CinemaCon, the annual film industry conference in Las Vegas, is where Hollywood studios, exhibitors, and tech companies meet annually to present what is next. Since debuting in 2011, CinemaCon has become the largest and most important assembly of movie theater owners from around the world.
At CinemaCon 2024, Universal Pictures, Focus Features, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation previewed trailers and clips from more than eight upcoming films that will be released this year and early 2025 that span all genres – including original titles and franchises.
Donna Langley, Chairman, NBCUniversal Studio Group and Chief Content Officer took the stage and spoke to the success of the film group and acknowledged her various partners within the NBCUniversal film empire including Universal proper, Focus Features, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation. She went on to thank producing partners, including Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, Amblin Entertainment and Blumhouse.
Despite an exciting year for the Universal Studios team, Donna assured “there will be no resting on our laurels.” “We believe our best year should always be in front of us and our best projects always in the pipeline, because that’s what keeps people excited and coming back for more.”
The Universal Studios presentation at CinemaCon included highly anticipated franchise returns such as new footage of Illumination’s ‘Despicable Me 4’, releasing in theaters this July, making it the sixth in a franchise that has produced two $1 billion-plus hits.
Following its record-setting box office debut, Five Nights at Freddy’s’ will get a sequel, coming in 2025. The film based on the wildly popular video game, became the most-watched title ever in a weekend on Peacock and became Blumhouse Productions’ most successful picture ever. Fans can also look forward to other Universal and Blumhouse films coming out including ‘Speak No Evil’ and ‘Wolf Man’.
The presentation also included original films that have robust existing fandom, like ‘Twisters,’ starring Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, and the anxiously awaited ‘Wicked.’
The ‘Wicked’ sneak peek included an introduction from the films leading ladies Ariana Grande and Cynthia Ervio, and was what The Hollywood Reporter described as an “emotional” and “electric” presentation. ‘Wicked’ is set to debut this November 29.
Three-time Oscar nominated director Chris Sandlers and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o previewed DreamWorks Animation’s ‘The Wild Robot’ based on the New York Times best-selling book, which is slated for a September 20 release.
Focus Features previewed ‘Conclave,’ Edward Berger’s Vatican thriller and the follow-up to the Oscar-winning All Quiet On The Western Front and stars Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini. It opens on November 1 in limited release, expanding on November 8.
‘Nosferatu’ is Robert Eggers’ take on the classic vampire horror stars Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe. It opens on December 27.
Upcoming Film Release Dates:
- Despicable Me 4: July 4, 2024
- Twisters: July 19, 2024
- Speak No Evil: September 13, 2024
- The Wild Robot: September 20, 2024
- Wolf Man: October 25, 2024
- Conclave: November 8, 2024
- Wicked Part One: November 29, 2024
- Nosferatu: December 27, 2024
- Five Night’s at Freddys Sequel – tbd, 2025
(Source: NBCUniversal)
