Predator: Badlands director teases "fun ideas” for more Alien crossovers with franchise
Dan Trachtenberg talks about the "elegant" way he managed to bring Alien lore into his new film – and what further plans might be on the horizon.
While the Alien and Predator series each include some undeniably incredible films, it's fair to say previous attempts to combine the two franchises have brought about fairly disastrous results. Both 2004's Alien vs Predator and its 2007 follow-up Aliens vs Predator: Requiem were major critical failures, and since then there have been no further attempts to merge the two properties on the big screen. At least, until now. Dan Trachtenberg's new movie Predator: Badlands – his third entry in the series in little over three years – includes some pretty major nods to Alien lore. Most prominently, Elle Fanning has a crucial role as a Weyland-Yutani synthetic, one of the artificial humans that have always featured in the classic sci-fi franchise, played by the likes of Ian Holm, Michael Fassbender and more recently David Jonsson. For Trachtenberg, the chance to dip into the world of Alien was clearly an opportunity he relished – and there was one thing that especially excited him about his approach. "The coolest part about it to me was no Xenomorph," he explained during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. "Truly, it was not the idea of, 'What if we make Alien versus Predator again?'" He added that a larger scale crossover may still be on the horizon "later down the line" but continued: "The cool [bit] was to use a part of another franchise and include it into the story of this franchise [so] that you can link things without it being like, look at the giant action figures being smashed together. "It literally is just the components. I thought was a really elegant way to blend the two different franchises." As for what specific plans he had bubbling away as to how he might continue to bring the two worlds together in the future, Trachtenberg more or less kept schtum. But, he did say: "I've got lots of fun ideas." One thing is for sure, this certainly seems to open the door for a more fruitful fusing of the franchises in the future. And given he's now gone three for three when it comes to delivering inventive and entertaining new takes on Predator, we can't wait to see what some of those "fun ideas" might entail. Here's hoping it's only a matter of time... Predator: Badlands is released exclusively in cinemas on Friday 7th November. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Predator: Badlands director explains why he didn't do a traditional sequel to acclaimed Prey
The new film – which stars Elle Fanning – takes the franchise in a radical new direction.
Back in 2022, director Dan Trachtenberg found a fascinating new way in to the Predator franchise with his excellent prequel Prey, setting the action in the Commanche nation in the 18th century. Given the acclaim that film garnered, you might imagine that he'd adopt a similar approach for his next film in the series, but in fact he's done something very different. Predator: Badlands, which is due for release this week and has already received strong reviews from critics, is set on a distant planet in the distant future and does something especially radical: making the Predator itself the protagonist. The Predator in question is a young outcast named Dek, who is sent to a deadly planet and forms an unlikely bond with synthetic human (Elle Fanning) as they each try to navigate the dangerous territory. So where did Trachtenberg first get the idea for this approach? "It was at the end of the process with Prey, and we were starting to show it to people, and it was being warmly received," he explained during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com. "And I started to realise, 'They might ask me to do a sequel. Uh oh. Like, I've not thought about that at all. What would I do?'" Trachtenberg added that sometimes when people "make a cool thing" the impulse is simply to follow it with "just the sequel to the cool thing" rather than something that is interesting in and of itself. This was a trap that he wanted to avoid falling into. "I was really pressuring myself to try and figure out," he said. "Forget Prey, forget I even did that. What do I want to do? Do I still want to make another Predator movie, and what hasn't been done in Predator and what hasn't been done in movies? And that was where the big idea came from." He added that the idea of turning the monster into the hero of the story – and getting people to root for it – was "a thing that just has not existed in sci fi at all", and this was something that immediately excited him. Of course, this idea also gave him plenty of opportunity to add to the Predator lore – something he has also done with the straight-to-streaming animated triptych Predator: Killer of Killers that arrived on Disney Plus earlier in the year. And he explained that he wanted to "widen the doors a little bit into the culture" of the species without completely overhauling it. "There could have been a version of this movie that was all on Yautja Prime [the home of the Predator species]," he said. "That was all about the clan and and the culture and what have you. But instead, it really is just a little bit wider of a peek. "You get a sense of the culture, and then you're off with Dek on his journey through a gauntlet – the way that we've seen all the human protagonists go through in previous films." Predator: Badlands is released exclusively in cinemas on Friday 7th November. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Predator: Badlands' early Rotten Tomatoes score revealed following first wave of reviews from critics
The film continues director Dan Trachtenberg's impressive run of new entries in the franchise.
In recent times, Dan Trachtenberg has very much revitalised the Predator franchise. After years of disappointing sequels and spin-offs, his 2022 prequel Prey – released straight to Disney Plus – breathed new life into the series, delivering a pared-down action thriller that brought the iconic creature to the Comanche nation in 1719. He followed that up earlier this year with Predator: Killer of Killers, another straight-to-streaming affair that served up a triptych of animated stories set against different historical backdrops – which again launched to strong reviews. Now he's returned with another new film that again explores brand new territory. Predator: Badlands is the first film to make a member of the Predator species the protagonist, following young outcast Dek (Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi) after he's sent to a remote planet and strikes up an unlikely bond with a synthetic human named Thia (Elle Fanning). So, has Trachtenberg gone three for three when it comes to making successful Predator films? Well, the early reviews indicate that the answer is a resounding yes. At the time of writing, Badlands sits on a score of 89 per cent on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes based on 75 reviews, with positive reviews from a number of prominent publications including Empire Magazine, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Out and RogerEbert.com. However, there are some notable outliers, including The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw, who awarded the film just two stars. On Metacritic, the film holds a slightly less positive score of 69 per cent, which still suggests the majority of reviewers have given positive assessments. So it looks like the revitalisation of the Predator franchise continues apace! Of course, the series first launched with the original Arnold Schwarzenegger film back in 1987, and was followed up by Predator 2 in 1990, Predators in 2010 and The Predator in 2018, all of which performed relatively poorly with critics. Then there were the two Alien v Predator films, in 2004 and 2007 respectively, which were both met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. Interestingly, the new film does hint at further crossovers between Alien and Predator in the future, with Fanning's character being a Weyland-Yutani synthetic, as seen in the former franchise. The full synopsis for the film – which arrives in UK cinemas on Friday (7th November) – reads: "In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary." Predator: Badlands is released exclusively in cinemas on Friday 7th November. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How Demon Slayer has helped anime take the UK box office by storm – and why this is just the start
Crunchyroll's Head of Theatrical & SVP, Mitchel Berger, spoke exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the anime boom at UK cinemas.
We live in an age and media landscape in which there's often a lot of doom and gloom about the so-called death of the theatrical experience. Since the advent of streaming, it's proved consistently harder for filmmakers to attract sizeable audiences to cinemas, with box office figures generally trending downwards both in the UK and globally – especially in the years since the pandemic struck – and some fears that cinema-going culture might soon be a thing of the past. There are, of course, a few exceptions that buck that trend. One example is horror cinema, with the likes of Sinners, Weapons and The Conjuring: Last Rites all posting impressive figures this year. And another exception – one which has seen major growth in the UK in recent years – is anime. Of course, while many punters might still more closely associate the Japanese animation style with shorter-form storytelling on the small screen, it's becoming a growing force on the big screen in this country, too. That's best proven by the recent success of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle, which opened to record-breaking success in UK and Irish cinemas last month. The first part of a trilogy which serves as the culmination of a story arc that began with four seasons on TV, the film had the highest opening weekend ever for an anime title on these shores, making an impressive £3.4m. That figure has continued to rise – with recent figures showing it had surpassed £6.5m in total – mirroring overseas success that has seen it become the highest-grossing anime film and the highest grossing Japanese film of all time. Of course, anime is not by any means a new genre, but this success speaks to its rise to mainstream popularity in the UK and the West more generally. That rise is something which Mitchel Berger – the Head of Theatrical & SVP at anime distribution company Crunchyroll – has noticed with his own eyes in the little over a decade he's been with the company. "Even 11 years ago, when I started, anime was popular but it was still very much a niche," he explains to RadioTimes.com in an exclusive interview. "It had not really super penetrated the mainstream. Some things had – obviously, you look at Dragon Ball Z and the success it had in North America, even in Europe – but as a overall genre, it was still growing. "Today, I think anime is just an intrinsic part of how younger generations consume media," he adds. "You talk to Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen Alpha, anime is just part of who they are. It's not a niche anymore. It's just part of their identity, how they express themselves, how they consume media. And that's been a really fascinating journey to be on." So what has changed? For Berger, it's a direct result of streaming and internet connectivity making the art forms of other cultures far more accessible, resulting in what he describes as "a richer media landscape". As for how specifically the success on the big screen has been accomplished, Berger thinks it's a perfect rebuttal to the often made point that streaming and theatrical are "in conflict with each other". "I think they can absolutely support themselves," he says. "And I think Demon Slayer shows that you can build a fandom in a streaming world that translates and then you've got this very cinematic, wide scope story with Infinity Castle that works on the big screen." He adds that "on a more fundamental level" there is one thing in particular that has been enticing for younger audiences. "They absolutely crave in person, real life experiences," he says. "For being a digital native generation, they like to do things in real life, with friends. And not everybody can get to a convention every year. Not everybody can get to San Diego Comic Con or MCM or any of those kind of things. "If you can, it's great. It's an amazing experience. But not everybody can do it. Everybody can, however, get to their local cinema. And when you go to see a film like this in the cinema, what you find is it is almost a mini convention. It is a place where you're with a couple hundred of your friends and acquaintances and strangers that just share this love of this piece of IP. "And there's an energy there. There's a shared camaraderie, there's an understanding of we're all here because we love this thing and the experience itself." As part of his job, Berger has travelled around the world and seen reactions to the Demon Slayer film in a huge number of locations. And he has been struck by just how moved audiences have been every time he's watched it, remarking that "there's always somebody in tears at some point" in every screening. "If you're coming in from the outside, you look at Demon Slayer, and it's clearly action-oriented – sword fighting, killing demons, there's all kind of crazy stuff going on," he says. "But there's such an emotional resonance and depth to the story and these characters. "[Audiences] truly care about these characters, and you see this wonderful story arc in the film with a couple of characters and some really pivotal moments, some happy and some sad. What I love to see is that that person has made such a connection with this fictional character that they're moved to tears. That, to me, is the magic of storytelling and why movies exist and why anime exists is to make that connection." Perhaps one of the other reasons for the new success in the UK is a growing awareness of just how wide-ranging anime is. Far from being a genre in itself – as some people might erroneously claim – the art form encompasses all sorts of very different storytelling styles and forms, such that Berger truly believes that it has something to offer just about everybody. He mentions that he sees people who might previously have thought themselves averse to anime changing their minds "all the time," and has especially enjoyed using the success of Demon Slayer to have conversations that might lead to yet more conversions later down the line. "I've got tons of friends across the entertainment business, and what was interesting to me – especially for Demon Slayer – is I got calls from folks that I haven't heard from in a while, that were like, 'Hey, what is going on? Like what is happening here? How did this work? How did this happen?' "And it just creates an interest and an opportunity to have the conversation," he explains. "What I love to help people understand is if you've not grown up watching anime, if you're not a native fan, if you're not a fan yourself, it can be intimidating. It's a lot there. "And what I love is the opportunity to educate people on, 'Hey, there's something for everybody here.' If you came to me and said, 'Hey, I'm going to start watching movies, what should I watch?' I can't answer that question. There's just too many choices there. Same way with anime, if you ask me, 'What anime should I watch? I can't tell you. "Like, 'What are you interested in?' Because we've got a little something for everybody. There's so many genres within this medium of anime, and I think something like Demon Slayer – by getting into the public consciousness and getting exposed to a wider group of folks – it creates those conversations. "It gives you the opportunity to help people see the rich well of storytelling and interesting characters that we have within this medium." Berger explains that that conversation can then act as a gateway to the medium, and that once people have been exposed to anime for the first time they soon realise how much there is to dig into. What's especially great, he says, is how willing fans are to share their love for particular shows and films, contributing to what he calls "a wonderful journey to be on once you get into the pool". With that in mind, it seems likely that the UK anime audience is only going to increase further in the coming years – and there's lots of upcoming big screen experiences for those new fans to look forward to. Of course, as mentioned above, the recently released Demon Slayer film is just the first in a trilogy, and Berger hopes the "massive appetite" he's already seen for those films in particular will continue to grow. "We're enjoying the ride right now with Demon Slayer, so I would be crazy if I didn't tell you I was looking forward to seeing what that's going to be like," he says of the next two films. "It's really exciting to be on a journey like this, and know that you're part of something that – at least so far – has been historic, and fans have loved." He also mentions "a couple of interesting things coming down the line" for UK audiences, including a Jujutsu Kaisen film coming in Mid-November which he thinks will be "really special," and a That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime film. "There are some really fun things coming next year – I can't talk about them yet, unfortunately, but we do have some other fun stuff coming," he continues. "I think there's never been a better time to be an anime fan. There's just great content being made. And I think that the theatrical experience is really, really coming into its own. "It's a wonderful way to experience content. And I am excited and hopeful that we're going to continue to see great things being made for the foreseeable future, and give people a chance to come experience anime on the biggest screen with the best sound, with a group of friends, and just have that wonderful singular experience." Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Elizabeth Olsen reveals whether she wants MCU comeback as Wanda Maximoff after character 'death'
Elizabeth Olsen has suggested that she's ready for an MCU comeback.
Elizabeth Olsen has offered an encouraging statement for those keeping their fingers tightly crossed for Wanda Maximoff's return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The fan-favourite character gradually grew in popularity from her debut in 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron to her starring role in pandemic-era Disney Plus series WandaVision. Alas, her final live-action appearance in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has proven divisive among fans, as it rendered her as a simplistic two-dimensional villain, and seemingly left her for dead. Wanda was consumed by the collapse of the Darkhold Castle atop Mount Wundagore, after going on a killing spree to restore her lost children – and even Olsen has "no idea" whether her powerful character could have survived the disaster. She did add, however, that she would "jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again" (via InStyle). "It's a character that I've gotten to return to so many times over 10 years," she explained. "It's good to put her down and then I miss her and I want her back." It's a reassuring comment for fans who, for a time, feared that Olsen had closed the door on Wanda, following the closely compressed filming of Infinity War, Endgame, WandaVision and Multiverse of Madness. Olsen previously told Vanity Fair that filming Multiverse of Madness brought up challenges, as the writers were not able to properly acknowledge or build from the events of WandaVision. "I said [to the writers] 'Do you know what we're doing in WandaVision? Have you seen it?' and no, they had not seen it, because it wasn't finished yet," recalled Olsen, which explains the dissonance between the two depictions of Wanda. Nevertheless, Olsen seems to have had some fun on the "goofy" and "ridiculous" sets of Marvel films, while also appreciating the consistent "community" and "financial security" that they gave to her. In her latest comments, the actor also expressed her support for the cinema experience, revealing that she will only make major studio projects intended for theatrical release – a business that Marvel helped prop up in its glory years. "I think it's important for people to gather as a community, to see other humans, be together in a space. That's why I like sports. I think it's really powerful for people to come together for something that they're excited about," she said. Olsen noted that independently produced projects that are later sold to a streaming service, such as her poignant family drama His Three Daughters, are separate to her avoidance of streaming-first blockbusters. Scarlet Witch fans had a brief reunion with Olsen's version of the character this month via Disney Plus animated series Marvel Zombies, where she had a voice role that she claims to have recorded several years earlier. "It's my voice. I did it in my house, I wasn't even in an office space," she told crowds at LA Comic-Con (via Variety). "This must have been 2020, 2021? Why was I working in my house and not in a studio? I really have no idea what it was like. I'm so sorry." The four-part series imagines the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a parallel reality ravaged by a zombie plague, in which a ragtag band of survivors desperately fight to reverse the devastation they have suffered. Notably, Olsen is one of the MCU favourites currently absent from confirmed cast for upcoming Avengers films Doomsday and Secret Wars, despite intense fan demand for her to face Robert Downey Jr's fellow sorcerer Doctor Doom. For now, we'll just have to wait and see whether these latest promising comments hint at a comeback for Wanda Maximoff. Stream the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney Plus. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add Marvel shows to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
The worrying impact of marvellous physiques – is it time to rethink the superhero bod?
Climate - Sustainable contributions within wider content
After years of rippling MCU abs, an argument for the return of the everyman.
