As the original Lord of the Rings trilogy heads back into theaters this summer, Warner Bros. is preparing an all-new adventure in Middle-earth. During an earnings call, CEO David Zaslav shared the news that the studio was developing a new, live-action film with Peter Jackson.
Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful and revered franchises in history and presents a significant opportunity for theatrical business.
-David Zaslov
The film, titled The Hunt for Gollum, will be produced by Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, who brought the character to life in the original trilogy and will reprise the role. WB plans to have the film in theaters in 2026.
According to Zaslav, the new film will “explore storylines yet to be told.” The CEO shared that the film is “now in the early stages of script development” and that Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, who helped craft the original trilogy, “will be involved every step of the way.”
Jackson’s original trilogy grossed over $3B globally and remains a beloved translation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Though the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit trilogy and Amazon Prime’s The Rings of Power series have all delved into Tolkien’s Middle-earth works, there’s still plenty of work from the prolific author to tap into.
Originally slated to hit theaters in 2024, Captain America: Brave New World has seen its release date moved a few times over the past year. Though it is currently on track for a February 14, 2025 release, it seems as though some marketing decisions were made with a 2024 release in mind. Over the past month, promo art, McDonald’s Happy Meal toys and other assorted merchandise have provided first looks at some of the characters. Additionally, the latest issue of Empire Magazine included some bits about the film and several new stills the latest of which gives fans their first look at Xosha Roquemore‘s new character.
Via The Cine Geek, the BTS still from Empire shows Roquemore and Anthony Mackie prepping for a scene with director Julius Onah.
An official New Look BTS on ‘CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD’ has been revealed.
Featuring Anthony Mackie’s Captain America, Xosha Roquemore, and Director Julius Onah.
Roquemore’s character–who is rumored to be Leila Taylor–is sporting some sort of lapel that looks similar to a U.S. Marshall’s badge. If Roquemore is indeed playing Taylor, it would be an all-new, all-different iteration of the character. In the comics, the character was a reporter and one-time romantic interest of Wilson’s who mostly got into a lot of dangerous situations that allowed Sam to do some heroing. From the looks of the still, the MCU’s Taylor might be doing some heroing of her own.
Captain America: Brave New World flys into theaters on February 14th, 2025.
It was inevitable, but the time has officially arrived. Netflix has long dominated the streaming market and to remain competitive, we’re going to see the first cross-company partnership in the streaming market as Disney and Warner Bros. announce a Disney+, Hulu, and Max package. There is no exact release date outside of plans to have it available by the summer, though it’ll support ad-free and ad-supported models.
There’s a lot of streaming services out there, which is going to continue reshape the way we view the offerings. While many still love comparing it to basic cable bundles, this was an inevitable development to push forward on their hopes to make these cost sinkers profitable. Plus, Netflix remains dominant in the market and the challenge is an open invitation to the major companies to do something to gain a higher churn rate and subscription growth.
Disney and Warner Bros. is also quite an interesting combination given there are quite a few challenges for whatever they plan growing outside of the United States. Max isn’t available in many countries and it’s shows are available through services like Sky in some European countries. So, it’s uncertain if perhaps there are plans on how they want to grow their worldwide growth or rather this is a pure US-centric move like with Hulu.
As X-Men ’97 continues to remind fans just how great Marvel’s uncanny mutant heroes and villains can be, rumored details about the studio’s upcoming live-action reboot continue to pop up. With the studio reportedly having narrowed down the list of candidates to write the film, a new rumor about a potential director for the film has emerged and while there’s been no word about Marvel Studios having talks with directors, this particular name coming up does bring some intriguing possibilities to mind.
According to the internet’s busiest leaker, My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios is looking to MCU veteran director Ryan Coogler to helm their new X-Men movie.
Despite there having been no previous buzz about Marvel being ready to move forward in their search for a director for the project, the rumor about Coogler does track on multiple levels. If the previous rumor about the studio being close to selecting a writer for the film was accurate, it’s possible that Coogler could serve as both the writer and director for the film. He has filled dual roles on both of his previous MCU entries, Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, as well as on five other films including his upcoming vampire film that will star his friend and frequent collaborator, Michael B. Jordan. Additionally, Coogler has a well-developed relationship with Disney which includes a five-year overall deal to create projects for Disney Plus. The first of those projects, the animated series Eyes of Wakanda, is expected to debut on the streaming service later this year.
Coogler already has some experience with mutants, having brought Namor into live-action in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Additionally, Coogler has shown a gift for creating and building out expansive worlds within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, something that may well be part of Marvel Studios’ plan for their iteration of the X-Men. One oft-rumored direction for the reboot involves it being inspired by Jonathan Hickman’s recent run on X-Men comics which involved a massive retcon of the history of the mutant island known as Krakoa. Should Marvel Studios indeed head in that direction with their X-Men franchise, it would certainly play to one of Coogler’s strengths. For now, it’s nothing but a rumor but it is certainly a solid match.
