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Universal Pictures seems to have dropped the ball on How to Train Your Dragon's marketing campaign. For whatever reason, the teaser trailer started playing in select theaters this past weekend, resulting in our first look at the movie coming in the form of blurry social media screenshots.

Snippets of footage have since found their way online, but the trailer has now leaked in its entirety...in HD! We're not sure how this happened, but it presumably means the official version is mere hours away.

There's not too much to discuss here as the focus is primarily on early scenes from the movie as Hiccup's father, Stoick, encourages him to kill dragons like the rest of his fellow Vikings. However, when he encounters Toothless, a bond is formed during a moment that recreates an iconic scene from the 2010 animated feature.

As cool as it is to see this come to life,...

Universal’s Epic Universe will finally open at the start of next summer. The new theme park will open its gates on May 22, 2025, Universal Orlando Resort announced on Thursday.

The themed lands inside Epic Universe are How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World and the monster-themed Dark Universe.

Anchoring the park is Universal Helios Grand Hotel, a 500-room Loews Hotel that will feature its very own dedicated entrance into Epic Universe for hotel guests

Epic Universe is Universal Orlando’s fourth theme park alongside Universal Studios Florida, Universal’s Islands of Adventure and the water-themed Volcano Bay. The stated aim of this new gate is to make Universal Orlando a weeklong destination for guests.

Tickets for Epic Universe go on sale on Oct. 22.

Here’s how Universal Orlando describes each themed land:

The Wizarding World of Harry...

La aclamada película de animación de Chris Sanders, que está ya en los cines, es una de las grandes favoritas para el Oscar a Mejor Película de Animación. © Universal Pictures

Según informa Deadline, DreamWorks ya está trabajando en una secuela de la película de animación Robot salvaje (The Wild Robot) con su director Chris Sanders al frente. «100 % sí, hay planes para una segunda parte», confirmó el propio Sanders.

Robot salvaje se estrenó a nivel mundial en el Festival de Cine de Toronto y, antes de su estreno en cines este viernes en nuestro país, pasó por el Festival Internacional de Cine de San Sebastián y Sitges.

Dirigida por el nominado al Oscar Chris Sanders (Cómo entrenar a tu dragón) y basada en la novela ilustrada de Peter Brown, Robot salvaje sigue el viaje de un robot (la unidad Rozzum 7134 o “Roz”) que naufraga en una isla deshabitada y debe aprender a adaptarse al duro entorno,...

It’s harder these days for animated films to find an audience without a recognizable brand. But with both critic and moviegoer acclaim on its side, Universal/DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot” has the tools it needs to turn a modest $35 million domestic opening weekend into a long theatrical run that could last through the end of the year.

“Robot” will have to defy a historic trend of tough roads to success for animated science fiction. One critical strategy will be to leverage positive reviews and word of mouth to appeal to families and women over 35 at a time when the box office offers those audiences fewer options.

“Robot” took in $53 million globally in its opening weekend, a solid performance against a reported $78 million budget.

But the $35 million domestic box office was not close to the $43.7 million opening (unadjusted for inflation) that the franchise-spawning “How to Train Your Dragon” earned in...

DreamWorks Animation and Universal’s family film The Wild Robot is charming reviewers and audiences alike, boasting both a stellar 98 percent Rotten Tomatoes critics score and a 98 percent audience score, not to mention an A CinemaScore from moviegoers. Thanks to great word of mouth, Wild Robot came in No. 1 with an estimated $35 million.

If only the love were being spread around.

Francis Ford Coppola — in one of the low points of his long and illustrious career — is watching his new movie Megalopolis get almost utterly rejected by moviegoers (it was likewise maligned by many critics). The film received a disastrous D+ CinemaScore from audiences and only cleared an estimated $4 million in its domestic debut (many rivals predict final numbers will be lower). Heading into the weekend, tracking and Lionsgate expected it to do at least $5 million to $7 million.

While The Wild Robot came in ahead of tracking, many had predicted...

DreamWorks Animaton and Universal’s The Wild Robot started off its North American box office run with $1.95 million in Thursday previews, a solid start for a family animated film. The movie is based on Peter Brown’s beloved bestseller about a robot nicknamed Roz who forms an unexpected bond with an orphaned gosling and other creatures after being shipwrecked on a lonely island.

The critically acclaimed CGI-animated film is tracking to open in the $24 million range domestically, although more bullish forecasters believe it could easily fly past $30 million. But it’s understandable why the filmmakers are trying to temper expectations in suggesting $20 million-plus after last weekend’s Transformers One, another animated PG-rated pic, came in $5 million behind tracking with a $24.6 million domestic launch.