Over the last two decades, audiences have grown accustomed to watching blockbuster films starring men so sculpted that Michelangelo himself would struggle to capture their majesty. Showbusiness has a long history of muscle-bound idols, but the rise of the superhero genre – where actors routinely appear as something more than human – prompted an escalation that seems to have swept across the western world. It would be reductive to declare the "gym bro" a product of cinema alone, but we shouldn't underestimate how influential some of our most widely watched entertainment can be. Is it possible that the reveal of a transformed Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in Captain America: The First Avenger was actually a tiny domino, eventually leading us to the viral appeal of raw meat-guzzling influencer The Liver King? Erm, I don't know. But one thing is clear: the superhero body is now highly desired by men around the world, despite big questions looming over its practicalities, health benefits and sustainability. With comic book adaptations losing fans faster than an Infinity Gauntleted snap, perhaps its time that the archetypal male protagonist comes back to Earth – and shows audiences that there is more than one way to live well. After all, the current crop of leading men are arguably doing the opposite. Let's recap: Channing Tatum has described his Magic Mike physique as "not natural... not even healthy", Benedict Cumberbatch said his Doctor Strange diet was "horrific" and "grossly wasteful," while Henry Cavill recalled a "miserable" induced dehydration for The Witcher's shirtless scenes. These comments represent an all too, often ignored side of blockbuster cinema's relentless flow of pecs, abs and biceps, which are a "full-time job" for A-list actors – in the words of This Morning's resident GP, Dr Zoe Williams. "I think the dangers are when people see that and believe that it's achievable," she told RadioTimes.com. "That they can do it without the support of doctors; without all the correct supplements being provided for them; without the dieticians, nutritionists [and] exercise experts being involved." And even with such an elaborate support network, actors aren't without "risk" of complications. Both Cavill and Hugh Jackman warned fans not to try dehydration regimens at home as the torturous practice can cause dizziness, kidney damage and heat stroke, among other side effects. "They're choosing to [take that risk] for the cause," acknowledges Williams; a cause that encompasses not just the crowd-pleasing artwork itself, but also the several millions of dollars often paid out for these performances. Any admirers taking such extreme measures in order to resemble some kind of mythological being are taking on all of that jeopardy, with none of the reward – and the age of entry seems to be getting younger by the day. Both BBC News and Men's Health have reported boys getting into bulking and bodybuilding from the age of just 13. In the former investigation, an 18-year-old interviewee spoke of his "ancestral... primal" diet involving raw steak and raw milk, popularised by influencers such as the self-proclaimed Liver King (also known as Brian Michael Johnson). However risky Hollywood's professional body sculpting might be, social media is comparably a wild west of unqualified advice and theories, that have taken the baton from Marvel's godlike hunks and scarpered into a warped alternate universe. "We know that when young people are looking for information as to how to achieve a certain physique, the first place they actually go to is TikTok, social media, maybe YouTube videos, etc.," explained Dr Williams. "And the people educating them are not likely to be healthcare professionals or even fitness professionals, but just other people who have maybe succeeded in achieving a certain physique in a way that works for them. "But we're all different... what works for one person won't work for another; what's safe for one person, won't be safe for another." The risk of illness from bacteria and parasites in raw meat and unpasteurised milk is well-documented, while the health benefits are debatable at best. Notably, Johnson's gains were revealed to be the result of steroids, as opposed to the staggering amount of uncooked organs he consumed; he later conceded that he was "wrong" about the diet that he once championed (see Netflix's Untold: The Liver King, if you have a strong stomach). Of course, that hasn't stopped a growing number of young men from pursuing a similar "carnivore" lifestyle, spurred on by Johnson and creators of his ilk – including those from the so-called 'manosphere' addressed by recent miniseries Adolescence. The powerful show focused primarily on the rampant misogyny found in this online subculture and its misguided ideas around masculinity, which encroach upon an ongoing culture war over our wider eating habits. Scientists and environmentalists have long called for reducing our consumption of meat and animal products, due to their sizeable impact on climate change; in total, food systems produce one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. This has been misconstrued by influential 'alpha male' voices as an attack on men, including those pushing to attain a superhero body by adopting what nutritionist Federica Amati describes as "unnecessarily high protein targets" (via The Guardian). Not all gym diets are certifiably prehistoric (bull and goat eyeballs for breakfast, anyone?), but many rely heavily on chicken, eggs, dairy and processed meat at a time when our planet is crying out for a meaningful shift towards greener diets. In particular, the effects of chicken farming seem to go underestimated; although they do create less carbon per unit than cows or lambs, the ever-increasing number of chickens being reared poses other problems, including massive antibiotic use and deforestation in the production of animal feed. Encouragingly, recent polling by Savanta suggests that two-thirds of Brits are willing to reduce the amount of meat in their diet – and sportsmen like Lewis Hamilton prove that this doesn't have to be at the expense of fitness – but retaliation from manosphere voices, shock jocks in traditional media and inflammatory politicians feels inevitable. That last point is especially worrying, as Clare Oxborrow, food campaigner at Friends of the Earth, highlights that individual citizens attempting to take "ownership" over their dietary habits shouldn't be left to do so "on their own". "A lot of the impacts from the way people eat – whether on [personal] health or the planet – will, in large part, be dictated by the food environment that they're living in," she said. "And obviously, food companies are particularly responsible for creating that environment, but also governments for failing to regulate them properly." Amid this heated dinner plate discourse and obsessive body awareness, the ostensibly environmentalist entertainment industry could help de-escalate by presenting realistic, yet still admirably fit, role models for today's young men – as opposed to cartoonishly jacked towers of muscle. The prominence of such figures, across pop culture and social media, are surely a contributing factor to the sharp rise in body dysmorphia among men, which has driven some to steroid usage in pursuit of a demigod build. "I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with wanting to look good and wanting to look strong," said Dr Williams. "But if it's got to a point where you feel that it's consuming your thoughts – you're worrying about how you look, you're worrying about how other people feel you look – these are all signs that it may have pushed beyond the boundary of being healthy. "One of the key things here is that a healthy body and an aesthetic body are not the same thing. There's this belief we've been fed that a 'six pack' equals health and it doesn't, actually." She explained: "There are huge benefits to having a certain amount of muscle and strength in your body – I can't deny that. But having a body fat percentage that's low enough, so that you can actually see your abdominis rectus muscles showing, doesn't actually have any health benefits." Nor was it taken for granted in decades' past; looking back to the action men of the '80s and '90s, there was more diversity in build sizes than there is today. For every Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone, who built a career on their imposing physiques, there was a Harrison Ford, Kurt Russell or Bruce Willis; every bit as masculine and aspirational, but in a far more reasonable package. A return to action heroes with genuinely attainable bodies could provide reassurance to those in the grip of (or on the path towards) crippling insecurities or extreme gym habits – which brings me back to Mr Benedict Cumberbatch. There's some value in an established Marvel icon speaking out about the wastefulness of his Doctor Strange diet, remorsefully admitting that it could "feed a family" in a conversation with Michelin star chef Ruth Rogers. But it leaves us with questions. Chiefly, why do it then? Is Cumberbatch not established enough in the role – after five blockbuster films released across almost a decade – to hold some negotiating power over his own body? Isn't Doctor Strange usually kitted out in thick full-body robes anyway? Would the Sorcerer Supreme's sparkly little spells be deemed simply too far-fetched if he was as slender as past screen magicians, like Colin Morgan's Merlin or Daniel Radcliffe's Harry Potter? In so many cases, the entertainment industry, and particularly Hollywood, wants to have its cake (or in this case, its high-protein meat stick) and eat it too. Banning single-use plastics on set or installing a green energy generator are valid steps in lessening the impact that production has on our planet, but sustainability bosses can't keep looking away from the engorged diets of their stars. The intense focus on this very particular physique feeds into an atmosphere that tells young men they need to keep getting bigger; or that they are, in some way, lesser for not being able to reach the same extraordinary size. Also, as long as the superhero body is held up as the apex of male accomplishment, it will be harder to defuse unhelpful notions that (meat-derived) protein is inherently tied to manliness, thus making the transition to greener diets more painful than it need be. So, as it prepares to pump out another Avatar film with, presumably, the same misty-eyed message about protecting the natural world, perhaps the industry could put some more thought into areas where its own practices have something to answer for. Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Add shows to your watchlist on the <a id="OWA8b702c45-bee9-94e4-f018-57518e78041b" title="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" href="https://www.radiotimes.com/download-the-app/?af_xp=custom&pid=website&c=editorial_content&is_retargeting=true&af_reengagement_window=30d" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-outlook-id="449c28d9-909e-4aab-b6b8-153454f55d5e" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.
Beloved 1960s TV series to return with new reboot – and a Hollywood legend is in talks to star
The Jetsons are coming back to the big screen.
It has been reported that Warner Bros is working on a live-action film adaptation of classic 1960s animated show The Jetsons, with a big-name actor in talks to star. The film, which is being written by Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) and Joe Epstein, and may reportedly be directed by Trevorrow, will be the latest iteration of The Jetsons, after an animated series that ran from 1962 to 1963, a reboot that ran from 1985 to 1987 and an animated film that was released in 1990. Traditionally, The Jetsons has followed a family living in Orbit City in the space age. There was George Jetson and his wife Jane, their children Judy and Elroy, and their robot Rosie. It was considered a futuristic counterpart to The Flintstones. Now, it has been reported that Jim Carrey is in talks to star, after he was last seen on screen in 2024's Sonic The Hedgehog 3. It had once seemed like we wouldn't be seeing any more of Carrey on screen, as in 2022, as Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was being released, he suggested he was, at least partly, retiring from acting. He told Access Hollywood at the time that he was fairly serious about giving up the job, but he did add: "If the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road." Carrey isn't expect to return as Dr Robotnik for the fourth Sonic film, after his character seemingly died in the third movie. Speaking about the character, the film's writers Pat Casey and Josh Miller told GamesRadar that he is "completely dead… maybe". "We hope that they make a zillion of these, and who knows, by Sonic the Hedgehog 8… like with the Fast & Furious franchise, that’s demonstrated that nobody really needs to stay dead if you don’t want to," Miller said. Casey added: "I would say, 'Of course he’s dead, it was a space explosion, he’s completely dead… unless, maybe…' That all depends on Jim, I think. "It's a very short list of actors who could have pulled this off, possibly there's only one name on it. Like, comedy is hard." Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Jodie Whittaker gives update on Attack the Block sequel - and whether she would be part of it
Years before she was the Doctor, Whittaker starred in another hit sci-fi project.
Pretty much ever since it was released to rave reviews all the way back in 2011, there have been rumours that Joe Cornish could return to make a sequel to his south London-set sci-fi Attack the Block. Those rumours went up a notch in 2021, when it appeared to be confirmed that John Boyega would be reprising his role as Moses in a follow-up, and then again earlier this year, when the star explained that he had read Cornish's "phenomenal" draft for the sequel (via Happy Sad Confused with Josh Horowitz). So when RadioTimes.com recently spoke to Jodie Whittaker for a Big RT Interview about her new ITV drama Frauds, we couldn't help but ask if she'd heard any more news on a timeline for a new film – and if she would be back in her role as Samantha Adams. "There’s been talk of it for years, and I know no more than last time," was her answer. "Which is, is there going to be one? When is it shooting?" She added: "Absolutely I would do it. I think something like Attack the Block, there's always that chat. So hopefully that continues. I need to organise myself, send a self tape to Joe Cornish. I can definitely pop up again – maybe I should send him an aggressive email!" Speaking more generally about her experience making that first film, she described it as one of her "happiest times". "As a kid, I was hugely influenced by all the '80s creature features, the '90s adventure films," she said. "I was in our version of that, and I adored it." Back in 2023, Boyega told RadioTimes.com that the idea of coming back to London to shoot a sequel and revisit his character "just fills me with joy". He added: "It just feels like a treat, a nice treat for myself. Like honestly, sometimes I like to see actors where they've revisited a story because it's something that they hold dear in their heart. "And it's good to know that we have an audience out there that is waiting for this as well, and a new audience that is going to be exposed to all the madness. And I just can't wait to be a Brit in something again!" More recently he claimed that, with a first draft written, the creative team were now "just cooking it to make it right for everyone". "We obviously need more money for those aliens," he said. "We want it to look real good for that 2026 crowd. "But for us, it's just about developing the story and making sure Moses and the rest of the characters that we have left are fully hashed out before bringing it out and going to shoot. "But I'm very passionate and very willing that we will shoot Attack the Block 2. It will happen. You're going to have to see, but the story is crazy. I've got to get in the gym." In addition to Boyega and Whittaker, Attack the Block starred Nick Frost, Franz Drameh and Alex Ismail and followed a teenage street gang who are forced to defend themselves from alien invaders who arrive in their council estate on Guy Fawkes Night. Frauds is available to stream on ITVX now and Attack the Block is streaming on Prime Video. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Tron: Ares – is it streaming?
The third entry in the cult sci-fi franchise stars Jared Leto as an AI programme who comes into the real world.
