Netflix has announced that Planeswalker, an animated series based on Magic: The Gathering, will debut in 2027. The first sneak peek doesn't show much, but it does suggest that the show is taking several pages from the streamer's wildly popular League of Legends series, Arcane.

The series "chronicles the fierce clash between formidable mages known as Planeswalkers. At the center of this struggle for power and survival burns Chandra, a volatile pyromancer hunted for her gifts and haunted by her past," according to the official synopsis.

"Confronted by an insidious force, Chandra and some of the most legendary Planeswalkers must harness their extraordinary abilities, navigate treacherous alliances, and battle their own inner demons to prevent a cataclysmic war that threatens to consume their very existence. As the line between victory and annihilation grows thinner, a single spark determines the fate of thousands of worlds."

The video above is filled with concept and previsualization clips, but there are a few seconds of what appears to be near-final animation and, well, it's tough to deny a clear Arcane influence here in the character design and animation style. The series is being created by animation studio Digic Pictures, which has previously made cutscenes for games including Assassin's Creed Shadows and Call of Duty: Vanguard, and led several episodes of Amazon's Secret Level series.

Terry Matalas, who served as showrunner for VisionQuest and seasons 2 and 3 of Star Trek: Picard, will be showrunner for Planeswalker. Cindy Appel, who wrote episodes for both those shows, serves as co-showrunner. Patrick Osborne is supervising director and executive producer.

Netflix has been trying to get a Magic: The Gathering series underway since at least 2019, when the streamer announced that the Russo brothers were attached to the project. Whatever vision they had for the series seemingly fell through, as it was five years before we heard about it again – this time, led by Matalas.

In the meantime, check out our guides to the best shows on Netflix and the best movies on Netflix to find out what you should be streaming today.

Demon Slayer may be rounding out its movie trilogy over the next few years, but Aniplex chairman Atsuhiro Iwakami is thinking much further afield.

Speaking to Bloomberg (via ScreenRant), Iwakami said he aims for Demon Slayer to endure as a franchise for up to another century, perhaps much in the same way Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel have enraptured audiences across the decades.

"With Demon Slayer, it is our intent to make this last 10 or 20, if not 50 to 100 years," Iwakami said. "We want to make sure we’re part of creating the type of franchise that can withstand decades."

Tanjiro's story may have already come to a close in the pages of the manga (and will be wrapped up in the third Demon Slayer Infinity Castle film, likely before 2030), but that doesn't mean it has to end there. With Hashira aplenty through the years – and a demon scourge not likely to go anywhere – the series feels rich for mining spin-offs and side stories in much the same way the likes of Dragon Ball has done since the 1980s.

In the more immediate term, the wait goes on for Demon Slayer Infinity Castle 2. Crunchyroll CEO Rahul Purini told GamesRadar+ in May that it is "actively in production." Since then, no announcement has been forthcoming – though December's Jump Festa event could be the destination for those hoping for a sequel release date.

Beyond that, who knows? But Demon Slayer could be around for a very, very long time to come.

For more, we have a guide to the rest of 2026's new anime, plus a look at how to watch Demon Slayer in order. Just to get a head start on the next few decades.

Despite its predecessor Avatar: The Last Airbender famously releasing on Nickelodeon for years and catering to a younger audience, the sequel series Seven Havens apparently isn't made for kids.

During an Avatar: Seven Havens Reddit AMA, one fan asked if the team intended to make the show more accessible to a younger audience, to which executive producer and developer Sehaj Sethi replied, "Personally, I think this show really isn’t a kids show. The themes we cover are quite dark and mature. We always intended for this show to technically be accessible to a younger audience, but also be very interesting to older viewers."

The series, which is set around 225 years after The Last Airbender sequel The Legend of Korra, Seven Havens follows twin sisters Pavi and Nisha as they uncover their Avatar origins and protect the last cities that remain centuries after the infamous apocalypse caused by Korra. But even though the show centers around children Nisha and Pavi, Sethi says "we don’t hold back on making them face truly traumatic experiences."

We can see what Sethi means. The show's themes feel very current and quite upsetting. The sisters have to contend with living in a refuge in a war-torn land hit by sandstorms and tornadoes. In the midst of their already complicated lives, Pavi now has to deal with being the new Avatar when she has been taught all her life to hate Avatars due to Korra's actions.

When the show debuted on Paramount Plus, some fans were not too happy about Korra being vilanised. But the big swing seemed to pay off, as Seven Havens debuted to a perfect Rotten Tomatoes. In our Avatar: Seven Havens season 1 review, we call the animated installment "a strong new entry for the franchise, filled with intriguing plot elements and characters," but in part it is "let down by its animation." Seven Havens has already been renewed for season 2.

Avatar: Seven Havens is streaming now on Paramount Plus. For more, see our Avatar: Seven Havens season 1 ending explained, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

Disney animation boss Jared Bush reveals the unlikely source of inspiration behind overcoming a creative struggle on new movie Hexed – Hideo Kojima.

"True story… we were working on a section of #Hexed and there was a story point that was hard for me to crack," Bush, who also co-wrote Hexed, wrote on Twitter.

Bush added, "The inspiration for the fix came from talking to Hideo Kojima about an approach he took in Death Stranding 2. Games are cinema."

It's unclear exactly how Kojima indirectly contributed to the final product (Hexed isn't out for another few weeks, after all), but this doesn't mark the first time the legendary game developer has worked with Disney.

In the Japanese dub of Zootopia 2, Kojima had a bit-part as IT officer Paul Moldebrandt – and would go on to have multiple cameos in the next 12 months, including reprising his Cyberpunk role of Hideyoshi Oshima in Edgerunners season 2.

Hexed, starring Hailee Steinfeld as a fledgling witch, is Walt Disney Animation Studios' latest movie, following on from the billion-dollar hits of Moana 2 and Zootopia 2. But this marks the first original IP for the studio since 2023's Wish. The cast also stars Rashida Jones, Jodie Foster, Walton Goggins, Henry Winkler, and the live-action Beast himself, Dan Stevens.

Hexed hits cinemas on November 25.

Kojima, meanwhile, is busy at work on multiple game projects, including Physint and horror title O.D.

For more, check out our guide to new Xbox Series X games and upcoming PS5 games, plus all the new Disney movies currently in the works.

According to a new report, Robert Pattinson has a much more limited deal than the rest of the James Bond candidates. The Batman actor has only signed on for three movies if he's cast, as opposed to the rest of the frontrunners who are down for four.

Per Puck News, "[Josh O']Connor and [Jack] Lowden, for instance, were required to sign up for four Bonds, if chosen. Pattinson, on the other hand, was able to lower that commitment to three (plus a whole lot more money than the others), given his stardom."

Former The Hollywood Reporter journalist Matthew Belloni, who writes the newsletter, went on to add that Pattinson's deal was reportedly very "difficult to close". As a result, sources were wondering why the filmmakers went to such lengths if they weren't pretty set on the actor.

Currently, the actors who have screen-tested for 007 alongside Pattinson are Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, The Crown's Josh O'Connor, Masters of the Air actor Callum Turner, and Superman's Lex Luthor star, Nicolas Hoult. Pattinson and Hoult were reportedly late additions to the casting process, as it seems those involved are split on who to choose.

Bond director Denis Villeneuve said recently that the conversation is still ongoing, but it seems he is a big fan of Pattinson. The actor appears in the upcoming Dune 3 and Villeneuve recently said that he can't stop thinking about the actor's movie, Primetime.

Pattinson is a bit of an outlier as he already has a huge franchise on his plate with The Batman. However, as noted in Puck News, it does feel unlikely that he'd reprise the Caped Crusader role again after The Batman 2 given the long delays between films and the recent upheaval at DC Studios.

For everything you need to know about the casting process, here's our guide to the next James Bond. We've also got a round-up of the best James Bond films, ranked if you want a rewatch too.

With less than a week to go until the release of GTA 6 – aka the biggest entertainment release of all time – the boss of GTA publisher Take-Two isn't ruling out a GTA movie or TV show, but suggests one hasn't happened yet because they're "very, very selective" about who they work with.

Speaking on The David Rubenstein Show, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick was asked why, after 30 years and six mainline games, there still hasn't been a GTA adaptation, saying in response: "We're very careful about line extensions [adaptations in other mediums] because this is a creative company and our goal is to make the best entertainment on Earth.

"We would make a movie or a television show based on our IP if our creative teams were passionate about it," Zelnick continued. "If they thought that would somehow engage and delight our consumers. It's a high bar to do that, and of course there's always the risk of failure. So we don't rule it out, but we're very, very selective."

Video game adaptations are currently all the rage in Hollywood. 2026 alone saw the release of Resident Evil, Mortal Kombat 2, Street Fighter, Iron Lung, Exit 8, Return to Silent Hill, and the back half of Fallout season 2, and 2027 looks to be even bigger for video games on screen with The Legend of Zelda movie, A Minecraft Movie 2, Sonic 4, and potentially a wave of TV shows set to release. GTA is a unique case, however, and given its scale, it's arguable that Rockstar and Take-Two would have more to lose than gain from a GTA movie or TV show if any adaptation can't live up to the medium-defining legacy of the games.

That said, imagine a GTA movie directed by one of the crime movie greats – a Michael Mann or a Martin Scorsese. Could Rockstar resist if one of the legendary filmmakers who informed much of their work wanted to return the favor? For now, the closest we have to a GTA movie is the 2015 docudrama The Gamechangers, which stars Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe as then Rockstar Games President Sam Houser and depicts the legal battle with Florida attorney Jack Thompson over the supposed psychological effects of violent games. Rockstar, famously, weren't fans, tweeting: "Was Basil Brush busy? What exactly is this random, made-up bollocks?"

As for GTA 6, the map for the long-awaited Vice City-set game just leaked, and it could be teasing a UFO Easter egg. For that and much more, head on over to our countdown to GTA 6 landing page.

GTA 6 releases on November 19. For more, check out our list of the best video game movies, and our guide to all the upcoming video game movies and shows heading our way.

In a bizarre turn of events, it looks like Ryan Reynolds has a writing credit on Avengers: Doomsday, but the Deadpool star has replied in the most hilarious yet confusing way.

One eagle-eyed Marvel fan spotted Reynolds' name under Doomsday's screenwriting credits on the Writers Guild of America’s directory and shared a screenshot of the listing on Twitter. But in true Deadpool fashion, Reynolds hasn't confirmed whether he did pen part of the Marvel movie. Instead, the actor responded with a clip from Deadpool and Wolverine, where the mutant says, "Not to brag, but I do not read." Check out the post below.

