Chris Hemsworth will return as Tyler Rake in ‘Extraction 3’.
Director Sam Hargrave is back behind the camera.
Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani are also set to return.
Even though Chris Hemsworth‘s Tyler Rake seemed to die at the end of the first ‘Extraction’ movie back in 2020, audiences responded so well to the action thriller that director Sam Hargrave and the team found a way to bring him back for the second in 2023.
And now it appears Hemsworth will return for more, with Deadline reporting that he’s signed a deal to play Rake a third time.
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Hargrave is also back to call the shots (and punches, kicks, stabs etc.), with cast members Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani also back on board.
While we know that David Weil (‘Hunters’) is writing the script, the exact plot details are a mystery for now. But we can expect more crazed action from Tyler and the gang as they’re dispatched on another mission.
When will ‘Extraction 3’ hit screens?
Netflix has yet to confirm a debut date for the new movie, but it has scheduled a summer shoot to accommodate the star’s busy schedule (he also has to film ‘Kockroach’ starting this month), so we could predict a spring/summer 2027 release.
(L to R) Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson star in ‘Luther’. Photo: BBC One.
Preview:
A second ‘Luther’ movie is in development at Netflix.
Idris Elba will be back as the title ‘tec, with Ruth Wilson returning as Alice.
Jamie Payne is directing.
It seems everyone’s favourite grumpy British detective with the flexible attitude to rules and the disheveled trench coat is headed back to movie territory.
And while it’s always good to see Big Dris returning as his most iconic character, the potentially more exciting news is that Ruth Wilson will be back as genius scientist/calculating psychopath Alice Morgan.
“But isn’t Alice dead?” we hear you ask? Allegedly! Let’s be honest: she’s faked her death before and series creator Neil Cross has always left her fate ambiguous.
Again written by Cross, the new story sees a new wave of brutal, seemingly random murders hit London, with Luther secretly called back into service. But the dramatic question is, how can our hero save London when everyone on all sides seems to want him dead?
Dermot Crowley will also be back on screen, reprising his role of Schenk, a police superintendent who at first was Luther’s office antagonist but became a key ally in the police force.
Jamie Payne, who directed several episodes of the show and also made ‘The Fallen Sun,’ is back to handle this one. And he made the following statement about the new movie:
“Neil has yet again, created a wonderfully dark tale to bring us all back together. It’s a true joy to be back on the streets of Lutherland with the supreme talents that are Idris Elba and Dermot Crowley. I am also thrilled to be reunited with the brilliant and dangerous Alice Morgan played by the extraordinarily talented Ruth Wilson.”
And here’s what Cross had to say:
“Luther, Alice and Schenk are more than characters to me, they’re family. I never stop wondering where they are, what’s become of them… And what horrors might be stirring in the shadows of London while Luther’s not around. So we decided to get together and find out what happens next.”
The cameras will be rolling this coming February in the UK.
Netflix has yet to confirm a date for the new film, but given that February production date, it could be with us before 2026 is over, or possible early in 2027.
Kathryn Bigelow is the perfect person to handle an inordinately tense, gripping and powerful near-real time military thriller. Less a war film more a story of the buildup to potential conflict, it marks her successful return to moviemaking following the less-than-enthusiastic reaction to 2017’s ‘Detroit’.
And this is a talent who deserved better than to sit on the sidelines for years.
Script and Direction
Kathryn Bigelow attends the Netflix film ‘A House of Dynamite’ NYFF Main Slate Premiere and Q&A on September 28, 2025 in New York City. Photo: Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Netflix.
Noah Oppenheim, an NBC news veteran, has been behind scripts including ‘Jackie’ and the recent Netflix series ‘Zero Day’, and pumps up the tension with a structure that resets the clock on the story across three acts, telling the same story of a missile headed to the US from an unknown aggressor from different viewpoints up and down the command chain from isolated military bases to the hubs of the White House and the Pentagon.
While the switch in focus means some characters are better served than others, and some of the more movie-ish peeks into personal lives dip precariously close to cheese, it still works.
Bigelow keeps the camera moving and the tension levels high for this one, aided by Volker Bertelmann‘s doomy, evolving score. It’s the director’s best in years and deserves to be seen.