When it comes to the world's biggest sci-fi properties, Tron might not be in the same ballpark as the likes of Star Wars or Alien – but the futuristic franchise nonetheless boasts a very loyal legion of fans who will be delighted at the release of a new film. Tron: Ares is just the third movie to be released in the series (in addition to an animated TV show and numerous video games) and comes 15 years after the last entry Tron: Legacy arrived in cinemas, so there was a degree of pressure on the team behind the new movie – as director Joachim Rønning explained in an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com "I'm a huge fan of the previous films, and I think that's why it was so daunting going in and making the next chapter of that," he said. "I think the previous films in many ways are masterpieces on so many levels and [that] put a lot of pressure on myself and everybody working on the film to try to take it to the next level or at least earn this next instalment." The idea of a new film had been at various stages of development ever since the aforementioned Legacy, before the producers eventually landed on the way to tackle a new film – somewhat flipping the franchise on it's head in the process. "The idea of exploring another part of the Tron mythology and universe in terms of the Dillinger grid, and then the assets coming into our world was sort of a breakthrough concept for us," explained producer Sean Bailey. "Now the digital world is going to come into our own." He added: "The idea of seeing a light cycle speeding down downtown streets sort of got everybody pretty galvanised." Intrigued? Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch Tron: Ares. How to watch Tron: Ares – is it streaming? No, Tron: Ares is not currently streaming. In the immediate future there will only be one way to watch it: by taking a trip to the cinemas. The film begins an exclusive theatrical window on Friday 10th October and will be playing in most major cinemas around the country, including on IMAX screens. So there should be no shortage of options for you to choose from – just check your local cinema for the latest times. When will Tron: Ares come to Disney+? If you don't feel that this one is worth a cinema trip, the film will eventually become available to watch on streaming – first for rental and purchase on digital download and then on Disney Plus at a later date. We don't yet have exact dates for either release, but we can engage in a spot of educated guesswork while we wait for more information. Generally speaking, Disney waits around 2 months after theatrical release before adding films to streaming, so it will likely begin appearing on Premium VoD platforms like Prime Video at some time in mid-December. As for Disney Plus, there tends to be a gap of 100 days between the cinema release and streaming debut – so we'd be looking at some time in January for that. We'll update this page when we get more concrete details. Tron: Ares cast – who stars with Jared Leto? Jared Leto leads the cast of the film as the title character – an AI programme named Ares – and he's joined in the ensemble by a host of other well known faces including Past Lives star Greta Lee and Dahmer's Evan Peters. Meanwhile, X-Files star Gillian Anderson returns to the sci-fi genre in a key role, while there's also space for a brief appearance from original star Jeff Bridges. You can find the full cast list below: Jared Leto as Ares Greta Lee as Eve Kim Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena Hasan Minhaj as Ajay Singh Arturo Castro as Seth Flores Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth Dillinger Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn Cameron Monaghan as Caius Sarah Desjardins as Erin Selene Yun as Tess Kim Tron: Ares plot – what is it about? In a twist on the usual formula, the new film doesn't only see humans going into AI world, but AI assets coming into the human world. You can find the official synopsis below: "A highly sophisticated digital Program, Ares, is sent into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first face-to-face encounter with artificial intelligence. As Ares experiences his surroundings and has his first brush with humanity, his consciousness – and conscience – start to evolve. "He finds an unexpected ally in the brilliant technologist, computer programmer and current ENCOM CEO Eve Kim, who is on her own journey to discover a critical code written by Kevin Flynn. Betraying orders and relentlessly pursued, the two fight not only for their survival but for a future where technology and humanity can intersect." Tron: Ares trailer You can get a good impression of the film – and a little teaser of the excellent Nine Inch Nails soundtrack – by watching the trailer below: View oEmbed on the source website Tron: Ares is in UK cinemas from Friday 10th October. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day release date, cast and plot theories
The Marvel hero is swinging back into cinemas next year.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is swinging into cinemas next summer, with star Tom Holland throwing himself into the action sequences on the latest Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures collaboration. In fact, recent reports spread like wildfire on social media that the popular actor had suffered a concussion during filming, which was hyperbolically described as a "horror injury" or words to that effect by some news outlets. Fortunately, it was nothing quite so dramatic; Holland later assured fans (via Instagram) that he was "feeling better" and "on the mend" after taking a week off to recover, appearing at a glamorous gala alongside fiancée and co-star Zendaya. It appears that the incident won't have any major impact on the production schedule for Brand New Day, which also stars Jon Bernthal as The Punisher, and MCU newcomers Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) and Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear). In addition, a founding member of the Avengers has also been widely touted for the Brand New Day cast – that being Mark Ruffalo, who addressed the chatter in a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter. "If I'm doing that – which the rumours are that I am, once I get a script, I'll know it’s real – but I love [Jon Bernthal]... I can’t wait to work with him, he's so funny and he’s such a great actor. "He plays that character like nobody else. I'm really excited to meet him, I've never met him!" Spider-Man star Holland had previously promised a return to "old school filmmaking" for Brand New Day, following a glut of largely soundstage-shot films, and that comment was proven correct as the movie burst onto the streets of Glasgow this summer. The Scottish locale will be doubling for New York City, with residents taking to social media to chronicle streets dressed up to resemble Peter Parker's world-famous hometown. If you're as excited for Spider-Man: Brand New Day as we are, read on for everything we know about the blockbuster film so far. Spider-Man: Brand New Day release date Spider-Man: Brand New Day is currently scheduled for release in cinemas on Friday 31st July 2026. Previously, Brand New Day was expected to release after Avengers: Doomsday (in May 2026), with the natural expectation being that the two films may be tied in with one another to some extent. However, now that Doomsday has been delayed until December 2026, the next Spidey film is officially first up to the plate – meaning any connections between the two stories will surely have to be reconsidered. View oEmbed on the source website Alternatively, Brand New Day could move to a later point in the calendar. But would Sony Pictures be happy to push (what is likely to be) the biggest title on its slate, just to satisfy the needs of another studio? It remains to be seen. In September 2025, Holland suffered a concussion on set which caused production to be briefly halted, according to The Hollywood Reporter, but the week-long break seems unlikely to cause any major disruption to the current release plan. Who will be in the Spider-Man: Brand New Day cast? It's no surprise to anyone that Tom Holland will be back for his fourth outing as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, and Zendaya will join him as the character's lost love MJ. Their co-star, Jacob Batalon, is also back as Ned Leeds, although the extent of Ned and MJ's roles is not currently known. In terms of new additions, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in what is said to be a key role (according to The Hollywood Reporter), but it's not yet clear precisely who the rising star will be playing (more on that below). Another recruit that got Marvel fans talking is The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas, who has joined Brand New Day in an as-yet-undisclosed role – but comic book readers all have the same guess of who she might be. The arrival of Peter Parker's successor in the Spider-Man mantle, Miles Morales, has been teased for years, with superstar Donald Glover (Mr & Mrs Smith) playing the character's uncle, Aaron Davis, all the way back in 2017's Homecoming. Fans have noted that Colón-Zayas could potentially be a fit for Miles's mother, Rio, but that's only speculation for the time being. In June 2025, Jon Bernthal was added to the project as Frank Castle/The Punisher, having previously appeared in his own Netflix series, plus Daredevil and its Disney Plus revival Born Again. He also has his own streaming special in the works. Not long after, it was reported that The Hulk would be roaring back to the MCU, with Mark Ruffalo due to reprise the role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day after an extended absence. Alongside him, Michael Mando was also confirmed to be making a return as the Scorpion; a minor villain who swore vengeance against Spider-Man in the closing moments of his 2017 adventure Homecoming. No further casting has been announced just yet, but recurring Spidey star Jon Favreau is among the rumoured contenders for a return as Tony Stark's former right-hand man Happy Hogan. There's no word on whether Tom Holland's Spider-Verse counterparts Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield could reappear, following an enormous fan response to 2021's No Way Home. Recently, Garfield addressed the possibility in an interview with Entertainment Tonight: "I would love to play the character again in some capacity, but I think it would have to be very weird. I think I would want to do something very strange. "I would want to do something very unique, and offbeat, and surprising, kind of like the creative freedom that they have with the animated Spider-Verse movies. I think they're so great and you can honour the character in so many different ways through the multiverse." Behind the camera, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously helmed Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Expect more big names to be announced in due course as details of Spider-Man's next adventure come into focus. Who is Sadie Sink playing in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Of course, with the news that Sadie Sink will be joining the MCU with this film, much speculation has already begun as to who she might be playing – with that information not yet having been divulged. One rumour that has been doing the rounds at this early stage is that she could popular X-Men character Jean Grey aka Dark Phoenix, who has notably previously been played on the big screen by both Famke Janssen and Sophie Turner in the 20th Century Fox Marvel days. Sink would certainly fit the role, and it's been clear for some time now that the Marvel is ramping up its plans for the X-Men to officially join the MCU, but as yet this is nothing more than a rumour. And there are plenty of other characters Sink could potentially play, with fans already having put forward a number of suggestions. One such example is Angelica Jones/Firestar – a comic book super-hero and mutant who has not yet appeared on the big screen, but has teamed up with Peter Parker before in the source material. Another is Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, a character who at various points has been an enemy, ally and love interest of Spidey and was previously played in The Amazing Spider-Man by Felicity Jones. A third possibility is that she could be the latest actress to play romantic interest Gwen Stacy, following Bryce Dallas Howard (in Spider-Man 3) and Emma Stone (in The Amazing Spider-Man films). As soon as we catch wind of any further rumours, we'll post them right here – so do keep checking back. What could happen in Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Plot details for Spider-Man: Brand New Day are few and far between at the moment, but star Tom Holland has described the film as a "fresh start" following Peter Parker's sacrifice at the end of No Way Home. That 2021 blockbuster ended with him asking Doctor Strange to wipe him from the memories of everybody on the planet, in order to prevent the multiverse from unleashing chaos on the main Marvel continuity. Alas, the consequences were dire, as Peter's beloved girlfriend MJ, best friend Ned and mentor Happy, heartbreakingly had no recollection of Peter when he bumped into them after the spell was cast. The transformative development is comparable to that which was seen in controversial comic book storyline One More Day, in which Peter and Mary-Jane made a deal with Mephisto, erasing their marriage in exchange for Aunt May's life. It's no coincidence, then, that this film is titled Brand New Day – the arc that followed One More Day in the source material. "I know we left you with a massive cliffhanger at the end of No Way Home, so Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a fresh start," said Holland at CinemaCon. "It is exactly that. That's all I can say." Indeed, last time we saw him, Peter was moving into a New York City apartment and preparing for a new chapter of his life, without the support network that had proven so crucial over the last several years. Intriguingly, during an appearance on Good Morning America last year, Holland described the fourth entry in his Spidey saga as "crazy" and "different to anything we've done before". Those comments stoked speculation that the film could tie-in to Avengers: Doomsday, which was originally slated to release months earlier than Brand New Day – but is now coming much later, complicating any potential connections between them. There have also been questions about the stakes of the film, and whether it is expected to be another multiversal, world-saving adventure, or whether a more street-level approach will be taken. The involvement of The Punisher could perhaps hint towards the latter being the case. Is there a Spider-Man: Brand New Day trailer? While there won't be a fully fledged trailer for a little while yet with shooting only just getting under way, Marvel has released a short teaser debuting Spidey's new suit. Watch the Spider-Man: Brand New Day suit reveal below: View oEmbed on the source website Spider-Man: Brand New Day will be released in cinemas on Friday 31st July 2025. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Avengers: Doomsday – release date and latest news on Robert Downey Jr epic
The full cast list has now been revealed for the upcoming MCU film – and it's certainly a star-studded affair.
A make or break moment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is little over a year away, with Avengers: Doomsday holding potential to be the franchise's greatest triumph – or its ultimate disaster. Needless to say, the stakes are high, with former MCU lynchpin Robert Downey Jr returning for this attempt to right the ship, with the Academy Award winner switching from Iron Man to Doctor Doom in a surprise twist. Several other long-serving members of the franchise will be alongside him, including an Avengers founding member in Chris Hemsworth's Thor, who set fans into a frenzy earlier this year with an ominous anniversary video. The clip shared to his social media accounts reflected on Hemsworth's journey with the role, which began with his casting in 2009, but was interpreted by some fans to be a farewell – indicating a premature end for the God of Thunder. Hemsworth has since clarified to The Hollywood Reporter that his team conceded to giving the "wrong impression", but that the video "definitely got misconstrued and perceived in a different way" to what was intended. In other words, Thor is probably safe (for now). Read on if you're eager to know more about the staggering roster assembled for Avengers: Doomsday, plus the blockbuster's release date and the fleeting story details released so far. Avengers: Doomsday release date Avengers: Doomsday has now had its release date pushed back from 1st May 2026 to 18th December 2026. This means the movie will drop on the same day as the Dune: Part Two sequel, Dune: Messiah. Meanwhile, filling the film's original slot in May will be Disney's long-awaited sequel to The Devil Wears Prada. Who will star in Avengers: Doomsday? Confirmed members Avengers: Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr as Victor Von Doom, who will be a towering villain that unites the combined might of several superhero teams. It's unclear as yet precisely what Doom has planned, or if he'll have any direct connection to Downey Jr's earlier role of Tony Stark (aka Iron Man), but he must have a pretty spectacular plan to warrant so much opposition. Most recently, Marvel fans have been mulling over the probability of Ryan Reynolds appearing as Deadpool in Avengers: Doomsday, with a source telling The Hollywood Reporter that the Merc with a Mouth would have a role. However, Reynolds himself later cast doubt on the claim, telling Variety that he hasn't "stepped foot on set", although that may just be some creative wording from the actor – after all, he could well have filmed scenes remotely. In either case, the confirmed cast of Doomsday is starry enough with the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men and Thunderbolts teams, as well as wild card choices like Namor (Tenoch Huerta) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), whose allegiances could shift. Anthony Mackie is reprising the role of Sam Wilson aka Captain America, who was tasked with putting together a new Avengers team at the end of his recent solo outing Brave New World. Likely candidates for that group include Letitia Wright's Shuri, the new Black Panther, plus Chris Hemsworth's Thor, Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, Paul Rudd's Ant-Man and Danny Ramirez's Falcon. As previously confirmed, the cast of Fantastic Four: First Steps will also reappear here, comprised of Pedro Pascal (Mr Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Thing). First Steps director Matt Shakman said – apparently mistakenly – in an interview that Mr Fantastic would go on to be "leader" of the Avengers, but Pascal himself has since corrected the record. "It’s big news to me, that's for one," he joked, in an interview with Associated Press. "There is something that happens in the comics where he is sort of drawn in by the Avengers family and asked to be put into a leadership position. "That is something that happens in the comics. It isn't necessarily something that my character's future entails." The Thunderbolts* cast will also reappear in Doomsday, with Florence Pugh (Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), Wyatt Russell (USAgent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ghost), David Harbour (Red Guardian) and Lewis Pullman (Sentry) all credited in the announcement. Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Marvel Studios has also announced the return of several cast members from 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise, which appears to have been revived in the wake of Deadpool & Wolverine's success. Returning from that smash-hit is Channing Tatum as Gambit, alongside franchise veterans Patrick Stewart (Professor X), Ian McKellen (Magneto), Rebecca Romijn (Mystique), Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler), James Marsden (Cyclops) and Kelsey Grammer (Beast). Both Cumming and Marsden had warm words to say about returning from a long absence, with their incarnations of Nightcrawler and Cyclops not being seen since 2003's X-Men 2 and 2014's Days of Future Past respectively. On filming Doomsday, Paradise's Marsden said (via Deadline): "It's been a blast. It really has. It's been a nice little homecoming to a role that really put me on the map. It was the first real event project that I was ever a part of, and a very beloved character – this icon from the comics. And so, to step back into that role was pretty special." Meanwhile, Cumming described it as "really healing and really nice to go back to something that was a terrible experience when I did it the first time" (in another Deadline chat), although his time on set was short as his scenes were scheduled tightly so that he could be released to host the next season of The Traitors (US). Here's the confirmed Avengers: Doomsday cast in full: Robert Downey Jr (Doctor Doom) Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic) Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman) Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/The Human Torch) Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Captain America) Chris Hemsworth (Thor) Letitia Wright (Shuri/Black Panther) Winston Duke (M'Baku) Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man) Simu Liu (Shang-Chi) Danny Ramirez (Joaquin Torres / Falcon) Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova/Black Widow) Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier) Wyatt Russell (John Walker/US Agent) Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost) David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian) Lewis Pullman (Bob/Sentry) Patrick Stewart (Charles Xavier/Professor X) Ian McKellen (Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto) James Marsden (Scott Summers/Cyclops) Rebecca Romijn (Raven Darkhölme/Mystique) Alan Cumming (Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler) Kelsey Grammer (Hank McCoy/Beast) Channing Tatum (Remy LeBeau/Gambit) Tenoch Huerta Mejia (Namor) Tom Hiddleston (Loki) As you might have noticed, that list includes some rather glaring omissions who were thought to be all but guaranteed for the next Avengers film. The absence of Tom Holland's Spider-Man, Brie Larson's Captain Marvel, Chris Pratt's Star-Lord, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch have been greeted with particular outcry from the fanbase. However, there is hope yet that these characters could factor into the story, with Marvel teasing on its social media channels that there is "always room for more" cast members. Meanwhile, while there's been no official word yet on whether Hugh Jackman's Wolverine will make a return to the MCU in the film, with various X-Men stars already announced, it would be a waste not to have Wolverine there. When asked whether he could be returning to the MCU in Avengers: Doomsday during an appearance on The View, Jackman said in a cryptic response: "I really can't say much, except when you say 'appear', [it's] more like dominate and destroy every other character – I'm kidding." He continued: "I really have nothing to add, and if I did, I would find a really cool way to not say it, but I actually have nothing to add." Additionally, this line-up is for Avengers: Doomsday only, which is one half of a two-part storyline set to conclude in 2027's Secret Wars – so it seems likely that the sequel could scoop up some late-comers. Case in point: Benedict Cumberbatch has already told Business Insider that he'll be in the "next one" as Doctor Strange, after previously assuring fans that Marvel Studios was "cooking up a storm" with its latest cinematic event. A more confusing case is that of Chris Evans, who was previously reported to be returning for Avengers: Doomsday by the reputable trade publication Deadline. Yet, as of June 2025, Evans is insisting that he was not "invited" back. The actor told ScreenRant: "It’s sad to not be back with the band, but I'm sure they’re doing something incredible, and I'm sure it's going to be that much harder when it comes out, and you feel like you weren't invited to the party." Could it be that Evans, who delighted fans with his Deadpool & Wolverine cameo, really was overlooked for a role in Doomsday? Or is the actor taking a page from the book of Andrew Garfield, who admirably denied his role in No Way Home until the last moment? Only time will tell, but notably, Deadline has also reported that Hayley Atwell is reprising her role as Agent Peggy Carter in Doomsday – and it would be odd if she were to appear without Steve by her side, given the moving final scene of 2019's Endgame. What is Avengers: Doomsday about? Avengers: Doomsday does not yet have an official plot synopsis, but the movie is set to formally introduce Victor von Doom as a major threat to the Marvel multiverse. The character made a brief appearance in the Fantastic Four: First Steps post-credits scene, where he is seen (albeit, only from behind), approaching the universe's most powerful four-year-old: Franklin Richards. What does he want with him exactly? That remains to be seen. It's possible that the intricacies are still being worked out! Producer Kevin Feige confirmed (via The Hollywood Reporter) over the summer that the script was still being worked on after cameras started rolling, which he actually views as a strength of the production. He said: "Those actors, both the ones that are playing these characters for the first or second time and the ones playing them for the 10th or 12th time, are the best in the world at it, and know these characters so well. So if they have an idea, you want to listen to it and you want to adjust to it and you want to improve it. I wouldn't want to change that." Much like Infinity War and Endgame, which became two of the highest-grossing films of all time, Doomsday and its sequel Secret Wars will serve as two parts of a larger narrative – with one leading directly into the other. Teasing the plot to The Hollywood Reporter, co-director Joe Russo said: "I think these movies are going to be a surprise to people – we found a way into the story that’s very exciting to us but we think very radical and I think it’s going to challenge audiences." In the 2016 comic book series Secret Wars, upon which the film may be inspired, Doctor Doom salvages elements of a destroyed multiverse and reforms them as 'Battleworld' – a domain in which he is the unquestioned god and ruler. Prior to this storyline, the Marvel comics had dealt with the concept of incursions, whereby one reality would collide with another, either destroying both or causing one side to take a deadly defensive action. Perhaps these terrifying events might begin occurring in Avengers: Doomsday, leading Doctor Doom to create his surreal new reality as he did in the source material – leaving enormous questions lingering for Secret Wars to answer. The post-credits scene in Thunderbolts* added weight to this theory, with Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) addressing a "space crisis" which could well be other planets or realities on a collision course with Earth. Yelena vents frustration that her own New Avengers teams are viewed negatively by the press and public, while Sam Wilson's separately assembled team is regarded as more legitimate – and refusing to share intel. That's when an inter-dimensional ship carrying the Fantastic Four is spotted entering the atmosphere, with the team likely to be carrying a dire warning of apocalyptic threat (if the film's subtitle is any indication). Interestingly, the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene was actually filmed on the set of Avengers: Doomsday, with director Jake Schreier describing it as "a small hint of that film" (via Entertainment Weekly). Another threat to the Fantastic Four will come from a most unexpected place, with Nightcrawler actor Alan Cumming recently revealing that he's filming an action scene that involves "hitting Pedro Pascal against the head" (via Buzzfeed). No doubt Mr Fantastic and Nightcrawler will eventually reconcile to face their real adversary. Don't expect the crossover to come to a neat conclusion, though, with Captain America star Mackie apparently confirming that – as expected – Doomsday will end on a cliffhanger comparable to the catastrophic 'snap' in 2018's Infinity War. "It's one of those stories that really pushes the boundaries," he teased in an interview with Collider. The cliffhanger at the end... the last moments of the film, it really builds and sets us up for a way for the continuation of the Marvel saga, which is really exciting." Mackie added: "You see these characters, and you see how they're introduced and how they play in the universe moving forward, and no one is safe. Everyone is expendable." In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Anthony Russo added: "We think we finally lit on an idea that we felt really made it worth us coming back to tell another story... You should be excited for what we've got coming." Why was Avengers: The Kang Dynasty cancelled? Previously, the fifth movie in the Avengers franchise was to be named The Kang Dynasty and to continue plot threads previously established in Disney Plus series Loki and Marvel blockbuster Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Jonathan Majors appeared in both projects as variants of Kang the Conquerer; a powerful time-travelling menace who was initially intended to be the MCU's next Thanos-level threat. However, Majors was dropped by Marvel Studios after he was found guilty of assaulting and harassing his ex-girlfriend by a jury in New York. He was convicted on two counts but acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment. Some had expected Marvel Studios to continue the storyline with a new actor as Kang, but the company has instead decided to go in an entirely different direction with its plans. Is there an Avengers: Doomsday trailer? Not yet! But we'll update this page the moment that any footage arrives. Avengers: Doomsday is coming to cinemas in May 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who icon Carole Ann Ford stars in first-look pictures of all-new feature film role
The sci-fi legend swaps the TARDIS for terror in new horror film Harbinger.
