Author: Michelle McCue

Huge passion for film scores, lives for the Academy Awards, loves movie trailers. That is all.

Blumhouse Announces Octavia Spencer To Return In MA Sequel

(from left) Darrell (Dante Brown, back to camera), Chaz (Gianni Paolo), Sue Ann (Octavia Spencer) and Haley (McKaley Miller) in “Ma,” directed by Tate Taylor.

Tom Stockman wrote in his review, “MA is one of the most fun ‘audience’ movies I’ve seen in some time. It’s scary, but not under-the-skin terrifying and it’s darkly funny, generating nervous laughter as well as a few big gut-busters. I hope MA finds the cult status it deserves.” And so it has.

As part of its first-ever The Business of Fear event examining the growing power of horror subgenres, Blumhouse has announced that Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer will return as Ma in a sequel to the hit Blumhouse revenge horror film.

The original 2019 film, directed by Tate Taylor, earned more than $60 million in global box office, but also spawned hundreds of memes, with audiences embracing Ma as an iconic horror character for the ages. The fandom helped make Ma a phenomenon at Blumhouse’s recent Halfway to Halloween festival.

“Ma has proven to be a social phenomenon since its release in 2019, with fans eagerly embracing the film and Octavia’s iconic performance as Ma. Ma likes to say ‘don’t make me drink alone,’ so we’re thrilled Octavia will join us again for a second round,” said Jason Blum, Founder/CEO, Blumhouse.

Synopsis: Everybody’s welcome at Ma’s. But good luck getting home safe.

Oscar® winner Octavia Spencer stars as Sue Ann, a loner who keeps to herself in her quiet Ohio town. One day, she is asked by Maggie, a new teenager in town (Diana Silvers, Glass), to buy some booze for her and her friends, and Sue Ann sees the chance to make some unsuspecting, if younger, friends of her own.

She offers the kids the chance to avoid drinking and driving by hanging out in the basement of her home. But there are some house rules: One of the kids has to stay sober. Don’t curse. Never go upstairs. And call her “Ma.”

But as Ma’s hospitality starts to curdle into obsession, what began as a teenage dream turns into a terrorizing nightmare, and Ma’s place goes from the best place in town to the worst place on earth.

Ma also stars Juliette Lewis (August: Osage County) as Maggie’s mom, Luke Evans (Beauty and the Beast) as a local dad, Missi Pyle (Gone Girl) as his girlfriend, and McKaley Miller (TV’s Hart of Dixie), Corey Fogelmanis (TV’s Girl Meets World), Gianni Paolo (TV’s Power) and Dante Brown (Lethal Weapon TV series) as Maggie’s friends.

From Tate Taylor, the acclaimed director of The Help and Get On Up, and blockbuster producer Jason Blum (Get Out, Halloween, The Purge series) comes a thriller anchored by a daring and unexpected performance from Spencer, one of the most powerful actors of her generation.

28 YEARS LATER New Character Posters And Danny Boyle Talks The Planned Sequels

Sony Pictures has released 4 new character posters for 28 YEARS LATER.

Tickets are now on sale on Fandango for the next installment of the hugely popular zombie franchise 28 Years Later, premiering in theaters on Friday, June 20.

Zombie superfans can own a piece of the outbreak with a 28 Years Later Collector’s Bundle which includes a ticket to 28 Years Later and an exclusive poster for $40!

Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award®-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later, a terrifying new “auteur horror” story set in the world created by 28 Days Later. It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well. The film stars Jodie Comer, ​Aaron Taylor-Johnson, ​Jack O’Connell, ​Alfie Williams ​and Ralph Fiennes.

This film is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for the following reasons: strong bloody violence, grisly images, graphic nudity, language and brief sexuality.

https://28yearslater.movie

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Boyle said of Cillian Murphy and the now planned trilogy, with the next film slated to be 28 Year Later: The Bone Temple, helmed by Nia DaCosta:

It doesn’t take a genius to work out there’s going to be a big role for Cillian Murphy in it. Yeah, a significant role. All I can say, because I know the idea of the story, which has been mapped out, it is clever. It is a very smart use of him.

There is a very satisfying introduction of him in the second film, and when I saw it, the way [Nia had] done it, I was like, “Oh, yeah, that’s pretty good.” Because I’ve seen a rough cut of it. They’re doing a test of it in July. The whole Sony Corporation hasn’t turned its attention to that film yet.

