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© HBO Max, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Peacock It’s that magical time of year again, and Christmas movies are coming in full force. Prime Video is bringing us Oh. What. Fun., featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, and Dominic Sessa. Over on Netflix, Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut with the festive drama Goodbye June . Meanwhile, HBO Max reunites the McMullen family in The Family McMullen, the long-awaited sequel to The Brothers McMullen. This December might just belong to Netflix honestly. The streaming giant is releasing the third film in the Knives Out franchise, Wake Up Dead Man , along with Jay Kelly , starring George Clooney and Adam Sandler. Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson will also grace our screens in The Abandons , a series set in Washington Territory in 1854, following the matriarchs of two very different families. The much-anticipated final chapter of Stranger Things arrives this month, bringing the beloved series to a conclusion after nearly a decade. On the feel-good side, Emily in Paris returns with another season of fashion, romance, and Parisian charm. Two highly anticipated series adaptations are also back with their second seasons. Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney Plus dives into The Sea of Monsters, while Fallout on Prime Video takes us to the post-apocalyptic world of New Vegas. And that’s not even all! Check out the list below to discover everything streaming this December on your favorite platforms. December 1 Troll 2 – NETFLIX About: When a dangerous new troll is awakened, unleashing devastation across Norway, beloved adventurers Nora, Andreas and Captain Kris are thrust into their most perilous mission yet. To stop the creature’s ruthless rampage, they must enlist new allies and delve into the country’s ancient history, searching for answers. As the clock ticks and the troll’s path of destruction grows wider, our heroes face impossible odds in their fight to save their homeland from falling into darkness. The Merchants of Joy – PRIME VIDEO About: In the city that never sleeps, five families hustle each winter to turn sidewalks into holiday outposts. The Merchants of Joy follows these Christmas die-hards as they source, sell, and safeguard a family tradition at risk. It's a warm, grounded portrait of pride, grit, and the joy they bring—one tree, one customer, one season at a time. Paul Anka: His Way – HBO MAX About: From teen idol to chart-topping songwriter, Paul Anka has spent seven decades as one of the most prolific musicians in the world and he’s still going. Part road movie and part living biography, PAUL ANKA: HIS WAY traces the iconic Canadian’s journey through stardom and constant reinvention in an ever-changing industry. Featuring archival performances of Anka’s songs by genre-spanning music legends, including Buddy Holly, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, and more, the film follows Anka as he performs around the world and chronicles his journey from his childhood in Ottawa, Canada to becoming a global musical sensation. All The Empty Rooms – NETFLIX About: Reporter Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp embark on a cross country journey to memorialize the bedrooms of children lost to school shootings, highlighting the urgent need for action against the rising epidemic of gun violence. December 2 Hard Knocks: In Season with the NFC East, Season 1 – HBO MAX About: The series will follow the reigning Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants, and the Washington Commanders during the final stretch of the NFL season. From wins and losses to injuries and adversity, the series will capture an inside look at life in one of football’s most historic divisions. The series will be narrated by Liev Schreiber. December 3 My Secret Santa – NETFLIX About: A vivacious single mom in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort. But when she starts to fall in love with the hotel manager, complications develop that could ruin everything. Cast: Alexandra Breckenridge, Ryan Eggold. The Hunt (Traqués) – APPLE TV About: Franck (Benoît Magimel) and his longtime friends enjoy spending their weekends hunting together, but one Sunday, they come across another group of hunters who start targeting them without explanation. When one of their party is shot, Franck’s friends strike back, sending an attacker to the ground. Barely managing to escape, the four friends keep the event a secret. Franck tries to go back to his life as usual alongside his wife Krystel (Mélanie Laurent), but in the next few days, he starts to feel like he and his friends are being watched, or worse, tracked by hunters who are now hell- bent on revenge. Cast: Benoît Magimel, Mélanie Laurent. OH. WHAT. FUN. – PRIME VIDEO About: Claire Clauster (Michelle Pfeiffer) is the glue that holds her chaotic, lovable family together every holiday season. From perfectly frosted cookies to meticulously wrapped gifts, no one decks the halls quite like Claire. But this year, after planning a special outing for her family, they make a crucial mistake and leave her home alone. Fed up and feeling under appreciated, she sets off on an impromptu adventure of her own. As her family scrambles to find her, Claire discovers the unexpected magic of a Christmas gone off-script. Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, Denis Leary, Dominic Sessa, Danielle Brooks, Devery Jacobs, Havana Rose Liu, Maude Apatow, Jason Schwartzman, Eva Longoria, Joan Chen With Love, Meghan: Holiday Celebration  – NETFLIX December 4 The Abandons , Season 1 – NETFLIX About: Washington Territory - 1854 - The matriarchs of two very different families — one of wealth and privilege bound by blood, the other a found family of orphans and outcasts bound by love and necessity — find their fates linked by two crimes, an awful secret, a star-crossed love, and a piece of land with silver underneath. The collision echoes the American struggle of the haves and have-nots, in a place just beyond the reach of justice. Cast: Gillian Anderson, Lena Headey, Ryan Hurst, Michiel Huisman Music Box: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley – HBO MAX About: Music Box: It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley covers the life of the rising young star with an otherworldly voice and boundary-pushing artistry, who left the ‘90s music world reeling when he died suddenly at age 30 after the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Grace.” December 5 George Clooney and Adam Sandler in Jay Kelly. © Netflix Jay Kelly – NETFLIX About: Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly follows famous movie actor, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler). Poignant and humor filled, epic and intimate, JAY KELLY is pitched at the intersection of life's regrets and notable glories. Cast: George Clooney, Adam Sandler. The Family McMullen – HBO MAX About: 30 years after Edward Burns’ The Brothers McMullen wowed critics and audiences, the family returns in the follow-up The Family McMullen . The new film tracks the romantic entanglements of a now 50-something Barry McMullen (Burns) and his 20-something kids, as well as his brother Patrick (Michael McGlone) and widowed sister-in-law Molly (Connie Britton), each facing unexpected romantic hurdles of their own. Cast: Connie Britton, Edward Burns, Michael McGlone, Tracee Ellis Ross, Halston Sage, Juliana Canfield, Pico Alexander, and Brian d’Arcy James. Owning Manhattan, Season 2 – NETFLIX About: World famous broker and CEO Ryan Serhant will stop at nothing as he builds his brokerage and goes after the most exclusive luxury listings in the city. And he's not alone: he's leading an ambitious army of agents on a mission to become the #1 brokerage in the world. The New Yorker at 100 – NETFLIX About: It is considered one of the most culturally significant magazines of all time. Now, as The New Yorker marks its centennial, the iconic publication is granting unprecedented access to its inner workings, its contributors, and its archives. This documentary follows the editors, writers and creatives behind the scenes of one of the last print magazines of our time. Cast: Julianne Moore. The First Snow of Fraggle Rock – APPLE TV+ About: The Fraggles eagerly await the first snow of the season and all the traditions it brings, but when only a single snowflake arrives and Gobo can’t write the yearly holiday song everyone is expecting, the season is thrown off course. For the first time ever, Gobo journeys to the human world, or as the Fraggles refer to it: Outer Space, to find some unexpected musical inspiration. And in another first, back at the Gorgs’ castle, Junior is overwhelmed by the arrival of a new baby Gorg joining the family. This holiday season, the Fraggles and Gorgs learn that beautiful moments aren’t always perfect — but they can be as unique and memorable as snowflakes. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw – DISNEY+ About: When laid back Greg finds himself at odds with his dad’s outsized expectations, pressure builds to turn his act around. After a series of hilarious near disasters, Greg’s dad presents him with an ultimatum that just might challenge Greg’s wimpy ways for good. The Price of Confession, Season 1  – NETFLIX About: The Price of Confession is a mystery thriller that follows Yun-su, a woman accused of murdering her husband, and Mo Eun, a mysterious woman called a witch — and their many secrets. Love and Wine – NETFLIX About: A privileged young man working at his wealthy father's business traps himself in a lie when he falls in love with a hard-working medical student, and tries to convince her that he comes from more humble beginnings like hers. What follows is a comedic whirlwind of chaos and heartfelt revelations. December 6 Surely Tomorrow, Season 1 – PRIME VIDEO About: Lee Kyeong-do (Park Seo-jun) and Seo Ji-woo (Won Ji-an) find themselves drawn to each other throughout their lives. The couple first fell in love in their early twenties, only to part ways. They reunited in their late twenties and gave romance another chance, but once again went their separate paths. Years later, fate brings them together unexpectedly—Kyeong-do, now a journalist covering a sensational scandal, and Ji-woo, the wife of the man at the center of it. Against the backdrop of public scrutiny and personal history, their story unfolds into a surprising third chapter. December 8 Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures, Season 3 – DISNEY+ December 10 Percy Jackson and The Olympians, Season 2 – DISNEY+ About: Percy Jackson sails to the Sea of Monsters to rescue his friend Grover and save Camp Half-Blood. Cast: Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Charlie Bushnell, Dior Goodjohn, Daniel Diemer. Merv   – PRIME VIDEO About: When their beloved dog Merv loses his spark after their split, Anna (Zooey Deschanel) and Russ (Charlie Cox) are forced into the world’s most awkward co-parenting arrangement. Hoping to shake Merv out of his funk, Russ takes him to Florida for a much-needed getaway—only for Anna to show up unexpectedly. As Merv slowly gets his groove back, turns out fixing their dog’s broken heart may lead to a few sparks of their own. Cast: Zooey Deschanel, Charlie Cox, Chris Redd, Patricia Heaton. Record of Ragnarok, Season 3 – NETFLIX About: The saga continues with 13 one-on-one battles for the survival of humanity, pitting gods against humans from across the world. Witness the fateful seventh battle: the final fight to break the 3-3 tie between the gods and humans. Blood flows and fists fly in these intense battles of strong convictions! December 11 Man vs. Baby, Season 1 – NETFLIX About: After a job looking after a high-tech mansion ended in disaster thanks to an irritating insect in Man vs Bee, Trevor Bingley (Rowan Atkinson) has left the stressful world of housesitting for the quieter life of a school caretaker. That is, until a lucrative offer to look after a luxury London penthouse over Christmas proves too tempting to resist. But on the last day of term, when no one comes to collect the Baby Jesus from the school nativity, Trevor finds himself with another undersized and very unexpected companion. With a penthouse to protect and a baby to burp, will Trevor be able to have the calm Christmas he hopes for, or will festivities descend into chaos? Cast: Rowan Atkinson. Little Disasters, Season 1 – PARAMOUNT+ About: Little Disasters focuses on a decade-long friendship among Jess (Kruger), Liz (Jo Joyner), Charlotte (Shelley Conn) and Mel (Emily Taaffe), four expectant mothers who were thrown together with little in common apart from their due dates but have been there for one another throughout motherhood. When perfect stay-at-home mother Jess takes her baby daughter to the hospital with a head injury that she can’t explain, her close friend and on-duty ER doctor Liz must make the excruciating decision of whether to call social services. With one phone call, Liz sets in motion a chain of events that ripples, fractures and nearly destroys not only their families but their entire friendship group. Cast: Diane Kruger, Jo Joyner, Shelley Conn, Emily Taaffe, JJ Feild, Ben Bailey Smith, Patrick Bala. Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, Season 2 – NETFLIX About: Season 2 picks up after the events of the highly successful Tomb Raider video game Survivor trilogy (Tomb Raider; Rise of the Tomb Raider; Shadow of the Tomb Raider) , and will chart the globetrotting heroine’s next chapter as the iconic adventurer. December 12 Taylor Swift in The End of An Era . © Disney Plus Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – NETFLIX About: Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet. Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott. Home for Christmas, Season 3 – NETFLIX About: Hoping to ease the lingering heartbreak of last Christmas, Johanne decides to enjoy this year's festivities free from love troubles... or so she thinks. Johanne is now 35. Months have passed since her breakup with Jonas. She doesn’t have a boyfriend but keeps herself busy to avoid feeling lonely. She helps her siblings, takes care of her lonely father, and has taken on a new leadership position at work. As she throws herself back into the dating scene, she starts to realize it’s not quite the same as it used to be. Or is it Johanne who has changed? The breakup with Jonas was tough, and bubbling beneath the surface lies the big question: Will she dare to love again? F1 The Movie – APPLE TV About: Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. Cast: Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon. The End of An Era and Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour: The Final Show – DISNEY+ Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh – HBO MAX About: Sarah Sherman’s unholy alter ego, Sarah Squirm, slithers onto your screen in her first stand-up comedy special. December 17 Ella Purnell in Fallout Season 2. © Prime Video Fallout, Season 2 – PRIME VIDEO About: The new season will pick up in the aftermath of Season One’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. Season Two will premiere this December exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.Based on one of the greatest video game series of all time, Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them. Cast: Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, Walton Goggins, Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Frances Turner. December 18 Emily in Paris, Season 5 – NETFLIX About: Now the head of Agence Grateau Rome, Emily faces professional and romantic challenges as she adapts to life in a new city. But just as everything falls into place, a work idea backfires, and the fallout cascades into heartbreak and career setbacks. Seeking stability, Emily leans into her French lifestyle, until a big secret threatens one of her closest relationships. Tackling conflict with honesty, Emily emerges with deeper connections, renewed clarity, and a readiness to embrace new possibilities. Cast: Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Lucas Bravo. Human Specimens, Season 1 – PRIME VIDEO About: Human Specimens is adapted from the novel by Kanae Minato, one of Japan's most celebrated mystery writers, known for her international bestseller Confessions which was adapted into the acclaimed film that represented Japan at the 83rd Academy Awards. The dark tale follows Professor Shirô Sakaki, a butterfly researcher, who confesses to turning six young boys, including his own son Itaru, into "human specimens." Cast: Hidetoshi Nishijima, Somegorô Ichikawa. 10Dance – NETFLIX About: Shinya Suzuki (Ryoma Takeuchi) is the Japanese champion of Latin Dance, while Shinya Sugiki (Keita Machida) is the Japanese champion and second-ranked dancer in Standard Ballroom in the world. They are often compared to each other because of their similar names despite dancing in different categories, which frustrates the competitive Suzuki. One day, Suzuki receives a surprise when Sugiki asks him to team up and win the 10-Dance Competition. The 10-Dance is a competition in which top dancers perform five varieties of Latin Dance and five varieties of Standard Ballroom. Knowing how difficult it would be, Suzuki initially rejects Sugiki's proposal to teach each other their respective styles and compete on the world stage, but Sugiki's provocative attitude sparks Suzuki's competitive spirit and spurs him to begrudgingly accept.The two men's opposite personalities clash as they devote themselves to daily lessons, but they grow steadily closer over time. Before long, Suzuki realizes he has started developing a romantic attraction to Sugiki. December 19 Adult Swim's The Elephant – HBO MAX About: Adult Swim’s The Elephant is a rare creative experiment in which each of the three-acts are made in isolation. With Sugar and Jones-Quartey working as a duo and McHale and Ward overseeing their own separate parts, the special is guided by “game masters” and “Adventure Time” alums Jack Pendarvis and Kent Osborne for a storytelling experiment that unfolds as a collaborative surprise, ultimately merging into a single, unexpected narrative. The Great Flood – NETFLIX About: The Great Flood is a sci-fi disaster blockbuster film follows those holding onto the last shred of hope for humanity struggle to survive in a flooded apartment building on the last day of Earth overcome by a great flood. Cast: Kim Da-Mi, Park Hae-Soo. Kumail Nanjiani: Night Thoughts – HULU Born to be Wild – APPLE TV About: From first steps to first hunts, follow six rare baby animals as they learn survival skills and bring hope for the future of their species in the wild. December 22 The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, Season 2 – HULU December 24 Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, Kate Winslet and Timothy Spall in Goodbye June. © Netflix Goodbye June – NETFLIX About: It’s nearly Christmas when an unexpected turn in their mother’s health thrusts four adult siblings, and their exasperating father, into chaos as they navigate messy family dynamics in the face of potential loss. But their quick-witted mother, June, orchestrates her decline on her own terms - with biting humor, blunt honesty, and a lot of love. Cast: Kate Winslet, Toni Collette, Helen Mirren. December 25 Stranger Things, Season 5 - Vol. 2 – NETFLIX About: The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time. Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Linda Hamilton. December 26 Cover-Up – NETFLIX About: Cover-Up is a political thriller that traces the explosive career of Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh. December 27 The Copenhagen Test, Season 1 – PEACOCK About: This espionage thriller series follows first-generation-American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Simu Liu) who realizes his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies. Cast: Simu Liu, Melissa Barrera, Sinclair Daniel, Brian d'Arcy James, Mark O'Brien and Cathleen Chalfant. December 31 Stranger Things,   Season 5 - Vol. 3  – NETFLIX About:  The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time. Cast:  Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Linda Hamilton. Disclaimer: The descriptions are taken directly from official loglines and are not written by us.

