Banijay Takes Immersive Experience ‘Luminiscence’ to Hamburg, Its Third German Location

Banijay Germany is bringing the immersive experience "Luminiscence" to Hamburg's St. Michaelis Church, working with French immersive producer Lotchi, who created "Luminiscence" and is part of Banijay Live.


Hamburg becomes the third German city, after Münster and Nuremberg, to host the experience, which will start on July 2.
The event will transform the church into "a striking landscape of light, sound, and history," according to Banijay.

Since 2023, "Luminiscence" has welcomed more than a million visitors worldwide.
It has been performed in some of the world's most beautiful cathedrals, churches, and historic sites in eight countries, including France, Spain, the U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, and the U.S. The experience has been shown in over 20 cities, with nine productions currently running.

While Banijay Group continues to focus on TV content, it has expanded into live events and sports in recent years and has been successful.
The live experiences and other segment grew by 18.2% last year, increasing from 336 million euros ($393 million) to 397 million euros ($465 million).

For St. Michaelis, "Luminiscence" will use advanced 360-degree projection technology, clever lighting effects, original music, live singing, and organ music.
It will include a group of conductors, organists, and a local choir. The performance will feature singer Lucia Duchoňová and organists Magne H. Draagen and Paul Fasang.

Ingrid Langheld, CEO of Banijay Germany Live, said: "Luminiscence has shown it can attract people from different cultures.
It uses technology and music to bring history to life. Its growth in Germany shows how much people like the creative idea from Lotchi and how skilled our team is at making large-scale events. Bringing Luminiscence to St. Michaelis is a big step in our German journey and shows how working together can help businesses grow and change."

Alexander Röder, senior pastor at St. Michaelis, said: "This project shows our bright and airy Baroque church in a new way and brings the church's rich history to life with light, music, and storytelling.
"

François de Brugada, CEO of Banijay Live, added: "When Lotchi joined Banijay Live, Luminiscence had already worked in four French cathedrals.
One year later, the show is running across Europe, the U.K., the U.S., and Brazil. This success is thanks to Banijay Entertainment's strong network of local talent. St. Michaelis in Hamburg is another excellent match between Luminiscence's bold creative and technical vision and the great local skills of Banijay Germany."

Luminiscence at St. Michaelis is produced by Banijay Germany Live and Cape Cross.

‘House of the Dragon’ Season 3 Gets a June Premiere Date, New Teaser

"House of the Dragon" Season 3 is set to start on HBO on June 21.

Earlier, it was already known that the series would come back in June.

 But on Monday, the network officially announced the exact date for the return. HBO also shared a new teaser trailer for the upcoming season.

In this new teaser, Daemon Targaryen (played by Matt Smith) says, "You now have a power no man has ever wielded.

 You will have an empire unassailable, Rhaenyra. And our children will rule it forever and a day." 

The trailer then shows the Targaryens and Alicent Hightower's (played by Olivia Cooke) forces getting ready for war.

Michael’ Now on Course to Near $90 Million in Record-Smashing Domestic Opening

This method has the function of serving as a history-making moon walk, Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic is now on course to launch light-years ahead of expectations at the domestic box office with a debut approaching $90 million.

Michael looks to earn $37 million to $38 million on Friday alone for a projected three-day opening of $88 million or more.

 A milestone victory for Lionsgate, according to those with access to grosses, the pic could easily clear $180 million in its debut, considering Jackson is an even bigger draw overseas, where Michael is likewise off to a record start (Universal is handling the film internationally).

Heading into the weekend, Michael was tracking to open in the $65 million-$70 million range domestically, which would have already been enough to boast the biggest opening of all time for a music biopic, not adjusted for inflation.

 The current record-holder is Universal's Straight Outta Compton ($60.1 million) followed by Fox's Freddie Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody ($55 million).

An inkling of Michael's true potential was revealed when the film earned $12.6 million in Wednesday and Thursday previews, on par with 2026 box office hit Hail Project Mary, and ahead of such event pics including Dune: Part II and Oppenheimer, which both reported preview grosses in the $10 million range.

The big unknown was how front-loaded Michael would be.

 At the same time, it was clear moviegoers were over-the-moon for the film, which boasts a coveted 96 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

On Thursday, headlines focused on Michael's worrisome RT critics' score, which bounced between 29 percent and 33 percent.

 Many of the reviews seemingly took issue with the fact that producer Graham King, along with Lionsgate, had decided to end the movie before Jackson became engulfed in allegations of child sexual abuse (the Jackson estate backed the project). The film's initial budget of $155 million came in closer to $200 million after tens of millions were spent on additional photography to make that decision a reality.

"Fuqua and screenwriter John Logan don't exactly break the mold with Michael, nor do they stuff it with major revelations.

 But they tap into a vein of melancholy underlaying the stratospheric success that's surprisingly affecting," THR chief film critic David Rooney writes in its review. "The online mob will be sharpening their pitchforks given the movie's failure to address the accusations of child sexual abuse that tarnished Michael Jackson's legacy. But the filmmakers get around that by focusing on his early career, ending with the 1988 Bad World Tour concert in London, years before allegations first surfaced. The epilogue card reading 'His story continues' does some heavy lifting."