A story of the bridge between nature and technology, The Wild Robot is directed and written by Oscar-nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods...

The new arrivals on the box office marquee this weekend make for an unusual recipe, if not a spicy one.

The safest and most traditional ingredient is DreamWorks Animaton and Universal’s family film The Wild Robot, based on Peter Brown’s beloved best-seller about a robot nicknamed Roz who forms an unexpected bond with an orphaned gosling and other creatures after being shipwrecked on a lonely island.

The critically acclaimed CGI-animated film is tracking to open in the $24 million range domestically, although more bullish forecasters believe it could easily fly past $30 million. But it’s understandable why the filmmakers are trying to temper expectations and suggest $20 million-plus after last weekend’s Transformers One, another animated PG-rated pic, came in $5 million behind tracking with a $24.6 million domestic launch.

A story of the bridge between nature and technology, The Wild Robot is directed and written by Oscar-nominee Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon,...

La película ha tenido su estreno mundial en Toronto. © Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures ha publicado el tráiler final de Robot salvaje, una película de animación de Dreamworks dirigida por el nominado al Oscar Chris Sanders (Cómo Entrenar a tu Dragón) y basada en la novela ilustrada de Peter Brown. La película se ha estrenado mundialmente hace unos días en el Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto y pasará en nuestro país por los festivales de San Sebastián y Sitges.

Robot salvaje sigue el viaje de un robot (la unidad Rozzum 7134 o “Roz”) que naufraga en una isla deshabitada y debe aprender a adaptarse al duro entorno, forjando gradualmente relaciones con la fauna local y convirtiéndose en la madre adoptiva de una cría de ganso huérfana. Una poderosa historia de autodescubrimiento, un apasionante examen de la unión entre tecnología y naturaleza, y una conmovedora exploración de lo que significa estar vivo...

This article contains spoilers for House of the Dragon season 2 episode 8 and details from the novel Fire & Blood.

It’s been a long, strange journey for Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) on House of the Dragon season 2.

After falling out with his niece/wife Rhaenyra in episode 2, The Rogue Prince has spent his days in the haunted castle Harrenhal, ostensibly trying to raise a Riverlands army but really being haunted by ghosts of Christmas past. In the season 2 finale, however, Daemon’s remembrances from long ago are replaced with dark visions of the future.

Assisted by the witchy Alys Rivers (Gayle Rankin), Daemon accesses Westeros’ network of weirwood trees to glimpse into the days to come. What he sees spooks him enough to immediately declare his fealty to Rhaenyra on her arrival, rather than continuing his silly game of pursuing the crown for his own.

What is it exactly that Daemon...

Imagine Dragons is a rock band from Las Vegas consisting of Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon and Ben McKee.

The band established the Tyler Robinson Foundation in 2013 to help families handle unexpected financial costs of pediatric cancer.

Charities & foundations supported

Imagine Dragons has supported the following charities:

GLAADLove Loud foundationMultiple Myeloma Research FoundationMusicians on CallTyler Robinson Foundation Read more about Imagine Dragons's charity work and events. Related articles Third Eye Blind And Switchfoot To Rock The GreenImagine Dragons And Hard Rock Donate To Casey Cares Foundation‏Songs For The Philippines Released On iTunesEnjoy Super Bowl Week And Help CharityDrum Used By Imagine Dragons And Kendrick Lamar Benefits MusiCares

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Copyright © 2024 Look To The Stars. This article may not be reproduced without explicit written permission; if you are not reading this via email or in your news reader, the site you...

In the end, Ramsay Bolton received the fate he truly deserved, but the actor who brought this monstrous character to life on screen, Iwan Rheon, might have preferred facing dragons over the hounds that met him on screen.

Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton in Game of Thrones | HBO

The story of how Rheon learned about his character’s grim end is almost as amusing. As during a conference call, the Game of Thrones creators, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, humorously announced, “Ramsay makes it to the Iron Throne!”

How Did Iwan Rheon’s Ramsay Bolton Die in Game of Thrones? Did the Audience Find It Fitting?

Ramsay Bolton’s demise was a gruesome death that’s for sure. After being defeated in the Battle of the Bastards by Jon Snow, Ramsay was taken captive by Sansa Stark, his wife played by Sophie Turner. In a chilling act of revenge, Sansa...

