Lionsgate logo. Photo: Lionsgate.
Preview:
- Lionsgate brought the likes of ‘Ballerina’ and the new ‘Now You See Me’ to CinemaCon.
- The likes of Sydney Sweeney and Jenna Ortega were there to showcase their new movies.
- ‘The Long Walk’ and some fresh ‘John Wick’ news was also shared.
Lionsgate had, let’s be generous here, a pretty dreadful 2024, with movies such as ‘The Crow’ and ‘Borderlands’ seriously underperforming. The company has also been through more financial turmoil, but its presence at CinemaCon points to planting a flag and looking to convince theater chains that it’s in good shape with some exciting movies headed our way.
Among them, the latest ‘John Wick’ spin-off, ‘Ballerina,’ and the first official look at the third ‘Now You See Me’ entry are expected to be the biggest.
“Who is Chuck?”
A story told in reverse, starting with the end of Chuck Krantz’s life, and moving back in time to show how he lived that life. Read the Plot
It’s telling, though, that the Lionsgate presentation was part of an overall package with a state of the industry talk (featuring confirmation of name change from NATO to Cinema United with bonus Tom Cruise “we love movies” video, and a blend of self-congratulatory updates and concerns about the future of moviegoing as a whole) and fellow distributor Neon showing trailers for some of its own upcoming movies, including Mike Flanagan’s Tom Hiddleston-starring Stephen King adaptation ‘The Life of Chuck’ and Alison Brie/Dave Franco supernatural sci-fi horror ‘Together.’
After more talk about windows than a glazing company conference, it’s on with the Lionsgate show!
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Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
To absolutely no-one’s surprise, the presentation kicked off with an extended look at the latest tendril of the ‘John Wick’-verse, ‘Ballerina.
Starring Ana de Armas as a young woman trained in the traditions of the Ruska Roma organization who sets out to seek revenge after her father’s death, the movie has Len Wiseman in the director’s chair, but is also produced by ‘Wick’ franchise overseer Chad Stahelski.
The new glimpse of the movie of course spotlights the considerable set-pieces. Because after all, what’s a ‘Wick’ movie without some good old fashioned fighting?
We also get a look at Gabriel Byrne in the movie, and Anjelica Huston’s director hiring a certain familiar assassin to take out de Armas’ Eve. Yep, as you’ll have seen in the recent trailer, Keanu Reeves’ titular Mr. Wick makes his presence felt alongside franchise veterans Lance Reddick (RIP) and Ian McShane.
In fact, this is mostly just an extended version of the last public look at the movie with added fisticuffs.
Wiseman and de Armas took the stage to talk up the new movie. De Armas spotlighted how she appreciated the discipline of ballet, which carried over into the stunts, which were the most physically demanding work she had to for a movie.
Lionsgate seems to be very confident in this one, claiming that they’ll be screening it to exhibition partners earlier than originally planned.
‘Ballerina’ hits theaters on June 6th.
“Vengeance has a new face.”
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin… Read the Plot
Author Stephen King. Photo: Stephen King/Facebook.
The Stephen King adaptation, directed by ‘Hunger Games’ veteran Francis Lawrence, is a dystopian tale featuring a group of teenage boys competing in an annual contest known as “The Long Walk,” where they must maintain a certain walking speed or get shot.
Lawrence was joined by ‘Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson and Mark Hamill (from some famous genre movies and TV) on stage to talk up the latest King joint.
According to the director, this is his favorite King tome. Jonsson, meanwhile, mentions that the actors walked for miles each day while shooting. At least it was a good workout!
Hamill, a CinemaCon newbie, plays the movie’s antagonist, so the cast apparently didn’t want to hang out with him until production was wrapped.
He says he’s wanted to work with Lawrence for a while and “there is nothing for me in ‘Hunger Games.’” ‘The Long Walk,’ he says, hit him like a ton of bricks but he appreciated getting pushed out of his comfort zone.
The trailer was shown, and we know that ‘The Long Walk’ will march into cinemas on September 12th.
In a dystopian near-future, 100 teenage boys must embark on an annual competitive test known as “The Long Walk”. The rules are simple: maintain a speed above 4 miles… Read the Plot
Lawrence remained on stage, because next up was…
Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The latest ‘Hunger Games’ outing, once more directed by Lawrence, is the next prequel story, focused on a young Haymitch (as played by Woody Harrelson in the original trilogy).
Lawrence told the crowd that they’re casting now for a planned July shoot, and the director calls the color palette a “return to form” and that the new film takes place later in time than the last movie.
And again, it was his favorite book –– this time by ‘Games’ author Suzanne Collins.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunshine on the Reaping’ will be out on November 20th, 2026.
