Warner Bros. brought Dune: Part Three to CinemaCon 2026 with Denis Villeneuve, Timotheé Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa. Villeneuve says that this next chapter takes place 17 years after the second film and is a faster, more emotional, and more action-packed.

Rather than simply repeating what came before, the film looks ready to show the cost of everything Paul Atreides has become. The world has changed, the visions and nightmares have turned real, and Paul is now living with the consequences. The story was described as a redemption arc and as a broken love story between Paul and Chani. That emotional split appears to be the heartbeat of the movie.

Timothée Chalamet framed Paul as a man who has become his own worst vision. He is still trying to hold onto part of himself while protecting the people he loves, even as he takes his place as a dark emperor. On the other hand, Zendaya’s Chani also seems poised to fight for more here. The years have not been kind to the world of Dune, and they have not been kind to her either. Even under that pressure, the film appears ready to keep her at the center of the story rather than leaving her in the background.

One of the more intriguing reveals involved Duncan Idaho. His body has been regenerated from Duncan’s cells, but he is no longer the same man. They present him as a gift to Paul, yet also described in stark terms: “he’s hate now.” That alone hints at a Duncan who could be both tragic and dangerous.

Finally, attendees were shown footage of the first 7 minutes of the film, which immediately set a harsher tone. Sirens wail as ships descend toward Paul’s home planet of Caladan. Explosions light up the sky, and the falling ships crash toward the surface. The sequence has a war-film feel, with a heavy sense of dread hanging over everything.

Inside the dropships, soldiers sit in near silence. The mood is tense and carries a strong Saving Private Ryan energy. These soldiers are Fremen, and they’re led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem). One of them talks about “water falling from the sky” because for the first time, they’re about to see rain. Remember, for the Fremen, rain is not normal. It is something almost unbelievable. Once on the ground, they move ahead.

The calm does not last. Stilgar warns everyone to wait, then shouts for them to get down. Sentry guns fire, spraying bullets as soldiers and ships are hit. A tower rises from the ground, turning the battlefield into a trap.

Stilgar keeps the group moving, brushing aside the moment with, “Enough sightseeing.” From there, Stilgar calls out coordinates, and a giant missile slams down toward the tower. The Fremen ask for the Shield Piercer, and Stilgar asks for three shots, but even that is not enough. The blasts bounce off, and some of the fire comes back toward them.

The footage sounds like a brutal opening, one built on fear, confusion, and overwhelming firepower. It also sets the stage for a much more war-driven film than audiences may expect.

After that opening, Warner Bros. showed a montage of scenes from the rest of the film. Paul tells Duncan, “You’re an Atreides, I need Duncan Idaho,” suggesting that their relationship will be a major part of the story. The montage also teases the growing divide between Paul and Chani. At the end, Chani stands against Paul on a battlefield while a sandworm bursts out of the sand.

For longtime fans, Dune: Part Three looks like the chapter where everything finally comes crashing together. It’s an emotional conflict on a huge scale. Paul is no longer just facing destiny. He is trapped inside what he created. We can’t wait.

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The preview centers on Matt Hagen, who looks badly disfigured, lying in a hospital bed with bandages wrapped around his face. Even before the footage fully reveals what is happening, quick cuts of terrifying imagery appear.

Hagen’s face starts to melt and warp, becoming something unstable and unnatural. The effect is messy, disturbing, and deeply personal, making the horror feel tied to identity just as much as physical pain. Various scenes push the body-horror angle in a way that feels far more intense than many might expect from a DC title.

The first look ends with him lying in a bathtub and smearing his ruined face into clay. It is the kind of shot that drives home that this film wants to make Clayface tragic and terrifying at the same time.

Based on this early look, Clayface seems ready to take one of DC’s more unusual villains and turn him into something much darker. If this footage reflects the final film, Clayface could end up being one of the studio’s boldest comic book swings in the James Gunn/Peter Safran era.

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The scene begins with Liu Kang asking Baraka for help, but Baraka shuts him down. Kang tries to challenge him, but that goes nowhere, too. It is Johnny Cage who finally gets a reaction, though not in the smartest way possible. Cage mocks Baraka and the Tarkatans, which quickly gets Baraka’s attention and turns the moment into a challenge Cage instantly regrets.

