The Ahsoka season 2 trailer finally arrived at D23, and, not only was GamesRadar+ in the room to watch all the action unfold, we also have lots to talk about from the new footage.

Below, we've listed the 16 most interesting Star Wars details in the new trailer, as well as our thoughts on what might be going on. It's been three long years since season 1, but it's finally time to start getting excited about the return of Ahsoka Tano.

So, head on down for our full Ahsoka season 2 trailer breakdown. For more, check out our D23 live-blog for all the other major announcements.

The Clone Wars

After the Star Wars show's D23 display teased flashbacks to The Clone Wars era, the trailer confirmed we are indeed returning to this point on the Star Wars timeline. We see Anakin and Ahsoka in a snowy forest, fighting someone with a double-bladed green lightsaber. Now, what this might mean isn't clear just yet. Naturally, there are theories aplenty to be found on Reddit, with fans speculating this mysterious enemy could be a younger Baylan Skoll, Marrok or the Crow, or just a renegade Jedi.

Force ghost Anakin

Anakin Skywalker's return was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration 2025. The trailer shows Anakin both in the past in a Clone Wars-era moment and as a Force ghost on Peridea. Clearly, Anakin is still watching over Snips: in fact, he says he's always walking by her side. Aww.

Thrawn declares war

Grand Admiral Thrawn returned to the main galaxy at the end of Ahsoka season 1. In the trailer, he declares war against the Rebel Alliance, which includes his old foe Hera Syndulla. This looks to be building to an Heir to the Empire-style confrontation, which could culminate in the Dave Filoni movie announced at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

Xiono returns

Senator Xiono is back in season 2. In the first season, Xiono refused to believe Thrawn could return, so it seems likely he'll continue to be a thorn in Hera's side.

Another hallway fight

One thing Star Wars absolutely loves is a good hallway fight: Darth Vader in Rogue One, Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian season 2, Maul in The Clone Wars, and, now, the Nightsisters of Dathomir in Ahsoka season 2.

Nightsisters of Dathomir

Concept art at D23 teased the Nightsisters wielding energy bows of some kind, and, in the trailer, we see them in action. They seem to be attacking the Rebel Alliance, so we'd wager this is a skirmish organized by Thrawn.

Dathomir

A red planet can briefly be seen in the trailer. Could this be Dathomir? It certainly looks like it. Dathomir, of course, is home world to both the Nightsisters and one Darth Maul.

Sabine's new hair

Sabine Wren is never one to keep the same look for long, and, in Ahsoka season 2, she's growing out her hair again – and it seems to have been dyed a very pale shade of lilac. Sabine cut her hair in season 1 to symbolise her return to facing her destiny, and, in season 2, the pale hair could tie into Ahsoka's Gandalf the White-style appearance. This could mean Sabine is embracing Ahsoka's teachings (but with her own edge, hence the hint of lilac), or that she has a fresh perspective like Snips after meeting Anakin in the World Between Worlds. Now, where Sabine is finding a hair salon on Peridea remains a mystery...

Space battles

Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi has teased space battles are coming, and we get a glimpse at them in the trailer. Thanks to Celebration 2025, we know that Admiral Ackbar is returning to face off against Thrawn, too. Expect a galactic showdown for the ages.

Strange rocks

Ahsoka and Sabine can be seen approaching a carving on a rock on Peridea. Considering the first piece of concept art for season 2 teased the Mortis gods, we'd guess this has something to do with those Force beings or the World Between Worlds. After all, it seems this is what Baylan is trying to access.

Anakin knows Baylan

"Baylan claims to have knowledge of a power. One that could end wars," says Anakin in the trailer. This is not only confirmation that the two did indeed know each other, as Baylan suggested in season 1, but also sets up Baylan's mysterious quest for the World Between Worlds.

Zeb Orrelios

After making his live-action debut in The Mandalorian season 3 and earning a starring role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, Zeb Orrelios is appearing in Ahsoka season 2. That means a full Ghost crew reunion could be on the cards, if Sabine makes it home.

Ezra Bridger vs Enoch

Ezra can be seen in lightsaber combat with Enoch, the mysterious gold-masked stormtrooper from season 1. Some people theorized that Enoch was actually Ezra himself, which turned out not to be true. Who the masked figure is remains to be seen. Enoch also has a flaming green lightsaber, which could suggest Nightsister magic (and looks pretty cool).

Huyang faces Shin Hati

Huyang goes full General Grievous and wields multiple lightsabers in a face-off with Shin Hati. This means Shin finds Ahsoka's ship, though we still suspect the Padawan might be on the path to redemption. She approaches Baylan in the trailer too, but Baylan abandoned her in season 1, so a happy reunion seems unlikely.

Ahsoka and Sabine fight together

Both Ahsoka and Sabine wield their lightsabers in a battle with white droids across a symbol that has circles and lines similar to the World Between Worlds. Are they closing in on this mystical realm, too? Ahsoka does have experience with it, after all, and concept art displayed at D23 reveals Morai, the convor bird associated with the Daughter, is still watching over Ahsoka.

Ahsoka might become a Jedi again

Anakin's voiceover in the trailer questions, "Are you a Jedi or not?" Ahsoka walked away from the Jedi Order during The Clone Wars after she was falsely accused of a crime she did not commit and put on trial. Could Ahsoka find her way back? We're willing to guess yes, since Ahsoka embodies all the qualities of a Jedi and even has her own Padawan.

Ahsoka season 2 arrives January 20, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

At D23, Marvel boss Kevin Feige has explained why Spider-Man: Brand New Day was the right project for Sadie Sink's Jean Grey to make her MCU debut.

Sink's role was shrouded in secrecy up until release, when it was finally revealed that her mystery role was indeed the X-Men character.

"It all came out of [the] story," Feige shared at a panel celebrating 65 years of Spider-Man, attended by GamesRadar+. "[It] came out of the story that we were talking about with Amy [Pascal, producer], and with Destin [Daniel Cretton, director], and with Tom [Holland], who had a lot of story input in this film, thank goodness.

"And we were looking for a different type of mystery, and putting Peter at the forefront of being a detective, almost, for the first half of the movie, and it just sort of evolved to the point where we thought – we were looking for who could fit that bill, and it became Jean Grey," Feige continued. "I'm very glad that it did, and in large part because of Sadie Sink, because we landed on Sadie Sink and realized the connection she would have to the rest of this cast is what really locked that in."

Sink will return as Jean Grey in the upcoming Marvel's X-Men movie. The cast was revealed onstage at D23 during the blowout studio panel: along with Sink, the cast features Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Inde Navarette as Rogue, Maya Boyd as Storm, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, and Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury (AKA Mr. Sinister).

The X-Men movie arrives this May 5, 2028. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows, and see the major announcements from the convention with our D23 liveblog.

For more on Spidey, see our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review or how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Marvel boss Kevin Feige has revealed more about the approach to Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

The film is the fourth in Marvel and Sony's joint Spider-Man movie series, and it's set years after the massive, multiversal events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, which saw Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield co-star alongside Tom Holland as their respective versions of Peter Parker.

"When we made Brand New Day, we set out saying, 'Well, we'll never make more than No Way Home, never make it bigger than No Way Home. So, let's just go deeper and make it special," Feige said during a D23 panel celebrating 65 years of Spider-Man attended by GamesRadar+.

"And I have a memory, we were on set of No Way Home, which of course was about Tobey and Andrew and Tom, three Spider-Men together," he continued. "How do you get bigger than three Spider-Men together? Well, sitting on a golf cart outside the set were Zendaya and Jacob [Batalon] and Tom. And it occurred to me, looking at those three, that that trio is as iconic as the three Spider-Men. And now Brand New Day has proved that."

During the No Way Home ending, Tom Holland's Peter Parker is erased from the memories of everyone he knows by a spell from Doctor Strange. So, in Brand New Day, he's more alone than ever, and the story is more grounded in his emotional state rather than the multiversal stakes of No Way Home.

Brand New Day is in theaters now. For more, check out our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review and our guide on watching the Marvel movies in order.

Lanterns co-creators Damon Lindelof and Tom King say they made sure to depict Hal Jordan and John Stewart's comic book origins in a way that honors various Green Lantern comic book writers, rather than one that relies on fan service.

"It transcends the idea of doing fan service to say that there's certain aspects of the canon that are essential," Lindelof tells GamesRadar+, when it comes to deciding how to work Hal Jordan and John Stewart's various comic book origin stories into the new show. "And you have to kinda throw them in the blender when you're making your smoothie. But at the same time, when you drink the smoothie, you can add one flavor too many, and it becomes overwhelming, or two flavors aren't necessarily combining in a good way."

"So I think that you put everything out on the table and you say these are the things that make John Stewart a legacy character. These are the things that make Hal Jordan a legacy character," adds Lindelof. "These are different stories about how they got the ring. These are different stories about adventures that they went on as Green Lanterns. And, and then you educate yourself, and then you know it all. And then you kind of, like, have to put all of that stuff away and start over and say, 'What's the story that we wanna tell?'"

Lanterns is a True Detective-esque take on Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), who find themselves embroiled in a mystery set in rural Rushville, Nebraska. In the show, Hal is Earth's first Green Lantern (though technically Alan Scott was the first human to wear the Green Lantern moniker in the comics), though he wasn't chosen first (and we'll let you watch the show to learn more about that lest we spoil it). John Stewart is his trainee, and the two have a mutual respect but otherwise resentment toward one another. John's backstory has been retconned a few times throughout DC comic history, though the show honors his later origin story as a US Marine.

The series also works backwards, giving us Hal and Jordan's present-day dilemmas before going into how their partnership came to be, and effectively adapting the Green Lantern comic Beware My Power which introduced John to the world back in 1972.

"From a comic book nerd, which I say proudly, point of view, you know...two different characters have very different sort of comic book histories," King says. "Hal has been very consistent in his origin stories over, over the years since, like, the early '60s when he was born. Um, John has not been consistent, and sort of rewritten and redone and not just in this medium. You know, a lot of John's origin story comes from what Dwayne McDuffie did in the Justice League, in the Justice League Unlimited cartoon."

Continues King: "But if you look at it, look at it closely and go back to those origins, you see, like, John's first appearance with Neal Adams and Denny O'Neil, there is that idea that he is chosen, and He will not accept the Lantern world that's given to him, and Hal is a little resentful of that and is rebellious against that. That's all in his first issue. And then if you look at what Dwayne did in the cartoon, that idea of sort of a military guy who's been under such pressure his whole life and has so much emotion that he has to sort of suppress, that's all in there. So it was bringing out the visions of those creators and bringing them into this world."

Lanterns is streaming now on HBO Max. For more, check out our Lanterns review, or stay up to date with our Lanterns release schedule. For more, check out our list of upcoming DC movies and shows.

Just in case there was ever any doubt, the newly announced Kingdom Hearts anime series coming to Disney Plus is bringing on board the Kingdom Hearts 4 development team and the series' co-creator Tetsuya Nomura, who says fans should "let your imaginations run wild."

Announced last night at the D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase panel, the Kingdom Hearts anime is telling an original story within the universe-hopping world of the games. Details were very light outside of a mysterious bit of art work depicting a mysterious Keyblade wielder's silhouette.

But series co-creator and frequent game director Tetsuya Nomura has given fans an update in his usually enigmatic style. "The production of a Kingdom Hearts animated series has been confirmed," he writes in a memo to fans. "I imagine you're surprised by this sudden announcement. Some of you may be wondering, 'What will it be about?'"

Nomura notes that he can't disclose any concrete details for now, but he confirms he's been "in close discussions with the scenario team" behind the anime project, which has also enlisted the help of Kingdom Hearts 4's developers. Specifically, the art team created "multiple new character designs specifically for this project."

"I can't say anything more right now, but the hint is in the single piece of key art that's been revealed. Please let your imaginations run wild while you await further updates," Nomura teases.

