In the prestige TV streaming era, it's not uncommon for new seasons of the biggest shows to take upwards of two years to hit screens. And a new report has confirmed what we all knew deep down: lengthy delays between new TV seasons leads to massive drops in viewership.

The report comes from data analytics company Luminate (h/t DiscussingFilm), who crunched the numbers on several of the biggest streaming releases, including Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2. The report concludes that "long breaks between seasons usually leads to audience shrinkage for hit series." A long hiatus is defined by Luminate as anything over 18 months between seasons.

Among the hardest hit shows, according to Luminate, were The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, which saw a 57% dip in viewership when it landed two years after its debut season; Wednesday season 2, which saw a 59% drop upon releasing 2.75 years after the first season; and even Stranger Things season 5, which, despite being the final season, saw audience figures drop 23% when it finally arrived 3.5 years after season 4. In contrast, The Pitt season 2 saw viewership soar 132% when it released 12 months after its initial run, but that was a critically acclaimed breakout series.

The long breaks between seasons can sometimes be attributed to behind-the-scenes turmoil (which seems to have been the case with Severance season 2, though that turned out OK), but more often than not it's simply the reality of producing big-budget shows in the prestige TV era, with audiences now expecting movie-quality visuals that require movie-length production timelines. This is particularly acute for effects-heavy shows like The Rings of Power and Stranger Things.

The binge release model can also have a deleterious effect, as despite inflating first-week numbers, Luminate points out that "binge-release viewership tends to decay quickly, whereas a weekly-release hit can remain on the charts week after week." There is a silver lining in the long breaks between seasons for streamers, though. Luminate's numbers point to long delays "supercharging" catch-up viewing, as audiences capitalize on the extra time to watch (or re-watch) previous seasons, ahead of new episodes.

Following another 2-year break between seasons, The Rings of Power season 3 returns this November and is set to tackle one of Middle-earth's biggest moments: the forging of the One Ring. The Rings of Power season 4 is reportedly already in the works, perhaps in an effort to speed up production and reduce the the wait for new seasons.

For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, or look ahead to the new TV shows hitting screens this year.

DCU show Lanterns returned to HBO this week with its fourth episode, bringing us back to Rushville, where the mystery of the Manhunter was brought to light. However, in the midst of the chaos, you may have missed Aaron Pierre's accent slip-up.

During a tense interrogation scene, Pierre's John Stewart asks, "Who are you?" slamming his hand on the table, then, in the most prominent South London accent, he shouts, "Speak up!" The clip has since gone viral on Twitter. Pierre had so far been able to keep Stewart's Detroit accent steady, but fans seem to be celebrating the added hint of English nonetheless.

Although the slip-up may be a little embarrassing for Pierre, HBO Max UK is seeing the funny side of the situation. The streamer posted a 'fan edit' of Pierre on Instagram containing the scene in question followed by Stewart's most iconic moments. The caption reads, "You can take Aaron Pierre out of Croydon, but you can't take the Croydon out of Aaron Pierre." Check out the post below.

It should come as no surprise that fans are loving the edit. "The Green Mandem'" commented one fan, and another added, "Brightest day, darkest night innit." Many are praising how HBO has handled the slip-up, with one pointing out, "You have to admit it's next level marketing for a streaming company to make memes of a flaw in the actor's performance rather than hoping people ignore said flaw."

The slip-up doesn't change the fact that Pierre has done an amazing job in bringing Green Lantern trainee Stewart to life alongside Kyle Chandler's Hal Jordan. The DCU Chapter One show debuted to a near-perfect 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and has become one of HBO's most successful shows ever behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us. In our Lanterns review, we awarded the show 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Lanterns continues to release weekly. See our Lanterns release schedule for exact timings. For more, check out our breakdown of how to watch DC movies in order, and keep up with upcoming DC movies and shows on the way.

In the wake of Spider-Noir's cancelation, the showrunner has shared some insight into what a second season would have looked like. Oren Uziel says that while they hadn't started writing a follow-up for the Amazon MGM show, the ending of season 1 did give him some ideas.

"If I had my druthers, it would be probably another location," he told Variety. "There are so many L.A. noirs we could have dove into. There are European noirs we could have dove into. There are other places to go. You're starting in 1933. Where is that heading? It's heading toward just a most cataclysmic time – World War II. There was a lot of storytelling that could have happened there."

However, Uziel says he's pleased that they didn't leave Spider-Noir on a cliffhanger. "We made a very closed-ended show," he continued. "There's a reason we were honoring these old noirs. The story begins when the client comes into the private detective's office, and it ends when they solve the case. So, it was nicely buttoned up."

An official reason hasn't been given for the cancelation of the series, but reports from Deadline suggest that Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television were hoping for bigger streaming numbers. This was especially the case given the reported budget was about $400 million.

However, the release schedule for Spider-Noir was pretty unconventional. It aired on MGM Plus before arriving all at once on Prime Video, rather than the usual weekly release schedule.

Uziel isn't the only one who's reacted to the cancelation. Nicolas Cage also shared a very classy reaction to the news, sharing that "one season was perfect".

You can stream Spider-Noir on Prime Video now. For more of what to watch, check out our guide to the best Amazon shows of all time.

VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas says we'll see plenty of Ultron in his scary robot form throughout the new Disney Plus show, but that it was more important to showcase James Spader and Paul Bettany's complicated father-and-son chemistry.

"It's funny, people say it's a budget thing, it's not, it's a James Spader thing," Matalas tells Polygon. "I love James Spader. Who doesn't love James Spader? I just want to see James and I want to see Bettany. You'll get plenty of robot action in the show. The show is very much inspired by that last scene in Age of Ultron between the two of them," he continued. "But watching Spader and Bettany chew up the scenery was something I saw in my head from the very beginning."

Of course, Ultron and Vision won't be the only robot we see in human form: the cast includes Orla Brady as FRIDAY, Emily Hampshire as EDITH, and James D'Arcy as JARVIS (yes, that Jarvis). You might recall that FRIDAY is the AI who was there in the final moments of Tony Stark's life (which is something the show will indeed explore).

It's also worth noting that it's Vision who requests that the AIs each take a human form while living under his roof, in order to make for some "happy home" vibes. It'll be interesting to see how happy of a home it can be with Ultron just running around in there.

Adds Matalas: "It is prohibitively expensive to do a CGI robot 24/7, but I also don't want to see a CGI robot. It's not going to be able to emote and do the things that James Spader can do with just the twitch of an eyebrow. So that's pretty much the main reason."

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

The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd, a mockumentary based on the DC comic of the same name, has begun filming and set leaks are abound. Some DC fans, however, aren't convinced that the gorilla we've seen in the photos is the titular gorilla on trial.

There have been many leaked set photos, from a gorilla in some '80s-style garb to that same gorilla in a graduation gown to even dancing in a tuxedo. Reactions to the first look at the film have been mixed, to say the least, but one fan posited a theory that the costumed gorilla may be the DC character King Solomon instead.

The fan pointed out that King Solomon frequently wore clothes, something that Grodd does not do in the comics, and that James Gunn has already mentioned the specific comic starring King Solomon on social media, going so far as to call it a direct influence on Superman and DC overall. The on-set gorilla also appears to be wearing the exact same outfit King Solomon wore in the comics.

"I think they're two random Gorillas who know Grodd, and were called to participate in the documentary, talking about him," another fan posited.

"I think either Grodd hired Solomon to fill in for him in public or Solomon is a symbol of gorillas coming into society," said another.

In my opinion, it's highly likely that modern day audiences don't want to see a naked gorilla on screen and that putting Grodd in regular clothes humanizes him just a bit... but only time will tell.

The People v Gorilla Grodd does not yet have a release date. For more of what's on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

With an endless stream of content hitting platforms on a daily basis, it can be hard to know what to watch. Scroll no longer, as we've got you covered with our carefully curated list of the best shows and movies hitting streaming this weekend.

From a superhero blockbuster to the return of a beloved Australian comedy, there's plenty of variety on offer, with options on a range of streaming services. So, whatever you're subscribed to, there should be something to watch.

Below you'll find recommendations from HBO Max, Peacock, Apple TV, Paramount Plus and, of course, Netflix. And, while we don't have any specific Disney Plus or Prime Video recommendations this week (once you've caught up with the latest episode of Reacher, which features a very funny Tom Cruise reference, anyway), we do have guides to the best Prime Video movies and the best Disney Plus shows. For our very latest streaming recommendations, head below.

Supergirl

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: HBO Max

Supergirl didn't exactly soar at the box office; in fact, it made less than notorious flops Joker 2 and Morbius. But don't let that put you off, as Supergirl has much to recommend, not least a spirited performance from Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El.

The second movie in James Gunn's DCU Chapter One, Supergirl takes place ahead of Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow, and it's essential viewing ahead of next summer's DC offering. Plus, who can pass up more time with good boy Krypto?

Keep the watch party going with our list of the best HBO Max movies.

The Paper season 2

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Peacock (US), Sky One/NOW (UK)

The second season of this surprisingly charming spin-off of The Office (US) is out to binge in full, with all 10 episodes now streaming. Set in the newsroom of a local newspaper in terminal decline, it mirrors much of what made The Office great: goofy characters, sharp gags and a classic will-they-won't-they romance.

We'd be lying if we said this comes close to The Office, despite the involvement of US Office creator Greg Daniels, but it's an enjoyable enough facsimile, and Domhnall Gleeson is a terrific comedic centerpiece as editor Ned Sampson. Plus, Office supporting character Oscar Martinez appears in the show, so you never know who might make the trip over from Scranton one day.

Fill out your watchlist with our look ahead at the new TV shows to come in 2026.

Last Seen

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Apple TV

This riveting thriller is Apple TV's first Australian original. Set in a fictional port town, it stars Patrick Brammall (of Colin From Accounts fame, see below) as former chief of police Ian Ridely, who turned to operating emergency phone lines after the disappearance of his 3-year-old daughter 11 years prior. After her body is seemingly unearthed following a mudslide, Ian answers an emergency call from a young woman he believes to be his now-teenage daughter, setting him off on a quest to find the daughter he thought lost.

Based on a page-turner novel and directed by The Crown's Christian Schwochow, it's one of those shows where you'll lament the weekly wait between episodes. But the good news is, the first two dropped at the same time, with new episodes set to air weekly on Wednesdays.

Once you've devoured the first two episodes, check out our list of the best Apple TV shows.

Call My Agent! The Movie

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Netflix

It's been five years since comedy series Call My Agent! came to an end with the fourth and final season, and now the former ASK talent agency team are back for a sequel movie. Set in real time, half a decade after the closure of ASK, Andréa is now directing a movie. But when disaster strikes and the lead actor drops out, the former team reunites to save the project.

It's funny enough on its own merit, but one of the treats of Call My Agent! was seeing which famous French actors cameoed across the series (Sigourney Weaver even popped up). We won't spoil them here, but there are some big-name Hollywood cameos to watch out for in the movie.

Looking for something else? Here's our list of the best movies on Netflix.

Colin From Accounts season 3

Available: US/UK
Where to watch: Paramount Plus (US), BBC iPlayer (UK)

The third and final season of this delightful Australian comedy show is now out in full, perfect for a weekend binge. Gordon (Patrick Brammall) and Ashley (Harriet Dyer) are the ideal mismatched couple, brought together by their injured dog, Colin From Accounts (the name will make sense when you watch it). But after seemingly breaking up for good following a failed proposal at the end of season 2, can their undeniable connection bring them back together?

Alongside the winning leads and a sky-high gag rate, Colin From Accounts is such a treat because Gordon and Ashley are a perfectly messy pairing. Brammell and Dyer are married in real life and, despite their characters being all wrong for each other in many ways, you can't help but hope it works out for them.

For more great shows, check out our list of the best shows on Paramount Plus.

Need more? Check out our guide to the best shows on Prime Video.

VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas has revealed the two MCU scenes that inspired the Disney Plus show – as well as Kevin Feige's one mandate.

The show brings back Paul Bettany's Vision after the events of WandaVision, which saw Wanda bring the synthezoid back from the dead in her magical Hex. In the end, she brought down the Hex, but White Vision escaped with all of the regular Vision's memories.

"The two scenes that really inspired the show are two of my favorite scenes in all of Marvel canon, which is the last scene with him in Age of Ultron, and the Ship of Theseus scene in WandaVision. That was the basis of the series," Matalas told Polygon.

The Ship of Theseus scene is a discussion between Hex Vision and White Vision, in which the Hex version explains the philosophical issue of the ship: if all of its parts are replaced over time, is it still the same ship? This applies to White Vision in the new show, since he has regular Vision's memories, but he is a separate creation.