From there, things get hilarious. Johnny clearly thinks he’s about to die, and nobody around him seems eager to tell him otherwise. As Baraka attacks, Johnny evades it all, but Baraka is relentless. Johnny runs and hides inside a hut, where he finds two Tarkatan kids already inside. “Eww,” he says, then promptly tells the kids to keep his location a secret. Unfortunately for Johnny, the kids immediately give him away the second Baraka walks in.

Johnny gets launched through the roof, and Jax dryly sums it all up by saying, “Well, this is a stupid way to lose.” Sonya gives Johnny the push he needs. He picks up his sunglasses, puts them on, and announces, “It’s show time.” From there, Cage finally starts fighting like the version fans came to see. Johnny Cage goes toe-to-toe with Baraka in a full-on showdown, trading blows and holding his own. Then, to cap it all off, he lands his iconic split punch, which gets the perfect reaction from Jax: “Goddamn.”

If this footage is any sign, Mortal Kombat II looks bigger, funnier, and more confident this time around. It knows how ridiculous this world can be, but it also knows how to turn that into a very good time. Johnny Cage may have stolen the footage, but the bigger win is that the film seems ready to embrace the wild energy fans have been waiting for.

Mortal Kombat II hits theaters on May 8th.

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Jason Momoa also took the stage and spoke about finally getting to play Lobo. From the sound of it, he sounds like someone having the time of his life. On his first day, Momoa had to ride in on Lobo’s bike with a fireball blasting behind him. He guns it, slides onto his mark, and pulls out a cigar. It’s there he realizes one thing: “I’m fuckin’ Lobo, baby,” he says. Unfortunately, he kept missing his mark after that. Luckily, the first take was so good that they ultimately used it in the film.

The footage shown made the movie look fast, funny, and much more chaotic than a typical superhero origin story. Kara is first seen sitting at a bus stop when a spaceship bus lands in front of her. Once onboard, the setting becomes packed with aliens, and Kara casually gives one of them a piece of gum because he keeps smoking inside the bus.

Things quickly go sideways when space pirates invade the ship and start robbing passengers. Kara’s young companion is ready to fight back and pulls out her sword. However, the pirates demand both Kara’s watch and the girl’s weapon. Kara hands them over while trying to play it cool, even insisting the sword is not worth much. She then says she has a plan (kind of).

That is where the footage really starts to move. Kara steals one of the pirates’ teleporters and uses it. The sequence looks playful and messy in the best way, with Kara teleporting onto passengers, around enemies, and across the bus while trying to take control of the situation.

The action then expands even further when Kara gets locked in an airlock. She asks the pilots where the sun is and even wonders if they can move it closer, only to get a sarcastic response. She finds a spacesuit, and as she tries to put it on, she gets blasted out of the airlock and into space. Once the sunlight finally reaches her, she heals, powers up, and goes on the attack.

Next, the footage becomes a full-blown cosmic battle. Kara tears through pirate bots outside the ship, dodges incoming fire, and flies toward the sun as the pirate ship chases her through debris. As the pirate ship shoots its laser at her again, she uses her heat vision to overpower the pirates’ own laser beam.

Attendees also got a look at a montage of clips from the film. The girl asks Kara what Superman is like. Kara calls him a nerd, saying he sees the good in everyone while she sees the truth. It is a small line, but it says a lot about how this version of Kara may differ from Clark. We also get to see Kara’s past during the last days of Krypton.

Lobo also makes his presence felt by trading barbs with Kara after recognizing her from a dive bar. Lobo asks, “Aren’t you the ditz in the dive bar?” Kara replies, “funny I said the same thing about you.” Now, between that, the giant space action, and Kara using the full range of her powers, Supergirl looks like a superhero movie that wants to be weirder, bigger, and a little more unpredictable. Most importantly, it looks like Kara is getting a story that truly feels like her own.

Supergirl hits theaters on June 26th.

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The movie is directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the director of Godzilla Minus Zero, with J.J. Abrams producing. That’s a strong creative team, and the concept alone already sounds built for a mega theatrical experience.

