Motion Picture: John Leguizamo Joins Cast Of ‘The Odyssey’, ‘Magazine Dreams’ Set To Release March 21st
M. Night Shyamalan - John Nacion / Stringer
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Warner Bros. Pictures Animation has set Oh, the Places You’ll Go! for a theatrical IMAX release on March 17, 2028. Directed by Jon M. Chu and Jill Culton, the animated musical is based on Dr. Seuss’ final book and follows a young adventurer navigating life’s ups and downs. Rob Lieber wrote the screenplay, with original songs by EGOT winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Produced by Dr. Seuss Enterprises and Bad Robot, the film is a priority for the studio, though a voice cast has not yet been announced.
M. Night Shyamalan is set to embark on his next mysterious project, a supernatural romantic thriller co-created with bestselling novelist Nicholas Sparks. The filmmaker, known for his suspenseful storytelling, will direct and produce the film through Blinding Edge Pictures, with Jake Gyllenhaal attached to the star. This marks Shyamalan's first collaboration with a high-profile writer, as he and Sparks develop parallel projects—a film and a novel—based on the same original love story. Currently in talks with Warner Bros. for theatrical release, the film follows Shyamalan's recent success with Trap, adding to his $3 billion box office legacy.
Sony Pictures has secured Eddie Murphy to star in Blue Falcon, an action-comedy centered on a retired superspy who gets entangled with his archrival while attending his estranged son’s destination wedding. Written by London Has Fallen scribe Chad St. John, the film will be produced by John Davis (Davis Films), Cliff Roberts (Syndicate Entertainment), and Murphy’s own Eddie Murphy Productions.
Ariyon Bakare (His Dark Materials) will star in the UFO thriller Arctic Skies, where he joins Morfydd Clark (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) in this sci-fi tale. Inspired by one of the most documented UFO encounters, the film follows the crew of a cargo plane targeted by otherworldly forces while flying above the Arctic Circle. Bakare is known for his work in His Dark Materials, Carnival Row, and the sci-fi film Life, alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds. The movie will be filmed at Steven Knight's Digbeth Loc—studios in Birmingham, UK.
John Leguizamo has joined the star-studded cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, which includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, and Jon Bernthal. The film, which will be shot worldwide using IMAX film technology, brings Homer's ancient epic to the big screen for the first time in this format. The Odyssey chronicles the journey of the Greek hero Odysseus, trying to return home after the Trojan War.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has added Himesh Patel, to its growing ensemble, joining stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and others. Patel, Page, and Irwin have previously worked with Nolan on Tenet, Inception, and Interstellar, while Morton is making her first appearance in a Nolan film. The epic, based on Homer's ancient Greek poem, follows Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan War, featuring encounters with mythic creatures like the Cyclops and Sirens. The film will be released on Imax on July 17, 2026.
Jacob Scipio and Lou Llobell have joined André Øvredal's untitled horror film for Paramount and Walter Hamada’s 18hz. Hamada is producing through his production company, which is part of his first-look deal with Paramount. Scipio's credits include Bad Boys: Ride or Die and Expendables 4, while Llobell is known for her roles in Foundation and Voyagers. The film's plot remains under wraps, but it will be produced by Hamada, with Gary Dauberman and Zachary Donohue working on the screenplay. Øvredal's previous films include Mortal and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.
Kym Whitley stars in Killing Mary Sue, an action-packed caper acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films for North America. The film, set for a summer release, follows a corrupt senator who plots the murder of his wild stepdaughter, only for her to discover her natural talent as an untouchable killer. Whitley, known for her roles in Rango and her extensive comedy career, adds a dynamic presence to the ensemble, which includes Sierra McCormick, Dermot Mulroney, and Sean Patrick Flanery. Directed by James Sunshine, Killing Mary Sue is produced by Larry Layfield, Jonathan Sachar, Patrick Durham, and Dave Lugo, with Bleiberg Entertainment handling international sales.
Adrian Martinez - Alberto Rodriguez
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Liza Koshy, Ken Jeong, and Adrian Martinez have joined the cast of The Man with the Bag, an Amazon MGM Studios holiday family comedy. Koshy, known for her upcoming role in Naked Gun, brings her comedic talent to the ensemble, while Jeong, famous for The Hangover franchise, adds his signature humor. Martinez, whose recent work includes Severance, rounds out the trio. The film, directed by Adam Shankman, follows Santa on a quest to recover his stolen magic bag with the help of Vance, a thief on his naughty list, and a group of misfits.
