14 Huge Sequels Dominating 2026: Marvel, Star Wars, and More!

2026 promises to be yet another blockbuster year for cinema, as numerous sequels are slated for release, poised for triumph at the box office.

In the grandest franchise lineup, it’s the awe-inspiring Avengers squad that returns in “Avengers: Doomsday,” under the guidance of directors the Russo Brothers, with Robert Downey Jr. portraying the villainous Doctor Doom.

In the upcoming movie, Spider-Man: A Fresh Start, Tom Holland reappears, while the galaxy far, far away is back on the big screen with The Mandalorian and The Child.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t contain my excitement for “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” tearing open the curtain of anticipation next year. This thrilling addition is set to hit theaters on January 16, 2026, marking its place as the fourth installment in the gripping “28 Days Later” series and a direct successor to this year’s chilling “28 Years Later.

Under the guidance of director Nia DaCosta, the post-apocalyptic horror movie features Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, and Emma Laird in its cast. Filmed alongside its prequel, this film carries on the storyline about Jamie (Taylor-Johnson) while also presenting fresh dangers in a barren world.

At CinemaCon 2025, DaCosta characterized the film as being markedly distinct from its predecessors. Moreover, she expressed that she had the opportunity to express herself freely and openly in the project. Additionally, she hinted at an unconventional role for Ralph Fiennes, stating that audiences would be astonished by his portrayal, as they’ve never seen him in this manner before.

Scream 7

The seventh installment of the “Scream” series, titled “Scream 7“, is all set to make its way into cinemas on February 27, 2026. Despite a challenging production history marked by cast changes and creative alterations, the project is now smoothly sailing forward with an exciting twist: Neve Campbell will reprise her role as Sidney Prescott.

In the upcoming “Scream 6”, Neve Campbell will reclaim her leading role, and this time she’ll be accompanied by newcomer Isabel May, portraying Sidney’s daughter. Veteran actress Courteney Cox is also returning as Gale Weathers, maintaining her impressive record of appearing in every movie within the franchise.

In a change of events, the upcoming movie installment will proceed without actresses Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, who significantly contributed to the latest films. Barrera’s departure was a result of her social media support for Palestine, while Ortega left due to scheduling issues with the second season of Wednesday.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

The sequel to “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” titled simply as “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2,” is set to leap into cinemas on April 3, 2026. This new installment is propelled by the immense success of its predecessor, which earned an astounding $1.3 billion globally and holds the record for the highest-grossing video game adaptation in history.

Nintendo and Illumination are teaming up once more with directors Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic for an expansion of the Mushroom Kingdom universe. Characters such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser will likely reappear, but fans eagerly anticipate a focus on secondary characters like Yoshi, Wario, and Waluigi in this upcoming sequel.

If Nintendo intends to expand their film franchise significantly, then it’s possible that “The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2” might mark the beginning of a comprehensive and interconnected cinematic world for Nintendo.

Avengers: Doomsday

2026 will not only see the arrival of new chairs but also the much-anticipated reunion of the Russo brothers and Robert Downey Jr for the Avengers: Doomsday project, marking a significant milestone in Marvel’s cinematic universe on May 1, 2026.

The upcoming movie is set to unite the Avengers, Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts, Wakandans, and even the classic X-Men from the Fox era in a grand confrontation against Doom. During an extended presentation lasting five hours, Marvel officially announced 26 actors, many of whom are reprising their roles from previous MCU and X-Men films.

One intriguing hint suggested that X-Mansion would significantly impact the upcoming movie, implying a complete assimilation of mutants into the central Marvel Cinematic Universe. Principal shooting commenced in April 2025 at Pinewood Studios in England, and it’s anticipated that filming will continue throughout the summer.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

On May 22, 2026, the new Star Wars movie titled “The Mandalorian and Grogu” is scheduled to hit theaters, which will be the first Star Wars theatrical release following “The Rise of Skywalker.

Under the direction of Jon Favreau and in collaboration with Dave Filoni, the narrative unfolds, focusing on Din Djarin and Grogu as they navigate their exciting Disney+ journey between the years 2019 and 2023.

At the Star Wars Celebration 2025 held in Japan, unique footage was displayed highlighting Grogu’s escalating Force abilities and a thrilling scene depicting Din Djarin sneaking into an AT-AT walker while employing an array of weaponry, including his flamethrower.

Scary Movie 6

The sixth installment of the popular “Scary Movie” series, known for its humorous take on horror films, is scheduled to hit theaters on June 12, 2026, following an 11-year break in production.

This upcoming movie is being brought to you by Neal H. Moritz and funded by Miramax. Notably, it marks a change as it’s no longer being produced by Dimension Films, which has been inactive since 2019. The Wayans brothers are teaming up again for this film, their first joint effort in 18 years, infusing the project with their distinctive comedic style.

