OUR ANNUAL SHOWBIZ REPORT IS IN, AND THIS SUMMER IS PACKED WITH A LIST MANIA, FROM HOT-TICKET BLOCKBUSTERS TO STREAMING SIZZLERS, PLUS GLOBAL MEGA-MUSIC TOURS AND BROADWAY’S LATEST
BY DAN SALAMONE, JACKLYN PELLEGRINO, AND AMANDA McCOY
SUMMER FILM BUZZ
JOHN WICK: BALLERINA“From the World of John Wick” heralds the promotion, which means this one takes place within the JWCU (John Wick Cinematic Universe, of course) during the events of part 3 (John Wick: Parabellum), but it does not prominently feature the aforementioned gentleman. It does have plenty of sweet Keanu action in the trailer, though. Mostly, however, the story involves a new trainee in the assassin Ruska Roma tradition who has bloodlust and perfect facial symmetry. Ana de Armas stars as Ballerina, and Len Wiseman (of the Underworld series) directs.
FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS (JULY 25)
sacred properties. The title characters are played by the always-wonderful Pedro Pascal (as Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (as Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (as Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (as The Thing). Robert Downey Jr. as arch-nemesis Dr. Doom is reason enough to check it out.
FREAKIER FRIDAY (AUGUST 22)
Get ready to relive the chaos. In Freakier Friday, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2003 hit, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return as Tess and Anna Coleman. Now, two decades later, Anna is a mother herself, engaged to Eric (Manny Jacinto), and navigating the complexities of blending families. Things take a wild turn when a mysterious fortune teller’s spell causes not just one, but two generational body swaps: Anna switches bodies with her teenage daughter Harper (Julia Butters), while Tess finds herself in the shoes of Lily (Sophia Hammons), Anna’s soon-to-be stepdaughter.
WEAPONS (AUGUST 8)
Director Zach Cregger (Barbarian) serves up a stone-cold mystery that begins with a haunting: at exactly 2:17 a.m., 17 children from a single classroom in the quiet town of Maybrook vanish without a trace. Only one child remains, leaving the community in turmoil. As suspicion falls on their teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), and grieving father Archer Graff (Josh Brolin) seeks answers, the town unravels, revealing dark secrets and unsettling phenomena. Think 1999’s Magnolia, with its multiple interconnected storylines, seasoned with the slow-burn psychology of 2018’s Hereditary.
LIFE OF CHUCK (JUNE 6)
The hallowed horror auteur Mike Flanagan (Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, Hush) re-teams with Stephen King (yes that one) to tell three stories about a seemingly ordi nary man (Tom Hiddleston) and his extraordinarily eventful and short life. Count us in as a hard yes to find out more.
THE RITUAL (JUNE 6)
Ready for another exorcism movie? Well, you are getting one anyway, lovers of all things supernatural (or horror in general). This one tells the tale of “two priests from differ ent backgrounds who must work together to perform an exorcism that will aim to help a possessed young woman.” I know, stop me if you’ve heard that plot before, but there is good reason for hope, as this stars Dan Stevens (frontman of many incredible horror flicks, like The Guest, Apostle, Cuckoo, and Abigail) and a legend in Al Pacino. Is there huge camp potential in reuniting Pacino with the devil, given the continent-sized scenery chewing he did in The Devil’s Advocate? Here’s hoping so.
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (2025) (JUNE 13)
Notice the absence of a number after the above title? That’s because this is a live-action retelling of the story of a peculiar boy who befriends and trains a feared Night Fury dragon. A real Gerard Butler leads the cast as the boy’s father. Will there be real dragons? It will cost you $22 at IMAX to find out
THE NAKED GUN (AUGUST 1)
This reboot of the classic comedy franchise introduces Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr, the son of the original bumbling detective. Directed by Akiva Schaffer and produced by Seth MacFarlane, the film promises a fresh take on the beloved slapstick series. Paul Walter Hauser, Kevin Durand, and Pamela Anderson also co-star.
JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH JULY 2
This one spins a semi-complicated plot about a team of covert operations specialists being flown into a dangerous area to extract DNA from the dinosaurs, which could have life saving capabilities for mankind. It will likely be filled with several “Ooh, a dinosaur! Run!” moments, but it does see Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) joining the franchise.
ECHO VALLEY JUNE 13
We can all relate to this thriller, as it presents an everyday situation: you’re a mom (Julianne Moore) who’s trying to reconnect with your troubled daughter (Sydney Sweeney) after she shows up unannounced at your doorstep, covered in someone else’s blood. While the plot sounds like another Lifetime guilty pleasure you’d devour on a sick day, this one must be special to get a theatrical release (a summer one at that) and two real movie stars.