Ojo: dirigida y escrita por el nominado al Oscar Chris Sanders. © Universal Pictures

“Robot Salvaje”, de Peter Brown, una novela ilustrada para jóvenes adultos publicada por primera vez en 2016, se convirtió en un auténtico fenómeno, alcanzando rápidamente el número 1 en la lista de libros más vendidos de The New York Times. Ahora, DreamWorks Animation (el estudio responsable de éxitos como “Shrek” y “Kung Fu Panda”) lleva a la gran pantalla el fenómeno literario de Peter Brown bajo la dirección del nominado al Oscar Chris Sanders (“Cómo Entrenar a tu Dragón”). Una apasionante historia de autodescubrimiento, un fascinante análisis de la unión entre la tecnología y la naturaleza, y una emotiva exploración de lo que significa estar vivo y conectado con todos los seres.

Esta épica aventura sigue el viaje de un robot (la unidad Rozzum 7134 o “Roz”) que naufraga en una isla deshabitada y debe aprender a adaptarse al duro entorno,...

DreamWorks Animation will showcase a sneak peek of “The Wild Robot” at the Annecy Animation Festival (June 9-15). The preview footage will take place June 11, hosted by writer/director Chris Sanders (co-director of “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Lilo & Stitch”).

“The Wild Robot”, adapted from Peter Brown’s illustrated book and produced by Jeff Hermann, explores the bridge between technology and nature. It’s about a robot called Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) washed ashore on an uninhabited island, who must embark on a journey of survival and discovery when she inadvertently becomes the protector of an orphaned gosling bird.

The all-star voice cast also includes Pedro Pascal as fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail, Bill Nighy as goose Longneck, Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill, and Stephanie Hsu as robot Vontra; plus Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, and Mark Hamill.

The preview will be followed later that evening by a...

Tráiler, póster y detalles de la nueva película de animación de Dreamworks, “Robot Salvaje”. © Universal Pictures

“Robot Salvaje”, de Peter Brown, una novela ilustrada para jóvenes adultos publicada por primera vez en 2016, se convirtió en un auténtico fenómeno, alcanzando rápidamente el número 1 en la lista de libros más vendidos de The New York Times. Ahora, DreamWorks Animation (el estudio responsable de éxitos como “Shrek” y “Kung Fu Panda”) lleva a la gran pantalla el fenómeno literario de Peter Brown bajo la dirección del nominado al Oscar Chris Sanders (“Cómo Entrenar a tu Dragón”).

Esta épica aventura sigue el viaje de un robot (la unidad Rozzum 7134 o “Roz”) que naufraga en una isla deshabitada y debe aprender a adaptarse al duro entorno, forjando gradualmente relaciones con la fauna local y convirtiéndose en la madre adoptiva de una cría de ganso huérfana. Una poderosa historia de autodescubrimiento, un apasionante examen de la unión entre tecnología y naturaleza,...

The live action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon has officially begun filming!

Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed the original, animated film trilogy, returns as writer and director for the new live action version.

The filmmaker took to social media on Monday (January 15) to reveal that filming is underway.

“First day of the shoot!

Executive served as CMO of Skydance Media, Dreamworks Animation.

Imax has hired veteran Hollywood executive Anne Globe as Chief Marketing Officer, the company announced on Tuesday.

Globe, who has served as CMO of Skydance Media and Dreamworks Animation, will lead brand, film marketing, creative, and social media worldwide for entertainment technology platform.

She succeeds Denny Tu, who is leaving Imax after five years in the role.

As CMO of Skydance Media, Globe developed marketing and distribution strategies for key franchises including Mission: Impossible, Terminator, and Jack Reacher.

In her role at DreamWorks Animation, she oversaw marketing, distribution, and licensing for franchises including Kung Fu Panda,...

Imax has tapped Anne Globe as its new chief marketing officer.

The veteran Hollywood studio executive will oversee all brand, film marketing, creative and social media for the global entertainment technology platform, which has rebounded from the pandemic in a major way thanks to keen demand for the big-screen experience it offers.

She succeeds Denny Tu, who is leaving Imax after five years.

Globe most recently served as chief marketing officer of David Ellison’s Skydance Media, whose credits include recent installments in the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises.

“Anne is a deeply versatile, experienced, and well-networked executive who has elevated creative work across virtually every medium in partnership with some of the most celebrated filmmakers and artists,” Imax CEO Rich Gelfond said in a statement.

Imax enjoyed a banner year in 2023. The premium large-format exhibitor delivered $1.06 billion in global box office, a near-record that came close to matching...