Doctor Who legend Carole Ann Ford is returning to screens in a brand new horror film, with first-look images revealing her role in Shogun Films' upcoming release Harbinger. Ford famously originated the role of Susan Foreman – the Doctor’s granddaughter – in Doctor Who's very first story An Unearthly Child back in 1963. In Harbinger, Ford plays Sue, the mother of Julia (Jeanine Sothcott), the only surviving victim of serial-killing devil worshipper Henry Decker (Peter Woodward). Julia is persuaded by TV presenter Mike Craggs (Gary Webster) to revisit the site of Decker’s crimes for a paranormal-style broadcast. But when the crew uncover a haunted fortune-telling machine and draw their fortune cards, they unleash a terrifying new evil. Ford said of the experience: "It was such a supportive atmosphere. I’ve fallen in love with everyone on set from my wonderful 'daughter' Jeanine, to the make-up artist Flea. "Having not done a movie for quite a few years I was looking forward to renewing my love for the experience of filmmaking. But never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated such warmth and generosity from everyone. "Working with Jeanine was so natural, she could easily have been my actual daughter and I look forward to working with her again." Her co-star Jeanine Sothcott added: "It was an honour to work alongside such an amazing, iconic actress – what a total inspiration she is. Carole was warm, funny, gorgeous and generous – I couldn’t have asked for a better on-screen mum. "Her character is strong, loving and positive and it's lovely to see an actress in her eighties not playing a character consigned to bed." After reprising her role of Susan in Doctor Who's 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors in 1983, Ford recently made a surprise comeback in the current era of the series, appearing in the 2025 episode The Interstellar Song Contest alongside Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor. Outside of the TARDIS, Ford is also known for her roles in the classic 1962 sci-fi film Day of the Triffids and the comedy The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery (1966), while her television credits include Emergency Ward 10, Z-Cars, Public Eye, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? and Moonstrike. Harbinger is the latest project from indie outfit Shogun Films. Directed by James Crow (Nemesis), the new film also stars Tony Sands and Johnny Palmiero. Shogun founder Jonathan Sothcott said: "One of the privileges of making our films is working with so many legendary older actors. Britain has such a rich heritage of film and television and it’s wonderful that we can offer different roles to such iconic performers." Harbinger will be released in early 2026. Read more: Doctor Who's Carole Ann Ford has story idea for Susan’s return Doctor Who fans call for Susan's return – Carole Ann Ford is on board Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch The Conjuring and Annabelle movies in order - Full chronological timeline and release order
The Conjuring and Annabelle movies can be watched in two different orders.
The Conjuring Universe has always proved extremely popular with horror audiences – but the latest entry in the long-running franchise has just accomplished a new record, enjoying the best opening weekend of any of the previous movies in the series. The Conjuring: Last Rites – which is billed as the final entry in the main series starring Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren – has already raked in a total of $83 million in the US and $187 million globally, further cementing the franchise's place as the highest-grossing horror franchise ever. It remains to be seen whether such monumental success will see New Line back pedal on their decision to make this the final entry in the main saga, or whether they will continue with their plan on shifting the focus to spin-offs, but it certainly proves that the franchise still has legs. Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com ahead of the release, series creator James Wan had explained how he and the rest of the creative team were desperate to give the central pair a fitting send-off with the new film. "Patrick and Vera know the characters really, really well and they have an ownership to them, as they should," he said. "They know the world, and they feel very connected to them. And the biggest thing that they wanted to do is is the same as what we all wanted... we all feel like we want to be able to send them off in a way that was appropriate, that was worthy of of them, and the movies that they've played together in this franchise." Ahead of seeing the new movie, fans might be hoping to revisit (or watch for the first time) the previous nine films – comprising sequels, spin-offs and prequels – in the franchise. But this is no easy feat: the movies jump around a bit in time – with all of them set somewhere between the '40s and the '80. So, if you're wondering how to watch the Conjuring movies in chronological order according to the series timeline, which kicks off with The Nun (which was the fifth film to be released), or simply want to absorb all the eeriness in the order the movies were released, then read on for everything you need to know. *Warning: spoilers for all The Conjuring movies follow.* How many The Conjuring movies are there? There are 10 films set within The Conjuring Universe: four Conjuring movies, three Annabelle movies, The Nun, The Nun 2, and The Curse of La Llorona. Meanwhile there are further plans afoot, with A Conjuring TV series that takes place in the same universe confirmed for the streaming platform, Max. DC Studios co-chairperson and CEO Peter Safran, who has acted as producer for every Conjuring film, is leading the charge. James Wan, who directed the first two Conjuring movies and produced others in the series, is also in talks to be part of the project. The Conjuring and Annabelle movies in chronological order This option gives you the chronological order to watch the movies. You kick off things with The Nun, which is set in 1952, through to The Conjuring 2, set in 1977. Director Michael Chaves has since argued that The Curse of La Llorona shouldn't be counted, as it wasn't made with the franchise team, but we've left it here for a sense of completeness. The Nun (Set in 1952/1971, released in 2018) Annabelle: Creation (Set in 1943/1952/1955/1967, released in 2017) The Nun II (Set in 1956, released in 2023) Annabelle (Set in 1967, released in 2014) The Conjuring (Set in 1968/1971, released in 2013) Annabelle Comes Home (Set in 1968/1969 or 1971/1972, released in 2019) The Curse of La Llorona (Set in 1973, released in 2019) The Conjuring 2 (Set in 1976/1977, released in 2016) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (Set in 1980/81, released in 2021) The Conjuring: Last Rites (Set in 1986, released in 2025) How to watch The Conjuring and Annabelle movies in release order This order does what it says on the tin; it follows the order the movies were released. We kick off with our first introduction to Ed and Lorraine Warren and end with a breakaway tale that doesn't feature our main duo. The Conjuring (2013) Annabelle (2014) The Conjuring 2 (2016) Annabelle: Creation (2017) The Nun (2018) The Curse of La Llorona (2019) Annabelle Comes Home (2019) The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021) The Nun II (2023) The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) What's the best order to watch The Conjuring and Annabelle movies? Our view is that the first option – watching them in chronological order – is best as it adds more depth to the events of the original films, meaning you'll get more out of the story when you finally get to them. That said, watching in release order is a more natural fit as the ideas developed over time. Ultimately, it is up to you and you may enjoy things clicking into place as you go through the movies in order of release. Whichever you choose, you are guaranteed to have a great and spooky time, though we can't say how much sleep you'll get after getting through them all – so it might be worth watching some comedy picks to calm your nerves. Where to watch The Conjuring and Annabelle movies in the UK The Conjuring 1 and 2 are both currently available to stream with a subscription to Netflix, while the first two Annabelle films and the first Nun film are all available on both NOW and Sky Go. Meanwhile, all nine of the previously released films are can be rented or bought on various digital platforms including Prime Video and Google Play with Last Rites now playing in cinemas. Meanwhile, The Conjuring movies are available to buy on Blu-ray and DVD. The Conjuring 1 and 2 comes as a box set, and there's also the first Annabelle DVD as well as Annabelle: Creation. If you would rather have them in the one box set, you can get The Conjuring 7-Film Collection. Unfortunately, this doesn't include The Curse of La Llorona or The Nun II, so you'll need to pick those up separately if you want to complete your streaming-free collection. The Nun (1952/1971) First up is The Nun, set in 1952. The story follows Father Burke and Sister Irene who travel together to Romania to investigate a convent after a nun kills herself. When they set off they're unaware it's all linked to demon Valak, but they soon cotton on. We also learn that Frenchie is Maurice Theriault in the final scene set in 1971. If you're struggling to remember, that's the person who was exorcised in The Conjuring (the first film released). Again, that slightly complicates things if you watch the Conjuring movies in the chronological order - you'd maybe stop before that scene then hop back. We'd just watch this scene, remember it and carry on. Annabelle: Creation (1943/1952/1955/1967) Annabelle: Creation is the prequel to Annabelle, which was also a prequel to The Conjuring. The film tells the story of how the demonic doll was created and became possessed. It all began with a car accident in 1943. This is probably the better of the three Annabelle movies. To make things a little confusing, there's a post-credit scene for this one that teases The Nun, but that's set in 1952 - so you'd need to watch The Nun then come back to Annabelle: Creation just in time for it to pick up the story in 1967. If you're not wedded to the whole timeline thing then just watch The Nun afterward. The Nun II (1956) This direct sequel to the Nun picks up four years after Sister Irene had her first encounter with Valak, with all the action unfolding in 1956. This time we're in France, with Irene once again seeking to prevent the demon from obtaining a relic that could give the evil entity superpowers – this time the eyes of St Lucy, the patron saint of the blind. Annabelle (1967) View oEmbed on the source website The first Annabelle film throws you right in at the deep end. The demonic doll causes all sorts of havoc - that's the basic gist of it. The Conjuring (1968 / 1971) The first film released in The Conjuring franchise and where it all began. This one is set in the '70s, showing Ed and Lorraine Warren investigating a case where a family has moved into a haunted house. This one is based on a real case (though Annabelle technically is too). Annabelle Comes Home (1968/1969 or 1971/1972) Annabelle Comes Home starts with the Warrens picking up Annabelle and driving her to their home to leave in their artefacts room where they keep all sorts of creepy things. It's an extended version of The Conjuring scene (1968), so that's why you recognise it. If you're watching these in chronological order it may seem strange, but stick with it. The film then moves to 1969 when the Warrens head off on a trip, leaving daughter Judy with a babysitter, Mary Ellen. The demonic doll gets loose and draws all the other demons out. The artefact room features heavily, providing plenty of Easter eggs (if we can call them that) as there are all the items the Warrens have collected over the years, including the Perron Music Box (it was in The Conjuring). The Curse of La Llorona (1973) Next is The Curse of La Llorona. This one is based off the Weeping Woman, a folklore tale. Set in 1973, we see a mother struggling to protect her children. The film feels a bit odd as there's no obvious connection to the wider Warren story, but Father Perez pops up - he was in Annabelle. The Conjuring 2 (1976 / 1977) View oEmbed on the source website Back to the Warrens with another 'true story' case with The Conjuring 2. This time it's 1976 and the Warrens investigate the Amityville House case then move to England to look into the Enfield Hauntings in 1977. Both are well-known cases. The Nun crops up here as well as The Crooked Man, which we mention as he's getting his own film too. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (1980/81) The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It takes us into the '80s, when the Warrens investigated the possession of David Glatzel, 11, back in 1980. We start things there before picking up the case of Arne Cheyenne Johnson the year after, in 1981. Yet again we follow a real-life case of the Warrens, with The Conjuring 3 true story covering the case and Arne Johnson's defence that he was possessed. If you want a spoiler-free overview of the film, here's our The Conjuring 3 review. Read more: Where is Arne Johnson now? What happened after The Conjuring 3 The Conjuring: Last Rites (1986) <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2025/09/the-conjuring-last-rites-patrick-wilson-vera-farmiga-9ec097f.jpeg" width="6000" height="4000" alt="Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren and Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites standing in a lecture theatre giving a talk, with a screen showing a scary clown face behind them." title="Patrick Wilson as Ed Warren and Vera Farmiga as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: Last Rites" /> After opening with a brief scene set back in 1961, the bulk of the action in Last Rites – which sees Ed and Lorraine take on one final case – takes place in 1986, as they are called in to investigate the real life Smurl haunting. The case that the film is inspired by actually spanned more than a decade and a half, with the Smurl family first reporting that their Pennsylvania home was haunted as early as 1974, but it was indeed in 1986 that the Warrens arrived to cast their experienced eyes over the case. The Conjuring shorts More of a bonus entry, but as part of the Annabelle: Creation release in 2017, Warner Bros Pictures ran a contest for fans to create short movies that would then be added into The Conjuring Universe. You can watch the winners' entries on YouTube. The Nurse The Confession What's Wrong with Mom Blund's Lullaby Innocent Souls Are The Conjuring and Insidious movies connected? It's a common question, but the answer is no, The Conjuring and Insidious franchises are not linked to each other. The only 'link' is James Wan, who directed both the first two Conjuring movies and the Insidious movies. Fun fact: Patrick Wilson starred in both the first two Insidious movies and The Conjuring movies. How to watch Marvel movies in order How to watch the Avengers movies in order How to watch Harry Potter movies in order online How to watch James Bond movies in order How to watch Star Wars movies in order How to watch the Pixar movies in order How to watch the Batman movies in order How to watch X-Men movies in order How to watch Twilight movies in order How to watch Alien and Predator movies in order How to watch Terminator movies in order How to watch Fast & Furious movies in order How to watch Halloween movies in order How to watch Spider-Man movies in order How to watch Star Trek in order How to watch Muppet movies in order ...and if you're looking for a TV series, why not binge these? How to watch Babylon 5 in order How to watch Black Mirror episodes in order How to watch the Arrowverse and DC TV shows in order Conjuring: The Last Rites will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 5th September 2025. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Thunderbolts* post-credits scenes spoilers: How it sets up MCU's future
A lot of building blocks were laid when Phase 5 of Marvel's big-screen project came to a close.
