An all-digital future may still be far away for Sony, as the PlayStation 6 will likely not be a completely discless console, according to SIE Worldwide Studios’ former CEO Shawn Layden.
In a new interview with KiwiTalks, the former PlayStation executive commented on the PS6, saying that he doesn’t think Sony can get away with releasing a discless console. Xbox has had more success in this strategy as they are mostly successful in markets such as the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where conditions were better suited for the jump. Sony, on the other hand, is the number one platform in around 170 countries around the world, and has an obligation to evaluate how many of the markets they are successful in would be able to make the jump into an all-digital future. In addition, the former executive also highlighted how PlayStation consoles are popular in military bases, where there’s often no internet connection, and with athletes who bring the systems with them to hotels, where downloading tens, if not a hundred plus, gigabytes would be extremely inconvenient. With their market being so huge, Shawn Layden ended, it will be hard for them to release a completely discless PlayStation 6.
The PlayStation 6 has yet to be officially announced, but work on the new console has unsurprisingly already started. The new system, like its two immediate predecessors, will be powered by AMD hardware, although Intel did try to produce the system. The design of its SoC is complete and already in the pre-silicon validation phase. According to other rumors, there are two different SoCs in the works, and one of them is said to be more affordable, which will possibly power a less powerful variant of the system like a handheld.
In a recent interview with PlayStation’s former chairman, Shawn Layden, it has been revealed that the highly anticipated PlayStation 6 won’t be a completely discless console. Despite the growing trend towards digital downloads and streaming services, Sony is mindful of its huge global market and the importance of physical media in certain regions.
Layden explained that while digital sales are on the rise, there are still many parts of the world where internet infrastructure is not yet sufficient to support a fully digital gaming experience. Additionally, there are players who prefer to collect physical copies of games or share them with friends and family.
This decision reflects Sony’s commitment to providing options for all types of gamers and ensuring that the PlayStation brand remains accessible and relevant worldwide. While the PlayStation 6 will likely offer a range of digital features and services, including backwards compatibility and cloud gaming, it will also support physical discs for those who prefer or rely on them.
It’s clear that Sony is taking a thoughtful and inclusive approach to the development of the PlayStation 6, considering the diverse needs and preferences of its global audience. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting new console!
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has said Sony can’t get away with launching the PlayStation 6 console as an all digital, disc-less console.
Layden told Kiwi Talkz that, while Xbox has found success in that regard, PlayStation has such a large market share that it would be shutting out too many people by removing physical and offline games from its library.
“I don’t think Sony can get away with it now,” Layden said. “I think Xbox has had more success in pursuing that strategy, but Xbox is really most successful in their business in a clutch of countries: the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Coincidentally enough all English speaking countries.
Sony’s market is globally so huge, I think it would be hard for them to go fully disc-less.
“Sony, which is the number one platform in probably 170 countries around the world, has an obligation or a responsibility to say, ‘If we go discless, how much of my market is not able to make that jump? Can users in rural Italy get a decent connection to enjoy games?’”
Layden gave further examples of parts of the market that rely on physical or offline games, such as travelling athletes or military bases, but said PlayStation is likely already investigating how many of those groups it’s willing to move away from.
“Which part of your market will be damaged by going to disc-less market?” Layden asked. “I’m sure they’re doing their research on it. And there will be a tipping point, where there’s some percentage where you can say, ‘Okay that’s fine, we can turn our back on that part of the market.’ But Sony’s market is globally so huge, I think it would be hard for them to go fully disc-less, even with the next generation.”
With actual discs becoming less of a priority, what would once be included as a second disc (with an install disc and a play disc) is now essentially added as downloadable content.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.
In a recent interview, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden made a bold statement about Sony’s future plans for the PlayStation console. Layden expressed his belief that Sony cannot afford to release a disc-less version of the PlayStation 6, stating that the company would not be able to get away with it.
Layden argued that while digital-only consoles may be convenient for some players, there is still a significant portion of the gaming community that prefers physical discs. He emphasized the importance of giving players options and maintaining the traditional disc-based model for future PlayStation consoles.
This statement from Layden is particularly interesting given the recent trend towards digital gaming and the success of disc-less consoles like the Xbox Series S. It will be intriguing to see how Sony responds to this criticism as they continue to develop and release new iterations of the PlayStation console.
Shawn Simpson, a former hockey player, NHL executive, and TSN 1200 broadcaster, has passed away at the age of 56. His death was announced on TSN 1200 by John Rodenburg, who expressed the deep impact of the loss on staff, listeners, and the wider community. “We know that when you work on the radio, especially if you are a regular listener, you’re always considered to be family,” Rodenburg said. “When you lose a member of your family, it shocks, especially when it comes as it has.” The cause of Simpson’s death has not been made public. However, he had been very open in the past with his struggles with his mental health.
Born in Ottawa, Simpson’s hockey career began in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and Oshawa Generals. He was selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. That same year, he represented Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship. Simpson played in the American Hockey League with the Baltimore Skipjacks before transitioning to roles in NHL front offices, including with the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.
Simpson’s career took another turn when he joined TSN 1200 in January 2012. Over more than a decade, he became a beloved voice in Ottawa’s sports media landscape, known for his passion, wit, and openness. The Ottawa Senators paid tribute to Simpson on social media, calling him a “lionhearted member of the Sens media landscape and proud member of the Ottawa community.” They added, “Our hearts go out to his family and friends, as well as his fans whose lives he touched throughout his hockey and media career.”
