Cinderella's castle was nowhere to be seen in the official intro for Toy Story 5's theatrical release in China, and instead, fans were given a different princess castle. Many Disney fans are extremely familiar with the iconic intro the company uses for all of its films, where the camera follows a star coming down out of the sky and toward Cinderella's castle (which looks identical to the version of Cinderella's castle that is at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World) before fireworks blast off and showcase the Disney logo. This has been the standard logo and intro played in front of nearly every Disney movie for years now, but Toy Story 5 made a big change to it.

Pixar's Toy Story 5 was recently released in theaters around the world, and while the movie itself is essentially identical in every country, Disney has made a change to the film's intro in China, specifically when it comes to showing the Walt Disney Pictures logo before the movie even starts. 

Specifically, instead of seeing fireworks in the sky above Cinderella's castle and the Disney logo popping up at the bottom of the screen, for China's Toy Story 5 release, a star flies over a river or creek, and then up a waterfall. At the top of the waterfall, the camera showcases the back of a different princess castle.

A director on Disney’s Hexed answered the internet backlash that met the animated movie’s first trailer, and he thinks the online crowd read it wrong. Hexed is Walt Disney Animation Studios’ next original feature, a fantasy about an impulsive teenager named Billie who learns she is a witch and gets swept out of her ordinary life into a hidden world of magic. The film reaches theaters over Thanksgiving weekend. Its debut trailer, though, set off a debate that had nothing to do with the witches or the story.

In an interview with Cartoon Brew at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, director Jason Hand rejected the popular theory that Hexed was framed for vertical, phone-sized video. He said the whole reaction blindsided him, and his fellow director, Fawn Veerasunthorn, felt the same way.

Minions & Monsters brings the Despicable Me franchise to seven movies, and the chronological order of those films looks nothing like the order in which they reached theaters. Illumination’s series jumps between decades on a regular basis, and its newest entry turns the clock back nearly a century.

Produced by Illumination for Universal, the franchise passed $5.6 billion at the global box office, which makes it the highest-grossing animated film series ever. Steve Carell’s Gru and his yellow henchmen kept that streak alive for 16 years.

The latest chapter arrived on July 1 and earned $14.2 million in the United States on day one, along with an A- CinemaScore from audiences. Critics gave it the best reviews in franchise history, a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film already passed $62 million worldwide.

Disney Animation Studios reportedly has a new animated movie trilogy set in stone for the second time in 100 years. While Disney controls some of the biggest franchises in cinema, including the MCU and Star Wars, it may be best known for its history with animated movies, which date back nearly 90 years. However, with close to 70 movies comprising that legacy, sequels are rare.

Dwayne Johnson confirmed that Walt Disney Animation Studios is developing Moana 3. Speaking at a press conference for the movie in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Johnson confirmed the movie is being worked on, with writers Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller coming back for the threequel after 2024's Moana 2:

"Yes, we have talked about 'Moana 3,' yes. But first, live-action 'Moana,' we’ll let that come out first. We have [the] amazing Jared Bush and Dana Ledoux Miller, who have been our writers … they will pen 'Moana 3.'"

Sam Claffin's Mycroft is curiously absent from Netflix's Enola Holmes 3 once again. Netflix introduced its own Holmes siblings in Enola Holmes, headlined by Stranger Things star Milly Bobby Brown as the titular young rebel, while Man of Steel actor Henry Cavill played her infamous elder brother, Sherlock. While Enola is unique to this offshoot of Holmes lore, Sherlock's older brother, Mycroft, has been a staple of the mythos since Arthur Conan Doyle's 19th-century stories, and he was played in the 2020 Netflix original by Sam Claflin, a Hunger Games alum. 

Mycroft acted as an antagonist in Enola Holmes after he became the legal guardian to his younger sister, effectively representing Victorian conformity as he forces her to finish school. The debacle was resolved when Sherlock was impressed by Enola's detective wit, leading him to become her guardian.

