I don't know what I expected. The same ambitious director, Christoper Nolan, who made a grounded Batman trilogy and a whole movie centered around entropy, wasn't going to just make a by-the-numbers Odyssey flick.

Don't get me wrong. I don't think The Odyssey is BAD. It's actually really good. That said, even though I was greatly looking forward to it, I didn’t really like it (and no, it’s not because it was Rated-R, which it definitely didn’t have to be). Here’s why.

Oh, and some minor spoilers up ahead.

Christopher Nolan Could Have Gone Fantastical For This One. Instead, He Went "Realistic"

When I first saw Interstellar, there was a key moment in the film where I thought, if this goes where I THINK it’s heading, then I’ll probably hate this movie, but if it doesn’t and Nolan surprises me, then I’ll probably love it. The moment in question was the S-T-A-Y scene, and it went exactly where I thought it was heading, and guess what? I don’t like Interstellar (Even though this website looks upon it fondly).

I had a similar moment with The Odyssey. You see, my favorite part of the epic poem is when Odysseus has to get his men through the Strait of Messina, but there are two horrific monsters called Scylla and Charybdis. Now, Charybdis is a living whirlpool, and Scylla is a multiheaded monster that’s waiting for sailors to come by.

I really wanted to know how Nolan would approach this moment since I knew it was coming and…I was massively disappointed. I’m not going to say it was “realistic,” but it definitely wasn’t as fantastical as it could have been. In fact, all of the mystical moments in this film felt subdued, and it just bummed me out (like the cannibalistic Laestrygonians just being some big dudes in armor). The same goes for the Cyclops scene (There was definitely no “Nobody is attacking me!” moment), as well as Odysseus's journey to the world of the dead.

I mean, the human drama in this film is great, and I liked all of that, but – as I should have expected – Nolan stayed well within his comfort zone when it came to the actual magical elements of this story (Though, the Circe scene was fantastic). Could you imagine if Peter Jackson or Guillermo del Toro tackled The Odyssey? I’ll tell you what, the whole Scylla and Charybdis moment would have definitely been a whole lot more epic.

It Also Takes Itself SO SERIOUSLY. Possibly Too seriously

Once again, I don’t know what I was expecting. The story of Odysseus’s inner turmoil is very effective here, and I love that Nolan included the war as something that is holding Odysseus back. Because in truth, Odysseus is lost both externally and internally as well.

Again, this movie is good for what it is. I’m just saying that I didn’t like it, or at least, I didn’t love it. That may be because I feel like it takes itself way too seriously. I want to go back to that Cyclops moment.

While MOST of the poem is grim and serious, certain parts are whimsical, and even fun. I feel like that’s missing entirely from this film. Yes, Nolan's approach has always been to make pretty much everything serious (which worked for Batman after the tremendously silly Batman & Robin), but I would have liked at least some levity in this movie, like the silly “Nobody is attacking me!” moment in the poem with the Cyclops.

Or, you know, maybe the gods could have actually been involved in the story rather than just being an interpretation. I’m not going to spoil Zendaya’s role in the story as Athena, but I would have loved it if there were clear and definable gods in this movie, since Nolan goes to the edge, but doesn’t quite go far enough.

I don’t know. I’d say The Odyssey is a solid 7 out of 10 movie, and I get why many would call it a 10 out of 10 flick. I just wish that Nolan would have stepped out of his comfort zone a bit more, but I guess it wouldn’t be a Christopher Nolan movie if he did that. Oh, well.

The best video game movies have ben released over the last few years, including Simon McQuoid's pair of Mortal Kombat films. The sequel recently arrived on streaming for those with a HBO max subscription, and now fans like me can re-watch the R-rated adventure over and over again. Bodybuilder and actor Martyn Ford plays the villainous Shao Khan, and spoke to CinemaBlend about the "horrible" process of transforming into the beloved video game character.

Mortal Kombat II hit theaters in May, and now folks can stream the movie over on HBO Max. I had the chance to speak with the movie's cast ahead of its release, where i asked Ford about what it was like becoming Shao Khan. He got honest about the transformation, joking it was:

While Martyn Ford made playing Shao Khan look easy, the reality of becoming the Outworld antagonist was something very different. Namely because of the extensive prosthetics that were applied to his body and face for every single day of shooting. And the latter was used even though the character wore his signature helmet throughout almost all of Mortal Kombat II's 116-minute runtime. Talk about dedication.

While Ford was honest about the difficulty of becoming Shao on the set of Mortal Kombat II, it wasn't all bad. Later in our same conversation he spoke about why playing the video game character was still ultimately "rewarding." He told me:

Despite the hours of makeup and costumes needed before filming Mortal Kombat II, it sounds like Ford is still over the moon about his experience and the video game movie as a whole. And even though Shao Khan was killed by Kitana in the movie's final fight sequence, we'll have to wait and see if the actor ends up reprising his role if a third movie ends up being green lit by Warner Bros.

You can check out my conersation with Martyn Ford about his MK II role below:

While Mortal Kombat II's writer has plans for four more movies, it's currently unclear if Warner Bros. is planning to move forward with the burgeoning franchise. The movie made $129.5 million at the box office, which is significantly more than the first. If it performs well on HBO Max hopefully the studio will decide to green light a threequel. After all, there are tons of stories and characters to mine from.

Mortal Kombat II is streaming now on HBO Max as part of the 2026 movie release list. And it's going to be different watching Ford's performance knowing just how difficult it really was to become Shao Khan.

I’ve been a big fan of watching Alan Ritchson’s Reacher with my Amazon Prime Video subscription since Season 1. In fact, it’s probably (now) my second favorite show on Amazon, and of course I’m also excited for the Neagley spinoff. However, in recent days we did get a new announcement about the upcoming 2026 TV series that has me a little concerned. Hear me out.

Previously, Reacher Had Been A Winter TV Show

For its first three seasons, Reacher was a winter TV show, premiering after the holiday season. It hasn’t had the exact same trajectory, however, premiering in February during Season 1 and 3 and in December for Season 2. It’s not like the show premieres exactly at the same time every year, but prior to this it had not been attempting to compete with network TV’s fall lineups.

Instead, it was doing its own thing during wintertime and premiering at times where it would not directly compete with network TV. Primetime is basically off the air in December. Reacher was essentially competing with the likes of soon-to-air Christmas movies in Season 2. In Seasons 1 and 3, while audiences have been trained to tune in for winter premieres, those are frequently in January. February is a month where people don’t like to get out and the shiny newness of returning network TV has dulled a bit. In short, the winter has been very good to Reacher.

Everything is changing with Season 4, however, and that also directly impacts the Neagley spinoff, which does have me concerned. It all has to do with Amazon Prime completely shifting its airing strategy for both Reacher and its spinoff.

Neagley Is Going To Have To Compete With Fall TV

Reacher Season 4 is coming, and soon. While I’ve been excited with Alan Ritchson calling it the “best” one yet, it’s not getting its traditional wintertime release. Instead, the powers that be have pushed Reacher to the summer, with Neagley following right after.

It was Maria Sten who broke the news on social last week, and who has said in general a Neagley spinoff is very much needed. The way the structure looks right now?

• Reacher Season 4 will run from August 12-September 16th
• Neagley will drop in full on September 16th

This has its pros and cons, and I’m not fully mad at every choice Amazon has made here. First, I like that Amazon is wrapping Reacher’s finale onto the same date as Neagley Season 1. Secondly, given we don’t know fully if audiences will embrace Neagley as an extension of the Ritchson-led series, I don’t think it’s necessarily a poor choice to drop all of the spinoff episodes at once, at least for Season 1. (They can always talk about spacing Season 2 out if it becomes a megahit.)

I just don’t understand why the streamer is shifting the series up so it’s butting up against fall TV. Right now, for example, my appointment TV viewing is nearly wide open. I just finished The Five-Star Weekend (and want more!) and House of the Dragon is airing on Sunday nights, but I’m mostly just rewatching old seasons of Survivor with my Paramount Plus subscription.

That’s going to change drastically when fall TV comes back and I watch everything from game shows like The Floor and newcomer The Traitors: New Blood to dramas, sitcoms and even cable fodder like South Park, which actually drops on the same day as Neagley. Heck, even Monday Night Football kicks off on September 14th, just two days before Neagley hits. My fall TV dance card gets full fast.

Sure, some network TV doesn’t hit the schedule until October now, which gives the show a bit more of a window than it might’ve had a few years ago, and this new Reacher and Neagley schedule won’t deter me from watching personally, but I still have concerns about whether it's the best choice. Winter was Reacher’s. It could have been Neagley’s thing, too. That schedule worked great for me and other TV viewers, and I just don’t get why they’ve changed a format that was already working well.

I do hope it pays off, and I hope it pays off in blood and violence. Just kidding. Sort of.

It was very sad to hear about the passing of screen legend Sam Neill this month. I’m a huge fan of many of his movies, and I’m also a huge fan of the James Bond franchise, but it wasn't until I read a story after his death that I learned he'd auditioned for the role of 007 back in the 1980s. The audition came after Roger Moore left the role after A View To A Kill. He even did a screen test in a scene from what would become.

Now, I’m a fan of the underrated Dalton era of Bond. I think the Welsh actor was given too short a leash, being replaced by Pierce Brosnan after just two movies, but I would have loved to see Neill in the role, and I think we missed out.

Neill Auditions Before Dalton Got The Role

Over the years, eight men have played James Bond, and after the Roger Moore-era ended with A View To A Kill, it was time for producer Cubby Broccoli and the rest of the production team to find the first new Bond in over a decade. Broccoli really wanted Pierce Brosnan to take over the role and offered the part to the actor who would eventually become Bond in the mid-’90. Unfortunately, he was tied up with his TV show, Remington Steele, and they couldn’t make it work. That meant a big search for who would replace Moore.

One of the actors who auditioned and screen-tested was Neill. At the time, before Jurassic Park and The Hunt for Red October, Neill was still somewhat unknown to much of the movie-going public. However, after watching his screen-test (and loving both of those movies), I can’t help but wonder, “What if?” Would Neill have been a popular Bond? Would it have meant we’d have missed out on those roles in Jurassic Park and Red October? It’s impossible to know for sure, but in a perfect world, maybe we get it all.

I’ve Never Been A Fan Of The Brosnan Movies

If I’m totally honest, the Brosnan-era of James Bond has long been my least favorite. It’s not that I think Brosnan is bad in the role, but the movies are just so cheesy. They all have that ‘90s sheen of slickness that is really off-putting. For me, they are the most dated-looking of all the Bond movies, and that’s saying something for a franchise that is over 60 years old. However, I think the two Dalton movies are by far the most underrated of all the Bond movies.

So, while I wouldn’t want to live in an alternate timeline without a Dalton Bond, I wouldn’t mind seeing what could have happened with Neill in the role over Brosnan. Interestingly, though, Neill himself said that he didn’t want the role, at least in part because Brosnan was gunning for it. Quite the conundrum. Personally, though, I think we missed out on something pretty cool.

We still don’t know who will be the next 007 in the yet-unnamed James Bond 27. As it was before The Living Daylights, there are tons of rumors about who the next actor to drink martinis and flash his Walther PPK handgun will be. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the updates!

Christopher Nolan's movies are known for their epic scale and practical effects, and he's done it again with The Odyssey, which is crushing at the box office. The acclaimed book-to-screen adaptation is super ambitious, and Matt Damon recalled one wild moment on set that showed just how big of a production the latest Nolan movie truly is.

The Odyssey's reviews have been super positive, and there's already Awards Season buzz surrounding the massive blockbuster. Matt Damon movies aren't known for being on indie budgets, but the level of production on Nolan's latest shocked even him. In a video from The Today Show's Instagram, the 55-year-old actor spoke about shooting one particularly epic sequence. In his words:

Talk about a crazy day on set. Damon is no stranger to huge movies, but it sounds like The Odyssey was on another level... even for him. Christopher Nolan has a reputation for preferring practical effects over CGI, and that includes employing tons of extras when necessary. Case in point: The Dark Knight Rise's epic final battle actually had hundreds of background actors rush at each other when Bane's forces collided with Gotham's Police Department. And the scale of The Odyssey is even bigger than that Batman movie (which is streaming with an HBO Max subscription).

In the same interview, the Martian actor went on to tell the same story, and a comment by cinematographer Hoyt van Hoytema really highlighted what a huge movie they were filming. As Damon went on:

Talk about perspective. The fact that Christopher Nolan put this much money and effort into what would ultimately just be a flashback for The Odyssey proved how huge a movie it would become. That includes plenty of epic flashbacks, a stellar ensemble cast, and (of course) that wild Trojan Horse sequence.