From hockey player to cherished radio personality
Tributes poured in from across the sports world. TSN’s James Duthie shared his grief, saying, “Devastated to hear of the passing of Shawn Simpson. Was proud to watch him get drafted…play pro…and then become a constant hockey voice on Ottawa radio.”
The Ottawa Redblacks, Ottawa 67’s, and Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group also released a heartfelt statement: “‘Simmer’ approached every day covering sports in Ottawa with unmatched passion, kindness, and his trademark wit. He was a pillar of our community… making a tremendous impact both through his time in the media, as well as his courageous openness and mental health advocacy.“
Former NHL player Matthew Barnaby remembered Simpson fondly as someone who “absolutely loved talking hockey” and was “so fun to be around.” He also urged others to support those who may be struggling, reflecting on Simpson’s openness about mental health challenges.
Shawn Simpson cause of death: What did the famous hockey broadcaster die of?
It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of beloved hockey broadcaster, Shawn Simpson. The news of his sudden and untimely death has shocked the sports world and left fans mourning the loss of a talented and passionate professional.
At this time, details surrounding Shawn Simpson’s cause of death are scarce. Many are left wondering what led to the demise of the iconic sports commentator. As we await further information from his family and colleagues, we can only reflect on the impact he had on the world of hockey and the memories he leaves behind.
Simpson’s dedication to the game and his infectious enthusiasm for the sport will forever be remembered by those who had the privilege of listening to his commentary. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones during this difficult time as they come to terms with the loss of a true legend in the hockey community.
Rest in peace, Shawn Simpson. Your passion for the game will never be forgotten.
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It’s very hard to imagine Triple H being left speechless, but best WWE pals Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker have managed it.
The iconic pair bamboozled their boss at a meeting this week to spring a major announcement on him concerning this year’s WrestleMania weekend.
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Triple H was ambushed at a WWE meeting where familiar faces delivered good newsCredit: X/ShawnMichaels
It’s decades since the trio battled against – and sometimes alongside – each other as major stars in the WWE Attitude Era.
The Undertaker is regarded as wrestling’s greatest ever character creation after a 30-year career in the company, while Michaels is perhaps the most flamboyant of all WWE’s previous champions.
Triple H – better established in the current climate under his real name of Paul Levesque – was the King of Kings and an icon in his own right, but has taken on a lead role in WWE in recent years.
While Michaels brings through the next generation of wrestling talent as the de facto Head of NXT, Levesque sits atop of that particular tower as the company’s Head of Creative and Chief Content Officer.
‘Trips’ will be busily planning every element of the forthcoming WrestleMania weekend, from the headline two-night event itself to all the other festivities that come alongside it. Not least, of course, The Hall of Fame ceremony.
His weekend has somehow managed to get busier, though, after WWE confirmed via Michaels and Taker that heading into the Hall of Fame over Mania weekend will be none other than Triple H himself.
At the end of a WWE meeting this week, the multi-time former world champion was left stunned to hear the entrance music of HBK boom out – to be swiftly followed by The Undertaker’s.
A bemused Levesque stood by as the pair delivered the news that he would be given the honour of being a two-time Hall of Famer, following his previous induction as part of legendary group DX.
The spotlight will shine on him alone this time, with Michaels saying: “HBK and The Undertaker have made an executive decision here.
“Though you are in the Hall of Fame as a member of D-Generation X, it is only fitting that the Cerebral Assassin, The Game, Triple H, at WrestleMania 41, take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame.”
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Triple H joked at having sinister plans for WWE President Nick KhanCredit: X/ShawnMichaels
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The Game had no idea what was happening until the penny droppedCredit: X/ShawnMichaels
Though the two major WWE stars delivered the announcement, the decision to induct Triple H will almost certainly be the handywork of WWE President Nick Khan, whom The Game jokingly threatened to ‘kill’ shortly after the announcement.
He said in response: “From a guy that usually has something to say about everything, I’m speechless.”
Quipping he’d deal with Khan, he added: “If you see somebody flying off the roof, ignore it.”
WWE star The Undertaker reveals The Rock’s in-ring habit that left him furious
Upon hearing the news, the assembled mass at the meeting could be heard cheering and applauding, before Levesque’s wife, Stephanie McMahon, appeared on stage to congratulate him as the pair exchanged a hug.
The master of the sledgehammer added, simply: “I don’t know what else to say, just: ‘Thank you.’
Fan response to the news has been mixed. While many felt the induction was ‘long overdue’ and ‘deserved’, some were uneasy about WWE showering the recognition on Triple H while he’s in such a prominent backstage position.
One fan jabbed: “He’s been in power for a year and he booked himself as headliner in the Hall of Fame,” while another not buying the surprise value, said: “HHH: ‘The only guy who can headline the Hall of Fame is ME !!! Now act like it wasn’t my idea!’”
A third insisted: “He seriously needs to focus on creative and put new talent over rather than himself.”
Before WWE kicks into gear with WrestleMania weekend, it will first deliver its annual precursor event, Royal Rumble this weekend. More than 60,000 will jam into Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis for the show.
I’m speechless: The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels stun Triple H with huge WWE WrestleMania 41 news
In a shocking turn of events, WWE legends The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels have dropped a bombshell on Triple H regarding WrestleMania 41. The two icons made a surprise appearance on Monday Night Raw to announce that they will be facing off against each other in a highly anticipated match at the upcoming WrestleMania event.
Fans around the world are in disbelief at this unexpected announcement, as many had thought that The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels had retired from in-ring competition. However, it seems that these two legends still have some unfinished business to settle, and they are ready to do so on the grandest stage of them all.