In between the bigger presentations was a video featuring other filmmakers talking up projects and more –– ‘A Simple Favor’s Paul Feig revealed he’d signed a first-look deal with the studios, while Luca Guadagnino appeared to hype his ‘American Psycho’ adaptation, which will go back to the book and features Scott Z. Burns writing. He’s casting it right now.
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
The ‘Wick’-verse continues to expand
While ‘Ballerina’ continues the story, a new animated prequel to the original ‘Wick’ flick sets the clock back to before the story. Shannon Tindle of ‘Ultraman: Rising’ will direct.
But you were thinking Keanu Reeves’ character himself wouldn’t be back, think again –– Lionsgate has the actor and Stahelski developing a fifth main outing.
Donnie Yen as Caine in ‘John Wick: Chapter 4.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
And the spin-off, directed by and starring Donnie Yen, focused on his Caine character from ‘Chapter 4,’ will shoot this summer.
On the comedy front, there’s more work for Keanu Reeves…
Aziz Ansari’s film, which brought its first trailer, focused on a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), who meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist (Seth Rogen).
‘Good Fortune’ will be hoping for good luck when it’s released on October 17th.
A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy capitalist. Read the Plot
From there, we go to…
John Carney –– him of ‘Sing Street’ and ‘Once’ has more music on his mind with this Paul Rudd/Nick Jonas starring comedy about a wedding singer, a rock star, and the song that comes between them.
Lionsgate showed an extended look at that one, which seems sweet and funny.
Follows a wedding singer and a flagging pop star who come together to write a song to comedic consequences. Read the Plot
And now…
(L to R) Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.
The third movie in the magician con-team franchise has Ruben Fleischer in the director’s chair, and he took the stage to announce that a fourth film (with Fleischer back behind the camera) and other spin-offs are in the works.
This third outing blends the classic cast with new recruits such as Rosamund Pike and Ariana Greenblatt. And for the first time since the first movie, Isla Fisher returns as Henley.
Oh, and it’s officially titled ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t.’
Fleischer brought a first look trailer with him, but also took time to explain that the vast majority of the magic tricks are done in camera. The story this time sees Jesse Eisenberg’s falling out with his buddies, and recruiting a new team featuring Justice Smith, Greenblatt and Dominic Sessa. They work with Morgan Freeman to rob Pike’s villainous character.
Once the trailer finished, Fleischer announced he’s also at work on another title for the studio, as well as a fourth ‘Now You See Me’ and possible spinoffs, but they’re keeping details on that in a bank vault for now.
‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t’ will appear in theaters on November 14th.
A third installment of the ‘Now You See Me’ franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot
On to thriller territory…
Sydney Sweeney in ‘Euphoria.’ Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO.
Paul Feig’s latest film, adapted from Freida McFadden’s novel, sees Sydney Sweeney playing a struggling woman who is happy to start over as a housemaid for an affluent, elite couple.
Feig took the stage with Sweeney and co-stars Amanda Seyfried and Brandon Sklenar, and the presentation became a love-fest for the ladies, with Sweeney admitting she’s a huge fan of Seyfried and ‘Mamma Mia!‘, and they made a TikTok together dancing to Abba.
Sweeney also talked up loving the book and how she enjoys playing flawed characters.
Feige and co wrapped up with a first trailer for the movie.
‘The Housemaid’ will look to clean up in theaters on December 25th. Happy thrillmas?
Millie is a struggling woman who is relieved to get a fresh start as a housemaid to Nina and Andrew, an upscale, wealthy couple. She soon learns that the family’s… Read the Plot
Finally?
Jenna Ortega as Anima in ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’. Photo Credit: Andrew Cooper.
‘The Boondock Saints’ director Trey Edward Shults brings this new drama, which stars The Weeknd, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan in the story of an insomniac musician encounters a mysterious stranger, leading to a journey that challenges everything he knows about himself.
Shults said this is a hard movie to describe, soulful, and a journey.
Ortega took the stage to enthuse about working on the movie. She got the script and fell in love with a scene. She went in trying to get a small role and ended up getting the lead alongside the music star. Her character shifted a lot even during the production, it is quite an experience.
After the talent talks portion, the new trailer played. Trippy!
The Weeknd performs at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.
Following that, the wrap up the whole presentation, Ortega introduced The Weeknd, who performed for the crowd.
‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ arrives in theaters on May 16th.
“Reality lies deeper than you think.”
A musician plagued by insomnia is pulled into an odyssey with a stranger who begins to unravel the very core of his existence. Read the Plot
Absent, despite being hyped before it kicked off shooting last year, was ‘Michael,’ the Michael Jackson biopic. That might have something to do with the ongoing legal issues with one of the singer’s accusers.
Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson in ‘Michael.’ Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur.