Kingdom Hearts fans frequently let their imaginations run wild, anyway, but rarely are they this directly encouraged to do so by Tetsuya Nomura. Regardless, the game series has built up a massive world with a long history. The show could take place ages before Sora and his friends were even born, it could have us follow a different Keyblade wielder dealing with the same darkness that swallowed Sora's island, or it could be something else entirely. You heard Nomura.

Kingdom Hearts 4 finally comes out "late 2027," and Pixar's Coco joins the JRPG as the first Disney world announced so far

Marvel is on a roll right now, but the thing I'm most excited about is the upcoming X-Men movie. That's right, step aside, Avengers: Doomsday, because the next chapter of the best mutants in media is coming, and I've gathered all the information that you need to know about it right here.

For those of you who may not know yet, Kevin Feige has confirmed that a Marvel's X-Men movie is in the works. I have always been a massive fan of the Fox X-Men movies, and like many other fans, have been waiting for the team's official introduction into the MCU. Now, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day officially introducing Sadie Sink's Jean Grey, it seems like the future is very bright regarding a smooth Marvel timeline integration.

However, there are still a ton of questions that need answering and plenty of theories already flying about. So read on as I break down all the latest news and give you insights into everything you need to know about Marvel's X-Men movie so far.

Marvel's X-Men movie release date

The X-Men movie release date was confirmed at D23 to be May 5, 2028.

Previously, Kevin Feige revealed that the new X-Men movie will be released after Avengers: Secret Wars, which is due to hit cinemas on December 17, 2027. So expect Marvel's X-Men movie to unfold in a somewhat re-jigged version of the MCU, post-Battleworld shenanigans. It also makes a lot of sense that we'd get the Avengers movies out of the way first, given the fact that old X-Men from the Fox days are in the trailer for Doomsday.

Before we get a fresh MCU-focused X-Men, Marvel needs to tie up, or multiverse their way out of, the old timeline they brought back. I'll keep you posted if we hear any more news or release date clues, but for now, mark your calendars tentatively for 2028.

Marvel's X-Men movie plot details

So far, there are no firm plot details for the new X-Men movie; however, we do have some insights thanks to director and writers Lee Sung Jin and Jake Schreier's interviews.

"Kevin [Feige] just wants to take a big swing and start anew, not be beholden to any of the movies that have come before." Lee Sung Jin explained to Deadline. This likely means that after the events of Secret Wars, there will be some kind of timeline antics that can allow for a complete reboot.

The old X-Men have appeared in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Deadpool and Wolverine, and we did see the old X-Men cast in the recent Avengers: Doomsday trailer. So, to "start anew," Secret Wars will need to fully say goodbye to the Fox timeline in some kind of way. Hopefully, we'll get some kind of idea how that will happen once Doomsday releases.

Also in that same article, Lee mentioned Chris Claremont-run comics being an influence on the two's creative process. If you are unfamiliar with Chris Claremont's time writing X-Men, he focused heavily on characters first and foremost, giving readers expanded lore for each team member that really enhanced the relationships and drama as a whole.

"There were a lot of soapy elements to those comics," Lee explained. "We've been in the room every day together. Kevin and Louis [D'Esposito] are so dialed in, and they have such incredible instincts that it's been fun to just blue-sky. "

We don't know which comics are being adapted, so I'm keeping my eye out for more information. In the meantime, I have some personal theories based on the recent Marvel movies.

During Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Peter creates a device that can suppress mutants' powers, so I have a feeling that the upcoming movie will likely bring up that kind of technology again. The Spider-Man: Brand New Day ending also had Jean Grey on a bus, so I'm thinking the upcoming film will center on her finding her support system and new family with the X-Men. Obviously, this is just my own theory with no official confirmation, but it does make sense story-wise when looking at how Brand New Day ends.

Marvel's X-Men movie cast

Sadie Sink appeared in Spider-Man: Brand New Day as Jean Grey and of course be one of the key mutants in Marvel Studios' X-Men.

Following reports that Obsession star Inde Navarrette met with Schreier (via TechRadar), reportedly to play Mystique, it was confirmed at D23 that she'll in fact be playing Rogue. Notably, Charles Melton, who was heavily rumored to be playing Beast, did not appear on stage at D23.

The full, confirmed X-Men cast is as follows:

• Kit Connor as Cyclops
• Sadie Sink as Jean Grey
• Christopher Abbott as Professor X
• Inde Navarette as Rogue
• Maya Boyd as Storm
• Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
• Adam Driver as Mr. Sinister

Any other cast members are pure speculation right now.

Is there a Marvel's X-Men movie trailer?

Sorry folks, there is no trailer for the new Marvel X-Men movie just yet. And unfortunately, we likely won't be getting one until 2028, after Secret Wars.

It really does seem like the direction of the upcoming movie relies on how Secret Wars shapes the Marvel timeline. And even if filming for the flick happens in early 2027, Marvel will likely want to keep casting and story details under wraps until the final Avengers movie is released.

This is just my theory, though. If you get a trailer earlier than I expect, I'll be sure to share it here with you immediately. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer for Avengers: Doomsday above, which does feature some Fox-verse X-Men at least.

Is the new X-Men movie part of the original timeline?

While we don't know the details yet, it does seem like Feige is aiming for a new start. So, it is looking like the new X-Men movies will be separate from the timeline established by Fox's 2000s films.

But, just to reiterate, we don't know that fact for certain yet. There is a possibility that the timelines merge in some way; the Avengers: Doomsday trailer did show the old X-Men cast, and we have no idea what the plan for them is just yet either.

With Jean Grey in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, we do know that at least mutants in Spidey's timeline are around as of 2028. However, that movie didn't mention the X-Men or show us any other iconic members from the team, so it isn't super clear how things will play out just yet. Still, it's safe to say that even if the new X-Men connect with the old timeline, we will be getting a fresh story and approach to the iconic team.

If you want to catch up on all the X-Men timelines, I suggest checking out our X-Men movies in order guide, since it is already a bit convoluted. Honestly, a fresh start or new timeline may be for the best at this point, in my opinion.

Catch up on the MCU with our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order. Or look ahead with our round-up of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way next.

At D23, Star Wars: Starfighter finally revealed a first look at the Ryan Gosling-starring movie. The catch: it's not going to appear online anytime soon, and was only for people in the room. However, we were on the ground and can bring you an exclusive description.

The teaser footage starts with Flynn Gray's as-yet-unnamed young character throwing the cover off a starfighter. Gosling, whose character was confirmed as Kade Auberon, tells him not to touch, it's a decommissioned Imperial model and the fastest ever built. Kade says there's a reason Gray's character has never heard of such a vessel, despite it's capabilities. Quick flashes of action, include flying/gliding across water, turning an ignition and, of course, plenty of flying.

Starfighter, directed by Deadpool and Wolverine's Shawn Levy, stars Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Amy Adams, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre. It is the first Lucasfilm movie to take us beyond The Rise of Skywalker on the Star Wars timeline.

"In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself," reads the synopsis.

"It is different in that it is an all-new non-sequel, non-prequel adventure," Levy has said previously of the film. "It's new characters, it's a new timeline. It inherits legacy themes, but it's really trying to give Star Wars [fans] – and just movie audiences – something fresh, something new. And with a spirit of play and big-hearted adventure with moments of real levity that, frankly, A New Hope had in a revolutionary way."

Starfighter arrives May 28, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's in the works.

You can keep up on more announcements and reveals with our D23 liveblog.

At D23, Lucasfilm has finally dropped the first trailer for Ahsoka season 2, and Grand Admiral Thrawn has declared war on the Rebel Alliance.

In the trailer, which you can watch above, Hayden Christensen's Anakin returns as both Force ghost and for a snowy Clone Wars-era flashbacks. In the present, Grand Admiral Thrawn is back in a galaxy far, far away and declares war on the Rebel Alliance – expect plenty of space battles, then. Quick flashes of action also reveal Huyang wielding multiple lightsabers like General Grievous for a fight with Shin Hati. The question of Ahsoka Tano's Jedi status will also be addressed, by the sound of things.

Season 2 will pick up with Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren stranded on Peridea after the Ahsoka season 1 ending, while Ezra Bridger and Grand Admiral Thrawn escaped back to the main galaxy. Also remaining on Peridea are Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati – following the tragic loss of Ray Stevenson, Rory McCann will take over as Baylan in season 2.

At Star Wars Celebration 2025, we learned that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker and Admiral Ackbar will face off against Thrawn. There was also a first look of sorts shown behind closed doors, which teased battles across two galaxies and giant, evil droids.

"Anybody who saw the sequels knows that there's a First Order coming in, like, 20 years from where we are now in the storyline," The Mandalorian and Grogu director Jon Favreau has shared. "And then Ahsoka season 2 is coming out – which I've seen all of – and that's definitely more dealing with the larger [picture], a higher level. That's about the officers and we're the enlisted men – this is more of a ground-level experience of what's going on. You're seeing the backdrop – which, by the way, is what the first Star Wars started off as."

Ahsoka season 2 arrives on January 20, 2027 on Disney Plus. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else the galaxy far, far away has in store.

For even more, keep up with our D23 live blog.

A new 'special look' at Avengers: Doomsday has released online after debuting at D23, and it seems like the assembled Avengers are in for a world of hurt thanks to one Victor von Doom.

The special look is the same trailer that was shown behind closed doors at SDCC last month, but now it's online for the world to pore over. In the footage, largely narrated by Sue Storm, we get some crucial Doctor Doom context, as it's heavily implied that he's embarking down a path of villainy following the death of his wife and child. Plus we see Doom raising an army of Sentinels from the dead – pretty badass.

Avengers: Doomsday is just a few months away, and this latest news only makes the wait more exciting. Recently, the first trailer for the film dropped, which reveals Robert Downey Jr.'s Doom voice and teases more of the return of Steve Rogers, as well as the Avengers and the X-Men going head-to-head (for more, check out our Avengers: Doomsday trailer breakdown).

A new synopsis for the film has also arrived recently, though it doesn't give much away: "Universes collide and the Multiverse Saga begins its final chapter in Marvel Studios' Avengers: Doomsday. Beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and ultimately face an existential threat unlike anything they've ever encountered. This epic film will lay the foundation for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe."

However, a poster of Doom might have teased the villain's motivations.

Avengers: Doomsday arrives this December 18. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

For more on this year's convention, check out our D23 liveblog to keep up to date.

At D23, we've finally got news about the MCU's very first standalone X-Men movie as the full cast took to the stage during Marvel's portion of the Disney Entertainment Showcase, confirming many recent rumors.

Alongside director Jake Schreier and Jean Grey star Sadie Sink, several major cast members were announced for Marvel Studios' long-anticipated X-Men, including:

• Kit Connor as Cyclops
• Christopher Abbott as Professor X
• Inde Navarette as Rogue
• Maya Boyd as Storm
• Samara Weaving as Emma Frost
• Adam Driver as Nathaniel Milbury (aka Mr. Sinister)

The Marvel movie's release date was also confirmed for May 5, 2028. Notably missing from the lineup was Charles Melton, who recently offered a cryptic response when the Beast casting rumors were put to him, as was Alien: Romulus star Cailee Spaeny. She was long rumored to play Rogue, but we now know the role went to Navarette.

An MCU X-Men movie was announced all the way back in 2019 at SDCC, with Kevin Feige telling IGN that Marvel's X-Men would be quite different from 20th Century Fox's approach. There wasn't much by way of news until 2023, when Feige announced that the studio was taking pitches from screenwriters.

The following year, Michael Lesslie (Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) was announced as the sole screenwriter. In 2025, Thunderbolts helmer Jake Schreier was tapped as director. Back in April, it was reported that Beef writers Lee Sung Jin and Joanna Calo had been hired to rewrite the script.

