Today, Apple Original Films unveiled the trailer for the upcoming action comedy “Mayday,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh.
When hotshot U.S. Navy pilot Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly (Reynolds) is sent on a top-secret mission into Russian territory at the height of the Cold War, the operation implodes, leaving him stranded behind enemy lines. Discovered by Nikolai Ustinov (Branagh), a gruff ex-KGB agent with a penchant for American culture, Troy thinks he’s toast — but could an unlikely alliance between the two lead to Troy’s rescue and a bond neither saw coming?
An Apple Original Film hailing from Skydance Media, “Mayday” is co-directed, written and produced by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.
“The buddy films of the 1980’s were a bizarre and enticing blend of humor, danger and genuine heart. ‘Mayday’ is our ode to this genre, with the unlikely pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Sir Kenneth Branagh in a Cold War adventure that explores what it means to be patriotic, but ultimately what it means to be human.” — John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein
The film is produced by Skydance’s David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Don Granger, and Maximum Effort’s Ashley Fox and Johnny Pariseau. Executive producers are Maximum Effort’s Ryan Reynolds and George Dewey, alongside John G. Scotti.
Searchlight Pictures has debuted the trailer for BEHEMOTH starring Pedro Pascal, Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Alexa Swinton, Kaya Ralls, Erik Griffin, Jobeth Williams, Margarita Levieva, with Hank Azaria and Will Arnett.
A gifted cellist, Alex Serian (Pedro Pascal), returns home to Los Angeles after 20 years on the road.
Music, which has been the constant, all-consuming river of his life, begins to carry Alex on an adventure that will change him forever.
Written & Directed by Tony Gilroy, BEHEMOTH opens in theaters December 4th
The Oscar nominated Gilroy (MICHAEL CLAYTON) has been a major creative force behind some of the most critically acclaimed and grounded projects in the Star Wars franchise, serving as a writer, creator, and showrunner. Over a span of ten years, he has been responsible for roughly 26 hours of Star Wars content across film and television.
ROGUE ONE was massive box office hit and is widely regarded as one of the best standalone feature films in the Disney era of Star Wars. ANDOR received massive widespread critical acclaim for its mature storytelling, complex political themes, and avoidance of traditional “Easter eggs”. It was a brutal watch at times and highly recommended! Its first season earned eight Emmy nominations. Its second and final season concluded with 14 Emmy nominations, winning five major awards – including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series.
For fans of Pascal (hand raised), it’s refreshing to see him taking a break from his roles in the Marvel and Star Wars universes. Catch up on some of his other series and films (all streaming) with Narcos, THE GREAT WALL and TRIPLE FRONTIER.
There have been about a dozen movies from China about their real-life martial arts hero, Ip Man, whose exploits became a source of pride not only for all kung fu disciplines, but for the nation’s pride in times when foreigners exerted and abused control over its citizens. The best known of these on our side of the ocean is the foursome (soon to be a quintet) starring Donnie Yen in the title role. IP MAN: THE KUNG FU LEGEND is the third production starring Yu-Hang To (a/k/a Dennis To), who somewhat resembles Yen, though shorter on gravitas. Both play their roles with inclusion of Ip Man’s demeanor and Wing Chun fighting style.
For genre fans, both franchises follow the icon from his formative years in the early 20th century, and progress through subsequent eras. In this trio, the first entry is 2010’s IP MAN: THE LEGEND IS BORN,covering his youth and training, leading to his having to head up the resistance against the cruelty and corruption of Japanese occupiers. In 2019’s IP MAN: THE KUNG FU MASTER, he’s become a police captain in his home city of Foshan in the mid-20th Century, facing long odds against big-time gangs and another round of Japanese overlords. This 2026 release brings us up to the late 1940s-50s, but it’s the same challenge with different players. The Japanese jerks have been replaced by bossy British bounders, but their contempt for the rights and dignity of the locals remains the same. For reasons I can’t fully understand (but invariably enjoy), the premise of these and others is always – evil outsiders claiming “our martial arts are better than yours, so we’re better than you are…” until Ip Man, or someone like him in other flicks, beats the snot out of the bad guys’ toughest fighter(s).
In each case, foreigners have corrupted the Chinese government, leading to rampant exploitation and other bullying by the invaders, usually with the help of a few coopted quislings. Ip Man endures hardships aplenty before the eventual victory that kept him around for the next film that’s in the hopper. In real life, he lived long enough to mentor a young Brue Lee for a few years in the early 1950s. Lee has openly given Ip Man credit for providing the foundation for the broader range of skills he developed on his own.
