Tag: Showing in Cinemas Next Week

DC Studios’ “Clayface” Brings R-Rated Body Horror Thriller to Cinemas This October 21

DC Studios is about to show audiences a side of Gotham they have never seen before.

With “Clayface,” the studio is stepping beyond the usual superhero formula and into full-blown psychological and body horror. Dark, unsettling and deeply personal, the film gives one of Batman’s most distinctive villains a long-overdue origin story while pushing the DC universe into bold new territory.

For DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO Peter Safran, that creative freedom is exactly the point.

One of the things that’s really important to us is that our slate of movies, television, gaming and experiences covers a vast spectrum of entertainment,” shares Safran. “We want to make sure that everything feels different.

That philosophy takes a particularly chilling turn with “Clayface,” which Safran describes as a dream project for the studio.

The idea of doing a horror movie under the DC banner is something that audiences have never seen before and are not expecting but I think are going to embrace fully. The fact that we can make a true R-rated horror movie for DC Studios, that’s just a dream come true.

Watch the trailer:

One of Gotham’s most tragic villains takes center stage

“Clayface” stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a Gotham street kid whose life changes dramatically when he rises to become a Hollywood leading man.

His success, however, is brutally cut short after a local crime boss leaves him horribly disfigured.

With his career shattered and his support system gone, Matt turns to an experimental treatment that promises the impossible. It works, at least at first. His appearance is restored, but the procedure also begins to alter his relationship with reality.

What follows is a descent into obsession, rage and revenge.

Safran believes the character is perfectly suited for that kind of darker treatment.

Clayface is one of the great Batman villains, and he’s never had his time in the sun. And so along with this, we’re getting an opportunity to tell his origin story.

For audiences used to traditional comic book adaptations, Safran promises something much more unexpected.

You’ve certainly never seen anything like it in the comic book space, but we’re really excited to bring it to the world.

Horror rooted in fear, identity and loss

At the center of “Clayface” is director James Watkins, who approaches horror from a psychological angle rather than relying only on shock value.

For Watkins, the most effective fears are often the most recognizable.

We all have those anxieties. Fears of losing our ability to work, our reputations, our identity. These are horrors we can all really identify with.

Those fears become even more disturbing when the human body itself becomes unpredictable.

We all have those anxieties. Fears of losing our ability to work, our reputations, our identity. These are horrors we can all really identify with – likewise, fears of our bodies going wrong.

I think these primal fears make the most compelling horrors, and I wanted to lean into them.

That makes Matt Hagen more than just a villain in the traditional sense. His transformation is physical, emotional and psychological, with each stage of his descent raising questions about how far a person can go when everything they value is taken away.

Revenge becomes the real monster

Revenge also plays a major role in Matt’s story.

Watkins sees it as something painfully human rather than purely villainous.

I find the dangers of revenge fascinating, because it’s also such a primal human instinct to want to right wrongs, he says.

That instinct becomes a driving force behind Matt’s downfall.

To some extent, we are all hostages to our primal urges and I thought this was an interesting element to Matt’s tragedy: to make the film ask whether we can control our emotions, or do they control us.

That question gives “Clayface” an emotional foundation beneath the grotesque imagery and horror set pieces.

The result is not simply a story about a man turning into a monster. It is about a man losing control of himself while desperately trying to reclaim what he believes was stolen from him.

More than jump scares

Audiences expecting a standard collection of horror beats may also be surprised.

Watkins says he is less interested in predictable scares and more drawn to horror that lingers.

Whether you call them horror or psychological thrillers, I like to operate in the space between those two things,” he says. “Doing clockwork scares doesn’t particularly interest me.

Instead, the filmmaker wants the fear to stay with viewers after the movie ends.

I want to have scares that get under your skin and that speak to anxieties we all share, so when you leave the theater, they stick with you more than just a jump scare.

Body horror gives him the perfect vehicle for that approach.

Body horror taps into such a primal fear – essentially fear of our bodies betraying us, Watkins says.

Combined with Matt’s fractured sense of identity and buried impulses, that fear gives the film room to explore both spectacle and character.

James Gunn on why horror fans are special

For James Gunn, horror also comes with another advantage: its audience.

I love making horror movies. It is a lot of fun. And I think horror fans are probably the nicest fans in the world, says the filmmaker.

He finds the contrast especially amusing.

There’s something about the vibe of people who like to watch this really crazy, scary stuff, who have this other side that’s just so nice.

That enthusiasm could make “Clayface” one of the more intriguing experiments in the growing DC Studios slate.

Rather than fitting neatly into one familiar superhero mold, the film leans into the unsettling, tragic and grotesque sides of a character whose story has always been ripe for horror.

A very different kind of DC movie

Written by Mike Flanagan and Hossein Amini, with a story by Flanagan, “Clayface” also stars Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella, Eddie Marsan, Nancy Carroll and Joshua James.

The film is produced by Matt Reeves, Lynn Harris, James Gunn and Peter Safran, with Michael E. Uslan, Chantal Nong Vo, Lars P. Winther, Rafi Crohn and Paul Ritchie serving as executive producers.

Watkins’ creative team includes cinematographer Rob Hardy, production designer James Price, editor Jon Harris and costume designer Keith Madden. Music is by Volker Bertelmann.

DC Studios presents a 6th & Idaho Production, a James Watkins Film.