Dwayne Johnson‘s first efforts as a superhero certainly didn’t work out as the star hoped. Black Adam was a critical and commercial miss and with an all-new DC Studios emerging as the film was in theaters, there was no future for the character or for Johnson. Now amidst his return to professional wrestling as a full-blown WWE heel, a new rumor has him joining the MCU as one of the X-Men’s deadliest villains.
According to one of the online community’s most active leakers, My Time To Shine Hello, Marvel Studios is interested in casting Dwayne Johnson as En Sabah Nur, better known as Apocalypse.
The character–played by Oscar Isaac–was the antagonist of Fox’s 2016 debacle X-Men: Apocalypse and has been one of the X-Men’s most formidable foes over the years in the comics. Writer Jonathan Hickman recently made some significant changes to the character’s history which not only made him more interesting but also provided a path forward in the MCU without retreading too much ground covered in the horrific Fox film.
Given he’s one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, there’s a pretty good chance that Marvel Studios would like to work with Johnson at some point, casting the star as Apocalypse seems like a terrible idea at best. Outside of the sheer horror that could come from The Rock revisiting ancient Egypt and reminding audiences of The Scorpion King, there’s also the matter of Johnson’s staunch refusal to play villains. Perhaps his heel turn in the WWE represents some movement on this front but that remains to be seen.
Who is Apocalypse?
Marvel Comics’ Apocalypse, also known as En Sabah Nur, stands as one of the most formidable and iconic villains in the X-Men universe. With his ancient origins and insatiable thirst for power, Apocalypse is a force to be reckoned with.
Born thousands of years ago in ancient Egypt, Apocalypse is an immortal mutant with godlike powers and an indomitable will. Possessing advanced technology and genetic manipulation abilities, he is revered as the world’s first mutant, wielding immense strength and intelligence.
Apocalypse’s primary goal is the survival of the fittest, believing in the principle of mutant superiority through strength. Throughout history, he has sought to cull weaker mutants and shape the world in his image, often unleashing chaos and destruction in his wake. From assembling his Four Horsemen to manipulating global events, Apocalypse stops at nothing to achieve his vision of mutant domination.
Encounters with the X-Men
The X-Men, led by stalwart heroes like Cyclops and Wolverine, have repeatedly clashed with Apocalypse in epic battles of will and power. His encounters with the X-Men often result in cataclysmic showdowns, testing the limits of their strength and resolve. Apocalypse sees the X-Men as both worthy adversaries and obstacles to his grand design, making their conflicts legendary in the annals of Marvel Comics.
Apocalypse’s legacy extends beyond mere villainy, influencing the course of mutantkind and leaving a lasting mark on the Marvel Universe. His actions have shaped the destinies of countless mutants, leaving behind a trail of destruction and despair. Despite facing defeat on numerous occasions, Apocalypse’s influence looms large, a reminder of the ever-present threat posed by those who seek absolute power.
In the realm of Marvel Comics, Apocalypse stands as a testament to the enduring allure of villainy and the eternal struggle between good and evil. With his ancient origins, godlike powers, and relentless pursuit of dominance, he remains a dark and ominous figure, casting a long shadow over the world of the X-Men.
Though it had long been clear that Marvel Studios was dialing back on the number of projects to be released each year, Disney big wig Bob Iger quantified what fans should expect in a recent investor call. According to Iger, the plan moving forward is for Marvel Studios to slowly get to a point where they release 2 streaming series and 2-3 movies each year. Given the most recent updated slate from the studio still had 4 films set to release in 2025 and 4 more in 2026, it’s easy to see how that might be a problem. While it’s possible Disney will roll out a new Marvel Studios slate at this year’s D23 in August, all we can do for now is speculate as to what the future may hold…and so we will, operating under the assumption that Iger was referring to live-action series given Marvel Animation has several series that could easily be released in 2024, 2025 and 2026.
2025
During the investor conference call, Iger only mentioned two 2025 releases by name: Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. Both of those films will definitely be ready to roll out in 2025, though there has been some doubt expressed that Brave New World will be ready for its February 14, 2025 date as it has some significant work to do via reshoots. However, both The Fantastic Four and Blade are also on the 2025 theatrical slate and if Iger sticks to his plan, only one of those would hit theaters next year and that’s only IF the studio decides to go with a third film. Of those, The Fantastic Four is the best bet as it will begin production soon enough to make it out before the end of 2025.
Cracking the potential lineup for the streaming projects is actually quite a bit simpler. After recently completing filming, Season 1 or Part 1 of Daredevil: Born Again will almost certainly hit sometime in 2025. It’s most likely to be joined next year by Ironheart, which has more or less been in the can for nearly two years.