The last scene of Age of Ultron sees Vision destroy the last of the Ultron robots, after the two have a brief conversation on the nature of humanity. Vision is far more optimistic than Ultron, who brands the synthezoid "naive." James Spader's Ultron will be returning in VisionQuest.

As for Feige's mandate, it was surprisingly simple. "There's always a direct line of communication with Kevin and [Marvel's head of television] Brad Winderbaum. They're a text away. But for the most part, we had a lot of creative freedom to tell Vision's story the way we wanted to. There were no borders we needed to be mindful of," Matalas explained.

"Kevin was very receptive to this crazy idea from the beginning. He called me and said that it's the story of Vision, he's going to meet his son, and he's like, 'The rest is up to you.'"

Vision's son, Tommy Shepherd, will be played by Ruaridh Mollica in the show. Billy Maximoff, meanwhile, appeared in Agatha All Along, played by Joe Locke.

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

Stephen King has given his seal of approval to the upcoming Carrie adaptation from horror maestro Mike Flanagan. The show reimagines King's 1974 novel in a new contemporary setting.

Posting on Threads, he wrote: "Mike Flanagan's version of CARRIE is brilliant. What it has to say about social media is shocking and true." Starring breakout star Summer H. Howell, the eight-part horror series follows a teenage girl called Carrie White as she joins high school after living in isolation for most of her life.

Unaware of social norms as well as key understandings about puberty, she becomes the target of bullying. However, Carrie is far from powerless as her mysterious telekinetic powers emerge to violent ends.

A new trailer for the show has just been released, which teases Flanagan's more modern take on the story. As it hits key plot points like Carrie's horror at discovering her period, she's filmed and posted all over social media.

This is the first time that Carrie has been adapted for television, and it's certainly intriguing to imagine what this format gives this classic tale. Early reactions have been very positive too, with the first two episodes called "powerful" and "relevant".

Discussing Film's Tyler Taing said at the time: "It's a big departure for both the source material and Flanagan’s reputation as the keymaster of King’s stories. It's a true modernization focusing on teenage anxieties and the cycle of violence in our digital age."

Carrie arrives in full on Prime Video on October 9, just in time for the spooky month of Halloween. For more scares, here's our guide to all the upcoming horror movies you need to know about.

KPop Demon Hunters is one of the most popular movies of the past decade and even became Netflix's most-watched film ever. Currently, it's been streamed more than 325 million times, which is 100 million times more than the movie in second place, Red Notice.

However, in spite of all of this, Sony Pictures boss Ravi Ahuja doesn't think the movie would have been as successful if it was released in theaters. Speaking to Variety, he said: "It seems very obvious now, but at the time it was first being developed in 2021, Netflix felt like the right home, and I'd argue it really was the right home. I mean, if you look at the trajectory of K-Pop Demon Hunters, it didn't start that strong, but it built over time."

He continued: "So the Netflix platform really helped to build K-Pop Demon Hunters. Had it been theatrical, I mean, boy, this is such a hypothetical. Who knows if it would have had a big opening weekend? But it’s done incredibly well on Netflix."

It's true that as an original IP, the movie was really boosted by word of mouth success. During its first week on the streaming platform back in June 2025, it clocked in nine million views and landed in the second spot on the movies chart. The following week this climbed to 24 million, and it sat around there for several months, sticking in the top 10 for 63 consecutive weeks.

This all suggests that it's the film's longevity that has been a contributing factor in its groundbreaking success, which couldn't be replicated in the same way in theaters. However, KPop Demon Hunters did have a good theatrical run when a special singalong version was released, topping Netflix's box office history.

A sequel to the hugely popular movie is in development, but it's not expected to be released until at least 2029. For more upcoming movies, here's our list of 2026 movie release dates.

Upcoming DC mockumentary The People Vs. Gorilla Grodd has started filming, and the set leaks have been coming thick and fast. The biggest reveal so far has been the first look at the DCU's take on villain Gorilla Grodd, who has been spotted doing everything from singing in an acapella group to dancing in a tuxedo.

Several students at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, where the show is being filmed, have been sharing videos from the first day of filming. These feature the notorious gorilla during his college years in the '80s. Right now, he looks pretty realistic as simply an anthropomorphic gorilla, but it's not clear if this will just be a stand-in for a CGI character or not.

DC fans have been reacting to the first look, and it's fair to say that no one knows quite how to feel about it. Some have been pleasantly surprised by the comedic tone that the new show looks like it's going to have, while others have been wondering how closely it will stick to the comics.

"This might end up being the best superhero movie or show ever released, not even joking," wrote one on Twitter, while another added: "This is really looking to be a peak comedy gold show, and I'm here for it." A third commented: "Imagine lacking whimsy and soul so much you think this isn't absolute peak." As a fourth simply put it: "Fuck The Sopranos. Fuck The Wire. Fuck Game of Thrones. We are witnessing the making of the greatest HBO series ever."

Not everyone has been impressed by the depiction of the character so far, especially those who know his comic book history. "This shit is way too meme-heavy, they turned Gorilla Grodd into a total idiot," wrote one, as a second suggested: "Someone here said there are at least 10 gorillas in DC Comics who are perfect for this type of scenario, but Gorilla Grodd isn't one of them."

One thing is for sure though, James Gunn's DCU is taking some bold swings. With this mockumentary comedy on the lineup alongside a body horror version of Clayface and the gritty crime thriller style of Lanterns, the universe is looking pretty eclectic, and arguably all the more exciting for it.

For more of what's on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

Upcoming MCU show VisionQuest looks like a suitably trippy affair, with the grieving synthezoid retreating into his own head following the events of WandaVision and somehow coming into contact with his teenage son, Tommy Shepherd. But where exactly the show slots onto the Marvel timeline has been something of a mystery until now.

"Years have passed since WandaVision," VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas confirmed to Polygon. "I would say we're about current with Spider-Man: Brand New Day." If we can take Matalas' word as gospel, that means VisionQuest is set in 2028, as this is when Brand New Day takes place, some four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Alongside Brand New Day, that puts VisionQuest furthest along the MCU timeline ahead of the release of Avengers: Doomsday in December. Though it doesn't seem like VisionQuest will directly lead into Doomsday, Matalas did recently confirm that the show will offer a heartbreaking new perspective on Iron Man's death.

Despite being billed as the conclusion of the WandaVision trilogy following the 2021 show and the 2024 series Agatha All Along, Matalas told SFX that's it's actually more of a sequel, and they have ideas for subsequent seasons. Paul Bettany also recently revealed why WandaVision/Agatha showrunner Jac Schaeffer stepped away from VisionQuest, leaving the door open for Star Trek: Picard's Matalas.

After dying (twice) and losing the love of his life, Wanda Maximoff, off-screen in Doctor Strange 2, VisionQuest sees the superpowered android back in Scotland, where he once lived with Wanda (aww). By day, he works in a pub, but by night he goes soul-searching in his own mind palace, learning what it means to be human through the oddball AI constructs in his head. Among them, Vision's creator and former threat to the planet Ultron, who's been trapped in Vision's head since their final conversation at the climax of Avengers: Age of Ultron.

One person who won't be appearing in VisionQuest, however, is Wanda. At least, that's what Matalas wants us to believe. "There’s a moment late in the season that we were running towards, but we didn’t know exactly how we would get there," Matalas told SFX. "Paul had an amazing idea for the kind of scene it should be. Who he is within that particular scene is kind of amazing, and that we were able to pull that off. I want to make sure that people don’t think I’m teasing Wanda, because I’m not teasing Wanda."

As far as we know, neither Paul Bettany's Vision (white or otherwise), nor Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch are part of the massive ensemble cast of Avengers: Doomsday, as they weren't part of the cast reveal livestream. But there's still plenty of time to squeeze them into Avengers: Secret Wars…

VisionQuest releases on Disney Plus on October 14. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

After six episodes and countless wild goose chases, Reacher season 4 has finally revealed what was hiding on the USB. But you may be wondering what it actually is.

Warning: the following contains spoilers for Reacher season 4 episode 7. Turn back now if you haven't caught up, but make sure to read our spoiler-free Reacher season 4 review first.

At the very start of the season, we learned that just before Anna Merrick had committed suicide, she handed a USB drive to Reacher, which everyone seemed to be after, including the CIA, the FBI, and the Hoths. But since then, we never really knew the contents of the drive. Reacher and co had found a picture of John Sampson and his military buddies in a lab on base in Indonesia, but they didn't know what it meant. Until now.

What is the chemical toxin in Reacher season 4?

After Jacob Merrick saved Reacher and Tamara from Leo Ahlquist’s hired goons, the trio makes their way back to the scientist's office to interrogate him further. Ahlquist reveals that the photo contains the formula for a deadly chemical weapon that they were working on during the war as a defensive mechanism. Following Tokyo's gas attacks, the US wanted to find a way to protect the nation from possible future chemical attacks, so the CIA tasked Ahlquist and DARPA with creating the weapon so that they could then find the antidote.

So why are Lila and Amisha involved? Well, the CIA didn't want the trials, known as Operation Mongoose, taking place in the US. So the nation made a deal with Indonesian General Putra. The agreement was that DARPA would be able to work on the chemical weapon in Indonesia in exchange for Delta Force training the Indonesian troops. Sampson was part of Delta, but he didn't know the whole story at the time. In the back of the picture, we can see Amisha, who was working in the lab.

The reason why everyone was so hell-bent on getting their hands on the USB is that when Anna stole the files after being threatened by the Hoths, it tipped off the Department of Defense. In turn, the CIA and Sampson's men wanted the information out of the public eye. Whereas Lila and Amisha want to recreate the toxin to sell to worldwide terrorist organizations. But there is definitely a personal element in there on Amisha's side.

So what actually is the toxin? Well, the poison is made from the seeds of a native Indonesian plant, which Lila keeps in her bracelet. From there, the Hoths used a bunch of scientists and tech experts to crack the code, use the formula in the picture, and recreate the toxin. Lila's minions then found a way to make it airborne and cover a wide area in the hopes of "killing thousands," as Lila states. Reacher catches wind of their plan and sets out to find an event in Philadelphia that the Hoths may be targeting, eventually landing on a huge orchestral concert playing movie scores (including Mission: Impossible).

However, Reacher's hunch was wrong. The Hoths were actually targeting Sampson's party, sending in Tomas Waberi, whose ID was flagged earlier in the season, on a suicide mission. This makes sense, as it is revealed that Sampson was the one who carried out the hit against General Putra, whom Amisha worshiped. But before the toxin could be released, Sampson tackled Waberi and pushed him into a nearby body of water, ultimately sacrificing himself. With Sampson now gone and their plan foiled, we don't doubt that Lila and Amisha will try to release the weapon again. Let's just hope Reacher can catch up.

The Reacher season 4 finale lands on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 16. See our Reacher season 4 release schedule for exact timings, and keep up with upcoming shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.

The DCU is full steam ahead, as just over two weeks after James Gunn officially announced that The People v. Gorilla Grodd had been greenlit, the series has already started filming at a university in the US.

The upcoming Jimmy Olsen show has started filming at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, and thanks to leaked set photos, it looks like the series will fully embrace the university setting. Images posted by a Georgia Tech student on TikTok show banners for Metropolis University, branded in blue and purple. Many presumed the photos were taken on the set of Man of Tomorrow, but that finished filming in August.

On August 21, Gunn took to Twitter to share that the previously announced Jimmy Olsen show, which is a true-crime mockumentary, is officially going ahead at HBO. According to the in-universe bulletin from The Daily Planet, the eight-part mock-doc, directed by Daily Planet reporter and Superman character Olsen, will "take a fresh, 360-degree look at the case, revealing a lesser-seen side" of Grodd, who was imprisoned for the "murder and brain consumption of his father, King Grodd."

So, why is the show filming at a university? Well, the documentary is set to include "interviews with witnesses and experts on both Grodd's and the Metropolis District Attorney's side of the case." Plus, another image shows a newspaper dated Friday, November 3, 1989. This means that Olsen is doing some digging and could pay some university professors a visit to ask about the super monkey's abilities.

First introduced to DC Comics in 1959 as an antagonist to the Flash, Grodd gained his powers when he was exposed to a space rock, making him hyper-intelligent and able to control the human mind. Alongside Olsen star Skyler Gisondo, the cast also includes Jimmy Tatro as Gorilla Grodd, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant, and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

The People v. Gorilla Grodd does not yet have a release date. For more, check out our guide to DCU Chapter One and keep up with all the upcoming DC movies and TV shows.

