers: Doomsday teaser leaks online soon. Until then, get the lowdown on everything we know so far about Avengers: Doomsday.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/avengers-doomsday-trailer-4-heralds-a-team-up-between-wakanda-and-the-fantastic-four-and-it-could-be-the-final-marvel-movie-teaser-we-see-for-a-while cKmEGvwg5ZxpCz7Wi736uT Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:29:01 +0000 Tue, 13 Jan 2026 14:59:07 +0000     <![CDATA[ The Golden Globes ignored this underrated body horror movie — but the Oscars didn’t ]]> Shudder's new body horror The Ugly Stepsister has been shortlisted for an Oscar. The underrated movie could follow in the footsteps of The Substance, which I called the best body horror of 2024.

    The Oscars shortlist does not mean it's guaranteed to make it to the final nominations, but it is edging one step closer to going up against some huge movies like Sinners, Frankenstein and Wicked: For Good.

    The Ugly Stepsister has been nominated in the Makeup and Hairstyling category. Ten have made the shortlist, but only five will make it through to the final nominees. Here's the full list:

    • The Alto Knights
    • Frankenstein
    • Kokuho
    • Marty Supreme
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle after Another
    • Sinners
    • The Smashing Machine
    • The Ugly Stepsister
    • Wicked: For Good

    It's a strong lineup for sure, but we do know the Academy has favored body horror in this category before. The Substance won in Makeup and Hairstyling in 2025, and I'm definitely rooting for The Ugly Stepsister to do the same.

    Why you should watch The Ugly Stepsister

    As you may have guessed from the title, The Ugly Stepsister is a twisted take on the classic Cinderella story. Many fairy tales do have dark origins, so I was very excited to see how this movie pulled it off.

    The end result is one of the most viscerally horrible things I've seen, and there's some nauseating stuff here too. The movie follows Elvira, a young woman who is willing to go to great lengths to impress Prince Julian. I would consider it to be one of the best horror movies of recent years.

    We follow Elvira as she goes through a series of painful cosmetic procedures. These include eyelash extensions and nose reshaping, which torture Elvira due to a lack of painkillers and primitive tools. Some of these scenes are tough to watch.

    Outside of the horror elements, the movie is beautifully shot with some gorgeous costumes and set design, which offset all the blood and gore. Available on both Shudder and AMC+, it's a must-watch for anyone who loves twisted fairy tales.

    We'll have to wait and see if it does make the final nomination list, but I'm keeping everything crossed.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-golden-globes-ignored-this-underrated-body-horror-movie-but-the-oscars-didnt 66VUBb2nLjFvie4jLz6R2d Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:58:26 +0000 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:58:26 +0000     <![CDATA[ Lego's brand-new Star Wars Smart Play sets are up for preorder, and I've tried all 3 ]]> Lego’s first sets with Smart Bricks, Minifigures, and Tags might not be shipping until March 1, 2026, but if you’re already eager to make R2-D2 scream by flipping an X-Wing, hear the Imperial March as Vader approaches his Tie Fighter, or stage an epic lightsaber battle in the Throne Room, fear not, as preorders have started.

    Whether you’re in the US, UK, or Australia, you can preorder any of the announced Lego Smart Play sets directly from the retailer. In the United States, preorders are also available on Amazon.

    As a reminder, the line starts with the $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99 Tie Fighter, moves to the $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99 X-Wing, and tops out with the $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99 Throne Room Duel and A-Wing.

    You can see our deep dive into what Smart Play is here, as well as our first look at the forthcoming Star Wars sets here, but ahead, we’re giving you everything you need to know about how to lock in a preorder.

    Lego Smart Play Darth Vader's TIE Fighter

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    The entry-level Smart Play Darth Vader's TIE Fighter is a pretty nice one that fans of the dark side will likely find most appealing. And this one should be an especially fun one to play with, at least from the demos I had with it.

    For $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99, you get one Smart Brick and the wireless charger for it, a Darth Vader Smart Minifigure, and a Smart Tag. You also get an additional Minifigure, and you'll build the durable Tie Fighter – remember, it's designed for play and battles – a Rebel Outpost, and a fueling station. In total, it's 473 pieces.

    It's up for preorder at LEGO in the US, UK, and Australia, as well as Amazon in the United States.

    It's also available at Amazon in the United States here.

    Lego UK: £59.99

    Lego Australia: AU$99.99View Deal

    Lego Smart Play Luke's Red Five X-Wing

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    Next is a personal favorite of mine – the Smart Play version of Luke's Red Five X-Wing. For $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99, you'll get a single Smart Brick and charger, two Smart Minifigures – Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker – and five Smart Tags. Those tags are for R2-D2 – the most important one – the X-wing, an Imperial turret, a transporter, and the command center. This set features 581 pieces in total.

    It's up for preorder at Lego in the US, UK, and Australia, plus Amazon in the United States.

    You can also preorder the X-Wing on Amazon in the US.

    Lego UK £79.99

    Lego Australia: AU$149.99View Deal

    Lego Smart Play Throne Room Duel and A-Wing

    Lego's top-of-the-line Smart Play set at launch comes with a total of 962 pieces and brings a classic Star Wars set back to life. It's of course the Throne Room Duel and A-Wing, and for the $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99 price, you get the most Smart Play pieces as well.

    Leading that is three Smart Minifigures – Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader –, two Smart Bricks, and five Smart Tags. The latter ensures you can have a proper Lightsaber battle with two tags, plus ones for the A-wing, throne, and Death Star turret.

    It's available for preorder now from Lego in the US, UK, and Australia as well as Amazon in the United States.

    You can also preorder it on Amazon in the United States here.

    Lego UK: £139.99

    Lego Australia: AU$249.99View Deal

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/legos-brand-new-star-wars-smart-play-sets-are-up-for-preorder-and-ive-tried-all-3 wVUozVo9b9YAWf7xCVetMA Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:49:04 +0000 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:49:06 +0000     <![CDATA[ Lynley season 2 hasn't been confirmed — but its cast think there's 'scope' for even more than that ]]> This week, BBC iPlayer gave us Lynley, a retelling of the classic The Inspector Lynley Mysteries novels rather than a reboot of the 2000s TV series.

    Across its four-episode season, we've got new cases to crack and new suspects to blame. On top of this, there are class wars, rookie mistakes and a frosty partnership between Inspector Lynley (Leo Suter) and DS Havers (Ted Lasso's Sofia Barclay).

    I know what you're thinking – four episodes just isn't enough time to get into the swing of things. With that in mind, surely Lynley season 2 will be happening, right? This is a BBC crime drama, after all (you only need to look to Death in Paradise to see how long these things can last).

    While the BBC hasn't confirmed any plans as of yet, Suter and Barclay are keen to get stuck in. In fact, they think we've only just scratched the surface in terms of world-building.

    Lynley season 2 could explore the famed detective's personal life in more detail, says cast

    "I would love that," Suter begins to say about a second season. "After our four episodes, there's still so much more scope and places to go. We never go and see Lynley's home life, it's always in his phone. So there's that whole world to unpick.

    "I would relish that chance, and, I think Sophia is probably the same. We fell in love with these characters, and there's so much, more to them, and more mysteries to solve."

    Barclay adds, "At the end of season 1, you still really feel that even though they found the camaraderie, they're still very different people with very different viewpoints, worldviews and experiences. So what I would really be excited about is finding out how they clash, not just when they have judgments and they don't know each other. How do they clash once they have really learned to respect each other and really lean on each other?

    "The stakes are so much higher, in a way, if you are going to go up against someone for all the reasons I feel are very personal to you, who you actually respect. You go harder, deeper, go to the ends of the earth, because it's so much more important to you. And that next iteration of their relationship also really excites me."

    Frankly, I think it would be a slam-dunk for the BBC. Lynley is also across Britbox for international users meaning less money spent for a much bigger impact. To me, it's obvious that Lynley should return for a second season – there's enough mileage in the format for it to rival other shows... and who doesn't want more whodunnits to solve?

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/lynley-season-2-hasnt-been-confirmed-but-its-cast-think-theres-scope-for-even-more-than-that DSrCwVHgSTfhpQMn5VKxyK Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:03:51 +0000     <![CDATA[ 'I don’t think we can call ourselves a toy anymore because we’re an iconic experience company' — Lego on how Smart Bricks expand the system and how 'this just adds a new dimension' ]]> Heading into CES 2026, Lego teased that it would be hosting a keynote – but now that the dust has settled, it’s clear the company used the stage to unveil its biggest change to the Lego brick since its modern design debuted in 1958.

    The new Smart Play system, and most notably the Smart Brick, is designed to work seamlessly within Lego’s existing play system. That’s intentional. Rather than introducing a new screen or a closed ecosystem, Smart Play keeps the focus on hands-on building and tangible play – the core of what Lego has always been.

    It’s also a change that’s been a long time coming.

    “Well, you know, the truth of it is, you know, we started this project eight years ago,” explained Julia Goldin, Lego’s Chief Product & Marketing Officer. “So why now is because we are ready. We are ready to go. That’s why now. It’s not because we’re trying to solve some kind of a problem. It’s more because we’re ready with really great innovation.”

    Lego CES 2026 Keynote

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    That long runway was essential, Goldin said, not just to miniaturize the technology – including a custom chip small enough to fit inside a Lego brick – but to ensure Smart Play could exist as a true platform. Not an entirely new one, though.

    “Everything we have done still is part of the system,” Goldin said, noting that Smart Play integrates cohesively with Lego’s existing system of play and is additive by nature. “This just adds a new dimension.”

    It’s a different beast from the likes of Lego’s Super Mario sets, which worked with Lego bricks but which relied on a custom Mario figure with a screen and scanner and which largely existed in their own ecosystem.

    “We actually learned a lot from the Mario launch,” Goldin said. “We wanted no screens, we wanted no power buttons, we wanted something very seamless… something that anyone could take and fit with any other set and that could actually travel across our whole system as it exists today, but also into the future.”

    @techradar

    ♬ original sound - TechRadar

    It’s clear that teams across Lego worked to preserve the tenets of the existing Lego system while elevating interactivity and responsiveness. Given the amount of technology packed into the Smart Brick, I had to ask how Lego views itself today: is it a toy company that also builds technology, or something else entirely?

    “I don’t think we can call ourselves a toy anymore because we’re an iconic experience company,” Goldin said, reflecting a broader shift in how Lego now sees itself.

    That perspective helps explain why Smart Play avoids many of the pitfalls often associated with connected toys. There’s no screen built into the brick, no app required, and no new, entirely segmented ecosystem to buy into. Instead, intelligence resides within the brick itself, designed to enhance physical play rather than compete with it.

    As I saw during my hands-on demo, it’s a classic Lego set at first – say Luke Skywalker’s X-Wing or Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter – but once the Smart Brick is placed inside after being shaken to wake, characters like Luke or Vader can trigger different sounds as they approach the ship, click into place, or even pull off some fun flight maneuvers.

    There’s a very low learning curve for the Smart Brick, Smart Minifigures, and Smart Tags.

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    For Tom Donaldson, Head of Lego’s Creative Play Lab, that philosophy was equally important.

    “If you have a screen, they tend to suck you in,” Donaldson said. “And we were very deliberate about saying, no, we love the Lego brick, we love building with Lego bricks, and if we want to magnify that, then certain choices… probably have been advantageous to us.”

    That same thinking extends to where Smart Play could go next. While today’s Smart Bricks focus on responsiveness through light, sound, and interaction, Goldin sees the platform as something far more expansive over time.

    “I think we’re just scratching the surface,” she said.

    While neither Goldin nor Donaldson would comment on what sets might arrive next or how the roadmap could unfold, it’s clear Lego is focused on building a strong foundation for Smart Play – starting with one of the most iconic themes in its lineup, Star Wars – while showcasing just how much technology is quietly working under the hood.

    “There are some of the technologies in here that we couldn't have done at all without an ASIC. In particular, the sensing technology,” Donaldson said.

    That custom silicon enables the Smart Brick to quietly understand what’s happening around it – detecting nearby Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags, recognizing their relative positions in space, including height and distance, and triggering the appropriate response. Whether it’s a flash of light, a sound effect, or a character's reaction, the experience feels immediate and intuitive on the surface.

    Under the hood, however, there’s a level of integration that Lego says simply wouldn’t have been possible without going custom. “The overall capabilities we could not have put together in any meaningful way – size, cost, or even integrated performance – without going to silicon,” Donaldson said.

    Lego Smart Brick with Smart Tag in hand

    (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future)

    That approach – hiding complexity inside a familiar brick – is central to how Lego thinks about Smart Play. Rather than asking builders to learn something new, the company is betting on technology that merely stacks on the classic Lego experience.

    For now, Lego is focused on laying a strong foundation. Smart Bricks that fit into the existing system. Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags that add a layer of fun without replacing traditional play. And a platform designed to evolve while remaining grounded in the simplicity, creativity, and reusability that have defined the Lego brick for decades.

    Lego’s kicked off preorders for the first three Star Wars Smart Play sets, and the line starts at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99 for Vader’s Tie Fighter that includes a Smart Brick and Charger, a Smart Minifigure, and a Smart Tag – in total, it’s 473 pieces.

    You can also get Luke’s X-Wing for $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99 and the Throne Room Duel & A-Wing for $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99. You can read our first look at the Smart Play Star Wars sets here.

    A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

    A photo posted by on

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-dont-think-we-can-call-ourselves-a-toy-anymore-because-were-an-iconic-experience-company-lego-on-how-smart-bricks-expand-the-system-and-how-this-just-adds-a-new-dimension pPun6SJAvLC5YGNsL2L5jX Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:30:00 +0000 Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:59:11 +0000     <![CDATA[ ‘This is an unbelievable moment in the course of human history’: Sean Astin on how he’s fighting for humanity against an onslaught of AI actors ]]> Sean Astin can blend into the background when he wants to, but I spotted the 54-year-old actor's unmistakable smile and twinkling eyes that carried me through the Lord of the Rings trilogy inexplicably in the middle of CES 2026 Central Hall. He was surrounded by what I thought were fans of his many roles on TV and screen (LTR, Stranger Things, Goonies), but, as I approached, I saw an intense discussion and guessed it was all about AI.

    Astin attended CES in his position as SAG-AFTRA President, along with a contingent of about 20 staff members, to suss out the current state of AI development and products and what that might mean for the organization's 160,000 members of actors, broadcasters, dancers, hosts, recording artists, stunt performers, and other creative professionals.

    I gingerly approached the group and was politely yet firmly blocked by a PR rep who explained the situation: This was an impromptu SAG-AFTRA meeting, not a fan meetup. Still, Astin and company graciously agreed to speak to me about the state of actors, AI, and what SAG-AFTRA and Astin, in his role as a labor leader, are fighting for.

    We met hours later at a nearby restaurant where dozens of customers dug into Asian cuisine while Astin and I dug into the really important conversation we're all having about technology, AI, creativity, and actors.

    Why is Sean Astin at CES?

