Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have known for some time now that Black Panther 3 is in the works. However, Ryan Coogler – the film franchise’s director and co-writer – has been keeping details on the threequel tightly under wraps. Fans have now been treated to some news, though, as the film has now officially been announced, and an actor has been cast to play the late King T’Challa’s successor. If you ask me, this box office hit of a film series just struck gold with this particular piece of casting.

Coogler appeared at San Diego Comic-Con during Marvel Studios’ panel in Hall H, which CinemaBlend attended. The Oscar-winning filmmaker confirmed that the third Black Panther movie would be released on December 15, 2028 and that he would direct it. And, now, for the even bigger news: up-and-coming actor David Jonsson is officially joining the cast as T’Challa II, the OG franchise lead’s son. Apparently, the young man will come of age in the upcoming Marvel movie and take on the mantle of the titular hero.

Others seem to be excited about this casting as I am. At least, that’s the feeling I get based on the warm reception Jonsson received after he was introduced in Hall H. Check out CinemaBlend’s video of the big moment:

Anyone who’s not familiar with Jonsson at this point should really know his name, as he’s put in some great work in just a few years. The British star made his feature film debut in the 2022 rom-com Rye Lane before landing scene-stealing roles in 2024’s Alien: Romulus and 2025’s The Long Walk. Jonsson oozes charisma and is instantly likable as a result. He also has a regal demeanor, which is obviously perfect due to the fact that he’s playing a prince. Marvel has cast some great actors before, but I think this could be one of its best pickups.

Anyone who’s not familiar with Jonsson at this point should really know his name, as he’s put in some great work in just a few years. The British star made his feature film debut in the 2022 rom-com Rye Lane before landing scene-stealing roles in 2024’s Alien: Romulus and 2025’s The Long Walk. Jonsson oozes charisma and is instantly likable as a result. He also has a regal demeanor, which is obviously perfect due to the fact that he’s playing a prince. Marvel has cast some great actors before, but I think this could be one of its best pickups.

What’s particularly interesting about this casting is that for more than a year now, BP-related rumors have been swirling around other actors, mainly Damson Idris. The F1 star, however, was being asked about playing a version of T’Challa Sr., with many believing he’d play a variant in one of the upcoming Avengers movies and not just BP3. While Idris has been cheeky when responding, he expressed appreciation to those wanting to see him take over the aforementioned role from the late, great Chadwick Boseman.

There are still plenty of questions to ponder in regard to Coogler’s Black Panther 3. For starters, how much time will have passed since 2022’s Wakanda Forever? After all, T’Challa II (or Toussaint) was only a young child. Or maybe he’ll be aged up after a universe reset of sorts after Avengers: Secret Wars? Exact plot details are also under wraps and, interestingly enough, it’s also unclear who the previously confirmed Denzel Washington is playing.

Despite all that, Ryan Coogler seems excited to make this movie, which he revealed would even been partially shot on 70mm film. Based on this latest announcement, I’d say there still seems to be plenty of life in the Black Panther franchise, and that should come as no surprise, given Coogler’s storytelling prowess. I’m eager to see what he and his collaborators cook up for this latest chapter in the Wakanda-set saga. And, of course, I’ll be watching intently to see what Jonsson brings to this proceedings as well.

Amid the wait for Black Panther 3, stream the first two films in the series using a Disney+ subscription.

It’s official: after Ryan Gosling talked about it, he really is going to play Ghost Rider. His upcoming Marvel movie was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, and along with it came news about who is directing it. I have to say, while the announcement about the Project Hail Mary actor did not surprise me one bit, the director they chose did leave me shocked.

Fresh off filming Star Wars: Starfighter, together, Gosling will team up with director Shawn Levy for Ghost Rider. You read that right, these two are jumping from one massive franchise to another together, and to me, that’s very, very exciting!

When it comes to Gosling’s casting, I can’t say I’m shocked. A few months ago, when he was promoting the release of Project Hail Mary on the 2026 movie schedule, he was asked on Happy Sad Confused about potentially playing Ghost Rider. He admitted he’d had conversations with Kevin Feige, calling it a “complicated situation” at the time. He’s spoken about this before then too, saying he had a “feeling” about this character. So, clearly, the manifestation worked.

However, while this announcement felt like it could be coming, the news that Levy would be on this journey with him was unexpected.

It’s shocking because they literally were just working on a Star Wars film. So, to jump almost immediately to Marvel is giving me whiplash. It will be a quick turnaround too, because one year after their upcoming Star Wars movie is released on the 2027 movie schedule, Ghost Rider will come out in 2028.

I do think these two are great fits for the MCU, overall. So, I’m thrilled to see them teaming up for this exciting project that Gosling’s been wanting to do. Clearly, they had such a good time on Star Wars that they wanted to make another massive movie together, and I’m ecstatic it’s Ghost Rider. Lots of fans are thrilled about this announcement too, as they commented on Marvel’s Instagram announcement:

• I used to pray for times like this 🙏 - @jpthemusicenjoyer
• Can't wait for ghost riders jacket 🔥- @he__is___him
• Midnight Suns 🙏- @voiceactorsingerrapperwriter
• “NICE JACKET!” 🔥🔥🔥- @rong.gur
• Ryan GHOSTling - @nzzhmd
• Let Nic Cage make a cameo🔥🔥🔥- @ceeramos97
• i apologize in advance for the person i'm about to become - @boda03

Of course, this won’t be Levy’s first rodeo with Marvel; he did direct the well-reviewed Deadpool & Wolverine, and he’s spent his career making action and adventure movies. So, it makes perfect sense why he's been tapped to ride with Ghost Rider. However, the speed at which he and Gosling signed on to another major project together is what got me.

Obviously, not everyone is thrilled by this news, though. Surprise can look different among fans, and here’s what some of the less enthused folks had to say:

• But yall cant make Blade??? - @infernicious
• Is it gonna get the 2019 Blade announcement treatment is the real question we all should be asking? - @sataniclivesmatter_
• SHAWN LEVY? should’ve given it to Sam Raimi 😭💔- @stillm.m

Listen, while people have a right to be anxious and question these choices, I think we should give these guys a chance.

It would seem whatever they did together on Star Wars made them want to collaborate again. So, I think we should all be excited about the fact that Ryan Gosling and Shawn Levy will be jumping from a galaxy far, far away to a world populated by superheroes as they prepare to fly with Starfighter and ride with Ghost Rider over the course of the next two years.

There’s been a whole lot of chatter about Alan Ritchson and his potential to play Batman in the DCU, and he’s actively been a part of that conversation. However, now he’s put it to rest (for now). That’s because, at San Diego Comic-Con, he fully addressed the rumors, noting that while Bruce Wayne is probably out of the equation for now, his conversations with DC are by no means over.

This comes just days after Ritchson made suspicious comments about Batman and DC, saying that “the future is bright, and the horizons are broad.” However, during Reacher’s panel at Comic-Con, he was a lot clearer about the Caped Crusader specifically, saying:

Again, there’s been a ton of chatter about Ritchson and Batman, specifically. So, this statement from the actor is huge, because it essentially puts those rumors to rest, while also making it clear that a new kind of speculation can begin. To hammer that point home even further, he said:

Well, that answer sounds definitive, so it seems Bat-fans can finally lay down their speculation caps. Check out Ritchson's address during the panel:

This all came after Ritchson said he was booked until 2028, and the moderator made a comment about Batman. The Reacher star cleared the air once and (seemingly) for all. He’s not playing him. However, he is also still very much in conversation with DC.

He’s made it apparent that he and DC’s boss James Gunn have talked, and he’s excited to potentially work with him. They just have to find the right character first. Well, it seems like they have someone in mind…it’s just not the one we all thought it could be.

That’s exciting in its own right, though, because a door full of possibilities just opened. Like, maybe he could play Orion or Hawkman or even Captain Atom. So, while it seems like we won’t see Ritchson in a DC project for a while, and we very much will not see him as Batman, it feels like someday he will step into a superhero (or maybe villain) costume.

If you’d like to see Alan Ritchson actually in action while we wait for updates on the superhero front, you can watch him as an action hero in Reacher. That’s the show he was at Comic-Con for, and Season 4 is set to premiere on the 2026 TV schedule on August 12 for those with a Prime Video subscription. It’s also already in production on Season 5 (proving just how busy Ritchson is), so we’ll likely see more of him as Jack Reacher before we see a DC project from him.

However, if there’s anything you should take away from this story, it’s that Alan Ritchson’s future with DC is very much bright, and they have someone in mind for him to play (it’s just not Batman).

Season 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is officially set to premiere later this year on the 2026 TV schedule, and Demigods, we’re entering uncharted territories! The upcoming season marks the first time Rick Riordan’s The Titan’s Curse will be adapted, and this week we learned something big about it. As it turns out, a big change is being made from the source material, and I'm here for it.

The Big Change To Titan's Curse I'm Cool With

During Percy Jackson’s San Diego Comic-Con panel, which CinemaBlend attended, fans had a chance to catch up on what’s next for Camp Half Blood. Yes, the big news is that Season 3 officially has a release date, but I need to talk about something said by showrunner Dan Shotz. The EP's comments on the season really struck me like one of Zeus’s lightning bolts. In his words to Hall H:

I should put a bit of a SPOILER ALERT here for those who haven't read the novels but, in Book 3, Annabeth is kidnapped by the Manticore early on. It leads to her later being forced to hold up the sky in place of the god, Atlas. This admittedly isn't unlike Grover was kidnapped in Sea of Monsters last season, and our beloved trio were torn away from each other as a result.

While that meant Annabeth wasn’t in The Titan’s Curse book much, that’s not going to be the case in the series. And I’m so happy to hear that. Throughout the first two seasons of the show (which is executive produced by Riordan), there’s been a lot of talk about all the changes that have been made. I happen to be a fan of most of what’s been done, to be honest. It keeps us guessing and, hey, if you can get more Annabeth, you should have more Annabeth.

Leah Jeffries Is Sort Of Percy Jackson's Secret Weapon

Sure, one could say some time without Grover gave Percy and Annabeth’s relationship to strengthen. But I simply can’t go for missing out on Leah Jeffries’ Annabeth in the adaptation of The Titan’s Curse. I think this is a natural decision for the show, given the creative team gets to explore outside of Percy’s first-person perspective. Plus, I think Jeffries’ role is really one of the biggest strengths of this streaming series.

Jeffries couldn’t make it to the SDCC panel, because she’s currently shooting the new Cheetah Girls movie. And, honestly, the event was kind of weird without her. Walker Scobell ended up bringing a printout of Jeffries’ face to the panel, but she was missed. Check it out:

Rest assured, fans can look forward to seeing the real Jeffries and not a that printout when Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 premieres on November 20 for those with either a Disney+ subscription or Hulu subscription. I can’t wait to see what the show does with the next installment of the series!

Fans that watched the DC movies in order know that there's been a shifting in universes. The former DCEU is in the past, with co-CEO James Gunn crafting the newly formed DCU. We're just weeks away from the debut of Lanterns on HBO (and streaming with a HBO Max subscription), and star Aaron Pierre recently gushed about why John Stewart is the only DC character he'd ever want to play. And I hope that folks who are doubting the forthcoming show are listening.

What we know about Lanterns has been limited, but there's already been tons of discourse about the upcoming DC series. Namely that there wasn't enough Green Lantern powers in the first footage. CinemaBlend attended the show's panel at San Diego Comic-Con, where Pierre gushed about his love for his Lanterns character. In his words:

I mean, he's not wrong. On top of having so many layers, John Stewart is one of the most beloved Green Lanterns from the comics, alongside Kyle Rayner and Hal Jordan. The latter will be played by Kyle Chandler in the DC series, with him seemingly training John to be his replacement in the Corps.. And the Lanterns trailer teased how complicated their relationship seems to be.

Later in the same appearance at the Comic-Con Panel, Pierre went on to share his hopes for both John Stewart, and the folks that watch Lanterns when it premiers this August. As he put it:

As previously mentioned, some folks have been unhappy about not seeing Lanterns' heroes suited up much. But with the show so close to its premiere, fan patience (or lack thereof) is about to pay off. I'm a big fan of the Green Lantern Corps., so I can't wait to see latest entry in the first DCU slate of projects aka Gods and Monsters.

You can see Aaron Pierre's comment about John Stewart below:

The pressure is on for Lanterns to deliver for the burgeoning shared universe, especially after Supergirl struggled at the box office. I loved both Creature Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2, so I'm excited to see the DCU expand on the small screen again. And it certainly seems like Aaron Pierre was the right person to cast as John Stewart.

Lanterns will debut its first episode on August 16th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. And despite some doubters, I'm so hyped to see more of the Green Lantern Corps. in live-action.

Something to note about Johnny Depp’s greatest roles is that many of them showcase his ability to transform into eclectic characters. Now, picture two wild-looking Depp characters meeting face-to-face. Well, that was what recently happened, as the talented star himself showed up at San Diego Comic-Con as his latest alter ego, Ebenezer Scrooge. And it was there that Depp had a very wild interaction with an Edward Scissorhands cosplayer.

Depp looked completely unrecognizable as Ebenezer Scrooge while promoting Ti West’s new movie, Ebenezer. He looked like he aged 20 years with that prosthetic makeup and receding hairline, with the look completed by Victorian garb. Our team at CinemaBlend filmed a kooky interaction at SDCC involving Depp (while in character) questioning the aforementioned Edward Scissorhands imitator. Prepare to be entertained by the hilarious Instagram reel below:

Seriously, how unreal is it to see these two Johnny Depp characters interact? Honestly, it was exactly the kind of bizarre crossover I never knew I needed. I love seeing that Comic-Con goer dressed as the whimsical yet charming Tim Burton character, and it's a testament to the staying power that certain fictional characters have.

Viewers can see Depp as Scrooge in his mid-19th century wardrobe and surly British accent, speaking to the cosplayer, who's wearing those infamous metallic long pinchers. He made sure to ask the costumed fan about how he uses the “WC” (a.k.a. water closet), “toilet,” “pee pee house,” and that certainly made me laugh.

I love that “Scrooge” asked the dedicated cosplayer that mind-boggling question, as Tom Cruise had the same bathroom concern about the Tim Burton-birthed character when he was approached to play the part. But, apparently, the SDCC attendee acted like it wasn’t a struggle. I guess having scissors for hands can’t stop a committed fan from doing their business.

This wasn’t the first time the Finding Neverland actor surprised fans by dressing up as a character either. He dressed up as Jack Sparrow inside the Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland attraction and randomly visited schools while playing the lovable pirate for kids. Depp also surprised tourists at Disneyland again, portraying his Mad Hatter character from Alice in Wonderland with an interactive digital poster video he filmed live inside a nearby studio. Clearly, the Sweeney Todd actor has no problem channeling his characters even when he's not on set.

On that note, I'm not sure I'll ever forget the sight of Ebenezer Scrooge and Edward Scissorhands shooting the breeze. Still, it's an entertaining exchange and, as a whole, Depp's decision to appear as Scrooge at SDCC could help create hype for his upcoming Christmas movie.

Check out Johnny Depp in the 2026 movie release Ebenezer, which opens in theaters on November 13th. Also, feel free to revisit the fan-favorite Edward Scissorhands or check it out for the first time using a Disney+ subscription.

Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099 is set to take fans back to the grungy, techno-futuristic world Ridley Scott developed more than 40 years ago. This chapter in the sci-fi saga, however, will feature different characters played by franchise newbies Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. Both actresses apparently got quite close while filming the series, to the point that Yeoh did something to ensure Schafer was safe while performing stunts. And believe me when I say this is just so mom-coded (and I love it).