This article contains spoilers for Train Dreams . © Netflix Clint Bentley’s Train Dreams , adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella, is a haunting and remarkably tender exploration of how love anchors a life and how grief reshapes it in its absence. Working from a script co-written with Greg Kwedar, his collaborator on last year’s remarkable Sing Sing , the pair craft a portrait of a man shaped and undone by the passage of time. Orphaned at a young age, Robert Grainier (Joel Edgerton) grows into adulthood as a logger in the Pacific Northwest during the early twentieth century. From the outset, the film places Robert in a world already shifting around him. Logging seasons pull him deep into forests for long stretches, and the rapid expansion of the railways both sustains his livelihood and signals the arrival of an industrial modernity that will quietly leave him behind. A man of few words, his story is told via third-person narration by Will Patton, whose voice is at once calming and devastating. He recounts the formative moments that shape Robert’s life, including the racist murder of a Chinese labourer (Alfred Hsing) working the tracks beside him, an event that Robert comes to believe his silence helped enable, and consequently, leads to the tragedies to come that devastate his life. Away from work, Robert meets, courts, and marries Gladys (Felicity Jones). Together, they build a modest dream on an acre of land and welcome their daughter, Kate (Zoe Rose Short). Jones complements Edgerton’s silence well, and while her screentime is limited, their chemistry is natural, that of a young couple in love who believe in the shared life ahead of them. However, the film’s early movements establish a rhythm of leaving and returning. Robert continues to spend months in the woods, returning home to find his wife and daughter have changed in his absence. Kate, now a toddler who babbles and walks, seems like a new child each time he sees her, and Gladys, while supportive, grows increasingly weary of the separations. Bentley handles these moments with delicacy, capturing the tension between affection and frustration without overstating it, a running theme that lends the film its melancholic tone. Gladys longs to join Robert out on the cut, but he refuses, citing dangers he cannot bring himself to articulate.   (L-R) Felicity Jones as Gladys and Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier. © Netflix Robert tries, at various points, to find work closer to home, but opportunities are limited in the post-war years. Money becomes tighter than ever, and Patton devastatingly narrates that he does not realise that this period, despite its hardships, will be the one that he later recalls as his happiest. Gladys dreams of expanding their acre, turning it into a proper farm, perhaps even starting a small sawmill if they can save enough. It’s the stability they crave, and a life in which Robert no longer disappears for months at a time. Before this dream can take shape, tragedy strikes. From here on, Train Dreams becomes a devastating tale of loss and the guilt that accompanies surviving it. The years that follow grow increasingly solitary, a far cry from the stability his land once knew. Robert takes work where he can, logging again, then later hauling goods and people by horse and wagon. Ironically, he feels disconnected from those around him, even if he sees them more often. The world moves on, as it tends to, and Robert drifts slowly outside of it. Claire Thompson (Kerry Condon), a Forest Service employee tasked with managing timber cuts and preventing fires, is one of the few people Robert meets later in life who treats him with genuine understanding. She, too, has known loss. The scene where he finally speaks of it to her is one of the film’s finest. “It feels like the sadness will just eat me alive,” he says, “but sometimes it feels like it happened to somebody else.” (L-R) Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier and Kerry Condon as Claire Thompson in Train Dreams. Cr. BBP Train Dreams . © Netflix Robert’s life becomes defined by waiting. First, for Gladys and Katie, then for clarity, and finally for something he can’t quite name. He hears their voices in the woods surrounding their land sometimes, laughing or murmuring just out of sight, and is afraid to turn his head in case he frightens them away. Whether these moments are dreams, visitations, or hallucinations, Train Dreams  presents them as the shape grief takes for a man who has no language for his sorrow despite the depth of his feeling. Edgerton captures this with remarkable subtlety, his expressions carrying emotions he cannot speak. It's a breathtaking performance, one that Netflix does not feel strong enough to carry. A final flight in a small plane offers Robert a moment of connection with the life he has lived. When the pilot tells him to hold on to something, he grasps what truly matters: Gladys, Kate, his work, the people he encountered, and the small but meaningful moments that formed the pattern of his years. The montage that accompanies this, gentle and unforced, grants him a kind of peace. Bentley and editor Parker Laramie create a sequence that, in almost any other film, would feel trite. Not long after, Robert dies in his sleep, and the film closes with the same quiet restraint with which it began, much like the man himself. Visually, Train Dreams  is a marvel. Adolpho Veloso’s cinematography captures the Pacific Northwest with a lived-in beauty. Shoes nailed to a tree, the forests, rail lines, and open acres of land are rendered with a sense of wonder and awe - each touched by people who were here before us, alongside us, and ready to be felt by those who come after. Bryce Dessner, member of The National , complements this with a score that feels alive and echoes a life half-lived in distant memory. Their work is mesmerising. So, too, is Edgerton’s. It is no exaggeration to say that this is his finest performance to date. His sorrow seems to press in on him from all sides, written across every inch of him and throughout his silence. Performances from Jones, Condon, and William H. Macy, playing Arn Peeples, an explosives expert that Robert calls a friend before he too is gone, are brief in nature, but no less important. Train Dreams  succeeds because it treats an unremarkable life with respect. It shows how love, grief, work, and environment shape a person, and how even the quietest of lives contain extraordinary depth. Robert Grainier may not have changed the course of history, but he experienced something just as significant. He loved, he lost, and he endured. In doing so, he reminds us that a meaningful life does not require grandeur; it requires only the courage to keep going, even when it feels as though the world is moving on without us. And who knows, maybe our stories, and the traces we leave upon the earth, will be remembered one day by those who come after.   Rating: ★★★★½ About Train Dreams Train Dreams . © Netflix Release Date:  November 21, 2025 Executive Producers: J oel Edgerton, Scott Hinckley, Greg Kwedar, and John Friedberg Writer: Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar Director: Clint Bentley Distribution:  Netflix Cast:   Joel Edgerton, Felicity Jones, Nathaniel Arcand, Alfred Hsing, Clifton Collins Jr., John Diehl, Paul Schneider, with Kerry Condon and William H. Macy. Narrated by Will Patton. Synopsis: Based on the beloved novella by Denis Johnson, Train Dreams is the portrait of Robert Grainier (Golden Globe nominee Joel Edgerton), whose life unfolds during an era of unprecedented change in early 20th-century America. Orphaned at a young age, Robert grows into adulthood among the towering forests of the Pacific Northwest, where he helps expand the nation’s railroad empire alongside men as unforgettable as the landscapes they inhabit. After a tender courtship, he marries Gladys (Academy Award nominee Felicity Jones) and they build a home together, though his work often takes him far from her and their young daughter. When his life takes an unexpected turn, Robert finds beauty, brutality, and newfound meaning in the forests and trees he has felled.

Critical Role has introduced a lot of people to Dungeons & Dragons with their campaigns. They're now four campaigns deep, with many one-shots to watch, and now they've got their second animated series, The Mighty Nein , which is adapted from its source material that's available on YouTube to watch. Nexus Point News got the opportunity to interview Tasha Huo , the showrunner and writer of The Mighty Nein . She previously adapted The Legend of Lara Croft and recently the upcoming Naruto . We got to speak to her about the challenges of adapting for the screen, what brought her onto the project and if there were any Easter eggs for hardcore fans to find. © Prime Video Christopher: What was it about Critical Role and The Mighty Nein campaign that drew you to taking on this project? Tasha Huo: Gosh, I had been a D&D fan before The Mighty Nein . I was drawn to Critical Role because someone said, "Hey, do you want to learn how to play D&D? Go watch Critical Role ," and it certainly did teach me to play D&D. So, that has a special place in my heart for that reason. The thing that drew me to The Mighty Nein was just the characters. They created so many amazing characters with so many fascinating, in-depth backstories that just broke your heart, and the roller coaster that they put us on with those characters is really what drove me to The Mighty Nein . Christopher: There's hundreds of hours of content when it comes to The Mighty Nein . How do you go about adapting a Dungeons & Dragons campaign? And obviously we've got The Legend of Vox Machina , which has two more seasons and is something you can look back on for tips or advice. Have you planned out how long The Mighty Nein could go on for if it had the chance? Tasha Huo: Yes (laughs) , we do have a plan! So, I hope we get to tell all of the story. I mean, obviously the campaign is the campaign, and the endgame they actually have in the show is our endgame as well, so yeah, we do have a plan, and I'm very excited for it. I will, guess, stop there (laughs) . Christopher: That's fair! You've adapted for animation before, Tomb Raider : The Legend of Lara Croft , which is based on the video game, and we now have The Mighty Nein , based on a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. And if I read correctly, you also finished the script for Naruto , which is based on a manga. I wanted to ask for each one of those, I know you can't say much about Naruto , but what were the challenges that came with adapting for a video game, D&D campaign and manga? © Crunchyroll Tasha Huo: That's a great question! I'll start with The Mighty Nein . I think one of the biggest obstacles to adapting it to a show was that D&D by nature is not linear. A TV show has to be linear, and it's 600 hours, where many of those hours are spent in a store buying things or going on weird side quests that have nothing to do with anything. So that's part of the challenge of adapting something like that, and also just the number of hours involved in that story. For Tomb Raider , there were so many challenges, but one of them was certainly taking a very beloved character with a very particular backstory and trying to evolve her in places that the games hadn't already and also to invite people into parts of her life that they have not experienced and you just can't experience in a video game, so trying to give you something new, even though you've seen so much of her. For Naruto , it was to ground it, to make it feel real and believable in the world of a live-action movie. When you watch it or read it, it's so bonkers. It's so good, but it is so bonkers. The rules you just sort of kind of take for granted because of the medium you're watching it in, but once you translate it to real people saying real lines and needing to convey real plot. Yeah, that was the challenge but also the joy of it because they're just so fun. Christopher: The campaign originally had callbacks to Vox Machina . Although the Vox Machina show has not ended yet, with two more seasons to go. Are there any little Easter eggs or teasers regarding Vox Machina or the world of Exandria that will keep fans excited? Tasha Huo: Yeah, absolutely! Not only are there Vox Machina Easter eggs, but I guess look out for Campaign Three Easter eggs. We have the beauty of the cast that's in all of these campaigns, are in the writers' room and are sharing stories and art with us. You'll see a lot of stuff. Christopher: Thank you so much for your time, Tasha. I can't wait for people to watch The Mighty Nein once it finally comes out. I'm sure it's going to be just as great, maybe even better than what we've gotten with The Legend of Vox Machina . And also congrats for your future projects coming out, with Tomb Raider in December and Naruto in the near future. This interview has been edited for clarity.