It is true that both Reynolds and his Deadpool 3 co-star Hugh Jackman are both listed among the various other writers who worked on the movie, which also includes Spider-Man: Brand New Day director Destin Daniel Cretton. Though this marks Jackman's first Marvel writing credit, this wouldn't be the first time Reynolds has chipped in on a script, as the star was also one of the writers on Deadpool 2 and his 2024 MCU debut, Deadpool & Wolverine.

Reynolds' response is rather confusing, but Marvel fans are taking that Deadpool "can't read" as a sign that he didn't pen the script, but is rather in the movie. "Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday confirmed!?" said one fan, and another added, "Little Doomsey is going to shit himself when he sees the boys walk up on him."

As far as we know, Reynolds and Jackman have not been cast in Avengers: Doomsday. However, it is not entirely impossible. Despite announcing the bulk of the cast during the unforgettable Avengers: Doomsday livestream event, co-director Anthony Russo has confirmed that he and Joe Russo still haven't announced the full cast.

Fans have been wondering whether Jackman's Wolverine will join his fellow mutants, as most of the original Fox-era X-Men are coming back, including Patrick Stewart's Charles Xavier, Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, and more. But with just one month before the movie hits screens, we would guess that any more major reveals may be saved for the big day.

Avengers: Doomsday hits cinemas on December 18, and December 16 in the UK. For more, check out our guide to the Marvel timeline, and keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is swinging back into cinemas in December with an extended edition.

As spotted on Reddit, AMC Theaters listed a Brand New Day re-release – complete with seven minutes of bonus footage – for December 4, some two weeks before Avengers: Doomsday.

The listing has since been removed, but the runtime and the 'Brand New Day' URL remains – a surefire sign that Spidey's most successful movie returns in just a few weeks with fresh goodies.

We already have an inkling of one deleted scene that could make the cut this time, courtesy of Claire Temple actor Rosario Dawson. The decision to remove her scene – presumably featuring Spider-Man's trip to the emergency room at the tail-end of the movie – was so late in the day that Dawson even had her behind the scenes photo ready to plaster all over social media.

Whatever else is on the way remains to be seen. The Brand New Day post-credits scene appears to tie into Doomsday, so that's a prime candidate to be expanded upon. There's also a small chance that the Endgame Encore bonus footage focusing on what happened next to Mark Ruffalo's Hulk could be bolted onto the Brand New Day re-release as an epilogue-of-sorts.

Then: Doomsday. The emergence of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom has already captured the attention of the world, with the latest confirmation that he isn't a Tony Stark variant only making us more intrigued for what could be the biggest Marvel film in history.

For more, we have a list of upcoming Marvel movies in the works. If you're mid-MCU marathon, there's a complete guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

VisionQuest came to a close with an epic season finale that saw Vision reunite with both of his sons, Billy and Tommy Maximoff. However, there was a missing member of the family: Wanda Maximoff. She's mentioned several times in the final few episodes but doesn't appear in the main series.

However, it turns out that they did consider bringing her back. Speaking to The Playlist, Vision star Paul Bettany said: "I remember having this conversation with [Kevin Feige], and he said, 'You and Terry [Matalas, showrunner] have done such a great job at making me care about Vision. I really don't think you should distract from that by giving the audience that at the end of the [show]. It will just fundamentally all become about WandaVision again, and this should and can stand on its own.' And I think he was right."

Of course, this doesn't mean that Wanda doesn't appear at all in the Disney Plus show. In the finale's second post-credits scene, Doctor Doom takes a trip to Mount Wundagore. We see Wanda pull down the mountain on top of her, as happened in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, before Doom appears and lifts the stones off of her. He brings her back to life before saying, "Scarlet Witch awaken, your power will be mine."

Elizabeth Olsen looks set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday then and a recent leak from Anthony Mackie seemed to confirm that Vision is coming back too. We may finally get a Maximoff reunion after all then, although probably not under the best of circumstances.

For more on all things MCU, check out our guide to upcoming Marvel movies and shows as well as our breakdown of the Marvel timeline.

Despite being a late addition swap-in as Marvel's big new villain, Doctor Doom has now had the same number of appearances as Thanos. Before 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos appeared in two end-credit scenes for The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), as well as in the story of Guardians of the Galaxy (2015), all setting him up as the MCU's big bad.

Marvel hasn't had the same luxury of time with Doom, as one Twitter user pointed out, after he was announced in 2024 following Jonathan Majors being axed as Kang. As a result, the studio has been speedrunning his introduction, including him in three post-credits scenes in just over a year.

His first silent appearance came at the end of Fantastic Four: The First Steps in July 2025, when he's seen speaking to a young Franklin Richards before Sue Storm walks in. His second two appearances saw him recruiting new team members for his nefarious plans.

In Avengers: Endgame Encore, he finds Bruce Banner being held in a prison post-Spider-Man: Brand New Day before taking him away. His most shocking appearance then came at the end of VisionQuest, when he resurrects Scarlet Witch, telling her that her power will be his.

It's been a pretty quick turnaround of set-up for Doom ahead of Doomsday, but it does mean we have some insight into what he's planning ahead of the movie's December release. It seems he's been recruiting several powerful figures to help in his fight against the Avengers.

Marvel fans have been reacting to the appearances, and it's fair to say that opinions are pretty mixed. "Thanos sent the army & Loki on Earth in 2012, & was the presence looming over the entire Guardians of The Galaxy AND there were a ton of people that were connected to him & suffered a lot because of him, seeking him," one wrote on Twitter, adding: "Btw I'm not saying this to trash Marvel with Doom, I can't wait for Doomsday, but yes, I wish they had him felt more to build up the DEPTH of the hype."

Meanwhile another wrote: "Honestly, they handled the switch from Kang to Doom really well, given the obvious reasons for it." A third then tweeted: "Imagine if Doom was planned from the start: his face with the hammer sound in Endgame (2019), Wanda in Doctor Strange (2022), Loki visiting Steve and the TVA’s fear in Loki's series, Bruce's kidnapping in Spider-Man BND, All set up years ago instead of added later."

Avengers: Doomsday hits UK cinemas on December 16 and US theaters on December 18. For more upcoming superhero movies, here's our guide to new Marvel movies and shows on the way.

Avatar: Seven Havens season 2 has officially set its release date, and it's not too far away. The Legend of Korra sequel will release Book 2 on May 21, 2027.

Just like the first season, there will be 13 episodes in total, and they will air in three-episode chunks through to June 11. The next stage of Pavi and Nisha's journey is called 'Book Two: Discovery' and the synopsis teases plenty more adventure yet for the twins.

This reads: "Pavi continues her chakra journey to the Floating Isles and learns more about what happened to Korra. Meanwhile, Nisha discovers vital information about the mysterious spirit energy Pavi released from Ellora. The girls are brought together in New Ba Sing Se, along with all their unresolved issues."

Saheli Khan returns as Pavi in the new episodes, alongside Aishu Devan as Nisha, Akshay Khanna as Karthik, Major Curda as Jae, and Sakina Jaffrey as Agam. Paramount also doubled down on the future of the show, confirming that Book 3 and Book 4 are also planned, with the former also airing in 2027.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, executive producer Ethan Spaulding teased the show's new location in Book 2. "I'd say get your surfboards," he told us, suggesting a rewatch of the finale. "I think if you guys freeze-frame, you can kind of get a vibe of what that haven might be like. But yeah, it's a fun place."

Avatar: Seven Havens Book One is out now on Paramount Plus. For what else to watch, check out our guide to the best shows on Paramount Plus as well as our round-up of all the upcoming TV shows you need to know about.

Robert Downey Jr. is teasing something rather cryptic over on Instagram... and we're thinking it has to be the final Avengers: Doomsday trailer.

In the video, which can be viewed below, Downey is standing in a green sweater... kind of looking like he's up to no good. While he doesn't say anything in the video, the caption reads: "Patience, subjects... Time will tell. Doom won’t..."

Empire Magazine dropped the cover story for their special Doomsday issue, and teased that something else was arriving at 4 PM tomorrow (though this could be 4 PM BST, as Empire is a UK-based magazine), and we have a feeling that it may very well be the final Avengers: Doomsday trailer ahead of the film's December 18 release.

Because the promotion for Doomsday started with a bunch of "special clips" before we got a proper trailer, tomorrow's trailer might be something out of the ordinary as well. We still don't know what the movie is actually about, although the Russo brothers confirmed to Empire that he is indeed the villain of the movie, and that even though he's got some trauma... we should definitely be scared of him. I mean, did you see that VisionQuest episode 8 post-credits scene? He resurrected an entire Avenger from the dead... for nefarious reasons, of course.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in the UK on December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more, check out our guides to the Marvel timeline and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Kevin Feige says Doctor Doom isn't a variant of Tony Stark... despite that confusing Avengers: Endgame Encore post-credits scene making us think otherwise.

"People wondered, ‘Is Doom just a variant of another character? Is this just a shortcut to bringing back another character?’ The answer is no. He’s Victor Von Doom," Feige told Empire.

In one of several post-credits scenes that were added to the re-release of Avengers: Doomsday, Tony Stark is seen forging what appears to be a Doctor Doom mask. How are we not supposed to think that this implies Tony and Victor Von Doom are one and the same (aside from being played by the same actor)?

Even Variety posed a theory a little while ago that Doctor Doom is a variant of Iron Man from another planet, but it must be said again that Victor Von Doom and Tony Stark are completely separate characters in the comics. They go head-to-head in the 2008 comic book Iron Man: Legacy of Doom (which Downey was seen reading as part of his Doomsday prep). I hear you, though: How is the movie going to explain away Tony Stark and Doom having the same face? Well, he's rarely ever unmasked in the comics... so I just kind of figured the Russos were going to rely heavily on that. We'll see come December.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in the UK on December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more, check out our guides to the Marvel timeline and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

If you're looking for reasons to stay home this weekend, there are plenty of options to keep you busy in the world of streaming. From returning seasons of huge fantasy shows to a new dinosaur movie, there's plenty to while away those dark and cold evenings.

The last stop on the Road to Avengers: Doomsday also arrives on streaming this week, with the double-whammy of the VisionQuest finale and Avengers: Endgame Encore, which features numerous Doomsday-teasing scenes. Both are essential viewing ahead of the next Marvel mega-event in December.

Below you'll find recommendations from Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney Plus and Apple TV. While we don't have any specific Paramount Plus recommendations this week, we do have guides to the best Paramount Plus shows. For our very latest streaming recommendations, head below.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Prime Video

Lord of the Rings prequel series The Rings of Power picks up five years after the events of season 2, with Dark Lord Sauron in the final stages of his quest to forge the One Ring. The first four episodes are already out, and you'll want to catch up before new episodes drop next week (keep up to speed with our Rings of Power season 3 release schedule).