“Clayface” opens in cinemas internationally beginning October 21, 2026, with its North American theatrical release set for October 23, 2026. The film is rated R-18 by the MTRCB. Distributed locally by Warner Bros. Pictures.

#ClayfaceMovie

October 13, 2026
Filipino-American Stunt Choreographer Jon Valera Brings Iconic Moves to “Street Fighter,” Opening October 14

Bringing Street Fighter to the big screen meant more than recreating familiar characters. For director Kitao Sakurai, it meant honoring the legendary fighting moves that generations of gamers know by heart, while giving them a cinematic edge.

To pull it off, Sakurai assembled a creative team filled with fellow fans of the beloved video game franchise, including Filipino-American stunt choreographer Jon Valera and VFX supervisor Sandra Balej.

In the same way that the actors were all super involved with how they thought about their characters, Jon Valera, our stunt choreographer, Sandra Balej, our VFX supervisor, are also huge fans of the game, so they were super passionate about bringing all the iconic moves from the game to life, says Sakurai. I think audiences are going to be totally blown away by how many of the signature moves we were able to put in the movie.

Watch the trailer:

Jon Valera takes on a legendary fighting franchise

When Valera was first approached to design the stunts and direct second unit for Street Fighter, he felt both excitement and pressure.

There was a lot of pressure behind this movie, Valera shares, very high profile, one of the most iconic video games out there. I call it ‘the Bruce Lee effect.’ As martial artists, we always say you never want to touch a Bruce Lee film because it’s almost sacred to us.

For Valera, that same reverence applied to Street Fighter.

Street Fighter ranks up there, but if I’m not afraid of a job, then it doesn’t make me work.

The Filipino-American stunt professional is renowned in Hollywood for his work across major action franchises, including the John Wick films, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the DC universe.

Valera has also frequently collaborated with Jason Momoa, who plays Blanka in Street Fighter and serves as one of the film’s producers.

Bringing classic martial arts back to the screen

Sakurai and producer Cale Boyter wanted the movie’s fight sequences to stay faithful to the video game while still feeling spectacular on the big screen.

For Valera, that meant looking back at the clean, visually striking martial arts style associated with action movies of the 1990s.

In the beginning I wanted to go a little more clean martial arts because it’s been a while since we’ve seen a clean martial arts movie like The Matrix, adds Valera. A lot of the fight styles now have gone more John Wick style. Brutal, gritty, messy. Street Fighter takes place in the 1990s, and ’90s action movies were cheesy, clean martial arts. I didn’t want to make it the cheesy, campy, clean martial arts, but to capture the beauty of it.

Each Street Fighter character gets a distinct fighting style

A trained martial artist himself, Valera also wanted the choreography to reflect the franchise’s Japanese roots.

Most of my team are also martial artists. We studied Goju-ryu, Shotokan and Judo. We wanted to take a lot of the moves in the game – Japanese based with a little flare – to stay true to the Japanese martial arts and show off the beauty of it.

That approach also helped give each fighter a distinct physical identity.

Chun-Li draws from Chinese martial arts such as Wushu, Tai Chi, and Kung Fu. Blanka fights with a wild, animalistic approach mixed with capoeira flair, while Guile relies on a military-inspired style filled with powerful, hard-hitting attacks.

Dhalsim has a unique style – we built his character on a yoga style break dancing movement, explains Valera. If yogis were throwing punches, that’s how you get the feel of it.

For Balrog, Valera looked to two famously powerful boxers.

Mike Tyson was a good model for Balrog, as well as one of my favorite characters in boxing, ‘Clubber Lang’ from the Rocky films because his style was all power hits.

An international stunt team pushes the action further

Valera assembled an international stunt team with specialists from the United Kingdom, France, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Their wide range of skills helped the filmmakers recreate some of the franchise’s most memorable moves.

One of our guys who helped with the spinning bird kick was a Cirque du Soleil performer, who has all kinds of special harnesses and rigs. With them, a character could be suspended in the air, with a little bit of an assist so they could stay up just a little longer than a normal human. Most of these characters are not superheroes, they’re just above a regular human.

Pre-visualizations also became an essential part of production, allowing cast members to understand complicated action sequences before cameras started rolling.

David Dastmalchian, who plays M. Bison, explains that the process helped actors prepare for elaborate scenes involving wires, breakaway walls, and intricate fight choreography.

The stunt team and VFX created these fully acted out, fully blocked, fully choreographed fights, so we could watch and get the complete sense of how this goes from beginning to end, all the little beats.

Practical stunts, VFX, and explosive action

While the production leaned heavily on practical stunt work, visual and special effects teams stepped in whenever safety or logistics demanded it.

We worked with SFX on explosions and breakaways, with everything safety tested, Valera says. Plus, there’s always situations where we can’t do everything with a real human, it’s either a safety issue or highly time consuming, so the VFX team was amazing too. This was one of the most collaborative efforts I’ve been on with those two departments.

One of the movie’s biggest sequences took nearly two weeks to film.

Known as the “burlesque scene,” the massive set piece features dozens of extras, fighters flying through the air, and precisely timed pyrotechnics.

The burlesque scene is insane, it’s the longest fight sequence in the movie, says Orville Peck (Vega). It’s pretty much every fighter. We were all really looking forward to it because it’s the moment where all of us are together in one massive explosion of action.

A Street Fighter movie made with genuine love

Andrew Koji, who plays Ryu, says the dedication behind the production could be felt throughout the entire shoot.

