film industry

YouTube and Meta have backed away from running paid advertising for a documentary about Elon Musk. The platforms reversed plans to promote the film through paid ads, though details on the exact reasons for the decision remain limited. The move is drawing attention as it touches on how major tech companies handle promotional content linked to one of the most prominent figures in the industry.

Director Jon Watts, known for Marvel's Spider-Man films, will direct the next Star Wars movie, according to Variety. The announcement gives Lucasfilm's long-gestating film slate a concrete new name, though details on the plot, timeline and release date have not been disclosed. Fans and industry watchers are debating what the choice of Watts signals for the franchise's direction.

The Toronto International Film Festival has announced its 2026 award winners. Details of which films and filmmakers took home prizes have not been provided beyond the announcement itself. Festival audiences and industry watchers typically follow these honours closely, as TIFF awards are often seen as an early indicator of films positioned for awards-season success.

Filmmaker and producer Shawn Levy has signed an overall deal with Disney's 20th Television, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The agreement will see Levy's production company develop television projects for the studio. Levy is known for directing and producing major film and TV hits, and the deal strengthens Disney's roster of high-profile creative talent for its television slate.

Amazon is developing 'Shadow Work', a project based on a short story by writer Adrienne Miller. The announcement signals Amazon's continued push into literary adaptations for its film and television slate. Details on cast, writers and a release timeline have not yet been announced.

David Barron, the British producer behind much of the Harry Potter film franchise, is backing an AI-assisted adaptation of Jack London's classic novel 'The Call Of The Wild'. The project puts a veteran Hollywood producer behind a production using artificial intelligence, a move likely to fuel ongoing debate in the industry about AI's growing role in film and television making.

David Ellison has emerged from a contentious fight for Warner Bros., and attention now turns to what he will do with the studio. Commentators note that winning the battle was the easy part: he must manage heavy costs, restore the studio's film slate, and compete with streaming rivals. Industry observers describe his path forward in Hollywood as daunting.

A longtime film industry concept artist, who spent his career helping directors visualise their movies, has now directed a film of his own using artificial intelligence tools. The story highlights how generative AI is opening directing opportunities to behind-the-scenes artists, while also raising questions about the technology's growing role in filmmaking.

Sony will not take part in CES 2027, with reports saying the company is shifting its priorities toward entertainment content rather than the hardware showcases the trade show is known for. The move marks a notable departure from one of the tech industry's biggest stages and fits Sony's broader emphasis on games, music, film and other media businesses.

'Avengers Endgame: Encore' opened strongly at the North American box office, outgrossing the new releases it competed against over the weekend. Outlets including USA Today report that the encore presentation of the Marvel hit drew large audiences and beat fresh competition in its debut frame. The result underlines continuing audience appetite for the Avengers franchise in theaters.

Carter Swan, a producer on the Resident Evil franchise, is developing a film adaptation of 'The Crying Boy', a comic book published by Keenspot. Details on casting, a director, or a studio release date have not been announced yet, and the project remains in early development. The news has drawn attention from fans of both the comic and Swan's previous work in video game adaptations.

Marvel's 'Avengers: Endgame' is leading a competitive weekend at the North American box office in which three films are each projected to gross more than $20 million, according to Deadline. The crowded field highlights strong theatrical attendance, with Endgame maintaining its dominance even as new releases draw significant audiences.

New entertainment company Peanuts Entertainment has launched, announcing a feature project centered on the Mirabel Sisters as its debut offering. The launch was reported by Variety, positioning the venture as one to watch in the international film and entertainment space, though further details on the project's cast, budget or release timeline have not yet been disclosed.

Filmmaker Robert Eggers has shelved another horror project after 'Werwulf', saying it became 'so dark' that it could not move forward. The director, known for 'The Witch' and 'The Lighthouse', has a history of uncompromising, atmospheric horror, and the report suggests the project's tone crossed a line even for his standards.

The Zurich Film Festival 2026 is introducing a section dedicated to artificial intelligence, exploring how the technology intersects with cinema. Alongside screenings, the festival will host a three-part talk series examining AI from multiple perspectives, featuring guests from different fields. It is one of the more prominent festival programmes to put AI at the centre of its edition.