Fans can see The Odyssey's scale for themselves as the movie is in theaters now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Spoiler alert: the movie is HUGE.

Alan Ritchson has been highly sought after since blowing up on Reacher, but before a new, best-yet season of the hit Prime Video series hits the 2026 TV schedule next month, we’ll have the chance to see (but not hear) him on the big screen. Motor City is a new action flick, and if you’ve ever wished you could have all brutal fights with none of the cheesy, testosterone-fueled banter, this may be the pick for you.

Potsy Ponciroli’s Motor City is virtually free of dialogue, making for a pretty unique crime thriller set in 1970s Detroit. Alan Ritchson and his co-stars — Ben Foster, Shailene Woodley and more — may not have had a lot to say, but the critics won't shut up about the movie.

Steve Pond of The Wrap calls it a “hyper-adrenalized revenge thriller” that replaces conversation with a variety of noises and fun needle drops. Pond says:

Even without the dialogue, Owen Gleiberman of Variety says Motor City delivers love, violence and suspense. Audiences are tasked with interpreting the characters’ looks and gestures, making this movie a “true immersive cinematic experience.”

Anzhe Zhang of Slant also calls it immersive, particularly when the soundtrack matches the action on the screen. Not limited by the restraints of a traditional story, The 2026 movie release is “exhilaratingly alive throughout its set pieces.” Zhang rates it 2.5 stars out of 4 in his Motor City review, writing:

Other critics, however, grew tired of the dialogue-free gimmick, with David Rooney of THR calling the exercise “overstretched.” Alan Ritchson still brings gravitas to the project through his hulking physical presence alone, the critic says, but the supporting cast is lacking depth, and the flick is overall “rendered a bit silly by its silence.” Rooney continues:

Jesse Hassenger of AV Club gives it a C, agreeing that Alan Ritchson is well-suited for the “strong and silent” character of John Miller. While the intent was ambitious, Motor City was unable to shed its clichés. Hassenger’s review reads:

Critics are definitely intrigued by the choice to silence Motor City’s characters, but they’re iffy on the end result. The movie has a score of 69% on Rotten Tomatoes as of this writing, and I’ll be interested to talk about what moviegoers think of Alan Ritchson’s latest when it hits theaters on Friday, July 24.

We’ve come a long way when it comes to news about December 18th’s Avengers: Doomsday. From seeing a whole bunch of names on chairs to learning that Cap and company were coming back, the info keeps on rolling.

And with the news, we also got a new poster from former visual development director Andy Park, as well as a brand-spanking-new trailer featuring Doctor Doom and everything. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing the X-Men, The Avengers (Both old AND new), and The Fantastic Four whoop Doctor Doom’s behind. However, one team is notably absent from the trailer, and that’s the one from my favorite Marvel movie, Eternals.

Which, you know, really bugs me, since if the Eternals were ever coming back, it likely would have been for this extravaganza. Let’s talk.

Look, I Get It. Nobody Likes Eternals Except For Me

Okay, I get it. When most people rank the MCU movies, Eternals always lands somewhere near the bottom, if not THE bottom. And, yeah, I’ve heard all of the complaints: “It should have been a TV series rather than a movie.” “There were just too many characters,” and, the most common of all, “It’s just so BORING.”

However, even after a rewatch, I still consider it my favorite MCU movie. I’m eternally hoping that we’ll see Thena, Sersi, and Kingo again (even though it probably would be in Kumail Nanjiani’s best interest to stay away from Marvel this time, for mental health's sake anyway). I just love these characters. I don’t think Eternals should have been a TV series, and I feel that the film did a great job of managing so many characters. But, most importantly, I don’t find it BORING. I find it ambitious, engaging, and artistic, and I always wanted more of it from Marvel.

So, to not see any hint of them on this new concept art or in the trailer just really upsets me. Especially since I know Marvel still remembers that they exist.

I Mean, Hello. They’re Referenced In Captain America: Brave New World

Another Marvel movie that I know people don’t like, but I enjoy, is Captain America: Brave New World, which I would actually rank higher than the first Captain America flick. Now, something that surprised many a longtime MCU fan is that Eternals were actually referenced in a major way in the fourth Captain America movie, as we actually got to see what happened to the Celestial, Tiamut, with Celestial Island.

That tells me that Kevin Feige still remembers Eternals. Now, I understand that the Russo brothers probably don’t care about Eternals since they have their own vision in mind, plus they also have the X-Men to bring into the fray.

However, I just can’t shake the feeling that Eternals should have at least SOME kind of presence in this movie, which actually brings me to my last point.

Eternals Would Be Really Cool In Avengers: Doomsday, So Am I Being A Fool For Still Holding Out Hope?

There’s still a lot we likely don’t know about Avengers: Doomsday, even with everything they’ve shown us thus far in the trailer. So, am I being foolish for believing that perhaps the Eternals MIGHT make an appearance in this movie somehow?

I mean, I never thought I’d see Thor: The Dark World ever referenced again, but it played a prominent role in Avengers: Endgame.

So, could the Eternals also be hidden away in this movie somewhere and we just don’t know about it yet? I guess only time will tell.

Is Tom Cruise ready to get back in the driver's seat with a sequel to his 1990 classic Days of Thunder? It looks like the movie that has been long-rumored is getting closer to crossing the finish line. Digger might be one of my most anticipated movies on the 2026 movie schedule, but as a child of the '80s and '90s and a fan of racing movies, the idea of seeing Cruise burn up tires around the track again has me just as excited. Here's what we know about Days of Thunder 2.

Jonathan Levine Is In Talks To Direct

There have been rumblings about a Days of Thunder sequel for years. After the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick, it only made sense that Cruise would want to revisit another classic from the same era (in addition to another possible sequel). The original Top Gun and Days of Thunder have a lot of similar DNA. In addition to starring Cruise, both movies were directed by the late Tony Scott and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. Bruckheimer is on board to produce this sequel, as he did with Maverick, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter.

The outlet is also reporting that Jonathan Levine is in negotiations to direct Days of Thunder 2. Levine's Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story starring David Corenswet is set to be released by Paramount in December (and already looks like a hit). Paramount is the company behind both Days of Thunder and Top Gun (and most of Tom Cruise's movies since the 1980s). Before Mr. Irrelevant, Levine helmed the underrated and funny Long Shot starring Seth Rogan and Charlize Theron in 2019.

Days Of Thunder Became An Instant Classic For A Generation

Though it was quite the juggernaut that Top Gun was in the 1980s, Days of Thunder was a huge hit with teenagers when it dropped the hammer in the summer of 1990. The original stars Cruise as a hot-shot young racer named Cole Trickle who joins a NASCAR team led by veteran pit crew chief Harry Hogge, played by the late Robert Duvall. Nicole Kidman plays a doctor and Trickle's love interest in the movie, and Michael Rooker plays his biggest rival on the track. It's been remarkably enduring ever since.

Speculating about further casting is a little premature, especially given the personal relationship between Cruise and Kidman. Top Gun: Maverick only brought back Val Kilmer from the original, in addition to Cruise, so this might follow suit. Still, it would be fun to see some of the other actors from the original, like Rooker, John C. Reilly, and Cary Elwes.

Given the huge worldwide success of FI: The Movie last year, it seems like a no-brainer to revisit one of the best (if not the best) movies about stock car racing ever. Meanwhile, we still have Digger to look forward to later this year, which is going to be a very different kind of movie, judging by what we know about it.

Famously, Christopher Nolan, whose The Odyssey is currently walking all over the competition at the box office, doesn’t like cell phones. He doesn’t use one, and he bans them from his sets. It turns out that’s not the only bit of modernity that he doesn’t want on set. He apparently bans the ubiquitous boots, UGGs, from his working environment as well. He was asked about it on CBS Mornings and related why he doesn’t like actors turning up to set in the footwear. I’ll be honest, I’m with him on this, but maybe for different reasons.

Christopher Nolan's Philosophy Is Kind Of Like Method Directing

Method acting is when an actor tries to completely disappear into a character, even when the cameras aren’t rolling. It’s a craft practiced by many of the best actors in the world, perhaps most famously used by Daniel Day-Lewis. It can be seen as mercurial and often obnoxious, but you can’t argue with success. Nolan, it turns out, brings some of that same thought process to his director’s chair and is seen acutely with the UGGs ban. He doesn’t want actors wearing them when they arrive to shoot a scene. Here’s what he said when asked why by CBS Mornings host Gayle King:

It’s easy to imagine how “real” some of Nolan’s set pieces feel, given his preference to avoid CGI and rely on practical effects. Showing up to the ancient city of Troy in a pair of trendy footwear could pull everyone on set out of the “reality” of the ancient Mediterranean. Nolan added:

This kind of thing might come across as pretentious or even a little silly, but for me it’s easy to understand. While some method acting goes to the extreme, it serves a real artistic purpose, just like this type of “method directing.” Nolan wants everyone on set to be in tune to what is happening in any given scene, and I’m sure it can be easy to lose focus, if only for a moment when distracted by something so “today.” This is probably especially true in a period epic like The Odyssey, which may be part of the 2025 movie schedule, but is very much of a different era.

For me, I think the shoes are ugly, so for that reason, I’m on board with Nolan’s decision to ban them from his sets, even if he actually thinks UGGs are "great."

As we barrel towards the release of Avengers: Doomsday on the 2026 movie schedule, everyone was a little surprised when Doomsday's first trailer dropped just days before San Diego Comic Con kicks off. I think most fans thought it was more likely to drop there during the Marvel panel on Saturday. The great news for those of us not attending SDCC, we all got to see it Monday for the first time. We got a good look at many of the characters that we’ve long known are in the upcoming MCU movie, but I was really surprised that we didn’t get surprised by at least one of two characters who are heavily rumored to be in the movie, Spider-Man and Wolverine.

I Expected One Surprise From The Trailer

In the trailer, we saw a ton of characters, so it’s hardly shocking that there were some who we know are going to be in the movie, like Beast (Kelsey Grammer) and Nightcrawler (Alan Cumming), who didn’t make it into the short trailer. There are also a handful of major MCU actors who weren’t part of the big director’s chair reveal last year when the movie was officially announced, nor have they been announced since. I’m talking about actors like Elizabeth Olsen (The Scarlet Witch), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Tom Holland (Spidey), and Hugh Jackman (Wolverine).

I really kind of expected at least one of those, most likely Wolverine, based on Jackman’s recent social media posts, or Spider-Man (since Brand New Day is hitting theaters at the end of the month) to be in Doomsday. We saw neither. I get the Russos and the powers that be want to save some surprises for the theaters, or even for future trailers, keeping the hype train going. They may also be holding some back for SDCC later this week, but I really did think we’d see either Spider-Man or Wolverine in the first trailer. Yes, I fully believe that both characters will appear in the movie (along with Dr, Strange and Deadpool).

There Is A Web Of Rumors Surrounding Spider-Man

Maybe it’s less surprising that Spidey wasn’t included, because there are a lot of theories out there that it might not be Tom Holland’s version of the webslinger, but Tobey Maguire’s, who could be in Doomsday. That is definitely a reveal that you’d want to keep for the movie, so if that rumor does end up being correct, I get it. Wolverine, on the other hand, would be the perfect character to surprise fans with in the first trailer.

Doomsday is going to mark the real introduction of the full complement of X-Men into the MCU films, after some flirting with the characters in WandaVision and, of course, Deadpool and Wolverine. Putting the most famous big-screen X-Man, Wolverine, in the trailer would have given us all a “whoa!” moment. It would save the potential reveal of Spider-Man for the movie, but still get people talking about the future of the MCU beyond Doomsday.

Then again, maybe all this is just wild speculation about all these unannounced characters and none of them will be in Doomsday. All I know is that I’ll be keeping a close lookout for any more clues and crumbs that get dropped over the next few days, weeks, and months.

Major spoilers for The Odyssey lie ahead, so read on at your own risk.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has been acclaimed by critics, and it’s not hard to understand why. The filmmaker mostly stays true to Homer’s epic poem in this book-to-screen adaptation and sticks to the themes that make it such a timeless story. While there’s plenty of spectacle to be found, from daring sword fights to a “dank” encounter with a Cyclops, there are intimate moments that are also poignant. And, when lead actor Matt Damon spoke to CinemaBlend, he talked about being shocked by the final scenes.

