Motion Picture: A$AP Rocky Earns Spike Lee’s Praises, Eddie Huang Clashes with Mubi Over Documentary Release
Jennifer Hudson - prince williams
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Destiny Jackson, a new supernatural thriller in production under Margin Films, will star Nathan Lee Graham (Mid-Century Modern). Although Graham has been confirmed for the role, no other major announcements have been made.
A Place in Hell, a psychological thriller film, has added new additions to the cast. The main stars include Michelle Williams, Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People), and Andrew Scott. New faces include Danny Huston, Arturo Castro, Kyle Mooney, Dani Oliveros, and Esther McGregor. Directed by Chloe Domont, the film explores ethical dilemmas among attorneys fighting for their power and dominance in the field.
Sony Pictures’ new animated film, Goat, will star Jennifer Hudson, Aaron Pierre (The Underground Railroad), Jelly Roll, and Ayesha Curry. Directed by Tyree Dillihay and Adam Rosette, the film depicts animals competing against each other in a game called “Roarball.” The release date aligns with NBA All-Star Weekend: Friday, February 13, 2026.
The Plan, a one-take thriller film, is now in pre-production. Starring Eve Lindley, Ryan Simpkins, and Percy Hynes White, it’s scheduled to be released sometime in 2026. The film focuses on real-time storytelling. Exact details about the plot have not been revealed yet.
Subversion is the new action thriller set by Amazon MGM Studios that will star Chris Hemsworth and Lily James. Directed by Patrick Vollrath, the film will follow Hemsworth as he plays a naval commander who is coerced by a cartel and James as a Coast Guard officer chasing him. Michael Peña (End of Watch) will be joining the stars. Described as “Die Hard on a submarine,” the film begins production in September.
Bunny-Man, starring Giancarlo Giannini and Tatiana Luter, has begun filming in Rome. The film also features James Franco, Bella Thorne, Mike Tyson, Débora Nascimento, Meredith Mickelson, and Lexie Coons in the cast. The film is produced by Andrea Iervolino, and a director has yet to be announced.
The new indie thriller film Callback has begun filming in New York City. The film is to be directed by Blaise Beyhan and stars Giovanni Ribisi (Sneaky Pete), Jai Courtney (Suicide Squad), Willa Fitzgerald (Strange Darling), Carla Gugino (Heads of State), Trew Mullen (Blink Twice), and Hamish Linklater (Nickel Boys). Currently, the plot of the film has not been elaborated on, and no release date has been announced.
Eugene Cordero - Maya Dehlin Spach
Comedy/Dramedy/Musical: The Pickup is the latest comedy show coming to Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson are starring alongside each other, creating a laughable dynamic through improv and on-the-spot lines. Other stars include Keke Palmer and Eva Longoria. Tim Story (The Blackening) is the director.
Transcending is a dark indie comedy starring Tone Bell, who plays an artist trying to piece his life together after his wife (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) runs off with a DJ. Written and produced by Raleigh Cain and Heidi Gardner, the film leans into messy heartbreak and awkward humor. Filming wrapped this summer, with a festival debut sometime in 2026.
Bolio: Spirit of the Mustang is an indie comedy directed by Jim Issa and produced under Broken Lizard Industries and Moody Independent. The film stars Eugene Cordero and Gabriel Hogan and will blend the influences of Broken Lizard and executive producer Tony Shalhoub (Monk).
A new Netflix romantic comedy, Voicemails for Isabelle, directed by Leah McKendrick, began filming this past July. The cast includes Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Nick Offerman, Harry Shum Jr., and Lukas Gage. Production is led by Escape Artists and Netflix. The film tells the story of a grieving sister whose voicemails are delivered to a stranger. The release date for Voicemails for Isabelle has not been announced yet, as filming wraps up in September.
Tony Bell has been announced to be the lead in Transcending, an indie dark comedy film. Filming just wrapped up, but no release date has been announced yet. Written by Raleigh Cain, the film follows Bell, who plays a heartbroken man seeking refuge in Kansas City. Mike Luciano is directing, while production is by Duplass Brothers Productions.