    It might seem incongruous for Samwise Gamgee or Drew Barrymore's loving yet clueless brother from 50 First Dates to be acting as a labor leader and spokesperson for one of the US's more valuable and arguably important industries, but Astin also has a degree in History in American Literature and Culture, and a Master's in Public Administration and Public Policy. Having the context of history and the understanding of governance surely comes in handy at this crucial moment, and using those tools and the expanse of the world's largest trade show to make sense of all of it is sort of genius.

    “Issues surrounding AI are really important to our members. So, making sure we kind of have a command of what we're talking about when I came into CES; I actually was sort of mission-focused."

    CES is a big show, but this year it's almost as if the thousands of companies are all speaking with one voice and saying the same phrase: AI. Yet, the implementation of artificial intelligence is as varied as the companies and people behind them. How did Astin get a handle on it, sift through the forest to find the digital trees? He used AI, of course.

    Astin told me he used AI to help him sort through the materials, to prepare for the task, feeding that data into the AI, and he said, without mentioning the specific AI platform, then communicating with it to evaluate and understand the 2.5 million square feet of convention space.

    "What it helped me do was kind of refine what my mission was for the two or three days that I was navigating this space."

    Put another way, Astin isn't afraid to meet the enemy on its own turf, especially when it can help him accomplish a critical task.

    The mission, though, didn’t leave him much time to simply wander and enjoy the booths. “I was engaging with companies that do things like, you know, provenance, data, protection, and stuff like that."

    Diving this deep into the beating AI heart of CES was, in one way, to acknowledge its existence.

    "There's a moment at which, well, I see things all of civilization needs to be paying attention to it. But my focus as a labor leader is to figure out the point at which it crosses over as an entertainment or as a business...and moves into our area where it affects our members and their name image and likeness and their – the things where we have jurisdiction over covering and so forth," explained Astin.

    Bracing and preparing for the coming AI storm

    With rapid advances in generative models driving the creation of convincing AI voices, images, and actors (hello, Tilly Norwood), it’s been a busy 12 months in AI and entertainment, and Astin, who’s only been SAG-AFTRA President for four months, has been tracking it all.

    “When Disney invests a billion dollars into OpenAI or Amazon, 10 billion, or there's new levels of functionality, a realism in kind of open products that are available to the public…that really pose an existential threat to our organization or even, an uncertain threat, we have to react and understand and keep moving,” he said.

    You would think that SAG-AFTRA’s relatively short 3-year contract bargaining cycles would align with the pace of AI development, but that’s clearly not the case.

    We have to react, understand, and keep moving.

    Astin talked to me about how they have to prepare for this moment, despite how quickly things have changed since the last bargaining cycle, when his group first addressed the existential threat posed by AI.

    “We knew, when we were achieving certain language in our last agreement, which was foundational, new, novel stuff about different guardrails and things, that…it would be out of date,” he told me.

    SAG-AFTRA and its members now face “a whole new array of challenges and dynamics,” said Astin.

    To understand how to address those challenges and build into the next contract the necessary language and protections, Astin had to travel to CES in Las Vegas to understand the AI state of play.

    This is not just a conversation about movie stars

    While much of the conversation about AI and actors seems to revolve around deep fakes of mostly big-named stars, anyone who’s seen up close how AI affects an industry knows that it’s often entry-level jobs and less high-profile positions that are at risk.

    “Voiceover stuff, I think, is really imperiled at the moment, and we're doing everything we can not just in bargaining but also from a public policy perspective," explained Astin.

    SAG-AFTRA is working on incorporating legal language that helps protect these creative workers, but its work in this space could have wider implications.

    “Every industry in America is going through this, but I think we're kind of in the forefront, because it's such a visible usurpation of our work.”

    The work is hard, with dozens of meetings, pitches, proposals, and working with communities like stunt workers to figure out how to protect their ideas and images.

    Every industry in America is going through this, but I think we're kind of in the forefront, because it's such a visible usurpation of our work.

    Another area of significant concern is background actors. AI is certainly adept at creating almost Non-Player Characters (NPCs) for content, and that could imperil background actors' work and opportunities.

    “Within our contract, there's rules that a certain number of the background actors, for example, have to be hired within the union,…So if a digital replica is created, and it ends up fulfilling what would be 10 of those roles,” 10 human actors still have to be compensated in some way (like the contribution to their pension health plan).

    While Astin acknowledges that this is an exciting frontier space, he also told me that “a healthy chunk of our membership is anti AI.”

    AI made CES inevitable for Astin

    These members are demanding that SAG-AFTRA force entertainment companies to behave in a certain way when it comes to AI, but to do that, SAG-AFTRA and more specifically, Sean Astin, the group's chief spokesperson, must understand AI.

    “Ultimately, you know, we have to be – I'm here at CES.. because...the moment demands that I be here.”

    It’s perhaps the scale of what we’re all navigating in this AI age that is most astonishing and something Astin is clearly grappling with.

    “This is an unbelievable moment in the course of human history. There have been certain moments, you know, the development of the wheel, the Industrial Revolution, and the advent of certain medical technologies, [and] transportation. This is one of them. This is one of the most impactful timesin all of human history."

    I asked Astin if he’s feeling net positive about where things are heading.

    This is an unbelievable moment in the course of human history.

    For now, he noted that the free-floating concern is about work displacement. “I don't know that I'm optimistic or pessimistic about that. “

    There are, though, some things Astin knows.

    “I think it's an absolute certainty that the workforce is going to be injured by this advancement in this technology.”

    Astin also believes that the creative urge will not evaporate because of AI.

    “The fact that there are people in my line of work who want to act, who want to make music, who want to direct movies and television, who want to produce them? They're not going to stop doing that work because a technology is here, and I think because they're passionate about it, the audiences will always be there.”

    TechRadar has been extensively covering this year's CES, and is bringing you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/this-is-an-unbelievable-moment-in-the-course-of-human-history-sean-astin-on-how-hes-fighting-for-humanity-against-an-onslaught-of-ai-actors 85kHG4PvLAPcezC8uDR9d3 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 22:54:26 +0000     <![CDATA[ Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7's fatal fallout is 'heavier than anyone expected' — and that's for good reason ]]> WARNING: spoilers for Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7 ahead.

    It's not a fantastic time to be Korris (Graham McTavish) in Spartacus: House of Ashur. At the end of episode 6, we found out that his secret lover Opiter (Arlo Gibson) had been brutally murdered by the Brothers Ferox, and now he's on the warpath.

    Our trio of Ferox brothers have already had a target on their backs as it is. They've continuously moved against Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay) on behalf of the House of Proculus thanks to their kill-for-hire occupation, which makes them natural antagonists in the overall show.

    However, their luck runs out in Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7. Once Korris has had some time to grieve (which is just as upsetting as you might think), he takes the trio on himself in the gladiator pit.

    Sadly for Musicus (Mikey Thompson) and Balbus (Daniel Bos), this results in their brutal deaths. But Satyrus (Leigh Gill) gets a lifeline, being spared at the very last second.

    What does this mean for the newly lone wolf villain? I spoke to Gill about filming the scene – something that quickly became "heavier than anyone anticipated."

    Graham McTavish was 'terrifying' in Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7 fight scene, star says

    Korris stands with his arms folded watching two gladiators spar

    Graham McTavish as Korris. (Image credit: Starz)

    "Graham McTavish is a wonderful man and an incredible actor, and terrifying when he gets going in those fights," Gill tells me. "It was a lot of fun. Obviously, we did a lot of the training for the stunts with Allan Poppleton. Him and his team are amazing.

    "But it's one thing, rehearsing those scenes in the gym... everything's just numb. The costumes, the heavy swords and shields, are a bit different. When you're on the sand and you've got the hair and the sweat and the lights on you, it feels so real. It's very intense, but he's an amazing scene partner.

    "I don't think everyone was expecting it to get quite so as heavy as it did, but it felt so real."

    Even just as a viewer, I can see why. The ending of Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7 has probably the most emotionally-charged fight scene we've seen to date, and as Satyrus lies defeated on the ground begging for mercy, we do begin to feel sorry for him. Whisper it, but I think his journey is about to completely change in the Starz show.

    "I think that's the thing throughout, is the brotherhood between them. They're both very big episodes for us, six and seven," Gill adds. "I think that's the first time when you start to understand why Satyrus has been so nasty and loud and outspoken the whole time. He's got the responsibility as the big brother to protect the other two. And I think the smallest dog always barks the loudest.

    "Satyrus suddenly realized a lot of his emotion was for show and to maintain the reputation that they had. So, I think that's what was keeping him alive."

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/spartacus-house-of-ashur-episode-7s-fatal-fallout-is-heavier-than-anyone-expected-and-thats-for-good-reason dSNSX5uXR3A4cuUJ7pyCHm Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 11:36:16 +0000     <![CDATA[ The 2026 BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been announced — and Netflix fans might be surprised about one big absence ]]>
  • The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been revealed
  • One Battle After Another leads the way with 16 initial nominations
  • There's one glaring omission from this year's longlist

    • The 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist has been revealed. And, in news that will shock fans, Kpop Demon Hunters hasn't received a single nomination – but there's a key reason why it was ineligible.

    Netflix's pop-culture phenomenon, which was one of the most talked-about movies of 2025, has been overlooked entirely by the British Film Academy. The wildly popular animated musical – it's been viewed over 325 million times since it debuted on one of the world's best streaming service – isn't up for consideration in notable categories including 'Children's and Family Film', 'Animated Film', and 'Original Score'.

    Considering that Kpop Demon Hunters is the most-watched Netflix original movie of all-time and dominated the film news cycle in the latter half of 2025, fans will be absolutely staggered that it hasn't made this year's BAFTAs longlist.

    There is a valid reason, though, why the Sony Pictures Animation flick was ruled out of contention.

    Per Deadline, Kpop Demon Hunters didn't qualify because it failed to meet the British Film Academy's strict criteria. Indeed, according to the BAFTA rulebook, films must have "at least 10 commercial screenings in the UK for at least seven days in aggregate."

    Fictional KPop band Huntr/x prepare for battle in KPop Demon Hunters

    Put your weapons down, HUNTR/X... (Image credit: Netflix)

    Kpop Demon Hunters was released in UK cinemas after it blew up on Netflix – the powerhouse flick landing in 264 theaters on the weekend of August 23/24, and then 568 more last Halloween.

    However, despite Netflix's attempts to secure an exemption under the ruling that "a film which has been available to the UK public through other patterns or forms of distribution (e.g. event cinema) may be considered for entry", BAFTA's Film Committee rejected the streaming giant's request. The committee also threw out Netflix's subsequent appeal, too.

    Deadline added that, if Kpop Demon Hunters had been given a day-and-date release – i.e., it had been simultaneously released in theaters and on Netflix on launch day – it would have been eligible. As it stands, though, one of the 33 best movies of 2025 will be sitting on the sidelines as its peers compete for this year's prizes.

    What movies are part of the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards longlist?

    Leonardo DiCaprio's Bob wielding a rifle in One Battle After Another

    Leonardo DiCaprio's latest feature has received 16 initial BAFTA 2026 nominations (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Kpop Demon Hunters' omisson notwithstanding, plenty of other critically acclaimed, money-spinning, and fan-favorite films have made it onto this year's longlist.

    Leading the charge is One Battle After Another, the Paul Thomas Anderson-directed action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio, which has been nominated in 16 categories. Hamnet and Sinners follow close behind with 14 nominations apiece, while Marty Supreme has landed 13, and Bugonia and Frankenstein each chalked up 12.

    It would be remiss of me to point out that this isn't the official nominees list. A second round of voting, which will whittle down the aforementioned list to the final contenders, will now run from today (January 9) to January 20. The official nominations list will be announced on January 27 before the actual ceremony takes place on February 6.

    In the meantime, here's the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards longlist in full:

    Best Film

    • The Ballad of Wallis Island
    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • I Swear
    • Marty Supreme
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners

    Outstanding British Film

    • 28 Years Later
    • Ballad of a Small Player
    • The Ballad of Wallis Island
    • Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy
    • The Choral
    • Die My Love
    • Goodbye June
    • H is for Hawk
    • Hamnet
    • I Swear
    • Mr Burton
    • Pillion
    • The Roses
    • Steve
    • Warfare

    Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer

    • The Ceremony
    • The Man in My Basement
    • Mother Vera
    • My Father’s Shadow
    • Pillion
    • Ocean With David Attenborough
    • The Shadow Scholars
    • Urchin
    • A Want In Her
    • Wasteman

    Children's and Family Film

    • Arco
    • Boong
    • Elio
    • Grow
    • How to Train Your Dragon
    • Lilo & Stitch
    • Little Amelie
    • Zootropolis 2

    Film Not in the English Language

    • It Was Just an Accident
    • La Grazia
    • Left-Handed Girl
    • No Other Choice
    • Nouvelle Vague
    • Rental Family
    • The Secret Agent
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sirât
    • The Voice of Hind Rajab

    Documentary

    • 2000 Meters To Andriivka
    • Apocalypse In The Tropics
    • Becoming Led Zeppelin
    • Cover-Up
    • The Librarians
    • Mr Nobody Against Putin
    • Ocean With David Attenborough
    • One to One: John &Yoko
    • The Perfect Neighbor
    • Riefenstahl

    Animated Film

    • Arco
    • The Bad Guys 2
    • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
    • Elio
    • Little Amelie
    • Zootropolis 2

    Director

    • A House of Dynamite (Kathryn Bigelow)
    • Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos)
    • Die My Love (Lynne Ramsay)
    • Hamnet (Chloé Zhao)
    • Marty Supreme (Josh Safdie)
    • One Battle After Another (Paul Thomas Anderson)
    • Rental Family (Hikari)
    • Sentimental Value (Joachim Trier)
    • Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
    • The Voice of Hind Rajab (Kaouther Ben Hania)

    Original Screenplay

    • A House of Dynamite
    • Blue Moon
    • I Swear
    • Is This Thing On?
    • It Was Just an Accident
    • Marty Supreme
    • The Secret Agent
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners
    • Weapons

    Adapted Screenplay

    • 28 Years Later
    • The Ballad of Wallis Island
    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle After Another
    • Pillion
    • Train Dreams
    • Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

    Leading Actress

    • Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
    • Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
    • Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good
    • Kate Hudson, Song Sung Blue
    • Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
    • Jennifer Lawrence, Die My Love
    • Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
    • Andrea Riseborough, Dragonfly
    • Emma Stone, Bugonia
    • Tessa Thompson, Hedda

    Leading Actor

    • Robert Aramayo, I Swear
    • Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
    • Russell Crowe, Nuremberg
    • Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
    • Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
    • Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
    • Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
    • Harry Melling, Pillion
    • Cillian Murphy, Steve
    • Jesse Plemons, Bugonia

    Supporting Actress

    • Odessa A’zion, Marty Supreme
    • Brenda Blethyn, Dragonfly
    • Ariana Grande, Wicked: For Good
    • Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Sentimental Value
    • Amy Madigan, Weapons
    • Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners
    • Carey Mulligan, The Ballad of Wallis Island
    • Gwyneth Paltrow, Marty Supreme
    • Teyana Taylor, One Battle After Another
    • Emily Watson, Hamnet