Dean DeBlois wrote and directed all three of the animated How to Train Your Dragon movies, which were inspired by the series of books by written by Cressida Cowell. Now DeBlois is set to write, direct, and produce a live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon – and he’s assembling a strong cast for it. Mason Thames (The Black Phone) is set to play Hiccup, with Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid and Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father in the animated films, will be reprising the role in live-action. Now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Nick Frost – whose credits include Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World’s End, Paul, and Fighting with My Family – has been cast as the Viking character Gobber the Belch, the trusted friend and advisor of Stoick.

Nick Frost has entered the Viking village.

Frost, perhaps best known for his starring turns in Edgar Wright movies such as Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, has joined the cast of Universal Pictures’ live-action adaptation of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon.

Dean DeBlois, who co-wrote and directed the original and revered trilogy, is steering the new feature, returning as writer, director and producer.

The project already has Mason Thames (The Black Phone) and Nico Parker (The Last of Us) set to star as Hiccup and Astrid, the young teens who befriend dragons. Gerard Butler, who voiced Stoick the Vast, the leader of the Viking clan and Hiccup’s father, is reprising his role in the flesh.

Frost will play Gobber the Belch, the trusted friend and adviser of Stoick.

Using the books by Cressida Cowell as a jumping-off point, How to Train Your Dragon focused...

Not surprisingly, our five leading contenders for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars also dominate the Annie Awards nominations announced on January 11. The predicted Oscar winner, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” reaped a lucky seven nominations. However, it is another likely Oscar contender, “Nimona,” that topped the nominations chart with nine bids.

All three of these films contend for Best Studio Animated Feature as does six-time nominee “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.” We expect another six-time nominee, “Elemental” to reap an Oscar bid for Best Animated Feature even though it was snubbed in the top race by the Annies. That category is filled out here by “Suzume,” which earned seven nominations in all.

The Best Independent Feature nominees are: “Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia,” “Four Souls of Coyote,” “Robot Dreams,” “The Inventor” and “White Plastic Sky.”

These precursor prizes are presented by the Hollywood chapter of the International Animated Film Association.

Let’s be honest, what’s your all-time favorite dragon movie? Is it Dragonslayer? Dragonheart? Q: The Winged Serpent? Maybe it’s an animated feature like How to Train Your Dragon or Raya and the Last Dragon? No matter what your answer is, the unpopular opinion remains, Rob Bowman’s 2002 popcorn flick Reign of Fire is one of the most underrated movies featuring the mythic fire-breathing beasts. Never mind the fact that the flick boasts a lowly 39 Metascore and 42% Rotten Tomatoes score, the grim dystopian world-building, excellent visual effects, and big-d*ck swinging performances from Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale remain a ton of fun to behold. Of course, Reign of Fire had the misfortune of running into the far more potent cinematic behemoth, Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which largely overshadowed the movie’s mild commercial success and eventually relegated the film into obscurity at worst,...

Pictures: Netflix / Warner Bros. Pictures / Lionsgate / Sony Pictures

As 2023 is put into the history books, it’s time your comprehensive look at what’s coming to Netflix in the United States throughout January 2024. Below, we’ll be looking through all the licensed and Netflix Original movies, series, and games on the way.

Want to see more of what’s on the way throughout 2024? We’ve got you covered with the current calendar of every known Netflix Original confirmed for 2024.

As always, you’ll want to watch anything set to expire throughout January, too – you can keep track of all the movies and series leaving Netflix US here.

Note: This list is a work in progress. It’ll continue to be updated throughout January 2024 as we learn of new titles coming to the service. All release dates are subject to change.

Full List of New Releases Coming to Netflix US in...

Still looking to replicate Disney's (albeit hit-and-miss) efforts to convert its animated canon into live-action/CG concoctions, DreamWorks is moving forward with a real people-cg creatures take on :a[How To Train Your Dragon]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/train-dragon-review/' }. And while many of the leads are understandably being re-cast with younger actors, one is making the leap from the successful 'toon outings the new film: Gerard Butler.

The actor, who played Viking chief Stoic the Vast for the three main movies and one TV movie spin-off, will be donning hair, make-up and armour to play the man in live-action. He'll likely be back despairing of his son Hiccup (to be played in the new movie by :a[The Black Phone]{href='https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-black-phone/' }'s Mason Thames) underperformance as a viking, but once more impressed when the lad forms a bond with a dragon named Toothless.

Actor Gerard Butler is set to reprise his role as the burly Viking leader Stoick in the live-action remake of the animated movie ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. He’s the first legacy cast member to make the jump, which will reteam him with Dean DeBlois, who returns to write, direct and produce the newest entry in the popular franchise, reports Entertainment Weekly.