This article contains spoilers for A Man on the Inside  Season 2. A Man on the Inside © Netflix A Man on the Inside  returns for its second season on Netflix with a level of confidence that feels fully earned, building on its first season’s reinforcement of creator Michael Schur’s understanding of what makes television work. Ten years ago, a series like this would have been a 24-episode network sitcom. Now, it’s condensed into eight episodes for the streaming era, yet nothing feels undeveloped, and every character is well-understood by the audience, despite having only eight episodes per season. Season 2 builds on that foundation with an ease that suggests a writer’s room aware of its strengths, trusting the audience to meet it where it is. We pick back up with Charles, still an unlicensed private investigator in training. Ted Danson continues to play him with an easy sincerity reminiscent of a Schur lead - a man committed to the idea that he can still contribute something meaningful to the world as a widowed retiree by solving mysteries. After finishing his ninth case involving cheating men, his wish for a proper case is granted when Wheeler College, a struggling institution, brings in outside help after the president’s laptop is stolen the morning after a $400 million donation is secured from graduate Brad Vinick (Gary Cole). Vinick, a billionaire currently embroiled in a private jet scandal, is publicly defending his two round-trip flights from San Francisco to Aspen every day for four years on the baffling justification that his dog walker was based in Aspen while his dog lived in San Francisco. Cole is excellent, portraying Vinick with arrogance and delusion. President Jack Berenger, played by Max Greenfield with the theatricality familiar to fans of  New Girl , insists that they need the money; otherwise, Wheeler College will cease to exist. That threat becomes the focal point this season, creating a mystery layered with faculty politics, misdirection, and an anonymous blackmailer warning that Wheeler will burn if it accepts the billionaire’s donation. Max Greenfield as Berenger in A Man on the Inside . © Netflix While I had my reservations, moving sole focus from Pacific View to a campus in financial freefall turns out to be a brilliant decision. Wheeler is a community full of people who love their work, their subjects, and their students, and are terrified that it will all be taken from them. Andrea Yi (Michaela Conlin), Professor of Economics, Max Griffin (Sam Huntington), Assistant Professor of Journalism, Dr Benjamin Cole (David Strathairn), Head of the English Department, and Dr Elizabeth Muki (Linda Park), Director of Fine Arts, are who Charles zeroes in on as they become key to the case. The academic setting provides Season 2 with a new sandbox without weakening the emotional continuity that made Season 1 work. It’s also where the writers lean more openly into their skepticism toward billionaire saviours (or, more accurately, villains) and technological advancements such as AI, a stance embodied in Vinick. His presence allows the show to reference the growing devaluation of the arts and humanities, areas that universities in and outside the US are all too quick to underfund or scrap entirely. The season uses the mystery format to explore this tension, as every suspect has something to lose if Vinick takes over; therefore, everyone on campus has a motive. Wheeler is positioned as a once-thriving community with its students at its heart, forced into compromises by wealthy “visionaries” who see culture and creativity as obstacles rather than purpose. Danson thrives in this new location, particularly once Charles becomes a familiar fixture on campus as a visiting lecturer of economics. The standout addition to this setting is Mary Steenburgen’s Mona Margadoff, the campus’s eccentric music theorist who has been at Wheeler for four decades and, by her own admission, frequently disappears mid-conversation when a melody suddenly comes to her. Steenburgen plays Mona with an off-kilter charm that never tips into caricature. She’s strange, yes, but she is also warm and grounded in a particular kind of bohemian sincerity. Her chemistry with Danson is unsurprisingly natural – their real-life marriage gives their scenes an effortless intimacy – but more than that, despite their differences, Mona feels like a genuine romantic interest for Charles, someone who matches his oddness beat for beat. When she kisses him for the first time, it’s gentle and instantly raises the emotional stakes of the case, especially once Charles admits to her that he is, in fact, a PI investigating her workplace. Their relationship adds a sweetness to the show, but it also complicates the investigation, forcing Charles into increasingly delicate territory. Mary Steenburgen as Mona and Ted Danson as Charles in A Man on the Inside . © Netflix As the mystery deepens, the stolen laptop leads to the discovery of a watchdog calling itself the Wheeler Guardian, an anonymous figure sending threatening messages warning Jack to reject Vinick’s money. However, it becomes glaringly apparent that the money is urgently needed. Claire (Madison Hu), a junior who works 12 campus jobs, including as Charles’s research assistant, to pay for her tuition, is already an example of how precarious life at Wheeler has become. When Jack cuts the policy that covered partial tuition for students whose families fall under an income threshold, it’s a cruel reminder of how easily society pushes the young and the poor toward the brink just for access to education, something that should be a right. By the time the season introduces “Project Aurora,” Vinick’s secret plan to save Wheeler by stripping it down to something unrecognisable with three tracks of study (biotechnology, economics, and computer science), the stakes feel more urgent than originally thought. While Charles settles into campus life, the season’s most satisfying development belongs to Julie. Lilah Richceek Estrada has always played her as the competent, slightly emotionally repressed foil to Charles’s wide-eyed optimism, and Season 2 finally gives her the space to become something more than the exasperated voice of reason (though she still has her moments). The introduction of her mother, Vanessa (Constance Marie), a con artist who raised Julie and her sister in the margins of the law before being arrested and leaving the pair to be raised by grandparents, reframes Julie’s emotional rigidity as a survival instinct rather than a personality flaw. Their scenes together hurt. The first occurs early in the season, where Vanessa calls her “Lischka” with the kind of maternal familiarity that Julie both hates in their transactional relationship (Julie pays Vanessa for criminal expertise) but, deep down, wants to respond to. A Man on the Inside  resists easy reconciliation, allowing the resentment, fear, and longing that plague Julie to play out across the season. The writing treats her with a level of compassion that makes even her smallest steps forward (and steps back) feel earned. Lilah Richcreek Estrada as Julie and Ted Danson as Charles in A Man on the Inside . © Netflix Part of what makes Julie’s arc so rich is the slow-burning development between her and Didi (Stephanie Beatriz). My one complaint of Season 2, beyond the fact that eight episodes a season will never be enough in this universe, is that there isn’t enough of the two women together (nor of Didi at all). Their budding chemistry remains a highlight, and their dynamic has the potential to join the likes of Leslie and Ben from Parks and Recreation , Eleanor and Chidi from The Good Place , and Jake and Amy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine as some of the best Schur has to offer. A misunderstanding, in which Julie believes that Didi hired her to complete background checks on new employees at Pacific View to plot her downfall after the events of Season 1, highlights that both women unsettle the other. Neither seems to know what to do with this, which is a delight to witness. If a third season is greenlit, more focus on their blossoming will-they-won’t-they relationship feels essential.   A great strength of A Man on the Inside  remains its balance between mystery and comedy. My personal favourite bit occurs between Julie and Vanessa, who, when watching Kristen Bell (star of Schur’s The Good Place ) in Veronica Mars,  wonder if she ever did anything after the show. It’s a nod that pulls a laugh from you easily, particularly if you are familiar with Schur’s body of work. More broadly, the season’s humour is lighter and feels more integrated into character dynamics. A heist sequence, involving a team of mismatched accomplices comprised of Charles, Julie, Mona, Vanessa, Megan (Kerry O’Malley), Calbert (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Elliott (John Getz), and Virginia (Sally Struthers), their codenames, and a phone they must steal from the pocket of Vinick’s pants becomes one of the season’s most joyful plot points, tightening the net around the billionaire. It’s also nice to see that the show hasn’t completely left Pacific View behind, bringing back some of its beloved residents to help Charles and co when it matters most. Gary Cole as Brad Vinick, John Getz as Elliott, and Sally Struthers as Virginia in A Man on the Inside . © Netflix Season 2 of A Man on the Inside  refines nearly everything that already worked. It’s warm, clever, and quietly ambitious, anchored by characters who feel increasingly lived in thanks to its ensemble that fits together more naturally in each episode. The mystery is cohesive, the emotional stakes are high, and the show’s willingness to critique the rot growing in academia and technology gives it a resonance far beyond its comedy. If Netflix does the sensible thing and orders another season, there’s every indication that the show could continue growing into one of Schur’s most emotionally rewarding works. Rating: ★★★★☆ A Man on the Inside . © Netflix About A Man on the Inside Premiere Date:  November 20, 2025 Episode Count:  8 Executive Producers: Mike Schur (Fremulon), Morgan Sackett, David Miner (3 Arts Entertainment), Maite Alberdi and Marcela Santibañez (Micromundo Producciones), Julie Goldman and Christopher Clements (Motto Pictures) Writers: Michael Schur,  Dan Schofield, Karen Chee, Megan Amram, Matt Murray, Hayley Frazier, Emalee Burditt, Janet Leahy, Alex Farber, and Lisa Muse Bryant. Directors: Michael Schur, Morgan Sackett, Heather Jack, Rebecca Asher, and Dean Holland. Production:  Fremulon, 3 Arts Entertainment, Micromundo Producciones, and Motto Pictures. Distribution:   Netflix and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group. Cast:   Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephanie Beatriz, Gary Cole, Michaela Conlin, Lisa Gilroy, Max Greenfield, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Madison Hu, Sam Huntington, Jason Mantzoukas, Constance Marie, Linda Park, Mary Steenburgen, David Strathairn, and Jill Talley. Synopsis: Eager to take on another big undercover case, Charles Nieuwendyk (Ted Danson) gets his chance when a mysterious blackmailer targets Wheeler College president Jack Berenger (Max Greenfield), who enlists Charles to go undercover as a professor. Who's making these threats? Does it have something to do with the iconoclastic billionaire Brad Vinick (Gary Cole), a Wheeler graduate, and his proposed donation to the school? Charles finds no shortage of possible suspects, but his attention gets diverted by free-spirited music teacher Mona (Mary Steenburgen), whose zest for life awakens feelings he thought he’d buried after the passing of his wife. Is he ready to open his heart again at this stage in his life? And more importantly, has he fallen for the very criminal he's been sent to unmask? Meanwhile, his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) is inspired by the changes in her father and uncovers a long-ignored passion, while PI Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) embarks on her own journey of growth as she reconnects with an important figure from her past. From creator Michael Schur, A MAN ON THE INSIDE is based on the documentary THE MOLE AGENT, a 2021 Oscar® nominee for Best Documentary feature.