Thunderbolts* proved to be a confident step forward for the MCU, impressing fans and critics alike, and closing Marvel's previously lacklustre Phase 5 with a bang. The film sees Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour reprising their MCU roles, becoming a ragtag crew of superheroes who are forced on a dangerous mission by Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. The gang are also joined by a new character Bob, played by Lewis Pullman, who will be very familiar to fans of the comics. The film crescendos to a dramatic ending that not only reveals what the asterisk at the end of the title is all about but also has big implications in terms of the wider MCU, and you can now revisit it via streaming too. If you've still got questions after watching Thunderbolts*, read on for a recap of what the movie's ending – and crucially its post-credits scene – means and how it paves the way for the MCU's future. What happens at the end of Thunderbolts*? Full spoilers The bulk of the film is focused on the – somewhat forced – alliance that develops between the ragtag titular group of anti-heroes that forms after CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) sets them on each other in what she hopes will be a deadly meeting. While one unfortunate antihero does die almost instantly in the form of Olga Kurylenko's Taskmaster, the rest of the gang end up banding together, especially after they meet an unusual character by the name of Bob aka The Sentry aka The Void. They are also later joined by Sebastian Stan's Bucky Barnes, who reluctantly teams up with them after learning about Valentina's plans for Bob – who she has trained as a superhuman. Anyway, the major confrontation at the end of the film comes after Bob finds himself locked in his The Void persona and rather terrifyingly turns everyone in his vicinity into dark shadows. This is a force that won't be able to be fought in the usual Marvel way, with superpowers and weapons, but instead by reaching Bob's mind. And so Yelena (Florence Pugh) does just that, fighting through flashes of her own previous traumas to find Bob in the shadow dimension – where, after becoming briefly incapacitated by The Void, she has a heart-to-heart with him, reminding him that with her and the rest of the Thunderbolts, he is not alone. These words prove extraordinarily powerful, and The Void appears to be defeated for now – with Bob returning to normal but claiming to have no memory of anything that has just happened. Meanwhile, Valentina weaponises the heroism of Yelena and the Thunderbolts for her own ends – staging a press conference and declaring that she has deliberately formed this new superhero team which will henceforth be known as the New Avengers, boosting her own popularity as a result. Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass Thunderbolts* post-credits scene explained There are actually two post-credits scenes, although the first is merely a joke with little bearing on the plot – showing Alexei Shostakov in a supermarket and enjoying the fact that some cereal boxes have been branded with him and his fellow Thunderbolts. The second is more important for the future of the franchise. It sees the team spending time at Avengers HQ 14 months later, where Bucky explains that they could be in trouble based on the fact that Sam Wilson aka Captain America (Anthony Mackie) has been hoping to set up his own team of Avengers, and their new team could be seen as a threat to him – with Sam even attempting to copyright the Avengers name. But then something even more significant happens: they receive a distress signal from space, and we get a clear view of a massive spacecraft on which is branded the number 4. It is, of course, the arrival of The Fantastic Four – whose own film will arrive in cinemas this summer... How does Thunderbolts* set up the future of the MCU? With this film marking the final entry in Marvel's extremely spotty Phase 5, the stage has now been firmly set for Phase 6 – and it's safe to say that lots of building blocks are in place. For one thing, Valentina continues to have a rather tenuous grip on power despite her desperate efforts to reclaim the heroics of the Thunderbolts as her doing, and this storyline seems destined to play a part going forward. Then there's the prospect of Bob, who may have been able to tame The Void for now but who seems likely to have further battles to face in his future. But perhaps most importantly is that it looks like we're going to end up with three different superhero teams: Sam Wilson's Avengers, The Thunderbolts* aka The New Avengers, and shortly The Fantastic Four. And that's before we even get to the arrival of the X-Men in the MCU in due course. There's no reason to suspect that the Fantastic 4 and the New Avengers can't work together, but throw in Sam Wilson's rival Avengers team and things could be about to get messy. We'll find out in Phase 6... Thunderbolts* is now available to stream on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £4.99 a month now. Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Thunderbolts* cast: All the stars in The New Avengers
The latest MCU flick is now available to stream – and as usual it's a star-studded affair.
Thunderbolts*' theatrical run might have come to an end, marking the end of Marvel's Phase 5 on the big screen, but fans need not worry about when they're going to see the film's characters again. That's because most of the stars who appear in the film have already been confirmed to star in Avengers: Doomsday next year, so fans can look forward to more adventures from the rag-tag band of antiheroes. Before that, however, they can of course re-visit them via streaming. Thunderbolts* sees Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour reprise their MCU roles, and also introduces viewers to franchise newcomers like Lewis Pullman as Bob. Need a refresher of all the characters from Thunderbolts ahead of Doomsday? Read on for everything you need to know about the cast. Thunderbolts* cast: All the stars in The New Avengers You can find the cast list for the film below – scroll down further for more information about all of the key players. Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes Wyatt Russell as John Walker/US Agent Olga Kurylenko as Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster Lewis Pullman as Bob Reynolds/Sentry/Void Geraldine Viswanathan as Mel Chris Bauer as Holt Wendell Pierce as Gary David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian Hannah John-Kamen as Ava Starr/Ghost Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Sponsored by Vue Save up to 30% on the latest releases at Vue in 2025 Are you a movie lover who always wants to be up to date with the latest releases? Then you're in luck, as RadioTimes.com readers can enjoy new films at Vue Cinemas for less. Customers will receive up to 30% off films with Vue Pass, as long as they have a RadioTimes.com account. It's a great time for new releases, with films such as Wicked, Nosferatu, The Brutalist and Moana 2 taking UK cinemas by storm. Head to your nearest Vue to catch these movies and more for up to 30% less if you're signed up as a RadioTimes.com member. Save up to 30% with Vue Pass Florence Pugh plays Yelena Belova Who is Yelena Belova? A member of the Thunderbolts who was trained in the Red Room as a Black Widow assassin. What else has Florence Pugh been in? The English actress is currently one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and outside her MCU role she is known for her turns in The Falling, Lady Macbeth, Fighting with My Family, Little Women, Midsommar, The Wonder, Don't Worry Darling, Oppenheimer, Dune: Part Two and, most recently, We Live in Time. Wyatt Russell plays John Walker/US Agent Who is John Walker? An enhanced super soldier, former Captain America, and a member of the Thunderbolts. What else has Wyatt Russell been in? Away from the MCU, Russell is known for starring alongside his famous father Kurt in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, while other credits include the Black Mirror episode Playtest, main roles in Lodge 49 and Under the Banner of Heaven and films including 22 Jump Street, Everybody Wants Some!! and Night Swim. Prior to his acting career, he was a professional ice hockey player. Olga Kurylenko plays Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster Who is Antonia Dreykov? A skilled assassin with photographic reflexes. What else has Olga Kurylenko been in? Kurylenko is perhaps still best known for playing Bond girl Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace, while other film credits include Seven Psychopaths, Oblivion, The Death of Stalin, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and Extraction 2. Sebastian Stan plays Bucky Barnes Who is Bucky Barnes? An enhanced super soldier with a cybernetic arm who is the de facto leader of the Thunderbolts and also has a political career. What else has Sebastian Stan been in? Although it is still Stan's work in the MCU for which he is most widely recognised, he had the most acclaimed year of his career in 2024 thanks to his Golden Globe-winning role in A Different Man and his Oscar-nominated performance as Donald Trump in The Apprentice. Other film roles gave included Black Swan, The Martian, I, Tonya, The Devil All the Time and Fresh, while he is also known for his small-screen roles as Carter Baizen on Gossip Girl, Jefferson in Once Upon a Time and Tommy Lee in Pam & Tommy. Julia Louis-Dreyfus plays Valentina Allegra de Fontaine Who is Valentina Allegra de Fontaine? A contessa and the director of the Central Intelligence Agency – who first causes the members of the Thunderbolts to come face to face. What else has Julia Louis-Dreyfus been in? Dreyfus is best known for her roles as Elaine in Seinfeld and Selina Meyer in Veep – winning six consecutive Emmys for the latter. Film credits include Hannah and Her Sisters, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and Deconstructing Harry, while more recently she's been seen in You People and You Hurt My Feelings. Geraldine Viswanathan plays Mel Who is Mel? Valentina’s idealistic, morally conflicted assistant. What else has Geraldine Viswanathan been in? Viswanathan starred in the anthology series Miracle Workers and also has a number of film credits to her name, including Blockers, The Broken Hearts Gallery, Cat Person, Drive-Away Dolls, and You're Cordially Invited. David Harbour plays Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian Who is Alexei Shostakov? A member of the Thunderbolts who is the Russian super soldier counterpart to Captain America and a father figure to Belova. What else has David Harbour been in? Harbour is instantly recognisable as Chief Hopper from Stranger Things, while he has appeared in a vast array of films including War of the Worlds, Quantum of Solace, Revolutionary Road, Black Mass, Suicide Squad, Hellboy, Violent Night, Gran Turismo and, most recently, A Working Man. Lewis Pullman plays Bob/Sentry/Void Who is Bob? A mysterious superpowered individual who is found by the Thunderbolts. What else has Lewis Pullman been in? The son of actor Bill Pulman, he has starred in a number of films including Top Gun: Maverick, The Strangers: Prey At Night and Bad Times at the El Royale, while recent credits include The Caine Mutiny Court Martial and Salem's Lot. On the small screen, Pullman has starred in Catch-22, Outer Range and Lessons in Chemistry. Hannah John-Kamen plays Ava Starr/Ghost Who is Ava Starr? A member of the Thunderbolts who can phase through objects. What else has Hannah John-Kamen been in? John-Kamen has appeared in several big TV shows including Black Mirror, Game of Thrones and Happy Valley, in addition to main roles in Killjoys, The Stranger and Brave New World. Film credits include Tomb Raider, Ready Player One, SAS: Red Notice and Unwelcome. Thunderbolts* is now available to stream on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £4.99 a month now. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Thunderbolts* in the UK – is it streaming?
We finally have an official Disney Plus release date!
New Marvel film Thunderbolts* has proved a hit with fans and critics since its release in cinemas back in May, with RadioTimes.com's own review giving it four stars. The movie sees Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan and David Harbour reprising their MCU roles, forming a ragtag crew of superheroes who are tasked with fighting off superhuman threats while dealing with their own personal battles. With the film featuring such a stacked cast, as well as a much-talked-about post-credit scene providing some big revelations about the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you might be wondering when it's set to land on Disney Plus. A few days after release, the film was also officially given an alternative title – The New Avengers – which both explained why there had been an asterisk in the original name and also helped set things up for subsequent MCU films. So, if you’re waiting to get a glimpse at the newest Avengers from the comfort of your own home, read on for all the latest Thunderbolts* streaming options. Where to watch Thunderbolts* in the UK on digital Thunderbolts* is available to stream now on Disney Plus. The film might have proved a hit amongst critics and fans alike following its theatrical release, but it certainly had a less-than-stellar performance at the box office. However, with the film now available to stream, it no doubt looks set to reach a much bigger audience. View oEmbed on the source website Thunderbolts* is also available to buy now on digital platforms including Prime Video, Sky Store, Apple TV and Google TV. Since 1st July, it has been available to rent or buy at home. How to watch Thunderbolts* on DVD/ Blu-ray As is usual with Marvel releases, fans who want to relive the action at home can choose between digital, 4K UHD and Blu-ray versions of the movie, which include exclusive content such as deleted scenes, a gag reel, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and filmmaker commentary by director Jake Schreier. The Blu-ray and 4K releases are available to purchase now. What is Thunderbolts* about? Thunderbolts* brings together a group of villains and antiheroes from earlier MCU projects, including Florence Pugh's Black Widow, Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier and David Harbour's Red Guardian, to face a dangerous new threat. Check out the trailer for the unconventional Marvel flick below: View oEmbed on the source website Thunderbolts* is now available to stream on Disney Plus. You can sign up to Disney Plus from £4.99 a month now. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch Superman 2025 in the UK – can you stream it?
The film has been released on digital platforms in the US, but how can fans watch the movie in the UK?
James Gunn’s blockbuster Superman has flown into cinemas, kicking off the DC Universe in entertaining fashion – and many fans may be wondering whether the film is available to watch at home. Directed and written by Gunn, the movie revolves around Clark Kent as he juggles his day job as a journalist in Metropolis whilst also working as a superhero. When his arch-nemesis Lex Luthor hatches a plan to destroy him and further his own evil agenda, Superman must work to halt the villain in his tracks and also restore his own tarnished reputation. The reboot stars David Corenswet as the Kryptonian hero and his alter-ego Kent this time around, while Nicholas Hoult and Rachel Brosnahan appear as Lex Luthor and Lois Lane, respectively. And Gunn recently revealed that Corenswet will soon be donning the red cape once again. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn revealed that a Superman follow-up film is already in the works, with treatments for the next story already completed. "I've already finished the treatment for the next story in what I’ll call the 'Superman Saga'," he said, before adding: "The treatment is done, which means a very, very worked out treatment. I'm working on that and hopefully going into production on that not too far away from today." But for now, read on for everything you need to know about how to watch Gunn's first big-screen foray into the newly revamped DCU. How to watch Superman 2025 in the UK Currently, the only way fans can catch the movie in the UK is in cinemas. However, the superhero film is already available to buy and rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+ in the US. Given that the movie only flew into cinemas on 11th July, fans might be surprised to hear that it's already available to watch on digital platforms, and Gunn recently revealed that the film had such a quick digital turnaround due to the release of Peacemaker season 2. "Well, it’s very complicated, but the truth is it is because of Peacemaker," Gunn, who serves as a showrunner on the series, explained to Screen Rant. He said: "I originally thought Peacemaker was going to be coming out next month. There was a lot of things that are beyond our control, so that Peacemaker is coming out now, and, at the end of the day, I wanted everyone to be able to see Superman that wanted to, even those people who couldn’t get to a theatre before Peacemaker. And that’s really the reason for it." Gunn previously told The Hollywood Reporter that the Corenswet-led movie "leads directly into Peacemaker", while season 2 of the show will end up "setting up all of the rest of the DCU". "It’s a big part, definitely. Superman leads directly into Peacemaker," he explained. He added: "It should be noted that this is for adults, not for children, but Superman leads into this show and then we have the setting up of all of the rest of the DCU in this season of Peacemaker, it’s incredibly important." Will Superman be available to stream online? A streaming release date is yet to be confirmed. However, given that Superman is produced by DC Studios, a Warner Bros company, fans can expect the film to become available on HBO Max in the US in the future, alongside all the previous Superman instalments. Warner Bros typically releases titles on HBO Max between 60 and 100 days after their theatrical release, and if Superman follows the same pattern, it could land on the streaming site sometime between early September and late October 2025. When will Superman be released on Blu-ray and DVD? The superhero film will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on 23rd September 2025. Superman is now showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
DC boss James Gunn gives exciting update on next Superman film
For those holding onto the hope that David Corenswet will grace the silver screen once more as Superman, you're in luck! James Gunn has confirmed that the Superman follow-up will be part of the "Superman Saga", with treatments for the next story already completed. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Gunn confirmed: "I've already finished the treatment for the next story in what I’ll call the 'Superman Saga'. "The treatment is done, which means a very, very worked out treatment. I'm working on that and hopefully going into production on that not too far away from today." While keeping shtum on plot details and everything else a fan could possibly ask, it's clear Corenswet will be donning the iconic suit once more. James Gunn is a man who can't be stopped, with Supergirl slated to fly onto screens in June 2026 along with the current premiere of Peacemaker season 2, the latter of which will play a key role in connecting the DCU's storylines. "It's a big part, definitely, Superman leads directly into Peacemaker," Gunn said. "It should be noted that this is for adults, not for children, but Superman leads into this show and then we have the setting up of all the rest of the DCU in this season on Peacemaker, it's incredibly important." He continued: "Lots of guest stars coming up, lots of characters that are showing up that we've already met in Superman. I don't think there's anything that I've ever done that I love more than this season of Peacemaker, so I'm so excited for people to see it." John Cena backed this up, noting that season 2 of Peacemaker is "furthering the narrative" rather than acting as a standalone series. He explained: "Instead of standalone properties, all of the DCU is now connected, as you saw Peacemaker show up in Superman. "I think what you see in season 2 is just a forward of that narrative. That whole DCU through line - it takes the 11th Street Kids through their next adventure, but it also has a lot to do with the DCU going forward." Superman has been a box office hit, grossing $589 million worldwide, making it the seventh highest-grossing film of 2025, ranking just below Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning and How to Train Your Dragon and just above F1 and The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Alien films ranked: Which is the best entry in the iconic sci-fi franchise?
As TV show Alien: Earth debuts on Disney Plus, we've ranked all seven of the big-screen outings for the series.