With such a big cast to service, it’s impressive how many big names Bigelow has recruited here. Standouts include Rebecca Ferguson’s steely, but human operations officer at the White House, Jason Clarke as her boss, Gabriel Basso as a nervy National Security Advisor thrust into a new level of responsibility and Jared Leto as Secretary of Defense Baker, at once outraged by the lack of efficiency in his country’s response to the weapon headed its way a terrified for his estranged daughter (an underused Kaitlyn Dever).
If there’s a weak link here, it’s Idris Elba, who never really convinces as the President.
With Daniel Craig stepping away and Amazon MGM Studios taking over the franchise, finding a new James Bond is crucial to the series’ success.
Amazon supposedly has a wish list of actors, while other names have also been cropping up – sometimes for years.
Only six actors have officially played Bond in more than 60 years.
Who should be the next actor to don the mantle of James Bond, agent 007 of the British Secret Service? That question has vexed filmmakers since the franchise first launched in 1962, when then-superstars like Cary Grant and Richard Burton were bypassed in favor of a little-known Scottish actor named Sean Connery. In the 60-plus years since ‘Dr. No’ introduced Bond to audiences, six actors (seven, if you include David Niven in the non-canonical 1967 Bond spoof, ‘Casino Royale’) have worn the tuxedo, with a mix of established stars and relative unknowns taking on the role for stints varying from one film (George Lazenby) to seven (Roger Moore).
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Some Bonds, of course, have been more successful than others, but the venerable franchise faces a challenge on two fronts now: first, the property has changed hands for the first time in decades, with the Broccoli family’s Eon Productions – which has been behind every Bond film to date – ceding control to Amazon MGM Studios. Second, the next Bond actor will follow the five-film run of Daniel Craig, which yielded one of the franchise’s all-time best films (2006’s ‘Casino Royale’) as well as its highest-grossing (2012’s billion-earning ‘Skyfall’).
But there’s more to it than that. The next Bond, whoever he is – and all kinds of potential names have been circulating for years – has to find just the right balance of qualities. He should be young enough (early 30s) to have cross-generational appeal, but not too young that he seems to lack experience; he should be as quick with his gun as he is with a quip or double-entendre; he needs to portray both the ruthless brutality of a top-notch assassin and the vulnerability of a lonely, haunted man; and he must be both physically imposing and sexually alluring.
Not such a tall order, right? There’s no question that director Denis Villeneuve and producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman have their work cut out for them. So let’s take a quick scan of the names that are out there now – and analyze whether any of them are destined to become the next James Bond.
Let’s start with the actors who won’t be Bond. The irony is that all of them were mooted for the role at one point or another, but time has frankly passed them by. That short list includes Henry Cavill, a fan favorite who auditioned for the role at age 22 but lost to Daniel Craig. At 42, he’s the same age as Pierce Brosnan when the latter got the part, and three years younger than Roger Moore. But Cavill is also far too recognizable from playing Superman in the DC Extended Universe and the title role in ‘The Witcher’ TV series.
Also, outside of his stints as Kal-El, Cavill is not a box office draw. That in itself means nothing, especially if the producers go with a smaller name – but Cavill has been on screens long enough to prove that he lacks a certain quality that audiences flock to see.
Tom Hardy, likewise, has been in hits such as ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and the ‘Venom’ trilogy, but has had an erratic box office run outside of those. At age 47, he’s also pretty much aged out of the role already. The same goes for 52-year-old Idris Elba, a popular choice for a long time who was reportedly reluctant to consider the role because he worried whether audiences would accept a Bond of color. Of the three, he probably would have been the most formidable choice.
The Amazon MGM List
Tom Holland arrives on the red carpet of The 90th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, March 4, 2018. Credit/Provider: Paul Hebert / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: A.M.P.A.S.
Variety reported in June 2025 than Amazon MGM was interested in casting an actor under 30 as Bond. The studio’s wish list featured three actors: Tom Holland, Harris Dickinson, and Jacob Elordi — all decent-to-good actors still exploring their potential, but not necessarily able to nail the role of Bond.
Let’s dismiss Holland right off the bat. Fair or not, he’s a relatively small fellow with a baby face that will simply not suit Bond. Not only that, his global fame all stems from his portrayal of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in six Marvel films, with at least two more to go. Holland is simply too youthful and too associated with the web-slinger to step into 007’s shoes.