At the center of the film’s story is the treacherous journey that Odysseus (Damon) and his men make in order to return home to Ithaca after The Trojan War. Odysseus is ultimately the only one to return and, in the film’s third act, he attempts to keep his identity a secret from his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland). During his interview with CB, Damon spoke about the irony or “twist” that resulted from his character actually making his way back to the aforementioned Greek island:

In time, a cloaked Odysseus finds himself having a confessional with Penelope, who’s unaware of his true identity. He then goes on to convey the shame he feels over the invasion of Troy, as it resulted in copious casualties. (One of those is even linked to Zendaya’s Athena.) For Damon, that scene was huge, and Hathaway contributed to that sense of awe in a key way:

Penelope and Odysseus’ scene is indeed an emotional gut punch, and both Damon and Hathaway act it out so beautifully. That’s a massive reason why the following scene, which sees Odysseus revealing himself and doing battle with Penelope’s various suitors, hits so hard. And, ultimately, Damon’s character doesn’t die in the film, but he emerges victorious and exiles himself. From there, he and Penelope sail west to honor the former’s fallen comrades and find solace in each other’s company.

This particular moment isn’t just a testament to the actors’ skills, but it’s also a credit to Christopher Nolan’s stellar screenplay. It’s nothing short of amazing that even throughout massive action sequences and surreal, creature-centric scenes, Nolan can still keep character at the forefront of the proceedings. As a whole, the film “walloped” me for that reason but, like Damon, I’ll also long be enamored by that reunion scene.

Check out The Odyssey, which is playing in theaters now alongside other 2026 movie schedule entries. With that, you’ll bear witness to all the tweaks Christopher Nolan made to the story as well as the scenes that ring true to the original text.

There are few film franchises as significant as the James Bond movies. Moviegoers were brought up on the franchise, which include some of the best action/adventure movies of all time. Prior to Daniel Craig's Bond movies we were treated to four titles starring Pierce Brosnan. It all started with the pivotal blockbuster Goldeneye, although Famke Janssen admitted she broke her ribs while filming some fight scenes opposite the Mammia Mia! actor.

Goldeneye is a beloved installment of the franchise, which introduced Brosnan to the fans and inspired a wildly successful video game adaptation. During an appearance at the Mediterranean Film Festival (via THR) Janssen got real about getting injured when facing off against 007 in a bathhouse. As she put it:

Yikes. While this is one of the most memorable scenes in Goldeneye, Xenia and James' steamy fight scene came at a cost. Namely by the X-Men actress breaking multiple ribs. This shows just how dangerous movie sets can be, despite measures being put in place for actors' safety.

Famke Janssen previously revealed how she felt thrown to the wolves after Goldeneye, thanks to her relationship with the press. But there was also a physical toll to her iconic 007 performance. She went on to share how painful the injury was at the time, offering:

That certainly sounds like a difficult way to work, and also shows the gritty truth of being in the film industry. While being a movie star is a dream for many, it can sometimes come at a great physical expense. That was the case for Janssen, who filmed Goldeneye for months after breaking her ribs. Regardless, the performance is truly iconic.

Goldeneye is a beloved chapter in the 007 franchise, and all eyes are on what director Denis Villeneuve will behind the camera for the upcoming 26th movie. But since that mysterious project isn't on the 2026 movie release list, fans will have to practice some patience while continuing to wait for more info.

Matt Damon's been in some massive movies over the course of his career, from Good Will Hunting and Saving Private Ryan to the Bourne series and The Departed. At present, Damon headlines Christopher Nolan's latest movie, The Odyssey, for which he's received rave reviews. As great as his filmography is, not all of Damon's flicks have been hits, though. In fact, as the actor recently revealed, his daughter roasted one of them in a hilarious way.

Damon promoted his blockbuster 2026 movie schedule entry during a chat with BBC Radio 1, and a seven-year-old listener asked an most important question. The young man wanted to know: What's Damon’s worst movie? Damon was diplomatic at first, saying he once asked Clint Eastwood the same question about his films and that he responded by saying, he “loved each of them equally.” But, from there, Damon recalled how one of his four daughters jabbed a movie he shot over a decade ago:

Now, that's comedic timing! Zhang Yimou directed 2016's The Great Wall, and it sees Damon playing a European mercenary, who teams up with Chinese soldiers to take on an alien force. Ultimately, the film was panned by critics and only grossed over $334 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $150 million. Needless to say, it didn't make much of a dent -- financially or culturally -- and, apparently, Damon's daughter wasn't impressed, either.

Still, I love that Matt Damon can find the humor in his kid's critique. To that point, this isn’t even the first time the actor has been roasted by one of his daughters. Just recently, one mercilessly roasted him and best friend Ben Affleck for their red carpet poses while they were promoting their film, The Rip (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription).

On top of that, it seems the Oscar winner's kids have an interesting relationship with his work. He previously told a story about how his children only liked the movies of his that received bad reviews. And, funny enough, that inspired Daniel Radcliffe not to tell his son he played Harry Potter. Of course, Damon doesn't take his children's opinions personally. And, on the other hand, I can understand children of actors being somewhat in different to their parents' work. Honestly, I'd argue that such critiques can keep those stars humble.

Considering how Damon's kids feel about his work, though, I can't help but wonder if any of them have seen The Odyssey yet. Nolan's latest film has been critically acclaimed, with many calling it one of his best movies. Many have also already been predicting that Damon could be in major discussions amid the coming award season.

So I'd hope that at the very least Matt Damon's kids gave him kudos for his performance as Odysseus in The Odyssey and for helping to get Christopher Nolan's box office crown back. In all seriousness, though, I'd like to believe the girls are proud of their dad (even if The Great Wall is far from the best movie he's done). Those who haven't seen the historical action film and want to make up their own minds can stream it for free on Tubi now.

When it comes to finding new shows to binge, the options are seemingly endless. So that’s really my only excuse for initially passing over a new action comedy series hitting the 2026 TV schedule. Because after seeing the Rotten Tomatoes score for Ride or Die, I think I’m going to be firing up my Amazon Prime Video subscription to check out the series that critics are calling “rip-roaring fun.”

Ride or Die stars Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham as friends on the run from Bill Nighy, who plays the director of a crime syndicate. These decorated actors — who all have BAFTAs to their name, as well as other accolades — are undoubtedly part of the reason the series has been declared Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, holding a 96% on the Tomatometer. Sabrina Carr of Metro says it’s more than just the performances, though. She says it’s an action-packed comedy that actually made her laugh. Her review reads:

After watching the Ride or Die trailer, it does seem like Debbie (Octavia Spencer) and Judith (Hannah Waddingham) might just be the action team I never knew I needed. Debbie is the wife of a politician who thinks her best friend Judith is a forensic accountant. Judith has been keeping a big secret, though, which her friend gets pulled into after a failed assassination attempt.

Aramide Tinubu of Variety enjoys how the friends’ lives are explored beyond generic talking points like career, family or ageism, really getting to the heart of Debbie and Judith’s friendship. Ride or Die loses its luster when new characters and sidequests pull attention away from their dynamic, but Tinubu says this series is worth seeing for Hannah Waddingham’s stunts alone. The critic says:

Critics aren’t the only ones excited about Ride or Die, either. Rotten Tomatoes’ audience gives it an 82% rating (as of this writing), with some of their reactions reading:

• Fantastic watch! Had everything: spies, action, bonding between friends, humor, great acting, European locations. More like this, please! Top marks across the board! 5/5 – TM S
• It's very entertaining. Hannah Waddingham is very fun to watch. – Larry S
• Entertaining with good pacing and a nice mix of action, comedy and suspense. Love the chemistry between the 2 leads! – Ying L
• I loved this series. [Witty], funny and just enough action. – Louise B
• Hands down one of the best new shows I have seen in years! Octavia Spencer is magic as always. Hannah Waddingham is incredible! Their chemistry is outstanding. I need so many more seasons of this! – Melissa R

The talent involved in Ride or Die — in addition to Hannah Waddingham apparently doing so many of her own stunts — should have been a clear indication that this would be a worthy Amazon Prime binge. If you’d also like to check out the new series, all eight episodes are available to stream now on Prime Video.

Let’s get this out of the way: I loved The Odyssey. The new Christopher Nolan film, which finally hits the 2026 movie schedule this weekend, isn't perfect, but I thoroughly enjoyed the full three-hour runtime of the epic. I applaud the technical achievements made by Nolan and the crew. However, there was one thing that completely pulled me out of the movie, and that was the Automatic Dialogue Replacement (ADR) in some scenes. I noticed it multiple times in the movie, and I know why it was necessary, but I need to make note of it.

Penelope And Telemachus On The Balcony

I first noticed it early in the movie in a scene between Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and Telemachus (Tom Holland). They are standing on the balcony of their castle, overlooking Ithaca, and Hathaway’s dialogue is clearly overdubbed. It completely distracted me for the whole scene. If you’re not familiar with the term, ADR is when actors overdub their lines in post-production because the on-set microphones don’t pick up the dialogue clearly due to any number of circumstances.

There are probably a couple of things at work in this scene that required the ADR from Hathaway. IMAX cameras are notorious for being loud and can be problematic when trying to pick up sound. Nolan and company mitigated this problem somewhat with a custom-built soundproof box for their cameras when filming the movie, but that could still be part of the issue. The other is a simpler explanation: it was windy on the wall overlooking the island. My guess is that it was a combination of the two, and while ADR is very common in modern filmmaking, it doesn’t usually stand out as much as this did to me. The same was true a few other times in the movie.

Overall, The Sound Quality Surprised Me

I saw The Odyssey in IMAX, so theoretically, I was seeing and hearing the movie in the perfect format. However, I was a bit surprised by how all over the place the sound was in the movie. In addition to the dialogue issues, I was also taken aback by how loud some moments were. I’m a music fan, and I see a lot of concerts, so loud doesn’t usually bother me, but at least in my screening, the sound was louder than I’ve ever experienced in a movie. I’ve seen many movies in the same theater and never heard anything like this.

At one point, my friend sitting next to me actually covered his ears. I can’t say whether this is due to the sound mixing in the movie or due to the theater I was sitting in, but it was LOUD to the point of being uncomfortable at times. Christopher Nolan movies are often controversial, but generally perfect when it comes to sound, so hearing both the ADR issues and the general volume of some of the action sequences wasn’t something I expected.

Let me be clear: as I was in the beginning, I still love the movie, and I think everyone should experience it in an IMAX theater, or at least on the biggest screen they can find. It’s visually stunning, and sound aside, I don’t think it will be nearly the same on even a big TV at home. I hope Nolan goes big like this the next time he makes a movie.

When it comes to movie buffs, this weekend is pretty much all about The Odyssey, which hit the 2026 movie schedule this past Friday. The Christopher Nolan-helmed film is an adaptation of Homer’s epic poem of the same name, and it’s been making quite a splash. Not only is the film poised to top the box office this weekend, but Nolan’s latest has also received critical acclaim. All the while, though, a show on Amazon Prime Video is gaining notice as well and actually has a Rotten Tomatoes score higher than Nolan’s new movie.

A Prime Video Docuseries Is Sparking Some Critical Buzz

The series in question is Murder 101, which arrived on the 2026 TV schedule last week, and it seems critics are really digging it. As of this writing, the docuseries has a 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. What should be mentioned, however, is that this stellar score is only based on a total of five reviews. Still, that’s impressive due to the review embargo having been open for a little while now.

Murder 101 is a three-part limited series directed by Stacey Lee, and this documentary centers on a high school sociology class in Tennessee that investigates a cold case involving a serial killer. At the center of this story is the case of the Redhead Murders, of which several red-headed women were killed within a six-month span in the Tennessee area between 1984 and 1985. The class’ efforts ultimately inspire law enforcement to reopen the case themselves.

Anyone who enjoys watching various true crime documentaries may want to check out Lee’s docuseries for themselves. What it offers is an examination of a serious case, but it’s analyzed from a unique perspective, that of high school students. Admittedly, I don’t watch true crime often, but I’m constantly amazed whenever unique stories like the one told in this recent Prime Video doc come up.

The Odyssey Is Still Getting It’s Fair Share Of Praise

Nolan’s The Odyssey may not have a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but the score it has is still nothing to scoff at. Right now, the blockbuster has a certified 95% freshness rating based on 370 reviews. So that’s much larger than the pool of pundits that have responded to Murder 101 so far. Also, the film came in hot once the review embargo lifted as it initially peaked at 98%, which is even more amazing. That’s certainly a testament to the talents of Nolan and his team.

This book-to-screen adaptation of Homer’s work represents what’s arguably Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious cinematic feat. What’s most jaw-dropping about it is that a lot of it was shot practically and with minimal visual effects. So this is much bigger than some of Nolan’s earlier films like the acclaimed Memento or the excellent Insomnia, which is a story involving a killer.