    Supporting Actor

    • Benicio Del Toro, One Battle After Another
    • Jacob Elordi, Frankenstein
    • Delroy Lindo, Sinners
    • Paul Mescal, Hamnet
    • Peter Mullan, I Swear
    • Sean Penn, One Battle After Another
    • Adam Sandler, Jay Kelly
    • Andrew Scott, Blue Moon
    • Alexander Skarsgård, Pillion
    • Stellan Skarsgård, Sentimental Value

    Casting

    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • A House of Dynamite
    • I Swear
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Pillion
    • Sentimental Value
    • Sinners
    • Sirât

    Cinematrography

    • Ballad of a Small Player
    • Bugonia
    • Die My Love
    • F1
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Train Dreams

    Costume Design

    • Bugonia
    • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • Nouvelle Vague
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners

    Editing

    • 28 Years Later
    • Bugonia
    • F1
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • A House of Dynamite
    • Marty Supreme
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Weapons

    Makeup and Hair

    • Bugonia
    • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • The Smashing Machine
    • Wicked: For Good

    Original Score

    • 28 Years Later
    • The Ballad of Wallis Island
    • Bugonia
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • Nuremberg
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Wicked: For Good

    Production Design

    • Ballad of a Small Player
    • Bugonia
    • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
    • Frankenstein
    • Hamnet
    • Marty Supreme
    • Mickey 17
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Wicked: For Good

    Special Visual Effects

    • Avatar: Fire and Ash
    • F1
    • Frankenstein
    • How to Train Your Dragon
    • Jurassic World Rebirth
    • The Lost Bus
    • Mickey 17
    • Superman
    • Tron: Ares
    • Wicked: For Good

    Sound

    • Avatar: Fire and Ash
    • Bugonia
    • F1
    • Frankenstein
    • The Lost Bus
    • Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning
    • One Battle After Another
    • Sinners
    • Warfare
    • Wicked: For Good

    British Short Animation

    • Brain Space
    • Cardboard
    • Death’s Peak
    • Ovary-Acting
    • Solstice
    • Two Black Boys in Paradise

    British Short Film

    • 22+1
    • Blondi
    • Magid / Zafar
    • Neil Armstrong and the Langholmites
    • Nostalgie
    • The Pearl Comb
    • Terence
    • This Is Endometriosis
    • Welcome Home Freckles
    • Wonderwall

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-2026-bafta-film-awards-longlist-has-been-announced-and-netflix-fans-will-be-furious-about-one-big-absence p8LqsKSCXD7R6PsZQxdDQG Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:30:08 +0000     <![CDATA[ New movies: the most exciting films coming to theaters in January 2026 ]]> New movies continue to land in theaters as we barrel our way towards the end of January. Indeed, depending on where you live, there are numerous new films for you to enjoy on a big screen near you, too.

    Leading the charge for this weekend (January 23-25) is Chris Pratt's new AI crime thriller Mercy. If you're not a fan of Pratt or his back catalog, though, there are other new movies out now, as well as ones due out in the weeks ahead, that should entertain you instead. So, read on to see what's coming throughout January, February, and early March (NB: more entries will be added to this guide very soon).

    New movies: January

    Mercy

    Release date: out now (worldwide)

    Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson team up for this Amazon MGM Studios sci-fi flick that, in my view, had the makings of being another effects-heavy dud along the lines of Prime Video's abject War of the Worlds remake. Based on my colleague's Mercy review, it sounds like I was right to expect very little from it, too.

    In it, Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, who's put on trial after he's accused of murdering his own wife. The twist? Raven has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to a highly-advanced artificial intelligence judge (Ferguson) he once championed, otherwise it's game over.

    Marty Supreme

    Release date: out now (worldwide)

    Considered by many to be Timothée Chalamet's next chance to win a Best Actor Academy Award – he's already secured a Critics' Choice gong for this film – this Josh Safdie-directed sports drama, which currently holds 94% critical and 82% audience scores on RT, so it's well worth seeing.

    Here, Chalamet plays US table tennis player Marty Mauser, an individual loosely inspired by real-life ping pong champion Marty Reisman, who'll stop at nothing in the pursuit of greatness. Gwyneth Paltrow, Tyler Okonma, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, and Abel Ferrera are among its ensemble cast.

    No Other Choice

    Release date: out now (worldwide)

    Fresh from playing Front Man in Squid Game on Netflix, No Other Choice sees Lee Byung-hun portray Yoo Man-su, a paper industry expert who's struggling to find work. Desperate for cash and to prove his worth to his judgmental family, Yoo does what any law-abiding citizen would do in his situation: kill off the competition.

    One of the best-rated films of the year so far – No Other Choice holds 97% critical and 94% audience scores on RT – this satirical black comedy thriller is one of 2026's new movies you won't want to miss, especially if you loved Parasite.

    The History of Sound

    Release date: out now (worldwide)

    The second Paul Mescal-starring film to drop this month – in the UK and Australia, anyway – The History of Sound tells the tale of Lionel (Mescal) and David (Josh O'Connor), who develop a deep bond over their shared love for folk music.

    Following their first encounter at Boston Conservatory, the pair embark on a cross-state trip years later to collect traditional songs. Audiences have enjoyed this queer love story more (89% on RT) than critics (69%) have, so why not decide which camp you fall into now that one of January's new movies is out everywhere?

    H is for Hawk

    Release date: out now (US and UK); TBC (Australia)

    Based on Helen Macdonald's 2014 memoir namesake, H is for Hawk stars Clare Foy as the writer and naturalist, who formed a close bond with a goshawk following the death of her father.

    With a mostly positive critical rating on RT – as of January 23, it's sat on 79% – H is for Hawk appears to be a soaring and emotional film that's worth seeing, even if it doesn't pull up any trees at the worldwide box office.

    Blue Moon

    Release date: out now (US and UK); January 29 (Australia)

    An Ethan Hawke-starring flick that's gone down well with fans (76% on RT) and critics (90%) alike and earned its fair share of award nominations, including a Best Actor Oscar nod for its leading man, Blue Moon sees the aforementioned A-lister play legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart.

    On the eve of the opening night of the ground-breaking hit musical 'Oklahoma!', which his former collaborator Richard Rodgers created, Hart is forced to face his shattered self-confidence and reflect on his own career in Sardi's bar. Margaret Qualley, Bobby Cannavale, and Andrew Scott also star.

    Send Help

    Release date: out now (Australia); January 30 (US); February 6 (UK)

    Sam Raimi occupies the director's chair once more with Send Help, a dark comedy thriller that looks like a miniaturized version of The Lord of the Flies.

    The 20th Century Studios film sees Rachel McAdams play Linda, who finds herself marooned on a remote island with her misogynistic boss (Dylan O'Brien) when the latter's private jet crash lands in stormy weather. Cue a battle of wills between the work-place enemies as they attempt to help the other survive and, ultimately, try to be rescued.

    Primate

    Release date: out now (US and Australia); January 30 (UK)

    2026 hasn't made us wait long for its first horror movie. This Lionsgate-funded endeavor, which stars Johnny Sequoyah and Jessica Alexander among others, is Cujo in all but name. Sure, it features a chimpanzee, rather than a dog, that *ahem* goes ape after being bitten by a rabid animal, but it doesn't seem to do anything unusual throughout its 90-minute runtime.

    Surprisingly, though, Primate currently holds 78% critical and 71% audience scores on RT, so maybe I'm being too harsh on it...

    The Moment

    Release date: January 30 (US); February 20 (UK); March 5 (Australia)

    Brat summer is out and satirical winter is in. From acclaimed indie studio A24, The Moment stars pop sensation Charlie XCX, who portrays a fictional version of herself as she prepares for her arena tour debut, and navigates the pressures of fame and an industry that's very much set in its ways.

    The Moment won't appeal to everyone, but I'll be shocked if Charlie XCX fans don't turn this one into one of the biggest surprises of 2026.

    Is This Thing On?

    Release date: out now (US); January 30 (UK); February 5 (Australia)

    The latest feature directed by Bradley Cooper, Is This Thing On? is a comedy-drama stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern as Alex and Tess. Reaching an amicable end of their lengthy marriage, Alex finds solace and company in the New York comedy scene, while Tess confronts the sacrifices she made to wed her former beau.

    Critics and fans are in full agreement over Is This Thing On?, with its 86% and 84% RT ratings bearing testament to its entertaining and heartfelt tale.

    New movies: February

    The Strangers – Chapter 3

    Release date: February 5 (Australia); February 6 (US and UK)

    The final installment of this middling mystery-thriller film series, The Strangers – Chapter 3 will conclude Maya's multi-movie battle to defeat those pesky masked killers once and for all.

    There's bound to be another sting or two in the tail for this franchise's protagonist before its final credits roll. Considering it hasn't always provided value for money, though, The Strangers' final outing might be another mixed bag for viewers.

    Crime 101

    Release date: February 12 (Australia); February 13 (US and UK)

    Marvel actors Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Halle Berry join forces for Crime 101, a forthcoming Amazon MGM Studios/Sony Pictures venture that both studios will hope to be one of early 2026's hit new movies.

    In this movie adaptation of Don Winslow's novella namesake, Hemsworth plays a jewel thief named Mike, who teams up with Berry's disillusioned insurance broker Sharon to pull off the heist of a lifetime. Hot on the pair's heels is police detective Lou Lubesnick, who draws ever nearer to tracking down Mike and putting a stop to his unlawful activities. Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Nick Nolte round out its starry supporting cast.

    Wuthering Heights

    Release date: February 12 (Australia); February 13 (US and UK)

    Looking for something a little more romantic for this year's Valentine's Day weekend? Let Emerald Fennell's reimagining of Emily Bronte's classic story Wuthering Heights appeal to your senses and sensibilities.

    Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi play Cathy and Hetahcliff, whose forbidden passion for one another leads to – as the above trailer teases – all manner of steamy moments and lust-filled imagery. Will it take its place among the very best adaptations of Bronte's legendary literary tale? We'll find out in mid-February.

    Goat

    Release date: February 13 (US and UK); March 12 (Australia)

    The second of two new movies coming to most nations from Sony Pictures in the second month of 2026, Goat is the studio's next animated feature that'll highlight its eye-popping, imaginative visuals.

    Stranger Things alum Caleb McLaughlin voices Will, a small teenage, anthropomorphic goat with big dreams on becoming a world-famous roarball player. When he lands a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fulfil said dream, Will, well, will have to prove size doesn't matter when compared to dedication for your craft and a love of the game. A quintessential sporting underdog story that families will likely lap up.

    How to Make a Killing

    Release date: February 20 (US); February 26 (Australia); March 13 (UK)

    Glen Powell will hope this A24 black comedy-thriller will give him the A-list boost he needs after last year's The Running Man remake underwhelmed at the box office.

    How to Make a Killing follows Becket Redfellow (Powell), a blue-collar worker who was disowned by his incredibly wealthy family from birth. When the opportunity presents itself for Redfellow to acquire the inheritance he believes he deserves, he'll stop at nothing to get it – no matter how many family members stand in his way. Margaret Qualley, Jessica Henwick, Zach Woods, Topher Grace, and Ed Harris are among its supporting cast.

    The Testament of Ann Lee

    Release date: out now (US): February 20 (UK); February 26 (Australia)

    Searchlight Pictures' biographical musical drama has earned more praise from critics (89% on RT) compared to regular theater goers (63%) in the US, so its eventual arrival on British and Australian shores will ultimately determine how successful it is.

    Nonetheless, the Amanda Seyfried-led movie is worth catching if you're a fan of films inspired by true events. Indeed, Seyfried stars as the founder of a sect known as The Shakers, which preached gender and social equality in a time period where such notions were unheard of. That story synopsis may sound dry, but The Testament of Ann Lee is anything but.

    The Secret Agent

    Release date: out now (US and Australia); February 20 (UK)

    Recognized as a terrific thriller with some notable 2026 awards already under its belt, The Secret Agent is another Neon-produced film whose popularity is only likely to increase as this year's Academy Awards ceremony approaches.

    Wagner Moura stars as Armando Solimões, a former professor caught up amid the movie's fictionalized retelling of the real-life Brazilian military dictatorship of the 1970s. However, as he travels to the city where his son is based, Armando soon learns he can't escape his violent past. A flick that, with a near-perfect RT critical score, is not to be missed.

    Scream 7

    Release date: February 26 (Australia); February 27 (US and UK)

    Horror nostalgia is very much in vogue right now, and the continual success of the re-energized Scream movie franchise is proof of that.

    The seventh (!) installment in the slasher film series, this year's entry reunites us with Neve Campbell's Sidney, who's forced to keep her daughter safe from yet another Ghostface killer. Another franchise veteran in Courtney Cox, plus recent starlets in Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown, are also part of its extensive cast. However, recent franchise fronters Jenna Ortega and Melissa Berrera aren't back for more, which will disappoint fans of the two most recent Scream films.

    New movies: March

    Hoppers

    Release date: March 6 (worldwide)

    The next Pixar film that'll attempt to not be a box office disappointment, Hoppers introduces us to Mabel, an animal love whose consciousness is transferred into a lifelike robotic beaver when she uses an experiment piece of tech. Now able to communicate with the fauna surrounding her home town, Mabel sets out to uncover the animal kingdom's many secrets – and do a spot of environmental awareness along the way.

    Will Hoppers prove that Pixar finally has its mojo back before Toy Story 5 inevitably becomes a blockbuster hit later this year? You'll be the judge of that.

    The Bride!

    Release date: March 6 (worldwide)

    The second film inspired by the 'Frankenstein' novels to arrive in the space of four months, The Bride! will showcase Jessie Buckley's undeniable talents once more in this gothic sci-fi romance flick.

    Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Bride! sees Buckley play the eponymous character, a recently-deceased woman who's brought back to life by Doctor Euphronious (Anette Bening) at the behest of Frankenstein's Monster (Christian Bale), so he finally has a companion to call his own. Inevitably, sparks fly as they pair embark on a misadventure filled with, per Warner Bros. Pictures, "Murder! Possession! A wild and radical cultural movement! And outlaw lovers in a wild and combustible romance!"

    Reminders of Him

    Release date: March 13 (worldwide)

    The latest Colleen Hoover book to be brought to the silver screen, Reminders of Him stars Maika Monroe as Kenna, who returns to her home town after a seven-year stint in jail to make up for lost time with the daughter she's never known. There, she struggles to get access to her offspring, but finds solace in former NFL player and local bar owner Ledger (Tyriq Withers), which sets this dramady's story in motion.

