CinemaCon2026: Warner Bros. teases ‘Digger,’ ‘Practical Magic 2,’ ‘Dune: Part Three’

Warner Bros. Showcases Star-Studded Film Slate to Theater Owners in Las Vegas

Warner Bros. pulled out all the stops at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Tuesday, presenting their upcoming film lineup to theater owners with appearances from Hollywood A-listers including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Sandra Bullock, and Jason Momoa.

The enthusiastic audience was treated to previews of several highly anticipated projects, including J.J. Abrams’ science fiction thriller “The Great Beyond” starring Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega, and footage from “Dune: Part Three,” which director Denis Villeneuve described as a “thriller” that is “more intense and definitely more emotional” than its predecessors.

Chalamet, who returns as Paul Atreides, shared insights about his character’s evolution, noting that he has become his “worst vision” in the 17 years following the events of “Part Two.” Warner Bros. strategically saved the “Dune” footage for the finale of their nearly two-and-a-half-hour presentation.

In a lighthearted moment, Sandra Bullock convinced Nicole Kidman to recite her famous AMC Theaters tagline, “we come to this place for magic,” drawing enthusiastic applause from the exhibitors. The two actresses are reuniting for “Practical Magic 2,” scheduled for release in September.

Tom Cruise received a rare standing ovation from the theater owners, underscoring his reputation as a vocal champion of the theatrical experience. Unlike his recent action blockbusters, Cruise will next appear in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s satirical film “Digger,” opening in October. “The movie is wild. It’s funny,” Cruise told the audience. Iñárritu praised Cruise’s performance as “a high-wire act,” adding, “This role could possibly be the most challenging.”

Warner Bros. motion picture group co-chairs and CEOs Pam Abdy and Mike DeLuca opened the presentation by reflecting on their accomplishments since taking the helm in 2022. They emphasized their strategy of balancing franchise films with original content.

“Originality is not risky,” DeLuca stated. “Derivative sameness is.”

The studio is riding high following a banner year that saw global box office receipts exceed $4.4 billion, driven by hits like “Sinners,” “A Minecraft Movie,” and “Weapons.” The studio also secured multiple Oscar wins, including best picture and best director for “One Battle After Another” and best actor for Michael B. Jordan.

Abdy acknowledged that not every film will succeed but emphasized the importance of taking creative risks. Both executives expressed optimism about Generation Alpha’s enthusiasm for theatrical experiences. “We are at a crucial, critical moment in time with this audience,” Abdy noted. “The Letterboxd generation is only growing.”

The presentation included announcements of upcoming projects, including Sean Baker’s “TI AMO!,” which will release under Warner Bros.’ new Clockwork label next year. A rapid-fire video also previewed their 2027 slate, featuring stars like Margot Robbie discussing her “Ocean’s” prequel set in 1962, Keanu Reeves teasing his shark thriller “Shiver,” and filmmaker Nancy Meyers describing her upcoming romantic comedy as “a bit of a love letter to the world of making movies.”

Despite the festive atmosphere, the looming acquisition of Warner Bros. by Paramount cast a shadow over the event. Over 1,000 industry figures, including Villeneuve and Abrams, had signed an open letter opposing the merger, published on BlocktheMerger.com just a day earlier. Some convention attendees wore #blockthemerger pins, though the topic wasn’t addressed from the stage.

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav was notably absent from the presentation. Greg Marcus, whose Marcus Theaters is the fourth-largest theater circuit in the United States, expressed concerns about the merger’s potential impact on moviegoers and ticket prices.

“The concentration of power at the studio level has allowed them to raise the cost of going to the movies to the consumer quite significantly,” Marcus told The Associated Press. “Our margins are no better. We’re not making more money. And yet the cost to the consumer has far outpaced inflation.”

Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the movie theater trade organization, reiterated his group’s opposition to the merger: “Consolidation results in fewer films being produced for movie theaters. We believe this transaction will be harmful to exhibition, consumers, and the entire industry.”

Not everyone opposes the deal, however. Filmmaker James Cameron voiced support for the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, though he had previously opposed a potential Netflix acquisition of Warner Bros. due to concerns about theatrical releases.

“I’m a supporter of it. I know it’s controversial,” Cameron told the AP, citing his positive working relationship with Paramount Skydance chair and CEO David Ellison on “Terminator: Dark Fate.” Ellison has pledged to increase the combined studios’ theatrical output to approximately 30 releases annually.

Cameron praised Ellison as “the right man for the job,” adding, “He really cares about movies. And he’s a natural born storyteller… that loves storytelling and loved putting on spectacular shows.”