We called it a "dark, thrilling installment" in our Rings of Power season 3 review, and there have already been some huge deaths and surprises. Up to speed? Then check out our spoiler-filled interview with Tyroe Muhafidin about Theo's huge new storyline while we wait for new episodes to drop.

For more, here's our list of the best shows on Prime Video.

Avengers: Endgame Encore

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Disney Plus

This special version of Avengers: Endgame is no ordinary re-release. Instead, the era-ending Marvel movie now features a whole new ending and multiple new post-credits scenes that set the table for Avengers: Doomsday. So if you're planning an Endgame rewatch ahead of Dunesday, this is the version to go for.

The season finale of VisionQuest also dropped this week, so be sure to catch up on that ahead of Doomsday as well, as it features a major Doomsday-teasing post-credits scene that resurrects a thought-dead Avenger. And be sure to check out GamesRadar+'s own Road to Doomsday coverage. This week, we're revisiting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Catch up with the MCU with our list of the best Marvel movies.

The End of Oak Street

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max

David Robert Mitchell's refreshingly mean-spirited dinosaur movie was an underseen gem this summer, so it's well worth catching up with the movie on streaming if you missed it in the theater. Starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as parents of young children whose whole street gets transported to the Jurassic era, the question of how – and could – an ordinary family survive a dinosaur siege doesn't go exactly as you might expect.

Mitchell previously directed modern horror classic It Follows and cult favorite Under the Silver Lake, and has recently wrapped filming on It Follows sequel They Follow. The End of Oak Street is something a little different, but the J.J. Abrams-produced movie has all the hallmarks of a great monster movie (just don't expect a Cloverfield tie-in).

Keep movie night going with our list of the best movies on HBO Max.

12 12 12

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Apple TV

This Apple TV show features Captain America star Anthony Mackie and new Aragorn Jamie Dornan and revolves around the planning and execution of a heist in Zurich. Mackie plays FBI agent in pursuit Jack Strickland, while Dornan is master criminal Paul Galvin.

Taking a page out of Christopher Nolan's playbook, the story unfolds over three intertwined timelines, so it's a show that's best watched when you can give it your full attention, not in front of the ironing. We're still not sure why they didn't release it on December 12, though.

There's plenty more to binge in our list of the best Apple TV shows.

Cunk on Cinema

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix

Satirical documentary filmmaker Philomena Cunk (VisionQuest star Diane Morgan) has turned her off-kilter gaze to cinema for this tour through the history of film. Among the impressive lineup of interviewees: Michael Bay, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Pemberton and Mark Kermode.

Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker is a producer on the three-part series, and heads up the writing team. If you live in the UK, Cunk on Cinema can also be streamed on BBC iPlayer.

Want more to watch? Here's our guide to the best shows on Netflix.

For what else is coming out this year, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies you need to know about.

Some Marvel fans are hopeful that Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman will make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday after the pair has been given an "additional writing credit" on the film.

The official WGA (Writers Guild of America) entry for the film lists the writing credits as follows: "Stephen McFeely and Michael Waldron and Eric Pearson and Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers and Jeff Loveness and Andrew Lanham and Destin Daniel Cretton and Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman."

It's Marvel... so anyone could pop up at quite literally any moment in time. I mean, just look at that surprise post-credits scene at the end of VisionQuest. Elizabeth Olsen told press more than once that she would not be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday on account of the whole her being dead at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness... but she's indeed back in action, albeit under the control of Doctor Doom, in the upcoming movie.

Because the inclusion of pre-Disney Fox-owned Marvel characters in Deadpool and Wolverine led to the inclusion of the pre-Disney Fox-owned X-Men in Doomsday... it would make a whole lot of sense for Deadpool and Wolverine to appear, especially since the oncoming incursions that are set to destroy several different universes... not just the MCU's Earth-616. We'll just have to wait and see.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in the UK on December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more, check out our guides to the Marvel timeline and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Quentin Tarantino revealed he once fired one of his Inglourious Basterds lead actors after a "terrible" table read.

In an excerpt from Jay Glennie's The Making of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds (via People), the director said Mélanie Laurent – who played cinema owner Shosanna in the 2009 film – didn't make a good first impression.

"Mélanie Laurent’s table read was terrible," Tarantino recalled, adding, "it wasn’t good enough to be terrible."

Tarantino wrote of the experience, "A table read with the whole cast is so exciting and so important to me. Well, Mélanie was terrible, so I fired her."

Of course, that wasn't the end for the French actor. Laurent said she was ill and would wait to read again for Tarantino – who agreed to "turn the clock" back across multiple days of rehearsals.

Some on Inglourious Basterds weren't so lucky, however. Tarantino said Isabelle Huppert was replaced by Maggie Cheung for a role that was ultimately cut after missing the table read entirely.

On chopping and changing actors prior to filming, Tarantino remarked, “I have fired actors in the past. If it’s not right, it is not right. I don’t owe them shit. I owe my film the best actors I can find. Period.”

Inglourious Basterds stands as one of Tarantino's most iconic, and instantly quotable, movies. Starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, and Michael Fassbender, follows an alt-history revolution against Nazi leadership in 1940s France.

Next up from Tarantino is new play The Popinjay Cavalier, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. The production is set to debut in London's West End from February 2027. The wait, then, for the director's 10th – and possibly final – film goes on.

For more, we have our ranking of the best Quentin Tarantino movies.

Marvel's Star-Lord could have jumped ship to DC, as Chris Pratt has revealed that he and James Gunn had a conversation about Pratt joining the DCU before Gunn's recent DC Studios departure.

"We're friends, so we always talk about everything. There were never any concrete plans being made, but there were discussions around how I could potentially fit into that world," said Chris Pratt in an interview with Jalen Coleman from Black Tree TV. However, the actor pointed out that it was "never super fruitful," adding, "It wasn't like there was something in motion that won't be in motion because he's not there."

Pratt and Gunn first worked together on the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie back in 2012. The Marvel movie, written and directed by Gunn, starred Pratt as cosmic adventurer Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, as he formed a ragtag group of space outcasts to stop Ronan the Accuser from destroying the galaxy. Gunn worked on two more Guardians of the Galaxy movies before becoming the co-CEO of DC Studios.

"I love him, and in many ways I owe my career to him," added Pratt. "I would follow him to the ends of the earth, and if he asks me, I'll say yes. I don't care what it is." Though he says the situation "saddens" him, Pratt admitted that he hasn't yet spoken to Gunn since the news broke of him and Safran stepping down as DC Studios heads. "I don't know the terms of the deal or where his heart is at with it."

Gunn and Safran will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, starting on December 1, 2026. This comes not long after Skydance-owned Paramount's merger with Warner Bros. It is not yet clear what will happen to the Gunn's DCU: Chapter One, but reports suggest that Skydance plans to "dismantle" it completely.

On the bright side, this means that Gunn can now focus on movies. In Gunn's DC exit statement, he said he is excited to get back to "pure filmmaking." Marvel fans are taking the DC shakeup as a win, hoping that Gunn will one day find his way back to Marvel, and perhaps even make Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.4.

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

Following the news of Elizabeth Olsen's return as a Wanda Maximoff and a tease that Paul Bettany will be back as Vision in Avengers: Doomsday, another star has hinted at their return.

In her new podcast, Gwyneth Paltrow interviewed Zoe Saldaña as the pair bonded over not having any idea what they were doing on the set of Avengers: Endgame. "Well, first of all, I hadn't seen any of the movies," Paltrow jokes on The Goop Guide. "You can't read the script because they think they're literally the CIA and there's password protection."

However, what's most intriguing about their chat is that Paltrow goes on to say that she's had a similar experience recently too.

"I used to make a lot of movies; those are very specific in terms of the changing and the secrecy, and I was going to say something but I'm not allowed to say, so I'll tell you later," she says, before adding: "I mean it's not a big deal, believe me, but it was just I had an experience relatively recently where I was like, again, 'What am I doing? What movie is this? Who's this character?'" Zoe then replies, "Pepper!"

While she doesn't actually name the movie, Marvel fans are pretty convinced that she's talking about Avengers: Doomsday. Reacting to the moment on social media, one tweeted: "Gwyneth Paltrow, look me in the eyes and tell me Pepper Potts will be back in Doomsday, I'm going insane." Another added: "Gwyneth Paltrow just teased that she might be returning as Pepper Potts in Avengers Doomsday. It will be crazy if she’s the deceased wife of Doctor Doom."

If Pepper is going to be in Doomsday, there must be a link to the fact that Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the MCU. He's playing Doctor Doom this time, not Tony Stark, but there have been several theories linking him to his past character, potentially as a variant. This means there's a chance we'll see Pepper's reaction to this, and that's a prospect I can't wait for.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives in the UK on December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more on the MCU, check out all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows you need to know about.

Not only is Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey one of the most successful movies of the year, but it has marked a pivotal point in star Tom Holland's career, who says he now has a new level of confidence and ambition to take on even bigger projects.

"I've been an admirer of Chris since I can remember, so having the opportunity to work with him and have his approval and sit in his house and watch his movie and to get a pat on the back was just the perfect way for me to start whatever it is I'm doing next," said Holland at a recent The Odyssey Q&A in London, shared online by Twitter user @Woow_Lucas. "It's confidence and ambition to see what else is out there for me."

The actor, who plays Odysseus' son Telemachus in the epic, added, "He's given me a level of confidence as an actor that I don't think I had before, and I'm very grateful that that is something I can take away from this. I think going into my next project with this sense of achievement is newfound confidence in what I think I can do."

The movie adapts Homer's ancient Greek poem of the same name, following Matt Damon as King of Ithaca Odysseus on his perilous decade-long journey home after the Trojan War. Back in Ithaca, Holland's Telemachus fights off his mother's suitors who are eyeing up his father's throne. But when he is visited by a strange traveller who tells him that his father is alive, Telemachus sets in motion a plan for a safe reinstatement.

This was certainly a different role for Holland, who we are used to seeing suited up as the MCU's Spider-Man. The Odyssey opened to rave reviews, earning a whopping $1.8 billion worldwide in total. The movie was so in demand that it sold out IMAX screens for months. But it's not just the success of the movie that has had an effect on its cast.

The project was shot on location around the world, from remote caves in Greece to the open sea, where Nolan got through 400 miles of film. Damon has opened up about how difficult yet joyous the whole experience was, saying he didn't sleep for days but just rolled with the punches, as he felt that he would never make a movie like it again.

For more, check out our ranking of the best Christopher Nolan movies and keep up with all of the new movies heading your way.