By Thursday night, the critics' score had risen to 40 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

 While that's far from ideal, strong audience exits are more than making up for it.

When Michael first came on tracking three weeks ago, the domestic opening range was $55 million to $60 million.

 While still a great number, the subsequent spike signals that Michael may be benefiting from the nostalgia factor that is inspiring infrequent moviegoers to return to the multiplex in droves for the first time since the pandemic, or sparking interest among the most avid moviegoing demo, Gen Zers.

Overseas, Michael is opening in 82 markets, excluding Japan.

 It unfurled in most key markets on Wednesday, earning $16.6 million for a running total of $18.5 million, including previews.

International Wednesday highlights included:

France ($2.6 million): Biggest opening day ever for a biopic, coming in well above the Wednesday openings of both Oppenheimer and Bohemian Rhapsody.

U.K. & Ireland ($2.6 million): Biggest opening day for a musical biopic of all time, ahead of the Wednesday opening of Bohemian Rhapsody and well above the Friday openings of Elvis and Rocketman.

Italy ($1.3 million): Biggest opening day ever for a musical biopic, above Bohemian Rhapsody.

Australia ($1 million): Biggest opening day for a musical biopic ever, beating Elvis.

Brazil ($651,000): Michael added another $651,000 in previews for a running total of $2 million.

 The combined preview result represents the biggest ever for a non-superhero, non-franchise film in the market. It continues to rank No. 1, with a 68 percent market share.

The Mummy’ Walks To 2027, ‘Miami Vice ’85’ Drives To 2028 In Universal Release Date Changes

Universal Pictures is swapping two titles on the calendar, and it's only because one is in a more favorable position to move forward.

The Radio Silence-directed revival of The Mummy, featuring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz reprising their roles as Rick and Evie O'Connell, will now release on October 15, 2027, instead of May 19, 2027.

The real issue is with the ciment and gravier, as the other title on that date is an untitled Paramount movie.

Previously, the October 15 date was occupied by an untitled Blumhouse movie, which has now moved to October 8, 2027.

Meanwhile, the Joseph Kosinski-directed Miami Vice '85, starring Michael B. Jordan and Austin Butler as detectives Ricardo Tubbs and Sonny Crockett, respectively, will now release on May 19, 2028, moving from its original August 6, 2027 date.

 No other major motion picture studio titles are scheduled for that date so far.

The new Miami Vice date falls on the weekend before Memorial Day weekend (May 26-29) in 2028.

For now, Universal is reserving the August 6, 2027 date for an untitled event movie.

 Universal has had great success with that first weekend in August, as seen with the Fast & Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, which opened to $60 million in 2019.

Desert Warrior Movie

Desert Warrior

2025, R, 1h 54m

Genre Action, Drama, History, War

Directed by

Rupert Wyatt

Screenplay by

David Self

Rupert Wyatt

Erica Beeney

Story by

David Self

Produced by

Jeremy Bolt

Starring

Anthony Mackie

Aiysha Hart

Sharlto Copley

Ben Kingsley

Cinematography

Guillermo Garza

Edited by

Richard Mettler

Music by

Dan Levy

Production

companies

MBC Studios[1]

AGC Studios[2]

JB Pictures[1]

Studio Mechanical[1]

Distributed by

Vertical

Release dates

September 28, 2025 (Zurich Film Festival)

April 24, 2026 (United States)

Running time

114 minutes

Countries

United States

Saudi Arabia

Languages

English

Arabic

Budget

$150 million

Ricky Movie

Ricky

2025, 1h 49m

Genre Drama

Directed by

Rashad Frett

Written by

Rashad Frett

Lin Que Ayoung

Produced by

Rashad Frett

Pierre M. Coleman

Simon Taufique

DC Wade

Josh Peters

Sterling Brim

Cary Joji Fukunaga

Starring

Stephan James

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Titus Welliver

Maliq Johnson

Imani Lewis

Simbi Kali

Andrene Ward-Hammond

Cinematography

Sam Motamedi

Edited by

Daysha Broadway

Music by

Simon Taufique

Production

companies

Ossetra Films

Bay Mills Studios

Parliament of Owls

Spark Features

Good Gravy Films

The deNovo Intuitive

Distributed by

Blue Harbor Entertainment

Release dates

April 24, 2026 

January 24, 2025 (Sundance)

March 20, 2026 (United States)

Running time

109 minutes

Country

United States

Language

English

Fuze Movie

Fuze

2025 , R, 1h 38m

Genre Thriller, War, Mystery, Drama

Directed by

David Mackenzie

Written by

Ben Hopkins

Produced by

Sebastien Raybaud

Callum Christopher Grant

David Mackenzie

Gillian Berrie

Starring

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Theo James

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Sam Worthington

Cinematography

Giles Nuttgens

Edited by

Matt Mayer

Music by

Tony Doogan

Production

companies

Anton

Sigma Films

Distributed by

Sky Cinema (through StudioCanal)

Release dates

5 September 2025 (TIFF)

3 April 2026 (United Kingdom)

24 April 2026 (United States)

Running time

96 minutes

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English