Joining Butler are previously announced stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker, who will star as Hiccup and Astrid. Further casting has yet to be revealed.

As per Entertainment Weekly, the live-action adaptation will be “rooted in stories that are as sweeping as they are intimate” and will “draw audiences deep into DreamWorks Animation’s imaginative lore.”

The first film in the animated franchise was released in 2010, and captivated audiences with the unlikely friendship of an adolescent Viking named Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) and a fearsome Night...

Gerard Butler is set to star in the live-action remake of 'How to Train Your Dragon'.The 54-year-old actor voiced the role of Stoick the Vast in the DreamWorks Animation trilogy and will reprise the part for the upcoming movie from original co-director Dean DeBlois.Mason Thames and Nico Parker will play Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel in the original) and Astrid (originally played by America Ferrera).The movie currently has a June 13, 2025 release date.The animated 'How To Train Your Dragon' trilogy was based on the books by Cressida Cowell.The series was set in Berk, a mythical Viking village, and tells the story of Hiccup, a teen wishing to become a dragon slayer like the other Vikings. He injures a rare Night Fury dragon but is unable to bring himself to kill it. He instead helps and befriends the dragon Toothless, and discovers that things are...

Someone better start shipping a freight of Biotin over to Gerard Butler's house because the "300," "Phantom of the Opera," and "Plane" star has got a mighty big beard to grow! Butler is a well-decorated performer who has dabbled in just about every film genre possible, but arguably his best role is as Stoick the Vast in "How To Train Your Dragon." As /Film's Leo Noboru Lima explained when ranking the animated adventure flick as the best in Butler's filmography, "How to Train Your Dragon" is one of the few mainstream movies to take Butler seriously as both an imposing leading man and a heartfelt performer, noting, "The film captures those two dimensions of Butler and layers them on top of one another, allowing Butler's prowess as a heartrending dramatic performer to erupt through the cracks of his — ahem — stoic persona." Lima also rightfully highlighted his delivery of "I...

Gerard Butler is returning to an iconic role and doing so in a new way!

The 54-year-old Olympus Has Fallen actor is set to reprise the role of Stoik the Vast in the live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon, which is expected to premiere in 2025.

This marks the first time that Gerard will bring the character to life since 2019′s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It is also the first time that he’ll provide more than his voice as the previous moves were all animated.

Read more about Gerard Butler’s newest role…

Gerard originated the role in the animated franchise. His first outing as Stoik was in 2010. He returned to the role the following two movies and a handful of shorts.

Deadline confirmed that he was set to return to the project.

News about the live-action addition to the franchise has been slow.

Deadline reports that Gerard Butler will reprise his role of Stoick the Vast for Universal’s upcoming live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon.

We don’t often see actors reprise their animated roles in live-action, but in the case of Gerard Butler, you can certainly understand why Universal wanted him back for their live-action take on the beloved animated franchise. This is going to be fun.

Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced last year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie, with America Ferrera voicing Astrid. Gerard Butler was always a highlight in the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy, and I’m sure he’ll do just as...

Exclusive: Universal Pictures’ live-action adaptation of the DreamWorks Animation franchise How to Train Your Dragon is bringing back a familiar face, as sources tell Deadline that Gerard Butler, who voiced Hiccup’s father Stoick in the original movies, will reprise the role. Mason Thames and Nico Parker are set to star as Hiccup and Astrid, with Dean DeBlois directing, writing and producing.

The film is set to bow on June 13, 2025.

The new pic will draw audiences deep into Dwa’s imaginative lore. Working from a single narrative tapestry, the adventures of Hiccup and Toothless have captivated fans across three films that have grossed more than $1.6 billion combined.

Marc Platt is producing the live-action movie for his Universal-based Marc Platt Productions alongside Marc Platt Productions president Adam Siegel. VP Production Lexi Barta will oversee the film on behalf of Universal.

While the studio went with new faces for Hiccup and...

Back in October, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions announced that The Black Phone 2 will be receiving a theatrical release on June 27, 2025, marking the “launch of a sinister new franchise.” Soon after, it was revealed that the sequel will see the return of Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) as Finney Shaw, Madeleine McGraw (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) as Finney’s sister Gwen, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as their dad Terrence, and Miguel Mora, whose only previous credit is The Black Phone, as Robin, a friend of Finney’s who was killed in the first movie. Plus, yes, Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) will be reprising the role of the child-killer known as The Grabber. The Black Phone director Scott Derrickson had said he would only return for a sequel if Hawke did as well… and after Hawke was confirmed to be returning, we learned that Derrickson will indeed be directing The Black Phone 2.

