In a blockbuster move that reshapes the future of one of cinema’s most iconic spy franchises, NBCUniversal has officially acquired all rights—excluding publishing—to Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne and Treadstone book series in perpetuity. The deal, finalized after a fiercely competitive bidding war, ensures the Bourne universe will remain under the Universal umbrella, opening the door for new films, television projects, and cross-platform storytelling. Earlier this year, the Ludlum estate reclaimed the rights and initiated an auction led by WME. The process attracted seven major offers, including bids from streaming giants and rival studios. Ultimately, Universal matched the top proposal with what insiders describe as a “very large deal,” securing the franchise’s future at its longtime home. Since its cinematic debut in 2002 with The Bourne Identity, the franchise has redefined the spy genre with its gritty realism and kinetic action. Matt Damon’s portrayal of the amnesiac operative Jason Bourne, coupled with direction from Doug Liman and Paul Greengrass, set a new standard for espionage thrillers. The series has spawned five films, grossing over $1.64 billion globally, and includes a spinoff (The Bourne Legacy starring Jeremy Renner), a short-lived TV series (Treadstone), and even a theme park attraction (The Bourne Stuntacular) at Universal Studios Orlando. With the rights secured, Universal is already laying groundwork for future installments. Producer Frank Marshall, who has been with the franchise since its inception, will continue to oversee development alongside Captivate Entertainment’s Jeffrey Weiner and Ben Smith. A new film is reportedly in development with director Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front) and a script by Joe Barton. While not yet greenlit, speculation is swirling about Matt Damon’s potential return to the role that made him a global star. NBCUniversal plans to leverage the Bourne IP across its vast media ecosystem, including film, television, streaming, and interactive experiences. “We’re energized to continue expanding the Bourne universe into the future with exciting new stories for global audiences,” said Peter Cramer, President of Universal Pictures. Jeffrey Weiner, executor of Ludlum’s estate, echoed the sentiment: “We are thrilled that the Bourne franchise will remain at Universal. We look forward to working with the Universal team to expand the Bourne franchise across Universal’s varied platforms”. 

If you are enjoying season 2 of Peacemaker and are wondering if there is going to be a season 3… well, sort of. According to writer/director James Gunn, the eight and final episode of the season will set up what’s next, “Some of these characters will continue, but also, it’s not exactly Peacemaker 3. I’m not ruling it out. You’ll see (episode) 8 and maybe you’ll find out a little bit more.” There is speculation that this might be tied into the planned Amanda Waller series with Viola Davis, which has been progressing slowly since the initial Gunn/Peter Safran announcement. One interesting thing, it seems this week’s scene between Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) and Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) had been in the works even before the Earth X plot for the season had been settled on. “When I pitched to DCU what the basic stories were throughout the TV shows and movies, this was a part of that.” The Belle Reve scene and the Justice Gang auditions were filmed on consecutive Saturdays during the filming of the Superman movie. There is also one more Superman character crossover to come in episode 8.  

Tom Holland is on the mend after an incident on the set of Spider-Man: Brand New Day which left the actor with a concussion and a week off as production halted. Holland was well enough to attend a recent gala for his parents’ nonprofit The Brothers Trust alongside his fiancée and co-star Zendaya. He posted to Instagram, “What a night! Another huge success. The Brothers Trust means more to me than I could possibly say and I have to say a huge thank you to my Mum and her wonderful friends for putting on another incredible night. Raising money for fantastic causes and having fun doing it! I’m sorry I had to leave early but I’m feeling better and on the mend. A huge thanks to my Dad for taking over after I left. The show got considerably funnier.” Holland received the mild concussion during a stunt gone wrong and was taken to the hospital immediately but not admitted. The film is being shot in Scotland and even with the delay should still be able to make it’s July 31st, 2026 release date. 

Earlier this year we learned that plans for a second season of Hawkeye were derailed when Jeremy Renner received an offer for only half of what he made on season one. The actor commented that perhaps Disney thought he was only half the actor he was after getting run over by a snowplow in 2023. But he made it clear that this wasn’t Marvel or even the higher ups at Disney but rather the accountants. He, of course, refused the offer, but he didn’t close the door to the idea. Renner, who continues to recover from the accident, was at Florida Supercon and was asked if he would still want to reprise the role in a second season. “It was great to dive more into the character a bit, in a world that’s more grounded. To me, it was a lot more fun to do and more to explore for the character, which is nice. I always wanted to do more of that stuff, and there’s the incident that happened, and I have to get my body in shape to be able to sling arrows again and dive around and do all that stuff, but I’ll get there. I’m doing good.” The actor remains hopeful for a second season, “I’ll always dance with Marvel. I’ll always dance with them for sure when appropriate, when it’s rocking, I’m happy to do season two of Hawkeye. I love that character. I think there’s so much for us to do.” Renner continues his series Mayor of Easttown as well as will be appearing in the upcming third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man!. 

