News

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic upended the movie theater business in 2020, but in the years since, the industry has slowly climbed back. In 2021, 14 movies were able to cross the coveted $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. In 2022, that number jumped up to 18 films. And in 2023, there were a whopping 25 such blockbusters. So how many features released during the current 2024 calendar year will end up becoming box office behemoths? Stay tuned.

To date, the biggest money-makers of the year are a trio of highly anticipated sequels: “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Despicable Me 4.” Scroll through our gallery above (or click here for direct access) to see all of the 2024 box office hits so far that made more than $100 million in the United States. The number will continue to grow as high-profile movies like “Wicked” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” will be released later in the year.

Filmmakers and distributors of awards-hopefuls have until Nov. 4 to submit their category preference — drama versus musical or comedy — to the Golden Globes organization, which reserves the right to overturn any classification that it finds egregiously inaccurate.

Some of this year’s cases are inarguable — for instance, Netflix’s Emilia Pérez, in which characters spontaneously burst into song, is clearly a musical (if not a comedy), and A24’s The Brutalist, in which an immigrant faces all sorts of harrowing hurdles, is clearly a drama. There are, however, also plenty of close-calls, about which many have made assumptions, but, in most cases, not confirmed.

The Hollywood Reporter has been working the phones and can now report which way almost every contender is breaking. This intel is, of course, subject to change prior to Nov. 4, and to being overturned by the Globes thereafter — but it is current as of this writing.

Joining...

With Parasite, Korean auteur Bong Joon Ho stormed into the Hollywood big-leagues – and he has no intention of leaving. Five years after winning Best Picture for his slyly satirical capitalist thriller, Director Bong is back with his third English-language feature, Mickey 17, boasting an A-list lead in none other than Robert Pattinson. But make no mistake: this isn’t Bong going mainstream. Like Snowpiercer and Okja before it, Mickey 17 tilts the filmmaker head-first into bonkers sci-fi territory. It’s a madcap story of mass capitalism, marauding monsters, and multiple R-Pattzes. This is Director Bong writ large. Everybody, meet Mickey 17.

The new issue of Empire takes a world-exclusive dive into Mickey 17’s wild world, speaking to Bong himself – plus his stars Pattinson, Naomi Ackie, and Steven Yeun – about following up his Oscars mega-smash, the changes he’s made to Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7 (including those extra 10 Mickeys), and how to...

Is there room at the best picture table for more than one “part two?”

This year, several installments in established franchises are banging on the Academy’s door, hoping for a coveted slot in the category. With no clear frontrunner, this could be the season that more than one sequel secures a place in the race. That has happened only once, in 2022 (“Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Top Gun: Maverick”).

The Oscars have long hesitated to embrace anything with a Roman numeral affixed to it. Historically, only nine sequels have been nominated for best picture: “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945), “The Godfather Part II” (1974), “The Godfather Part III” (1990), “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002), “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003), “Toy Story 3” (2010), “Mad Max: Fury Road” (2015), “Avatar: The Way of Water” (2022) and “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022). Just two — “Godfather 2” and “Return of the King” — won.

A slew of Oscar hopefuls has already been released in theaters. Among these are two leading Best Picture contenders — “Dune: Part 2” and “Sing Sing,” which came out in March and July respectively. However, their main competition at the Academy Awards has yet to screen for the public. Scroll down to find out the release dates for the rest of the Oscars contenders.

Many of these movies have played the festival circuit and built up buzz in advance of their commercial releases. Eight of our predicted top 10 Best Picture nominees will be released between now and the end of the year.

Oscar nomination voting runs from Jan. 8 to Jan. 12 with the slate of finalists revealed on Jan. 17. Final voting is from Feb. 11 to Feb. 18 and the 2025 Oscars take place on March 2.

2025 Oscars: Deadlines and dates for key stops on the road to the 97th Academy Awards

October 18

“Anora”

“We Live in Time...

Predicting Best Original Song at the Oscars is made more difficult by the three-stage process. In years past, many seemingly sure-fire contenders were deemed to be ineligible. Even those ditties that clear this hurdle then have to pass muster with the 400 plus members of the music branch of the academy. (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Original Song.)

To be eligible for consideration, a tune must meet these criteria:

It must be an original song with words and music, both of which were original and written specifically for the film;

It must be the result of a creative interaction between the filmmaker(s) and the songwriter(s) who have been engaged to work directly on the film; and

There must be a clearly audible, intelligible, substantive rendition (not necessarily visually presented) of both lyric and melody used in the body of the movie or as the...

HBO announced today that Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler have officially joined the cast of the upcoming DC series Lanterns. Aaron Pierre will play John Stewart and Kyle Chandler has been cast as Hal Jordan.

The anticipated series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Lanterns is an HBO series in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King will co-write the series based on the DC comic Green Lantern.