Sony did not share many plot details, but it honestly didn’t need to. “Mecha vs. kaiju” says a lot all by itself. Yes, we’ve got Pacific Rim, but you know what they say: The more, the merrier. In the small bits of footage attendees saw, it promises large-scale destruction, huge visual set pieces, and the kind of battle movie that plays best on the biggest screen possible.

What gives the project an extra layer of interest is the talent behind it. Fresh off the completion of Godzilla Minus Zero, Yamazaki brings an eye for scale and emotion. At the same time, Abrams adds another major name to the production side. Together, that gives Grand Gear instant weight even before a trailer exists.

Right now, the film is still in its early stages. Still, Sony’s brief CinemaCon reveal was enough to put Grand Gear on the studio’s radar as one of its most intriguing future releases.

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The presentation also included two teaser posters.

Then came the new footage. The footage shown at CinemaCon leaned hard into Peter’s emotional life rather than teasing the film’s new action sequences. Peter is in a bodega looking at his phone when Ned walks in and grabs some mini kegs of beer. Thanks to the events of No Way Home, Ned does not recognize Peter at all. Distraught, Peter follows him, which leads him to a college party.

Inside the party, Peter wanders through the apartment and spots a Chewbacca LEGO minifig, a call back to his friendship with Ned. He later finds a wall covered in Spider-Man material. Ned walks in and admits that he’s been trying to figure out who Spider-Man is so he can thank him face-to-face. “He’s saved me and my friend a couple of times,” he said. He even created a “Spidey-tracker” to track his whereabouts. Ned figures he’s based out of Brooklyn, and the two people he suspects of being Spider-Man are Flash Thompson and Midtown High teacher Mr. Harrington.

MJ then enters the scene, and Peter’s thrown off, awkwardly introducing himself as “Maynard.” MJ discusses receiving a job offer with Ned and decides to turn it down because she does not want to work for a “soulless” corporation. Then things get worse for Peter when MJ’s new boyfriend walks in and kisses her right in front of him.

The footage ended on a more physical note. Peter stretches before taking on prison guards. “I’m not in high school anymore,” he says as he stretches in front of the guards.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day hits theaters on July 31st.

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The footage shown to attendees focused on mood, tension, and dread. It begins with a man walking through the snow toward a house. He enters and finds no one inside. As he moves through the building, he keeps calling out, asking if anyone is there.

From there, things get stranger. He tries using the phone, only to get a dead response. He then calls his girlfriend, and the footage cuts to moments of him moving through Raccoon City. As you can imagine, the city looks grim and dangerous, and the tension builds as he goes deeper into the nightmare—everything taking place at night.

One of the most memorable moments shown was a large, pale zombie in the sewers—a giant, bloated figure resembling Stellan Skarsgård’s Harkonnen character from Dune. Soon after, even more zombies appear, spilling into the frame and chasing after him as the chaos ramps up.

What stood out most about the presentation was what Cregger did not do. The footage avoided obvious nods to the games. It’s been reported that “Aiming for an original story set in the world of the games rather than any of its well-known characters,” and “the writer/director is instead taking inspiration from the second through fourth installments.”

That approach could be a smart move with Cregger’s recent hits. Resident Evil has a built-in fanbase, but a straightforward survival-horror movie could help it connect with a wider audience, too. This reboot could do what the other Resident Evil movies and shows couldn’t: tell one tense, scary story without overcomplicating it.

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Higuchi was present to promote the upcoming 4K remaster of Shin Godzilla, which will stomp into North American theaters on August 14, 2025.

“It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed,” the director said during the panel. “When we were filming, it was more than ten years ago. We did spend a lot of money cleaning it up in 4K, so it’s like it’s fresh, but I do think it is still very relevant. So hopefully you guys who didn’t have the opportunity to go ten years ago can go see it in theaters.”