Christopher Nolan is, famously, never one to discuss his movie's endings at length. So when he does talk, we invariably listen.

Speaking at a Q&A moderated by Robert Downey Jr. (and documented for posterity by The Nerd Wire), Nolan confirmed what many had suspected – The Odyssey's ending deliberately echoes his previous film Oppenheimer.

"I was finding Oppenheimer [and] I was finding a little bit of [my other films] in there," Nolan said.

"As I wrote the end, I suddenly found a bit of Oppenheimer in there – that sort of connection. I was looking at my notebooks the other day, somewhere I scribbled as I wrote the ending: this is the ending of all my films rolled into one."

The Odyssey's ending, lest we forget, features Odysseus sailing from Ithaca but left with the memory of his and his men's actions in Troy – at a tipping point in civilization where it appears the boundaries of society are beginning to collapse. By comparison, Oppenheimer also saw its lead wrestling with profound guilt and an immense change in the world we live in.

Downey Jr., who won Best Supporting Actor under Nolan's direction as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, also pointed out parallels between Oppenheimer's ending and that of Dunkirk, which features a burning plane in much the same way Nolan focuses on the Trojan Horse in flames in the Troy-set flashbacks.

"It's crazy, because it never feels like you're repeating anything but there's concentric circles of plumbing new depths along these themes," Downey Jr., commented.

The Odyssey, set for home release on November 17, because Nolan's most successful film at the box office – grossing over $1.8 billion. It stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Tom Holland, with plenty of early whispers that it will be among the Best Picture frontrunners at next year's Academy Awards.

For more, we have a complete breakdown of The Odyssey ending, plus a ranking of the best Christopher Nolan movies.

While we wait to find out the identity of the next James Bond, director Denis Villeneuve has touched on the responsibility of bringing 007 back to the screen for a new era. And he says, in no uncertain terms, "We can't f*** it up."

Speaking to GQ, Villeneuve was asked when filming begins on the 26th official Bond movie. And while he understandably deflected that question given they haven't even cast a Bond yet, Villeneuve did go on to talk about how seriously he takes the responsibility of his position.

"All the crew on Bond takes that responsibility very seriously, and we know that we cannot make mistake[s]. I was about to [say] we can't fuck it up. The truth is, we do not have the choice. We have to succeed. We have to honor the legacy, we have to honor the tradition, and there's a ton of Bond fans out there – I'm one of them – and I want this movie to be good, and I will work very hard to make sure we honor that responsibility."

Villeneuve sounds dead serious in the clip above, and given his track record in the last 10+ years, it's difficult to imagine a better person for the job. As for the all-important casting decision, all Villeneuve had to say was that it's "in the process" and "we are pushing the gas," but reports suggest there could be an official announcement before the end of the month, so it's possible a decision has already been made.

There are seemingly five finalists for the most coveted job in movies, with Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor among them. Late last week, it was revealed that Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have also screen-tested, so whoever wins out will have triumphed over stiff competition.

As for Villeneuve, in little over a month the third and final instalment in his Dune trilogy hits screens with the release of Dune 3. While reviews aren't out yet, Paul Atreides star Timothée Chalamet has said he's "absolutely satisfied" with the movie's ending, telling The New York Times, "It didn't feel like the bar dropped at all." Bond hopeful and Dune 3 co-star Robert Pattinson also revealed a mind-blowing fact: there was a "350-foot-long model of a sandworm" on set.

Bond 26 does not currently have a release date. For more, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies heading your way this year and beyond.

The Rings of Power season 3 has now kicked off on Prime Video with a huge four-episode premiere. The new episodes take place five years after the second season as we meet Sauron deep in his fortress in Mordor as he tries to find the secret to crafting the One Ring.

Here, he's haunted by visions of the Elven smith Celebrimbor as Charles Edwards makes a surprise return following his character's death in season 2. Even more hauntingly, alongside these visions, Sauron has Celebrimbor's rotting corpse mounted on his wall.

Reacting to his return on Instagram, Edwards shared a picture of the moment writing simply: "Skelebrimbor". Fans of the show have been loving the post, including one who posted on Twitter, "His first post for months. And he chooses this image. I love this man."

Others responded to Charles' Instagram post directly, including several of his former castmates. Adar actor Sam Hazeldine wrote, "Still a great head of hair though!" while Poppy actor Megan Richards added: "Never seen you look so fresh."

Sauron star Charlie Vickers recently told GamesRadar+ that Sauron is missing Celebrimbor at the start of the new season. "I think he starts the season, like he's very isolated," he said. "He doesn't have a partner in crime in Galadriel in the first season or with Celebrimbor. He pissed her off and then he killed the other guy."

The Rings of Power season 3 is airing on Prime Video now. Check out our The Rings of Power season 3 review and our The Rings of Power season 3 release schedule for more.

If you've seen the first four episodes, take a deep dive into them in our interview with Theo actor Tyroe Muhafidin.

Andy Serkis has confirmed filming has wrapped on The Hunt for Gollum.

"We've just wrapped principal photography and directing [The Hunt for Gollum]," Serkis – who is directing the latest Lord of the Rings movie, as well as portraying Gollum once more – said on The Morning Mosh Pit (H/T Polygon). "It's been an incredible journey back into an endlessly complex and wonderfully drawn and written character."

The Hunt for Gollum, set largely between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogies, sees Smeagol in desperate search for The One Ring, with Strider/Aragorn sent by Gandalf to track the creature down.

While Gollum is undoubtedly one of the most memorable and uniquely tragic things in The Lord of the Rings, Serkis has professed his excitement at digging deeper into the psyche of the character.

"I'm very excited about it," Serkis said. "He is one of Tolkien's most complex characters, and it definitely bears further examination."

The Hunt for Gollum will bring back a handful of familiar faces alongside Serkis' iconic Gollum, including Sir Ian McKellen's Gandalf, Elijah Wood's Frodo, and Lee Pace's Thranduil. Aragorn has been recast, with Jamie Dornan playing a younger version of the character. Newcomers to the franchise include Kate Winslet, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Leo Woodall.

The Hunt for Gollum courted controversy earlier this year with the admission AI was used in some of the de-aging, but Serkis told Variety, "We're not creating AI shots in our movie," and that "Every shot is created in a traditional way."

The Hunt for Gollum hits cinemas on December 17, 2027.

For more, check out our guides on how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order and our breakdown of The Lord of the Rings timeline.

While fans worry about the state of DC after news of James Gunn and Peter Safran's exit, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, as the shakeup has made Constantine director Francis Lawrence believe that a sequel can actually happen now.

"Not that I want anybody to lose their jobs… but I will say that we’ve been trying to make Constantine 2 for 20-something years, and we have an idea, and we have a script, and we’ve been wanting to make it," said Lawrence to Collider, "and the people that were at DC were an impediment to us making it. So, we are now more hopeful as of yesterday’s news that maybe now there will be another opportunity."

Lawrence added, "There’s always been obstacles in the road to making it, and it’s not me, it’s not Keanu, it’s not Akiva. J.J. [Abrams] is on it, as well. We all want to do it. So, it’s really going to be people at Paramount, Warner, whoever’s running DC now, getting everybody on board to say, like, 'Hey, we can do a sequel of our version of Constantine.'"

On November 9, it was announced that Gunn and Peter Safran are stepping down as DC Studios co-CEOs on December 1, 2026, just over four years after they were hired. The pair will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham. This comes not long after Skydance-owned Paramount acquired Warner Bros. and all it owns, including HBO, DC Studios, and various franchises.

Released in 2005, Constantine loosely adapts DC Comics' Hellblazer series, following Keanu Reeves as cynical exorcist John Constantine, who can travel between the realms of life and death. But when he is approached by Rachel Weisz's detective to help investigate her twin sister's death, Constantine unravels a conspiracy where demons are trying to enter the real world. The movie was actually Lawrence's directorial debut, before he went on to helm such titles as The Hunger Games and I Am Legend.

The last we heard of the sequel is that it is still in early development, with Evil Dead Wrath's Francis Galluppi penning the script. No plot details have been revealed at this time. But tt's not just the Constantine sequel that is up in the air right now, as it is not clear what will happen to the rest of the DC projects currently in the works. Reports suggest the company plans to "dismantle" Gunn's DCU: Chapter One.

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

Henry Cavill has said he's open to playing Superman again. The former Man of Steel actor was asked about the possibility amidst the news of upheaval at DC Studios as Peter Safran and James Gunn step down as heads.

"Look, there's lots of fantastic storylines," Cavill replied when asked if he'd don the suit again by Inverse. "There's always a lot of opportunity. As the pigeon sang to Fievel in An American Tail, 'never say never.' And I buy into that. I've had such a wonderful time playing Superman in the past. I would never say never now."

The former DC actor also shared a sweet story about how playing the superhero still impacts his daily life. "Sometimes people send my daughter Superman stuff as a joke," he explained. "Just the other day, we opened this Superman toy, and she looked at it and said, 'It's Dada!' She's only two years and four months, so no idea how she knows that's me; what kind of cosmic connection that was. But it really touched my heart in a special way, because obviously playing Superman was such an honor."

Currently, Superman is played by David Corenswet, who has appeared in two movies: Superman and Supergirl. He's set to reprise the role in the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, but it's not yet clear if that will be his final appearance.

In a statement about his exit, Gunn said that the characters he created will live on. However, other reports have suggested that under new leadership, DC will be rebooted once again. Jeremy Latcham, DC Studios' new head, has yet to lay out an official plan but has spoken in the past about his approach to movies being governed by his grandmother.

For more on all things DC, check out our guides to upcoming DC movies and shows.

Avengers: Endgame Encore is set to hit Disney Plus on November 13, and you'll be able to rewatch those wild post-credits scenes as many times you want.

The film was re-released in September in honor of the film's seven-year anniversary, but also to get Marvel fans hyped for Avengers: Doomsday. The Encore version of the film is more or less the same except for four bonus scenes added to the end credits. The scenes in question are: Loki goes back to the past to visit Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter; Doctor Doom has captured Hulk after the events of Spider-Man: Brand New Day; an incursion is coming to destroy the Fox X-Men universe; and Tony Stark appears to be making a Doctor Doom Mask (which is terribly confusing and also lends credence to the rumor that Downey isn't actually playing Doom after all).

These scenes are meant to bridge the gap between Endgame and Doomsday, and will therefore not appear in the latter. We can also assume that that absolutely wild surprise post-credits scene at the end of VisionQuest will also not be in Doomsday, and is another 'gap-bridging' moment.