Xenomorphs have arrived on the small screen for the first time this week, with the opening two episodes of Noah Hawley's acclaimed new show Alien: Earth having launched on Disney Plus on Wednesday 13th August. The series marks another interesting step forward for one of cinema's most enduring franchises, following the release of Alien: Romulus last year, and it looks like there's plenty more to come – with a sequel to the latter already confirmed. With that in mind, we've taken this opportunity to rank all seven big-screen instalments that have been released so far. We've not slotted Alien: Earth in here just yet, in part because an eight-part series is obviously a very different proposition to a feature film, but early reviews do indicate that the show is one of the better instalments in the franchise. Still, ranking the films does throw up all sorts of interesting quandaries: which of Ridley Scott's prequels is the better of the two? How highly does the newest entry Romulus rank? And of course, does the claustrophobic tension of the first film beat the high-octane action of the second? Read on for our full rankings. 7. Alien Resurrection (1997) The franchise's nadir, Resurrection saw French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet take over the reigns – with Sigourney Weaver returning to the franchise despite her character having been killed off in Alien 3. Set 200 years after the events of that movie, Weaver played a super-powered Ripley clone, while Winona Ryder starred in the role of synthetic human Annalee Call. Although it has its champions, the convoluted and chaotic film has none of the tension, charm or thrills of the rest of the franchise – and pales in comparison to the superior entries. 6. Alien 3 (1992) Director David Fincher has long since-disowned this third entry in the franchise, blaming studio interference for diluting his original vision for the film. And he wasn't the only one upset: many long-term fans were especially displeased with the unceremonious manner in which beloved characters from Aliens were killed off in the very opening scenes. Whichever way you look at it, the film is certainly a major step down from the first two entries – failing to bring either the claustrophobic tension of Alien or the thrilling action of Aliens and containing a muddled, sometimes lacklustre script. Still, it's not entirely without merit. There's plenty of visual splendour, some interesting additions to franchise lore and a couple of standout scenes. Meanwhile, the nihilistic, incredibly bleak approach does give the film it's own distinct identity, even if it isn't to everyone's taste. 5. Prometheus (2012) Prometheus was the first entry in the franchise for a decade and a half – and also saw Ridley Scott return to the director's chair for the first time since he helmed the original 35 years before. A prequel to the original films, it takes place roughly 30 years before the events of Alien and saw Scott adopt a rather more philosophical approach to the franchise, with the main characters a pair of archaeologists who reckon they've found a message from ancient beings they believe to be humanity's predecessors. Of course, when they're subsequently funded by the Weyland Corporation to lead an expedition to a distant planet, they find themselves up against some familiar-but-different deadly threats – although the film sometimes struggles to find the right balance between tense action sequences and the undercooked philosophical musing. The result is an uneven film that nonetheless contains some thrilling moments. 4. Alien: Romulus (2024) This most recent big-screen addition to the franchise is set between the first two entries and swapped the philosophical musing of Scott's prequels for a more back-to-basics approach – which sometimes makes it feel like a loving tribute act to the series. Focusing on a group of young space colonists who awaken a batch of fearsome xenomorphs at an abandoned space station, it includes throwbacks to iconic deaths and famous one-liners from earlier movies, while it adopts a retro-futurist aesthetic that's clearly indebted to the first two films. Although the ghoulish re-animation of a character from the original film is an iffy creative choice, this is still an engaging, well-directed and appropriately gnarly film complete with some well-executed action sequences, a nightmarish final act twist and great performances by Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson. Director Fede Alvarez is reportedly working on a sequel. 3. Alien: Covenant (2017) The second of Scott's two prequels – which was initially intended as the middle part of a trilogy – has plenty of detractors, exemplified by it's rather lukewarm rating of 65 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. But it's arguably the most enjoyable, and for that matter most interesting, entry since the one-two punch of Alien and Aliens. The film follows the crew of the titular ship – including Christopher Oram (Billy Crudup) and Daniels (Katherine Waterston) – who are woken from cryosleep by a crash and subsequently stumble on a mysterious planet. While it initially seems to be uninhabited, they soon come across David (Michael Fassbender) from Prometheus – whose crazed experiments throw up all sorts of issues. Throughout, the film delves deeper into philosophy and mythology while never holding back when it comes to the gore, including some of the bloodiest moments in the franchise's history. Fassbender has arguably never been better than his memorable dual role – playing synthetic humans David and Walter with incredible gusto – and there's a brilliant twist that only makes if more regrettable that Scott hasn't been given the chance to finish his trilogy. 2. Aliens (1986) In truth, on another day James Cameron's terrific sequel could have topped the list – there's really very little separating the first two entries in the franchise, both of which are near faultless masterpieces. Set 57 years after the events of the first movie and following Ripley after she wakes up from cryosleep, it swaps the tense atmosphere of the original for more high-octane blockbuster thrills as Ripley and a squad of marines do battle with numerous Xenomorphs. As an action spectacle it's tough to beat – with several superbly orchestrated set pieces – and there's also some excellent character work, with the relationship between Ripley and young girl Newt (Carrie Henn) especially well played. Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser and Bill Paxton are among the other stars to bring memorable characters to life in what remains one of the finest action movies ever made – and arguably the most rewatchable Alien film, even if its narrowly pipped to the overall top spot. 1. Alien (1979) Ridley Scott's landmark 1979 sci-fi horror has never been bettered. The film introduced Ellen Ripley as one of seven human crew-members (not to forget Jones the cat) on board the Nostromo spacecraft, whose return home is delayed when they intercept a distress signal. Of course, it doesn't take long before they must face unspeakable horrors. From the iconic chest-bursting scene – still one of the most disturbing moments in any film – to Ripley's final showdown with the Xenomorph, the film is filled with claustrophobic tension, directed with masterful precision by Scott. That's not even mentioning the superb creature design by H R Giger or the supporting cast filled with several of the finest character actors of all time, including Ian Holm, John Hurt, Yaphet Kotto and Harry Dean Stanton. It's about as close as you can get to cinematic perfection. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
How to watch the Alien and Predator movies in order
Your complete guide to the two warring sci-fi franchises.
It's finally time to delve into Alien: Earth, the franchise's first ever TV series! Since 1979, the Alien franchise has been terrifying us with the arrival of the Xenomorph, a creature packing brute strength, acid blood and no conscience to speak of. Now, thanks to writer Noah Hawley, it's come to terrorise Earth, and it's down to a group of hybrids (terminally ill children whose consciousness has been transferred into synthetic adult bodies) to stop it. The new series, set two years before the original Alien movie, packs all the horror, gore, and nightmare fuel you could ever want from a new Alien project so, to gear yourself up for it, you might want to revisit the rest of the franchise. Read on for more information on how to tackle your Alien vs Predator marathon. How to watch Alien movies (and TV series) in chronological order 1. Prometheus (2012) Starring: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall-Green, and Charlize Theron. Chronologically, Prometheus is now the earliest film in the current Alien canon, seeing original franchise director Ridley Scott return for a different take on this dark universe. While there are similarities in terms of premise, with the action still following a crew funded by the Weyland Corporation as they venture on a perilous mission, Prometheus swaps out the classic Xenomorph for other nightmare-inducing creatures. The series also introduces Michael Fassbender as his now-iconic android character David 8. Rent or buy Prometheus on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 2. Alien: Covenant (2017) Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride. A direct follow-up to Prometheus, Alien: Covenant stands out as one of the most visceral instalments in the entire franchise, not holding back on gore and nail-biting action sequences. Michael Fassbender reprises his role as Weyland android David, while Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride and Billy Crudup are among the crew of a colony ship exploring the far reaches of space. Rent or buy Alien: Covenant on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 3. Alien: Earth (2025) Starring: Sydney Chandler, Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Samuel Blenkin. Set 16 years after the events of Alien: Covenant, and just two years before the original Alien movie, the series picks up the original premise for Alien 3, in a plotline which involves the crash of a spaceship on Earth, leading to a group of soldiers coming face-to-face with the planet's greatest threat. As well as this new Alien threat, the series will also lean further into the nature of the synthetics seen throughout the films, whilst also dealing with the same themes of corporate exploitation. The series stars Sydney Chandler as the fist ever hybrid between a human and an android. Following the success of last year's Alien: Romulus, hopes are high for the first TV series in the franchise. 4. Alien (1979) Starring: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto. The original and, for many, still the best, Alien is a classic horror film that unleashed the likes of facehuggers, chestbursters and xenomorphs on an unsuspecting public. Sigourney Weaver stars as Ellen Ripley, a member of the USCSS Nostromo, a commercial spacecraft that makes the fateful decision to respond to a signal emanating from an uncharted planet. As you might expect, it doesn't go well. Rent or buy Alien on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 5. Alien: Romulus (2024) Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu. Alien: Romulus is set between the original two films and revolves around a team of space colonists scavenging a derelict space station, which they soon discover is inhabited by the xenomorphs. The film stars Cailee Spaeny and David Jonsson as Rain Carradine and her synthetic adopted brother Andy. Romulus quickly gained critical acclaim upon its release for how faithful it was to the style of the first two Alien films to be released - for better or worse. 6. Aliens (1986) Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn. Weaver returned for this long-awaited sequel but director James Cameron took over the reins from Scott, steering the franchise into a more action-oriented direction. It's a smart move that allows Aliens to feel fresh and distinctive from its predecessor, with Cameron's natural aptitude for jaw-dropping set-pieces proving to be a huge asset. Aliens is arguably one of the greatest action films ever made with a razor-sharp script, with Weaver giving an excellent performance along with her co-stars Lance Henriksen, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser and Bill Paxton. Rent or buy Aliens on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 7. Alien 3 (1992) Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Charles S Dutton, Charles Dance, Lance Henriksen. The first misstep for the Alien franchise was this third entry, Alien 3, directed by David Fincher, which was known to fall foul of studio interference. Brutally upending the hopeful conclusion to its predecessor, Alien 3 sees the action shift to prison ship Fiorina 161, where Ellen Ripley crash lands alone with an Alien life form in tow, which begins picking off the violent male inmates. Rent or buy Alien 3 on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 8. Alien: Resurrection (1997) Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dan Hedaya, JE Freeman, Brad Dourif, Michael Wincott. And this is where the series really lost the plot. Alien: Resurrection is a thoroughly misguided sequel set many decades after the third movie, continuing the story with a super-powered Ripley clone. Some critics were kind to Resurrection, but there's a reason why this story never continued on-screen as the franchise moved to wackier and more divisive places. The film is notable for including Winona Ryder as the synthetic human Annalee Call. Rent or buy Alien: Resurrection on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus How to watch Predator movies in chronological order 1. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) - Viking & Samurai chapters Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Damien Haas, Louis Ozawa Changchien Following on from the success of the historical Prey, this year's animated entry is to be an anthology film set across multiple different time periods. Thus, though it is the most recent entry, several parts of the film, including those set in Viking-era Scandinavia and feudal Japan respectively, are technically the earliest instalments in the franchise. If you want to approach these films in a strictly chronological order, these parts of the latest addition would be the best place to start. The Viking chapter of the film takes place in Scandinavia, in the year 841, and follows the story of the warrior Ursa, locked in a struggle between two competing clans, only to be ambushed by a Predator – a deadly extraterrestrial that has come to Earth to hunt living things for sport. This part of the film stars Lindsay LaVanchy as Ursa and Damien Haas as her son, Anders. The second part of the film moves forwards in time to Japan, in the year 1609. There, Kenji and Kiyoshi, two brothers, and rivals to be the next samurai, must learn to fight together against another Predator. This part of the film stars Louis Ozawa Changchien, who had also previously appeared in the 2010 film Predators. Watch Predators: Killer of Killers on Disney Plus. 2. Prey (2022) Starring: Amber Midthunder, Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush, Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, Bennett Taylor. This film, released back in 2022, was notable for kicking off the premise, continued in the more recent Predator: Killers of Killers, of setting these films within a distinct historical period. Set in the Native American Comanche nation in 1719, the film sees Amber Midthunder take on the lead role of Naru – a fearless warrior who is underestimated and undermined by the male members of her tribe. But when she becomes one of the first humans to ever encounter the Predator, her worth to the tribe becomes more than apparent. Prey received critical acclaim upon its release and feels like a new beginning for the Predator franchise. Watch Prey on Disney Plus 3. Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) - WWII Chapter Starring: Lindsay LaVanchy, Louis Ozawa Changchien, Rick Gonzalez, Britton Watkins. The third part of the recent anthology film takes place in a more recent historical era, in the midst of WWII, during the Battle of the Atlantic. This third chapter brings together the different parts of these more recent historical Predator entries, as WW2 combatant Torres is forced to fight in an area against the other characters from the earlier chapters of Killer of Killers and Prey, each of whom had been placed in suspended animation by the Predators. They must then band together to fight against their common foe. 4. Predator (1987) Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Richard Chaves, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Landham, Shane Black. Set more than 100 years before the Alien series, Predator is very much a self-contained action movie - and an excellent one at that. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Major Alan 'Dutch' Schaefer, a US Army Special Operations soldier called in to rescue hostages being held in a Central American jungle. Little do they know that a deadly alien presence is lurking in the wilderness and tracking the movements of Dutch's team, which also includes Carl Weathers as Dillon and Shane Black as Hawkins (more on him later). Rent or buy Predator on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 5. Predator 2 (1990) Starring: Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Rubén Blades, María Conchita Alonso, Bill Paxton, Robert Davi. Schwarzenegger did not return for this direct sequel to Predator, which instead unfolds from the perspective of LAPD detective Mike Harrigan, played by Danny Glover. The action takes place across the city against a backdrop of warring drug cartels, marking a significant change of scenery from the jungle landscape of the original. Upon release, critics weren't kind to Predator 2, although notably the film has gained cult status in the decades that followed. The film was released after the original Alien vs Predator comic book story was published and thus features a Xenomorph skull in one scene, the first major acknowledgement of a shared world between the two creatures. Rent or buy Predator 2 on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 6. The Predator (2018) Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Trevante Rhodes, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Jacob Tremblay, Yvonne Strahovski, Alfie Allen, Thomas Jane. Predator star Shane Black stepped behind the camera for this recent revival of the franchise, set in present-day suburban America, where a team of soldiers take on a pair of Predators after they kidnap a young boy. While highly anticipated prior to release, The Predator saw a very mixed reception from fans and critics alike, ultimately failing to make a dent at the box office. However, eagle-eyed fans will notice small references to the first two Predator films, as well as one notable nod to the Alien franchise in the form of a Xenomorph tail that has been constructed into a spear. Rent or buy The Predator on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 7. Predators (2010) Starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, and Laurence Fishburne. This 2010 instalment in the Predator series pluralised its title in a deliberate nod to the second entry in the Alien franchise, but aside from that, there are no major connections to choose from. Set at an unspecified point in the future, Predators follows a group of mercenaries after they are abducted and left on an alien planet, where two warring Predator tribes partake in a competitive hunt. Adrien Brody (Peaky Blinders) leads the cast, which also includes Alice Braga (The New Mutants), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) and Walton Goggins (Ant-Man and the Wasp). Rent or buy Predators on Amazon Prime Video 8. Predator: Badlands (2025) Starring: Elle Fanning, Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi The upcoming Predator: Badlands does not yet have a confirmed setting beyond the fact that it takes place at some point in the future. With this and the fact that it also features Elle Fanning as Thia, a synthetic created by Weyland-Yutani - the same corporation seen in the Alien films - this entry promises the most tantalising prospect of a crossover since the Alien vs Predator films. Little else is known about the upcoming film, save that it is set to take place not on Earth, but on the Predator's home world - making it the first film in the franchise to do so. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on Friday 7th November 2025. How to watch Alien vs Predator movies in chronological order 1. AVP: Alien vs Predator (2004) Starring: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewen Bremner. While the Alien vs Predator films were originally intended to slot into the existing continuity of the two franchises, the events of more recent blockbusters Prometheus and Alien: Covenant have essentially rendered them non-canon. Therefore, fans can view them as a self-contained duology, but if you wish to have the context offered at the time of their release, you could follow the release order listed lower down on this page. Set in 2004, Alien vs Predator introduces the idea of the Xenomorphs and Predators harbouring an ancient rivalry, which a team of scientists unwittingly get caught between. Needless to say, it doesn't end well for them. Rent or buy Alien vs Predator on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus 2. AVPR: Alien vs Predator - Requiem (2007) Starring: Steven Pasquale, Reiko Aylesworth, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis, Ariel Gade. Picking up immediately after the events of the first film, Alien vs Predator - Requiem is set in a small Colorado town, where a fearsome "Predalien" hybrid emerges and begins causing havoc. Much like the first film, AVPR was hit with some savage reviews and underperformed at the box office, putting this crossover franchise on hiatus for the time being. Rent or buy Alien vs Predator - Requiem on Amazon Prime Video or Watch on Disney Plus Alien films and TV series in release order The following is the release order of the Alien film franchise. Alien (1979) Aliens (1986) Alien 3 (1992) Alien: Resurrection (1997) Prometheus (2012) Alien: Covenant (2017) Alien: Romulus (2024) Alien: Earth (2025) Predator films in release order The following is the release order of the Predator film franchise. Predator (1987) Predator 2 (1990) Predators (2010) The Predator (2018) Prey (2022) Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) Predator: Badlands (2025) Alien and Predator complete release order The following list of Alien and Predator films in release order can be found below. Alien (1979) Aliens (1986) Predator (1987) Predator 2 (1990) Alien 3 (1992) Alien: Resurrection (1997) AVP: Alien vs Predator (2004) AVPR: Alien vs Predator - Requiem (2007) Predators (2010) Prometheus (2012) Alien: Covenant (2017) The Predator (2018) Prey (2022) Alien: Romulus (2024) Alien: Earth (2025) Predator: Killer of Killers (2025) Predator: Badlands (2025) Looking for something else to watch? Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix and best movies on Netflix, or visit our TV Guide. If you're looking for something to watch tonight, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide or visit our Film hub for all the latest news. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
James Gunn debunks major The Batman 2 rumour: "Stop believing this nonsense"
Production for the anticipated sequel is set to kick off next year.