Wicked: For Good © Universal Wicked became a cultural phenomenon when it hit the theaters last year. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s acting, singing, and magical chemistry both on and off-screen made the film into an instant classic. Their roles earned them well-deserved Oscar nominations, with Grande nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Erivo for Best Actress. Their performances in Wicked Part 1 were strong enough to make one ignore the film's technical flaws, which included the obvious problems with color grading and some uneven VFX. The first film had a strong structure, with characters who felt carefully developed and a story that moved at a calm, confident pace. So when Wicked: For Good arrives to close out Elphaba and Glinda’s journey, it naturally comes with a sense of expectation that feels almost impossible not to carry. It has been a long year waiting for this movie and I must say that my expectations were high. Wicked Part 1 set those expectations with the way it wove the story slowly but surely. The storytelling unfolded masterfully and with intention, exploring each character’s perspective and the rising tension shaping Oz. Because of that, every emotional moment landed, and the narrative felt cohesive despite coming from a famously dense and stylized stage show. I wish I could say the same about Wicked: For Good , but the pacing here feels very uneven. One might expect to see a cohesive story, but it feels like the scenes are loosely stitched together. There is very little keeping the emotional threads intact. The story continues shortly after the events of Wicked Part 1 . Glinda is stepping into the spotlight as the public figure she once aspired to become. Madame Morrible manipulates her growing influence for political control, while Fiyero goes along with the charade expected of him. Elphaba focuses on rescuing the animals of Oz from being enslaved and stripped of their voices forever, a cause that only strengthens the fear and propaganda directed at her. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande deliver emotionally rich and deeply felt portrayals that elevate the film. Their commitment to the material is evident in every scene they share, and their chemistry remains one of the strongest elements of the entire adaptation. Together, they create the genuine feeling that we are witnessing the evolution of a complex, imperfect, and profoundly meaningful friendship. Their dynamic is the heart of the story, and in the moments when the film finally gives them space to connect, the emotional payoff is riveting. In the first installment, Erivo’s Elphaba was unquestionably the emotional center. She carried much of the narrative weight, navigating through the political and emotional shifts in Oz with vulnerability and strength that made her instantly compelling. In Wicked For Good , however, the emotional spotlight shifts, and Grande’s Glinda becomes the true center of the film. She is the character who undergoes the most internal conflict: a young woman who is adored by the public yet increasingly isolated, manipulated by those in power, and deeply hurt by the growing distance between herself and the only person who ever saw her clearly. “The Girl in the Bubble” showcases Glinda’s heartbreaking psychological unraveling. It is a moment that captures her entire journey: the loneliness of her elevated position, and feeling abandoned and betrayed by both Elphaba and Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey). Grande’s performance in this sequence is tender and raw. She finds the human center of Glinda, revealing layers of fear, grief, loneliness, self-doubt, and longing beneath the sparkling exterior. Her portrayal feels lived-in and emotionally grounded. Ariana Grande as Glinda in Wicked: For Good. © Universal It is undoubtedly Grande’s finest acting in either part of the adaptation. She transcends the iconography of the character and plays Glinda as a fully realized person who is trying desperately to reconcile her mistakes with her desire to be good. Her vulnerability becomes this film’s emotional center. Erivo remains exceptional as Elphaba. She plays the outcast with similar vulnerability to Grande’s Glinda, but her approach is a bit more hardened. Her attempts to reveal the truth or protect the animals are twisted into evidence of a threat she never intended to become. She feels isolated in a world determined to misinterpret her actions, and her sense of betrayal – especially from Glinda – is palpable. Fiyero’s love forces her to sacrifice the friendship she cherished most. Glinda’s love for Elphaba changed her for good , but it is Fiyero’s love that made her feel like someone finally cared enough to choose her. And eventually, Elphaba loses Fiyero, too, which gives us the one of the most powerful and magical scenes in the Wicked movies. “No Good Deed” is simply spine-chilling, supported by visuals that finally match the emotional weight of the scene. Surrounded by flying monkeys in Fiyero’s castle, Elphaba desperately tries to save the only person who ever chose her without hesitation. It is one of the few moments in Wicked: For Good where the film’s emotional, visual, and narrative elements come together seamlessly. The supporting characters, however, do not receive the same attention. While it is true that the second act of the stage musical is shorter and more narrow in focus, the film’s approach leaves several characters feeling unfinished. Fiyero feels underused here. Marissa Bode gives Nessarose as much wickedness as she can, but her arc feels rushed and not fully earned. Boq (Ethan Slater), on the other hand, benefits from more screen time, and his journey feels satisfying and well developed. Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh) has more scenes than the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), yet both feel secondary, especially the Wizard. It makes sense that the true fascist power figure stays hidden, letting the military and one person with influence carry out the dirty work for him. Jeff Goldblum is delightful to watch as this evil, manipulative, and conniving villain. The only issue I had with the character is that his reaction to the story’s major twist feels oddly unconvincing and emotionally unclear, which leaves the moment flatter than it should be. The songs in Wicked: For Good may not be as catchy as the ones in the first film, but they land with a much heavier emotional impact. “The Girl in the Bubble” and “For Good” might genuinely bring you to tears, and “No Good Deed” is the kind of number that leaves you sitting in awe. “Thank Goodness / I Couldn’t Be Happier” was a real surprise, mostly because of the vulnerability Ariana Grande brings to it. Michelle Yeoh, unfortunately, is the weakest part of the soundtrack. Her almost spoken-word approach pulls you out of the moment and takes away from the spellbinding quality of Grande’s singing. Jon M. Chu shows clear growth as a director. The film looks better and is more confidently staged than Wicked Part 1 . However, the clunky editing and the lack of real spectacle make it less enjoyable than it should be. The film often plays like a series of scenes placed one after another instead of a single cohesive story. It becomes a pattern of this happened and then this happened, but nothing truly holds it together. The story jumps across moments that should feel monumental, but the transitions are abrupt, and the pacing wavers between rushed and overly drawn out. The narrative never quite finds the steady rhythm that made the first film so compelling. Wicked: For Good is a film that shines brightest when it leans into the connection between its two leads. Erivo and Grande carry the story with so much sincerity that even the film’s rougher parts feel easier to forgive. Yet the inconsistencies in pacing and structure are hard to ignore, especially after the strength of Wicked Part 1 . There are moments that feel magical and unforgettable, and others that never quite reach their full potential. In the end, the film succeeds because of the performances at its center, even if the narrative around them is uneven. Fans will walk away moved by Elphaba and Glinda’s final chapter, but the film as a whole does not match the unity and emotional precision that made the first installment so special. Rating: ★★★½ About Wicked: For Good Premiere Date:  November 21, 2025 Director: Jon M. Chu Writers: Dana Fox, Winnie Holzman Production:  Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions Distribution: Universal Pictures Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, Colman Domingo. Synopsis: Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), now demonized as The Wicked Witch of the West, lives in exile, hidden within the Ozian forest while continuing her fight for the freedom of Oz’s silenced Animals and desperately trying to expose the truth she knows about The Wizard (Jeff Goldblum). Glinda, meanwhile, has become the glamorous symbol of Goodness for all of Oz, living at the palace in Emerald City and reveling in the perks of fame and popularity. Under the instruction of Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh), Glinda is deployed to serve as an effervescent comfort to Oz, reassuring the masses that all is well under the rule of The Wizard.