You can also check out the Avengers: Endgame Encore landing page on Disney Plus should you feel like refreshing the page until the movie finally drops.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in the UK December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more, check out our guides to the Marvel timeline and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Anthony Mackie has jokingly implied that Robert Downey Jr. doesn't do his own stunts in Avengers: Doomsday, saying that Downey wasn't in the Doctor Doom suit on set.

"Well, no, because, like, it wasn’t him," Mackie responded when asked by Entertainment Tonight what it was like to go toe-to-toe with Downey. "Robert don’t fight! No! Hell no!" Downey does do quite a bit of his own stunts, though not as many as longtime gymnast and dancer Tom Holland. Mackie also isn't helping the rumors that someone else is in the Doom suit, which comes from various shots of Doom with a different eye color than Downey's as well as the Latverian accent he uses in the trailers.

Continued Mackie: "Look, you know, these movies, they’re like summer camp. You know, everybody comes together, and it’s like, ‘Oh, how have you been? Oh, you have a kid now. Oh, wow, you’re married now!' It’s just one of those things where you just catch up with everybody."

Mackie also stated that he got to hang out with Paul Bettany on set, which led some to believe he was implying that Vision is in Avengers: Doomsday. However, Doomsday and VisionQuest shared the same filming area, with their sound stages across from each other, and it's most likely that that's what Mackie meant. Though it wouldn't be completely out of left field for Vision to appear in Doomsday given that episode 8 post-credits scene...

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters in the UK on December 16 and in the US on December 18. For more, check out our guides to the Marvel timeline and how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

The Rings of Power showrunners say their fascination with revealing who the Dark Wizard is stemmed from some of their very first conversations about the show.

"The idea of Blue Wizards who went east is such a tantalizing piece of the lore," Patrick McKay told Radio Times. "It was one of the first things we talked about wanting to explore in the show – reaching that moment and figuring out who they were, what they were about, what happened to them, and his eventual fate."

After a brief interaction with the Secret Fire, Gandalf was gifted the knowledge of the identity of Ciaran Hinds' Dark Wizard. As some had speculated, he was the Blue Wizard Pallando, sent to Middle-earth to quell Sauron's rise to power – but his own murderous ambitions laid waste to Rhun.

First mentioned in appendices and notes to Return of the King by Tolkien, the Blue Wizards were expanded on slightly in the posthumous Unfinished Tales book. Since then, however, their role in Middle-earth's machinations have largely been untouched – and remain one of the franchise's great unanswered mysteries.

But Gandalf deepening his pool of knowledge from Middle-earth's First Age wasn't the only intention here. For those in charge, it was a perfect chance to dovetail Gandalf's own character growth with that as Pallando.

Fellow co-showrunner J.D. Payne said, "It also felt like an opportunity character-wise for Gandalf, because season one was about him figuring out who he is, and season two is how he controls his magic. In [season] three, the character has to go deeper because he realizes he's not just a human firework who can make sparks fly out of his staff, but that he has a prophetic register to his character."

Payne added, "It's a place where Gandalf's character journey meets Pallando's character journey and gives us a perfect opportunity to make a great story."

The Rings of Power season 3 is now streaming on Prime Video. For more on when the next episodes are dropping, consult your nearest Palantir – or The Rings of Power season 3 release schedule.

Ruaridh Mollica is absolutely down for a Young Avengers movie... especially after the big reveal in the final episode of VisionQuest.

Warning: there are massive spoilers for VisionQuest episode 8 ahead!

In the season finale of VisionQuest, Tommy finally reunites with his brother Billy – and it all becomes a very sweet family reunion. After Vision saves the world from a vengeful Ultron (again), Billy appears and is pulled in for a rather heartwarming group hug.

"Do the words 'young' and 'Avengers' mean anything to you?" Iman Vellani asked Mollica during a special VisionQuest episode of the Marvel podcast she hosts with Frank Alvarez.

"They mean a dream I would love to come true," he replied.

Now that Tommy aka Speed has arrived, and has finally teamed up with Billy aka Wiccan, this means the following comic book-accurate Young Avengers members are currently in the MCU: Speed, Wiccan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Cassie Lang, Skaar, Lisa Molinari, and America Chavez. I think those are enough characters for a standalone movie, wouldn't you say?

There is also the fact that the extra post-credits scene at the end of VisionQuest implies that Tommy and Billy could be in Avengers: Doomsday, as the scene sees Wanda resurrected by Doom... but seemingly put under his spell. There's a Young Avengers comic book arc where Wanda goes missing, loses her memory, and becomes Doom's bride. But we'll just have to see on December 18.

VisionQuest is streaming now in its entirety on Disney Plus. For even more, check out our VisionQuest review or our VisionQuest ending explained.

Adapting Tolkien's sprawling canon of Middle-Earth lore, The Rings of Power explores ideas and locations that we don't get to see in the main Lord of the Rings trilogy. We visit Númenor and the Southlands, and witness a new side to characters like Galadriel and Gandalf. But as the show began to spend more time on the rise of Sauron, one perspective seemed a little underdeveloped: that of the Orcs, the much-maligned race who make up most of Sauron's army.

In The Rings of Power season 3, we finally experience more of that Orcish perspective, represented by a new character named Marnûkh (Adam Young), "an Orc with an arc." Arriving in episode 2, his storyline echoes the period in The Lord of the Rings when Gollum guides Frodo and Sam through Mordor.

Marnûkh's role revolves around leading Galadriel and Arondir to the Orcish prison of Gundabad, so they can rescue an elven smith who has been imprisoned there for years. If they can save her, then they can undermine Sauron's plan to make the One Ring – but it takes a while for the elves to accept Marnûkh's motivations.

Courage is found in unlikely places

In Tolkien's world, we're not encouraged to see Orcs as individual people with relatable feelings. They tend to be depicted as intrinsically malevolent and repulsive, functioning as anonymous cannon fodder in Sauron's wars. In turn, Tolkien's influence over other fantasy properties like Dungeons and Dragons has led to a lot of debate around the concept of fantasy racism, and whether it's offensive to depict an entire race of people as evil, ugly, and subservient to their villainous master. The Rings of Power has to contend with that question, and while the show doesn't stray too far from Tolkien's vision, the first two seasons already introduced the idea of Orcs forming their own faction to rebel against Sauron's rule.

Season 1 positioned the fallen Elf Adar as one of the show's most prominent original characters, leading an army of Orcs who want to establish their own independent territory. Adar's leadership is brutal, and his followers are far from morally upstanding, but their existence introduces the possibility that one day, the Orcs might live in peace.

Of course, that dream ends with Adar's demise in season 2. Then during the five-year time jump between seasons, it seems that his former followers have fallen in line with Sauron's goals. Any dissidents have either been killed or are operating in secret, like Marnûkh, who seeks out Galadriel and tells her about Sauron's plans for a "master ring," seeing her as a potential ally because she was previously willing to negotiate with Adar. "If he forges that ring, we'll be nothing but food for his enemy's swords," says Marnûkh, neatly explaining his lack of loyalty toward Sauron.

If Galadriel can free this elven smith from Gundabad before Sauron arrives, then Sauron won't gain the knowledge he requires to forge the One Ring. Believing that Marnûkh cannot be trusted with Galadriel's safety, Arondir joins them on their quest, creating an uncomfortable dynamic where Arondir constantly expects Marnûkh to betray them, while Marnûkh purposefully gets on his nerves by being crass and abrasive.

A new fellowship

Objectively speaking, Marnûkh is making a heroic choice that could easily lead to his own death. However, Arondir struggles to accept that Marnûkh can be trusted, because Arondir has spent his entire life viewing Orcs as the enemy.

Arondir probably wouldn't maintain this level of bias against one of Sauron's human followers who decided to switch sides, but Marnûkh is extremely Orcish in a way that irritates Galadriel and Arondir's elven sensibilities, making puerile jokes and catching live butterflies to keep as a snack. So when it comes to Tolkien's rather one-dimensional view of Orcs, Marnûkh allows The Rings of Power to have its cake and eat it too. He's stereotypically Orcish in pretty much every respect, yet he still becomes a trustworthy ally in the war against Sauron.

Once they reach Gundabad, Galadriel and Arondir truly have to put their life in Marnûkh's hands. Pretending that they're his prisoners, he leads them into a fortress full of Orcs who would happily torture them to death. Then he guides Arondir to the cells, and even helps him free Galadriel's long-lost husband Celeborn when they find him inside.

In episode 4's closing scenes, as the elves and Marnûkh prepare to flee the fortress, Arondir actually saves Marnûkh's life in battle and helps him to his feet, signifying that he has finally managed to look past his hatred of orcs. Arondir ends up dying later in this scene, while Marnûkh's fate remains ambiguous, having been struck down without explicitly dying onscreen.

As the show's most significant Orcish character to date, Marnûkh invites us to question how much of the Orcs' treacherous, villainous reputation is down to nature, and how much is the result of nurture, shaped by their experiences under the thumb of a tyrant. Marnûkh clearly sees himself as a victim of Sauron's rule – although with most other orcs still fighting on Sauron's side, it's easy for the show to keep portraying them as enemies who the heroes can slaughter without guilt. It's a tricky balance to strike within this season's wartime narrative, but Marnûkh's role adds some much-needed depth to the Orcs' place in Middle-Earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 episodes 1-4 are streaming now on Prime Video. Don't miss an episode with our Rings of Power season 3 release schedule and read our verdict on the new season in our Rings of Power season 3 review.

The Rings of Power season 3 is finally here – and it has debuted to a Rotten Tomatoes score that is solid, but lower than the previous two installments.

This season of the Lord of the Rings TV show revolves around Sauron and his quest for the One Ring, while the Elves continue to struggle against him.

The show has debuted to a score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, which, while very decent, is lower than season 2's 85% and season 1's 84%. But, season 3 so far only has 29 reviews counted on the site compared to season 2's 173 and season 1's 487.

Our own The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 review awarded the show 3.5 stars, with our verdict reading: "With Sauron's terrible might threatening Middle-earth and the forging of the One Ring at hand, The Rings of Power season 3 is a dark, thrilling installment – but one still mired in dense, dragging subplots."

The Rings of Power is set to run for five seasons on Prime Video, which means there are still two seasons remaining. The show is set in the Second Age, long before the events of the Peter Jackson movies, and will take us up to the events of the Fellowship of the Ring prologue.

You can stream four episodes on Prime Video now, and keep up to date with the rest with our The Rings of Power season 3 release schedule. For more, see our roundup of all the other most exciting upcoming TV shows.

With James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping down as DC Studios co-CEOs, the future of the DCU is truly up in the air. But to make matters worse, Gunn seems to have already nailed the coffin shut on one DCU hero.

