Amazon MGM Studios had a lot to prove when they made their way to the CinemaCon stage for the first time. The “Amazon” part of their name doesn’t pair naturally with the theater-going experience, so it was especially strange to hear “Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios Head Mike Hopkins” announced as he took the stage. Streaming services and the Cinema United crowd of exhibitors do not mix well. Would Amazon MGM Studios truly prioritize the theatrical experience? Would they uphold the MGM legacy with quality pictures? If the quality of their CinemaCon presentation is any indication, the answer to both questions is yes. To that end, they acknowledged that building this brand back up was taking time, which is why they’ve waited until now to make their CinemaCon debut and why most of the projects discussed are releasing in 2026, not this year.
Their presentation opened with an extended trailer for the upcoming sci-fi film “Project Hail Mary,” an adaptation of Andy Weir’s best-selling novel. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller arrived alongside Ryan Gosling to talk about their blockbuster. The footage, shot by Greig Fraser, is stunning. While the trailer gave away far more about the nature of the story than I hoped, it looks like it will do the book justice. The footage was funny, gripping, epic in scope, and genuinely exciting. Miller said that this was the biggest challenge he and Lord have taken on yet and that it has to be seen on the big screen. Gosling joked, “We tried putting it on a TV, and it didn’t fit.” The theater owners really ate that joke up. The film promises to be a big hit next March.
Another major book adaptation is on the way, with Colleen Hoover’s “Verity.” From director Michael Showalter, this twisty thriller stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett. Johnson plays a writer hired to ghostwrite the next book in a famous series of novels after the original author (Hathaway) has an accident. The writer gets involved with the original author’s husband, but the result twists into something much more sinister. The trailer looked like a much darker film for Showalter, more stylized than he’s managed in the past. Hoover fans will likely show up in droves for “Verity.”
Luca Guadagnino took the stage next with Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield for their new film “After The Hunt.” Garfield spent time praising Guadagnino, calling him a “radical artist, a living master,” and saying he’s wanted to work with the director for almost twenty years. The teaser for the film hints the wait might’ve been worth it. “After The Hunt” follows college professors who have very close relationships. When a student teacher (Edebiri) makes an accusation against one of the professors (Garfield), our main character, played by Julia Roberts, must reevaluate everything she knows. Who does she believe? What does this mean? Where does she go from here? This movie looks like the real deal. The footage was stunning, and it’ll spark an immense amount of conversation. In the best way, this looks like Guadagnino’s most commercial or audience-friendly work in years. That could easily translate to awards nominations at the end of the year. He hasn’t been Oscar-nominated since “Call Me By Your Name,” but this could easily be a major contender.
We got looks at two intriguing thrillers—first, an extended look at “Mercy” starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. Ferguson plays a futuristic AI model that acts as judge, jury, and executioner for people accused of crimes. When Pratt is accused, he is on a ticking clock to prove his innocence, but can only do it digitally while locked in a chair. It looks like a fairly generic thriller, but perhaps the angle of being trapped in one spot could add something special. Next was Bart Layton’s “Crime 101.” Halle Berry and Chris Hemsworth joined Layton to talk about this LA-based thriller, in which four stories intersect around a jewel thief’s latest heist. Layton said he wanted to capture LA in a way we haven’t seen on screen before. The trailer showed off plenty of style, so he may be onto something.
Amazon MGM showed off two new films that are so out there that it’s hard to describe them adequately. First was a new family comedy from writer Craig Mazin called “Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Movie,” starring Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson. This live-action/animation hybrid is a whodunnit in which sheep try to solve the murder of their beloved farmer (Jackman). It looks completely out there. Before Mazin found stunning success with “Chernobyl” and “The Last of Us,” his comedies were, well, less than stellar. Nevertheless, this is a fascinating project to keep an eye on. Similarly, “Is God Is” melds genres together in a unique fashion. Co-stars Mallory Johnson, Kara Young, and Vivica A. Fox took a swing at describing the batshit insane story. They described it as part Greek tragedy, part Afro-punk, and part spaghetti western. Playwright Aleshea Harris adapts her own acclaimed off-Broadway play, making her feature directorial debut.
Even for projects just starting, Amazon MGM wanted to ensure the CinemaCon crowd knew that major blockbusters were on their way. Michael B. Jordan sent in a video from the set of his next directorial feature, “The Thomas Crown Affair,” where he said work is underway with Bradford Young behind the camera and Ruth E. Carter making the costumes. In the same vein, Mahershala Ali sent a video on his way to begin shooting “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” a new action film from Bassam Tariq. “Masters of the Universe” showcased a bit more, giving us an entire behind-the-scenes featurette full of concept art and big sets being built. Travis Knight talked about wanting to honor the toys and cartoons while still delivering something fresh.
Amazon MGM wrapped up with a look at their next release, “The Accountant 2.” Director Gavin O’Connor came to the stage alongside Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, and Daniella Pineda. They had a great time on stage talking about their excitement in bringing this character back to the screen. The film has already received strong reviews after its premiere at SXSW.
While James Bond was on everyone’s minds after the high-profile purchasing of the rights, no new information was shared. They say that Amy Pascal and David Heyman, the new producers of the next Bond film, are in London getting started now, so it’s too soon to announce anything.
More than most other presentations at CinemaCon this year, this felt like a studio promising a strong future rather than a strong present. Amazon MGM Studios has made a big bet on artistic, vision-driven films. It’s evident in the films they showcased. Their slate isn’t overly reliant on franchises and IP, though that’s still represented. They presented big, original swings alongside major book adaptations, one or two reboots, and one or two franchises. This felt like a special, welcome balance for a studio slate. If anyone wasn’t convinced that Amazon MGM could hold their own, this presentation would likely sway them.
What was your favorite announcement from Amazon MGM Studios’s presentation at this year’s CinemaCon? Which of their films are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Twitter account.
