Summary

• Prime Video has released the first official teaser trailer for Vought Rising, the highly anticipated prequel to its global hit series The Boys

• Set in 1950s New York, the spin-off explores the dark origins of Vought International, the early creation of Compound V, and a twisted murder mystery

• Jensen Ackles returns as a younger, more earnest version of Soldier Boy, while Aya Cash reprises her role as Clara Vought (who fans later know as Liberty and Stormfront)

You didn't think you were entirely done with the Vought Cinematic Universe, did you? Just days after The Boys concluded its diabolical five-season run, Prime Video is keeping the Supe momentum going with the release of the first look trailer for Vought Rising. Winding the clock back to the 1950s, the upcoming prequel series promises to trade modern-day political satire for a gritty, noir-inspired murder mystery, pulling back the curtain on the darkest early days of Vought International.

At the center of the series is a reunion of two of the franchise's most popular, yet deeply horrific, villains. Jensen Ackles returns as Soldier Boy, though this 1950s iteration appears slightly more idealistic and sincere as he suits up in a retro costume to serve the flag. He teams up with Aya Cash’s Clara Vought—the Nazi geneticist's wife who eventually becomes the patriotic Supe "Liberty," long before modern audiences knew her as the white supremacist Stormfront. The trailer hints at a ticking time bomb as the duo navigates Vought’s early rise to power and the blood-soaked consequences of their ambitions.

According to franchise creator Eric Kripke, the prequel will fully lean into a grimy, unsanitized version of mid-century America. Exploring heroin dens, underground clubs, and the dark underbelly of 1950s pop culture, Vought Rising aims to combine The Boys' signature irreverence with an actual noir conspiracy. The footage also showcases the terrifying early human experiments at the infamous Sage Grove Center as scientists perfect the Compound V serum.

Joining Ackles and Cash is a sprawling cast portraying the very first generation of manufactured superheroes. Mason Dye reprises his role as Bombsight, alongside Elizabeth Posey as a nurse-inspired Supe named Private Angel, and Will Hochman as Torpedo. The ensemble is rounded out by KiKi Layne, Jorden Myrie, Nicolo Pasetti, Ricky Staffieri, and Brian J. Smith in undisclosed roles.

While it may be difficult to root for characters whose bloody destinies are already written, Vought Rising seems determined to deliver a compelling look at the exact moment superheroes stopped being symbols and became corporate products. Fans will have plenty of time to dissect the trailer, as the prequel series is currently scheduled to premiere exclusively on Prime Video in 2027.

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Summary

• Crunchyroll’s 2026 Anime Awards drew a record 73 million votes worldwide
• My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON won Anime of the Year, while Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle took Film of the Year

Crunchyroll hosted its landmark tenth annual Anime Awards at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa, celebrating anime’s global impact with a record 73 million votes cast worldwide. The evening opened with an elegant orchestral performance by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, leading into a surprise live appearance by DEAN FUJIOKA, who performed "History Maker" — the anthem belonging to the very first Anime of the Year recipient, Yuri!!! on ICE.

In a defining crossover moment, global icon and dedicated anime fan The Weeknd took the stage to present the evening’s highest honor: Anime of the Year. The coveted crown was awarded to My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON, marking a historic and emotional victory lap for Kohei Horikoshi’s superhero epic as it reached its definitive series conclusion. To cement the legacy of the franchise's decade-long run, iconic Japanese rock band PORNOGRAFFITTI also delivered a high-octane tribute.

Beyond the main category, ufotable’s visually spectacular Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle comfortably secured Film of the Year alongside Best Score for Yuki Kajiura and Go Shiina, while My Hero Academia added to its stash with Katsuki Bakugo winning Best Supporting Character. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated anime adaptation of Gachiakuta swept the artistic categories, taking home trophies for Best New Series, Best Animation and Best Character Design. Over in the dramatic fields, The Apothecary Diaries Season 2 dominated, taking home Best Drama, Best Director and Best Main Character for the fan-favorite sleuth Maomao, voiced by Aoi Yuki.

A particularly poignant moment occurred when Crunchyroll honored prolific director Tatsuya Nagamine with the Global Impact Award, celebrating a storied career that has transcended geographic borders on legendary titles such as Dragon Ball Super, ONE PIECE and Ojamajo Doremi.

The complete list of winners for the 2026 Crunchyroll Anime Awards can be found below:

Anime of the Year
My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON

Film of the Year
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle

Best Original Anime
Lazarus

Best Continuing Series
ONE PIECE

Best New Series
Gachiakuta

Best Opening Sequence
"On The Way" by AiNA THE END (DAN DA DAN Season 2)

Best Ending Sequence
"I" by BUMP OF CHICKEN (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)

Best Action
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-

Best Comedy
DAN DA DAN Season 2

Best Drama
The Apothecary Diaries Season 2

Best Isekai Anime
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3

Best Romance
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

Best Slice of Life
SPY x FAMILY Season 3

Best Animation
Solo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-

Best Background Art
Gachiakuta

Best Character Design
Gachiakuta

Best Director
Akinori Fudesaka, Norihiro Naganuma (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Best Main Character
Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Best Supporting Character
Katsuki Bakugo (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)

“Must Protect At All Cost” Character
Anya Forger (SPY x FAMILY Season 3)

Best Anime Song
"IRIS OUT" by Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)

Best Score
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle – Yuki Kajiura, Go Shiina

Best Voice Artist Performance (Japanese)
Aoi Yuki as Maomao (The Apothecary Diaries Season 2)

Best Voice Artist Performance (English)
Lucien Dodge as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Arabic)
Tariq Obaid as Taro Sakamoto (SAKAMOTO DAYS)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Brazilian Portuguese)
Charles Emmanuel as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaInfinity Castle)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Castilian Spanish)
Carles Teruel as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)