IDW Publishing stole the spotlight with exciting reveals about their expanding Godzilla comic universe. Editor Jake Williams announced the upcoming Godzilla x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2 crossover series. Fans were also treated to previews of Starship Godzilla by Chris Gooch and Oliver Ono, and Godzilla: Escape the DeadZone by Ethan Parker, Griffin Sheridan, and Pablo Tunica, both explore a shared universe. The panel showcased new art and teased plot twists that promise to expand Godzilla’s mythos in bold, new creative ways.

Beyond comics, the panel highlighted an array of exclusive merchandise and fan experiences. This included Super7’s pop-up shop at their Gaslamp store with movie props, cosplayers, and exclusive items like the Toho ULTIMATES! Godzilla: Minus One figure and a Toho Kaiju Response Team T-shirt.

Mondo offered daily exclusives, including a Godzilla and Hedorah Soft Vinyl Figure Set and a Godzilla #1 poster of Herbe Trimpe’s classic 1977 Marvel cover.

The panel capped off with a surprise appearance by O’Shea Jackson Jr., star of 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters. He emerged from behind the curtain just as the moderator opened the floor for questions. The actor shared that his favorite Godzilla film was the 2019 flick he starred in because he did not die in the movie.

When Jackson Jr. asked the panelists about their favorite Godzilla movies, Shinji Higuchi cited the 1973 cult classic, Godzilla vs. Megalon, while others mentioned Shin Godzilla, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla, and even the Matthew Broderick 1998 Godzilla.

Jackson’s unexpected appearance and how he constantly brought up the fact that his character is not dead have many fans speculating that he may be involved in the next Legendary Godzilla project.

The panel concluded with Mondo giving away unreleased figures to fans who answered Godzilla trivia questions.

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Released exclusively during the Thursday afternoon panel, the teaser gives fans their first moving look at this misfit band of broken souls, cunning warriors, and unlikely heroes. You can watch the teaser now on YouTube, but be warned: it’s quick, chaotic, and absolutely drenched in that signature blend of heart and havoc that made Campaign 2 unforgettable.

From Vox Machina to the Nein

Spinning out from the success of The Legend of Vox Machina, which just wrapped its third season and has already been greenlit through Season 5, The Mighty Nein pivots to a darker, more introspective corner of Exandria. While Vox Machina delivered large-scale fantasy bombast with crude humor and sweeping battles, this new series promises something deeper. Still epic, still hilarious, but threaded with themes of redemption, identity, and trust.

Executive producers Sam Riegel and Travis Willingham kicked off the panel by revealing exclusive stills earlier this week through Entertainment Weekly, including a first look at everyone’s favorite enigmatic Dark Elf, Essek Thelyss (voiced, of course, by Matthew Mercer). But it was Thursday’s animated teaser that truly brought the house down, confirming that the full cast is back, and taking on very different roles from Campaign 1.

Meet the Nein

This is not your average adventuring party. At the center is Sam Riegel’s Nott the Brave, a goblin rogue with a drinking problem, a sharp tongue, and even sharper aim. Liam O’Brien steps into the smoldering mind of Caleb Widogast, a fire-wielding wizard with a haunted past and more than a few emotional scars.

Marisha Ray’s Beauregard Lionett brings both fists and fury as a Cobalt Soul monk who fights as hard as she questions authority. Laura Bailey’s Jester Lavorre returns as the quirky, chaos-powered cleric whose pastel mischief masks a deceptively strong moral compass. Travis Willingham trades axes for eldritch magic as Fjord Stone, the seafaring half-orc with secrets literally bubbling beneath the surface.

And then there’s Taliesin Jaffe’s Mollymauk Tealeaf, the fan-favorite Elf Wizard blood hunter and tarot-slinging con artist whose flamboyant exterior hides a tangle of mystery. Notably absent from the teaser is Ashley Johnson’s Yasha Nydoorin, the towering Xhorhasian barbarian, but fans know she’s never far from the action… or the heartbreak.

It’s a Whole New Exandria

During the SDCC panel, Riegel teased that The Mighty Nein will push the boundaries of what they built in Vox Machina, both narratively and visually. “We really had an opportunity to kick things up a notch in terms of character building, world building, and storytelling techniques,” he said. “It has echoes of Vox Machina, obviously because it’s based in the same world and made by the same people, but I think it’s going to scratch itches that Vox Machina doesn’t scratch.”