Why Mycroft Isn't In Enola Holmes 3 Is Likely Due To Sam Claflin's Career Resurgence

Obsession is a horror movie that has taken the world by storm, even surpassing Avengers: Endgame in one key way. It only came out in May, but Inde Navarrette's Nikki has become an icon in the genre, permeating every corner of today's culture. It's a testament not only to her performance but also to the direction of director Curry Barker, a YouTuber whose evolution has led him and his friend, Obsession star and associate producer Cooper Tomlinson, to create successful feature-length films.

Obsession follows Michael Johnston's Bear, a cowardly man unable to confront his crush on his longtime friend, Inde Navarrette's Nikki. After unknowingly getting a magic wishing stick, called The One Wish Willow, Bear makes a wish for Nikki to love him more than anything else in the world. It works, but needless to say, not as intended. The story that follows is chilling and unfortunate for everyone involved.

While Bear and Nikki's relationship is the core of the movie, the story drops a little nugget of information, thanks to Megan Lawless' Sarah: Cooper Tomlinson's Ian had been hooking up with Nikki off-screen before the movie's events. This information isn't elaborated on, but it has led to speculation about what their relationship really was.

The Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood commented on whether he might appear in Stephen Colbert's new adaptation, Shadows of the Past. The Late Night host has long been a fan of The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) and revealed that he, his son, Peter McGee, and original LOTR scribe Philippa Boyens are writing a new movie in the franchise. The film would focus on the previously unadapted chapter "Fogs on the Barrow-downs," meaning it will also likely involve the return of the Lord of the Rings cast.

Warner Bros. only confirmed development of Colbert's Lord of the Rings film in March 2026, but IMDb already listed cast members Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd (the four original Hobbits) as being attached. However, IMDb listings aren't always accurate, so The Direct asked Wood for clarification during an interview promoting his new animated show, Among Us.

Wood seemed to know nothing about his listing on IMDb, clarifying, "We're not there yet." The star explained that Colbert's film is intended to cover the chapters skipped in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, which he said were cut because they "would have killed momentum:" 

New merchandise from the Minions franchise is ready for sale soon as Illumination's Minions & Monsters gets ready to come to theaters. The Minions franchise still reigns as one of the biggest animated sagas in the game, as the last two movies have come close to or broken the $1 billion mark at the box office. Now, in an age where merchandise and popcorn buckets dominate the movie market, the next chapter in the Minions franchise will claim its own stake in the game.

AMC Theatres, Cinemark, and Regal Cinemas have unveiled their plans for popcorn buckets and other merchandise for Minions & Monsters. These products will be available for purchase online and in theaters along with the release of the movie on Wednesday, July 1.

AMC Theatres' Zoetrope Collectible Popcorn Bucket

Backrooms is getting a surprising new version in theaters and it comes with 16 minutes of extra footage. Kane Parsons' feature directorial debut has been smashing box office records since its release on May 29, and the franchise, which started as a YouTube series, has amassed a whole new following. A24 recently confirmed that Backrooms would receive an extended cut releasing in cinemas, but it hasn't been revealed what the extra footage will entail.

Parsons hinted at what fans will see if they return to the cinemas for the Backrooms - Everything Must Go extended cut on Discord (via @KaneHypeGuy). The director shared that the added 16 minutes is "not bts (behind the scenes) content" and "nor is it a re-edit of the film." After ruling out these two possibilities, Parsons added: "I think those who were hoping for more [YouTube] episodes will be into it." 

Backrooms began as a viral creepypasta featuring an image of a barren, architecturally strange hallway. Parsons used this image as the foundation for his YouTube web series, which spanned 24 found-footage-style episodes and amassed nearly 200 million views. The concept involved a corporation known as Async attempting to charter the liminal space known as the Backrooms and encountering horrific horrors within. 

The Enola Holmes Netflix series reimagined the classic Sherlock Holmes lore by introducing the iconic detective's little sister, played by Millie Bobby Brown. Enola is a teenager with a rebellious spirit who shares her older brother's brilliant mind, as seen in Henry Cavill's Sherlock. In Enola Holmes 3, which hits Netflix on July 1, Enola travels to Malta, where she's forced to solve the mystery of Sherlock's disappearance.