    Hoover's other book-to-film adaptations have received mixed reviews upon release and had varying levels of success from money-spinning perspectives, too, so it's unclear how well this one will perform.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/new-movies-2026-guide bPeqrzJCF2cAbj2qCGU2i8 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:14:23 +0000     <![CDATA[ Forget ‘the UK’s answer to Rocky’ — new Pierce Brosnan movie Giant is the Billy Elliot of boxing ]]> As a Brit, I'm pretty ashamed that I didn't already know who 'Prince' Naseem Hamed was. Thankfully, new 2026 movie Giant is on hand to course-correct that, following the rise and fall of the world boxing champion from the 1980s to the early 2000s.

    He might have thrown a knockout punch or two at Madison Square Gardens, but he comes from Sheffield, trained under the watchful eye of local legend Brendan Ingle. The pair worked together until the height of Naseem's career, where an epic falling out caused them to split and never reconcile.

    You might be reading this thinking it sounds incredibly similar to the Rocky movies, and many would agree with you. In fact, right above James Bond and Mamma Mia! star Pierce Brosnan's head on the movie poster is a quote claiming Giant as the UK version of the Sylvester Stallone classic.

    However, I came away from watching the film with a completely different perspective. If anything, Giant is more like the Billy Elliot of boxing – and when I put this to Brosnan (Ingle) and Amir El-Masry (Naseem), they were already using it as a reference.

    No offence to Rocky, but Giant is much more than just throwing a punch

    Listen... Billy Elliot might just be one of the best British movies of all time. It embodies the clash between toxic and vulnerable masculinity, following your passion and talent in the face of all odds, and having the right mentor to nurture the very best of it all. Of course, having exceptional footwork doesn't hurt either.

    Although there's no T-Rex soundtrack in Giant, it follows the above themes almost to the letter. If you're looking for the ideal double bill this month, here it is.

    "When we were talking to Rowan [Athale, director], his reference was the boxing Billy Elliot," El-Masry tells me. "It's very ingrained culturally as a Northern drama. I think that's something quite unique and special about it. It's nice that people are making the Rocky comparison, and it's nice that the person who made Rocky has put his stamp of approval on this. But I think it's more apt that it is compared to Billy Elliot in that sense."

    "I heard that reference to Billy Elliot. It was really touching. Such a beautiful movie," Brosnan adds. "I never heard it from Rowan, but it makes sense. I'm very proud of Giant. It was a great responsibility to play these men. They were so stubborn, so pig headed. Just wouldn't give an inch, it seems."

    Really, is this double bill (or at least Giant on its own) the perfect movie for boys in 2026?

    "Absolutely, yes," El-Masry concludes. "This film does show two men who are, once they become vulnerable and everything comes out into the open, that they're able to move forward. When you're steeped in your stubbornness, you don't get anything. These two people become very hostile and distant towards each other. When you're in your emotions and you wear your heart on your sleeve, you're much more likely to get the result that you really want to deep down."

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/forget-the-uks-answer-to-rocky-new-pierce-brosnan-movie-giant-is-the-billy-elliot-of-boxing RgMY7nJZcVwMbohdtjMGqY Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:45:35 +0000 Fri, 09 Jan 2026 09:45:36 +0000     <![CDATA[ I flew the Star Wars Death Star trench run on the Sphere in a Lego X-Wing — and nothing else comes close ]]> The Sphere in Las Vegas has already hosted a run of immersive concerts, films, and experiences inside its walls. But on the outside, its massive Exosphere screen has largely been reserved for abstract visuals or eye-catching brand takeovers. That changed during CES 2026.

    Through a collaboration between Disney, Lucasfilm, Lego, and Sphere Studios, timed to celebrate Lego’s newly unveiled Smart Play system, the Sphere’s exterior went somewhere no other part of the venue ever has before. I don’t think it will ever be topped.

    The Sphere was transformed into a Lego Death Star, and taking it one step further, I experienced one of the most surreal moments of my career: flying the Star Wars Death Star trench run from a life-size, partially brick-built Lego X-Wing mounted directly in front of it, with the Sphere acting as the ultimate screen for Lego Star Wars.

    Lego Star Wars Sphere Experience at CES 2026

    (Image credit: Brian Friedman/Sphere Entertainment )

    Ironically, Lego’s new Smart Brick lacks a screen for play – that's part of its ingenuity. However, this moment felt like a celebration of imagination at scale, proof of what happens when Lego’s physical creativity is paired with a canvas as massive as the Sphere.

    Approaching from the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, the takeover was impossible to miss. Lego Star Wars Minifigures of Luke, Leia, Darth Vader, and more flashed across the Sphere, surrounded by waves of tumbling bricks. But as I turned the corner, I spotted the real piece de resistance, even before seeing the other side of the Sphere: a life-size Lego X-Wing.

    Soon enough, I pulled on a helmet and watched as the X-Wing’s front hood swung forward and the cockpit door opened, revealing my seat inside. In front of me was a single flight arm with a trigger, along with a screen for selecting a character and starting the experience. But the real spectacle was straight ahead, visible through the clear cockpit window, with the Death Star basically filling my entire field of view. If I wanted to, I could watch the cockpit screen as well, but why?

    I started alongside an array of other X-Wings, my Rebel colleagues, if you will, before TIE Fighters began to approach as we flew closer to the floating battle station. What followed was every Star Wars fan’s dream trench run, played out on an absolutely massive scale.

    Lego Star Wars Sphere Experience at CES 2026

    (Image credit: Brian Friedman/Sphere Entertainment )

    The Sphere’s outer screen, dubbed the Exosphere, is the world’s largest outdoor display at a staggering 366 feet tall, and Lego Star Wars took over all 580,000 square feet of it. It is surely the biggest screen a Lego Star Wars game has ever been played on, and possibly ever will be. Even though this experience was custom-built specifically for the Sphere, it still felt and looked unmistakably like the Lego Star Wars series.

    It was Lego Star Wars depicted virtually in what may be the best fashion, fairly close to the Skywalker Saga game, where you can do a run pretty similar to this one. As the Death Star inched closer, after I saw more iconic Lego Star Wars vessels such as the Tantive IV appear, I went in for the iconic trench run on the Sphere. It was, quite simply, a pinch-me moment that felt like diving straight into Star Wars: A New Hope.

    Here, the flight-control stick was a little overbearing, but I managed to knock out several turrets and TIE Fighters along the way. Eventually, the prompt appeared on screen reading “Defeat Darth Vader,” and with some well-placed shots, I managed to land a few excellent direct hits, if I do say so myself.

    Lego Star Wars Sphere Experience at CES 2026

    (Image credit: Brian Friedman/Sphere Entertainment )

    Then came the final shot. The full shell of the Lego Death Star filled the Sphere before the iconic implosion and explosion sequence took over, with gray Lego bricks bursting across the screen in chaotic fashion. Smoke filled the area around the X-Wing for added effect. It was nuts, and absolutely incredible on an epic scale.

    Lego Star Wars Sphere Experience at CES 2026

    (Image credit: Brian Friedman/Sphere Entertainment )

    I’ll also note that while the X-Wing itself was mostly made of Lego bricks, with a few other structural elements mixed in, there was a fully brick-built R2-D2 onboard, along with a giant Smart Brick. The droid moved and screamed throughout the run, its head spinning the entire time.

    I ultimately scored 50,000 points, neither the lowest nor the highest, but a pretty admirable showing.

    While this activation at CES 2026 very clearly used a screen – and a massive one at that – it still echoed the same idea behind Lego’s new Smart Brick. At its core, this was about stepping into Star Wars storytelling and becoming part of it, rather than passively watching it unfold on a phone or tablet.

    The Sphere simply took that concept to an extreme, turning the Death Star trench run into a fully immersive, shared moment. At home, the Smart Brick and Smart Minifigures aim to spark that same sense of participation on a far smaller scale, using lights, sounds, and reactions built directly into the bricks to pull players into the story and let imagination fill in the rest.

    Lego Star Wars Sphere Experience at CES 2026

    (Image credit: Brian Friedman/Sphere Entertainment )

    TechRadar also had the chance to catch up with Jaxson Dart, the NFL quarterback for the New York Giants, who is an avid Star Wars fan, a longtime Lego builder, and someone who scored higher than me in the Death Star trench run.

    Dart had a similar initial reaction after piloting the X-Wing, calling it "insane." “This was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lifelong fan. I had so much fun piloting the LEGO Star Wars X-Wing and seeing it play out at Sphere.”

    When asked when his passion for Star Wars began, Dart explained, “Honestly, ever since I can remember, I’ve always just been drawn to it.”

    “Star Wars was my first love when it came to movies and characters, and that love has continued to evolve throughout my life. It makes me feel like I am a little kid again.” Dart also brings a bit of Star Wars to game day, as he is known for wearing one-sided makeup that resembles Anakin Skywalker.

    He called Anakin his on-field character, describing him as powerful and commanding, two traits needed for an NFL quarterback. Off the field, he added, “I'd probably compare myself to Yoda because I'm a leader who wants all those around me to succeed.”

    We closed on the all-important topic of Dart’s favorite Lego set, specifically his favorite Star Wars build, and the answer came quickly: the just-released UCS Death Star. “Because I love a challenge and it was very complex.”

    Jaxson Dart with Sphere Death Star Behind

    (Image credit: Disney)

    That certainly tracks. The latest Ultimate Collector Series Death Star is one of the most ambitious Lego Star Wars releases yet, clocking in at 9,023 pieces and standing roughly 20 inches tall.

    Unlike previous versions of the Death Star, or even the one recreated on the Sphere, the latest Lego Death Star is designed as a sliced cross-section rather than a full globe, depicting each floor filled with iconic rooms from the battle station as seen throughout the franchise.

    Lego Smart Play officially launches on March 1, 2026, with three new Star Wars sets, each featuring at least one Smart Brick, Smart Minifigure, and Smart Tag. You can check out our first look and early impressions of those sets here.

    A post shared by Jake Krol (@jake31krol)

    A photo posted by on

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-flew-the-star-wars-death-star-trench-run-on-the-sphere-in-a-lego-x-wing-and-nothing-else-comes-close eiy2WoJo66athGUbZ55RMC Thu, 08 Jan 2026 22:31:08 +0000 Thu, 08 Jan 2026 23:13:23 +0000     <![CDATA[ I tried Lego's new Smart Brick and Stars Wars sets — and the biggest Lego change for 50 years has won me over ]]> It’s been a busy few days here in Las Vegas at CES 2026, but I’ve managed to find the time to spend about an hour trying out Lego’s biggest change to its iconic brick since 1958.

    That change takes a very familiar form. At first glance, it’s a classic 2 x 4 brick – complete with the familiar studs – topped with a clear, transparent cap and housed in a black shell. But under the hood, it’s packed with technology.

    Inside is a custom ASIC chip, alongside a motion sensor, gyroscope, speaker, and LEDs. This Smart Brick serves as the central brain of the new Lego Smart Play system, triggering lights and sounds in response to nearby Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags.

    You might notice what I haven’t mentioned: there’s no app. And that’s a key part of this shift. Unlike previous Lego rollouts that leaned heavily on screens, Smart Play is designed as an additive experience. It stacks on top of the traditional Lego build-and-play formula, and if you’re not interested in it, participation isn’t required. After going hands-on with Smart Play, though, I expect most builders will want to explore what it can do.

    Smart Play has sparked some debate since its reveal, but after spending time with the new Star Wars Smart Play sets that are launching March 1, 2026 – along with smaller demo builds designed to show the system’s range – I’m confident Lego has a hit on its hands, or at the very least a strong foundation for one.

    It's all about play

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    Lego Smart Play makes one thing clear very quickly: this is for kids, or for anyone who actually plays with their Lego. You can absolutely build the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, or Emperor’s Throne and display them, but Smart Play isn’t optimizing for shelf presence – it’s designed to be picked up, moved around, and actively used.

    That intent is especially clear with the X-Wing and TIE Fighter, which feel purpose-built for dogfights. Nothing I handled felt fragile or precious, and the way the Smart Bricks are integrated reinforces that these sets are meant for real play. Lego’s designers clearly factored in the reality of kids flying ships around and smashing imaginary lasers together.

    During my hands-on time, I didn’t encounter any misfires. The Smart Brick consistently detected nearby Minifigures and Smart Tags, and everything worked as expected as long as the main brick was charged. There were no moments where I felt like I had to 'teach' the system what I was doing – it simply responded, with lights or sounds.

    One of the smartest design choices is how physical Lego play directly enables the tech experience. On the TIE Fighter, for example, a blaster sound is triggered by blocking and unblocking a sensor next to the Smart Brick using an actual Lego element – essentially pushing in a trigger. There’s no button or hidden switch; it’s a classic, tactile interaction.

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    I didn’t build the Star Wars sets from scratch during the demo, but I spent plenty of time playing with them — including the X-Wing, TIE Fighter, and Throne. I pulled a Smart Brick off its wireless charger, placed R2-D2 – with a Smart Tag on his back – in front of it, and immediately heard his familiar droid tones.

    From there, I put R2-D2 in the back of the X-Wing, Luke in the cockpit, and positioned a Smart Brick in the middle of the build – and that’s when the tech stopped being the point.

    Without really thinking about it, I started flying the X-Wing through the air. Engine sounds rose and fell as I moved it, and when I flipped the ship upside down, R2-D2 let out a startled scream. There was no setup or instruction – just cause and effect. It felt instinctive, the kind of play that invites you to fill in the story yourself.

    Imagination over instruction

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    Right now, Lego isn’t opening up the underlying tech behind the Smart Bricks, Smart Minifigures, or Smart Tags. What was shown behind the scenes during the demos hints at a broader system, but the experience at launch is intentionally loose.

    There’s no predefined story or scripted sequence. Sounds, lights, and reactions are driven by proximity, motion, and placement. In demos, Lego also showed how Smart Bricks can detect color using an ambient light sensor and mirror it with onboard LEDs – even passing those colors to nearby Smart Bricks via Smart Tags – all in real time, with no setup required.

    The Smart Bricks can also react to where a Smart Minifigure is in space, whether it’s nearby, above, below, or even across the room, underscoring that while the play feels simple, this system is clearly built on a serious technical foundation.

    Put Darth Vader in an X-Wing, and you might trigger something unexpected. Leave R2-D2 on the ground while lifting the X-Wing with Luke inside, and you could hear a panicked droid scream from below.

    The system handles sounds and lights quietly in the background, leaving you free to tell new stories with familiar characters.

    @techradar

    ♬ original sound - TechRadar

    Battery life, charging, and pricing

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    Battery life is inevitably part of the Smart Play conversation. Lego says each Smart Brick can deliver around 40 minutes of continuous play, which may sound modest on paper. In practice, the system isn’t designed for constant activation – it’s built around bursts of play, pauses, and rebuilds.

    Charging is refreshingly simple. The Smart Bricks charge wirelessly via a bright yellow rectangular charging pad with a USB-C port, which is included in the box. There’s a subtle divot through the center, and you can place the Smart Bricks on it in any orientation – no lining things up or fiddling with contacts.

    Lego also told me it isn’t concerned about Smart Bricks remaining dormant for extended periods. When not in use, they enter a low-power sleep state, and waking them is as simple as a shake.