Overall, though, entertainment junkies have some quality viewing options to take in this weekend on both the big and small screens. Honestly, I can’t recommend The Odyssey enough so, if you’re able to see it in a theater, head out as soon as you can. Yet, if you can make it to the cinema or have booked tickets for another time, sit back, grab a Prime Video subscription and stream Murder 101 at home.

In the Extraction movies, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, Chris Hemsworth's Tyler Rake takes on a host of missions that nearly kill him. And, given those wild assignments, Hemsworth himself has to be in shape to perform a number of those feats on set. Well, with Extraction 3 on the way, the leading man is training for his reprisal. It's true that Hemsworth has put on muscle before but, after seeing the training video he recently shared, I'm amazed by how ripped he appears to be.

Chris Hemsworth is letting his nearly 60 million Instagram followers know that he’s ready to do what it takes to surpass the bar that he and director Sam Hargrave have previously set for the Extraction franchise. To pull it off believably, the Thor actor is sweating it out in a training session in Costa Rica, a couple weeks prior to the start of production on the threequel, and it hurts my body just to watch. You can check it out in the clip below:

It goes without saying that you shouldn’t just jump in and try out his regimen, as the Transformers One actor is no stranger to extreme physical training. Anyone who's a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you likely know about the amount of work Hemsworth put into training for Avengers: Doomsday, in which he’s reprising his role as the God of Thunder for the first time since 2022. Or you may have also seen Hemsworth do crazy stunts like jumping off of cliffs in Mallorca while there to shoot Season 2 of his Nat Geo series, Limitless.

Back to Hemsworth's Extraction 3 prep, though, what he calls a “minimal equipment program” is not minimal in effort or expectation. I can appreciate that he’s able to do two rounds of the various exercises with only a two-minute rest in between, as I would likely end up in the hospital with weeks of bed rest to recover. The Aussie actor uses resistance bands and kettlebells to complete curls, reverse fly exercises and other movements with the sole purpose of preparing him for all the action.

It certainly seems like Hemsworth's managed to figure out the most effective way to be ready to return to the role of Tyler Rake in a matter of weeks. I'm intrigued by the notion of what Hemsworth and Hargrave will bring to this latest installment.

The first Extraction film hit streaming milestones when it was released in 2020 and further expanded its franchise popularity with a sequel, leading to demand for a third installment. Considering the massive action sequences featured, fans are surely expecting a lot. (Some may still be thinking about that one-shot sequence from Extraction 2.)

Despite that, I won't doubt Hemsworth, Hargrave and their collaborators, including Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani, who are also set to reprise their roles in Extraction 3. A release date has yet to be confirmed for the film but, in the meantime, check out Hemsworth and his muscles in Avengers: Doomsday, which opens on December 18th as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The world of John Wick has been expanding as of late, with spinoff movies and shows having been produced over the past few years. One of the offshoots fans of the franchise have really been eager to see is Caine, which centers around Donnie Yen’s titular character. Yen’s flick was announced back in 2025 and, fast forward to this week, the movie has now reached a major milestone. Caine has officially wrapped, and we can thank Yen for sharing the moment principal photography was finished.

Donnie Yen has expressed a lot of enthusiasm when it comes to bringing his Wick character back to the big screen. So it shouldn’t have been too surprising when he took to Instagram to celebrate the end of filming on Caine. The revered actor, director and martial artist shared a photo of a production clapboard and, in his caption, he shared the words, “that’s a wrap” and tagged his various collaborators. Check out the post, which can be seen down below:

The fact that this Wick spinoff is now officially wrapped makes the prospect of it hitting theaters feel all the more real. Yen, for his part, has used social media to signify the conclusion of a film shoot before. Back in 2021, he celebrated wrapping on John Wick: Chapter 4 by sharing a video filled with sweet behind-the-scenes moments, including his and co-star Keanu Reeves’ goodbye. I love the sheer amount of passion Yen seems to have about his work, and I’d argue it’s one of the reasons why this new movie is happening.

It was reported back in 2023 that Lionsgate was looking to build upon the John Wick franchise with spinoffs, with Donnie Yen throwing his hat in the ring to reprise his character. By 2024, it seemed certain that a Caine-centered film would be made and, as previously mentioned, the official announcement came the following year. And not only is Yen starring in it, but he’s also directing it from a story he conceived with franchise OG Chad Stahelski. The actual screenplay was penned by Robert Askins and Mattson Tomlin.

For those who need a refresher, Caine was introduced in Chapter 4 as an old friend of John’s, though he finds himself in a tough situation when he’s hired to kill Wick for the sake of his daughter’s safety. The blind High Table assassin more than proves himself to be a formidable combatant, and it’s not hard to understand why Yen, Stahelski and co. would want to put him at the center of his own movie. However, I’d like to think the Ip Man icon didn’t jump into this new opportunity lightly.

Something Yen has been quite vocal about is the presence of Asian stereotypes in media and how he himself has come across them when taking on roles. Considering the thoughts he’s shared, I would imagine that his upcoming film will avoid cultural clichés. And, if that’s the case, audiences could be in for a film that’s not only action-packed but also nuanced when it comes to handling its main character or any others in his orbit.

As John Wick spinoffs continue to be made, it’s my hope that the creative team will maintain the essence of the franchise while also charting out fresh territory that makes sense for this fictional world. I’m hopeful that Donnie Yen and co. will do that with their movie, and I’m eager to see what the finished result will look like on the big screen.

Lionsgate has yet to announce a release date for Caine, but let’s hope it finds a spot somewhere on the 2027 movie schedule. In the meantime, grab an HBO Max subscription and stream John Wick: Chapter 4.

I’ve been a huge fan of The Hunt for Red October ever since I saw it in theaters when I was 14-years-old. The movie has since become what I would call a “remote dropper,” meaning if I happen to scroll by it on my TV looking for something to watch, there’s a better-than-excellent chance I’ll settle on watching the Sean Connery-led submarine movie again. I just learned that Connery almost turned down the role of Soviet sub captain Marko Ramius, and a fax machine was to blame. Boy, that takes me back.

Connery Argued The Plot Made No Sense In The Context Of The Time

The Film Almost Looked Completely Different

The reason Connery was even offered the part was that Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer (who co-starred with the Scot in Connery’s final Bond movie, Never Say Never Again, and later in The Russia House) had a conflict and had to drop out of production after he was initially cast as Ramius. That would have made for a very different movie. That wasn’t the only difference that could have been.

According to producers, they initially reached out to Kevin Costner to play Jack Ryan, a role that would eventually go to Alec Baldwin. Costner was in the midst of getting Dances With Wolves off the ground and didn’t have time. They also wanted Harrison Ford in the role, but he turned them down. Of course, Ford would later replace Baldwin in the role in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger. As much as I love Ford in the role, I’m actually partial to Baldwin, so I’m happy about this eventual choice, as well.

For the generations who have come after the invention of email, fax machines are a bygone relic of the past, no different than rotary telephones and buggy whips. The fact that a cover sheet didn’t get transmitted isn’t surprising, but thankfully it was all a misunderstanding. The Hunt for Red October isn’t nearly as good without Connery.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of the biggest releases on the 2026 movie calendar, and I can already tell that the movie is going to get review-bombed once the major review sites like Rotten Tomatoes open up. The movie, which hits IMAX screens this weekend, was immediately controversial for all kinds of reasons once the cast list was revealed and the first trailer dropped earlier this year. Well, I’ve seen the movie, and I think the controversies are way overblown.

People Want To Hate This Movie

A couple of weeks ago, when Universal dropped the final trailer for The Odyssey, it was immediately hit with hostility. Internet denizens immediately “ratioed” the YouTube video–meaning downvoting it with the hopes of burying it in the algorithm. As of this writing, the trailer video is sitting on more than 780,000 downvotes (to just 83,000 thumbs up). Some of that might just be a herd mentality to get in on the fun, but there is plenty of evidence out there in comment sections and editorials that people are not happy with the movie Nolan has made. At least, the movie they think Nolan has made.

If you haven’t read much into it, there are a few different buckets of complaints that have people fired up. The first is historically based. This is a group of people who are critical of the armor worn by Odysseus (Matt Damon) and his men being incorrect for the Bronze Age, and the style of ship they are using to travel home from the Trojan War.

There is another bucket of people who are upset that the casting didn’t include more Greek actors, and, more pointedly, people who are upset that actors like Elliot Page and Lupita Nyong’o are in the movie at all. There is a third bucket of critics who don’t like some of the casual nature of the dialogue Nolan has used in his screenplay (and I actually fall into this category).

Let me tell you, all of these are all overblown.

Some Criticisms Are Just Not Right

Even before I saw the movie, I wasn’t all that concerned that these criticisms would affect how much I would enjoy it. After seeing it, I feel the same, with a small caveat. For starters, I think some of the criticisms are totally fair to discuss, like the armor, boats, and the dialogue, which I’ll get into. The casting “controversies” are not fair. This is a myth told by a modern filmmaker for a modern audience; as far as I'm concerned, anyone can play anyone.

The race and ethnicity of the actors is of zero concern for me. Less than zero. It’s no different than Kenneth Branagh casting Denzel Washington in his 1993 Shakespearean masterpiece Much Ado About Nothing. Is it period-accurate casting for Elizabethan England? Of course not, but Washington is one of the best actors ever, so I’m happy to see him in anything, especially doing Shakespeare. The same goes for all of the actors in the stacked cast of The Odyssey.

Others' Criticisms Are Fair In The Right Context

When it comes to the historical nature of some complaints, I have more sympathy. I’m not a historian or a classicist, but I do really appreciate it when movies based on real history take that responsibility seriously. That said, the inaccuracy of the armor worn by the Greeks and the ships they traveled on really didn’t bother me in the slightest. I knew it wasn’t period-correct for what soldiers wore in Bronze Age Greece, but they looked cool, and a movie should look cool!

It looks great, and it honestly is more what I think of as “ancient” armor. Frankly, just look at an example of Bronze Age armor, the kind that would be period appropriate, and tell me it’s not hilarious looking. The armor looks ridiculous to a modern eye, and using it probably would have been way more distracting for most people in the audience (all due respect to the historians in the audience). In that regard, the ships match the armor.

Now, when it comes to the dialogue, well, honestly, I’m kind of with the complainers here. I didn’t like some of the overly casual nature of some of the lines. One thing that has been particularly focused on by some critics is Telemachus (Tom Holland) calling his parents “mom” and “dad.” I didn’t think that was going to bug me, but it did. It really took me out of the movie at times. Again, this is a modern filmmaker making a movie for a modern audience, so I’m not expecting Ancient Greek or anything, but there is a formality to the society in the story, and using words like “mom” and “dad” just felt out of step with that formality.

Nolan’s use of more casual modern language might not be my favorite creative decision here, but it hardly ruins the movie. It didn’t even factor in when I woke up this morning and wrote down my thoughts about the movie after sleeping on it. The Odyssey isn’t a perfect movie, by any means, but it is still one of the best of the year, and certainly one of my favorites. There are some choices I can nitpick, and a couple of places here or there where Nolan’s ambitious decision to film exclusively in IMAX may have actually hurt the overall product, but it’s so grand in scope and vision that those things are easily dismissed for the greater good.

This Is All Overblown

It's worth noting that the actors who seem to have upset a lot of people, namely Page and Nyong’o, and to a lesser extent Travis Scott and Zendaya, don’t really have huge parts. Their collective screentime is minimal compared to Damon, Holland, and Anne Hathaway. More importantly, though, is that they are all legitimately great in their roles. Travis Scott’s role is an addition to the story that I really loved.

While we don't all have to agree with the artistic choices in this book-to-screen adaptation, like the casting, the language, and the costumes, I do really appreciate that Nolan and company are taking a big swing here. So please, don’t listen to the peanut gallery chirping from the sidelines without having actually seen the movie.

Zendaya has landed some major roles during her career and, funny enough, many of them just happen to fall on the 2026 movie schedule. What wasn’t a laughing matter, though, was the sheer amount of coordination necessary for the A-lister to be in a whopping four movies that have or will be released this year. Not to mention she also had to shoot a certain TV show. Matt Damon, her co-star on Christopher Nolan’s historical drama, spoke about her schedule with CinemaBlend, and I really like how he describes it.

This year, the former Disney Channel star has or will appear in The Odyssey, The Drama, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Dune Part Three as well as the since-ended HBO drama Euphoria. In Nolan’s movie, she plays the role of the goddess Athena, who guides Matt Damon’s Odysseus amid his journey home to Ithaca. While speaking to CinemaBlend alongside co-star Anne Hathaway, Damon showered praise upon Zendaya and made note of how frequently she had to dip in and out of the set:

“Parachute in” is a funny way for the Oscar winner to put it, but it’s actually quite accurate, given what’s known about his co-star’s wild shooting schedule. Zendaya previously talked about working on Odyssey, Dune 3 and Euphoria simultaneously. As she recalled, she could have a night shoot on a ranch for her TV show and would then have to memorize her Chakobsa dialogue for Denis Villeneuve’s threequel. And, from there, she’d travel to Iceland to shoot her material for Nolan’s film.