Enola Holmes 2 introduced two classic characters from the Sherlock Holmes lore into this new Victorian-set world: Moriarty and Dr. Watson. While Sharon Duncan-Brewster's Moriarty was revealed to have been pulling the strings in the sequel, unbeknownst to everyone, Himesh Patel's Dr. Watson was shown in a brief post-credits stinger. Now, with this third outing, these versions of those characters are able to be explored deeper than ever before.

The Direct spoke with Enola Holmes 3 stars Sharon Duncan-Brewster and Himesh Patel, alongside director Philip Barantini, about how they approached reinventing their characters for this Victorian-set version of Sherlock Holmes' legendary world.

Sheep Detectives featured an outcast winter lamb among its flock of protagonists, and his inclusion carried thematic weight in the mystery-comedy movie. Amazon MGM+'s new film follows a flock of sheep from Denbrook as they investigate the sudden, tragic death of their shepherd, George Hardy.

Amid the investigation, Sheep Detectives introduced a winter lamb, a sheep who became a powerful symbol of rejection and loneliness, elevating the film through his heartbreaking portrayal. 

What a Winter Lamb Is In 'Sheep Detectives' and Real Life

Jason Segel is all in with a potential sequel to Universal Pictures' Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The hit 2008 romantic comedy is a movie about healing after heartbreak, chronicling the story of Segel's Peter Bretter as he spirals into depression after his longtime girlfriend, Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), abruptly dumps him for British rock star Aldous Snow. While trying to avoid his ex, Peter befriends a down-to-earth concierge named Rachel, and their relationship turns into something real. 

One of the most iconic elements of the movie is Peter's secret passion project involving a Dracula rock opera performed entirely with puppets. In October 2023 (via Stereo Gum), Segel played "Dracula's Lament" as part of Sam Jones’ Talent Show at LA’s Hotel Cafe, reigniting fans' desire for a Forgetting Sarah Marshall 2. 

In an exclusive interview with The Direct while on the red carpet for Apple TV's Shrinking at the Newport Beach TV Fest, Jason Segel confirmed that he is still dreaming of doing a full rock opera of "Dracula's Lament," noting that he has "an idea for how to do it" and they are slowly "getting there:" 

Illumination is going all in with the Minions franchise after its longtime director, Pierre Coffin, gave a positive update about what's next for these yellow, pill-shaped creatures. Universal Pictures and Illumination made a bold move by expanding the world of Despicable Me with new stories dedicated to the Minions, introducing two standalone films (Minions and Minions: The Rise of Gru) that translated into box-office success. Following the breakout milestones of the first two standalone movies, the titular yellow sidekicks became a global cultural phenomenon, becoming one of animation's most recognizable brands. The upcoming Minions and Monsters is poised to sustain the franchise's strong momentum, especially after the confirmation of its historic time jump that brings the film back to 1920s Hollywood. 

In an interview with SFX Magazine, Illumination director Pierre Coffin, who directed most of the Despicable Me and Minions movies, addressed the future of the Minions franchise, confirming that Minions and Monsters represents a major creative turning point that could translate to more exciting stories down the line: 

"[On this film] I wanted to push the envelope, technically and aesthetically. It looks a little bit different. It feels different. This movie sort of opens up, 'Oh, let's make a movie that's happening, like, in the future, or in space, and it feels like everything is possible from this moment on, provided the movie is a success."

Sequels are still all the rage in Hollywood as the major studios work to build new franchises and rejuvenate old ones. 2026 alone has over a dozen different film sequels on the schedule, with everyone from Mario to the Mandalorian getting their time on the big screen, and that list only gets longer when looking ahead to 2027. 

Next year will herald the return of major IPs from Disney, Marvel Studios, and DC, not to mention more legacy sequels and successors to breakout box-office hits. 

All the Major Movie Sequels Releasing in 2027

Illumination is bringing the Minions back in a new feature film titled Minions & Monsters, but fans won't be seeing arguably the most important and beloved cornerstone of the entire franchise, as the focus will shift elsewhere. The Minions and Despicable Me movies are some of the most popular and well-received animated films of the century, as they bring slapstick humor to the forefront while sprinkling in bits of emotion and heartfelt moments. The upcoming installment, which is titled Minions & Monsters, is taking the universe in a new direction, though.