© Disney It's the most wonderful time of the year to witness the return of Prep & Landing. The greatest Christmas elves the world has ever known mean serious business when the "Snowball Protocol" is activated to prove that Christmas classics are not dead. In 2009, Prep & Landing became a Christmas household name as a CGI animated special that introduced us to elves Lanny & Wayne. For two more years, they invited our families to spend Christmas with them to watch their sequels, Operation: Secret Santa , and Naughty vs Nice . Now they're back after a long hiatus to give audiences the Holiday hijinks they've been missing. Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol follows Wayne & Lanny picking up the pieces after a holiday mission goes off the rails. The mess they created has Wayne thinking that he is in trouble with Santa Claus, leading him to create an even bigger mess by accidentally exposing more of their misfortunes. The ordeal is hilarious as it sounds, especially with Dave Foley and Derek Richardson voicing Wayne and Lanny. Joining them are Sarah Chalke, returning as Maggie, along with newcomers Manny Jacinto as Renato, Dulcé Sloan as Janice, Danny Pudi as Chef Geoff, and Christopher Swindle as the Big Guy himself, Santa. Christmas As Usual Christmas often loses its magic as we get older. The holiday becomes more commercialized while the world grows more cynical. Still, when a great Christmas special comes on, there is a magical force that pauses everything wrong, allowing us to escape into a world where innocence meets imagination. Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol proves to be capable of accomplishing that magic. The animation style, voice performances, storytelling, and nostalgia work in harmony to create a priceless Christmas experience. Dave Foley and Derek Richardson return to their roles as Wayne and Lanny in a way akin to brothers finally returning home after being away overseas for a long time. They may have been gone for years, but the love they share for their characters and this lore remains tethered to solid foundations, allowing their organic chemistry, charisma, and wit to shine equally. They are not the only returning actors who shine; Sarah Chalke ensures it. She portrays Maggie with a maternal energy that parallels her character's type A personality, which makes her an interesting tritagonist and the perfect one to keep Wayne and Lanny in line. Prep & Landing's newcomers Manny Jacinto, Dulcé Sloan, Danny Pudi, and Christopher Swindle fit into this world naturally, voicing Renato, Jenice, Cheff Geoff, and Santa Claus, respectively. Jacinto, Sloan, and Pudi are magnetic and hilarious as they play this diverse set of characters; however, Christopher Swindle stands above them as the Big Guy. He gives Santa a surprising amount of range and depth for a 22-minute special. The way Santa transitions from being an imposing boss to the warm and loving Father Christmas is a masterclass in subverting expectations, culminating in a cathartic experience that embodies the spirit of Christmas. The Only Time Change Is Not Good It's a shame to see the Prep & Landing specials limited to roughly twenty minutes. Then again, that may be my greed talking because none of them needs any more time to deliver an emotional and entertaining experience. Despite its arrival after fourteen long years, The Snowball Protocol leaves Prep & Landing's identity intact, thanks to the original creators Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton returning to their roles as executive producers. They seem to adhere to the saying: "if it's not broke, don't fix it." In this day and age, where nearly every other film/series is a reboot or revival, it is common to see beloved franchises compromise their identities in an attempt to appeal to new demographics, only to end up alienating their established fan bases. Deters and Wermers-Skelton avoid making this mistake by putting their trust in the world they have already created. Prep & Landing's first three specials showcased visuals on par with Disney's theatrical features, so anything less than that caliber would be disrespectful to the animators. Instead of taking unnecessary risks, the duo prioritizes telling a new story to make Christmas lovers smile, laugh, cry, and enjoy doing it all over again with the ones they love. The results speak for themselves. Prep & Landing For The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year At the core of The Snowball Protocol is not only a Christmas story, but a tale that makes family and friendship synonymous. Wayne and Lanny transition from being colleagues to friends, but ultimately, they are brothers, whether they know it or not. Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers may not be brothers by blood, but are family nonetheless, along with Derek Richardson, Sarah Chalke, Christopher Swindle, and the rest of the cast and crew. Together, they produce the labor of their love: Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol. Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol premieres on Disney Channel on November 27th, then on Disney+ the following day, November 30th on ABC, and on Freeform on December 13th. Rating: ★★★★★ About Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol Premiere Date:  November 27, 2025 Producers: Kevin Deters, Stevie Wermers, Colleen Evanson, Melissa Kurtz, Carson Loveday, Shea Wageman Writers: Kevin Deters, Colleen Evanson, Hilary Helding, Stevie Wermers, Chris Williams Director: Shane Zalvin Production:  Disney Television Animation, ICON Creative Studio Distribution:  Disney Channel, Disney+, Freeform, ABC Cast:   Derek Richardson, Dave Foley, Sarah Chalke, Christopher Swindle, Dulcé Sloan, Danny Pudi, Manny Jacinto Synopsis: Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne panic when their holiday missions go awry, leaving Wayne thinking he’s in BIG trouble with Santa and accidentally revealing other merry mishaps.

It's almost December, and that means one thing. If you guessed Christmas, you guessed incorrectly. The Game Awards are taking place this year on December 11th, and that means we'll be watching closely to see who wins Game of the Year and many other awards. It's a night to share with gamers and developers across the world as they get honoured for their creative and technical achievements throughout the year. Alongside developers earning their flowers and well-deserved respect, it's also a night full of game announcements that will have gamers talking all throughout the night. The nominees for The Game Awards were announced today, with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 taking 12 nominations and Sony Interactive Entertainment gaining the most nominations for a publisher with 19 nominations. There were expectations early on in the year that Split Fiction was a clear Game of the Year contender with how innovative it was with its split-screen technology and how it integrated it into its narrative and gameplay, but the game seems to be missing from this year's Game of the Year nominations despite Hazelight Studios' previous game receiving a Game of the Year nomination. Despite the upset, Split Fiction has still received four nominations, making the list of the most nominated games at this year's The Game Awards. Another game that people might be disappointed in not receiving a Game of the Year nomination for is Dispatch , an episodic game that recently released and had its final episode release last week. It made the cut, as it was nominated for Best Debut Indie Game, but didn't find itself gaining any other nominations despite the critical praise it has received for performances, narrative, art direction and much more. Game of the Year Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) Hades II (Supergiant Games) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry) Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver) Best Game Direction Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Hades II (Supergiant Games) Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA) Best Narrative Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver) Silent Hill f (Neobards Entertainment/Konami) Best Art Direction Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Hades II (Supergiant Games) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry) Best Score and Music Christopher Larkin (Hollow Knight: Silksong) Darren Korb (Hades II) Lorien Testard (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Toma Otowa (Ghost of Yotei) Woodkid & Ludvig Forssell (Death Stranding 2: On the Beach) Best Audio Design Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Silent Hill f (Neobards Entertainment/Konami) Best Performance Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Charlie Cox (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Erika Ishii (Ghost of Yotei) Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) Konatsu Kato (Silent Hill f) Troy Baker (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle) Innovation in Accessibility Assassin's Creed Shadows (Ubisoft) Atomfall (Rebellion) Doom: The Dark Ages (ID Software/Bethesda Softworks) EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA) South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios) Games For Impact Consume Me (Hexacutable) Despolote (Panic) Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don't Nod Montréal/Don't Nod) South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios) Wanderstop (Ivy Road/Annapurna Interactive) Best Ongoing Game Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix Business Division 5/Square Enix) Fortnite (Epic Games) Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games) No Man's Sky (Hello Games) Best Community Support Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios) Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix Business Division 5/Square Enix) Fortnite (Epic Games) Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment) No Man's Sky (Hello Games) Best Independent Game Absolum (Guard Crush Games/Supamonks/Dotemu) Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun/Devolver Digital) Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Hades II (Supergiant Games) Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry) Best Debut Indie Game Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Despolote (Panic) Dispatch (AdHoc Studio) Megabonk (Vedinad) Best Mobile Game Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games) Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio/Perfect World/Atlus/Sega) Sonic Rumble (Rovio Entertainment/Sonic Team/Sega) Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames/Kakao Games/Komoe Game/Bilibili) Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games) Best VR/AR Game Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios) Arken Age (VitruviusVR/Vitruvius Technologies Inc.) Ghost Town (Fireproof Games) Marvel's Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games/Oculus Studios) The Midnight Walk (MoonHood/Fast Travel Games) Best Action Game Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA) Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks) Hades II (Supergiant Games) Ninja Gaiden 4 (Team Ninja/PlatinumGames/Xbox Game