Warner Bros. CinemaCon: Will Superman Save the Studio or Sink It?

by

On Tuesday, CinemaCon carries on, with Warner Bros. Pictures taking charge at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. The co-chairs and CEOs of Warner Bros. Motion Pictures Group, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, who are said to be under scrutiny as potential replacements are sought by Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav, will showcase their upcoming film lineup tonight. Reports suggest that the success of James Gunn’s Superman movie could make or break the studio, but it’s not the only high-profile project in De Luca and Abdy’s extensive roster of IPs.

Sony has some significant shoes to fill as they unveiled on Monday night the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man: A New Dawn, starring Tom Holland, with a new release date for the animated Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. The evening also showcased sneak peeks of these Sony projects: a new installment of Jumanji featuring Dwayne Johnson, the continuation of the Karate Kid series titled The Karate Kid: Legends, the movie adaptation of the PlayStation game Until Dawn, and a reunion between Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Prior to Tuesday’s scheduled presentation, Warner Bros.’ two-hour event titled “The Big Picture” will unfold from 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time to 6:00 p.m. On the exhibition floor, David Corenswet’s portrayal of Superman is making a strong impression. A Superman movie poster is illuminated and showcased in one of the Light Boxes that run along the floor. Additionally, the Man of Steel can be seen in National CineMedia’s advertisement for the in-theater Noovie Show, which is accessible to attendees (located below).

This weekend, Warner Bros. anticipates a successful run for their comedy “A Minecraft Movie,” adapted from the world’s top-selling video game, and as they do so, they are already eyeing other potential franchises such as “Sinners.” Directed by Ryan Coogler (known for “Creed” and “Black Panther”), this upcoming film titled “Sinners” features Michael B. Jordan in dual roles. Cinema enthusiasts can look forward to a bite of the vampire thriller before its IMAX release on April 18.

Warners will give a sneak peek at the fast-paced Formula One film “F1,” directed by Joseph Kosinski (similar to “Top Gun: Maverick”) and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (known for “Top Gun”). The cast includes Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, and Javier Bardem. Get ready as “F1” revs up in theaters on June 27.

Anticipate that “Superman,” the initial production from DC Studios under James Gunn and Peter Safran, will likely be the star attraction of “The Big Picture.” There’s a possibility that the following DCU movie, titled “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow,” might also be hinted at, with its release scheduled for June 2026.

Jeff Goldstein, President of Global Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, described that James Gunn is reimagining the original superhero within the DC Universe using his unique approach which combines grand action, humor, and emotion. This Superman embodies compassion and faith in human kindness,” said Jeff Goldstein. “Superman, featuring David Corenswet as the titular character, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, arrives in theaters on July 11.

Warner Bros., through New Line Cinema, is set to unveil two intriguing films: “Final Destination 6: Bloodlines,” the latest installment in the gripping horror series that delves into the origins of Death’s sinister cycle, and “The Conjuring: The Final Rite,” the fourth film in the Conjuring franchise. This time around, stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren. Horror legend James Wan is producing alongside Safran. Additionally, New Line Cinema presents “Weapons,” directed by Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger and featuring an impressive cast including Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, and Benedict Wong. The details of this film have been kept confidential so far.

Anticipate that Warner’s showcase will be impactful, featuring the upcoming edition of the Mortal Kombat series, dubbed “Mortal Kombat II”. This new installment continues the deadly franchise and introduces Karl Urban (known for his role in The Boys) as Johnny Cage.

As a fan, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about upcoming projects from Legendary Entertainment! Firstly, there’s the live-action/CG animated hybrid comedy titled “Animal Friends,” which promises to be an outrageous but adorable R-rated road trip movie. The star-studded cast includes Ryan Reynolds (famous for Deadpool and Wolverine), Jason Momoa (known for Aquaman), Eric André, Addison Rae, Ellie Bamber, Rob Delaney, Lil Rel Howery, Daniel Levy, and Aubrey Plaza.

Secondly, I can’t wait for “The Bride!” set to release in 2026. This film is the next project from writer-director Maggie Gyllenhaal, featuring an impressive ensemble cast led by Christian Bale, Jessie Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penelope Cruz.

Ultimately, Goldstein confirmed that a sneak preview of the animated “The Cat in the Hat,” Warner Bros. Pictures Animation’s inaugural feature film (previously known as Warner Animation Group), will be shown. This adaptation, voiced by Bill Hader, is based on the cherished book by Dr. Seuss. WBPA chief Bill Damaschke will appear to unveil the initial footage from “The Cat in the Hat,” which is set for release in theaters in February 2026, as well as a glimpse into other upcoming animated productions. Warner Bros.’ lineup of animations includes another Seuss adaptation, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” (scheduled for 2028), co-directed by Jon M. Chu (from “Wicked”), and the DC Studios film “Dynamic Duo” (also in 2028).

Stay tuned to egmr.ru for the latest CinemaCon news and updates as they happen.

Read More

2025-04-01 20:42