‘Days of Thunder 2’: Jonathan Levine in Talks to Direct Tom Cruise in Paramount’s Racing Sequel

 The engines are ready to start up again.

Paramount is finally pushing forward with a sequel to *Days of Thunder*, and they've given the driving job to Jonathan Levine, who will direct the movie starring Tom Cruise.

Tom Cruise is confirmed to be in the lead role for the new film, which is a follow-up to his 1990 racing movie.

He's also producing the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, who was one of the producers of the original.This is meant to be Cruise's next production.

Paramount's decision to hire Levine, whose contract is still being worked out, shows a lot of confidence in his work.

Levine recently directed *Mr.Irrelevant*, a sports drama set for a wide release on Christmas Day.The movie has been getting very positive reactions during test screenings this spring.

*Days of Thunder* was a reunion of Cruise with his *Top Gun* director, Tony Scott.

While it wasn't as big as *Top Gun*, it was still one of Cruise's most remembered films.In it, Cruise played Cole Trickle, a daring NASCAR racer who lived fast, crashed cars, found love, and won the Daytona 500.

The movie had a great cast, including Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Cary Elwes, and Randy Quaid.

Details about the new story are still being kept secret, but the script was written by Will Staples.

He's known for writing video games like *Call of Duty 3: Modern Warfare*, and he also co-wrote the Michael B.Jordan movie *Without Remorse*.

Jonathan Levine has a wide range of experience in Hollywood.

He's made movies in different genres, from horror films like *All the Boys Love Mandy Lane* to dramas like *The Wackness* and *50/50*, and even a zombie romance called *Warm Bodies*.He also directed comedy films with Seth Rogen like *The Night Before* and *Long Shot*, which also starred Charlize Theron.

Levine has also worked in TV, directing episodes of Hulu's *Nine Perfect Strangers*, a drama starring Nicole Kidman and created by David E.

Kelley.

He is represented by WME and Goodman Genow.

Sia: Nostalgic for The Present Movie

Sia: Nostalgic for The Present

Original title: Sia: Nostalgic for the Present

2026 |1h 15m 

Genre: Music

Release Date: 23 July 2026

Directors

Daniel AskillSia

Cast

Paul Dano

Gaby Hoffmann

Nick Lanzisera

Editor

Lorin Askill

editor

Choreography

Ryan Heffington

Bad Counselors Movie

Bad Counselors

2026 |  PG-13 | 1h 40m

Genre: Comedy, Family

Release Date: 23 July 2026

Director

Chris Dowling

Writers

Taylor Grabowsky

Ryan Gunnarson

Dexter Masland

Cast

Missi Pyle

Matt Cornett

Richard T. Jones

Composer

Grant Fonda

composer

Cinematographer

Alexander Rivera

Editor

Chris Witt

Makeup Department

Guliza Covalinski

hair department head

Megan Deputy

makeup artist

Magie McGee

key makeup artist

Alexander McPherson

makeup department head

Ella Misenheimer

makeup artist

Raniesha Moorman

key hair stylist

Second Unit Directors or Assistant Directors

Andrew Bolzman

first assistant director

Rebekah Hynes

second assistant director

George LeFave

second second assistant director

Stunts

Jason Gupton

stunt coordinator

Meredith Richardson

stunt double: McKaley Miller

Camera and Electrical Department

Devin Bradford Bacon

Best Boy Electric

Ryan Gladstone

b camera / steadicam

Trevor Kolman

B 1st Assistant Camera

Jason Miller

additional second assistant camera

R. Michael Sasser

key grip

Connor Young

Chief Lighting Technician

Casting Department

Danielle Aufiero

Casting Director

Amber Horn

Casting Director

Ron Pennywell

associate casting director

Paramount+ Orders Scottish Highland Family Saga ‘Laird’ With Kenneth Branagh

 Paramount+ is getting ready to take viewers to the Scottish Highlands.

The streaming service has given the go-ahead for a new series called *Laird*, a family drama starring and executive produced by Kenneth Branagh.

This news came from *The Hollywood Reporter*.The show will follow a local landowner, the Laird of Castle Drummoch (played by Branagh), who resists the plans of an American billionaire trying to buy up large parts of the glens.