The idea of having a schedule like that just seems nerve-wracking to me but, then again, I’m not a seasoned performer like the Challengers alum. And, to top it off, she and her stylist – Law Roach – were already planning out her looks for the respective press tours this year. Their hard work seems to be paying off now, though, as Zendaya has sported some particularly fresh fits while promoting The Odyssey. Most recently, at the film’s New York premiere, she wore a feathered gown that Roach went to great lengths to coordinate.

Of course, the Malcolm & Marie star’s preparation for her acting work also paid off, and that was certainly the case with her work on Christopher Nolan’s set. Matt Damon previously revealed that Nolan gave the Athena actress a major compliment, as she was the only star on set to get a “perfect” from him after finishing a scene. That praise even served as a humorous point of contention for Damon and Tom Holland, the starlet’s husband.

So what’s next for Zendaya you might ask? Well, she’ll soon mark the release of her fourth Spider-Man movie and will promote Dune: Part Three later this year. After this big year of hers concludes, she’s “disappearing for a little bit.” I’d say that after having to “parachute in” and out of projects for a year and then promote them the following year, I’d say she’s more than earned it. For now, check her out in The Odyssey, which opens in theaters on July 17.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will soon join other 2026 movie releases in theaters, and it will very likely still have a few secrets still intact, from the mysterious new villain to Sadie Sink’s under-wraps role. But while I thought the movie’s title was a total gimme in terms of its contextual meaning, Tom Holland’s recent comments about the “Brand New Day” of it all have upended such assumptions.

The most basic reading of the latest Spidey flick’s title it being an overarching description of what Peter Parker’s life has been in the aftermath of No Way Home, without anyone remembering who he is. But it’s been four years, so I guess the use of “day” would be a bit limiting. Regardless, Holland clarified that’s not what the title is about at all.

Tom Holland's Comments On The New Movie's Title

In the new behind-the-scenes documentary Generations: The Evolution of Spider-Man, which just started streaming via Disney+ subscription, the past 20 years of live-action webslingers are explored, with the newest Spider-Man adventure getting focus near the end of the special. In fact, the very last line of it is fittingly where the new movie’s title is addressed. Here’s how Tom Holland put it:

But...like...what?!? What do you even mean with that? Does this mean the events of the movie play out in such a way where Doctor Strange's spell is eradicated, and everyone remembers who Peter is again? Or would that just qualify as Return To The Old Days?

Could it mean that something as equally game-changing as Strange's spell will come into play, making it so that Holland's Peter Parker has a brand new life outside of being a friendly neighborhood superhero? Could he get — [gulp] — cured and turned back into a non-powered human?

How Director Destin Daniel Cretton Addressed The Title's Meaning

Just before Tom Holland dropped that knowledge in the Disney+ special, director Destin Daniel Cretton shared his own thoughts about the title, but his comments are far more in line with how I was considering them before, without it being tied so directly to the last shot of the movie. In his words:

To me, that just sounds like he's saying the title applies to Peter having to wake up every morning to face unpredictable dangers of all kinds, which is more or less what I was assuming to begin with. So is he just playing coy, or is Holland being too spoilery?

I think two key question need to be answered here. One: how long ago the footage for the special was recorded? And two: how realistic have the reports been about Spider-Man: Brand New Day's ending getting changed up after the original ending was reportedly viewed as too much of a downer by test audiences?

If the rumored changes to the ending are legit, one can assume that Holland's comments were made only after the alterations were made, and not before. Otherwise, fans might go into Brand New Day looking for some last-minute context that doesn't exist anymore.

Of course, there's still time for Tom Holland to just up and spoil the ending anyway, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out, and whether it will directly set up Spidey's return for Avengers: Secret Wars or another unannounced sequel. I can't wait! Cue the trailer!

Spider-Man: Brand New Day will web moviegoers to their theater seats starting on July 31, 2026.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is just about to hit the 2026 movie schedule, and the excitement for the historical epic seems to be building. The hype seemingly rose when the first reactions to Nolan’s latest flick hit social media over a week ago and were filled with praise. Well, full reviews from the film are now pouring in from critics, and the overall verdict seems to be that Nolan has another masterpiece on his hands. Still, there’s one common issue that reviewers seem to have with the Matt Damon-led flick.

Of course, Nolan’s newest motion picture is based on Homer’s millenia-old Greek poem and, despite making a few changes (for which he’s received a dumb question or two), Nolan mostly seems to stick to the source material. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praises the British director’s take on the beloved story, calling it a “meditative action movie.” However, like some of his peers, Rooney makes note of some problems with the film’s “flow,” saying:

To be more specific, this “flow” refers to the film’s pacing, and this is a critique that’s occasionally come up with some of Nolan’s past films. The Oscar winner is well known for helming long movies that can drag in certain spots, even when they are compelling. In terms of Odyssey, Variety’s Guy Lodge also lauds Nolan’s take as being “thorough, robust and attentive both to scholarly detail and old-school moviemaking craft.” While Lodge also makes note of the thrills, he also makes another point:

As literary buffs will tell you, The Odyssey centers around Odysseus (Matt Damon), the King of Ithaca as he seeks to return home to his wife and son following the end of the Trojan War. Along the way, he encounters great dangers, including gods and a cyclops that dwells in a “dank” cave. Famously, the story is told in a non-linear way, and The Associated Press’ Jake Coyle mentions that in his own review, which praises the book-to-screen adaptation as a faithful and impressive piece of work. Still, he also has nitpicks with pacing:

Likewise, Laura Sirikul of Forbes mentions that Nolan’s latest has “pacing issues” and that “Some parts felt like the scene dragged on longer than it should have”. However, Sirkul – like her fellow critics still has immense praise for what the Dark Knight helmer has accomplished with this take on Homer’s work:

Christopher Nolan fans who were already pumped about The Odyssey (in spite of any backlash) may be even more excited after seeing the early reviews. As of this writing, the film holds a 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and is certified fresh. So, while the film’s pacing may drag depending on your mileage, it sounds like audiences won’t regret taking in Nolan’s completely IMAX-filmed movie. Check out the film for yourself when it opens in theaters on July 17.

The best video game movies have arrived in theaters over the past few years, chief among them being Simon McQuoid's pair of Mortal Kombat movies. Following the success of the 2021 first film (which is streaming with a HBO Max subscription), the squel was released a few months ago. That movie's ending definitely set up another potential sequel, and the filmmaker recently spoke to whether or not we should expect a threequel to arrive down the line.

Mortal Kombat II hit theaters in May, and has performed pretty well both critically and financially. Fans of the video game franchise have been hoping for a third movie to be green lit, but so far there's been no news from Warner Bros.. Director Simon McQuoid recently was asked by JoBlo about MK III, and he responded by saying:

There you have it. McQuoid didn't shut down the idea of a third Mortal Kombat movie, but it's also too early to confirm that another video game movie is coming down the line. The sequel's writer Jeremy Slater admitted he's got ideas for four more MK movies, but only time will tell if the burgeoning franchise will continue growing. I'm personally going to keep my fingers crossed.

Mortal Kombat II's 4k UHD release is coming at the end of the month, so fans will be able to re-watch every frame of the sequel, including McQuoid's favorite fights. And while the sequel felt ripped right out of the games, the studio will have to decide if it wants to move forward to green light another blockbuster.

As previously mentioned, Mortal Kombat II planted a bunch of narrative seeds that can come to bloom in a potential threequel. A number of beloved characters died throughout its 116-minute runtime, including Liu Kang, Jax, and Cole Young. In the final moments our surviving heroes vowed to bring revive them, which seemed like a clear set-up for a threequel.

In addition to that storyline, there are still tons of beloved video game characters that fans would like to see adapted for the big screen. Plus, folks are ready to see Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage's love story play out in another installment since it didn't happen in MK II. There's definitely fan interest, but whether or not Warner Bros. wants to shell out the budget for a third blockbuster remains to be seen.

Mortal Kombat II is available for digital rental or purchase now as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fans of physical media will be able to purchase it on 4K UHD on July 28th.

What is the last summer blockbuster that you can truly remember? I’m talking about a movie where you were like, “Yep, that was DEFINITELY the movie of the summer.”?

For me, it was Avengers: Endgame, which made over $2 billion, but also came out SEVEN YEARS AGO. Yeesh. However, you don’t have to go all the way back to 2019 to find a summer blockbuster, as some might go back to as recently as 2023 when we got the double whammy of Oppenheimer/Barbie, better known as Barbenheimer. Or, you could even point out 2022 with Top Gun: Maverick, which people adored.

Here’s the weird thing. On paper, 2026 seems like it would be the biggest summer of all time with this current slate of films, and yet…it doesn’t feel like that at all. Here’s why I think that is.

Big Budget IPS Have Come And Gone With Little Fanfare

Notice how the last summer blockbuster that comes to my mind was Avengers: Endgame, and I think that’s pretty telling. There used to be a time when the big, tentpole movie of the summer was obvious to pretty much everyone. That has grown murkier every year.

Take, for example, The Mandalorian & Grogu, which kickstarted this summer season when it came out on May 14th. Sure, I liked it, but articles were written about how it was the lowest-grossing live-action Star Wars movie of all time. And, when Star Wars underperforms, you know that the very notion of “the summer blockbuster” is put into question.

Next up was Masters of the Universe on June 5th. Now, granted, some might argue that MotU was doomed from the start, given that it was based on an IP that was at its zenith back in the ‘80s. That said, making a paltry $111 million worldwide on a $170 million production budget is a box office bomb any way you slice it.

Lastly, we have Supergirl, which had a 73% drop in its second weekend, after having a tepid box office total in its first. Yes, Supergirl isn’t Superman, so of course it would have lower box office numbers than DC’s poster boy, but it fell out of the conversation before it even got started. That said, it’s not just tentpoles that have come and gone with little fanfare…

Disclosure Day Had A Big Debut, But The Talk Has Quickly Died Down

Most cinephiles can tell you that Steven Spielberg pretty much invented the “summer blockbuster” with his 1975 classic, Jaws. In fact, Spielberg is often synonymous with the summer season, as some of his biggest hits - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, War of the Worlds - all came out in the summertime.

Spielberg’s latest movie, Disclosure Day, looked to be on a similar trajectory. It had a domestic total of $44 million, and $93 million worldwide on its opening weekend. However, in the following week, all talk turned to Toy Story 5, and Disclosure Day felt all but forgotten.

Now, to date, Disclosure Day has made upwards of $200 million worldwide on an estimated $115 million budget, which is…okay. The main issue I see here is that Disclosure Day has completely left the conversation, and everybody has pretty much moved on. This is Steven Spielberg we’re talking about here…with an ALIEN MOVIE.

Sure, Disclosure Day isn’t your “typical” Spielberg alien flick, but it’s just another reason why this summer feels both big but also small at the same time, as even a summer Spielberg film has been forgotten.

The Biggest, Most Talked About Movies Of The Summer Thus Far Have Been Low Budget Horror Movies

Ask anybody what the movie of the summer is, and they’ll likely tell you: Obsession. The little indie that could, Obsession cost less than a million to make, and has now made 200 times that amount, and for good reason! Melding both humor and horror, Obsession is by far the most memed movie of the summer, with people who haven’t seen it still likely able to identify what it is.

Quite frankly, that shouldn’t be. The last time we saw an indie horror movie dominate the summer box office was in 1999 with The Blair Witch Project, and Obsession is even bigger than that movie, which didn’t seem possible.

It doesn’t stop there, as the other major movie of the summer is Backrooms, which is now A24’s biggest movie to date, which again, doesn't make sense when it comes to what a summer blockbuster USED to be. I think that’s an important distinction. The summer blockbusters that used to be big tentpole pictures seem to be flopping, and smaller, Gen-Z coded movies are supplanting them.

Don’t misconstrue me! I don’t think this is a bad thing at all. It's just…different. Which is why this summer might feel underwhelming to many, despite also being massive. The meek have somehow inherited the box office.

There Seems To Be Something Every Week, But Excitement Feels Minimal

From May 1st to now, we’ve pretty much gotten a “big” movie every single week, but excitement just seems so muted. Again, let me list some of the movies that we’ve already gotten: The Devil Wears Prada 2 (Which was big, don’t get me wrong - May 1st), Mortal Kombat II (Here and gone - May 8th), Obsession (surprisingly massive - May 15th), The Mandalorian & Grogu (Quickly forgotten - May 22nd), Backrooms (surprisingly massive - May 29th).