Longlists revealed today, Friday, January 5.

Harry Potter star David Tennant will host the 2024 Bafta Film Awards, which will take place on Sunday, February 18, with the full show broadcast as live.

Scottish actor Tennant will host the ceremony for the first time, at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.

The show will be broadcast on BBC One and Iplayer as live - meaning in full at the time of occurrence, with a short delay for editing purposes.

“I am delighted to have been asked to host the Ee BAFTA Film Awards and help celebrate the very best of...

A snapshot of the film and high-end TV projects shooting in the UK and Ireland.

Screen reveals a snapshot of the latest high-end TV and film productions shooting in the UK for the big studios and streamers.

Productions that are still on hold following the SAG-AFTRA strike are noted.

Please contact us here to add or update changes to the following or new productions taking place in the UK.

Films

How To Train Your Dragon

Live-action remake of the 2010 animation about a hapless Viking who befriends a dragon.

Dir: Dean DeBlois

Production company: Universal, Marc Platt

Where: Titanic Studios,...

A nearly unrecognizable Sofia Vergara playing a cartel boss, a new retelling of the story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed in the Andes in 1972, Kevin Hart assembling a team for a daring heist and Dan Levy dealing with loss and grief are among the standout projects hitting Netflix this January.

Spanish director J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow lands on Netflix on Jan. 4. The film is the latest cinematic retelling of the miraculous story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crash-landed on a glacier in the heart of the Andes in 1972, with the survivors being forced to resort to extreme measures to stay alive. After debuting in Venice, Society of the Snow has picked up plenty of awards on the international film festival circuit, and it recently made the shortlists in four categories for the 2024 Academy Awards, including best international feature film.

On Jan. 5, Netflix debuts Good Grief,...

Back in October, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions announced that The Black Phone 2 will be receiving a theatrical release on June 27, 2025, marking the “launch of a sinister new franchise.” Last month, it was revealed that the sequel will see the return of Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) as Finney Shaw, Madeleine McGraw (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) as Finney’s sister Gwen, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as their dad Terrence, and Miguel Mora, whose only previous credit is The Black Phone, as Robin, a friend of Finney’s who was killed in the first movie. Plus, yes, Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) will be reprising the role of the child-killer known as The Grabber. Now producer Ryan Turek has confirmed to ComicBook.com that The Black Phone director Scott Derrickson is coming back to direct The Black Phone 2.

Turek said, “Yeah, Scott’s coming back. I think it’s too...

Sam Song Li as Bruce Sun and Justin Chien as Charles Sun in ‘The Brothers Sun’ episode 2 (Photo Cr. Michael Desmond/Netflix © 2023)

Netflix is welcoming in 2024 with a lineup of news series that includes The Brothers Sun starring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and reality series The Trust: A Game of Greed, along with the return of Queer Eye. The streaming service’s roster of January 2024 films includes J.A. Bayona’s Society of the Snow, based on the true story of the 1972 plane crash involving a Uruguayan rugby team, and Daniel Levy’s feature film directorial debut, Good Grief.

Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara stars in and executive produces the mob drama Griselda, premiering on January 25. And comedian Jacqueline Novak brings her hit standup act Get On Your Knees to Netflix on January 23.

Series & Films Arriving On Netflix In January 2024

January 1, 2024

Bitconned – Netflix Documentary

Ray Trapani had always wanted to be a criminal,...

Are those untitled feature dates real on the 2024 theatrical release calendar? Yes, they are with Universal dating DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot for Sept. 20, 2024.

Pic is an adaptation of Peter Brown’s award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot. The movie follows the epic journey of a robot—Rozzum unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.

The Wild Robot is directed by three-time Oscar nominee Chris Sanders—the writer-director of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch—and is produced by Jeff Hermann.

Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot, an illustrated middle-grade novel first published...

As the holidays draw near, there’s little more comforting than a roaring fire. Thankfully, most streaming services offer some kind of fireplace video to help strike a cozy mood. While there are wacky fireplace options to be had, we prefer the classics. Read on to see which fireplace is most worth your time, depending on your particular needs. Grab a blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, turn out the lights, and let these excellent options lull you to sleep.

Disney+

Max

Hulu

Netflix

Peacock

Paramount+

Prime Video

Sling Freestream (Free)

Final Rankings

Disney+ Arendelle Castle Yule Log

Animated fire doesn’t have quite the kick of the real thing, even if it does sound appropriate. The fire takes up a disappointing amount of the frame, which is dwarfed by the size of the hearth. It’s nearly as preposterous as the one from “Citizen Kane.” It’s a...