There was so much love put into Street Fighter, from so many people – Cale, all the producers, the writers, from Kitao, from the stunt team trying to find every little technique, from all the crew and cast. The level of care and love put into this film is unlike the making of any big film that I’ve heard of or been involved with.

Sakurai shares the same sentiment.

There was a special energy on the set that goes beyond words. A lightning in a bottle feeling of this group of people together creating something special. I think that also comes across on screen. That special energy is something that people can experience in the theater when they see Street Fighter.

He adds that he hopes audiences will feel that same energy when the movie hits theaters.

Get ready for Street Fighter on the big screen

Ready, fighters?

Street Fighter also stars Noah Centineo, Callina Liang, WWE superstar Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, and Cody Rhodes.

Catch the epic and thrilling action when Street Fighter opens in Philippine cinemas on October 14. Distributed locally by Paramount Pictures PH.

Get your tickets now.

#StreetFighterMovie

October 8, 2026
Mikey Madison Takes on Whistleblower Frances Haugen in Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning,” in Cinemas October 7

Fresh from her Academy Award-winning turn in Anora, Mikey Madison is stepping into a very different kind of spotlight.

In Aaron Sorkin’s The Social Reckoning, the actress portrays Frances Haugen, the former Facebook employee who became one of the most prominent whistleblowers in the tech industry after disclosing internal company documents and speaking publicly about the platform’s impact.

For Madison, the appeal of the role was immediate. More than the headlines surrounding Haugen, it was her willingness to act on her convictions that stood out.

It was Frances’s incredible moral compass that captured me,” Madison says. “It’s not often that someone acts in as selfless a way as she did. And what I loved most is that she is a hero who doesn’t really even know that she is a hero.

All she knows is that there is something inside her that can’t live with keeping this information secret when it is so clearly doing harm.

A Story Built Around “The Facebook Files”

At the center of The Social Reckoning is the investigation that came to be known as The Facebook Files.

The film follows Haugen as she works with The Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White, to bring internal information about Facebook into public view.

What begins as a professional exchange gradually becomes something far more personal. With enormous stakes surrounding their work, the two must navigate trust, pressure, and the consequences of going up against one of the world’s biggest technology companies.

Watch the trailer:

Written and directed by Sorkin, who also wrote The Social Network, the film explores not only the mechanics of the investigation, but also the people behind it.

Why Aaron Sorkin Chose Mikey Madison

Sorkin says Madison had the qualities he was looking for long before cameras started rolling.

“I had been knocked out by Mikey’s performance in Anora and also loved her in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. I knew that she could do this,” he says.

But for the filmmaker, acting ability was only part of the equation.

I had been knocked out by Mikey’s performance in Anora and also loved her in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood. I knew that she could do this,” Sorkin says. “In addition to being a great actor, Mikey has qualities an actor can’t fake. An actor can’t pretend to be smart. And an actor can’t pretend to be funny. You need to already be those things to make them authentic, and Mikey is.

It is that combination of intelligence, wit, and restraint that helped shape Madison’s interpretation of Haugen.

Learning the Mindset of a Tech Insider

Preparing for the role meant entering a world far removed from Madison’s own.

The actress spent time learning the language and culture of the tech industry, while also looking into the experiences of women working in a field known for its highly analytical and often demanding environment.

Frances is wickedly intelligent but in a very specific way,” Madison notes. “I had to learn to wrap my head around someone who is always thinking analytically.

Rather than simply copying Haugen’s mannerisms, Madison focused on understanding how the character processes information, responds to pressure, and makes decisions when the stakes keep rising.

That approach aligned with Sorkin’s direction.

Instead of asking his cast to recreate the real people exactly, he encouraged them to work from the characters as written on the page.

For Madison, that opened the door to building her own version of Frances while staying grounded in the larger truth of the story.

The Relationship at the Heart of the Film

One of the most compelling parts of The Social Reckoning for Madison was the evolving relationship between Frances and Jeff.

At first, the two are connected by a shared goal. Over time, however, that dynamic deepens into trust and friendship.

There’s a certain point in the story where Frances and Jeff turn from using each other as a means to an end to becoming true allies and friends who appreciate each other for who they truly are, Madison says.

For Frances, that growing trust leads to a major turning point.

That’s when Frances realizes she can’t be anonymous anymore, much as she wants to be, because Jeff’s story will only have a major impact if her face is attached to it.

It is a decision that pushes the story beyond corporate intrigue and into something much more intimate.

The choice to step forward publicly changes everything.

Taking on Sorkin’s Signature Dialogue

Madison also found herself tackling one of the most recognizable elements of any Aaron Sorkin project: fast, carefully constructed dialogue.

For the actress, the precision of the writing became one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

“Every word is so specifically chosen,” she says.

At the same time, Madison says Sorkin gave the cast plenty of room to make those words their own.

I found Aaron remarkably trusting as a director. He chooses his actors carefully, then lets them do what they do best. He definitely doesn’t micromanage, which is wonderful. And he has an incredible sense of humor that is really fun.

That balance between tightly written material and creative freedom allowed Madison to shape a performance that feels less like an imitation and more like a character study.

A Role Rooted in Courage

Although Madison has yet to meet Haugen in person, portraying her has clearly left an impression.

I do very much hope one day in the future to meet this incredible woman, she says.