James Hawes directs the first two episodes. The series is executive produced by Mundy, Lindelof, King, and Hawes.

Aaron Pierre currently stars as the lead in Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge, which debuted on Netflix on September 6th and was the #1 title worldwide on the streaming service for three weeks in a row.

Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre are on the case.

On Wednesday, HBO announced that the “Friday Night Lights” Emmy Award winner and the “Rebel Ridge” star will appear opposite each other in “Lanterns,” the cable network’s latest expansion of the DC Comics universe.

HBO says, “The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.”

Pierre plays Stewart, while Chandler stars as Jordan. Chandler’s participation in the series had been widely reported previously, but HBO finally confirmed his involvement.

Pierre has been on a breakout path for a while now. He starred in Barry Jenkins’s acclaimed Amazon series “The Underground Railroad” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old” in 2021. Last year, he played Malcolm X on the NatGeo series “Genius: MLK/X.” This year, Pierre starred in the Jeremy Saulnier...

If you're a film fan with a Netflix subscription, you've almost certainly watched Jeremy Saulnier's white-knuckle thriller Rebel Ridge at some point in the last month. And if you've watched Rebel Ridge, then you'll have seen its star, Aaron Pierre, put in one of the performances of the year as hyper-skilled, hyper-competent former marine Terry Richmond. It's a turn that clearly caught the eye of the folks in charge of HBO's upcoming DC Green Lantern show Lanterns, as Pierre has just landed the co-lead as the series' young buck Lantern John Stewart.

Co-written by the creative trio of showrunner Chris Mundy (True Detective: Night Country) and co-writers Damon Lindelof (Watchmen) and DC Comics legend Tom King, Lanterns — which landed itself a straight-to-series 8-episode order back in June — will see Pierre star opposite Kyle Chandler, who's set to take on the role of veteran Lantern Hal Jordan. Per the show's official logline,...

Aaron Pierre to star in ‘Lanterns’ (Photos Courtesy of HBO)

Aaron Pierre has been cast in the lead role of John Stewart in HBO’s Lanterns. Greenlit in June 2024, the new series is based on DC Comics’ Green Lantern comics.

“The series follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland,” reads HBO’s synopsis.

Chris Mundy, Emmy winner Damon Lindelof (Watchmen), and Eisner Award winner Tom King (Mister Miracle) are writing the series, with James Hawes directing episodes one and two. Mundy, Lindelof, King, and Hawes serve as executive producers.

“We’re thrilled to bring this seminal DC title to HBO with Chris, Damon, and Tom at the helm,” stated James Gunn and Peter Safran, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs of DC Studios in June 2024. “John Stewart and Hal Jordan are two...

Nominations voting is from January 8-12, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 17, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7:00 p.m. Et/ 4:00 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

While there have not been any Best Original Song contenders this year to enter the cultural zeitgeist the same way a few songs from the “Barbie” soundtrack did last year, there are plenty of notable artists putting their hat in the ring for a music Oscar.

We would be remiss to not mention Lady Gaga, a previous winner in the category, who is back with “Folie à Deux” from her film “Joker: Folie à Deux,” a jukebox musical that sees the performer run through various standards as Harley Quinn.

A decent September saw the UK-Ireland box office reduce its year-on-year deficit from -15% at the start of August 2024, to -10% by the end of September.

Although still down on last year at this stage, the four weeks in September 2024 brought in £60.1m, up 21% on the equivalent weeks of September 2023.

UK-Ireland top 10 titles September 2024 Rank Title Distributor September gross Total gross Release date 1 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Warner Bros £21.6m £21.6m 06/09/24 2 Speak No Evil Universal £4.4m £4.4m 13/09/24 3 Lee Studiocanal £3.1m £3.1m 13/09/24 4 Prima Facie - Nt Live 2022 (2024 re-issue) National Theatre Live £2.6m £2.6m 06/09/24 5 Deadpool & Wolverine Disney £2.1m £57.4m 26/07/24 6 It Ends With Us...

After plunging during the pandemic, Brazil’s theatrical market has been recovering since 2021, but the pace of the recovery has been hampered this year by 2023’s Hollywood double strike.

Total ticket sales in the country sharply decreased from 173 million in 2019 to just 39 million in 2020, according to Brazil’s cinema agency Ancine. Sales then increased significantly year by year and reached 114 million in 2023, giving the impression that a full recovery to the pre-pandemic level was soon to be achieved.

But the lack of a regular offer of U.S. blockbusters, a reflection of the Hollywood double strike, slowed the growth pace. Total ticket sales amounted to 91 million from Jan. to Sept. 25 this year, up just 1.6% from the same period in 2023. Accumulated B.O. in the period totalled 1.8 billion reais ($331 million), up just 1.1% from last year.