    The new Lego Smart Play sets start at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99. That isn’t cheap, but it’s broadly in line with Lego’s pricing – especially for licensed Star Wars sets, now with electronics baked in. The added interactivity feels meaningful rather than gimmicky, particularly for kids who will actively play with these sets.

    Let’s actually break down the three sets, which go up for preorder on January 9, 2026:

    • Lego Star Wars SMART Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter: This set contains 473 pieces to build the TIE Fighter, an outpost, and a fueling station. It includes one Smart Brick, a Darth Vader Smart Minifigure, a TIE Fighter Smart Tag, and a standard Rebel Pilot Minifigure. It’s priced at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99.
    • LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Luke’s Red Five X-Wing: Contains 584 pieces to build the X-Wing, a command center, a transporter, and an Imperial turret. Includes one Smart Brick, two Smart Minifigures (Luke Skywalker and General Leia Organa), five Smart Tags, R2-D2, and standard Minifigures. It’s priced at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99.
    • LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Throne Room Duel & A-Wing: The largest set at 962 pieces, featuring the Death Star throne room with a swiveling chair and an A-Wing fighter. Includes three Smart Minifigures (Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and Luke Skywalker), two Smart Bricks, and five Smart Tags.
    Image 1 of 3

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
    Image 2 of 3

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)
    Image 3 of 3

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    Where Smart Play goes next

    Lego Star Wars Smart Play Sets First Look

    (Image credit: Future/Jacob Krol)

    What stood out most during my time with Smart Play is how little the system demands from you. Within minutes, the technology fades into the background and play takes over – which is where Lego has always shined, especially for kids.

    My first impressions are that Smart Play feels genuinely promising. It’s fun, intuitive, and intentionally additive. It doesn’t try to redefine Lego or push technology to the foreground; it quietly gives the imagination more to work with.

    This also feels very much like a foundation. Star Wars is an obvious subject for the launch of Smart Play, but it’s easy to imagine how this system could grow – whether that’s more Star Wars sets or Lego’s own worlds like City, Speed Champions, Construction, or Space.

    For now, Smart Play does exactly what a first look should: it makes me want to spend more time with it and see where Lego takes this next. It’s also something you really need to experience firsthand.

    It won’t be for everyone, but then again, it’s designed for play – and that’s arguably Lego’s roots. I love a display piece, too, but I can easily see myself grabbing these sets and using the Smart Bricks and Tags with other builds.

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/i-tried-lego-star-wars-smart-play-sets-at-ces-and-the-tech-fades-into-the-background-when-play-begins zSTh4uZesZAZJEprsvnNGA Wed, 07 Jan 2026 12:18:00 +0000 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:34:39 +0000     <![CDATA[ Another veteran Marvel star could join The Batman Part II — and they've already been fancast by DC diehards ]]>
  • Sebastian Stan is reportedly in talks to join The Batman Part II
  • There's no word on who the veteran MCU actor might play
  • He's already being fancast as one of The Dark Knight's most famous villains

    • The Batman Part II looks set to land another veteran Marvel star in the form of Sebastian Stan.

    Per Deadline, Stan is said to be holding talks with the movie series' overlords Matt Reeves and Dylan Clark about joining The Batman sequel's cast. There's no word on which character he might play, but fans have already earmarked him for a very specific role in the comic book movie.

    Should Stan, who's played James 'Bucky' Barnes/The Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2011, sign on for the project, he'll become the latest Marvel actor to add a DC movie to his resume.

    Last December, Scarlett Johansson was reportedly tapped for a major role in The Batman Part II, though it's still unclear who the former Black Widow star will portray.

    Jeffrey Wright, who played Jim Gordon in The Batman, is another A-lister with ties to the MCU through his voice acting role as The Watcher in Disney+ show What If...?. Barry Keoghan, who played Druig in Marvel's Eternals film, also made a brief cameo as The Joker in The Batman. According to Variety, Keoghan will reprise his role as the Caped Crusader's most iconic adversary in its follow-up, too.

    Who could Sebastian Stan play in The Batman Part II?

    Bucky Barnes standing next to a motorbike on a freeway in Marvel's Thunderbolts movie

    Stan's latest MCU performance came in 2025's Thunderbolts film (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

    As I mentioned above, the identity of Stan's character in the next Batman flick is a mystery. That hasn't stopped fans speculating on his potential role, though, and there's one particular individual that people think he'd be perfect for: Harvey Dent, aka Two Face.

    Indeed, since the news broke about Stan's likely involvement in the DC Studios project, threads on r/Batman, r/DCULeaks, r/TheBatmanFilm, and the ResetEra forums are littered with comments that Stan would fit the bill as the Gotham City district attorney-turned-criminal mastermind.

    Comment from r/TheBatmanFilm

    There are other candidates. Some believe Stan would work well as another Batman villain in Hush, while others have suggested he could play Jason Todd. The latter is one of many individuals who've adopted the superhero pseudonym Robin (i.e. Batman's sidekick), and who later assumes the anti-hero identity of Red Hood.

    Interestingly, an August 2025 rumor suggested a version of Robin may appear in The Batman Part II, so it's not out of the question that Stan could play Todd. There's no denying, though, that the role of Dent is the current frontrunner among many observers.

    Filming will begin on The Batman Part II sometime in early 2026, so we might not have long to wait to learn if Stan is part of the film's roster and who he'll end up portraying.

    Mind you, given the secrecy around the film, we may not learn the identity of his character until it's released in October 2027. Let's hope that's not the case. For now, get the lowdown on everything we know so far about The Batman Part II.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/another-veteran-marvel-star-could-join-the-batman-part-ii-and-theyve-already-been-fancast-by-dc-diehards E9UKND7W4ggykKPVN3kFVW Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:23:31 +0000 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 10:26:17 +0000     <![CDATA[ Marvel releases the third trailer for Avengers: Doomsday — and it teases some menacing mutant mayhem for the X-Men ]]>
  • Marvel has released the third teaser for Avengers: Doomsday
  • It focuses on the X-Men and hints at some mutant versus sentinel action
  • The MCU film's fourth teaser has also leaked online

    • The third teaser for Avengers: Doomsday has officially hit the internet – and, surprising no one, it focuses on the X-Men.

    One week after the mutant-fronted teaser leaked online, Marvel has uploaded a higher quality version of said footage to its YouTube channel and various social media accounts.

    Just like Doomsday's previous teasers, the X-Men preview video provides little information about the highly anticipated Marvel Phase 6 movie's plot. However, it suggests there'll be some mutant mayhem – potentially of a lethal variety – to behold, with James Marsden's Cyclops unleashing a powerful optic blast while screaming in anguish as a mutant-killing Sentinel looms behind him.

    Will that scene of desolation follow the Professor X and Magneto one that's also spotlighted in the teaser? I suspect it will. Judging by the ominous voiceover from Magneto that accompanies the footage, it's possible that some or all of the returning X-Men actors, who were announced as part of Doomsday's initial 27-strong cast, might not make it to the end credits. I wonder what odds I can get on Patrick Stewart's Professor X dying on-screen again...

    How many Avengers: Doomsday trailers will be released?

    Nobody knows for certain but, depending on what's been bandied around some online communities, there could be up to six (!) teasers before the next Avengers movie's first full trailer is released.

    When Avengers: Doomsday's first teaser leaked online last December, rumors circulated that three teasers – the first confirming Steve Rogers' return in Avengers: Doomsday, the second starring Thor, and the last featuring Doctor Doom – would precede Avengers 5's inaugural trailer. Each teaser would run ahead of public screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash for one weekly only before landing online, and lead up to the release of Doomsday's official trailer in mid-January.

    However, over the 2025 festive break, fresh details emerged that there would be four teasers for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flick.

    Predictably, the fourth one has already leaked online. I won't be sharing screenshots of said teaser or links to the leaked footage, but I can say that, as prominent insider MyTimetoShineHello correctly revealed ahead of time, it features Shuri, M'Baku and Namor from the Black Panther film series, plus Ben Grimm from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

    This teaser won't be the last one we see. Indeed, two more trailers were recently approved by the Korean ratings classification board – i.e. the same place that details about Doomsday's other teasers first emerged. The reportedly 65-second and 72-second long teasers were certified on December 30, 2025 and January 2, 2026, which implies they'll run ahead of Avatar 3 throughout January.

    A screenshot of three more Avengers: Doomsday trailer being approved on the Korea Ratings Classification Board website

    Two more teasers received approved from the Korean Ratings Board around the turn of the year (Image credit: Korea Ratings Classification Board)

    For what it's worth, another leaker in Cryptic4KQual has claimed their sources only informed them about four teasers before speculating that a fifth one could be the first full trailer. Considering the Korean ratings classification board has approved licenses for six Doomsday teasers, though, I believe we'll be treated to more teasers very soon.

    As for who might appear in them, other major MCU characters and supergroups – Sam Wilson/Cap 2.0 and his Avengers team, Loki, Thunderbolts/The New Avengers, the rest of The Fantastic Four, and even Doom himself – haven't featured in trailers thus far. It would be a huge oversight if Marvel didn't highlight those heroes and the Multiverse Saga's new primary villain, wouldn't it?

    One final thought before I wrap up this article: If three more teasers follow the X-Men one and if Marvel maintains the weekly release strategy it's employed so far, the sixth and final preview video could drop on January 27. That's just 12 days before the Super Bowl, an annual sports event watched by billions that, in the eyes of the world's biggest movie studios, is the perfect place to debut trailers for the year's hottest new movies.

    What are the chances, then, that Marvel releases six teasers across a six-week period leading up to the unveiling of Doomsday's first official trailer during one of the 2026 Super Bowl's ad breaks? Pretty high, in my view. I guess we'll see if I'm right in the weeks ahead.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/marvel-releases-the-third-trailer-for-avengers-doomsday-and-it-teases-some-menacing-mutant-mayhem-for-the-x-men pP98TXZcXzrYXqGP8yJKwZ Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:04:43 +0000 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 14:38:36 +0000     <![CDATA[ What does the new Lego Smart Brick actually do? Here are 3 ways it seriously upgrades your models ]]> We have our ears to the ground on all things CES 2026 right now, and one of this year’s stand-out announcements is the Lego Smart Brick – and we're already excited by its smart features.

    The Lego Smart Brick is a 2 x 4 brick containing a chip and other tech that enables it to emit light, sound effects, and dialogue when used with connected Minifigures and Smart Tags in Lego's new line of Smart Play sets.

    It’s a revolutionary way to enhance the player experience for young users, but that’s not stopping us big kids from being just as pumped for its arrival.

    The first three Lego Smart Play sets, all Star Wars-themed, will go on sale from March 1, with preorders available as of January 9. So how exactly does the Lego Smart Brick work? And how will it enhance the way you interact with Lego?

    @techradar

    ♬ original sound - TechRadar

    Lights, sound, motion, and more

    A close up of someone holding a Lego Smart Tag

    (Image credit: Lego)

    Firstly, the Lego Smart Brick looks like your standard long brick, but inside it packs a chip that’s smaller than a single Lego stud, enabling it to adapt to different play surroundings.

    It can detect when a Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag is nearby, which is all down to its ASIC chip. This impressive spatial awareness also allows the Smart Brick to map the position of a Minifigure using flashing lights when it’s placed anywhere along its perimeter.

    The Smart Brick also has a small speaker that delivers dialogue and sound effects, as well as an LED light for added visual effects, not to mention its motion sensors.

    It all sounds pretty unique doesn’t it? But it gets better.

    Minifigures and Smart Tags are the key

    A close up of someone holding a Lego Smart Minifigure in yellow

    (Image credit: Lego)

    We’ve covered the Lego Smart Brick’s technical smarts, but here’s what it can do when Smart Minifigures and Smart Tags come into play.

    While the Smart Brick is packed with its own functions, so are Smart Minifigures and Tags, which come with individual digital IDs that allow the Smart Brick to react differently when paired with each one – and it can work with existing models too.

    Do you have a Lego helicopter, spaceship, or even a toilet model kicking about? When you clip an accompanying Smart Tag to the Smart Brick and place it on the appropriate model, the Tag helps the Smart Brick to know which model it should become, and which sound effects it should react with.

    From there, the Smart Brick can detect the way the model moves, and which direction it twists and turns. For example, if you’re using a Lego car, the Smart Brick will emit engine noises, and even a crash sound if the vehicle is turned over.

    The same goes for Smart Minifigures, which have their own personalities. When in play, the Smart Brick unveils their individual moods, reactions, and sounds, adding another layer to the experience.

    New and smarter Lego sets will follow

    Lego Star Wars Chopper Set

    (Image credit: Lego)

    The adaptability of the Lego Smart Brick with classic vehicle models is one way to enhance the way you interact with your sets, and this innovation means that more new Lego Smart Play models will follow.

    Initially, as mentioned, Lego is launching three Star Wars sets under the Smart Play name, featuring many of our favorite characters and spaceships from the franchise – and I think the Catina Band would be a great addition. But imagine what else the Smart Brick could make possible.

    How about a Lego Smart Play range packed with new Harry Potter models where you can battle it out with the sounds of spells crashing in the background? Or perhaps an iconic landmark such as Big Ben, or the Eiffel Tower with a soothing accordion soundtrack to give the effect of being in the city of love itself.

    That said, I can’t imagine how a Lego Smart Play Titanic model would be received...

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/what-does-the-new-lego-smart-brick-actually-do-here-are-3-ways-it-seriously-upgrades-your-models fNagC3ritZEfZP82dvZFMH Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:33:02 +0000 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:57:54 +0000     <![CDATA[ Peacock will be the first streaming service with Dolby Vision 2 HDR and next-gen Atmos audio encoding ]]> Peacock is already one of the best streaming services for its breadth of content, offering everything from Wicked to Minions, plus SNL, Bravo shows, cult favorites like The Office, and a wide range of live content, from the NBA to the NFL, with WWE in between. Now, it’s deepening its ties with Dolby to help ensure that whatever you’re streaming looks its best.

    Announced at CES 2026, Peacock is diving deeper into Dolby’s technology across both picture and sound, adding support for Vision and Atmos even on live sports streaming – something Peacock is continuing to dive headfirst into in 2026 with the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan, along with the NBA, NFL, and even wrestling.

    That means whether you’re streaming a AAA movie, the latest episodes of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, or even live sports like the NBA (National Basketball Association) or NFL (National Football League), you’ll be able to take advantage of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

    Not only that, but Peacock will support Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby AC-4, which are expected to launch later in 2026 – these are the next-gen formats for better image quality and audio options through Dolby's tech.

    Dolby Vision/Atmos Peacock

    (Image credit: Dolby/Peacock)

    Dolby Vision 2 will help eliminate judder in movies, but also the dreaded soap opera effect – when your TV’s processing applies too much motion smoothing – and will help retain detail in both extremely dark and extremely bright scenes. My colleague Matthew Bolton, TechRadar’s Managing Editor of Entertainment, had the opportunity to demo Dolby Vision 2, and it was impressive.