2099 sees Yeoh play Olwen, a dying replicant Blade Runner hunting down a rogue faction of replicants in Los Angeles. Olwen is joined in that pursuit by Schafer’s Cora, a human trying to blend in amid the new replicant-run regime. With that, Schafer and Yeoh spent a considerable amount of time together on set, and they spoke about those experiences during their show’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con, which CinemaBlend attended. Schafer opened up about getting to dip her toes into action scenes and learning from her co-star:

Long before Ip Man exploded onto the big screen or Shang-Chi “ninja-kicked that glass ceiling” for Asian representation, Michelle Yeoh was tearing it up as a big-screen action hero. The Oscar-winning Everything Everywhere All at Once star is a skilled martial artist and has various credits under her belt. So I can understand why Schafer would be geeking out over getting to work with Yeoh in an action-based context. Yeoh also had some high praise for her co-star, and Schafar revealed the gift she got from Yeoh, too:

• Yeoh: I’ve never seen a more fearless action hero. I mean, she really, literally dove in. I was almost trying to hold her back like, ‘No, no, no, no…. too late. Okay. Is Hunter OK?’ She would do the tumbles, the falls. I’m like, ‘Hunter, where are your pads?’
• Schafer: She bought me a baby helmet.
• Yeoh: Well, you got a concussion! I had to protect my baby, okay? I was like, ‘Here, where this.’ So I got her a baby helmet.

Just when I thought I didn’t need yet another reason to love Michelle Yeoh, I have one. Honestly, it warms my heart to hear about her taking the time to ensure her co-star’s safety. The notion of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon icon buying Schafer a “baby helmet” may sound funny, but stunt work is no laughing matter. And, based on the Blade Runner 2099 teaser, Schafer had to take part in some truly intense scenes. Check it out:

I also like the notion of Hunter Schafer getting to spread her wings when it comes to action-centric material. As she mentioned, she’d had some opportunities to try a bit, but this show is arguably her biggest chance to try stunts. This might only be the beginning of Schafer working with stunts as well. That could especially be true if the X-Men rumor regarding her playing Mystique pans out.

At the risk of getting too far ahead of myself, though, I’m just eager to see Schafer share the screen alongside Yeoh in the Blade Runner spinoff show amid the 2026 TV schedule. I’m confident that the show will be just as intense and cerebral as the franchise’s two films and that the two leads will have great chemistry. And best believe I won’t forget Yeoh’s mom-centric gesture whenever I’m watching her “baby,” Schafer, perform stunts.

Blade Runner 2099 premieres on November 25, and all eight episodes will be available to stream at that time. Be sure to grab a Prime Video subscription by that time so you’ll be able to check out the show.

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings movies made history upon their release, and are still regularly rewatched to this day. Fans of JRR Tolkien were treated to the prequel TV series The Rings of Power, which is gearing up for its third season for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. And actor Daniel Weyman recently spoke about the "humbling" experience going from playing The Stranger to the beloved hero Gandalf the Grey.

The Rings of Power Season 3 wrapped back in December, and the show will return to our screens this fall. Fans are eager to see Weyman as Gandalf, and while attending San Diego Comic-Con, CinemaBlend was able to hear the 48 year-old actor gush about this change in his signature character. During the show's panel he said:

For years fans debated who The Stranger was, especially since he clearly had some strong magical abilities. The Season 2 finale confirmed that he was Gandalf all along, and the new Rings of Power footage showed him using the beloved Wizard's staff. Talk about a big change from when we met him in Season 1 and he barely able to speak.

Later in the same Comic-Con panel, Daniel Weyman teased what to expect from Gandalf in the book-to-screen adaptation's third season on the air. And on top of using magic, he'll also be connecting with people. As he put it:

The stakes are certainly high in Middle-earth, and Gandalf is going to have to use both his heart and his magic to help battle the dark forces that are taking control. The actor went on to speak more about this dynamic, offering the Comic-Con crowd:

Having watched The Rings of Power since Season 1, I love how much of a transformation Weyman's character has had on the show. Gandalf is finally here in all his glory, and it should be fascinating to see how he fights the forces of evil in Middle-earth. Additionally, I'm hoping we get to see him reunite with his halfling besties Nori and Poppy, whom he got separated from during the second season.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will return for Season 3 on November 11th as part of the 2026 TV schedule. I'm hoping to see some epic magic come from Gandalf this season, perhaps in a battle with the mysterious Dark Wizard. Fingers crossed.

While Ethan Hunt’s time leading the Mission: Impossible movie series is probably over, I’m never getting over all the behind-the-scenes stories about the franchise. Tom Cruise has a reputation of being fearless in those movies. And Ghost Protocol director Brad Bird just shared one nerve-wracking story about the making of the 2011 fan-favorite.

Brad Bird (who also helmed The Iron Giant, The Incredibles and Ratatouille) had his own panel at San Diego Comic-Con’s Hall H on Thursday night. During the sprawling conversation about his career that CinemaBlend was in attendance for, here’s what he recalled about making Ghost Protocol with Tom Cruise:

It’s incredibly nail-biting to watch Tom Cruise accomplish the stunts he’s done on the Mission: Impossible movies alone. But I never thought of how that might feel from a director’s point of view. As Bird communicated, being in proximity with Cruise while shooting Ghost Protocol was not for the faint of heart. Here’s what he had to say about filming the famous Burj Khalifa scene:

If you didn’t know already, Ghost Protocol was actually shot on location in the Burj Khalifa, which is the the tallest building in the world. The structure in Dubai stands 2,717 feet tall. In the scene, Ethan Hunt must scale the Burj Khalifa in order to intercept an exchange of nuclear launch codes happening on the 130th floor.

While the production originally was only going to film a few shots there, nearly the whole sequence was shot at the Burj Khalifa. And it was done for IMAX! But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a stress test for Brad Bird. As he added:

The next time I’m worn over work, I’m going to think about Brad Bird. At least I’m not responsible for Tom Cruise and his stunt antics – I’m just writing about it! If you’re itching to rewatch Ghost Protocol after this story, it’s streaming with a Paramount+ subscription.

And, if you’re curious what Brad Bird is up to, he has a new animated film on the 2026 movie release schedule. It’s called Ray Gunn, and it’s a science-fiction noir movie he’s been wanting to make for 30 years. The new Brad Bird film is coming to Netflix on December 18.

After years of waiting, we finally got a teaser for the third season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and it was filled with lots of characters and stories I’ve been waiting to see. However, it also inspired something within me, as I realized I want two characters who will surely play a big part in this fight against Sauron to form an “uneasy alliance” when the series returns on the 2026 TV schedule.

As you can see above, this trailer shows us Sauron forging “one ring to rule them all” and his armies going after Galadriel and many other important characters. We also get a good look at Gandalf (who found his name at the end of Season 2) and our first look at Galadriel’s love, Celeborn (who is played by Stranger Things’ Jamie Campbell Bower). Overall, it’s epic, and it’s inspiring a whole lot of theories and questions.

It’s also made me realize a dream I have: I’m desperate to see Galadriel and Gandalf work together. And I really hope it happens when Rings of Power premieres.

Up to this point in Rings of Power, we’ve seen Daniel Weyman’s Gandalf interact with Nori and the other Harfoots. Last season, he also shared some moments with Tom Bombadil. However, he has not spent time with any of the elves, dwarves or men in the series. I feel like that could all change in Season 3.

In the trailer, we see him having a conversation with The Dark Wizard:

• The Dark Wizard: Middle-earth will burn.
• Gandalf: Has it not yet occurred to you? Death might well be the price of saving it.

To me, this implies that the wizard will find himself and finally be thrust into the greater battle going on in Rings of Power. And I hope he does that by working with Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel.

In the teaser, we see her reunite with Celeborn, and it seems they’re on their own journey to take down Sauron. Personally, I’m hoping it will involve Gandalf.

The synopsis of this footage notes that Sauron’s quest will cause “new, and sometimes uneasy alliances to be formed to try and stop him.”

Considering Gandalf has only just found his powers and his name, I’d imagine he hasn’t fully harnessed them yet. And overall, he’s still a fairly mysterious figure in Middle-earth. Plus, during a conversation with Deadline last year, Weyman said he was excited to explore his character’s “plethora of possible pitfalls, errors and failings.” He went on to say that his wizard has to mess up royally to become the wise man we know in The Lord of the Rings movies and books. That seems like fertile ground for an “uneasy alliance,” and maybe one of those could be with Galadriel.

She’s right in the center of the fight against Sauron. Plus, she’s found herself in some precarious and uneasy alliances before – with her partnership with Halbrand going sideways in Season 1 when it was revealed he was Sauron, and her alliance with Adar proving to be quite useful (but dangerous) last season. So, I’d love to see her in another uneasy alliance, but this time, it’d be with an actually good character who is simply still figuring himself and his power out.

Plus, we know Galadriel and Gandalf become friends and work closely together, so it’d be amazing to see the origins of their relationship in this show.

Now, to see if this happens, you’ll be able to stream the first four episodes of The Rings of Power’s third season on November 11 with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Clayface isn’t just the next upcoming DC movie; it looks like one of the most promising new horror films on the 2026 movie schedule. Since it’s still three months away, I wasn’t expecting to hear about the experience of watching the movie yet, but Jim Lee just spilled the tea!

CinemaBlend was in the audience for San Diego Comic-Con’s DC Comics panel. There, the publishing company’s very own president, publisher and CCO told us his thoughts on the fall release. And it has me very hyped for what’s to come. In Jim Lee's words:

Whoa! I love a movie that can make one feel like they just went to a full-service fancy restaurant with its content. Of course, Lee didn’t get into many specifics about why he made this analogy, but this is a really solid reaction. He also said this:

Clayface’s latest trailer definitely has enough to make one squirm. It introduces Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries), an actor who becomes disfigured and feels like his life has been ruined since. So, he turns to a “fringe” scientist, Dr. Caitlin Corr (Naomi Ackie), who transforms him into something new. And the results are pretty terrifying. I know I can’t stop thinking about the plane sequence where his eyes are suddenly stuck shut. Check it out below:

I thought the horrors I witnessed in the trailer would be enough, but Jim Lee teased even more. The highly-anticipated DC movie was co-written by The Haunting of Hill House’s Mike Flanagan and produced by The Batman’s Matt Reeves. Here’s what Lee also said during the panel:

OK, so James Watkins did not come to play. The director has done a bunch of horror movies over the years, and this one is no exception. It might even be his creepiest yet. We’re already hoping it’s a big success so more horror-leaning DC movies are greenlit. Knowing more about how this one plays makes me even more optimistic. Here’s one more thing Jim Lee said about Clayface:

This is very, very high praise. Plus, it’s coming from a guy who’s considered one of the most influential names in comic books. He was notably part of the Batman: Hush comic book story arc, which had a great Clayface arc in it as well. The Clayface movie hits theaters on October 23. And this horror fan is more excited than ever.

Star Trek fans are hoping for some big announcement at San Diego Comic-Con regarding what's ahead for the franchise, as we're not sure what's on tap after the 2026 TV schedule wraps up. It's the 60th anniversary, after all, and while there are things planned for the upcoming Hall H panel, I wouldn't hold my breath for anything big.

Fortunately, we have Star Trek: Strange New Worlds returning for those with a Paramount+ subscription ahead of the convention, and the cast will be at the event. There are also some familiar faces set to appear, but I remain skeptical that any of it amounts to a new series or footage of a movie that is just around the corner.

What Star Trek Has Announced For Its Hall H Panel

Star Trek is planning to take the iconic Hall H stage at San Diego Comic-Con on July 25th, at 3:30 p.m. ET. It's been announced by Variety and others that a Strange New Worlds panel will take place, featuring the bulk of the cast. After that, there will be a 60th anniversary celebration panel, with a list of attendees already lined up.

Star Trek' Hall H Panel Guests

• Rod Roddenberry (EP and son of Creator Gene Roddenberry)
• Michael Dorn (TNG, DS9, Picard)
• Robert Picardo (VOY, Prodigy, Starfleet Academy)
• Connor Trinneer (Enterprise)
• Cirroc Lofton (DS9, Starfleet Academy)
• Doug Jones (Discovery)
• Michelle Hurd (Picard)
• Jerry O’Connell (Lower Decks)
• Christina Chong (Strange New Worlds)
• Karim Diané (Starfleet Academy)
• George Takei (TOS)

It's a great lineup of people, and I'm happy to see Star Trek: Starfleet Academy get some representation despite its quick cancellation. I'm sure it'll be a great panel, but will it result in a new series or movie announcement? Again, I'm skeptical.

Why I'd Be Shocked If We Get A Movie Or TV Show Announcement

A panel celebrating Star Trek is great, but nothing about that lineup suggests to me we'll be getting a new scripted series or an update on the upcoming movie being developed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. I could see something being announced in line with a retrospective look at the franchise or a documentary, but nothing beyond that.

Star Trek seems to be in a holding pattern, and with shows planned through 2027 and franchise head Alex Kurtzman's contract set to expire at the end of the year, it doesn't seem Paramount+ is in a hurry to announce anything else. It feels as though the franchise is prepping to bring a new face to guide Trek into a new era, though that has not been explicitly confirmed.

As Jonathan Frakes and others have pointed out, it's a bummer that the 60th anniversary of Star Trek has come and gone with so little fanfare. Here's hoping I have it wrong about the upcoming panel at San Diego Comic-Con, or possibly New York Comic-Con is going to yield some more details about what to look forward to when it comes to the future.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds premieres on Paramount+ on Thursday, July 23rd. Get hyped for the upcoming episodes, especially since we don't know when we'll get new episodes of any Trek series after it wraps.

Fans of Hallmark movies know there's no need to wait until December to celebrate the channel. In fact, the Christmas movies start so early and feature so many of the same actors the odds are always good you'll find a favorite each year, and when Christmas is over there's always spring, summer and fall movies to supplement your viewing. Several Hallmark all-stars spoke with CinemaBlend about real-life encounters with their movies on the channel, and how they can happen in the most unexpected ways.

After weighing in on whether a Hallmark kiss should include tongue, Will Kemp, B.J. Britt, Eric Cahill, and Heather Hemmens got candid about when the Christmas magic overlaps into their real lives. Will Kemp, known for installments like The Christmas Chocolatier, My Sweet Austrian Holiday, and The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango with Lacey Chabert, reflected on when he'd see one of his movies playing out and about in the world at Comic-Con earlier this year, telling CinemaBlend:

Will Kemp may be able to bring the Christmas charm, dance moves, and holiday spirit to the small screen for TV movies, but airplanes generally aren't the #1 place to feel charmed. Apparently, without the merry-and-brightness of a Hallmark holiday, the British actor is not as recognizable even just one seat over, and there's not much leg room for any waltzing.

His fellow Hallmark stars had stories of their own as well: B.J. Britt, who made an impression on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before he came to Hallmark for the Groomsmen trilogy; Heather Hemmens, known for Christmas Under the Lights as well as the Groomsmen movies; and Erin Cahill, who appeared in not one but two new holiday movies this year. Their real-life experiences are similar to what Will Kemp reported:

• B.J. Britt: "I get it from friends."
• Erin Cahill: "I get screenshots from friends at the gym. I'm like, ‘I didn't know they would play Hallmark at the gym.’"
• Heather Hemmens: "It's happened a couple times at bars and restaurants, where someone will point at [a screen] behind me, or a friend will be like 'Look!' And I'm like 'Whoa!’"

The stars were all laughing as they recalled their experiences, so these were clearly fond memories rather than anything negative in response to leaving holiday cheer in their wakes in real life. And who knows? Maybe watching movies full of Christmas cookies and candy canes can be great motivation during a workout.

