American filmmaker and innovator in independent cinema
Ryan Gosling has joined Marvel Studios to portray Johnny Blaze, Ghost Rider, in an upcoming film directed by Shawn Levy, with release planned for 2028. The announcement, made at San Diego Comic-Con, follows years of speculation and marks a rare return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU in a villainous role. The project repositions Marvel’s cinematic roadmap amid shifting leadership and cross-universe storytelling.
Steven Soderbergh’s Cannes debut of John Lennon: The Last Interview has sparked debate over its use of AI visuals and the film’s focus on Lennon and Yoko Ono, with critics split on how the interview is presented against the era’s context.
Steven Spielberg has released Disclosure Day, a science‑fiction thriller starring Emily Blunt and Josh O’Connor. The film follows a whistleblower exposing decades of suppressed evidence of extraterrestrial contact, has opened to broadly positive reviews praising its humour, spectacle and moral questions, and is expected to perform strongly at the box office.
George Clooney has been chosen to receive the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, which runs from September 2–12. He has described the honor as tremendous and noted it may mean he is old. Venice holds personal significance for Clooney, including his 2014 marriage in the city.
George Lucas has described AI as the future of filmmaking, saying it makes movie production easier. He warns against resisting progress, calling comparisons to horses and carriages outdated while acknowledging concerns about focus groups and audience influence.
Universal Pictures releases Nolan’s Odyssey, adapting Homer’s epic with Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland. The film is shot entirely in IMAX 70mm, positioning Nolan’s epic as 2026’s event cinema.