Underneath Gunn's DC Studios exit statement on Instagram, one fan commented, "We're never going to see Peacemaker again." Though Gunn didn't outright confirm the statement, he liked the comment, which pretty much tells us that the fan is right.

Not long after Skydance acquired Warner Bros. earlier this year, the company has already started to make major changes to the conglomerate, starting with replacing Gunn and Safran with former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, starting on December 1, 2026. Though Skydance, which owns Paramount, has yet to reveal what its intentions are with the DCU, reports suggest the company plans to "dismantle" Gunn's DCU Chapter One.

This would seemingly mean that DCU characters such as John Cena's Peacemaker, David Corenswet's Superman, Milly Alcock's Supergirl, and more would cease to exist and be replaced, just as the DCEU's characters were the last time around. Seeing Peacemaker on the chopping block wouldn't be too surprising, as he is a character who has been championed by Gunn from the start, first appearing in the director's 2021 movie The Suicide Squad, and later given his own HBO show.

But there may be light at the end of the tunnel for some characters, as Gunn's statement states that although he is "relieved" to be stepping down and going back to "pure filmmaking," that's not to say that he and Safran are "immediately done with DC or superheroes," adding that "the characters we set up will live on."

The good news is that titles already deep in development, such as Man of Tomorrow and The People v. Gorilla Grodd, are still happening. But another show seemingly in danger is Lanterns, which, despite becoming one of HBO's most successful new shows ever, has yet to be renewed. Showrunner Chris Mundy says a second season is a 50/50 coin toss right now, but Variety reports that Skydance doesn't think that the show is capturing the zeitgeist, which may be why it hasn't been officially greenlit.

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

VisionQuest episode 8 featured some major reveals, but it seems another was left on the cutting room floor.

Warning: This story contains spoilers for the VisionQuest ending. Make sure you've seen it before reading on.

VisionQuest ends with the bombshell that Wanda Maximoff has been resurrected by Doctor Doom. However, it seems that another character was also almost brought back at the end. Jocasta was supposed to have survived in the finale, but the final scene ended up getting cut.

On the Official VisionQuest Podcast, host Iman Vellani asked showrunner Terry Matalas about the first post-credits scene where it's revealed that Ultron is alive. He's holding Jocasta's source code in his hand as he's living in the mansion that once belonged to Virgil and Phineas Horton. This implies that he's planning to try and bring her back somehow after she was killed by an adamantium bullet.

As Matalas reveals, "There's a deleted scene for that in which you see that she got out in some nanos. Ultimately, we felt like we wanted to save that. It relieved a bit too much of the drama of the finale."

He added: "For me, the other important thing was I wanted Ultron out in the world again. I think the first pitch was, 'I want the last shot would be him putting on a hat and turning into a crown in the Louvre.' That's one family... so we could see this family again."

It certainly seems that the cast and creators are hoping for more episodes of the show. Both Matalas and Vision star Paul Bettany told us that they had "lots" of ideas about a potential season 2.

For more on all things VisionQuest, check out our guide to all of the VisionQuest episode 8 Easter eggs and our VisionQuest review.

Now that the shock news of James Gunn and Peter Safran stepping down as DC Studios co-CEOs is settling, the future of DCU titles is being put into question, including Lanterns. But even showrunner Chris Mundy isn't sure what is going to happen to the HBO show.

When asked if the current shakeup could affect future seasons of the show at the Lanterns' FYC event (via The Playlist), Mundy said, "We thought everything had settled [after the merger]. I can imagine a world where everyone retreats to their corners, but then, you know, it’s a coin flip, 50/50."

Despite rave reviews and becoming one of HBO's most successful new shows ever, Lanterns has yet to be renewed for season 2. In our Lanterns review, we called the critique drama "a shining beacon of light when the DCU is at its shakiest." But now that Gunn is out the door, the future of Aaron Pierre's John Stewart and Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan (albeit in flashback form) is up in the air.

However, according to Variety, Skydance reportedly dosent think that the show is "capturing the zeitgeist," which may be why Lanterns season 2 hasn't been officially greenlit. But even without the go-ahead, Mundy has already opened a writers’ room. Either way, we will see Pierre's Green Lantern again, as he is set to return in Man of Tomorrow. The Superman sequel has already wrapped filming, so won't be affected by the shakeup.

All of the uncertainty stems from the fact that when Skydance acquired Warner Bros. earlier this year, David Ellison suggested that Gunn and Safran would keep their roles. But now we know that the duo will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, starting on December 1. Gunn only launched the DCU: Chapter One with Superman last year, but now reports suggest that Skydance wants to "dismantle" the universe completely, which seemingly would include Lanterns.

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

Doctor Doom's latest recruit has fans fearing the worst for the Avengers in Doomsday.

Spoilers for the VisionQuest post-credits scenes follow.

With Vision's story wrapped up and a family reunion on the cards, you could have been forgiven for thinking VisionQuest had a happy ending. The post-credits put paid to that notion, with the reveal that Doctor Doom has revived Scarlet Witch after her death in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and claimed her power for himself.

"If she joins Doctor Doom then all the Avengers are cooked," one fan wrote on Twitter, echoing a community that suddenly feels like Robert Downey Jr.'s supervillain will have a one-sided conquest.

On Reddit, others felt the upcoming battle would be similarly unfair. They joked, "What is Thor gonna do with Ant-Man, 3 [Captain Americas], Falcon & Gambit against Doom's roster."

Another made a pointed reference to everything the Avengers will have to go up against in Doomsday, including Scarlet Witch, Hulk, the as-yet-unnamed Latverian Witches, and Doom himself.

In case you had forgotten, Avengers: Endgame Encore's post-credits scene features Hulk – in isolation after his rampage in Spider-Man: Brand New Day – being collected by Doom. That, when coupled with Scarlet Witch's resurrection, already makes for dour reading for our Avengers.

Then there's Boris: the masked character has been spotted beside Doctor Doom in a curious piece of concept art, and his role lines up with Doctor Strange acting as Doom's right-hand man in the Secret Wars comic on which this is based.

If one all-powerful magic user wasn't bad enough, Doom could also have the ex-Sorcerer Supreme for company. My message to Earth's Mightiest Heroes: good luck with that.

Avengers: Doomsday hits UK cinemas on December 16 and US theatres on December 18.

For those wanting to dive deeper into MCU history, we have the complete Marvel timeline. There's also a look ahead to the upcoming Marvel movies we have coming your way post-Doomsday.

Anthony Mackie may have just dropped a big Avengers: Doomsday spoiler. Speaking in a new interview, the actor was asked about facing off against Robert Downey Jr. in the upcoming movie.

He replied that he didn't actually fight Downey Jr. on set, but there were several other stars he spent time with. Notably, he mentions hanging out with Paul Bettany, who plays Vision, and hasn't been officially announced as part of the cast by the Russo brothers.

"It was dope, you know, these movies, they're like summer camp," Mackie told Entertainment Tonight. "You know everybody comes together and it's like, 'Oh how have you been? Oh you have a kid now? Oh wow, you're married now.' It's one of those things where you just catch up with everybody. I got to hang out with, you know, Paul Bettany, who I love. And I met Simu, who's great. We quickly became friends and mortal enemies, so it was a wonderful time."

There's a caveat here that Mackie may have just bumped into Bettany on set because VisionQuest was filming on the same lot. However, there's no indication that's what he's referencing here, as he does seem to be speaking about the cast of Doomsday. It seems like we'll just have to wait and see.

Now here's your spoiler warning as we're about to get into details from the VisionQuest finale ending and post-credits scenes.

At end of VisionQuest episode 8, it's revealed that Wanda Maximoff is returning. We see the moment she buried herself in Mount Wundagore at the end of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness before a masked figure comes to wake her up. It's none other than Doctor Doom, who brings her back to life and says, "Scarlet Witch, awaken....your power will be mine".

This makes the potential of Vision also starring in Avengers: Doomsday very exciting, as we might finally get a reunion with the characters. Given that VisionQuest also brought together their two sons as well, could a family reunion be on the cards? Let's hope.

For more on the MCU, check out our guides to upcoming Marvel movies and shows as well as how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

VisionQuest has now come to an end as Vision is reunited with his family and ends the threat unleashed by Jocasta and Ultron. However, this may not be the end of the road for the Disney Plus show, especially if the cast and creatives have their way.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for the VisionQuest finale

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Paul Bettany says he has "lots" of ideas for where his MCU character could go next. Although, when pushed, he did add that he will "absolutely not" give any of them away.

Similarly, showrunner Terry Matalas confirmed that "yes we do" have plans for what could happen next. "We have a lot of ideas," Matalas added. Indeed, the VisionQuest post-credits scene does set up a potential route for Ultron's return in the MCU, whether this happens in a new season or in Avengers: Secret Wars isn't clear yet.

Meanwhile, at a recent VisionQuest finale Q&A attended by GamesRadar+, Matalas also echoed his hopes. Speaking about what he wants the audience to take away from the show, he said: "I just hope they had a really good time. I hope they connected with all these characters. They walk away satisfied, but not too satisfied, so that maybe we can see these characters again."

Speaking ahead of VisionQuest airing, Bettany also told SFX Magazine about his ideas for Vision's future. "I think that where we get to at the end of this, he's clearly escaped the confines of whoever repurposed him, and he is looking for agency," he explained. "By the end of our show, I think you'll see that it's a really exciting springboard for what Vision might do in the future."

These comments feel particularly intriguing now we know how the series ends, especially following that Wanda-returning tease.

For more on VisionQuest, read our VisionQuest ending explained and our VisionQuest review.

A new billboard for Avengers: Doomsday might have spoiled a major detail about Thor's powers in the movie.

On the billboard, which you can see below, Thor is shown wielding yellow lightning. Usually, his lightning powers are a distinctive blue, which can be seen around Mjolnir on the billboard, which Steve Rogers is wielding.

But, some Marvel fans think the billboard means Thor is going to be using the Odinforce in the film. Odinforce is yellow, and it's an extremely powerful ability that would make Thor pretty much unstoppable, if he truly is wielding it. But, it comes with a caveat: if it gets used too much, it triggers the Odinsleep. So, here's hoping Thor doesn't end up needing a nap on the battlefield.

"I just don't get why they'd put a massive spoiler for Thor," says one fan on Twitter, with another saying: "Odin force right in my face lmao"

However, considering it's featured on a billboard, it's unlikely that the Odinforce would be a dramatic reveal in the movie. Trailers so far have only shown Thor using his traditional blue lightning – but the yellow lightning has also featured as part of an action figure and on a poster, though it seemed to fly under the radar then.