At 28, the Australian Elordi (the person playing Bond, by the way, can be British, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, or Australian – but not American) is probably the best all-around actor and may have just enough gravitas (and height) to evolve with the role. Dickinson, meanwhile, showed psychological and sexual intensity in ‘Babygirl’ and a rough physicality in ‘The Iron Claw,’ but like most of the actors attached to the role, would still have to bulk his slender frame up a bit.
When you get past names like Holland, Cavill, and Elordi, there is a whole crop of relatively young U.K. actors who, for the most part, are relatively obscure outside their home turf even if they’ve done some movie and TV work in Hollywood. Leading that pack is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who’s been bandied about as a frontrunner for 007 for the past couple of years but remains fairly low-key with the public despite roles in high-profile films like ‘Nosferatu’ and ‘28 Years Later.’ Taylor-Johnson is a good actor, but he’s missing something – a certain magnetism – that makes us reluctant to consider him for Bond.
Theo James is another British actor who has scored some impressive credentials – most recently, he starred in the TV version of ‘The Gentlemen,’ Season 2 of ‘The White Lotus’ and the Stephen King film ‘The Monkey’ – but at 40 may be at the tipping point to play 007. Will Poulter, meanwhile, has shown physical prowess in the recent ‘Warfare’ and as Adam Warlock in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,’ and can be quite menacing (he’s frightening as a sadistic cop in ‘Detroit’), but may lack the sexual spark necessary to attract female audiences.
Jack Lowden in ‘Slow Horses’ season 3 premiering November 29, 2023 on Apple TV+.
One interesting candidate whose name has surfaced again and again is Scottish thespian Jack Lowden – at 35, he’s the right age, he has rugged good looks along with experience in physical action roles, and his resume (which also includes extensive stage work) ranges from high-level productions like the BBC’s 2016 version of ‘War and Peace’ to the acclaimed Apple TV+ series ‘Slow Horses,’ in which he plays – in an eerie coincidence – an MI5 agent.
Do any of these – or even the other candidates above – scream ‘James Bond’ at us? Not necessarily. But actors are capable of transforming themselves in ways that we ordinary folks can’t often imagine, and one of the above – if not someone yet unrevealed to us – will certainly emerge from that process as the next Bond…James Bond.
Sean Connery as James Bond in 1964’s ‘Goldfinger’. Photo: United Artists.
Nicholas Galitzine in 2026’s ‘Masters of the Universe’. Photo: Nicholas Galitzine’s Instagram Account / Amazon MGM Studios.
Preview:
‘Masters of the Universe’ star Nicholas Galitzine shared a new look at his costume.
The movie, directed by Travis Knight, recently wrapped.
Jared Leto, Camila Mendes and Alison Brie also star.
The new incarnation of the ‘Masters of the Universe’ story –– the latest adaptation of the Mattel toy line and its associated animated TV series –– has now wrapped shooting with ‘Bumblebee’s Travis Knight at the helm.
This long-developing movie stars Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man, the muscular hero who must protect the world of Eternia from the evil schemes of Skeletor (played in the new movie by Jared Leto).
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Galitzine took to social media to provide a new silhouetted photo of himself as He-Man, with the following caption:
“Well, that’s a wrap on ‘Masters of the Universe.’ It has been an honour shouldering the responsibility of playing Adam and He-Man. It’s been the role of a lifetime and I put everything into it. There’s not much I can show you, but I am so proud of the movie we’ve made. Thanks to our amazing cast and crew for all your hard work.”
Knight worked from a new draft of the script by Chris Butler –– to whom he’s already connected, as Butler has written or directed several animated movies produced by Knight’s Laika studio.
The new movie follows 10-year old Prince Adam, who crashed to Earth in a spaceship and was separated from his magical Power Sword — the only link to his home on Eternia.
After tracking it down almost two decades later, Prince Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam will first need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man, the most powerful man in the Universe.
Who else appears in ‘Masters of the Universe’?
Camila Mendes on ‘Riverdale’. Photo: Warner Bros. Television Studios.
(Left) Morena Baccarin as Lorena Nascimento in ‘Last Looks’. Photo: RLJE Films. (Right) The Sorceress in ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Preview:
Morena Baccarin, James Purefoy are joining the ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie.
It’ll adapt the ‘He-Man’ toy line.