Triple H, who was caught off guard by the news, has yet to respond to the challenge laid down by The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels. Will he accept the challenge and step into the ring with these two wrestling icons, or will he choose to sit this one out and watch from the sidelines?
One thing is for sure, WrestleMania 41 is shaping up to be one for the history books, and fans can’t wait to see what unfolds in this epic showdown between three of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
[This story contains major spoilers from the second season of The Night Agent.]
Heading into the second season of The Night Agent — Netflix’s spy action thriller series about a low-level FBI agent who goes from manning an emergency hotline for secret agents investigating issues of classified intelligence to being one of those international agents — creator and showrunner Shawn Ryan knew he wanted to push his beloved protagonist Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) further into morally grey territory.
“In season one, things were logistically very difficult for Peter, but morally pretty easy. In season two, I want things to remain logistically difficult for Peter, but I want them morally to get more difficult,” Ryan tells The Hollywood Reporter in the interview below. “He probably had a little bit of a naïve view of what [being a Night Agent] would mean, probably felt that he could keep his morals and his moral compass intact doing it, and he learns in the course of season two that that’s not so easy.”
(Spoiler alert!) After thwarting an assassination attempt on President Travers (Kari Matchett) from within her own government at the end of the first season, Peter was promoted to Night Action and tasked with investigating an intelligence leak that takes him from Bangkok to New York City. Peter eventually uncovers the existence of Foxglove, a joint CIA-military program that was aimed at combating the future of chemical warfare but quickly shuttered due to the ethical concerns of manufacturing life-threatening chemical agents for research purposes.
But after the U.S. government covered up the fact that it had sold one of those chemical agents, KX, to an authoritarian dictator named Viktor Bala (Dikran Tulaine), Bala, who was recently convicted of war crimes by The Hague, vowed to exact revenge using a team led by his nefarious nephew, Markus Dargan (Michael Malarkey). After Markus and his men steal a mobile lab and kidnap Peter’s tech-savvy love Rose (Luciane Buchanan) along with a chemist and his family, with the express intention of forcing the chemist to manufacture canisters of KX, Peter attempts to negotiate a deal with powerful businessman Jacob Monroe (Louis Herthum).
Monroe offers to give Peter valuable information about Rose’s whereabouts — and Bala’s larger plan to use manufactured KX to wipe out Manhattan — in exchange for Peter breaking into the UN building and stealing a key tape for him. Despite the realization that he would essentially be putting himself at the mercy of Monroe, Peter begrudgingly agrees to the deal and helps stop a chemical weapons attack inside the U.N. building.
Even after coming clean to his bosses about all the protocols he broke in the process of saving Rose and New Yorkers in general, Peter discovers that his superiors have much bigger fish to fry. By the end of the finale, Peter’s inscrutable boss, Catherine (Amanda Warren), enlists him on a top-secret new mission: to ascertain the exact nature of the relationship between Monroe and Governor Richard Hagan (Ward Horton), the presidential candidate who used Peter’s stolen file to confirm that his main opposition, former CIA director Patrick Knox, was the one who green-lit the development of Foxglove and the sale of KX to Bala. (Peter, as it turns out, just aided and abetted in the swinging of the presidential election in Hagan’s favor.)
The Night Agent is one of the first big shows to premiere in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles — a fact that Ryan wants to acknowledge at the start of his conversation with THR.
“One of my friends who lost her home is Lilly [Urban], one of our editors on The Night Agent, she edited episodes one, five and nine. I called her a couple days after she lost her house,” Ryan recalls. “I said, ‘Listen, I’m supposed to go to New York, and we’re having this screening and talking to the press. Is this appropriate, and is there any sort of message you’d want me to relay as someone who actually is a true victim of this fire?’
“She was like, ‘We all came to this town — meaning Los Angeles — because we wanted to tell stories. We all work so hard, we’re so proud of this season, and sometimes we need an escape from the realities of the world. I’m just proud of the show, and I just want as many people to watch it,’” he continues. “She, in a way, gave me some permission to come here and do these interviews, and I want to honor her work. It’s less of a celebration and more of an honoring of the work, in light of everything that we’re dealing with.”
Below, Ryan opens up about his approach to writing the second season of Netflix’s smash-hit series, how the creative team worked to honor the cultural nuances of the Iranian characters who play a key role in the season, Peter’s decision to break things off with Rose — and how that tense finale sets the stage for the already ordered third season, which began production late last year in Istanbul and will wrap in later this year in New York.
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Given that you didn’t have a second book from Matthew Quirk to adapt for the second season, how did you think about expanding the world that you had created around Peter and Rose, and why did you decide to introduce the Iranian mission and Bala family storylines for season two?
In season one, we had the blessing and curse of having the book as source material. The blessing is that it’s such great source material; Peter and Rose are amazing characters. But as you’re working, you’re always trying to be careful; you want to be true and not betray the book. So in season two, when we ran out of that real estate, there’s a freedom that now comes with, “Hey, we can do whatever we want.” The downside is, boy, you forget how much stuff we just took from the book in season one that we can’t take now. (Laughs)
I was originally thinking about placing season two somewhere overseas [focusing] on Peter and wherever the job was. But after some conversations, I decided to keep it in North America. I was like, “If I’m not taking Peter out into the world, how can I bring the world to Peter?” That’s where the other writers and I crafted these stories that in many ways revolve around the United Nations and involve people from other countries congregating in New York.