Studios) Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube/Sega) Best Action/Adventure Game Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Ghost of Yotei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry) Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA) Best RPG Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandall Interactive/Kepler Interactive) Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver) The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios) Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom) Best Fighting Game 2XKO (Riot Games) Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom) Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK Corporation) Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse/Atari) Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ry Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega) Best Family Game Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) LEGO Party! (SMG Studio/Fictions) LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive) Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) Sonic Racing: Crossworlds (Sonic Team/Sega) Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA) Best Sim/Strategy Game Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix) Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments) Sid Meier's Civilization VII (Firaxis Games/2K) Tempest Rising (Slipgate Ironworks/3D Realms) The Alters (11 Bit Studios) Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios/Sega) Best Sports/Racing Game EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA) F1 25 (Codemasters/EA) Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo) Rematch (Sloclap/Kepler Interactive) Sonic Racing: Crossworlds (Sonic Team/Sega) Best Multiplayer Game Arc Raiders (Embark Studios) Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA) Elden Ring Nightreign (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment) Peak (Aggro Crab/Landfall) Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA) Best Adaptation A Minecraft Movie (Warner Bros. Pictures) Devil May Cry (Netflix) The Last of Us : Season 2 (HBO) Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (Netflix) Until Dawn (Sony Pictures) Most Anticipated Game 007 First Light (IO INteractive) Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games) Marvel's Wolverine (Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment) Resident Evil: Requiem (Capcom) The Witcher IV (CD Projekt Red/CD Projekt) Content Creator of the Year Caedrel Kai Cenat MoistCr1TiKaL Sakura Miko The Burnt Peanut Best Esports Game Counter-Strike 2 (Valve) DOTA 2 (Valve) League of Legends (Riot) Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Moonton) Valorant (Riot) Best Esports Athlete brawk - Brock Somerhalder (Valorant) Chovy - Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends) fOrsakeN - Jason Susanto (Valorant) Kakeru - Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter) MenaRD - Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter) ZywOo - Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2) Best Esports Team Gen.G (League of Legends) NRG (Valorant) Team Falcons (DOTA 2) Team Liquid PH (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang) Team Vitality (Counter-Strike 2)

This article contains spoilers for S2E4 of St. Denis Medical . © Chris Haston/NBC The fourth episode of St. Denis Medical ’s second season, “Two Docs, One Conf,” is a funny outing that finds a balance between workplace absurdity and the show’s warmth. It continues the series’ talent for taking minor problems and escalating them into full-blown catastrophes. While it might not be the most ambitious episode so far, or of the next four available to press, it’s one of the most consistently entertaining, highlighted by a well-paced pair of plots, hilarious performances, and one of the series’ best uses of Bruce (Josh Lawson) to date. Ron (David Alan Grier) and Bruce attend the Forest Hill Medical Conference. It’s become clear by now that Ron is at his most entertaining when his professionalism is under pressure and his worldview collides with those of his colleagues, while Bruce is naturally disruptive in any setting so long as the attention remains on him. Ron arrives expecting a functional networking weekend, or rather a weekend to flirt with another attendee, and instead is confronted with Bruce, who has booked them a shared party suite. It's clear he's approaching the event with a very different agenda. Ron’s immediate retreat to the reception desk, willing to accept any single room available, sets up an entertaining dynamic. Grier and Lawson are excellent together. Ron’s increasingly strained politeness and grumpiness, particularly as Bruce interrupts his many attempts to speak with Autumn Fenner (Enuka Okuma), the newly divorced doctor that he has his eye on, are executed with great timing. The conference scenes are also paced well, especially the moment where Bruce steals Ron’s Mr Bean line and repeats it loudly enough for the surrounding attendees to hear. From this point onward, Ron’s credibility takes a hit, while Bruce becomes the star of the event, much to his delight. Back at St. Denis, it’s Nurse Appreciation Week, a tradition that Joyce (Wendi McLendon-Covey) takes seriously. She produces decorated “You Rock” rocks, insisting that she genuinely appreciates her nurses and joking that she should be locked up if that’s a crime. The nursing staff, however, don’t respond with the enthusiasm she expects. Val (Kaliko Kauahi) notes that time could be saved by handing the annual Gentle Heart award to Alex (Allison Tolman) again, given that she has won it six times already (seven, according to Alex). Joyce, meanwhile, urges everyone to get their votes in, even as it becomes clear that the week means far more to her than it does to anyone else. (l-r) Wendi McLendon-Covey as Joyce, Dan Leahy as Brandon © Chris Haston/NBC Ever the sweetheart, Matt (Mekki Leeper) informs Alex that he’ll be voting for her. She diligently informs him that she’ll be voting for him also, as he’s come a long way. Val tells Alex to drop the Mother Theresa act as she’s got the award in the bag. Alex doesn’t care about it. Val (alongside you and me) isn’t convinced. Back at the conference, Bruce continues to draw attention. He distributes flyers for his party and happily provides jokes for the crowd’s amusement. Ron’s attempts to salvage his reputation only worsen when he accidentally insults the conference speaker, allowing Bruce to publicly call him “Mr Mean,” which catches on.  The contrast between Joyce’s efforts and the staff’s indifference is heightened when one of the rocks is found thrown in the bin outside her office. She interprets this as blatant disrespect and is hurt by the act. Serena (Kahyun Kim) admits that she threw hers away because it was literally a rock, though she’s surprised no one else did the same. Alongside the appreciation theatrics, the Gentle Heart award takes on new significance when the prize of a free weekend at Plunge Planet is revealed. Alex’s kids are obsessed with the water park, and she had hoped Tim (Kyle Bornheimer) would take them without her. Val presses her to stop pretending that she’s disinterested in the award, reasoning that Alex clearly deserves the weekend more than Matt, whom she (maybe even affectionately) describes as a little animated hillbilly. Alex admits she’d choose herself over Matt, undermining her earlier performance of modesty. The hospital plot escalates when Joyce announces that she has cheesecake for the nurses, but will eat one slice every ten minutes until the vandal reveals themselves. If no one confesses by 5 P.M., she’ll cancel the entire week. Serena attempts to remedy her discarded-rock problem by sourcing a replacement. Her search becomes increasingly futile, from finding only pebbles and a condom outside the hospital to negotiating with a gift shop employee who refuses to help after she comments on his job security being relative to iPads. When she tries to borrow another rock, Brandon (Dan Leahy) points out that Joyce has individually labelled each one with a “Processed by Dr Joyce Henderson” sticker, ruling out the possibility of taking another’s to cover her back. Matt’s popularity rises further when he helps Nadine, one of Alex’s patients who has had bowel issues throughout the episode, discover she’s pregnant. She later names the baby after him, which must sting for Alex, who had missed the signs of pregnancy and fobbed the patient off. But, by the time Val counts the ballots, Matt and Alex are tied with one vote not in, Alex’s. She votes for herself without hesitation and wins. (l-r) Mekki Leeper as Matt, Allison Tolman as Alex © Chris Haston/NBC Meanwhile, Serena, increasingly desperate, fabricates a story about a nursing gang stealing her rock and throwing it away in an act of jealousy over her bond with Joyce. Joyce, ever naïve but earnest, accepts the explanation without hesitation, confirms Serena is her favourite, and invites her to her family's lake house to pick out a replacement rock. The matter, in Joyce’s mind, is resolved. There are, however, fewer victories for Ron and Bruce. In a last-ditch attempt to reclaim his standing, Ron attends Bruce’s party. Bruce, having consumed only two glasses of wine and no solid food for four days to be pool-ready, is drunk and unstable. He insists that Ron looks down on him, climbs onto a wardrobe in protest, and falls off, smashing the table beneath him. The scene is played for humour, but it hints at something more worrying in Bruce’s behaviour. His fixation on appearance and popularity has yet to land him in a healthy situation. The closing scene softens the chaos slightly. Ron and Bruce sit together on a hotel bed watching television, exhausted by the weekend. Ron reflects that sometimes you get neither the conference you want nor the one you need, but at least he saw a different side of Bruce, one driven by loneliness rather than his usual cockiness and bravado. Bruce, in turn, insists Ron is the lonely one, though he was happy to have Ron’s company. While it doesn’t push the series into new territory, “Two Docs, One Conf” reinforces St. Denis Medical ’s ability to make the most of its ensemble. The conference storyline plays to the strengths of Grier and Lawson, while Nurse Appreciation Week affirms just how funny and slightly delusional Joyce can be. It’s a well-executed 22 minutes that reiterates why the show continues to be one of network television’s most reliable comedies. Rating: ★★★½ About St. Denis Medical St. Denis Medical . © NBC Universal Premiere Date:  17 November 2025, Episode Count:  18 Showrunner: Eric Ledgin Executive Producers: Eric Ledgin, Justin Spitzer, Simon Heuer, Ruben Fleischer, Bridget Kyle, and Vicky Luu. Production:   Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, More Bees, Inc. and Spitzer Holding Company. Cast:   Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Kahyun Kim, Mekki Leeper, and Kaliko Kauahi. Synopsis: St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity. In season two, after receiving a large private donation, hospital administrator Joyce bites off more than she can chew while her employees navigate staff shortages, office conflicts and their own personal lives.