Best Voice Artist Performance (French)
Bastien Bourlé as Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia FINAL SEASON)

Best Voice Artist Performance (German)
Gerrit Schmidt—Foß as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Hindi)
Abhishek Sharma as Jinshi (The Apothecary Diaries (season 2))

Best Voice Artist Performance (Italian)
Mosè Singh as Denji (Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc)

Best Voice Artist Performance (Latin Spanish)
Jose Antonio Toledano as Akaza (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle)

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Summary

• Netflix unveils the official trailer of Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2
• The new installment shifts Team Avatar into the Earth Kingdom and Ba Sing Se
• The seven-episode sophomore chapter officially premieres globally on June 25, 2026

Netflix has released the official trailer for Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, teasing Earth Kingdom politics, new allies like Toph Beifon and escalating Fire Nation threats.

Season 2 shifts the narrative from the icy landscapes of the Northern Water Tribe to the sprawling Earth Kingdom, where viewers are introduced to Ba Sing Se, a city of walls and secrets, where Aang, Katara and Sokka attempt to convince the Earth King to join the fight against Fire Lord Ozai.

Season 2 adapts Book Two: Earth from the original Nickelodeon series, continuing directly after the defense of the Northern Water Tribe. Showrunner Albert Kim describes the live‑action as a “remix, not a cover,” promising faithful recreations of iconic episodes like Appa’s Lost Days while expanding unseen moments for a more grounded live‑action experience.

Filmed back‑to‑back with Season 3, the sophomore season emphasizes martial arts authenticity, with Aang’s earthbending training rooted in Hung Ga kung fu. The trailer underscores Netflix’s ambition to elevate the adaptation beyond its debut, blending political intrigue, spiritual encounters, and explosive battles. Fans can expect the new season to premiere worldwide on June 25, 2026, exclusively on Netflix.

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Summary

• Mel Gibson has unveiled the first look at The Resurrection of the Christ and announced updated release dates: Part One arrives May 6, 2027 and Part Two on May 25, 2028, both distributed by Lionsgate
• Production wrapped after 134 days filming across Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera in Italy, completing ahead of schedule, with Jaakko Ohtonen and Mariela Garriga replacing Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci as Jesus and Mary Magdalene

Mel Gibson has unveiled the first look at The Resurrection of the Christ, alongside news that both parts of the two-film biblical epic have been pushed back. Part One, previously set for March 26, 2027, now opens May 6, 2027. Part Two moves from May 2027 to May 25, 2028. Production has wrapped, Gibson says the film came out "exactly as he envisioned it," and the first image of Jaakko Ohtonen as Jesus is now in the world.

The film has been in the works for over two decades. Its predecessor, The Passion of the Christ, arrived in theaters in 2004 and became one of the most improbable box office stories in cinema history. That film earned $610 million USD globally on a $30 million USD budget. It held the domestic record for the highest-grossing R-rated film for 20 years, until Deadpool & Wolverine cleared it in 2024. It was made outside the studio system, released through Newmarket Films, and required Gibson to mortgage his house to finance it. It is, by any reasonable measure, one of the most extraordinary commercial and cultural events in modern film history.

The Resurrection picks up where The Passion ended. Production ran for 134 days across six Italian locations — Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera — finishing ahead of schedule, which for a two-part biblical epic is itself a statement of organizational seriousness. Jaakko Ohtonen steps into the role of Jesus, with Mariela Garriga as Mary Magdalene; Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci, who defined the original, do not return. Gibson has described the scripts, co-written with Randall Wallace, as an "acid trip" and said he "never read anything like" them — language that is either artistic hyperbole or a genuine signal that The Resurrection is not going to feel like an extension of The Passion's visual and tonal grammar. Rupert Everett, Riccardo Scamarcio, Kasia Smutniak, and Pier Luigi Pasino round out the cast.

Gibson's statement frames the project in terms that go well beyond filmmaking. "This is far more than a film to me," he said. "It's a mission I've carried for over 20 years to tell what I believe is the most important story in human history." That register — conviction that reads as either visionary or difficult depending on your relationship to the subject — is exactly what produced The Passion of the Christ in the first place. 

The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One opens May 6, 2027. Part Two follows May 25, 2028.

 

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Summary

• Lionsgate has confirmed Michael 2 is in active development, with Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson revealing on the company's recent earnings call that 25-30% of the sequel is already shot from footage captured during the original production
• Michael, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, has grossed $704M USD worldwide since opening April 24 and is on track to become the first Lionsgate film to top $1 billion USD at the global box office
• Fogelson confirmed the sequel can move both forwards and backwards in time relative to the first film, with significant portions of Jackson's music catalog and life story still untouched

Lionsgate confirmed during its recent earnings call that Michael 2 is coming, and it is already further along than anyone outside the studio knew. Motion Picture Chair Adam Fogelson revealed that 25-30% of the sequel has already been shot from footage captured during the original production, giving the studio a significant head start on a follow-up to a film that has earned $704M USD worldwide and is closing in on $1 billion USD.

The speed at which Michael 2 is materialising makes sense when you look at what the first film has done at the box office. Michael opened April 24 and has not let up since, making it not only one of the year's biggest commercial stories but the vehicle through which Lionsgate is poised to cross the $1 billion USD global threshold for the first time in the studio's history. CEO Jon Feltheimer put the studio's position plainly: "We believe there is a lot more story to tell and a lot more music to share." That is not a speculative statement from a studio hedging its bets. It is a confirmation from a company that already knows what it has.