It's worth noting that an MCU X-Men movie was indeed planned before the inception of Deadpool and Wolverine, but I think we can thank Ryan Reynolds and co. for the addition of the original 20th Century Fox X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday (and for helping keep the mutant hype going).

For more, keep up with other upcoming Marvel movies and shows, and stay up to date with this year's convention with our D23 liveblog.

The first trailer for VisionQuest has arrived at D23, and it's a wild trip into Vision's glitchy mind.

The trailer, which you can watch above, is the climax of the WandaVision trilogy, which continued with 2024's Agatha All Along. Seemingly set in the mind of White Vision, where Vision's human avatar lives out a colorful life alongside a host of Marvel universe AI characters, it's also set to reintroduce a teenage Tommy Maximoff (aka Speed). Perhaps most excitingly of all, James Spader is back as the genocidal Ultron, who seems to be taking over Vision's mind. Check the trailer out above.

Paul Bettany returns as Vision, with the rest of the cast including James Spader as Ultron, Orla Brady as Friday, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., T'Nia Miller as Jocasta, James D'Arcy as Jarvis, and Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Maximoff.

"I think that Terry [Matalas, showrunner] realized, and agreed with me, that I feel like Marvel gets rewarded when it takes really big swings," Bettany has previously said of the show.

"And I think that he just understood in his bones who Vision is. And Vision is for the kid that I was when I was a kid – the kid that felt like an outsider and felt like they had no community that they fit into. And he knew who these stories are for and who Vision is for. And I think we made a really fun and entertaining show about a guy who's an outsider and trying to find out who he is."

VisionQuest arrives this October 14. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else that's in the works.

You can also keep up to date with our D23 liveblog.

Kingdom Hearts 4 may be imminent, but Disney's plans for the universes-colliding RPG series now extend beyond video games, as the Mouse House has announced a Kingdom Hearts anime series is in the works at Disney Plus.

The news arrived at Disney's semi-regular convention D23, where not only was it revealed that the land of the dead from Coco will be a new world in Kingdom Hearts 4, but also that a Kingdom Hearts anime series is 'coming soon' to Disney Plus. Beyond that, details were scant beyond the fact it will tell an original story, and not adapt any of the games. We also got some teaser art featuring Sora and the Keyblade, which you can check out below.

Recently, Disney revealed that the Kingdom Hearts franchise is one of nine to have made over $1 billion for the Mickey Corporation, so it makes sense why a multimedia expansion is underway. Precisely what the show will be about is anyone's guess right now, perhaps we'll get more news at the D23 Kingdom Hearts panel.

Kingdom Hearts 4 finally got a long-awaited new trailer this summer. Stay tuned for further coverage of the Kingdom Hearts D23 panel across the weekend, where more news and perhaps a fresh look are expected.

Kingdom Hearts is coming soon to Disney Plus. While we wait, check out our list of all the new anime heading our way across the year (and beyond).

Lanterns showrunner and co-creator Chris Mundy says the new DC show is meant to suspend disbelief and put you in the middle of a thrilling murder-mystery.

"That was totally the goal," Mundy tells GamesRadar+, when asked whether the goal was to get the viewer completely locked in to the point where they forget they're watching a superhero show. "When I first talked to James Hawes about directing, he was in London, so it was on Zoom, and it seemed like we all kind of matched up in the way we would wanna do it. One of the first things he said was, like, 'We have to talk about flying.' He's like, 'I don't know if I'm gonna direct this, depending on what the flying is,' you know? And, and we wanted everything to feel like it was of the world. So okay, if this really happens, how does it work? What's the relationship to the ground around him and the people around him?"

The new series is a True Detective-esque mystery thriller that sees Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) end up in rural Rushville, Nebraska, where an otherworldly mystery is brewing. It's tonally different than anything we've seen in the DCU just yet, and isn't afraid to bring darker themes and senseless violence to the forefront.

One of my favorite things about the show is how normal the usually over-the-top superhero elements feel, which include the aforementioned flying and even the fact that the Green Lantern ring itself needs to be charged like an iPhone. Unlike the super fans we see crowding around in masks and other homemade merch in the Marvel world, the citizens in Lanterns are mostly unfazed by Hal Jordan being the "guardian" of Earth, and don't see why a local cop couldn't do just as good of a job when it comes to solving a mystery.

Continues Mundy: "If you're gonna do something that has a fantastical element, but you're trying to tell a real story, it's like, what would that actually be like if it existed? Instead of it being hyperreal, you know? So, everything was very intentional. I mean, we had more meetings than you could ever imagine about every tiny detail in terms of the world, and the look, and the feel, and the texture of things, you know?

Lanterns is streaming now on HBO Max. For more, check out our Lanterns review, or stay up to date with our Lanterns release schedule.

An Ahsoka season 2 display at D23 has given away some fascinating hints about what might be to come in the second season of the Star Wars show.

GamesRadar+ is on the ground at this year's D23, which means we got to explore the Ahsoka display for ourselves. The main point of excitement is the costumes on display: as you can see in the post below, both Anakin Skywalker and a younger Ahsoka Tano have new outfits for season 2, suggesting we might see the return of Ariana Greenblatt as Padawan-era Snips.

They're both dressed in cold weather gear, intriguingly – though whether that means a flashback to the snowy events of season 1 episode 'Trespass' or a new scenario remains to be seen.

Some concept art is also on display, which reveals the return of Morai after the bird's appearance in season 1. Morai is a convor that watches over Ahsoka, associated with the Daughter Force god from the Mortis arc of Clone Wars. Put simply, the Daughter is a personification of the light side of the Force, and she sacrificed herself to resurrect Ahsoka during the events of that arc (read more in our World Between Worlds explainer). In one piece of art, the convor can be seen observing Ahsoka and Sabine Wren on Peridea.

Also seen in the artwork is Huyang wielding multiple lightsabers and going up against Shin Hati, as well as Grand Admiral Thrawn looking at a map on his ship, the Nightsisters of Dathomir using what look to be energy bows, and the return of Enoch the mysterious gold-masked stormtrooper wielding a green lightsaber.

At the convention, Ezra Bridger actor Eman Esfandi also shared more about the upcoming second season.

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," he teased. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 is coming in 2027. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's on the way – and keep your eyes on GamesRadar+ for updates from D23's main studio panel for news on Ahsoka and more.

At D23, Ezra Bridger star Eman Esfandi has teased what's to come in Ahsoka season 2 – and it sounds pretty epic.

"There's going to be more lightsabers. A lot more lightsaber action. There's going to be some space battles, some space action, and there's going to be witches, and swords, and explosions galore," the actor shared during a talk attended by GamesRadar+ at the Disney convention. "It's going to be really fun, really fast-paced, and we may or may not hear something about that a little later today. So, stay tuned here at D23 for Ahsoka season 2."

Ahsoka season 2 is set to feature the return of Admiral Ackbar, who will face off against Grand Admiral Thrawn – which might be one of the space battles Esfandi is talking about. It also sounds like we can expect to see more of the fearsome Nightsisters of Dathomir.

The new season will also see the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, while Game of Thrones star Rory McCann takes over the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson.

"A lot of action. Fights, battles, explosions, lightsabers, lasers," Esfandi has previously teased of season 2. "I'm having a flashback. So a lot of action, and I think everybody's gonna love it. Dave [Filoni] went nuts, and all of us were ready to follow suit of our fearless leader, and it's gonna be a lot of fun."

Ahsoka season 2 doesn't yet have a release date. While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows for everything else that's on the way – and keep your eyes on GamesRadar+ for updates from D23's main studio panel for news on Ahsoka and more.

Dead bodies. Danger. A small-town conspiracy. A grizzled vet and a plucky upstart trying to crack the case.

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

At first glance, Lanterns treads old, murderous ground in the 'backwater' of Rushville, Nebraska after a mass shooting at a high school football game. The grimy tendrils of True Detective, Top of the Lake, and even Fargo stretch out in familiar fashion across the grounded superhero detective show's first seven episodes.

But then, a flash of green light and we're suddenly stepping into the territory of two sets of three letters: HBO and – perhaps more intriguingly for comic book fans and crime aficionados alike – the DCU.

Those hungry for a prestige procedural, as fans of the channel that brought us The Wire and Mare of Easttown can rest easy, even if they may be quick to raise an eyebrow over its DC trappings.

The origins of the incumbent Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler, in superbly irascible form throughout) – essentially a space cop, with jurisdiction over Earth in 'Sector 2814' – are wisely breezed over in favor of Lanterns' magnetic not-so-buddy-buddy cop dynamic.

Hal, world-weary and just as quick with a vicious barb as he is at manifesting green-hued matter through his Lantern ring, has been in the job for decades by the time we meet him in 2016. There, he descends on a town filled with upstanding law enforcement, suspicious benefactors, and a John Dutton-esque patriarch in the shape of Garrett Dillahunt's fearsome cowboy William Macon.

In Hal's rear-view mirror is his trainee: hungry young lion John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), all restless charisma and eager to prove he's more than a "backup quarterback."

In brightest day...

A promising premise if ever there was one, only bolstered by an all-star creative team (Ozark's Chris Mundy, Watchmen and The Leftovers' Damon Lindelof, and comic book legend Tom King) injecting the sort of narrative momentum that puts most glacially-paced miniseries to shame.

In Lanterns, cliffhangers are sudden and meaningful. Each episode ends on a beat that will make the week-long gap between new entries excruciating and exciting in equal measure.

The plot, too, moves with such immediacy that you'll scarcely have time to take in the vivid and sharply-drawn wider cast, including Kelly Macdonald as the perma-conflicted Sheriff Kane and Laura Linney as a matter-of-fact Guardian of the Universe pulling strings in the background (not to be confused with James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, it should be said).

One mid-season episode could even be mistaken for a finale; such is the speed the investigation – which soon introduces an alien race familiar to DC fans – unspools and later resolves itself.

Thrillingly, the writers appear to have thrown plot armor to the wayside, too. Rushville is a nasty, odd, and lethal place to live – and Lanterns makes that known at every turn.

It's a brave and bold approach which, from the jump, turns this DC adventure from a twist on standard comic book fare into HBO's most dangerous show since Boardwalk Empire or classic Game of Thrones. At any given juncture, no one is safe, and Big Moments can happen at any time.

But this isn't just about the crime; it's mostly about the characters. In Hal Jordan and John Stewart, Lanterns couldn't have chosen a better pairing. It also ensures any danger of the HBO series falling into comfortable, uninspired genre rhythms is soon swept away in favor of exploring the fiery side to the duo's relationship – and a shared history that, admittedly, dilutes the uniqueness of how Green Lanterns are chosen. More on that in a moment.

Not only does the pair being at constant loggerheads scratch the Rust Cohle and Marty Hart itch we've been clamoring for ever since True Detective's first season, it skilfully turns expectations on what a hero truly is in this fledgling universe on its head.

This isn't Superman's good-natured intentions, nor is it a flawed Supergirl or Guy Gardner's cocky bluster. Lanterns teases something far richer, the sort of emotional complexities that can only be drawn out by spending eight hours with our protagonists. There are even shades of Damon Lindelof's Watchmen in how Lanterns subtly confronts deep-rooted race issues in America alongside Hal's rapidly decaying sense of self-worth.

...in darkest night

Yet, it's not all perfect. There are times, particularly in an oddly-placed third episode that over-explains John Stewart's backstory, where Lanterns loses faith in itself and attempts to outwit an imaginary comic book audience.

In a series of events that will likely rankle with a dyed-in-the-wool DC pack, Green Lanterns lore is twisted, reframing John's lay-up of a hero's journey as a faintly unpalatable 'destiny' that robs him of most agency and comes dangerously close to a dual act of character assassination for both John and Hal, who also has an indirect part to play in John's childhood.

