Supergirl, starring Milly Alcock, hit theaters last weekend as the latest superhero movie on the 2026 movie schedule, and with it, we’re officially multiple films into the somewhat newly revamped DC Universe, led by James Gunn and Peter Safran. Maybe predictably, a lot of people don’t like the movie and are already calling for Gunn’s firing…or something. To be honest, sometimes I just don’t get the complaints. The movie has underperformed at the box office, but I don’t think that means it's time to scrap the whole project, and you need look no further than the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The MCU Didn’t Exactly Light The World On Fire At First, Either

Like the new DCU, the MCU kicked off with a hit. DC had Gunn’s own Superman last summer, and Marvel had 2008’s Iron Man. The next Marvel release, The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton, dropped a month later in June 2008. Marvel was on a high, and still, Hulk disappointed at the box office, much like it appears Supergirl will. Two years later, in May 2010, Iron Man 2 came out, and while it did fine at the box office, it’s usually one of the lower-rated MCU films.

It really wasn’t until the first Avengers movie was released in 2012 (taking in more than $1.5 billion) that the MCU really started flying high. Sure, all the movies released before that, including Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, did decent, but they weren’t the juggernauts that MCU films would be throughout the rest of the decade. After 2012, and especially in the Avengers movies, the MCU crushed all competition, including, and especially, the sputtering DCEU.

There Are Other Factors Involved

This isn’t a perfect analogy, of course. In 2012, the world was gaga for superhero movies, but 14 years and about a million movies later, some people are understandably burnt out on the genre. Superhero movie fatigue is real, and I think that’s at play here. The reaction to Supergirl has been way harsher than it deserves. It’s not a perfect movie, I grant you. The villain is pretty ho-hum, and it is a little jarring, tone-wise, compared to Superman.

However, as others at CinemaBlend have said, it’s a perfectly fine movie. It’s funny, it’s heartfelt, Alcock is great, and it skips along at a brisk pace (and a reasonable runtime). I thought it was funny, in the same way that Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy movies are. In fact, I think the whole thing bodes well for the DCU, which is clearly going for something very different than the MCU (at least, as different as you can be in the same genre). Up next is a straight body-horror movie with Clayface, which will be out in October, before we get the sequel to Superman, Man of Tomorrow, on the 2027 movie schedule.

I think after next summer we’ll have a much better idea just where the DCU stands and what kind of future it has. Calling for a shakeup now is impatient.

The 4th of July is here, and it’s time to celebrate not only by watching fireworks but by catching a flick or two at your local theater. There are plenty of 2026 movie releases to choose from, like Toy Story 5, Minions & Monsters, Supergirl and more. However, Chris Pratt shouted out a different recently released film when sharing his take on what audiences should see to celebrate America’s 250th birthday (and it makes so much sense).

Anyone in need of a movie recommendation should know that Chris Pratt posted an Instagram reel in which he shouted out Young Washington, an under-the-radar new George Washington biopic that hit theaters this past Friday. Check out the video below to see Pratt's effusive praise for the movie, and its lead actor:

Based on the early life of the eponymous Founding Father, the Jon Erwin-directed and co-written epic war-drama flick chronicles George Washington's leadership of the Virginia militia during the French and Indian War. William Franklyn-Miller plays the lead role, and he's joined by veteran actors Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Mary-Louise Parker and Kelsey Grammer.

It’s understandable as to why Pratt would consider this a must-watch, as we honor 250 years of our nation. I mean, why not learn about a part of Washington’s life that some may not even be that aware of? Pratt also sells the film in a big way by calling it a mixture of The Revenant, Braveheart and Pride and Prejudice. Now, if that's not a ringing endorsement, then I don't know what is!

It's also great to see Pratt shout out Franklyn-Miller, who is a British actor and model While the up-and-coming actor has had small parts in TV shows like Arrow and Neighbours, the George Washington biopic marks his big-screen debut. Franklyn-Miller also has more work on the way, as he'll be starring in the upcoming Apple TV series Neuromancer and the book-to-TV screen adaptation of The Age of Innocence that’s expected to be available for Netflix subscription holders.

Of course, the public doesn't necessarily have to go see Young Washington, as there are plenty of other options as well. And I'm not just talking about movies that are currently playing in theaters. Cinema aficionados can also watch a perfect trio of patriotic ‘90s action flicks -- Independence Day, Air Force One and Con Air -- which are all streamable with Disney+ subscription. There are also other great titles on the streamer and other platforms that'll have people feel patriotic.

Still, fans are more than welcome to take Chris Pratt’s recommendation for Young Washington if they so choose. It goes without saying that it's huge to be able to say that we live in a time at which we can celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. So it might behoove Americans to find some way or another to signify such a momentous occasion.

On that note, viewers can see what the Jurassic World actor is talking about by catching Young Washington in theaters now. And, while you're at it, seek out some of Chris Pratt's blockbusters to watch over the holiday as well.

Robert Downey Jr. has worked with enough filmmakers that when he starts comparing directing styles, I am going to listen. This is an actor whose career has taken him from his father’s underground film world to John Hughes, Richard Attenborough, Shane Black, Jon Favreau, Guy Ritchie, Christopher Nolan and, soon enough, back to the MCU for a new Marvel movie where he'll play Doctor Doom. So, when he casually drops a Clint Eastwood story about “calling action” while talking about how different movie sets operate, my ears perk up.

RDJ was recently asked what it was like working with Nolan on Oppenheimer. Instead of jumping straight into the usual praise, he backed into the answer by mentioning legendary actor and director Clint Eastwood, and the detail is one I had never heard before. He explained during an interview with Conversations for Our Daughters:

That is such a fascinating little detail about the A Fistful of Dollars star. Calling “action” is one of the most basic pieces of film language. Even people who have never been near a set know that rhythm: quiet on set, roll camera, action. It's practically baked into how most people imagine movies being made.

Yet, according to the Iron Man actor, Eastwood avoided it because he did not like the hard line it created between regular human behavior and performance. Interestingly, Downey does not appear to have worked with Eastwood himself, but this is clearly one of those Hollywood stories that has made the rounds, even if it was new to me.

The story makes sense for Eastwood, whose screen persona has often been built on economy. As a director, he has a reputation for working quickly, keeping setups simple and bringing films in under budget and on schedule. If you are trying to get actors into something natural, maybe a shouted command is not the cleanest way in, especially if they may only get one or two passes at the material.

Downey then used that thought to pivot to Nolan, whose approach sounds different but is similarly stripped down. He continued:

That description lines up with the Nolan lore that has built up over the years. His sets have a reputation for focus, discipline and very little wasted motion. Tom Holland, who worked with Nolan on The Odyssey, has also talked about how the director runs a set and how that experience influenced the attitude he brought to the making of the upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The Avengers star went on to say Nolan “abhors waste” and “craves efficiency,” but he also made an important distinction. To Downey, Nolan’s style is not about avoiding chaos entirely. He continued:

The Chaplain actor also compared working with Nolan to working with “a good parent,” aka someone who will not let you get away with nonsense but who wants you to succeed. That might be my favorite part of his answer, because it explains why an actor of his stature would seem so eager to give himself over to that environment.

Both Nolan and Eastwood, at least in Downey’s telling, seem suspicious of unnecessary noise. During Eastwood's career, he avoided the big “action” command because it interrupted the delicate shift into performance. Meanwhile, Nolan strips away anything that does not belong in front of the camera because waste gets in the way. Two iconic filmmakers, two very different methods, and one surprising shared instinct: protect the moment.

RDJ returns to Marvel in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, which is set to hit theaters Dec. 18. As for Eastwood, he worked well into his 90s, though his family has indicated he is likely done making movies. His final acting and directing effort appears to be 2021’s Cry Macho. And honestly, after seven decades in show business, the man has more than earned the right to fold up his director’s chair.

Christopher Nolan is famous for being a “serious” director. He is responsible for his Oscar-winning direction of Oppenheimer and for one of the best superhero movies ever, The Dark Knight. He also has a reputation for being incredibly particular about how he makes films, from insisting on theatrical experiences to shooting projects like his upcoming 2026 calendar release, The Odyssey, entirely on IMAX cameras. And I'm not even getting into those alleged chair bans on set. Basically, it should come as no surprise that his script's security has a bit of cinematic weirdness, too. According to Jessica Chastain, he only sends his actors red scripts.

In an Instagram video shared by director and photographer Aidan Tanner, Jessica Chastain broke down some of her marked-up scripts from Interstellar and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. She confirmed one of Nolan's behind-the-scenes habits: he sends his actors red scripts. The choice was originally meant to prevent copies from being made, but now it's also seemingly just his thing.

As the Zero Dark Thirty star flipped through the script in the clip, she paused to point out the small countermeasure the filmmaker takes to protect his stories.

Talk about a Christopher Nolan detail that obviously feels both practical and slightly absurd in the best way. Red paper makes a script harder to photocopy clearly, which helps protect the story from leaking. It also makes the object itself feel special, almost like a classified document from some secret film bunker.

For a movie like Interstellar, streaming with a Paramount+ subscription, I get it. Nolan’s best films often depend on carefully controlled information. The audience is not supposed to know too much too soon. Whether he is bending time, hiding a reveal or letting a character’s emotional arc snap into place late in the story, the experience is built around discovery. A leaked script could ruin some of that before the movie ever reaches theaters.

Still, what I love most about Chastain’s clip is that it quickly becomes less about Nolan’s secrecy and more about her acting process. The red script was the flashy piece of trivia, but the markings were where the real work was happening.

She explained the changes she made to a scene in the 2014 sci-fi thriller, Interstellar:

Chastain was not just reading the script as written and treating every direction like a commandment. She was adjusting the dialogue so it sounded more alive to her. She was crossing out emotional instructions because she did not want to pre-plan the moment too tightly. That little “Starts Crying” note says a lot. Some actors might use that as a target. She saw it as something that could get in the way.

There is also a funny contrast here. The Prestige filmmaker can do everything possible to keep a script from being copied, passed around or spoiled -- though as Cillian Murphy wryly noted to 60 Minutes in a separate Oppenheimer interview about the red scripts, "But I don’t know who photocopies in 2024." Once that script reaches an actor, he or she seems willing to let it become something more personal.

The red pages show how carefully the moviemaker protects his stories, while Chastain’s notes show how an actor helps make those stories breathe. Good filmmaking needs both sides of that equation: a director protective enough to guard the vision, and wise enough to give collaborators room to explore it.

Christopher Nolan’s next big film, The Odyssey, lands in theaters on July 17.

The Fast and Furious movies has been occupying the big screen (and theme parks) since back in 2001, so it's already been well over two decades of the action/adventure property. Following Fast X's ending, fans have been looking forward to the 11th and final movie of the beloved IP. But Fast Forever has taken a long time, and Vin Diesel recently posted a video from the set thanking the fandom for their patience. Hey, that's what family is for!

What we know about Fast Forever has been limited, but fans are excited to see how Dom and the rest of the crew conclude their story... especially after the Fast X credits scenes brought back multiple characters. But cameras are finally up, and Diesel took to his Instagram to share a video of love for the fandom. Check it out below:

While hardcore Fast and Furious fans might be looking to the background to try and glean what might be going on in the eleventh and final chapter in the franchise, it's also heartening so see how much the Guardians of the Galaxy director appreciates the audience. Moviegoers have grown up with Dom Toretto and the rest of The Family, and are seemingly invested in Fast Forever despite the wait.

With a car (appropriately) in the background, Vin Diesel shared how much it's meant to have the support of the Fast and Furious community over the years, but especially in the wait since Fast X hit theaters. In his words:

Fast X (which is streaming with a Peacock subscription) planed some thrilling narrative seeds, which is a big reason why the wait for the next movie has felt so long. At the end of the movie Gal Gadot's Gisele surprisingly appeared, and is the latest seemingly dead character who has turned up alive. But the cherry on the top was Dwayne Johnson, who returned to to the flagship series after starring in his spinoff Hobbs & Shaw.

Later in the same clip, Vin Diesel shared even more love for the fans, saying:

The pressure is definitely on for Diesel and company to land the plane, and give the Fast and Furious saga a satisfying ending. The franchise has come a long way over the years, going from a movie about street racing to a full-blown action extravaganza. I mean, they even went to space. So it should be fascinating to see what the final adventure ends up being, and if the whole Family survives.

All will be revealed when Fast Forever hits theaters on March 17th, 2028. Since it's not on the 2026 movie release list or even 2027's the fandom is going to have to continue being patient. Luckily Vin Diesel appreciates them.

Project Hail Mary had a strong theatrical rollout. It's earned praise from critics, performed well at the box office and even surpassed the novel it’s based on in certain respects. Much of that success seems tied to the attention to detail shared by both the film and its source material. That commitment to accuracy even extends to a humorous moment in the movie that a real scientist has confirmed is technically correct. And once you hear that detail, it’s hard not to laugh.

Among the many scientific details the Ryan Gosling-fronted 2026 movie schedule entry gets right, there’s one smaller, unexpected tidbit that stands out: how astronomers name things. Speaking with the New York Times, Mark Popinchalk, a postdoctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History, pointed to the less-than-cool names, such as Tau Ceti e, noting that they reflect reality. He explained to the outlet:

The sheer irony of this revelation is just too funny, especially considering the discussions that have surrounded PHM since its release. It's hilarious to think that amid the deep conversations unfolding about what's accurate in the film and what's not, astronomers lacking when it comes to naming skills is among the elements that's receiving praise.

Directed by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the film follows Ryland Grace (Gosling), a middle school teacher who awakens from a coma aboard a spacecraft orbiting the distant star Tau Ceti. With no memory of how he got there, Grace gradually pieces together his mission: a microscopic organism is draining energy from the sun, threatening Earth with a catastrophic freeze.

Tau Ceti appears to be the only nearby star unaffected, prompting a desperate mission to uncover why. After losing his crewmates during the journey, Grace encounters an alien lifeform he eventually befriends, a turning point that reshapes the mission.

As alluded to, Popinchalk’s remarks are part of a larger conversation about how scientifically grounded Project Hail Mary really is, and experts suggest the answer falls somewhere in between. A book-to-screen adaptation of Andy Weir’s best-selling 2021 novel, the film leans into the traditions of hard science fiction, blending speculative ideas with real-world principles. That approach has fueled ongoing chats among audiences and scientists alike, with debates spanning everything from space travel mechanics to the plausibility of alien biology.

At the center of the story is a fictional microorganism known as an astrophage, which can absorb stellar energy and threaten the balance of entire solar systems. While that concept stretches scientific credibility, experts note that much of the film still gets key principles right. Elements like the silence of space, the mechanics of spacewalks and rotational gravity are all depicted with a level of care that stands out within the genre.

Even some of the more speculative ideas have roots in real science. Researchers have been able to crystallize gases like xenon under certain conditions, and light-based propulsion concepts have been explored in theoretical physics. At the same time, scientists acknowledge that parts of the film take creative liberties, particularly in how microbes behave in space or in the scale of their potential impact on a star.

With bad naming conventions in mind, the general consensus among experts is that the film strikes a fair balance between imagination and plausibility. As one astrophysicist noted, none of the film’s scientific leaps were so far off that they broke the experience entirely, unlike in many large-scale science fiction films.

For a movie built on big ideas and high-concept science, it’s a small, almost throwaway detail about naming conventions that ends up being one of its most accurate. And in a film filled with cosmic threats and interstellar travel, that tiny moment of truth might be one of its most satisfying. Catch it streaming on MGM+

While movies based off of video games have historically suffered, the past few years have changed the genre's reputation. Some of the best video games movies have hit theaters recently, and Simon McQuoid's pair of Mortal Kombat movies are definitely in that category. Following the 2021 original (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) the sequel Mortal Kombat II hit theaters in May. I recently spoke with the director about its forthcoming release on 4K UHD, where he revealed a few easter eggs cans can seek out upon the re-watch

Mortal Kombat II is available now on digital and will be available 4K UHD on July 28th. The fandom can now re-watch all those epic fight scenes, and have the ability to pause and rewind every fight, fatality, and surprising pop culture reference. I had the privilege of speaking with Simon McQuoid about the sequel's home release, where I asked him about any east eggs eagle-eyed fans should look out for now that we can stop the sequel. He told me:

Edenia is introuced in the opening sequence of Mortal Kombat II, and is the home of Kitana and one of the realms thats involved in the titular tournament. Fans of the game will recognize it as an important setting, and also the home of other characters like Sindel, Jarrod, Jade, Rain, Kitana and Mileena (depending on which timeline you're in). As McQuoid pointed out, that setting its given its own visual language, including ongoing costume motifs conceptualized and implemented by designer Cappi Ireland.