HAVOC (MOVIE, NETFLIX) APRIL 25
We missed this one at the tail of the last issue, but it absolutely deserves your attention if you love Tom Hardy (Venom, Dark Knight Rises), Timothy Olyphant (Justified), and/or the most exciting and brutal fight scenes of any American action director (Gareth Evans, director of The Raid films). The plot is about a morally shady cop (Hardy) trying to save the kidnapped son of the mayor (Forest Whitaker), but it matters little. The brutal-to-gory action set pieces alone make this necessary viewing material.
STAR WARS: TALES OF THE UNDERWORLD (NEW SERIES, DISNEY +) MAY 2
Of course there’s a Star Wars title on this list. “Two outlaws must navigate the galaxy’s dangerous underworld as they chart their destinies” in this six-episode animated ride. Created and directed by SW franchise veteran Dave Filoni.
OCTOPUS! (LIMITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES, AMAZON) MAY 8
This two-part documentary special narrated by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (of the brilliant Fleabag series) narrates this story that will allegedly chart a giant Pacific octopus from birth to death, and also feature scientists, explorers, and, somehow, comedian Tracy Morgan (30 Rock).
POKER FACE (SEASON 2, PARAMOUNT+) MAY 8
Natasha Lyonne stars in the sorely missed series about a former Vegas cocktail waitress who courts trouble via a special ability: she can tell when people are lying with 100% accuracy. It’s a deliciously fun murder-of-the-week series co created by Rian Johnson (Knives Out).
LOVE, DEATH & ROBOTS (SERIES 4, NETFLIX) MAY 15
This gorgeous and frequently terrifying anthology series created by David Fincher and Tim Miller features stand-alone episodes about the future (and the topics in the title) with stunning animation styles that change from episode to episode, kind of like Black Mirror went into the Spider-Verse.
STICK (APPLE) JUNE 4
Owen Wilson leads this sports comedy as a washed-up golf pro who, after losing his job and his wife, takes a promising but troubled young talent (Peter Dager, Insidious: The Red Door) under his guidance, aiming for redemption both on and off the course. Jason Keller created the easy summer feel-good series, which also features Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer, and Timothy Olyphant in the ensemble, plus appearances from real-life golfing greats like Collin Morikawa and Keegan Bradley.
WEDNESDAY (SEASON 2, NETFLIX) AUGUST 6
The pigtailed poster child of teenage angst is back at Nevermore Academy, and this time, she’s not alone the entire Addams gang is tagging along. Season 2 dives deeper into the shadows with haunted dolls, swarms of bees, and a flaming winged creature, as Wednesday navigates complex family dynamics and uncovers more of her family’s uber-dark secrets. Expect a welcomed shift toward classic horror vibes and less on romance.
SQUID GAME (SEASON 3, NETFLIX) JUNE 27
The final season of the Korean dystopian survival thriller premieres in late June, only six months after audiences helplessly watched the epic fail of Gi-hun’s rebellion, and the brutal murder of his friend Jung-bae in the final moments of season 2. Now battered and shackled with guilt and regret, will our protagonist continue his quest to end the games for good? Will he succeed? This is classic dystopia after all, and Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun) said to expect new games along with “wilder character dynamics.”
DEXTER: RESURRECTION (PARAMOUNT+) JULY 11
This spin-off of a spin-off picks up right after our favorite vigilante serial killer (Michael C. Hall) is shot by his son, Harrison, in Dexter: New Blood. Dexter who somehow survives a bullet to the chest wakes up in a coma and, after realizing his son is now missing, scurries off to NYC to reconcile. Heartwarming, no? Miami Metro’s Angel Batista also returns.
LONG WAY HOME (SERIES 4, APPLE) MAY 9
Best friends Ewan McGregor (Obi Wan in the ‘90s Star Wars movies) and his best friend Charley Boorman star in this delightful travel doc series that defines the phrase “good hang.” Follow them as they drive through 17 European countries on creaky old motorcycles.
