From Maya Files to Magic: How Hollywood Creatives Help Build Epic Universe’s Immersive Worlds
Almost a decade in the making, Epic Universe at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida is a groundbreaking theme park that highlights the shared DNA between filmmaking, attractions, and immersive real-world experiences, taking audiences and guests on a cinematic journey.
Three of the five worlds that make up Epic Universe are born out of IPs that have graced both the big and small screens, namely The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic,
Everything You Need to Know Before James Gunn’s “Superman” Takes Flight
“Eyes up here!” says Superman (David Corenswet) in one of the trailers for James Gunn’s Superman, pointing up to his face (perhaps getting an onlooker to stop staring at his red underpants), a moment before he bursts into flight at around zero to a hundred miles per hour. And now, Gunn’s feature is about to soar into theaters, and all that waiting will be over. Yet the opening act to the DC Universe is shaping up to be more than a simple superhero reboot—Gunn’s fresh,
From Krypto to the Fortress of Solitude: The Creative Vision Behind James Gunn’s “Superman”
James Gunn’s Superman is the first feature film in the recently reinvigorated, rejiggered, and newly unified DC Universe under Gunn and Peter Safran’s vision, and from what we’ve seen so far, it’s about to make a huge mark in the legacy of one of the most iconic superheroes in history. Hitting theaters July 11, David Corenswet suits up as the Man of Steel with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane. You can expect plenty of other characters to make an appearance,
“Work on Your Shoulders…And Your Vulnerability”: How David Corenswet Became Superman
In a profile of David Corneswet for Time, Superman writer/director James Gunn said he’d offered him the title role under the condition that he “treated everyone with kindness and respect.” Gunn was referring to past set experiences he had with Chris Pratt and John Cena, and he wanted Cornenswet to do the same. The Philadelphia native might raise a few eyebrows as the new Man of Steel, given his lack of major blockbuster experience – Affairs of State,
4 Must-Read Comics Before Watching James Gunn’s “Superman”
James Gunn’s Superman soars into theaters July 11. The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy writer/director, along with Peter Safran, are the two new heads of the newly unified and invigorated DC Studios, and they’ve made their ambitions clear. They announced a number of projects in the first chapter of the DC Universe (DCU) dubbed “Gods and Monsters,” in which Superman is the inaugural feature film.
Meet Nikkolas Smith: The Artist Who Painted the Soul of Ryan Coogler’s “Black Panther” and “Sinners”
In creating one of the year’s most talked about movie sequences, Sinners filmmaker Ryan Coogler assembled his de facto repertory company including Michael B. Jordan, production designer Hannah Beachler, costume designer Ruth Carter, DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw, composer Ludwig Göransson, and a lesser known member of his team: concept artist Nikkolas Smith. Smith previously worked on Black Panther and Wakanda Forever.
Eye in the Sky: How “F1” Aerial Cinematographer Phil Arntz Delivered Cinema’s Most Heart-Pounding Racing Sequences
Continuing in the tradition of his last blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski returns this summer with Apple’s most successful theatrical outing to date, with the sleek and thrilling racing drama F1, grossing north of $144 million on opening weekend. In a world where every fraction of a second could cost you a trophy—or worse, your life— Brad Pitt’s veteran driver, Sonny Hayes, wants to build “a car for combat” in order to salvage his old buddy Ruben’s (Javier Bardem) APXGP team.
“Jurassic World: Rebirth” Review Round-Up: Dinos Rule Again in Roaring Fun Addition to the Franchise
The dinosaurs are back — and this time, they brought heart. Jurassic World: Rebirth (in theaters now), the seventh entry in the iconic dino-saga, lands with a thunderous roar and a surprisingly soulful step. This film may be the shot of prehistoric adrenaline this 30+ year-old franchise needed. Directed by Rogue One and Godzilla helmer Gareth Edwards, and written by Jurassic Park OG David Koepp,
Inside the Bone Temple: How Designers Carson McColl & Gareth Pugh Crafted the Pagan-Apocalyptic World of “28 Years Later”
Serving as both production designers and costume designers for director Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later was a groundbreaking career moment for Carson McColl and Gareth Pugh.
Not only is the post-apocalyptic coming-of-age horror film the first film they have worked on, but the married couple, known as Hard and Shiny, is best known for their high fashion and for having worked with such icons as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
It’s Glen Powell vs. America in the First “The Running Man” Trailer
Glen Powell is in trouble.
In reality, Glen Powell is doing great, but his character, Ben Richards, sure is, in the first trailer for Edgar Wright’s The Running Man, a reboot of the 1987 sci-fi classic starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in the same role.
The conceit is tidy and brutal and will sound familiar, even to folks too young to have seen the original but who have seen Squid Game—Ben’s a down-on-his-luck husband and father in desperate need of cash.
“M3GAN 2.0” Writer/Director Gerard Johnstone on Killer Tech, Callbacks, and Respecting Genre
M3GAN 2.0 has gumption. The sequel to the Blumhouse production doesn’t play it safe by rehashing a formula. Instead, writer/director Gerard Johnstone rips up any atypical sequel blueprint and goes for broke in an action-comedy: a mad tech bro or two, a kitchen that kills (thanks to AI), and the proud influence of Steven Segal’s finest pictures.