Fogelson's earnings call comments fill in the creative picture. The 25-30% already shot figure is the detail that changes the conversation most significantly — it means Michael 2 is not starting from scratch but building on material that already exists, which compresses both the production timeline and the financial exposure considerably. "Undoubtedly that 25% to 30% will be material," he said, declining to quantify the exact benefit but making clear it is meaningful. Beyond the logistics, Fogelson's description of the sequel's creative range is expansive: "We can go forwards and backwards in telling this story. There are so many other events that happened, even in the time frame of the original movie, that weren't touched upon." The first film spans Michael Jackson's early life through the Jackson Five era and his rise to become the biggest entertainer in the world. Everything that followed — the Thriller era, the controversies, the later years — remains available territory, as does deeper exploration of the period already covered.

The music catalog is the other variable Fogelson flagged explicitly, noting that "much of the biggest and most popular parts of his music catalog" were not included in the first film. For a biopic built around one of the most commercially dominant catalogs in the history of recorded music, that is a significant statement about what Michael 2 could deliver that its predecessor did not.

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Summary

• The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, will get an exclusive two-week Imax run beginning November 25 before landing on Netflix on December 23
• David Fincher directs from a Tarantino-written script, with Brad Pitt returning as the aging stuntman alongside Elizabeth Debicki, Scott Caan, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Peter Weller, and others
• The film is set in 1977 and takes the Thanksgiving Imax slot vacated by Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which has been pushed to 2027

Seven years after Brad Pitt won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing him, Cliff Booth is back. This time, Quentin Tarantino has handed the keys to David Fincher. The Adventures of Cliff Booth is officially getting an exclusive two-week Imax run from November 25 before arriving on Netflix on December 23.

The casting of Fincher as director is the most interesting creative decision in this announcement, and it reframes what the sequel could be. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was Tarantino at his most languid and nostalgic, a film more interested in mood and atmosphere than mechanics. Fincher operates at the opposite end of that spectrum: precision where Tarantino sprawls, control where Tarantino drifts. Putting those two sensibilities into the same production — Tarantino's writing, Fincher's eye — produces a combination that is genuinely difficult to predict, which is not something that can often be said about a sequel this far into either director's career.

The 1977 setting sharpens the intrigue further. The logline's promise that it is "a very different Hollywood" from the one depicted in the original suggests the film will engage directly with the industry's turbulence in the years following the Manson murders and the Polanski case, a period when the optimism of the New Hollywood was curdling into something harder and more cynical. Cliff Booth — aging stuntman, possible murderer, the most relaxed man in any room — is a compelling lens through which to watch that transition happen. The supporting cast around Pitt includes Elizabeth Debicki, Carla Gugino, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Scott Caan, and Peter Weller, which is not the lineup of a film treating its setting casually.

The film takes the Thanksgiving window from Greta Gerwig's Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which has been pushed to 2027, dropping one of the season's most anticipated releases and replacing it with another. That Cliff Booth lands in the same conversation as a Gerwig Narnia speaks to where Netflix's theatrical ambitions currently sit: the streamer is not filling slots, it is competing for the biggest moments on the calendar.The Adventures of Cliff Booth opens in Imax on November 25, with a two-week exclusive run before arriving on Netflix on December 23.

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Summary

• Hulu has officially renewed its hit dystopian drama series The Testaments for a second season

• The early green light comes just days before the show's highly anticipated Season 1 finale is set to air on May 27, 2026

• Based on Margaret Atwood's acclaimed 2019 novel, the series is a narrative continuation of The Handmaid's Tale, focusing on a new generation of young women

Praise be, Hulu is officially heading back to Gilead. Just days before its freshman season comes to a close, the streaming platform has announced that The Testaments has been renewed for Season 2. Expanding the dark, dystopian universe first introduced in the Emmy-winning juggernaut The Handmaid's Tale, the highly anticipated sequel series has been a massive draw since its April 2026 premiere, proving that audiences are still entirely captivated by Margaret Atwood's terrifying and topical world.

Hulu confirmed the exciting news via its official social media channels, posting on Instagram: "A secret we couldn't keep any longer. THE TESTAMENTS will be back for Season 2 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+." The proactive renewal ensures there will be no gap in storytelling just as the first season reaches its boiling point, with the Season 1 finale scheduled to drop on May 27.

Adapted from Atwood’s bestselling 2019 novel and shepherded by creator Bruce Miller, The Testaments shifts the perspective to a new, younger generation living under Gilead’s oppressive regime. The series centers on the dutiful, pious Agnes (Chase Infiniti) and a new, defiant arrival from beyond the borders, Daisy (Lucy Halliday). As the young teens navigate the gilded but deeply brutal halls of Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) elite preparatory school for future wives, their developing bond becomes the ultimate catalyst that threatens to upend the entire system from within.

Alongside Infiniti, Halliday, and the Emmy-winning Dowd, the sprawling ensemble cast features rising talent and seasoned veterans alike, including Mabel Li, Amy Seimetz, Brad Alexander, Rowan Blanchard, Mattea Conforti, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, and Eva Foote. In a monumental moment for longtime viewers, The Handmaid's Tale star Elisabeth Moss also made a surprise guest appearance during the first season, seamlessly slipping back into her defining role as June Osborne.

With a second season now officially secured, the creative team has plenty of runway to continue exploring the slow-burning, dangerous rebellion brewing inside Aunt Lydia’s walls. Fans can catch up on the gripping first installment and tune in for the thrilling Season 1 finale of The Testaments when it streams exclusively on Hulu on May 27, 2026.

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Summary

• Netflix has unveiled the first look at Little Brother, a brand-new comedy film starring John Cena and Eric André.

• The story revolves around a successful real estate agent whose carefully curated life is thrown into chaos when his eccentric "little brother" unexpectedly reappears.