Alongside Chris Hemsworth's Thor, the Avengers: Doomsday cast includes Anthony Mackie's Captain America, Chris Evans's Steve Rogers, Letitia Wright's Shuri, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, the Thunderbolts, and, of course, Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives this December 18 in the US, and on December 16 in the UK. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way.

Skydance boss David Ellison has spoken out about AI use in projects, not long after James Gunn and Peter Safran departed as heads of DC Studios.

“I think when you zoom out and look at production, AI really has the potential to be the biggest creative unlock in modern history," Ellison said on Skydance's latest earnings call (via The Verge).

Ellison then compared the breakthrough – if you want to call it that – to the emergence of CGI and special effects in the 1990s, name-checking both Jurassic Park and Terminator 2 as beneficiaries of that leap in technology.

Ellison continued, "It's hard to imagine that AI is not going to have a more significant impact than that. And I personally believe that’s going to be an incredible unlock on creativity.”

While Ellison, who now heads up Skydance after the acquisition of Paramount and Warner Bros., may be waxing lyrical about AI usage, he does warn that artists remain key to his vision.

“In a world of AI slop, we think there will always be a premium for truly hand-crafted storytelling," Ellison said. "We also continue to believe that artificial intelligence is a tool for artists and will never be a replacement for them."

It's unclear exactly how or to what extent AI will be used in upcoming Skydance projects – if at all – but it all comes off the back of a shocking DC shakeup as Jeremy Latcham was brought in to replace the outgoing Gunn and Safran

Later reports from The Wrap indicate that Ellison had been discussing Latcham taking over DC Studios as early as a month ago, prior to the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger as Skydance.

Upon their departure, Ellison said in a statement, "James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of. We're grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand."

For more, we have a renewed look at the upcoming DC movies in the works, as well as all the movie release dates you need to know about as 2027 approaches.

After four years, James Gunn is stepping down as DC Studios co-CEO alongside Peter Safran, but Marvel fans are taking this as a win, as many want the Guardians of the Galaxy director to come back to the MCU.

"Kevin Feige, it's time to bring James Gunn back into the fold," said one fan on Reddit just hours after the news broke. Others seem to agree, as another added, "The people acting like Gunn is awful and don’t want him returning to Marvel are fucking crazy. All three Guardians of the Galaxy movies are great, and he was a great second or third unit director to have on hand for the bigger projects. You’d be crazy to not welcome him back. He has still done cosmic Marvel the best when it comes to the movies."

One fan on Twitter let Gunn know exactly what he should do next, writing, "start drafting the script for Guardians of the Galaxy 4." Another said, "James Gunn no longer DC head means Guardians of the Galaxy 4 confirmed at Marvel?" Let's go."

Gunn started working with Marvel in 2012 when he was hired to co-write and direct the first Guardians of the Galaxy, which was released in 2014. The filmmaker went on to direct scenes in Doctor Strange and wrote and directed the second Guardians movie. However, just as he was slated to direct the third movie, Disney fired Gunn from Marvel Studios in 2018 due to resurfaced social media posts.

Gunn was rehired by Marvel in 2019 and later directed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3. But he slowly made the jump to DC, writing and directing the 2021 movie The Suicide Squad and then the HBO show Peacemaker. Then in 2022, Gunn was made co-CEO of DC Studios alongside his long-term collaborator Safran. However, with Gunn now stepping down as DC boss, perhaps the filmmaker will jump ship again.

The DC shake-up comes after Skydance acquired Warner Bros. earlier this year. Gunn and Safran will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham on December 1, 2026. In a statement posted on Instagram, Gunn said he feels relieved and that he "disliked the at-times corporate nature of the job" and had "difficulty" with "dividing my time between projects" and his role as CEO.

Gunn only launched the DCU: Chapter One with Superman last year. Though reports suggest that the DCU will be dismantled, it looks like projects that are currently in the works will still go forward, including Man of Tomorrow, The People v. Gorilla Grodd, and Creature Commandos season 2.

For more, check out our guide on how to watch the DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

As VisionQuest nears its end, Marvel fans think Paul Bettany's Vision has delivered some of the best dialogue in the MCU.

"Paul Bettany aka The Vision has THE best lines," a fan writes on Reddit, quoting the likes of "what is grief, if not love persevering" and "You have placed me on a pedestal so impossibly high, and not to honor me, not to honor me! But to spare yourself the effort of the climb."

"They're not as lengthy as [Stellan] Skarsgård's in Andor, but wow do the writers serve Bettany up such eloquently succinct truths," they add. "If the man were to have another series as the Human Torch, what would they grace us with?"

"I know everyone always wants a Morgan Freeman narration but Paul Bettany has amazing delivery. His cadence and tone are spectacular," agrees one fan. Another adds: "When he tells Wanda, 'We're out of time' in Infinity War is a perfect example of that amazing cadence and emphasis where you immediately understand he's talking to her and her alone."

"Bettany makes a strong case for being the best cast role in the MCU, and that's saying something, because the MCU's casting has been phenomenal," says someone else.

"Totally agree, Vision's character development and dialogue are some of the best in the MCU, those quotes hit hard," says another viewer.

"He has great lines because he's a non-human commenting on the human condition, which is always ripe for interesting thoughts," thinks another fan.

Another person's take is: "So true. Such epic lines epically delivered. I love Paul's voice so much. Jarvis has been my favorite because of it and The Vision instantly was my favorite character when Paul turned up playing him."

You can keep up to date with our VisionQuest release schedule. For more, check out our VisionQuest review, or our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

It looks like it's out with the old and in with the new at DC, as Skydance (the name of the newly merged Paramount and Warner Bros.) is reportedly set to scrap the James Gunn and Peter Safran-built DCU.

News broke yesterday that Gunn and Safran were out as co-CEOs of DC Studios, and as Hollywood digests the fallout, new details are emerging.

According to reliable former The Hollywood Reporter journalist Matt Belloni's What I'm Hearing newsletter, the DCU as we know it might be over. He writes: "I'm told plans are already afoot to dismantle much of what Gunn and Safran had plotted out beyond next summer's Gunn-directed Man of Tomorrow, the currently shooting The Batman: Part 2, and an in-the-works HBO series. So DC goes back into reboot mode… again."

A separate report from The Hollywood Reporter says Gunn was working on a script for a third Superman film, with a plan for a new Superman movie every two years, potentially leading to the Justice League.

"There have been so many highs along the way: releasing Superman and Clayface, making Peacemaker, reading the scripts to The People Vs., the entire process of Man of Tomorrow, which thus far has been the best filmmaking experience of my life, and numerous other moments," Gunn shared on his Instagram in a lengthy statement about his time as co-CEO of DC Studios.

Elsewhere in the statement, he wrote: "So, yes, I will miss the people around me, and I will miss being the co-caretaker of these great characters, but I'm also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking. That's not to say Peter and I are immediately done with DC or superheroes. We have Man of Tomorrow out this summer. And we've just been engaged on another DC project which I'm writing, and we'll see where it goes after that. And of course, the characters we set up will live on."

At the moment, it's not clear what, if any, of the DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters slate will get made after Man of Tomorrow. We'll just have to wait and see.

Next up for DC is Man of Tomorrow, which arrives on July 9, 2027. You can keep track of what's coming this year with our guide to all the upcoming movies worth getting excited about.

25 years after Daniel Radcliffe first brought the young wizard to life in the 2001 movie Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the star has wished the new Harry Potter the best of luck ahead of the new TV show adaptation hitting HBO this Christmas.

When asked if he has any advice for new Harry Potter star Dominic McLaughlin, Radcliffe told Associated Press, "I'm really, truly in the business of not giving Dominic advice. He's got it. He doesn’t need any advice from me. If I say something to you, then the next interview people have with him, they’ll be like, 'Oh, Dan said you should do this.' And I don’t want to haunt this poor child through interviews. So I have no advice for him. He's gonna be amazing, and I hope that I will get to meet him someday, and I'm very excited about that."

However, Radcliffe doesn't think he will be tuning into the series. "I don’t know if I will [watch it], honestly," said Radcliffe. "I’ve watched [and] been in a lot of Harry Potter already. Also, I don’t watch any TV. I haven’t seen Breaking Bad. I haven’t seen Mad Men. I haven’t seen some of the real classics. So, you know. Eight hours is a lot of anything to watch."

Radcliffe was just 11 years old when he started filming the first Harry Potter movie, and returned to the franchise almost every year until the eighth and final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, released in 2001. Radcliffe was 21 years old when he finished playing Potter for good. McLaughlin is in a very similar position. The now 12-year-old has a long road ahead, as HBO plans to shoot seven seasons over 10 years, meaning McLaughlin will also be in his early 20s when filming ends.

Harry Potter season 1, officially titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, will adapt the first book just as the first movie did, following Harry's first year at Hogwarts after he finds out that he is a wizard. But the series format allows the new adaptation to delve into the source material further. With that in mind, McLaughlin arguably has an even harder task than Radcliffe did, having to log so many hours of content.

Alongside McLaughlin, the younger cast also includes Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy. As for the adults, John Lithgow plays Dumbledore, Janet McTeer plays Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu plays Snape, and Nick Frost has been cast as Hagrid.

Harry Potter season 1 hits HBO and HBO Max on Christmas Day. For more, check out our ranking of the Harry Potter movies, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

Incoming DC Studios boss Jeremy Latcham once revealed his surprising "guiding light" whilst producing Iron Man over at Marvel.

In an interview earlier this year with Christian Broadcasting News, Latcham recalled, "When we were making the first Marvel movies I would always be like, 'I don't know if my grandma would like that.' That became a guiding light… it became the stand-in for 'is this going to work for regular people outside the bubble of Hollywood?'

Since then, Latcham has been drafted in to head up the DC universe at Skydance, replacing the outgoing co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran.

At Marvel, Latcham produced the likes of The Avengers and Spider-Man: Homecoming and worked extensively under Kevin Feige – so his family-friendly outlook is something that clearly paid dividends.

That mantra is something Latcham, former senior vice president of production and development at Marvel Studios, also mentioned years prior in an interview with GamesRadar+.

"In the old Marvel days, there's this great story about my Meemaw and Peepaw because they became, like, a joke in the editing room - that we were making the movie for my grandparents in Oklahoma," Latcham said at the time of Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' home release.

"If they weren't gonna understand it, [it was] never going to work for anybody… I think that's kind of the fun of these movies, of adapting material - finding a way to make it for everybody. You have to be true to the fans, but you have to make it ultimately for everybody."

Upon his departure, Gunn admitted in a social media statement that he was "relieved" to get back to filmmaking and "disliked the at-times corporate nature of the job."