‘Bumblebee’s Travis Knight is the directing the film.
With the cameras rolling at last on the long-developing (more on that chaos below) ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie, there is more news on the cast, which has been growing in the last few days.
Travis Knight, who might be more known as the boss (and one of the main directors) for stop-motion studio Laika, but who has been forging ahead with a live-action helming on movies such as ‘Transformers’ spin-off ‘Bumblebee,’ will call the shots on the new movie.
As for the cast, it already includes Nicholas Galitzine (as the heroic central figure He-Man), Camila Mendes (as warrior woman Teela), Jared Leto (as the big villain, Skeletor), Idris Elba (playing Duncan/Man-at-Arms, who is Teela’s adoptive father).
What has happened with the movie’s development so far?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ follows Prince Adam, who has a magic sword that turns him into the powerful He-Man. He and his comrades (including Teela, the Captain of the Royal Guard) must protect the planet of Eternia from the evil machinations of villain Skeletor (whose acolytes include Evil-Lyn).
A live-action big screen version in 1987 starring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor flopped at the box office, which scuttled a planned sequel.
Netflix was the most recent company to try, hiring directing siblings Adam and Aaron Nee, the duo behind 2015’s indie movie ‘Band of Robbers’ and 2022’s ‘The Lost City’, who were also attached to a Sony attempt, working on the script with ‘Man Of Steel’s David S. Goyer.
Amazon MGM Studios has the rights now, with Knight in charge, and that version has actually gone into production. Fingers crossed it makes it to screens!
What’s the story for the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
Knight is working from a new draft of the script by Chris Butler –– to whom he’s already connected, as Butler has written or directed several animated movies produced by Knight’s Laika studio.
And the story itself remains the biggest mystery here. While it’s expected to stick to some sort of conflict between He-Man and Skeletor, there has been a rumored plotline floating around, albeit one that has seen zero confirmation from either the studio or filmmakers.
Still, if you’re interested, it reportedly revolves around 9–year-old Prince Adam crashing to Earth in a spaceship and being separated from his Magical Sword –– the only link to his home on Eternia.
After tracking it down almost two decades later, Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam first will need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Who else has been cast in ‘Masters of the Universe’?
(Left) Alison Brie as Amber in ‘Spin Me Round.’ (Right) Evil-Lyn from ‘Masters of the Universe: Revolution’. Photo: Netflix.
Alongside the aforementioned main cast, there is a sprawling ensemble around them.
‘Community’s Alison Brie is playing Skeletor’s sorceress lieutenant Evil-Lyn, we now know that Sam C. Wilson will fill the part of Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson will play Goat Man and Kojo Attah has landed the role of Tri-Klops.
Who are the new characters?
The Sorceress in ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Baccarin’s Sorceress watches over Castle Grayskull, guarding the secrets and wisdom contained therein. She’s quite the powerful force and can only use her abilities when confined in the castle. Outside Grayskull, she becomes Zoar, a falcon, who communicates telepathically with trusted friends.
Fisto’s story began as a villain before he became a hero. He gets his name from his huge, mailed fist. and has talent for trapping and training wild animals; he has a pet Arachna.
Ram-Man is a warrior known for using his head as a battering ram (the name, like so many ‘He-Man’ characters, rather gives it away).
Zamata’s character, meanwhile, is named Susie, who doesn’t appear in ‘He-Man’ canon, so we’re going to assume she’s a regular human who meets the characters. Likewise Vunipola’s character which is called Hussein.
When will ‘Masters of the Universe’ be on screens?
Amazon/MGM studios is aiming to have the movie in theaters on June 5th, 2026.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Masters of the Universe’ Franchise:
(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Opening in theaters on December 20th, ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ marks the third outing for the popular movie franchise spawned by the video game character best known for super speed and collecting rings.
The former is on full display in this new film, which reunites much of the major players from the previous movies, while the idea of the portal rings largely takes a backseat (aside from a couple of key moments).
And this movie offers largely more of the same, albeit with a little more entertainment value from the occasionally stalled second entry.
Will ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Run Away with Your Praise?