As always in both sets of productions, the fight scenes are plentiful and well-choregraphed, with only moderate f/x enhancements. The plots may not have much novelty, but there are some twists to keep the story engaging between action sequences. These films thrive on adrenaline and the satisfying comeuppance the climax always delivers, not suspense. If you’ve already savored Yen’s collection, you won’t be wasting your time by trying.
IP MAN: KUNG FU LEGEND, debuting on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray & DVD July 14 and on Digital August 11 from Well Go USA.
Tom Cruise is a global cultural icon who has made an immeasurable impact on cinema by creating some of the most memorable characters of all time. Having achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer, and philanthropist in a career spanning across five decades, Cruise is a three-time Oscar nominee whose films have earned over $13 billion in worldwide box office – an incomparable accomplishment. Fueled by a lifetime goal to entertain audiences around the world, Cruise has worked over the last 40 years to produce and star in movies that stand the test of time.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Cruise with an Honorary Academy Award at the 16th Governors Awards in November 2025 “for his unwavering commitment to the filmmaking community, his vital support of the theatrical experience and his unmatched body of work.”
Next up is DIGGER, a film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, which comes out this Fall and shot in VistaVision. The first trailer and poster were dropped today.
The most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything.
Cruise stars in the title role, alongside Oscar winner Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Oscar nominee Sandra Hüller, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Oscar nominee Jesse Plemons. Robert John Burke, Emma D’Arcy, Burn Gorman and Sophie Wilde also star.
Cruise has received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire and was a Best Supporting Actor nominee for Magnolia.
Will he finally win the much-deserved Oscar? We’ll find out when the film is released in theaters and IMAX on October 2, 2026.
Iñárritu directed from a screenplay by Iñárritu & Oscar-winners Alexander Dinelaris & Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman, story by Iñárritu & Berman. The film is produced by Iñárritu, Oscar nominee Mary Parent, Cruise and Michael Sharp, and executive produced by Joshua Grode, Berman, Dinelaris, Giacobone, Jez Butterworth and Emmanuel Lubezki.
Joining Iñárritu behind the camera are previous collaborators Oscar-winning director of photography Emmanuel Lubezki; editors Conor O’Neill and Oscar winner Stephen Mirrone; Oscar-nominated costume designer Jacqueline West; Oscar-winning makeup and hair designer Alessandro Bertolazzi; and Oscar-nominated casting director Francine Maisler; along with Oscar-winning production designer Dennis Gassner and production designer Richard Johnson, Oscar-winning prosthetic makeup designer Kazu Hiro, and composer Cosmo Sheldrake.
A couple invites another couple, their new neighbors upstairs, over for dinner, but that ordinary thing opens the door to an evening neither couple seems likely to forget. The smart, dark comedy THE INVITE is part “Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf” and part “God of Carnage,” yet neither, as it deals with adult matters of relationships and sex with biting, frank humor. THE INVITE pits hosts Angela (Olivia Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen), a bickering couple dissatisfied with life who are dismayed by the noise the new upstairs neighbors make, against those upstairs neighbors, Spanish divorcee Pina (Penelope Cruz) and her widower husband Hawk (Edward Norton) as they dance around the issues the hosts have in their own rocky marriage and Joe’s resentment of the loud, late night sex noises they hear nightly from Pina and Hawk’s apartment.
with searing, frank humor. THE INVITE pits hosts Angela (Olivia Wilde) and Joe (Seth Rogen), a bickering couple dissatisfied with life who are dismayed by the noise the new upstairs neighbors make, against those upstairs neighbors, Spanish divorcee Pina (Penelope Cruz) and her widower husband Hawk (Edward Norton) as they dance around the issues the hosts have in their own rocky marriage and Joe’s resentment of the loud, late night sex noises they hear nightly from Pina and Hawk’s apartment.
Olivia Wilde directs as well as starring in this sophisticated, sometimes squirm-inducing comedy dealing with grown topics. The cast is superb, individually and as an ensemble, and Wilde’s direction is strong as well. THE INVITE is an excellent showcase for this fine cast, giving the actors real red meat to sink their teeth into. Although it is a comedy, THE INVITE is dark, even hard stuff, with many uncomfortable and even squirm-inducing, if funny, moments, as it frankly, and maybe even perversely, addresses matters of real-life relationships and life.