In the latest issue of SFX Magazine, it was confirmed that Minions & Monsters will completely abandon one of the most popular mainstays of the franchise. Specifically, Bob, Kevin, and Stewart, who have always been the main trio of Minions in the films, will no longer be the central characters or in the spotlight throughout the film.

Teagan Croft, the star of Disney's live-action Tangled movie, shocked fans with a new hairstyle as she prepares for the lead role. Tangled will be the latest in a long line of live-action remakes of Disney animated movies, following highly successful outings like 2025's Lilo & Stitch. With filming inching closer to starting, anticipation is building to see how this film will come together visually and conceptually.

Hollywood star Camryn Manheim, who is also the mother of actor Milo Manheim, shared a new set of images from a trip to Spain. Among those Instagram photos were shots of her with both Milo and Teagan Croft, the stars of Disney's upcoming live-action remake of Tangled. These images show Croft with a surprisingly short haircut as she gets set to take on the role of Rapunzel.

Bad Santa 3 may finally be on its way. Billy Bob Thornton, who played the foul-mouthed, hard-drinking Willie T. Soke across both films in the franchise, spoke with The Direct and revealed he has heard a story pitch for a third installment that he considers "pretty good." The news comes as Scary Movie 6 topped the box office on its opening weekend, reigniting the appetite for early 2000s comedy revivals.

Speaking with The Direct at the Newport Beach TV Fest, where he was promoting his Paramount+ series Landman, Billy Bob Thornton was asked whether any of the countless Bad Santa 3 pitches he received over the years showed promise. His answer was cautiously optimistic, "It's the first one I've heard that really kind of made sense:"

"I just heard one about two weeks ago. It's the first one I've heard that really kind of made sense. Not that we know we're going to do it, but there is one that's floating around out there that seems pretty good."

Toy Story 5 officially retconned the backstory between Buzz and Zurg as established in the 2022 Pixar spin-off Lightyear. Toy Story 2 introduced Emperor Zurg as Buzz's arch-nemesis from the toy line's video games and packaging lore. Zurg served as Pixar's playful, meta answer to Star Wars' Darth Vader, a towering, caped villain with a booming voice, horned helmet, and an ion blaster. In one of the sequel's memorable scenes, it was revealed that Zurg was Buzz Lightyear's real father, echoing the famous moment between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. However, Lightyear, designed as an in-universe film that inspired the Buzz toy line, reframed Zurg entirely as an older, time-dilated version of Buzz from an alternate future timeline. 

Toy Story 5 largely ignored what Lightyear established between Zurg and Buzz, retconning from the reveal that Zurg is an older Buzz from a future timeline and instead embracing what the earlier Toy Story movies established: Zurg is Buzz Lightyear's true father. 

Disney's newest animated film looks like it will be perfect for fans of The Owl House. The Disney Channel series ran for three seasons, and in the five years since its cancellation, fans have been looking for something to fill the void. Now, Disney Animation has unveiled the trailer for its next major animated feature, Hexed, and it sure looks a lot like The Owl House.

There were few public plot details for Hexed apart from the fact that it would follow a mother-daughter duo and take place in a magical realm of witches. The first trailer for Hexed filled in some of the blanks. It introduces audiences to Billie Doe (Hailee Steinfeld), a high school misfit who is bullied and unwittingly discovers she possesses magical powers. After accidentally activating these powers, Billie is expelled from school, which causes great concern for her mother, Alice (Rashida Jones). 

A new member of the Madrigal family was unveiled by Disney. The Madrigals are the fantastical family at the heart of Encanto who live in their magical, sentient house, Casita. The Madrigal family is big, with over a dozen members, but it's now one bigger with the arrival of Luis Madrigal in Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.

Luis Madrigal is confirmed to be the son of Luisa from Encanto, aka the older sister of the main protagonist Mirabel, who was voiced by Jessica Darrow. Luisa's defining feature is her superhuman strength, and she stands out as the tallest and most burly of the Madrigal family. Alexandro Byrd is joining Descendants: Wicked Wonderland as Luis, and the first character poster released by Disney has unveiled his appearance.