An Edenian flower is included in a number of pieces throughout Mortal Kombat II, something I didn't notice on my first re-watch of the R-rated action flick. The filmmaker went on to share more examples of the way it's used in the movie, telling me:

God is in the details, and there was clearly a ton of specific work done on Mortal Kombat II. Simon McQuoid's movie felt straight out of the video games, and luckily writer Jeremy Slater already has four more sequels planned. We'll just have to wait and see if Warner Bros. green lights a threequel. I'll personally be keeping my fingers crossed.

Mortal Kombat II reviews priased Karl Urban's Johnny Cage, and luckily there are some easter eggs for that scene stealer as well. Specifically during Johnny's hilarious fake movie Uncaged Fury. As Simon McQuoid told me:

Suddenly I'm feeling the need to pause dissect every frame of the epic sequel. Luckily for me, fans can do exactly that by watching McQuoid's sophomore directorial venture from the comfort of their own home.

Mortal Kombat II is available digitally now, and will arrive on July 28th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

After years of sequel speculation following 2019's Jumanji: The Next Level, I wasn’t sure we’d ever see another movie in the franchise. It didn’t feel real until Jumanji 4 got a real title (which is Open World) and the actors actually started filming. As a result, series co-lead Karen Gillan reunited with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jack Black and Kevin Hart and the usual shenanigans ensued. However, this time, the actress’s return to set felt a little different now that she’s a mother to a young daughter, who had a major effect on her co-stars.

After having her baby, Gillan took a year off to focus on being a mother, but the actor came roaring back into acting with multiple projects. She even took little Clementine to meet her A-list co-stars. Funny enough, when Gillan brought her baby to the Jumanji set, Johnson, Black and Hart were huge suckers for the little one. The actress dished to Rayo:

Is it too much to hope that there’s some BTS footage of this adorableness? Hearing these stories makes me excited for the movie to come out, and it makes the prospect of its release feel more real after waiting for so long. The next film was teased with an interesting cliffhanger at the end of The Next Level, and fans will finally have answers when Open World comes out later this year as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The Jumanji cast has been teasing fans since filming started, and this continued until a cute car selfie indicated the end of filming. However, Johnson said goodbye to his smoldering character with a fitting Robin Williams tribute. Even before that, Johnson revealed he was honoring Williams by wearing one of the dice used by his character, Alan Parrish, in the original 1995 film.

Meanwhile, Gillan found other ways to make the most of her return to acting aside from taking her daughter to set. The actor has been an absolute maniac on set, in the best way, with impromptu dance parties. These have become some of the most iconic BTS moments. It’s nice to see the Scottish star enjoying time back at work after recently opening up about how hard it can be to find a balance between acting and motherhood. She explained the difficulty she had:

Based on how Gillan describes it, I imagine her co-stars consider themselves lucky to have had a little visitor on set. I can only imagine how her presence brought out each of their dad sides. Perhaps dealing with her male scene partners gave her the experience she needed before having a small child? After all, Johnson has playfully described Gillan’s time on set as dealing with "three idiots."

As for wrapping Jumanji 4, Karen Gillan said that was an emotional experience. She described the original film as one of her "top three films" and, as someone who grew up with the movie, I completely get it. I'm excited to see what adventure the next film has in store for her character. And, hopefully, at some point, Gillan will release some videos of her co-stars hanging out with her baby.

Check out Jumanji: Open World when it hits theaters on December 25, 2026 and closes out the franchise.

Disney Animation and Chainsaw Man are not exactly two titles I expected to link together. Let's face it, a violent anime about devils, body horror and a guy whose head turns into a chainsaw does not usually come to mind when thinking about the House of Mouse’s 2026 movie schedule. But, apparently, Disney’s new animated film, Hexed, pulled a tiny bit of inspiration from that very place. So yes, my brain did a full cartoon double take.

Hexed directors Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand talked t Cartoon Brew about trying to make Disney magic feel fresh again. The movie follows Billie, a prickly teenager who discovers she has magical powers and gets pulled into a strange new world alongside her mother. While discussing the film’s visual language, Hand revealed the very unexpected influence hiding in the details:

That is where Billie’s crescent moon eye highlights come in. According to the filmmakers, the detail is part of the movie’s larger moon imagery, which ties into ideas of change, growth and cycles. It is also a way to hint at Billie’s witchy potential without stapling a giant sign to her forehead. Veerasunthorn added the idea behind the inspiration:

For anyone unfamiliar, Chainsaw Man is a wildly popular anime, often cited as a great series to start with if you’re a newbie to he medium. It follows a broke teenager who merges with a devil and gains the ability to transform parts of his body into chainsaws. It's a violent, strange and monster-ridden show, but it is also visually expressive in a way that makes Hand’s comment click. The eyes in particular often carry huge emotional weight, giving characters a glossy, heightened intensity that makes their feelings pop.

That kind of stylized eye detail makes a lot of sense for a movie like Hexed. Obviously, the film is not borrowing the gore or intense onscreen body horror of Chainsaw Man, which is not exactly the kind of thing you expect to stream with a Disney+ subscription. Instead, it is taking a visual idea and softening it into something that fits Billie and her magical world.

Honestly, I love that level of inspiration. It is a tiny animation detail, but it says a lot about where Hexed might be aiming visually. The movie still looks like a Disney Animation release, but the directors seem interested in pushing the edges a little. Veerasunthorn described the film as “a little sharper and a little weirder,” which is exactly the kind of energy I want from an original Disney movie about a teenage witch. It’s nice to see the studio leaning into a more distinctive animated style again.

Over the last few decades of computer-generated animation, many studio films have either chased realism or settled into similar soft, rounded character designs. There was a time when each new Disney movie felt like it had an animation identity all its own, but some of that individuality seemed to fade as the studio moved deeper into CG.

After seeing projects like The Peanuts Movie, the Spider-Verse trilogy of films, and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem push the animated style in bold new directions, I am glad to see Disney trying to stretch a little, too. The fact that one of those sparks may have come from a gruesomely intense horror anime only makes the whole thing more interesting.

Hexed is probably not going full Chainsaw Man, but the fact that its directors are looking outside the expected Disney spellbook is interesting. If the movie can blend classic Disney magic with stranger visuals, a pricklier heroine and a few anime-adjacent details, Hexed could be one of the studio’s more intriguing original swings.

I, for one, have moved it up my most anticipated animated films of the year and plan to be in line for popcorn when the movie is officially hits theaters on November 25.

Actress Millie Bobby Brown became a household name after leading the Stranger Things cast, but she's worked on a number of other projects for the streaming service. Those with a Netflix subscription are about to be treated to Enola Holmes 3, which will once again have the 22 year-old actress breaking the fourth wall and directly speaking to the audience. And she spoke to CinemaBlend about one thing that bothers her about re-watching the first movie.

While fans are still debating Stranger Things' ending, Millie Bobby Brown is leaving Eleven behind and reprising her role as Enola. As you can see in the video above, I asked Brown about her character's penchant for speaking to the camera. That's when she told me:

The trailer for Enola Holmes 3 showcased how wildly charismatic MBB is while breaking the fourth wall, but it sounds like she's got notes about 2020 original movie. Namely where her eye line was the first time she played the young detective. Suddenly I'm feeling the need to re-watch the first two movies of this burgeoning franchise.

Millie Bobby Brown had been doing a ton of press for Enola Holmes 3, but she's also clearly looking back at the franchise's humble beginnings. She told me and co-star Louis Partridge that she caught herself looking just above the lens while narrating, rather than directly into it. Luckily she got more comfortable with this part of the role as her tenure as Sherlock's little sister continued.

Millie Bobby Brown pushed for Enola Holmes 3 to be more adult than the previous two installments, given how both she and her character have grown up. Indeed, the threequel has the title character preparing for her marriage to Lord Tewkesbury, which shows just how much time has passed since the first movie arrived on Netflix. The franchise is yet another example of how audiences have watche Brown grow up right before our eyes.

Enola Holmes' penchant for breaking the fourth wall is one of the best parts about the franchise, and makes me want to see the Damsel actress in a mockumentary. I mean, can you imagine her in something like The Paper, looking directly into the camera in the process? In the clip above she also name-dropped Fleabag, and now I want to see the show rebooted with her at the center. Are you listening, Phoebe Waller-Bridge?

Enola Holmes 3 will arrive on Netflix on July 1st as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully this franchise will also continue with a fourth movie. Fingers crossed.

There are major film franchises, and then there's the James Bond movies. Starting with 1962's Dr. No, generations have watched 007's adventures, most recently Daniel Craig's Bond movies. Since No Time to Die's ending killed off the MI6 agent, fans are curious about what actor might take on the mantle next. And a former casting director revealed why she doesn't want to see Jacob Elordi or any of the other rumored stars in that coveted role.

The James Bond franchise has been going through some changes, especially with Amazon MGM Studios getting the rights to the next movies. Folks have been betting on who might be the next 007 for years, with Jacob Elordi being one of a number of popular choices. But former Bond casting agent Debbie McWilliams spoke to The Independent and said "I don’t want to see any of them as James Bond." She further expanded her thoughts by offering:

There is some precedence for this line of thinking. While actors like Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan had worked prior to becoming 007, they weren't household names in the way that actors like Jacob Elordi are thanks to his work on Euphoria (streaming with a HBO Max subscription). The same can also be said for Daniel Craig, who wasn't nearly as famous prior to debuting in Casino Royale. Later in the same interview, McWilliams went on to share why she thinks this is an important distinction, saying:

While this is a tried and true method for 007 casting (Debbie McWilliams cast the last three actors), I'm not sure I agree that this method is essential nowadays. Because while new talents might be relative unknowns in their first Bond movie, whoever takes on James' martini and PPK is instantly catapulted into mega fame. And in doing so, they're not longer the mysterious "enigma" that she'd like. Maybe now is the time for the strategy to be shaken and stirred up.

The early reports about the next Bond casting claimed that the studio was looking for a younger actor to replace Daniel Craig, given how physically grueling the role can be. Jacob Elordi is 29, so he seems appropriate. And with an impressive resume and recent Oscar nomination, why not bring this hot star into the fold? The franchise is already having a change of ownership, so why not change its casting strategy? Of course, Elordi is only one of many names being tossed around online.

We'll just have to wait for official news about Bond 26's casting, and who ends up being the next actor to be the beloved MI6 agent. Hopefully some news about Denis Villeneuve's developing blockbuster arrives soon, even if its not going to be on the 2026 movie release list.

I am over-the-top enthusiastic to see what Fox is able to do with the Baywatch revival. I feel like I need to point this out first thing. I’m pumped to see Stephen Amell on board, I’ve been genuinely excited about how excited the ladies have been to throw on the infamous red suits and get to work, and I think everyone’s had a sweet attitude despite knowing how tough it can be to actually film this series. Seriously, I’m a fan of what’s coming, but I do think Fox has already made a mistake with the Baywatch reboot. Hear me out.

First, I Think Fox Has Done An Excellent Job Marketing Baywatch

From the second Baywatch was announced, Fox has done a great job with the marketing piece. There was the splashy casting of Amell and several ladies who already have large social media followings like Brooks Nader, Livvy Dunne and Shay Mitchell. After the Baywatch cast rounded out, Fox set up an actual casting call event that inspired thousands of people to show up in costume for a chance at a role on the network TV series.

Our eyes were largely on the show at this point, and it hadn’t even started filming. So, then when the show did get off the ground, the hype was incredible. Right now, people are very interested in the drama from a novelty standpoint, and seeing if the models and social media stars can really pull their weight on the small screen. There are some haters, but in general the goodwill is there, and there’s reason to believe that people will at least tune in to give the series a chance. However, this is where Fox has completely lost me, and the fall 2026 TV schedule is involved.

I Think Holding The Show Until Midseason Was A Huge Miss

The latest tease we got for Baywatch has come during this World Cup Run. In it, fans just get an extremely short clip of Brooks Nader slow motion jogging across the screen. The logo for the series flashes, and we get the show’s premiere date: “Coming January Fox (Next Day On Hulu).”

Listen, Fox. The hype is here now. It’s bikini weather now. People are ready to see what the series is all about right now. You hold this show for the dead of winter, and I’m not sure the reception is going to be as high. Not only am I less interested in seeing fabulous people in tight swimsuits when it’s 20 degrees out Fahrenheit, I just don’t know how the network is going to sustain interest at this level for another six months.

It honestly feels like an impossible task. Most network TV hits the schedule in September. Network programming usually gets 22-24 episodes a season, but this isn’t always the case. Freshman shows in particular sometimes get a partial order, and Baywatch is getting 12 episodes for Season 1.

Something similar actually happened for Stephen Amell’s last series, Suits LA, which only got 13 episodes for its inaugural season on NBC. That series was later canceled, so it never got a full network order run. I don't want that to happen with his new show.

I get it, sort of. With a partial order, the network needed to either pick the front of back half of the season to air Baywatch. There’s less competition in the spring, and I’m sure the thought process was it would be easier to launch when everyone’s already-established favorite shows aren’t returning at the same time.

In the meantime, there’s only so many clips of Stephen Amell riding fake ATVs I can be amused by before I feel like I’ve already mostly seen what the series will offer prior to its release. I still think the show could be a fun breath of fresh air for Fox as a network (which sorely needs more originals dramas), but I really wish it was coming in September.

After being canceled three times, S.W.A.T. just won’t go down. The Shemar Moore-led procedural officially ended in 2025 after eight seasons on CBS but, just days after the finale aired, Sony Pictures Television announced that a spinoff starring Moore was in the works. S.W.A.T. Exiles was recently screened to potential buyers and, now, it’s finally been picked up for the 2026 TV schedule. While I'm excited, there’s one thing that bums me out.

Shemar Moore Reacts To S.W.A.T. Exiles’ Pickup

When S.W.A.T. Exiles was announced, the series hadn't been acquired by any network. It was hard to say where the series would land following the OG show's eight-year run on the Eye Network. Paramount+ also seemed to be a possibility, as well as Netflix, where all eight seasons are currently streaming. However, Deadline reports that Exiles has officially secured a spot with Starz and that the 10-episode first season will premiere this fall. In a statement, Moore said:

Since S.W.A.T.’s first cancellation in 2023, Moore had made it clear he wouldn’t be going down without a fight. The fight only continued after the cancellation reversal and surprise Season 8 renewal, as Moore was optimistic that the show would continue after the eighth season. It’s a good thing for fans that his optimism never faltered, because now we’ll be getting even more of S.W.A.T. and Hondo.

Speaking of Hondo, the new show will see him leading a new team filled with young operatives. Joining Moore on Exiles are Lucy Barrett, Adain Bradley, Zyra Gorecki, Freddy Miyares and Ronen Rubinstein. Also, Franchise OGs Jay Harrington, David Lim and Patrick St. Esprit will make guest appearances on the show.

Of course, even the best of news can come with a caveat and, with that, there's one specific aspect of this announcement that gives me pause.

Why I’m Bummed About Exiles Moving To A New Network

Don't get me wrong, S.W.A.T. Exiles getting picked up here in the U.S. feels like a dream. Updates on the spinoff had been few and far between up to this point, so the fact that we’re getting it in a matter of months makes me happy. Unfortunately, it is disappointing that the series will be on a premium cabler like Starz instead of a network like CBS. This means fans like myself who don’t have Starz will have to pay extra, either to get it on TV or to stream it.

That being said, it’s understandable why Starz would want the series. S.W.A.T. is popular among audiences, and the brand can theoretically reach new viewers with it, who may even stick with their subscriptions due to finding other appealing Starz originals. Plus, it was doubtful that Exiles would end up on CBS or Paramount+ just because if either were an option in the first place, the parent show's cancellation obviously wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

So, all in all, this makes sense from a business standpoint. Nevertheless, I'm still somewhat dreading the notion of shelling out a bit more cash for another entertainment source.

But let's not let that extinguish the excitement of the S.W.A.T. spinoff getting a release window following the first look at Exiles earlier this year. The new series will debut on Starz on September 25, with new episodes airing weekly on Fridays, streaming on the Starz app and across all Starz streaming and on-demand platforms. In the meantime, stream all eight seasons of S.W.A.T. are streaming with a Netflix subscription.

After this past weekend, I dare say it will be tough for any future 2026 movie releases to “win” a Worst Needle Drop poll, because public opinion seems to have placed that crown atop the wind-blown blonde hair (and headphones) of Supergirl, thanks in large part to the third act’s much-criticized climactic fight sequence. The action plays out to the tune of Jimmy Eat World’s 2001 single “The Middle,” or rather a revamped cover of that track from Kelty Greye and KidMotel, and the sequence has underwhelmed audiences.