Toy Story 5

It appears that “Toy Story 5” is gearing up to become a significant blockbuster, as it brings back cherished figures and offers an intriguing concept that combines toys and technology in a captivating manner.

In a fresh predicament, Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie, and the majority of their friends encounter a brand-new adversary that threatens playtime. The familiar faces reprise their roles, featuring Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and Tom Hanks as Woody. Additionally, Ernie Hudson takes on the character Combat Carl, while Anna Faris joins the cast in an unspecified capacity.

Under the guidance of director Andrew Stanton, this upcoming movie is expected to astonish viewers with original and groundbreaking concepts when it premieres in cinemas on June 19, 2026.

Minions 3

The much-awaited third movie in the Minions series, titled “Minions 3,” marks its place as the seventh film within the Despicable Me collection.

The film is scheduled to be released on July 1, 2026. It’s expected to build upon the success of “Minions: The Rise of Gru”, but specifics about its storyline are still not fully disclosed.

The movie, with Steve Carell reprising his role as Young Felonius Gru and Pierre Coffin providing the voices for the Minions, is set to be another blockbuster at the box office, just like its previous films (earning over $5.6 billion collectively worldwide from the first six movies).

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

The movie titled “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” is planned to hit theaters on July 31, 2026, occurring after the storyline of “No Way Home.

Although the specific storyline of the movie hasn’t been revealed yet, it has been confirmed that Tom Holland will once again take on the role of Peter Parker following his completion of work on Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” film.

The enigmatic casting of Sadie Sink on Stranger Things has ignited great enthusiasm, as viewers can’t help but ponder and theorize over what part she might be playing.

It’s also being whispered that a well-known adversary from the Spider-Man comics, Mr. Negative, might be chosen as the main antagonist for the movie. There are whispers of an Asian actor being cast for this role, leading many to believe that Martin Li, who is better known as Mr. Negative, could play a significant role in the film’s plot.

Insidious 6

The sixth installment of the “Insidious” series was officially announced to be in production back in May 2024. However, specific details about the movie are still not widely available. Initially planned for a summer release in 2025, the date has now been changed to August 21, 2026.

Without disclosing any details of the storyline, enthusiasts are geared up for another nerve-wracking exploration into The Further. Moreover, a spinoff titled “Thread: An Insidious Tale” is being developed, featuring Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani in leading roles.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2

The sequel to “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” titled “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2,” is scheduled for release in cinemas on October 9, 2026, building upon the achievements of its 2023 reboot.

In the upcoming continuation, we’ll see the return of our beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael – alongside the talented voice artists who gave them life in the original series.

Jackie Chan is set to come back as the protective Splinter character, while Ayo Edebiri will once again play April O’Neil. Since the ending of the original movie hinted at a bigger part for Cynthra Utrom, it seems likely that the antagonist Shredder will return based on the post-credits scene.

Jumanji 3

The third installment of “Jumanji” has been confirmed for a release date of December 11, 2026, continuing the franchise’s practice of premiering around the holiday season before Christmas.

According to reports, it’s likely that director Jake Kasdan, along with actors Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan, will reprise their roles, as negotiations are currently underway.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share some exciting news from 2023. Kevin Hart disclosed that he had a chat with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson about the upcoming chapter of Jumanji, which they envisioned as their final comedic collaboration.

We’ve been discussing another potential ‘Jumanji’ project, you know. We’re trying to find a suitable storyline for what could serve as the concluding chapter for both of us. We feel it’s important to end our collaboration with a significant production rather than leaving things incomplete, so we can say, ‘This is our last and final movie together.’

Ice Age 6

10 years following the fifth movie, it has been confirmed that production on Ice Age 6 is underway, and the film is scheduled to hit theaters on December 18, 2026.

Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Simon Pegg, and Queen Latifah will once again take on the well-known characters of Manny, Sid, Diego, Buck, and Ellie in their respective roles.

The production of the movie was officially announced at D23 in Brazil, which took place in November 2024. John Leguizamo had earlier disclosed that a sequel to the Ice Age series was being developed. This will be the first Ice Age film released after Disney purchased 20th Century Fox.

Shrek 5

The fifth installment of Shrek, titled Shrek 5, is planned to hit theaters on December 23, 2026 – a span of 16 years following Shrek Forever After, and marking 25 years since the debut of the original movie.

The film plans to reunite its cherished original actors like Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, and Cameron Diaz, alongside fresh characters such as Felicia, who will be voiced by the talented Zendaya.

Although there was much anticipation for the franchise’s comeback, the initial sneak peek unveiled in February elicited a mix of responses due to the novel animation style. Numerous enthusiasts voiced their dissatisfaction, often likening the situation to the backlash faced by the 2019 redesign of Sonic the Hedgehog.

2025-04-23 18:36