While these stars have also performed on projects outside of Hallmark (and my first experience with B.J. Britt was actually on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), I associate them with the channel more than I do other shows and movies. Working with the brand has certainly helped them become beloved all over the world, and all four stars have participated in one or more of the annual Hallmark Christmas Cruises, which started back in 2024 and are scheduled to return in late 2026.

As for their real-life experiences with their movies and fans... well, keep your eyes peeled if you find yourself next to a Brit who seems oddly familiar and interested in your Christmas movie on a flight, because that might just be Will Kemp.

Wicked was pretty much everywhere by the end of 2024, and the same will likely be true to close out the 2025 movie release schedule with the second half of the musical. I had my doubts going into Part 1, because after being lucky enough to see the stage production years before the movie premiered, I just wasn't sure that there was enough in Wicked for two full films. I'm happy to say that I knew I was wrong once the final notes of Cynthia Erivo's take on "Defying Gravity" faded away in the theater last year, and I spoke with Broadway legend Michael James Scott to get his take ahead of Wicked: For Good.

Michael James Scott is best known for playing the Genie in Disney's Aladdin stage production for many years, both on Broadway in New York and in the touring company for many, many years. He also originated the roles of The Minstrel for Broadway's Something Rotten and Dr. Gotswana (perhaps better remembered as The Maggots Man) in The Book of Mormon, among many other credits.

I was fortunate enough to speak with him after he co-hosted the Her Universe Fashion Show at San Diego Comic-Con with Star Wars voice actress and his real-life hype friend Ashley Eckstein. The fashion show had a Wicked theme, with Scott belting his best Elphaba while Eckstein faced some fears to sing as Glinda. The pair sparkled in green and pink outfits when we spoke the next day, and I had to ask the Broadway vet for his thoughts on the Wicked mania of the past year. He shared:

Wicked of course isn't the first Broadway show to be adapted into a movie, and there have been Broadway productions filmed for the screen, such as Hamilton (now available streaming with a Disney+ subscription). Wicked does combine elements of both, with numbers like "No One Mourns The Wicked" and "What Is This Feeling?" in particular delivering choreography that wouldn't look out of place on the stage. According to Michael James Scott, the popularity is "really important." He went on:

While there are still a few months left before Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters, it's likely a safe bet that the pop culture buzz that surrounded the first film will be back in full force, if not increased. The Wicked: For Good trailer does spoil a thing or two that come as surprises in the stage show, but the split into two movies means that there's plenty on the way to shock even anybody who has seen the original version.

When I shared that I had my doubts about Wicked being split into two movies only to end up in tears at the end of "Defying Gravity," Michael James Scott responded:

I'd point towards "Dancing Through Life" as a number that accomplishes very different things on film vs. stage. While Elphaba and Glinda forming a friendship by the end is true to both, the nuances of the tear-jerking performances from Cynthia Erivo opposite Ariana Grande during the Ozdust dance sequence couldn't be full appreciated on stage. In contrast, the sequence was played for laughs on stage both times I was able to attend a performance. Scott went on:

Of course, the film version of Wicked also included some action sequences that can't happen on stage, but there's a certain thrill that comes with a live performance. The Broadway legend explained the perks of both formats, then went on to commend the Wicked team for bringing people who worked on the stage show to the film. Scott said:

Michael James Scott certainly belted out some of that "hardest music in the world" during the Her Universe Fashion Show with its Wicked twist, alongside Ashley Eckstein holding her own next to her Broadway pal. It's a safe bet that both will be seeing Wicked: For Good later this year. Part 2 of Wicked will be available in theaters starting on November 21, with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, and more reprising their roles from Part 1.

Superman is still making headlines long after the premiere date, and I think it's safe to say there's a new Man of Steel running DC's future. With potentially four movies to get to know David Corwenswet's hero, it also means some other heroes will be along for the ride. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, for example, and that goofy wig he has to wear.

James Gunn was delighted to talk about that wig when speaking at San Diego Comic-Con, and assured that he's going to keep the Green Lantern star around and in projects as much as he can. Of course, he joked that part of it is because he likes seeing him in the "stupid" wig he has to wear. Check out the clip, which CinemaBlend captured during the Peacemaker Season 2 panel:

What's funny to me is that James Gunn made that joke, fully knowing that he intended to have Guy Gardner appear in Peacemaker Season 2. The season premiere served as a way of retconning Zack Snyder's original DCEU, which may be why he didn't outright announce the cameo would be happening at San Diego Comic-Con.

With only so many heroes involved in the DCU, I guess it tracks that Nathan Fillion might have to wear his "stupid" Guy Gardner wig to appear in a number of upcoming superhero movies if called upon to do so. It certainly seems like the actor is game to do more movies, and even pitched a detective-style mystery movie to CinemaBlend.

Even though I wasn't a fan of how James Gunn changed the hair color of the Green Lantern, I have to concede that he was one of the best parts of the Superman movie. In a world where we're forced to wait and see whether there will be a Mr. Terrific standalone franchise, I'll settle for seeing Nathan Fillion playing Guy Gardner and ushering in other members of the Lantern Corps to properly build that universe.

It's a good thing, then, that we already know Fillion will return as the hero in the Lanterns series, set for those with an HBO Max subscription sometime in 2026. That said, the show is not centered on his character and is supposed to introduce the audience to James Gunn's versions of the famous Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart. I would assume neither of them will have to wear wigs, though they might need a bald cap.

Superman's theatrical run is still ongoing, though given how quickly movies head to streaming these days, one can imagine it won't be long before we see it pop up on HBO Max. Readers can stick with CinemaBlend as we continue to celebrate it and await news of what else is on the way for the DCU, some of which may be teased in Peacemaker Season 2.

While the 2025 movie schedule has featured big-budget blockbuster films throughout the summer, fall isn't too far off with at least one suitably spooky movie set for October. Shelby Oaks, hailing from writer/director/producer Chris Stuckmann, will debut as Neon's upcoming horror flick starring Camille Sullivan, Brendan Sexton III, Michael Beach, and Keith David, among others. Stuckmann spoke with CinemaBlend about the finished product of the film after getting the budget for reshoots and adding practical effects for the blood and gore. And it certainly shows in the trailer!

Executive produced by Mike Flanagan (who directed, wrote, and produced The Life of Chuck for Neon), Shelby Oaks follows the story of Mia (Camille Sullivan), who becomes convinced that her sister wasn't murdered after all despite evidence seeming to point to the contrary. When clues begin to drop that something more sinister is at work... well, the trailer (seen above) reveals that Mia is in for a rough ride with all the blood. Originally funded by a Kickstarter campaign that totaled nearly $1.4 million, Neon picked up the film and gave Chris Stuckmann the extra money to reshoot and add gruesome shots that originally weren't possible.

I spoke with Stuckmann at San Diego Comic-Con about going back to add to what had been a finished product of Shelby Oaks, and he immediately described Neon as "the most incredible partners who picked up a movie that was shot on a shoestring budget." He went on:

Just like with cuts being made with book-to-screen adaptations, cuts from a finished script sometimes have to happen during the process of shooting a movie. Shelby Oaks was first viewed by an audience before the reshoots back in July 2024 at Fantasia Fest in Montreal, not too long after the production company found horror success with the exceptionally creepy Longlegs. Upcoming audiences will get to see the finished product with the increased budget, which IndieWire reported was roughly $1 million. Stuckmann continued:

Shelby Oaks will release in theaters on Friday, October 3, which is toward the end of a year that has already delivered some popular horror films. Fortunately, the stars aligned for Chris Stuckmann to film the movie that was in the script.

Of course, not all productions will go the extra mile for practical effects when computer-generated effects are an option. Some actors have opened up about preferring practical effects, including Murderbot's Alexander Skårsgard despite challenges. Chris Stuckmann went on to share why he prefers doing things practically:

Shelby Oaks was the first feature that Chris Stuckmann has directed, with the added weight of writing and producing it. So, he only had good things to say about getting to go back, reshoot, and add the practical effects that can really sell horror. He concluded:

You can find Shelby Oaks in theaters starting on Friday, October 3. The timing makes it one of the first horror movies to release theatrically in October, so be sure to check it out if you want some scares to kick off the spookiest month of the year.

Napoleon Dynamite set the pop culture world ablaze when it was released 21 years ago, and everyone from kids to adults was quoting that movie back in 2004. Whether we were calling people an "idiot" while mimicking his voice or rocking a "Vote for Pedro" shirt, and apparently some of us are still doing that in 2025. Out of all the quotes for the movie that have circulated throughout the years, Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez both had picks for the ones they hear the most.

I had the honor of speaking with both actors at San Diego Comic-Con, as they're in the midst of touring and hosting screenings of Napoleon Dynamite across the United States. After hearing about how they aren't tired of talking about the film all these years later, Jon Heder told me the line fans quote at him the most:

I'm not surprised one of the options from our funniest Napoleon Dynamite quotes was the one Heder hears the most often, but I am shocked at which one resonates with fans the most. If insulting Tina the llama was really that popular amongst fans, I'd hate to be anyone Tina! I'm also not surprised that tater tots get a mention, given we mentioned it when the stars reunited close to a decade ago, and I think of the movie anytime I eat them.

Efren Ramirez's quote is likely easier to guess. Even though he's been up to a lot in the acting world since Napoleon Dynamite left theaters, everyone loves to remind him of his character's political aspirations in the comedy:

Yeah, no surprise there that Efren Ramirez is hearing that as the two travel along with co-star Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) to screen Napoleon Dynamite for audiences and reminisce about the movie. No doubt, this is only going to make fans more eager to finally see a sequel, and according to Ramirez in an interview last year, that's not off the table yet.

A sequel for Napoleon Dynamite might be perfect, given Jon Gries fame as of late for his role as Greg in The White Lotus. With this, combined with the tour, now might be the time to pull the trigger and join the growing number of cult classic films that decided to use streaming as a vehicle for their second movie.

If that's not in the cards, at least we still have one great movie and a lot of fun quotes to fall back on. Those feeling nostalgic can check out the movie right now with a HBO Max subscription, or check the tour schedule and see where Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez may pop up next!

Readers can enjoy Napoleon Dynamite on HBO Max, though I like to think I have most of the lines still memorized in the back of my mind. Fortunately, I don't remember the dance moves to the auditorium sequence toward the end, otherwise I'd still be doing it to this day.

One of the most intriguing franchise entries among the upcoming 2025 movies has to be Predator: Badlands. It will feature the Predator as the main character for the first time as he teams up with an android (played by Elle Fanning) in search of the “ultimate adversary.” In the trailers for Badlands, there’s a lot of hints at who Predators have come up against, but one that really caught my eye was the massive T-Rex head. So, when I spoke to director Dan Trachetenberg, I asked him about said dino skull.

If you haven’t been following the Predator: Badlands marketing, you might not have seen this image of a Predator trophy wall, which features all sorts of skulls from different species, including another Alien nod (aside from Elle Fanning’s Thea being from the franchise’s own Weyland-Yutani Corporation). When I brought up how I specifically want to see the dinosaur fight that brought back the biggest skull on the wall, here’s what Trachetenberg had to say:

Well that quote has me thinking! Of course, the writer/director is absolutely teasing here, and he offered no follow-up to what he’s talking about is quite “the trophy,” but it does signal that there will be some exciting kills in the movie that will perhaps rival my hopes for a Jurassic crossover of sorts.

During the interview, which took place at San Diego Comic-Con with a backdrop of the trophy room behind us (which was also used as an activation for fans to go through throughout the weekend), Fanning shared that she “can’t say” what her favorite trophy is in the movie. In other words, there’s a lot in the movie we don’t yet know about and the filmmakers and cast are hiding from us.

I don’t know about you, but it had me walking away from the interview racking my brain about what they are hiding. After Dan Trachetenberg’s last Predator movie, Killer of Killers, we were left with a lot of burning questions, such as how the filmmaker was connecting the animated movie with movies like Prey and the original Predator. Now, I’m wondering if things like the Alien easter eggs will mean something bigger is brewing between those two franchises, or if what he’s talking about will be completely out of left field from what I could even imagine.

When Predator: Badlands’ first teaser came out, there was a lot of negativity coming from fans about the upcoming release, but so far, I’m only getting more sold on the movie as I see more about it. I appreciate Trachetenberg for always trying something fresh with the franchise, starting with Prey, and I expect Badlands to be another solid entry. The movie comes out on November 7, so there’s plenty of time to theorize further until then.

The Long Walk is one of many Stephen King adaptations coming in 2025, and strangely enough, it's the second one this year to have Mark Hamill involved. While fans are stoked to see him back in an adaptation of the grim adventure in the author's works, few were as hype as the young cast of the dystopian film, all of whom were ready to talk to Luke Skywalker about Star Wars.

I had a chance to speak to actors Garrett Wareing and Tut Nyuot about The Long Walk, and had to know how long it took them (or others) to approach Hamill and ask him what he knew about any upcoming Star Wars projects, as well as seeking out stories from his many years in the franchise. Wareing talked about how the movie's sizeable cast of youngsters followed headlines about Hamill's involvement, and was quick to pounce when they saw the famed actor arrive on set:

Mark Hamill was seemingly as kind as could be, but had to give a reminder that he was there to work more than share anecdotes. It looks like he was indeed granted that time to get into his monologue and drill down on playing The Major. He's as chilling in the trailer as anything I've seen so far, so it was quite the worthwhile rehearsal period.

Wareing had nothing but kind things to say about Mark Hamill, who was by his account, a joy to work with. He showered the actor with praise and noted that they did get their Star Wars questions asked:

Those stories about Mark Hamill's days on the Star Wars set probably were needed, given just how dark the source material is. The screenwriter has promised the movie pulls no punches, and that's apparent enough in the footage we've seen so far.

The Long Walk adaptation hails from The Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence, but the story itself predates the existence of that story, others like it, and the concept of reality television. Now, the story of a group of men all signing up to be the sole survivor in a walk that doesn't end until only one remains all for a lavish prize, doesn't just sound feasible, it feels like something we'd stream with a Netflix subscription.

It's a great premise that is relevant in modern times, though when it was written, it was an allegory about the Vietnam War and the draft. It doesn't seem as though the adaptation is going to lean on that allegory as much, but as mentioned, there's plenty more happening in society today that makes the story work in a way it might not have back then. I'm excited to watch it, as well as the rest of Stephen King adaptations on the way this year.

The Long Walk is in theaters on September 12th. I would watch the trailer first before buying a ticket if you're squeamish, but I think I'm going to be there regardless despite my weak stomach.

King Of The Hill is now out in the 2025 TV schedule, and while it's great to see Hank and friends back for more fun and adventures, a lot has changed since we saw them last. CinemaBlend discovered as much with creator Mike Judge talking about how the series isn't meant to be nostalgic, but he also talked about a major change with Bobby Hill that was heavily discussed ahead of the return.

Those with a Hulu subscription can watch all ten episodes right now, and if they do, they'll see Bobby has changed a lot since Hank worried quite a bit about his son. He's off in Dallas, living with Joseph, and running a restaurant that is a fusion of Japanese and German cuisine. He has all this at only 21 years old, and Mike Judge talked about how his father plays into that amount of success at a young age:

As fun as it might've been to make Bobby a successful show pony as an adult doing anything from being a rodeo clown to a prop comic, King of the Hill's creative team wanted to make a more realistic outcome for Bobby, and they landed on co-owning a restaurant in a big city and living with Joseph Gribble.