Those misdemeanors, though, are mild and don't derail the show – even if the lack of faith partially betrays Lanterns' primary mission of frontloading narrative shocks amid a surprisingly restrained use of CGI and color.

Yes, let's talk about the green elephant in the room. No, Lanterns is not a wide-eyed spectacle that looks like it's leapt off the pages of Geoff Johns' classic Green Lantern run. Its palette is frequently brown, muddy, and muted. Nor does it come close to approaching cosmic territory, save for a sprinkling of Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) that feels almost unfair in both how good it is and how infrequently the DC supervillain is deployed.

But does it matter? Absolutely not. This is, in many ways, a deliberate departure from 2011's Green Lantern movie. Not that you'll be thinking about the Ryan Reynolds bomb here. You'll be too busy getting lost in a captivating mystery, drenched in subtle character work and wrapped around a masterful Hal/John dynamic that almost begs to be wrung dry across multiple seasons.

Dead bodies. Danger. A small-town conspiracy. You know the rest. Yes, we've been here before. Lanterns, though, is a fascinating blend of comic book caper and murder mystery. Its core pairing of Hal Jordan and John Stewart – despite some controversial deviations from their traditional origins – crackles with tension and genuine physical threat in a manner that feels novel to both the superhero genre and the many detective shows it successfully emulates.

Better yet, it's a confident story being told at a time when the foundations of the DCU are at their shakiest. After all, Supergirl faltered big time at the box office, and James Gunn's post-Man of Tomorrow plans have not yet materialized. The DCU needed this win.

Whether it's in brightest day or blackest night for the DCU, Lanterns is guaranteed to be a shining beacon of light among its superhero TV contemporaries – and close to essential viewing, whether you're a DC fan or otherwise.

Lanterns airs on HBO and HBO Max Sunday, August 16 in the US and on HBO Max in the UK on August 17.

For more on what that means for you, check out our Lanterns release schedule.

In case you haven't heard, after almost being deleted from existence as a tax write-down, it turns out Coyote vs Acme is very good. The Looney Tunes legal comedy is at 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the movie's villains – the ACME Corporation – have issued the perfect meta response to the news.

"It is a very sad day," starts the 'leaked' memorandum. "The reviews are distressing. I've included some shocking quotes for context." A series of glowing reactions follow: "The best live action/toon hybrid since Roger Rabbit" and "The funniest film of 2026 so far." The ACME Corp response? "We are considering purchasing Rotten Tomatoes before the August 28th release date to squash the raves." Deliciously evil. Check out the full memorandum below.

Of course, this is all just a bit of fun. But it's the kind of – actually funny – meta promotion that we can get behind. After all, a movie that was almost erased forever by a very real monolithic corporation, poking fun at its former corporate overlords under the guise of its own fictional monolithic corporation is clever! And bodes well for the film itself living up to the long wait.

In case you missed all the drama over the last 4+ years, Coyote vs Acme completed filming in May 2022, and was due for release in the summer of 2023 before mysteriously disappearing from the schedule. In November of that year, Warner Bros announced that they would not be releasing the film and would take a $30 million tax write-down instead, following similar moves with Batgirl and Scoob! Holiday Haunt (which both remain shelved).

The reaction was critical, to say the least, with Project Hail Mary directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller among the filmmakers to condemn Warner Bros' decision. Reports of various near-sales emerged over the next 12 months, before the movie was eventually sold to Ketchup Entertainment in May 2025, which set an August 28, 2026 release date. The happy ending – everyone loves the movie. Everyone except ACME Corp, of course…

Directed by David Green, with a story by some guy called James Gunn, it sees Wile E. Coyote enlist the help of an accident lawyer played by Will Forte in a legal battle against ACME, Inc. after a life of grievous bodily harm in the name of entertainment. John Cena plays ACME's tough-as-nails corporate counsel. Lana Condor and P.J. Byrne also star.

You can finally check out Coyote vs. Acme for yourself when it hits theaters on August 28, 2026. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies heading your way.

One thing has really stood out in all of the trailers for upcoming DC show Lanterns so far, and that's Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan suited up. We've had a brief look at him in the Green Lantern suit in the early clips, and it looks pretty incredible.

However, it turns out that this was a pretty late addition to the series. Speaking on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, Chandler revealed: "So they weren't sure whether there was going to be a suit as I understand it. Then towards the end they decide let's have a suit. Then they had to design a suit, they came up with three different designs."

The actor went on to describe how the costume designers created the final piece, which he described as having "battle scars on it." He added: "It's an incredible suit, they built something that was just incredible. It took a while, it was in pieces. It took about 45 minutes to get it on."

The choice was clearly made to make sure the Green Lantern suit looked authentic too, given the backlash to Ryan Reynolds' CGI version in the panned 2011 movie. Lanterns takes place in a much more grounded reality as it combines the superhero genre with crime noir.

It follows Jordan as he teams up with a new recruit, Aaron Pierre's John Stewart, to solve a mysterious case in small-town America, which they believe has cosmic implications.

Lanterns begins on August 16 on HBO Max in the US and August 17 on NOW in the UK. For more, check out our Lanterns release schedule and our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows.

An actor behind cancelled Marvel TV show New Warriors has revealed a treasure trove of behind-the-scenes images from the MCU project, as well a heartfelt tribute to the series-that-never-was.

Derek Theler, who was set to play Mr. Immortal in the New Warriors pilot, took to Instagram to explain more about the show, which featured the unlikely C-list team of Squirrel Girl, Night Thrasher, Speedball, Microbe, and Debrii protecting Cleveland, Ohio, of all places.

"The concept was hilarious," Theler wrote. "A group of young adults with superpowers trying to figure out how to actually become superheroes, all while being followed by a documentary camera crew. Basically, Marvel meets The Office."

Despite filming a pilot that, according to Theler, was well-received, the show eventually fell by the wayside.

Theler wrote, "Eventually, the show disappeared into Hollywood limbo. No dramatic cancellation. No real explanation. We just never came back."

While it joins the long list of other scrapped superhero projects, from Marvel or otherwise, Theler has at least shared clips and photos from production, including Milana Vayntrub's Squirrel Girl in costume – which you can see below.

"We were FORBIDDEN from taking photos or videos on set… but there was no chance I was letting my introduction to the MCU go completely undocumented," Theler said. "So I secretly captured some BTS footage. As far as I know, it’s the only footage from our shoot outside whatever Marvel has locked away in a vault."

Theler even shared his own personal thoughts on the project's termination. He wrote, "Every once in a while, I wonder what could have been. Would people have loved it? Would we have gotten multiple seasons?"

New Warriors, though, has shown no signs of life since. Squirrel Girl's actor Milana Vayntrub went on to voice the character in Marvel Rivals, however.

Marvel Studios has pared back on its television output, too, with Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and VisionQuest among its very few MCU projects on Disney Plus in the next 12 months.

For more, check out our guide to upcoming Marvel movies.

Marvel Studios will be appearing at D23 as part of the company's major panel today. But when exactly is it?

It feels like only yesterday that Kevin Feige headed to San Diego Comic-Con 2026 for a host of big announcements, but Marvel still has more up its sleeves. They'll appear in the Disney Entertainment Showcase, which takes place at the annual convention for the House of Mouse, D23.

This is set to be a bumper event featuring the latest from Marvel, as well as announcements from Star Wars and Lucasfilm, Pixar, and other upcoming Disney projects. Happening live from Anaheim in California, we're expecting some big news covering everything from Ahsoka season 2 to VisionQuest.

So when does it all kick off and how can you keep up with the latest news? We've compiled a guide below for everything you need to know about the D23 Marvel panel below. And if that wasn't enough, check out our guides to all the upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Star Wars movies for what might be in store.

When is the D23 Marvel Panel?

The D23 Marvel Panel forms part of the Disney Entertainment Showcase. This kicks off on Friday, August 14th at 7pm PT. It runs for two hours, concluding at 9pm PT.

If you're watching on the East Coast, this means it starts at 10pm EDT. In the UK, this means you'll have to tune it on Saturday, August 15 at 3am BST.

Disney don't release the exact running order for their panel so if you're hoping to tune in for only the Marvel Studios announcements, it might be a bit tricky to navigate. They'll probably only have around 20-30 minutes of the allotted time too, which could come at any point during the timeframe.

How to watch D23

Unfortunately, the Disney Entertainment Showcase is not streamed live. This means that you won't be able to watch along as it happens. Some panels are streamed during D23, but this is not one of them.

This means that if you want to follow along with all the news and announcements, then you'll need to keep an eye on our live-blog as well as Total Film's Twitter for live updates.

What will be announced at D23?

We're not yet sure what will be announced at D23 but some early details in the convention hall have given us a bit of an idea. The Ahsoka season 2 costumes have been on display so we'd hedge our bets that a trailer might be imminent for the Star Wars show.

VisionQuest also has an installation, featuring an intriguing tease about a new character. We're yet to have a trailer from the show, despite it arriving in just a few months. D23 might be the perfect time for that.

Other potential announcements could come around the upcoming X-Men movie. The project was largely absent from Marvel's San Diego Comic-Con panel and there have been some casting rumors circling.

Other upcoming projects sure to get a mention include Star Wars: Starfighter and Avengers: Doomsday.

In terms of other Disney news, there are rumors that a new Pixar movie will be announced and we expect to hear some details from the upcoming Frozen 3.

Check out our guide to all the new Disney movies coming in 2026 and beyond.

Yet another upcoming TV show has been scrapped this week, as reports suggest Disney's Power Rangers series is dead in the water.

According to Deadline, Disney is no longer moving forward with its live-action Power Rangers series, which was intended to screen on Disney Plus. Deadline reports that the reasons for Power Rangers' cancelation is budget related.

Shows of that nature, much like Marvel or any other superhero undertaking, often come with a hefty price tag. Moreover, a major IP like Power Rangers is a big investment, especially as Disney does not own the brand. Like Barbie and Masters of the Universe, Hasbro owns the Power Rangers.

The series was announced in March 2025, but is said to have entered development as early as 2024. However, not much was known about the show. The project was written and executive produced by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz. The duo is best known for serving as producers and showrunners on the much-loved Disney Plus show Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which has season 3 in the works.

However, the Power Rangers have had successful stints on television before. The franchise kicked off in 1993 with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which spawned multiple series running for 30 seasons. The show solidified the colourful heroes in popular culture, leading to a successful merchandise line. Since then, we have seen the color-coded heroes leap to the big screen, including the most recent 2017 movie, Power Rangers

However, the latest movie flopped, earning $142 million worldwide against its predicted $110 million budget. The movie was supposed to kickstart a new franchise with three more movies to follow. But that never happened. Earlier this year, star Dacre Montgomery revealed that Lionsgate planned to do with Power Rangers what it had done with The Hunger Games franchise.

For more, check out our guide to the best shows on Disney Plus, and keep up with new TV shows still to come in 2026.

Supergirl has come under fire after a new video appeared to show the filmmakers using generative AI during pre-production on the DC Studios movie. In a behind-the-scenes featurette, director Craig Gillespie can be seen looking at a screen with images of Lobo's design on it.

However, instead of being traditional concept art, many commenters have suggested these images seem to be generative AI. These allegations have been shared widely across social media too, with viewers pointing out the distinctive blurry look that computer-generated images have.

Following the backlash, Warner Bros. removed the video from YouTube. It's not currently clear whether the featurette will also be taken off the digital release of the superhero movie too. GamesRadar+ has reached out to Warner Bros. for comment on whether the imagery was AI-generated and why the video was removed.

Supergirl underperformed at the box office when it was released earlier this year, making less that Joker 2 and Morbius. It also landed to some pretty mixed reviews, earning just a 52% Rotten Tomatoes score.