Okay, that may be overly smoothing things over. That choice of song, for one reason or several others, severely rattled people in ways that are normally reserved for baffling casting choices and head-smacking character choices. So to learn that director Craig Gillespie, screenwriter Ana Nogueira & Co. went through around 45 song options before landing on “The Middle,” well that was just a bridge too far. When asked by Rolling Stone about landing on that particular soundtrack entry, the creative duo shared:

• ANA NOGUEIRA: Oh, God. It went ’round and ’round, didn’t it? There were a lot of options.
• CRAIG GILLESPIE: That was probably the biggest discussion. And it was down to the very last week, and I gotta give James credit for that one.

Two major details to take away from that, I’d think. One, that this decision stayed unfinalized until nearly the last minute, and two, that James Gunn got the hat tip for the suggestion. Although I dare say DC fans clocked that second fact the moment the song started. Or even when the movie started. Or when the first trailer was released. (I’m sure some people think he’ll be responsible for curating soundtracks for every upcoming DCU movie under his umbrella.)

The pair were then asked if they’d specifically commissioned the cover to use in the movie, and I’m not sure if it’s better or worse that it wasn’t. As Nogueira and Gillespie put it:

• ANA NOGUEIRA: No, I think we just found it.
• CRAIG GILLESPIE: But there were probably about 45 songs that went against that scene.

It is wild and more than a little stress-inducing to think about watching any movie scene set to 45 different songs. And I would love to know what the full rundown of songs was, even though that'll likely never come to light. But now it's time to bring in the fan comments.

Audiences Did Not Hold Back Disdain For Supergirl's Use Of "The Middle"

Obviously Supergirl's lower-than-expected box office debut can't be entirely blamed on the film's music, but you might think that was the case judging by some of the pointed complaining and lambasting happening on Reddit in response to Gillespie's admissions. Here are some of the more clearly stated takes.

• Worst part of the movie for me, wrong choice by far - @darthmcchub
• It’s clear Gillespie was trying to do a James Gunn impersonation, anyone saying otherwise is lying to themselves. - @Ok-Wash-9386
• I was thinking if they were gonna incorporate needle drops, why not have it be a different sound than what Gunn usually does. Like if Supergirl is a party girl she should listen to EDM and the soundtrack should be a bunch of that - @dismal_windfall
• Ive probably never cringed so bad at scene in a movie in my life tbh. It was such a weird choice. Like there’s no way anybody who makes movies for a living looked at that and said this looks and sounds phenomenal… - @Spiritual_Duck318
• I'm of the opinion that the film shouldn't have had any needle drops at all. I actually like the main theme they cooked up for Supergirl. The scene would have worked a whole lot better (and the rest of the movie too) if they used it. - @DoctorBeatMaker
• This movie really reminded me of the Mario movie with how out of place and unnecessary the needle drops were. - @HyrulesKnight
• Yeah The slomo 360 scene with a pop song in the background was just a worse version of the one from Gunn’s Superman - @who-dat-ninja
• They should have either went with the Supergirl theme or cashed in their synergistic marketing chips and blasted "Call Me" during that sequence. Using "The Middle" (especially that rendition) just didn't work - @Flat_Fox_7318

Honestly, I would have bet all kinds of money on a remixed rendition of Blondie's "Call Me" being utilized for Supergirl's brawl with Krem and his army, and am still gobsmacked that it didn't happen that way. Maybe this will be a situation where somehow the rights to that cover of "The Middle" will default, and it'll get replaced by something else down the line. Is that situation something that ever happens? But can it?

Let's give it up for the one commenter who gave Craig Gillespie and James Gunn a (Krypto-approved) bone and lightly defended the use of the song for thematic purposes...before then echoing another commenter's d-mning non-praise.

• Kara was protecting the girl throughout that scene so it makes some sense that “everything will be alright”. That’s where the relevance starts and ends though cause I never physically cringed at a needle drop more in my life. - @chrisychris-

I guess it's sometimes better to be remembered for something rotten than to be so boring that no one remembers anything at all. But it's arguable.

As far as Supergirl's actual ending goes, I was a fan of how it changed up Tom King's comic resolution, and set Kara up as a powerful counterpart to her morally stoic cousin in Man of Tomorrow, and it'll be interesting to see how much she does or doesn't get along with the newly power-suited Lex Luthor.

There have been a lot of people complaining about Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie, The Odyssey, but I'm not one of them.

Or, at least, I wasn't. That is, of course, until I found out that the movie was going to be rated R, and what the hell, Christopher Nolan? Seriously, what the hell? Now, it's not that I'm averse to R-rated movies. Horror, after all, is my favorite genre, and most horror films are rated R.

However, there's just something about this movie in particular that bugs me about it being rated R, and here are just a few of those reasons.

First Of All, I Was Really Looking Forward To Taking My Kids To See This Movie

Now, even though my dad took me to see Terminator 2: Judgment Day when I was only 8-years-old, I'm not quite at the point myself where I feel comfortable taking my children, who are 10 and 9, to an R-rated movie. I felt guilty for taking my then-six-year-old son to see Godzilla Minus One, and that was only PG-13.

However, as an avid reader, I've talked about Homer's The Odyssey to my children on multiple occasions. I've called the epic poem a great adventure story, and I've regaled them with descriptions of Odysseus’ many complications on getting back home.

So, when there was word that Nolan was doing The Odyssey, I was pumped to take my kids since I thought it would be PG-13 like his Dark Knight trilogy, or like Inception, as why WOULD it be rated R? Which brings up another issue I have…

What In The Story Of The Odyssey NEEDS To Be Rated R?

If you had told me when I was a kid that there would be an R-rated movie about Jesus Christ, I never would have believed you. Granted, I didn't know that there was already an R-rated film about Jesus called The Last Temptation of Christ, which is one of Scorsese's best movies, but I still probably wouldn't have believed you. Then, in 2004, we got Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which is one of the bloodiest movies you will ever see in your entire life (talk about a horror movie!).

Now, after seeing it, I get it. All of the gory details of Christ's journey to His crucifixion that are hinted at in the Bible are brought to full, bloody life in Gibson’s film. So, I understand why it “had” to be rated R. Does Nolan's The Odyssey really have to go into graphic detail when it comes to the text? I mean, yes, I know it can be interpreted that Odysseus was unfaithful to his wife along the way, and yes, I know lots of his men die awful deaths.

I also know that when Odysseus gets back home, he, well…I don't want to spoil anything for an ancient poem, but he doesn't take too kindly to all of his wife's many suitors. But, do we need to see all of that in VIOLENT DETAIL? I mean, I guess we do since it’s rated R, but still! Couldn't Nolan have thought of the children who might want to see this (namely mine)?

I'm Still Looking Forward To It, But Strangely, Less So Now

I actually really wanted to see Nolan's take on The Odyssey, but with this R-rating, I'm strangely much less enthused now. Yes, I know a part of it is that I now can't take my kids, but it also just doesn't sit right with me that this story is rated R.

It makes me think about Madeline Miller's wonderful novels, The Song of Achilles and Circe. Those stories delve into the ancient poems and add life to them without getting too deep into the darker aspects of Homer's stories.

That's what I was looking forward to the most with this movie, and now, that just seems less likely to me with this R-rating. Are you happy with the rating? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Daniel Radcliffe is a great actor who will forever be remembered for proudly playing Harry Potter in eight movies of the franchise. The actor put in a lot of work to play the Boy Who Lived, experiencing wand breaks and partaking in intense action sequences in the process. It's fair to wonder if any magical ingredient kept filming from being too stressful for him. Well, as it turns out, the Jewish star admitted that a non-Kosher delicacy got him through the final three movies.

During a segment for LADBible, Radcliffe was given the choice between the American Reuben sandwich and an English bacon sandwich. As Radcliffe hilariously refused to try the Reuben, he couldn’t help but continuously take bites of the crispy bacon sandwich in pure delight. And, despite the bacon sandwich not being so Kosher for Radcliffe, he got honest about how the British toastie got him through the final stretch of his Wizarding World stint:

Bacon sandwiches certainly are forbidden in Kosher food laws. Then again, so are Reuben sandwiches for traditionally mixing corned beef with Swiss cheese. However, I’m not going to judge, as Daniel Radcliffe wouldn’t be the only Jewish person to eat pork. I’ve got to admit that while I’m familiar with BLTs, I’ve never heard of the combo of bacon and ketchup. But, hey, if it helped the London native get through filming the last three Potter films, who are we to argue? Check out the full video down below:

I can understand why the Merrily We Row Along actor needed a guilty pleasure to get him through shooting the final Harry Potter movies. Radcliffe has spoken about “intense and so crazy” set days he experienced while shooting Half Blood Prince. At one point, he was underwater on a wire, only to come up for air being in the middle of a ring of fire. Talk about anxiety-inducing!

Those strenuous moments of production even predate the last three movies. In Goblet of Fire, Radcliffe also almost drowned filming the infamous Black Lake sequence, which includes his “craziest” stunt, where he free-fell 40 feet down off a roof. So, considering that Radcliffe gave so much to fans by fully committing himself to his role as Harry, I'd say the least we can do is not chastise him for enjoying some bacon now and then.

As a person of the Jewish faith myself, I'd definitely call Radcliffe something of a rebel though, in fairness, many of us have our guilty pleasures when it comes to food. When it comes to Radcliffe's love of bacon, though, I don't think I'll ever forget this funny little piece of Potter lore.

Fans can revisit the magic that Daniel Radcliffe brought to the Harry Potter franchise, as all eight films are streamable with a Peacock subscription or an HBO Max subscription.

The last weekend of June was supposed to be a huge one for the DCU, with Milly Alcock’s Supergirl taking flight in theaters, bolstered by the cigar-puffing chaos of Jason Momoa’s Lobo. Unfortunately for all involved, the Maiden of Might took a whooping at the box office, with Toy Story 5 winning out by a wide margin and maintaining Buzz and Jessie’s #1 spot from the previous week. Surprisingly enough, James Gunn’s DC Studios co-chair Peter Safran has already spoken out about the lackluster results.

Following weeks of drooping ticket-sale projections, Supergirl’s first weekend of release brought in $38 million domestically, as well as an additional $30 million from around the globe. That $68 million total is obviously nowhere near the film’s reported $175 million budget, and it would take Obsession-levels of word-of-mouth recommendations for the superhero flick to save face in follow-up weeks.

Peter Safran didn’t exactly sugarcoat the financial details when addressing the situation in a statement shared with the New York Times, but he also didn’t pull all of his hair out due to stress. As he put it:

I do think it's meaningful that Peter Safran acknowleged the studio execs' expectations being defied by low audience turnout, and that he didn't try to spin it as a net positive or anything. Gloating is obviously out of the question, but in 2026, I would much rather hear a plain-Jane, down-the-middle reaction than anything skewing hyperbolic in either direction.

To that end, I also appreciate the fully expected confidence that Supergirl's box office isn't going to implode DC Studios, and that the future is still looking bright. (Or at least the horizon is, if not the point in the deeper future after Paramount takes over Warner Bros.) The phrase "sophomore slump" wasn't invented with this movie, and it won't be the last Hollywood franchise release to get tagged with it.

The Pressure Is Now On Clayface, But It's Not Nearly As Much Pressure

Peter Safran mentioned DC Studios' "broader, long-term strategy," but I think even he would agree that the DCU's long-term success requires the number of profitable releases to be higher than the number of non-profitable releases. (Which isn't to say Supergirl can't still make some kind of a profit someday.) So now all eyes are on the nearest upcoming DCU movie, the even more outside-the-box Clayface.

Being an R-rated body horror is automatically working against Clayface, at least in terms of four-quadrant box-office potential. (As a horror nut, I'm drooling out of my faceholes for it.) Having a lesser-known lead like Tom Rhys Harries puts a cap on the reach this might have. Howeverrr...

Going the horror route without A-list stars means director James Watkins could make Clayface for a reported budget of around $40 million, far less than what those Kryptonians' movies cost, and theoretically far easier to make back during and after its October debut. So there are definitely reasons to feel good about this movie's chances regardless of what Supergirl did.

For what it's worth, I'd give Supergirl a soft 3/5 stars. I really enjoyed the characters and world-building, and think the ending was a great way to set up Kara in Man of Tomorrow. (Krem is a zany lunatic.) On the flip side, I wasn't nearly as into a lot of the direction and story beats, so it's more of an up-and-down experience than straightforward enjoyment.

After Peter Parker stresses himself to keep New York safe in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fate of seemingly every other upcoming Marvel movie (and a large majority of major characters) will be affected by Anthony and Joe Russo’s Avengers: Doomsday, only for the status quo to get shaken up once again when Avengers: Secret Wars drops in 2027. It’s impossible to think about where the MCU will be at that point, but is it possible the Russos will still be involved?

According to a new rumor, the blockbuster-directing siblings could very well hitch their talents to yet another big-budget Marvel project, with the caveat that this hypothetical third movie may just be an extension of what we already know about. Per CosmicCircus and scooper Alex Perez when asked about any recent Secret Wars details:

Wowza boom-bowza! Even though we're obviously going to take those comments with the necessary grain of salt that comes embedded with all unverified reports, it would indeed be huge and then some for Marvel to confirm that the Russo brothers have agreed to remain at the helm for yet another Avengers-centric feature. Even if they haven't been involved with the MCU since Endgame, their value has been proven a million times over, and the buzz building up ahead of Doomsday is only helping.

It's still way too early to even know which characters will survive long enough to still be called Avengers after Secret Wars, much less to guess what villains or comic storylines might be utilized. But that's only if the alleged third movie actually stands apart from its predecessor.

As the rumor notes, it's possible any noise about the Russos' third Avengers movie could actually play into the idea that Secret Wars will be split into two different features. That claim isn't all that unbelievable, considering Avengers: Endgame was initially Infinity War: Part 2 before the decision was made to go with a different moniker. Of course, that just makes me think that Kevin Feige would once again choose a fresh title rather than settling for an ordinal subtitle.

I really want to put on my theory cap and start making wild guesses, but it's just too early for all that. I'm also not sure who Spider-Man's big bad will be in Brand New Day, but it's definitely easier to make guesses about that one with its release just around the corner.

Avengers: Doomsday will bring Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom across the multiverse on December 17, 2026.

Christopher Nolan assembled an all-star cast for The Odyssey and, as part of that, the filmmaker reunites with Tenet's Robert Pattinson. In turn, not only will Pattinson be reunited with his The Drama co-star, Zendaya, but he will also collaborate with frequent co-star Tom Holland. The two British actors seem to be very comfortable with each other at this point. At least, that's the feeling I get as I crack up about how Pattinson trolled Holland during the filming of their upcoming book-to-screen adaptation.

In The Odyssey, Robert Pattinson plays the role of Antinous, who has an antagonistic dynamic with Tom Holland’s Telemachus. Said animosity stems from Antinous conspiring to marry Telemachus' mother, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), amid the absence of his father, Odysseus (Matt Damon). As Pattinson explained to Empire, he had a lot of fun playing up his character's nastiness, and I wish I could've been a fly on the wall:

I can’t stop laughing at the idea of the Twilight star trailing behind the MCU actor and talking about wanting to be his “daddy!” That’s truly hysterical (and maybe a tad weird). However, if it helped the two build their dynamic accordingly, I'd say it's worth it.

Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland’s playful banter probably shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. After all, the co-stars worked together on The Lost City of Z as well as the terrifying Netflix movie, The Devil All the Time. With three joint ventures under the stars' belts, I'm loving that the pair get along so well.

Despite the playful teasing Pattinson did on the set of The Odyssey, Holland seemed to enjoy his time working with him on set. Holland also spoke to Empire, and shared some glowing thoughts about Pattinson:

There’s no doubt that Robert Pattinson knows how to take big risks getting into character. For his part, Tom Holland got to see him in action with his wild accent in The Devil All the Time and see how he dropped 35 pounds for The Lost City of Z. It goes without saying that Pattinson firmly commits to his roles, and I'm very eager to see the kind of villainous energy he brings to his character in Christopher Nolan's latest historical drama.

On that note, when I see the film, I'll be paying close attention to the tense scenes between Telemachus and Antinous. While those moments are sure to be tense, I may actually start chuckling to myself due to the knowledge that Pattinson was having fun with his character's sliminess on set.