I remember asking Nia DaCosta [about this new trilogy], “What do you think it’s about?” It won’t necessarily end up being about this because films change, but I said, “What do you think it’s about?” And she said, “Well, I think the first one is about the nature of family. The second one’s about the nature of evil. And the third one is about the nature of redemption.”

That’s our ambition. It is ambitious, and it’s going to be set in England, and there aren’t going to be American soldiers arriving to save it, because we know you’re not sending American soldiers anywhere anymore. It’s going to be a homeland-made and executed and completed, really. It’s a big story, but about these characters who are much as they were in the first film.

Cillian is playing the same character. He will be playing the same character. And, as you’ve seen, the characters are Jodie and Aaron and eventually Ralph in this film and Jack right at the very end.”

Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Danny Boyle (Director) at the Columbia Pictures’ 28 YEARS LATER Fan Event at Regal Union Square Theater – PICTURED: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Danny Boyle (Director) – PHOTO by: Marion Curtis /StarPix for Columbia Pictures – Regal Union Square Theater

Welcome To The Family! Tickets On Sale For THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS And Check Out The Galactus Popcorn Vessel, Plus Pop-Tarts Frosted Blue Raspberry

The countdown begins for the epic film’s July 25th theatrical opening: tickets are on sale now for Marvel Studios’ THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Future fans can purchase advance tickets wherever tickets are sold. Marking the milestone, check out the new video and posters.

There’s also a Galactus sized popcorn bucket and Frosted Blueberry Pop-Tarts!

In 1963, Pop-Tarts® changed the world forever with its groundbreaking take on the classic toast and jam. Now, Pop-Tarts is earning its place as a snack superhero! The toaster pastry lineup inspired by Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” in theaters July 25, gives fans a fanTASTEic snacking experience that will take taste buds on a nostalgic journey.

Returning fan-favorite Pop-Tarts® Frosted Blue Raspberry toaster pastries will be available exclusively at Walmart for a limited time starting June 9 to celebrate Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, in theaters July 25.

Fan-favorite Pop-Tarts® Frosted Blue Raspberry is returning to the pastry universe – exclusively at Walmart – after a six-year hiatus. Filled with a deliciously gooey blue raspberry-flavored center, these cosmic power-inspired pastries strike the perfect balance of tangy, fruity and sweet. Each pastry features one of eight unique frosting designs inspired by the iconic Super Hero team, their powers, and more. The printed pastries will also be available in specially marked boxes of Pop-Tarts® Frosted Strawberry at grocery retailers nationwide.

“The Pop-Tarts and Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ collaboration is a celebration of our shared 1960s origins,” said Leslie Serro, vice president of marketing for Pop-Tarts. “There’s no better way to welcome everyone’s favorite, blue-suited Super Hero family to the MCU than with the triumphant return of our own fantastically blue toaster pastry – Pop-Tarts Frosted Blue Raspberry – back on shelves for the first time since 2019, and just in time for this summer’s must-see movie.”

Beginning this month while supplies last, grab limited-edition Pop-Tarts Frosted Blue Raspberry at Walmart and specially marked boxes of Pop-Tarts Frosted Strawberry, Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Frosted S’mores at grocery retailers nationwide for $3.89 per 8-count box.

For even more movie and pastry fun, fans who purchase $10 worth of any participating boxes of Pop-Tarts Frosted Blue Raspberry, Frosted Strawberry, Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon and/or Frosted S’mores starting this June have the opportunity to get a $5 Fandango Movie Reward* to see Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in theaters.

Follow @PopTartsUS on your favorite social media platforms to keep up with the latest news.

*Buy $10 or more of participating Pop-Tarts® toaster pastries in one transaction between 6/1/25-8/31/25 and get a $5 Fandango Movie Reward to see Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” in theaters. Limited time offer. Must be a resident of the U.S. Fandango Movie Reward will be delivered as a Fandango Promotional Code (“Code”). Code is good towards the purchase of one movie ticket (up to $5 total ticket price and associated fees and charges) to see Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps at Fandango partner theaters in the US. Valid only for purchases at Fandango.com or via the Fandango app. Code is void if not redeemed by 9/30/25 or when Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps is no longer in theaters, whichever comes first. Not for resale; void if sold or exchanged. Offer valid for one-time use only. Non-transferable. Limit 2 Codes per household. The redemption of the Code is subject to Fandango’s Terms and Policies at www.fandango.com/terms-and-policies. See www.activaterewards.com/PopTarts/details for full details. FANDANGO and the Fandango Logo are registered trademarks of Fandango Media, LLC.