GamesRadar+ gave the movie 3.5 stars, writing in our Supergirl review that it's "Superman's messier younger cousin in every way". Our reviewer added: "Supergirl earns its Guardians of the Galaxy and Mad Max comparisons with a surprisingly dark (and sometimes downright gross) space adventure about revenge and finding your home."

Despite her mixed arrival, Kara Zor-El will be returning in the upcoming Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, which is due out next year. Before that, next up in the DCU is Lanterns, which starts airing on HBO Max on Sunday, August 15.

For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming DC movies and shows as well as our breakdown of how to watch the DC movies in order.

The X-Men casting rumor mill is currently in overdrive. Right now, a handful of names have been confirmed, with one or two others almost a guarantee.

Beef's Charles Melton is one of those in the latter camp. For months now, whispers have circulated that he is next in line to play Beast in Marvel Studios' X-Men reboot.

Largely, he has kept schtum – but has now admitted the attention surrounding him isn't all that bad, especially if it inches him closer to a reunion with some of X-Men's key creatives.

"It depends on what day or moment you catch me on, but right now I’d say I think I believe in [director Jake Schreier] and [Beef creator and X-Men co-writer Lee Sung Jin] so much, and I would love to work with them again, and many more times. They know that,” Melton told The Playlist of both the X-Men rumors and the prospect of working with his Beef crew again.

Melton, however, admits he's not always reading the latest reports. "I try to stay away from the fodder as much as I can," he said, and jokingly added. "So I’ve limited myself to Googling myself maybe 20 times a day instead of 50. It was really bad before."

Melton continued, "No, man, it’d be amazing to work with them again. And I think whenever people are talking about you in a very maybe positive, hopeful way, I think it’s exciting. But I think it’s amazing to be talked about and even considered for any of those possibilities about something amazing.”

Right now, Kit Connor is reported to play Cyclops in the MCU and Samara Weaving has reportedly been cast as Emma Frost. The pair would be joined by Sadie Sink's Jean Grey. Rumors are also persisting about Cailee Spaeny playing Rogue, but there's every chance we'll get more confirmation at the forthcoming D23 panel this weekend.

X-Men is currently undated.

For more, we have a complete guide on upcoming Marvel movies. Then take a step back in time with the Marvel timeline and a full look at how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

The first season of new DCU show Lanterns hasn't even hit HBO yet, but there is already talk of a second season.

At the Lanterns premiere, ScreenRant asked co-creator Damon Lindelof if he has plans for Lanterns season 2. "If it's successful and people love it, there's a lot of runway to launch into future seasons," said Lindelof. "But I think Chris Mundy has already started a new writers' room, figuring out what new stories could be for Lanterns."

Although he didn't reveal what season 2 might entail, Lindelof did list several actors he would want to see in the next installment, including Watchmen star Regina King, The Leftovers actors Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon, and Wonder Man himself. "I worked with a great actor, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, who would be great," said Lindelof. "He was already in the old version of the DCU. He played the bad guy in the Aquaman movies."

There have been rumblings of Lanterns season 2 this week, after the series landed a new co-showrunner ahead of a possible second outing. According to The Ankler, comic writer and producer Christopher Cantwell has joined as co-showrunner alongside Chris Mundy. However, Lanterns has yet to receive an official renewal from HBO or DC Studios.

It seems that anything is possible in the DCU right now, as DCU: Chapter One has undergone a massive shake-up. On August 12, it was reported that upcoming DC shows Waller and Wonder Woman series Paradise Lost had been scrapped. But Booster Gold, which has been hit with cancellation rumors, remains in development.

However, Lindelof admits that when he approached Lanterns, he only had the first season on his mind. "We came into this with the sort of attitude that this was a mystery with a beginning, middle, and end," said the long-time DC collaborator. "We had a story to tell about characters that we really cared about, and we would want the audience to kind of get to know them over the course of the first season and really invest in them, and then that story ended."

Lanterns follows Green Lantern and intergalactic cop Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and his trainee John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a mysterious murder. The season is set across two timelines in 2016 and 2026, and also stars Kelly Macdonald as a local sheriff, Ulrich Thomsen as Sinestro, and Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner.

Lanterns hits HBO Max on August 16. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

A new look at VisionQuest has debuted at D23 and it's seemingly revealed a major new character. Shared on social media by attendees, the promotional art shows a figure on fire, surrounded by flames.

Plenty of Marvel fans on Reddit have already put two and two together and think this may be the Original Human Torch. The character has a fascinating history in the comics. Real name Jim Hammond, he first appeared back in 1939 as part of Timely Comics, Marvel's predecessor.

He was an android created by a scientist under the watch of Victor Timely (who we met in Loki season 2) and had the ability to control flames. He was one of the three main original heroes, alongside Captain America and Namor, before he fell mostly into obscurity and was repurposed into a member of the Fantastic Four in the '50s.

However, it's his connection with Vision that will likely be the most fertile ground for the upcoming TV show. In an Avengers storyline from the '70s, it was revealed that Torch's body was used to create Vision by none other than Ultron, who we know will play a key role in VisionQuest.

We have seen Vision's origins in the MCU already in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He was created by Ultron combining a vibranium body, synthetic tissue, and the Mind Stone. Tony Stark, Bruce Banner, and Thor intercepted the transfer, uploading J.A.R.V.I.S. to him, making the Vision we know and love, played by Paul Bettany. This could be expanded in VisionQuest though, especially if the show dives into Ultron's origins of creating Vision.

This also isn't the first time that we've had a nod to Hammond in the MCU either. Back in Captain America: The First Avenger, Howard Stark's Stark Expo showcased an android in a glass case. Called Phineas Horton's "Synthetic Man", this was a nod to the original Human Torch. It will be interesting to see that Easter egg finally expanded in the MCU, almost 15 years later.

VisionQuest releases on October 14, 2026 on Disney Plus. This makes it the next MCU project ahead of Avengers: Doomsday in December. For more upcoming superhero movies, check out our guide to all the new Marvel movies and shows you need to know about.

With the DCU being in its infancy, it's absolutely true that there isn't a lot to watch before Lanterns. This isn't the MCU, with its hours of streaming 'homework' and other essential movies to catch up on before diving headlong into its newest release.

But if you're new to the DCU or to Green Lantern as a character, there are still multiple movies and shows we'd regard as either essential or recommend viewing. Not only will it ground you on who exactly Hal Jordan and John Stewart are before they make their in-universe bows, but our lists will also offer some much-needed context on the weirder and more cosmic side of the cinematic universe.

So, join us as we run through everything to watch before Lanterns. Then, take a look ahead to everything James Gunn and Peter Safran are cooking up as part of DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.

The DCU essentials

Let's start with the DCU. While none of the current projects directly set up Lanterns, we would absolutely suggest starting with Superman if you haven't done so already.

Not only does it introduce another Green Lantern in Guy Gardner (so you can get to grips with his ego and skillset), but it also operates as an introduction to the DCU-at-large – and all the heroes that inhabit the world.

Even better, Superman's 2027 sequel, Man of Tomorrow, is confirmed to include Aaron Pierre's John Stewart. So becoming familiar with that side of the DCU is imperative before jumping onboard with Lanterns and, then, the next step in Stewart's story.

Elsewhere, Creature Commandos and Supergirl are perfect primers for fans who aren't aware of DC's zanier, more cosmic side. This isn't all Batman battering goons, you know. Creature Commandos has an eclectic cast of characters that fall right in line with the wider roster of Green Lanterns, including a living planet and a squirrel (yes, really).

While Lanterns appears to be a grounded detective drama, it may yet shoot for the stars. This year's Supergirl was another adventure among the cosmos, so is well worth seeking out too.

Green Lantern: The Animated Series

The DCU isn't the only time Hal Jordan has been on the screen. 2010s show Green Lantern: The Animated Series follows Jordan in a starbound adventure, which should give you a taste of exactly who Hal is and how he works both solo and as part of the Green Lantern Corps.

Justice League Unlimited

John Stewart has been around in the comics for decades, but Justice League and its follow-up DCAU (DC Animated Universe) series Justice League Unlimited put Stewart on the map in a big way.

The nature of the series (and the superhero group) means it's more of an ensemble piece, but there are plenty of Green Lantern-adjacent and John Stewart-centric episodes to watch. We would recommend season 1 episode 'Hunter's Moon' and season 3's 'Far From Home'.

HBO Max in the US also has other animated projects, including Green Lantern: Beware My Power and Emerald Knights.

For more, check out how to watch the DC movies in order.

From the Sonic movies to Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil film, video game adaptations are taking over Hollywood, with military shooter Gears of War being the latest franchise to be picked up by Netflix. However, producer Kelly McCormick believes that adaptations should contribute to the game's story and lore, rather than retell it.

When we spoke to McCormick about her upcoming festive action flick Violent Night 2, we asked for an update on the Gears of War movie, which is still in very early development. "I can't really talk about Gears of War right now," says McCormick to GamesRadar+. "But I'll leave it at we are very excited about being involved and are making great progress on the script and movement toward making the movie."

The producer added, "I'm really excited, and I think it's a perfect time for it with the game coming out," referring to the upcoming game Gears of War: E-Day.

Although McCormick couldn't spill any details, the producer did give us an insight into how she approaches adaptations like Gears of War. "I think it's a really special IP. People spend a lot of time in their games and love their games. [But] there's more to give than what they're doing in their games," adds the Atomic Blonde producer. "There's more story to tell. And I think, to me, the games that we really respond to are games that have started a story but haven't finished one, or a game that has so much to give story-wise."

McCormick says that the goal is for games and on-screen projects to "communicate between each other," so fans can "play the game," then "see the movie," and so on. "The movie contributes to the next game, and the game contributes to the next movie. And they have a bit of an ecosystem where you can experience both of them and feel more connected to the game, but also feel more connected to the movie."

In June, it was revealed that the Gears of War film, directed by The Fall Guy helmer and McCormick's husband David Leitch, will act as a Delta Squad origin story. The description shared by Entertainment Weekly reads, "a ragtag crew of soldiers who wage a desperate war for survival against the Locust, a race of subterranean creatures set on destroying humanity." Now, that sounds pretty much in line with the new game.

Set 14 years before the first Gears of War game, Gears of War: E-Day follows a young Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago during the first Locust Horde attack. From McCormick's comments and the timing of the adaptation, it would make sense for the movie to serve as an extension of the game. Developed by The Coalition, Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6, 2026.

The Gears of War movie does not yet have a release date. For more, keep up with video game release dates and upcoming video game movies on the way.

A new trailer and four minutes of footage from Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has leaked online. Circulating on social media, this marks another major breach for Sony after a Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer leaked earlier this year.

We won't link the footage here but according to those who've seen it, it picks up in the wake of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. The ending of that movie saw Miles Morales end up in Earth-42 where he comes face-to-face with an alternate Miles, who is the Prowler.

There's also some new footage from the upcoming final movie in the franchise featuring Spider-Gwen, Spider-Ham, and Spider-Punk. It's likely this is similar to the footage that was shown earlier this year at CinemaCon. Hopefully Sony releases it online soon for all of us to enjoy.

Sony has been plagued by a lot of leaks recently with several Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailers also finding their way online. They're not the only studio facing this either with the full Aang: The Last Airbender movie ending up on social media in a Paramount breach.

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse is released on June 18, 2027. The new movie sees Miles trapped in Earth-42 while being hunted by Miguel O'Hara's Spider Society. His journey to try and save his father from an upcoming fatal "canon event" will lead him to race across dimensions on a climactic final mission.

For more upcoming superhero movies, check out our guide to all the new Marvel movies and shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.

Matthew McConaughey has revealed that he turned down the role of Joel in HBO's The Last of Us TV show.

"I wasn’t really acting at that point," McConaughey told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "That was when I was doing more writing and looking at leadership roles in life. It was really good. I was excited. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not a huge TV watcher, we pulled off a real coup with True Detective at a time when series were not something that actors like myself or Woody Harrelson would hop over and go do. That one succeeded in a real royal fashion. Last of Us was really good but it wasn’t for me at the time."