Warner Bros made Superman available digitally after just 73 days, far earlier than normal for a tent pole film and when asked why, co-head of DC Studios James Gunn said that he wanted to make sure that fans could see the film before Peacemaker season 2 was released. Turns out that it also lined up that it would be released on HBO Max the weekend prior to the sixth episode which turned out to be very important to both the story and the future of the DCU. In a scene that is said to help set up Gunn’s next film, Man of Tomorrow, Nicholas Holt reprised his role as Lex Luthor showing us not only the ramifications of his actions in Superman, but we see Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) give the character an opportunity that will likely lead to the believed team up between Lex and Superman in the summer of 2027. Gunn spoke about the scene on Peacemaker: The Official Podcast, “This was one of the first scenes we shot. I think we shot it in the middle of Superman, while we were shooting the pentagon sequences in Superman. It was cool, it was weird because tonally, it instantly felt different from Superman, which is so big and brash. And this show is so grounded and gritty. And then also hearing Nick curse. But I felt like even Nick’s performance was different. It felt a little darker, it was a little different.” In the scene, Flag travels to Belle Reve prison to see Lex to get his help tracking the dimensional portal currently in the hands of Peacemaker (John Cena). Gunn explained, “We have a really important moment, for not only Peacemaker, but the entire DCU, in that Rick Flag, the head of ARGUS, strikes a deal basically with Lex Luthor. In exchange for Lex Luthor finding where Peacemaker’s portal might be, he is going to move him from a prison with metahumans to a prison with no metahumans.” The importance of this deal will undoubtedly play out in Man of Tomorrow, a film that Gunn has said isn’t a true sequel to Superman, but a film that will focus on both Superman and Lex. 

Christopher Nolan, acclaimed director of films like Inception, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, has been elected president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), ushering in a new phase of leadership for the influential organization. Known for his dedication to creative control, practical effects, and film preservation, Nolan is expected to champion directors’ rights and artistic integrity in an evolving industry. Nolan’s priorities include protecting creative autonomy, supporting innovation in storytelling, and ensuring fair compensation and working conditions for DGA members. He is also committed to advancing diversity and inclusion and preserving the theatrical experience in the face of growing streaming platforms.“To be elected President of the Directors Guild of America is one of the greatest honors of my career,” Nolan said. “Our industry is experiencing tremendous change, and I thank the Guild’s membership for entrusting me with this responsibility. I also want to thank President Glatter for her leadership over the past four years. I look forward to collaborating with her and the newly elected Board to achieve important creative and economic protections for our members.”  The filmmaking community has largely welcomed Nolan’s election, hopeful that his experience and passion will help the DGA navigate industry changes and support both established and emerging directors. 

James Gunn, co-head of DC Studios, has signaled that more characters from Charlton Comics may soon make their way into the DC Universe (DCU). Gunn, known for spotlighting lesser-known comic book characters, recently responded to a fan question on social media asking about the inclusion of more of the original Charlton Comic characters to which he replied, “you may be in luck.” Charlton Comics introduced characters like Blue Beetle, The Question, Captain Atom, Nightshade, Judomaster and Peacemaker—many of whom were later acquired by DC. Their unique qualities and stories offer new directions for the DCU. Gunn’s approach embraces these unconventional heroes, as seen in the success of the Peacemaker series. He has suggested that some big cameos are still ahead in the new season, which could lead to the characters he was hinting at. This could include an appearance by Xolo Maridueña’s Blue Beetle. There has been talks about an animated series for the character after the moderate success of the live action film in 2023 and this would be a good way to bring the character fully into the new DCU. The final three episodes of Peacemaker season two were not released to reviewers meaning that just about anything could happen at this point. 