Pop-Tarts® and Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” limited-edition pastry lineup including four favorite flavors: Pop-Tarts® Frosted Strawberry, Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Frosted S’mores and the triumphant return of Frosted Blue Raspberry.

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal. The action adventure also stars Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS is directed by Matt Shakman, produced by Kevin Feige and executive produced by Louis D’Esposito, Grant Curtis and Tim Lewis.

James Gunn’s SUPERMAN Marketing Blitz Continues With The Mighty Heroes Character Posters

The all new character posters for the Metahumans have landed and they’re SUPER! Superman, Krypto, Hawkgirl, Mr. Terrific and Superman Robot #4 have their own posters for SUPERMAN, in theaters July 11.

Director James Gunn has been posting on his socials to promote the upcoming film. Threads, Instagram, Facebook, X – the marketing campaign is in high gear and fans have been blitzed with new posters and videos and images almost daily.

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures (From L-R) NATHAN FILLION as Guy Gardner, ISABELA MERCED as Hawkgirl and EDI GATHEGI as Mr. Terrific in DC Studios’ and Warner Bros. Pictures’ “SUPERMAN,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

© 2025 Warner Bros. Ent. All Rights Reserved. TM & © DC

Even the billboards have arrived in Los Angeles.

James Gunn: “Working hard. #superman“

“Superman,” DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind. DC Studios heads Peter Safran and Gunn are producing the film, which Gunn directs from his own screenplay, based on characters from DC, Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The film stars David Corenswet (“Twisters,” “Hollywood”) in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”) as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult (the “X-Men” movies, “Juror #2”) as Lex Luthor. The film also stars Edi Gathegi (“For All Mankind”), Anthony Carrigan (“Barry,” “Gotham”), Nathan Fillion (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, “The Suicide Squad”), Isabela Merced (“Alien Romulus”), Skyler Gisondo (“Licorice Pizza,” “Booksmart”), Sara Sampaio (“At Midnight”), María Gabriela de Faría (“The Moodys”), Wendell Pierce (“Selma,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), Alan Tudyk (“Andor”), Pruitt Taylor Vince (“Bird Box”) and Neva Howell (“Greedy People”).

“Superman” is executive produced by Nikolas Korda, Chantal Nong Vo and Lars Winther. Behind the camera, Gunn is joined by frequent collaborators, including director of photography Henry Braham, production designer Beth Mickle, costume designer Judianna Makovsky and composer John Murphy, along with composer David Fleming (“The Last of Us”) and editors William Hoy (“The Batman”) and Craig Alpert (“Deadpool 2,” “Blue Beetle”).

The world tour too has already started.

Don’t forget to enter the Superman Sweepstakes:

Fans can scan the QR code on the pack of Limited-Edition Keebler Superman Fudge Stripes to unlock even more magic on Keebler’s Open for Magic digital content hub and enter the Keebler® Superman™ Sweepstakes. Beginning June 1, families can unleash their inner superhero through a magical simulation game, inspired by Superman, where they rescue cookies in need for a chance to win two Fandango admissions ($30 value) to see Superman in theaters. See below for more details.

Visit OpenforMagic.com for a chance to see the all-new “Superman” in theaters

Shop Limited-Edition Keebler Superman Fudge Stripes at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $4.80.

Keebler® in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products celebrates Superman’s return to the big screen this summer with an epic new cookie innovation: Limited-Edition Keebler Superman Fudge Stripes.

Magically baked by Ernie and the elves in the Hollow Tree, these mouthwatering Strong Berry Fudge Stripes Cookies are drizzled with stripes of mixed-berry fudge and feature four unique designs that reflect the DC Super Hero, including the Superman S-Shield as depicted in the new film.

Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell Star In First Trailer For A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY

© 2025 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Here’s a first look at director Kogonada’s (COLUMBUS, AFTER YANG) upcoming film A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY.

What if you could open a doorway and walk through it to re-live a defining moment from your past? Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are single strangers who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and soon, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present… and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures.