Interestingly, the idea for the show sounds a lot like *Yellowstone*, but set in Scotland.

The series was created by Jez Butterworth, who also worked on *MobLand* and *The Agency*.

He worked with his brother, John-Henry Butterworth, who wrote *Edge of Tomorrow*, and Georgia Lee, who also produced *The 100*.The show is being made by Paramount Television Studios and 101 Studios.

Jane Wiseman, head of originals at Paramount+, said in a statement, "At its heart, *Laird* is about one man standing his ground against unchecked wealth and power.

There's something universally resonant about watching someone fight to protect what matters most.With Kenneth Branagh leading the series, and an equally remarkable creative team, we can't wait for audiences to root for the Laird of Castle Drummoch." 

Branagh is executive producing along with David Glasser, Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Charles Finch, and Keith Cox.

Joe Wright, the director of *Pride & Prejudice*, *Atonement*, and *Darkest Hour*, will direct the pilot episode.

Matt Thunell, president of Paramount Television Studios, said in a statement, "Jez, John-Henry, and Georgia have imagined a gripping drama that explores how far one family will go to protect their land and legacy.

With Kenneth Branagh starring and Joe Wright directing, this is a singular creative team, and we are thrilled to once again partner with 101 Studios to bring this series to Paramount+." 

This is the latest big project approved by the new management team at Paramount+.

In the past year, the streamer has also ordered the legal drama *Discretion* with Nicole Kidman and Elle Fanning, the true crime adaptation *Fear Not* with Anne Hathaway, and the 9/11 first responders drama *9/12* with Jeremy Strong.

Branagh is represented by WME, Berwick & Kovacik, and Gochman Law Group.

Ryan Reynolds Confirms Another ‘Deadpool’ Movie

 Ryan Reynolds is set to don the Deadpool costume again.

During a recent appearance at Fanatics Fest 2026, Reynolds confirmed that another Deadpool movie is in the works.

This new film would follow the huge success of the 2024 movie Deadpool & Wolverine.

Speaking onstage, Reynolds shared, "There are a few really deep cuts that I think are missing from the movies.

There are some deep cuts missing from the comics too.There's some stuff that I really love that Fabian Nicieza, who co-created Deadpool, wrote.Gerry Duggan, who was a friend, was an amazing comic writer.There's stuff coming up.There will be another Deadpool film eventually.It's going to be great."

Reynolds didn’t say if the new movie will be a solo Deadpool film or if it will include other characters, with Deadpool playing a supporting role.

The Hollywood Reporter has contacted Marvel for a comment on this news.

Earlier this year, THR reported that Reynolds was thinking about making another movie in the franchise that would include X-Men characters.

He has also said before that he doesn’t think there will be another solo Deadpool movie in the future.

In 2024, he told THR, "Centering Deadpool works best if you take everything away from him and put his back against the wall.

I can't really do that again.A fourth time feels a little repetitive and redundant.That doesn't mean sacrificing fun.There is still an arc for Deadpool which is fulfilling and powerful." 

When Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Reynolds and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, was released in 2024, it became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, earning over $1.3 billion worldwide.

The film followed 2016's Deadpool and 2019's Deadpool 2, which were also major box office hits.

‘Robocop’ Reboot Series Set at Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video has officially announced that they are making a TV series based on "Robocop," according to Variety.The series will consist of eight episodes and has been in the works since Amazon bought MGM in 2022.Amazon hopes to use MGM's big collection of movie and TV properties to create new content.

The official summary for the show says, "A big tech company convinces the city to use a powerful robot in its police force — a robot with the mind of a popular, deceased officer."

Peter Ocko is writing, producing, and running the show.

James Wan, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett are also producing through Blumhouse Atomic Monster.The original movie creators, Michael Miner and Ed Neumeier, will also be executive producers.Danielle Bozzone from Blumhouse Atomic Monster will be co-producer and oversee the project.Amazon MGM Studios will handle the production.

Wan said, "I've always been a big fan of 'Robocop,' so helping bring this world to TV is a dream.

