UPDATE: Universal's panel has concluded. You can catch up on all the updates from the event below!
CinemaCon 2025 is over halfway done as Universal Studios gets ready to promote its thrilling slate of films lined up for its release schedule.
Taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada, CinemaCon is the biggest gathering in the country for movie theater vendors and studio executives to promote the advancement of theaters. Here, studios hold exclusive presentations for journalists and vendor employees promoting their biggest upcoming theatrical projects.
CinemaCon 2025 is running from March 31 until April 3, with panels and news coming every day from the most prominent studios in the industry.
Every Update from Universal Studios' CinemaCon 2025 Panel
How to Train Your Dragon Screening (Pictures)
Before Universal's CinemaCon Panel, the studio hosted the first full screening of the live-action How to Train Your Dragon from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. PT. The film is due to be released in theaters worldwide on June 13.
Additionally, Universal had a massive display of characters and costumes from the movie for fans to enjoy, including near-life-size versions of the film's different dragon breeds.
CinemaCon attendees got an up-close look at a massive model depicting the live-action version of Toothless, the most prominent dragon in How to Train Your Dragon. Complete with black scales, green eyes, and a man-made fin on his tail, the dragon is perfectly replicated from the original 2010 animated movie.
Standing next to Toothless is a standee with the costume for Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, portrayed by Black Phone star Mason Thames.
Next to Hiccup and Toothless is a massive model of the blue-skinned Deadly Nadder, who will eventually be known as Stormfly. Complete with poisonous spines on her tail, the Nadder lives up to its "deadly" name against anyone who stands in her way.
Next to Stormfly is a mannequin wearing Nico Parker's Astrid Hofferson costume.
Attendees later shared their first reactions to How To Train Your Dragon on social media after leaving the screening.
Universal Begins CinemaCon 2025 Panel
Complete with a live orchestra, Universal Studios kicked off its CinemaCon 2025 panel at 3:45 p.m. PT with a packed crowd in attendance.
The panel started with a long montage of clips from Universal's top franchises, including Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, How to Train Your Dragon, Jaws, Psycho, Fast & Furious, and much more.
This led to speeches from Donna Langley (Chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment & Studios) and Peter Levinsohn (Chairman of Global Distribution Entertainment & Studios) on the success Universal saw last year.
Jurassic World: Rebirth Panel at CinemaCon 2025
Universal kicked off its presentation for new movies with a look at Jurassic World: Rebirth, which is due to hit theaters on July 2. This included appearances by director Gareth Edwards and stars Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali after an orchestral intro.
"It has been a lifelong dream to be in a Jurassic movie," said Johansson on being in the cast. She told attendees she would reach out to the studio every time she heard about a new movie happening before Edwards joked that she was too expensive.
The trio got into some jokey banter about their Oscars success, particularly with Ali having won two awards while Johansson has not yet won one.
Johansson reflected with Edwards on how "most blockbusters are shot with a green screen and studio, but [he] wanted to make this feel as realistic as possible." This led to them going "to the other side of the world" to make it happen.
Edwards commented on wanting to make the movie feel like a rollercoaster ride as Ali joked about hating rollercoasters.
New footage from the movie starts off in a lab with the new mutant monster from the original trailer going wild, with red lights coming on, as viewers see a lab worker begging his co-worker to "please open the door,' just before dying.
The trailer shows the long-awaited raft scene in a river, as a T-Rex attacks a family floating in a raft (a scene from the original book). Then, there are shots of Titanosaurus in a field, and other familiar shots from the first teaser.
More of the scene with Jonathan Bailey's character attempting to get the egg from the Quetzalcoatlus is shown, as the same character notes in a different scene, that "Survival is a longshot."
Another extended look at the Mosasaurus scene is shown, as Scarlett Johanson's character looks it in its eye as she hangs for her life over the ocean.
The footage also showed off a brand-new, unnamed dinosaur, who seemed to be a mix between a bird-like dino and a raptor. It was unclear if it was a pure species or a hybrid.
Finally, the theater witnesses a clear shot of the new mutant big dinosaur baddie as the trailer came to a close.
Dreamworks Kicks Off with Gabby's Dollhouse, Bad Guys 2
Margie Cohn, President of Dreamworks Animation, took the stage to tease a new partially-animated kids movie titled Gabby's Dollhouse, which will debut on September 26.
Based on Netflix's show of the same name, the movie is said to be part of "a new franchise built from the ground up in four years," according to Cohn.
The footage shows the live-action lead character going on a trip in the real world. She loses the big dollhouse she brought with her, which is filled with animated characters and an entire new world.