As is touched on in King of the Hill, Bobby decided to opt out of going to college, and immediately went to work making his dream of running a Robatayaki once he got out of high school. Showrunner Saladin Patterson said that Bobby's decision to go right into the workforce was a topic of much discussion, and one deliberately made at the request of the co-creators Greg Daniels and Mike Judge:

A lot has changed in King of the Hill since Hank and Peggy returned from Saudi Arabia, both locally and politically. While it may come as a surprise about how Bobby turned out as an adult, there is some more predictable elements to the series. For example, I'm sure no one will be shocked that Bill went into seclusion once the Hills left, and no one knew how to get him out until Hank returned.

It's all part of the fun of seeing the series return, as King of the Hill very deliberately makes Hank a fish out of water in 2025. Years in Saudi Arabia have made him unaware of the etiquette of rideshare services, or all sorts of other tech his friends have had to contend with.

As someone who saw all ten episodes ahead of their release, I was a big fan of the return. While the pilot episode felt a bit wonky due to needing to set up the return, the rest of the series feels in line with classic episodes of King of the Hill. As a longtime fan, I was more than happy, and am hoping we hear more about future episodes soon.

Catch all episodes of King of the Hill on Hulu right now. It's an easy watch for anyone that has an afternoon or evening free to watch, and I'd highly recommend it if you were someone who watched and enjoy the original run of the series.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is the next upcoming Trek series after Strange New Worlds closes out Season 3, and the first look revealed at San Diego Comic-Con has me amped to see this new cast get to work in the 32nd century. I'm especially excited to see Robert Picardo's EMH back in the saddle for the first time in live-action since he starred on Voyager, and the actor confessed he had to adjust to some significant changes getting back into the role.

I had the honor to speak to Robert Picardo at San Diego Comic-Con about his latest adventure in Trek, which is set to stream for those with a Paramount+ subscription in early 2026. During our conversation, he talked about his return to live-action since Voyager (and in animation via Prodigy Season 2), and the adjustment his character had to make in going from the 24th century to the 32nd:

Robert Picardo wouldn't be the actor behind one of the best Star Trek characters if he didn't put a lot of thought into these things, and fortunately, he does. I love his explaining how the EMH has to modernize from his 24th-century mindset in Starfleet Academy, and will absolutely love his attempts to try and blend in with his new surroundings and environment.

As CinemaBlend previously confirmed in other articles, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy does intend to give standalone storylines to the EMH. Any time the EMH tried to "blend in" or understand the human condition, it resulted in some of the best episodes Voyager had in its run. Speaking of his old show, Robert Picardo talked about the responsibility he felt stepping on set as the most veteran actor representing the franchise to a young cast:

Robert Picardo is just as protective of the Doctor/EMH as the most die-hard Star Trek fans, so I expected he'd be keeping a close eye on scripts to make sure this wasn't some drastic reimagining of his character. With that in mind, how long do we think it'll take before we hear him singing opera in the new series?

Robert Picardo, along with the return of some Discovery actors, will offer some familiarity amongst a cast that is new to the Star Trek franchise. Of course, Disco was a series that caused fervent debate amongst fans, with arguments that it was too far of a deviation from the standard formula of Trek television.

We'll see if that has any bearing on the response to Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which has stacked its cast with acclaimed actors like Oscar-winner Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti. It feels like a big series that the franchise needs to work for Paramount+, which has cut all shows, including the currently airing Strange New Worlds, which will end with Season 5.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is expected to premiere in early 2026, but we still don't have a firm release date for it yet. There was no further word on Trek projects beyond this one, so perhaps we'll learn something later this year about a new show in development.

A good Hallmark Rom-Com needs that moment where the couple finally gets together. It needs a payoff for riding the will-they-or-won’t-they highs and lows. It needs the lead couple to finally give us the kiss we’ve been waiting for. But what should that kiss look like? Or taste like? Should there be a little bit of tongue?

We were recently at San Diego Comic-Con and got a chance to meet with a lot of Hallmark’s regular players to talk about their upcoming movies and TV shows. More importantly, we also gave them a chance to settle the debate. When it comes to the big movie kiss, should the actors give us a little bit of tongue? You can check out the answers from Chyler Leigh, Holland Roden, Erin Cahil and more Hallmark favorites…

To paraphrase Tyler Hynes, who you may also recognize from Letterkenny, the right kiss is whatever both of the co-stars are comfortable with. It definitely isn’t slobbering all over each other like high school kids in the backseat of a car, but it also isn’t a quick peck on the lips. You need to let the audience see the passion and the release of all that sexual tension, but you don’t need to feel like they’re about to start taking off layers of clothing. As Christine Taylor put it in The Wedding Singer, you’re looking for church tongue.

One of the things I love most about Hallmark is how often you see the same faces. The network does a good job of bringing in just enough new talent, but in general, you really get to know the same few dozen actors who work on several movies or TV series each year. Because of that, it was fun for us here at CinemaBlend to speculate on who might be down for a little tongue and who might not want to go there.

Regardless of whether they’re okay with opening their mouths during their on-screen kisses or not, you’ll be able to see everyone in the video back for some upcoming movies in the near future. We’re still a few months away from the much-loved holiday movie season starting, but that’s no longer a problem for fans. Hallmark’s upcoming movie schedule now includes at least one premiere every weekend, sometimes two.

Most are of the standard romance variety, but the network has also diversified with more mystery series. Those usually include at least some romantic flirting, but sometimes you need to wait multiple movies to finally get that kiss. Fortunately, that means it’s all the more satisfying when it finally does happen. Besides, waiting a few movies is nothing like the wait we’ve gotten on some classic network TV procedurals in the past.

Between the 2025 movie calendar and the 2025 TV schedule, we have both Predator and Alien installments to look forward to in the near future. Plus, since they are both being made under Disney banners, fans have been wondering if the two franchises could merge once again. When I spoke to Predator: Badlands writer/director at SDCC last week, he shared thoughts on the possibility.

While at San Diego Comic-Con, fans could look one way and see a massive poster for the new Alien series coming to FX/Hulu this month, and look another and see marketing for Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator: Badlands movie. So when I had the chance to talk to the filmmaker, I asked him if the environment brings about any thoughts regarding the next Alien and Predator crossover. Here’s what he had to say:

By “this,” he is talking about Badlands, which already includes some nods to the Alien universe. For example, Elle Fanning’s character Thea is an android from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, which started in the Alien movies. Trachtenberg has previously said that when he was coming up with the idea for his third Predator movie, he decided he wanted to make one without human characters, and figured there was already “a company that makes robots” from the Alien movies.

As a fan of both franchises, I really appreciate how he handled this question. The writer/director sounds like he’s into the idea, and he is already finding ways to connect the dots, but wants to make sure that if he is part of the two coming together, it doesn’t feel like two action figures being smashed together for no reason. As Fanning added, perhaps a “build” to the next Alien vs. Predator is the best way to go.

While there are definitely theories out there that Predator: Badlands could become a full-blown Alien/Predator movie, Trachtenberg simply called it a “toe dip” into them sharing universes. As you might have also noticed in the trailers, there’s the skull of a Xenomorph on a trophy wall, along with things like a dinosaur head and so forth. When I asked him about those easter eggs, here’s what he had to say:

I think we’re going to have to wait for the movie’s release on November 7 to fully understand the implications of Badlands on the Alien universe, but it’s definitely worth noting that Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez has shared interest in connecting them, once suggesting that he and Trachtenberg could collaborate as directors. I know I’ll be paying close attention while watching both Alien: Earth and Predator: Badlands in the coming months.

Tron: Ares is on its way to theaters later this year, and finally, we'll get to see the movie Jared Leto has been fighting to make happen for a decade. His passion, along with the stellar cast attached, has led me to trust that the Disney franchise is headed in the right direction with its return to theaters. Of course, it couldn't all be perfect, and the fact that Daft Punk is no longer together made me sad that they wouldn't be along for the ride.

Fans rejoiced when it was announced that Nine Inch Nails would be doing the soundtrack for Tron: Ares, and while I'm a fan of their music, I had my doubts. I know, it sounds wild to anyone remotely familiar with their music, but let me talk about my skepticism and how the footage at San Diego Comic-Con took away all my fears about the music.

I Had Worries Nine Inch Nails Was A Miscasting For A Tron Soundtrack

I'm well aware that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have had both a successful and critically acclaimed career in both mainstream music and in Hollywood. Reznor has even said he prefers making scores to making albums, and when they're doing the latter, they go by their band name Nine Inch Nails. In my mind, they make the distinction because the musical style is different when they use their stage name, so I was a bit rattled when I saw they were using it when being credited for the music in Tron: Ares.

Nine Inch Nails has made some great music over the years, but their brand of Industrial techno metal didn't fit the vibe of Tron. Certainly not in the way Daft Punk did, which felt like a far more natural fit even ahead of hearing any music in Tron: Legacy. I didn't know how it was going to work until I was seated in Hall H and got to watch a few scenes and hear the score with my own ears.

After Listening To The Music In A Few Scenes, I'm No Longer Worried

I guess, in hindsight, it was silly for me to believe the House of Mouse would let a song as extreme as "Closer" be available to hear with a Disney+ subscription, but Nine Inch Nails understood the assignment here. If you're a fan of the music group, the flashes of what makes them great are still there, but this is a soundtrack that is entirely Tron and not industrial metal.

At the same time, you'll hear the clear Nine Inch Nails influence all throughout the music. Whether that's the grungey scraping of metal in a chase scene where Jared Leto's Ares is evading capture, or Trent Reznor's voice singing softly over some mind-blowing action scene unfolding on the screen.

I could describe it, but fortunately, Disney dropped the track "As Alive As You Need Me To Be" for people to listen to. Don't worry, there are definitely tracks we heard that have less vocals and more music, but I think I should note that the parts with lyrics didn't feel out of place. Again, I shouldn't be surprised that the people who made the criminally underrated Challengers score know what works in a movie.

The Soundtrack Might Surpass Daft Punk's Work In Tron: Legacy

It feels too soon to say this, but I'm going to make an early prediction here and say that the Nine Inch Nails soundtrack for Tron: Ares will be more fondly remembered than the one done by Daft Punk. As much as I love the latter, I think the musical duo may have sacrificed a bit too much of their identity as artists to make something that felt entirely like it belonged in Tron. Now that I've heard what it sounds like to have a music group inject their own style into Tron but still retain the core of what makes that technological aesthetic so great, I think I prefer it.

Of course, I'm not the end-all be-all when it comes down to it. Audiences will decide for themselves when Tron: Ares hits the upcoming movie schedule on October 10th. Until then, get hype to the music we've heard so far, and maybe get acquainted with NIN if you aren't already.

King of the Hill is finally making its big return on the 2025 TV schedule, and I think fans who fire up their Hulu subscription on Monday will quickly be met with one inevitable truth about the new episodes. A lot has changed in Arlen over the decades, and it's not just the viewers who will struggle to cope with that. Hank and Peggy have been overseas for quite some time, and will spend some time playing catch-up with the new Texas and all the changes happening within their friend group.

It's certainly not a return that will invoke nostalgia, but as Toby Huss and Mike Judge said when I spoke to the them and the cast at San Diego Comic-Con, that's by design. America as a whole has changed in the decade and a half since King of the Hill left television, and Huss mentioned a comparison creator Judge made about how viewers should see this series:

Things have changed for every character in King of the Hill, as CinemaBlend wrote about when we pointed out key details in posters and other footage we've seen. Arlen is not the same place it was when Hank and Peggy left, and it takes both a while to find their footing.

Fortunately, Mike Judge said that exact premise is what really got the ideas rolling in the King of the Hill writers' room. The creator told me that once they landed on the idea of Hank taking a contract to live on an American base in Saudi Arabia for several years, it began to make sense why they felt like fishes out of water when returning to Texas:

Living on an American base abroad has, as one might guess, made Hank and Peggy a bit out of touch as to how much America has changed in their absence. Not to worry though, as the entire alley gang and Bobby have been there, and are ready to fill them in as I've witnessed across the episodes I received ahead of the premiere.

The good news is that while the series is not nostalgic in tone, it certainly feels like classic King of the Hill. Despite the tragic deaths of past actors (including the more recent losses of Dale actor Johnny Hardwick and John Redcorn actor Jonathan Joss), the series hasn't lost a step in finding ways to give new adventures on par with some of the greatest episodes of the show's past.

I saw the entire series ahead of its arrival, and as a longtime King of the Hill fan, I can confidently say I want a lot more episodes. I particularly like the decision to age up characters like Bobby, Joseph and Connie, as it presents a fresh new storyline that not only is interesting, but incredibly relevant to the lives of young adults today.

Readers will get to see for themselves when they watch King of the Hill's return on Hulu on Monday, August 4th. I'm excited to see the world's response to the show returning, and I'm hoping it's big enough that a Season 2 renewal is just around the corner.

The Legend of Vox Machina brought Critical Role’s first Dungeons & Dragons game to animation for anybody with a Prime Video subscription back in 2022, and now the company of voice actors are bringing their second campaign to the small screen before the end of the 2025 TV schedule. Called The Mighty Nein, a new sneak peek shows that

a similar animation style doesn’t mean that this will be Legend of Vox Machina 2.0. As somebody without much background on the Mighty Nein campaign other than what I gleaned while researching Tusk Love, I’m pretty sure I already have a favorite anyway.

Prime Video’s The Mighty Nein

Major updates on The Mighty Nein were announced as part of Critical Role’s Prime Video panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, including a big treat for fans of the campaign who have been waiting years for the animated adaptation. Season 1 will premiere on November 19, and the SDCC reveals confirm that The Legend of Vox Machina isn't the only show from the company that can recruit big names as guest stars.

Among those guest stars are Mark Strong, Alan Cumming, Tim McGraw, Anika Noni Rose, Ming-Na Wen, Auli’i Cravalho, Rahul Kohli, Robbie Daymond, and Jonathan Frakes. With guests like country superstar Tim McGraw and Disney movie musical vets Anika Noni Rose and Auli’i Cravalho, I have to wonder if The Mighty Nein has found ways to include original songs without having a bard on the team, like Vox Machina’s Scanlan (Sam Riegel). The misfits join forces to try and save the realm when The Beacon, a powerful arcane weapon, falls into the wrong hands.

The series will follow a group of fugitives and outcasts, including Laura Bailey as Jester Lavorre, Liam O’Brien as Caleb Widogast, Marisha Ray as Beauregard Lionett, Travis Willingham as Fjord Stone, Taliesin Jaffe as Mollymauk Tealeaf, Riegel as Nott, Ashley Johnson as Yasha Nydoorin, and Matt Mercer – if true to LOVM style – voicing many, many characters. Now, if I was picking my favorite character based on nothing but name, I’d probably have to go with Mollymauk Tealeaf, but the sneak peek has me choosing somebody else based on more substance than a whimsical name.

Take a look:

I’m not sure if this is a snippet from an episode of The Mighty Nein or an in medias res opening to the series similar to what Critical Role did with The Legend of Vox Machina in a tavern, but I do know who made me laugh the most and therefore became my favorite character.

I Already Love Caleb Widogast

Have I magically picked up all the background info about the Mighty Nein – or Sensual Seven – based on less than two minutes of a sneak peek, which doesn’t even feature Ashley Johnson’s Yasha? I have not, and the cast is showing off a variety of different accents than their Vox Machina characters. It is definitely enough for me to understand why there was so much of Jester involved in the packaging of Tusk Love, but my favorite? That would be Caleb.

Characters like Jester and Nott seem like they’ve been set up to be the most comedic characters, but the one who actually got me to laugh out loud was Caleb. I think that Liam O’Brien may be speaking real-life German rather than an original language to Critical Role, but I’m also pretty confident that Caleb isn’t going to spend the whole series speaking in subtitles.