Drama: Magazine Dreams follows Killian Maddox, a man obsessed with becoming a world-famous bodybuilder and gracing the cover of fitness magazines. His relentless pursuit of perfection isolates him, driving him towards self-destruction while masking his deep desire for human connection. As he struggles with both his physical limits and inner demons, the film delves into the haunting journey of a man willing to go to any lengths for recognition in a world that constantly overlooks him.
Steven Yeun was drawn to Bubble & Squeak after receiving an email titled “Cabbages,” which introduced him to Evan Twohy’s bold and unconventional script. Yeun, alongside director Twohy, producer Christina Oh, and co-stars Himesh Patel and Sarah Goldberg, discussed the film’s journey at the Variety & Adobe Anatomy of a Film panel at Sundance. Twohy began writing the story at 18, evolving it over 15 years into his feature debut. The film’s collaborative spirit was key, with Oh praising Twohy’s openness to feedback and Goldberg highlighting the positive energy on set while filming in Estonia.
Ashley Walters has begun production on Animol, his directorial feature debut, a gritty coming-of-age story set in a Young Offenders’ institution. Written by Nick Love, the film stars rising talents Tut Nyuot and Vladyslav Baliuk, alongside BAFTA winner Stephen Graham and Sharon Duncan-Brewster. Walters, best known for Top Boy, draws from personal experiences to explore themes of survival and authenticity. Backed by Film4, Sky, and the BFI, Animol marks a major milestone in Walters’ career as he steps behind the camera to deliver a powerful and visually striking film.
Octavio Pisano (Law & Order: SVU) has completed production on his feature directorial debut, Wet Under Blue Sky, a boxing drama he wrote and stars in. The film follows a fading boxing champion struggling to preserve his legacy, family, and sanity. Produced by Earthside Entertainment, with Gavin O’Connor and Joanna Naugle among the team, the film was shot in New York and New Jersey and is set for the festival circuit. Pisano previously directed the short El Campo, which screened at Cannes and several international festivals.
Aurora Perrineau (Kaos, Prodigal Son) has joined the cast of Angels in the Asylum, an indie drama marking the feature directorial debut of Rob Sorrenti. She stars alongside Katherine Waterston, Simon Pegg, Minnie Driver, and Rose Williams in the film, which explores the harrowing true story of women forcibly confined at Surrey’s Long Grove Asylum in the early 1900s. Angels in the Asylum sheds light on the lives of women deemed typhoid carriers who were imprisoned in the former psychiatric hospital, facing fear, stigma, and medical injustice.
Sunrise Films has secured North American distribution rights to In Camera, the feature debut from writer-director Naqqash Khalid, following actor Nabhaan Rizwan's BAFTA Rising Star nomination. The film, set for an April 15 release, stars Rizwan as Aden, a young actor facing industry rejection, who decides to forge his path. The satirical drama tackles film industry prejudice and social hypocrisy through the lens of a struggling British Asian actor. With a stellar festival run and strong performances, In Camera has been praised for its darkly humorous, self-reflexive take on the industry's challenges for people of color.
Eddie Murphy - netflix
Documentary: Netflix announced that Eddie, a documentary on comedian and actor Eddie Murphy, will premiere in 2025. The film, directed by Angus Wall, chronicles Murphy's rise from a teen comic in Brooklyn to a Hollywood icon, covering his nearly 50-year career across comedy, action, drama, and animation. It highlights his groundbreaking work in stand-up, films like Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Shrek, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Dreamgirls. Murphy opens up about his journey, with insights from friends, co-stars, and directors.
Ted Lim - Warner Bros discovery
Industry Update: Ted Lim has been appointed Chief Business Officer at Warner Bros Motion Picture Group, a newly created role announced by the studio. Lim, formerly Head of Global Strategy and Business Development at Amazon MGM Studios, will report to Warner Bros chiefs Michael DeLuca and Pam Abdy. His responsibilities include shaping strategic and operational plans, optimizing internal processes, and ensuring Warner Bros. Pictures' releases reach broad audiences beyond theatrical windows. Lim played a key role in Amazon’s film strategy, overseeing titles like Creed III, The Beekeeper, and American Fiction, and was instrumental in MGM’s sale to Amazon.
Lionsgate has filed an amended registration statement incorporating the latest SEC comments, moving closer to the planned separation of Lionsgate Studios and Starz. Once the SEC declares the joint proxy effective, a shareholder meeting will be scheduled 30 days later. The separation positions businesses for independent growth and potential mergers or acquisitions. Starz, set to trade under STRZ, will be led by CEO Jeff Hirsch, who envisions it as an aggregator of smaller streaming platforms.