The role ultimately went to Pedro Pascal, and effectively cemented his status as a household name. The TV series is based on the massively popular video game of the same name, which is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by disease and follows an immune girl named Ellie who develops an unlikely father-daughter-esque bond with a morally gray man named Joel. Ellie is portrayed first as a 13-year-old in season 1, as the first season adapts the first game, and is 19 in season 2, which adapts the sequel.

The show, which premiered in 2023, has been nominated for countless Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, though it may be set to end after its third season (despite previous announcements of a fourth).

McConaughey was no doubt asked to play Joel after his award-winning performance in True Detective (and because Joel also has a southern accent), and while the casting would've made sense, it would've been a completely different show (and I would just spend every episode waiting for Harrelson to show up.)

The Last of Us season 3 is expected to premiere on HBO in 2027. For more, check out our guide to the best shows on HBO Max, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

As we hit the midway point of August, there is still so much to enjoy on streaming. One of our most-anticipated shows of the year finally arrives this week, as Lanterns begins on HBO Max. The DCU show has a lot of buzz around it, and we can't wait to see the introduction of the classic comic book characters in James Gunn's universe.

That's not the only big show premiering this week either, with the hugely anticipated return of Reacher hitting Prime Video and the epic conclusion to X-Men '97. In terms of movies, there's plenty to pick from, with one of the best horrors of recent years arriving on Netflix as well as a special director's cut of The X-Files: I Want to Believe available too.

We're truly spoiled for choice with our picks of what to watch this weekend. Thankfully, our guide is here to help you navigate your streaming options and how to find them. Read on for our complete breakdown of the 5 best new shows and movies streaming this week on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, and more. And if that wasn't enough, we've also got some guides to the best Apple TV shows and the best Apple TV movies to keep you entertained this summer.

Lanterns

Available: US/UK
Where to Watch: HBO Max

After the mixed success of Supergirl, Lanterns is DC's newest shining hope as it hits HBO Max this weekend. Sitting in the prestigious Sunday night slot, the new weekly show follows the notorious intergalactic peacekeepers. Experienced Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) teams up with new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) to investigate a murder in Rushville, Nebraska.

Billed as a True Detective-style superhero story, the series is the next major project in the DCU. We've already met one Lantern in Guy Gardner, but the tone of this one will be much darker and more grounded. This is especially true given the talent behind the camera: Lost's Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, and Tom King. It's well worth a watch when it begins on August 16, whether you're a comic book fan or not.

For more, check out our round-up of the best shows on HBO Max to watch now.

Reacher season 4

Available: US/UK
Where to Watch: Prime Video

The big man is back. Reacher season 4 has started on Prime Video with new episodes of the action thriller dropping weekly. Alan Ritchson is back as Jack Reacher, punching his way through a new mission. This time he gets embroiled in a CIA conspiracy after witnessing a young woman take her own life on the subway. Neagely is out of the picture ahead of her spin-off show, but a new local detective (played by Sydelle Noel) proves to be a standout in the eight-part show.

Our own Reacher season 4 review admits that while it's not the "strongest installment" of the show, the fight scenes continue to "pack a punch". The future of the Reacher universe is set too, with a season 5 already in the works, meaning we'll be seeing plenty more of Ritchson's imposing former military police officer soon. While you're here, check out our Reacher season 4 set visit report too for everything we learned about the TV show.

Check out our guide to the best Amazon Prime shows for more essential viewing.

X-Men '97 season 2 finale

Available: US/UK
Where to Watch: Disney Plus

It's all led to this. X-Men '97 season 2 has finally come to an end with an explosive finale. The final episode of the beloved animated series features some major cameos, heartbreaking losses, and big surprises. Entitled 'Survival of the Fittest', episode nine focuses on Rogue as she races against time to try and save Gambit.

While the MCU's TV shows have had some mixed quality in the last few years, X-Men '97 has proved to be a standout. Great writing, solid character choices, and a lot of fun, the series should be a blueprint for tackling mutants in Marvel in live-action too. Once you've seen the final episode, check out our breakdown of the X-Men '97 season 2 post-credits scene and the X-Men '97 season 2 ending explained for what it all means for season 3.

Our list of the best Disney Plus shows is stacked with quality entertainment.

Immaculate

Available: US
Where to watch: Netflix

Sydney Sweeney's twisty horror Immaculate is now streaming on Netflix and is the perfect choice if you're after something gripping this weekend. It stars Sweeney as an American nun who begins a new life at a remote convent in the Italian countryside. However, strange things soon start to happen and she finds herself inexplicably pregnant.

Is it an immaculate conception or is something horrifying happening at this seemingly beautiful religious sanctuary? Alongside Sweeney, Money Heist's Álvaro Morte also stars as a charming priest in Michael Mohan's 90-minute thriller. It first came out in 2024 but is now streaming for subscribers on Netflix.

See what else we recommend with our guide to the best movies on Netflix.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe Vrach Frankenshteyn

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Disney+/Hulu

As well as The X-Files: I Want to Believe arriving on Disney Plus this week, the streamer has also dropped a director's cut of the 2008 movie. Never seen before, this is an R-rated version from Chris Carter, which restores some of the horror elements removed from the original film.

David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully in the movie, which takes place years after they stepped away from the FBI. They're drawn back in when a federal agent disappears without a trace, leading them into a mystery featuring a former priest and an unforgiving winter landscape. A must-watch ahead of the announced Ryan Coogler reboot.

Here's our round-up of the best movies on Disney Plus.

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

Avengers: Infinity War may have been released eight years ago, but we're still noticing new details about the film. One Marvel fan has even spotted a continuity goof in the MCU movie involving Iron Man.

The scene in question comes in the Greenwich Village street battle when Thanos' generals make a surprise attack to try and steal the Time Stone from Doctor Strange. Preparing for the upcoming fight, Tony Stark transforms into his Mark 50 armor using "nanotech".

However, after he takes the glasses off his face, they disappear into thin air in his hands. You can watch the moment in this clip shared by Dr. Kohan on Twitter below.

It's quite a funny transition as the glasses seem to disappear as Tony lowers his arm. Fans have been reacting to the goof on Twitter, with some kicking themselves about missing this when they first watched.

Some have also pointed out that there might be an explanation that the glasses are simply absorbed into his suit. This is possible given that nanotechnology isn't completely explained in the MCU and seems to be extremely powerful. Although, as the original poster pointed out, if it can be absorbed, why did Stark even bother taking them off?

Although one Marvel fan has a simple conclusion: "They don't disappear. They just merge with the suit. Why did he take them off then? Swagger." Seems about right to us…

Next up in the MCU is Avengers: Doomsday, which sees Robert Downey Jr. return in a new role as Doctor Doom. Despite an impressive trailer, a lot remains unknown about the upcoming movie, which hits theaters in December.

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

There was a time when it seemed like Coyote vs Acme would never make it to the screen. Shelved by Warner Bros. in 2023 as part of a tax write-off, the film was eventually sold to a new distributor in Ketchup Entertainment in 2025.

Now, it seems revenge is even sweeter for the movie as it has debuted to rave reviews from critics. Currently sitting at a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score at 95%, early reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.

Time Out gave it four stars, writing: "Slamming the funny bone with the force of a plunging piano, this berserk comedy is like swallowing a sausage-string of TNT. In other words, it's an absolute blast."

Meanwhile, Indie Wire's Kate Erbland concluded: "The truth is: the film is good. Clever and snappy, fresh and silly, a winning combination of classic Looney Tunes gags and contemporary concerns."

IGN was similarly glowing in their review, writing: "It’s a savvy mix of absurd humor, a satirical, meta-subplot, and just enough emotional weight to make us care about these short-form animated punching bags for a full feature-length runtime."

"It’s a pleasure to report that the film is a hilarious delight, one of the best live-action/animation films ever, and will be treasured by Looney Tunes fans (and who isn’t one?)," agreed The Hollywood Reporter's Frank Sheck.

The only negative reviews we could spot came from Variety, who called the film "neutered and tame", and Screen Daily, which called out the "lacklustre screenplay."

Directed by Dave Green, the movie follows Wile E. Coyote as he finally fights back after a career of being blown to pieces. He teams up with an accident lawyer played by Will Forte as they take on ACME, Inc. and its corporate counsel played by John Cena.

Coyote vs. Acme hits theaters on August 28, 2026. For more upcoming movies, check out our guide to all the movie release dates you need to know about.

The X-Files reboot is slowly moving ahead with Sinners director Ryan Coogler the mastermind behind the new series. We also know that it will feature two new leads, played by Till's Danielle Deadwyler and The Odyssey's Himesh Patel.

However, there has been a question mark over just how connected it will be to the original series, which starred David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Now it seems like Chris Carter, who created the show, has let slip a key connection.

“At least Gillian, I think, is going to appear in the Coogler version," he told Polygon. "And I'm assuming David will too, so you will see Mulder and Scully there." Intriguing…

Carter would be in the know too as he's an executive producer on the new version. However, it's not entirely a surprise that Anderson has some involvement as she previously revealed that she's read the pilot script.

"We've had a few conversations," she said of Coogler at Washington DC's Awesome Con back in March. "He's such a cool guy and so talented, and the pilot script is really good. So, I would say, 'Have an open mind and give it a chance because it's gonna be f***ing cool.' It really is. It's something different. It's different and it's special."

To tide you over in the meantime, a new version of The X-Files: I Want to Believe has just arrived on Disney Plus and Hulu. This features Carter's directors' cut, which brings in some of the horror elements that were removed from the original 2008 movie.

For what else to stream, check out our guide to the best movies on Disney Plus and all the new TV shows you need on your radar.

Sadly, X-Men '97 season 2 has come to an end, and with it has taken one of our favorite mutants. But, according to producer Jake Castorena, that death may not be as permanent as it looked.

Warning, the following contains major spoilers for X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9, so turn back now if you haven't caught up. But first, read our spoiler-free X-Men '97 season 2 review.

During the action-packed X-Men '97 season 2 finale, a couple of characters met their end in the battle against Apocalypse. However, the biggest death has to be Nightcrawler, real name Kurt Wagner. The blue-skinned mutant sacrificed himself to the Celestial in order to save his sister Rogue. You can read more about that in our X-Men '97 season 2 ending explained.

However, we may see Wagner again. In an interview with ScreenRant, Castorena was asked whether Nightcrawler and other mutants who died earlier in the season could return. "First and foremost, I will say: is anyone ever really dead in comics? Is anyone ever really dead?" said the producer. "Make no mistake, Nightcrawler is dead, you'll just have to watch season 3 to see how it all may play out. That's what I can say."

That's a little confusing, but what it sounds like Castorena is saying is that even though certain mutants may have died, they can always be brought back. It wouldn't be the first time a mutant had been revived in the animated series. In season 2, Gambit was resurrected by Apocalypse after being murdered in season 1. Maybe we will see Nightcrawler in X-Men '97 season 3, which is expected to premiere sometime in 2027.

However, Marvel fans will get to see another version of Nightcrawler again very soon. Original Nightcrawler star Alan Cumming is set to return as the mutant in Avengers: Doomsday alongside some of his Fox-era X-Men co-stars, including Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, and more. Cumming notably played the character in the 2003 movie X2: X-Men United.

X-Men '97 season 2 is now streaming in full on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide on how to watch the X-Men movies in order, and keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way.

By now, you've probably seen all the major Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs, references, and cameos.

From the Fisk poster to the nods to Marvel's comic book history, and parallels to Insomniac's Spidey games, there's enough there for the Spidey-Senses to tingle on any webhead fanatic.

But over on Reddit, one lesser-spotted Damage Control curio has cropped up – and ignited a debate over its identity.