Captain America: Brave New World Thunderbolts The Fantastic Four
Streaming
Daredevil: Born Again Ironheart
2026
Since the project should begin production in 2025, it becomes easy to slide Blade into 2026. After that, projects such as Armor Wars, Spider-Man 4, Shang-Chi 2 and Avengers 5 are all rumored to be headed into production at various points in 2025. While Marvel Studios will produce the new Spidey film, they have no control over its release date so we won’t waste time and energy thinking about that one for now. Iger also sounded very eager to get to another Avengers film so if we had to pick 3 for 2026, we’d go with Blade, Armor Wars and Avengers 5.
Again, the streaming slate seems far easier to work with simply because there are far fewer projects to think about. Wonder Man seems like a sure bet for 2026. And while the second season/second part of Daredevil: Born Again used to seem like a good fit, it’s possible Vision Quest might beat it to the punch should its rumored October start date hold.
Films
Blade Armor Wars Avengers 5
Streaming
Wonder Man Vision Quest
2027
Breaking the pattern here for a beat, by 2027 the number of known live-action projects in development is reduced to Daredevil: Born Again. Sure, there are a number of rumored projects but given Iger’s comments, how many of those can truly be counted on to make it to the screen?
Theatrically, 2027–which as of now only has a date set aside for Avengers: Secret Wars–could include Shang-Chi 2, Doctor Strange 3–which has not been confirmed to be in development by the studio or any trades. Our best guess is that by the time 2027 rolls around, we’ll only get two films and Secret Wars will get pushed down the road a bit.
Films
Shang-Chi 2 Doctor Strange 3
Streaming
Daredevil: Born Again Part 2/Season 2
As we wait for the studio to officially address the slate (or for a trade to break some news), it’s best not to take any of this too seriously and to understand we are in a time of ever-increasing uncertainty. Iger did say they would slowly change things around which might mean fans can look forward to 4 films a year in 2025 and 2026 before things slow down in 2027 and beyond. Either way, Iger’s comments point to fans having 4-5 Marvel Studios projects a year to enjoy which is great any way you slice it.
For the first time since returning to Disney, Bob Iger has provided details on his vision to scale back on Marvel Studios’ content. Via Variety, Iger’s plan is to dial back on streaming series (2 per year) and films (2 or 3 per year) in the near future. Iger said the company-wide decision to reduce output and increase the quality of what is produced is “particularly true with Marvel.”
“We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three,” said Iger during the company’s quarterly earnings call Tuesday. “And we’re working hard on what that path is.”
Though four films are currently slated to release in 2025, Iger stated that has a “couple of good films in ’25,” before mentioning Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. However, The Fantastic Four and Blade are all currently listed on Disney’s most updated slate as 2025 releases, but many questions have been raised about the latter two being ready for release next year.
“Overall, I feel great about the slate,” said Iger, who also added that following the 2025 films the studio would be “heading to more Avengers.” Iger added, “It’s something that I’ve committed to spending more and more time on. The team is one that I have tremendous confidence in and the IP that we’re mining, including all the sequels that we’re doing, is second to none.“
Of note on the streaming side, Iger referred to the “WandaVision spinoff Agatha” as “a vestige of basically a desire in the past to increase volume.” Though the series has already generated positive buzz, a streaming series being referred to as vestigial doesn’t seem like a vote of confidence for many of the other TV series rumored to be in development.
As part of the annual Star Wars Day celebration, the second installment in Lucafilm’s Tales anthology, Tales of the Empire, debuted on Disney Plus on May 4th. Like the first installment, 2022’s Tales of the Jedi, Tales of the Empire was well received by critics and fans, with former Jedi Barriss Offee’s three-episode arc stealing the spotlight. Dave Filoni, who has created both seasons of the anthology, has made it clear he’s having a lot of fun with these animated shorts which means a third season of Tales has a good chance of coming together. While we await official confirmation from Lucasfilm, we put together a list of characters who might be worth exploring further.
Tales of the Jedi: Plo Koon and Baylan Skoll
Obviously, there’s a story there. We’re in a wait-and-see pattern [about the rest of Skoll’s story] at this point.
Dave Filoni on Baylan Skoll’s future in Star Wars media
In the first two seasons of Tales, the two key figures of the series have been juxtaposed against one another, helping to shine a brighter spotlight on some central themes. Should Lucasfilm be interested in producing a true sequel to Tales of the Jedi, two characters who could make the cut are Jedi Master Plo Koon and former Jedi Baylan Skoll. It’s fairly well-known that Koon is a favorite of Filoni’s and while his age is undefined in canon, he lived quite a long time and helped the Jedi Council navigate many major crises before being killed following Order 66 being given. If Koon were chosen, Skoll, who was played by the late Ray Stevenson in Ahsoka, would be a fascinating character against which to juxtapose him. Disillusioned with the Order, Skoll lost his faith before Order 66 and after surviving the Jedi purge, moved on in search of power. Given the very divergent paths the characters took, there’s plenty of fertile storytelling ground to craft some intriguing 3-episode series.