    I’m keen to see it roll out and make an impact for Peacock subscribers, helping content truly shine. It’s an impressive technical lift, but we haven't known until know where we'll be able to watch Dolby Vision 2 movies and TV – but now we know Peacock will support it across both on-demand content and live broadcasts.

    Dolby AC-4, meanwhile, is the new audio encoder used to deliver Dolby Atmos, replacing the AC-3 codec used for streaming today. It not only enables more efficient streaming, but also enables you to customize the audio mix to your needs, potentially adding options such as dialogue enhancement into the original audio, rather than your TV handling that. I’ll be curious to see how Peacock rolls this out.

    However, we don't know exactly when this will roll out, or what movies and shows will use the more advanced options in Dolby's next-gen tech.

    All in all, it’s an exciting development to see a major streaming service fully embrace Dolby with support for Vision 2 and Dolby AC-4 – and hopefully one that other streaming services will follow.

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/peacock-goes-all-in-on-dolby-with-vision-and-atmos-support cYqj2nfLgnkrsN5tAFDbE4 Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:30:00 +0000 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:19:47 +0000     <![CDATA[ The Lego brick just got its biggest upgrade yet with Smart Play — and it's coming to Star Wars sets first ]]> Lego’s iconic brick is getting its biggest upgrade since the modern design was unveiled in 1958: meet the Lego Smart Brick.

    Crucially, this massive change, which Lego announced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, doesn’t alter the look or feel of the brick at all, or detract from the building experience, whether you like to follow the instructions or let your imagination run wild – it's an under-the-hood update that puts a chip inside a standard brick, and it's the key to the new Lego Smart Play system.

    The chip allows the Smart Brick to detect a nearby Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag, understand the space around it, and deliver an appropriate response: a sound effect, a line of dialogue, or even a light show. Neat, right?

    As for the first Lego subject to get the Smart Play treatment… well the choice is obvious, and it's a franchise Lego has been partnering with for 25 years: yep, we’re getting new Lego Smart Play Star Wars sets.

    That means you’ll hear an X-Wing or TIE Fighter roar to life, iconic blasters and lightsabers fire off, and other familiar sounds trigger as you move Smart Minifigures like Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader around a spacecraft or building.

    We'll take a closer look at the three sets, which launch on March 1, with preorders opening January 9, below – but first, let’s talk tech.

    Classic brick looks with tech inside

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    Lego is powering Smart Play with a chip that’s smaller than a single Lego stud, packed alongside sensors and a speaker inside the Smart Brick.

    The Lego Smart Play System is essentially made up of three hardware components that work within the brick system we’ve known for years. The central piece is the Lego Smart Brick, which looks like a standard long brick and is identical in size to a 2 x 4 – where it differs is under the hood.

    Inside is a custom mixed-signal 4.1mm ASIC chip, which acts as the system’s brain. It allows the Smart Brick to sense when a Smart Minifigure or Smart Tag approaches, and map its position in space. It runs a proprietary Play Engine that enables this spatial awareness using several pieces of hardware, including a precision copper coil for tag recognition and near-field magnetic positioning.

    One of the most interesting elements is what Lego calls Neighbor Position Measurement (NPM). This allows a Smart Brick to determine whether it’s close to another Smart Brick, effectively giving it a sense of its surroundings. While the three sets launching in March only include a single Smart Brick, this clearly lays the groundwork for future expansion and potential customization.

    The Smart Brick can also produce audio, which is handled through several modular synthesizers, with a miniature speaker pushing the sound out – in the Star Wars sets, this is what delivers all the familiar effects. There’s also an LED array for dynamic lighting – something Lego has done before – but here, other Lego pieces can trigger those effects based on their position and orientation, which is genuinely exciting.

    Each Smart Tag and Smart Minifigure features a unique digital ID that sits within what Lego calls the 'BrickNet'. The Smart Brick reads this ID via near-field magnetic communication, while BrickNet itself functions as a private, local Bluetooth-based protocol.

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    Yes, it’s seriously high-tech for a Lego brick, but most of this – assuming it works as promised, and we’ll be getting a demo shortly – should just work. For example, if a Minifigure moves quickly past a set and the Smart Brick senses it, that motion can trigger sound and light. It’s not reinventing the Lego wheel, but it does add something new to the play experience without detracting from the imagination-led storytelling Lego has enabled for decades.

    Crucially, all connectivity is handled locally, either through BrickNet or positional sensing, meaning there’s no app or additional hardware required. Battery life is an obvious question, but Lego says the Smart Play system is designed for long-term reliability and will work even after years of dormancy during which the Smart Bricks aren’t actively engaged.

    As for charging, Lego is doing something that, on paper, feels almost too convenient: Smart Bricks can be placed in any orientation on a wireless charging pad. It’s something we’ll be very keen to see in action.

    Lego Smart Play is coming to a Galaxy, Far Far Away first

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    The first wave of Lego Smart Play launches with three Star Wars sets, each designed to showcase the system in different ways, and, most importantly, all priced affordably.

    Luke’s Red Five X-Wing set is a 584-piece set priced at $99.99 / £79.99 / AU$149.99, and it might just be my favorite of the new Smart Play systems. It includes Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, along with R2-D2, Rebel crew members, and Stormtroopers.

    The build combines Rebel and Imperial elements, including an Imperial turret, transporter, and command centre, with Smart Tags triggering blaster effects, engine sounds, lighting cues, and even refueling and repair audio as play unfolds. The focus on play, with everything you need to act out iconic scenes, but also this could work as a display piece for the Star Wars faithful.

    Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter is the smallest of the three sets at 473 pieces, and is priced at $69.99 / £59.99 / AU$99.99. It's all about Vader’s iconic fighter, which is paired with a small Rebel outpost and Imperial fueling station. A Smart Minifigure of Darth Vader is key here, with Smart Play focusing on motion-based interaction, including the familiar roar of twin ion engines and other audio cues.

    Image 1 of 8

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
    Image 3 of 8

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)
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    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    Throne Room Duel & A-Wing is the largest and most ambitious set of the launch lineup at 962 pieces, and costs $159.99 / £139.99 / AU$249.99. This recreates the iconic Emperor’s throne room from Return of the Jedi and includes Smart Minifigures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine.

    It also adds an A-Wing fighter with a pilot, Royal Guards, and a Death Star turret equipped with Smart Tags. Here, Smart Play leans heavily into atmosphere, with lightsaber hums, ship engines, and even musical cues triggered by character placement and movement.

    Across all three sets Lego isn’t trying to replace traditional Lego or Star Wars play, but quietly enhances it. The Smart Play system adds sound, light, and context without demanding screens or apps, ultimately letting the tech fade into the background while imagination takes the lead as you recreate iconic stories.

    A genuinely smart evolution of Lego play

    Lego Smart Play System

    (Image credit: Lego)

    What I like most about Lego Smart Play is how invisible it feels. There’s no app, no screen, and no moment where the tech demands your attention instead of the bricks. Everything reacts naturally to how you’re already playing, which makes the added sound and lighting feel like a genuine enhancement rather than a gimmick.

    It also feels deliberately built for the long term. Features like Neighbor Position Measurement suggest this is just the foundation, not a one-off experiment, and the fact that everything runs locally gives me confidence it won’t age out in a few years. This feels like the first step in a much bigger Smart Play roadmap.

    I'll be going hands-on with the first Smart Play sets soon to see how it all works in practice, but if you’re already sold, preorders for the new Lego Star Wars Smart Play sets go live on January 9 ahead of their March 1 launch. If this lands the way it looks on paper, this likely won’t be the last we hear about Smart Play.

    TechRadar will be extensively covering this year's CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

    And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-lego-brick-just-got-its-biggest-upgrade-yet-with-smart-play-and-its-coming-to-star-wars-sets-first Tkg3VrTHxx6kVi7DxVjfLF Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:48:38 +0000 Mon, 05 Jan 2026 20:55:56 +0000     <![CDATA[ New BBC crime drama Lynley is 'completely different' to its predecessor — but don't rule out other detective crossovers ]]> When I was six years old in 2001, it was a staple family activity to sit down and watch The Inspector Lynley Mysteries on TV. Over 20 years later, adult me was elated to find out the classic crime drama was being rebooted... but it's nothing like what I expected.

    To be clear, that's a compliment. The new BBC drama Lynley has a life of its own, defining its famed inspector (Leo Suter) through a brand-new lens. There are class wars, rookie mistakes and a frosty partnership with DS Havers (Ted Lasso's Sofia Barclay).

    Across four episodes, we've got new cases to crack and new suspects to blame. Speaking to Suter and Barclay, being cast was the opportunity of a lifetime, and it's easy to see why.

    Surprisingly, neither of them made an obvious connection between their roles and the existing series. But when I really pressed them on it, there are two other crime dramas they'd like Lynley to crossover with – and one in particular is an absolute doozy.

    Lynley stars want their TV detectives to crossover with Blue Lights and Sherlock

    "I'd hop on the Blue Lights bandwagon. I love it," Suter says about potential crossovers. "My mate Frank Blake is on it and does a wonderful job. They're up in Belfast. We could do a roadtrip!"

    It's an excellent choice. A newcomer on the crime drama scene, Blue Lights took the nation by storm in the UK, entering its third season in 2025. But for Barclay, keeping things old school is the way forward.

    "I would love it if an episode had a Sherlock crossover," Barclay said. "If Lynley was on a crime scene that then Sherlock interrupts and takes over, and we're just disgruntled and annoyed... that would be really fun. Let me just have like, angry banter and just disappear after one scene. That would make me happy."

    But perhaps I'm getting too ahead of myself with spinoffs. To me, it's obvious that Lynley should return for a second season – there's enough mileage in the format for it to rival shows such as Death in Paradise. This in itself isn't too different from the original series (which ran until 2008), but from there, the similarities end.

    "It's only in junkets when people ask us when I think about it," Suter tells me about original series comparisons. "I mean that in a sweet way, because I think Sophia and I both did the same thing in that when we got cast early on, there's this great source material. We both read the first book and watched the first BBC series, and quickly realized that the scripts that we had in front of us from Steve Thompson were based on different books.

    "They had already been filtered through his TV adaptation filter. So we were going to be doing something different and much more modern, in many ways. I was quite calmly able to leave that at the door and then know that we were going to do our own thing. But then you come to the junket, and quite understandably, people ask about it. I do know it exists, but haven't really thought about it.

    "It's so nice to have a fan base for IP that's existed for a long time, but I hope people appreciate that we're going to do something slightly slightly different."

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/new-bbc-crime-drama-lynley-is-completely-different-to-its-predecessor-but-dont-rule-out-other-detective-crossovers SChpd86AeuwikDj8jTXhwg Mon, 05 Jan 2026 09:00:00 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 16:41:47 +0000     <![CDATA[ Here are my 4 most anticipated new 4K Blu-ray releases from January 2026 ]]> We love 4K Blu-ray here at TechRadar and regularly use it as one of our main sources for testing the latest AV equipment.

    In November 2024, we started the Blu-ray Bounty, a monthly column where we review the latest 4K Blu-ray releases. But we don’t write about the movies themselves. Instead, we use the best TVs and best soundbars to evaluate each disc’s picture and sound quality.

    We’ve decided to increase our 4K Blu-ray coverage going forward, and to that end, I’ll be regularly previewing announced discs that I hope to feature in future editions of the Blu-ray Bounty. Here’s my January 2026 wishlist:

    Captain Blood (1935) - The Criterion Collection

    Based on the 1922 novel of the same name, Captain Blood, starring Errol Flynn, is a classic swashbuckling pirate adventure that tells the story of the pirate Peter Blood. It was the movie that made Flynn a star in Hollywood.

    I’ve found during my testing for the Blu-ray Bounty that some of the most impressive discs are 4K restorations of older movies. Double Indemnity, one of my favorite discs, really shows what 4K can do for classic titles. Add Seven Samurai, Godzilla (1954) and Sunset Boulevard to that list, and the lineup of superb releases of older movies just keeps growing.

    Captain Blood would be the oldest movie I’ve evaluated to date. Released in 1935, it’s a full ten years older than the current oldest (Dead of Night), so I’m very curious to see if The Criterion Collection has worked its magic once again. As it's shot in black and white, I’m hoping for a restoration that demonstrates strong contrast, revitalized textures and a cleaner overall look, but with some film grain maintained.

    Dead Man (1995) - The Criterion Collection

    Referred to as a "psychedelic Western” by director Jim Jarmusch, Dead Man follows William Blake (Johnny Depp), an accountant on the run who encounters a Native American named Nobody (Gary Farmer) who becomes convinced Blake is the reincarnation of the famous poet of the same name.

    Two highlights of Dead Man are its black and white picture and its Neil Young-composed score. I’m hoping this will be another great disc for demonstrating contrast, and it’ll be interesting to do a comparison of a modern title shot in black and white with an older title, such as Captain Blood.

    Young’s score for Dead Man is one of the more unique ones I’ve heard, as it is almost entirely performed on a single electric guitar. Played by Young, it features big, chugging riffs, slick Western-sounding solos and some guitar effects wizardry. I’m excited to hear this remastered soundtrack played through our reference soundbar system, the Samsung HW-Q990C.

    Tron: Ares - Disney / Buena Vista

    The third movie in the Tron franchise, Tron: Ares, starring Jared Leto, follows the story of Ares, a digital entity who is brought into the physical world by Dillinger Industries, a rival of ENCOM.

    I tested both Tron and Tron: Legacy in the September 2025 Blu-ray Bounty and both discs were excellent. Even though its CGI looked dated, Tron was arguably the more impressive, with brilliant color detail and an impressive soundtrack. The same was true of Tron: Legacy, where the real highlight was Daft Punk’s superb soundtrack.

    While Tron: Ares received mixed reviews upon its release, its visuals and sound have been praised, and that’s what we’re all about here at TechRadar. I’m looking forward to seeing if Tron: Ares can follow its predecessors as a great showcase disc for home theater systems.

    Yi Yi - The Criterion Collection

    From director Edward Yang, Yi Yi is a Taiwanese movie that tells the story of an engineer called NJ, his struggles, and the struggles of three generations of his family. It earned Yang the Best Director Award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival.

    Although this is not a movie I’ve personally watched, a quick Google image search yields striking visuals, particularly a shot of a bold red room. This could be a perfect disc to test a TV’s color reproduction, and I’m keen to see if the 4K disc from The Criterion Collection captures the film’s vivid colors.

    Below are the release dates for major 4K Blu-rays in January 2026, with the ones above in bold. All dates are based on US release dates with UK releases in brackets if different.