Joe and Angela’s marriage is in trouble, and the noisy neighbors upstairs are not helping matters. Neither of them are happy people. Seth Rogen’s Joe is a failed musician who now teaches at a local community college without enthusiasm, and seems to wallow in his despair, avoiding even touching the piano he still keeps in his study. He clearly feels a failure but seems determined to embrace that misery as his identity. Angela is a frustrated stay-at-home mom, who cares for their daughter and spends too much money, who is bursting with pent-up frustrations, including over her husband’s embrace of misery. They bicker constantly.
We see plenty of that bickering but the comedy opens with an orchestra performing in a theater. The sole audience member is Seth Rogen’s Joe, clearly their teacher. Yet when the performance ends, he says little and hurriedly leaves, exiting the theater with a bulky item that turns out to be a foldable bike.
After absurdly struggling up San Francisco’s hills on that ridiculous foldable bike with its tiny wheels, Joe arrives home and is dismayed to learn his wife has invited the upstairs neighbors to dinner. He chides her for not letting him know about the dinner party, although she contends she told him the night before. She chides him for not bringing home some wine, while he contends she never told him to do that. However, since the new neighbors are coming to dinner, Joe thinks it gives him the chance to confront them about the late-night loud sex noises they have been enduring since the new couple moved it. Horrified, Angela forbids him to do that, because she wants to try to befriend the neighbors before raising that topic.
Joe and Angela are still arguing when the guests show up. Everything goes wrong from the start, including what Angela planned to serve for dinner and the lack of wine.
Despite the missteps, things start to go better than expected. Joe is distant, grumpy and brutally honest even towards the guests, although he stays away from the banned topic of noise, but surprisingly, the neighbors’ reaction is an unexpected admiration for his refreshing honesty. It turns out Pina is a therapist, a sex therapist actually, and she and her husband Hawk value honesty above all.
The couples seem to be hitting it off, when new surprises emerge. However, Joe and Angela’s tendency to snipe at each other starts to set off Pina, who is outspoken and sometimes even prickly. When Joe takes a swipe at gentle, quiet Hawk, he gets a response he doesn’t expect. To avoid spoilers, we will leave it at that, and just say things go in very unexpected directions, surprising both couples, and the audience as well.
This is adult comedy, but not particularly graphic, more just honest, sometimes embarrassingly so, about sex and relationships. This also is not laugh-a-minute comedy, although it has wit and its farcical side with some laugh-out-loud moments. This is darkly humor to make you think as well. Many of the scenes are so honest and close to the mark, that couples (or anyone who had been part of a couple) may likely to squirm or cringe with discomfort at something familiar. Other moments are more likely to fall outside most personal experience.
THE INVITE, which was a hit at Sundance, is actually American remake of a 2020 Spanish comedy. The original Spanish film, THE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS. was an adaptation of Cesc Gay’s play and has been called an adult comedy for its focus on sex and relationships, although it is more frank talk that visually graphic. The original Spanish film also sparked French, Swiss, Italian and South Korean remakes. The Spanish film’s script was written by the playwright but this remake was written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. A planned 2023 version, with different cast and director, didn’t get off the ground before this present one.
The American comedy shows those origins as a play, by largely taking place in Joe and Angela’s apartment, apart from an opening sequence that sets the story firmly in San Francisco. Despite that bit of staginess, the comedy is intelligent, darkly funny and often uncomfortable as it fearlessly explores issues of relationships, sex and marriage in an adult way. The discussions are frank and adult but the film isn’t graphic. The original Spanish film was so good, there are also French and Italian remakes as well.
The major highlight of this smart comedy is the showcase it provides for this excellent cast, who relish the sharp dialog and its fearlessness in tackling uncomfortable subjects. The whole story takes place in Joe and Angela’s spacious, comfortable apartment, with the attractive setting contrasting with Joe’s palpable anger and despair about his life and Angela’s misdirected compensation for frustrations. The film runs a bit too long, sometimes lingering with a particular fight before it introduces some table-turning twist.
Still, the actors’ excellent work and intelligent, realistic way the script deals with relationship and life issues, makes this dark, biting comedy worthwhile, especially with its glimmer of something hopeful at the end. Long married couples and those who have experienced divorce or death of a spouse will find things that resonate emotionally here. It is a film that leaves you with something to think about, which seems like a good thing.
THE INVITE opens in theaters on Friday, July 10, 2026.