A seemingly straight man character speaking a different language just to avoid interrogation while goofier characters cause a scene? I’m in. Plus, if that is real German, the group’s name basically means “Mighty No,” which is also funny.

Will I still favor Caleb when The Mighty Nein premieres? Only time will tell, but Critical Role fans can look forward to the new series before the end of the year, while The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 won’t arrive until 2026. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 19 to see the Mighty Nein in action!

San Diego Comic-Con might be most known to casuals for all the celebrities that attend its movie and television panels, but it’s also one of the most important weekends of the year for toy collectors. That’s because almost all of the major companies have extensive set-ups and reveal a lot of what’s upcoming. This year was no exception, and days later, I’m still fired up about a ton of upcoming toys we’re getting.

I couldn’t possibly touch on all the cool figures and spectacular sets that got shown off, but I would like to give a little shine to a few things I’m particularly excited about. So, here’s a quick roundup of my favorite toy reveals at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con.

The Upcoming Wave Of Walmart Exclusive WWE Superstars

There’s no wrestling figure line that’s more frustrating to collect than WWE Superstars. They’re exclusive to Wal-Mart and the distribution is patchy at best. Some stores will inexplicably get ten boxes of a single wave and never get in the next one. It takes a lot of patience and hunting, but for my money, there’s no figure line that displays better than this one.

Each figure comes with accessories and cloth goods, and since most of the characters are splashy, larger than life wrestlers from the 80s and early 90s, the combination is a really toyetic visual. I can’t get enough, and Mattel has (mostly) shown a really good, intuitive sense of what characters fans want in the line.

That was proven once again with these latest reveals, particularly on the right hand side of the above picture with new additions Hacksaw Jim Duggan and the three members of Demolition: Ax, Smash and Crush. All four of these characters are ones fans have been clamoring for, and the final products have me even more excited. A few more waves still need to hit stores before we get these, but hopefully they’ll be in retail by the end of the year. I know I’ll be buying them.

LEGO’s Arkham Asylum Set

One of our video editors here at CinemaBlend, Gabe Kovacs, sent me a picture of the Arkham Asylum set as it was displayed on the Comic-Con floor, and I stopped working for like fifteen or twenty minutes. Who could possibly focus on pulling data when they just found out this exists? No one. Not a single superhero among us could.

The above set features 16 characters including Batman, Harley Quinn, The Joker and even security guards so you’ll have unimportant people to kill off. It’s also a 24 day advent calendar and splits into three distinct levels (a first floor, second floor and roof) so you can move characters around as easily as possible.

LEGO is putting this up for preorder on September 9th for LEGO Insiders, and it’ll be available for everyone else on September 12th. I’d order quickly because even with the $299.99 price point, it’ll probably be gone quickly.

Magic The Gathering’s Collaboration With Marvel Legends

Wizards Of The Coast has been working with Marvel since 2023, but I’m particularly excited about this upcoming collaboration with Marvel Legends and more specifically, Spider-Man. On September 26th, Magic The Gathering is going to be dropping a Spider-Man tie-in that features promo cards from Peter Parker’s universe. Characters including Aunt May, Doc Ock, Gwen Stacy and Venom will be getting their own, and the samples look fantastic.

I’m particularly attracted to the art work and how much it pops within the traditional confines of a Magic The Gathering card. It’s a great visual look, and I think this set is going to go over really well with both traditional MTG players and Spider-Man fans who want to express their fandom in a different way. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.

Street Fighter’s Collaboration With WWE

WWE is no stranger to figure crossover lines. Last year we got a set featuring the most popular superstars as TMNT characters. Before that, we got a dynamite crossover with Masters Of The Universe. Now, it’s Street Fighter’s turn.

If you would have told me before Comic-Con, I would have been mildly interested in this collaboration, but after seeing the actual figures, I’m blown away. The Ultimate Warrior as Blanka with orange chest hair has been the clear fan favorite, but every figure in the line looks really good. The Rock as M Bison is also a standout, as is the packaging, which is made to look like a classic arcade game.

Abbott Elementary is one of the funniest shows on TV. It has been partially responsible for keeping the network sitcom alive in the era of streaming, and it has racked up numerous Emmys in the process. One of the funniest things the show has done was one of its most recent endeavors, where the Abbott Elementary cast teamed up with the cast of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a crossover. The result was hilarious, and Abbott Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph recently got blunt about what it was like working with the hooligans over at It’s Always Sunny.

Ralph recently made an appearance with the rest of the Abbott actors at San Diego Comic-Con, where they chatted about the iconic crossover episodes. She hilariously admitted that working on the It’s Always Sunny set was a bit of a culture shock, considering how pristine and well-behaved the Abbott environment is. She revealed during the panel that CinemaBlend attended:

Clearly, working on the dive bar set of It’s Always Sunny was completely different than working in a school environment. Quinta Brunson was quick to jump in and note that the set wasn’t actually dirty; it was dressed to look that way to match the tone of the show. Ralph relented her point, but clearly was shaken by the stark differences between the spaces that the television casts spend most of their time.

Her co-star, Lisa Ann Walter, also jumped in, explaining that Ralph had a little bit of an issue with how the It’s Always Sunny cast operated when it came to improvising. Apparently, Charlie Day went off the rails ad libbing lines, trying some wildly inappropriate takes that had Ralph comically beside herself. You can see the full video of the Emmy winner reliving this moment during the panel below (via CinemaBlend's Instagram):

Even if the whole thing was a complete departure from what the Abbott cast was used to, fans are loving the It’s Always Sunny crossover episodes. Both episodes do a great job of juxtaposing the tones of the shows while still emphasizing the Philadelphia setting that they share. The adlibbing may have been jarring, but it created a lot of great moments, even if some had to be cut in the end.

Even if Sheryl Lee Ralph was scandalized by some of the behavior on the much raunchier show they were collaborating with, it doesn’t seem like the entire cast felt that way. They were all laughing while recounting the crossover at the panel, and Brunson totally let loose during her scenes on the R-rated It’s Always Sunny episode that aired a few weeks ago.

Abbott is a very family-friendly show, so I think it’s fun that ABC was open to exploring a more hard-core version of these characters, and I hope both casts, including Sheryl Lee Ralph, will be open to doing something so daring and fresh in the future.

You can stream both crossover episodes of Abbott Elementary and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia now with a Hulu subscription. For more information on other exciting premiere episodes heading to streaming this year -- including the Season 5 premiere of Abbott -- make sure to check out our 2025 TV schedule.

Believe it or not, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the premiere of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender, but the fandom has only grown in the two decades since the very first episode aired. With one spinoff already produced and a second on the way to follow the journeys of new Avatars, there's still a major treat coming for viewers who will always love the OG Team Avatar. The Legend of Aang is on the way to continue the stories of the original team into young adulthood as a theatrical film. The catch? The OG voice actors aren't part of the deal, and Jack DeSena opened up about the new voice of Sokka.

Jack DeSena was among the Avatar franchise stars who spoke with CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con, shortly after the 20th anniversary panel that came with nostalgic moments as well as news announcements. No footage was yet available for Avatar: The Legend of Aang, but the new voice cast had largely already been announced for the older version of the TLA gang: Eric Nam as Aang, Dionne Quan as Toph, Jessica Matten as Katara, and Román Zaragoza as Sokka.

I asked DeSena for his take on Sokka's journey continuing on screen in The Legend of Aang, which of course has another actor taking the reins. DeSena, who had previously shared his thoughts on Sokka not having bending abilities and why the original show remains relevant, responded:

Jack DeSena was enthusiastic about Sokka's story continuing, with no hint of reservation that another actor will portray the older version of his longtime character. Interestingly, Sokka didn't need an older voice actor in The Legend of Korra, as Sokka had died prior to the events of the spinoff. The Legend of Aang's place in the timeline of course puts it between the end of TLA and beginning of Korra, and I can't help but wonder if The Legend of Aang will deviate from the events of the comics that continued the stories from The Last Airbender on the page.

While there are more questions than answers about The Legend of Aang since it was announced in 2022 other than the voice cast, the October 2026 premiere date, and Lauren Montgomery as director, Jack DeSena raised a fun question that could be answered in a story continuing Sokka's journey:

I can't say that I ever considered that a post-The Last Airbender project could include Hawky among characters whose stories are expanded, but I'm all for it! Work is surely never done for a messenger hawk in the hands of Sokka, right?

DeSena mentioning Hawky reminded me of another addition to The Last Airbender's third and final season for Sokka: the sword forged by the character out of the ore from a meteorite that had recently fallen from the sky. Or, as Sokka called it: Space Sword. The actor shared a theory for the fate of Space Sword as well, and I'm 100% on board with it even if it isn't made canon in The Legend of Aang. He said:

As far as I'm concerned, unless canonically contradicted, the official story is that Toph found and recovered Space Sword for Sokka after the events of the Season 3 finale. It would only be fitting after he lost the sword when he threw it at an enemy soldier in a desperate effort to save both of their lives, and now all I want from The Legend of Aang is confirmation.

Unfortunately, Avatar: The Legend of Aang is still more than a year away with a premiere date of October 9, 2026. In the meantime, fans can always revisit the three seasons of Avatar: The Last Airbender, currently available streaming with a Netflix subscription and a Paramount+ subscription.

Another San Diego Comic-Con has come and gone, but not without the Her Universe Fashion Show embracing glitz, glam, and geek couture for the eleventh year. Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein and co-host Michael James Scott embraced all things Universal and Wicked for the event this time. Eckstein's was of course a familiar name in the SDCC sphere even before the fashion show thanks to her role as the voice of Star Wars' Ahsoka Tano, but it turns out that even being part of as formidable franchise as Star Wars didn't mean overcoming all of her fears about performing.

She and her co-host spoke with CinemaBlend about going full Wicked for SDCC this year, including why she pushed herself to play the Glinda to her Broadway best friend's Elphaba. I was fortunate enough to attend the Her Universe Fashion Show for the first time this year after Eckstein had opened up about leaning into Wicked and defying fashion. The Her Universe founder teased ahead of time that there "will be singing" with Michael James Scott on stage, but she joined him to kick off the fashion show with a medley of Wicked songs, including "Defying Gravity."

For Eckstein, the performance marked the first time she sang in public in 25 years, and it was in front of one of the stars of Wicked no less, with Nessarose actress Marissa Bode in attendance as a fashion show judge. She explained why she ended up singing:

Ashley Eckstein overcame nerves to host the Her Universe Fashion Show in the first place as well as tackle projects like her Star Wars Mindful Matters shorts, but singing Wicked was unlike anything she'd faced as a performer in public before. She went on:

Michael James Scott came to the Her Universe Fashion Show not only as Ashley Eckstein's longtime friend, but with a long list of Broadway credits including Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, and – one of my personal favorite musicals – Something Rotten.

He explained that he "grew up knowing and actually hearing Ashley sing" since they went to high school together, but Wicked does have "really, truly, some of the hardest music in the world." Eckstein elaborated on his point of being "excited about being alive and singing and being an artist," saying:

From my place in the audience of the fashion show, I never would have guessed that she hadn't sung publicly in decades, and Michael James Scott confirmed "that is the reaction from literally, basically everyone," and reiterated to his friend that she "can sing" and is a singer now. Ashley Eckstein went on to share why she decided to move past her nerves and perform with him:

Ashley Eckstein and Michael James Scott were quite literally sparkling in pink and green outfits worthy of Wicked when we spoke at San Diego Comic-Con. This was Her Universe's biggest year yet with the fashion show, and the timing couldn't have been better for the Wicked theme. After the first movie won over audiences last year, Wicked: For Good arrives in theaters on November 21 in the 2025 movie schedule. As for Her Universe, it remains to be seen what Eckstein will have in store for 2026.

After Longlegs (one of the best movies of 2024) and his gory Stephen King adaptation, The Monkey, Osgood Perkins already has another upcoming horror movie that's set to hit theaters this fall. It’s called Keeper and, so far, there have been a lot more questions and theories in regard to what the movie is actually about. So, when I caught up with Perkins and the movie’s star, Tatiana Maslany, at San Diego Comic-Con on behalf of CinemaBlend last week, they helped clear up some of the most common misconceptions about the production.

Osgood Perkins Shares His Intentions Behind Keeper's Teaser Trailer

Last week, the first teaser for Keeper hit YouTube, and it got fans speculating about what exactly is being planned by the filmmaker who showcased Nicolas Cage's creepy performance in Longlegs. Since the first look dropped, fans have been theorizing that the movie occurs across different time periods and will perhaps be similar to the first-person POV of the critically-acclaimed early 2025 movie Presence. When I brought these ideas to Perkins, here’s what he had to say:

I honestly imagined a blaring game show button sound when Perkins shot down the fan theories I’ve seen rolling around the internet. (To be honest, I've also discussed those ideas with my other horror-loving co-workers.) It sounds like the teaser is very much a teaser, and purposefully doesn’t give away much from the movie itself. As the filmmaker continued:

These days, audiences so used to seeing movies spelled out for them in trailers, but Osgood Perkins and Neon are taking a different approach for the new horror movie. Thank goodness too, because my lack of knowledge about the specifics actually has me more excited for the film somehow.

What Keeper Is Actually About

Now, of course, I did seek out clarity about what exactly fans should be expecting from Keeper. Here’s what Perkins said about the subject matter of his next movie:

Perkins told us he was interested in the “horrors of relationships,” and was also trying to make a movie for less than $1 million. As he continued:

In short, the director is taking a common trope in horror movies and putting his own spin on it. With that in mind, I’m so interested in what we’ll get with Keeper. Especially with Neon also having another relationship movie, Together, which features body horror moments.

Tatiana Maslany Shares Her Reaction To Seeing Keeper For The First Time

During the interview, Tatiana Maslany also teased Keeper for us by sharing her reaction to seeing the movie for herself. As she explained:

Maslany also brought up how the movie “couldn’t be more different” from both The Monkey (which we give four stars in our review), which she actually shot after this latest film and even Longlegs. The actress also called it a “way adult movie,” particularly due to how it approaches romantic relationships.

After speaking with Osgood Perkins and Tatiana Maslany, I'm definitely even more intrigued and curious about what horrors are to come in Keeper. The film is set to hit theaters amid the 2025 movie schedule on November 14 and, in the meantime, try not to get too wrapped up in those theories.

New episodes of King of the Hill are set to premiere as part of the 2025 TV schedule years after the series originally ended in 2009. Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. Hank and Peggy will have to adapt to new elements in Arlen, Texas after spending a good deal of time overseas. Some things, however, have not changed, including the now-adult Bobby's voice. CinemaBlend actually spoke to his voice actress and the series' showrunner, who shed light on that creative decision.

I had the honor of speaking to the creators and cast of King of the Hill during San Diego Comic-Con 2025. During, the chat, I specifically asked Pamela Adlon if she'd given any thought to changing Bobby's voice for the revival. The actress said the decision was more up to Mike Judge, Greg Daniels and showrunner Saladin Patterson but that there had been a lot of discussions by the time she was officially tapped to reprise her role:

King of the Hill isn't the first series to have this unique situation, and it's actually something that's come up quite a bit in the anime genre. Dragon Ball hero Goku has been voiced by a woman, Masako Nozawa, since he was introduced back in the 1980s. While Americans are used to Goku having a distinct child and adult voice, it's not an issue at all for Japanese fans that the character is currently voiced by an 88-year-old woman.