“The suspension of productions, closure of cinemas and calendar changes due to the pandemic led the...

Deadline brings word today that Aaron Pierre (Rebel Ridge) and Stephan James (Beacon 23) are the current frontrunners to play John Stewart in DC Studios and HBO's Lanterns.

Kyle Chandler was cast as Hal Jordan earlier this week and, according to the trade, no offers have been made yet. As we reported earlier today, F1 star Damson Idris was in the running but that no longer appears to be the case.

Both actors would bring a lot of this series and the wider Dcu and, as of now, it appears the plan is for John to be this shared world's main Green Lantern. Chandler has reportedly only signed a deal for Lanterns and no features so likely won't appear beyond the series.

Pierre is no stranger to the DC Universe after playing Dev-Em in Krypton and recently became a fan favourite choice to play John after starring in Rebel Ridge.

DC is searching for an actor to play the role of John Stewart in the upcoming series Lanterns and there are two stars in the final stages of casting.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Aaron Pierre and Stephan James are “in the mix” for the role and “a decision could be made by the end of the weekend.”

Another actor was reportedly on the shortlist, but no longer in contention.

Keep reading to find out more…

That would be Damson Idris, according to THR. He’s best known for his work on the FX series Snowfall.

Aaron is getting acclaim right now for his role in the Netflix film Rebel Ridge and he’ll soon be leading the movie Mufasa: The Lion King as the voice of Mufasa. Stephan had his breakout in movies like Race and If Beale Street Could Talk. He’ll be seen in this year...

Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad) and Stephan James (Homecoming) have emerged as top choices to star alongside Kyle Chandler in Lanterns, HBO‘s high-profile series based on the Green Lantern DC comic, Deadline has learned. The duo are in conversations to play John Stewart opposite Chandler’s Hal Jordan through sources caution that no offers have made. A rep for HBO declined comment.

The rumor mill went into overdrive this week as the lengthy search for an actor to play John Stewart entered its final stages, with Pierre, James’ names, as well as Snowfall‘s Damson Idris, all talked about at some point.

Of them, Pierre has DC pedigree — he played Dev-Em in Syfy’s Superman universe series Krypton.

The series from Ozark’s Chris Mundy, Watchmen‘s Damon Lindelof and comic book writer Tom King follows new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark,...

With Kyle Chandler now officially set to play the Dcu's Hal Jordan in Lanterns, comic book fans are eager to learn who will join him in the HBO series as John Stewart.

A few different names have surfaced lately, but scooper @MyTimeToShineH - who was the first to share news of Matthias Schoenaerts' Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow casting - has now revealed a supposed shortlist.

Apparently, the five top contenders are Damson Idris (F1), Aaron Pierre (Mufasa: The Lion King), Sope Dirisu (Slow Horses), Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Chevalier), and Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso). It may now be down to Idris and Pierre, though the former being cast in Children of Blood and Bone could take him out of the running.

It's been a busy week for Dcu casting news but whether we'll learn who's playing John Stewart in the immediate future remains to be seen. While fans remain eager...

Shah Rukh Khan was recently spotted at Mumbai airport as he headed to Abu Dhabi for the International Indian Film Academy (Iifa) event. Videos and pictures of the actor surfaced on social media, showing him arriving in style, dressed in a black sweatshirt, matching pants, shoes, a cap, and sunglasses. Despite being surrounded by his security team, fans were seen running towards him, screaming his name in excitement.

In one clip, a female fan rushed toward Shah Rukh and pushed through his security, causing the actor to briefly lose his balance. However, he maintained his calm, waved at his fans, and continued to the airport. Fans reacted to the video online, with one calling him “the real star of the Indian film industry,” while others expressed concern about the fan’s behavior, noting the need for stronger security around the actor.

Shah Rukh Khan visits Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh in...

Mahesh Babu and his wife Namrata Shirodkar recently met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to contribute ₹50 lakh to the Cm’s relief fund, aiding the state after recent floods and landslides. While his generous act was praised, much of the internet’s attention was drawn to Mahesh’s new look, sparking an online debate. The actor, who has been growing out his hair and beard, was compared to both Keanu Reeves’ iconic *John Wick* character and Jesus Christ.

Social media quickly buzzed with memes and discussions, with one user even sharing a picture of Mahesh alongside his late father Krishna, who portrayed Jesus in the film Santhi Sandesam, and captioning it, “Krishna garu #MaheshBabu looks (hot emoji).” Another person created a meme where Keanu Reeves’ John Wick jokingly accuses Mahesh of copying his style. Some fans hilariously acknowledged that Mahesh’s look seems to merge both personas, with one fan writing,...