Reacher season 4 is almost over, with the penultimate episode setting the stage for what looks to be a fiery showdown between Alan Ritchson's bulky hero and his most vicious foes yet, Lila and Amisha Hoth. However, aside from sending Reacher, Tamara, and Jacob on a wild goose chase, this week's episode also contains a sneaky Tom Cruise reference that you may have missed.

Warning: the following contains spoilers for Reacher season 4 episode 7. Turn back now if you haven't caught up, but make sure to read our spoiler-free Reacher season 4 review first.

Now that Lila and Amisha have unveiled their aerosolised chemical toxin, the duo plan to use it by sending out one of their minions to release it in a public place. When Reacher gets wind of this, he tries to work out where the pair might target, eventually landing on an orchestra concert playing movie scores at a nearby arena. Reacher and co head to the event, where they hear the orchestra playing none other than the Mission: Impossible theme tune.

Now, the characters don't really react to the iconic theme song, but we all know why it has been included. The Mission: Impossible franchise is led by Tom Cruise, who also starred in two Reacher movies, Jack Reacher in 2012 and Jack Reacher: Never Go Back in 2016. However, the movies both landed less-than-impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores, with critics feeling that Cruise was never really right for the role.

The inclusion of the theme is also ironic, as although Reacher is currently on his own little mission while evading the police, he doesn't really possess the stealth that Cruise's M:I Agent Ethan Hunt does. Reacher much prefers to crash his way through any situation like a bull in a China shop. But we wouldn't want it any other way.

Alas, Reacher's plan fails as the Hoths were never targeting the event at all. They actually sent one of their minions on a suicide mission to release the poison at John Sampson's party. But when Reacher finds out, it's a little too late. Sampson himself ends up taking out the minion by pushing him into the water, ultimately sacrificing himself in the process. But the story isn't over yet. It seems like the Hoths will do anything to successfully release the poison in the name of revenge.

The Reacher season 4 finale lands on Prime Video on Wednesday, September 16. See our Reacher season 4 release schedule for exact timings, and keep up with upcoming shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.

WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer was originally going to showrun VisionQuest, the third instalment in a trilogy of Disney Plus shows that also includes Agatha All Along.

However, she ultimately stepped away for "personal reasons," according to Vision actor Paul Bettany in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly. She was replaced by Star Trek: Picard showrunner Terry Matalas.

"I felt like the rug had been pulled from under my feet," Bettany shared. "I love her very much and we made a lovely thing together. I had been waiting and looking forward to having my turn with Jac. And then 24 hours later, I was at a lunch with Terry, because that's the speed at which Marvel move."

While these three shows do form a trio, Matalas has shared that he views VisionQuest as more of a sequel to WandaVision, rather than completing the trilogy.

"I would say, if anything, it's definitely more of a sequel to WandaVision in a lot of ways," he shared.

"But it really exists on its own," he added. "It's more the Vision story, just because we're going to dig into so much of who he is in ways that the films and WandaVision couldn't, including some deeper parts of his origin that may go back even further than what we believed. So it's very much its own entity, but it does obviously touch upon what has come before for this guy."

VisionQuest arrives on Disney Plus this October 14. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and TV shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

The ongoing question of who the Manhunter is in Lanterns has seemingly been answered in the latest episode. At the end of episode 4, Hal Jordan and John Stewart aired their suspicions that Zoe Macon is the alien they've been looking for.

It's long been suspected that Zoe could be the Manhunter. Ever since her introduction in episode 1, there's been something off about the character and her unusual family. This only became more obvious in episode 4 when she seemingly faked her own death after a string of strange behavior.

However, some fans think that even though she is the imposter alien, that doesn't necessarily mean she's bad. In fact, it's been suggested that she may have even helped Hal Jordan and John Stewart save the whole of Rushville.

"Well, the theory is that indeed Zoe is the manhunter, but the town protects her because she's really not bad; she helps and heals the town," one viewer wrote on Twitter. "The real villain is the Guardian. Zoe takes the form of Hal Jordan and is killed so that Jordan and Stewart can stop the Guardian."

This was taken one step further by another viewer, who suggested this is why we see John shedding a tear over the body back at the end of episode 1. Indeed, there's certainly no love lost between him and Hal, so it felt quite unusual to see his emotion at his former mentor's death.

If it is really the Guardian that is the big bad, that will be a pretty huge twist for the DC series. We're at the halfway point of the show now, so we'll have to follow along to see just how this all plays out.

Read our Lanterns release schedule guide so you don't miss a moment, as well as our Lanterns review for why you should be watching the show.

Danny Boyle's latest movie, Ink, has just premiered at the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals, and the movie has caused something of a stir, as the credits disclose that the Trainspotting director used generative AI in the making of the movie. Now Boyle is explaining the movie's limited use cases, which included animating photographs and mice effects.

Ink, which stars 28 Years Later's Jack O'Connell as Sun newspaper editor Larry Lamb, and Guy Pearce as media magnate Rupert Murdoch, is a late-60s/early-70s-set biographical drama, so not the first place you might expect generative AI to be deployed. But speaking to Vanity Fair, Boyle explained both his thoughts on the use of AI, and precisely how it's been used in Ink.

"My opinion of it is it's a very useful tool, in many ways, provided you use it respectfully, and provided you pay actors if you're going to replace them with some kind of AI embodiments or something like that. So just like with any animation project or just as part of the VFX toolbox."

Boyle goes on to confirm "there's about 30 seconds" of generative AI use in Ink, seemingly blissfully unaware of the hornet's nest he's about to stir up. The controversial tech was used in two specific cases, according to Boyle.

"We animate a couple of old photographs, which you'll have seen online. The way that it does that, you can bring old photographs to life. And that's the kind of way we use it. Oh, and there's some mice, it's very good for animals. Because I got in trouble with PETA. We had some chimps at the beginning of 28 Days Later, and they wrote to me and said: 'You must never do that again.' And I haven't. And ever since, I've tried to use CG animals. But AI is very, very good at creating animals, and we got some mice in this one that run around the Sun newsroom."

So there you have it: photographs and mice. Precisely why Boyle couldn't hire a VFX studio and human visual effects artists to animate those old photographs or build those CG mice is currently unclear, as Boyle doesn't appear to have been pushed on the subject by Vanity Fair. Were the VFX artists that generative AI replaced in the making of Ink paid in the same way that Boyle claims actors need to be compensated? I'm betting not.

It's a disappointing position for a trailblazing British filmmaker to take. Prior to Ink, Boyle brought the rage virus back to the big screen in 28 Years Later. A third film in the trilogy, 28 Years Later 3, has yet to be confirmed after the second film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, flopped at the box office. If a Gen AI-filled third 28 Years Later film is what we have to look forward to, maybe it's better left unmade.

Ink releases in US theaters on December 11, and on Netlix in the US and in UK cinemas from January 8. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies heading your way.

Before landing the role of Tommy Shepherd in upcoming MCU series VisionQuest, Ruaridh Mollica has revealed that he previously auditioned for a mystery MCU role.

"It’s one of those things as an actor – I maybe only ever had one other Marvel audition in my whole time of getting auditions. When they come through it’s like a lottery ticket, almost," said Mollica in the latest issue of SFX magazine.

However, not even Mollica knows what role he auditioned for. "I don’t know. It was all fake names, sides, fake everything. So I actually will never, never know."

Alas, Mollica will soon make his MCU debut in VisionQuest as Tommy Shepherd, aka Vision's suspected son, Tommy Maximoff. In Marvel Comics, Tommy is one of the reincarnated sons of Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) and Vision. The hero later goes by his superhero name Speed, bearing similar powers to Quicksilver.

However, the official VisionQuest synopsis on Disney Plus spells Tommy's last name as 'Shepard' rather than as it is in the comics, 'Shepherd.' This may be Disney's way of throwing us off the scent. Or, maybe Tommy is a bigger mystery than we thought...

The synopsis reads, "A rebooted Vision has been hiding from those who seek to weaponize him. While laying low he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including the infamous Ultron, to find his true meaning. This quiet life of self-reflection ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run alongside Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision's son reincarnate."

The series is set soon after the events of WandaVision, welcoming back Paul Bettany. However, the series will also see the return of James Spader's Ultron, who made his MCU debut in the 2015 movie Avengers: Age of Ultron.

VisionQuest premieres on Disney Plus on October 14. For more, keep up with upcoming Marvel movies and shows and new TV shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.

After news broke that Spider-Noir has been cancelled after just one season, star Nicolas Cage has given the classiest possible response.

"For me, one season is perfect, having said what I wanted to say with this dangerous, innovative, pop-art Spider-Man," Cage said in a statement (via TheWrap). "Onwards, upwards, inwards."

Spider-Noir follows Ben Reilly (Cage), a private investigator in '30s New York City, who also happens to have web-slinging powers. The show was well received, with a 92% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and an 89% audience score. It also collected 11 Emmy nominations, and it's Cage's first TV show.

Our own Spider-Noir review awarded the show 3.5 stars, with our verdict reading: "A delightfully camp, low-stakes romp through 1930s New York City that proves Nicolas Cage is still cooler than all of us. Though it doesn't feel as big as most Marvel shows, or even Spider-Verse, and suffers from predictable plot turns that even the characters don't seem fazed by... it wants to cure your superhero fatigue, and it's even better on the second watch."

While no official reason for the cancellation has been given, Deadline notes that Spider-Noir's viewership was good, but not massive. As Cage himself says, though, the first season functions perfectly well as a standalone, so the cancellation isn't too gutting.

You can stream Spider-Noir on Prime Video now. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse releases June 18, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming shows worth getting excited about.

Lanterns episode 4 is another corker, and seemingly answers one of several major mysteries in the DCU show: Who is the Manhunter? But fans aren't sure if there's still more to the case of a killer, shapeshifting alien lifeform hiding in plain sight.

Warning: full spoilers for Lanterns episode 4 follow.

In Lanterns episode 4 'The Weenie', it is revealed that Zoe Macon is the Manhunter hiding out in Rushville. While Zoe doesn't technically verbalize her true identity, many things point to this, most notably the fact that she cured William Macon's cancer. Zoe Macon actor Poorna Jaganathan has also been discussing her role as the secret Manhunter in several post release interviews, telling EW: "I wasn't told when I got the role that she was the Manhunter. I had to read it to find that out.”

Case closed? Not quite, as Lanterns fans think they answer to such a huge mystery came too soon, and too easy, meaning there must be more to it.

"Why did Zoe blow herself up if she was in charge of the decoy Manhunter?! Why did the show make it so obvious that she's the Manhunter?!" asked one user on Twitter. "Because she probably isn't," offered one fan in response. "We don't find that answer so easily, 4 episodes in. Or the Manhunter is not the main threat."

With half a season still to go, it does feel surprisingly early to be blowing the lid open on a mystery that could run all season. But with another huge question – Who killed Hal Jordan? – still to be answered, and the entire 2026 thread of the story untouched since episode 1, there's still plenty to be explored.

And we do have another question to answer now: who killed the Manhunter? And if it was Zoe who used her own laser satellites to blow herself up (or make it looks like she had), why go to such lengths? The questions keep piling up.

Lanterns episode 4 is streaming now on HBO Max in the US and UK, and on NOW in the UK. For our spoiler-free verdict on episodes 1-7, check out our Lanterns review. And bookmark our Lanterns release schedule, so you never miss an episode.

It sounds like we could see Paul Bettany's Vision again after VisionQuest, as the actor teases the upcoming Marvel show sets up a new future for the synthezoid.

"We start off the show where we left him as White Vision, who has been repurposed as a weapon," Bettany told SFX magazine. "I think that where we get to at the end of this, he's clearly escaped the confines of whoever repurposed him, and he is looking for agency. By the end of our show, I think you'll see that it's a really exciting springboard for what Vision might do in the future."

Of course, Vision has actually died twice in the MCU – once in Infinity War (technically twice, since Wanda killed him, then Thanos reversed time to kill him again) and once more in WandaVision when Wanda brings down the Hex. However, Vision first transferred his memories to White Vision, who fled the scene.

Since the events of WandaVision, Wanda herself has also seemingly perished, as seen in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. In VisionQuest, Vision will be aware of her fate, showrunner Terry Matalas has confirmed.

James Spader's Ultron will also be back in the new show, and it seems he's been relaxing ever since his defeat in Age of Ultron. "He's had access to the internet, television, history, and he's just been consuming... and he's been painting," Spader revealed. "[Ultron and Vision] have a sort of father-son-therapist-psychopath relationship."

VisionQuest arrives this October 14 on Disney Plus. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows for everything else the MCU has in store.

VisionQuest is set to be the end of the WandaVision trilogy on Disney Plus, but that wasn't how showrunner Terry Matalas approached it.