• The ensemble cast features Michelle Monaghan, Sherry Cola, Christopher Meloni, Ego Nwodim, and Caleb Hearon and is scheduled to premiere on June 26, 2026

You can't choose your family, but you can certainly try to survive them. Netflix has just released the first details and a sneak peek at Little Brother, an upcoming comedy that pairs action star John Cena with comedy wildcard Eric André. Testing the limits of brotherly love, the film promises to deliver a hilarious clash of personalities as two completely opposite siblings are unexpectedly thrust back into each other's lives.

The film's premise centers on Cena, who plays a tightly wound, famous real estate agent with a picture-perfect, carefully curated lifestyle. However, his pristine world gets an extreme makeover when his lovably chaotic "little brother," played by André, suddenly resurfaces after a long absence. The ensuing chaos forms the heart of the film, which explores complicated family dynamics with a heavy dose of situational comedy.

Behind the camera, the film is helmed by Matt Spicer, the acclaimed director behind the Aubrey Plaza-led dark comedy Ingrid Goes West. The script was penned by The D-Train filmmakers Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel, with David Bernad (for Middle Child Pictures) and Ruben Fleischer attached as producers.

To round out the chaotic family reunion, Little Brother boasts a stellar supporting cast. The ensemble features Michelle Monaghan, Sherry Cola, Christopher Meloni, Ego Nwodim and Caleb Hearon. With a heavy-hitting comedic cast and a proven director at the helm, this sibling rivalry is shaping up to be one of the summer's standout streaming comedies. Little Brother will officially premiere globally on Netflix on June 26, 2026.

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Summary

• Netflix has officially released the trailer for Rafa, an upcoming documentary series chronicling the life and career of tennis icon Rafael Nadal

• The four-part series is set to premiere globally on the streaming platform on May 29, 2026

• Produced by Skydance Sports, the documentary provides an intimate look at Nadal's journey from a three-year-old prodigy to a 22-time Grand Slam champion, highlighting his fierce rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic

Tennis fans, get your streaming queues ready. Netflix has just dropped the official trailer for Rafa, a highly anticipated documentary series exploring the life, legacy, and sheer willpower of Rafael Nadal. Promising unprecedented access to the 14-time Roland Garros champion, the four-part series steps beyond the baseline to reveal the relentless dedication and immense physical sacrifices required to sustain one of the greatest careers in global sports history.

Produced by Skydance Sports—the powerhouse studio behind critically acclaimed sports projects like Air and America's Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys—Rafa takes a deeply cinematic approach to the Spanish icon's remarkable journey. Over the course of four episodes, the documentary traces Nadal's evolution from his beginnings on the court at just three years old to his grueling push to return to top-tier competition in 2024.

While the series naturally celebrates his historic dominance on the Paris clay courts and his era-defining rivalries alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, its core focus lies in the unseen battles. Rafa promises to spotlight the man behind the myth, exploring the constant pressure, the agonizing pain, and the incredible resilience required to keep moving forward when his body seemed entirely unable to continue. Through unseen moments and intimate testimonies from his closest team members, the series paints a vulnerable portrait of an athlete whose ultimate opponent was often his own physical limits.

"With Rafa's story, triumph is expected; what surprised me was his willingness to reveal the uncertainty and vulnerability behind that greatness,” explained Director and Executive Producer Zach Heinzerling, an Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee known for Stolen Youth and McCartney 3,2,1.

As the sports world continues to celebrate the legacy of the Spanish titan, this comprehensive docuseries is shaping up to be essential viewing for both die-hard tennis fans and casual admirers of athletic greatness. Rafa will officially make its global premiere on Netflix on May 29, 2026.

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Summary

• New trailer for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity teases Ichigo vs. Yhwach’s forces
• Studio Pierrot showcases polished animation and high-stakes battles
• Final arc premieres July 2026, concluding the saga with global anticipation

The newly released trailer for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity offers a sweeping look at the climactic arc of Tite Kubo’s popular series that's set to premiere this summer.

The footage also highlights massive clashes involving Soul Reaper Captains like Kenpachi Zaraki unleashing a furious, destructive golden reishi strike and Byakuya Kuchiki alongside Toshiro Hitsugaya facing off against the Sternritter. Central to the trailer's tension is a chilling ideological confrontation between Uryu Ishida, who wields massive, multi-winged Quincy arrows, and Ichigo Kurosaki, who is shown gasping and struggling as Yhwach declares his despair and screams Ichigo's name. The teaser concludes with an explosive roar from Ichigo as he prepares to unleash a dark, shroud-like Bankai.

This main trailer functions as an adrenaline-fueled follow-up to the production updates shared late last year, which officially locked the blockbusting anime return into the Summer release schedule. Produced by Studio Pierrot, The Calamity marks the final installment of the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Alongside the highly anticipated global broadcast premiering in July 2026 on TV Tokyo, the trailer confirmed special advanced theatrical screenings in the US.

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Summary

• Disney and Epic Games have launched The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island in Fortnite, going live ahead of the film's May 22 theatrical release with a 10-minute sneak peek and a special message from director Jon Favreau
• The STAR WARS Toolkit, the largest IP toolset in ‘Fortnite’ history, is now available to creators, enabling them to build original Star Wars experiences using characters, vehicles, and environments from across the franchise

With The Mandalorian and Grogu arriving in theaters May 22, Disney and Epic Games have launched The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island on Fortnite, giving fans a place to gather in Nevarro right now, watch a 10-minute sneak peek of the film, and hear directly from director Jon Favreau before the movie opens. 