With The Social Reckoning, Madison moves from the chaotic energy of Anora to a quieter but equally demanding role, playing a woman whose strength comes from choosing to speak when remaining silent would have been easier.

Alongside Jeremy Allen White and under Sorkin’s direction, Madison brings one of the tech world’s most closely watched whistleblower stories to the big screen.

The Social Reckoning opens in Philippine cinemas on October 7. Distributed locally by Columbia Pictures PH.

October 1, 2026
Anne Hathaway Holds the Key to a Dark Mystery in ‘Verity,’ Opens September 30

Anne Hathaway steps into one of her most unsettling roles yet in Verity, the big-screen adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller. The film opens in Philippine cinemas on September 30.

Hathaway plays acclaimed author Verity Crawford, an enigmatic woman whose secrets pull a struggling writer into a dangerous web of ambition, attraction, and deception.

From Romance to Psychological Suspense

Director Michael Showalter previously worked with Hathaway on the film adaptation of The Idea of You. When it was time to cast the mysterious author at the heart of Verity, the Oscar-winning actress immediately came to mind.

Hathaway also serves as a producer on the film. She said she quickly understood the novel’s appeal after experiencing its page-turning momentum herself.

There’s so much propulsive energy to [Hoover’s] books, it’s like eating something really delicious and you can’t quite stop yourself. You just can’t, you want to get to the next page,” she explains. “When I came up for air at the end of it I thought, ‘Oh, I completely understand why people went crazy for this book.’

Watch the official trailer:

A Manuscript Filled With Disturbing Secrets

Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson), a struggling writer hired to complete the unfinished books of celebrated author Verity Crawford.

Lowen moves into the Crawford family estate, where she discovers a collection of disturbing autobiographical notes written by Verity. The pages contain troubling claims involving Verity’s husband, Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), and raise questions about what truly happened inside their home.

As Lowen searches for answers, the boundaries between truth and fiction begin to disappear. She must determine who is manipulating whom while confronting her growing attraction to Jeremy and the career opportunity that brought her into the Crawfords’ lives.

Anne Hathaway Embraces Verity’s Complexity

Hartnett praised Hathaway’s thoughtful approach to playing his onscreen wife.

Annie is one of the most professional actors I’ve ever worked with, she’s very cerebral,” he says. “I find it comforting to be with someone who has a really clear idea of what they want to create with the character, but then she’s also fun, she wants to play as well.

Johnson was equally enthusiastic about working with Hathaway, both as a co-star and producer.

I’ve always been such a fan of hers and I loved working with her so much,” says Dakota Johnson. “We don’t really say much to each other onscreen, but in between takes we were always laughing and joking and having deep life talks. Or eating hot dogs – she had a hot dog cart brought to set one day, it was great.

Johnson added that Hathaway was committed to finding the strongest version of every scene.

She’s an incredible producer, and she’s always game to make sure we get the best version of the scene possible, she said.

Colleen Hoover Approves of the Casting

For Colleen Hoover, seeing Hathaway transform into Verity was a surreal experience.

She nailed it. Seeing all the different roles she’s playing and her range, I feel like this is a great movie to cap off the year of Anne Hathaway,” she says.

Hoover also revealed a personal connection to the actress.

The Princess Diaries is my husband’s favorite movie. He loves Anne Hathaway. I was so excited to tell him when she signed on, he and I still just feel like we pinch ourselves every day. It still feels surreal.

With Hathaway, Johnson, and Hartnett leading its tangled story of desire and deception, Verity invites audiences to question every confession and suspect every character.

Verity opens in Philippine cinemas on September 30. Distributed locally by Columbia Pictures PH.

September 22, 2026
David Ayer’s Emotional Survival Thriller ‘Heart of the Beast’ Starring Brad Pitt Sets Sneak Previews on September 19 and 20

Some stories hit hard before a single frame is even filmed. For director David Ayer, Heart of the Beast was one of them.

The filmmaker behind Fury and End of Watch knew almost immediately that Cameron Alexander’s screenplay was something he wanted to bring to the big screen.

Director David Ayer and Brad Pitt on the set of Heart of the Beast
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

It was simply one of the best pieces of writing I’d ever seen,” he says of the screenplay written by Cameron Alexander. “It didn’t just make me cry; it made me ugly cry. I’d have to stop and process a little bit, then start reading a few more pages.

Brad Pitt and Odin Face the Ultimate Fight for Survival

Known for kinetic, hard-edged stories about brotherhood, loyalty, and perseverance, Ayer found those same themes at the heart of the relationship between Sergeant Major James Belmont, played by Brad Pitt, and canine commando Odin.

Odin is portrayed by real dogs led by Uber, a majestic German Shepherd weighing more than 100 pounds.

In Heart of the Beast, Special Forces officer James Belmont and his combat dog are stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness following a harrowing plane crash. With no easy way out, the two must battle brutal conditions and push themselves to their limits to survive.

But beyond the danger, the film explores something deeply emotional: the unbreakable bond between two partners who refuse to abandon each other.

Watch the trailer here:

After surviving the unsurvivable in Iraq and Afghanistan, they face yet another challenge together,” says Ayer of Belmont and Odin.

In my mind, James had made the dog a promise, something like, ‘If we survive this, I’m going to take you fishing.’ There’s something magnetic about being stranded in the wilderness. We’ve all been cold. We’ve all been lost. We’ve all been hungry.

For Ayer, that universally recognizable fear helps make the story personal.