Tim Burton is one of our most distinctive filmmakers. Whether you love him, hate him, or land somewhere in the middle, there is no denying that Burton has a voice and that voice has become rather valuable. From proving that "Batman" could be an A-tier superhero franchise to producing undeniable classics like "Beetlejuice," he's been making his mark on cinema for decades. Burton's biggest moment came in 2010 when his live-action take on "Alice in Wonderland" hit theaters. Divisive though the movie may be, it made box office history at the time -- and what's more, it laid the groundwork for the next decade of blockbuster filmmaking in Hollywood, particularly at Disney.

In the modern era, a big blockbuster film making $1 billion or more at the box office is not all that uncommon. To date, 55 movies have made at least that much money worldwide. Rather crucially, though, the vast majority of...

Imax has added two new additions to its growing slate for the fourth quarter of the year — Disney’s “Moana 2” and “Mufasa: The Lion King,” the company announced on Thursday.

“Moana 2,” the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 animated smash hit, arrives in the Imax global network Nov. 27. Meanwhile, “Mufasa: The Lion King” — the prequel to Disney’s groundbreaking 2019 reimagining of “The Lion King” that earned $63 million in Imax globally — will hit screens worldwide beginning Dec. 20.

The highly anticipated releases join a year-end Imax lineup that includes “Filmed for Imax” titles “Joker: Folie à Deux” from Warner Bros. and Sony’s “Venom: The Last Dance,” in addition to Paramount Pictures’ “Gladiator II” and Universal’s “Wicked.” Further additions to the company’s fourth quarter slate are forthcoming.

The news comes as Imax closes in on one of its highest-grossing third quarters of all time at the global box office. Through Sunday,...

Two more movies this holiday season will land Imax screens and that’s Disney’s Moana 2 and Mufasa: The Lion King.

Moana 2 opens on Nov. 27, the traditional Disney slot that’s the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, while Lion King prequel Mufasa: The Lion King will open on Dec. 20.

The 2019 The Lion King saw $63M earned in Imax worldwide from its $1.66 billion global box office haul.

Note there will be sharing of Imax screens over the Thanksgiving stretch: Paramount’s Gladiator II opens on Friday Nov. 22, which will be in the pole position with Imax screens, and is already advertising the large format in ads. Also don’t discount Universal’s Wicked which is opening on the same date. Triple note that both movies were filmed for Imax. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out.

Also opening on Dec. 20 is Paramount’s Sonic: The Hedgehog 3.

Other upcoming...

Netflix’s Rebel Ridge seems to have won audiences over with its visceral action and amazing performances from lead actors Aaron Pierre and Don Johnson. Pierre seems to have won over critics and fans alike with his restrained work as a former Marine officer entering a new town, where corruption is rampant.

The actor’s performance seems to have propelled him to a new level of stardom. Pierre’s work in Rebel Ridge may just have made him a top contender for many upcoming action flicks, including a remake of A Fistful of Dollars. The remake of the classic that put Clint Eastwood on the map is currently in development.

Rebel Ridge Star Aaron Pierre May Be The Perfect Candidate For Clint Eastwood’s A Fistful of Dollars Remake Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond in Rebel Ridge | Credits: Netflix

In many ways, Netflix’s Rebel Ridge is a Western. A...

If there is one thing that we know about Hollywood it is that they love their sequels and prequels. While there is nothing wrong with it, fans of cinema would really like the studios to focus on new and original stories instead of making cash grabs that use nostalgia to bring in the audience. Now, Jim Caviezel’s The Passion of the Christ has become the latest victim to it all.

Jim Caviezel in The Passion of the Christ (2004) | Credits: Icon Productions

It has recently been announced that Mel Gibson’s biblical drama will soon be getting a sequel for itself, something which has been in development for years. The O4G was released 20 years ago and was the last film people would have expected to get a sequel of. Well, it looks like Hollywood really needs to rethink its approach.

Jim Caviezel Returns as Jesus in Mel Gibson’s...

Lauryn Hill was announced Wednesday as one of the lead singers on Lin-Manuel Miranda and Eisa Davis’s new concept album of The Warriors.

As for whether the concept album, which also features Busta Rhymes, Rza, Ghostface Killah, Colman Domingo and more alongside an all-female gang, will become the Hamilton creator’s next full-length stage show, Miranda said it will depend on the reception.

“The plan is just to release it and see how people respond,” Miranda said at the Fast Company Innovation Festival in Manhattan Wednesday. He added that the project did not have a director or producers yet attached.

The album, due to be released Oct. 18, musicalizes the 1979 film that follows a street gang making their way from the Bronx to their home in Coney Island and encountering other gangs en route.

Miranda was initially presented with the idea in 2009, after writing In the Heights, but did not...

“Rebel Ridge” is the #1 movie on Netflix right now.