Normally, I wouldn't compare the two, but it feels apt, given the context of how Americans see King of the Hill. Showrunner Saladin Patterson told me that the reason we'll ultimately hear Bobby with the exact same voice when viewers stream the revival using a Hulu subscription is that he decided that is what the fans would want:

The fact that Bobby Hill's voice is the exact same may be a comfort to some, especially since King of the Hill was forced to make some. Said creative moves were partially due to the death of Dale voice actor Johnny Hardwick. Toby Huss has taken over playing the character, and his former role as voice of Kahn Souphanousinphone will be played by Ronny Chieng. It's an adjustment that won't go unnoticed but, ultimately, the spirits of both characters are still alive.

I think it would be much harder to cope with a voice as iconic as Bobby Hill suddenly being changed to a more gruff tone. For me, it would've been disturbing to hear him sounding any other way, and I think the familiarity helps with some of the other changes with the character we see in the revival.

With all that said, change is a big theme of King Of The Hill's latest season, as Hank and Peggy get reacquainted with American life after living on an idyllic American base in Saudi Arabia. As someone who zoomed through the eight episodes pretty quickly, I'm already hungry for more seasons, and happy that Hank and Peggy are back in Arlen -- that they reunite with a son who still sounds like he always has.

Watch all new episodes of King of the Hill when they drop on Hulu on August 4th. I'm hoping the series gets enough attention to score a quick renewal.

John Cena is one of the most successful WWE stars to jump into the acting game. The current WWE champ is officially wrapping up his career in the ring this year, but there will certainly be elements of that time that will follow him forever. Chief among them is his classic “You can’t see me” catchphrase. Cena seems to embrace those continued quips as they come, though his Peacemaker collaborator, James Gunn, isn't much of a fan, to Cena's amusement.

Cena’s WWE line has ended up on t-shirts and has become a meme in its own right that often takes the statement literally, suggesting that Cena is in pictures where he is not, but is actually invisible. While CinemaBlend was in the audience during the Peacemaker Season 2 panel at SDCC, Cena revealed Gunn's disdain for the catchphrase, and he proceeded to initiate in entire bit in order to troll the DC Studios co-head. Check it out:

Cena’s discussion of being “invisible” came following a question regarding the fact that he will play multiple versions of the Peacemaker character during Season 2 of the HBO Max series. It does not appear that any of the versions of the character will actually be invisible, if only for the reason that James Gunn writes the show and he doesn’t think the jokes are funny.

It can’t really be argued that the "You Can’t See Me" jokes aren’t incredibly silly. However, it seems that Cena doesn’t mind that. For whatever reason, it’s not entirely clear why Gunn doesn’t love the gags so much. While Gunn is laughing through the exchange, he certainly doesn't look like he doesn’t thinks it’s that funny.

As somebody who does find it all funny, I love the meme -- and I think I also love that James Gunn hates it. It honestly makes the entire thing funnier. Not everybody in Hollywood dislikes the joke. John Cena’s Barbie co-star, Simu Liu, leaned into the meme for Cena’s birthday last year. The comments on our Instagram post also clearly find it funny, as many of them are making jokes about James Gunn doing the Peacemaker Season 2 panel without Cena in attendance.

Whether the meme will ever die remains to be seen. John Cena has officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling at the end of 2025, which means that part of his professional life will become history. It means he won’t be actively associated with that character anymore, though it certainly doesn’t mean it will be forgotten. We still make jokes about smelling what The Rock is cooking today, although the answer is usually a massive cheat meal.

While James Gunn may not find invisible John Cena funny, he clearly thinks John Cena is quite funny. Peacemaker’s first season was a delight, and Season 2 has every reason to be just as good, if not better. The one thing that can be certain is that throughout the next season, we'll alweays be able to see John Cena.

Check out the second season of DC's Peacemaker when it premieres on HBO Max on August 21 amid the 2025 TV schedule.

San Diego Comic-Con gave us our first good look at Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and the return of Voyager star Robert Picardo as the EMH. While the series is centered on the first batch of new recruits to Starfleet in the 32nd century, I think there are more than a few longtime fans who are also highly anticipating seeing one of the best Star Trek characters back in action. I'm one of those people, and I was thrilled when the actor told me one way the show will mirror Voyager.

The EMH, or Doctor, will serve as an instructor in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, but that doesn't mean he's stuck in the classroom. I had a chance to speak with Picardo at Comic-Con, and I asked if there was room for any of those iconic standalone episodes the character received in Voyager. They're arguably the best episodes of the series, and I received confirmation from him that there's a good chance Doctor will be getting a standalone adventure or two in this new series:

If you're a Voyager fan like me, you're probably as psyched as I was in the moment to hear that. If you're not sure how to feel about that, let me just drop a quick reminder that some of the best EMH episodes are just a few clicks away if you have a Paramount+ subscription. Here are some of my favorites:

• "Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy" Season 6 Episode 4
• "Latent Image" Season 5 Episode 11
• "Living Witness" Season 4 Episode 23
• "Virtuoso" Season 6 Episode 13
• "Real Life" Season 3 Episode 22

Each of those episodes involved The EMH in a position where he was forced to reconcile with humanity in ways that a program struggled to understand. Now, with 800 years of service to Starfleet under his belt, I would think he's more seasoned and has plenty of things he understands about humanity, as well as the other species puttering around the galaxy.

Robert Picardo even hinted that he'll have one major interaction with a key character in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, and thanks to the panel at San Diego Comic-Con, I think I have a read on who. Starfleet Academy cast member Kerrice Brooks will play Sam, a Kasqian, which was confirmed to be a "photonic" species by Alex Kurtzman. She's a hologram, and one has to think she'll be consulting the EMH a lot as she seeks out advice on how to interact and mingle with her carbon-based peers.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will also feature many returning actors, namely from Discovery, which also took place in the 32nd century in its latter seasons. While the trailer showed us Tig Notaro's Jett Reno, a few pointed out that Mary Wiseman's Tilly was absent from the trailer. It seems strange, given that Tilly joining the Academy was a big part of her storyline in Discovery, so that'll be something to think about as we wait for more trailers.

However, for now, I'm just delighted with the news Picardo provided us.

Now, we'll have to get through the rest of the 2025 TV schedule first, but then it's time for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy in early 2026. Of course, Strange New Worlds Season 3 is airing right now on Paramount+, so check that out and other past Trek shows as well.

We still have some time before the upcoming Star Trek series Starfleet Academy will be available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription, and waiting for the series has become even more stressful now that the full trailer is here to show off the new cast, as well as some returning favorites back in action within the 32nd century. The new series is arriving at a big time for Paramount Global, with the impending merger with Skydance already hinting at big changes to come.

The merger's headline-sparking peak arguably came with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert's cancellation, though Skydance's reps have since disputed speculation that the show was killed as a way to make amends with Donald Trump following the President's lawsuit against Paramount. Skydance's merger confirmation also addressed ending the studio's currently active diversity initiative programs, which might have some Star Trek fans wondering what that means for a series that celebrates diversity.

I asked Star Trek: Voyager and Prodigy vet Robert Picardo if he expected any drastic changes to affect Starfleet Academy and/or the franchise as a whole. He told me:

Picardo's words are similar to what Alex Kurtzman told us about the future back when talks of the Skydance/Paramount merger were still in earlier stages, saying that Star Trek is going to continue to do its own thing regardless of who's running the show.As Robert Picardo so eloquently put it, the franchise's DNA has a "baked in" diversity, and any changes at the highest level don't seem too concerning for those working on the show.

Robert Picardo also addressed the values the talented Starfleet Academy cast and crew will look to instill when the new series arrives. It's meant to mirror the issues that current young adults are facing today, with the actor pointing out how they tape into Trek's core values, saying:

For now, it seems like Star Trek's creatives plan to stay the course and keep shows like Starfleet Academy going well into the future. One can only hope that optimism is shared by everyone at both merging companies., with Robert Picardo, Alex Kurtzman and more invested in protecting this longstanding sci-fi legacy.

All that being said, it is worth mentioning that Alex Kurtzman's overall deal with CBS Studios is set to expire at the end of 2026, with Variety reporting his current deal having been renewed back in 2021. There hasn't been further news about whether that deal will be renewed again, which could throw a stick in the spokes.

It will be interesting to see how the next year unfolds, and whether Kurtzman will remain in charge of Star Trek's TV-verse beyond 2026, or if another creative team will be given the reins. If the latter happens, one would hope the producers will bring in someone who is still interested in maintaining the core values that Gene Roddenberry established decades ago and continues to do so as the world changes and evolves.

Starfleet Academy premieres on Paramount+ in early 2026. while new episodes of Strange New Worlds debut on Thursdays.

Can you hear the sounds of laughing children as your nose perks up at the smells of popcorn and funnel cakes fill the air? That means Pennywise must be near, and he is indeed present and accounted for in the tension-soaked new trailer for the Stephen King-inspired prequel IT: Welcome to Derry, even if the dancing clown’s actual visage is still yet to be revealed. No matter, as there are plenty of other highlights to get excited about, especially after those rumors about a huge The Shining crossover were confirmed at SDCC.

That’s right, fans’ suspicions about Chris Chalk’s Derry character were revealed to be right on the money, as the Gotham vet will be taking on the iconic role of Dick Halloran, whose ability to shine made him both a hero and a victim in King’s classic The Shining. (The character was famously portrayed by Scatman Cruthers in Stanley Kubrick’s film, and by Carl Lumbly in Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep.) Anyone who hasn’t yet watched the latest full-length preview for the upcoming horror series should hit play now. Just watch out for the pickle jar.

Without a whole lot of context for what to expect from this new group of youngsters hoping to take town the ancient evil that resurfaces in Derry, let's instead hone in on what we know about Dick Halloran's encounters with dark forces located thousands of miles from the Overlook Hotel.

Why Is The Shining's Dick Halloran In IT: Welcome To Pennywise?

Simply put: because Halloran was also in Stephen King's IT novel, which first gave readers crossover delights many years ago. But that only explains the precedence, and not the context of the story making its way to the 2025 TV schedule this fall.

Within the novel, Dick Halloran is one of the founders of The Black Spot, a bar & grill catering to Black soldiers where Halloran also worked as a short-order cook along with Will Hanlon, the father of Loser's Club member Mike Hanlon. (Portraying Will in the HBO series is Javon Adepo.) The establishment was infamously burned down by local racists, possibly guided by Pennywise, and becames a dark stain within both local history and in the memories of those who survived it.

All that said, it's not as if Halloran is a huge character within IT, so the fact that Chris Chalk pops up multiple times in the trailer suggests that his role won't just be limited to the Black Spot's inferno. We even see him discovering one of Pennywise's traveling stage wagon, though its contents are not shown.

I can't wait to see how Dick Halloran's arc is handled in IT: Welcome to Derry, and also to see if that will be the only major crossover character who pops up in the TV series. There's a shot of the Derry Herald newspaper around the :39 second mark that refers to an "Officer Gillespie," which may or may not be a reference to Constable Parkins Gillespie, a minor character in 'Salem's Lot. I'm guessing "not," but it's still a joy to look for details like that.

Speaking of, the image above gives audiences a brief look at Dick Halloran's uniform nametag, which does indeed feature a hastily scribbled surname. So even if the news hadn't been fully confirmed at SDCC, that shot might have been enough to convince everyone.

I Already Believe That Pickle Jar Will Gross Me Out More Than Anything Else In IT: Welcome To Derry

So much footage in the trailer helps set up the general story of this town's evil occurrences and the youths caught up in the middle of it. But then, out of nowhere, along comes this nasty-ass shot of an old and greyed-out hand inside a jar of pickles. It's icky enough in still form, but it's not at all still in the split-second we see it.

No, it somehow starts moving around in there, despite seemingly not being attached to a wrist or forearm or anything else in the realm of organic biology. Show me a bunch of people getting massacred by a clown, and I might not bat an eyelash, but the thought of someone reaching for a pickle and grabbing onto a pair of brined knuckles is apparently where my brain draws the line.

Sure, this is probably just someone's hallucination caused by Pennywise, but if that's the case, then I doubt it'll be the only nightmarish example of gnarled body parts inside sealed food containers. I really don't want to see a big toe poking out of a can of Vienna sausages.

HBO Max somehow still hasn't locked down a specific premiere date yet for IT: Welcome to Derry, but it'll arrive at some point in October, presumably not too long before Halloween.

It’s been over 35 years since Leslie Nielsen made audiences laugh via the original Naked Gun film. Nielsen went on to lead two sequels and, now, the franchise is being revived, this time with Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson as the leads. The ad campaign for Naked Gun has hilarious, promising a goofy tone and crazy energy like the original film. Recently, Andy Samberg revealed that that he was able to see the film early and, while I love that he praised it, there's a deeper reason for this being meaningful.

While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter at San Diego Comic Con, Samberg was asked if he had seen the upcoming Naked Gun film, which is directed by Akiva Schaffer, his good friend and frequent creative partner. Schaffer is notably a member of the comedy band The Lonely Island, which also includes Samberg and Jorma Taccone. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor shared some truly sweet sentiments while sharing what he enjoyed so much about the legacy sequel:

While this is one of the most exciting studio comedy films in years, it’s far from Schaffer’s directorial debut. He famously directed Hot Rod and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, which both star Samberg. Schaffer also has TV credits, as he's directed episodes of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He certainly has comedy chops as a performer as well, which makes him the perfect choice to direct The Naked Gun and, based on his rave review, it seems like Samberg agrees.

I also hope that people go see this film, as Andy Samberg said. These days, it's gradual becoming a novelty for a studio comedy to receive a theatrical release or include movie stars like Liam Neeson and Pam Anderson. The film is getting a lot of attention, and early reviews for The Naked Gun are also pretty positive. Some are even calling the film one of the funniest flicks in years.

Aside from the fact that Andy Samberg is hyping the 2025 movie release for the sake of supporting comedy movies, I just have to talk about seeing him support his longtime collaborator. He and Akiva Schaffer go way back and were friends long before their Saturday Night Live days, during which Samberg was a cast member and Schaffer was a writer, who also directed and produced digital shorts.

Even as their professional paths have gone in different directions, Schaffer and Samberg have always supported each other creatively and made a point to continue to work together. It’s a testament to a strong bond and, while I can’t wait for The Naked Gun, I also am excited to see what The Lonely Island does next as a unit.

You can see The Naked Gun sequel when it hits theaters on August 1st. Lonely Island fans should also check out the The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast on Spotify, where Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, and Jorma Taccone recap the SNL digital shorts that made them famous with the titular talk show host. To revisit these digital shorts yourself, you can check out old episodes of Saturday Night Live now with a Peacock subscription.

A minor spoiler for Superman lies ahead.

Peacemaker Season 2 is on the way, and it’ll be accompanied by several key changes. Considering the changes that have taken place with DC Studios over the past few years, the John Cena-led show will now be canon with the DCU continuity. That means Christopher Smith now exists in the same world as characters from Creature Commandos and Superman. However, some may still be wondering where this latest season falls in the official timeline. Well, writer-director James Gunn shed some light on that.

This weekend marked San Diego Comic-Con 2025, and the crew and cast of Peacemaker Season 2 assembled in Hall H for a panel discussion. CinemaBlend was on hand for the event, during which James Gunn and co. dropped details about what fans can expect from the latest episodes of the superhero show. Gunn eventually broached the topic of the season’s place in the greater DCU timeline, as he specifically revealed where it takes place in relation to Superman. Check out our Instagram video below for Gunn’s insights:

So it seems the DCU show's lates season picks up only a month after the events of Superman. I honestly like the idea of the show not being too far removed from the interdimensional chaos that occurred in that film. Considering the timeline positioning, I’d imagine that in-world, Kal-El’s war with Lex Luthor will still feel fresh in the minds of those who became wrapped up in it. That includes Hawkgirl and Green Lantern, who are set to appear in Season 2 of the show.