    4K Blu-ray release dates - January 2026

    January 6th

    • Tron: Ares (January 12th UK)
    • Dead Man (January 12th UK)
    • Under Siege
    • Bullet in the Head
    • The Mirror Crack’d

    January 12th

    • Yi Yi (January 19th UK)
    • Snakes on a Plane
    • Cruising
    • Dante’s Peak
    • Bringing Out The Dead
    • Evil Dead Rise

    January 20th

    • Captain Blood (January 26th UK)
    • The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983 live action)
    • One Battle After Another (January 26th UK)
    • The Dead (1987) (January 26th UK)
    • Death On The Nile (1978)
    • Evil Under The Sun (1982)
    • Diva (1981)
    • Keeper (2025)
    • Altered (2025)

    January 26th/27th

    • The Smashing Machine
    • Kiss of the Spider-Woman
    • Birth (2004)
    • Once A Thief
    • The Mechanic (1982)
    • Wild Beasts (1984)
    • The Dam Busters
    • House Party
    • Troll 2
    • American Graffiti (UK)
    • The Blues Brothers 45th Anniversary (UK)
    • Field of Dreams (UK)

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/televisions/blu-ray/here-are-my-4-most-anticipated-new-4k-blu-ray-releases-from-january-2026 FJJ7YrgqFNPqekGZWrdbVT Sun, 04 Jan 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:10:45 +0000     <![CDATA[ The 33 most exciting new movies of 2026: TechRadar's top picks that are coming to the big screen, Netflix, and more ]]> 2026 looks like it's going to be another year full of epic new movies. Indeed, the world's biggest studios and best streaming services are ready to serve up more terrific looking films for fans of all genres and ages to enjoy, so we've decided to round up our most anticipated ones.

    Below, you'll find 33 new movies we're most excited to see in 2026. We've categorized them by their current release dates, too, which will make it easier to see when they'll debut on a big and/or small screen near you.

    There are lots of new films set to debut in the weeks and months ahead, plus other flicks that haven't been announced yet, which we didn't have time to cover, so bear in mind this isn't an exhaustive list. Regardless, here are the movies we're looking forward to seeing this year. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter

    January

    People We Meet on Vacation (January 9)

    Emily Bader and Tom Blyth in People We Meet on Vacation

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16)

    Jack O'Connell points finger guns surrounded by a cultist group wearing tracksuits in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

    (Image credit: Sony )

    The RIP (January 16)

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's cops standing in a dimly lit room in Netflix's The RIP movie

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    February

    Goat (February 13)

    Will Harris looking in awe at a crowd of people in GOAT

    (Image credit: Sony Pictures Animation)

    Wuthering Heights (February 13)

    Jacob Elordi leans in to kiss Margot Robbie

    (Image credit: Warner Bros.)

    Crime 101 (February 13)

    Davis sitting in the front passenger seat of a car in Crime 101

    (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Sony Pictures)

    How to Make a Killing (February 20)

    Glenn Powell with a bow and arrow

    (Image credit: A24)

    Scream 7 (February 27)

    The Ghostface Killer brandishing a bloody knife

    (Image credit: Paramount)

    March

    Hoppers (March 6)

    Two animated beavers look at each other and smile

    (Image credit: Disney)

    The Bride! (March 6)

    Jessie Buckley as the Bride, lying down with smudged black makeup and blonde hair

    (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Project Hail Mary (March 20)

    Ryan Gosling in a spaceship for the movie Project Hail Mary

    (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios)

    April

    The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (April 3)

    Peach and Mario looking up with open mouths in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

    (Image credit: Nintendo/Illumination)

    Michael (April 24)

    Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson

    (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

    May

    The Devil Wears Prada 2 (May 1)

    Miranda and Andy stand side by side wearing sunglasses

    (Image credit: 20th Century Studios)

    Mortal Kombat II (May 8)

    Johnny Cage prepares to fight in the Mortal Kombat 2 movie

    (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    The Mandalorian & Grogu (May 22)

    A piece of concept art showing The Mandalorian & Grogu diving away from an exploding ship in their Star Wars movie

    (Image credit: Lucasfilm)

    June

    Masters of the Universe (June 5)

    A silhouette of Nicolas Galitzine's He-Man in a promo image for 2026's Masters of the Universe movie

    (Image credit: Amazon MGM Studios/Sony Pictures)

    Toy Story 5 (June 19)

    Buzz and Woody cower together in fear

    (Image credit: Disney/Pixar)

    Supergirl (June 26)

    Kara Zor-El smiling with the sun behind her while she wears her Supergirl outfit

    (Image credit: DC Studios)

    July

    Minions 3 (July 1)

    Two minions laughing in a Despicable Me film

    (Image credit: Universal Pictures/Illumination)

    Moana (July 10)

    Catherine Laga'aia as Moana

    (Image credit: Disney)

    The Odyssey (July 17)

    Matt Damon's Odysseus standing in 2026's The Odyssey movie

    (Image credit: Universal Pictures)

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31)

    Tom Holland smiling and wearing his superhero costume in a Spider-Man: Brand New Day behind the scenes video

    (Image credit: Sony Pictures)

    August

    Coyote Vs Acme

    Wild E. Coyote sitting in a courtroom alongside his human lawyer in Coyote Vs Acme

    (Image credit: Ketchup Entertainment/Warner Bros. Pictures)

    September

    Clayface

    A screenshot of Clayface looking angry from a DC comic book

    (Image credit: DC Comics)

    October

    The Social Reckoning (October 9)

    The Social Network

    (Image credit: 20th Century Fox)

    Street Fighter (October 16)

    ANDREW KOJI as RYU in Street Fighter

    (Image credit: Legendary Entertainment)

    November

    The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20)

    Haymitch Abernathy looks at something offscreen

    (Image credit: Lionsgate)

    Narnia: The Magician's Nephew (November 26)

    A boy stands next to a lion on a cliff

    (Image credit: The Walt Disney Company)

    December

    Jumanji 3 (December 11)

    Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black and Karen Gillan in Jumaji

    (Image credit: Columbia Pictures )

    Avengers: Doomsday (December 18)

    Robert Downey Jr reveals himself as Doctor Doom to a delighted crowd at San Diego Comic-Con 2024

    (Image credit: Walt Disney Studios/Marvel Studios)

    Dune: Part 3 (December 18)

    Paul Ateides stars directly into the camera in Dune: Part Two

    (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

    Werwulf (December 25)

    Willem Dafoe stands in front of a burning crypt

    (Image credit: Focus Features)
    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/most-exciting-new-movies-of-2026 WbWy8tDgZPBRGX4oxidD44 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:43:03 +0000     <![CDATA[ The 30 most exciting new shows of 2026: TechRadar's top TV picks on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more ]]> Happy New Year, everyone! 2026 is finally here and, with its arrival, you can expect lots of new TV shows to watch between now and – weird as it is to say just two days into 2026 – December 31.

    As TechRadar's entertainment experts, myself and my colleagues are looking forward to what 2026 has to offer, so we thought it'd be fun to round up our most anticipated TV series that'll debut on the world's best streaming services over the next 12 months.

    This list isn't an exhaustive one – indeed, many of this year's small screen offerings don't have release dates and/or haven't even been announced yet. Of those that are due out in 2026, you'll find them categorized by their launch date/month. Any shows confirmed to arrive this year without a release date are grouped together in a 'TBC' section at the end of this article. Here, then, are the 30 most exciting new shows of 2026, as chosen by us. – Tom Power, senior entertainment reporter.

    January

    The Pitt season 2 (January 8)

    Robbie and Dana look at the ER screen above reception

    (Image credit: HBO)

    His & Hers (January 8)

    Detective Harper and another officer inspecting a crime scene in His & Hers

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    A Thousand Blows season 2 (January 9)

    Erin Doherty as Mary Carr in A Thousand Blows season 2

    (Image credit: Disney)

    Industry season 4 (January 11)

    Harper walking through an office space in Industry season 4

    (Image credit: Simon Ridgway/HBO)

    Hijack season 2 (January 14)

    Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) standing on a plane in Hijack

    (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

    Ponies (January 15)

    Twila and Bea looking shocked as they speak to a woman in Ponies

    (Image credit: Peacock)

    A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 1 (January 18)

    Ser Duncan the Tall brandishes his sword in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

    (Image credit: HBO)

    Drops of God season 2 (January 21)

    Fleur Geffrier and Tomohisa Yamashita look at a vineyard in Drops of God season 2

    (Image credit: Apple )

    Steal (January 21)

    Sophie Turner in Steal

    (Image credit: Prime Video)

    Wonder Man (January 27)

    Simon Williams wearing sunglasses and an orange jacket in Wonder Man

    (Image credit: Marvel Television/Disney+)

    Shrinking season 3 (January 28)

    Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in Shrinking

    (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

    Bridgerton season 4 (January 29)

    Sophie and Benedict smile at each other in Bridgerton season 4

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    February

    The Night Agent season 3 (February 19)

    Gabriel Basso looks off camera while standing in front of a city skyline with water in the background

    (Image credit: Netflix )

    Paradise season 2 (February 23)

    James Marsden, Sterling K Brown and Julianne Nicholson in the TV show poster for Paradise

    (Image credit: Hulu)

    Scrubs (February 25)

    Elliot, J.D, and Turk smiling in a hospital in the original Scrubs TV show

    (Image credit: ABC)

    Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2 (February 27)

    King Kong roaring and raising his right fist in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season 2

    (Image credit: Apple TV)

    March

    One Piece season 2 (March 10)

    Luffy holds his hat in One Piece season 2

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Scarpetta (March 11)

    Nicole Kidman in Scarpetta

    (Image credit: Prime Video)

    Daredevil: Born Again season 2 (March, date TBC)

    A promo image of the Shadowlands suit worn by Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again season 2

    (Image credit: Marvel Studios/X)

    Invincible season 4 (March, date TBC)

    Mark Grayson smiling and pointing at himself in the teaser for Invincible season 4

    (Image credit: Prime Video)

    April

    Your Friends & Neighbors season 2 (April 3)

    Jon Hamm in Your Friends & Neighbors season 2

    (Image credit: Apple )

    The Boys season 5 (April 8)

    Kimiko, Hughie, Starlight, and Billy walking down a street in The Boys season 5

    (Image credit: Prime Video)

    Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair (April 10)

    Promotional image for Malcolm in the Middle featuring the original cast playing golf

    (Image credit: Disney)

    The Testaments (April, TBC)

    A still from The Handmaid's Tale

    (Image credit: Disney)

    Mid- to late 2026

    House of the Dragon season 3 (mid-2026, date TBC)

    Rhaenyra Targaryen looking down at a gold crown in her hands in House of the Dragon season 3

    (Image credit: Ollie Upton/HBO)

    Lanterns (mid-2026, date TBC)

    John Stewart and Hal Jordan walking down a road in DC Studios' Lanterns TV show

    (Image credit: DC Studios/Max)

    X-Men '97 season 2 (mid-2026, date TBC)

    A screenshot from the X-Men 97 trailer showing Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, and other mutants in the Marvel Disney Plus animated show

    (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

    Rivals season 2 (TBC)

    David Tennant as Tony Baddingham

    (Image credit: Disney+/Hulu)

    Stranger Things: Tales From '85 (TBC)

    A bunch of kids staring at something behind a thick pane of glass in Stranger Things: Tales From '85

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    VisionQuest (TBC)

    White Vision looking intrigued in WandaVision

    (Image credit: Marvel.com)
    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/most-exciting-new-shows-of-2026 M4juzVSNAauxzBuAGKQGBh Sat, 03 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:42:54 +0000     <![CDATA[ 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and more this weekend (January 2) ]]> A brand new year is here, which means there's a host of new movies and TV shows to look forward to. To kick-start your 2026, the world’s best streaming services are rolling out a medley of new releases that should help you cling on to that holiday bubble for just a little longer.

    From the epic conclusion of one of the most-watched TV shows of all time to the streaming debut of two recent films from 2025, there’s plenty to peruse in the list below, which are all but guaranteed to keep you entertained over the weekend. Now, go get your first watchlist of the year ready! – Amelia Schwanke, senior entertainment ed

    Stranger Things season 5 finale (Netflix)

    One of TV’s biggest showdowns is finally here! The eighth and final episode of Stranger Things season 5 landed on Netflix at the end of 2025. If you didn’t catch the two-hour finale, titled ‘The Rightside Up’, during its limited theatrical run in the US and Canada this week, there’s no better time to stream it, especially now that Netflix’s servers are a little less overloaded.

    The Duffer Brothers have rolled the dice on their ’80s monster fever dream for one last time, bringing an emotional 10-year journey to a close for one of Netflix’s most-watched and most talked about shows. There’s plenty to wrap up in the finale, too. From stopping Vecna to confronting the Mind Flayer once and for all, the Hawkins heroes have everything riding on the final fight. – AS

    Run Away (Netflix)

    We're only a few days into 2026 and Harlan Coben's Run Away has unleashed a storyline so unhinged, it could be an all-time for Netflix crime dramas. Simon (James Nesbitt) is desperately searching for his runaway daughter Paige (Ellie de Lange) after she leaves home for her abusive, drug-addicted boyfriend, Aaron (Thomas Flynn).

    When Aaron turns up dead, Simon is the number one suspect. Going against the police, his family and his better conscience to find Paige, he discovers far more than he ever bargained for. You'll have to suspend any ounce of belief you have in your body, but it'll be worth it.

    I was giddy the entire way through watching it, and it's safe to say that I've never enjoyed following a grisly murder more. Ruth Jones needs to be cast in more serious dramas, but the star of the show is the series ending, which I might never forget. – Jasmine Valentine, entertainment reporter

    Barron's Cove (Paramount+)

    Severance fans, do you need more Tramell Tillman in your life? Of course you do, which is why you should watch Barron's Cove this weekend. He joins a great cast in this thriller movie, alongside Garrett Hedlund, Hamish Linklater and Brittany Snow.

    The Paramount+ thriller movie follows a man who kidnaps a young boy after his son’s death is ruled a suicide and no justice is done. The boy, a classmate of his late son, is taken to a remote lake house, where the man interrogates him about his son’s disappearance.

    It's real bleak, edge of your seat stuff and while the critics are divided, the premise is intriguing, which means you might get a kick out of this nail-biting thriller. – Lucy Buglass, senior entertainment writer

    Together (Hulu)

    Real life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco lead the cast of this unmissable body horror movie, which explores codependency in a chilling way. They play Tim and Millie, a couple who move to the countryside where they begin to experience disturbing events as their bodies start to become stuck together.

    There’s some seriously cringe-inducing moments here and I mean that in the best possible way. While it doesn’t go quite as hard on the gore as it could’ve, there’s plenty of excellent special effects and moments that are very uncomfortable to sit through.

    Together is widely regarded as one of 2025’s best horror movies, with a glowing 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It’s well worth your time this weekend. - LB

    The Cult of the Real Housewife (HBO Max)

    TLC’S new investigative docuseries investigates The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Mary Cosby and her Faith Temple Pentecostal Church. With allegations of spiritual and financial misconduct surrounding both Cosby and the church itself, there’s plenty to uncover in this three-part series that's now streaming on HBO Max.

    Throughout the episodes, the series documents the church’s history thanks to investigative journalists and bloggers who have been tracking the story from the beginning. It also features a leading cult expert to offer insight into mind-control cults, and it sounds like it’s going to be a binge worthy one this weekend.