Netflix has released the full list of movies and television shows that will be available for streaming beginning on January 1, 2024.

Each month, Netflix adds a large library of new content to their streaming platform. Usually, there’s a good mix of Netflix original movies and shows, plus past and present TV shows from other networks and previously released movies, too. This month is no exception, with lots of originals coming, with some classics mixed in.

Of course, Netflix will also be removing titles, too. In January, they’ll be taking away 23 movies and TV shows!

Keep reading to find out what’s coming to Netflix…

See the full list of content being added to Netflix…

Coming January 1, 2024

Bitconned — Netflix Documentary

Fool Me Once (Gb) — Netflix Series

You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment — Netflix Documentary

Annabelle

Annie (1982)

Antz

Aquaman

Beethoven

Bruce Almighty

The Croods

Dawn of the Dead

The First Purge...

A broad range of titles, animation styles and plenty of music define this season’s animated feature race, with some expected contenders still to debut.

For instance, as the studio celebrates its centennial, Walt Disney Animation Studios hopes to grab one of the five nomination slots with its Nov. 22 musical Wish, which tells the story of how Disney’s wishing star came to be. Its voice cast is led by Ariana DeBose as young protagonist Asha and Chris Pine as villainous King Magnifico. The cast performs a collection of original songs from Julia Michaels and Benjamin Rice, including “This Wish,” “I’m a Star” and “This Is the Thanks I Get.” Oscar winner Chris Buck (Frozen) and Fawn Veerasunthorn direct, and Disney Animation chief creative officer and Oscar winner Jennifer Lee is a writer and executive producer.

This title joins an already crowded field. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse — the bold...

A total of £208,217 was awarded to 10 projects through the international distribution strand.

Hoard, The Radleys and How To Have Sex are among the 10 titles to receive funding from the latest round of UK Global Screen Fund (Ukgsf) awards, totalling £208,217 through the international distribution strand, administered by the British Film Institute (BFI).

To-date, this strand has made 57 awards totalling nearly £2m, financed through the UK government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Dcms).

Financial support for international distribution provides sales agents and producers with funding via three tracks – film sales, prints & advertising (P&a) and festival launch.

Venice Critics’ Week award winner Hoard,...

Last month, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions announced that The Black Phone 2 will be receiving a theatrical release on June 27, 2025, marking the “launch of a sinister new franchise.” Now Deadline has broken the news that Ethan Hawke (Moon Knight) will be reprising the role of the child-killer known as The Grabber in the sequel – and he’s joined in the cast by several of his co-stars from The Black Phone! Also returning for this one are Mason Thames (How to Train Your Dragon) as Finney Shaw, Madeleine McGraw (Secrets of Sulphur Springs) as Finney’s sister Gwen, Jeremy Davies (Justified) as their dad Terrence, and Miguel Mora, whose only previous credit is The Black Phone, as Robin, a friend of Finney’s who was killed in the first movie.

Details on the plot and exactly what the characters will be doing this time around are being kept under wraps.

It was announced earlier this year that Scott Derrickson’s The Black Phone is getting a sequel, and Deadline reports today that Ethan Hawke will be back as The Grabber.

Actors Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Jeremy Davies (Justified) and Miguel Mora (The Black Phone) are also set to return for The Black Phone 2, Deadline reports.

Universal and Blumhouse will release The Black Phone 2 in theaters on June 27, 2025, and Deadline also confirms that Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill will be writing and producing the upcoming sequel. The first movie was based on Joe Hill’s short story.

No word on whether or not Derrickson will again be directing. Stay tuned.

In the first film, Finney (Thames), a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer (Hawke) and trapped in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use.

When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring,...

DreamWorks founder Jeffrey Katzenberg predicts that generative artificial intelligence will cut the cost of animated films by 90 percent, as the technology is set to deliver serious disruption to the media and entertainment sector.

Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Summit in Singapore on Thursday, in a session that was streamed online, Katzenberg said that AI is a tool that will be embraced by creative people.

“If you look at sort of a historical perspective of when we went from a pen, a paintbrush, a printing press, a still camera, a movie camera; these are things that just expanded creativity and all sorts of storytelling in extraordinary ways, and we’ve seen how that has continued to evolve,” Katzenberg said. “It’s been explosive over the last 10 years. I think if you look at how media has been impacted in the last 10 years by the introduction of digital technology, what will...

Pact, Bectu, Equity, the Bfc and the Pggb have all celebrated the tentative agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP.