© DC As announced last week, DC Studios is currently casting Brainiac, the lead villain of Man of Tomorrow . In addition, a new female role is being cast to join the film.   Sources tell Nexus Point News that a new female hero is being cast for the film. She’s described as being in her late twenties and having an edge to her. What’s interesting is there’s a height requirement for this character and they’re looking for taller actresses. In addition, the character is being described as being a warrior and having a strong physique. All details point to this character being Wonder Woman, a character that has been highly requested by fans to make her DCU debut. Other potential candidates for this mystery character could be Big Barda or Black Canary. Wonder Woman’s appearance could also set her up to appear in her solo film which is currently being written by Ana Nogueira ( Supergirl ). James Gunn has stated that the film is being fasttracked. In addition, a prequel series, titled Paradise Lost  is in development for the DCU. Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and H.G. Peter and debuted in All-Star Comics #8 in 1941. Over the years, the character has been portrayed by Cathy Lee Crosby, Lynda Carter, Adrianne Palicki, and Gal Gadot in live action. James Gunn is set to write, direct, and produce Man of Tomorrow. DC Studios’ co-CEO and chairman, Peter Safran, will produce along with Gunn. David Corenswet and Nicholas Hoult are set to reprise their roles as Clark Kent/Superman and Lex Luthor, respectively and will serve as co-leads of the film. Although the film will continue their rivalry and feature Lex as an antagonist, rumors suggest they will also join forces as well. Although unverified, NPN exclusively reported that Supergirl (Milly Alcock), Lobo (Jason Momoa), and Peacemaker (John Cena) will have roles in the film as well. On Instagram, Isabela Merced hinted at her return as Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl saying “See you soon.” Production for the film is set to begin in April in Atlanta and shoot through the summer.  Superman released on July 11, 2025 as the first feature film from DC Studios and the first film of the newly launched DCU. In addition to Superman and Luthor, the film introduced fans to the DCU’s Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan), Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Guy Gardner/Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion), Hawkgirl, Supergirl, Perry White (Wendell Pierce), and more. The film had a $225 million budget and earned $616 million in its global theatrical run. Upcoming DCU projects include HBO’s Lanterns, Supergirl , Clayface , and DC Crime, which will enter production around the same time as Man of Tomorrow in Atlanta. DC Studios’ Man of Tomorrow is set to be released by Warner Bros. Discovery on July 9, 2027.

© Marvel Studios It has now been three years since Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness premiered, and the film’s journey to the screen remains one of the more turbulent productions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When the sequel was first announced, original Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson was set to return, and Marvel promoted the film as the MCU’s first true horror experience. Early reports emphasized that the story would explore darker supernatural elements, with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) sharing the spotlight in what many assumed would be a bold stylistic shift for the franchise. However, in early 2020, Derrickson departed the project due to creative differences with Marvel Studios. With his exit, the film’s horror-driven identity began to shift, and the project entered a period of retooling. Sam Raimi was recruited to direct, accompanied by Loki writer Michael Waldron, who was tasked with reworking the script. Production was further complicated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed filming and forced significant adjustments to the schedule and creative process. As Raimi and Waldron reshaped the story, many cast members found themselves learning dramatic new details on short notice. Elizabeth Olsen later revealed that she discovered only three weeks before filming began that Wanda would be the primary antagonist of the film. This revelation reportedly conflicted with her expectations, as she believed the story would be more of an ensemble piece that built on Wanda’s arc from WandaVision rather than pivoting her into a villain role so soon after her sympathetic portrayal in the series. Despite its complicated development, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was met with mostly positive - though notably mixed - reactions upon release. Raimi’s direction was praised for its energetic visual style, inventive horror-inspired sequences, and willingness to embrace stylistic flair rarely seen in MCU projects. Many viewers and critics felt that the film stood out visually as one of the most distinctive entries in the entire franchise. However, much of the criticism targeted the writing and character arcs. Wanda’s transformation into a villain was polarizing, especially given the emotional depth and nuance of WandaVision . Some fans felt her portrayal relied too heavily on the “hysterical woman” trope and reduced her motivations to grief-fueled rage without adequately building on the growth she experienced in the series. Meanwhile, Doctor Strange’s own development was seen by some as limited, with several viewers feeling that the film did not explore his character as deeply as expected for a sequel centered on him. Doctor Strange’s future in the MCU has remained uncertain ever since Multiverse of Madness hit theaters. The sequel concluded with a last-minute introduction of Clea, played by Charlize Theron, which appeared to set up a direct continuation of Strange’s story. Naturally, fans expected Marvel to follow through on that cliffhanger in short order. However, speculation grew when neither Benedict Cumberbatch nor Charlize Theron appeared on the official cast list for Avengers: Doomsday , leaving many to wonder whether Marvel intended to resolve that storyline elsewhere - or at all. As of now, I’m hearing that Doctor Strange 3 is in active early development. I want to emphasize that none of I’m about to say next is fully confirmed; I’m simply sharing what I’ve been told by some sources. According to what I’ve heard, Benedict Cumberbatch is becoming more involved behind the scenes this time around, particularly in the search for a new writer and director. One name Cumberbatch is said to be interested in is Sam Mendes, though that seems unlikely given Mendes has four Beatles biopics on his plate. Neither Sam Raimi nor Michael Waldron are expected to return for the third installment. Additionally, the film isn’t expected to begin production until after Avengers: Secret Wars has finished filming.

Director Gavin O’Connor and screenwriter Bill Dubuque, the creative team behind The Accountant , are teaming up once again for a new Apple Studios feature operating under the working title Bannister, sources tell Nexus Point News. O’Connor is set to take the helm, while Dubuque will pen the screenplay, marking another collaboration between the pair following their successful partnership on the action-thriller franchise. The film follows a fiercely independent teenager with natural speed and no formal training, who fabricates his records to enter a top high school track program. Homeless and operating under the radar, he navigates authority issues and a past marked by instability while attempting to prove he’s the fastest runner. Having never competed on a team, the structure and scrutiny of organized athletics become an unexpected test of his talent and his ability to survive without being exposed. Casting is currently underway to find the film’s lead, described as a 17-year-old teenager, with production expected to begin in March 2026 in Canada. Gavin O’Connor’s credits include directing The Accountant franchise, as well as earlier features such as No Way Back, Warrior, and The Way Back. O’Connor is repped by WME. Bill Dubuque is best known for penning The Accountant films. Dubuque has also worked on the critically acclaimed series Ozark . Dubuque is repped by CAA. This story is still developing.

© Lionsgate It’s been over a decade since the Four Horsemen last took the stage, and it’s genuinely good to see these illusionists return for another round of high-stakes sleight of hand. Directed by Ruben Fleischer, Now You See Me: Now You Don’t  tries to rekindle the flashy fun and swagger that made the first two films such crowd-pleasing spectacles. Visually, the movie is really strong thanks to new tricks, a bigger cast, and the globe-trotting locations are more elaborate than ever. Yet despite all the technical flair, the magic itself feels curiously mechanical this time around. The film opens promisingly, reuniting the gang with a new generation of recruits. There’s a genuine sense of nostalgia as Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Lizzy Caplan return to showmanship. Eisenberg, in particular, carries the entire film on his shoulders – sharp, energetic, and completely dialed into his role as the smart J. Daniel Atlas. Unfortunately, the rest of the original cast feels like they’re just coasting through, reciting lines without much conviction. Even Morgan Freeman’s brief inclusion feels less like an organic return and more like a calculated attempt to tug at fans’ memories. The newcomers fare better. Dominic Sessa stands out among the fresh faces – effortlessly charming, quick-witted, and the only one who feels like he truly belongs in this world of misdirection and spectacle. The rest of the young cast is decent, if unremarkable, clearly there to appeal to a younger audience rather than expand the original story. Rosamund Pike steps in as the flashy, formulaic over-the-top villain and seems to be having the time of her life, relishing every sneer and every flourish of her South African accent. She brings color to an otherwise bland antagonist role, and her presence adds a spark of unpredictability whenever she’s onscreen. Where Now You See Me: Now You Don’t falters most is its writing. Fleischer injects the film with energy, and the humor – especially the snappy banter and good-natured roasting among the Horsemen – lands well. But the script feels lazy, as if the writers didn’t bother crafting a compelling story and instead decided to cram the movie with more magic tricks, chase sequences, and rapid-fire jokes. There’s zero character growth, and the exposition-heavy scenes often devolve into self-congratulatory show-offs rather than meaningful development. © Lionsgate The first half is decently engaging, bolstered by brisk pacing and clever visual setups. But once the second half begins, the story loses focus. The climactic twist – while unpredictable – doesn’t fully land, and the film’s final act goes completely off the rails, weighed down by convoluted logic and forced spectacle. The setup for a possible next entry feels desperate, more like a franchise mandate than a natural progression. Now You See Me: Now You Don’t isn’t without its charms. The humor works, the visuals are top-tier, and the lighting and costume design enhance the sense of illusion beautifully. There are plenty of individually entertaining moments that will satisfy longtime fans. But as a full experience, the film lacks the freshness, wonder, and cohesion that made the previous entries so engaging. It’s a fun enough ride – just not one that will pull in any new believers. Rating: ★★½ Now You See Me: Now You Don't © Lionsgate About Now You See Me: Now You Don’t Release Date:  November 14, 2025 Writer: Eric Warren Singer, Michael Lesslie, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese Director: Ruben Fleischer Producers: Bobby Cohen, Alex Kurtzman Production:     Summit Entertainment, Secret Hideout Distribution: Lionsgate Cast:  Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher, Dominic Sessa, Justice Smith, Ariana Greenblatt, Rosamund Pike, and Morgan Freeman.