I really liked the idea of doing a story in a foreign mission to the U.N. We ultimately decided on Iran and came up with this character of Noor to build it around. [We had] the idea of the Bala family, who’s from an unnamed country, but having an issue with the U.N. This broker, Jacob Monroe, wants these files from the U.N. So, really, it was an attempt to bring the world to Peter in New York City, [where] we were really thrilled to film in this season. I think we showed off the city in a way that you don’t often see.
What conversations did you have with Gabriel and Luciane about how Peter and Rose have evolved between seasons, and what new layers were you able to find in the writing of those characters and the push-and-pull of their relationship this time around?
I think when you put two very likable characters, who also happen to be very good looking people, together onscreen, there’s this kind of natural desire to see them end up together romantically. That did happen in season one. But it was important to us to be real about what would be happening in these situations.
We talked a lot about if Rose in real life went through what she went through in season one — being there as her aunt and uncle were killed, killers coming after her, narrowly avoiding death a few times, being attacked on that beach by Dale the assassin in episode six of season one — wouldn’t that just be horribly traumatic? Can you really bring that character back and act as if that didn’t affect her at all? So that’s where the therapist character came in, and the therapist talks about, “How long have you known this guy? These sorts of interactions can be intense, but maybe not long-lasting.”
Peter and Rose were such an anchor for us in season one, and we certainly wanted both of them to be parts of season two. Gut how can we be true to what their shared traumatic experience has been? These characters are in such two different places in their worlds — him as this night agent, her as this high-level tech person — that maybe their desires to be together are overridden by the realities of what it would mean to be together.
Rose (Luciane Buchanan) and Peter (Gabriel Basso).
Dan Power/Netflix
While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads. Peter is forced to make increasingly difficult decisions as a new night agent — lying to Noor (Arienne Mandi) about what happened to her brother in Iran, letting Solomon (Berto Colon) out of custody, and being forced to do the first of many favors for Monroe. How did you want to show the evolution of Peter’s descent into morally grey territory?
It’s very perceptive that you said that because I’ve been utilizing that quote, and that was something that I very specifically and intentionally came to the writers room with. I said to them, as we were at the beginning of writing season two, “In season one, things were logistically very difficult for Peter, but morally pretty easy. It was easy to know the right thing to do; it was tough to actually get it done. In season two, I want things to remain logistically difficult for Peter, but I want them morally to get more difficult.”
He wanted to be a night agent. He probably had a little bit of a naïve view of what that would mean, probably felt that he could keep his morals and his moral compass intact doing it, and he learns in the course of season two that that’s not so easy. In many ways, that’s where Rose is so important on an emotional level in season two. In season one, Peter protected her physically. In season two, Rose protects him emotionally. She’s the one that reminds him: “Don’t lose who you are in all this. Not everyone is [Hong Chau’s] Diane Farr. You don’t have to be paranoid about everyone in this world. You can accept help along the way.”
What I love is that it comes from a place of real love. Even if it becomes more difficult for them to be together as a couple, their feelings and connection only grow in season two. She badly wants to protect him. And then when her life becomes endangered in the second half of season two, when she’s taken hostage with the chemist and his family, we see the lengths that he’ll go to protect her, and we see the moral compromises that he’s willing to make to protect her and others.
Catherine (Amanda Warren) acts as an intriguing new foil to Peter, largely because Peter can’t read her very well and doesn’t know if he can fully trust her. How did you want to introduce Catherine and distinguish her from someone like Farr from season one?
We liked the idea that she’s done this work for a while and that she’s used to hiding her cards really well. At the same time, we knew that we could use Peter’s — and the audience’s — expectations that people in authority can’t be trusted on this show, in terms of what happened in season one, to build a little natural suspicion towards Catherine.
Peter is suspicious, and I think it’s probably not until episode seven, where they realize, “Oh, they were listening to our comms last night. Could they have gotten the encryption signals?” And realizing that, “Oh, that’s how the mission went bad in Bangkok.” That’s the first moment I think where Peter realizes, “In the back of my mind, I’ve wondered if Catherine set us up in some way,” and there’s this realization that, “Oh, I let my paranoia get in front of me.” So by the end of the 10 episodes, there’s certainly more trust with him.
But there’s another lesson I learned from [my] previous show, The Shield. There was a character that Forest Whitaker played for us over a couple of seasons. When I was meeting with him to talk about the character we’d written, he talked about how some people’s character is so strong that they don’t bend. But the problem is when people that don’t bend get enough pressure, they break.
Peter’s moral character is so solid that it’s hard for him to bend for things that are morally queasy to him, but the danger exists that [not doing so] could break him. So that’s one of the things that we wanted to explore with Peter in season two, and that we’ll continue to do in season three: How does a fundamentally good moral principled man not only exist, but thrive in this environment that rewards deception in many ways?
In American shows, Iranians — and Middle Eastern people in general — are often portrayed as a kind of foreign adversary, and they are not always given the space to be fully fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters. How did you and your writers think about depicting and honoring the cultural nuances of Noor, her family in Iran, and her support network in New York City?
Thanks for asking that because I’m particularly proud of that storyline, and I’ll answer that in two parts — one on the creative side and the other on the practical side of how we tried to be true to that.
The inspiration for this was, I used to coach my daughter in soccer, and there was a girl that was on her soccer team for two or three years whose name was Noor. She was a young Muslim girl of Egyptian descent, and I always found that she had this really incredible spirit. She wasn’t the greatest soccer player, but she had this amazing spirit that I loved, and I love the energy inside this little girl. Now, in this age of Facebook and everything, occasionally, in the last few years, she’s been put in front of me as like, “Oh, here’s someone [you might know]. Do you want to follow them?” That’d be creepy for her old soccer coach to ask to follow her on Facebook. (Laughs) So I don’t, but I’ve been able to follow a little bit of her life. She’s now in medical school and still has this amazing smile on her face.
