Right from the outset of their epic presentation, it was fairly clear that Universal Pictures would most likely be the studio to leave the strongest impression at CinemaCon this year. Not necessarily because of the sizzle reels they dazzled attendees with (although there was some great footage to behold), but mostly because of the sheer showmanship alone. I mean…They opened things up with an undeniable mic drop in the form of a 30-plus orchestra (with conductor Ricky Minor at the helm), on hand to perform not only a live version of the famed Universal Pictures logo jingle, but also a medley of some of Universal’s greatest scores through the years. JAWS, PSYCHO, JURASSIC PARK, and BACK TO THE FUTURE among them. And that was just for starters!
In terms of footage, we got all kinds of goodies including a peek at the upcoming slate from Blumhouse for all of the horror hounds out there (this included teasers for a trio of sequels like FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S 2, BLACK PHONE 2, and MEGAN 2.0), but most eyes were focused on the big guns and there were really two massive ones to speak of;
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH
Say what you will about “Jurassic World: Dominion” (personally, I don’t even believe JURASSIC PARK should have been a franchise…Quite frankly, I always felt it should have been a one and done), it made gobs of money so it was only a matter of time before we’d get another one. That said, when word dropped that Universal was bringing Gareth Edwards (MONSTERS, GODZILLA, ROGUE ONE) to direct, even I was somewhat intrigued. Edwards was on hand with select members of the cast (Scarlett Johansson among them) to present some brand new footage and it brought the house down. The footage included a terrifying shot of a T-Rex chasing a group of individuals down a river. At one point, the Rex–it’s jaws wide open– dunks its head underwater in an aggressive attempt to claim a would be victim. There’s no doubt that the footage we were treated to (more of an extended trailer) gives one the sense that this one is looking to bring back the tension and scares of Spielberg’s original. Edwards talked about his excitement to be part of a franchise that means so much to him. Here’s hoping he returns this series back to its former glory. JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH opens on July 2, 2026.
WICKED FOR GOOD
Full transparency; I’m not a huge fan of WICKED. Yes, I saw the first half of this epic two-parter in theaters and while I certainly enjoyed aspects of it, the source material isn’t really my cup of tea. Who cares what I think, though. WICKED was a box-office juggernaut and it’s safe to say the follow up–the aptly titled WICKED FOR GOOD– will be, too. Charismatic director Jon M. Chu and stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were on hand to treat attendees to the very first trailer for the film. Epic shots of Oz, a clip of Glinda adjusting to a life that finds her side by side with the Wizard, and a moment in which Glinda warns Elphaba “They’re coming for you!” Plenty of new music in the clip, too. The footage clearly hit all of the right notes for a Colosseum full of fans. As previously stated, this movie is going to be a monster hit when it opens in November, 2025.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
Not to be outdone, Universal Pictures gave CinemaCon attendees a bonus treat during the convention in the form of an advanced screening of their live-action adaptation of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Now, what made this screening extra special is the fact that we got to see it 2 ½ months early! Director Dean DeBlois (who also helmed the beloved animated feature) was on hand to set the stage. He was clearly enthusiastic and promised that while this adaptation was faithful to the original, it would still be an entirely new experience. Now, I was pretty skeptical as I’m getting really tired of live action remakes of beloved animated features but the fact that this live action version was put together by the same team behind the animated take, I had reason for optimism. Beyond that…I really can’t say much because everyone in attendance is prohibited from sharing their thoughts. All I can say is that I was fortunate enough to be in attendance at the screening and yes…There is a dragon in it!
*CinemaCon is an annual convention held in Las Vegas, NV. Formally ShoWest, this get-together is designed to give cinema exhibitors from around the world a peek at upcoming movie theater tech, theater cosmetics (seats, screens, etc.), snack bar upgrades, concession goodness, and of course, big studio product. The convention takes place at Ceasar’s Palace with the majority of the studio presentations taking place in the luxurious Colosseum.