UK unions and industry bodies are celebrating the tentative deal that has been reached between SAG-AFTRA and the studios and streamers, as word came in overnight that the 118-day US actors’ strike had reached its end.

While the strike concerned members of the US actors’ union negotiating on issues such as sufficient payment and safeguarding against artificial intelligence (AI), it had a colossal impact on the UK industry, with major US studio and streamer productions grinding to a halt leaving thousands...

Hollywood veteran Christina Lee Storm delivered opening keynote at 2023 Geneva Digital Market.

Filmmakers and producers should embrace rather than fear the advent of myriad ever-improving technologies, said Hollywood veteran Christina Lee Storm, now founder and CEO of US-based Asher Xr, in a keynote to open the 2023 Geneva Digital Market (Gdm), the industry platform of the Geneva International Film Festival (Giff).

Extended reality (Xr) storytelling, augmented reality (Ar), real time animation, virtual production (VP), the metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) can all be used to make arresting, in either form or content, narratives, said Lee Storm.

“It’s really about the story,...

Hollywood veteran Christina Lee Storm delivered opening keynote at 2023 Geneva Digital Market.

Filmmakers and producers should embrace rather than fear the advent of myriad ever-improving technologies, said Hollywood veteran Christina Lee Storm, now founder and CEO of US-based Asher Xr, in a keynote to open the 2023 Geneva Digital Market (Gdm), the industry platform of the Geneva International Film Festival (Giff).

Extended reality (Xr) storytelling, augmented reality (Ar), real time animation, virtual production (VP), the metaverse and artificial intelligence (AI) can all be used to make arresting, in either form or content, narratives, said Lee Storm.

“It’s really about the story,...

AppleTV+ is adding to its treasure chest of “Peanuts” content with a new movie from WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide. The untitled feature, set to begin production in 2024, will send Charlie Brown and Snoopy to the Big City. Expect new friends, adventures and some lessons about the true meaning of friendship.

Karey Kirkpatrick is co-writing the feature from an original story from Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano.

That trio wrote the previous “The Peanuts Movie,” which earned $246 million worldwide in theaters. Two-time Annie Award nominee Steve Martino, director of the 2015 “Peanuts” film, will helm this latest offering. Two-time Academy Award nominee Bonnie Arnold will produce.

“Fans of all ages have been enamored with Peanuts on Apple TV+,” said Apple head of children’s programming Tara Sorensen. “With our unmatched library of Peanuts titles and award-winning collection of stories that bring kids and families together, Apple TV+ is the preeminent home for Snoopy and friends,...

Apple TV+ has announced a new original Peanuts feature film from WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide. The film will follow Snoopy and Charlie Brown’s biggest challenge yet, as the Peanuts characters embark on “an epic adventure to the Big City, learning the true meaning of friendship, while meeting some surprising new friends along the way.” Production from WildBrain Studios will begin in 2024.

“Fans of all ages have been enamored with Peanuts on Apple TV+,” Tara Sorensen, Apple’s head of children’s programming, said in a statement. “With our unmatched library of Peanuts titles, and award-winning collection of stories that bring kids and families together, Apple TV+ is the preeminent home for Snoopy and friends, and offers a world class selection of series and films featuring the most globally cherished animated characters. We can’t wait for everyone to experience this heartwarming new adventure with Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the gang in the Big City.

Company producing with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide; remains invested in animated children’s, family space.

Apple is moving ahead on its first original Peanuts feature, the company announced on Monday.

Two-time Annie Award nominee Steve Martino, director of 2015’s The Peanuts Movie, helms the new project from WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide.

Bonnie Arnold is producing the CG-animated feature as Snoopy and Charlie Brown embark on an adventure through the Big City, learning the true meaning of friendship and meeting surprising new friends along the way.

Karey Kirkpatrick is writing the screenplay from an original story by co-writers Craig Schulz, Bryan Schulz and Cornelius Uliano,...

While signs are pointing to the SAG-AFTRA strike potentially coming to a close in the near future, the fallout is still pushing the release dates of many projects. Universal and Dreamworks Animations live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon had been set for a March 14, 2025 release, but it was announced today that it has been pushed back to June 13, 2025.

Production on the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie was expected to begin this summer but obviously wasn’t able to get started due to the strike, so it’s no surprise that the release was pushed. Dean DeBlois, who wrote and directed all three of the animated movies, will return to write, direct, and produce the live-action movie. It was announced earlier this year that Mason Thames (The Black Phone) would star as Hiccup alongside Nico Parker (The Last of Us) as Astrid. Jay Baruchel voiced Hiccup in the animated movie,...