With such a long wait between the first The Batman film and its sequel, there has of course been plenty of speculation about plot, character and which direction the anticipated follow-up movie will take. Well, one thing's for certain and that's the fact that Robin won't be featuring in The Batman Part 2. Since the announcement that Matt Reeves had completed the script for the second film, rumours have continued to swirl about the film, with one prevalent one being that Batman's trusty sidekick Robin will be making his debut. Posting on Threads, James Gunn put that rumour to bed and wrote: “Guys please stop believing this nonsense. I think six of us have read the script. No one knows anything about The Batman 2." The DC Studios boss had previously tried to warn fans about The Batman Part 2 rumours, also writing on Threads last week: “Anything you’ve heard about that movie is made up or a guess. No one in the world knows anything about the concept for the story except four people.” Warner Bros announced late last year that the film had been delayed by a full year to October 2027, with it recently being revealed (via Variety) that The Batman Part 2 "is preparing to begin shooting next spring". That means that things won't kick off on the production till 2026, marking four years since the Robert Pattinson-starring first film landed on the big screen. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has previously defended what looks set to be a five-year gap between solo Batman films, stating that Reeves "is committed to making the best film he possibly can". "No one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write," he wrote on Threads. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films." Read more: The Batman sequel gets long-awaited filming start confirmed – 4 years on from Robert Pattinson film's release Tom Hanks pays emotional tribute to Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell Of course, since the release of The Batman, fans haven't gone without a visit to the same universe, with HBO's The Penguin proving to be one of the standout shows of last year. While nothing has been said about the future of the Colin Farrell series just yet in terms of a renewal, it is expected that Farrell will reprise his role in The Batman Part 2. Matt Reeves confirmed his involvement last September, saying: “Colin [Farrell] will be part of the movie. We’ve shared [the script] as we’ve been going along with DC and the studio and they’re super excited. There are details that actually connect right into the way the next movie begins, and the way that Oz enters that world as we hand the baton back to Batman, and Batman is on another case.” Details about the film of course remain under wraps for now, with Pattinson telling Deadline earlier this year that it'll be "a while" until we see his return as the Dark Knight but that the story is "cool, though." The Batman Part 2 is coming to cinemas in October 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Batman sequel gets long-awaited filming start confirmed – 4 years on from Robert Pattinson film's release
The project remains shrouded in mystery, but at least it's finally moving forward.
The Batman II is finally gaining momentum, with the belated sequel to Robert Pattinson's brooding superhero flick set to commence production early next year. Matt Reeves (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) is returning to write and direct the second entry, which will continue building out the dangerous world of billionaire Bruce Wayne and his costumed alter-ego. Despite the runaway success of the first film back in March 2022 – including positive reviews and almost $800 million in box office receipts – progress on this follow-up has been a tad slow for fans. In fact, some even feared that the project could be cancelled amid changes at Warner Bros and DC, the latter of which has largely rebooted its continuity with this summer's Superman – and has plans to introduce its own Dark Knight too. A letter to Warner Bros Discovery shareholders has quashed such pessimistic chatter, however, revealing (via Variety) that The Batman II "is preparing to begin shooting next spring". If Reeves and his team meet that projected start date, it would mean cameras start rolling on The Batman II approximately four years after the first film hit cinemas – with this sequel not expected to actually premiere until October 2027. DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn has previously defended what looks set to be a five-year gap between solo Batman films, stating that Reeves "is committed to making the best film he possibly can". "No one can accurately guess exactly how long a script will take to write," he wrote on Threads. "Once there is a finished script, there is around two years for pre-production, shooting and post-production on big films." Of course, it's not like there will be nothing for Batman fans to devour in the meantime. Last year's spin-off series The Penguin, starring Colin Farrell, was a major hit with critics and viewers alike (although some found it strange that Batman himself never intervened in that show's intense storyline). Gunn's DC Studios is also working on the Batman-adjacent Clayface – a horror film set in the main DCU – which stars Tom Rhys Harries (Doctor Who) as the shape-shifting villain. That title should arrive in September of next year. Still, The Batman II has been the subject of the most speculation, with questions lingering about the chosen villain – rumoured to be Mister Freeze or Hush – and whether the film will be merged with the new DCU, formally launched in Superman. The answer to the latter question seems to be a no, with Gunn still planning a separate Batman film series to co-exist alongside the so-called Reeves-verse, tapping The Flash director Andy Muschietti to develop the project. On the matter of the villain, it's probably wise not to get too swept up in the rumours at this stage, with Gunn telling fans on Threads that "everything you've heard [about The Batman II] is a total guess or made up". The Batman II is coming to cinemas in October 2027. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Doctor Who icon Matt Smith cast in key role for new Star Wars film – with big implications for series future
According to reports, Smith will play a villain opposite Ryan Gosling in the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter.
Matt Smith has already starred in one of the most beloved sci-fi properties of all time – and it looks like he could now be joining another in a very different role. According to a report in Deadline, the former Doctor has been cast in Shawn Levy's upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter, in which he is set to play a villain opposite Ryan Gosling's protagonist. Of course, while it is heroic role in Doctor Who that he remains best known for, Smith is no stranger to playing baddies. He's had villainous roles in films including Last Night in Soho and comic book misfire Morbius, while his House of the Dragon character Daemon Targaryen is morally murky at best. The reports suggest that Smith will not only be playing one of several antagonist roles in the movie, but that his character is being viewed as "the next great villain" in the iconic franchise. RadioTimes.com has reached out to Lucasfilm and Matt Smith's representatives for comment. The title and release date – which is currently slated as Friday 28th May 2027 – were both unveiled at April's Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, although few other details have been confirmed at this stage. We do know that it will be set approximately five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, while it's also been reported that Mia Goth will be joining Gosling and Smith in an as-yet unannounced role in the film. Speaking on stage at the aforementioned Star Wars Celebration, Levy said: "We’re fans too. There’s obviously a relationship between these stories and the audience, but we’ve spent our lives in that audience. We know how meaningful it is." It's been almost six years since the last Star Wars film – the aforementioned The Rise of Skywalker – arrived in cinemas, and this project is one of many currently in development. Next year, we'll be seeing Pedro Pascal reprise his popular TV role in The Mandalorian and Grogu, while other films that have been discussed include projects helmed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold and Taika Waititi, as well as a new trilogy from Simon Kinberg. Meanwhile, fans of Smith have plenty to look forward to in the coming weeks and months: later in August he's starring alongside Austin Butler in Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing, while he has the lead role in upcoming Sky Atlantic series The Death of Bunny Munro, based on the novel by Nick Cave. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Fantastic Four director reveals why ending didn't connect to major Thunderbolts* scene
The quartet's iconic space ship had previously been glimpsed in a post-credits scene.
One of the most exciting moments of the year for fans of the MCU was the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene – which ended with the first glimpse of the Fantastic Four's iconic space ship as it became visible to the "New Avengers". Of course, it was a sighting which very much whetted the appetite for the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which has now arrived in UK cinemas to properly introduce fans to this latest incarnation of the iconic comic book characters. But while the new film has broadly gone down well with both fans and critics – with our own 4-star review calling it a "vivacious, beautifully rendered and largely enjoyable comic book spectacle" – it notably didn't give us any more answers as to how the titular quartet end up where they do in that aforementioned post-credits scene. Instead, the entire film takes place in a different continuity within the multiverse, on Earth-828, meaning that we're still waiting to find out how Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm will end up uniting with the rest of the MCU on Earth-616. And speaking in a recent interview, director Matt Shakman explained why it was never the plan for his film to line-up with that glimpse from Thunderbolts* – which he didn't even know about until relatively recently. “No, no, no, because the Thunderbolts* end credit scene was also created relatively late in my process too, so that was not something that I was familiar with," he told CinemaBlend. "Because it hadn’t been created at the time that I was working on my script, you know?" He added that he liked to compare the process of working on projects within the MCU to running a relay race. "You pass the baton, you run your section of it as hard and fast as you can, do the best you can with your version of Fantastic Four – Earth 828, this world – and then you pass the baton, in this case to the Russo brothers," he explained. This lines up with what Shakman previously revealed during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com, when he said that thinking too much about the future of the franchise was "not for me to worry about". "I was really trying to create a universe that felt completely unto itself, very special," he said. "You know, trying to build a universe for these characters. And then wherever they go, that's for them. That's for their journey." He added: "And part of that's the fun, you know, in the same way that it was great to meet Captain America, Steve Rogers, back in World War Two. "Then you see him a fish out of water in the present day, trying to figure out how he fits in with the Avengers. And so they will have their own fish out of waterness as they head off into meeting Avengers in the future." While the film didn't link to Thunderbolts*, the post-credits scene did give us an interesting preview for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday – with a brief but tantalising look at antagonist Doctor Doom, who will be played by returning MCU stalwart Robert Downey Jr in the crossover film. We can't wait to find out how it all adds up! The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently showing in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Avatar 3: Release date, cast, trailer and latest news for Fire and Ash
There was famously a very long gap between the first and second Avatar films, but James Cameron hasn't left fans waiting nearly so long for the third entry in the hugely successful sci-fi franchise. Just three years after Avatar: The Way of Water became another global box office sensation, follow-up Fire and Ash is set to make its way to cinemas this December – and now fans have been treated to a first glimpse of the film thanks to a new trailer. Unsurprisingly, it looks like this third trip to Pandora is going to be another feast for the eyes, while we are also introduced to a new Na'vi clan known as the Ash People, who are set to play a major role as the antagonists of the new movie. The trailer includes some glimpses of fiery battle – and it certainly looks like Cameron is going to deliver on his promise of higher emotional stakes than ever before. "We’re going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love," he told fans at the 2024 D23 Expo. Cameron has long made it clear that he's aiming for five Avatar films in total, and after Avatar 2 grossed more than $2 billion – becoming the third-highest grossing film of all time – it certainly looks like those plans will come to fruition. Here's everything we know so far. Avatar: Fire and Ash release date Avatar: Fire and Ash has been set for release on Friday 19th December 2025 – one year later than the initially announced date of 20th December 2024. That's just three years after the previous instalment, The Way of Water, arrived in cinemas – a significantly shorter gap between films than the 13-year wait fans had to ensure for the second entry. At present, the as-yet-untitled fourth and fifth entries in the saga are scheduled to arrive in December 2029 and December 2031 respectively, although those could obviously be pushed back due to any number of factors. Avatar 3 cast: Who stars in Fire and Ash? The confirmed cast for Fire and Ash is: Sam Worthington as Jake Sully Zoe Saldaña as Neytiri Sigourney Weaver as Kiri Stephen Lang as Colonel Miles Quaritch Edie Falco as General Frances Ardmore Britain Dalton as Lo'ak Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuktirey Jack Champion as Miles "Spider" Socorro Bailey Bass as Tsireya Kate Winslet as Ronal Jemaine Clement as Dr Ian Garvin Michelle Yeoh as Dr Karina Mogue CCH Pounder as Mo’at Cliff Curtis as Tonowari Matt Gerald as Corporal Lyle Wainfleet Oona Chaplin as Varang Giovanni Ribisi as Parker Selfridge Joel David Moore as Dr Norm Spellman Dileep Rao as Dr Max Patel Brendan Cowell as Captain Mick Scoresby Filip Geljo as Ao'nung Duane Evans Jr as Rotxo David Thewlis as Peylak Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña reprised their roles from the original film for The Way of Water – and there's no surprise that they'll be back once again on this occasion. Worthington previously told Variety of returning for The Way of Water: "We were doing something that had never been done before. "But Jim and I get along because I’m fearless. If he asks me to, I’m going to dive in. I’m good at putting aside all the mechanics and just focusing on, 'What does the boss need me to do?'" Meanwhile, the film also introduced a host of new characters, including Sigourney Weaver's Kiri. Fans were surprised to see the actress voicing a teenager, but she relished the role and will again be back this time around. She told USA Today: "I was just sitting on the side (of the classroom) listening to the pitch of the voices: everything from a childlike voice to an adult voice." Meanwhile, Kate Winslet will also be back in her role as Ronal, while younger stars Britain Dalton, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, Jack Champion and Bailey Bass will once again be pivotal to events as the younger generation of Na'vi. And there's plenty of new faces joining for the third instalment as well, with David Thewlis the biggest name to be making his maiden voyage to Pandora – while Game of Thrones star Oona Chaplin will play antagonist Varang. Meanwhile, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh has been confirmed to be joining the cast for subsequent instalments, but Cameron has explained that she won't be involved until the fourth instalment – so don't expect to see her here. Avatar 3 plot: What will happen in Fire and Ash? While we understandably don't have full plot details for the film just yet, 20th Century Studios has released an intriguing synopsis – and it certainly looks like the action is going to go up another notch for this entry. "One year after settling in with the Metkayina Clan, Jake and Neytiri's family grapples with grief after Neteyam's death," the synopsis reads. "Eventually, they encounter a new, aggressive Na'vi tribe called the Ash People, led by the fiery tribe leader, Varang, who has allied with Jake's enemy, Quaritch, as the conflict on Pandora escalates to devastating consequences." Actor Jack Champion previously told The Hollywood Reporter of the upcoming film: "I was very shocked by it. It just takes a hard left turn, and that’s not a bad thing. You think you know where it’s going, but then a wrecking ball comes. "So you’re completely like, 'Oh wow, I never thought that would’ve happened.' You also see more regions of Pandora, and you get introduced to more cultures. So I think it’s even better than Avatar 2. Collectively, they’ll each get better." Meanwhile speaking at the 2024 D23 Expo, Cameron teased: "It’s an insane adventure and a feast for the eyes, but it’s also got very high emotional stakes, more than ever before. We’re going into really challenging territory for all the characters you know and love." Meanwhile, animators Richard Baneham and Joe Letteri previously opened up to RadioTimes.com about the movie. "It's fair to say we are expanding the world and you will be exposed to different biomes and new tribes," Baneham explained. "And that was the idea even behind this one," added Letteri. "A lot of people asked after the first one, where is Jim [Cameron] going to take it? But his idea – and he's talked about this – is that it's a big planet and there are a lot of stories to tell. And I think that's what's great about it is we have this license to explore." Is there a trailer for Avatar 3? Yes! The action-packed first trailer for the film arrived in July 2025 – five months ahead of releasee – and contains plenty of the visual splendour we've come to expect from Cameron. You can check it out below: View oEmbed on the source website Avatar: Fire and Ash is set for release on Friday 19th December 2025. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Superman star David Corenswet did almost all his own stunts – stunt double breaks down iconic scenes
"He would rehearse it once or twice, and then just be like, 'Cool, let's do it.'"