U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) has introduced H.R. 791, the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA), aimed at curbing foreign-run piracy sites through site-blocking laws requiring U.S. internet providers to make a “good faith effort” to disable access. The bill has industry support, including from the MPA and SAG-AFTRA, citing billions in economic losses due to piracy. Unlike past efforts, FADPA ensures due process, judicial oversight, and protection for service providers while targeting large-scale foreign piracy sites. Lofgren, who opposed SOPA, argues this bill is a balanced approach that upholds free speech and the open internet.
Prime Video has secured a multi-year deal for Lionsgate films, gaining exclusive streaming rights following STARZ’s first-run window. The agreement includes Lionsgate’s 2026 theatrical releases, select 2025 films, and premium catalog titles like John Wick, Twilight, Divergent, and Saw. Upcoming releases include Now You See Me 3 and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. The deal strengthens Prime Video's film offerings alongside Amazon MGM Studios content, reflecting the continued high demand for studio titles in the streaming market.
Clinton Liberty, known for his roles in House of the Dragon and Holding, has been nominated for the Irish Film & Television Academy’s (IFTA) Rising Star Award ahead of the February 14 ceremony in Dublin. Recognized alongside Anthony Boyle, Aislinn Clarke, and Alisha Weir, Liberty represents a new wave of Irish talent making an impact globally. IFTA CEO Áine Moriarty praised the nominees for leading Ireland’s film industry on the world stage. Previous winners include Saoirse Ronan and Michael Fassbender. The awards will take place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
Roni Jo Draper (Yurok) and Stefan Perez (Coast Miwok) have been named the 2025 Graton Fellows by the Sundance Institute, alongside Merata Mita Fellow Rhayne Vermette (Métis). The Graton Fellowship, established in 2023, supports Indigenous artists from California-based tribes with $25,000 in funding, mentorship, and access to creative development opportunities. Draper aims to uplift her Yurok community through storytelling, focusing on Yurok fire practices, while Perez is committed to bringing the unique history and identity of California Indians to the screen. Both artists will attend the Sundance Film Festival and benefit from the fellowship's resources.
David Jonsson will star in Frank Ocean's untitled directorial debut film, currently shooting in Mexico City. The British actor, known for his standout role in Alien: Romulus, has been recognized on Variety's 10 Actors to Watch and The Hollywood Reporter's Next Gen Talent lists for 2024. Jonsson, nominated for the 2025 EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, has also earned praise for his roles in Rye Lane and Murder is Easy. His upcoming projects include Wasteman, The Long Walk, and Colman Domingo's Scandalous, further solidifying his rising star status in both film and television.
During its Next on Netflix event, the streaming service revealed exciting updates for Latin American audiences, including a new Anitta documentary and the premiere date for El Eternauta. The intimate documentary Larissa: The Other Side of Anitta follows Brazil’s biggest pop star, Anitta, offering a rare glimpse into her personal life as Larissa, showing the struggles behind her public persona. Set to premiere this year, Anitta reflects on the cost of building her iconic image. Additionally, the highly anticipated adaptation of the Argentinian sci-fi graphic novel El Eternauta, starring Ricardo Darín, will debut globally on April 30, showcasing Netflix's push into diverse genres within Latin America.
Tyler Perry is set to release five film and TV projects on Netflix in 2025, continuing his creative partnership with the streamer. These include Madea’s Destination Wedding, She The People, Beauty in Black (part 2), Straw, and R&B. The new Madea film sees Madea and her crew attending a shotgun wedding in the Bahamas. She The People, a comedy series, stars Terri J. Vaughn as a successful campaigner navigating politics and family life. Beauty in Black part 2 launches on March 6, continuing the story of two women from different walks of life. Straw reunites Perry and Taraji P. Henson in a drama about a single mother caught in desperate circumstances. Lastly, R&B is a modern-day retelling of the biblical story of Ruth and Boaz, focusing on love and faith.
After winning the Sundance Film Festival's Documentary Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling, Isabel Castro's Selena y Los Dinos was removed from the festival's streaming platform due to copyright infringements. Fans had been recording and sharing short clips of the documentary on social media, leading to the removal. Sundance stated that the decision was made to protect the artistic rights of the filmmakers and ensure future earnings, offering refunds to ticket-holders who hadn’t yet viewed the film. Selena y Los Dinos chronicles Selena Quintanilla’s rise to fame through exclusive footage from her family’s archives.