I thought about that kind of character and what it would mean for somebody like her to not grow up with the freedom to pursue exactly what they wanted to pursue. So the origins of that character was taking this little girl that I knew way back when, and trying to imagine her in the future in a situation that was more restrictive than what the real-life Noor is able to experience now.
Once you decide as a middle-aged white guy that you’re going to tell this story about not just one Iranian character, but this whole host of Iranian characters, and then once you make the decision that you’re going to actually have them speak in Farsi, a language that you don’t speak or understand, you have a couple ways to go. You can just shortcut and try to get away with it, or you can embrace it and say, “We’re going to surround ourselves with people who understand this world, that understand this culture, that are going to tell us if they think that we’re going astray anywhere.”
We happen to have a writer on staff who I would’ve hired, whether we were telling the storyline or not — Anayat [Fakhraie] is his name — whose family comes from Iran. We had a director, Ana Lily Amirpour, who’s of Iranian descent. We hired a consultant and translator on the show who did tremendous work for us, and we just doubly vetted everything. And I insisted that we can’t cast actors whose Farsi won’t sound good to actual Farsi speakers, even though it’ll fool 98 percent of our audience. It was important to me that if Iranians watch this show, the actors would sound like real Iranians.
I would say we engage our actors more than we usually do about what was important to them. There’s a moment in episode nine, I think it is, where Javad, the guard, is making these threats towards Abbas, and [Abbas] kisses him on the forehead. And I was like, “That’s a really weird gesture. That’s not something that was scripted. Are we keeping that in?” All the Persian actors and the consultants were like, “That is a totally understandable action within this culture and that community.” So we left it in.
You just try to honor [the culture] as best you can, so that at the end of the day, however political this may seem, and whatever landmines there are talking about the Iranian government, we’re just telling a personal story. We’re telling a story about this one woman and the people around her. People may take bigger things from it, but we’re not trying to make a political point. We’re trying to make a personal point — that this woman wants the freedom to live her life the way she wants to live it, and she wants her family to enjoy that freedom too. I’m sorry I’ve rambled on —
No, it’s OK. It’s clear that you have given this a lot of thought.
You’re the first person really to ask me about this, and I’ve been thirsting to talk about what a great creative collaborative experience we had. There’s a scene at the end in the final episode where Noor and her mother are in this government office, and it’s being explained to them what benefits they’ll have. When I first saw that scene, I was like, “They aren’t wearing their head scarfs. I’m so surprised by that.” I found out that there were long conversations with the writer, directors, and the actors, and that was something that we deferred to the two actors who understood that culture best, [and] what they felt was appropriate in that moment. As a showrunner, you’re used to having control over some of these decisions. And in order not to screw it up, I had to, at many times, give over the control to people who understood this world better than I did.
Peter (Basso) in season two.
Christopher Saunders/Netflix
In their final scene, Governor — and soon-to-be POTUS — Hagan tells Monroe about how a misleading press story about a pair of his boots ended up helping him win an election earlier in his political career. Hagan says, “Sometimes, it’s better just to let people believe what they want about you.” Monroe then shoots him a look as Hagan walks away. What is the narrative significance of that moment? How might an exchange like that be indicative of the collective threat that Hagan and Monroe will pose to Peter and his team going forward?
In the final scene between Monroe and Hagan, I think we are seeing whatever arrangement these two men could be a little messier than either might hope. I believe Hagan’s line indicates a reassertion of his power with the man who is helping him win the presidency. I think it portends great conflict in season three that Peter will find himself in the middle of.
Catherine has now enlisted Peter on a new mission targeting Hagan and Monroe. There also felt like a finality of sorts to Peter and Rose’s relationship, because they both realize what Peter would need to give up personally to be a night agent. And truthfully, the question is, how many more times can they have some version of the same conversation about Peter not wanting to put Rose in danger due to his job? What can you share about where the next season will pick up?
I’m reluctant to say too much about season three because we’re still writing it. We have the filming in Istanbul. We’ve got some pretty spectacular stuff that will be part of our season opener, but there are still creative decisions being made. But what I will say is that we always endeavor to keep things realistic and grounded. We understood that in a movie, Peter and Rose would end up together. But in an ongoing series, what are the realities that these characters are facing? How different are their lives? How does Peter’s decision to want to be a night agent [affect them], and [what are] the dangers that attach to that?
In many ways, his desire to separate from Rose at the end of season two reflects his connection with her. It’s because he cares so much about her that he feels like she needs to be away from him. Where that goes over the course of the series, I don’t know yet. We always treat each season as a separate season. So I think it’s unknown to us as writers, and that’s unknown to the audience, exactly what’s going to happen with Peter and Rose, but I think that’s because of the realities of the situation that they’re in. The last thing we would do is manufacture crisis after crisis season after season that feel artificial to keep them together.
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The first two seasons of The Night Agent are now streaming on Netflix.
Shawn Ryan, the creator of the hit TV series “Peter, Rose,” recently sat down to discuss the upcoming third season and what fans can expect from the beloved characters. In a candid interview, Ryan opened up about the challenges of setting up the new season and hinted at some exciting developments for Peter and Rose.
When asked about the dynamic between Peter and Rose in the upcoming season, Ryan teased that their relationship would be tested in ways fans have never seen before. “Peter and Rose have always had a complicated relationship, but in season 3, we really wanted to dive deeper into their emotional journey and explore the ways in which they both grow as individuals,” he explained.
