Universal Studios ended the Wednesday presentations at CinemaCon with a look ahead to their upcoming slate and preview glimpses of some of their most anticipated titles, ranging from family fare to terrifying horror.
Nosferatu
(Photo by Focus Features)
We’ve gotten a few images from Robert Eggers’ upcoming horror remake Nosferatu, but Focus Features shared the very first trailer with audiences today at CinemaCon. The film, a long-gestating passion project for Eggers, stars Lily-Rose Depp as a young woman who becomes the object of desire for a terrifying vampire played by Bill Skarsgård, with a supporting cast that includes Nicholas Hoult, Willem Dafoe, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Emma Corrin. In the trailer, we see Depp’s character praying by candlelight before the camera makes ominous, sweeping movements to showcase the setting of the film. Later Depp asks, “Professor, does evil come from within us or beyond?” and we see images of fire, blood, and a stake in the heart. In other words, good times all around.
Wicked
(Photo by David Becker/WireImage)
One of the larger presentations from Universal was the one that ended the event, and what a fantastic ending it was. Producer Mark Platt, director Jon M. Chu, and stars Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, and of course Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande took the stage to talk about their experiences making Wicked, with Chu in particular getting emotional as he sang the praises of Erivo and Grande: “Boy, did they blow the roof off this thing.” The audience was also treated to an exclusive look at the upcoming film, due out on November 27, 2024, which showcased the relationship between the two main characters, the practical sets, and rich costuming, as well as a hint of the conflict at the center of the film.
Twisters
(Photo by David Becker/WireImage)
Wicked wasn’t the only tornado-related title to grace the stage at CinemaCon today, as director Lee Isaac Chung presented his upcoming film Twisters with some help from his stars Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos. Chung, who makes the leap to blockbuster spectacle after his decidedly smaller-scale Oscar-winning 2020 drama Minari, explained how the process was just as frightening for him as facing a tornado and talked about making the film “as immersive and real as possible.” After a fun bit when Edgar-Jones brought large fans onto the stage to blow water, leaves, and an inflatable cow at Powell and Ramos, the group shared a reel of new work-in-progress footage, depicting the formation of the storm-chasing team and the destructive power of a mega tornado formed from two smaller ones.
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Day 2 of CinemaCon began with Lionsgate previewing over a dozen titles at The Colosseum Theater at Caesar’s Palace.
John Wick Presents: Ballerina
(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg, Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Baba Yaga is back! As revealed in first-look footage shown at the presentation, Keanu Reeves will reprise his role as John Wick in the new spin-off movie Ballerina. The film, which has been officially retitled John Wick Presents: Ballerina, will be set between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 and will follow Ana De Armas’ title character on her journey to become a legendary assassin. At one point in the sneak peek, she asks Wick, “How do I start doing what you do?” to which he replies, “Looks like you already have.” Expect De Armas and Ballerina to deliver on another exciting installment in the franchise as the film matches John Wick’s slick visuals and over-the-top action sequences. Keanu isn’t the only returning face for the film, though, as both Anjelica Huston and Ian McShane briefly appeared in the footage. Walking Dead alumnus Norman Reedus was also featured, teasing a villainous turn.
Michael
(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Lionsgate)
Producer Graham King took the stage to introduce the world to Michael, coming to theaters in April of 2025. The Michael Jackson biopic looks to follow in the footsteps of his previous hit Bohemian Rhapsody. He revealed the film will feature over 30 songs from Jackson’s career as the story unfolds over the course of the singer’s life. First-look footage showed Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, stepping into MJ’s shoes and hitting his signature dance moves on a concert stage. The event film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, hopes to match the words uttered by Jackson in the footage: “It’s just not a sound. It moves through your body, transports your entire being. That is what I want the world to feel — magic.”
Good Fortune
(Photo by David Becker/WireImage)
Ballerina wasn’t the only time we saw Keanu this morning. In an extended first look at Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune, it was revealed the star will play an angel in the upcoming comedy. Reeves’ Gabriel looks to change the life of Ansari’s down-on-his-luck character by allowing him to switch places with a wealthy man played by Seth Rogen. When the situation doesn’t work out quite as expected, Gabriel loses his wings, making him human and leading him to become Rogen’s roommate. The always hilarious Ansari came on stage to thank exhibitors who “left the strip club this morning to come to the presentation” and say that he doesn’t buy into the idea that theatrical comedies aren’t a thing. “People do want to come to the theater and laugh together. I think we can do it. I don’t think we can say this genre doesn’t work.”
Henry Cavill hits the stage to talk Highlander, In the Grey, and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)
Henry Cavill joined the CinemaCon fun to discuss three upcoming titles he’s working on with Lionsgate. Coming to theaters next week, he reunites with Guy Ritchie on The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. The actor/director pair will team up again next year when In The Grey hits theaters in January. In a first look at the film’s trailer, Cavill is joined by Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza Gonzalez as a team that sets out to recover billions of dollars in stolen money. Marked by big explosions, action scenes, and comedy, the movie aims to be another huge blockbuster from Ritchie. Most notably, Cavill also discussed his revival of the Highlander franchise, promising a film deep in lore and action, saying, “If you thought you saw me do sword work before, you haven’t seen anything yet.” The new film, dubbed The Highlander, is set to open next year.
Never Let Go
(Photo by Brenton Ho/Variety via Getty Images)
Halle Berry is set to star in her first horror film in over 20 years in Never Let Go. In an exclusive look at the first trailer, Berry plays a single mother protecting her twin sons as terrifying creatures lurk outside their home in a post-apocalyptic world. “It’s like a dark, beautiful nightmare,” says Berry. On why she’s returning to the genre: “I’m a bona fide adrenaline junkie… I’ve always liked these type of movies. As a child, The Shining was one of my favorites.” Directed by The Hills Have Eyes and Crawl’s Alexandre Aja, Never Let Go is scheduled to open in theaters on September 27.
Borderlands
(Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Lionsgate)
The CinemaCon crowd was treated to a first look at the new trailer for Borderlands. The footage previewed even more action, explosions, sarcasm, and Jack Blackin‘ than the first trailer, channeling major Guardians of the Galaxy vibes for this video game adaptation. Director Eli Roth and star Ariana Greenblatt joined the presentation and shared just how much fun they had with their “dysfunctional, functional family.” Roth revealed he made Greenblatt watch My Dinner with Andre and Andy Warhol’s Empire as a way to prep for her role — and mess with her a little bit.
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