The Watch Party Island was built as a serious production rather than a promotional placeholder. Developed through a collaboration between Epic Games, Disney, Lucasfilm, Fairview Portals — Jon Favreau's own storytelling studio — and Beyond Creative, the island pulls key artisans and craftspeople from The Mandalorian and Grogu production into the build itself. The result is Nevarro rendered with the same visual fidelity that defines the show, functioning as both a social gathering space and an interactive preview experience. Players can complete quests, interact with Marshall IG-11, and access the 10-minute film sneak peek. On May 26, Favreau will appear for a live Q&A answering questions submitted by the Fortnite community.

Alongside the Watch Party Island, Disney and Lucasfilm have launched the STAR WARS Toolkit, described as the largest IP toolset in Fortnite history. For the first time, Fortnite creators can build entirely original Star Wars experiences using the franchise's characters, vehicles, and environments, producing games that feel genuinely part of the galaxy rather than adjacent to it. Three creator islands are already live: Galactic Siege, Escape Vader, and Droid Tycoon, each exploring a different gameplay style through a Star Wars lens. All content is available across PC, console, and mobile simultaneously.

The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island is live on Fortnite now, while the Jon Favreau Q&A streams on the Watch Party Island on May 26. The Mandalorian and Grogu opens in theaters May 22.

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Summary

• Twin Engine dropped a three-minute trailer for the final Mononoke film
• The footage recaps the trilogy while building a haunting mood for the finale
• Directed by Kenji Nakamura, the avant-garde film hits Japanese theaters May 29, 2026

Twin Engine has unveiled an extensive new three-minute special trailer for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - The Serpent God, offering a much deeper, more haunting look into the final part of the theatrical trilogy.

Following the previous teaser, this latest footage serves as both a recap of the journey so far and a hauntingly atmospheric buildup, setting a profound mood by mirroring the narrative progression established across the last two films. Directed by Kenji Nakamura and produced by Twin Engine, the film pushes the franchise's legendary, avant-garde "Ukiyo-e" paper-texture animation to an unprecedented cinematic scale.

Since emerging as a cult-classic spin-off in 2007, Mononoke has achieved massive global popularity for its unique blend of psychological horror, traditional folklore and vibrant, kaleidoscope visuals. With the domestic Japanese theatrical release officially set for May 29, 2026, this final chapter is heavily poised to deliver a definitive, visually unparalleled conclusion to the Medicine Seller's journey before transitioning to international audiences via a global streaming rollout.

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Summary

• Nicolas Winding Refn is officially returning to feature filmmaking with his new sci-fi horror thriller, Her Private Hell, marking his first movie in 10 years
• A brand-new teaser trailer debuted online to coincide with the film's world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it is screening out of competition
• Staying true to Refn's signature style, the footage previews a highly atmospheric, neon-soaked futuristic metropolis engulfed in a mysterious and deadly fog

Nicolas Winding Refn is finally making his long-awaited return to feature filmmaking. A decade after his highly polarizing 2016 arthouse flick The Neon Demon, the Danish director is back to provoke audiences with his latest project, Her Private Hell. Anticipation for the avant-garde thriller was already exceptionally high, but the release of a brand-new teaser trailer has sparked fresh waves of excitement. Dropping online to coincide with the film's world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, the teaser footage offers viewers a mesmerizing first glimpse into Refn's terrifying, neon-lit new world.

True to the auteur's signature aesthetic, the first trailer for Her Private Hell leans heavily into a deeply atmospheric and highly stylized visual language. Immediately transporting viewers into a futuristic metropolis enveloped by a thick, mysterious mist, the brief glimpses of the city channel a distinct Blade Runner vibe. According to the official synopsis, this fog unleashes a deadly and elusive entity, setting the stage for a harrowing, sci-fi-infused nightmare.

The genre-bending project—which seamlessly mixes elements of horror, sci-fi, and heavy melodrama—offers a first look at modern scream queen Sophie Thatcher. She stars as Elle, a troubled young woman searching for her missing father in the fog-swallowed city. Her path soon collides with Private K (played by Charles Melton), an American GI trapped in his own grueling mission to rescue his daughter from the hellish landscape. Together, they lead a stellar international ensemble cast that features Shioli Kutsuna, Dougray Scott, Nishijima Hidetoshi, Kristine Froseth, Havana Rose Liu, Yamada Aoi, and Diego Calva.

Her Private Hell could very well kickstart a major career resurgence for Refn, who is also reportedly set to begin production on a long-gestating remake of an '80s slasher classic later this fall. Known for his volatile trajectory of extreme critical highs (like 2011's Drive) and intense love-it-or-hate-it reactions, Refn remains one of the most provocative figures in modern cinema, making his fifth Cannes outing a must-see festival event.

Following its festival run on the Croisette, Neon is preparing to launch Her Private Hell across 800 to 1,200 theaters in the United States on July 24, 2026—placing it right in the middle of a packed summer blockbuster season. Meanwhile, global streaming platform and distributor Mubi will handle the film's international rollout in territories including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and Latin America.

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Summary

• HBO has confirmed LANTERNS will premiere Sunday, August 16 on HBO and stream on HBO Max, with a new trailer revealing Laura Linney's first look and Nathan Fillion reprising his Guy Gardner role from Superman
• The new footage expands the show's scope beyond the earth-based murder mystery framing of earlier marketing, featuring cosmic settings, explicit Green Lantern ring power sequences, and a shot of Hal Jordan in full GL uniform on what appears to be another planet
• LANTERNS is co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, with Mundy as showrunner and James Gunn and Peter Safran executive producing as part of DC Studios' unified DCU

HBO has set August 16 as the premiere date for LANTERNS, the DC Studios drama starring Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart, and released a new trailer that makes one thing clear: this is bigger than a murder in Nebraska. The latest footage confirms Nathan Fillion's return as Guy Gardner from last year's Superman, delivers a first look at Laura Linney in an undisclosed role, and expands the show's visual register well beyond the grounded detective framing that defined earlier marketing.