A week or so after all the well-deserved celebrations for the centennial of EGOT legend (my fave, BTW) Mel Brooks (one hundred years of him…hurrah, hooray), I was wondering where the comedies are in this cinema Summer season. Sure, there have been lots of funny moments, especially from the toys and the Minions, but nothing like the past warm weather visits from ZAZ (Abrahams and the Zuckers behind AIRPLANE!) or the Farrelly Brothers (THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY). Of the recent funny flick helmers, Judd Apatow’s streaming stuff, while Paul Feig serves up pulpy suburban thrillers like THE HOUSEMAID. True, we’ve gotten a JACKASS, though many consider it a doc and a reboot of SCARY MOVIE. Well, this weekend gives us two comedies that strive for two different “S words”. “Sophisticated” suits the very provocative THE INVITE, while “silly” best describes GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS. And with all these turbulent times, we can use a big helping of the latter…
This sophomoric saga is instigated by Frank (Fred Melamed), the friendly mailman walking the pleasant, picture-perfect streets of a Kansas suburb. On his route is a perky hair stylist named Gail Daughtry (Zoey Deutch) who is weeks away from marrying her high school sweetheart, Tom (Michael Cassidy). Her best work pal, Otto (Miles Guiterrez-Riley), is also looking forward to a “beauty professionals” convention in fabulous LA. The raunchy salon gossip turns to the “celebrity sex pass”. Otto explains it to the confused Gail. Couples agree that each can have one agreed-upon celebrity “pass” for “guilt-free” intercourse. She laughs it off when Otto suggests that she join him so that she can “cash hers in” with her TV crush, Jon Hamm. Later, Gail brings it up with Tom as they take in a book signing by a big TV and film star (I won’t spoil it). On an impulse, Tom had named her, so… he does “cash in”. An angry and upset Gail then tells Otto that she’s changed her mind. She’ll join him in “La La Land” for the convention and a hot, steamy slice of Hamm. But things get complicated upon their arrival when her case of brushes gets switched with a case of top-secret papers meant for an ill-tempered, impatient mobster queen named Ludovica (Sabrina Impacciatore). As Gail enlists the aid of an unlikely, motley “posse”, Otto, a frustrated “paparazzo named Vincent (Ken Marino), Caleb (Ben Wang), an eager ex-CCA intern/agent, and “Mad Men” co-star John Slattery, two “enforcers”, Sergio (Joe LoTruglio) and Niccolo (Mather Zickel) are hot on her trail for that case. Will they “whack ” her before she gets wild with the former but forever “Don Draper”? Only in Hollywood (and the movies)…
A most impressive comedic cast truly “goes for broke’ in every role, even the smallest. Ah, but the lead is the title heroine Gail herself played with pluck and energy to spare (I was reminded of the classic Ed Asner/Lou Grant line, “I hate spunk!!”) by the adorable Ms. Duetch. Far from being the cliche small town “prude”, Duetch gives her an open spirit, eager to experience all (yup) of life’s pleasures. Her “partner-in-crime” (chaos, really) is the equally curious (about everything “bi”) Otto, who’s given a perfect “best pal/ not quite straight man” tone by Guiterrez-Riley. He’s the leader of “Team Gail’ overseeing Wang as a bold “child man” (he’s always talking about “Mommy”). Marino as the “seen it all”, jaded photog Vincent (chuckling at these “rubes”) and Slattery in an inspired bit of self-mockery, riffing on his “second-tier” star status. Oh, that big star, Mr. Hamm, again exudes pure comic charisma, parodying his leading man looks with a buffoonish, bawdy bravado. His arrival late in the last act is well worth the wait, though he’s referenced throughout (Vince can’t get the pic). As I said earlier, I don’t want to spoil the delight in the other big celeb “pass”, but she also revels in skewering her fabulous fame. Melamed sets the mood of anarchy in those first moments, while LoTruglio and Zickel are spot-on on the deadly but dumb duo after the “Gail gang”. Oh, and there are also many other star cameos along with quick bits from comedy cutups (Tobie Windham as Hamm’s “muscle”) from classic TV.