Then, we had June: Scary Movie (surprisingly big…but forgotten - June 5th), Masters of the Universe (Made less on opening weekend than Scary Movie - June 5th), Disclosure Day (June 12th), Toy Story 5 (Big, but probably the least loved in the series - June 19th), Supergirl (flop - June 26th, as well as Jackass: Best and Last, which didn’t make a huge splash, June 26th).

July kickstarted with Monsters & Minions, which barely made more than the weeks-old Toy Story 5 in its first week. Then came Evil Dead Burn and Moana on July 10th (with Moana doing particularly poorly at the box office, given its budget).

We’re pretty deep into July now, and I don’t quite see a clear movie of the summer just yet (Unless we’re counting Obsession, which again, just feels weird that one of the cheapest movies is the biggest). Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey or Spider-Man: Brand New Day could change everything, and either could be THE MOVIE OF THE SUMMER. However, even if one of them is, I still think this summer will have felt underwhelming, given what we’ve gotten thus far.

In The End, I Guess Maybe There’s Just Too Much This Summer To Get Excited About, Which Still Feels Bizarre To Me

In conclusion, we’ve gotten a ton of films this summer, and many of them are ostensibly huge, but they just don’t FEEL huge, which has been very strange for me.

It’s not that movies haven’t made money, as Toy Story 5, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and, of course, Obsession and Backrooms were notable box office successes. When Obsession is still the most talked-about movie of the summer, things just seem…off.

I don’t think I’m alone. Talk to most people, and they'll likely tell you that they're way more excited about the World Cup than Spielberg, Star Wars, or superheroes.

So, in that way, this summer FEELS big, but also underwhelming at the same time. Quite the paradox, is it not?

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is sparking plenty of conversations, and that’s ironic, considering the film hasn’t even hit theaters yet. The past few months have seen some social media users dissect this take on the epic Greek poem. A portion of people have taken issue with some of the casting choices and have also been pointing out historical inaccuracies. When it comes to that latter section of discourse, there’s one particularly annoying question Nolan and co. have been getting, and he recently addressed it.

One of the main details audiences have been noticing in the Odyssey trailers has been the presence of contemporary language in this book-to-screen adaptation. The actors don’t speak in a pronounced dialect but in a way that’s similar to how modern people would speak. While that hasn’t really deterred the Nolan stans, others have been wondering why the characters talk as they do. The topic came up when Nolan and cast member Tom Holland appeared on Channel 4’s The Four Cast, and the director shared his rationale:

This makes a lot of sense, as Nolan’s goal was apparently to avoid cultural clichés while crafting the film. He’s certainly correct that there can be “cultural prejudice” and, in terms of movies and TV shows about ancient civilizations, that can result in depictions that feel inauthentic. Based on his comments, Nolan wasn’t aiming to overthink it and sought to go with something straightforward and relatable when it came to the language. That feels like a smart move to me though, even before hearing this take, I wasn’t annoyed by the dialogue.

Still, there seem to be those who still take issue with the way characters speak. While Christopher Nolan addressed this recent question in a classy way, it’s hard not to get the feeling that he’s somewhat tired of it. Tom Holland – who plays Telemachus – also seems to be slightly perturbed. During the chat, he was asked about his character saying “dad” instead of “father,” and Holland dropped a respectful, yet very cheeky, response:

The Spider-Man actor has a point there as well. Overall, the discourse surrounding The Odyssey’s dialogue feels unnecessary, and the same is true regarding other points of criticism. Nolan himself has taken it all in stride, though, and he previously mentioned Interstellar while explaining his approach to world-building in the period piece. More recently, the Oscar winner invoked his Dark Knight Trilogy to discuss the importance of blocking out external chatter and focusing on making the best possible adaptation.

So far, Christopher Nolan’s approach also seems to be speaking for itself, as early Odyssey reactions have been very positive. If you couldn’t tell, I’m looking forward to checking out the historical epic for myself and seeing what Nolan, Tom Holland and the cast and crew bring to this beloved story. And, if the film connects with general audiences, I’ll be eager to see whether the discussions revolving around the modern language persist.

The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17 and, in the meantime, read up on the movie along with other 2026 movie schedule entries.

Anyone who knows anything about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey or the epic poem it's adapted from, is likely aware it follows the dangerous journey of Odysseus, who tries to return to his home of Ithaca. To create that adventure for the big screen, Nolan and the crew had to film some massive and wild sequences. In fact, filming got so intense that some actors started “heaving up their breakfasts” during a ship scene, leading Nolan to drop a funny response.

One particularly grueling portion of the film shoot saw the actors being tossed in a longship. Nolan spoke about that experience with The Telegraph and, based on the vomit-based details, it doesn't sound like it was much fun. Nolan, for his part, didn't lose his signature wit even amid those trying times, though. At the time, he apparently asked the following question of cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema:

Such a funny reaction is so on brand for the Inception filmmaker that it hurts (though probably not as much as his actors were hurting in that moment). Seriously, though, it's Nolan's commitment to practical effects over CGI that makes his take on the vessel scene understandable. The man truly commits to his craft, and he expects the same from his collaborators, who he also strives to keep safe amid filming.

To that point, The Odyssey's actors were willing to go all in as well, as Nolan also recalled this other moment from filming his 2026 movie release:

I love how some of the Memento director’s favorite shots now come from that scene. Only a director as gifted as Nolan could channel seasickness into cinematic gold.

The material filmed on that rollercoaster of a vessel wasn’t the only challenge the Odyssey actors had to endure. Its lead, Matt Damon, spoke of the rough conditions he went through while filming, saying every day he was feeling wet, cold and hungry. However, Damon charged through and his since spoken about how grateful he is to have played the role. Calypso actress Charlize Theron also endured 30- to 40-mile-an-hour winds blew sand into her eyes but still stayed in character. And Corey Hawkins (who plays Polybus) had to walk up a mountain on his first day.

Even Nolan described what a “dank” mess it was filming a Cyclops scene in a real cave. But, despite the discomfort, the British filmmaker stood by his artistic choice to provide a true sense of realism to the scene, and it's that level of commitment that makes him one of the best directors of his generation.

Now, I'd like to hear a few actors speak about their recollection of the vomiting on the vessel and Christoper Nolan's A+ response. I'm not sure if they'd look on it so fondly but, given how gung-ho they were about shooting it, I'd imagine they can at least appreciate that they got the material Nolan needed. Now, dare to watch this stellar cast puking it up on a vessel when The Odyssey hits theaters and IMAX on July 17th.

A Dungeon Crawler Carl series is on the way to Peacock, and with the summer gap in programming in the 2026 TV schedule, I figured it was high time to read the first book of a series I've seen so many rave about. I would've read it sooner, but I stayed away for far too long out of fear it was too Dungeons & Dragons coded for me.

This is to say, I'm a pretty geeky guy, and while I'm generally down for the best sci-fi shows and dabble in the Game of Thrones franchise, fantasy generally isn't my thing. I've tried the iconic tabletop game a few times, and even variants like Pathfinder, and it just wasn't for me. As such, I assumed the books wouldn't be my style, but I'm so happy to report I couldn't be more wrong. Mild spoilers about the premise if you find yourself in the same boat, but here's what I got wrong about Dungeon Crawler Carl.

I Assumed The Series Borrowed Heavily From Dungeons And Dragons, But Was Wrong

One might understand how I was led into thinking Dungeon Crawler Carl is a book that appeals primarily to the DnD crowd. There's literally artwork of a guy navigating a dungeon on the cover, and there's a quote on the back of my copy from Felicia Day, who is a major face of the tabletop gaming world. I was judging a book by its cover, which is a rookie mistake, so that's on me.

Some might argue in defense of Dungeon Crawler Carl emulating tabletop RPGs, but the premise itself is way more sci-fi. Carl and his ex-girlfriend's cat Donut have their worlds turned upside down along with millions of others when the entirety of the world is seemingly destroyed, instantly killing everyone who was indoors when the event happened. Soon after, he discovers the entirety of Earth's existence was effectively done in order to participate in an intergalactic game show, of which trillions tune in to watch.

The dungeon elements are there, but there's a much bigger sci-fi concept behind the dungeon-crawling premise. Really, this is more like a reality TV meets video game premise, and as someone who is preparing to watch Big Brother Season 28 on my Xbox Series X, that's exactly my wheelhouse.

Dungeon Crawler Carl Caters To A Specific Audience, And If You're In It, It's Fantastic

I love Dungeon Crawler Carl, but I do wonder if it'll be able to find a big audience when it premieres for those with a Peacock subscription. The first book, and I only highlight that one because it's the only one I've read, is just drenched in references that gamer millennials who grew up using the internet in the 2000s would fully appreciate.

Then again, I was able to jive with The Amazing Digital Circus, despite it being something my daughter was more into. Maybe those of a younger age will look past the references and see the wild violence that may just rival the best horror movies if executed the same way as it was in the books. I'll be watching either way, but I think for this series to have a long run, it's going to need a big audience.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for updates on the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, and other upcoming book-to-screen adaptations that come along the way. I'm also learning not to judge a book by its cover, a mistake I won't be making again anytime soon.

Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is still a few days away from hitting the 2026 movie schedule, but for months it's been in the firing line for angry people on the internet. I know it’s best to stay out of the comment section, but sometimes I can’t help myself. It doesn’t take long when I do dip my toes in to see some of the major complaints that people have even before seeing the movie. I have to say, none of these are concerns of mine. I remain highly optimistic about this epic that is about to unfold for all of us seeing the movie next week.

The Casting Seems To Be The Focus Of Many Commenters’ Ire

There is no question that Nolan has assembled one heck of a cast. Matt Damon leads the movie as Odysseus. Anne Hathaway is playing his wife, Penelope. Tom Holland is playing Telemachus, his son. Joining them, we’ve got stars like Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton (who has apparently killed it with her performance), and Jon Bernthal, along with many others. It’s stacked. There are two or three cast members who have some people upset, and it makes no sense.

Lupita Nyong'o (Helen of Troy), John Leguizamo (Eumaeus), and Elliot Page (Sinon) have drawn the most wrath, and Travis Scott (playing a bard) has also taken some shots. Of course, it’s easy to see why these four have been in the firing line, and frankly, I think it’s all silly (and offensive, of course). The Odyssey is a myth. It’s not history. Historical accuracy should take a backseat to storytelling in this case. Helen of Troy wasn’t a real person, so why does it matter if the actress playing the character doesn’t look Greek or Spartan? Nyong'o certainly fits the description of being beautiful, and she is one of the most talented actresses in the world. That’s by far enough for me.

The Accents, Armor, And Ships Are Also Popular Complaints

The second most common whine is that the armor Odysseus and his men wear is not period-accurate. I’m all for historical accuracy in film; in fact, it’s often a deciding factor in whether I like a movie or not (I’m looking at you, Napoleon), but again, this is a myth. I don’t care that Damon and his cohorts are dressed in armor that doesn’t fit the age. That’s not the point of the story here. Let’s be honest, period-accurate armor looks rather ridiculous, and so making it look “cooler” is just fine by me. The same goes for the ships used by our hero and his men. Yeah, they look more like Viking ships than boats from ancient Greece, but again, this story is a myth, so why care?

Another popular refrain seems to be that all of the actors are using American accents in the movie, even the Brits. I have to say, again, why is this something people are mad about? They aren’t speaking ancient Greek in this modern telling of the myth, either. No one is upset about that, because everyone understands why the movie is in English, so what does it matter which accents are being used? Nolan apparently was looking for consistency, and so this decision makes total sense. This is seriously just complaining to complain.

Luckily for me, none of these creative decisions bother me in the slightest, and I can say that this is by far my most anticipated movie of the summer.

Flashback to 2021, and you couldn't find a bigger hater of the Snyderverse than me. Hell, I even danced on its grave when we received word that it was finally over.

However, flash-forward (DC pun not intended) to 2026, and I've actually come around on the failed DCEU. Maybe it's because I wasn't in love with James Gunn's Superman, or perhaps it’s because I have no interest whatsoever in Supergirl (and apparently, I'm not alone), but I've been giving Zack Snyder's DC movies another chance recently, and oh, man. I think I owe Zack Snyder yet ANOTHER apology.

You see, I already apologized for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and after rewatching the four hour long Zack Snyder's Justice League, I have to apologize again, because this movie is amazing. Here's why.