Asked if he was told to create a story that completed the trilogy, which also features WandaVision and Agatha All Along, he reveals this wasn't his initial brief. "No, not really. I would say, if anything, it’s definitely more of a sequel to WandaVision in a lot of ways," he told SFX magazine in the new issue, which features the Disney Plus show on the cover.

"But it really exists on its own. It’s more the Vision story, just because we’re going to dig into so much of who he is in ways that the films and WandaVision couldn’t, including some deeper parts of his origin that may go back even further than what we believed. So it's very much its own entity, but it does obviously touch upon what has come before for this guy."

What's more, Matalas went on to say that he doesn't think this needs to be the end of the story for Vision either (Paul Bettany thinks it could be a "springboard" for more Vision stories as well). In fact, Matalas has several ideas about how the story can continue beyond just one season.

"The second we wrapped, Paul, James, and I were immediately ready to go into 10 more seasons of whatever this could be," he added. "But that's up to Marvel Studios and the television gods as to what happens."

Despite being a WandaVision follow-up, VisionQuest is very much Vision's show. Following White Vision – who has been loaded with Vision's memories – the series centers on the synthezoid as he tries to understand who he is. Part of this involves retreating into his mind palace, where he speaks to other Marvel AIs and his creator, Ultron. All the while, he's being hunted by a bounty hunter and dealing with the arrival of his son into his life.

Elizabeth Olsen is not returning as Wanda Maximoff in the show, bowing out of the MCU after Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. This is something Matalas wants to make clear too, referencing a key moment "late in the season".

"There’s a moment late in the season that we were running towards, but we didn’t know exactly how we would get there," he continued. "Paul had an amazing idea for the kind of scene it should be. Who he is within that particular scene is kind of amazing, and that we were able to pull that off. I want to make sure that people don’t think I’m teasing Wanda, because I’m not teasing Wanda."

Elsewhere in the issue, Matalas teased how VisionQuest will offer a new, heartbreaking perspective on Iron Man's death, while Tommy Shepherd star Ruaridh Mollica revealed he previously auditioned to play a character in the MCU, but he still doesn't know which one.

VisionQuest arrives on Disney Plus on October 14. For more MCU, here's our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

VisionQuest showrunner Terry Matalas will approach Iron Man's death in Avengers: Endgame from an AI perspective.

"It brought all these really interesting questions that we get to bring to the surface here when we bring them all together," Matalas told SFX magazine in the new issue, which features the Disney Plus show on the cover. "Like, FRIDAY was there when Tony Stark died. What’s that like for an AI, to not be able to protect the one they’re programmed to protect? I guess the [bigger] question is, are they corporeal? Or, are they digital? Are they avatars? Can they be corporeal? Do some characters want to be corporeal? Some definitely do not. But that's a question that the pilot will very quickly answer."

FRIDAY took over for JARVIS, Tony's AI assistant, in Avengers: Age of Ultron. In his final moments, JARVIS monitored his failing vitals and ultimately announced his death to the Avengers heroes.

AI could bring an interesting perspective for sure, because it doesn't really dawn on you that FRIDAY is sentient, with "feelings" of her own. VisionQuest puts a spotlight on this, with each AI getting their own human form.

The cast includes Paul Bettany as Vision, with Orla Brady as FRIDAY, Emily Hampshire as EDITH, T'Nia Miller as Jocasta, James D'Arcy as JARVIS (yes, that Jarvis), James Spader as Ultron (aka Peepaw), and Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Maximoff. Up until Endgame, FRIDAY was voiced by Kerry Condon. Brady takes over the role, showcasing the AI's preferred human form at Vision's request.

VisionQuest arrives on Disney Plus on October 14. For more MCU, here's our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

Don't miss out on The Mandalorian Lego special. The delightful animated short has arrived on Disney Plus (alongside its live-action big sibling, The Mandalorian and Grogu), and, while it might not be canon, it is a laugh-out-loud, joyful 45 minutes every Star Wars fan needs to tune in for.

The special has an adorable premise: Din Djarin's pals have thrown him a party – and it's not even his birthday! – which he begrudgingly attends with baby Grogu. While the duo are there in their party hats, a gang of their closest friends retell their story so far, all the way up to the events of the new movie.

The result is an irreverent, self-referential blast – exactly what you'd expect from a Lego special – that's also pretty much a perfect way to recap the Disney Plus show. What more could you ask for?

Getting the band back together

Probably the biggest selling point of any Lego special is just how damn hilarious they are, and The Mandalorian's is no different. The 45-minute runtime is packed with jokes that poke gentle fun at The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole, including Mando and Grogu's reunion taking place in a different series, IG-11's tendency to go straight for self-destruct mode, and Luke Skywalker having no luck with his Jedi students. I got to watch the special at this year's D23 in a crowd of Star Wars fans that laughed at every gag, and it only enhanced the experience.

The wacky premise doesn't just allow for laughs, too: it also gets the whole Mando gang back together again. There are cameos aplenty in the special, which means original actors return to their roles. Listen out for Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano, Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett, Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon, Amy Sedaris as Peli Motto, Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze, Timothy Olyphant as Cobb Vanth, and even Bill Burr as Migs Mayfeld (he's on hand to recount the events of season 2, which, he points out, he witnessed a whole 20% of).

Of course, any Mandalorian project – Lego or not – needs to include its fair share of heartwarming Clan of Two moments. The special doesn't just recreate the tearjerking scenes you know and love from the show (the special's version of Mando and Grogu's goodbye in the season 2 finale did indeed remind me of how many tears I shed back in December 2020), but it also includes a few new moments of its own. Highlights include Mando urging Grogu to make his signature cooing sound more intimidating if he's going to be a bounty hunter, Grogu using the Force to levitate a party hat onto Mando's beskar helmeted head, and Grogu having his own miniature steering wheel in the Razor Crest. If you've been missing Din Djarin and Din Grogu since their big-screen outing earlier this year, then you can't go wrong with the Lego special.

Assembled with love

The special is also set after The Mandalorian and Grogu on the Star Wars timeline, as revealed by the Razor Crest's distinctive yellow paint – and an appearance from Zeb Orrelios to tell this part of the story, before he's interrupted. Of course, Lego releases aren't Star Wars canon, so nothing that happens in this special is actually part of the saga's ongoing story. But, it does give a nice window into the kind of life you'd like to imagine Mando and Grogu living in between missions for the New Republic. What better way to spend their downtime than a party with friends?

And, while it might not be canon, and the premise is indeed silly fun, every second of the special makes it obvious that it was made with clear, reverent love for The Mandalorian and Star Wars as a whole. The story goes beyond just a party, encompassing Mando's growth across his tale so far as he comes to accept he's no longer a loner. Yes, this Lego special gets pretty deep, in between all the fun.

At the moment, it's unclear when we'll see Din Djarin and Din Grogu again, as nothing has been confirmed about their future (either in The Mandalorian season 4 or another movie). So, while we wait to be reunited with the Clan of Two, there's no better way to pass the time than with Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian.

Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian is streaming on Disney Plus now. See what else the galaxy far, far away has in store with our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows.

Despite critical acclaim and a slew of Emmy nominations, Spider-Noir will not be returning for a second season at Prime Video.

Per Deadline, it seems like Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television expected bigger streaming numbers when making their decision. But given recent reports that the first season's budget was somewhere around $400 million, I can see why the studios might've needed the show to become a megahit in order to justify spending that money on a second season.

Amazon and Sony are still moving ahead with their multi-title deal to use IP from Sony's Universe of Marvel characters. You might remember that the first Spider-Man spin-off, Silk: Spider-Society, was ultimately canceled before entering production. Spider-Noir is now the second canceled project... and there's a third on the way. According to Deadline, there are still multiple projects on development, and one is "nearing a series order." Details are, of course, being kept under wraps.

Spider-Noir saw Nicolas Cage as a jaded, down-on-his-luck private detective version of Ben Reilly aka the Spider, who finds himself returning to superheroism and going up against classic Rogue Gallery villains like Sandman and Silvermane. The series has a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, with our own Spider-Noir review praising the show's originality and Cage's excellent and equally odd acting choices.

Spider-Noir is streaming now in both black-and-white and in color on Prime Video. For more, check out our Spider-Noir review, or if you're still confused about how Spider-Noir is connected to the Spider-Verse movies, we've got the answer.

The first trailer for Silo season 4 has arrived, and the final season of the hit Apple TV Plus show is coming sooner than you'd think.

In the brief clip, which can be viewed above, we see one of the most important moments of the entire series: Juliette suddenly runs into a strange man, and demands that he reveal his identity. The man, who doesn't seem to remember much of anything, is none other than Congressman Daniel Keene (Ashley Zukerman), one of the most important figures in Silo 1. Season 3 introduced dual timelines, one before the world ended and one with modern society living in the silos, with Keene now in the present-day timeline after several extended stints in cryosleep.

The trailer also sees Paul Billings broadcast the truth to all the citizens of Silo 18: "We are not alone. There are other silos out there."

The hit sci-fi series is based on the trilogy of the same name by author Graham Yost, with each season adapting each book (Wool, Shift, and Dust). The final book, Dust, will be told over seasons 3 and 4.

Silo season 3 just aired its final episode, and we won't hit you with a whole mess of spoilers... but let's just say that season 4 is definitely going to be an explosive one.

Silo season 3 is streaming now in its entirety on Apple TV. For more, check out our Silo season 3 ending explained, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

Lanterns has been a huge success for HBO Max, now becoming the streamer's third most successful show ever made. According to new figures, it's only behind House of the Dragon and The Last of Us in viewing figures.

According to box office and streaming commentator Luiz Fernando, "HBO is celebrating #DCU’s series #Lanterns quickly becoming their #3 most successful first season after #HouseOfTheDragon & #TheLastOfUS, beating even #AKnightOfTheSevenKingdoms."

They continued to break down the numbers, explaining: "While the season premiere has reached 20M viewers since its debut, Episode 3 reached 10M Global viewers in just 3 days (7M from the US alone), more than what the Season Premiere itself achieved on the same period two weeks ago, showing the steady viewership growth with each episode as positive WOM spreads."

Lanterns introduces the Green Lantern Corps, a group of superpowered individuals tasked with keeping law and order in the galaxy. Earth's representative is Hal Jordan, who's joined by a rookie lined up to replace him, John Stewart. Together, they head to the small town of Rushville, Nebraska to investigate a strange crime.

Part of the success of the new show, beyond appealing to comic book fans, comes from the fact that it's really, really good. Our Lanterns review gave it 4.5 stars, with critic Bradley Russell arguing that it proves "the DCU is back on track".

It's also introduced a tantalizing series of mysteries to keep viewers returning week on week. First up is the lingering question of who killed Hal Jordan, following his dramatic death at the end of episode one. Then there's the conundrum about who the Manhunter is, after it was revealed that an alien was hiding in plain sight in the show.

Follow along weekly with our Lanterns release schedule to make sure you don't miss a moment.

As Silo season 3 comes to an end on Apple TV, one fan has spotted a major clue that may reveal how many silos are remaining.

"Look how few remaining silos there are!" said the fan on Twitter, posting a still from the show where just 7 silos are lit up on a diagram, making it seem like they are the only silos still active. "It looks like They've probably activated the Safeguard in all the non-lit-up silos," continued the fan. Check out the post below.

It looks like the silos that are lit up are 42, 31, 44, 1, 18, 19, and 14. "That’s 7 silos out of 50 that are lit up. Hopefully, that’s not the case that they’ve been safeguarded," replied one fan, and another added, "It's possible they lied about all the silos being ready."

In Silo lore, the network of silos actually consists of 51 stations, including silo 1, which is treated as the central control hub. However, in the show, it looks like there are only 50 in total. Nevertheless, as the show has progressed, we've learnt that multiple silos have been reset or safeguarded, with everyone inside killed following rebellions.

We already know that Silo 17 was destroyed due to a civil uprising breaking out inside the station. The population was wiped out by Silo 1 when they exited their Silo. This happened 35 years before the main events of the show, but a handful of people did manage to survive, as Juliette later meets Solo and other Silo 17 descendants in season 2. However, with over 300 years of events to cover, it's not exactly clear what could have happened to the others.

Others think that the diagram is actually showing silos that are under investigation, as the list does not include Silo 17. "I think it might be the other way around just because of them stressing so much about cross-contamination," replied one fan.

Silo season 3 has just wrapped on Apple TV, and sees Silo 18 survive their Safeguard (barely), with some major reveals about the nature of the Silo Project. Juliette is now hell-bent on directing that offensive system at Silo 1 in season 4, which will conclude the sci-fi series. Silo season 4 has wrapped filming and is targeting a summer 2027 release date.

Silo season 3 is streaming now on Apple TV. For more, check out our Silo season 3 ending explained, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.

The Last of Us creator and previous co-showrunner of the HBO show Neil Druckmann has doubled down on having no involvement in the upcoming third season.

When it was renewed for season 3, it was also announced that Craig Mazin would be remaining as sole showrunner as Druckmann exited. However, now Druckmann has gone one step further and suggested Naughty Dog – the company behind the game – has basically no involvement in the new episodes.

"I wasn't involved in shaping this season's creative direction, and Naughty Dog did not have a creative role in the direction of this season," he told the Washington Post. "So I can't personally speak to how production is progressing. It's important for us to note that as the creator of the games, Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP and even though this might be the end of this adaptation, we're not done with The Last of Us. There's a couple projects in the works that, when the time is right, I’m very excited to talk about."

Druckmann also confirmed that season 3 will "wrap up" the series, after it was initially unclear how many more seasons it would take to finish telling the events of The Last of Us: Part 2.

Filming on The Last of Us season 3 began back in March and is set to run until November. Based on the events of the game and how the second season ended, we know Kaitlyn Dever's Abby Anderson will be our main focus in the new episodes. It's expected that the show will retell some of the events we've already seen from her perspective before returning to the present day.

Bella Ramsey returns as Ellie, alongside Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller, Isabela Merced as Dina, and Young Mazino as Jesse. Newcomers Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter also join as Yara and Lev, key characters in this next part of the story.

For what to watch while we wait, here's our guide to the best HBO shows currently available to stream.

Silo season 3 has come to an explosive end, featuring some huge revelations for both the upcoming fourth season and everything that has happened so far. Titled 'Troy', the final episode finally merges the shows two storylines, featuring a huge reveal about how they connect.

We won't get into too many spoiler-heavy details here (you can read our Silo season 3 ending explained for more on that), but the finale has already caused a lot of buzz from fans of the show. Taking to social media, people have been calling the conclusion everything "truly incredible" to a satisfying "pay-off".

"If you’ve been watching Silo for the last 3 years this finale is really such a payoff lol incredible way to tell a story," one wrote, while another added: "That Season 3 finale flipped the whole show upside down. Can’t wrap my head around why the Founder would establish this whole thing and then…#Silo is phenomenal. Might be my favorite sci-fi series of all time."

"This episode might have been one of the greatest tv episodes in history… I haven’t had this much exposition thrown at me ever before in a single episode," tweeted another. "My jaw is on the floor, not even a Severance ep has gagged me like this, my GOD."

Check out some more reactions below.

Silo season 4 is already confirmed, and a trailer for the show aired at the end of the season 3 finale. While we don't have a release date beyond "summer 2027" at the moment, filming is already wrapped.

For more, check out our guides to the best Apple TV shows to stream right now. We've also got everything you need to know about new TV shows coming in 2026.

Silo season 4 is on the way, and there's not long to wait. The Apple TV sci-fi hit is returning for its fourth and final season in just one year, when (we hope) all our questions will finally be answered.

After that mind-bending Silo season 3 ending, you're probably wondering what's next. We've unearthed the evidence and pieced together the clues to bring you everything there is to know about Silo season 4, including the confirmed release date, plot speculation, info on returning cast members, and when we might expect a trailer.

So, like the denizens of Silo 18, it's time to head below for all the need-to-know info about one of the most exciting new TV shows on the calendar. But beware: full Silo season 3 spoilers follow, so don't read until you're caught up.

Silo season 4 release date

Apple has officially confirmed that Silo season 4 will release on July 9, 2027, after previously indicating that the final season would drop Summer 2027.

In modern TV terms, where waits between seasons commonly last 2-3 years, that's a relatively quick turnaround. This is possible because seasons 3 and 4 were shot back-to-back. Filming on the fourth and final season wrapped on March 6, 2026. During the Silo panel at SDCC 2026, Apple put out a short teaser confirming the Silo season 4 release window. Check it out below.

Silo season 4 plot speculation

Note: this speculation doesn't contain book spoilers.

The Silo season 3 finale sets up a clear mission statement for the final season: Silo 18 is taking the fight to Silo 1. Given the two factions are literally siloed off from each other, and Silo 1's massive intelligence and technological advantage, it's hard to know what plan Juliette and co. could cook up to take down Silo 1. But having prevented a safeguard and with Camille now on their side, we wouldn't count Silo 18 out.

From the Silo season 4 trailer, we know we'll be getting further flashbacks as well. While the season 3 finale takes Troy (aka Daniel) up to the present day, we're none the wiser about what happened to several characters after they went into the silos, including Helen and Per Stenson. And we don't see Susan (aka. Charlotte) or Rosalind again following the 35-year time jump. The season 4 trailer confirms we'll be catching up with these characters in the next season.

Above all, we can expect answers. Showrunner Graham Yost has explicitly confirmed as much, telling Collider: "There are mysteries every season, and pretty much all the mysteries are answered by the end of Season 4. We wanted to make sure that we answered enough by the end of Season 3 that the audience didn't feel like they were being strung along."

Season 3 certainly answered some big questions. We now know that Silo 18 wasn't being monitored by an omniscient Algorithm, but the very human people in Silo 1, who have dedicated their lives (willingly or not) to enforcing the Directive in the belief it will ensure humanity's survival. We also know that the Silos were built by trillionaire Per Stenson, in cooperation with Senator Rosalind Thurman, due to their belief that a nanobot apocalypse was inevitable. And we know it was Victor who wrote The Pact.

Much still remains a mystery, however. Who detonated the nuclear device that drove humanity underground, and was it a ruse to accelerate the start of the Silo programme? Is the entire planet a nuclear wasteland, or just the area around the Silos? Is anyone on Earth alive other than those in Silos 18 and 1, and the remnants of Silo 17? And exactly how much time has passed since humanity descended into the Silos? We only know for sure that at least 42 years have passed, as this is the amount of time that Troy spends in cryo between operations during season 3, episode 10, but in all likelihood it's been far longer than that.

In other words, expect major secrets to finally be brought into the open in Silo season 4.

Silo season 4 cast

Some major figures met their end in Silo season 3, most notably: Bernard (Tim Robbins), who was sent out to clean in episode 9, and Victor (Matt Craven), who took his own life in the season finale. We don't yet know the fates of several flashback characters, including Helen (Jessica Henwick) and Per Stenson (Colin Hanks), but we know they'll appear at least in flashback in the final season.

Of course, Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson) and most of the Silo 18 crew will return. Here are the main cast members we expect to be back for Silo season 4:

• Rebecca Ferguson as Juliette Nichols
• Ashley Zukerman as Troy/Daniel Keene
• Jessica Henwick as Helen Drew
• ​​Jessica Brown Findlay as Susan/Charlotte Keene
• Common as Robert Sims
• Alexandria Riley as Camille Sims
• Chinaza Uche as Paul Billings
• Harriet Walter as Martha Walker
• Shane McRae as Knox
• Remmie Milner as Shirley
• Avi Nash as Lukas Kyle
• Rick Gomez as Patrick Kennedy
• Steve Zahn as Solo/Jimmy
• Claire Perkins as Carla
• Billy Postlethwaite as Hank
• Colin Hanks as Per Stenson
• Reed Birney as Henry
• Laura Innes as Rosalind Thurman
• Morven Christie as Anna Thurman

Is there a Silo season 4 trailer?

Yes, there is Silo season 4 trailer. After a short delay, during which the trailer was only available on Apple TV as a post-credits scene for episode 10, Apple finally dropped the full trailer online, and with it a confirmed release date.

There's much revealed in the trailer. Not only will we see what happens after Helen first enters Silo 18, it's clear that the fight between Silo 1 and Silo 18 won't be one fought in secret, as Paul reveals the truth of the Silo Project to the entire population of Silo 18. It also, tantalizingly, confirms a confrontation between Juliette and Daniel/Troy, who appears to be searching for his true identity. July 2027 can't come soon enough.

Is Silo season 4 the final season?

Yes, Silo season 4 will be the show's final season. A fourth and final season was announced in December 2024, at the same time the show was renewed for a third season.

Silo season 3 sets up a war between Silo 18 and Silo 1, so expect that to be a major focus for the final season, as long-running mysteries are finally resolved.

Silo seasons 1 -3 are streaming now on Apple TV. For more, check out our guide to the best Apple TV movies you need to add to your watchlist.

Netflix has ordered a live-action TV show based on Ravenloft, the spooky-ooky vampire-laden storyline from Dungeons and Dragons... and I've never, ever been happier.

Per Deadline, the upcoming drama is a joint venture between writer, executive producer, and frequent Tim Burton collaborator John August, executive producer Alfonso Cuarón, and Hasbro Entertainment.

Ravenloft is all about Darklord Strahd von Zarovich (and if this name sounds familiar, it might be because you heard it in the final episode of Stranger Things), and according to the official synopsis, the series is "a story of power, love, obsession, and undead transformation that charts his origins from tragic antihero to one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most notorious villains." In other words, it's a prequel to the highly popular Curse of Strahd campaign.

You read all of that right: the writer of Big Fish, Corpse Bride, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is partnering with the director of Y Tu Mamá También to adapt the origin story of one of the coolest vampires of the last 40 or so years. I feel completely and totally normal about this.

It's worth noting that this has nothing to do with Shawn Levy's Forgotten Realms series that Netflix announced in 2025, as that particular project appears to no longer be moving forward. Separately, Dungeons and Dragons 2, a sequel to the severely underrated 2023 movie, is still reportedly in the works at Hasbro.

Ravenloft does not have a release date, but I will be waiting patiently by my TV in the meantime. For more, check out our picks of the best Amazon shows as well as our guide to all the upcoming video game adaptations you need to know about. Here's also why we think Curse of Strahd is still the best D&D campaign 10 years after it first launched.

There are tons of great movies and TV shows to stream this weekend. We've whittled down the choices to the five best to see you through Saturday and Sunday.

First, there's a new Star Wars movie to take you on an adventure to the galaxy far, far away. Then, if you're looking for laughs, there's a new Scary Movie to enjoy, as well as season 2 of a Glen Powell sports comedy. There's more where that came from, too, so, to sort your weekend, head to our choices below.

Along with our recommendations on Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Paramount Plus, and Apple TV, we've also got guides on the best movies and shows the streamers have to offer. Make sure you're making the most of your subscription with our guide to the best Apple TV shows, and head to the below for more.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Disney Plus

The Mandalorian and Grogu return in a new adventure, three years after The Mandalorian season 3. This is the first Star Wars film in seven years, and, after its theatrical run, it's now available to stream on Disney Plus.

The movie sees Din Djarin and his adopted green child Din Grogu picking up bounties for the New Republic. They're tasked with returning Rotta the Hutt to his aunt and uncle on Nal Hutta as part of a quest to find a hidden imperial warlord by the name of Janu Coin.

And, if you just can't get enough Mando and Grogu goodness, the good news is Lego Star Wars: The Mandalorian is also streaming on Disney Plus now. For more, check out our The Mandalorian and Grogu review, or our interview with Jon Favreau on Grogu's Jedi journey.

Need some viewing inspiration? Here are the best Disney Plus movies.

Scary Movie

Available: Paramount Plus

Where to watch: US/UK

Not to be confused with the original Scary Movie, this is the sixth film in the legendary spoof franchise, and it's now streaming on Paramount Plus. The film sees the return of Marlon Wayans, Anna Faris, Regina Hall, and Shawn Wayans.

While the original film took aim at Scream, this film has everything from Sinners to Weapons to The Substance in its sights. So, if you're a horror fan and you're looking for a laugh this weekend, Scary Movie is one to stream.

For more, you can check out our Scary Movie interview with Marlon Wayans on the humor in the latest movie.

Need more? Check out our list of the best movies on Paramount Plus.

The Gentlemen season 2

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Netflix

Netflix's crime drama comedy returns with a brand new season. Created by Guy Ritchie and starring Theo James, the show follows James's Eddie, who inherits a luxurious family estate – then quickly discovers it's wrapped up in a cannabis empire. Season 2 picks up one year later, as Eddie and Susie (Kaya Scodelario) expand their criminal enterprise overseas under Susie's father and boss Bobby, who seems to be making some seriously questionable decisions.

The rest of the cast includes Daniel Ings, Giancarlo Esposito, and Vinnie Jones.

If you're already desperate for more, the good news is season 3 has already been confirmed. This looks like a Netflix original whose future you don't have to fear for, then.

For more, check out the best Netflix shows to watch right now.

Mayday

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Apple TV

Kenneth Branagh and Ryan Reynolds star in this Apple TV comedy about a US pilot who befriends an ex-KGB operative. The result is an odd couple comedy with Branagh taking on a surprisingly action-heavy role.

The film is directed by Game Night helmers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley. "We're big fans of casting the greatest actors we can get, whether they're drama or comedy people, like Jesse Plemons in Game Night," Goldstein told us at SDCC. "We just ask them to commit to it like you would a drama, and it turns out to be hilarious. And Ken just brought so much great chops to the thing."

For more, fill out your watchlist with our guide to the best Apple TV movies.

Chad Powers season 2

Available: US/UK

Where to watch: Hulu

Glen Powell's sports comedy returns. Chad Powers stars Powell as Russ Holliday, a quarterback who, after destroying his reputation in a star-making college football game, disguises himself to join a struggling team at a much smaller school.

Alongside Powell, the cast includes Steve Zahn, Wynn Everett, Perry Mattfeld, and Quentin Plair.

Season 2 has debuted to strong reviews so far, so, if you're looking for a light-hearted watch to pass the time this weekend, you can't go wrong with catching up on Chad Powers.

Check out our guide to the best Disney Plus shows for even more.

Need more? Check out our list of the best movies on Netflix.

Hal Jordan has been Earth's Green Lantern since 1986, which means he might have come into contact with a certain metahuman at some point. DC fans have been speculating that the superhero would likely have wanted to check out an alien spaceship crashing in Smallville, Kansas when Kal-El arrived after Krypton's fall.

As is usually the case with the Man of Steel's backstory, he is then raised by farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent. And, as one fan theorized, this might be what put Hal off from intervening. They suggested: "The concept of Hal checking out the crashed spaceship in Kansas only to see a tiny baby Clark in Ma & Pa's hands and immediately backing off because he can't 'take care' of this cutie patootie of a threat, so Hal just checks in regularly as Clark grows up."

Now this is a cute headcanon, but we're going to be honest, we're not sure that Hal is the caring, uncle type. Other fans weighed in too with their ideas, with one imagining that "young Clark sees Hal on TV all the time and wants to be a hero like that some day." This one does seem more likely as we've already seen a young John Stewart doing just that too.

There has been no indication yet that Superman and Hal have crossed paths, but given Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner is set to appear and John will feature in the sequel Man of Tomorrow, it does seem likely their lives have intersected. We'll have to wait and see whether this gets addressed in the HBO show or not.

In the meantime, there is plenty to keep us busy while watching Lanterns as we try to uncover who killed Hal Jordan and who the Manhunter is. The show is airing weekly, so check out our Lanterns release schedule for how to watch and our Lanterns review for why you should be.

Perhaps the strangest upcoming project in James Gunn's DCU Chapter One is The People vs. Gorilla Grodd. Starring Superman's Jimmy Olsen, it's being billed as an eight-part true-crime mockumentary and comedy.

Created by American Vandal's Tony Yacenda and Dan Perrault, it sees Olsen investigate the crimes of a telepathic gorilla and notorious DC villain. He tries to work out whether the character has been wrongly convicted of murdering his father in the unique new show.

It's definitely a fun idea, and it's hard to think of anything else we've seen like it in the superhero space. However, that hasn't stopped people from trying, with ScreenRant calling it She-Hulk meets Invincible in a recent feature.

Gunn reacted to this on Threads, admitting he was a little bit confused by the comparison after a fan shared it with the caption: "After Lanterns and Peacemaker @jamesgunn could green light an 8-episode series of ice cubes melting on a kitchen table and I'd be there every Sunday night with bells on."

The DC Studios head replied: "Although, The People Vs is a DCU true crime docuseries, so I don't see what it has in common with either of those shows. But I appreciate the support and hope it will help push my Melty Ice Cube series through this fall."

However, Gunn probably didn't realise that his reply has also got fans hoping the show will be a multi-season project. By calling it "The People Vs.", some have been wondering if it's being set up as a new anthology show – and they have plenty of suggestions about who it should cover next. "The People vs Giganta," suggested one, while another added: "The People vs Darkseid".

We'll have to wait and see what happens there. In the meantime, the DCU is releasing Lanterns weekly on HBO Max and Clayface will be heading to theaters very soon. For all the other projects on the way, check out our guide to upcoming DC movies and shows.

Ryan Reynolds has made it clear over the years that he doesn't love his Green Lantern movie – but, despite that, he'd still be willing to return for a cameo in Lanterns.

In fact, Reynolds seems so regretful of his own Green Lantern film that, in the Deadpool 2 post-credits scene, the Merc with the Mouth shoots Reynolds in the head after the actor gets the Green Lantern script. And, in the first Deadpool film, Wade Wilson asks for his suit not to be green or animated.

"I would totally do a cameo in that," Reynolds told Entertainment Tonight. "I love it. I learned so much making that movie. And I know what you're thinking, you're thinking, 'Oh, learned what not to do.' In part, yes. But also, any time you're making something that large, there are core lessons that come of it. And I owe my entire career to that movie. I owe everything to that… Everything about it was a gift that keeps on giving. And I really enjoyed the experience of making it."

If Reynolds did return for a cameo, it wouldn't be as Hal Jordan, since Kyle Chandler took up the mantle in Lanterns. Aaron Pierre stars as John Stewart.

As for Reynolds's Marvel future, at the moment, it's unclear. The actor has shared he's working on a fourth Deadpool movie, but he's not currently included on the supersized cast list for Avengers: Doomsday, despite participating in humorous 'bits' during the Marvel panels at both SDCC and D23.

Lanterns continues weekly on HBO, while Doomsday arrives this December 18. For more, check out our Lanterns review for our spoiler-free verdict on the show, or our Lanterns release schedule to keep up to date.

The Runner is not winning over critics as it sprints onto Prime Video. The new action thriller starring Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot debuted to just 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, becoming the actor's lowest-ranked movie.

Directed by Kevin Macdonald, the movie stars Gadot as an attorney who must race through London on the orders of a mysterious caller to save her abducted son. Damien Lewis also stars in the movie, which is now available to stream on Prime Video.

The Guardian gives it just two stars, adding: "Intelligence might not be what one would expect here, which is somewhat acceptable in B-movie territory such as this, but the lack of excitement is hard to forgive."

"The Runner's slick design and technical contributions do not transcend the outward packaging for a potboiler with scant substance beneath," writes Variety's Dennis Harvey as IGN's Scott Collura calls it "a mid-tier movie drop" that is ultimately "unsatisfying".

Meanwhile, Daniel Hart of Ready Steady Cut calls the film a "career low" for Gadot, writing that "The Runner is a flat, amateurish thriller that wastes a promising premise on cheap direction and zero suspense."

Not all the reviews are bad. Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter argues: "Movies such as these are all about suspension of disbelief, and The Runner keeps a fast enough pace that we don’t wind up asking too many questions."

On the press tour for the new film, Gadot has been making headlines about her Wonder Woman exit. The star, who played the superhero in the DCEU, says she wasn't told the full picture by James Gunn and Peter Safran when they took over as DC Studios CEOs.

However, as a new Wonder Woman is rumored to debut in Man of Tomorrow, she's sending her best wishes to her replacement.

The Runner is available to stream on Prime Video now. For more, check out our guides to the best Amazon movies of all time.

Dave Bautista has addressed his casting as Kratos in the upcoming God of War series. He's replacing Ryan Hurst in the lead role after the actor sustained a serious on-set injury.

Posting on Instagram, the Guardians of the Galaxy star shared his training for the role, set to the audio of "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in." He captioned the video, "3rd week into weight training again. 2 more months to get to where I need to be. Like ridin' a bike! LFG!"

Bautista recently lost a lot of weight after bulking up for his role in Knock at the Cabin. However, it seems like he's pivoting once again to play Kratos in the upcoming Amazon adaptation of the beloved game.

The new update also confirms when filming is due to pick up again. There were initial reports that production would resume in mid-October, but it seems like this is actually closer to November based on Bautista's caption.

Based on the hugely popular PlayStation video game franchise, the Amazon God of War series is being adapted by Ronald D. Moore. The story follows Kratos and his son Atreus as they travel to the highest peak in the nine realms to spread the ashes of their wife and mother Faye.

As well as Bautista, the show stars Callum Vinson, Teresa Palmer, Max Parker, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Mandy Patinkin, and Ed Skrein. Kratos' video game actor Christopher Judge recently revealed that he also read to play the live-action version of the character, but says he had "no desire" to be the lead actor of a TV show again.

Currently, there's no release date for the God of War series. In the meantime, check out our picks of the best Amazon shows as well as our guide to all the upcoming video game adaptations you need to know about.

A new trailer for HBO's Harry Potter TV show has landed, and it's seriously reminding us of the movies.

In the footage, which you can watch above, Harry, Ron, and Hermione take the Hogwarts Express to their first year at Hogwarts. Harry faces the Sorting Hat, whispering "not Slytherin, not Slytherin," and we get teases of Quidditch, feasts in the Great Hall, the ogre fight in the bathroom, and the Philosopher's Stone itself.

In short, it all looks very familiar if you've seen the original movies, right down to the set and costume design.

The first season of the show arrives this Christmas, and it will tell the story of the first book in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (released as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in the US).

Season 2 is already filming; however, don't expect to see it any time soon. "For some of the bigger shows like Harry Potter or House of the Dragon, or The Last of Us, huge world-building shows, it would be nice to have those on an annual basis," HBO boss Casey Bloys has said previously. "But from a production point of view, it’s just not possible."

The second season will adapt the second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, with a further season per book planned to take us through 10 years (even though there are only seven books).

The Harry Potter TV show arrives on December 25. While you wait, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming TV shows for everything else the year has in store.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is widely considered to be one of the best outings of the entire franchise, and a lot of that is down to the vision that Alfonso Cuarón brought to the franchise. The auteur, who is also behind films like Y tu mamá también, Gravity, and Children of Men, brought a unique take on one of the darkest Potter books, and it really paid off.

Fans of the franchise have long wondered why he didn't return to direct any more of the movies. Now, producer David Heyman has elaborated on this, explaining the answer is pretty simple.

"We asked Alfonso if he wanted to do the fourth, and he said, 'Cabrón,'" Heyman said on Harry Potter: The Official Film Podcast, referencing a Spanish slang term. "I think he was exhausted. I look at pictures of Alfonso from then – Alfonso is one of my best friends, and he's my son’s godfather, and I love him. But I look at him from then, and I just look [at him]… Because he was exhausted."

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire went on to be directed by Four Weddings and a Funeral helmer Mike Newell. He only signed on for one movie, also, before passing the baton to David Yates, who directed the final four films.

Heyman was speaking as part of the Harry Potter: Official Film Podcast, which is set to turn into the official series podcast when the HBO Max series begins airing this Christmas. The new show will adapt Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in its first season, before tackling a new book with each subsequent season.

You can watch the Harry Potter movies on HBO Max. For more, check out our guides to the best shows on HBO Max to stream now.

Fans have long suspected it, but it's now official that new Lego Harry Potter sets based on the upcoming HBO series are brewing.

Revealed via the Back to Hogwarts livestream that went up in time for September 1 (AKA the day Hogwarts students traditionally return to school in the books and movies), the toy-maker confirmed that it was indeed working on a series of Lego Harry Potter sets inspired by the HBO show. While we don't know what those will be just yet, the teaser did give us our first look at the new minifigures for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Plus, co-host Rhianna Dhillon noted that these sets would be coming "so, so soon." I guess that means we can expect them to hit the digital Lego store shelves in the not-so-distant future.

In terms of the trio, Harry's wearing the new Gryffindor Hogwarts uniform while Hermione and Ron are in their civilian getup. While Ron seems to have a new hairpiece that more accurately represents the actor playing him in the HBO series (as does Hermione, though hers is very similar to previous models), Harry seems to have exactly the same face print and hair as older minifigs.

This raises an interesting point. Even though the show has a different visual design to the movies, it's gonna retread old ground already covered by Lego by necessity. Are we going to get slightly tweaked versions of older sets as a result? Fans on reddit are certainly wary of this, with user BlueAraquanid sarcastically noting that "Oh my god guys are we gonna get another hogwarts castle? Maybe finally get a ford Anglia? If they make enough seasons we could even get a buildable dobby! This might be lego’s most creative and innovative theme yet." (We have of course got multiple Hogwarts Castles, Ford Anglias, and Dobbys already.)

I also wonder what this means for kits based on the movies. Will they take a backseat in favor of the new HBO models, or are both ranges going to be launched simultaneously? I suppose we'll have to wait and see.

There's plenty kicking off for brick-builders this week; fans are loving new Lego Wallace & Gromit, but the same can't be said for Buddy the Elf, and a host of awesome new Lego sets just launched for September.

Although she is not involved in the development of Lego Harry Potter sets, GamesRadar+ acknowledges the role of J.K. Rowling in the creation of the Wizarding World, as well as her publicly-stated views regarding the rights of transgender people. If you'd like to offer your support to the communities affected by Rowling's rhetoric, consider donating to the National Center for Transgender Equality in the US, or Mermaids in the UK.

• Check out other new sets at Lego

Star Wars fans think Zero Company is the perfect game for lovers of The Clone Wars and Bad Batch.

The new strategy game is set in the Clone Wars-era of the Star Wars timeline, and you play as Hawks, leader of the titular Zero Company.

"If you love Clone Wars / The Bad Batch, do yourself a favor and play Zero Company," says one fan on Reddit. "For the story and worldbuilding alone, this game is amazing. Even if you don't usually like tactical games (I personally had no experience with them) this game is clearly made as a labor of love for CW and TBB. I'm honestly having a lot of fun with the gameplay and customization too but the planets, references, lore, it's really awesome."

It seems everyone is in agreement. "It's really great so far. It's nice having an isolated story that references the larger ongoings of the galaxy. Not to mention it looks great, and the characters you create actually feel like real characters as well," says one fan.

"You can definitely feel that this game had some of the writers from the Jedi games. Their love for the Star Wars universe, particularly animation, is on full display in Zero Company. For anyone who loves the story of the clones in particular, ZC is an absolute must-play," says another person.

"100% Agree. Would love an animated TV spinoff of Zero Company," thinks another player, while another says: "I can't believe how wonderful the dialogue is in this game. The banter between characters feels so authentic to Star Wars."

"Honestly, if you love the Clone Wars era in general, play this game. One of the best stories told during the era and has callbacks to many other movies, shows, and games that take place during the Clone Wars," thinks another fan.

The game debuted to strong reviews, with our own Star Wars: Zero Company review reading: "Star Wars: Zero Company does exactly what it promises: XCOM, but in a galaxy far, far away. It might not reinvent the format like Midnight Suns, but it's a rare treat to see the tactics genre given this kind of big-budget treatment, and lightsabers only sweeten the deal."

Next up for Star Wars is Ahsoka season 2, which arrives on January 20. The new season will bring back Hayden Christensen's Anakin Skywalker and see Admiral Ackbar go head to head with Grand Admiral Thrawn, while Ahsoka Tano and Sabine Wren remain stranded on Peridea.

While you wait, check out our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything else that's on the way. Star Wars: Zero Company, meanwhile, is available to play on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Marvel fans are wondering if Marvel has forgotten all about Loki's frost giant backstory considering his time with the TVA – though it seems like there's a simple explanation.

Magic is nullified within the TVA headquarters, but Loki's frost giant appearance – blue skin and red eyes – is not revealed when he begins his work there. In response to a Reddit post questioning why his true self wasn't revealed, as well as whether Marvel "forgot" his backstory, some MCU fans have pointed out why Loki's Asgardian guise remains.

"Pretty sure his transformation into appearing Asgardian by default was permanent, not sustained magic like his disguises," says one person, with another adding: "He only reverts when near Frost Giants or their artifacts."

"Exactly, it's not something he's constantly casting on himself. It's something Odin already did to him a very long time ago," echoes someone else.

"He only turns blue near the Frost Giant artifacts. Like I think it's kind of a permanent spell. Like if someone came to the TVA from Earth after Strange's spell in NWH, they won't suddenly remember Peter Parker," agrees another person.

Plus, others have pointed out that his Frost Giant heritage is still part of the MCU, just in a more subtle way. "It’s been a while, but after Thanos snapped his neck at the start of Infinity War, didn't he turn blue as he died? Not just in an asphyxia sense, but in a frost giant way?" says one person.

"''Almighty Thanos, I, Loki, Prince of Asgard, Odinson, the rightful king of Jotunheim*, God of Mischief, do hereby pledge to you my undying fidelity.' - Loki (Infinity War)*" points out someone else.

"In that weird little propaganda play on Asgard in Thor: Ragnarok the actor playing him as a child is blue," says another person.

We'll next see Loki in Avengers: Doomsday, though how he factors into the plot is a mystery for now, especially considering the Loki season 2 ending saw the God of Mischief become the God of Stories and hold the multiverse together.

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

Apple TV action-comedy Mayday stars Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh as a mismatched American and Russian odd couple, but you might be surprised by which one of them lets their fists do the talking.

Despite Reynolds semi-regularly suiting up as the dual-katana-wielding Deadpool, it's Branagh's former KGB agent who's the far more adept fighter in Mayday. And according to the movie's directors, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, the 65-year-old Branagh wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty when it came to the action, or the comedy.

"He was super hands-on," says Daley during a conversation with GamesRadar+ at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 to discuss Branagh's Liam Neeson-style action man makeover. "He did a lot of the rehearsals with our stunt coordinators. He did a lot of his own stunts, and just like he approaches everything, he had deep reverence and deep respect for the material, and was able to put a level of emphasis into all of it that we were so lucky to have."

In Mayday, Reynolds US Air Force pilot Troy "Assassin" Kelly crash-lands behind enemy lines in Russia, and is saved from a life sentence in a gulag by Branagh's Nikolai Ustinov, who happens to be obsessed with American pop culture, like McDonald's and Top Gun. Kelly is a very wanted man, however, so when push comes to shove, it's Ustinov who does the pushing. And the shoving. And the head-smashing.

Branagh's wannabe-defector is also a deadpan delight, landing laughs alongside blows. Mayday, then, is something of a change of pace for the typically affable Branagh, who more than holds his own opposite wisecracking motormouth Reynolds on the comedy front.

"We're big fans of casting the greatest actors we can get, whether they're drama or comedy people, like Jesse Plemons in Game Night," Goldstein says. "We just ask them to commit to it like you would a drama, and it turns out to be hilarious. And Ken just brought so much great chops to the thing."

"There's this weird misconception that dramatic actors have trouble doing comedy," Daley adds. "And I couldn't disagree more with that. I feel like dramatic actors, as long as they play it like a drama, are the funniest."

The inverse is also true. Goldstein and Daley could be pigeonholed as comedy filmmakers following the warmly received likes of Vacation, Game Night and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. But Mayday features some impressively muscular action, including a car chase involving a nuclear missile truck that was filmed for real in Budapest.

"That was very complicated," Goldstein says with a nervous laugh. "We needed a lot of the participation and help from the good people of Budapest, where we filmed for Moscow. We had over 1000 extras. We had real Soviet tanks. We had an actual ICBM launch vehicle with a fake missile on top of it. I mean, we went through that whole city. Used the airport. It was a big production."

Goldstein and Daley are currently hard at work on a Star Trek movie, and recently revealed they wrote a Dungeons and Dragons sequel that might never be made. As for Branagh, it's not too late to give him his own action franchise. Nikolai Wick, anyone?

Mayday releases on Apple TV on September 4. For more, check out our list of the best Apple TV movies, or fill out your watchlist with our guide to the upcoming movies heading your way.

Immediately killing a beloved hero of almost seven decades instantly established that nothing is sacred in HBO's Lanterns. Anyone can die, and the DC comics this show is based on are a mere guideline at best. Yet even so, John Stewart's decidedly dark origin story – explored in episode three – comes as a big surprise to anyone familiar with his start in the source material.

Powerhouse comic book duo Denny O’Neil and artist Neal Adams introduced John as the fourth Green Lantern in Green Lantern #87 (1971) where he quickly proved himself to be worthy of wielding such emerald might. The character was originally an architect and civil rights activist who actively distrusted authority. This might seem worlds away from Aaron Pierre's somewhat uptight take on John in Lanterns, but that military background explored here didn't just come out of nowhere.

Although Stewart continued to be portrayed as an architect throughout the decades that followed, it wasn't until the character was rewritten as a former U.S. Marine in the noughties Justice League cartoon that he became more prominent. The comics soon followed suit, retconning John as a Marine sniper, although his architect roots were reintroduced again just recently, aiming for a best of both worlds scenario in line with Lanterns.

This unique combination of creativity and discipline isn't easy to balance in a character, although Pierre does a masterful job of it on the show. That tension is key to understanding his version of John in Lanterns and it unfortunately makes his life all the more tragic as a result.

No fear

In the premiere, we watched as John's father shot an apple off his head as a child, yet it's not until episode three where this show really digs into the 'why' of it all. Why would John Stewart Sr. risk his son's life so casually? And why wouldn't the boy cry or run away?

Early in the episode, we discover that John's father was offered the ring before Hal Jordan, while John was still in the crib. Flashbacks reveal he was tested by the Guardians, but failed upon admitting that he was "afraid." His wife, Bernadette, didn't believe John Sr., not until one of the Guardians showed up at their door and confirmed the truth of his account.

Bernadette called her out, asking, "Do you know how unfair it is to ask a Black man if he’s afraid?" The Guardian conceded that the ring selection process is unusual for humans, so she offered a new opportunity to make up for it.

The ring clearly saw something in John Sr.'s DNA and Bernadette had proved herself to be "formidable" too, so she suggested that perhaps their "offspring could one day be an excellent candidate" in the future.

The catch is that he too would need to be "fearless."

And so begins what can only be described as an endless torrent of abuse. To ensure that John will one day become worthy enough to replace Hal Jordan, his parents push him through disturbing trials throughout his childhood to erase any hint of fear in his mind.

These include regular instances of apples being shot off his head, as we saw earlier in episode one. But young John is also abandoned alone in dangerous neighbourhoods and even made to shoot an apple off his mother's head, risking her life in the process too.

This all takes a toll on his parents, but what's far worse is the toll it takes on young John himself.

When the Guardian suggests to adult John that his "training must have created a lot of loneliness," he denies it. And why would he not? This is all John has ever known. As such, the very real physical danger and emotional turmoil he endured doesn't register as abuse. For him, it's just a sign that his parents wanted what was best for him. And that's why he's so obsessed with doing everything in his power to make their dream for him come true.

Rebuilding better

More than Hal Jordan's death in 2026 or even the deaths that continue to hit Rushville in 2016, it's John's upbringing that represents the real tragedy of Lanterns. Stewart can't even fathom what he was put through because it was normal to him. And what's worse is that his parents knew exactly what they were doing.

"He's going to hate us," they discuss early on, realising that what they're about to do to their baby boy isn't right. But in the end they decide, "So be it." Because their dream is more important than anything John could ever wish for himself.

The cracks are starting to show, even if John himself can't comprehend them just yet. We see it in the flashes of creativity that John never got to pursue as a career over his work in the military. And we see it in the frayed emotional bonds he shares with his family, be it these abusive parents or his siblings who always felt John was favoured over them.

It's all far darker than the early days of John's run in the comics, and as such, some fans may balk at these changes, just like they did at Hal's death. But isn't this what we want from new adaptations of stories so old in the tooth?

As Damon Lindelof told The Hollywood Reporter just recently, "There’s almost a responsibility to take risks. I don’t think anybody wants to see you be completely and totally vigilant to the source material because then it isn’t an adaptation at all."

And that's exactly how characters like John and Hal will continue to impact us another seven decades from now, by evolving and reinventing the mythos they spring from to fit our times, be it in darkest day or blackest night.

Lanterns is streaming weekly on HBO. For our verdict on the season, check out our Lanterns review and never miss an episode with our Lanterns release schedule.

Even superheroes have bosses; at least they do in HBO’s Lanterns. As much as Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) acts like a charming rogue who follows his own rules and doesn’t care about authority, he does answer to a higher power that can technically fire him at any time. That power is the Guardians of the Universe, a race of aliens who are seemingly no friends of Hal Jordan, and are so bad at their job that they have given the universe as many supervillains as they have heroes.

As the name suggests, the Guardians of the Universe have sworn to protect and defend the universe as the oldest police force in existence, creating the Green Lantern Corps to patrol the universe. And yet, more often than not, their efforts result in some spectacular mistakes and acts of cruelty. If Lanterns is your first exposure to the worst bosses in creation, we are here to guide you through the long history of the Guardians of the Universe.

Already seen Lanterns episode 3? Be sure to dive into our breakdown of John Stewart's dark new origin story. We're also playing detective by investigating who killed Hal Jordan and asking who is the Manhunter? For a full verdict on the DCU Chapter One show, check out our Lanterns review.

The Guardians of the Universe in DC comics

The Guardians of the Universe first appeared in Green Lantern Vol. 2 #1 from 1960, created by John Broome and Gil Kane, where they essentially interview Hal Jordan after he gains a power ring and deem him worthy of joining the Corps. Originally, they were portrayed as benevolent sages, little old aliens with weak bodies but incredibly powerful minds.

They are considered the oldest beings in the DC universe, a group of scientists and thinkers who conducted all sorts of experiments (like torturing other beings to create new species). One of these experiments accidentally resulted in the creation of the multiverse and of evil itself, which prompted the Guardians to dedicate themselves to combating chaos and evil.

Over the years, the Guardians have gone from benevolent old aliens to rather stern bosses who occasionally make bad calls and butt heads with their employees, to a rather corrupt organization capable of untold evil. For example, at one point the Guardians arbitrarily decided that magic was intrinsically bad, and stole it from the entire universe, sealing it along with any magic being inside an orb.

They are now mostly portrayed as emotionless and detached beings with a big backlog of sins that they’ve covered up across the eons. The 2004 Green Lantern: Rebirth comic series by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver revealed that the Guardians once encountered the very embodiment of fear and decided to trap it within the Central Power Battery that fuels every single Green Lantern ring, and then kept that knowledge hidden despite knowing that creature would make every Green Lantern power ring useless against the color yellow.

It isn't just ancient cosmic horrors that the Guardians have trapped inside the battery; they also use it to imprison their own employees when they are no longer useful to the Guardians, like when they imprisoned Sinestro inside the battery in Green Lantern Corps #222 from 1988.

But all of that pales in comparison to the Guardians’ first attempt at creating a police force. The Guardians are also responsible for creating the Manhunters, a robotic interstellar police force that eventually became self-aware and resentful of their creators. The Manhunters went on to rebel against the Guardians after concluding that evil was intrinsic to biological life and deciding to eradicate it.

The Guardians of the Universe in Lanterns

As in the comics, the Guardians are responsible for creating the Manhunters in the Lanterns universe. In the show, the bosses of the Green Lanterns are starting to play an increasingly impactful role. So far, we've only seen Laura Linney's Guardian, both in human form and briefly in her true-blue form (albeit from behind). This, it says, is less upsetting for humans, making the Guardians appear relatable and even approachable. But in truth, this is them disguising their true selves, their intentions and lack of empathy and compassion.

We learned that the Guardians tested John Stewart’s father when he was younger, but when he failed to convince the ring of his fearlessness, they moved on to the guy who eventually got the job – Hal Jordan. They acknowledge that they failed to foresee the psychological damage an alien encounter would have on the rejected candidates, messing up the lives of John’s father as well as many others, and offering a comically large diamond as recompense (which lands John's mother in hot water).

Even their attempt at making things right with the Stewarts is quite monstrous, as they welcome John’s mother dedicating her life to turning her infant child into a soldier, raising him to be cold and calculated without a guarantee that he’ll get the job when he grows up.

But how are they as bosses? Well, what little Hal Jordan has talked about them makes it look like the Guardians are emotionless, cold jerks. But in episode 3, we truly learn how bad they are. It seems like the primary reason John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) was even hired to become a Green Lantern was specifically because the Guardians of the Universe want him to execute Hal Jordan and take over his role, as they ask John if he’s prepared to do that.

Sure, the Guardians could do it themselves; they could probably just take his powers away. Instead, they are hiring Jordan’s replacement and testing his loyalty by making him kill his mentor. But that’s not all. We also learn in the episode that Hal Jordan’s own mentor, Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen), at some point went rogue, killing a Guardian in the process. We don’t know how many other Green Lanterns turned evil, but it’s not great that the supposedly all-knowing Guardians could not sense that this guy could become a monster.

Lanterns is streaming weekly on HBO Max in the US and on HBO Max and Sky/NOW in the UK. Never miss an episode with our Lanterns release schedule, or continue your comics journey with our list of the best Green Lantern comics.

The elevator pitch for Hulu's Furious may not seem like the most original premise to fans of Killing Eve, but it's certainly a good hook. A female FBI agent hunts a female serial killer who is periodically knocking off wealthy men in staged drug overdoses. It's a classic cat-and-mouse game, right? Well, the new TV show certainly is that, but it's also so much more.

Created by Elizabeth Meriwether – who is the mind behind New Girl and Hulu's Dying for Sex – the series is loosely based on the 1987 movie Black Widow (not to be confused with the MCU character). It centers around Alice Black, an FBI rookie who is drawn into a case unravelling a series of mysterious deaths by her former NYPD colleague. It's told through dual perspectives as we meet the woman responsible, an unassuming figure named Catherine Grace who hunts her victims while dealing with an extremely traumatic past as a former sex worker and trafficking victim.

As with any good crime thriller, it's full of twists and turns. As Alice edges closer to her subject, curveballs come her way in the form of federal red tape, inept male colleagues, and a complicated past of her own. Yet, what elevates the show beyond a run-of-the-mill noir is how much it subverts the expectations of its genre into something feminist, funny, and entirely unique.

Not your usual noir

I could probably count the number of female serial killer dramas I've watched on one hand. More often than not, it's a male protagonist doing the evil, and more often than not, it's women that they're doing the evil to. By switching up this usual dynamic, Furious features a refreshing absence of mutilated female bodies, but it's no less dark in its subject matter.

Dealing with sexual abuse, murder, and domestic violence, the show deftly balances the line of feeling extremely contemporary by mirroring many real-life cases and also treading the balance of fiction. Such a tonal tightrope is held together by its two female leads. Emmy Rossum, the more recognisable of the two thanks to her role in Shameless, is absolutely brilliant as Alice. Meriwether has written her as a complicated, damaged and morally grey character, and Rossum runs with it, able to be deeply unlikeable as well as the audience's champion.

No less brilliant is her co-star Lola Petticrew as Catherine, a serial killer hell-bent on revenge. As she switches from a wide-eyed innocent to a ruthless murderer from one scene to the next, she's extremely compelling to watch. The pair are held up by an impressive supporting cast, including The White Lotus' Jake Lacy playing another easy-to-hate privileged man, and Argo's Scoot McNairy is a well-meaning NYPD cop.

But no one in this show is putting in the level of performance that comes from Quincy Tyler Bernstine's Nora Washington. As the battle-hardened head of the FBI's sex crime unit, she's both terrifying and absolutely hilarious, oscillating between taking on her superiors and donning a Hawaiian shirt to sing dreadful karaoke. And it's through her that the series is able to carve its own space.

As she delivers lines with a cadence to make you chortle out loud, while also delving into physical comedy as she takes her time to report something to her superior, it's clear that Furious isn't only one of the year's darkest shows so far, it's also one of the funniest.

Steve Way's Alden, introduced later in the series, is equally brilliant at bringing dark humor to the harrowing story. He is particularly side-splitting when riffing off McNairy's Danny and his law enforcement colleagues in episode six. Such a deft navigation of tone allows Furious to stand out amidst a sea of crime dramas and is enough to make it well worth your time.

Hell hath no fury

For me, too, as the series has gone on, its brilliance has only become clearer as its title truly comes into its own. Furious is about female anger, but not in a way I've ever seen portrayed before. Gone are the tropes that usually accompany this topic; there's not much hysterical screaming, nor do we have dialogue filled with catty comments.

Instead, the fury is much more insidious, deeply baked into a set of characters who are hollowed out by the terrible things that have happened to them and a society that more often than not manages to bury them. Furious does have angry protagonists, but it will also make you angry too as you watch it, drawing inevitable real-life parallels to cases that usually don't result in justice.

There's only one episode left of the show to arrive on Hulu, and it will hopefully tie up where all this leads for Alice and Catherine. Though a second season has now been confirmed, we don't yet know which characters will return. However it ends, Merriwether hasn't created a show that relies on its conclusion to live or die. It's already said so much.

And while it's early in the year to pick out a TV show of the year, I feel sure that Furious will be up there for me. Don't let this hidden gem slip under your radar.

Furious episodes 1-7 are available to stream on Hulu and Disney+ now. The season finale is available on Monday, August 31.

For what else to watch, check out our guides to the best Disney Plus shows and the best Disney Plus movies.

The Pokemon Company has signed an exclusive deal with Disney to stream Pokemon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd and Pichu, the seemingly delightful stop-motion animated series coming from Aardman (of Wallace and Gromit fame).

Announced during a live panel at this weekend's Pokemon XP event, the full series will be available worldwide next year on Disney+ and the Disney XD channel. There's no exact date or approximate release window just yet, but we were treated to another gorgeous look at the show. Take a look below.

"Join our unlikely heroes, Sirfetch’d and Pichu, in their gallant quest to protect Pokemon across Galar! While their missions might rarely go as planned, their noble deeds forge their friendship as they step bravely into the unknown. Peril, alliances, rivalries, extraordinary Pokémon, and endless laughs await them," the trailer's description reads.

The deal also includes Ash and Pikachu's first classic anime run in Pokemon the Series: The Beginning, which should be streaming now on Disney+ and Disney XD in the US and "select" other regions around the world.

"Pokemon has that rare ability to mean something to longtime fans while continuing to feel completely relevant to young audiences today," Disney executive Ayo Davis said, per Deadline. "This new series Pokemon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch'd and Pichu brings Aardman's signature stop-motion artistry with a bold, playful new perspective to this beloved world, giving audiences a fresh way to experience the characters they know and love."

For those not in the Poke-weeds, Galar is a region in the video game series that first appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The fact that it's inspired by the British countryside likely makes it perfect fodder for the folks at Aardman, and if the other stop-motion animated streaming series is any indication, Pokemon Tales should be a great old time.

The Pokemon Twitter account was briefly taken over by a hacker peddling their crypto memecoin

As well as featuring Kenneth Branagh going full John Wick as a kick-ass former KGB agent, Apple TV action-comedy Mayday is also a love letter to Top Gun and even uses footage from the '80s classic. According to the movie's directors, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Game Night), it was none other than Tom Cruise who said permission: granted.

"We did use a clip from Top Gun in the movie," Goldstein tells GamesRadar+ during an exclusive conversation at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. "It takes place in 1987, and we needed Tom Cruise's permission for that, and he granted it."

Both Mayday and Top Gun: Maverick share a production company in Skydance, and the Top Gun connections don't end there. "One of our editors actually worked on Top Gun: Maverick, and so he already was well versed in aerial photography," Daley adds.

In Mayday, Ryan Reynolds plays Lieutenant Troy 'Assassin' Kelly, a US Air Force Pilot and something of a maverick himself. While Kelly is soon grounded and stranded behind enemy lines in Russia, early scenes see Kelly take to the skies in a fighter jet and a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. Like Top Gun: Maverick, much of this footage was captured in-camera. "We spent a month in the south of France shooting all of our aerials because we wanted there to be as [few] false moments as we possibly could have," Daley notes.

Despite this high-flying start, the bulk of Mayday takes place at ground level after Kelly is rescued by Branagh's bearded, America-obsessed former KGB agent Nikolai Ustinov. Kelly has no hope of getting home without Ustinov's help but luckily for the top gun, Ustinov is prepared to do what it takes to get an all-American hero out of Soviet Russia, even if it means betraying his own country.

The Tom Cruise-approved Mayday releases on Apple TV on September 4. For more, check out our list of the best Apple TV movies, or fill out your watchlist with our guide to the upcoming movies heading your way.

In addition to Prime Video's upcoming Carrie series, the streamer is adapting another Stephen King story into a TV show, but this time we're heading to London.

Amazon Prime Video has greenlit a six-part limited series based on Stephen King's 1980 short story 'Crouch End,' as per Variety. The story is named after the real North London district in which it’s set, meaning the show will be the first King adaptation to be made in the UK.

The story follows a young American movie star named Doris Freeman who walks into a London police station one day and claims that a strange phenomenon is behind the disappearance of her lawyer husband. However, the police inspector Ted Vetter must investigate whether she’s telling the truth, or if she is the murderer herself. Either way, something chilling is at play.

Crouch End is thought to be an homage to legendary horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, and contains distinct references to his works. The upcoming Prime Video show won't be the first time the story has been brought to life, as Crouch End was featured as part of TNT's 2006 Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King special.

The new series is adapted by Bodies' Paul Tomalin, and directed by The Serpent's Tom Shankland. Tomalin told Variety, "After reading Crouch End some years back, Stephen King’s vivid prose has haunted my nightmares ever since… couldn’t be more excited to bring this thrilling tale to the screen." Variety reports that casting is already underway.

Although Crouch End has yet to land a release date, King fans will soon be treated to Mike Flanagan's Carrie series based on the popular 1974 novel of the same name. The show, which recently attracted positive first reactions, follows a troubled teen with telekinetic powers and stars Summer Howell in the titular role. Carrie hits Prime Video on October 7.

For more, check out our guide to the best Prime Video shows, and keep up with all the upcoming Stephen King movies and shows on the way.