Samwise Film & TV Marketing Newsletter
Saturday, August 15, 2026
Spider-Man: Brand New Day earns $67 million in third weekend2 sources
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ earned $67 million in its third weekend, maintaining its box office lead. New releases struggled to challenge the Sony Pictures juggernaut. ‘The End of Oak Street’ debuted with a sluggish $18 million. The third weekend results confirm the title’s sustained dominance.
Marvel Reveals New Spider-Man Projects and Specials at D23 Expo2 sources
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige joined Jacob Batalon and the cast of *Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man* for a Saturday panel at the D23 Expo. The event highlighted the studio’s expanding Spider-Man franchise. Presenters showcased a first look at the upcoming animated series on Disney+. They also confirmed that a new holiday special, *Spidey and the Avengers: Halloween Team-Up!*, is currently in development. The panel celebrated an anniversary comic book release and featured Tom Holland. These announcements underscore a coordinated push for the character across multiple media platforms.
Dave Filoni says Kylo Ren film is not moving forward at D23
Lucasfilm co-boss Dave Filoni addressed the future of the Kylo Ren film at D23, delivering a blunt assessment of the project’s prospects. He stated, “The Force Is Not With Us,” signaling that the standalone “Hunt for Ben Solo” movie is not moving forward. This comment arrives as Disney’s Star Wars franchise grapples with shifting audience engagement. The upcoming live-action feature, titled *The Mandalorian and Grogu*, has already recorded the lowest worldwide gross in the franchise’s history, pulling in just $345 million.
Scott Foley returns as Sean Kelly for Scrubs season two on ABC
Scott Foley returns to the “Scrubs” revival as Sean Kelly for season two on ABC. This move signals a deliberate effort to anchor the new season with familiar faces from the hit comedy. The revival aims to balance nostalgia with fresh narrative directions. Foley’s return suggests the producers intend to lean heavily on the show’s established history. This casting decision marks a significant step in shaping the upcoming season’s tone and character dynamics for viewers.
Director Frieda Luk Explores Belief in Sacred Creatures
Director Frieda Luk explores the mechanics of belief in her film “Sacred Creatures.” She tells Variety, “I’m really fascinated by when people believe in something.” The narrative traces how individual conviction transforms into a viral group phenomenon. Luk notes that belief can be “comforting, ridiculous, exhilarating and hard to explain.” The story examines the thin line between madness and enlightenment. It investigates how these intense convictions spread and take hold among communities. The film stars Olivia Luccardi as it delves into these psychological dynamics. Luk’s work highlights the power of shared faith. This perspective shapes the film’s central themes. The director’s approach offers a unique lens on social dynamics.
Picturehouse and Killer Films test if three cult films would get made today
Wendy Mitchell hosted a lively session to test if *Trainspotting* would get financed today. The discussion explored whether Lynne Ramsay could survive the jump from shorts to a first feature. It also asked if *The Wicker Man* might now look like the kind of genre package buyers chase. The conceit examined how contemporary market dynamics would treat these specific projects. The session challenged attendees to reconsider how legacy titles fit into modern financing models. This analysis highlighted shifting attitudes toward genre and directorial careers in the current industry landscape.
Lantern bosses say grounded approach creates entirely different kind of superhero
James Gunn and Peter Safran are expanding the DC Universe with “Lanterns, a series co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. The show adopts a grounded approach to the Green Lantern” comics, deliberately distancing itself from the poorly received 2011 Ryan Reynolds film. Mundy, Lindelof, and King aim to introduce an entirely different kind of superhero through this narrative shift. Warner Bros. The project signals a creative pivot for the franchise, prioritizing a realistic tone over the spectacle associated with previous iterations. This strategy underscores the new leadership’s commitment to redefining the brand’s core identity.
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency

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