Lee Isaac Chung - Amy Sussman
Drama: The Fallers, starring Georgina Campbell (Barbarian/The Watchers) and Paul Gross (Slings & Arrows/Passchendaele), wrapped up filming in July. Directed by Will Bowes (Hey Lady!), the film delivers a dramatic storyline and defines itself as a voyeuristic drama.
Tyler Perry has confirmed Why Did I Get Married 3, the third installment of his franchise, Why Did I Get Married. The film is currently a work in progress, with no official title or release date. Perry tagged original cast members of Why Did I Get Married in his announcement post, including Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Michael Jai White, Lamman Rucker, Jill Scott, and Janet Jackson. The project has faced some stalls and delays, but Perry seems to have kick-started momentum on further development. No further announcements have been made.
Spike Lee had some positive comments to make about A$AP Rocky’s performance in Highest 2 Lowest. The singer starred alongside Denzel Washington, playing his son in this fast-paced film, which follows David (Denzel Washington) after his son is kidnapped. The modern adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low premiered at Cannes this past May and will be hitting theaters in September. Lee described the actors as going “toe-to-toe” with each other and said, “Don’t sleep on A$AP.”
Lee Isaac Chung (Minari/Twisters) is in negotiation to direct a prequel to the Ocean’s Eleven franchise at Warner Bros. The project is still in the early stages of development, with no new announcements made. Casting is currently uncertain but may potentially include Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. Chung has found great success most recently with his work in Minari, scoring six Oscar nominations, and Twisters, grossing a total of $372.2 million worldwide.
Alesha Dixon (Britain’s Got Talent/America’s Got Talent: The Champions) has joined the crew of the short film Fire Lily, where she will serve as an executive producer. The film will be shot in Cleveland, Ohio, this November. It follows the story of a dancer who is wrongly detained by a police officer. Alongside Dixon, production also includes Obadiah Baker, Joyce Allen, and Theresa Godly.
The Bench, directed by Ron Carlson, has just finished filming. It stars Rel Howery (Bird Box), Madeline Zima (Subservience), Diego Josef (The Ballad of Lefty Brown), Michael Horse (Twin Peaks), and Lin Shaye (Insidious). No release date has currently been announced.
Eddie Huang - Gareth Cattermole
Documentary: Blood & Myth is Hulu’s latest crime documentary, set for release on Thursday, September 4, 2025. It’s an adaptation of Midnight Son, an audiobook by James Dommek Jr., Isaac Kestenbaum, and Josie Holtzman. The film is directed by Kahil Hudson and produced by Jonas Bell Pasht and Jonah Bekhor. The true-crime documentary will follow the story of an Iñupiaq village and the series of attacks they faced.
Eddie Huang has announced on Instagram that Mubi, the distributor of his documentary Vice Is Broke, has “shelved” the film. Huang has spoken out against the streaming platform due to their financial ties to Sequoia Capital, which is partnered with Kela, an Israeli military-tech startup. Mubi stated that the film is still set for release on Friday, August 29, 2025. Huang wants to resolve the situation before the debut of the film.
Yance Ford - Michael Loccisano
Industry Update: Anthony Mackie reflects on his drastically different experiences while filming with what he calls the “worst director to ever direct” versus Kathryn Bigelow. He says his role in The Hurt Locker was a career-defining moment for him, as the film won six Academy Awards. He played Sergeant J.T. Sanborn, a soldier of the film’s fictional bomb disposal unit in Iraq. He commends the research and accurate depiction that the film delivered with care and precision.
Yance Ford (Strong Island) has been named the Visiting Artistic Director for the 2026 True/False Film Festival. Ford has earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature, and he is the first openly transgender man to be nominated for any Oscar.
Roughly 10% of employees in Warner Bros. Discovery’s Motion Picture Group will be laid off. Main departments affected are marketing, distribution, production, strategy, operations, and theaters. The reason for this lay off is to begin the separation of the public entities Warner Bros. and Discovery Global.