At the exact moment he was being dragged through four inches of snow in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, essentially playing dead with his face frozen from the cold, Eddie Davenport was living every superhero fan's childhood dream. But not every kid actually gets to grow up to be Superman. Clad in that iconic blue suit (not forgetting the bright red trunks), Davenport was being yanked by his cape, filming the wide shots for the opening scenes of James Gunn's DC epic, moments after actor David Corenswet had been dragged through that same snow for the close-ups. But Davenport wasn't just a straightforward stunt double for Corenswet – partly because the actor actually did the vast majority of his own stunts and action sequences. "He did a lot," Davenport tells RadioTimes.com. "I wouldn't be able to fill up one hand [counting] the amount of times that a double had to step in and do, like, a gnarly crash. "There were some times where we would be setting up stuff, and we'd get in there on the day and they're like, 'Oh no, David's going to do this.' I'm like, 'Rock on, dude!'... He would rehearse it once or twice, and then just be like, 'Cool, let's do it,' and he'd nail it. He'd fit in with the stunt team just as much as we fit in with each other." He added: "A lot of the stuff - most of all of the stuff where you see him flying and stuff, and even going up and spinning and twisting and going around and stuff like, that's David in a flying rig doing that." Davenport also had the unique job of being Corenswet's action double - which becomes hugely important when it's revealed that Corenswet has a dual role in the movie: playing Superman, but also Ultraman, Lex Luthor's cloned version of the Man of Steel. "So when Superman's on screen, like when he's getting arrested, David couldn't be in the Ultraman costume, so that would be me arresting him and walking him away and throwing him into the portal on the beach and all of that stuff," Davenport explains. "But especially then when the helmets wore off and we had to do [fight] sequences." To put it simply, Davenport was the Ultraman to Corenswet's Superman and vice versa. He stood in for the actor in both roles, performing opposite him so as the action could be filmed, before the pair swapped around and filmed the same scene again the next day, hitting all the same beats. So, whenever you see Corenswet playing either Superman or Ultraman, it's Davenport in the other role. "That's what the coolest thing for me was - getting to stand opposite him and have this whole stand-off and fight Superman," Davenport grins. As for how that actually worked? For one thing, it meant that Davenport and Corenswet had to be unbelievably in sync. "We'd shoot 10/12 hour days, and then we come in the next day and it's like, 'Hey, you guys, remember exactly what you did yesterday?!' We're like, '...Yeah, sure!' We would go around to the monitor, and they would show us a few times on the monitor - James keeps a huge big screen TV as his monitor in video village, which is super helpful, and it helps him totally get into it," Davenport recalls. "They would show us what we did the day before and then David would watch my motion, but it was mainly for me watching, to make sure I match him as best as possible, so when VFX could do their thing, they could use him for everything." Incredibly, it also meant part of the filming the blockbuster sounds suspiciously like the process of playing the 2009 Nintendo Wii game Just Dance. "There was some [moments] where you'd watch playback and you can see the live shot, and they overlay the other shot on there - so it was me doing it, but you could see the ghost of David as Superman, and how close I was to matching it," Davenport remembers. "There were a couple times where James came around the corner and he was like, 'Oh, it's great, you even spit at the same time! Sweet!'" That epic Ultraman reveal culminates in a huge battle sequence set in a sewer, which saw Davenport facing off against Corenswet, again playing one role one day and the other the next. Again, Corenswet wanted to do every bit of that fight himself. "From standing there and staring at each other and all the dialogue that [Corenswet] has going on, and then swapping and doing the other side. And then the laser blast and flying through and doing the whole sequence where we're going through the sewer and we have that fight - we're getting flipped upside down, and then spun back around and they hit into the sewer grate. That was me and David switching back and forth. "David did that entire stunt sequence - smashing into the grate, and then the fight on the grate, and then tackling me out of screen. David did it all, and he did both sides. It was super awesome to just be able to [perform with him] because normally, when you get into the heavy lifting, so to speak, you're doing the fight with the doubles... "[But] it was just not unexpected that that David's doing this. That was kind of the the whole thing around it. It was more of a surprise when it was like, 'Oh, this isn't going to be David?!' That didn't happen often." He adds: "It's a testament to David as well, because every time you see Superman and Ultraman - especially Ultraman with his helmet off - David also had to do that side of all of the action and the fights. He had to learn both sides of these fights. From an actor's standpoint, being able to come in as one character, and then you're going to do the complete opposite as the other character, and you have to learn the reverse of a fight. "The reactions are different, the whole mentality of that character is completely different. So it was really cool to to stand across and watch him as Superman and then get to see him the next day, when he's a completely different character. That was definitely the coolest part of it." One of the other iconic moments, which was spoken about at length before the movie came out, was the scene of Superman getting arrested by a masked man - who turns out to be Ultraman. "I slam David down, and then yoke him up, and then walk into the helicopter, and he's getting arrested by Rick Flag Senior. When that shot came out, and they were showing that sequence in the trailer, that was such a huge talking point on social media. "It was like, 'Who is it? Who's it going to be?' [Some people] were like, 'Oh, it's Henry Cavill!'. There was so much speculation on who it was. And I'm like, 'Yeah, that's me.' I thought that was hilarious. So, yeah, when you see Ultraman arresting Superman, that's actually, that's actually me as Ultraman." As you would imagine, there had to be a lot of attention to detail to the character behind the scenes - including Superman's physique, which formed an important conversation for Corenswet and Davenport after the actor gained 40 pounds for the role. "I asked him, I was like, 'How do you want our physiques to be? Do you want, like, Hollywood Superman, ripped and shredded kind of a thing?' And he was like, 'No, he's a farm boy. He grew up on the farm. I want him dense, more linebacker, less Hollywood superhero.' "So he did want that size and that physique, but he also just needs to be a bigger human, kind of more like the animated series," Davenport points out. "Any time that we were doing costume fittings or talking about the sequences that James would be like, 'Here's what I want from this fight,' and the stunt team would go at it, it was always known that it would be like, 'think more the animated series of Superman.'" But amid all the smaller details, the big picture certainly isn't lost on Davenport - that he's just been a part of the newest era of one of the most iconic characters of all time. Speaking about the atmosphere on set while filming, he recalls: "It was definitely one of those things where we knew, like, a lot's riding on this. But the whole vibe on set, I don't think that there was much doubt in terms of what they were doing. Everything that they were doing just just felt right." He adds: "It's because it's 100 per cent completely different than any take on the character that's been done before... seeing everybody's reaction, they're all talking about it as they leave the theatre. "Normally, when you leave the theatre, everyone's a critic and everybody starts talking about what they didn't like, [whereas the reaction to Superman has been] 'Oh man, how they did this, and how they did this.' And I'm like, 'Okay this is different.' "And seeing the little kids run around with all their Superman stuff on, and the dads are dressing up as Superman with their kids. This is why it's special. This is why it's important." Superman is in cinemas now. Check out more of our Film and Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Fantastic Four: First Steps reveals huge box office opening and hits a new height for 2025
It's Marvel's best opening of the year by far.
After Marvel's first two cinema releases of 2025 (Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*) performed below expectations at the box office, the studio really needed a hit – and it looks like The Fantastic Four: First Steps has come up trumps. The film took in $218 million globally in its first weekend, significantly higher than the total for both those aforementioned titles, which earned $192 million and $162 million in their respective opening weekends. It's also roughly the same total as James Gunn's Superman – the first film in the relaunched DC Universe – which took in a total of $220 million in its opening weekend, revised from an earlier figure of $217 million. However, one noteworthy point is that while the bulk of Superman's takings came from US-based cinemagoers, Fantastic Four's split between domestic and international Box Office is almost exactly even – $118 million in the States compared with $100 million overseas. Marvel boss Kevin Feige will be hoping this is just the start of a successful big screen run, as he looks to revive the MCU to its past glories ahead of next year's major release Avengers: Doomsday. In addition to its box office success, the film has also fared well with critics – sitting at an impressive 87 per cent approval rate on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with our own 4-star verdict calling it a "vivacious, beautifully rendered and largely enjoyable comic book spectacle". The film, which is the 37th film in the MCU and one of the shortest to date, introduces Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards/Mr Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Ben Grimm/The Thing. These versions of the characters are not, at first, in the main universe of the MCU, and are instead in their own retro-futurist universe. However, knowing that they will appear in Avengers: Doomsday, and considering the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts*, we imagine that won't last long. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now out in UK cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Who is Galactus? Ralph Ineson's Fantastic Four: First Steps villain explained
One of Marvel's most popular and powerful villains has finally arrived.
Fantastic Four: First Steps finally does justice to one of the most iconic figures in American comic books. Galactus is a powerful villain best known for opposing Marvel's First Family and for his ever-present hunger for entire planets, which has put the citizens of Earth in grave danger on more than one occasion. The character's enormous scale and garish purple costume proved an obstacle to his translation into live-action for many years, with a particularly woeful attempt in 2007's The Rise of the Silver Surfer provoking the ire of fans. Now though, Marvel Studios is finally attempting a more accurate portrayal, enlisting the help of celebrated British actor Ralph Ineson to bring the devourer of worlds to the MCU. If you're intrigued to know more, here's your primer for Fantastic Four: First Steps villain Galactus. View oEmbed on the source website Who is Galactus? Galactus is a Marvel super villain who can survive only by consuming the life energy of entire planets. Suffice to say, his appetite is as legendary as it is terrifying. Despite committing countless evil acts in the name of satiating that aching hunger, the character also carries a degree of pathos as the last survivor of a destroyed universe that pre-dates the Big Bang of our own. As the only reality he knew collapsed, the mortal being Galan was chosen by Eternity – essentially a sentient manifestation of the Marvel Universe – to inherit the unenviable mantle of 'devourer' in a nascent new universe. This means of survival was hardly a blessing, as when Galan emerged from a period of gestation as the cosmically empowered Galactus, he was burdened with the task of consuming planets in their entirety. Eventually, this was a responsibility he delegated to his Herald; a mortal imbued with a portion of his might, whose job it was to identify suitable planets for Galactus's meals and inform any inhabitants of their coming doom. The Heralds of Galactus include Norrin Radd and Shalla-Bal, both of whom have served as his Silver Surfer in the comics; the former appeared in live-action in 2007's Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer, while the latter features in First Steps. Galactus has posed quite the puzzle for the Fantastic Four's genius (albeit sociopathic) leader Reed Richards, who sees him as one of the universe's most fiendish problems to be solved. He and the other heroes of the Marvel Universe have found a range of temporary solutions in the past, from threatening Galactus with a mysterious weapon known as the Ultimate Nullifier, to bargaining and co-operating on schemes to minimise his harm. Who plays Galactus in Fantastic Four: First Steps? Galactus is played in Fantastic Four: First Steps by British actor Ralph Ineson. The star has come a long way since playing David Brent's obnoxious friend Chris Finch in The Office (UK), with acclaimed turns in Game of Thrones, Chernobyl and Robert Eggers' The Witch bringing him to Hollywood's attention. Ineson is known for his distinctively deep and booming voice, which has made him a natural fit for roles like Galactus and The Green Knight in David Lowery's Arthurian film of the same name. In a change of pace, he also serves as narrator on Quest's factual series Salvage Hunters, although that's arguably a less dramatic gig in all but the most aggressive of haggling exchanges. Ineson is the first actor to portray Galactus in a live-action film, as the character was depicted as a dust storm in Fantastic Four: The Rise of the Silver Surfer; a move that frustrated comic fans to no end. Fantastic Four: First Steps is out now in cinemas. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping adds 28 Years Later star
Edvin Ryding's post-Young Royals career is going from strength to strength.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has filled out its exciting ensemble cast with yet more additions, including a 28 Years Later reunion for two actors from the recent zombie thriller. The next entry in the long-running young adult franchise takes place between the original films and the 2023 prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, with an all-star cast stepping in to play key characters from the series lore. The latest recruits to the line-up are Young Royals star Edvin Ryding and Unstable's Iris Apatow, who are set to play Capitol University students Vitus and Proserpina, who help to prepare the District 12 tributes for their coming ordeal. Notably, Proserpina is also the younger sibling of Effie Trinket, who will be played by The Great's Elle Fanning in Sunrise on the Reaping (who takes over the role from original quadrilogy star Elizabeth Banks). After breaking out on Netflix's young adult LGBTQ+ drama Young Royals, Swedish actor Ryding recently leapt on to the big screen with a supporting role in Danny Boyle's 28 Years Later, which coincidentally also starred Sunrise on the Reaping's Ralph Fiennes. The Harry Potter alum will be taking over the role of Coriolanus Snow, originated in live-action by the late, great Donald Sutherland, with Tom Blyth bringing a younger version of the character to life in a prequel from his point of view. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping has garnered plenty of attention with its casting choices thus far, with several big names tapped to reinvent iconic characters at an earlier stage of the franchise timeline. In addition to Fiennes and Fanning, the roster also includes Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, roles memorably played by Stanley Tucci and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in the original films. Iris Apatow is the daughter of prolific Hollywood producer Judd, who has appeared in several of his projects (such as This Is 40, The Bubble and Netflix's Love) and recently joined the cast of Disney Plus romantic drama Tell Me Lies. Sunrise on the Reaping will be directed by Francis Lawrence, who has helmed every Hunger Games film to date bar the very first, with Captain Phillips screenwriter Billy Ray on scripting duties. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for a cinema release in November 2026. Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Marvel's Phase 6 release dates: All upcoming films and TV shows
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps now in cinemas, Phase 6 is officially underway.
There's no denying that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a bumpier ride than usual over the past couple of years – in fact, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has even admitted as much in recent interviews. Feige told The Hollywood Reporter and other press that a rapid expansion in the number of projects the studio made "devalued" its output, adding: "It’s that expansion that I think led people to say, 'Do I have to see all of these? It used to be fun, but now do I have to know everything about all of these?' "And I think The Marvels hit it hardest where people are like, 'OK, I recognise her from a billion-dollar movie. But who are those other two? I guess they were in some TV show. I’ll skip it.'" The studio now hopes to put this more rocky period behind it with the launch of its brand-new phase, Phase 6, which has kicked off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Where the first three phases which made up The Infinity Saga all culminated (give or take a project) with an Avengers movie, The Multiverse Saga has played out a little differently. This time around, Avengers movies have been reserved for the grand finale of the entire saga – and, as we reach Phase 6, that's now just around the corner. The next couple of years are therefore shaping up to be the biggest for the MCU in quite some time. Two new Avengers movies are currently scheduled to debut in 2026 and 2027, with former Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr set to return to the franchise, this time to play big bad Doctor Doom. In the meantime, we've still got plenty of other projects to look forward to, from animated shows like Eyes of Wakanda to live-action Disney Plus projects like Wonder Man – and that's not even mentioning Spider-Man: Brand New Day. There are also a number of projects which don't currently have release dates, and therefore aren't necessarily part of Phase 6. These include the new X-Men reboot movie, and Mahershala Ali's Blade, if that ever actually arrives. Scroll on for everything you need to know about Marvel's Phase 6 schedule. Meanwhile, if you want to read more about the Phase just gone, check out our Phase 5 guide here. Marvel's Phase 6 release dates: All upcoming films and TV shows While there are already a lot of projects on Marvel's Phase 6 slate thus far, we are expecting it to still build out further. After all, most of the projects currently announced are for Disney Plus, while there are only four films currently confirmed. While we already know others are on the way in future, some of these could make their way into the official list for Phase 6, or completely new additions could be confirmed. Phase 6 is kicking off with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, while it is expected to culminate in huge Avengers sequel Secret Wars, which will pick up after the end of 2026's Avengers: Doomsday. View Green Video on the source website Confirmed Phase 6 line-up The Fantastic Four: First Steps (24th July 2025 in cinemas) Eyes of Wakanda (27th August 2025 on Disney Plus) Marvel Zombies (3rd October 2025 on Disney Plus) Wonder Man (December 2025 on Disney Plus) Daredevil: Born Again season 2 (March 2026 on Disney Plus) Spider-Man: Brand New Day (31st July 2026 in cinemas) Vision Quest (2026 on Disney Plus) Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man season 2 (2026 on Disney Plus) The Punisher Special Presentation (2026 on Disney Plus) Avengers: Doomsday (18th December 2026 in cinemas) Avengers: Secret Wars (17th December 2027 in cinemas) View Affiliate Playlist on the source website A number of other MCU projects have been announced for cinemas and Disney Plus, which could become part of Phase 6 or may potentially end up at a later point in the ongoing franchise. These include an Armor Wars film starring Don Cheadle's War Machine (originally a Disney Plus series), sequels for Black Panther and Shang-Chi and the long-delayed Blade film starring Mahershala Ali. That's not to mention the reboot of the X-Men franchise or the already announced third season of animated Spider-Man show Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man. Possible Phase 6 films and TV shows Armor Wars (in cinemas) Black Panther 3 (in cinemas) Shang-Chi 2 (in cinemas) Untitled X-Men film (in cinemas) Blade (in cinemas) Your Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man season 3 (on Disney Plus) Marvel Cinematic Universe films and TV shows are available to stream on Disney Plus. Sign up to Disney Plus for £89.90 a year and £4.99 a month. Check out more of our Movies and Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.