This film takes audiences on that journey and makes them wonder, could I survive this? But it’s also the story of devoted partners that never give up on each other, that care more about each other’s safety than their own and who would sacrifice themselves for the other in a heartbeat.

An Action-Adventure Story With Plenty of Heart

Oscar-winning La La Land director Damien Chazelle and producer Olivia Hamilton were equally drawn to the screenplay’s straightforward but powerful premise.

The simplicity of the script and its description of man versus wilderness grabbed us,” says Hamilton. “It didn’t try to be complicated, and it spoke to a broad audience. Yes, it’s an action and adventure movie, but there’s also a ton of heart.

That emotional core came from an intensely personal place for screenwriter Cameron Alexander.

Brad Pitt and German Shepherd Uber in Heart of the Beast
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

His longtime love of the outdoors and fascination with military culture helped inspire the film, particularly the relationship between Special Forces personnel and the combat dogs trained to serve alongside them.

Those guys are incredible,” he says. “During America’s most recent wars, they were joined by combat dogs capable of incredible tasks.

Alexander became especially interested in what happens after their service ends.

There hasn’t been a tale focusing on what happens to the soldiers or the dogs when they get out of the military. I became fascinated with their stories and I thought it could be a really unique portrayal of the PTSD they both can suffer from.

A Story Inspired by a Beloved Dog

Behind the military and survival elements is another source of inspiration: Alexander’s own dog, Hoss.

I wrote it at a difficult moment in my life,” Alexander says. “At the time, I felt like my only real friend was my dog Hoss. There was no complicated calculus. I just wanted to write about my dog.

German Shepherd Uber and Brad Pitt in Heart of the Beast
Photo credit: Paramount Pictures

While Hoss was experiencing serious health problems, Alexander devoted his resources to caring for him. Then, shortly after Hoss passed away, an opportunity arrived that would change Alexander’s life.

Right when he passed away, Olivia and Damien came into my life. I felt like I took care of Hoss and, after his death, he took care of me. He made my dreams come true.

It is that relationship that helped shape the film’s central message.

So I hope the audience takes away the message to keep fighting for the things that you love and to never give up. That’s the core of the film.

Brad Pitt Calls It a Love Story

For Pitt, the relationship between Belmont and Odin ultimately pushes Heart of the Beast beyond the familiar boundaries of a wilderness survival thriller.

For me, this was a love story above and beyond a survival story,” he says. “And my hope is that that’s felt and that that’s experienced.

With a dangerous wilderness, an intense fight for survival, and the powerful connection between a soldier and his canine partner at its center, Heart of the Beast promises an emotional big-screen adventure for dog lovers and thriller fans alike.

Catch Heart of the Beast during special sneak previews in participating cinemas on September 19 and 20. Distributed locally by Paramount Pictures PH.

Heart of the Beast opens nationwide in cinemas on September 23.

#HeartOfTheBeast

_{Photo and Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures”}

September 18, 2026
DreamWorks’ “Forgotten Island” Announces Nationwide Sneak Screenings on September 19 and 20

Filipino moviegoers are getting an early ticket to Nakali.

Ahead of its official Philippine release, DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” will hold nationwide sneak screenings on September 19 and 20, giving audiences a first look at the fantasy adventure before it opens in cinemas on September 23.

Making the occasion even more special, the Philippines will be the first country to release the film theatrically.

Inspired by Filipino culture, mythology, music, and family traditions, “Forgotten Island” brings together a remarkable lineup of Filipino and Filipino-American talent both in front of the microphone and on its soundtrack.

Filipino Talent Takes Center Stage

Leading the voice cast are Liza Soberano and Grammy and Academy Award winner H.E.R., who play lifelong best friends Raissa and Jo.

They are joined by a powerhouse supporting cast that includes Manny Jacinto, Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, and Jo Koy, along with Jenny Slate, Dave Franco, and Ronny Chieng.

The Filipino representation continues through the film’s music.

Its soundtrack features artists including SB19, BINI, KATSEYE’s Sophia Laforteza, Ruby Ibarra, and Carl Angelo, while cast members Lea Salonga, H.E.R., and Liza Soberano also contribute songs to the film.

It is a lineup that gives “Forgotten Island” a distinctly Filipino heartbeat, pairing a big-screen DreamWorks adventure with voices and sounds familiar to audiences at home.

Watch the trailer here:

A Friendship Put to the Ultimate Test

At the center of “Forgotten Island” is the bond between Jo and Raissa.

Best friends since grade school, the two are about to leave high school behind and begin separate chapters in their lives. Before going their different ways, they spend one final night together.

Then everything changes.

Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island filled with creatures drawn from the stories they grew up hearing from their Filipino families.

Some of those creatures are helpful. Others are frightening. And waiting somewhere on the island is a danger far bigger than either of them expected.

As they search for a way home, Jo and Raissa discover the devastating cost of escaping Nakali: the memories of their friendship are slowly disappearing.

The longer they remain on the island, the more they risk forgetting each other completely.

Welcome to Nakali

Helping Jo and Raissa through their strange new surroundings is Raww, a well-meaning but hapless weredog voiced by Dave Franco, along with a small but fearless group of companions.

But Nakali is also home to one of its most terrifying figures, The Dreaded Manananggal, voiced by Tony Award winner Lea Salonga.

With their memories fading and time running out, Jo and Raissa must find a way to leave the island while holding on to the friendship that brought them this far.

