We’re in summer blockbuster season, the showbiz news is rolling in, and we round it up here.
Masters of the Universe (see “’MotU’ Trailer”) opened to a weak $29.3 million in North America and $54.3 million worldwide, a pittance compared to the film’s $200 million production budget, a number that does not include the substantial marketing expense, according to Variety. As the second film based on a Mattel toy franchise, this is a disappointing result after Barbie grossed $1.45 billion worldwide at the box office.
StudioCanal and The Picture Company are looking to make an Escape from New York movie, according to an exclusive at The Hollywood Reporter. The two companies are shopping a package for the movie with Zach Snyder as a producer and director and John Carpenter as the Executive Producer. Escape From New York and the main character Snake Plissken have been the subject of tabletop games, video games and comics series since the original movie’s release in the 80s (see “Retro with a Twist“).
Netflix has chosen Jay Hoag as their next Chairman of the Board, as announced in an SEC filing. Hoag, an early investor in Netflix and their lead independent director, replaced co-founder Reed Hastings at the head of the table; Hastings announced that he was stepping down in April 2026 (see “Chairman to Leave Board“).
Amazon MGM Studios will not proceed with the new Stargate series from Martin Gero, according to an exclusive at Variety. Prime Video had ordered a new series back in November 2025 (see “New ‘Stargate’“), but according to the report, Amazon executives were concerned that Gero’s vision for the series didn’t have broad appeal past the existing fan base.
VIZ Media and Fathom Entertainment announced that Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War – The Calamity will premiere in theaters from June 25-29, 2026 (see trailer below). Theaters will show the first three episodes of what is being billed as “the beginning of the end” for the series. Recently, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War was also featured in Union Arena TCG (see “‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Vol. 2’“).
Netflix has renewed Devil May Cry for Season 3, according to Deadline. The third season, named “Paradiso,” wraps up “The Force Edge Saga” for the series; the second season streamed in April 2025 (see “‘Devil May Cry’“).
Lionsgate will adapt Sega’s Streets of Rage video game into a movie, according to Variety. They have attached Pat Casey and Josh Miller, the Sonic the Hedgehog movie writers (see “‘Sonic the Hedgehog’“), to the project.Source: ICV2