The new trailer reframes what LANTERNS is going to be. Where previous teasers leaned into the True Detective-adjacent logline — two intergalactic cops investigating a dark, earth-based mystery in the American heartland — the latest footage adds a shot of Hal Jordan in full Green Lantern uniform on what appears to be another planet, makes the specific capabilities of the power ring explicit, and hints that whatever the two Lanterns uncover in their Nebraska murder investigation carries consequences that extend well beyond Earth. The cosmic scaffolding is there. The show just waited until now to show it.

The human dynamic at the center of it remains the sharpest selling point. The trailer opens on tension: Hal jumps from a moving car, leaving John to fly off a cliff and rely on his ring to survive. "I could have died," John tells him. "You wanted me to train you, I'm trainin' you," Hal replies. It is a clean shorthand for the show's central relationship — a Lantern legend and a new recruit, neither entirely trusting the other, being forced into close quarters by a case that escalates far beyond what either expects. Laura Linney, whose character appears to encourage Stewart to surpass Jordan's legacy, adds another pressure point to that dynamic without yet revealing her full role.

The creative team assembled around that premise warrants its own attention. Chris Mundy, who ran Ozark and produced True Detective: Night Country, serves as showrunner on a pilot co-written with Damon Lindelof and Tom King, two writers with the kind of genre credentials that make the True Detective comparison feel less like marketing and more like intent. James Gunn and Peter Safran executive produce, cementing LANTERNS as a foundational piece of the unified DCU Gunn has been building since his appointment at DC Studios. The show lands as the second DCU project of 2026, following Supergirl on June 26 and preceding Clayface in October, with John Stewart also set to appear in the forthcoming Man of Tomorrow. Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner, who landed one of the most talked-about cameos in last year's Superman, returns here in what should be a considerably expanded capacity.

LANTERNS premieres Sunday, August 16 on HBO and is available to stream on HBO Max.

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Summary

• Director Na Hong-jin has revealed at the Cannes Film Festival that a sequel to his upcoming sci-fi horror thriller Hope is already fully written

• The Neon-distributed film has been generating massive buzz at the festival, with early reactions dubbing it "Cannes' craziest movie"

• In a surprising twist, real-life couple and co-stars Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander confirmed that their highly secretive roles in the film are actually aliens

The cinematic universe of Na Hong-jin’s latest thriller is already expanding before the first film has even hit theaters. While promoting his highly anticipated new creature feature Hope at the Cannes Film Festival, the acclaimed South Korean director dropped a massive surprise for fans, confirming that a sequel has already been written. The revelation comes as the Neon-backed project dominates festival conversations, quickly earning a reputation as "Cannes' craziest movie" thanks to its wild premise and elite international cast.

While much of the plot surrounding Hope has been kept tightly under wraps, the Cannes premiere allowed the cast to finally shed some light on the mysterious, cosmic terror at the center of the film. During the festival press circuit, Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander and her real-life husband, Michael Fassbender, officially confirmed one of the movie's wildest rumors: they are playing aliens. The duo spoke extensively about the unique challenges of portraying extraterrestrial beings and how Na Hong-jin's visionary direction convinced them to take on the bizarre, otherworldly roles.

The inclusion of aliens perfectly aligns with the film's escalating sense of dread. Set in the isolated South Korean village of Hope Harbor, the story follows Police Chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) and Officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) as they attempt to secure the town from a mysterious, havoc-wreaking beast. Meanwhile, a heavily armed coterie of hunters (including Zo In-Sung) venture into the woods to track the creature, only to realize that their human perceptions are entirely misleading as they become the hunted in a tragedy of cosmic proportions.

Na Hong-jin's confirmation of an already-written sequel suggests that the events in Hope Harbor are just the beginning of a much larger, terrifying sci-fi saga. The visionary director behind The Wailing is clearly building a massive, interconnected mythology, one that blends procedural thriller elements with full-blown, extraterrestrial cosmic horror.

With Fassbender and Vikander bringing alien terror to the South Korean countryside, it is easy to see why Hope is the talk of Cannes. As audiences eagerly await the film's global rollout via Neon later this year, the promise of a guaranteed sequel ensures that Na Hong-jin's new cosmic nightmare will be haunting theaters for years to come.

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Summary

• A new novel set in The Godfather universe, titled Connie, is officially scheduled for a fall 2027 release through publisher Random House

• The book will center on Constanzia "Connie" Corleone, the only daughter of mafia patriarch Don Vito Corleone, who was famously portrayed by Talia Shire in the film trilogy

• Written by bestselling author Adriana Trigiani, this marks the first time an authorized Godfather novel will be penned by a woman and told from a female perspective

The Corleone family business is officially expanding, and this time, the women are calling the shots. Decades after the iconic film trilogy concluded and over ten years since the last authorized book publication, The Godfather saga is getting a highly anticipated new chapter. Set to hit shelves in the fall of 2027, publisher Random House has announced the release of Connie, a brand-new novel that will explore the legendary mafia family from an entirely unprecedented, female-driven perspective.

Penned by million-selling author Adriana Trigiani—known for The Shoemaker's Wife and Lucia, Lucia—the upcoming novel shifts the spotlight away from the notorious mafia dons and directly onto Constanzia "Connie" Corleone. As the only daughter of Don Vito Corleone, Connie (famously portrayed by Talia Shire in Francis Ford Coppola's acclaimed film adaptations) often operated in the shadows of her powerful brothers. Now, her personal journey and behind-the-scenes influence on the criminal empire will finally take center stage.