(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba), Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
The ‘Sonic’ movies by this point are certainly a known quantity. You have Ben Schwartz providing chatty energy as the lead character. Solid support from the likes of Idris Elba and Colleen O’Shaughnessey as fellow video game-birthed characters Knuckles and Tails respectively (since this is a franchise that employs the strategy of hoovering up characters from previous installments and turning rivals into family). Lots of silly gags. Jim Carrey snacking on the scenery in pure pantomime fashion.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ doesn’t break any of these rules, but it does deploy them effectively, while wrapping in much of the love-can-triumph-over-vengeance themes and making good choices concepts that parents might hope for (even if we’ve seen them many, many times before).
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Jeff Fowler and Jim Carrey on the set of ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
The script from returning writing veterans Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington is also hewn from familiar rock. We’re re-introduced to Sonic and friends attempting to get in some downtime at a campsite (while also celebrating the anniversary of the spiky hero’s arrival on Earth), only for a powerful new threat (Keanu Reeves’ Shadow the Hedgehog) to put those plans on hold.
It’s full of what you expect from a ‘Sonic’ movie but put together with enough style and fun to make it worthwhile. The dynamics between the various characters are established and there are enough surprising new elements (more on that when we get to the “performances” section) to keep things moving at a decent clip.
(L to R) Director Jeff Fowler and Jim Carrey on the set of ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
While there are some expected, slightly mawkish emotional moments along the way, there’s also some welcome undercutting of such easily exploited tropes. The story is never really the most important element –– expect the usual world-threatening McGuffin and a new antagonist with emotional issues.
As director, Jeff Fowler is also well versed in bringing the ‘Sonic’ universe to life, and he’s still on the top of his game here. The human characters (aside from Carrey’s) are mostly shoved to the sidelines (though James Marsden and Tika Sumpter do get a few decent moments) and the focus is on our titular hero.
The effects are still up to a decent, slightly cartoony standard (the days of “ugly sonic” are long behind us) and the action moves along at a solid clip.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey, James Marsden as Tom and Tika Sumpter as Maddie in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
The central combination of Schwartz’s winning motormouth delivery as Sonic and Carrey’s try-anything zaniness can eclipse all else, but there is a solid antagonist this time around.
Ben Schwartz as Sonic
Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Schwartz has really leaned into the fun as Sonic, and even though he’s only ever in a recording booth for the role, his contribution is clear. You can imagine the sheer number of alternate line-readings for each moment, and the actor delivers both the laughs and the emotional moments effectively.
Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik/Gerald Robotnik
(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that the third ‘Sonic’ features double the Jim Carrey. Reports of Ivo Robotnik’s death at the end of the second movie are naturally exaggerated and he’s back. This time, Carrey not only gets to play a new side of the not-so-good Doctor, who we first meet here as a lazy slob binge-watching telenovelas.
But we’re also introduced to his grandfather Gerald, whose story is tied in with Shadow’s, and has some emotional resonance. The gusto with which he throws himself into the dual role is something to watch, and if this is what an actor does when they’re just picking up a paycheck (as he himself recently admitted, then other performers take note!
Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
The main casting coup this time is playing the man who was Neo as the new “villain”, though with the actor’s soulful turns, he’s more than that. Reeves commits to the role of the bitter, vengeful character and works well against Schwartz’s excited energy.
Idris Elba as Knuckles
Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
While Elba is typically low-key, he’s found a good gear as the echidna warrior, who is always ready for a fight, but is slowly coming to realize that being around Sonic and the rest is good for him.
Supporting Cast
(L to R) Tika Sumpter plays Maddie and James Marsden plays Tom in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America; Inc.
As mentioned, human co-stars James Marsden and Tika Sumpter are certainly moved slightly to the side (though they both have roles to play in the finale). Colleen O’Shaughnessey is an effervescent Tails and there’s a welcome emotional growth even for the likes of Lee Majdoub’s Agent Stone, Robotnik’s loyal sidekick, who here sees some competition in the grandfather character.
Final Thoughts
Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America; Inc.
While it certainly doesn’t re-invent the wheel when it comes to a ‘Sonic’ adventure, it has enough laughs to keep the family engaged.
And, of course, you’re encouraged to stay through the credits for the contractual tease of what might be to come in the future (yes, ‘Sonic 4’ was announced just before the release of this one.)
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the plot of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?
Sonic (Ben Schwartz), Knuckles (Idris Elba), and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow (Keanu Reeves), a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before.
With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.
Who is in the cast of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?