Featuring Kirsten Wigg as the unnamed main villain, the live-action lead finds her way into the animated world to help her dolls.
The presentation moved to The Bad Guys 2, which will come to theaters on August 1. Attendees saw stars Awkafina and Craig Robinson take the stage to hype up the movie.
Robinson began by joking about how the rest of the cast didn't care to be there, which Awkwafina helped play up. They then proceeded to their affirmation ritual on stage, in which they said, "We are good enough. We are bad enough. We are enough."
"So now, we got ourselves a legit franchise," Robinson said as he teased the Bad Guys being lured into crime by another group called the Bad Girls.
In a new trailer, the Bad Girls tell the Bad Guys, "We need the Bad Guys for the biggest heist in history," forcing them to work for the Bad Girls.
Sam Rockwell's Mr. Wolf agrees to work with them, but they plan to sabotage the whole thing behind the girls' backs. The trailer then ends with the characters going into space, as the heist involves a massive rocket.
How To Train Your Dragon & Sequel Teased at CinemaCon
After the first full screening of How To Train Your Dragon earlier in the day, stars Nico Parker and Gerard Butler took the stage for fans alongside director Dean DeBlois. Butler teased that the fans "just saw [them] this morning" but was sure they missed the cast.
The crowd burst into raucous applause when asked what they thought of the movie before Butler teased new huge news to share.
DeBlois then confirmed this movie "would not be the last" in the franchise as he announced the development of How To Train Your Dragon 2.
Based on the 2014 animated sequel, this new movie is now due to debut in theaters on June 11, 2027.
This panel concluded with a performance highlighting the music from How To Train Your Dragon.
Jordan Peele's HIM Movie With Stars & Sneak Peek
Next up was Jordan Peele's new horror movie, HIM, as stars Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers took their place on the big stage.
The story is centered on a college football superstar who suffers a major injury before getting the chance to be coached by one of his biggest idols.
Wayans described the movie as "a sports movie with a twist," while Withers commented that it "collides sports with horror."
HIM is set to debut in theaters on September 19.
New Look at Bob Odenkirk's Nobody 2
Fans then got a short new look at Bob Odenkirk's Nobody 2, which will punch its way into theaters on August 15.
The film will feature Hutch Mansell's (Odenkirk) family getting fed up with not seeing him enough due to him taking a strange new job. This leads to them taking a vacation to Plummerville.
As expected, all hell breaks loose from there as Hutch stumbles into a massive criminal conspiracy, which is all teased in the trailer shown to the theater.
Wes Anderson's New Film — The Phoenician Scheme
Following a short announcement from Peter Kujawski, Chairman of Focus Features, attention turned to The Phoenician Scheme, a new film by acclaimed director Wes Anderson.
The movie, which seems to look like a quintessential Anderson film, stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hanks, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera, Bryan Cranston, and Scarlett Johansson.
The new espionage thriller is set to arrive in theaters soon with a May 30 release date (limited U.S. release) before a larger worldwide release on June 6.
New Look at Five Nights at Freddy's 2
As creepy theme music played on the speakers, attendees prepped for news on the Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) franchise. This kicked off with an entrance by Blumhouse Productions CEO Jason Blum, who donned a massive Freddy costume before he was helped out of it on stage.
Having trouble getting the outfit off, he proclaimed to the audience, "I love to make an entrance."
He then joked about how he likes to save money, claiming he was in that suit for the entire first movie.
Blum then showed pictures of some of his past costumes, including Megan from M3GAN and the Wicked Witch of the West from Wicked.
Moving on, he confirmed that FNAF 2 will be released exclusively in movie theaters on December 5 after the initial film debuted in theaters and on Peacock on the same day.
According to Blum, this sequel will "explore even deeper the mysteries behind these homicidal, PG-13, animatronics."
An exclusive trailer for FNAF 2 showed the animatronics going out into the real world and hunting people away from Freddy Fazbear's restaurant. The final shot highlights Freddy himself at a public carnival, looking at the chaos ahead.
Additionally, Universal released a short teaser trailer to the public, which can be seen below:
Jason Blum Back on Stage For The Black Phone 2
Jason Blum returned to the stage with a new mask on, this one based on the costume from his upcoming movie, The Black Phone 2.
Star Madeline McGraw took the stage for attendees, reflecting on filming for the new movie being "truly just the best." Speaking on director Scott Derrickson, she told fans that he "felt like he wasn’t done with these characters."
McGraw later confirmed that Ethan Hawke's Grabber met his end in the original film before teasing that death might not be the end for him.
A short trailer for The Black Phone 2 reaffirmed that idea as Mason Thames' Finney hears Hawke's voice over a black phone in a phone booth saying, "Did you think our story was over?"