It is a colorful fantasy adventure, but beneath the magical creatures and larger-than-life world is something deeply relatable: the fear that comes with growing apart from someone who has been part of your life for years.

From the Team Behind “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”

“Forgotten Island” comes from DreamWorks Animation, the studio behind films such as “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Shrek,” and “The Wild Robot.”

The original animated film is written and directed by Academy Award nominee Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, with Academy Award nominee Mark Swift producing.

Crawford, Mercado, and Swift previously worked together on the acclaimed animated adventure “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.”

Joining H.E.R. and Soberano in the ensemble are Emmy nominee Jenny Slate, “The Good Place” and “Top Gun: Maverick” star Manny Jacinto, BAFTA nominee Dolly de Leon, global comedian Jo Koy, and Emmy winner Ronny Chieng.

Together, they bring to life a story about friendship, memory, growing up, and the difficult moment when two people who have always been side by side suddenly face different futures.

See “Forgotten Island” Before Everyone Else

For Filipino audiences eager to experience Nakali, the wait is almost over.

Catch the nationwide sneak screenings of “Forgotten Island” on September 19 and 20, ahead of its official Philippine cinema release on September 23.

With Filipino mythology woven into its fantasy world, a star-studded Filipino cast, and music from some of today’s biggest homegrown talents, “Forgotten Island” is shaping up to be a uniquely familiar DreamWorks adventure with plenty of heart.

After all, some friendships are worth remembering.

And some are worth fighting for.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Forgotten Island” is distributed by Universal Pictures.

For the latest updates, follow Universal Pictures PH on Facebook, @UniversalPicturesPH on Instagram, and @UniversalPicsPH on TikTok.

September 16, 2026
Austin Abrams Faces His Worst Delivery Route Yet in “Resident Evil,” Tickets Available Now!

Austin Abrams is heading straight into Raccoon City, and his character is having what may be the worst work shift imaginable.

In director Zach Cregger’s new take on Resident Evil, Abrams plays Bryan, an ordinary medical courier whose routine delivery turns into a terrifying fight for survival. Tasked with transporting coolers, Bryan soon finds himself navigating a night filled with infected humans, mutated creatures, and escalating danger.

Unlike the highly trained heroes often associated with survival horror, Bryan enters the nightmare with no combat experience and no special skills. That vulnerability places audiences directly in his shoes as he tries to stay alive long enough to complete his journey.

Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil

Resident Evil opens in Philippine cinemas, including IMAX, on September 16. Tickets are available now.

Zach Cregger Found the Right Everyman in Austin Abrams

For Cregger, casting Abrams was an easy decision.

The two previously worked together on Weapons, and that collaboration gave the director confidence that Abrams could bring the right balance of humor, fear, and relatability to Bryan.

Austin is so well-suited for this part, says Cregger. We had an amazing experience together on Weapons and we really connected creatively. So, when it was time to get Resident Evil going, I didn’t have to think too hard about casting Austin.

Cregger also wanted audiences to experience the chaos through someone who feels believable and grounded.

Before everything goes sideways,” Cregger explains. “Bryan has no training and no backup. He’s just a guy whose shift has turned into a survival horror story that he had no way to prepare for. He’s sucked into a nightmare and burdened with this sacred mission that’s going to take him into the true heart of darkness.

That setup makes Bryan less of an action hero and more of a stand-in for the audience. Every threat becomes more intense because he is figuring things out as he goes.

Watch the official trailer:

Austin Abrams Embraces Cregger’s Mix of Horror and Humor

Abrams was equally enthusiastic about working with Cregger again.

For the actor, part of the appeal came from the filmmaker’s ability to shift between fear and comedy without losing momentum.

Zach’s humor makes me laugh because it’s so sharp,” says the actor. “I really love his work because in one moment Zach can freak you out, and a second later, make you laugh. It’s his kind of flavoring.

That contrast between tension and humor could give this version of Resident Evil a distinctive personality while still delivering the mayhem and horror fans expect from the franchise.

Bryan Is Someone Audiences Can Easily Root For

Executive producer Miri Yoon also points to Abrams’ natural performance as one of Bryan’s biggest strengths.

Austin’s portrayal is very natural and honest. He’s so wonderful at playing the everyman, who stands in for all of us who have never handled a weapon and have no fighting or survival skills. Bryan is just a guy trying to get through a really bad day full of mayhem and gore.

Austin Abrams as Bryan in Resident Evil

For Bryan, surviving the night is not about being the strongest person in the room. It is about adapting quickly, pushing through fear, and finding a way forward even when the odds keep getting worse.

Executive producer Roy Lee believes that sense of resilience is exactly what will keep audiences invested in the character.

Austin brings a real sense of resilience to the role. He has the physical presence to handle the intense action, but he also gives the character heart and hope, so that you’re constantly rooting for him to survive the night.

With infected humans, mutated creatures, and Raccoon City standing in his path, Bryan has plenty to survive.

Catch Austin Abrams in Resident Evil when the film arrives in Philippine cinemas, including IMAX, on September 16. Distibuted locally by Columbia Pictures PH. Tickets are available now.

September 10, 2026
‘PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie’ Introduces Dino-Loving Adventurers Voiced by Jennifer Hudson, Fortune Feimster and Jameela Jamil

Dinosaurs, daring rescues and the heroic pups of Adventure Bay come together in PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie, the franchise’s latest big-screen adventure arriving in Philippine cinemas on August 26.