Ben Schwartz as Sonic the Hedgehog
Colleen O’Shaughnessey as Miles “Tails” Prower
Idris Elba as Knuckles the Echidna
Keanu Reeves as Shadow the Hedgehog
Jim Carrey as Dr. Ivo Robotnik and Professor Gerald Robotnik
(L to R) Jim Carrey as Ivo Robotnik and Gerald Robotnik, Shadow (Keanu Reeves) and Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.
Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ Franchise:
Jared Leto will be Skeletor in the new ‘Masters of the Universe.’
Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes are leading the cast.
‘Bumblebee’ director Travis Knight is overseeing the movie.
After years of torturous development –– documented lower down the page –– it would seem that the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie really is falling properly into place at last.
Yet one big, central casting piece remained unannounced… that of He-Man’s bony, scheming nemesis, Skeletor. Reporter Jeff Sneider first brought word that Jared Leto had been offered the role of the cackling baddie back in September and the actor’s deal has now closed, since Leto has been officially announced.
What has happened with the movie’s development so far?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ follows Prince Adam, who has a magic sword that turns him into the powerful He-Man. He and his comrades (including Teela, the Captain of the Royal Guard) must protect the planet of Eternia from the evil machinations of villain Skeletor (whose acolytes include Evil-Lyn).
The new live-action version has torn a path through filmmakers and studios. Directors such as ‘Face/Off’s John Woo, ‘Wicked’s Jon M. Chu and ‘Truth Or Dare’s Jeff Wadlow have been attached at one time or another, but the movie has always fallen apart.
Amazon MGM Studios has the rights now, with ‘Bumblebee’ director Travis Knight in charge, and that version is now in actual pre-production with a shoot planned for next year.
What’s the story for the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
Knight is working from a new draft of the script by Chris Butler –– to whom he’s already connected, as Butler has written or directed several animated movies produced by Knight’s Laika studio.
And the story itself remains the biggest mystery here. While it’s expected to stick to some sort of conflict between He-Man and Skeletor, there has been a rumored plotline floating around, albeit one that has seen zero confirmation from either the studio or filmmakers.
Still, if you’re interested, it reportedly revolves around 9–year-old Prince Adam crashing to Earth in a spaceship and being separated from his Magical Sword –– the only link to his home on Eternia.
After tracking it down almost two decades later, Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam first will need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Who else has been cast in ‘Masters of the Universe’?
(Left) Alison Brie as Amber in ‘Spin Me Round.’ (Right) Evil-Lyn from ‘Masters of the Universe: Revolution’. Photo: Netflix.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, a trio of actors is joining Leto on his evil crusade.
With Brie already in place as his sorceress lieutenant, we now know that Sam C. Wilson will fill the part of Trap Jaw, Hafthor Bjornsson will play Goat Man and Kojo Attah has landed the role of Tri-Klops.
Attah, meanwhile, counts the likes of ‘The Beekeeper,’ ‘Wrath of Man’ and in a slightly less action-heavy category, UK crime series ‘Midsomer Murders’ among his credits.
In genre terms, he’s been seen as the Joker in ‘Suicide Squad’ (though his performance was vastly overshadowed by the likes of Heath Ledger) and ‘Blade Runner 2049,’ while more recent efforts such as ‘Morbius’ and Disney’s latest attempt to redo ‘The Haunted Mansion’ have frankly been met with even less success.
He’ll be hoping for better results with Skeletor and also his appearance as the title character in the next ‘Tron’ movie, ‘Tron: Ares,’ which will arrive in theaters in October 2025.
When will ‘Masters of the Universe’ be on screens?
Amazon/MGM studios is aiming to have the movie in theaters on June 5th, 2026.
2011’s ‘Masters of the Universe: Revelation’. Photo: Netflix.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Masters of the Universe’ Franchise:
Idris Elba’s in early talks to join the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie.
Nicholas Galitzine and Camila Mendes are leading the cast.
‘Bumblebee’ director Travis Knight is overseeing the movie.
Earlier this year, the long-developing (more on its tortured history below) new movie based on the ‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ toy line/1980s cartoon series finally appeared to take the leap from vaporware to Actual Film That Will Actually Happen, as ‘Bumblebee’s Travis Knight signed on to direct.