He proceeded to creepily say, "You, of all people, know that 'dead' is just a word."
The trailer seems to tease a new villain getting into people's minds and dreams, bringing back much of the same horror vibe felt in the original film.
The Black Phone 2 is set to come to theaters on October 17.
M3GAN 2 Teased at CinemaCon 2025
M3GAN star Violet McGraw was the next celebrity guest to join the fray as she got ready to promote her next outing, M3GAN 2.
McGraw teased "a new AI named Emilia" coming online with "even worse intentions," forcing the crew to "fire up the old MEGAN to defeat her." This will also come with MEGAN getting a few substantial upgrades, as she is "faster [and] stronger."
The presentation then brought out 30 Megan dolls for a performance set to Britney Spears' hit song, "Oops!...I Did It Again" before a trailer for the sequel played.
The trailer reveals that Cady and Gemma put M3gan's consciousness is put into a temporary plastic body, which is teal in color and looks similar to the white EVE robot seen in Disney's Wall-E.
The new threat of Emilia is established, who is played by Ahsoka's Ivana Sakhno.
M3gan is heard saying, "I’ll do whatever it takes to protect Cady," eventually telling them to "Put me in a body, and I’ll help you stop her."
M3gan's new body is much taller, as if she grew up like a real girl. She can be seen wingsuit gliding before crudely saying, "Hold onto your vaginas."
After that trailer, Blum was joined by James Wan to introduce a trailer for Soulm8te, which takes place in the same universe but with a killer sex doll.
Wan asked the crowd, "An adult Megan, aimed for grownups? What could possibly go wrong?"
The trailer shows off a new bot named Sara, who is purchased by a man for his pleasure. It's clear that their relationship is anything but normal, as she starts to grow more obsessive over him.
She creepily says to him, "I love you.... Tell me you love me," getting aggressively protective of him. "Nobody will ever know you like I do," the new robot says.
Complete with raunchy and brutal footage, this R-Rated film is the perfect response to fans who want a more brutal M3GAN movie.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 & Other Animation Shown
As part of a look into what's in store for Universal Pictures in 2026, the studio confirmed an April 2026 release date for The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2.
Following this was a tease for fans to "expect more thrills, laughs, and mayhem from these beloved characters."
Universal's animation studios will also proceed with a new Minions movie in July 2026, and the long-awaited Shrek 5 will be released at Christmas 2026.
Wicked: For Good Closes Universal's Presentation
Following quick nods to an upcoming Steven Spielberg 2026 film and Christopher Nolan's Odyssey next year, fans were treated to a closing panel centered on Wicked: For Good. The conclusion to the story laid out in the original movie is due to fly into theaters on November 21.
Following an epic orchestral performance, stars Cynthia Erivo (Elphaba) and Ariana Grande (Glinda), director John M. Chu, and producer Mark Platt came onto the stage.
Chu pointed out this being their third year closing out a Universal panel with news on Wicked, which Platt followed up by admitting he and the team would "keep doing it every year if [they] could."
Grande then shouted out the concession workers at a specific Cinemark theater in Florida, who she said were "frighteningly familiar" with Ariana and other cast members due to how often they attended themselves.
The second movie is said to tackle the consequences of Glinda and Elphaba's actions and choices in 2024's Wicked. Chu went on to say, "We believe you will be changed for the better, too," referencing the hit song "For Good."
New footage from the movie showed Glinda in a flowing white dress going through the Emerald City with a bell ringing. "Elphaba Thropp, I know you’re out here. Just come in before the monkeys spot you," said Glinda as she looked for her former roommate, who appears before the shot cuts away.
Michelle Yeoh's Madame Morrible is heard exclaiming, "The Wicked Witch cannot allude us forever," while Jonathan Bailey's Fiyero and his men can be seen hunting her down. Elphaba then lands in dramatic fashion on the newly built yellow brick road.
The trailer features "No Good Deed" and "For Good," and fans also got a look at Fiyero's wedding to Glinda.
Meanwhile, The Wizard of Oz's Dorothy walks down the yellow brick road for her first meeting with the Wizard alongside the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Scarecrow. The animals of Oz can be seen running amok in the city as Fiyero stands up for Elphaba and defends her.
After the Wizard tells Dorothy and co. to bring him the Wicked Witch of the West's broom, the last shot of the trailer shows Elphaba and Glinda embracing at the top of a high tower with Glinda saying, "I’ve had so many friends, but only one that mattered."
Elphaba then flies away with the flying monkey from the original movie, leaving fans eagerly awaiting Wicked: For Good's release later this year.
See more on the previous panels from CinemaCon 2025 here:
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