Regé-Jean Page has signed with UTA for representation across all areas. He will next star in Steven Soderbergh’s thriller Black Bag with Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender, releasing on March 14th. Page will also star in and executive produce The Saint for Paramount, based on the 1920s book series, with Doug Liman producing. His past credits include Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, The Gray Man, and Sylvie’s Love. For TV, he’s set to portray Butch Cassidy in Amazon’s Butch & Sundance series, opposite Glenn Powell. UTA will also handle its branding endeavors with prestigious brands like Armani and Audi.
AMC Entertainment has promoted Nikkole Denson-Randolph to SVP and U.S. Chief Content Officer, following the departure of worldwide programming head Elizabeth Frank. Denson-Randolph, who previously led the distribution of Taylor Swift and Beyoncé’s concert films, will now oversee AMC’s U.S. film programming, content acquisition, and movie strategy. She will report to AMC Chairman and CEO Adam Aron and serve on the Executive Committee. Denson-Randolph has been with AMC for 16 years, previously serving as SVP of Content Strategy & Inclusive Programming. Juan Antonio Gomez, Chief Partnership and Content Officer at AMC’s Odeon Cinemas Group, will continue leading international film and content programming.
Miles Caton, making his feature debut in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, has signed with Artists First for representation. Sinners, set to release on April 18 over Easter weekend, stars Michal B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Delroy Lindo, and Jack O’Connell. The film follows twin brothers returning to their hometown to escape their troubled past, only to encounter an even darker force. Known for his powerful R&B vocals, Caton began singing at age two and grew up under gospel legend Timiney Figueroa. He has performed with top artists like H.E.R. and Faith Evans, toured globally, and performed at the Grammys and Academy Awards. Caton will also feature on-screen and contribute to the Sinners soundtrack.
Focus Features, Hyde Park Entertainment, and Mario Kassar Productions are nearing a deal to produce a new feature adaptation of Ryū Murakami’s 1997 Japanese horror novel Audition, previously made into a 1999 film by Takashi Miike. The new version is being written and directed by Danish filmmaker Christian Tafdrup, who co-wrote the script with his brother Mads Tafdrup. Known for his work on Speak No Evil, Christian has earned multiple nominations at the Danish Film Awards. The project is being produced by Ashok Amritraj, Priya Amritraj, and Mario Kassar, with executive producers including Murakami and Cineverse’s Chris McGurk and Yolanda Macias.
Parasite producer Barunson E&A is teaming up with Thai studio GDH on Delete, a feature film adaptation set in the universe of the Netflix series of the same name. Directed and written by Parkpoom Wongpoom, the film shifts its setting to Seoul, South Korea, and is primarily filmed in Korean. Delete delves into a chilling world where a mysterious phone can erase people from existence. Barunson E&A, which expanded internationally in 2022, has previously worked on non-Korean titles like Miss Shampoo and Don’t Cry, Butterfly. GDH is known for its hits like How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies and Bad Genius.
Shout! Studios are digitally restoring five iconic Jet Li martial arts films to 4K, set for release on February 18. The collection includes Fist of Legend (1994), Tai Chi Master (1993), The Legend (1993), The Legend 2 (1993), and The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994), highlighting Li's peak performances. These films, which showcase Li's range from a martial arts hero to a modern-day action star, were pivotal in establishing his international fame. The films will be available for purchase or streaming on Apple TV and Fandango at Home. This initiative is part of Shout! Studios' broader effort to preserve and promote Hong Kong cinema, following their acquisition of the Golden Princess movie library.
Norway's boutique production company Staer Film, led by Elisa Fernanda Pirir, is expanding into distribution and higher-budget films, with a new focus on innovative marketing strategies for challenging co-productions. The company, now based in Tromsø, is led by Eleanor Debreu and aims to showcase visionary auteurs through regional productions and international collaborations. Their first release will be A Sweetness from Nowhere by Swedish director Ester Martin Bergmark, exploring lust through documentary, poetry, and fable. Future projects include Wake of Umbra by Carlos Reygadas and The Visitor by Vytautas Katkus, both potentially premiering at Cannes.
Indian actors Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa have launched KAMPA Films, a new production company named after their mothers' initials. With substantial experience in the industry, Rao is known for films like Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank, Badhaai Do, and The White Tiger, while Patralekhaa has starred in projects such as IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Wild Wild Punjab. The couple aims to create a platform for fresh voices and unique storytelling, sharing a vision to produce thought-provoking and entertaining content for both domestic and international audiences. KAMPA Films is already developing several projects with announcements expected soon.