The project marks a major milestone for the historic crime franchise. Fully authorized by the estate of late creator Mario Puzo, Connie will be the very first Godfather novel written by a woman. According to Anthony Puzo, Mario's son and the executor of his estate, the family sought out Trigiani after reading her Substack essay lamenting the lack of focus on the Corleone women. During their initial meetings, Puzo even revealed to Trigiani that the formidable character of Vito Corleone was actually heavily inspired by his own grandmother, further validating the need for a matriarchal perspective in the lore.

"‘Connie’ is a novel about how a woman works to forge her own way in a world that’s already decided who she is, what she’s about, and how she should be treated," Trigiani noted in a statement addressing the announcement. "People underestimated Don Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone at their peril. The same will be true for Connie Corleone."

While fans of the literary franchise are eager to return to the gritty world of the Corleones, the prospect of a film adaptation remains slightly more complicated. Following a previous legal dispute between the Puzo estate and Paramount Pictures, a settlement dictated that the estate retains the rights to initiate new book projects, while Paramount holds all exclusive film rights. Whether Connie eventually makes its way to the silver screen remains to be seen, but readers can look forward to diving back into the underworld when the novel arrives in late 2027.

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Summary

• Neon has officially teased the release of Hope, the highly anticipated new film written and directed by acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin
• The thriller features a star-studded global cast, including Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-Sung, Hoyeon, Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender
• Set in the remote South Korean village of Hope Harbor, the plot follows local police and a group of hunters as they attempt to track down a mysterious creature that is wreaking havoc

Na Hong-jin is officially ready to terrify audiences once again. The acclaimed visionary behind South Korean horror masterpieces like The Wailing is returning with his latest directorial effort, Hope. Supported by indie powerhouse distributor Neon, the highly anticipated film boasts an incredible international cast and promises to deliver a gripping, mysterious creature feature that slowly descends into sheer cosmic horror.

Set in the remote, isolated South Korean village of Hope Harbor, the film centers on a community thrown into absolute chaos by the arrival of an unknown, havoc-wreaking creature. Local law enforcement, led by Police Chief Bum-seok (played by veteran actor Hwang Jung-min) and Officer Sung-ae (played by Squid Game breakout Hoyeon), are immediately called in to investigate the horrific aftermath and secure the village.

Meanwhile, deep in the nearby forest, a heavily armed coterie of hunters, including Sung-ki (Zo In-Sung), set out to track and kill the beast. However, the mission takes a dark, psychological turn as the hunters quickly realize they have become the hunted. Teasing the film's deeper, more insidious themes, the official synopsis warns that "all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading."

Rounding out the massive ensemble cast are international heavyweights Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Academy Award winner Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender. While their specific roles remain shrouded in mystery, they will undoubtedly play key parts in a story where "what begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions."

Between its elite ensemble cast and Na Hong-jin's unmatched ability to blend tense procedural thrillers with supernatural terror, Hope is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated international releases on the calendar. With Neon teasing the project ahead of the Cannes Film Festival, audiences can expect a major, terrifying theatrical experience in the near future.

A glimpse of HOPE. A new film from Na Hong-Jin starring Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, Hoyeon, Alicia Vikander, Michael Fassbender, Taylor Russell, and Cameron Britton. Coming to theaters Fall 2026. pic.twitter.com/3ie58xM5Kz

— NEON (@neonrated) May 18, 2026

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Summary

• Director James Cameron has revealed his ambitious new production goals for the remaining Avatar sequels, stating he intends to make Avatar 4 and 5 in "half the time for two-thirds of the cost" of the previous films

• Cameron candidly admitted that achieving this level of unprecedented efficiency will be difficult, noting it will take an entire year just to "figure out how to do that"

• The shift in strategy comes on the heels of the third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, which grossed approximately $1.4 billion globally—a massive sum that is still reportedly considered "barely profitable" due to astronomical production and marketing budgets

James Cameron is ready to rethink how he builds Pandora. After spending well over a decade meticulously crafting the first three cinematic chapters of his sci-fi epic, the legendary director is setting an incredibly ambitious new benchmark for the rest of the franchise. According to a new report from Variety, Cameron is looking to drastically streamline his notoriously complex production process, aiming to shoot Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 in "half the time for two-thirds of the cost."

The pivot toward efficiency comes in direct response to the staggering financial realities of keeping the Avatar universe alive. The recently released third installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, generated a colossal $1.4 billion USD at the global box office. However, due to theater splits and the franchise's historically massive production and marketing costs, industry insiders suggest that the massive box office haul makes the film only "barely profitable" for Disney, forcing a reevaluation of how the remaining movies are made.

Acknowledging these towering financial hurdles, Cameron is determined to learn from the lessons of his previous shoots. But revolutionizing his perfectionist workflow will require extensive planning. The director candidly noted that before cameras can officially roll on the bulk of the remaining sequels, he will need to spend an entire year strictly dedicated to figuring out the logistical roadmap required to achieve his new cost and time-saving goals.

Despite the hurdles, fans shouldn't panic about the franchise's future just yet. While Cameron had previously admitted he was prepared to walk away and wrap up the story in a novel if Fire and Ash completely flopped, he recently told reporters that moving forward with Avatar 4 is highly "likely, but not 100%" confirmed. In fact, significant portions of the fourth film's first act were already shot concurrently with The Way of Water and Fire and Ash to prevent the younger cast members from visibly aging between movies.

If Cameron can successfully crack the code to faster, cheaper blockbuster filmmaking without sacrificing the groundbreaking visual fidelity the Avatar series is known for, it could revolutionize Hollywood's approach to massive franchise tentpoles. For now, audiences will have to wait patiently as the visionary director spends the next year charting a more efficient path back to Pandora.