Acting as the co-ordinator of the “crazies” is comedy vet David Wain, who co-wrote the script with his old partner from the cult MTV show “The State”, Marino (there are other alumni from that cable classic along with “Party On’ and “Childrens Hospital”). But Wain has been busy in features, with ROLE MODELS and THEY CAME TOGETHER, among others. Here, he’s following in the tradition of ZAZ with a barrage of gags and bits, with many hitting their target (about 65% or so), although with LA it’s the ole’ “fish in a bucket”. I’d say most of the jokes work, though some recurring bits never “kick in”, like the mob queen’s skin obsession, or Michael Ian Black’s street vendor. And the big, ultra-violent showdown with the baddies gets a bit tiresome. But then, the Hamm arrives and all in gold (or fool’s gold). Unlike the AIRPLANE team, Wain and Marino aren’t adhering to a single source script, but this story’s “inspiration” becomes obvious by the midpoint. To quote the old auto ad line, “your mileage may vary”, depending on your tolerance for the tacky, tasteless, and gloriously goofy. Well, we can use some “silly” right now, much as how my spirits were lifted by BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR during the waning days of the pandemic. It isn’t Noel Coward or THE INVITE, but it’s pretty inventive, and sometimes witty (much like “The Studio”). So, offset a laughter “workout” with that sweet AC at the multiplex with GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS. Now, could I “pull off” a “whip-curl”?
3 out of 4 stars
GAIL DAUGHTRY AND THE CELEBRITY SEX PASS is now showing at theatres everywhere
From Academy Award® winner Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey brings to the screen Homer’s heroic epic, a literary work regarded as the foundational text of western culture. Shot in six countries with an all-star cast, Nolan’s thirteenth feature fulfills a dream of many years to film an entire movie using IMAX Film Cameras, and it represents his most immersive and expansive cinematic experience yet.
The Odyssey stars Academy Award® winner MATT DAMON (Good Will Hunting, The Martian)as Odysseus, king of Ithaca; BAFTA winner TOM HOLLAND (Spider-Man series, Avengers: Endgame) as Odysseus’ son, Telemachus; Academy Award® winner ANNE HATHAWAY (Les Misérables, The Dark Knight Rises) as Penelope, queen of Ithaca and wife of Odysseus; ROBERT PATTINSON (The Batman, Good Time)as Antinous, an Ithacan suitor of Penelope; Academy Award® winner LUPITA NYONG’O (12 Years a Slave, Us) in dual roles as Helen of Troy, queen of Sparta, and as Helen’s twin sister Clytemnestra, queen of Mycenae; two-time Academy Award® nominee SAMANTHA MORTON (In America, Sweet and Lowdown)as Circe, a powerful witch; Emmy winner JOHN LEGUIZAMO (Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet) as Eumaeus, a faithful servant to Odysseus; Emmy and Golden Globe winner ZENDAYA (Challengers, Dune films) as the goddess Athena; Academy Award® winner CHARLIZE THERON (Mad Max: Fury Road, Monster) as Calypso, an immortal nymph.
JON BERNTHAL (The Bear, The Walking Dead)plays Menelaus, king of Sparta and husband of Helen of Troy; Emmy nominee HIMESH PATEL (Tenet, Yesterday) is Eurylochus, the second-in-command to Odysseus’ crew; Tony Award winner BILL IRWIN (Interstellar, Legion)plays the Cyclops, a one-eyed giant; Academy Award® nominee ELLIOT PAGE (Inception, Juno) is Sinon, a Greek warrior; Emmy winner BENNY SAFDIE (Oppenheimer, Good Time)plays Agamemnon, king of Mycenae; Emmy nominee COREY HAWKINS (Straight Outta Compton, BlacKkKlansman)plays Polybus, an Ithacan suitor; and MIA GOTH (Frankenstein, Pearl)is Melantho, a servant of Queen Penelope.
The Odyssey is written for the screen and directed by CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, based on Homer’s Odyssey. It is produced by EMMA THOMAS and CHRISTOPHER NOLAN for their company, Syncopy. The executive producer is THOMAS HAYSLIP.
THE ODYSSEY opens in IMAX and theaters on July 17.
The special IMAX screening is Monday, July 13th at 7pm at at Marcus Ronnie’s IMAX Cinema (5320 S Lindbergh Blvd). Doors open at 6pm. Seating is NOT reserved.
Director Christopher Nolan (frame left) with Matt Damon (as Odysseus) and Zendaya (as Athena), on set of his film THE ODYSSEY, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
The film’s director of photography is Academy Award® winner HOYTE VAN HOYTEMA, asc, fsf, nsc (Oppenheimer, Dunkirk) and the production designer is Academy Award® nominee RUTH DE JONG (Oppenheimer, Us). The costumes are designed by Academy Award® nominee ELLEN MIROJNICK (Oppenheimer, The Greatest Showman) and the makeup designer is Academy Award® nominee LUISA ABEL (Oppenheimer, Tenet). The hair designer is Academy Award® nominee GLORIA CASNY (The Lone Ranger, Ford v. Ferrari).