While DC is in flux, get the latest on one of the current slate's guarantees: Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. Then, discover how to watch the DC movies in order – for those following along with either the DCEU or James Gunn's DCU.

James Gunn and Peter Safran's exit at DC Studios was reportedly a surprise as the pair were already working on future projects. Aside from the upcoming Man of Tomorrow, which has wrapped filming, plans were already in motions for a third Superman movie and an upcoming Justice League team-up.

According to a new report in The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn "was in the midst of writing a third installment as part of plan to make a trilogy and release a Superman movie every two years, maybe even morphing the franchise into a Justice League teamup."

This was corroborated by another report from the Wall Street Journal reporter Ben Fritz, who wrote on Twitter that loose release dates were already pencilled in for these movies too. "Gunn + Safran are debuting Wonder Woman in Man of Tomorrow, hoped to intro the DCU Batman in The Brave and the Bold in 2028, and were aiming for Gunn-directed Superman sequels that low-key evolved into Justice League in 2029 and 2031. Now...?," he wrote on social media.

It seems that Gunn and Safran had plans for the DCU stretching into the 2030s. Under the new leadership from former Marvel executive Jeremy Latcham, it's not clear if any of these movies will still go ahead.

In a lengthy statement from Gunn, he did reference a future project he was working on. "We've just been engaged on another DC project which I'm writing, and we'll see where it goes after that," he wrote on Instagram. "And, of course, the characters we set up will live on."

For more, check out our guide to upcoming DC movie and shows, as well as our breakdown of Gunn's plan for DCU Chapter One.

The final trailer for Prime Video’s Blade Runner 2099 has arrived, and it's the end of the world as we know it.

In the brief clip, which can be viewed above, Replicants have taken over Los Angeles and are killing humans in broad daylight. Cora (Hunter Schafer) is humanity's last hope, as she volunteers to go undercover as a Blade Runner who is overseen by Olwen (Michelle Yeoh), a Replicant who is in the final weeks of her life.

"It's harder to look something in the eye than to kill it," Olwen says over a montage of dreary neo-futuristic violence. Another voice assures someone, most likely someone human, that what Cora's doing will "make the world ours again." Given how bleak things are, I'm not so sure. Especially considering that the final moments of the trailer see Olwen drive a pretty freaked-out Cora out into the desert, while telling her that she has to "see the lie" in front of her.

Created by Silka Luisa and executive-produced by Ridley Scott, the cast includes Dimitri Abold, Amy Lennox, Lewis Gribben, and Wil Coban. It's worth noting that, although Scott worked pretty closely with Luisa on the making of the series, Blade Runner 2099 is meant to be its own eight-episode standalone limited series... and that Ryan Gosling's K won't be popping up in a cameo or anything of that nature.

Blade Runner 2099 hits Prime Video on November 25. For more, check out our guide to the best shows on Prime Video.

James Gunn has released a separate, lengthy statement amid the news that he and co-CEO Peter Safran are no longer the heads of DC Studios.

"There have been so many highs along the way: releasing Superman and Clayface, making Peacemaker, reading the scripts to The People Vs., the entire process of Man of Tomorrow, which thus far has been the best filmmaking experience of my life, and numerous other moments," Gunn wrote on his personal Instagram account.

Gunn also lamented that he "disliked the at-times corporate nature of the job" and had the "most difficulty" with "dividing my time between projects I’m incredibly passionate about and the ones I’m not so much and all the things I have to do as a studio head."

"So, yes, I will miss the people around me, and I will miss being the co-caretaker of these great characters, but I'm also incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking. That's not to say Peter and I are immediately done with DC or superheroes. We have Man of Tomorrow out this summer. And we've just been engaged on another DC project which I'm writing, and we'll see where it goes after that. And of course, the characters we set up will live on." You can read the full statement below.

The statement comes amid the shocking news that Gunn and Safran would be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham, effective December 1. The duo was first appointed to the position back in 2022, having released three movies: Superman, Supergirl, and Clayface, and four TV shows: Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, The Penguin, and Lanterns, over the last four years. Still to come are Man of Tomorrow, The People V Gorilla Grodd, Creature Commandos season 2, and the long-awaited The Batman: Part II.

Of course, this change is no doubt part of the Skydance merger, which sees Paramount in full control of Warner Bros. and everything Warner Bros. owns. It's worth noting that, before Gunn and Safran were appointed, Warner Bros. executives reportedly wanted an overhaul of DC in favor of putting classic heroes back at the forefront and making them a bit less dark/more kid-friendly. That said, it's possible that Skydance executives want fewer projects like The People v. Gorilla Grodd and Creature Commandos, and more big-hitters on screen, like Wonder Woman or Aquaman... and finally Batman (who still only exists as part of Matt Reeves' Elseworlds; the DCU has yet to cast a Batman). It also probably doesn't help that Supergirl was a massive critical and commercial failure.

Man of Tomorrow hits theaters on July 9, 2027. For more, here are all the upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

James Gunn and DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran are stepping down as the heads of DC Studios and will be replaced by former Marvel Studios executive Jeremy Latcham.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn and Safran are out of the job from December 1, 2026. That's just over four years after the pair were appointed to the post. In that time, DC Studios has released three movies (Superman, Supergirl and Clayface) and four TV shows (Creature Commandos, Peacemaker season 2, The Penguin and Lanterns). Projects currently in the pipeline include Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, Jimmy Olsen series The People v. Gorilla Grodd, Creature Commandos season 2, and Elseworlds movie The Batman: Part II.

“Four years ago, we set out to unite DC under one creative vision," Gunn and Safran said in a statement. "In that time, we helped restore Superman to the heart of DC, while opening new doors and telling new stories in film and television with Peacemaker, Creature Commandos, Lanterns and Clayface. "We’re immensely proud of the team that turned that ambition into something real, including the actors, crews and executives we had the opportunity to collaborate with.

"We’ve shared a creative history with Jeremy going back to Marvel, and we’re eager to see the perspective he brings to DC’s next chapter," Gunn and Safran said of their replacement at DC Studios. "We're excited to return to what drew us to this job in the first place, which is telling the stories we love, including the next chapter of Clark and Lex’s journey in Man of Tomorrow."

In a separate, longer statement on Threads, Gunn said he's "incredibly relieved and excited to get back to pure filmmaking" and noted "the characters we set up will live on".

Latcham is Marvel Studios' former senior VP of production and development, and was Kevin Feige's right-hand man at the company for a time, with credits on Iron Man, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Spider-Man: Homecoming. As with Gunn and Safran, Latcham will oversee DC's film, TV and animation slate.

"James and Peter launched a new era for DC Studios and led it through a period of real transformation, resetting the foundation and building a slate we’re incredibly proud of," Skydance bosses David Ellison and Ynon Kreiz said in a statement. "We're grateful for their passion, contributions and commitment to this legendary brand."

What the future now holds for DC is now less clear than ever. While several projects from the Gunn and Safran era are still in the pipeline, many were critical of Gunn and Safran's decision not to launch their shared universe with big-hitters like Batman and Wonder Woman, and instead focus on lesser-explored characters like Supergirl and Clayface. Could a creative reboot be on the cards, despite Gunn's Superman movies still being an ongoing concern? We'll soon find out.

Man of Tomorrow releases on July 9, 2027. For more, here's all the upcoming DC movies and shows announced before Gunn's departure.

Hideo Kojima is back with another review, and this time it's for Netflix spy thriller series Black Doves.

"'Black Doves' was so good that I ended up binge-watching the rest of Season 2 in one sitting," Kojima wrote on Twitter. "Season 1 was great, but Season 2 takes it to a whole new level. For fans of British spy thrillers, this is an absolute treat. The story beautifully captures the lies, love and hate, sadness, loneliness, and loyalty of spies and assassins, building up to an action-packed finale. Above all, Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw are simply outstanding. Kathryn Hunter as the handler of hired killers and Ella Lily Hyland as an assassin are also fantastic. Every single character is brilliantly written and brought to life. I could watch this forever. I really hope there’s another season. Highly recommended!"

Created by Joe Barton (The Lazarus Project), Black Doves stars Knightley as Helen, an undercover spy married to a politician named. After her lover is killed, she realizes that her cover is close to being blown... and the Black Doves send over her friend Sam (Wishaw) to protect her. In season 2, Helen is now married to the new Prime Minister... but when her handler, Mrs. Reed (Sarah Lancashire), goes missing, it's up to her and Sam to find out what the heck happened.

The first season hit Netflix in 2024, and was renewed for a second season just before its December 5 premiere date. Knightley earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance. Black Doves season 1 holds a 92% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes (though, curiously, it has a much lower audience rating at 67%), with season 2 currently sitting at a 94% critic score based on 18 reviews.

Black Doves is streaming now on Netflix. For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, and keep up with new shows on the way.

Star Wars fans are once again debating a pesky plot hole in A New Hope, which still doesn't make sense some 49 years later.

In A New Hope, Luke Skywalker and his uncle Owen Lars bring home two droids: R2-D2 and C-3PO. In the scene, the pair appears to be meeting the droids for the very first time. It's revealed in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, however, that Owen not only knew C-3PO, but that the droid lived in Owen's home for quite some time. So why doesn't Owen recognize him later in Episode 4?

"Owen treating droids like kitchen appliances makes total sense. And Obi-Wan is in witness protection, he's not about to go "hey, it's that Roomba from the Clone Wars," one fan wrote in the r/StarWars subreddit.

"Given that 3PO was probably the equivalent of a vacuum cleaner for the Lars family, that's hardly surprising," wrote another.

"He's a common model. People are saying Anakin built him from scraps, sure. But he didn't invent protocol droids. He just scrapped one together," one fan said.

"How people view droids seem to be very personal. Some view them as pets, others as an assistant, while I think most would just see them as household tools," someone else said. "For example, when you see a Dyson Vacuum, do you ever say, 'That’s my Dyson'?"

However, this is perhaps the most plausible fan theory: "Because contrary to what others may say, Lucas made it up as he went along."

Despite A New Hope being the first movie released in the franchise, it's technically the fourth episode. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, released in 1999, is Episode 1, with Attack of the Clones serving as Episode 2, and Revenge of the Sith as Episode 3. The most likely reason why Owen doesn't recognize C-3PO is because George Lucas wrote and released A New Hope first... before figuring anything else out by way of backstory. Owen owning C-3PO in Attack of the Clones, which was released in 2002, was probably written with the intention of continuity... but ended up creating a massive continuity error.

The most satisfying in-universe theory, however, is that Owen Lars saw C-3PO as just another household appliance, and therefore didn't recognize him all those years later.

Star Wars: A New Hope will return to theaters in February 2027. Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on Disney Plus on January 20, 2027. Until then, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.