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Summary

• Keanu Reeves will star in dwarf studios' full-length stop-motion samurai film HIDARI
• The project expands Masashi Kawamura’s viral 2023 short into a 90‑minute feature
• Reeves voices a betrayed craftsman seeking vengeance with mechanical prosthetic weapons

Keanu Reeves has officially joined dwarf studios’ upcoming full‑length stop‑motion samurai film HIDARI, voicing the lead role of legendary craftsman Hidari Jingoro. The high-profile announcement was made by the film's producers at the Annecy Animation Showcase during the Cannes Film Festival.

Directed by Masashi Kawamura, HIDARI began as a proof‑of‑concept short released on YouTube in 2023, which quickly went viral with nearly 5 million views and acclaim at over 20 international film festivals. The shorts’ striking “wood sculpture” stop‑motion style, featuring intricately carved puppets and dynamic action sequences, generated strong demand for a full‑length adaptation. Director Masashi Kawamura, known for his innovative work across commercials, music videos, and installations, has expanded the concept into a 90‑minute feature film.

The story follows Hidari Jingoro, betrayed during the reconstruction of Edo Castle, who loses his mentor, fiancée and right arm. Armed with mechanical prosthetics crafted from his carpentry skills, he embarks on a revenge‑driven journey alongside his companion, the “Sleeping Cat.”

The film is being co-developed by three powerhouse entities - creative studio Whatever, animation studio Tecarat and the critically acclaimed dwarf studios (known for Netflix's Rilakkuma and Pokémon Concierge series) - under the production of Noriko Matsumoto. A global release date is yet to be confirmed, but the film will likely be available worldwide following its Cannes showcase.

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Summary

• Director Matt Reeves has confirmed Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Bryan Tyree Henry, Charles Dance, Sebastian Koch, and Gil Perez-Abraham as new additions to The Batman: Part 2, joining Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, and Andy Serkis from the first film
• Sebastian Stan is set to play Harvey Dent, with Charles Dance believed to be playing Charles Dent, Harvey's father, while Reeves has signaled the sequel will focus more on Bruce Wayne as a character than the first film did
• The Batman: Part 2 is currently filming in the UK and opens in theaters October 1, 2027

Matt Reeves has been rolling out cast announcements for The Batman: Part 2 via X, and the picture taking shape is one of the more deliberately assembled ensembles in recent superhero filmmaking. The confirmed new additions include Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan as Harvey Dent, Bryan Tyree Henry, Charles Dance as Harvey's father Charles Dent, Sebastian Koch, and Gil Perez-Abraham as Officer Martinez. They join a returning core of Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, and Jayme Lawson, with filming currently underway in the UK ahead of an October 1, 2027 theatrical release.

To put the casting in context, it helps to revisit what the first film established and where Reeves has signaled the sequel intends to go. The Batman arrived in 2022 as one of the more character-focused entries in the superhero genre, a film that treated Gotham as a noir environment and Bruce Wayne as a genuinely troubled figure rather than a charismatic billionaire who occasionally puts on a costume. It built its world carefully, populated it with performances that prioritized texture over spectacle, and ended with enough unresolved threads to make a sequel feel earned rather than contractually obligatory. Pattinson's Wayne was the connective tissue across all of it, and Reeves has been explicit that Part 2 will push further in that direction: less Batman mythology, more Bruce Wayne interiority.

That stated intention makes the Harvey Dent casting one of the most interesting decisions in the announcement. Stan, who has spent much of his recent career playing characters defined by fractured identity, from Bucky Barnes across the MCU to his work in Thunderbolts, brings a particular kind of physical and psychological volatility to roles that sit at the intersection of charisma and damage. Harvey Dent, in nearly every iteration across film and comics, is a character defined by exactly that split, a man whose public persona and private reality are in fundamental tension before the moment of literal transformation that usually defines his arc. Stan's casting suggests Reeves is less interested in rushing to Two-Face and more interested in building a Harvey Dent worth losing. Charles Dance as Charles Dent, Harvey's father, adds another generational layer to that story, and Dance's particular gift for playing men whose authority masks something colder makes the dynamic worth anticipating.

Bryan Tyree Henry's addition is its own conversation. Henry has built a filmography that moves fluidly between registers, from Atlanta to Eternals to Causeway to his brief but significant appearance in Joker, and he rarely makes choices that read as simply transactional. His presence in a Reeves-directed film, where supporting characters have consistently been given room to function as more than plot delivery, suggests his role carries weight. Johansson's casting, confirmed in December and reaffirmed here, remains the most opaque of the group: no character has been attached to her publicly, which in itself is a statement about how Reeves is managing information on the project.

The broader pattern across the new additions is worth noting. This is not a Rogues Gallery assembled for marquee value. Dance, Koch, and Perez-Abraham are not household names in the superhero context, and their inclusion alongside higher-profile casting suggests Reeves is building the kind of ensemble where character logic drives the choices rather than IP recognition. The Batmobile teaser posted with the caption "SnowTires" hints at a winter-set portion of the film, adding another atmospheric dimension to a production that has already shown it treats environment as a storytelling tool rather than a backdrop.

Reeves' own framing of the sequel's ambitions is the clearest guide to what the cast is being assembled to serve. Where previous Batman films often used the origin story as the primary vehicle for Wayne's character development and then shifted toward Rogues Gallery escalation, Reeves has said he never wanted to lose Pattinson at the center of the story. The implication is a sequel in which the new characters, however significant, are ultimately in orbit around a Bruce Wayne the audience is still in the process of understanding.

The Batman: Part 2 opens in theaters October 1, 2027.

Next exit, Gotham... Welcome. 🦇🦇 pic.twitter.com/d0zSwOT7bm

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 14, 2026

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