The film’s editor is Academy Award® winner JENNIFER LAME, ace (Oppenheimer, Tenet) and the music is by three-time Academy Award® winner LUDWIG GÖRANSSON (Oppenheimer, Sinners). The visual effects supervisor is Academy Award® winner ANDREW JACKSON (Oppenheimer, Tenet) and the special effects supervisor is two-time Academy Award® winner SCOTT R. FISHER (Oppenheimer, Tenet).
The co-producers are ANDY THOMPSON (Oppenheimer, Tenet) and HELEN MEDRANO (associate producer on Oppenheimer, Tenet) and the casting is by JOHN PAPSIDERA, csa (Oppenheimer, Tenet).
Matt Damon (frame left, with bow) is Odysseus in THE ODYSSEY, written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan.
From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes Dune: Part Three, bringing Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s epic trilogy to a breathtaking conclusion.
Dune: Part Three is set nearly two decades after Paul Atreides seized control of the Imperium. Now a ruthless Emperor, Paul must face the consequences of his reign as old allies return, terrifying new threats emerge, and betrayal lurks in every shadow. Haunted by visions of Imperial collapse and the reappearance of his long-lost love, Paul is drawn into a sweeping conspiracy, with Chani at the heart of its unfolding mystery. As rebellion brews and enemies close in, Paul must confront the true cost of power and the fate of those he loves the most.
The film stars Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Oscar nominee Florence Pugh, Rebecca Ferguson, Isaach de Bankolé, with Oscar nominee Charlotte Rampling, with Anya Taylor-Joy, and Robert Pattinson, and Oscar winner Javier Bardem.
Zendaya has now proven she’s Hollywood’s ultimate two-screen star.
She has received six total Emmy nominations. Today she landed her third lead acting nomination for the third and final season of Euphoria. She famously won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice (in 2020 and 2022), setting records as the youngest winner in the category’s history and the first Black woman to win it twice. Zendaya can also be seen next weekend in THE ODYSSEY followed by SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY at the end of the month.
Will the actress see an Oscar nomination for DUNE: PART THREE? I wouldn’t bet against it.
(L-r) Director/Writer/Producer DENIS VILLENEUVE and Zendaya on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ action adventure “DUNE: PART THREE,” in the Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi. A Warner Bros. Pictures release.
Villeneuve directs from a screenplay by Villeneuve and Brian K. Vaughan, based on the novels written by Frank Herbert. The film is produced by Oscar nominees Mary Parent, Cale Boyter, Villeneuve and Tanya Lapointe, and Joe Caracciolo, and executive produced by Joshua Grode, Thomas Tull, Herbert W. Gains, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt, Kim Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson, Richard P. Rubinstein, John Harrison and Jessica Derhammer.
Joining Villeneuve behind the camera are Oscar-winning director of photography Linus Sandgren, Oscar-winning production designer Patrice Vermette, Oscar-winning editor Joe Walker, Oscar nominated costume designer Jacqueline West, Oscar-nominated casting director Francine Maisler, and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures Present A Legendary Pictures Production, A Film By Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Three, only in theaters and IMAX® across North America on December 18, 2026 and internationally beginning 16 December 2026. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and in China by Legendary East.
Following the VIRAL FIRST TEASER that generated millions of views across social media platforms in June, the creators behind 2025 cult-dinosaur feature, PRIMITIVE WAR, launch a new live action series that invites dinosaur fans to join them in creating “the New Frontier.”
Inspired by the illustrated world and artwork of creator Shaun Keenan, DINOSAURS OF THE WILD WEST blends large-scale storytelling with prehistoric spectacle. The series imagines a world where humanity didn’t build civilization on horses and steam… but on dinosaurs.
The official synopsis for the series reads: “In an alternate frontier, humanity navigates a dangerous land where every journey, every town, and every war depend on the giant creatures that shaped civilization itself. But now, something is rising that threatens to change the world and the dinosaur connection forever. Dinosaurs of the Wild West is an epic adventure series that reimagines the American frontier through a world millions of years in the making”
Launching today alongside a cinematic first-look trailer narrated by Cobra Kai actor Jesse Kove, the Kickstarter campaign invites audiences to claim their place in the frontier through an independently driven production model.