ON THE ROAD
KENDRICK LAMAR AND SZA GRAND NATIONAL TOUR
This year’s Super Bowl halftime stunner is teaming with singer-songwriter SZA on a 39-stop jaunt through North America and Europe. While their NJ stint took place in early May, fans can still catch the show in DC in June. The concert unfolds over nine acts, featuring a stacked 52-song setlist that interweaves solo performances with collaborative moments, including their joint renditions of “All the Stars” and “Doves in the Wind.” Expect pyrotechnics, synchronized choreography, and elaborate props (like a giant ant and butterfly). Local dates: June 18, Washington DC
LADY GAGA THE MAYHEM BALL
road show in July, in honor of her latest LP, Mayhem, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in March. Don’t expect a typical show (who would with Gaga?). The tour is structured like a five-act opera, blending Gaga’s new Mayhem tracks with iconic hits like “Poker Face” and “Bad Romance,” and exploring themes of fame, internal conflict, transformation, and rebirth. She tapped New Zealand choreographer Parris Goebel (the brain behind Justin Bieber’s Best Video of the Year winner, “Sorry”) to co-direct the show, so visuals should be off the charts. Local dates: August 22, 23, 26, 27, and September 6 and 7, New York City
COLDPLAY MUSIC OF THE SPHERES WORLD TOUR
Coldplay kicked off its mega world tour all the way back in 2022, and the three-year, 225-stop crusade is finally culminating in London’s Wembley Stadium on September 8. The venture is considered the most attended tour in music history, with more than 10.3 million tickets sold, lauded for its mind-melting immersive visuals and special effects. Coldplay also garnered praise for its sustainability initiatives, reducing its carbon footprint by 59% compared to its 2016-2017 tour. Even the LED wristbands that synchronize with the music (handed to fans upon entry) are compostable, and for every ticket sold, the band pledges to plant a tree. Local dates: July 15 and 16, Boston.
POST MALONE THE BIG ASS STADIUM TOUR
The genre-blurring singer-songwriter kicked off his 8th concert tour in Salt Lake City in April, and he’s traversing the country several times over until jetsetting across the Atlantic for a string of international stops before ending the tour in Barcelona in September. Expect a hefty serving of Posty’s hip-hop hits along with country bangers from his latest album, F-1 Trillion. Many cities will also welcome the artist’s newly debuted Travelin’ Tailgate, a pre-show parking lot party with live music, bites, brews, merch, carnival games, and tattoo stations by Malone’s personal artists. Local dates: June 4, Queens
KATY PERRY THE LIFETIMES TOUR
This 80-stop expedition marks the California-born pop regent’s return to the global stage after seven years, slicing through the U.S. and Canada before ending the year overseas. The show takes place in a video game, following Perry as the half-human, half-machine KP143 (an ode to her latest album, 143) as she battles Mainframe, a malicious AI who has stolen the world’s butterflies. Campy? Perhaps, but Perry was awarded the Queen of Camp by Rolling Stone, after all. It’s described as a Disney on Wheels, so the spectacle, if nothing else, should be a delightful watch. Local dates: August 11, NYC, August 14, Newark
CENTER STAGE
STRANGER THINGS THE FIRST SHADOW
Netflix’s mega-hit show Stranger Things comes to Broadway with the help of Sonia Friedman Productions, Tony Award-winning director Stephen Daldry (The Crown, Billy Elliott), and co-director Justin Martin (Prima Facie). The play was written by Kate Trefry after an original story by Matt and Ross Duffer, Jack Thorne, and Trefry. Main character Henry Keel will be played by Louis McCartney. The Broadway version is a prequel to the TV show and opened April 22 in the Marquis Theatre. It already nabbed an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment. broadway.strangerthingsonstage.com
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY
Sarah Snook stars in this contemporary stage adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s famed novel. Snook, known for her role in Succession, plays all 26 roles in the one-woman spectacle with the help of several camera operators surrounding her. The show follows Gray, known to be a handsome man, but after an artist paints a picture of him, he makes a wish for the picture to age instead of him. Get tickets to find out if his wish is granted. Written and directed by Kip Williams (Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Dracula). It opened on March 27 in the Music Box Theatre. doriangrayplay.com
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS
The Broadway adaptation of Glengarry Glen Ross by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Mamet showcases four desperate real estate salesmen fighting to be on top in their Chicago office. The salesmen are played by Kieran Culkin, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Burr, and Michael McKean. The winner wins a Cadillac, whereas the loser faces termination. The show, directed by Patrick Marber (Leopoldstadt), opened March 31 in The Palace Theatre. glengarryonbroadway.com
BOOP! THE MUSICAL
In Boop! The Musical, Jasmine Amy Rogers (Jelly’s Last Jam, Mean Girls) brings the iconic cartoon character, Betty Boop, to the Broadhurst Theater. The show, which opened on April 5, follows Boop as she leaves her black-and-white world on television for the day and wanders through New York City. She embarks on a series of adventures throughout the course of the show – romance included! Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Hairspray) with music by Grammy Award winner David Foster. boopthemusical.com
MAMMA MIA!
Oh, here we go again! On August 2, the legendary musical about love, family, and friendship will return to Broadway for a limited run, with a closing date set for February 1, 2026. It will once again grace the stage of its original home, the Winter Garden Theatre, where it debuted in 2001. Get swept up in ABBA’s greatest hits – “Dancing Queen,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and more – while following Sophie (played by Amy Weaver) on her quest to find the identity of her father. mammamiabway.com