As for setting up the new season, Ryan revealed that it was important for him to strike the right balance between action and character development. “We wanted to keep the stakes high and the plot moving forward, but at the same time, we didn’t want to sacrifice the emotional depth that fans have come to love about the show,” he said.
Fans can expect to see Peter and Rose facing new challenges, making tough decisions, and ultimately growing stronger together as they navigate the complexities of their relationship. With Ryan at the helm, it’s safe to say that season 3 of “Peter, Rose” is sure to be a wild ride. Stay tuned for more updates and be sure to catch the premiere when it airs later this year.
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Netflix will open up the next chapter for The Night Agent when Season 2 arrives this Thursday, Jan. 23 — nearly two years after the hit thriller dropped Season 1.
Based on the novel of the same name by Matthew Quirk, Season 1 of The Night Agent followed Gabriel Basso’s Peter Sutherland, a low-level FBI Agent who worked in the basement of the White House, manning a phone that never rang — until it did. That call, from panicked cybersecurity expert Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), propelled the two into a conspiracy that ultimately led all the way to the Oval Office. All the while, the heroic couple was dogged by not just a team of lovebird assassins, but an inscrutable bunch of White House bigwigs.
Season 2 is set in motion by the hunt for a mole who betrayed Peter during a Night Action mission and nearly got him killed, forcing him to go AWOL on his handler, Catherine Weaver (played by East New York’s Amanda Warren.
Also new for Season 2 are Brittany Snow (American Dreams) as Alice, Peter’s Night Action partner and mentor; Teddy Sears (The Flash) as Warren, an intelligence officer who becomes the target of a Night Action investigation; Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q) as Noor, a low-level aide in the Iranian mission to the UN in New York; Louis Herthum (The Peripheral) as Jacob Monroe, a broker of valuable intel; and Berto Colon (Power Book II: Ghost) as Solomon, Monroe’s right-hand man.
Amanda Warren as Catherine Weaver, Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland (Christopher Saunders/Netflix)
You also have Keon Alexander (The Expanse) as Javad, head of security for the Iranian Mission to the UN; Navid Negahban (Homeland) as Abbas, a distinguished Iranian Ambassador to the UN; Michael Malarkey (The Vampire Diaries‘ Enzo) as Markus, a trained military leader loyal to his uncle who was recently convicted in the Hague of War Crimes; and Rob Heaps (Imposters) as Tomas, who is desperate to return his family to power after his dictator father’s conviction.
TVLine spoke with Night Agent showrunner (and fellow Rockford, Ill. native!) Shawn Ryan about continuing Peter Sutherland’s Night Agent adventures without any source material, how Season 2 feeds into the already-ordered Season 3, and more.
TVLINE | I had a good time speaking with your cast this morning at the Plaza. [Video coming soon to TVLine.] SHAWN RYAN | It’s an intoxicating cast. They’re a great bunch.
TVLINE | My God, the women are great. I acknowledged how they’re playing three such distinctly strong and interesting characters, and how often do three actresses get to share such meaty, complicated scenes with each other? Well, it’s interesting — one of the things I did between Season 1 and Season 2 was I wrote down a list for me and the other writers of things that I thought worked about Season 1 that I wanted to make sure that we had in Season 2. One of them was “strong female characters that don’t always get good things to do in shows in this genre”; it’s something that I want to make sure we do every year.
Obviously, we’ve got Peter at the center of things and he’s fantastic, but finding the right stories and the right characters to have these strong female representations…. In many ways I thought Noor occupied a space for us in Season 2 that Peter did in Season 1, in that she’s the least important person in an important place and she gets thrust into importance as the season goes on.
Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, Arienne Mandi as Noor, Luciane Buchanan as Rose Larkin (Christopher Saunders/Netflix)
TVLINE | You and I spoke before about how was no second Night Agent book from Matthew Quirk for you to work off of, how you’d had to make this up from whole cloth. When you were coming up with a Season 2 story, what was not interesting to you to do, and what was interesting? Well, I certainly didn’t want to do anything that too obviously repeated ourselves. I didn’t want to just have Peter and Rose end up in the exact same situation with the same emotions. So, having Rose sort of seek Peter out and then get caught up in this was better than finding another thing that puts Rose in danger that he’s got to respond to. So in many ways, while Peter came to her physical rescue in Season 1, I feel like in Season 2 Rose comes to his sort of spiritual rescue.
Night Agent 2×04
TVLINE | What else were you interested in doing? What was your “must” for Season 2? Season 1 was logistically very difficult for Peter, but morally kind of clear. “What was the right thing to do?” was clear for him to do, and he did it. One of the things I really wanted in Season 2 was to make things morally difficult for him. One of the lessons I learned back on The Unit, David Mamet would always talk about how “good drama isn’t the choice between right and wrong; good drama is the choice between two wrongs.” I’ve always held onto that as we’ve broken stories.
We learn through the book that Peter’s a very moral guy, a very principled guy, and he’s going to do the right thing. So, we endeavored hard in Season 2 to try to make it much more difficult for him to know what the right thing to do was, to struggle with that. We see [in one of the episodes] that it sickens him to tell a lie, but he has to do it for the greater good. Taking a very principled character and putting him in a job that is very morally queasy was something that felt like a good evolution in Season 2.