In its first week of release the movie, which stars Aaron Pierre as a former Marine who heads to a small town to post bail for his cousin and finds himself in an increasingly labyrinthine conspiracy, amassed a whopping 31.2 million views (according to Netflix). It also won killer reviews, including our own review, which described the movie as “exciting, engaging, stimulating entertainment.” Plus, every cool kid you follow on Letterboxd is watching, rating and talking about it. Just look.

And this kind of universal acceptance and acclaim would be a feat for any movie, really, but it seems like even more of an accomplishment given the journey that “Rebel Ridge” has been on. This is a movie whose production weathered a Covid-19 shutdown, an abrupt change in the movie’s main cast and a prolonged post-production process.

For writer/director Jeremy Saulnier,...

James Earl Jones’ iconic voice was among his many gifts as a performer. With the actor having died this week at 93, it remains to be seen whether that voice could appear in new projects, particularly from the Star Wars franchise.

One of Jones’ signature roles was providing the voice of Darth Vader, which he originated in 1977’s Star Wars and continued throughout the initial trilogy before reprising the character in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Although Jones was not involved in the 2022 Disney+ series Obi Wan-Kenobi, his voice was used, with Skywalker Sound editor Matthew Wood telling Vanity Fair at the time that the actor had quietly retired from the role but signed over rights to his archival voice work.

Jones made the deal with Ukrainian startup Respeecher, which used AI to cull through audio from his early Darth Vader...

Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool & Wolverine is undoubtedly one of the most popular and profitable films of the year. After crossing the $1 billion mark before the end of its theatrical run, many would hail it as the greatest movie of 2024.

Credits: Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool & Wolverine / Walt Disney Studios

But, there’s still Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two starring Timothée Chalamet which is poised for a possible Oscar award next year. It also performed better than the first film in terms of box office. Both of these titles have the potential of becoming the best film of the year, but Queen Bey thinks otherwise.

Beyoncé Claims Disney/Pixar’s Inside Out 2 is the Best Movie of the Year

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has spoken about the things that inspire her these days. For a cultural icon and one of Hollywood’s most influential artists, she is drawn to many things – film...

James Earl Jones was an accomplished actor of the stage and screen, but his voice roles are perhaps what he’ll be known best for.

His passing has reminded fans of all his incredible roles through the years where his voice was the star of the show.

From the iconic Darth Vader to the most important Disney King of them all, James’ baritone was not only instantly recognisable, but also immensely powerful.

Still, there are some roles fans might be surprised to learn James had as a voice actor. In fact, he’s done quite a bit of TV work that some have completely forgotten.

Like a certain ad that remains iconic to this day.

James Earl Jones accepts the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre onstage during the 2017 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images...

With a voice as commanding as his presence on screen, James Earl Jones earned his place as a legend in the realm of cinema and stage. His talent and range allowed him to connivingly play an array of vastly different characters. From villains to heroes, Jones could portray them all. The passing of a legend is never easy to accept, but the actor lived a long life of 93 years. To celebrate his legacy, we’re taking a look at his five most iconic roles.

5. Terence Mann – Field of Dreams Related“I didn’t really know what to say”: Creating the MCU Empire Couldn’t Give Jon Favreau the Courage to ‘Direct’ James Earl Jones in The Lion King

James Earl Jones and baseball just fit like a ball in a glove. Nothing proves that point better than his iconic baseball speech in the Academy Award Best Picture nominated Field of Dreams...

Hollywood is mourning the death of one of its most recognizable voices, James Earl Jones, who died Monday morning at age 93. He gave life to “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader and “The Lion King’s” Mufasa, starred in “Field of Dreams,” “Conan the Barbarian” and many more films and shows, plus earned the prestigious Egot honor in his career.

Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker opposite Jones’ Vader in “Star Wars,” took to X (formally Twitter) to pay his respects to his longtime co-star.

#Rip dad...

You might not know Aaron Pierre yet, but he’s about to have the biggest year of his career so far!

The 30-year-old actor is starring in the new Netflix movie Rebel Ridge and he stepped out for the premiere on Tuesday night (September 3) at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood.

Aaron was joined at the event by co-stars AnnaSophia Robb, Don Johnson, David Denman, Emory Cohen, and Zsane Jhe, as well as writer and director Jeremy Saulnier. The movie will be released for streaming on Netflix on September 6.

Later this year, Aaron will be heard as the voice of Mufasa in the upcoming prequel movie Mufasa: The Lion King. In a recent interview, he opened up about how making Rebel Ridge helped him prepare for the Disney film.

Keep reading to find out more…

“Interestingly, I think — I only wrapped Mufasa this year and we’ve been doing that for a good few years now.

"Inside Out 2" has been the biggest movie of 2024 for months now, and is continuing to break records nearly three months into its wildly impressive theatrical run. With a solid Labor Day weekend in the books for the animated sequel, it has now moved further up the all-time charts to become the ninth-biggest movie in box office history. With this latest milestone, a debate that has raged since 2019 has been put to rest.

