From ‘Supergirl’ to ‘Dune: Part Three’: your 2026 Hollywood movie blockbuster guide

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping doesn’t just offer fans a chance to revisit the world of Panem, but also the opportunity to get to know the younger versions of their favourite characters, including Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada), Wiress (Maya Hawke), Mags (Lili Taylor), Beetee (Kelvin Harrison Jr), Effie Trinket (Elle Fanning), Plutarch Heavensbee (Jesse Plemons) and Caesar Flickerman (Kieran Culkin).

Audiences will also finally meet Lenore Dove Baird (Whitney Peak), Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace), Drusilla Sickle (Glenn Close) and Wyatt Callow (Ben Wang), and witness the truth behind the lore of the Second Quarter Quell. But perhaps the most surprising—and welcome—bit of news about the prequel is that Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson are reprising their roles as Katniss and Peeta, in what fans are speculating will be a flash-forward toward the end of the film.

The third and final instalment of Denis Villeneuve’s epic space saga debuts on December 18. Based on Frank Herbert’s Dune novels, the film adaptation marks the return of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy and Léa Seydoux. Also back is Jason Momoa, reincarnated as Hayt. Rounding out this star-studded ensemble, Robert Pattinson joins as the film’s new villain, Scytale, while Nakoa Wolf-Momoa and Ida Brooke play Paul Atreides and Chani’s twins.

The film introduces a 17-year time jump, with Paul Atreides now ruling as emperor of the galaxy—and a tyrannical one at that. His reign has been defined by war and violence, with growing factions plotting to overthrow him. In many ways, the story is shaping up to be Paul’s villain origin arc, though Villeneuve maintains that, at its core, it remains a love story between Paul and Chani.

Arriving on the same day as Avengers: Doomsday, moviegoers are predicting a box office showdown reminiscent of Barbie and Oppenheimer, and have already coined their own “Barbenheimer” term—“Dunesday”. Which film will come out on top remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: audiences are in for an early Christmas treat when both films hit cinemas this holiday season.

Aside from DCU’s Supergirl, another major film scheduled for release in June is Masters of the Universe, adapted from the popular Mattel toy line and subsequent after-school cartoon He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Despite the lacklustre performance of a 1987 film adaptation, efforts have been made before to bring the IP back on the big screen. At one point, Noah Centineo (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) was attached to play the buff hero with the bowl cut. However, for one reason or another, the project kept getting shelved.

Now, fans of the ’80s toon can finally rejoice. By the power of Grayskull, the film has finally materialised, with Internet-boyfriend Nicholas Galitzine (Red, White & Royal Blue, The Idea of You, Purple Hearts) playing the dual role of Prince Adam and He-Man. Also in the cast are Jared Leto as Skeletor, Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms, Camila Mendes as Teela, Morena Baccarin as Sorceress and Alison Brie as Evil-Lyn.

The trailer, which dropped last March 30, treated fans to a handful of easter eggs, including a first look at the Sword of Power, Cringer, Castle Grayskull, Snake Mountain, The Sorceress in Zoar form and He-Man’s iconic “I have the power!” transformation. Beyond the nostalgia, the footage suggests the film captures the camp, heart and humour that made the source so beloved.

Christopher Nolan’s latest film is epic in its scale, cast members and source material. Based on Homer’s The Odyssey, it follows Odysseus’ treacherous journey home after the decade-long Trojan War, facing off against a sorceress, a nymph, monsters and sirens.

Although it’s not clear yet how heavily Nolan’s adaptation will lean into the mythology, the trailer does feature a shot of a cyclops, so it doesn’t appear to shy away from the more fantastical elements of the tale. Shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras, it promises to bring a bigger sense of spectacle to the director’s vision.

The film boasts a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus. Holland’s real-life partner Zendaya plays the goddess Athena, and Robert Pattinson takes on the role of Antinous. Additional cast members include Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page in roles that are yet to be revealed.

DCU’s Supergirl isn’t the only superhero movie coming out this year. Two weeks after Tom Holland and Zendaya share the screen in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, they reprise their roles as Peter Parker and MJ in the fourth Spider-Man movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

To say the film is highly anticipated is an understatement. When the trailer was released on March 17, it broke the Internet, hitting 718.6 million views in just 24 hours. It features an iconic shot inside Spider-Man’s mask, a brief scuffle with the Punisher and an interaction with Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo, reprising his role). It also hints at the next evolution of Spidey’s superpowers.

In Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the young superhero will face off against new threats, including Scorpion, Boomerang, The Hand and a mysterious figure who fans are speculating could be Sadie Sink playing Jean Grey. But his greatest struggle is navigating life without MJ, Aunt May and Ned by his side.

In Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg returns to his roots with an alien sci-fi film starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson and Colman Domingo. Little is known about the upcoming film, and the trailer doesn’t reveal much. What it does suggest is that Blunt’s character harbours a mysterious connection to the aliens, while O’Connor plays a whistleblower determined to expose classified UFO secrets—all while being pursued by a menacing government contractor portrayed by Firth.

What the trailer does show, though, is that it's classic Steven Spielberg. Written by Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp, based on a story by Spielberg himself, the film shares DNA with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, ET, War of the Worlds and to some extent, Minority Report.

Nearly three decades on, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the bewitching Owens sisters in the sequel to the deliciously wicked cult rom-com Practical Magic. The Oscar winners also serve as producers on the film, which is written by Akiva Goldsman—a co-writer on the original—and directed by Susanne Bier, who previously collaborated with Bullock on Bird Box and with Kidman on The Perfect Couple.

Dianne Wiest and Stockard Channing reprise their roles as the sisters’ delightfully kooky aunts, while Lee Pace, Joey King and Maisie Williams round out the cast. There’s no word yet on whether audiences will be treated to another charming “Midnight Margaritas” dance scene—or when a trailer might drop—but the good news is that the film is reportedly already in post-production, and its release has been moved up to September 11 from its original September 18 launch. 

Just before the year ends, the MCU is gifting fans with Avengers: Doomsday, the third Phase Six film following The Fantastic Four: First Steps and this year’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day. Directed by the Russo Brothers, who helmed Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, it sees the surprise return of original Avengers Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Wakandans and the Fantastic Four.

The most exciting comeback so far, though, is that of the X-Men, including Scott Summers or Cyclops (James Marsden). Robert Downey Jr is also back, but this time, as the villainous Doctor Doom. And although audiences haven’t seen a “will return” trailer from their characters, Florence Pugh, Hayley Atwell, Benedict Cumberbatch, Channing Tatum and Paul Rudd are reportedly in the upcoming film as well.

As mentioned earlier, the film shares a release date with Dune: Part Three, and both films are expected to go head-to-head at the box office. It’s hard to tell who will take the top spot, but the real winner is the audience, who are in for a blockbuster double feature to close out the year.

From superhero blockbusters like Supergirl and Spider-Man: Brand New Day to sweeping epics from visionary filmmakers like Dune: Part Three and The Odyssey, 2026 is poised to bring audiences back to cinemas in a big way—with a slate of films designed for the biggest screens possible.

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