No. 1Horror
First 'Exorcist: Martyrs' trailer shows Johansson leading Flanagan's reboot
Blumhouse has released the first trailer for Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs, which opens in theaters March 12, 2027. Scarlett Johansson plays NYPD detective Julie Miller, who stopped the killer Father Sunday (John Leguizamo). Thirteen years later, a new killer writes her name in blood and she teams up with Chiwetel Ejiofor's Father William. Universal paid $400 million for the franchise in 2021, but 2023's The Exorcist: Believer made only $137 million worldwide. The planned follow-up, Deceiver, was scrapped in 2024, so this is effectively a reboot of the reboot.
No. 2Reviews
Ava DuVernay's '14th' earns strong reviews at New York Film Festival
Ava DuVernay's follow-up to her 2016 documentary 13th premiered at the New York Film Festival. It takes on the 14th Amendment, covering equal protection, birthright citizenship and the backlash to Reconstruction. Variety calls it as forceful as its predecessor and praises how it makes history feel alive. The Hollywood Reporter is also positive, but says it doesn't really illuminate the amendment's lesser-known framers. That review also questions Netflix's plan: a brief theatrical run November 27, then streaming December 4, after the November 3 midterms. The film runs 1 hour 48 minutes.
No. 3Comic Con
Blumhouse reveals 2027 slate and new director at New York Comic Con
At its BlumFest panel, Blumhouse Atomic Monster laid out its 2027 lineup. It includes River on Jan. 15, The Revenge of Llorona on Feb. 26, Anything but Ghosts on May 7 and a new Paranormal Activity on May 21. A new Blair Witch Project follows on Sept. 24, with Sleepover and Seasons on Nov. 12. Craig Zobel will direct the film of the comic Something Is Killing the Children. The panel also announced a deal with MatPat to adapt indie games, starting with Amanda the Adventurer. Jason Blum credited a strong year, including Obsession, for the appetite for risk.
No. 4Casting
LaKeith Stanfield and Ben Mendelsohn to star in 'Molepeople'
LaKeith Stanfield and Ben Mendelsohn will star in Molepeople, a horror film from Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Paramount Primal. Rob Savage directs from a script by Nathan Elston. The story follows a man who goes into the abandoned tunnels beneath New York City and finds a twisted society there. Paramount will handle worldwide distribution, with a release date of Aug. 27, 2027. Production is expected to start in the UK at the end of November or in early December. The project began life as an indie before moving to Paramount's new genre label.
No. 5Music
Interscope sues Summer Walker after she moves to end her record deal
Summer Walker and Interscope are in a legal fight over her contract. She signed in 2017 and sent a termination notice in August under California's seven-year statute. Interscope sued Friday, Oct. 9, claiming she would owe $50 million because she has delivered three of five promised albums. The label has only 45 days to sue after such a notice, and its filing came near the end of that window. Interscope says it hopes to reach an amicable resolution. Labels have used similar suits before, and efforts to repeal the 1987 provision have failed.
Why it mattersYou should watch this case, because it tests how easily artists can leave long-term label deals.
Full story at Billboard →No. 6Music
Lisa's 'Always Lalisa' documentary follows her year away from Blackpink
Sue Kim's documentary Always Lalisa follows Lisa through the year she spent on solo projects while Blackpink took a break. In that time she released the album Alter Ego, appeared in The White Lotus and landed a Coachella solo slot. The film also covers the leaked trainee videos controversy, with Lisa apologizing on camera. Kim says she couldn't license Blackpink's music or footage from the group's label. Lisa won best pop at the VMAs for "SaWaDiKa" and releases the EP Press Play on Oct. 23. She also has a Las Vegas residency coming up.