Director Kelsey Mann's "Inside Out 2" added another $2.7 million this past weekend, staying in the top ten in its 12th frame. With that, the film has now amassed $651.2 million domestically. More importantly, its global total sits at $1.671 billion. That means it sits comfortably at number nine all-time, just ahead of 2019's "live-action" remake of "The Lion King" ($1.662 billion). That is hugely important as any debate that lingered as to what the highest-grossing animated movie of all...

It was the year 1992 when Keanu Reeves (who hadn’t quite found his fame for The Matrix) worked alongside Gary Oldman and veteran director Francis Ford Coppola in the film Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Keanu Reeves in a still from John Wick: Chapter 4 | Credits: Summit Entertainment

In the movie, Reeves portrayed the role of Jonathan Harker, the fiance to Winona Ryder’s Mina Murray. Well, a concept trailer released on the internet asks whether Keanu Reeves and Gary Oldman had swapped their roles.

Keanu Reeves Will Shine As Count Dracula

Although Dracula shouldn’t shine, technically, you get our point. Keanu Reeves made a name for himself when he starred in iconic films like The Matrix, Speed, and, the John Wick franchise.

Keanu Reeves in Constantine (2005) | Credits: Warner Bros. Pictures

The actor was attached to Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and although the film received some criticism,...

Mahesh Babu and Namrata Shirodkar are celebrating a significant milestone as their son, Gautam, turns 18 on August 31. Both proud parents took to Instagram to express their joy and share heartfelt messages alongside pictures of their son.

Mahesh Babu posted a touching photo of Gautam, who is seen smiling in a black shirt and jeans. The actor captioned the image with a sweet message: “Happy 18 son!! Explore & enjoy this time I love you very much.. I’m a proud father today @gautamghattamaneni.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mahesh Babu (@urstrulymahesh)

Namrata Shirodkar also shared her pride and excitement with a photo that appears to have been taken as Gautam entered his dorm room at New York University (NYU) in the United States. She wrote, “To new beginnings! Happy birthday son. It’s a big one for you and for us as proud parents! Shine bright be happy...

The battle for box office supremacy is heating up. Keanu Reeves, the internet’s favorite action hero, has joined the Sonic franchise as the voice of Shadow in Sonic 3. But, there’s a twist: the movie’s release date is going head-to-head with another cinematic giant, Mufasa: The Lion King.

Fans online have dubbed this event the “Barbenheimer of 2024”, referencing last year’s incident when Barbie and Oppenheimer both released on the same date. A clash of the titans is expected between The Lion King‘s devoted fanbase and Sonic‘s cult following.

Sonic‘s speed vs. Mufasa‘s majesty: which will fans choose? Keanu Reeves in John Wick: Chapter 4 | Credits: Lionsgate Films

Keanu Reeves, known for his successful John Wick franchise, has joined another beloved franchise: Paramount’s Sonic the Hedgehog. The actor has lent his voice to the character of Shadow in the upcoming film Sonic 3.

The Barbenheimer of this year.

After the same-day release of Barbie and Oppenheimer in 2023, several production companies and films tried the same phenomenon of premiering two different movies on the same day. But unlike Barbenheimer’s harmonious coexistence, not always do fans root for both films. Sometimes, it ends up in battle, like Keanu Reeves’ Sonic The Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King.

A still from Sonic the Hedgehog | image: Paramount Pictures

According to recent reports, it has been revealed that The Lion King prequel as well as Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey-led Sonic The Hedgehog 3 are both releasing on December 20, 2024. While this has already sparked significant buzz online, there have also been reports of Sonic 3 movie fans declaring war on Mufasa. Perhaps, Disney committed a major mistake by pitting against Reeves’ film.

December Showdown Between Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3

In a move that has the film...

You expect certain things from a Barry Jenkins project: beautifully tender characterisation; poetically-presented stories of Black lives; some of the most gorgeous images ever committed to film. What you don’t expect from a Barry Jenkins movie, typically, is talking lions. That all changes with Mufasa: The Lion King. His next feature film is a photoreal-animated prequel to Jon Favreau’s 2019 The Lion King, digging into the backstory of Mufasa and Scar, complete with all-new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda. Quite the departure, then, from Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, and The Underground Railroad.

Or is it? As Jenkins tells Empire, even Mufasa is in line with his previous work. “The script told the story of two families,” he explains in the Gladiator II issue. “The family that’s created between the characters we come to know as Scar and Mufasa, and the other family that Mufasa builds and...

After months of waiting from fans, Paramount is finally offering its first glimpse of Keanu Reeves in “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” where he will be playing the Sega video game star’s longtime rival, Shadow.