See Robert Pat Pattinson and Tom Holland share the screen when The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17th amid the 2026 movie schedule.

If there is one word I would use to describe Supergirl, it’s “fun.” The film, which hits the 2026 movie schedule this weekend, has a very James Gunn vibe. It’s not directed by Gunn or written by him; those credits go to Craig Gillespie and Ana Nogueira, respectively. Still, Supergirl feels more like Guardians of the Galaxy than anything in the pre-Gunn era of the (formerly) DCEU, and not just because of the brisk runtime. Gillespie and Nogueira definitely put their imprint on it, but the new DC Universe already feels more cohesive than anything DC has done before, outside of The Dark Knight Trilogy.

That Humor And Those Needle Drops

To be sure, Supergirl has some very poignant moments (though some people seem to disagree with that) and doesn’t shy away from some pretty heavy themes playing out with Milly Alcock’s Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. However, it’s also filled with great jokes and funny moments. In that respect, it feels very much in the style of Guardians or Peacemaker (the first DC show created by Gunn). Some of the humor is raunchy, and the language is definitely PG-13. I loved all of that. It made the emotional moments more powerful and kept the movie chugging along at a great pace.

Then there are the needle drops. One reason I really love Gunn’s work on comic book movies is how great he is at picking songs. Bringing back a somewhat overlooked track from a quarter century ago in Superman with “Punkrocker” by Teddybears, featuring Iggy Pop, was brilliant. While Supergirl doesn’t really reach that deep into the annals of pop culture, adding some bangers by great current artists like Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, and Halsey feels perfect.

Where Will The Future Projects Fall?

One of the things the MCU really got right when it was firing on all cylinders was keeping a cohesive vibe, no matter who was directing or writing whichever movie was coming out. The DCEU was all over the place in that respect. Gunn, Gillespie, and Nogueira seem to have made a conscious effort to focus on this in the new DCU. The sum of the parts should add up to something. How this will work going forward will be fascinating to see.

Up next for DC television shows is Lanterns, which will hit the 2026 TV schedule in August, and the next DC film to be released will be the body horror Clayface in October. Lanterns is being described as having a detective show vibe, while obviously a horror movie like Clayface is unlikely ot have many lighter moments, but I can’t wait to see how they fit in here. The 2027 movie schedule includes Man of Tomorrow, the sequel to Superman, written and directed by Gunn, so I do expect that to bring the same energy as these first two movies.

All in all, I can’t wait to see this universe continue to expand and evolve, and I’m trusting the hand of Gunn more and more.

Major spoilers below for the newest DCU movie Supergirl, so limit your super-senses if you haven’t yet watched.

Anyone who thought Supergirl would be one of those 2026 movie releases that sparks absolutely zero backlashes and gripe-filled tirades, the past week or two much have felt like pure hell. Reviews for the comic book adaptation have seemingly skewed far more negative than positive, with gobs of DCU skeptics quick to rain down the hate. I had a pretty good time overall, and enjoyed the characters more than the story, with my own biggest issues stemming from the myriad changes made in adapting Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s A+ comic miniseries.

Not all the alterations felt like kryptonite suns, to be sure, and I actually think the vastly different ending that caps the live-action version was the best move possible for Milly Alcock’s Supergirl future. But I’ll get to that after talking out some of the other changes.

I Was Surprised And Disappointed By Supergirl Skipping Over So Much Of Tom King's Storytelling

I'm a diehard fan of Tom King's writing most of the time, and while I understand that Supergirl's mass-market appeal meant we wouldn't get Ruthye's lofty and veering narration throughout the movie, I was gobsmacked by how many other elements from the source material were apparently absent from Ana Noguiera's screenplay. Though in retrospect, it's indubitably obvious why Woman of Tomorrow was removed as the film's subtitle.

To be sure, the basic idea of Ruthye's tagging along with Supergirl on a revenge mission to take down the murderous Krem is intact, as are some other elements like the green sun taking Supergirl out of commission during a pivotal time for Ruthye. But a lot of the poignant time-jaunts and side-stories that make King's narratives so rich on the page were replaced with more generic FX-driven battle sequences. Understandable, I guesssss. But not ideal.

Beyond the ending, the other obvious "change is good" exception is Jason Momoa's expertly visualized Lobo, who steals every scene he's in just by being a sneering mountain of enging-revving chaos. Ah, but this is still only a half-exception, since King's original idea for the comic's arc did include the immortal Czarnian. (I also really liked Matthias Schoenaerts' bonkers performance as Krem in a vacuum, but don't think it tops the comic's villain.)

I Think Changing Supergirl's Ending Was Absolutely Necessary For The Future Of The DCU

The final issue of Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow starts of seemingly like it would be perfect fodder for live-action, then makes a leap that just doesn't happen in mainstream movies. (Spoilers for that ending for anyone who wants to avoid them.) Here's the heavily summarized version.

Ruthye has the smack-talking Krem captured as her hostage, and then lets him go for a one-on-one fight where she emerges victorious, but she's unable to bring herself to kill him. Supergirl then returns, and has a heartfelt talk with Ruthye that also quells her own urges to kill Krem. In a distant-future epilogue, Krem is released from the Phantom Zone as a repentant and haggard shadow of his former self, begging an elderly Ruthye for forgiveness. Her response is merely to thwack him with a cane and leave him to dwell in his shame and regrets.

A brilliant and meaningful coda that works without question in the comic book medium, but is so not Hollywood. Plus, that flash-forward was the perfect end for King and Evely's story, and without the impetus to set seeds for the future. Not the case for Supergirl, which needed to build up Alcock's return in Man of Tomorrow. So it was smart to change things for with an in-the-moment ending for the film.

More importantly, I love that Kara takes the moral high ground by stopping Ruthye from staining her conscience with Krem's murder, and then doesn't need to be pushed very hard into killing Krem herself. That cold-blooded act truly puts Supergirl into another category from her Kryptonian cousin (and presumably the DCU's eventual Batman), and justifies the "anti-hero" description that has been used by Gunn & Co. to describe her.

The fact that Lobo is so approving is a good sign that Kara's malicious actions would go over horribly with other protagonists. Which is a very smart building block (theoretically) to set up going into Man of Tomorrow, which will have Superman quasi-teaming up with Lex Luthor to stop Brainiac from destroying everything. Kara obviously leans closer to Clark than Lex on the moral scale, but the fact that she exists in the space between them will no doubt make them a joyful trifecta when the Gunn-directed film drops.

I already can't wait to watch Kara get sh-tfaced with Jason Todd and talk crap about their respective hero mates while sharing war stories. Even if that only ends up happening in my anonymous fan-fic. I mean, in someone's anonymous fan-fic.

Supergirl is currently in theaters, and all kinds of comic books written by Tom King are currently in stores and libraries and on your smart friends' shelves. Read 'em.

As the second theatrical feature stemming from studio heads James Gunn and Peter Safran, Craig Gillespie’s Supergirl has as much riding on its success as any other upcoming DCU movies. A daunting responsibility that hasn’t been helped by alleged box office projections skewing lower than originally expected. Screenwriter Ana Noguiera knows a thing or two about flipped expectations, as she’d originally penned a script for Sasha Calle’s DCEU heroine before being tapped for the Milly Alcock-led project, and it’s a switch that she says helped inform the new film.

Though she’s likely legally barred from revealing any key details from her original Supergirl-centric storyline, Noguiera told EW that essentially nothing that she started with is in the 2026 movie release, but that didn’t devalue any of the efforts made. Specifically, she says having already spent so much time learning the ins and outs of the character’s superpowers was a boon for her second time at bat. (Not that kind of bat.) In her words:

At this point, Ana Noguiera brings up one of the most classic comic book questions of all time, and then answers it with a brilliant slice of comic book logic that James Gunn has also used when answering fan questions.

Fans of comic books and superheroes love to dig in and discuss (or pedantically argue) the peaks and limitations of Superman's powers, and the extreme circumstances that he may or may not be able to handle. But Noguiera amusingly makes it clear that there isn't a static and unmoving ceiling at which point Clark's powers run out, and there's no official power ranking number to give him.

Superman's overall power is limited only by any given creative team's imagination, and can be as widespread or as honed-in as writers want to make a story as strong as it can be. That's how he can fly so fast around the planet he turns time back in one instance without ever necessarily doubling back on that ability, unless another scribe sees it as fitting.

So if you ever happen upon an argument amongst comic fans about whether or not Batman could ever beat Superman, you can probably win that argument by stating "It all depends on who's writing the story," before clacking your heels together and spinning around a lightpost. Everyone will thank you, and no one will make fun of you.

Maybe you can find one of those conversations happening in theaters before or after Supergirl screenings. The movie has garnered all kinds of reactions from critics, as well as from those who attended early screenings, so it's anybody's guess at this point how many people will actually be watching in theaters and IMAX this weekend.

Supergirl will drunkenly sashay her way into theaters on Friday, June 26, but those wanting to get reacquainted with Krypto can do so by watching James Gunn’s Superman via HBO Max subscription.

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day coming out on July 31st, we’re getting a fourth Tom Holland (and Zendaya) Spider-Man movie, and cool. I’m looking forward to it. However, do you know what gets me down? The fact that we never got that fourth Tobey Maguire Spider-Man flick.

Because, honestly, a fourth Sam Raimi Spider-Man movie has always been a dream of mine. Yes, I do love how Raimi came back to Marvel and brought his horror sensibilities to Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but his Spider-Man movies (most notably Spider-Man 2) were the first time that I really thought Hollywood nailed comic book flicks.

So, even though I’m cool with a fourth Tom Holland Spidey movie, here’s why I still wish we got that fourth Tobey Maguire Spider-Man film.

I Liked Spider-Man 3, But It Was Kind Of A Mess

A lot of people really love Tom Holland’s third Spider-Man movie, No Way Home, and I’m one of them. I especially loved seeing my favorite cinematic Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, return, as well as Tobey Maguire. However, one might argue that No Way Home was a bit overstuffed, and really shouldn’t have been a multiverse movie at all. Because in a lot of ways, there was a bit too much going on in that film.

Well, speaking of “too much going on,” I think the king of that is 2007’s Spider-Man 3, which had so many subplots going on that it really did feel like being trapped in a web. We had Peter and MJ’s relationship falling apart. We had a new villain in Sandman. We had Topher Grace being Peter’s rival, Eddie Brock, who eventually became Venom. We had Bryce Dallas Howard as Peter’s new love interest, Gwen Stacy. We had James Franco becoming the New Goblin. I mean, it was all just TOO FREAKING MUCH!

And, honestly, it wasn’t a great film to end the trilogy on. Because, yeah, while I love a great trilogy just as much as the next person, I genuinely feel like a middling third movie can taint the other two films. For example, take The Dark Knight Rises. I know some people love that movie, but besides it being one of the weaker Christopher Nolan movies (if you ask me), I also just think it brings down the other two movies, which were both bangers. And I think the same goes for Spider-Man 3, which I don’t even hate.

Because that’s the thing. I DON’T detest Spider-Man 3 as so many people do. However, it’s such a mess that I think it brings down the other two films when viewed as a whole. So, I think a fourth movie could have fixed that problem, especially given what the fourth movie might have been…

What We Know About What Spider-Man 4 Could Have Been Sounds Pretty Cool

Am I the only one who wanted a fourth Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movie? No, of course not, as there are plenty of fans who want this as well. That said, do I want a NEW version of Spider-Man 4? No, not really. Because this article isn’t about the future, or about getting Raimi back in the saddle to direct another Spider-Man movie. No. This is more of a “what-if” scenario, as in, What-if we got that fourth Spider-Man movie back in 2011? How cool would that have been?

Well, according to ScreenRant, the fourth, cancelled Spider-Man movie might have featured John Malkovich as Vulture (We’d later see Michael Keaton fill that role in Spider-Man: Homecoming), and Black Cat might have also been in the film, possibly played by Anne Hathaway, who would later go on to play Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises, so apparently, she was always destined to be a cat person. Cooler still though, was that Bruce Campbell might have been in the movie as Mysterio (Who Jake Gyllenhaal would later play in Spider-Man: Far From Home).

There is also speculation that Dr. Curt Connors, who was played by Dylan Baker in Maguire’s Spider-Man films, might have actually finally transformed into The Lizard. And, do you know what this sounds like to me? It sounds like the beginning of the Sinister Six! Now, I know The Sinister Six was supposed to get their own movie in The Amazing Spider-Man universe, but that was ultimately scrapped, which I’m not particularly mad at since I genuinely detest The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (I’ll actually get to those movies in a second).

A movie with then-unseen characters like Vulture, The Lizard, and Mysterio vs. a seasoned Spider-Man? How could you NOT have wanted to see that?

I Kind Of Like The Amazing Spider-Man Films, But I Also Kind Of Wish They Never Existed

As I said earlier, Andrew Garfield is my favorite Spider-Man, but I’m sorry, The Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2 are quite possibly the worst Spider-Man flicks ever made. I mean, the first one wasn’t terrible. In fact, I actually kind of dig it. But that second TASM is arguably the worst in the entire franchise (though some may say Spider-Man 3 edges that out).

That’s another reason why I wish a fourth Tobey Maguire movie got released. It would have meant that we likely never would have gotten a reboot of the franchise, and thus, no TASM movies at all. Would this be a bad thing? Well, in a sense, yes, since it means that we never would have gotten my favorite Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Andrew Garfield. However, it also means that we never would have gotten THAT version of The Lizard, or THAT version of Electro.

It also means that we wouldn’t have gotten Gwen Stacy’s death mishandled so poorly. It also means that we wouldn’t have gotten Spider-Man: No Way Home, as there wouldn’t have been multiversal Spider-Men to pull from, which is probably just best saved for the Miles Morales Spider-Man movies anyway.

Honestly, in a lot of ways, it’s actually kind of hard to imagine the ripple effect that a fourth Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movie might have had if it had ever been made. For example, would we still be getting Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies to this very day? It makes one wonder…

I Love Tom Holland, But Similar To Hugh Jackman Being The Only Wolverine, I Wish Maguire Was The Only Spider-Man

…and it leads me to this conclusion: If we had gotten that fourth Spider-Man movie, then Tobey Maguire might still be the only actor to have played the webhead in the live-action films. You might think this is absurd, since the powers that be would definitely want a younger Peter Parker eventually, but just look at Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. There has only been one live-action version of the character (Let’s ignore Deadpool & Wolverine’s variants for a moment), and that would be cool if there was only one live-action Spider-Man, too.

Because while I do like Tom Holland in the role, I’d much prefer it if we only had one live-action Spider-Man, similar to Wolverine. I love how Maguire is an older Spider-Man, since that’s my favorite version of the character, and I think his getting older could be a good plot point, rather than him repeatedly being brought back to high school age.

Aside from everything I’ve already mentioned, I think this is the biggest reason why I wish there had been a fourth (successful!) Spider-Man movie with Tobey Maguire, and it’s because I’d love to only see him underneath the mask. But alas, we'll never know.

What do you think, though? Do you wish there was only ONE live-action Spider-Man actor, and a fourth movie with him in it? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

When it comes to ranking the Batman movies, I think most will agree that The Dark Knight is perched firmly at the top.

However, what about the bottom of the list? Well, I think things get a bit trickier there. Sure, I know exactly what Batman movie people want to place at the bottom (and I’ll get to it in a few), but for my money, the worst live-action Batman movie is 1995’s Batman Forever, and by a wide margin.

And, look, I know I’m pretty much the ONLY person who says this, but I have my reasons. Here are just a few.

Let's Get This One Out The Way First. Yes, I Think Batman Forever Is Worse Than Batman & Robin

When I ranked the Batman movies, I put Batman & Robin at the bottom, but it’s not because I think it’s the worst. No. It’s actually because I’m a man of the people, and I know everybody hates Batman & Robin. But personally, I LOVE it, and I always have (I actually now like Batman v. Superman, which surprises me). Because what people think is its biggest weakness–that it’s way too silly–I think is its biggest strength, since Batman & Robin always has its tongue firmly in its cheek, right down to Clooney’s silly performance.

Which is the thing, really, because Batman Forever doesn’t entirely commit to being camp like its follow-up. Directed by Joel Schumacher after two successfully dark Tim Burton Batman movies, Batman Forever often walks the line between something that wants to be taken seriously and something that’s incredibly goofy, and this mishmash kind of throws it off for me.

I think it also might be because Val Kilmer commits to being an amazing Batman, which actually works AGAINST this movie, which I’ll get into next.

Val Kilmer Is A Great Batman In A Bad Batman Movie

I know some people think Val Kilmer isn’t at his best in this movie when compared to other Batmen, but I think Kilmer does a good job of playing both Bruce Wayne and Batman, which is never an easy task.