“Instead of waiting years for a network to decide whether this should exist, we’re putting that decision directly in the hands of audiences. It was heartwarming to see the teaser liked and shared so enthusiastically by millions of fans. That response is entirely down to audiences embracing the concept, it tells us everything we need to know about whether this world deserves to exist. Creators are past the point of proving they can go direct to fans – Chris Stuckmann’s Shelby Oaks becoming the highest funded horror Kickstarter of all time solidified that. Dinosaurs of the Wild West is our version of that moment with our own built-in audience. This is a pre-order model – if enough fans around the world show up and claim their place, we’re away,” said showrunner Luke Sparke.
Alongside the full trailer, DINOSAURS OF THE WILD WEST Kickstarter campaign unveils a mix of EARLY BIRD and LIMITED EDITION rewards that include:
VIP ON SET EXPERIENCES
FIRST EDITION TRADING CARD SET & STATUE
BEHIND THE SCENES ACCESS
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDITS
And the opportunity to CREATE A DINOSAUR for the series.
The initial goal will produce the first 2 episodes of the series. STRETCH GOALS are ready to bring the complete vision to life – including more episodes and full season. Fans only have 30 days to pre-order and make this series happen. “Dinosaurs of the Wild West combines two of my favourite things. I illustrated a world that I wanted to live in. So, seeing how Luke is already bringing this world to life is surreal and beyond exciting. I can’t wait to see what he does with the dinosaur playground I created,” said creator Shaun Keenan.
Luke Sparke’s Primitive War (review), currently streaming on Hulu in the USA, was awarded Best Film and Best Director at the 2026 Film Threat Award This!, cementing the project’s status as a breakout independent genre achievement. This new project combines western mythology, frontier survival, and prehistoric creatures into an original universe that asks a simple question: What if our world was built on dinosaurs?
The amiable crew from this light French crime series, “Cassandre”, returns for its seventh season with four more murder cases to solve in 90 minutes a pop. Not much has changed since my previous seasons’ reviews, and here’s a link to the last one from about four months ago: https://www.wearemoviegeeks.com/2026/03/cassandre-season-six-tv-series-review/
As to the crimes du jour, the first gives us extra eye candy, as the favored contestant, Nelly (Anaelle Duguet), in a beauty pageant is killed shortly before the competition. This is particularly upsetting for her domineering mother (Anne Caillon), who had invested her whole life in pushing Nelly to the success she had enjoyed in her own youth; and to look-alike younger sister, Manon (also played by Duguet), who was mentally limited and totally devoted to big sis. She’s so emotionally fragile that mom keeps her from learning of Nelly’s fate for as long as possible. Special kudos to Duguet for an exceptional performance in both roles – especially as Manon. As to the eye candy part, they show rehearsals parading in evening gowns, but not the swimsuit competition, alas. Adjust libidos accordingly, folks.
The second, “White Zone”, covers the murder of the mayor in an isolated village torn by the rift between two factions. The title refers to an area without cell phone or wi-fi coverage. Many electromagnetic-hypersensitive folks have moved there to escape the signals that supposedly cause them severe headaches and other symptoms. The mayor was on their side, but an equally vocal group of locals is pushing hard for connection to the rest of the world via their phones and computers.
The third fits into the Me-Too era, as a champion swimmer is found dead – ironically in a lake. This leads to questions about the tactics and practices of her hard-ass, if not abusive – especially regarding the young women on his team – coach, providing the most cultural significance of this quartet. The last features the murder of a female sous chef in a highly-rated restaurant, raising possibilities of sexism in such kitchens causing strife – perhaps enough jealousy to motivate one of those she’s passed up for the plum job to remove her from the menu options; or, at least, her role in creating them.
On the personal story arcs side, Cassandre and Pascal dominate the proceedings, compared to the last season that spread the screen time more among all five members of the squad. The will they/ won’t they game escalates as both have new lovers they won’t tell the other about. When each happens to learn of the other’s relationships, they’re both jealous in ways everyone but them can see… or acknowledge. That’s rather amusing, though some may find it bordering on the ridiculous – especially if you binge the season. I’d advise spreading them out a bit, since each main story is a stand-alone case, with only the subplots progressing. It’s still as enjoyable as it’s been throughout, with two more seasons (at least) to go.