Also featuring Kevin Kline and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY opens in movie theaters September 19, 2025.

https://abigboldbeautifuljourney.movie

Watch The Final Trailer For M3GAN 2.0 And See It In Theaters on June 27

Blumhouse has dropped the final trailer for M3GAN 2.0.

The murderous doll who captivated pop culture in 2023 is back. And this time she’s not alone.  

The original creative team behind that phenomenon—led by horror titans James Wan for Atomic Monster, Jason Blum for Blumhouse and director Gerard Johnstone—reboot an all-new wild chapter in A.I. mayhem with M3GAN 2.0. 

Two years after M3GAN, a marvel of artificial intelligence, went rogue and embarked on a murderous (and impeccably choreographed) rampage and was subsequently destroyed, M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) has become a high-profile author and advocate for government oversight of A.I. Meanwhile, Gemma’s niece Cady (Violet McGraw), now 14, has become a teenager, rebelling against Gemma’s overprotective rules. 

Unbeknownst to them, the underlying tech for M3GAN has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade weapon known as Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno; Ahsoka, Pacific Rim: Uprising), the ultimate killer infiltration spy. But as Amelia’s self-awareness increases, she becomes decidedly less interested in taking orders from humans. Or in keeping them around. 

With the future of human existence on the line, Gemma realizes that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN (Amie Donald, voiced by Jenna Davis) and give her a few upgrades, making her faster, stronger, and more lethal. As their paths collide, the original A.I bitch is about to meet her match. 

Directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone, the film co-stars returning cast members Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jen Van Epps as Gemma’s loyal tech teammates, Cole and Tess, and new characters played by Aristotle Athari (Saturday Night Live, Hacks), Timm Sharp (Apples Never Fall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians) and Grammy winner and 11-time Emmy nominee Jemaine Clement (Avatar: The Way of Water, What We Do in the Shadows). 

Produced by James Wan, Jason Blum and Allison Williams, the film is executive produced by Gerard Johnstone, Adam Hendricks, Greg Gilreath, Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Mark D. Katchur.  The film’s music supervisors are DEVOE YATES (the Halloween franchise, Wolf Man) and Emmy winner GABE HILFER (The White Lotus, A Minecraft Movie).

The first M3GAN film shattered box office records, opening to $30.4 million domestically to become the biggest opening weekend for a PG-13 horror film since A Quiet Place Part II. The film went on to gross more than $180 million worldwide.

M3gan 2.0
© 2025 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

SMURFS Movie Announces Full Soundtrack Featuring Music From Rihanna, Tyla, DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Shenseea,

SMURFS Movie announces the full soundtrack to the film featuring music from Rihanna, Tyla, DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Shenseea, James Corden and more. The soundtrack is available for Pre-Order/Pre-Save HERE and will officially release June 13th via Roc Nation Distribution.

The reveal of the soundtrack follows the release of Rihanna’s “Friend Of Mine” off the soundtrack as well as “Higher Love” by DESI TRILL featuring DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi. “Higher Love” also saw an official music video.

See the full soundtrack tracklisting below.

SMURFS MOVIE SOUNDTRACK TRACKLIST

1. Milenge by Natania

2. Celebrate by Natania

3. Friend Of Mine by Rihanna

4. Higher Love by DESI TRILL feat. DJ Khaled, Cardi B, Natania and Subhi

5. Liar For A Living by Natania

6. It Takes A Village by Natania and The Indian Connect

7. Big Dreams by James Fauntleroy

8. To Me by Lous and the Yakuza

9. Did We by Natania

10. Balle Balouza by Natania, Subhi and The Indian Connect

11. Everything Goes With Blue by Tyla

12. It’s My Party by Shenseea

13. Always On The Outside by James Corden

14. Higher Calling by The Indian Connect

When Papa Smurf (John Goodman) is mysteriously taken by evil wizards, Razamel and Gargamel, Smurfette (Rihanna) leads the Smurfs on a mission into the real world to save him. With the help of new friends, the Smurfs must discover what defines their destiny to save the universe. SMURFS features an all-star voice cast including Rihanna, James Corden, Nick Offerman, JP Karliak, Daniel Levy, Amy Sedaris, Natasha Lyonne, Sandra Oh, Jimmy Kimmel,  Octavia Spencer, Nick Kroll, Hannah Waddingham, Alex Winter, Maya Erskine, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña, Marshmello, with Kurt Russell and John Goodman. 