Of course, John Cena’s Christopher Smith wasn’t directly involved in The Last Son of Krypton’s conflict. Smith did, however, appear briefly in the film and, during that funny scene, he chastised Supes on talk show after it was revealed that his parents sent him to Earth to rule over humans.

James Gunn, who’s also the co-head of DC Studios, seemed to learn much from his time working with Marvel. While he’s talked about his philosophy on post-credits scenes (which will be included at the end of Peacemaker Season 2 episodes), I wonder how tight he’ll be on continuity. I’m admittedly someone who appreciates an adherence to continuity, so I hope Gunn keeps the timeline in mind as future projects continue to happen. However, I also hope he finds the right balance between keeping things in check and not becoming too beholden to what’s come before.

With Peacemaker Season 2, there are going to be multiple timelines to take into account. As revealed in the latest trailer, the down-on-his-luck Christopher Smith will jump to a parallel world, where his counterpart lives a more fruitful life. Smith’s universe-hopping activities will be made possible by his late father’s interdimensional portal. All the while, Chris will also have to dodge Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr., who wants revenge for the death of his son.

Chris may have been on the sidelines during the events of Superman, but it seems like he’s about to be thrust into the center of the universe (or some universe) when his show returns. In regard to the DCU, though, I’m just happy to have some clarity in regard to when all of this is taking place within this still-growing continuity.

The second season of DC’s Peacemaker premieres amid the 2025 TV schedule on August 21, and fans will need a Max subscription to stream it. In the meantime, those who are already subscribers can check out all eight episodes of Season 1.

The force was strong with San Diego Comic-Con this morning! George Lucas' hold over popular culture remains as we anticipate more and more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows and Sunday morning at Hall H George Lucas himself just took Hall H. We just attended the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts panel set to start at 11 a.m. PST and update you on everything that happened during Lucas' first time at SDCC.

CinemaBlend has been covering the con throughout the weekend, talking to everyone from the Percy Jackson cast about their advice to the new Harry Potter kids or seeing the first footage of Coyote v. Acme. This was our last panel of the con, and we were so happy to witness this moment in SDCC history. Check out all the updates from the panel below:

We're seated and waiting for the panel to begin in about 20 minutes. Hall H is packed with fans of Star Wars movies and other Lucasfilm creations, as they have packed their lightsabers and brought their best cosplays to the con for Lucas' debut to SDCC. Check back here throughout the next hour for updates on what happens.

Fans are cheering and chanting "LUCAS" as we continue to wait for the panel to begin. The energy is going to be high on this one for sure!

OK, we're getting started with Queen Latifah, who is moderating, Star Wars production designer Doug Chiang, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and George Lucas all on stage. Lucas got a huge standing ovation from the crowd upon his arrival.

We just saw a preview of the the museum, which looks amazing, and so futuristic and sleek. In a video, Lucas called it a "dedication to cultural fantasy" as we saw a sneak peek of just a handful of 40,000 works at the museum. There's going to be everything from comic book art from Jack Kirby to art from Frida Kahlo. Oh, and loads of Star Wars props and ships, of course.

George Lucas said he's been collecting art for decades, starting with comic book art and such. I'm paraphrasing her, but Lucas says that art is anything that means something to you, and if it doesn't than you can simply move on to the next piece. His comments can't help but remind one of how his work on Star Wars has received mixed praise over the years (such as with the prequels).

Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, who is on the museum's board, and set to release his take on Frankenstein later this year, calls the Lucas museum more so a "lineage of images that have been spoken" rather than simply one man's collection. He also brought up how important it is in this moment in time to look at art over the years not only as a way to express one's self, but make sure dark times in history don't repeat themselves.

Del Toro is speaking about how these days, there are ideas that A.I. can create art, but what's important about art doesn't come "in a fucking app." That got massive applause from the crowd.

Queen Latifah named off some of the special pieces from one display at the museum, which are important to culture. If you visit the museum, you'll be able to see artwork for Flash Gordon, Peanuts, Iron Man and Black Panther originals from 1968.

She asked Lucas to to speak about a group of pieces from Norman Rockwell called the Four Freedoms, which will be on display. He described one depicting a family during Thanksgiving, which he finds especially evocative because "most families are dysfunctional" but they are important because they "keep society together."

Lucas leads "from the heart", according to Chiang. The production designer also says the museum will be a great education for kids and hopes it will inspire the next Norman Rockwell or other great artists.

Latifah has also pointed out how there's no right angles in the museum, and asked George Lucas to talk about the vision of the museum's design. Lucas says that early on he actually wanted to be an architect until he realized there'd be a lot of math involved.

He's talking about how "stories" makes one feel connection to people, and perhaps help one feel better about the unknowns about life. He says: "Humans think they know everything, even though they don't know anything."

Del Toro adds that he and Lucas are both collectors but in his mind he says "I don't own anything", but a brief holder of things that can live on after us. And hopes to share his collection with the world while it's in his possession to do so.

The panel ended at 12 p.m. without any audience questions, nor a date for the opening of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts. However, it was such a solid first introduction to the upcoming Los Angeles attraction, and we can't wait to see it. That's a wrap on SDCC 2025, and what an epic way to do so.

There are still plenty of massive titles that have yet to premiere as part of the 2025 TV schedule, and Peacemaker Season 2 is one of them. It’s been some time since fans have seen John Cena’s Christopher Smith in action, but he and the 11th Street Kids are on their way back for new adventures. The first full trailer for the season was just released amid San Diego Comic-Con, and it teases some multiversal shenanigans for Chris. With that, there’s one wild and funny thing I’d love to see involving a major DCU character.

Christopher Smith’s Life In The Alternate Universe Should Have One Fun Component

Peacemaker Season 2 finds Chris trying to solidify himself as a legitimate hero, but he’s not having the best luck. As shown in the trailer above, with nothing going his way, Chris decides to use his father’s portal to a parallel world to start a brand-new life. The footage shows that in the alternate universe, Smith is not only a celebrated hero, but he’s also in a relationship with comrade Emilia Harcourt. There are so many possibilities to consider when it comes to the multiverse and, with this continuity, Smith could have a seriously powerful ally.

Considering that Smith is apparently a beloved hero in the other universe, it’s possible that he could be a member of the Justice Gang or at least on good terms with them. What I’d specifically love to see Chris be established as one of Superman’s best friends in that continuity. Even more, I don’t even want that just to be said – I’d love for Supes actor David Corenswet to cameo so that we can actually see some semblance of a bromance.

That’s a kooky idea, I know, but writer/director/producer James Gunn is just quirky enough to add something like that into the narrative. Also, Gunn has been teasing some appearances from more than a few major DCU players – aside from the already-revealed Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). So why not have the Man of Steel show up, albeit in a very unconventional way?

Peacemaker Season 2’s Trailer Teases Even More Chaos For The Character And His Allies

Fans have known for a while now that Frank Grillo is part of Peacemaker Season 2 reprising his Creature Commandos and Superman role as Rick Flag Sr. It’s been said that the Flag is out for revenge against Chris for killing his son, and the trailer shows the enraged father getting some licks in against the costumed vigilante. That won’t be the only issue Smith will have to face, as it seems he’ll also come to blows with his counterpart from the other universe.

All the while, the other characters will seemingly be in a position in which they’ll have to rescue Chris. It seems that, in doing so, they’ll also brush up with both new and old faces like Tim Meadows’ Langston Fleury of A.R.G.U.S. and Nhut Le’s Judomaster. Overall, it feels like viewers are in for a wild ride with this upcoming DC show.

Peacemaker Season 2 has definitely been a long time coming, and I’m eager to see what lies ahead for the character. Of course, I’m also curious as to how James Gunn will continue to expand on this mythology now that the show is canon with the DCU. Hopefully, that change in continuity will shine through in interesting ways. And, if possible, I’d really love to see the alternate version of Chris chop it up with Superman.

The new season of Peacemaker debuts on August 21 and will be available for HBO Max subscription holders. Ahead of the new episodes, stream the entire first season now.

When Ghosts returns on the 2025 TV schedule, our guy Jay will probably be dodging near-death experiences left and right, because he accidentally made a deal with the demon Elias. Whoops! Understandably, when that happened, Utkarsh Ambudkar, who plays the human, became a little afraid about what lies ahead for his character. However, he also revealed why this storyline creates some “really fun opportunities” for the show that we should be excited about.

Since Jay will quite literally be looking at death’s door in the upcoming season (and who knows, maybe he might go to hell), I get why Ambudkar was a little afraid. Going into Season 5, despite Ghosts’ two-season renewal, his fate on the show was very unknown. To that point, the actor said this when asked about Jay’s deal with Elias during the show's panel at San Diego Comic-Con that CinemaBlend attended:

That’s understandable. Characters’ fates on Ghosts are always up in the air, considering a spirit could get sucked off at any moment, and it’s always possible that a human will die on the property. However, those potentially lethal situations typically lead to funny stories too – just look back on the time we thought Flower was sucked off, but she was really stuck in a well.

That was the next point Ambudkar made. He quickly realized that Jay fighting for his life as he deals with the deal he made with Elias will unite the ghosts. And that will make for great TV. The actor explained:

Great points were made! Obviously, Jay being in trouble is not ideal, and any of the Woodstone family being doomed is bad news. However, for the sake of the show, getting the Ghosts cast united and fighting for the same cause is fantastic.

Now, they are all going after the same foe, which means more ensemble scenes, more fun pairings, and maybe no drama between characters we love. Elias is big-time bad news, and I think seeing the spirits, Sam and Jay come fully together to take him down will make for an epic season.

As Ambudkar said, this situation his character is in creates “really fun opportunities” for everyone, likely including himself, so there’s no reason to be afraid. Jay might be scared for his life, but we don’t need to feel that way, because we’re in for one hell of a fun ride (pun intended).

Ghosts will return to CBS for Season 5 on Thursday, October 16, at 8:30 p.m. ET. While we wait for that, you can go back and see how Jay and co. got into this mess by streaming the series with a Paramount+ subscription.

The world of Outlander is returning to the small screen soon in the 2025 TV schedule with the premiere of Blood of My Blood. The prequel spinoff centers on the respective love stories of Julia Moriston (Hermione Corfield) and Henry Beauchamp (Jeremy Irvine) as Claire's (Caitriona Balfe) parents as well as Brian Fraser (Jamie Roy) and Ellen MacKenzie (Harriet Slater) as Jamie's (Sam Heughan) future parents. It seemed like a straightforward premise... until the trailer blew up any straightforward assumptions by revealing that Julia and Henry will travel back in time and possibly meet Brian and Ellen.

I was fortunate enough to speak with the cast of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, including actors who will be playing the younger versions of some key Outlander characters, at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. They opened up about the big twist getting spotted by the paps and the early renewal for Season 2.

Papparazzi Caught Photos Of Time-Traveling Julia

The big twist that got Outlander fans talking was revealed in the trailer, with the shocker that we won't be watching one love story unfolding in the 18th century while the other was in the 20th. Julia evidently will go through the same standing stones that changed Claire's story forever, to encounter Jamie's future parents. When I spoke with Hermione Corfield at SDCC, I had to ask: was it a challenge keeping secrets about Blood of My Blood will filming the first season? She responded:

As somebody who had noticed that there were plenty of press photos released ahead of time with the 18th-century Scottish characters and not nearly as many of Julia and Henry in the 20th century, the time travel twist immediately made sense. The show did a pretty excellent job of keeping a lid on spoilers, considering that the time travel seems to be about as central to Blood of My Blood as time travel in the original Outlander. Hermione Corfield went on to explain what happened when she filmed outside for 18th century scenes with some paparazzi in the mix:

Well, if those pap pics circulated online after they were snapped, they didn't get to everybody! I hadn't seen them, and based on social media chatter after the trailer release, plenty of Outlander fans were as surprised as I was to see Claire's mom going through the same stones that would claim her daughter a couple decades later. The big time travel twist seems to have been at least mostly preserved.

The Cast Is Already Working On Season 2

Starz wasted no time in renewing Blood of My Blood for at least one more round, with an order for Season 2 announced more than a month before Season 1 arrives. Production kicked off in late June, using the same sets that Outlander used for years before filming wrapped for Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in 2024. So, when I had the chance to speak with Sam Retford (playing Dougal MacKenzie), Seamus McLean Ross (playing Colum MacKenzie), and Rory Alexander (playing Murtagh), I had to ask what it's been like for them to get started on Season 2 when Season 1 won't premiere until August 8. Retford responded:

Going from the "floating" stage in 2023 to taking Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con directly after Outlander's panel debuted the first Season 8 footage on stage is certainly an epic way to see how high anticipation is for the payoff! Fans still have some time to wait before the two-episode premiere, but the cast has already seen some of the first season. Sam Retford went on:

A perk for the actors playing Dougal, Colum, and Murtagh has to be that even if they aren't wrapped up in the main time travel drama like the two couples, their characters also can't be killed off. Outlander guarantees their survival, and Season 2 can expand their stories. As Seamus McLean Ross said:

For now, the days are counting down until Season 1 kicks off on Starz on Friday, August 8 at 8 p.m. ET. That will be almost exactly eleven years to the day that Outlander premiered back in 2014, which strikes me as a good sign for the show. As for the original series, Claire and Jamie will return for their final season at some point in 2026. Be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for more from the cast of Outlander: Blood of My Blood soon!

Every year, we can typically expect a fun field trip during Abbott Elementary’s season. The Season 4 finale, which aired on the 2025 TV schedule last spring, took us to the Please Touch Museum, and in the years before, they went to the Franklin Institute. During Season 5, they’ll film at a live event that sports fans will love, and while Quinta Brunson didn’t divulge any other info, I have an obvious guess about where they’re going.

Quinta Brunson Revealed Abbott Elementary Will Film At A Live Event Sports Fans Will Appreciate

To get the hype going for Season 5 of Abbott Elementary, the cast attended San Diego Comic-Con to chat about what’s to come. During their panel, which CinemaBlend attended, the show's creator and star, Quinta Brunson, teased that the cast and crew will be going to a big live event sometime soon, saying:

Well, that’s certainly exciting, and you know what, I will do with that information what I will, because I already have a guess that I think is spot on.

I Think Abbott Elementary Is Going To An Eagles Game

Last year at Abbott Elementary’s Comic-Con panel, a crossover was announced. At the time, we didn’t know which show they’d collaborate with, but we were right in hypothesizing that it might crossover with It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. That was our best guess and the most obvious one, and we were right. So, when it comes to guessing about Brunson’s announcement this year, I’m going to stick with my gut and the obvious once again.

So, I'm theorizing that the cast and crew of Abbott Elementary are going to take a trip to a Philadelphia Eagles game.

It feels so obvious that I’ll be shocked if I’m not right. The show has a history with the team that dates back to the beginning, when the school got rugs with the Eagles logo on them. Then, during the Season 3 premiere, the Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and his teammates Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham showed up.

So, this show has a history with this team, and Quinta Brunson is a massive fan of them. Plus, and this is important, the Eagles won the Super Bowl. Therefore, a collaboration with the team and filming at a game would likely make a ton of sports fans happy, since this Philly team is quite literally at the top right now.

Obviously, it could be another Philly sporting event, like a Flyers or Sixers game. I mean, the Flyers' iconic mascot, Gritty, did show up in the Season 2 premiere.

However, I feel pretty confident that Abbott Elementary is going to take a field trip to see the Eagles play. But that’s just a theory, and we’ll get to find out if I’m right or wrong when Season 5 premieres on ABC on Wednesday, October 1, at 8:30 p.m. ET.

While we wait for that, you can go back and stream Abbott Elementary, and its various run-ins with and mentions of Philadelphia athletics, with a Hulu subscription.