Loosely based on the 2001 Dreamcast game “Sonic Adventure 2” where Shadow made his debut, “Sonic 3” will see the Blue Blur (Ben Schwartz) and his new friends Tails and Knuckles (Colleen O’Shaughnessy and Idris Elba) encounter the black and red hedgehog, who has awakened after years in stasis after being created in a secret government project. He has all of Sonic’s super speed, with none of the interest in being a hero.

“He’s far more impressive than the hedgehog I fought previously,” remarks Knuckles, much to Sonic’s chagrin.

But that’s only the beginning of Sonic’s problems. His longtime foe Dr. Eggman, played once again by Jim Carrey, has emerged from hiding, and...

Mahesh Babu, a Tollywood superstar, is making significant strides on the global stage with his involvement in Disney’s highly anticipated movie, Mufasa: The Lion King. It has been officially announced that Mahesh Babu will be lending his voice to the character of Mufasa in the Telugu version of the film, marking a historic achievement as the first Telugu actor to be part of such a major international project.

The Telugu trailer for Mufasa: The Lion King is set to release on August 26th at 11:07 Am, giving fans their first glimpse of this exciting venture. The film, which is scheduled to hit theaters on December 20th, will be available in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.

Mufasa: The Lion King trailer shows the unspoken story of Mufasa and his brother Scar

Mufasa: The Lion King delves into the previously untold story of how Mufasa, originally an orphaned cub,...

When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019 in one of the biggest media takeovers of all time, the House of Mouse absorbed its film slate — and promptly had to slog through an endless series of commercial duds.

Movies like “X-Men” spinoffs “Dark Phoenix” and “New Mutants,” Brad Pitt’s astronaut drama “Ad Astra,” buddy comedy “Stuber,” Harrison Ford-led canine adventure “The Call of the Wild” and animated pigeon comedy “Spies in Disguise” were rejected by audiences and sputtered at the box office. Worse, they didn’t exactly instill confidence in the film assets that resulted from the $71.3 billion mega-merger.

“Those Fox titles that were part of the deal but weren’t made by Disney seemed like they were orphaned,” says senior Comscore analyst Paul Dergarabedian. “With any merger, there are going to be growing pains. And this is a slow-moving business.”

So it’s an encouraging development that former...

“Alien: Romulus” ripped into the domestic box office with $41.5 million, marking the second-highest start in the long-running “Alien” franchise. Those ticket sales were enough for the newest chapter in Disney and 20th Century’s sci-fi horror saga to end the three-week reign of “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which just overtook “Joker” as the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history with $1.14 billion.

These achievements are capping off Disney’s stellar summer streak, which ignited with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (May’s highest grossing movie with $397 million) and continued through “Inside Out 2” (June’s highest grossing movie with $1.597 billion) and “Deadpool & Wolverine” (July’s highest grossing movie with $1.14 billion). The studio earlier this month became the first of 2024 to surpass $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and should continue to pad that total with “Moana 2” (Nov. 27) and “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Dec. 20) on the calendar through the year’s end.

If the idea of a live-action Minions movie makes you shudder, you’re not the only one.

Chris Renaud, who directed the first two and fourth films in the Despicable Me franchise, shot down the potential of a live-action treatment of the mischievous banana-loving helpers.

“God, I hope not,” Renaud said bluntly when asked by Film Hounds if there was a possibility of Illumination and Universal exploring live-action movies within the franchise. “That’s my answer.”

Studios like Disney have found box-office success in remaking animated classics, such as 2019’s The Lion King and Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Alice in Wonderland (2010), all of which have crossed the $1 billion box office threshold. Upcoming films like Mufasa: The Lion King and a live-action Moana hope to recreate that profitability.

“I mean if there were conversations [about live-action remakes], I haven’t been privy to them. But for me, what defines the world is that it is animated,...

Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Emily in Paris, Alien: Romulus, Bad Monkey and The Union.

D23

Disney held its signature D23 fan event in Anaheim over the weekend, showcasing its upcoming TV and film projects and theme park updates, as well as honoring 14 Disney Legends, including Harrison Ford, Jamie Lee Curtis, Miley Cyrus, Angela Bassett and James Cameron.

Agatha All Along and Mufasa: The Lion King stars Kathryn Hahn, Sasheer Zamata, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner and Aubrey Plaza The Mandalorian & Grogu duo Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni Harrison Ford Jamie Lee Curtis, Mickey Mouse, Jodie Foster and Lindsay Lohan Alien: Romulus premiere

Director Fede Álvarez and producer Ridley Scott joined cast members Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu at the L.A. premiere of the latest Alien film on Monday.

