CinemaCon 2025, held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, brought the film industry together to celebrate the magic of cinema and unveil an impressive slate of upcoming theatrical releases. From superhero blockbusters to family-friendly adventures and spine-chilling horror films, here’s a detailed breakdown of the biggest announcements from Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, Disney, Paramount, and Amazon MGM.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. focused on its 2025 slate, offering glimpses of both franchise staples and standalone projects:
- “Superman!”: The highly anticipated reboot directed by James Gunn was the centerpiece of the presentation. Gunn emphasized the film’s blend of humanity and spectacle, with stars David Corenswet (Superman) and Rachel Brosnahan (Lois Lane) joining him on stage to discuss their roles.
- “Mortal Kombat II”: A sizzle reel featured Karl Urban as Johnny Cage in action-packed sequences alongside Scorpion’s iconic “Get over here!” moment.
- “Final Destination 6”: The franchise returns with a fresh take on its death-defying premise, teasing a darker tone and more elaborate set pieces.
- Other titles included The Conjuring: Last Rites and Wonka Returns, though no major updates were shared about future DC projects like Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.
Universal Pictures
Universal delivered a mix of blockbuster franchises and original titles:
- “Wicked: For Good”: Stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo introduced a trailer showcasing the emotional fallout between Elphaba and Glinda. Musical numbers like “For Good” and “No Good Deed” were highlighted.
- “Jurassic World: Rebirth”: Scarlett Johansson headlined the new trailer, which included a thrilling high-seas chase involving a Mosasaurus. The film promises to expand the Jurassic universe with fresh characters and settings.
- Blumhouse Projects: Trailers for M3GAN 2.0, Black Phone 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, and SOULM8TE reinforced Universal’s dominance in the horror genre.
- Family-friendly films like The Bad Guys 2 and a live-action How to Train Your Dragon remake (with its sequel already greenlit) rounded out the slate.
Disney & Marvel Studios
Disney’s presentation was packed with updates across its divisions:
- Marvel Cinematic Universe:
- “Thunderbolts” (May 2025): Footage introduced the anti-hero ensemble featuring Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and David Harbour.
- “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (July 2025): The first family of Marvel was formally introduced, with Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards leading the cast.
- Animated Features:
- Inside Out 2 and Elio showcased Pixar’s continued commitment to heartfelt storytelling.
- Live-Action Adaptations:
- A sneak peek at Lilo & Stitch revealed faithful recreations of beloved characters, while Freakier Friday teased Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprising their roles.
- Disney also teased its ambitious 2026 slate, including Avengers: Doomsday, a live-action Moana, and Toy Story 5.
Paramount Pictures
Paramount leaned heavily on its flagship franchises while also introducing new projects:
- “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning”: Tom Cruise appeared via video to discuss the film’s groundbreaking stunts. A new trailer highlighted Ethan Hunt’s most dangerous mission yet.
- Family-Friendly Films:
- Smurfs will feature Smurfette leading a daring rescue mission into the real world.
- The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants blends animation with live action in an underworld adventure featuring Mark Hamill as the Flying Dutchman.
- Other notable mentions included Edgar Wright’s adaptation of The Running Man and an animated Avatar: The Last Airbender movie slated for late 2025.
Amazon MGM Studios
Making their CinemaCon debut, Amazon MGM emphasized their commitment to theatrical releases:
- “Project Hail Mary”: Ryan Gosling joined directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller to present footage from this adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel. The sci-fi epic promises humor, heart, and stunning visuals when it releases in March 2026.
- James Bond Franchise:
- Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are working on a “fresh chapter” for Bond while respecting its legacy. Although no casting updates were provided, excitement remains high for this next installment.
- Other projects included Luca Guadagnino’s thriller Mercy and Travis Knight’s live-action Masters of the Universe, which aims to balance nostalgia with modern fantasy aesthetics.
CinemaCon 2025 reaffirmed Hollywood’s dedication to theatrical experiences with a diverse array of films that cater to all audiences. From superhero sagas to musical adaptations, studios are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting year at the movies.
Read the Sony presentation here at Que Onda Magazine!