Fans were also treated to a new clip featuring the Volstrucker wreaking havoc in the Kryn Dynasty, a tantalizing taste of the political intrigue and emotional stakes the show is preparing to explore. Accompanying the reveals was new character art, updated designs for the Nein’s signature looks, and a jaw-dropping guest star list that reads like a fantasy fan’s dream cast.

Names confirmed include Mark Strong, Anika Noni Rose, Tim McGraw, Alan Cumming, Jonathan Frakes, Ming-Na Wen, Auli’i Cravalho, Rahul Kohli, and Robbie Daymond, just to name a few. It’s a staggering lineup that adds further gravitas to a series that already wears its narrative weight proudly.

Looking Ahead in Exandria

While The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 is still in production, fans received confirmation that it’s expected to release between May and July 2026, with its fifth and final season already greenlit. For now, however, all eyes are on The Mighty Nein, which is officially set to debut November 19, 2025, exclusively on Prime Video.

With emotional depth, complex heroes, and just the right amount of arcane mayhem, The Mighty Nein looks ready to stand on its own, not just as a follow-up to Vox Machina, but as a major milestone in Critical Role’s animated multiverse.

The first three seasons of The Legend of Vox Machina are available to stream now on Prime Video. But come this fall, prepare to roll initiative on something new… and delightfully unhinged.

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“This is where we’re supposed to do this,” Cena told fans, proudly donning his Peacemaker outfit once more. “I had to borrow this again. This one is not mine. This is a rental.” As always, Cena brought the laughs — but one behind-the-scenes tidbit had the crowd rolling. “James Gunn hates the ‘You can’t see me’ jokes,” Cena admitted, holding his helmet next to Gunn and mimicking the gag. “I love them. Nobody is next to James Gunn, it’s just a floating helmet! He’s so frustrated.”

Despite the jokes, Gunn had nothing but praise for his leading man. “For one of the most famous people in the world, he has no ego,” Gunn said. “He gets very silly on stage, but the truth is, John Cena turns in an amazing performance this season. I couldn’t believe how much he’s grown as an actor in two years. It’s really something to see.”

Season 2 picks up just a month after the events of Superman and leans even harder into Gunn’s newly unified DC Universe. The trailer, which debuted during the panel, shows Peacemaker discovering an inter-dimensional portal in his home — one that leads to a parallel Earth where they actually celebrate instead of mock him.

“Peacemaker’s going through a rough patch in life and thinks the grass might be greener on the other side,” Cena said. “That’s something people can relate to.”

Gunn echoed that sentiment, noting that he prefers characters who evolve — or fall apart — in interesting ways. “I don’t like when TV characters return the same every season. There’s growth, there’s regression. Peacemaker uncovered some of his demons in Season 1, and now the world still isn’t accepting him the way he is.”

Season 2 also turns up the dial on the weird and the wild. “It’s definitely not for kids,” Gunn warned. One scene was so outrageous that Steve Agee joked, “It’s insane we’re showing it on cable.” Cena gave a special shout-out to his character’s upgraded ride: “It’s a lumbering piece of machinery. It’s got torpedoes, speakers, and a cool paint job.”

The DCU connections are stacking up. The first episode features cameos from Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), and their very wealthy backer, Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn). “But there’s a lot more as we go down the line,” Gunn teased. “We’re definitely a part of the DCU now.”

Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr. — this time, not just as a side character but as the main villain. Now leading A.R.G.U.S., the metahuman-monitoring agency, Flag is hunting down Peacemaker to avenge his son’s death. “He’s finally in a position to get his hands on him,” says Grillo.

And yes, the musical intro is back. Season 2 features an all-new opening number, new dance moves, and a brand-new track. Jennifer Holland got to live out a movie fantasy: “I did the lift from Dirty Dancing, and it was amazing,” she said. Even Grillo — reluctant dancer and resident tough guy — got in on the fun. “When I showed up, people thought it’d be funny to put my old soap opera face on T-shirts. Dancing was something I very reluctantly did, but it turned into me being the best dancer on stage.”

The second season of Peacemaker hits HBO Max on August 21st.

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