SMURFS In Theatres July 18, 2025.

Paramount Animation Presents In Association with Domain Entertainment. A Ty Ty and Jay Brown Production

Scott Derrickson’s BLACK PHONE 2 First Trailer Revealed At CCXP Mexico

Blumhouse is throwing a horror quinceanera for the ages today at CCXP Mexico, one of the world’s largest pop culture festivals celebrating movies, TV series, games, comics and more. Founder and CEO Jason Blum takes the stage in Mexico City to mark the company’s 15th anniversary and unveil a slate of updates, exclusive footage and surprise reveals.

First in their reveals is the trailer for BLACK PHONE 2.

Four years ago, 13-year-old Finn killed his abductor and escaped, becoming the sole survivor of The Grabber. But true evil transcends death … and the phone is ringing again.

Four-time Academy Award® nominee Ethan Hawke returns to the most sinister role of his career as The Grabber seeks vengeance on Finn (Mason Thames) from beyond the grave by menacing Finn’s younger sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw).

As Finn, now 17, struggles with life after his captivity, the headstrong 15-year-old Gwen begins receiving calls in her dreams from the black phone and seeing disturbing visions of three boys being stalked at a winter camp known as Alpine Lake.

Determined to solve the mystery and end the torment for both her and her brother, Gwen persuades Finn to visit the camp during a winter storm. There, she uncovers a shattering intersection between The Grabber and her own family’s history. Together, she and Finn must confront a killer who has grown more powerful in death and more significant to them than either could imagine.

From returning visionary writer-director Scott Derrickson, Black Phone 2 is written again by Derrickson & C. Robert Cargill, based on characters created by Joe Hill. The film is produced by Jason Blum, Derrickson and Cargill. The executive producers are Joe Hill, Adam Hendricks and Ryan Turek.

The cast includes Oscar® nominee Demián Bichir (The Nun, A Better Life) as the supervisor of the camp, Arianna Rivas (A Working Man) as his niece, Miguel Mora (The Black Phone) as the brother of one of The Grabber’s victims, and Jeremy Davies, returning as Finn and Gwen’s father, Terrence. Other new cast members include Maev Beaty (Beau is Afraid) and Graham Abbey (Under the Banner of Heaven). 

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse’s horror phenomenon The Black Phone, released in 2022, received widespread critical acclaim and earned more than $160 million worldwide.

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse will present the Crooked Highway Production, which is set to open in theaters October 17, 2025.

(from left) Finn (Mason Thames) and The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) in Black Phone 2, written and directed by Scott Derrickson.

Dan Trachtenberg’s PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS Is A Huge Hit At Beyond Fest And Watch New Featurette

PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS premiered on Saturday evening at Beyond Fest and social media was buzzing with positive reactions. The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director.

Courtney Howard on X said “Not joking when I say #PredatorKillerOfKillers is pretty gory stuff. Like holy shit. And this all is just the stuff they can show you in the trailer.”

Look for WAMG’s Jim Batts review later this week. He says, “The creative team behind PREY has crafted another exciting and very original addition to the PREDATOR mythos for Hulu, though it deserves to be seen on the biggest theatre screens. Much as with the “Spider-Verse” movies, PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS proves that animation can tell thrilling tales as compelling as any live-action epic. Epic is the proper word for this thrilling anthology that concludes with an astonishing “unifying” finale that is quite satisfying, as it leaves us wanting more (capped by a near-perfect “Easter egg”).”

Take a look at more of last night’s reactions.

20th Century Studios PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS, an original animated action-adventure film set in the Predator universe, will premiere June 6, 2025, exclusively on Hulu.

https://www.hulu.com/movie/predator-killer-of-killers-5ded19e6-73f5-4c65-a4f8-759bce8d1114

The anthology story follows three of the fiercest warriors in human history: a Viking raider guiding her young son on a bloody quest for revenge, a ninja in feudal Japan who turns against his Samurai brother in a brutal battle for succession, and a WWII pilot who takes to the sky to investigate an otherworldly threat to the Allied cause. But while all these warriors are killers in their own right, they are merely prey for their new opponent – the ultimate killer of killers.

