Motion Picture: Adria Arjona Joins DCU, Possible ‘Ride Along 3’

Action/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Dwayne Johnson appeared at Disney’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas to unveil new footage of the live-action remake of Moana. Johnson will serve as a producer on the film alongside Hiram, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. At CinemaCon, he spoke of the impact Muai has had on the Polynesian people and how exciting “tapping into the flesh and blood and Mana” has been for the performer. Catherine Laga’aia will be taking over the role of Moana from Auli’i Cravalho and was also in attendance alongside Dwayne Johnson at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Thomas Kail will make his directorial debut with this feature, which is based on a script by Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller. The film is set to premiere in theaters on July 10, 2020. 

Adria Arjona (Andor) is officially cast as Maxima in James Gunn’s Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. She will be joining a larger ensemble cast of Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner), Edi Gathegi (Mister Terrific), and Aaron Pierre (John Stewart/Green Lantern). Production is set to begin in Atlanta, Georgia, shortly, with a release date set for July 9, 2027. Additionally, Arjona is set to star opposite Michael B. Jordan in Amazon and MGM Studios' remake of The Thomas Crown Affair. Adria Arjona is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Goodman Genow. 

Paramount Pictures has acquired the divisive crime thriller, By Any Means, starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg. WME Independent handled the U.S. sale and North.Five.Six handled international sales of the film. This will be Elegance Bratton’s sophomore film with a screenplay by Sascha Pen. “Bratton and Chester Algernal Gordon produced the project under their Freedom Principle banner, alongside Alex Lebovici for Hammerstone Studios; Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee for Thunder Road; and Wahlberg and Stephen Levinson for Municipal.” The film is slated for a theater release on September 4, 2026.

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Drama: Apple Studios taps Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief) to star in Running. Henry previously starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence in another Apple Studios project, Causeway, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for his performance. He will be joining the previously announced Spike Ferren in this sports drama from director Gavin O’Connor (Warriors), who also co-wrote the screenplay with Bill Dubuque. Nike Films and Makeready are producing the feature. Brian Tyree Henry is repped by Jennifer Wiley-Moxley of JWM Entertainment Group, CAA, Jill Fritzo PR, and Jackoway Austen et al. 

Bryce Winters (We Were Liars) and Erika Prevost (The Boys) join Constantine Film’s YA Romance Into The Deep Blue. Filming is currently underway in Ontario, Canada. Jonathan Wright will be directing from a screenplay written by Jennifer Archer, who will also be serving as a producer on the project. Other producers include Michael Baker for Bunk 11 Pictures and Jonathan Wright. “Executive producers are Oliver Berben and Robert Kulzer for Constantin Film and Michael Rothstein and Samuel Hall for North.five.six. TPC is a financier.” There is no official release date for this project at the moment. 

Vignette Robbinson has joined the cast of TriStar Pictures’ The Nightingale, based on Kristen Hannah’s best-selling novel. Represented by Curtis Brown Group, Robinson most recently starred in Othello at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London and won a British Independent Film Award for Boiling Point. Michael Morris directs from a screenplay by Dana Stevens. Robinson joins Elle and Dakota Fanning, who are also producing with Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine, alongside Elizabeth Cantillon for The Cantillon Company and Brittany Kahan Ward for Lewellen Pictures. The film is set for theatrical release on February 12, 2027.

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Comedy: Ride Along 3 is once again in early development at Universal. Kevin Hart and Ice Cube are set to return alongside producer Will Packer and Tim Story, the director of the first two installments. The film has been in development purgatory for over a decade with no success. However, the tide might be changing now that Daniel Gold of Workin’ Moms has been tapped to write the script. Universal has not released any official statements on the state of this project, only that a new writer has been hired. 

The Wayans Brothers tease a possible White Chicks sequel, but only if Scary Movie 6 does well at the box office. The franchise’s sixth installment is set for a June 5 release this year. Marlon Wayans told ET, “We’re game… we want to know if people will come out and laugh.” No further updates have been shared; the sequel’s fate rests on the success of their upcoming project.

Netflix

Animation: Netflix releases first look at next animated venture, directing Charlie Vs. The Chocolate Factory, starring Taika Waititi (Jojo Rabbit) and Kit Connor (Heartstopper). Academy Award winner Waititi will also serve as an executive producer alongside Oscar winners Aron Warner (Shrek) and Timothy Yoo (Back to the Outback, Green Eggs and Ham). Netflix is teasing a 2027 release, but a specific date has not been confirmed.

This news comes 5 years after Netflix acquired the rights from the Roald Dahl Story Company with plans to expand the IP across multiple formats. Waititi will be bringing the role of eccentric candy genius Willy Wonka to life. Of the project, he said, “Our directors, Jared and Elaine, have a bold vision befitting this new adventure whilst remaining sympathetic to the legacy, and I’m thrilled to play my part in bringing Willy Wonka to life in animated form. He is so special to me, and the opportunity to voice such an iconic, eccentric candy genius, if a little mischievous at times, is hugely exciting.”

Hailee Steinfeld (Sinners) and Rashida Jones (Parks and Rec) are set to star in the new Disney animated feature Hexed. Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand will be directing with a release date set for November 25, 2026. The footage was unveiled at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. Steinfeld is set to play the lead, Billie Doe, with Jones playing her type A mother. 

Regal

Industry: Christ Stokes signs an exclusive 20-picture deal with the new streaming platform Turnstr+. His upcoming film, Forever, This Ring, debuts on October 2 when the platform launches. Stokes is continuing a strong partnership with Tubi as he helps “catapult Turnstr+ Originals to the next level.” He has directed 57 titles over the course of his career, including Hijacked, Night Shift, Run, Adopted, and many more. He has founded and chaired “Found Footage: the independent film company behind Tubi and BET+ originals, including The Stepdaughter.”

Regal Cineworld is rolling out a new AI movie-going tool in partnership with The Box Office Company. They are the first major exhibitor to launch an app within ChatGPT. The feature makes it so that users can ask “conversational prompts” and receive real-time results, including movie details, formats, and screening options. Users are then directed to Regal’s website to complete ticket purchases.” The goal is to streamline the ticket purchasing process for moviegoers. “Regal is excited to partner with The Boxoffice Company to introduce the first movie ticketing app on ChatGPT… to improve the moviegoer journey,” said Kelly Dowdy, chief digital and technology officer at Regal Cineworld.

Disney announces the new Infinity Vision Theatrical Experience at CinemaCon. Disney is teaming up with global theatrical partners, ensuring theaters meet rigorous technical standards for the premium movie-going experience. This will be accomplished through the new Premium Large Format (PLF) certification process. Meaning, Infinity Vision theaters will be outfitted with the largest screens available, superior laser projection, and fully immersive audio formats. “There are currently 75 Infinity Vision-certified PLFs in the United States, with 300 abroad.”