Tales of the Sith: Asajj Ventress and Darth Maul
Though the two have had plenty of screen time already, the best parts of the stories of Asajj Ventress and Darth Maul may have yet to be told. The excitement around the return of Ventress in Season 3 of The Bad Batch should be all Filoni needs to give the audience a three-episode arc focused on the Nightsister who has truly walked one of the most interesting and complicated paths of any character in the Star Wars universe. The series could pull from the novel Dark Disciple to fill in the gaps between The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch and give a glimpse of what the former Jedi padawan is up to following her brief appearance in The Bad Batch. As for Maul, given his cameo in Solo: A Star Wars Story, the studio clearly had plans to tell more of his story on screen. If Maul’s arc were to flesh out the “Son of Dathomir” story that was never used in The Clone Wars and follow up on his Solo appearance, fans would eat it up.
Tales of the Bounty Hunters: Embo and Bossk
From Cad Bane to Zuckuss and everyone in between, bounty hunters have been a staple of Star Wars storytelling since A New Hope. It seems like a near certainty that Filoni–who has given plenty of screen time to Bane, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand and other hunters–will eventually get around to putting the focus on a pair of the galaxy’s most dangerous hunters. One solid bet to make the cut if such a Tales series does go into development is Embo. Voiced by Filoni in The Clone Wars, Embo lived a long and interesting life that lasted beyond the time of The New Republic. Another favorite of Filoni’s from his time on The Clone Wars, Bossk was revered as one of the galaxy’s finest bounty hunters and, like Embo, survived well into the New Republic era.
Of course, dozens upon dozens of other characters may deserve the spotlight of the animated shorts more than these characters; however, given previous rumors that some future seasons of the Tales anthology may focus on Sith and bounty hunters and the uncertainty of how to move forward with Skoll’s story in live-action, these are some characters that merit some consideration.
Tales of the Empire is now streaming on Disney Plus.
DC Studios’ Superman has been in production for some time and has, more or less, avoided any major leaks from the set. Short of a pretty pedestrian look at Maria Gabrielle de Faria’s villain known as The Engineer, set photos and videos haven’t provided anything of interest. Incredibly enough, there’s been nearly nothing in terms of a look at The film’s star, David Corenswet, neither as Clark Kent nor Kal-El, until now…
Via Instagram, director James Gunn unveiled the first look at Corenswet in full costume as Superman.
As part of their Star Wars Day celebration on May 4th, Lucasfilm released a second trailer for the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series, The Acolyte. While much of the buzz around the new look at the project centered around the reveal of an apparent Sith Lord–likely the series’ big bad–it also gave the audience its first look at Margarita Levieva, though you’d be forgiven if you didn’t catch her right away.
According to a pair of stills published after the Star Wars Day trailer for the series, Levieva is playing a female Zabrak named Koril. Her cranial horns would seem to establish her as an Iridonian Zabrak rather than being from the segment of the population that relocated to Dathomir. Koril is seen to be part of the mysterious coven of witches led by Jodie Turner-Smith’s Mother Aniseya who “value their independence and the preservation of their beliefs and powers.”
Levieva was cast in the project in December 2022 in what was reported by Deadline to be a guest role.
About Star Wars: The Acolyte
In Star Wars: The Acolyte, an investigation into a shocking crime spree pits a respected Jedi Master against a dangerous warrior from his past. As more clues emerge, they travel down a dark path where sinister forces reveal all is not what it seems….
The series stars Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Manny Jacinto, Dafne Keen, Charlie Barnett, Jodie TurnerSmith, Rebecca Henderson, Dean-Charles Chapman, Joonas Suotamo, and Carrie-Anne Moss.
Leslye Headland created the series, based on Star Wars by George Lucas, and serves as an executive producer along with Kathleen Kennedy, Simon Emanuel, Jeff F. King and Jason Micallef. Charmaine DeGraté and Kor Adana are the co-executive producers. Rayne Roberts, Damian Anderson, Eileen Shim and Rob Bredow are the producers.
Headland also directed the premiere episodes (Eps. 101 & 102). Directors Kogonada (Eps. 103 & 107), Alex Garcia Lopez (Eps. 104 & 105) and Hanelle Culpepper (Eps. 106 & 108) round out the directing duties on the series.
Award-winning composer Michael Abels, known for his work on Get Out and Us, scored Star Wars: The Acolyte.
The thrilling, suspenseful live-action series launches on Tuesday, June 4, with the first two episodes, exclusively on Disney+.
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