As you can see below, the top floors of Damage Control HQ contain various assorted instruments and experiments. One of those includes a rather grisly skull, which certainly isn't of human origin.

The original poster, who admits they're still trying to figure out what exactly it is, gives the Lizard as a possible answer.

The villain, first introduced in 1963's The Amazing Spider-Man #6, rapidly became a fearsome member of Spider-Man's rogues' gallery, even appearing in live-action in The Amazing Spider-Man and later in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

We, and others, disagree. Instead of the Lizard, it appears to be the remains of the Chitauri, the alien species used by Loki to kickstart an invasion of Earth during 2012's The Avengers. The extraterrestrials have some shared history with Spider-Man too, with their tech being stolen as part of Spider-Man: Homecoming's plot.

Still, the question remains as to what Damage Control is up to. Brand New Day proved they are, again, up to no good when it comes to tracking and experimenting on mutants. If they're keeping aliens out in the open, what else are they keeping behind closed doors? Maybe we don't want to know.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in cinemas. For a breakdown of the finale, read our guides on the Spider-Man: Brand New Day ending and Spider-Man: Brand New Day post-credits scene.

It seems as though digital libraries will never really replace physical media, as one film fan is learning after Google removed the complete Lord of the Rings extended edition trilogy from their library.

Earlier this August, one Lord of the Rings fan went to his Google Play account to find the trilogy missing. But when they brought the matter up to Google, the site said that even though the user paid for the trilogy, the content had been removed because it is "no longer available in our catalogue," reads the original Reddit post, which has since been deleted. Then, when the user requested a refund, Google said that wasn't possible as the purchase was made outside its 120-day refund policy.

The fan, understandably angered by the situation, replied, "But I paid for the item, and it is no longer being provided." It is not clear how much the fan paid for the trilogy, but the collection is currently on sale for around $20 on Prime Video, down from $25. The exchange has since been posted on Twitter, which you can see below.

Lord of the Rings fans will understand the gravity of the situation. Even I had to check that my limited edition collection was still in its place. The trilogy includes extended editions of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, clocking in at over 11 hours in total.

However, it seems Google had a change of heart. On August 12, the user posted an update on Reddit, explaining that they chased the matter further until they reached a customer support specialist who apologised for the mistake and credited £20 ($27) to their account. The user states that Google also included links to the films. However, only two links work, and the movies remain behind paywalls.

Google states that, despite the trilogy disappearing from their library, the film fan still has ownership of them. But what does that really mean if they cannot actually watch the movies? It seems as though we need to invest in physical media now more than ever.

Next up in The Lord of the Rings universe, The Rings of Power season 3 is on the way later this year, followed by new movie The Hunt for Gollum. For more, check out our guide on how to watch The Lord of the Rings in order, and keep up with new movies on the way.

At a time where Star Wars desperately needs a cinematic win, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond has heaped praise on the upcoming Ryan Gosling-led Star Wars: Starfighter.

"I've been on set of [Star Wars: Starfighter] and that's a throwback to the Harrison Ford kind of Star Wars," Gelfond said on The Town with Matt Belloni.

When Belloni replied that The Mandalorian and Grogu tanking doesn't help their case, Gelfond said, "I'm on a limb on this one. I'll tell you, take it to the bank… I think it's going to be good."

Right now, Star Wars is on shaky theatrical ground. We're seven years removed from The Rise of Skywalker and the bad taste it left in the mouths of audiences still lingers. The Mandalorian and Grogu was also a notable box office flop, even though Disney felt it was a success in other areas.

Precious little is known about Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Shawn Levy. A new synopsis reads, "In a rebuilding galaxy, a solitary pilot becomes entangled in a crucial mission as new threats emerge. Their journey may alter the future of the Force itself."

Thrillingly, Tom Cruise also arrived on the set of Starfighter – and even helped direct an action scene. If Mr. Movies is onboard, that already feels like a good omen.

Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Aaron Pierre, is released in cinemas on May 28, 2027.

For more, check out the upcoming Star Wars movies currently in the works.

Ewan McGregor is waiting for Disney's call to bring him back as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Speaking ahead of the release of his new movie The End of Oak Street (which is getting rave reviews), the actor says there is plenty more to explore with his Star Wars character.

"I’m ready whenever they are," he told E! News. "They just seem to not be ready, but I'm up for it." He went on to share a few ideas about where we last saw Obi-Wan in the Star Wars universe at the end of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series back in 2022.

"At the end of the Obi-Wan series, I’m walking off into the desert and I’ve decided to leave. I’ve realized I can’t keep the pressure on Luke," he explains. "I realized he has to have his own childhood, so I leave him with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. And I wander off… and Qui-Gon's back. And we go off… but where are we going? What happens between those two moments is what I want to do and spend the rest of my career doing these stories."

The actor ended with a plea for Disney, which echoes his previous calls for the return of the character. "We’ve got plenty of time; I’ve got 10 years before I am Alec Guinesses’ age. So come on, Disney!"

The Star Wars universe on screen is looking a bit sparse over the next few years. Despite a lot of announcements, the only projects that appear to be in active development are Star Wars: Starfighter, which is a standalone movie starring Ryan Gosling, and Ahsoka season 2, which has finished filming.

D23 is around the corner, so more Star Wars stories could be announced there, especially after the release of The Mandalorian and Grogu earlier this year. However, it seems like there will be no Kenobi announcement yet.

For more on the galaxy far, far away, check out our guide to the Star Wars timeline and our round-up of all the upcoming Star Wars movies and shows.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day finally introduced the MCU's version of a major X-Men character by bringing Sadie Sink's Jean Grey into Spider-Man's story. She's initially the villain in the new movie, using her powers to hope between innocent people as she tries to infiltrate Damage Control.

It's a pretty brutal power and one that causes a lot of hurt along the way, breaking Peter Parker's heart when she pretends to be MJ, causing Bruce Banner to become the Hulk once again, and seemingly hurting a fair few of New York City's civilians too. However, now the movie's screenwriters have clarified that there's one line that Grey does not cross in the movie.

"I think technically, she’s not responsible for any deaths. But you come away with the impression, certainly, that she’s caused a lot of destruction in mayhem," Erik Sommers, who co-wrote the film with Chris McKenna, told The Hollywood Reporter.

"Even if you’re going to have a villain who really is redeemed at the end or goes through a transformation, you have to start them off in a place where they feel formidable. If it doesn’t feel like this is going to be someone who is a challenge to our hero, physically, emotionally, mentally, then you don’t really buy it."

Given that Grey is set to become a key part of the upcoming X-Men movie, this feels like the correct approach. While we love morally grey characters in the MCU like Loki, Scarlet Witch, and Bucky Barnes, it would be a tricky starting point for the telepathic mutant.

Ahead of the next stage of the MCU, the X-Men cast is starting to fill out. Alongside Sink's Grey, Ready or Not star Samara Weaving is down to play Emma Frost and Heartstopper star Kit Connor is in the running as Cyclops. With D23 just around the corner, we could get more actors announced very soon.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is in theaters now. For more on the movie, check out our Spider-Man: Brand New Day review and our guide to how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

The DCU is making some changes to its previously announced roster, and this reportedly includes scrapping Waller and Paradise Lost.

According to The Ankler, Waller and Paradise Lost are "both dead at DC, which also heard pitches for series built around Poison Ivy and Catwoman, though DC/HBO passed on both projects." Though Booster Gold was hit with cancellation rumors, the show "remains in development, and a search for a new writer is underway."

Waller was first announced as part of DCU's 'Chapter One,' when James Gunn and Peter Safran took control of DC Studios in 2023. The series, starring Viola Davis's Amanda Waller, was set to pick up after the events of Peacemaker season 2. Back in February 2025, Safran said that scripts "still haven't been able to land," which didn't bode well for future announcements.

Paradise Lost was also announced as part of the initial slate, and was described by Safran as a "Game of Thrones-ish story about Themyscira," the home of the Amazons and birthplace of Wonder Woman. The two projects join The Authority, which was also scrapped back in April.

In some positive news, a co-showrunner has reportedly already been hired for Lanterns season 2... which hits HBO Max on August 16.

For more, check out our list of upcoming DC movies and shows.

Makoto Shinkai is teaming up with Crunchyroll to release his new anime movie... that we still know nothing about.

Per a press release, Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment co-distribute Shinkai's new film, as they did with Suzume. The 2022 Golden Globe-nominated movie marked Shinkai's sixth film after 2019's Weathering With You. Per the release, "Plot details, along with the title and release date, are not being disclosed at this time."

Shinkai's career began in 1998 with the short film The World Be Enclosed, and he would later release his first feature-length film, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, in 2004. Of course, Shinkai is best known for Your Name, which became the second-highest-grossing movie of all time in Japan, and is widely regarded as one of the best anime movies of all time. The 2016 movie follows a teenage boy and girl who attempt to find each other after switching bodies, and currently sits at a near-perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

The filmmaker announced his new project back in 2024. Shinkai previously teased the movie on Twitter, writing: "The entire staff is working hard every day on my new film. I'm confident it's going to be a great film, so please hang in there just a little longer until the announcement!” We'll fill you in when we know more about the new project.

Your Name is streaming now on HBO Max. Suzume is available on Crunchyroll. For more, check out our list of all the new anime you should have on your radar.

After the events of House of the Dragon season 3, Rhaenyra and Daenerys Targaryen have a lot more in common than blonde hair and a love of all things dragons.

The current ruler on the Iron Throne, Rhaenyra, creeps into despot territory during the House of the Dragon season 3 ending, delivering a speech full of hubris – and mimicking Dany's centuries-later victory declaration outside the Red Keep as she aims to take the Iron Throne at King's Landing during Game of Thrones season 8.

As showrunner Ryan Condal reveals to Business Insider, those parallels were very much intentional, and acted as a means to connect the two HBO series.

"We're certainly aware of [the connection]," Condal said. "I think it's important that the show has echoes of the original series in it, in some ways, so that they remain connected. Because they are very much connected."

Condal continued, "This is the reason that Daenerys is begging for a crown across the Narrow Sea, and the dragons are all dead. Because of this story. So I think those connections are important to make to remind people that these two periods in history are intimately connected with one another."

So, the end cometh for one strand of the Targaryen family tree (something that Rhaenyra actor Emma D'Arcy agrees with) and provides a warning through history that will fall on deaf ears.

House of the Dragon season 4, meanwhile, is set to be the show's last.

For more, check out our guide on new TV shows currently in the works.

Jenna Ortega has broken her silence on Wednesday season 3, teasing that a coming-of-age story is in store for students still at Nevermore.

The second season of Wednesday ended with a litany of cliffhangers and unresolved story threads, not least of which involved the introduction of Aunt Ophelia into the Addams Family mix. On top of that, Enid transformed into an alpha werewolf, and Tyler joined a pack of Hyders.

It seems everyone has something personal to contend with. So it's little surprise, then, that Ortega is at pains to point out in an interview with Esquire how Wednesday season 3 will deal with supernatural teenagers being on the "precipice of adulthood."

"This season, especially because the kids are seniors in high school now, we’re dealing with more confrontational feelings regarding family and what it means to be an adult and what you see for your life," Ortega teased. "It’s not really until you get to the precipice of adulthood that you start to realize, Oh, God, well, maybe I’ve got to have a plan."

Amid the turmoil of most of Nevermore's major players, Wednesday season 3 will be adding a handful of newcomers into the fray.

Eva Green will portray the aforementioned Ophelia, while Winona Ryder switches the Upside Down for Jericho as Tabitha. Game of Thrones actor Lena Headey will also guest star.

No word yet on when Wednesday season 3 will land on Netflix, but you can see Jenna Ortega next in Taika Waititi's Klara and the Sun.

For more, check out our lists of the best Netflix shows and best Netflix movies.

Scream 8 might have already found its directors, as filmmaking duo and twins Jen and Sylvia Soska respond to rumours.