I Originally Thought This Movie Was Way Too Long. But Now, It Feels Just Right When It Comes To Pacing

You want to know what's crazy? Not too long ago, I rewatched Joss Whedon's version of Justice League, which is only two hours long, and it's so bad that it actually feels LONGER than Snyder's version, which is literally double the runtime. I think this is because Whedon's Justice League feels aimless and dull, whereas Snyder's version has direction and vision. And look, no offense to Whedon, as he was given the impossible task of reshooting aspects of Snyder's movie into something feasible for the big screen, but his version just does not work.

However, after rewatching Zack Snyder's Justice League, I am in awe at how he was able to take all of these characters and still have it all make sense. For example, in his version, Batman and Wonder Woman's quest to assemble a team really feels cohesive and organic, whereas in Whedon’s version, it all feels like a hurried mess, which is strange because it also feels plodding.

We get more backstory for all of the characters in Snyder’s version, as well as a true villain in Darkseid, who I'll get into later. Snyder's version is also (surprise, surprise) way darker in tone than Whedon's version, which is also something I now appreciate over the more upbeat Superman from James Gunn.

Honestly, it's really weird that all of the things that I once hated about the Snyderverse – the overseriousness, the darker tone, etc – I now view as pluses. However, I think there's one reason in particular why I love this movie now.

Cyborg's Story Is The Heart Of This Movie

One character who I always thought never got his time to shine when it came to the Snyderverse was Cyborg. Played by Ray Fisher, you could tell that he had a bigger role in Whedon's Justice League, but there was just something…missing.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League, however, almost the entire plot hinges on Cyborg’s role in the story. The fact that his role was truncated so much in Whedon’s version just goes to show you why that film felt like such a mess, because Victor Stone's (Cyborg) role is absolutely vital in Snyder's cut.

Stone's father, Silas (Joe Morton), is kidnapped, and Cyborg joins the team. He was a former athlete and had to be reconstructed after a horrible car accident, so his journey as a broken man to one of the saviors of the world is thoughtful and surprisingly heartfelt.

Also, being that Cyborg has such a connection to this film's Macguffin in the Mother Boxes, he’s essentially the most important character in the entire film, and I really appreciate that when watching this a second time.

I Also Find All Of The Characters-Even The Flash-To Be Interesting In This Film

You know, when I first saw Zack Snyder's Justice League, I still very much loathed all of the scenes involving Ezra Miller's The Flash. Upon a second viewing, I find that I actually like him, as well as pretty much every other member of the Justice League this time around. It might be because I, like others, actually enjoyed the eventual Flash movie that came out in 2023 (I even wrote about how it annoyed me that it didn't do better at the box office).

The Flash is incredibly important in this film. When the world starts to be destroyed, The Flash has to reverse the flow of time using the Speed Force, which allows Superman (Henry Cavill) and Cyborg to get the job done.

And, what about Aquaman? I liked Jason Momoa's first Aquaman movie - to a certain extent - but I found him super annoying in Justice League. However, I guess adding more screen time for him makes him more interesting this time around. I also think that learning more about the other metahumans and the Atlanteans makes him feel more at home here.

Not only that, but this movie has freaking Martian Manhunter (Harry Lennix) in it. I mean, it's at the end, and it's pretty much just a cameo, but at least he's here. What's not to love?

I Also Love This Version Of Darkseid

I know I keep harping on Joss Whedon's Justice League, but a big reason why I feel that movie failed was that its main antagonist, Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), was super lame. It's just that he didn't seem like a worthy opponent for the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, or The Flash.

In Zack Snyder's Justice League…well, he's still pretty lame, but much better since you don't feel like he's the REAL final boss. The main boss would be Ray Porter's Darkseid, who is a way more terrifying villain and an existential threat to humanity.

Darkseid is all about that Anti-Life Equation, and we learn that he's been a threat to Earth for millennia, what with the Old Gods waging war against him to prevent him from taking over the planet. All of this backstory really elevates the danger he presents, making him feel like a truly worthy adversary.

Unfortunately, since this was pretty much the end of the DCEU, we never got to see Darkseid get his own movie where he got to be the central villain, but I really appreciate what we got in this movie. He’s absolutely horrifying.

In The End, The Further We Get Away From The Snyderverse, The More I Find That I Miss It

When looking at the upcoming slate of DC films (and TV–let's not forget about TV), I think there's a lot to look forward to (Especially when it comes to Clayface, which I can't wait for!) Yet…I kind of now miss the Snyderverse.

I don't know what it is. It might be because I used to pledge allegiance to the MCU, and I think I viewed the DCEU as a pathetic alternative. After getting off the Marvel hype train quite a while ago, I've since been reevaluating the Snyderverse, and I think I had it all wrong.

Was it too dark and broody? Maybe, but upon reflection, it was actually a novel alternative to the overly cheery MCU. I now find that I get nothing out of movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier or Guardians of the Galaxy upon a rewatch, and I view them more as artifacts than anything else.

Movies like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and Batman v. Superman? They just seem to get better with age. So, if you happen to be reading this, Mr. Snyder. I’m sorry! Your fans were right all along, and I’m happy that the powers that be eventually RELEASED THE SNYDER CUT!

Matt Damon totally just blew my mind by dropping some unexpected BTS trivia about Pedro Pascal. It’s hard to imagine a time when Pascal wasn’t “even a day player” since practically everyone knows who he is thanks to playing The Mandalorian, Mister Fantastic, and Joel in The Last of Us. But there was a time when the actor spent years doing random parts before hitting celebrity status.

That time apparently included a part in The Adjustment Bureau, starring Damon and Emily Blunt. And despite the small part, Damon knew Pascal was a freaking star years before the rest of the world caught on. Somehow I’m not surprised that Damon was impressed. He revealed the story when he stopped by The Howard Stern Show:

Damon’s not the only one who thinks that he's "really good.” I think we can all agree that there’s a reason Pascal has become so beloved. And it’s not just because of baby Yoda. He’s so good as the Mandalorian that people want to know just how long he’s going to play the part.

It's always fun to see stories like this to remind us that celebrities all started somewhere. And for Damon to share this story about Pascal, it adds further proof as to why the latter is always working. He even has a romance with Danny Ramirez coming out soon. But I think Damon describes Pascal's star power best:

Maybe that's the best way to describe why so many love Pedro Pascal. His roles as Joel, the Mandalorian, and Mister Fantastic have all felt real. It doesn't matter if he's in a post apocalyptic world or in space, he gives a performance that's believable. And fans have become protective over his roles, specifically Last of Us fans who couldn't imagine anyone else in that part. Additionally, there's his memorable roles in Game of Thrones, Wonder Woman 1984 and more

Damon's story reminds me of the time I learned Pascal was in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It was a small part that included his character being killed and becoming a vampire, but it was a role that helped keep him in Hollywood. I guess we have Buffy to thank for all of the amazing Pascal roles we’ve seen the last few years.

The actor has become synonymous with certain roles thanks to fandoms, but there are several TV roles that you may have forgotten. For instance, I recently re-watched the Burn Notice TV movie and was shocked to see Pascal in one of the antagonist roles. He was even in an unaired Wonder Woman pilot. And now Damon has me wanting to go see what other Pascal roles I can dig up.

Another live-action Disney remake is on the cusp of hitting theaters and, this time, it’s Moana that’s being brought to life. Directed by Thomas Kali, the film retells the story from the franchise’s inaugural 2016 installment and sees Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as the demigod Maui. A lot has been said about the remake in the lead-up to its release on the 2026 movie schedule, and the first reactions are now pouring. Those who’ve been following the chatter for months may be able to guess the adjective that keeps getting used.

For some time now, Disney fans have shared thoughts on the live-action versions of some of its most beloved animated films. Some of those remakes have been praised – like Cinderella and The Jungle Book – while others – such as Snow White and Dumbo – have been panned. “Unecessary” is a word that’s thrown around quite often when it comes to a number of these movies, and it’s coming up again in the live-action Moana reactions. It came up when Matt Neglia shared his brutally honest take:

Neglia did go on to praise lead actress Catherine Laga’aia’s performance and say the songs were still “catchy and enjoyable.” Yet he also countered that he also already has an animated film to watch to soak in those great tunes. On that note, critic Doug Jamieson also dubbed this latest remake “unnecessary” and, while he also praised Laga'aia, he took issue with this retread:

Additionally, the film did get a bit of faint praise from The Nerds of Color, who praised some of the visuals. But, you guessed it, the word "unnecessary" came up again:

What’s interesting about the reactions in general is that even those that don’t use the word “unnecessary” still manage to convey that same sentiment. Kaitlyn Booth of Bleeding Cool also chastised this latest remake for adding very little to the mythology:

Of course, not all the reactions are completely negative. Tessa Smith shared some positive thoughts on the movie, as she praised the story as well as the chemistry between Laga'aia and (the wig-wearing) Johnson:

Still, it would appear that plenty of pundits are less than pleased with this finished product from the House of Mouse. Germain Lussier of Gizmodo and io9 also had this to say:

All in all, it sounds like this upcoming Disney movie may not do much to convert those who may be tired of the remakes. The film’s creative team has spoken extensively about making the movie, with The Rock having discussed the importance of keeping the franchise’s devotion to Polynesian culture intact. Based on the early reactions, there are no cultural-related complaints, but it seems this take on one of Disney’s most beloved characters doesn’t quite justify its existence.

Fans can, of course, make up their own minds by checking out Moana when it opens in theaters on July 10. In the meantime, the original 2016 film and its 2024 sequel are available to stream with a Disney+ subscription.

The James Bond movies are one of the most popular movie franchises of all time, with generations brought up on 007's adventures. Following Daniel Craig's Bond movies, fans are curious about how the franchise will continue, and which actor will be the next one to play the martini-sipping MI6 agent. One name that's been tossed around online is Millie Bobby Brown's Enola Holmes co-star Louis Partridge, who recently confirmed that playing the role "did cross" his mind. And honestly, I can kind of see it.

Bond 26 will be produced by Amazon and directed by Denis Villeneuve, and moviegoers are eager for news about its casting. There were reports that the studio wanted to cast a younger actor as 007, and Partridge has become a popular name online. During an interview with The Independent over his role in Enola Holmes 3 (streaming with a Netflix subscription) the 23 year-old actor spoke about the Bond rumors, saying:

It sounds like playing Tewksbury in the Netflix movie might have accidentally set him up to bring James Bond to life. Partridge isn't confirming that any casting talks have happened behind the scenes, but he doesn't seem opposed to playing the beloved MI6 agent. We'll just have to keep being patient and hope that news is coming about casting sooner rather than later.

It's unclear how young the next 007 will be, but a former Bond casting agent thinks it has to be more of a newcomer actor rather than an established one like Jacob Elordi. Louis Partridge isn't a household name yet, so he might be the perfect choice... if the studio is cool with the younger James of all time.

No Time To Die's ending wrapped up Daniel Craig's tenure as Bond by killing the character off, to the shock of fans everywhere. This was a major twist for the long-running franchise, and it also opened the door for a brand new take on 007. Exactly what is being developed for Bond 26 remains a mystery, but Denis Villeneuve's involvement is giving some comfort to moviegoers who are nervous about Amazon taking the reins. So smart money says that whenever a new actor is cast to play James Bond, it's going to essentially break the internet. Talk about pressure.

It's currently unclear when we should expect Bond 26 to hit theaters, but since its not on the 2026 movie release list fans will have to be patient... especially while Villeneuve is busy getting Dune: Part Three released. We'll just have to see if Louis Partridge gets the chance to play that iconic role.

We’ve been waiting for this one, guys. We’re now less than two weeks away from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey hitting the 2026 movie calendar — the director’s first project since Oppenheimer — and he literally couldn’t have chosen a more epic tale. First reactions are here for the fantasy flick, which comes with a staggering runtime and massive budget. But by these critics’ accounts, Nolan fans should start getting excited.

So what are people saying after catching early screenings of The Odyssey? Critic Perri Nemiroff says Christopher Nolan expertly weaves the story together to make you feel like you’ve experienced a significant portion of the characters’ lives. Her X (Twitter) post continues:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire notes that The Odyssey is “less despairing” than the Academy Award Best Picture winner from 2023, and despite some druthers, it’s a ride worth going on. In Ehrlich’s words:

Matt Neglia of Next Best Picture wrote an epic reaction of his own on X, praising Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland’s performances. He also writes that this level of storytelling is rare and deserves to be honored. The post reads, in part:

Jeremy Mathai of SlashFilm gives his stamp of approval, and while calling The Odyssey’s cast list lengthy would be an understatement, Mathai casts his vote for the most impactful performance, writing:

For critic Simon Thompson, it was two other actors — in addition to Matt Damon — to draw praise in a movie that he calls “flawless filmmaking.” He says:

Clayton Davis of Variety notes some of the tweaks Christopher Nolan made to the source material, calling out even more of the movie’s stars like Robert Pattinson and Samantha Morton as he declares The Odyssey “another hit for Nolan.” His post reads:

Erik Davis says everyone gets a chance to shine, though Robert Pattinson steals the show for him. Overall, Christopher Nolan’s latest is “the must-see cinematic event of the summer -- and quite possibly the year,” Davis says, writing:

I mean, if those first reactions don’t get you pumped for this movie, I don’t know what will. We’ll learn more when full reviews come out, but these comments are promising to read in the final days before the movie’s release.

