Movies

As a huge *One Piece* fan, I was already excited when the Season 2 trailer briefly showed Laboon! But Entertainment Weekly just dropped some incredible, clear pictures of him, and wow! They’re using CGI, of course, to really bring this gentle giant to life, but what’s even cooler is they *built* a practical Laboon too! Taz Skylar shared that they actually repurposed the biggest boat set they had to create it, which is just amazing dedication to the source material.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law, SB 576, to prevent streaming services from using excessively loud advertisements that could startle babies, frighten pets, or damage hearing. This extends existing federal rules about TV ad volume to streaming platforms within the state. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, giving streaming services time to adjust and work with their advertising partners.

Sources say Nintendo and Universal are developing a *Donkey Kong* movie, likely set in the same world as *The Super Mario Bros. Movie*.

At a recent comic convention, David Dastmalchian discussed how his Ant-Man characters, Veb and Kurt, might appear in future Marvel movies. He also revealed that if he could play another role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he’d choose Morbius.

Todd Nepola has officially stated his plan to sue for defamation, claiming Bravo, NBCUniversal, and Purveyors of Pop Productions created false storylines about his financial problems. He’s seeking $11 million in damages. According to TheWrap, the lawsuit alleges the companies exaggerated or fabricated events for the show, arguing the franchise relies on manufactured drama when natural conflict isn’t present.

Timothée Chalamet received an Oscar nomination earlier this year for his role as Bob Dylan in the film *A Complete Unknown*. He spent years learning to play guitar in preparation for the part, and he’s now revealed another surprising skill he was developing at the same time. Chalamet told *The Hollywood Reporter* that he was also practicing table tennis for his upcoming A24 film, *Marty Supreme*. He goes on to say…

As a huge TMNT fan, I’m so excited to hear they’re making a new short film based on *Mutant Mayhem*! Apparently, the turtles are heading to New Jersey to investigate a mystery later this year, which sounds awesome. I can’t wait to see what trouble they get into!

The movie *Killing Faith* tells the story of a doctor who lost his wife and is now guiding a formerly enslaved woman and her daughter westward, hoping to reach a renowned faith healer. Along the way, the mother believes her child is possessed, while the doctor suspects a medical illness – and everything the daughter touches seems to wither and die. Written by Crowley and David Henri Martin, the film has received positive reviews, earning an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 13 critic reviews. An audience score isn’t available yet, as fewer than 50 fans have rated it.

According to producer Ben Rosenblatt, the upcoming film *Predator: Badlands* is being targeted for a PG-13 rating. He explained that they’re aiming for a PG-13 experience that *feels* like an R-rated movie, hoping to reach a wider audience. Currently, the film hasn’t received a rating yet. Despite the potential for a lower rating, Rosenblatt suggests fans shouldn’t worry about a lack of intensity. The MPAA might allow more violence because the film features creatures rather than humans, and doesn’t prominently feature red blood.

The new Predator movie, titled Badlands, will be released in US cinemas next month. Directed by Dan Trachtenberg and produced by 20th Century Studios, the film features Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning.