Motion Picture: Shakira Returns As Gazelle In ‘Zootopia 2’, The Weeknd Set To Star In Psychological Thriller
the weeknd
Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Toonz Media Group, Evolutionary Films, and Mojo Global Arts are collaborating on a new animated feature titled Minibots, directed by Mulan's Tony Bancroft and slated for a 2026 release. Screenwriter Michael Ferris (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines) crafted the story, which follows three young geniuses at a robotics camp who invent sentient mini robots, only to face the challenge of protecting them from a tech giant eager to seize the invention. Toonz CEO P. Jayakumar praised the partnership and expressed confidence in the film's global appeal. Evolutionary Films’ John Adams and Mojo Global Arts’ Sharon Wisnia highlighted the film's family-oriented themes of collaboration, self-expression, and navigating friendships amid technological growth.
Cathy Tyson (Criminal Record) and Stephen Fry (The Dropout) have joined the cast of the upcoming folk-horror film Black Samphire, which is currently in pre-production. The film, directed by Cat White and written by Cathy Wippell, explores a queer toxic relationship set against the backdrop of water pollution. It stars Cathy Wippell and Ishtar Currie-Wilson as a couple, Mari and Isla, whose relationship is thrown into turmoil when Isla eats a plant poisoned by contaminated water, causing horrifying changes that reveal dark secrets about both their village and their bond. The film aims to modernize the folk-horror genre with a cautionary tale inspired by the U.K.'s water pollution crisis. Principal photography will begin in early 2025.
Lionsgate has secured worldwide theatrical distribution rights for Hurry Up Tomorrow, a musically-driven psychological thriller starring Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega, and Barry Keoghan, and directed by Trey Edward Shults (Waves). Produced by The Weeknd’s Manic Phase along with Reza Fahim, the late Kevin Turen, and Harrison Kreiss, the film also features a score by The Weeknd and Daniel Lopatin. Hurry Up Tomorrow is tied to The Weeknd's upcoming album of the same title, marking the final chapter in his trilogy of albums following After Hours (2020) and Dawn FM (2022), and exploring existential and self-referential themes. The film's executive producers include Jenna Ortega, Trey Edward Shults, and others. Lionsgate's chair, Adam Fogelson, praised The Weeknd's artistic vision, noting that the film will offer fans a new cinematic experience.
Shakira is returning as the voice of Gazelle in Zootopia 2, announced at D23 Brazil. The Colombian singer, a three-time Grammy, and 14-time Latin Grammy winner, will reprise her role from the first movie, where she also performed the hit song "Try Everything," which went triple platinum. In a video message, Shakira teased that Gazelle will have a new look, a new song, and fresh dance moves in the upcoming sequel, which will also feature Gazelle's tiger dancers. Zootopia 2 is set to release on November 26, 2025, during the Thanksgiving break. In this sequel we see Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) return to solve a new case, with a particular focus on Gary, a sly snake voiced by Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once). Directed and written by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, Zootopia 2 promises another thrilling adventure for the beloved characters.
Briarcliff Entertainment has secured North American distribution rights for Sneaks, an animated family movie directed by Rob Edwards. The film features a star-studded voice cast, including Anthony Mackie, Martin Lawrence, Laurence Fishburne, Chloe Bailey, and NBA star Chris Paul. The story follows Ty and Maxine, two unique collector sneakers, stolen by "the Collector." Separated in NYC, Ty teams up with a streetwise sneaker voiced by Martin Lawrence to find his sister. Set for an Easter weekend release on April 18, 2025, the film’s soundtrack includes contributions from Mustard, Ella Mai, and Roddy Ricch. Sneaks celebrates sneaker culture and self-expression.
Buffalo 8 has acquired worldwide distribution rights to Atrabilious, a neo-noir mystery-thriller directed, written, and produced by William Atticus Parker. The film stars Leon Addison Brown, with a cast including Oscar winners Whoopi Goldberg and Alec Baldwin, alongside Jeffrey Wright, Mark Boone Junior, and Evan Jonigkeit. Set in Brooklyn, Atrabilious follows Steven Joyner (Brown) as he investigates his son's suspicious death, leading him to a bar full of buried secrets. The film combines neo-noir mystery with dark comedy and is Parker’s second feature. Buffalo 8 plans to release it worldwide, with more details to come.
Nikyatu Jusu is developing a new film based on David Cronenberg’s iconic 1986 body horror masterpiece The Fly for 20th Century Studios and Chernin Entertainment. Unlike a straightforward remake, Jusu's project will be set within the universe of Cronenberg's original film, with her script and direction. The plot is being kept under wraps, but the film is expected to explore body horror themes, a genre that has experienced a resurgence, especially after the success of films like The Substance. Additionally, Jusu is set to direct a sequel to Night of the Living Dead for MGM, further solidifying her place as a rising force in genre filmmaking.
Amazon MGM Studios has secured the rights to produce the animated Bob the Builder feature, outbidding Netflix, DreamWorks Animation, and others. The film, produced by Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican Productions and ShadowMachine, stars Anthony Ramos as Bob, with a story centered on the resilience of Puerto Rican culture. Ramos, who also produces, suggested setting the film in Puerto Rico, where Bob takes on a major construction job and addresses island issues. The movie celebrates the vibrancy of Caribbean Latin nations. Lopez is not expected to voice a character, but she is a producer on the project. It remains unclear whether the film will be released on Prime Video or in theaters.
Empire Studios and Stryke-Force Films have partnered for the Christmas action-comedy Jingle All The Slay, starring Nick Sagar, Ricky Norwood, and Alexa Adeosun. The film, written by Charley McDougall, follows Hank Carter, a hitman who tries to hide his dangerous profession while preparing for a perfect Christmas with his family. However, when a bounty is placed on his head, holiday-themed hitmen attack, and Hank must defend his mansion using Christmas decorations. Directed by Bradley Stryker, best known for Terrifier 3, the film will begin production in late November. Producers include Jamie McLeod-Ross, Charley McDougall, Nick Sagar, and Bradley Stryker. The film blends seamlessly holiday cheer and intense action, drawing inspiration from 90s classics such as Jingle All The Way, Rush Hour, and contemporary action films such as John Wick.
Gravitas Ventures has acquired distribution rights to Die Like A Man, a Los Angeles-set crime thriller written and directed by Eric Nazarian, for the U.S., Canada, and international markets. The film, starring Miguel Angel Garcia, Cory Hardrict, and Mariel Molino, centers on Freddy, a 17-year-old who must prove himself to a veteran gangster he admires. Described by Nazarian as a story addressing "the doomed codes of machismo culture" and inner-city violence, the film explores themes of rage, violence, and redemption. The film is set for a North American release in April 2025, with Gravitas Ventures showcasing it at the American Film Market (AFM).
Samuel L. Jackson - Arturo Holmes
Comedy/Dramady/Musical: Lil Rel Howery will make his directorial debut in the comedy-horror Haunted Heist, starring alongside Tiffany Haddish. The film follows four estranged friends who reunite to rob a haunted house in search of a valuable antique. As they face terrifying ghosts, they must put aside their differences to survive. Written by Carl Reid, known for Hulu’s Mr. Crocket, the film is produced by Howery, Josh Feldman, and Sean King O’Grady, who also worked on The Mill. Filming is set for January 2025, with The Coven handling world sales.
Samuel L. Jackson stars in the action-comedy The Honest Liar, alongside Andra Day and Edgar Ramirez. Directed by Wayne Kramer, the film follows Jackson's character, an award-winning actor who is recruited by the police to teach rookie undercover officers how to convincingly act like criminals. The plot thickens when Jackson’s character becomes romantically involved with a rookie cop, putting both of them at risk. Produced by Dan Grodnik and Jeffrey Reisner, The Honest Liar will begin filming early next year, with Altitude handling international sales and CAA Media Finance managing domestic rights.
Splitsville, a comedy directed by and starring Michael Angelo Covino, has wrapped production, adding Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, and O-T Fagbenle to its cast. The film, which also stars Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, and Kyle Marvin, centers on a man named Carey (Marvin) whose wife Ashley (Arjona) asks for a divorce. Carey turns to his friends, Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support, only to discover their open marriage, which leads to chaotic complications when Carey crosses a line. Neon will release the film domestically next year, with Neon International handling worldwide sales.
Romain Gavras - Julien Hekimian
Drama: Kedar Williams-Stirling, Yara Shahidi, Keith Powers, and Renée Elise Goldsberry are in talks to star in Bloom, a coming-of-age romance directed by Cole Swanson, marking his feature debut. Set in Tuscany, the film follows a gifted young Black artist, Ace (Williams-Stirling), who moves to Italy on a university scholarship. There, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, forming unexpected friendships and igniting a passionate romance within a circle of wealthy young Black adults known as "The Casa Rosa Kids." Described as Love Jones in Italy, the film explores a steamy love triangle and is produced by Pineloft Entertainment, Broken English Productions, and 1PLUS1 Productions. Swanson previously worked with the Pineloft duo on the jazz film Betty & Blue.
The star-studded cast of Sacrifice, Romain Gavras' English-language debut, now includes Vincent Cassel, John Malkovich, Charli XCX, Yung Lean, Ambika Mod, Jade Croot, Jeremy O. Harris, and Miriam Silverman, alongside leads Chris Evans, Anya Taylor-Joy, Salma Hayek Pinault, and Sam Richardson. Filming is underway in Greece and Bulgaria, with the film loosely inspired by the story of Joan of Arc. It follows Joan (Taylor-Joy), who leads a militia to save the world, taking hostages, including a movie star (Evans), a billionaire (Cassel), and an unlucky bystander (Mod). The film is produced by Iconoclast, with financing from Mid-March Media and Film4, and Gucci among the sponsors. CAA Media Finance and Rocket Science represent worldwide distribution.
Zendaya - Marc Piasecki
Industry Update: The National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) has announced the fourth cohort of the Women of Color Incubator, featuring filmmakers Carolina Costa, Luna Cristales, Sonia Malfa, Alba Roland Mejia, and Sally Tran. Funded by the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity, the program provides emerging women of color filmmakers with financial grants, mentorship, and support throughout the filmmaking process. Each filmmaker receives a $35,000 grant for their short film, with the completed works set to be showcased at NALIP's Diverse Women in Media Forum in April 2025. The initiative addresses the underrepresentation of women of color in top-grossing films, aiming to amplify their voices and support the creation of high-quality narratives. The filmmakers’ projects explore themes such as cultural resilience, classism, love, survival, and the diasporic experience, all rooted in diverse, personal histories.
Bing Chen, co-founder and CEO of Gold House, shared the organization's vision for bridging entertainment and business opportunities between Asia and the West at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest. Gold House’s four-pronged strategy focuses on uniting the Asian diaspora, reshaping public opinion through media, ensuring economic sustainability, and achieving mainstream recognition. The organization has established the largest Asia-Pacific leadership network in the West and is expanding to multiple countries, including Taiwan, South Korea, and India. Chen outlined key criteria for evaluating creative projects, including commercial viability, critical acclaim, cultural impact, and ethical considerations. He emphasized that independent films with budgets under $5 million often have better success than mid-range-budget projects and encouraged filmmakers to focus on audience engagement from the start.
Christopher Nolan's next film, set for an IMAX release on July 17, 2026, is shaping up to be a star-studded event. Anne Hathaway and Zendaya have joined the cast alongside previously announced stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland. While details about the film remain under wraps, sources indicate that the project will begin shooting in early 2025. Universal has not commented on the latest casting news. The release date aligns with Nolan's tradition of having similar timing for his past films. Fans can expect more details as production progresses, but for now, much of the plot and direction of the film remain a mystery.
Lionsgate has extended its partnership with Grindstone Entertainment Group through 2027, continuing a successful 17-year relationship. The deal includes upcoming films like Alarum starring Sylvester Stallone, Riff Raff with Bill Murray, Julia Stiles' Wish You Were Here, and Fall 2. Recent Grindstone releases include Fall, Damaged, and Lamborghini. Lionsgate President Ron Schwartz praised Grindstone's ability to meet market demands, while Grindstone executives expressed confidence in Lionsgate's handling of evolving content needs.