M3GAN (Jenna Davis) never truly died. Silicon Valley and beyond are still reeling from her dance-happy killing spree from the first movie,
Sylmar Studios: Hollywood’s New Production Powerhouse Built for the Modern Era
Sylmar Studios, a new 230,000-square-foot production facility, has opened its doors in the San Fernando Valley. The state-of-the-art facility offers six soundstages, production offices, support for dressing rooms, wardrobe, green rooms, and a substantial lighting and grip department, along with a massive 600-space parking structure. The studio is also set to receive MPA’s Trusted Partner Network certification, a program designed to meet strict security standards in the media and entertainment industry.
Since opening in January 2025,
The Great Escape: How Wrapbook is Freeing Hollywood from Payroll Hell
Wrapbook was founded with the idea of streamlining payroll and accounting services for the entertainment industry. Since its inception in 2018, the company has made significant strides in achieving this goal by creating a platform that seamlessly combines onboarding, payroll processing, expense tracking, and real-time financial reporting within a single interface.
“At Wrapbook, what’s really been coming together is the integrated experience for a company between payroll, accounts payable, and accounting.
The Secret Behind “M3GAN 2.0”: FX Duo Adrien Morot & Kathy Tse Reveal How They Perfected Horror’s Creepiest Eyes
Early in M3GAN 2.0 (in theaters now), the robotic title character complains to her maker Gemma (Allison Williams) about being confined to the clunky body of Teletubby simply because it/she killed a bunch of people in the first movie. Negotiating for an upgrade to fend off a weapons-grade android, M3gan says, “I want to be stronger. Faster. And while you’re at it, make me taller.”
That last demand posed a challenge to Morot FX Studio principals Adrien Morot and his wife,
From “Seven” to “Karate Kid: Legends”: How Central City Association of Los Angeles Champions Downtown LA’s Star Power
Nella McOsker is the President and CEO of Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA), an advocacy group for businesses and organizations in downtown LA. I reached out to discuss how filmmaking impacts local businesses downtown during a particularly hectic time, when McOsker, like the rest of the city, was navigating the recent protests that spread across the city. “There’s a way to channel what they’re experiencing or feeling and the values they want to uphold towards supporting small businesses,” McOsker said.
How “F1” Production Designer Ben Munro Built Real Racing Garages That Traveled the World
Architect-turned-director Joseph Kosinski knows how to build action movies modeled, more than most, on analog reality. Following on Top Gun: Maverick, Kosinski has re-teamed with producer Jerry Bruckheimer to put Brad Pitt in the driver’s seat for F-1 (now in theaters). The filmmakers, deploying cinematographer Claudio Miranda’s ingenious camera rigs, worked with producer/ex-driver James Lewis to secure cooperation from the Formula One organization so that Pitt and co-star Damon Idris could get behind the wheels of real cars in front of actual crowds and speed down raceways in UK,
Steven Spielberg’s Universal Legacy Immortalized with Dedicated Theater and Secret Film Reveal
If anyone has earned a movie theater to be dedicated in their honor, it’s Steven Spielberg.
The legendary director was feted on Thursday night at Universal Studios, where a state-of-the-art theater was dedicated to him. On hand were NBCUniversal Entertainment Chairwoman Donna Langley and a slew of A-list stars, there to celebrate his legacy. “It’s not just a place that is founded on his extraordinary legacy, but it is a place of future hopes and dreams of filmmakers,
From Harvard Dorm to Global Crisis: Aaron Sorkin Developing “The Social Network Part II”
Aaron Sorkin has long hinted at the potential for a sequel to his Oscar-winning 2010 film, The Social Network, which he wrote and David Fincher directed. That film, based on Ben Mezrich’s “The Accidental Millionaires,” starred Jesse Eisenberg as a young Mark Zuckerberg, and tracked Zuckerberg’s early years at Harvard when he created the social networking site that would end up becoming the colossus Facebook, and the legal troubles that arose when he was challenged by the Winklevoss twins,
From “Dune” to 007: Denis Villeneuve Will Direct Next James Bond Film
Director Denis Villeneuve is going from the sands of Arrakis to His Majesty’s Secret Service.
Villeneuve, one of the most sought-after directors working today, will helm the next James Bond movie, the first from Amazon MGM Studios. He’ll be aided by Tanya Lapointe, his artistic partner and wife, who will once again serve as his executive producer. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are set to produce.
Villeneuve was,
The Silver Surfer Crashes Dinner in Final “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” Trailer
The final trailer for director Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps has arrived, and in it, the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) arrives just before the Four are about to sit down for dinner and proves she’s one of Marvel’s mightiest buzzkills.
“I herald his beginning,” the Silver Surfer says, floating on her cosmic board, looking quite regal, albeit made of a galactic glaze. “I herald your end.” The beginning she’s heralding is that of Galactus (Ralph Ineson),