Brittany Snow as Alice (Siviroon Srisuwan/Netflix)
TVLINE | I was excited when I learned that both Brittany Snow (American Dreams) and Teddy Sears (The Flash) would be in Season 2. You know, Brittany initially auditioned for Rose back in Season 1 and was one of our finalists. I was really intrigued with the idea [of casting her in Season 2] because she’s known more for different kinds of shows than this, and nothing pleases me more than when I can find something that kind of defies expectations. I think about using Anthony Anderson as this really scary guy on The Shield, shortly after he was, like, making Kangaroo Jack. I always love when actors are capable of more than you think they are and they can prove it.
TVLINE | There’s a presidential election looming throughout Season 2, and yet Kari Matchett’s Travers isn’t running for reelection. I guess her candidacy would be a little tainted? I think having a vice president and chief of staff who plotted to try to kill her [in Season 1] and all those things proved a little too politically toxic for reelection. In many ways she’s an honorable person surrounded by dishonorable people in Season 1, and I think she’s done the honorable thing by trying to give the country a clean break. But there may be unintended consequences to that.
‘The Night Agent’ Season 1: Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, Kari Matchett as President Travers (Dan Power/Netflix)
TVLINE | Lastly, you got an early Season 3 pick-up. Does the Season 2 finale in any way tee up what Season 3 will look like? We worked hard in Season 2 to tell a complete, satisfying story, but to leave some questions that can provide a launching pad for Season 3. So, I will say there’s a little bit more carryover from Season 2 to 3 than there was from Season 1 to 2, but I would promise the audience that it’s not just a pure cliffhanger. There’s a lot of resolution and a lot of satisfaction in Season 2.
TVLINE | You’re not doing Wicked: Part 1 and Wicked: Part 2. Exactly.
Want scoop on The Night Agent, or for any other TV show ? Shoot an email to InsideLine@tvline.com, and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line!
In an exclusive interview with The Night Agent showrunner Shawn Ryan, he teased what fans can expect from Peter’s character in the highly-anticipated second season. Ryan hinted at a “morally queasy” storyline that will challenge Peter’s beliefs and values, pushing him to his limits as he navigates his complex role as a CIA operative.
Additionally, Ryan discussed the new dynamic between Peter and Rose, hinting at a shift in their relationship that will add a new layer of tension and drama to the show. The upcoming season promises to delve deeper into the characters’ motivations and inner conflicts, promising a thrilling and thought-provoking ride for viewers.
Stay tuned for more updates on The Night Agent season 2, and prepare for a wild ride with Peter and Rose as they navigate the dangerous world of espionage and intrigue.
With The Mandalorian and Grogu current in post-production, we’re finally getting a new Star Wars movie in theaters in 2026 (seven years after The Rise of Skywalker was released to mostly negative reviews).
The three projects announced long before that one – Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s Rey movie, James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, and Dave Filoni’s crossover event – don’t appear to be shaping up very fast. However, we do have another positive update on Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy’s mysterious Star Wars movie.
In a new post from insider Daniel Richtman (via SFFGazette.com), it’s said the plan is for Levy’s movie to begin shooting in the UK later this year. Apparently, Lucasfilm and the filmmaker are “moving faster than expected,” meaning this feature will likely target a 2027 debut.
It was recently reported that the untitled movie was originally going to feature Daisy Ridley as an older Rey Skywalker; we don’t know whether things have changed since then, but with Obaid-Chinoy’s movie – previously described as an Episode X equivalent – still in the process of being written, she may be off-limits to Levy.
Still, that certainly lends some weight to claims Rey will have a recurring presence in the next wave of Star Wars movies as Lucasfilm looks to expand the franchise into new time periods.
In other Star Wars news, we’re sure you caught yesterday’s reports that Natalie Portman is in talks to return as Padmé Amidala in Ahsoka season 2.
Understandably, fans of the franchise were thrilled to think that a Clone Wars flashback might reunite her with Hayden Christensen (and perhaps even Ewan McGregor) but we’ve been told that she’s not currently in negotiations. Several other websites have also shared the same intel over the past 12 hours so, as of now, her long-awaited Star Wars return is off the table.
In 2023, Portman said, “I have no information on [a return]. No one’s ever asked me to return, but I’m open to it. It was such a big part of my life to be part of Star Wars for so many years. I made the first one when I was 16 years old and then this one I did when I was 22. It was really wild to do green screen. It felt like a very pure form of acting, actually.”
“It’s like almost like when you’re a kid and you’re pretending that you know your refrigerator box is your rocket ship, you know, that you have to really not just create the world inside of you, but the world around you as well.”
“It was the first time I worked digitally,” she continued. “I don’t think anyone was shooting that way then. It was my first time working with a green screen. It was a whole new set of skills to pick up and a whole new world to enter.”
As always, keep checking back here for updates on Star Wars as we have them.
There have been recent rumors circulating about Natalie Portman reprising her role as Ahsoka Tano in the upcoming Star Wars series, but it seems those rumors have been debunked. However, fans of the franchise can still look forward to a new Star Wars project from director Shawn Levy, as it has been reported that his movie is “moving faster than expected.”
While it’s disappointing to hear that Portman may not be returning as Ahsoka, the news of Levy’s project gaining momentum is certainly exciting. With his track record of successful films and TV shows, including the hit series “Stranger Things,” fans can expect great things from his take on the beloved Star Wars universe.
As more details emerge about Levy’s Star Wars movie, fans can rest assured that the project is in good hands and is making progress at a rapid pace. Stay tuned for more updates on this highly anticipated film.
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We hear that it’s true — the Barbie superstar is in talks to join Shawn Levy’s Star Wars movie.