What has happened with the movie’s development so far?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ follows Prince Adam, who has a magic sword that turns him into the powerful He-Man. He and his comrades (including Teela, the Captain of the Royal Guard) must protect the planet of Eternia from the evil machinations of villain Skeletor (whose acolytes include Evil-Lyn).
What’s the story for the new ‘Masters of the Universe’ movie?
‘Masters of the Universe’ toys. Photo: Mattel.
Knight is working from a new draft of the script by Chris Butler –– to whom he’s already connected, as Butler has written or directed several animated movies produced by Knight’s Laika studio.
The new movie reportedly (there has been no official confirmation) revolves around 9–year-old Prince Adam crashing to Earth in a spaceship and being separated from his Magical Sword –– the only link to his home on Eternia.
After tracking it down almost two decades later, Adam is whisked back across space to defend his home planet against the evil forces of Skeletor. But to defeat such a powerful villain, Prince Adam first will need to uncover the mysteries of his past and become He-Man — the most powerful man in the universe.
Who is Man-at-Arms?
(L to R) Jon Cypher as Man-At-Arms and Chelsea Field as Teela in ‘Masters of the Universe’. Photo: The Cannon Group, Inc.
Various versions of the character have existed across the different comics and series adaptations of the ‘He-Man’ stories, but in the most familiar, he’s Duncan, a soldier and inventor who acts as a mentor to Prince Adam (while being unaware that the young man’s alter ego is He-Man) and foster father to Teela.
It remains to be seen which incarnation Knight and Butler are drawing from, but Elba seems like a good call for the role.
When will ‘Masters of the Universe’ be on screens?
Amazon/MGM studios is aiming to have the movie in theaters on June 5th, 2026.
‘He-Man and the Masters of the Universe’ 1980’s Cartoon. Photo: Filmation Associates.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Masters of the Universe’ Franchise:
Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.’
Preview:
Keanu Reeves is reportedly lending his voice to ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’.
Jeff Fowler once more directed the movie.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ will be in theaters on December 20th.
While Paramount touted the success of its ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ franchise at its big CinemaCon presentation last week (and showed a footage snippet of the upcoming third entry –– more on that below), the studio stopped short of announcing who would be voicing Shadow the Hedgehog, a new character (at least in the movies) who will be causing trouble for our hero.
But now, thanks to The John Campea Show (and since confirmed by the trades), the news has leaked that no less an actor than Keanu Reeves will be providing the voice for shadow. With ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ wrapped for a while and post-production already under way, we assume he’s already started in the voice booth or will be reporting for duty shortly.
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What’s the story of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?
Jim Carrey in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.
Nothing has been officially released about the story for the new ‘Sonic’ movie, though we can predict more speedy behavior from the main character and a fresh devious scheme from Robotnik, though the footage shown at CinemaCon shows Jim Carrey’s villain as out of shape and depressed, only to get his groove back when he creates Shadow, described as a dark twin for the titular hero.
How James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski figures in this time remains to be seen, and we’ll also see the return of Sonic’s fellow CG creations Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey). Ben Schwartz, of course, returns to voice Sonic.
Rumors have suggested a potential trip through time and the film’s social media account kicked off the start of shoot with a teaser for Shadow.
Jim Carrey and Knuckles (Idris Elba) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.
Shadow, created by Takashi Iizuka and Shiro Maekawa, first appeared in 2001’s ‘Sonic Adventure 2’.
In the games’ canon, he was created by Professor Gerald Robotnik, the grandfather of the series’ antagonist Doctor Robotnik. After witnessing the death of his best friend Maria Robotnik, Shadow initially seeks revenge, but later vows to keep his promise to her that he would protect the world from danger. An antihero, Shadow has good intentions but will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goals, putting him at odds with Sonic.
From the sounds of it, the movie is tweaking his origin story to bring in more of the movie’s narrative, but we’ll see how it all shakes out.
Who is making ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’?
Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Jeff Fowler is once again directing the third movie, having handled the first two, with the script from regular writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller.
Neal H. Moritz is producing this one, as he has the others.
The ‘Sonic’ universe has so far spawned the three movies and the upcoming TV spin-off featuring the Knuckles character, which kicks off on April 26th.
When will ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ be in theaters?
‘Sonic 3’ will dash into theaters on December 20th.
(L to R) Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega.