As Wayne, he’s charming, and as Batman, he doesn’t brood like Bale’s or Pattinson’s versions, nor is he a tired bruiser like Ben Affleck. Instead, he’s actually more similar to the quieter (but somehow more lethal) Michael Keaton, but slightly modified to fit this movie's more colorful tone. And, I don’t think that should be understated. Val Kilmer is just a tad beneath Keaton for me.

That works against him since the playful tone is dialed up to a million, what with Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey hamming it up, and it just throws the whole thing off since Batman sometimes seems like he’s in a different movie. Oh, and speaking of Jim Carrey…

I Agree With Tommy Lee Jones. I Can't Sanction Jim Carrey's Buffoonery

Jim Carrey–who was my childhood–has a really funny story about a time he went up to Tommy Lee Jones outside of work, and Jones told him that he couldn’t “sanction” his “buffoonery.” And honestly, when it comes to Carrey’s performance as The Riddler, I’m with Jones on this one.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Tommy Lee Jones singing “Trick or treat” at Wayne Manor beside Carrey is ludicrous to the nth degree, but I really do feel like Carrey goes WAY over the top (even more than usual for the ‘90s) in this movie. It really makes me kind of despise his character.

And, I’m talking about despising him just as much as I despise Jared Leto’s Joker in Suicide Squad. That’s how much I loathe Jim Carrey’s manic performance in this movie. Even as a kid, I just found it so annoying.

That Said, It Still Has Its Positives!

Here’s the thing. While I genuinely can’t stand Batman Forever, I do have to give some props to its visual style. The backdrops and designs are colorful in a way that really does look like a comic book at times, so kudos to that.

Oh, and the soundtrack is still bananas. “Kiss From a Rose” by Seal is way too good a song for this middling movie. Method Man’s “The Riddler” is also great, as is U2’s “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me.”

But the rest? Put it straight and directly in the trash.

Dwayne Johnson has had a ton of major career highs, from becoming one of WWE’s biggest stars to headlining billion-dollar movie franchises like the Jumanji series. But before he became a movie calendar staple, there was The Mummy Returns, a movie that helped launch him as a film actor and also gave the internet one of its favorite CGI punching bags. And now, the former WWE star is getting real about that viral Scorpion King VFX moment, and it's amazing.

Just recently, Johnson revisited the infamous Scorpion King sequence from the 2001 Brendan Fraser movie. The moment comes during the finale, when Mathayus returns as a giant scorpion-human creature. It has become one of the most famous examples of early-2000s VFX aging badly, and the star behind the VFX clearly knows it. As he put it during an interview posted to Esquire's Instagram account:

That is a very Rock answer. He can laugh at the moment, call it what it is and still give credit to the artists who were trying to make it work. Honestly, that balance is what makes the quote land. The effect does look rough, and everyone knows it looks rough. But what's great is that Johnson is not throwing the VFX team under a sand crawler. Unfortunately, the team was hit with something that's plagued visual effects artists for decades: not a short timetable.

That tracks with what Brendan Fraser previously said about the same scene. Fraser even told The Rock during a one-on-one conversation about how even the CGI team wasn't happy how the scene came out. But, according to Fraser, "it’s charming in its own way." The Rick O'Connell actor said he met members of the CGI team at the movie’s premiere and congratulated them, only for them to admit they needed more time.

Fraser also joked that the final creature looks like something out of an early video game, which seemingly adds to its nostalgic appeal. That feels pretty accurate. The Scorpion King at the end of The Mummy Returns does not exactly look like a real person fused with a giant scorpion. I'd more so liken it to something that wandered out of a PlayStation loading screen and somehow made it into a major Universal blockbuster.

Still, Johnson’s larger point is important. As goofy as that moment has become, it changed his life. Not only was The Mummy Returns his first major movie role, but it also led directly to The Scorpion King, his first starring vehicle. I bet plenty of actors would kill for a career lowlight that also opens the door to becoming one of the biggest stars in some of the best action movies.

There's also something oddly fitting about Johnson’s Hollywood career beginning with a meme-ready digital monster. Even buried under some truly cursed CGI, the charisma still broke through, and audiences and studios could see there was something there. And that, to me, is what makes the man a true star.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's next big screen outing is his reprisal of the role of Maui in Disney's live-action Moana, which lands in theaters on July 10.

We may be mostly through Rick and Morty Season 9, but that doesn't mean the fun stops on the 2026 TV schedule. The President Curtis spinoff is on the way, and it looks like the series based on one of the flagship show's best side characters will differentiate itself by embracing the paranormal creatures of Earth. And, to put it quite simply, I'm pumped!

The latest trailer for the series, which can be seen above, shows lots of wild cryptids, including a werewolf, mothman and even Cthulu. I was initially worried about whether the fictional POTUS was up to handling these types of threats without Rick and his grandson along for the ride. However, it looks like he's doing just fine and carving out his own unique lane in the shared universe.

While Rick And Morty Deal With Space, President Curtis Seems To Lean More Into Cryptids And Earthbound Threats

While it's entirely possible that President Curtis will have feature a cosmic adventure or two, the trailer gives the impression that the titular politician and his agents will lean into tackling threats that are tied to Earth for the most part. Given that, I would expect we won't be seeing him hop between dimensions or planets, as they do on Rick and Morty.

I almost get X-Files vibes from the trailer, except for the fact that there's no Agent Scully frequently insisting the paranormal doesn't exist. Still, I'm really digging the vibes here, and the creative team should be lauded for taking things in a new direction for this show. I wouldn't be surprised if this writing staff has been around for Rick and Morty's best episodes, so I'm confident that they can produce some truly entertaining stories.

Do Rick And Morty Exist In President Curtis' Universe?

Given the uniqueness of this series and the copious amount of universes in Rick and Morty, though, I do wonder if President Curtis if that aforementioned duo even exists in this continuity. After all, fans now there are more than a few universes where Morty and Rick have died, one of which the current Rick and Morty reside in.

I think an interesting twist would be that President Curtis is set in a separate universe from that of the Rick and Morty series and fans will be treated to different versions of those two characters. I know we already get a ton of different Ricks and Mortys via the main show, but it'd be cool to see a couple stick around to do more than serve as the basis of a one-off joke.

Usually, I'd be a bit wary of a spinoff happening this deep into its parent show's run. However, with Rick and Morty delivering some of its best episodes in Season 9, it feels like the writing team has only scratched the surface of comedy for this franchise. Here's hoping the well is just as deep with President Curtis, and it becomes like American Dad is to Family Guy.

President Curtis premieres on Adult Swim on July 26th, with episodes becoming streamable the next day for those with an HBO Max subscription. We'll see if this spinoff lives up to the hype it's built so far, and if Adult Swim has yet another hit series on its hands.

When Bob Iger took over Disney in 2005, he quickly put together a list of potential acquisitions. One of the iconic franchises on his list was James Bond, which was still owned by the Broccoli family (and has since been acquired by Amazon). I’ll say upfront that I’m not a Disney hater by any means, but I’m really glad this was a deal Iger couldn’t get done. There is really one specific reason why: Disney overexposes everything.

Marvel, Star Wars, and Bond, James Bond

I’m not going to get into the whole history of Disney and where it was as a company before Iger was named CEO in 2005, but let’s just say, according to some within the company, there was a malaise internally. Iger set out to change that with a series of acquisitions, most notably the first deal he made, buying Pixar in 2006. His list was longer. As Iger recently told the Financial Times:

Disney bought Marvel in 2009 and Lucasfilm (which encompasses Star Wars) in 2012. Bond was the only franchise on the list that Iger and Disney didn’t get their hands on. For me, this is a huge relief. As a huge fan of the James Bond movies, I’ve been worried about how Amazon would treat the iconic franchise, but I’m positive that Disney would have exploited it to the hilt.

Disney Does Too Much With Its Franchises

I’ve long argued that Disney made a huge misstep after the enormous success of Avengers: Endgame. I firmly believe that they should have taken a quick breather and then reset the MCU completely. Instead, they doubled down and kept pumping out two or three movies a year, while adding a seemingly endless amount of streaming content, all of which is available with a Disney+ subscription, of course.

What they did was way overexpose the whole MCU franchise. There were new movies and shows constantly. It got overwhelming for many fans, including me. They’ve done pretty much the same thing with Star Wars since purchasing Lucasfilm. They have slowed down on both recently, finally recognizing the overexposure. I’m really glad this didn’t happen with James Bond. Imagine James Bond the Movie! James Bond the TV Show! James Bond the Roller Coaster! James Bond the lunchbox! You get my point.

While I’m definitely frustrated that James Bond 26 is taking so long (maybe we’ll see it in 2028?), I’d much rather be waiting for what is hopefully a great movie than being inundated with James Bond everywhere, watering down the brand, and leaving me as frustrated as I have been with recent MCU and Star Wars projects.

Karen Gillan is definitely no stranger to massive film franchises, thanks to her work within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the world of Jumanji. However, she’s now stepping into a very different kind of IP in the form of Highlander. Gillan has been tapped to play Heather MacLeod, the wife of Henry Cavill’s Connor MacLeod. Thus far, the actress has expressed a considerable amount of enthusiasm over getting to join this film series. Now, Gillan’s opening up about one aspect of the experience that she's truly obsessed with.

From my personal vantage point, Gillan is the kind of star who commits to a role, as her layered performance as Marvel’s Nebula alone is proof of that. When it comes to Highlander, though, it seems there’s an added layer of significance here. The fan-favorite actress recently spoke about that while chatting with Rayo and expressed her affection for the franchise’s original 1986 movie. From there, Gillan lovingly discussed the action film’s key link to her heritage:

So it would seem that the opportunity for Gillan to film this movie in her native country of Scotland is something she’s particularly obsessed with, and I can understand why. It’s natural for people to take pride in their place of origin and their culture as a whole. As for Gillan, her affection for the Highlands has truly been palpable through the lovely set photos she’s been sharing on social media amid principal photography. During her interview, Gillan further emphasized the novelty of getting to film in her “natural habitat”:

Speaking of colliding, some truly awesome actors are going to come to blows (on-screen) in this upcoming action movie as well. Cast members Dave Bautista and Djimon Hounsou will fight while playing the roles of The Kurgan and Sunda Kastagir, respectively. Those two stars, along with Henry Cavill and Karen Gillan, will be joined by Russell Crowe, Marisa Abela and Jeremy Irons. That feels like quite an eclectic bunch to make a movie with in Scotland, and I wish I could be a fly on the wall somewhere within that set.

Directed by Chad Stahelski, Highlander is a reboot of the classic fantasy franchise and sees Connor MacLeod learning of his true identity as an “Immortal” and using his skills to obtain The Prize. That quest will ultimately bring him into conflict with Kurgan and, along the way, romance is likely to ensue between Connor and Heather. Stahelski is aiming to “upgrade” the franchise for a new generation of viewers, though I certainly wouldn't be surprised if he were to maintain the fantastical elements that have long been synonymous with it.

The early looks at Highlander that have been shared thus far don’t give too much away and actually spark more questions than answers. Still, I have a feeling Stahelski is planning something truly special, and I’m so glad the Scottish Karen Gillan landed a role. I look forward to hearing more about her experience making the movie, and I hope she continues to drop photos featuring picturesque landscapes ahead of the movie’s release date, which has not been revealed as of this writing.

Anytime there’s an upcoming Marvel movie on the horizon, fans are going into the experience knowing full well what the Hero Vs. Villain situation is going to be, with the Russos’ Avengers: Doomsday as the ultra-epitome of that idea. Not so much with Spider-Man: Brand New Day, though, which tipped fans off to both Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle and Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner, but without word on specific big bads. It’s really starting to make my Nicky Sense tingle. (Editor Note: destroy the phrase “Nicky Sense.”)

It’s obviously a known mystery amongst fans that major villain reveals have yet to surface, but Tom Holland himself spoke to that notion at one of Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s red carpet premieres, as seen in a clip shared on X. He shared:

Certainly not the first time someone has used the "unlike anything we've seen before" boast to address a villain, and this is certainly an instance where we literally haven't seen the villain yet. So it tracks, logically speaking. But having Holland address it as a "mystery" without spoiling anything sparked a few theories in my head about why Marvel and the Spider-Man team are waffling on reveals. (Especially if the antagonist ends up being Tombstone, who first took over the rumor mill back in February, or others like Ramrod, Tarantula and Boomerang.

Theory 1: It's Connected To Doctor Doom, And Can't Be Revealed Until Doomsday's Trailer Is Out

The idea here is that whatever villain Spider-Man is dealing with in Brand New Day's reworked version of reality is directly related to Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom, and that Kevin Feige & Co. won't want to show off the villain's iconography without first revealing RDJ's full Doom look in an Avengers: Doomsday trailer, which is rumored to be going public for San Diego Comic-Con.

It's not extremely likely, but it's possible that Spider-Man: BND's reshoots went down to incorporate things from Doomsday that hadn't yet been conceived when director Destin Daniel Cretton went through the initial production phase, and/or that already filmed scenes needed touch-ups to bring in new visuals. How cool and depressing would it be if Peter had to face off against a Tony Stark clone, or if Sadie Sink is playing a femme Doombot?

Theory 2: The Villain Reveal Will Be A Twist Involving A New Character

Also possible: Spider-Man: Brand New Day may already revealed its key villain by proxy of one of the new actors joining this corner of the MCU. Which pretty much limits this theory to Severance great Tramell Tillman's Bill Metzger or one of the as-yet-unidentified characters being played by Sadie Sink or Keith David. unidentified character.

Although it could technically end up being Eman Esfandi, who will be portraying a new love interest for Zendaya's MJ. Such a transparent placement might be a weak story move, but it's still feasible, all things considered.

Theory 3: The Villain Will Be A Variant Of An Already Existing Character

To flip the previous idea, it's possible the biggest foe trying to take Spider-Man down is someone who's already very familiar to MCU audiences, only under the guises of a more heroic role. What if, much like Robert Downey Jr. jumping from Iron Man to Doctor Doom, another beloved actor flips from playing a virtuous hero to playing a devious bad guy?

Could we see Chris Evans taking over the role of Green Goblin or something, or something even wilder, like Tobey Maguire and/or Andrew Garfield taking on new life as Brand New Day's antagonist(s)? That sounds way wilder than whatever will probably happen, but one can dream. I'm also not counting out the idea that the previously spoiled Savage Hulk could be the main villain.

Theory 4: It's Ned

To stretch the previous theory out a little more, maybe we're not talking about a variant of a superhero character, but rather an alternate version of someone from Peter Parker's personal life. Such as, oh I dunno, Jacob Batalon's Ned. The movie's twisted version of reality makes this theory seem easier to pull off than it would if Ned was still knowingly Peter's BFF.

But maybe the Ned we see in the trailers isn't just the same memory-lapsed dude that we're meant to think he is. Maybe this Ned is all-knowing and responsible for the dangers and terrors that come Peter's way in Brand New Day. Plus, I don't think it's a coincidence that an anagram for the movie's subtitle is: Brand Ned Way. That's pretty much all the evidence needed, amirite?

I cannot wait to find out which of the webslinger's rogues will be bringing the chaos when Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31, 2026.

The Star Wars prequels occupy a fascinating place in pop culture. When The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith first arrived, reactions from longtime fans were, let's just say, spirited. Jar Jar Binks became a punching bag, midichlorians sparked endless debates, and plenty of viewers who grew up with Luke Skywalker and Han Solo weren't shy about voicing their disappointment. As it turns out, George Lucas apparently saw some of that coming.

During a panel at Spacecon 2026 (via Popverse), (somehow) Emperor Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid returned and recalled the filmmaker's mindset. According to the actor, Lucas understood that the generation raised on the original SW trilogy might be difficult to win over. McDiarmid explained:

McDiarmid continued by revealing what Lucas considered his real measure of success. He continued:

As a middle-aged millennial raised on the prequel trilogy, I think that makes a lot of sense. Looking back, it’s remarkable how much the conversation around those movies has changed. They may not land on everyone’s list of the best prequels of all time or even on their favorite Star Wars films, but the kids who watched The Phantom Menace in 1999 are adults now. Those of us who loved Darth Maul, podracing and Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi grew up to become some of the loudest defenders of that era.

Suddenly, lines that were once mocked became beloved memes. Hayden Christensen returned to universal applause. Entire generations embraced characters that older fans initially rejected. In other words, Lucas may have understood something many fandoms forget: today's children eventually become tomorrow's nostalgic adults.