Back in the director’s chair, filmmaker Cal Brunker admits that working on the newest PAW Patrol movie was especially exciting for one simple reason: dinosaurs.

We all love dinosaurs,” shares Brunker. “But animating dinosaurs is not easy! We wanted our dinosaurs to move in a way that felt authentic, believable, and realistic, pulling everyone even deeper inside the story. So one of the coolest things about making this movie was talking to real dinosaur experts to learn exactly how the bones and muscles fit together.

Meet the New Dino-Loving Adventurers

Joining the pups on Dino Island are three new characters voiced by Jennifer Hudson, Fortune Feimster and Jameela Jamil, each bringing their own enthusiasm for the prehistoric creatures.

Before meeting them, fans can catch up with pup favorite Marshall in his very own featurette.

Jennifer Hudson Reports on the Biggest Story of Lilian Ledes’ Career

Academy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson (Goat) lends her voice to Lilian Ledes, a dinosaur-loving reporter who heads to Dino Island in pursuit of what could be the biggest story of her career.

Reporting on dinosaurs is already exciting enough. Finding herself on top of one, however, takes the assignment to another level.

Fortunately, the PAW Patrol is ready to spring into action.

It is beyond a dream to be a part of the PAW Patrol,” raves Hudson. “You didn’t have a childhood unless you grew up watching PAW Patrol! My son did. He is 16, and he is still in love with it to this day.

Hudson also appreciates the positive message behind the beloved franchise.

It is an inspiring story because it has so many heroes in it, and everyone has a superpower. It teaches kids that they have one, too, and there’s always an answer and a solution by the time you get to the end.

Fortune Feimster Gets Animated as Eugenia Bunsen

Also arriving on Dino Island is Eugenia Bunsen, voiced by Fortune Feimster (Zootopia 2). Alongside Heidi Pothesis, Eugenia travels to the island to study its extraordinary dinosaurs.

I am so pumped to be in PAW Patrol,” shares Feimster. “It’s one of those films that is for everybody. It’s such a feel-good movie, and I’m finally a hit with my nephews! It is something they can watch and tell their friends about.

For Feimster, seeing her animated character for the first time brought an extra surprise.

When I saw Eugenia, I immediately noticed she had big, curly blond hair and resembled my essence,” she says. “That was pretty cool. I couldn’t believe this animated character was physically inspired by my voice!

Jameela Jamil Joins the Pack as Heidi Pothesis

Jameela Jamil (Elio, The Good Place) voices Heidi Pothesis, who works at the Paleontological Institute and studies dinosaurs.

It’s so cool to be part of PAW Patrol, partially because I’m obsessed with dogs,” laughs Jamil. “Dogs are the best, and dogs are genuine heroes!

Heidi arrives on the island hoping to help the pups better understand the dinosaurs. But, getting a little too close to the action, she soon becomes part of a rescue mission herself.

They become a big crew together because they’re all fighting for survival under these insane circumstances, Jamil says.

For the actress, part of the franchise’s lasting appeal comes from how it gives every character a chance to contribute.

Kids feel seen, and they feel as though they can see themselves in these really fun adventures,” she says. “They’re saving people as a group, and so it’s not about ego, and there’s not one superstar. Everyone has their own moment at their own separate time.

She adds that the stories offer young audiences an uplifting reminder of what teamwork can accomplish.

It’s a lovely and important thing to demonstrate the power of people coming together, and how much more powerful the outcome is. PAW Patrol is such an iconic franchise, and all my friends, especially the ones who are parents, now think I’m very cool. Finally!

A Roaring New PAW Patrol Adventure Awaits

Packed with prehistoric surprises, heroic rescues and plenty of teamwork, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie brings the pups face-to-face with their biggest adventure yet.

Fans can also listen to “Bottle Up,” performed by the Backstreet Boys and co-written by Ed Sheeran, now available to stream. Watch the official music video and learn the dance.

PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie roars into Philippine cinemas August 26. Distributed locally by Paramount Pictures.

#PAWPatrolMovie

August 20, 2026
Jacob Chase Takes ‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ Into Terrifying New Territory, Opens in PH Cinemas August 19

The world of Insidious is about to get even more dangerous.

Original filmmakers James Wan and Leigh Whannell are handing the reins to writer-director Jacob Chase for Insidious: Out of the Further, a fresh chapter that introduces a new family, a new supernatural threat, and a frightening twist on one of the franchise’s most important rules.

Opening in Philippine cinemas on August 19, including midnight screenings, the film asks a disturbing question: What if The Further could reach back into our world?

The Further Finds a Way Into Reality

In Insidious: Out of the Further, Amelia Eve, known for The Haunting of Hill House, stars as Gemma, a young mother raising her daughter in the same home where she grew up.

Soon, Gemma discovers that she has an unusual connection to The Further, the shadowy realm where lost souls wander.

At first, her ability allows her to enter the supernatural world. Then things take a far more sinister turn.

Gemma realizes that her connection works both ways. She can bring objects from The Further into the physical world, opening a pathway that darker entities are eager to exploit.

And once demons discover that route, the boundary between both worlds begins to collapse.

Leigh Whannell on Breaking a Longstanding Insidious Rule

Leigh Whannell, who wrote the original Insidious and directed Insidious: Chapter 3, was immediately intrigued by the concept Chase brought to the franchise.

