The Weekly Reel – Episode 4
June 20th, 2025

This week on The Weekly Reel, we’re diving into a blockbuster batch of movie news, early buzz, and fresh trailers just in time for your weekend watchlist.

James Gunn Gets Candid
Rolling Stone sits down with the DC Studios chief as he opens up about Superman, the pressure of rebooting the DCEU, and why Robert Pattinson probably won’t be joining his Batman plans.

Jurassic World: Rebirth Roars to Life
Scarlett Johansson and Gareth Edwards promise a return to the franchise’s Spielberg roots—but can they really deliver?

Bond 26 Drama
Amazon vs. the Broccolis: Leaks suggest production starts in 2026, but behind-the-scenes clashes might shake the foundation of 007.

Early Buzz

• F1 (Brad Pitt x Damson Idris) zooms in with 85% RT and high praise
• Pixar’s Elio charms with heart and imagination
• 28 Years Later shocks with a 91% RT score—after Sony held the reviews hostage

New Trailers

• The Naked Gun reboot teases absurdity
• I Know What You Did Last Summer gets a modern slash

Whether you're here for the movie scoops, studio drama, or review roundups, Episode 4 has your weekend movie brain covered.

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This episode kicks off with a heartfelt message about the ongoing ICE raids in Los Angeles, our city, our home, and a call to stand in solidarity with the immigrant community that helps fuel the heartbeat of Hollywood.

Then we dive into a packed week in entertainment:

🎥 Movie News

• Snoop Dogg gets his biopic: Jonathan Davis takes on the role of the West Coast icon in a Craig Brewer directed film.
• KISS meets Nick Jonas: A glam rock biopic with face paint, pyrotechnics, and Paul Stanley played by a Jonas Brother? You bet.
• Tarantino x Fincher: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II joins Brad Pitt in “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” a Fincher-directed sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

🔥 Early Buzz

• Animal Farm: Orwell meets fart jokes? Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation is getting roasted by critics.
• How to Train Your Dragon (Live-Action): Warm reception but light on originality, critics can't stop comparing it to microwaved snacks.
• The Materialists: Celine Song’s follow-up to Past Lives splits opinions with its romcom flair, money-vs-love debate, and another Pedro Pascal appearance.

🎞️ New Trailers

• The Lost Bus: Matthew McConaughey stars in a true story wildfire thriller, marking his son Levi’s acting debut.
• Eddington: Ari Aster and Joaquin Phoenix return with a surreal pandemic-era Western, featuring Emma Stone and (of course) Pedro Pascal.

Whether you’re here for the movie scoops, the early reviews, or the righteous rants—Episode 3 brings heat, humor, and heart.

The Weekly Reel – Episode 2 (June 6, 2025)

This week, we delve into a galaxy far, far away as Ryan Reynolds pitches an R-rated Star Wars film, aiming to explore deeper emotional narratives rather than just adding adult content. We also discuss the buzz surrounding Alex Garland's ambitious adaptation of Elden Ring, with Kit Connor potentially leading the cast.

In other news, speculation arises about a sequel to Ryan Coogler's Sinners, despite the director's previous statements about the film being a standalone piece. We examine the early reactions to Project Hail Mary, with test screenings suggesting it could be a major sci-fi hit.

Marvel's Fantastic Four: First Steps faces mixed reviews from early screenings, raising questions about its potential success. Meanwhile, James Gunn's Superman reboot receives positive feedback, indicating a promising start for the new DC Universe.

We also explore the latest trailers: Guillermo del Toro's gothic take on Frankenstein, the teaser for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, and the nostalgic yet questionable return of Happy Gilmore 2.

Tune in for insightful commentary on these developments and more in the world of film and television.

The reel starts rolling with our very first episode!

We dive into the biggest stories in film this week, including Leonardo DiCaprio dropping out of Damien Chazelle’s Evel Knievel biopic and pivoting to work with Martin Scorsese again. We also cover Tom Cruise’s mission to make movies into his 100s, and the wildly divisive AI-generated creatures from Lucasfilm’s latest Star Wars experiment.

From Cannes, we break down early reactions to Spike Lee’s "Highest 2 Lowest", Wes Anderson’s puzzling "The Phoenician Scheme", and the unnerving debut feature "The Plague."

Plus, new trailers for:

• 🦖 Jurassic World: Rebirth
• 🕷️ Predator: Killer of Killers (animated anthology!)
• 🧾 Caught Stealing – Aronofsky goes full Guy Ritchie

We close out with a Weekend Box Office Preview for what could be a record-breaking Memorial Day, including hype for Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch live-action remake.