The latest "The Boys" Humble Bundle offers fans a unique chance to explore Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson’s dark, satirical comic universe while supporting charitable causes. "The Boys" comic, which began in 2006, is known for its unfiltered take on superheroes and has gained global popularity, especially with the success of its TV adaptation. Humble Bundle’s model lets buyers pay what they want for digital comics, with options to direct contributions toward creators, publishers, and charities. Each bundle is available for a limited time, adding excitement and urgency. In this current bundle, fans can unlock the complete original run of "The Boys" (all 72 issues), several spin-offs like "Herogasm" and "Butcher, Baker, Candlestickmaker," plus exclusive digital extras. The more you give, the more content you unlock, making it valuable for both newcomers and longtime fans. A portion of every purchase supports nonprofit organizations. Buyers can choose how their payment is divided, turning comic collecting into an act of giving. Whether you’re new to "The Boys" or a devoted follower, this bundle offers an accessible way to enjoy the story while making a positive impact. The offer is available for a limited time, so act quickly to take advantage of this charitable and entertaining opportunity.  

James Gunn was asked point blank about the possibility of 1923 actor Brandon Sklenar being cast as Batman in the growing DCU. Gunn was being interviewed by The Ringer-Verse and was asked about his mention of 1923 and if that was a hint for the upcoming Bruce Wayne. “Okay, I see what you’re doing. 1923, it’s a really good TV show, like I can’t believe how good that show was. Do I have ideas about actors who could play Batman? Absolutely, I do. I have guys I like. I have guys that are top of the list for me, just like I had people that were at the top of the list for Superman. People can guess and maybe they’ll be right about certain things. We’d have to screen test, we’d have to do the whole thing.” He later added, “One actor is particular, a pretty big star, wants to be Batman. We’ve talked about it, but I don’t think that’s the case.” You may be wondering how important this all is right now with the studio focused on Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part 2 and Gunn’s Man of Tomorrow, but the studio co-head confirmed that the Brave and the Bold script, the planed title of the DCU Batman film, is not done, they do have someone writing a script and what they’ve seen so far is “really good”. Gunn has stated in the past that the new Batman would debut in his own film and that no casting would take place on any project until the script is complete, so don’t expect an announcement any time soon. 

Netflix has just unveiled the trailer for Season 4 of The Witcher and set to premiere date to be October 30, 2025. The most significant change this season is the introduction of Liam Hemsworth as Geralt of Rivia, taking over the role from Henry Cavill. The trailer gives us our first glimpse of Hemsworth in action, showcasing his portrayal of the iconic monster hunter. In the teaser, Geralt is seen battling a wraith, a classic monster from the Witcher universe, using his usual mix of swordplay and magic. The storyline for Season 4 picks up after the events of Season 3, with Geralt, Yennefer, and Ciri separated by a raging war and countless enemies. As their paths diverge, they encounter unexpected allies and face new challenges that test their limits. The official synopsis hints at divided paths and the discovery of new allies, setting the stage for an epic journey. In addition to Hemsworth, the cast includes returning favorites such as Anya Chalotra as Yennefer, Freya Allan as Ciri, and Joey Batey as Jaskier. New cast members include Laurence Fishburne as Regis, a mysterious and world-wise barber-surgeon who joins Geralt on his journey. The fourth season will consist of eight episodes, all dropping on October 30. This season is also notable for being the penultimate chapter of the series, with the fifth and final season already in production. 

Conventions can be great places to get quotes on the latest movies and shows in production. Zanda Gubecka of FeatureFirst.Net used their time at the OZ Comic Con in Brisbane this year to chat up actor Con O’Neill about all things DC. While Con is a distinguished actor with a long list of credits, the two roles he may be best known for right now are Chief Mackenzie Bock in the Batman Epic Crime Saga and as Izzy Hands on Our Flag Means Death. He first spoke about David Jenkins, the creator of OFMD and who is attached as the showrunner for the upcoming Booster Gold series, praising the writer as a kind man and a creative who the world so desperately needs. O’Neill said Jenkins is the type of guy that likes writing and developing nuanced stories that understand the human experience by promoting positivity. Similar to how the actor saw the newest Superman movie, praising it for its portrayal of the titular character and the promotion of kindness. He also had a message to those who call out that portrayal as wrong, saying “There are people who think Superman shouldn’t be kind like that. F*** those people.” Then moving over to his role in The Batman and The Penguin and where he’d like to see Bock go, O’Neill joked, “I love Bock. Matt Reeves and Matt Reeves’ mind is unquestionably one of the most extraordinary places I’ve been invited into. So wherever I thought or think Bock should be, it isn’t going to be what Bock will be. So I’d just go by the genius of Matt Reeves. I mean… the man is a fucking genius. If you haven’t seen Matt Reeves’ other films… Watch them! They’re fucking awesome.”