“Predator: Killer of Killers” is directed by Dan Trachtenberg with Josh Wassung, from animation company The Third Floor, serving as co-director. The film stars Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa, Rick Gonzalez, and Michael Biehn and is written by Micho Robert Rutare and story by Trachtenberg and Rutare, based on characters created by Jim Thomas & John Thomas. The producers are John Davis, Dan Trachtenberg, p.g.a., Marc Toberoff, Ben Rosenblatt, p.g.a., with Lawrence Gordon, James E. Thomas, John C. Thomas, and Stefan Grube as executive producers.

JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY Premieres July 10 On National Geographic As Crown Jewel Of This Summer’s SHARKFEST

National Geographic’s SHARKFEST wouldn’t exist without the film that changed cinema—and our relationship with sharks—forever: “Jaws.” This summer, in tribute to the movie that sparked a lasting fascination with the ocean’s most misunderstood predator, National Geographic goes behind the scenes of the legendary blockbuster with JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau (“Faye,” “Music by John Williams”), the 90-minute documentary takes viewers on the ultimate deep dive, from Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel to the cinematic phenomenon that is “Jaws” and how the film continues to ripple through pop culture, cinema and shark conservation to this day. You may think you know the full story of “Jaws”—but not until now.

JAWS @ 50 hails from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films, in partnership with Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling, and is this summer’s only authorized documentary on the making of “Jaws,” with the award-winning director himself diving back into the story that launched his career and earned him final cut on the film, a creative control he has maintained for the last 50 years. The documentary premieres July 10 at 9/8c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

This definitive account offers an unfiltered look at the chaos and creativity behind the making of “Jaws,” featuring never-before-seen footage from Spielberg’s and Benchley’s personal archives, including home videos and rare outtakes. Through candid new reflections, Spielberg recounts the high-stakes production, from battling a malfunctioning mechanical shark and relentless weather delays to his own post-production PTSD and fears the film would end his career. The documentary also reexamines the infamous “Jaws effect”—the wave of shark fear it unleashed—and reframes it as a legacy of awe, curiosity and enduring respect for the ocean’s top predator. Complemented by brand-new interviews with cast, crew, filmmakers and shark advocates, JAWS @ 50 captures the full creative and cultural shockwaves of the first summer blockbuster.

In addition to Steven Spielberg, the documentary includes exclusive interviews from original cast and crew—including Joe Alves (production designer), Jonathan Filley (Cassidy), Lorraine Gary (Ellen Brody), Carl Gottlieb (Meadows, screenwriter), Jeffrey Kramer (Hendricks), Ian Shaw (son of Robert Shaw, who played Quint), Jeffrey Voorhees (Alex Kintner), and composer John Williams—and a who’s who of modern filmmakers and superfans—including J.J. Abrams, Emily Blunt, James Cameron, Cameron Crowe, George Lucas, Greg Nicotero, Jordan Peele, Steven Soderbergh, Guillermo del Toro, Robert Zemeckis, and more—reflect on how “Jaws” shaped their work and the cinematic landscape.

Alongside cast and crew, the film also features heartfelt insights from Peter Benchley’s wife, renowned voice for sharks and ocean policy advocate Wendy Benchley; their children, Tracy Benchley Turner and Clayton Benchley; and his brother, Nat Benchley, offering a rare glimpse into the real-life inspiration behind the bestselling novel that started it all.

But JAWS @ 50 is more than a behind-the-scenes doc; it’s a celebration of a legacy that fueled a global shark obsession and inspired generations of scientists, storytellers and ocean defenders. Through thoughtful conversations with leading marine advocates and scientists—including Philippe Cousteau, Candace Fields, Austin Gallagher, Gibbs Kuguru, Dr. John Mandelman (New England Aquarium), National Geographic Explorer and photographer Brian Skerry, Dr. Greg Skomal and others—the documentary explores how “Jaws” reshaped our relationship with the ocean and helped transform public perception of sharks, turning fear into fascination and sparking real-world conservation efforts that continue today.

For National Geographic, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY is produced by Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films. For Amblin Documentaries, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey are producers. For Nedland Films, Laurent Bouzereau and Markus Keith are producers, with Bouzereau also directing. Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling executive produce the documentary. And, for National Geographic, Tracy Rudolph Jackson and Ted Duvall executive produce.