When James and I built the Further, the one rule was that you went there in spirit, never in body. What Jacob found was the scariest question we’d never asked: what if something could actually make the trip both ways? That cracks the whole world open.

That simple question gives Insidious: Out of the Further room to reshape the mythology audiences have known for years.

Instead of The Further existing primarily as a place characters enter, it now becomes something capable of intruding directly into everyday life.

James Wan Sees New Possibilities in The Further

For producer James Wan, that evolution creates a new level of danger.

The Further is now leaking—escaping into our real world,” he explains. “That’s something we’ve never seen to this extent. We’ve seen premonitions or glimpses of the Further bleeding into our world, but never to the extent where they take physical form.

Wan has long encouraged filmmakers entering his horror franchises to bring their own ideas while respecting the worlds already established.

I say to all my directors that come and play in these franchises, ‘Here is the sandbox. Stay within the sandbox, but within it, do whatever you want,’ he explains.

Chase appears to have taken that invitation seriously, expanding The Further without abandoning the unsettling atmosphere that made Insidious a horror favorite.

Watch the newest trailer here:

Jacob Chase Brings a Love of Haunted Attractions to the Film

Chase’s fascination with horror began long before he stepped behind the camera.

I have a love of theater, and that translated into making haunted house attractions for years,” he recalls. “I’d do it with my friends, starting in high school and going into my early 20s, for a charity event, and it became a huge success.

For Chase, haunted attractions offered many of the same elements that make horror movies so effective.

A haunted house has everything—it’s filmmaking, it’s storytelling, it’s great characters—most importantly, it’s the communal experience.

That communal reaction remains one of the things he enjoys most about the genre.

There’s no better feeling than seeing someone screaming and laughing, whether they’re running out of a haunted house or in a movie theater.

A Personal Fear Became the Heart of the Story

While Insidious: Out of the Further is built around demons and supernatural horror, its story also comes from a deeply personal place.

Chase was preparing to become a father while writing the film.

When I was writing Insidious: Out of the Further, my wife was pregnant, and I had a deep fear about becoming a dad,” he says.

That anxiety eventually became a creative starting point for the story.

Tapping into that, he says, “was a great opportunity to start an Insidious movie from a real, personal place.

By grounding the supernatural scares in the fears of parenthood and responsibility, the filmmaker gives the franchise’s latest nightmare a more intimate emotional core.

A New Nightmare Begins August 19

With Jacob Chase leading the way and James Wan and Leigh Whannell backing his new vision, Insidious: Out of the Further opens another unsettling doorway into the franchise’s supernatural mythology.

This time, however, entering The Further may not be the biggest danger.

The real terror could be what manages to come back.

Insidious: Out of the Further opens in Philippine cinemas on August 19, with screenings starting at midnight. Check your preferred cinema or its official ticketing website for schedules and ticket availability.

For more news and updates, follow Columbia Pictures PH on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

August 12, 2026
“Insidious: Out of the Further” Tickets Are Now on Sale, With Midnight Screenings Starting August 19

The nightmare is almost here.

Tickets for “Insidious: Out of the Further” are now available, giving horror fans the chance to be among the first to experience the latest chapter in the blockbuster supernatural franchise.

Select cinemas across the Philippines will hold special midnight screenings beginning August 19, ahead of the film’s nationwide release on August 21, 2026.

Along with the ticket announcement, fans can now watch the newest trailer and check out the film’s latest posters, offering a terrifying glimpse at the dangers waiting beyond The Further.

The Further Breaks Into the Real World

This time, the horror does not stay trapped in another realm.

“Insidious: Out of the Further” follows Gemma, played by Amelia Eve, a young mother raising her daughter in the same house where she grew up. Her seemingly ordinary life changes when she discovers that she can travel into The Further, the shadowy purgatorial dimension filled with lost souls.

As Gemma struggles to understand her mysterious ability, she learns that she is not the only person capable of moving between the two worlds.

Her power also comes with a horrifying consequence. Gemma can do more than enter The Further. She can bring its terrifying inhabitants back into the real world.

Once the demons recognize what she is capable of, they begin to see humanity’s world as their new playground.

Lin Shaye Returns as Elise Rainier

Longtime Insidious fans also have another reason to be excited.

Horror icon Lin Shaye returns as Elise Rainier, the beloved paranormal investigator who has become one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters.

Shaye introduces the newest trailer with a special message, setting the stage for another chilling encounter with The Further and the sinister forces hidden within it.

Watch the newest trailer here:

Catch the Special Midnight Screenings

Fans ready for a late-night scare can catch the film during special midnight screenings beginning August 19 at participating cinemas nationwide.

Screening schedules, participating branches, and ticket availability may vary. Moviegoers are encouraged to visit their preferred cinema or check official ticketing websites for complete details.

“Insidious: Out of the Further” opens nationwide in Philippine cinemas on August 21, 2026.

For more announcements, trailers, and updates, follow Columbia Pictures Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

About “Insidious: Out of the Further”

The Insidious franchise returns after earning more than $740 million at the global box office, introducing a new family and a supernatural threat that expands the terrifying possibilities of The Further.

Amelia Eve stars as Gemma, while Lin Shaye reprises her iconic role as Elise Rainier.

The film is directed by Jacob Chase, known for “Come Play.” Chase also wrote the screenplay, based on a story by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Jacob Chase.

August 6, 2026