The cycle has already started repeating itself. The sequel trilogy received its own share of criticism, much like the prequels before it. Yet there are now young fans whose entry point into the galaxy far, far away was Rey, Finn, Kylo Ren and BB-8.

Twenty years from now, those fans may be having the exact same conversations. One thing Star Wars has consistently proven is that no single generation owns the franchise. And, if we are honest with ourselves, if you cue up any of the many Star Wars films and TV Shows with your Disney+ subscription and watch them in order, you can find something wrong in every installment. But what is the fun in that?

In short, some fans grew up with the Original Trilogy. Others discovered the prequels. Still, others entered through The Clone Wars, The Mandalorian or the sequel trilogy. I think we can all agree that each era brings different heroes, different aesthetics and different emotional attachments. And perhaps that was always George Lucas' goal.

Few celebrations of Steven Spielberg's career are complete without bringing up the Indiana Jones franchise, as the initial trilogy of action-adventure classics have inspired generations. Everyone has a favorite film, and moments they either love or dislike, including the actors who starred in the movies. Harrison Ford recently dished about the Indiana Jones scene that Sean Connery not only disliked, but that made him a ‘little grumpy.’

When Ford sat down to discuss Spielberg’s works with Vulture, the topic obviously came around to all of the Indiana Jones movies. Connery played Ford's father in the third film, The Last Crusade, so when that movie came up, the actor happily shared some BTS scoop, saying:

This world has remained popular, with an additional two films, such as the nostalgic Dial of Destiny. But it all started when Spielberg told his good friend George Lucas about his dream project: a James Bond film with Sean Connery. The iconic actor passed away in 2020, and was well-known for his portrayal of Bond, James Bond.

While Lucas couldn’t make that particular dream come true, he did have an idea for an archeologist that was set in the 1930s. Initially, the studio didn’t want to deal with Spielberg who had a reputation for going over budget. But they relented, and it was right choice. I couldn’t imagine the franchise having gone into anyone else’s hands. He directed the first four films in the franchise, each of which can be watched can be watched with a Disney+ subscription.

And Spielberg did - sort of - live out his dream with the third film, The Last Crusade. The father-son relationship was created after screenwriter Menno Meyjes pitched the idea of the holy grail to Lucas. The scribe shared:

No conversation about Indiana Jones can happen without bringing up The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which received mixed feelings from critics and fans. Several weren’t sure about the concept of Indie with ‘aliens.’ Though the film had a dimension bent on this that was a little different. However, many still enjoyed it and have defended the film, saying there aren’t any bad Indiana Jones films.

Even Ford reportedly struggled during The Last Crusade, as he and Spielberg weren’t fully on board with doing another sci-fi movie. However, without the fourth, fans wouldn’t have gotten a fifth, which gave Ford the ending he wanted. He didn’t want Crystal Skull to be the last of Indie’s adventures.

While the marketing of the fifth presented as the ending, we also thought Indiana Jones was going to be a trilogy. If the franchise ever did return, I'd immediately sign up if Ke Huy Quan were to return. The actor has recently gone full Short Round by taking the 'character' to the Disneyland ride.

This gave us a minor taste of what Indiana Jones would be like if we saw Indie’s former protege putting on his hat. And I am fully obsessed with the idea. But is there any real chance we'll see the franchise return?

The promotional train is full speed ahead and then some for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, to the point where even Zendaya’s outfits are speculation-worthy, and we can only hope that it hits theaters before Tom Holland reveals too many secrets. The upcoming Marvel movie released its final trailer recently, and followed that up with a TV spot confirming a few interesting new powers that Peter Parker will need to contend with, and one seems destined for an inopportune failure.

Specifically, the new promo below reveals that Spidey’s body is going through some changes in the new 2026 release, amusingly dubbed “spider-puberty” by a young student in there. His senses are becoming even more heightened in their sensitivity, his agility is even more advanced and pronounced, and he’s rocking the comic book ability of producing organic webbing. Check him out!

New Spider-Man: Brand New Day "Powers" TV Spot

As seen in the video, Peter’s skin is also extremely hard to penetrate, and even a needle is unable to poke through. You know what I think? I think the NYC hero had to get some far tougher skin so that working alongside Jon Bernthal’s Punisher doesn’t crush his optimism and genial nature.

But let's focus more on the major webbing advancement that's revealed. Peter is now able to create his signature webbing not just through synthetics and dispensers, but biologically through his own body. It's a comic book detail that hasn't been utilized across all Spider-Man stories, but has definitely been a hook for certain takes on the character across the multiverse, such as the cloned Kaine Parker and Silk.

I love that Peter's so grossed out by it happening in the teaser, since that probably is a very strange feeling to experience out of the blue. Especially if it's coming out of the same place where the faux webbing came from. But I think those physical sensations will be the least of his problems when it comes to his new power.

Why I'm Already Ready For Spider-Man's Organic Webbing To Backfire

Big picture-wise, it's possible that these mutations will inevitably turn Peter into the Man-Spider, although I don't really foresee that playing out in live-action. Instead, and not to be a total pessimist, but I have to assume that Peter's organic webbing will be the first of his newer powers to work against him.

How? By running out at the most inopportune moment imaginable. Arguably the biggest issue with Peter's previous forms of web-making is that there was only a finite amount of material for him to utilize. And one might think that making webs biologically would eradicate any supply and demand hiccups, but the human body isn't really designed to create any particular organic material ad infinitum. There's a limit to everything our bodies can do, presumably even when radioactive arachnids are the source.

So I'm now around 93% convinced that the second act of Spider-Man: Brand New Day will feature a scene where Peter makes a comment about his organic webs never running out, so that in the third act, just when he's about to take down any and all villainous entities for good, his new webbing holes will putter out and fail him. And just when he finally left his other canisters back at home. Tsk tsk, Spider-Man. Tsk tsk, indeed.

Or hey, maybe it won't be quite as dire, and his webbing will run out right when Mark Ruffalo's newly giant-again Hulk goes to smack the crap out of him.

It feels like the hunt for the next James Bond actor has been going on forever, and various names have been in the mix since Daniel Craig signed off as 007 with 2021's No Time to Die. Among the actors who's been mentioned as a potential successor is Tom Holland, who's obviously one of the industry's biggest stars right now. Holland was recently asked about the possibility of donning the tuxedo and playing Commander Bond and, while doesn't sound opposed to it, there's one aspect of the situation that's "difficult" for him.

Holland opened up about the idea of himself playing the next Bond while engaging in a wide-ranging chat with Esquire. He has been one of the primary names being discussed among the list of 007 hopefuls, yet he's notably remained quiet up to this point. So, given how keen Holland seems on the notion of playing the beloved super spy, it may be surprising that he hasn't offered himself for the role. He said:

I guess carrying on the Bond legacy is the dream of many young English actors, and Holland actually does fit the bill. He has a clean cut swagger of a classic 007, though he could also bring something new to the role, a sense of innocence. It's been rumored that the Bond producers are aiming to go for a younger candidate for the next installment as well, which is a departure from Daniel Craig's more seasoned portrayal.

However, Holland was also open about why he hasn’t openly campaigned for the role, and a lot of it has to do with maintaining his relationship with iconic movie producer Amy Pascal. As he explained:

For context, Pascal is not only the producer for the next run of upcoming James Bond films but also the producer behind the Spider-Man movies that Tom Holland has been a part of. This is a pretty tight business relationship spanning over 10 years, considering Holland was cast as Peter Parker in 2015. Not wanting to take advantage of that relationship makes sense, but also this is the link that could possibly make the next Bond film a hit. This partnership has already created something so special with Spider-Man, so why not see if lightning can strike twice?

Don't be mistaken, though. Because, despite his hesitancy, and wanting to be respectful of his business relationships, Holland is maintaining his interest in Bond:

I love that Holland is finally putting himself out there for this role. All in all, not only does he seem to be a great fit on the surface, but he obviously knows how to carry a multi-million dollar franchise on his back. He’s not the only contender, with some predicting the Bond team might go even younger and cast Louis Partridge. At the same time, many 007 fans have suggested names like Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner as interesting prospects. It’s a complex race for a role, and I personally can’t wait to see the new take on the character when Bond is finally cast.

If we do ever get to see a James Bond portrayed by Tom Holland, we are a few years off from getting the film. In the meantime, you can see the actor in his 2026 movie schedule entries Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and The Odyssey, which both hit theaters in July.

Armie Hammer’s life took a major turn in 2021 after he became embroiled in a situation involving leaked DMs that featured sexual content and cannibalistic fantasies. Shortly after, Hammer faced accusations of sexual assault and emotional abuse, though he was never formally charged with any offenses. The actor’s career has been mostly stagnant since, though he’s teamed up with director Uwe Boll for a new film that’s since been banned in Germany. Now, Boll is explaining his reasons for hiring the “canceled” Hammer.

Boll and Hammer are teaming up for Citizen Vigilante, an action film that sees Hammer playing a man looking to take the law into his own hands. As of late, Boll has been promoting his latest film and discussing his rationale for crafting the story. The BloodRayne helmer recently spoke to The Telegraph UK, during which he discussed the topic of Hammer’s casting. As the German filmmaker explained to the outlet, his thought process for bringing the Social Network star onto his movie was relatively straightforward:

After the allegations and leaked texts, Hammer saw several career setbacks, including a severing of ties from talent agency WME. He was also dropped from Jennifer Lopez’s Shotgun Wedding along with the film Billion Dollar Spy and the Paramount+ limited series The Offer. Ahead of that situation boiling over, Hammer landed roles in high-profile films like Call Me by Your Name, Nocturnal Animals and The Birth of a Nation. Boll further emphasized the lack of charges against Hammer and what he found appealing about him:

As it stands, though, citizens in Boll’s native country of Germany won’t be able to see his star’s performance film due to the aforementioned banning. The film has been barred from being released in the region due to its high level of violence. Additionally, the Telegraph reports that the film has been barred from being screened due to its purported anti-migrant message. (For context, immigrant-perpetrated crimes play a major role in the narrative.)

Uwe Boll has long been known to somewhat stray off the beaten path when it comes to some of the creative decisions he makes with his film. While many of the filmmaker’s flicks have been met with negative reviews and tepid box office numbers, he continues to work using his specific sensibilities. That also seems to include casting whomever he sees fit for his films. On that note, Boll apparently has a desire to work with other stars who’ve been married in controversies, and he even named a specific Oscar winner:

In the years since Armie Hammer’s troubles occurred, he’s been real about the cannibalism controversy, and he’s even expressed a level of gratitude for it all playing out. The reason he says he feels “grateful” now is because before everything happened, he was in a place in his life in which he “didn’t feel good” or “satisfied.” Hammer now feels he’s in a place where he can give himself “self-validation” after years of having been unable to do so.

This new film with Uwe Boll marks a significant professional step for its star and it also signifies something of a full-circle moment for Armie Hammer. Originally titled The Dark Knight during pre-production, Citizen Vigilante sees Hammer finally getting to play a crusader of sorts years after he was linked to the role of Batman. Make no mistake, though, as Hammer’s character in this latest film is quite different from the brooding hero of Gotham City, and it sounds like Boll is happy with the work his leading man put in.

Citizen Vigilante is set to open in select theaters and on digital platforms on June 19 amid the 2026 movie schedule.

Let me just say, from the start, that I appreciate what The Death of Robin Hood is going for. The latest A24 release from writer and director Michael Sarnoski is a bold take on the legendary figure, going to places never gone before in the many retellings of the outlaw folk hero. That said, as much as I believed this could be the first truly great Robin Hood movie since the Errol Flynn classic from 1938, it didn’t work for me. And yes, I'm aware there have been other versions that people love, but I don’t.

Making Robin Hood An Anti-Hero Wasn’t What I Wanted

It might even be a stretch to call this version of Robin Hood (played by Hugh Jackman) an anti-hero. He may just be a straight villain. Either way, I don’t like it. Going back to the 1938 version, Robin is the ultimate hero. Sure, it's corny in how over-the-top it is by modern standards. This is the Robin Hood I want to see, though! He’s not complicated in the least; he’s sure in his morals and beliefs, and he’s confident in his abilities. Jackman’s Robin is almost the polar opposite of this.

In The Death of Robin Hood, our “hero” is in a very dark place at the end of his life. And I mean dark place. The film is dark in every way. The muted color palette is gray and moody, and while Jackman’s performance as a tortured outlaw who is struggling to justify his past violent acts is pretty great, there is no redemption. Not really. The dour tone is nothing like the bright, exciting Errol Flynn version. This isn’t a hero I needed to see brought low for his life decisions. I got that in Logan. I want the guy who steals from the rich and is a hero to the poor and gets the girl in the end. I didn’t want another Wolverine.

I’m Not A Big Fan Of Other Versions, Either

I can already hear some people shouting, “What about Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves or Disney’s Robin Hood?” and I hear you, but I’m not a big fan of either of those movies, either. There is also the Robin Hood movie from the '70s starring Sean Connery that I recently discovered. There have been way more bad versions of Robin Hood than good on screen, be it TV or on film, and while those first two might represent the best, they still aren’t all that great. Prince of Thieves is especially frustrating for me.

I loved it when it came out, and I saw it in theaters. However, having re-watched it somewhat recently, I find it extremely dated and super cheesy. Kevin Costner is just too...Costner, in his performance. Yeah, his English accent is a mess, but that’s not what bugs me; it’s more that I really just see Kevin Costner, rather than a legendary character. Plus, it is in the middle of some of the most scenery-chewing performances of the era from Alan Rickman and Michael Wincott as the villains. Then there is that cloying song by Bryan Adams that I hated in 1991, and I still hate in 2026.

It’s hard for me to recommend The Death of Robin Hood, which hits the 2026 movie schedule this weekend, because it’s all just such a bummer.

I don’t have the science to back this claim up right at the moment, but I feel confident saying that Jason Momoa makes the promotional campaign for any movie or TV show that much more enjoyable. The upcoming DCU movie Supergirl is certainly no exception, with the Lobo actor utilizing all of his innate charm and charisma to try to get fans in theater seats, and he’s not above bringing his “hoodrat” friends around to make sure it happens.

Not that there’s anything wrong with being a hoodrat, especially if it means cavorting around London, England on motorcycles ahead of the country’s red carpet premiere for the 2026 movie release with Milly Alcock in the titular role of Supergirl. Check out the video below of Momoa getting his vroom-vroom on.

For those unable to watch, the Honolulu native kicks things off by referencing the Main Man and calling out his own bastich biker buddies, saying:

Although that description is slightly overselling things, considering the evidence of "hoodrat sh-t" on hand is just formation biking that goes from the London streets and under the Marble Arch and into the Supergirl premiere event proper. There, he greeted and chatted up fans, posing for pics both on and off of his vehicle of choice. No sign of whether or not fans were just as interested to meet the 'Rats, as it were.

I can understand why Jason Momoa didn’t get fully decked out as Lobo himself to go riding around London, since the full-body makeup process was extremely intense for the actor to go through on a daily basis. Would it have been cool if all of the other people he was riding with did go through that hours-long experience so that it looked like he was riding around with a pack of Lobos? Obviously. But beggars can't be choosers, even if cheggars can be boozers, amirite? Anybody?

Jason Momoa also posed for carpet pics with co-stars Milly Alcock and Eve Ridley, with the latter playing Ruthye Marye Knoll, the young girl whose quest for vengeance pulls Kara Zor-El away from her birthday binge-drinking. I can't wait to see Lobo and Ruthye sharing the screen in the movie, as I feel like that'll be unlike any other character dynamic hitting screens this year, and not just regarding new superhero movies.

Considering how much time and effort Momoa has put into the first Lobo performance for a live-action feature film, one might hope to see him returning to the character for a movie where his name is on the marquee. And the chances of seeing a standalone Lobo movie actually are pretty good, assuming DC Studios execs take no issue with spinning it out a new superhero movie with a hard-R rating. That approach is technically happening with Clayface, though he’s more of a straightforward villain than the anti-heroic Lobo, so we'll have to wait and see how James Gunn & Co. play it.

First thing's first: enough fans have to actually show up in theaters to watch Supergirl to justify any follow-ups. So catch Kara, Krypto and all the rest when Craig Gillespie's DCU film hits theaters on June 26, 2026.

For fans with a Netflix subscription, the end of Stranger Things was emotional enough on its own. But, apparently, Millie Bobby Brown had already been carrying those feelings around for quite some time. In fact, she recently revealed that she spent season 5's press tour mourning the character as part of what she considered to be a funeral for Eleven. And, honestly, I can't believe I didn't realize this while she was promoting those final episodes.