Mark Hamill is easily one of the most recognizable actors of all time, and he has more than a few notable film and TV credits to his name. Obviously, Hamill is revered for his role as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movies, and he’s a prolific voice actor with countless credits under his belt. The 73-year-old actor continues to find success in the entertainment industry today but, as it turns out, he nearly retired from acting following The Rise of Skywalker. That changed, however, and fans have Mike Flanagan to thank.

CinemaBlend was fortunate enough to be present at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for the upcoming horror film The Long Walk, which is set to hit the 2025 movie schedule later this year. During the panel, Mark Hamill spoke to fans – alongside the rest of the cast and crew – about what they could expect from the dystopian flick. It was during the discussion that he also talked about why he initially decided to step away from live-action acting once the Star Wars sequel trilogy came to a close in 2019:

Honestly, it would’ve been somewhat poetic for Mark Hamill to bid farewell to acting after saying goodbye to Luke Skywalker. After all, it was Hamill’s turn as the farm boy-turned-rebel-turned-jedi that made him into a household name. Plus, as the DCAU alum stated, he would’ve continued to do some voice-over gigs. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t have been a shame not to have seen Hamill do any more on-camera work. Hamill’s career has changed, though, when he was cast in Mike Flanagan’s The Fall of the House of Usher:

As part of that small-screen take on Edgar Allen Poe’s famous short story (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription), Mark Hamill plays the role of family fixer and lawyer Arthur Gordon Pym, and he plays it to perfection. That isn’t the only time that Hamill would participate in a Flanagan-helmed production either. Later, Hamill and Flanagan teamed up again for the latter’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck, for which Hamill also received praise.

The Joker voice actor has been more than a little busy over the past several years, as he’s taken on both live-action roles and voice-over work. Of course, he’s even since reprised Luke Skywalker in a way, as his likeness and voice were used to recreate a younger version of the character on The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Hamill is now playing the Major in The Long Walk, which is a Stephen King adaptation directed by Francis Lawrence. The character serves as an antagonist and, by all accounts, he’s quite brutal.

Not only do I love that Mark Hamill is still doing on-camera work, but I also appreciate the gratitude he has for Mike Flanagan. This seems like a situation in which “game recognizes game,” and I love seeing that. I’ll also have to see Hamill in The Long Walk, which opens in theaters on September 12. Those who’d like to catch up on Hamill’s Star Wars work in the meantime can stream the films and shows on Disney+.

Remember that sad day back in 2023 on which is was reported that Warner Bros’ Coyote vs. Acme had been scrapped? It was definitely a gut-punch for Looney Tunes fans, to say the least. Thankfully, though, the situation turned around earlier this year when it was reported that the film had been acquired by another company. Now, the flick is set to hit the 2026 movie schedule! While CinemaBlend was in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, the first official batch of footage was revealed, and it featured John Cena as well as a sweet Bugs Bunny tease.

To put it simply, the Coyote vs. Acme footage looks amazing! As someone who was in the panel with the Hall H crowd, I have to say, Ketchup Entertainment really brought the hype for the new movie. During the event, they company showed us six minutes from the movie (marking the first time official footage had been released). Let's break it all down, shall we?

John Cena And Will Forte Bring The Comedy In Coyote vs. Acme Courtroom Scene

It’s wild to think about how Coyote vs. Acme didn’t have a clear fate at the beginning of this year. That thought is even wilder now that I've seen the new footage, because this looks like it could easily become a blockbuster. The first look I watched in Hall H featured a scene set in a courtroom, where Wile E. Coyote is attempting to sue the Acme Corporation for all the issues he’s dealt with over the years. Will Forte plays the character's lawyer, but he hasn’t been in court in decades and is super nervous.

The lawyer going up against him is played by John Cena, who shows up super confident in an amazing bolo tie and suit. Cena's character also woos the jury with his opening statement, during which he conveys why Acme is innocent in the situation. There’s a funny bit where Cena effortlessly commands the attention of the court by perfectly pouring a massive pitcher of water into a glass and downing the beverage, before Forte’s character tries to do the same thing and spills water everywhere.

Given this is a live-action/animation hybrid film, the trial crowd is a combination of human actors and Looney Tunes characters. It’s just fun to see this vision come to life after having heard about it over the last several years. In the past, Cena shared his disappointment over the film being scrapped and James Gunn even threw in his support. Needless to say, it's wonderful that this film will not only see the light of day but looks fantastic as well.

I Really Loved How Bugs Bunny Is Revealed To Be In The Movie

As great as the courtroom "drama" is, there's another bit of this footage that really works, and it's the reveal of Bugs Bunny. I'm particularly excited about how the footage teed up his role.

The first day in court doesn’t go as planned, as one of Acme’s products that Wile E. brings as “evidence” gets unleashed in the courtroom. The next scene cuts to Wile's stressed lawyer, who is watching the news' coverage of the trial, when he receives a phone call. It’s clearly the voice of Bugs Bunny, who contacts him to share that he has information that could really help him with the case. They plan a rendezvous when the clip ends,

Oh my goodness am I excited to see Bugs Bunny in this movie! Up until now, his involvement was unknown, so it's cool that he'll be involved in some capacity. While his presence has only been teased, it's possible that he could be playing some kind of "deep throat" role in this story, which would be hilarious.

Fans will have to try contain their excitement until Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters on August 26, 2026. In the meantime, grab an HBO Max subscription and stream great Looney Tunes content, including the film The Day the Earth Blew Up.

Listen, I think most of us have a movie from our childhood that traumatized us, even if it wasn’t actually scary. For me, it was The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. For Josh Hutcherson, it was The Wizard of Oz. He recently gave a good explanation about why the great musical “tormented” him too, by recalling a recurring nightmare he had about it during SanDiego Comic-Con’s Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 panel.

As we wait for Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’s release on the 2025 movie schedule, the cast traveled to San Diego to tease what’s to come. The topic of other scary movies also came up. So, while I’m sure FNAF has scared many, the film’s star, Hutcherson, opened up about the movie that “tormented” him the most as a youngster, saying this during a panel CinemaBlend attended:

I feel this! Hearing the Wicked Witch of the West yell, “I’ll get you, my pretty,” is scary stuff. It’s potentially nightmare-inducing, for sure, and Josh Hutcherson just proved that.

Now, personally, I’ve rewatched The Wizard of Oz many times, and it’s never terrified me. However, I get the point The Hunger Games actor is making here. There are some things we can’t shake as kids that truly stick with us. In fact, I'm sure some of Hutcherson's movies have traumatized many kids -- Hunger Games and Bridge to Terabithia, I'm looking at you specifically. Yeah, that's right, I still remember what happened in both those movies, and I still feel very emotional about it.

Meanwhile, for him, this feeling for pain, horror and/or dread came from that wicked witch. It’s wild that it caused a recurring nightmare, too. If I were him, that’d only amplify the fear. It seems like it has stuck with him as well, as the performer explained:

Well, if this fear still haunts him to this day, I’m now very curious to hear Josh Hutchson’s thoughts on the Wicked movies. Like, is he going to see Wicked: For Good when it’s released in theaters this November? Can he find a way to move past his fear by learning more about Elphaba’s backstory? These are important questions I need answers to.

However, at the moment, we don’t have those answers. We do know some fun new information about Hutcherson’s upcoming film, though! Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 dropped a trailer that gave us a look at new animatronics, and we learned more about Skeet Ulrich’s role in the movie.

We also know that the upcoming horror flick will hit theaters on December 5, which is notably after the November 21 release of Wicked: For Good. So, maybe we can follow up with Josh Hutcherson later this year to see how the musicals have impacted his long-time fear of The Wizard of Oz.

Having already collected fans from her starring roles in Orphan Black and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Tatiana Maslany is adding another major genre credit to her resume. She’s set to recur on the upcoming Star Trek TV show Starfleet Academy, which will premiere sometime in 2026. One of her co-stars on the project is Paul Giamatti, who’s playing Starfleet Academy’s main villain. Maslany opened up to CinemaBlend about working with The Holdovers actor, but what really got me jazzed was when she shared her fandom for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one of my favorite shows in the franchise.

What Tatiana Maslany Said About Acting With Paul Giamatti In Starfleet Academy

Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud spoke to Maslany at San Diego Comic-Con about her new movie Keeper, which opens this November on the 2025 release schedule. When Starfleet Academy came up in the conversation, the actress said this about her experience on set with the man we’ll be seeing this September in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale:

Alas, we still don’t know the identities of Tatiana Maslany and Paul Giamatti’s characters in Starfleet Academy, though thanks to EW, we now know that Giamatti had his pick of five roles when courted to come aboard. Regardless, it’s good to hear from Maslany that she enjoyed her time alongside him, as well as appreciated how she was able to push her acting abilities further than the kind of movies and TV shows she usually does. That makes me all the more eager to learn how she fits into the next Star Trek series.

Why Tatiana Maslany Likes Star Trek: Deep Space Nine So Much

As far as what she did to prepare for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Tatiana Maslany was already a fan of the franchise before being cast. However, getting the gig pushed her to watch all of Deep Space Nine for the first time, and it didn’t take long for her to become a passionate fan. As Maslany explained:

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is very much an underrated offering in the Star Trek franchise, and I recommend to any people who haven’t seen the show to rectify that by streaming it with a Paramount+ subscription. Airing from 1993 to 1999, Deep Space Nine started off episodic like The Original Series and The Next Generation before it, but embraced in its later seasons, long before that was popular on television. I’m glad Tatiana Maslany liked the show so much that she binged it in just a few months and admires how it tackled political topics.

That’s not to say that Starfleet Academy will have a Deep Space Nine feel to it, but at least me and the other fans of the latter series can count Maslany among our ranks. As for the former series, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for the latest news on what to expect from it.

After Lilo & Stitch became a $1 billion hit at the worldwide box office, it’s no surprise the live-action movie is officially getting a sequel, with the original creator/voice Chris Sanders reportedly penning the script. So when we caught up with the cast at San Diego Comic-Con, we fielded their thoughts on what they’d like to see, and there’s one addition they agree they are ready to see more of in the next movie.

During my interview with Maia Kealoha (Lilo), Sydney Agudong (Nani) and Tia Carrere (a new character named Mrs. Kekoa/the original Nani voice actress), I pointed out how much I loved seeing that Nani and David’s relationship was finally confirmed to be a real romance as Nani goes off to college. Here’s what Agudong said about it:

In the original movie, Nani and David are a highlight, because it’s clear how much David is crushing on Nani. He shows how caring he is for Nani by helping her look for jobs, and there's also that iconic scene where he suggests the family all go surfing together after she gets fired from her latest job.

In the live-action movie, there’s a moment where Nani and David kiss as she’s jetting off to San Diego, showing that perhaps a romance between the pair is brewing, and Agudong is absolutely living for it. As she continued:

Tia Carrere also put in her support for the pairing to flourish further, calling David “supportive and soft” while Nani is “driven.” He was played by newcomer Kaipo Dudoit, whereas the original David was voiced by Jason Scott Lee. It’s also great to see Nani getting more of a backstory, such as with her surfing background, but some fans were not into the changes with Lilo and Nani’s ending.

Maia Kealoha also had her own take on why she wants to see David and Nani back for the sequel. In her words:

That was a really funny scene. Here’s hoping we’ll finally get more of Nani and David’s relationship in the sequel. The trio are definitely all in on more from the supporting character.

Lilo & Stitch’s release remains to be the biggest Hollywood movie of the year, and we can’t wait to see what they cook up in the upcoming sequel. For now, you can catch Lilo & Stitch on digital!

The stars of Napoleon Dynamite are on tour, talking about the movie they made 21 years ago that took the nation by storm. It's only fitting that at San Diego Comic-Con, two of its main actors, Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez, came together for a live show at the Balboa Theater on Friday night. CinemaBlend was able to catch up with the duo, and they fortunately confirmed they're not tired of talking about the movie.

I wouldn't have blamed the actors if that were the case considering how often I've heard the Napoleon Dynamite quotes or seen someone recreate that iconic dance scene. Despite that, Jon Heder said doing live shows centered around the breakout movie is great, and talked about it being similar to stand-up comedy:

So whether you're at San Diego Comic-Con or on any of the other stops they're making throughout the rest of 2025, rest assured that Efren Ramirez, Jon Heder and occasionally Jon Gries are thrilled to be reminiscing on the movie. Until a sequel gets made, it's the best way to celebrate Napoleon Dynamite.

Talking about it further, Jon Heder said Napoleon Dynamite's almost become more enjoyable to talk about because the legacy and fandom it maintains to this day. That's not to say he hasn't gotten burnt out about talking about it prior to this, but he's feeling good about it at the present:

As someone who spent 20 minutes with Efren Ramirez and Jon Heder in the same room, I can confirm that experiencing them outside of the movie is well worth the price of admission. I definitely had the vibe they're good friends even outside of the job. They shared as fictional friends decades ago, and are having a blast going down memory lane.

The Napoleon Dynamite actors are among the latest batch of actors to take their beloved classic on a tour around the nation and hosted panels with fans. We've seen similar stuff happen for Star Trek and Home Alone, and it feels like we're seeing actors more frequently travel to fans in other cities to provide experiences previously only offered in big cities or at a place like San Diego Comic-Con.

Readers may wonder if they're the only ones still psyched about Napoleon Dynamite in 2025, and I'm here to give an emphatic "no." Despite the movie not being officially represented at San Diego Comic-Con, there's no shortage of cosplay seen throughout the halls, with attendees likely going to see the duo during their live show. It's pretty cool to see, especially as someone who was always jealous of the Rex Kwon Do pants.

Those looking to stream Napoleon Dynamite are free to do so with an HBO Max subscription. Honestly, I'm past due for a rewatch, and would love to get a fresh wave of nostalgia from a movie I knew by heart once upon a time.

In recent months, it’s been exciting to see HBO’s new Harry Potter TV show come together ahead of its 2027 premiere. But, before we head back to Hogwarts to see Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger back in action through new actors, another beloved literary trio is coming back. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is almost here, and I spoke with the core actors about being in the unique position that the Harry Potter stars are just now venturing into.

CinemaBlend is at San Diego Comic Con this week, and we caught Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri at the Parcy Jackson Season 2 press line on Thursday. While speaking to our Percy, Annabeth and Grover, I asked them if they had any advice for the new Harry Potter trio. Let’s start with Scobell’s response:

How cool would it be if the Percy Jackson cast got to catch up with the original Harry Potter cast and talk about their experiences? It’s such a unique one to grow up playing an iconic character that people love and allows fans to feel like they grew up alongside you. Scobell has linked up with the Percy Jackson from the movies, Logan Lerman, and now they consider each other friends.

Going back to Harry Potter, here’s what Jeffries said:

Unfortunately, when Leah Jeffries was cast as Annabeth, she dealt with some casting backlash initially for not matching the character description in the books. The new Hermione actress Arabella Stanton was in a similar position when her casting news came out. Jeffries has some solid advice for the cast to “stay strong” and stick with each other.

It’s a sweet sentiment, especially considering a famed symbol in the Harry Potter series is a triangle, too.

And last but not least, here’s Grove actor Aryan Simhadri’s advice:

These three had such wise words to give the Harry Potter cast, and they are just getting started. Check out the video below:

Walker Scobell is 16, Leah Jeffries is 15 and Aryan Simhadri is 19 years old, and they are just about ready to debut Season 2 when it premieres on the 2025 TV schedule this December. On Thursday, they took Hall H to share details about the new season, including a new trailer that includes a ton of reveals for new characters joining the show. After this exchange, here’s hoping the two casts do cross paths at some point.