    I’ve been gripped by TLC programs for years and I’m sure this one will be no exception. – LB

    Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory (Disney+/Hulu)

    Clearly, Cheetahs Up Close with Bertie Gregory is a documentary I need to watch on Disney+, seeing as I took one look at the above trailer thumbnail and proudly told my colleagues that this is a leopard. Filmmaker Bertie Gregory's new documentary special "captures the extreme challenges facing the world's fastest land animal", according to National Geographic.

    Gregory follows the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti first-hand, resulting in the heart-stopping survival of the fittest standoff as the special continues. Don't worry, it's not all violent... the baby cubs are incredibly cute. – JV

    Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story (Netflix)

    Rather brilliantly, Netflix is trying to one-up Hulu's true crime documentary game. In 2025, Devil in the Family: the Fall of Ruby Franke hit Disney+ to international acclaim, and now we're revisiting the horrifying story again, but focused on Utah therapist Jodi Hildebrandt.

    In 2023, her child abuse arrest alongside parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke shocked the world, and according to Netflix, "exposed a twisted tale of manipulation". It's the story we seemingly can't get enough of, and we're about to revisit it from an entirely new angle.

    If anything, this documentary might prove to be even more shocking than anything that was already public knowledge. Hildebrandt is the biggest enigma and the one we know the least about... well, up until now. – JV

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And, of course, you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/7-new-movies-and-tv-shows-to-watch-on-netflix-disney-hbo-max-and-more-this-weekend-january-2 FCd27xKq88moHWisVgdsBD Fri, 02 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 18:21:07 +0000     <![CDATA[ Who is the Secret Traitor in The Traitors UK season 4? These players are already ruled out ]]> WARNING: spoilers for The Traitors UK season 4 ahead.

    If you saw the advert for The Traitors UK season 4 over Christmas and were convinced the red Traitors cloak meant something, you were right. On top of our typical traitors turret, there's now a Secret Traitor that nobody knows about... including us.

    Here's how it works. As it stands, nobody but presenter Claudia Winkleman and the production team knows who the Secret Traitor is, but they know everyone's real roles in the game. So our classic green-cloak traitors – Rachel, Hugo and Stephen – know that a fourth traitor is amongst them, but they've got no idea who.

    As Winkleman herself says in the premiere, "The Secret Traitor will work alone. Each night they will provide you with a murder shortlist. You can only murder one of the people that is on the murder shortlist. You do not know who they are – but they know exactly who you are.”

    This completely changes the role of our known traitors in the game. They're no longer able to freely choose who to murder, which in turn makes them a lot more vulnerable. They're not exactly thrilled about the shocking new twist, either.

    For the armchair detectives among us, this is brilliant news. For the first time, we're now playing along with the Faithful, trying to work out who is under the red cloak. Thankfully, there's a clue right under our noses.

    The murder shortlist cannot contain the traitors we know about, but they also can't contain the Secret Traitor either. By process of elimination, we should be able to narrow down who it could be by ruling out anybody who appears on the shortlist.

    Episode 3 of the BBC show revealed that our Secret Traitor could be uncloaked as soon as Wednesday's (7th Jan) episode after Rachel and Stephen successfully completed their secret mission in plain sight.

    These players have already been ruled out as The Secret Traitor in The Traitors UK season 4

    The Traitors UK season 4 cast stands outside the castle

    Here's our full cast for The Traitors UK season 4 (Image credit: BBC)

    Here's where we're at. Below is a list of all 22 players in this year's season of The Traitors. Those in bold are our known traitors, with the remaining being ruled out by process of elimination if they've appeared on a murder shortlist.

    Banished players will also be highlighted.

    • Adam
    • Amanda
    • Ben - MURDERED
    • Ellie
    • Faraaz
    • Fiona
    • Harriet
    • Hugo - BANISHED
    • Jack
    • Jade
    • James - RULED OUT
    • Jessie
    • Judy - BANISHED
    • Matthew
    • Maz - RULED OUT
    • Netty - MURDERED
    • Rachel
    • Reece - RULED OUT
    • Ross
    • Roxy
    • Sam
    • Stephen

    This means we've currently still got 13 potential Secret Traitor candidates heading into episode 4, which airs at 8pm GMT on January 7.

    But are there any other clues we can read into to catch a traitor, or are we all just as useless as the Faithful?

    Opinion: Roxy is the most likely player to be the Secret Traitor

    Roxy's headshot outside the Traitors castle

    Roxy... what are you hiding? (Image credit: BBC)

    As much as I want retired police detective Amanda to be doing a full Uno reverse as the Secret Traitor, I think it's much more likely that it's 32-year-old Roxy (and after much deliberation with my family, they agree).

    There's a number of reasons for this. For the majority of the episode, she had absolutely no screentime, only coming into her own after it was revealed that fellow player Judy is actually her adoptive mother.

    If you listened very carefully, you might have heard her accidentally give this away during the boating mission, but it doesn't seem like anybody else has caught on. But clearly, she's a woman with secrets.

    Not only this, but she fits the profile of a Secret Traitor more broadly. If production wants to throw our trio of traitors off the scent, they'd choose somebody who is the exact opposite of their dynamic. As Rachel is the only woman confirmed to be a traitor, it's more likely that our Secret Traitor is the same.

    She's a player who seemingly wants all information out on the table – a tactic which could later cost her at the roundtable. After three episodes, Roxy is my best guess... but we've still got so much to figure out.

    Does the silhouette we see under the red cloak in the cutaway VTs actually mean anything? Whose handwriting is that on the murder shortlist, and did they spell Netty wrong on purpose? And just what does that family tree really mean in the castle entrance?

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-traitors-uk-season-4-secret-traitor m4D2Ge8nJoce25i6ppQUTn Fri, 02 Jan 2026 13:41:45 +0000 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:52:27 +0000     <![CDATA[ What is the release date for When Calls the Heart season 13 episode 1 on Hallmark+? ]]> I'll be completely honest with you: When Calls the Heart season 13 is one of my most-anticipated TV shows of 2026.

    The hit Hallmark series ended on an alarming cliffhanger last year, as season 12 drew to a close with Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Nathan (Kevin McGarry) taking the kids away from Hope Valley seemingly for good.

    The change is thanks to Little Jack's (Hyland Goodrich) diabetes diagnosis, with the family relocating to a hospital with a fully kitted-out unit after a nasty close call in earlier episodes.

    With Jack's health on the line, it doesn't feel like the quartet can be permanent Hope Valley residents any longer... or can they? With a brand-new series ahead, anything could happen.

    I can hardly wait, so when will When Calls the Heart season 13 episode 1 arrive on the best streaming service for cozy drama (Hallmark, of course)?

    What time can I watch When Calls the Heart season 13 episode 1 on Hallmark+?

    When Calls the Heart season 13 episode 1 drops on January 4 at 5pm PST/8 pm EST on Hallmark Channel.

    Episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hallmark+. For the rest of the world, there’s been no official announcement on when the latest season will become available, but Hallmark content typically lands on other services, such as Prime Video, in due course.

    Before you stream, make sure to double check if your region is showing When Calls the Heart season 13 in line with US release times – some international territories are subject to delays.

    When do new episodes of When Calls the Heart season 13 come out?

    Elizabeth, Nathan and the kids stand in the street looking up at something in shock

    Let's hope Little Jack has an easier ride this season. (Image credit: Hallmark)

    As it stands, we only have the first four episodes of When Calls the Heart season 13 confirmed, with their release schedule following:

    • Episode 1: 'Up in the Air,' January 4, 2026
    • Episode 2: 'Up in Smoke,' January 11, 2026
    • Episode 3: 'Back to School,' January 18, 2026
    • Episode 4: 'Until Proven Guilty,' January 25, 2026

    Anything beyond this is currently a mystery. We don't know how many episodes season 13 will have in total yet, but logic tells us it will likely match season 12's 12-episode run.

    Season 12 also wasn't subject to delays, meaning we should expect season 13 to wrap up sometime in March, unless Hallmark tells us anything differently.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/when-calls-the-heart-season-13-episode-1-release-date-time-hallmark SiniEqUeJrXyLKNrLRCst4 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:45:45 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:45:45 +0000     <![CDATA[ Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 6 is the 'first time we really understand' its most underrated villain, says star ]]> Warning: spoilers for Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 6 ahead.

    I could have bet all the money in the world, and I still wouldn't have correctly guessed how Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 6 ended. In the final scene, wealthy Roman Opiter (Arlo Gibson), who has been having a secret romantic relationship with Korris (Graham McTavish), is killed by the Brothers Ferox.

    Opiter isn't the only victim, either. His entire house and servants are all wiped out before Opiter even gets home, with his own death acted out in mischievous shadows, like a horror movie.

    Why? To get revenge on Dominus Ashur (Nick E Tarabay) after he publicly showed them up earlier in episode 6. Hitting Korris where it hurts is another pleasing side effect, with Korris acting as Ashur's Doctore.

    It's easy to get caught up in Opiter's death, but what does this actually mean for the Brothers Ferox? I spoke to Leigh Gill (Satyrus) about what the Spartacus: House of Ashur scene means for things to come... and let's just say things are getting ugly.

    Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 6 sets the scene for the Brothers Ferox in episode 7

    "It all builds up to that moment," Gill tells me. "Obviously, the Brothers Ferox are Gladiators, but you still start to see that we're used for a bit more than that. They do a lot of evil deeds. But I think throughout that, and even outside of the arena, you see how we all work together and find our own ways of defeating opponents a lot bigger than us.

    "I think that's the thing throughout, is the brotherhood between them. They're both very big episodes for us, six and seven. I think that's the first time when you start to understand why Satyrus has been so nasty and loud and outspoken the whole time. He's got the responsibility as the big brother to protect the other two. And I think the smallest dog always barks the loudest."

    That's certainly one way of putting it, especially as actions always have consequences. Korris and Ashur are going to react badly to Opiter's death (as they should), making the Brothers Ferox target number one. Without giving anything away, Spartacus: House of Ashur episode 7 is definitely one that cannot be missed.

    "Satyrus suddenly realized a lot of his emotion was for show and to maintain the reputation that they had. So I think that's what was keeping him alive," Gill adds.

    "He always finds his own way of doing things. I think he is a villain, but I think he's quite a likable villain. It's always quite comical. He's like a Chihuahua fully convinced that whether his opponent is a Rottweiler or a Great Dane, the Chihuahua still thinks he can win."

    Something tells me Satyrus' next moves might not be as straightforward as that.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

    And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/spartacus-house-of-ashur-episode-6-is-the-first-time-we-really-understand-its-most-underrated-villain-says-star inNzycBdkK4B9DrRFNJobG Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:29:06 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 10:29:02 +0000     <![CDATA[ The Night Manager season 2 is back and better than ever after 10 years — with an incredibly sexy new villain ]]> January 2026 is going to be the Tom Hiddleston takeover month, with the much-anticipated The Night Manager season 2 hitting BBC from January 1 and Prime Video from January 11. After 10 years, shrewd and aloof spy Johnathan Pine returns... or does he?

    Technically speaking, Hiddleston assumes a myriad of identities in the new season, but for the sake of UK security, I won't be revealing what they are. When we pick up with him a decade later, he's still working with the Night Owls. But when he spots a henchman of deceased villain Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie), all hell breaks loose.

    The fact there's been a ten-year wait probably plays to The Night Manager season 2's advantage, but these new episodes blow season 1 straight out of the water. They feel sharper, more self-assured yet dares to creatively play in ways that more stringent, straight-up crime dramas in the 2010s didn't dare to.

    Hiddleston is just as in control too. In the time that The Night Manager has been away, he's shot to international fame in the MCU. There's something cathartic about bringing him back to his roots, able to play with an outrageous situation (being an MI6 spy) with a sense of grounding (i.e., he's not a superhero).

    The drama takes to the global stage in an entirely new way this time around, and it's a refreshing change. Instead of the war zones of the 2011 Egypt revolution, we're heading to the hushed-up drug trades of Colombia. But if you think the two scenarios aren't directly linked, think again.

    Tom Hiddleston breathes fresh air into a creatively liberated The Night Manager season 2

    If you've ever watched a John le Carré adaptation before, you'll know that second seasons aren't really a thing. However, with Carré's approval before he died in 2020 (according to son and producer Simon Cornwell), a new creative concept has been born. Therefore, The Night Manager season 2 finds itself in an unusual sweet spot – stick to a pre-constructed foundation while taking as many dramatic liberties as it wants to.

    Luckily for us, this works incredibly well. The BBC is well-known for its high-stakes, high-quality crime dramas, but in the last few years, the pedal has well and truly been put to the metal. Their output is confident, daring, inviting you to be challenged in a way that you didn't think you would be. When it comes to Jonathan Pine's ever-shifting identity, the challenge remains heightened at all times.

    I don't need to spell out the fact the Hiddleston is bloody good as his job, and no matter how difficult or complex the action gets, we're being steered along with safe hands (even if Pine himself isn't making the smartest decisions). He's joined by a smorgasbord of new faces in season 2, with the irresistibly sexy Diego Calva playing opposite as calculated and cool-headed antagonist Teddy dos Santos.

    Plop a romantic entanglement between the pair – in the form of smart yet seductive Roxana, played by Camila Morrone – and things only get spicier by the second. I can't quite believe that the BBC has essentially recreated the viral Challengers scene at a pool party in Medellín (you can see a sneak preview in the above trailer), but hey, everyone's throwing caution to the wind these days... and it's hot.

    For all the flourish, the basics haven't been lost

    Camila Morrone dances between Tom Hiddleston and Diego Calva

    See? Challengers, eat your heart out. (Image credit: BBC)

    We don't get much in the way of frivolous fun when it comes to The Night Manager – you'll need to tune into Death in Paradise or Black Ops in iPlayer for that. But playing it straight is exactly what's needed, and in a way plays against the genre stereotype all the best streaming services have come to cultivate. For Pine, his business never rests.

    Frankly, that's great news. Sure, he might risk his life in the name of fictional entertainment every two seconds, but the payoff is colossal. Not only is Olivia Colman back for more scenes in season 2 (and not just in a half-hearted cameo way, either), but the MI6 is now under the control of Indira Varma's head of operations. She's a slippery one, so watch out for her... that's all I'll say for now.

    It's Hayley Squires I want to give the biggest kudos to, though. Ever since her breakout performance in I, Daniel Blake, she's somehow fallen off the radar when it comes to exceptional British acting talent. If Pine is the show-stopper, Squires' character Sally is a true glue that holds the operation together. Without her, nothing would be effectively achieved, and I think that's just as true of The Night Manager season 2 itself.

    Basically, we're kicking 2026 off in the most alluring, intricate, and devilishly thrilling way possible. Good things come to those who wait, and we're certainly being rewarded.

    Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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    ]]>     https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/the-night-manager-season-2-review-bbc-prime-video y8XfmCE3rNocbBg5L6cYsf Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:01:00 +0000 Fri, 02 Jan 2026 09:18:27 +0000