Brown recently appeared on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce and opened up about life after Stranger Things, motherhood and returning for Enola Holmes 3. The young star discussed grieving the end of Stranger Things and calling her castmates after the final season wrapped. With that, Brown revealed one clothing-related way she mourned her character:

That series of black ensembles is a surprisingly touching detail. At the time, many fans probably just thought Brown was embracing a fashion choice. Unbeknownst to me and likely others, she was quietly saying goodbye to the character she’d been playing for much of her young life. She was only 12 years old when the first season premiered, meaning she essentially grew up alongside the series and its cast. Unsurprisingly, she admitted the ending brought up fears that went beyond simply leaving a job.

Brown said that after filming wrapped, she immediately reached out to her fellow Stranger Things cast members, because she worried their relationships might somehow disappear with the show. She recalled:

That's understandable. For Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Sadie Sink, Stranger Things wasn't just a television series. It was their childhood.

The cast spent nearly a decade together. Entire stages of their lives happened while making the show. Walking away from that probably feels less like finishing a project and more like leaving home.

Brown also revealed something unexpected about how some fans have reacted to the series’ controversial ending. While she used to hear people recognize her as Eleven everywhere she went, the conversation has shifted. Finally, she added:

There is something lovely about that. Instead of simply accepting the ending, fans are choosing hope. Stranger Things has always been about friendship, resilience and refusing to give up on the people you love, so maybe it is fitting that viewers are extending that same optimism to El.

As for Brown, saying goodbye to Hawkins clearly involved more tears than fans realized. Looking back, those black press-tour outfits were not just fashion choices. They were a quiet clue that she was already mourning Eleven before everyone else knew they would have to say goodbye, too.

All five seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix and, in terms of something more recent, Enola Holmes 3 hits the Netflix streaming schedule on July 1.

Members of the Fast & Furious “family” have been waiting some time now for the final installment in the blockbuster franchise to begin filming. Around the fall of 2025, it was reported that the film was in limbo due to financial variables. The series’ lead actor and producer, Vin Diesel, has been providing updates nonetheless and, back in January, he confirmed a date for the film as well as a title, Fast Forever. Now, with the film still waiting to leave the starting line, Diesel is sharing some words that are keeping him upbeat.

Beloved for his role as Dominic “Dom” Toretto, Diesel has long been a champion for this car-centric movie series and its offshoots. So the A-lister seemingly takes whatever opportunity he can to hype up the franchise and in turn, get fans excited about it. Diesel recently took to his Instagram to share a candid post about his body of work and provide some insight into being a creative force. The Saving Private Ryan alum also opened up about four words of wisdom his father bestowed upon him, which he’s taken to heart:

“Finish what you started” is definitely a great mantra to live by, and it feels especially appropriate for Diesel at this point in his life as the co-shepherd of a massive IP. Diesel’s storied journey with the Fast franchise – which turned 25 this year – doesn’t seem to be something he takes for granted. Later in his post, the actor emphasized another point he’s previously made about Fast’s conclusion – closing it out with a worthy final chapter:

It seems the actor can certainly recognize the starts and stops that Fast 11 has experienced during its road to the big screen. However, per the point he makes, what’s most important is that those in the driver’s seat finish out the journey accordingly. Check out the post in its entirety:

As far as we know, the plan is for Diesel, Universal and co. to finish what they started with the Fast & Furious series, with the studio having marked a March 17, 2028 release date for Fast Forever. Plot details are unsurprisingly being kept locked away as tightly as Dom would secure one of his sweet vehicles. Something that’s been promised about FF11, though, is that it’ll return the franchise to “its roots” in LA street racing culture. That’s something that’s been sorely missed by fans as more recent installments have become more grandiose.

While work is reportedly being done on the film, it seems much of the cast is still in the dark about what the story is or when the cameras might start rolling. Tej Parker actor Ludacris recently revealed he hadn’t seen a script and that he wasn’t sure when principal photography would kick off. All the while, Jordana Brewster is already discussing what she wants in that final film – more agency for her character, Mia Toretto.

Die-hard Fast & Furious fans are surely champing at the bit for more insight into what lies at the end of the road for this blockbuster IP. There’s no telling when such details might arrive, of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if Diesel were to keep fans in the loop (and keep them motivated) while they wait for the release of Fast Forever. In the meantime, stream the latest entry in the series, Fast X, with a Peacock subscription.

The second season of Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender is set to adapt the 18-episode second book of the beloved Nickelodeon series in seven episodes. That sounds like a hard mission, and it’s especially challenging because it wasn’t supposed to be that way. The show on Netflix’s 2026 schedule was originally going to be eight episodes. However, it got shortened. Therefore, things had to be cut. Thankfully, the EPs fought to make sure two beloved storylines weren’t taken out.

The trailer for Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender makes it clear that many moments we want to see from Book 2 of the animated series will be included. However, the nature of the beast here is: not everything can fit into seven episodes. That’s especially true when a full episode gets cut from a season order, which EP Christine Boylan explained during an interview with SFX Magazine on CinemaBlend:

“The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is the first of two animated episodes specifically brought up by the EPs as they talked about what they wanted to keep in the series you can stream with a Netflix subscription. This animated installment, which is Season 2, Episode 14, is unique because it is split into chapters that follow characters through their own respective journeys in the Earth Kingdom’s capital. It slows down the show a bit and gives us a lovely peek into these characters' day-to-day lives. So, I’m thrilled we’ll get elements of this unique episode in live action.

Along with “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” being adapted for live-action, EP Jabbar Raisani noted that “Zuko Alone” was another episode they “couldn’t cut” for live-action. Explaining that further, he said:

In “Zuko Alone” (which is Season 2, Episode 7), we see the prince wandering the Earth Kingdom by himself. During his travels, he meets a young boy and his family. However, after he bonds with them and helps them fix up their home, it’s revealed that Zuko is a firebender. Meanwhile, this episode features many flashbacks that give us vital insight into Zuko’s childhood and his relationships with his family.

This episode is important to both Zuko’s character growth and our understanding of his past. So, as someone who has rewatched ATLA countless times, I’m thrilled it will have its moment in live-action.

However, not everything will get to be featured. It’s simply not possible, as Raisani explained:

I totally get this point. First, they don’t have the time to include everything. Secondly, this is an adaptation, so things should be different. I love that they’re pulling inspiration from all over the place, and I appreciate the care and thought they put into what they kept and changed.

Sadly, they didn’t get to include everything they wanted after an episode got cut. However, thankfully, they were able to keep important storylines the fans love. Now, to see what this all looks like in live-action, you can stream Season 2 of Avatar: The Last Airbender with a Netflix subscription when it premieres on the 2026 TV schedule on June 25.

Austin Butler’s work schedule sounds exhausting, but also like he's opened Hollywood’s junk drawer and found nothing but prestige projects. The Oscar nominee has a Lance Armstrong biopic, a Park Chan-wook Western with Matthew McConaughey and, maybe most intriguingly for fans of new action movies, the recently confirmed Miami Vice reboot with Michael B. Jordan and director Joseph Kosinski. The actor has finally broken his silence on joining MBJ for the Miami reboot, and it sounds exciting.

It was reported last year that Butler was being eyed to play the role of Det. James "Sonny Crockett in the latest Miami Vice movie alongside Jordan's Det. Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs. Earlier this year, Butler's involvement was reportedly confirmed. During a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Butler was asked directly if he was looking forward to Miami Vice, and his answer was brief but enthusiastic. The actor did not spill plot details, but responded:

That is the first real temperature check we’ve gotten from Butler on the project, and it sounds like he’s very much all in. The reboot, titled Miami Vice ’85, has already drawn attention because of the talent attached. Kosinski is coming off major crowd-pleasing work with Top Gun: Maverick and F1, while newly minted Oscar winner Jordan has continued building a movie-star/director résumé that makes almost anything he joins worth tracking.

Butler Sounds Especially Excited About Michael B. Jordan

Butler and Jordan were previously paired with Paul Mescal for Vanity Fair’s Hollywood cover, and the magazine also featured the trio in a fun video where they watched iconic movie clips together. So Miami Vice ’85 will give Butler and Jordan a chance to actually share the screen. When asked whether he was excited to reunite with Jordan, he kept the praise coming:

For me, the Butler/Jordan pairing is the real draw here. Miami Vice is a known quantity, but nothing I have a particular relationship with, and that may be true for tons of potential theater goers. The reboot will need more than brand recognition. The original TV series has its own neon-soaked identity, and Michael Mann’s 2006 film has a moody, bruising energy that people still argue about. A new version has to justify itself, and casting two actors with serious screen presence is a pretty good place to start.

Miami Vice ’85 Has Some Serious Style Potential

The reboot's title alone suggests the movie may lean into the period setting rather than try to drag Miami Vice into the present day. That could be a smart move. The 1980s are baked into the franchise's DNA. When I think of Miami Vice, what immediately comes to mind is the music, cars, suits, heat, danger and the kind of cool that looks effortless.

Butler feels like a natural fit for that type of world. He has already shown he can carry a very specific aesthetic without disappearing inside it, whether playing Elvis Presley or bringing quiet swagger to The Bikeriders. Or, starring in another period piece, like Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing. Jordan, meanwhile, has the charisma and physicality to make the action side click. One needn't look further than Jordan's celebrated work in Sinners or the Creed movies to get a sense of his talents.

With Kosinski behind the camera, this reboot also has a chance to feel big and very cinematic. If Miami Vice ’85 is going to work, it probably needs to look expensive, move fast and still have enough character tension under the hood to keep it from becoming a music video with badges.

For now, Austin Butler is wise not to give much away. But between his excitement for his co-star, his praise for the director and the sheer “wait, this could actually rip” potential of the project, Miami Vice ’85 is starting to look like one of the more interesting reboots on the horizon.

I thought The Odyssey had peaked when it revealed a popcorn bucket that resembled an IMAX camera,. However, that was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of movie-based merchandise. There's actually another popcorn bucket based on the film, and I'm both obsessed with it and mildly concerned about it. That's because this latest bucket tied to the upcoming 2026 movie schedule entry is modeled after a Trojan horse.

The official Instagram account for Nolan's The Odyssey dropped the first look at the horse popcorn bucket, which is presumably making its way out to major theater chains when the movie hits theaters on July 17th. Take a look:

Not to get too far off topic, but yes, The Odyssey did erect a massive Trojan horse -- based on the faux gift the gift the Greeks offered the Trojans in order to enter the city of Troy -- on Venice Beach. No,w you can own the smaller version and, better yet, it holds popcorn! Granted, its functionality is questionable, and this is ranking up there with the Shrek outhouse in terms of me wondering how you eat it without all the popcorn spilling out.

Of course, I just hope when I go to pick this up it's not handed to me by one of my enemies. One minute, I'm about to sit down and watch the latest Christopher Nolan film in 70mm, the way the Greek gods intended and, the next, I pop open my bucket and acid spills out onto my lap. My night is ruined, and all because I was as foolish as the people of Troy.

That aside, I have to admit, I'm a bit surprised to see not one, but two popcorn buckets for The Odyssey. I think it's the serious nature of the upcoming epic, paired with expectations from some that this could be a cinematic event on par with classics like Lawrence of Arabia. Is the bar being set too high? I would say no, but the fact that I'm even questioning it selling popcorn buckets when every other movie in Hollywood is doing the same might say otherwise.

Whether theatergoers buy it or not, there's no denying the hype surrounding The Odyssey is very real. Deadline reported AMC's first day advance ticket sales for the star-studded affair are the best it's seen since 2022. I think it was evident from the first trailer that box office records might be broken, and Oscar chatter will begin immediately, but we'll just have to wait and see if it ultimately lives up to the hype.

So grab a popcorn bucket of your choosing, and see The Odyssey in theaters when it arrives on July 17th. I can't wait to check it out on the big screen, though with showtimes already being sold out in my area on opening night, I fear the only way I could get in to see it in IMAx that day would be to create a Trojan horse of my own.

There are popular film franchises, and then there are the James Bond movies. Moviegoers have been following 007 for decades, with entire generations brought up on the MI6 agent's adventures. Since No Time To Die's ending killed off Daniel Craig's version of the hero, fans have been curious about which actors might help reboot the series. Sydney Sweeney has been a popular fan choice to be the next actress to play a Bond Girl, but another star has just topped her in the online odds.

What we know about Bond 26 is very limited, but the film is in active development by Amazon MGM. The pressure in on to deliver after Daniel Craig's Bond movies, which were wildly successful. No casting has been announced, but the prediction market Kalshi (via SHH) recently updated its standings, and The Substance actress Margaret Qualley has taken the top spot over Sydney Sweeney.

Of course, this is no actual guarantee that either actress will actually be cast. But the internet seems to think that Qualley is the most likely choice to join Denis Villeneuve's developing Bond movie. Both she and Sydney Sweeney are wildly popular and have the resumes to support them joining 007 on his next mission. Qualley is an incredibly captivating (and physical) actor, so there's no doubt in my mind she would be great. We'll just have to wait and see who gets to be in the Dune director's spy movie.

As I mentioned, Sweeney has been a popular choice for a Bond girl for some time now. The star of Euphoria (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription) has some action experience under her belt, including her roles in Christy and Madame Web. She's also a black belt in grappling and has experience kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That, combined with her star power, makes her seem like a great choice for a Bond Girl.

As for Margaret Qualley, she's a two-time Golden Globe nominee who has been in acclaimed TV and film work. Her role in The Substance helped make her a household name, even though she was snubbed from an Oscar nomination for the body horror film. Qualley is another big star who would likely help get butts in seats if she were to join Bond 26, and is a versatile talent that I know would crush in a Bond movie.

Overall, not much is known about what Denis Villeneuve has up his sleeve for his forthcoming Bond movie. He's obviously busy working on Dune: Part Three right now, but his schedule should presumably be freed up after its release in December. Some moviegoers were concerned when Amazon got the rights to the James Bond franchise, although the acclaimed filmmaker's involvement has helped to quell some fears. But casting is a total mystery at the time of writing this story.

It's currently unclear when Bond 26 will hit theaters, but Dune: Part Three will have that honor on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Nostalgia has been a powerful force in the entertainment industry for years, and Masters of the Universe hitting theaters sparked joy for fans of the original '80s toys and animated series. Nicholas Galitzine gained a ton of muscle to play He-Man, and has been getting lots of love for his performance. And the Idea of You actor spoke to CinemaBlend about one potential plot hole in the movie: Adam's foster parents on Earth.

Masters of the Universe's reviews praised the movie's comedy and visuals, as well as Galitzine's work as Adam Glenn/He-Man. As you can see in the video above, the 31 year-old actor spoke to CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb, where we asked about one unanswered question: who raised Adam after he showed up on Earth as a child? Galitzine shared some of the BTS conversations that went this backstory, offering:

While we got to see Adam as both a kid in Eternia and an adult on Earth, there wasn't much information about what happened in between. And there was not even a line of dialogue about who raised the movie's protagonist after he crash landed on a new planet altogether.

While Masters of the Universe isn't making a ton of money at the box office, that doesn't take away from how passionate fans of the IP are. The fandom was likely wondering about Adam's backstory, but it sounds like Nicholas Galitzine and director Travis Knight did talk it out. As the actor went on to say:

There was clearly a great deal of care taken with the new MOTU movie, especially since Knight is a hardcore fan himself. Galitzine spoke to CinemaBlend about his character's signature bob haircut, but also confirmed he knows what happened to Adam while he was new to Earth. As he told us:

This offers so much-needed context and answers to a lingering question from Masters of the Universe. It appears that we didn't meet Adam's adopted family because he didn't really have one. Instead he bounced around a bit, possibly through the foster system. Although now I need a prequel to show how this all went down.

Masters of the Universe is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. We'll just have to see if it gets a sequel, which may offer more answers about Adam's backstory.

Hugh Jackman has played various roles over the course of his career and, in the process of embodying those characters, he’s had to sport some serious facial hair. Jackman’s Wolverine beard is practically legendary at this point, and moviegoers can’t forget about those whiskers he has while playing Blackbeard in 2015’s Pan. Most recently, Jackman donned a wild mustache for The Death of Robin Hood. Now, Jackman’s set to play a big role in Ridley Scott’s Treasure Island, and I’m wondering if he’ll sport a wild beard in it.