What Paul Verhoeven made in 1987 was way ahead of its time, and the questions it raised about technology, identity, and who corporations really serve have become even more important.With Peter's unique vision and bold storytelling, along with Ed and our team at Amazon MGM Studios, we're trying to honor what made the original special and show its relevance today while making something new for a global audience."

The "Robocop" story began in 1987 with the first movie, where Peter Weller played the half-human, half-machine police officer.

He came back for the second movie in 1990, and Robert Burke took over for "Robocop 3" in 1993.Nancy Allen played Officer Anne Lewis in all three films.A new version with Joel Kinnaman came out in 2014.There have also been several "Robocop" TV shows, including two animated ones and two live-action ones, along with video games and comic books.

Peter Friedlander, head of global TV for Amazon MGM Studios, said, "'Robocop' has meant a lot to audiences for almost 40 years — not just as a big action movie, but as a sharp and thought-provoking look at our relationship with technology and power.

Peter Ocko has created a vision that respects the original's lasting appeal while making something fresh and relevant for today.With the strong cinematic style of James Wan and his team at Blumhouse Atomic Monster, we believe this series will attract a new generation of fans on Prime Video."

FIFA World Cup Halftime Show Director on Making First-Ever Concert: “Challenging Beyond Challenging”

 Hamish Hamilton has directed more than a dozen Super Bowls, the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, six Emmy Awards ceremonies, four Oscar events, and three Grammy shows, among other big events.He says none of these were as tough as the first-ever FIFA World Cup Finals Halftime Show he directed on Sunday.

Hamilton, who co-founded the production company Done + Dusted, told The Hollywood Reporter via Zoom from his hotel room in New Jersey the day after the event.

He called the show "challenging beyond challenging."

"Along with the Olympics, this was right up there," he said.

"I’m sure the first Super Bowl Halftime Show was really hard, but when I came in, they had already done over 40 of them.By the time you get to Super Bowl 47, the NFL had everything well organized.But this time, there were so many unanswered questions.There were lots of people who hadn’t done this before, a lot of nervousness, and we were doing it in daylight.There was grass, a huge number of big stars, and everything felt really scary because so many things could go wrong."

Luckily, Hamilton and FIFA didn’t face any technical issues during the event.

Months of preparation were all packed into just 11 minutes as artists like Madonna, BTS, Justin Bieber, a Gustavo Dudamel-led orchestra, Shakira, Burna Boy, the PS22 Choir, and the Muppets all performed on stage.

Hamilton says the show left him feeling exhausted, relieved, and happy.

"I’m very proud of what we did to help bring Chris Martin’s and Global Citizens’ vision to life," he said."They had this dream four years ago.It was a huge project, and they should be applauded for what they did."

Putting the show together with so many artists in such a short time was a challenge.

But, Hamilton says, the bigger problem was the massive set of logistical issues involved in the whole production.They had to deal with the strong daylight that kept showing up, which affected how they filmed the show.Also, the FIFA final was played on grass instead of artificial turf, which made a big difference for the halftime show.The softer surface influenced everything from the set design to the choice of cameras they used.

There was also a lot of pressure from outside the production team.

Soccer fans all over the world were skeptical about the halftime show, questioning the need for a concert during a game where halftime is usually a short break.Robert Smith of The Cure made headlines before the final by criticizing the show, saying "please just fuck off." The Guardian also referred to the concert as "the halftime show nobody asked for."

Hamilton, who is British and a lifelong fan of Arsenal F.C., acknowledged these feelings.

He said the resistance was more common in parts of the world outside the U.S., where people are more used to mixing music and sports through events like the Super Bowl.

"I’m a football fan, and I’ve been one my whole life," he says.

"Around the world, especially in Europe and the U.K., I saw people saying, 'We don’t want your halftime show.We don’t want the Americanization of the beautiful game.' I was aware of that resistance.In America, sports, entertainment, and music are much more connected than in other parts of the world.But I was aware of that, and also worried about what could happen if the grass caused any problems.It’s hard, it’s pressure."

Will any of the doubters now be convinced after the first show has passed and the rest of the tournament is over?

"I think that’s a very good question," Hamilton says.

"If someone else was directing and I was just watching from London, maybe I could take a different view.But as someone who was involved in creating the show within the game, I can say that on balance, I believe they should do another one."