Resident Evil Opens to Franchise-Record $50M-Plus Domestic Weekend

Resident Evil opened to a franchise-record domestic debut estimated above $50 million this weekend, according to Deadline, nearly doubling the previous franchise best of $26.6 million set by Resident Evil: Afterlife and capping a $8.8 million Thursday night preview run — more than eight times any prior franchise preview gross. Acclaimed horror director Zach Cregger, known for Barbarian, oversaw the reboot, which has scored a 96% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating — the only Resident Evil film in series history to crack 40%. Sony Pictures opened the reboot across approximately 3,500 theaters; global projections track toward $80 million worldwide.

Brad Pitt Returns for World War Z Sequel at Paramount; Edward Berger to Direct

Brad Pitt is returning for a sequel to World War Z at Paramount Pictures, with director Edward Berger — of The Riders — signed on to helm the project, Deadline reported exclusively Saturday. Pitt will produce via Plan B Entertainment alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner; Berger will also executive produce. Screenwriter Dennis Kelly, known for the British television thriller Utopia, has been attached to write the script. The original World War Z, released in 2013, was based on Max Brooks’ bestselling 2006 novel “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.”

The Kohner Agency Lays Off All Talent Agents Amid Industry Pressures

The Kohner Agency is laying off all three of its talent agents, Deadline reported Saturday. Owner and President Pearl Wexler confirmed the talent department will remain open only to service existing contracts and collect commissions while accepting no new clients; the literary department stays intact. The agency — in business for nearly 90 years — cited “profound and unprecedented economic pressures currently facing the broader entertainment industry” in a statement. One of the oldest independent talent agencies in Hollywood, Kohner is not closing; Wexler will continue personally representing acting and literary clients.

Cult Japanese Video Game Lollipop Chainsaw Gets Live-Action Feature Film

Lollipop Chainsaw, the cult Japanese video game, is heading to the big screen with a live-action feature film in development, Deadline reported exclusively Saturday. The game’s creators are pursuing the project as “a new model for building globally recognized entertainment franchises from Asia.” Envisioned as an R-rated action comedy set before the events of the original game, the film centers on Juliet Starling — a cheerleader at San Romero High School born into a family of legendary zombie hunters — who battles a catastrophic zombie outbreak. A new video game and animated series are also in development alongside the film.

Paramount and State AGs Begin Preliminary Talks on $111B Warner Bros. Discovery Merger

Paramount and state attorneys general have entered preliminary discussions ahead of planned October settlement meetings in the antitrust battle over the studio’s proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery, Deadline reported Saturday, citing sources with knowledge of the talks. The conversations remain “far from advanced,” the outlet noted. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Paramount’s David Ellison were pictured in connection with the negotiations. A separate Deadline report noted Paramount has laid out California exit plans as the antitrust standoff with blue-state officials over the would-be merger has intensified.

San Sebastián Film Festival Opens With Political Speeches and Werner Herzog Tribute

The 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival opened September 18 with a politically charged ceremony at the Kursaal auditorium. Hosts Fariba Sheikhan and Mariona Terés called for an end to genocide in Gaza and expressed solidarity with the directors of competition film Naza — Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor — who they said have been threatened by the Israeli government. Their remarks drew a “lively round of applause.” The festival featured a tribute to director Werner Herzog. Fatih Akin’s paranormal love story Ghost Song screened as the opening competition film, Deadline reported.

VisionQuest Creator Confirms No GenAI Was Used in Making Disney+ Marvel Series

VisionQuest creator Terry Matalas has confirmed no generative AI was used in producing the Marvel series, which stars Paul Bettany and premieres October 14 on Disney+, Deadline reported Saturday. “No, not at all. There hasn’t really been a need,” Matalas told ScreenRant. The creator added that the show’s visual designs — marking the title character’s first solo outing — were crafted to comment on how AI processes information. “All the designs nod to how our current form of AI processes things … That felt like a fun way for us to comment on it,” he said.

Paramount Sets July 2027 for Crawl 2; Heart Eyes 2 Shifts to February 2028

Paramount has set a July 16, 2027 release date for Crawl 2, the Alexandre Aja-directed sequel to the 2019 alligator survival film that grossed close to $92 million worldwide. Mason Gooding and Emily Rudd star in the sequel, with Craig Flores, Sam Raimi, and Aja producing. Crawl 2 faces Sony’s Fake Skating on the same weekend and opens a week after Warner Bros.’ Superman sequel Man of Tomorrow. Separately, Spyglass co-production Heart Eyes 2 shifted from February 11 to February 4, 2028, moving away from a Disney event film and now competing against Universal’s Murder, She Wrote, per Deadline.

Top 20 Domestic Chart — Week of Sept. 11–13, 2026 (W37)

Note: Resident Evil opened Sept. 19 with an estimated $50M+ domestic debut (franchise record) — full chart updates Sunday. Data below is the most recent complete chart from Box Office Mojo.

* Hope: debut on chart; cumulative includes mid-week opening earnings. Source: Box Office Mojo.