In Ridley Scott’s upcoming book-to-screen adaptation of Treasure Island, Hugh Jackman will reportedly play Long John Silver, who’s arguably one of literature’s most iconic characters. Scott is directing the film from a screenplay written by Jack Thorne, who’s been receiving plenty of buzz as of late for his acclaimed TV adaptation of Lord of the Flies. Additionally, Thorne is set to serve as executive producer on the adventure flick, per Deadline.

The mere thought of Scott creating his own big-screen interpretation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved 1883 pirate novel is just so exciting. Given this is the filmmaker behind massive movies like Alien, Gladiator and The Martian, I’m expecting a massive movie chock full of nautical adventure as well as some genuine catharsis. Something I’m also wondering is who might play the role of the main protagonist, Jim Hawkins. All I can say is whoever’s cast will need to have the chops to share the screen with Jackman.

Casting Jackman as Long John Silver honestly feels like a no-brainer, as the Oscar-nominated actor could bring a considerable amount of gravitas to the role of the opportunistic, one-legged pirate. By taking on the role, Jackman will be following in the footsteps of other actors who’ve effectively played the role like Orson Welles, Charlton Heston and Tim Curry. I have no doubt Jackman will bring his A-game from a performance standpoint, though there’s still the matter of a beard.

I obviously can’t say for sure what Scott may be going for in regard to Silver’s look, but I think there’s a solid chance he’ll sport facial hair of some kind as opposed to be clean shaven. That assumption comes mainly from other iterations of the character. Heston’s version had some whiskers, while both Welles and Curry’s Silvers had full beards. I could certainly see Jackman growing a beard and maybe even long locks for his latest pirate role but, then again, he and Scott may surprise us.

Speaking of surprises, I wasn’t expecting to see Jackman sport such wild facial hair in The Death of Robin Hood. But then, again, I wasn’t expecting the first trailer to show such a brutal take on the archer. Written and directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film sees an older Hood reflecting on the unsavory choices he’s made over the course of his life while he faces his mortality. Considering that, the character’s mustache is likely far more than a statement, as it also seems to indicate how time has impacted this rumpled antihero.

Hopefully, Jackman’s take on Long John Silver will also seek to subvert what readers think they know about the character. There’s no indication as to when moviegoers may actually see that movie, though, as a studio has yet to formally pick it up off the market. However, insiders believe Scott will reunite with 20th Century Studios for the flick. I’m eager to see how this movie comes together, and fans may want to keep an eye on Jackman’s social media accounts to see if he starts growing any hair on his chinny chin chin.

Check out Hugh Jackman’s mustache – as well as plenty of intense action – in The Death of Robin Hood, which opens in theaters on June 19 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

There are major movie franchises, and then there's the James Bond movies. Audiences have been following 007's adventures since 1962, and there's been debate about who might play him next following Daniel Craig's films. Actor Idris Elba's name has been tossed around for a long time, and the Masters of the Universe actor recently said the rumors were never legit. Although I'm not sure I agree with his assessment about why it would have never worked.

What we know about Bond 26 is extremely limited, with the biggest question being which actor will play the beloved MI6 agent next. During a recent interview with GQ, Elba spoke about the long-standing rumors about him playing Bond. It all began when Daniel Craig suggested back in 2008 that it was time for a Black actor to take on the role, following Barack Obama winning the Presidential Election. The Thor actor got honest by saying:

The chatter about Idris Elba's Bond has been going on for over a decade now, with some fans still hoping to see him with 007's tux and martini. But it sounds like there was never any real legitimacy to the casting, although the actor seems flattered that so many people wanted to see him in that iconic role.

Folks have ben betting on the next James Bond actor or some time now, and Elba's name still comes up even though the studio is reportedly looking for a younger actor for 007. Later in the same interview, the Sonic the Hedgehog actor shared why he never thought he'd actually play the role. In his words:

This is a super realistic take on the idea of a Black actor playing James Bond, but I'm not sure I agree with Elba's assessment. While an actor of color has yet to play the role of 007, I'd like to think that it's not an impossibility in today's world. Idris Elba is a wildly successful actor with generations of fans, and I think that he would be embraced in the role by moviegoing audiences.

Over the past few years, there's been a ton of conversations about the power of representation and inclusion in the media. But James Bond is a global IP, and Idris Elba seems to think that'll exclude Black actors from being considered for the leading role. He's got years of experience in the industry, but I'd like to think that we've progressed more as a society. We'll just have to wait and see who who actually end up replacing Daniel Craig as that character.

It's currently unclear when Bond 26 will arrive, but Idris Elba is in theaters now in Masters of the Universe as part of the 2026 movie release list.

After Barbie's massive success at the box office and Award Season, Mattel quickly started working on another big screen adaptation. That title arrived in theaters this past weekend: Travis Knight's Masters of the Universe starring Nicholas Galitzine. Unfortunately the movie failed to make money in its opening weekend, but Amazon doesn't seem to think it's actually a flop. Let's break it all down.

MOTU was expected to have a soft opening, and that's exactly what happened during its first weekend in theaters. Scary Movie beat it at the box office, with Knight's movie making a reported $54.3 million so far on a budget of around $200 million. While some might call this a failure, Amazon MGM’s domestic distribution chief Kevin Wilson offered another perspective to Variety. He was quoted saying:

Well, that's certainly a more positive outlook on the movie's first weekend at the box office. It sounds like the folks at Amazon MGM are still feeling positive about Masters of the Universe, and are confident the movie will be remembered fondly long after its run in theaters. We'll just have to wait and see if it ends up making more money at time goes on.

While Amazon could have simply put out MOTU on streaming, the fact that it went to theaters is a boon for the industry as a whole. Both theaters and the studio get to make money from this, although there's more opportunity for profitability once Travis Knight's movie hits homes. Because once He-Man and company hit streaming, Amazon can make more money through ads on the Prime Video. Whether its a longer ad before the movie or breaks throughout its runtime, Masters of the Universe still has the chance to make tons of money for the studio after its tenure in theaters.

Critical response for Masters of the Universe was largely positive, with folks praising the movie's comedy, as well as its visuals and performances. But its uphill battle at the box office might be for a few reasons. To start, He-Man and MOTU is an IP that's largely popular from the '80s. While it's got nostalgic power, it hasn't necessarily been a player in the modern pop culture landscape. So younger moviegoers might not have shown out in theaters.

It should be interesting to see how much more money MOTU makes during its run at the box office, as well as how it performs once it goes to streaming. The movie's ending definitely left some narrative threads open for a potential sequel, especially its mid-credits scene. But whether or not they'll be able to see these play out with a follow-up movie remains to be seen.

The fact that Amazon MGM is so positive about the movie is a hopeful sign for those hoping to see another Masters of the Universe movie. The franchise has a ton of beloved characters that could potentially join in a sequel, as well as the starring cast of Travis Knight's first movie. Only time will tell the burgeoning franchise's future.

Masters of the Universe is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. He-Man and his friends are on the big screen, hopefully they get to return sometime in the future.

Zendaya’s got two upcoming book-to-screen adaptations that have been drumming up some serious buzz amongst fans. She’ll be reprising her role as the Fremen warrior Chani in Dune: Part Three and will play the goddess Athena in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Recently, the Euphoria star showed her love for the stories that inspired her new roles by posing with copies of the respective texts at an independent bookstore. With that, literature lovers quickly locked in on a key detail.

The Emmy winner paid a visit to Rakestraw Books, where she chatted with the staff and received great reading recommendations. In the Danville-based bookstore’s post below, you can see Zendaya posing with some the reads that just so happen to be the basis for her upcoming 2026 movie schedule titles. Take a look at the bibliophile’s fun photo below:

How perfect was it that Zendaya was able to find Dune and The Odyssey at the independent bookstore just as her movie adaptations are soon to be released? What's more is that I love the funny (and knowing) pose she gives in the photo. Not to speak for the A-lister, but I could imagine such a moment feeling quite gratifying for her. That's especially due to her having filmed Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey simultaneously and put in a lot of serious work.

As much as fans loved seeing the Drama actress holding copies of those beloved stories, they noticed one key detail regarding the version of Homer's epic poem that she picked up. Take a look at the comments and see if you noticed the same thing:

• "And the Wilson translation 👏🔥 She knows ball." - @ hayleysgilmore
• "She knows best to pick up the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey🔥👏 " - @nicolectomaz
• "& she's holding the best translation 🤭💕" - @radheka
• "It’s the Wilson translation for me!!!! 📚🧚🏼‍♀️🧜🏾‍♀️" - @my_beasty
• "Not for nothing but that Emily Wilson Odyssey translation is 🔥🔥" - @phantom_in_the_stacks
• "The Emily Wilson translation right right" - @friendlizard

Yes, the former Disney Channel star is holding the Emily Wilson translation of The Odyssey, which just happens to be considered one of the best translations for beginners of Homer’s classic poem. Compared to previous romanticized versions, Wilson’s iteration of the ancient Greek epic is widely lauded for its clarity and directness. No wonder literary fans are going gaga over it in the comments!

Interestingly, a fun fact to know about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is that the British filmmaker used Emily Wilson’s translation as one of his film’s major sources. With that, Nolan’s tweaks for his upcoming fantasy-action film may help make the story a bit more accessible to general audiences.

Not only do the trailers for Nolan's latest historical epic show the characters speaking contemporary English, but it also features a heightened, reimagined version of the ancient world. I'm hopeful that that'll bring a fresh perspective to the story though, of course, I'm confident that Nolan will also stay true to its core themes and events.

I can imagine book devotees will have a lot to say about The Odyssey after it hits theaters, and the same may be true after the Dune threequel opens as well. Personally, my excitement for these films is already quite high and, after seeing Zendaya's photo (complete with the Watson-translated book), I'm getting even more psyched.

Make sure to see Zendaya take on the Goddess of Wisdom when The Odyssey opens in theaters and IMAX on July 17th. Also, see the starlet reprise Chani in Dune: Part Three, which hits cinemas on December 18th.

NCIS has been through a lot over the course of its 23-season run, and this includes numerous cast changes. Perhaps the biggest casting change came when Mark Harmon exited at the beginning of Season 19, with his departure thought to be the “death knell” of NCIS (at least at the time). Seasons later, Sean Murray has recalled learning about his co-star's decision to leave... and the phone call that made him feel better about it.

Murray has been on NCIS as Special Agent Timothy McGee since the very first season. So, both he and Brian Dietzen, who has been playing Jimmy Palmer since Season 1, have been on hand to witness all the casting changes. While speaking with Dietzen and Diona Reasonover on the Partners & Probies podcast, Murray reflected on the switch-ups, noting change is always hard.

Harmon's exit is one of the biggest changes the show has ever been through, but the McGee actor explained the phone call that made it easier to deal with:

Considering how important a character Gibbs was and how important Harmon was to NCIS, it was probably hard to imagine anyone else coming in as the team’s leader. However, Gary Cole’s Alden Parker has been doing a pretty great job, and Murray seems to have been pretty happy to get that call about his new on-screen boss.

The team has definitely changed up more than a few times, and every time someone new joins, they fit right in. Of course, it’s never easy saying goodbye to a character and seeing someone new come in. However, in Cole’s case, there was no one better to step in after Harmon left. Plus, cycling through team members over the years probably helped Murray come to terms with Harmon’s departure. Knowing Cole would be coming on made it even better.

Unfortunately, the casting changes are continuing. Season 23 of NCIS killed off Rocky Carroll’s Director Leon Vance after 18 seasons, and the season finale might have killed off another beloved character. NCIS is never predictable, and even after all these years, the shakeups are still happening. While it keeps the show fresh, it’s also keeping fans and the cast on their toes.

Meanwhile, Harmon has returned to the NCIS franchise since then. He currently serves as executive producer and narrator on prequel series NCIS: Origins, which follows a young Gibbs. He’s appeared on the show a couple of times, most recently with the NCIS crossover last year. It’s unknown whether he’ll ever return to the Mothership, even if it’s brief, but at least the team is in good hands.

If anything, fans can always watch their favorite Gibbs episodes with a Paramount+ subscription. NCIS Season 24 will premiere this fall on CBS.

It remains to be seen whether Christopher Nolan’s book-to-screen adaptation of The Odyssey proves to be yet another cinematic masterpiece from the acclaimed director. At the very least, though, what is clear now is that the film is a further testament to Nolan’s ability to land top-tier talent. Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron are just a few of the A-listers Nolan pulled. Also a part of that ensemble is Robert Pattinson and, before signing on, he was the only star to ask a very obvious question.

Considering Nolan’s body of work, it’s not hard to understand why he’d be able to attract such a high class of actors. Pattinson has now had the pleasure of working with Nolan on two occasions now, as he previously collaborated with him on Tenet. Pattinson has since spoken highly of his experience making that 2020 sci-fi thriller. So, when the Batman star was approached by Nolan for Odyssey, he was enthusiastic. Yet, as Pattinson explained to GQ, he threw Nolan for a loop with one particular comment:

Pattinson apparently being the only member of The Odyssey’s ensemble to ask Nolan about the script makes me chuckle, and that request is significant due to how extensive that cast is. As much as this funny little behind-the-scenes factoid is to me, this also makes sense when it comes to Pattinson. Over the last decade, the British performer has taken on some interesting films, like Good Time, The Lighthouse, The Boy and the Heron and Mickey 17.

Based on the acclaim Robert Pattinson received for some of his more recent roles, it seems he’s been good at picking projects. So I certainly won’t critique his thoughtfulness upon being approached to be in Christopher Nolan’s latest movie. As for his role in the historical action drama, Pattinson plays the slimy Antinous, who attempts to court Penelope (Hathaway) while she awaits the return of her husband, Odysseus (Damon), following the Trojan War. Pattinson’s involvement not only marks a new collaboration but also a reunion with Zendaya, with whom he worked on The Drama and the Dune: Part Three.

Speaking of Zendaya and other stars who appear in The Odyssey, I can completely understand their willingness to sign on so quickly. The film marks Nolan’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning historical drama, Oppenheimer, and it’s based on one of the most engrossing epic poems ever written. From a technical standpoint, Nolan is also pushing boundaries on the IMAX front, as his latest feature has been shot entirely on the format.

So, to sum this up, we have a talented filmmaker, an epic story as the basis and a technologically ambitious set-up. Keeping all of that in mind, I can’t imagine many actors not leaping at the chance to join such a project without checking out the screenplay first. Pattinson’s mention of the script during his early chat with Nolan, though, just further solidifies him as one of those stars who’s cerebral when it comes to the jobs he takes on.

I look forward to seeing what Robert Pattinson brings to The Odyssey, which opens in theaters on July 17 as part of the 2026 movie schedule. For now, check out some excellent Pattinson films that prove he’s far more than a certain sparkly vampire he played so many years ago.

Nostalgia continues to be a powerful force in the entertainment industry. And after Barbie's record-breaking performance in theaters, Mattel has brought another major IP to the big screen: Masters of the Universe. Actor Nicholas Galitzine got jacked to play Adam Glenn/He-Man, but it turns out that there are some exercises that his co-star Camila Mendes has him beat on. Let's break it all down.

In the lead-up to the release of Masters of the Universe, it's been made clear that Galitzine gained a ton of muscle in order to bring He-Man to life on the big screen. He kept it up while shooting, frequently working out with Teela actress Camila Mendes in the process. As you can see in the above video, the Riverdale star spoke to CinemaBlend about being He-Man's gym buddy. She was asked which workout she was superior at, responding with:

Take that, He-Man. Because while folks have been drooling over Nicholas Galitzine's new physique, there were some exercises where bigger wasn't better. Namely, pilates, and any other workouts that were more about flexibility. That's where Mendes shone, and was able to one-up her scene partner as they maintained their fitness together.

Masters of the Universe reviews have praised the movie's comedy, as well as how great Galitzine looks as the movie's protagonist. And while Camila Mendes' Teela costume wasn't as revealing as the cartoons, she still worked hard to look at strong as possible as the Guard of Eternia. In the same conversation with CinemaBlend, the Do Revenge actress still gushed about her hulking co-star, offering:

Listen, you can't win them all. And while the Idea of You actor has more upper body strength, Camila Mendes has him beat when it comes to flexibility and pilates. It's too bad that we don't get to see Teela and Adam spar in Masters of the Universe. Instead, they're working on the same side throughout its 140-minute runtime. But hey, maybe these allies and friends can come to blows if a sequel ends up being ordered.

It should be fascinating to see how Masters of the Universe does at the box office, and if it ends up starting a new movie franchise. There are generations of fans out there who love He-Man and the rest of the characters, but only time will tell if that translates to money at the box office.

Masters of the Universe is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. So fans can see just how jacked Mendes and Galitzine got for themselves.