Levy and Jonathan Tropper have been working on their Star Wars movie for two years. There is an untitled Star Wars movie on the release calendar for December 17, 2027. The next Star Wars movie is The Mandalorian and Grogu scheduled for May 22, 2026. Tropper co-wrote the Levy movies The Adam Project and This Is Where I Leave You.
Levy is a must-have, must-keep director for Disney: he delivered them the highest grossing R-rated movie of all-time with Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine which grossed $1.33 billion worldwide.
While details are under wraps for the latest Lucasfilm movie, it is reportedly not connected to the Luke Skywalker core canon of Episodes I-IX, and will be a standalone movie. The new hope out there is that it goes into production this fall. Duly note, there is a Star Wars Celebration this year in Tokyo, so expect more details.
The last Star Wars movie was in 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker, Episode IX. The pic grossed $515.2M and $1.077 billion worldwide. Disney originally had a plan to do standalone movies about each canon main character, how the origins story title Solo: A Star Wars Story flopped with $213.7M stateside and under $330M worldwide. This sent Lucasfilm largely to Disney+ to exploit deeper stories via series that mass Star Wars fans might otherwise clutch their pearls over on the big screen, i.e. the series Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Book of Boba Fett (the latter originally anticipated to be a feature with James Mangold directing). In sum, it’s been safe for Disney to explore and experiment with the deeper universe of Star Wars in streaming series.
A Gosling Star Wars movie would be big money: With Barbie he helped deliver Warner Bros. their highest grossing movie ever with $1.44 billion. He’s a 3x Oscar nominated actor for Barbie (Best Supporting Actor), La La Land (Lead Actor) and Half Nelson (Lead Actor).
THR first had the news about Gosling.
According to recent reports, actor Ryan Gosling is currently in talks to star in a new Star Wars movie directed by Shawn Levy. This exciting news has sparked speculation among fans about what role Gosling could potentially play in the beloved franchise.
While details about the project are still being kept under wraps, the idea of Gosling joining the Star Wars universe has already generated a lot of buzz. Known for his versatile acting abilities and captivating on-screen presence, Gosling would undoubtedly bring a new level of depth and complexity to the iconic sci-fi series.
With Levy at the helm, known for his work on popular projects such as Stranger Things and Free Guy, fans can expect a fresh and innovative take on the Star Wars universe. The combination of Gosling’s talent and Levy’s vision has the potential to make this new installment a standout addition to the franchise.
As we eagerly await more information about this exciting collaboration, one thing is for certain – fans of both Ryan Gosling and Star Wars have a lot to look forward to in the near future. Stay tuned for updates on this highly anticipated project!
Ryan Gosling is headed to the great galaxy far, far away.
The three-time Oscar nominee is in negotiations to topline the Star Wars feature project that will be directed by Deadpool & Wolverine filmmaker Shawn Levy.
Details on any Star Wars project are harder to acquire than plans for an orbital planet killer, and this one is no exception. Levy has been developing his Star Wars feature since 2022 and Jonathan Tropper, who collaborated with Levy on films such as This is Where I Leave You and The Adam Project, has been working on a script for over a year. Levy is also producing the feature via his 21 Laps banner, joining Star Wars stewards Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm.
It is unclear when Levy’s project is set. Star Wars stories have run the gamut of hundreds of years, detailing the goings-on of a galactic republic-turned-dictatorship-turned-rebellion. It’s also unclear if it concerns Jedis and their enemies, The Sith. It is, however, to be unconnected to the so-called Skywalker Saga, the stories centered on well-established and beloved characters Luke Skywalker and his father, Anakin.
It is meant to be a standalone movie, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. Lucasfilm had no comment on any impending deal or the project’s details.
Sources say the Gosling development is a late-in-the-game move for Levy’s movie schedule. The filmmaker was eyeing to direct a boy band movie set up at Paramount, which would have reunited him with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. But Gosling’s interest and involvement suddenly shifted the Star Wars project into hyperspace. If a deal makes, the project would continue to fly like the Millennium Falcon, becoming not only Levy’s next movie but also the next Star Wars movie to go into production, with cameras potentially rolling this fall. The Mandalorian and Grogu wrappedin mid-December and will be released on May 22, 2026.
Gosling’s boarding will mark a rare occasion that a Star Wars feature brings aboard an actual A-lister. The original trilogy featured up-and-comers and British veterans, turning actors Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher into household names. The prequels followed a similar model, although The Phantom Menace did bring on Liam Neeson to buttress the ranks following his Oscar nomination for Schindler’s List. The Disney era saw J.J. Abrams also introduce a crop of rising talent, even as it brought back the original stars.
In a bit of synchronicity, Gosling was name-checked for a Star Wars part back in 2013 when rumors spread online that he and Zac Efron were being eyed by Abrams for a familial part that may have eventually become Kylo Ren.
The actor, last seen starring in Universal’s Fall Guy, is repped by CAA and Sloane Offer. He recently wrapped on Project Hail Marry, another space-faring movie, which hails from Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
Exciting news for Ryan Gosling fans! The talented actor is set to star in Shawn Levy’s upcoming movie. Levy, known for directing hits like “Night at the Museum” and “Stranger Things,” is teaming up with Gosling for what is sure to be an unforgettable project.
With Gosling’s impressive acting range and Levy’s unique storytelling style, this collaboration is bound to be a must-see for moviegoers. Details about the plot and title of the film are still under wraps, but one thing is for certain – this is a pairing that is sure to create magic on screen.
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project as more information becomes available. In the meantime, mark your calendars and get ready to see Ryan Gosling shine in Shawn Levy’s newest movie!
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