While movies based off popular video game franchises used to have a bad reputation, many of the best video game movies have arrived over the last few years. Chief among them is Simon Mcquoid's Mortal Kombat (streaming with a HBO Max subscription) and its sequel. I had the chance to speak with the director ahead of the latter movie's release on 4K UHD, and he revealed his three favorite fight sequences. But I'm also surprised on the ones he left out.

Mortal Kombat II hit theaters back in May, and brought more beloved characters to the burgeoning franchise. It's available on digital now, but MK II's 4K UHD release is coming later this month. When asked about his favorite fights of the movie, McQuoid named a few starting with:

He's not wrong. While Sonya Blade's romantic relationship with Johnny Cage wasn't part of Mortal Kombat's sequel, her early fight with Sindel showed just how much she'd been training since the first movie. The battle was bloody and hardcore, and resulted with Kitana's mother dying. And just like that, the stakes for the movie were raised.

Another fight that Simon McQuoid shouted out was Liu Kang's battle with a Revenant Kung Lao. That battle resulted in a gnarly fatality, but was also emotional thanks to the characters' familial relationship. As the director put it:

He's not wrong. Each of the battles in Mortal Kombat II serves a purpose, and isn't there just for the fun of it. Either characters or the overall story progress as a result of each one, and Kung Lao and Liu Kang's was arguably the most emotional of the entire sequel.

So what is the third fight that Simon McQuoid called out as his favorite? It was actually Johnny Cage vs Baraka, which ended up being the most comedic of the action scenes. The director explained his penchant for that sequence, saying:

Baraka's fight with Johnny Cage wasn't only the funniest fight of MK II, but it also felt especially practical. That's exactly what McQuoid was shooting for, and why he loves the scene so much. That and the two fighters' surprisingly funny chemistry.

Simon McQuoid named some great choices, but I'm surprised about the fights that he didn't mention. Namely Kitana's epic final battle with Shao Khan, and the Netherrealm fight between Noob Saibot, Scorpion, and Johnny. These were the finales of the movie, so I'm surprised that they weren't at the top of the director's list. I also think that the opening battle where King Jerrod was murdered was very brutal and memorable.

Mortal Kombat II is available on digital now, and will arrive on 4K UHD on July 28th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Fingers crossed we get a third movie, especially after the sequel's cliffhanger ending.

The Big Bang Theory's Kevin Sussman doesn't just play a comic book store worker on TV, he actually was one! As Stuart Fails to Save the Universe nears its premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, the Stuart Bloom actor recently took some time to highlight his tenure working in comics. Sussman shared that bit of reflection after experiencing a truly sweet full-circle moment.

A lot of promotion is being done for Stuart, especially since the show debuts for those with an HBO Max subscription on July 23rd. It would seem the streamer isn't alone in promoting the show, however. Sussman recently shared a photo that shows a man standing in front of a Stuart Fails to Save the Universe poster, and there's more to it than meets the eye. Check out the Instagram post:

So, who is this man, and why did Kevin Sussman share a photo of him on his account? He explained below:

I could imagine that for Sussman's former boss, Ron Hill, it may be surreal to consider how everything has worked out. If I were in Hill's shoes, I'd be amazed that a guy who used to work for me went on to be a guest star and eventually a series regular on one of the most popular TV sitcoms of the 20th century and is now starring in his own spinoff. It'd be like if Kelsey Grammer was an amateur radio DJ before Dr. Fraser Crane got his own radio show in Frasier.

This post is also a testament to how cool it can be to look back at moments in life and see where small decisions made all the difference in changing the course of one's life. In the context of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, that sentiment is also ironic. That's because the show follows the titular comic book shop owner as he attempts to save the multiverse with the help of his friends.

What's more is that Stuart may also be a show of more interest to actual "geeks" than Big Bang, based on the trailer and what I've learned about it so far. The show was crafted with the idea in mind that it would be a series that Leonard, Sheldon and the rest of the main Big Bang Theory characters would want to watch. Additionally, the Chuck Lorre-produced show leans into the modern trend of big franchise shows by utilizing a multiverse. In comparison, TBBT arguably poked fun at geeks' expense, rather than making jokes they'd understand and resonate with.

As for whether the show will live up to the hype, that's for the fans to decide. I'm interested in seeing if the show attracts the same audience that has shown up for The Big Bang Theory and its other successful spinoffs. Of course, it could also draw in a different crowd, given the show is so different from its predecessors.

In any case, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a big gig for Kevin Sussman, who was a supporting character who appeared in eighty-four episodes of Big Bang. When the show ended, he didn't even take anything from the set, mainly because he could buy most of it in a regular comic shop. I hope he gets a chance to snag some props this time around but, above all, I hope Sussman continues to relish his status as a leading man and soak in the support from fans and his former boss.

Tom Holland's already done a lot of big movies throughout his career, but working with Christopher Nolan on an epic on the scale of The Odyssey is a whole different beast. It'd be intimidating for any young actor and, while he got an early boost of confidence, he also got rattled when shooting a scene. Holland thought he was disappointing Nolan during the shoot, but it turned out there was something else at play.

Holland spoke about his experience working on the upcoming 2026 movie release during an interview with Fandango. After recalling an early scene with his MCU co-star Jon Bernthal that gave him confidence, Holland remembered feeling uneasy when Nolan frequently cut his scenes mid-performance. He said:

I can imagine that Christopher Nolan shouting "cut" three minutes into a scene would devastate any actor, especially if they felt they were in the zone. Holland had amassed a lot of reverence for Nolan and the way he runs his sets, so it had to be devastating to think he was letting him down.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case. While they may create great images (and make for snazzy-looking popcorn buckets), IMAX cameras have one downside, and Tom Holland didn't know that. As the star recalled:

It seems like after the Spider-Man star was filled in, he had a wave of relief crash over him -- one that was harder than the ones that shipwrecked Odysseus during his journey in The Odyssey. Fortunately, Holland didn't let Christopher Nolan down, and he plays a sizable role in the R-rated historical epic.

In the movie, Holland plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus (Matt Damon) and Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway). Telemachus has grown into a man in his father's absence and is burdened with protecting his mother from suitors who seek to step in and take over the land.

It's likely that a portion of readers are vaguely familiar with The Odyssey, which is often required reading in high school in the United States. Admittedly, I only remember the part with the Sirens and the Cyclops, but I'm sure more of it will come back to me once I'm watching it on a big screen with my Trojan Horse popcorn bucket.

With an all-star cast lined up, The Odyssey is poised to be a cinematic spectacle, and it could draw people to cinemas. This production has "prestige film" written all over it, and I'm already wondering if it'll net some serious awards later this year and in 2026. It'll be interesting to see if it lives up to the hype.

We don't have long to wait to see how the movie does at the box office, as The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17th. I'm still hoping to see the movie in IMAX opening week but, whenever I see the film, I'll definitely have Tom Holland's story about the IMAX camera in mind while watching his scenes.

Director James Cameron has always had big visions and big dreams for the Avatar movies, and it seems like he’s full speed ahead. There was an over 10-year gap between the first second films in the franchise, but the third film, Fire and Ash, came only two years after the sequel, Way of Water. While nothing has officially been announced, there has been movement on the fourth and film installments. Franchise star Sam Worthington recently revealed he'd already seen the scripts for those two films, and his comments are making me excited.

Worthington has been promoting his miniseries, I Will Find You, as of late, and he was recently asked what he is most excited about for the next Avatar movies. The actor -- who plays Jake Sully in the franchise -- didn't get into specifics about the fourth and fifth movies, which are tentatively dated for n2029 and 2031. Still, Worthington did share enthusiastic thoughts about having seen the screenplays He said CBS Mornings (as shared on Instagram):

It's great to hear that Worthington is apparently pleased with what he's seen. That should serve as a glimmer of hope for fans like myself in regard to what Cameron and co. want for the future of this franchise. I'm most excited that the fourth film is Worthington's favorite, because Fire and Ash ends in a place where there's some closure to the story. However, should it continue, there are great opportunities for the story to go in some fresh directions. Still, I may have to temper my hype for the moment.

The reason Worthington says he hopes they can keep doing the films is because the Avatar movies are famously some of the most expensive movies ever made. While the first two Avatar films became two of the highest grossing movies of all time, Avatar: Fire and Ash didn’t reach the same heights despite making over a billion dollars. The production budgets are incredibly high, and making the movies the way Cameron wants is seemingly just becoming more expensive.

On that note, Cameron has been candid about wanting to finish out the series, though he wants to do so in a way that's affordable. From a creative standpoint, Cameron is ready to make those other two movies, which he explained to CinemaBlend months ago. I'd imagine that if any filmmaker could solve a cost problem it would be someone is skilled as Cameron. Additionally, Cameron has also been thinking about story changes he wants to make for a fourth installment.

It could be a while until we finally get to see Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 on the big screen but, for right now, I'm just hoping they actually happen. It'd truly be a shame if Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña and co. didn't get to finish out the Sully family's story in the world of Pandora. For now, fans can revisit the first three Avatar films with a Disney+ subscription.

The search for the next James Bond continues, as Amazon MGM has reportedly been looking high and low for another actor to don that sacred tuxedo. Despite confirmation that casting is underway, there’s been no indication as to which exact stars are being eyed for the role. Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and others have been linked to the role for Bond 26 and, all the while, there’s been a debate over whether a woman should play the MI6 agent. Hannah Waddingham recently weighed in on that and made a good point.

Hannah Waddingham’s Take On A Female James Bond Makes Sense

Waddingham remains booked and busy, and she’s currently looking towards the release of her new action series, Ride or Die, which is (coincidentally) going to be streamable with a Prime Video subscription. The Emmy-winning actress is a jack of all trades, whose work spans various genres and mediums. So it probably shouldn’t have been a surprise that amid a special screening of her new show, Waddingham was asked if he would consider playing 007. She had an emphatic response that made her position quite clear:

So anyone who happened to be fancasting the Ted Lasso star for the role of Commander Bond should probably put all that to rest. What I’m particularly focused on, though, is her comment about her and her fellow actresses having “other things to do.” While Waddingham obviously can’t speak for the rest of the ladies in Hollywood, I think she’s pointing to the notion of female creatives working on original characters as opposed to taking over gigs long held by men.

Don’t get me wrong, gender-bending roles can be beneficial. That’s evident even in the James Bond franchise, as Judi Dench took over the role of M after a string of male predecessors. However, I like the notion of women being able to establish fresh franchises filled with multidimensional characters and not have to work within certain parameters of established IPs. There are other variables to consider when it comes to original ideas like that, though.

It can certainly be an uphill battle for female writers, directors and producers as well as actresses to get such projects made. Not only that, but audiences are also quite particular about what they watch in theaters, whether a film is led by a woman or man. Still, the optimist in me would hope that such movies and TV shows involving women can be made.

What Have Others Said About James Bond Being Played By A Woman

Like Waddingham, others have been firm when it comes to their positions on Bond becoming a female character. Former Bond girl Gemma Arterton shared her take on the subject, and the Quantum of Solace alum questioned whether a lady playing Bond would be like a man playing Mary Poppins. Atherton also noted that some may find that kind of casting “outrageous” and that “sometimes you just have to respect the tradition.” The son of late Bond actor Roger Moore, Geoffrey, was a bit more blunt. In Moore’s estimation, if a woman takes over, than the role is simply no longer Bond, though he expressed support for a new character taking on a new operative designation that wasn’t 007.

The most recent actor to play the iconic secret agent, Daniel Craig, offered up his thoughts on the debate as well, and his thoughts align with mine. Craig argued that there should be better parts for women as well as actors of color. That’s easier said than done, of course, but I agree with his take that a woman should have an original role just as good as Bond.

Still, even if a woman doesn’t play Bond, there’s still the question of who’s going to play the character when we see him on the big screen again. It’s certainly possible that Elordi, Callum Turner or other hopefuls could get their shot to play the role, but we’ll just have to wait and see. I really don’t mind the idea of a female Bond, though I do hope Hannah Waddingham and other talented leading ladies might find themselves in the position to land roles that could possibly rival 007.

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.