In space, no one can hear you scream. But back here on terra firma, you can hear this week's Empire Podcast — and what's more, you should! In a double-slash-triple interview packed week for the pod, first up our very own Chris Hewitt sits down on Zoom with Paul Feig, the dapper and debonair director of Bridesmaids, Spy, The Heat and — most pressingly — new Prime Video action-comedy Jackpot!. Together, the duo talk about working with Awkwafina and John Cena, the difficulties of getting an original movie off the ground, and whether Feig could murder somebody for money [23:34 - 42:47 approx]. Then, in another blinding interview — or an Other blinding interview, more like — we bring you an extended excerpt from our exclusive Empire VIP Club Q&a with Coraline director Henry Selick and The Other Mother herself, star Teri Hatcher, as Laika's first film celebrates its 15th anniversary with a timely 3D re-release [1:04:32 - 1:19:27 approx].

Elsewhere, back...

“Alien: Romulus,” the latest chapter in a sci-fi and horror saga that taught audiences that “in space, no one can hear you scream,” is making some noise at the box office. The film earned a solid $6.5 million in Thursday previews and is expected to earn $28 million to $38 million in its first weekend of release. However, some rivals and independent tracking services believe that Disney and 20th Century, the studios behind the film, are being conservative in their estimates. They expect “Alien: Romulus” to debut between $40 million or $50 million.

The Thursday numbers certainly suggest that the final results will be on the higher end of projections. They compare favorably with other recent horror-tinged releases such as “A Quiet Place: Day One,” which earned $6.7 million in previews before ending its opening weekend with $52 million in the bank, or “Nope,” which netted $6.4 million before premiering to $44 million in its first weekend.

If “Alien: Romulus” draws big crowds,...

It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic upended the movie theater business in 2020, but in the years since, the industry has slowly climbed back. In 2021, 14 movies were able to cross the coveted $100 million mark at the U.S. box office. In 2022, that number jumped up to 18 films. And in 2023, there were a whopping 25 such blockbusters. So how many features released during the current 2024 calendar year will end up becoming box office behemoths? Stay tuned.

To date, the biggest money-makers of the year are a trio of highly anticipated sequels: “Inside Out 2,” “Deadpool & Wolverine” and “Despicable Me 4.” Scroll through our gallery below to see all of the 2024 box office hits so far that made more than $100 million in the United States. The number will continue to grow as high-profile movies like “Wicked” and “Mufasa: The Lion King” will be released later in the year.

“Alien: Romulus” is expected to rip into the box office with $28 million to $38 million in its first weekend of release. Rivals and independent tracking services are bullish on Disney and 20th Century’s sci-fi sequel, though, believing that inaugural ticket sales could wind up closer to $40 million or $50 million.

Should those loftier projections hold, “Alien: Romulus” will continue Disney’s stellar summer streak which ignited with “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (May’s highest grossing movie with $397 million), “Inside Out 2” (June’s highest grossing movie with $1.59 billion) and continued through “Deadpool & Wolverine” (July’s highest grossing movie with $1.03 billion). By August, the studio became the first of 2024 to surpass $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales. Disney has “Moana 2” (Nov. 27) and “Mufasa: The Lion King” (Dec. 20) on the calendar through year’s end.

“Alien: Romulus” is the only new release of the weekend since Kevin Costner’s...

Walt Disney Animated Studios’ has launched the full official trailer for ‘Moana 2.’

Coming to the big screen this November in the all-new feature film starring Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson as Moana and demigod Maui.

The movie reunites Moana and Maui three years later for an expansive new voyage alongside a crew of unlikely seafarers. After receiving an unexpected call from her wayfinding ancestors, Moana must journey to the far seas of Oceania and into dangerous, long-lost waters for an adventure unlike anything she’s ever faced.

Directed by David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand and Dana Ledoux Miller, and produced by Christina Chen and Yvett Merino, the animation features music by Grammy® winners Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, Grammy nominee Opetaia Foaʻi, and three-time Grammy winner Mark Mancina.

Also in trailers – “Long before there was legends…” Full trailer drops for ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’

The animation hits cinemas on November 29th.

Walt Disney Studios announced several new projects in the works over the weekend at D23 2024 in addition to giving updates on titles it has in the works.

Films that are still in the early stages of development include Toy Story 5, Frozen 3 and Incredibles 3. Other projects further along that received major updates include Tron: Ares, Elio, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Andor Season 2, Ironheart, Daredevil: Born Again and many more.

Still, the cast of Agatha All Along performed a new musical number for the series, which comes out on Disney+ in October. Other highly anticipated films received official titles, and plenty of casting news was released.

Related: ‘Frozen 3’ Concept Art Shown, 2027 Release Eyed; Filmmaker Jennifer Lee Teases That There’s Another Sequel – D23

Find more announcements from D23 2024 — broken down by category of IP, animation vs. live-action and more — below:

Marvel Projects

Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams appeared in...