On August 8, one horror fan took to Twitter, writing, "Spyglass is reportedly closing negotiations with the Soska Sisters (Jen and Sylvia) to take over directing the next installment in the Scream horror franchise. The 'Twisted Twins' are said to have met secretly with studio executives this week." Then, three days later, the Soska Sisters replied with the eyes emoji. Is this a suggestion they know something we don't?

Paramount confirmed that Scream 8 had entered development earlier this year, with Poker Face writers Lilla and Nora Zuckerman attached to pen the script. However, with original Scream writer and Scream 7 director Kevin Williamson not expected to return, the director's chair was left open. Neither Paramount nor Spyglass have addressed the rumours, but it sure does seem like fans want the Soska Sisters to take the lead.

"If this happens, this will be the first time in years I'm excited for a Scream sequel!" replied one Twitter user, and another added, "If you two are part of it then I know it will be worth seeing." The Soska Sisters are best known for their gory horror features, including the much-loved 2013 movie American Mary.

The 30-year-old franchise has seen its fair share of directors, from creator Wes Craven to Ready or Not duo Tyler Gillett and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin. No matter who takes on Scream 8, they have a huge act to follow. Scream 7 exceeded all expectations earlier this year, becoming the most successful movie in the franchise. The sequel earned over $220 million worldwide during its theatrical run.

It is not clear where Scream 8 will take the franchise. The last movie relied heavily on legacy characters. But the upcoming sequel could well introduce a new group of victims just like Scream 5 did, or it could focus on Scream 7's final girl and Sidney Prescott's daughter, Tatum Evans. When Ghostface is involved, anything is possible.

Scream 8 does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our ranking of the best Scream movies and keep up with upcoming horror movies heading your way.

If you've been counting down the days till Pluribus season 2 after that cliffhanger Pluribus season 1 ending, you'd be wise to keep expectations in check, as the latest update from Apple TV boss Eddy Cue suggests Carol and co. won't be back on screens for some time yet.

Speaking to ScreenRant on the Ted Lasso season 4 red carpet, Apple TV head Eddy Cue was asked for an update on Pluribus season 2's scripts and offered a brief but illuminating response. "I haven't seen them. I know they're being worked on. [Vince Gilligan's] amazing. So I'm not worried. I know it will be amazing."

Not to contradict Mr Cue, but this is a little worrying. Pluribus season 1 debuted 9 months ago to rave reviews (among them, GamesRadar+'s Pluribus season 1 review) that labelled it among the best shows of the year. Filming wrapped a year before that, even, in September 2024. Over two years with no completed scripts to show for it does not bode well for season 2 arriving anytime soon. Two-year gaps between seasons has become the norm in the streaming era, but don't be surprised if Pluribus season 2 takes upwards of 3 years to hit screens, meaning a late 2028 release.

Of course, this is all supposition. And it's possible there's a season of completed scripts sitting in Eddy Cue's inbox that he hasn't gotten around to reading yet (I dread to think how many unread emails that man has, as the person who oversees all of Apple's content services). But creator Vince Gilligan has suggested repeatedly that Pluribus season 2 will take time. Earlier this year, Gilligan clarified that "It ain't gonna be The Pitt," with new seasons releasing like clockwork every year, though he was "deeper into the process" of season 2 at that stage than he predicted. That's a small silver lining, at least…

Hopefully the cast aren't still being kept in the dark. When we caught up with Zosia actor Karolina Wyrda following the season 1 finale, Wyrda said that she knew nothing about season 2, and liked it that way, claiming "Vince Gilligan keeps everything to himself." Even lead Rhea Seehorn doesn't know what the, ahem, fallout of Carol's explosive decision to have a nuke delivered to her front door will mean for season 2. "I honestly don't know… Even if Vince [Gilligan] was saying we don't know where we're going with it, usually as an actor I would make an intentional decision about what I think Carol's plan is. I honestly think Carol is not sure. I didn't do it out of laziness."

Pluribus season 2 is currently updated. In the meantime, check out all the new TV shows heading our way in the near future, and fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Apple TV shows.

The first season of HBO's Harry Potter TV show hasn't even hit screens yet, but the second season is already adding new cast members fast, with the latest addition being Superman star Nicholas Hoult.

However, despite many fans believing that Hoult would suit up as the Dark Lord himself, Voldemort, Deadline has confirmed that the star will play villain and wizard Gilderoy Lockhart in Harry Potter season 2. HBO later confirmed the news via Instagram, quoting the wizard, "Magical Me indeed. Now, how many autographs would you like?"

Lockhart is a major character in the second Harry Potter book, and was brought to the screen in the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie by Kenneth Branagh. In the Harry Potter universe, Lockhart is a famous author and wizard who is brought to Hogwarts by Professor Dumbledore in the Chamber of Secrets as a temporary Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. However, Potter and co soon find that Lockhart is not as capable he seems.

Season 2 is set to start filming this autumn and will adapt the second book. The Chamber of Secrets picks up the summer after The Philosopher's Stone. When term time begins, Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley head off to Hogwarts for their second year of schooling. However, when the Heir of Salazar Slytherin opens the Chamber of Secrets, a fearsome monster threatens the wizarding school, just as Dobby warned.

Season 1 is set to hit HBO and HBO Max this Christmas. The first installment will adapt the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which sees Harry enter the halls of Hogwarts for the first time after finding out he is a wizard. The series stars Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, Alastair Stout as Ron, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, Nick Frost as Hagrid, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall.

It seems as though Hoult really is in his villain era, as before we see him bring Lockhart to life on the small screen, the star will return as Superman villain Lex Luthor in upcoming DCU Chapter One movie Man of Tomorrow. The Superman sequel premieres on July 9, 2027.

Harry Potter season 2 does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our ranking of the Harry Potter movies, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

The first three episodes of Reacher season 4 are streaming now on Prime Video. Star Alan Ritchson bet his life in our presence that it would be the best season yet, but the Rotten Tomatoes results are in, and, sorry Alan, you're dead, as it's currently the show's lowest-rated season according to the review aggregator.

However, it's by no means disastrous news for Reacher fans, as season 4 is currently sitting on a very respectable 88% from 16 critics. Our own Reacher season 4 review awarded the new season 3.5/5* stars, with GR+'s Megan Garside noting the new season still "packs one hell of a punch" even if the "the pacing and jumbled dialogue fall short." So 'fresh', in our eyes.

That Rotten Tomatoes score is only a problem in context, as Reacher's first three seasons all earned well over 90%, with both seasons 2 and 3 achieving a near-perfect 98%, and season 1 on a solid 92%. The relatively low number of reviews is a key factor here, with Reacher season 4's two 'rotten' reviews knocking the overall score down a massive 12%. Previous seasons have had over three times as many reviews in some cases, significantly diluting the impact of any rotten ratings.

It's almost like the Rotten Tomatoes percentage is a broken metric that doesn't accurately represent a movie or show's quality. How else do you explain Spider-Man: Brand New Day being the lowest-rated Tom Holland Spider-Man movie?

And to be fair to Reacher, the vast majority of reviews are still positive, even if the final score is on the lower end for the show. "It’s not complex. It’s not Proust. But boy it is fun," said The Times (UK). "It all comes down to whether you like twisty action-thrillers that are cold-blooded with warm hearts, and high on charm," notes RogerEbert.com (luckily for us, we do).

On the more critical side, FandomWire proved tougher to please, saying "Reacher's fourth season is less bold, less brash, and less fun, but still as brutal as ever." The Playlist stuck the boot in, however, noting "The writing and acting are occasionally so bad that it can make a person almost embarrassed to watch." Yikes!

If you're willing to overlook the mixed reviews, then the season 4 is underway now, with three episodes currently available to stream on Prime Video, and new episodes airing weekly from this point. Be sure to bookmark our Reacher season 4 release schedule, so you never miss an episode. Big Reacher summer continues in September with the release of spin-off show Neagley.

Reacher season 4's first three episodes are streaming now. Wondering what to add to your watchlist next? Here's our list of the most exciting new TV shows heading your way.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is all about the fallout from Doctor Strange's memory-wiping spell. It appears the writers also forgot something important – about The Punisher.

As pointed out by a stream of fans online, Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal) tells Peter Parker's Spider-Man (Tom Holland) that he's "never had a friend" like him.

High praise for the wallcrawler, indeed. However, this line not only forgets Frank's shared history with Charlie Cox's Matt Murdock, but also his old war buddy Curtis from The Punisher.

Probably the closest thing Frank ever had to a true friend and confidant, Curtis admittedly did make a brief, ghostly appearance during this year's special The Punisher: One Last Kill.

"Curtis was my FIRST thought too!! He was definitely the best friend Frank had; he was so dependable and loyal to him," one wrote on Twitter in response to a post that kickstarted the whole debate.

"Did they genuinely forget his day one?" asked another.

There are counter-arguments to be made, though. As one posits, "I’m assuming he meant innocence and optimism, which Curtis has, but Peter just has more of it."

Another added, "Let’s be honest. The average audience member going to watch Spider-Man is not watching the Punisher series."

Still, The Punisher (as well as the clutch of Netflix street-level Defenders shows) are now officially part of MCU canon. It could be read as Curtis erasure but, more than likely, was just a throwaway comment to show how much Peter means to Frank. Let's not put Marvel Studios in the crosshairs of social media discourse just yet.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now in cinemas. For a taste of what's next, head on over to our guide on upcoming Marvel movies.

The Incredible Hulk is the unquestionable dark sheep of the MCU, so much so that it saw star Edward Norton replaced by Mark Ruffalo as the MCU's Bruce Banner till this day. But it could have been very different, as Incredible Hulk director Louis Leterrier has confirmed there's a "longer" and "darker" cut of the movie, featuring even more MCU cameos.

Speaking to Collider about his new Netflix horror The Last House (which our favorite movie critic Hideo Kojima recently compared to Death Stranding), Leterrier not only confirmed the existence of an (even) darker extended cut, but also teased a major Marvel cameo, in addition to Tony Stark's appearance in the film's post-credits scene.

"There's a darker cut," Leterrier said. "Longer, obviously. It's not an hour, but it's very interesting because The Incredible Hulk was the first movie sort of starting the MCU. So there were all these ideas that started many of the stories you're following now, and that was in The Incredible Hulk."

Iron Man technically kickstarted the MCU, but The Incredible Hulk quickly followed. Released barely 6 weeks after Iron Man in the summer of 2008, both movies were made concurrently and could be considered the twin building blocks of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While Norton would never return, many elements from The Incredible Hulk have recurred over the years, including William Hurt's Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross playing a key role in Captain America: Civil War and Abomination popping up in She-Hulk and Shang-Chi. 2025's Captain America: Brave New World even served as something of a pseudo-sequel to The Incredible Hulk, with Tim Blake Nelson's Leader returning to cause trouble some 17 years later.

Leterrier doesn't go into much detail about the footage actually shot and left on the cutting room floor. But he does reveal one sequence, which never made it in front of cameras, was set to feature none other than Steve Rogers, two years before Chris Evans was cast as the MCU's first Captain America.

"It was a little ahead of its time, so we didn't [shoot] it. But Captain America was in it," Leterrier said. "Tony Stark was in it – he's still in it. And the opening was actually quite interesting. It was set in the North Pole. It was cool. A little too dark." As for whether The Incredible Hulk deleted scenes will ever see the light of day, Leterrier notes that: "Some got out, some are still to be shown." Maybe one day, the MCU's least-loved movie will be redeemed.

Things are certainly looking up for the MCU of late. Following a post-Endgame slump, Marvel Studios is back on top following the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which is well on track to make over $2 billion at the box office and become one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Up next on the big screen is Avengers: Doomsday, with news expected at Marvel's D23 panels this Friday.

For more on the MCU, check out our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order, and our list of all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows.