IN DEVELOPMENT

 

Donkey Kong Country: Rounding out the voice cast of the latest Nintendo adaptation - Donkey Kong Country - will be Dax Shepard (Buddy Cames, CHiPS) as Funky Kong, Ike Barinholtz (The Hunt, "The Studio") as Krusha, and Fred Armisen (Unfrosted, The Bubble) as Klaptrap. Mitchell is at the helm of the animated blockbuster from a script by APJ.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Keith L. Williams (The Monster Squad, The Nickel Boys) and Dominic Sessa (Anarchy, Ecstasy) have joined Finn Wolfhard's R-rated adaptation of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. Joining them will also be nepo-babies Maude Apatow (The Essence, Guy on the Fly) and singer Gracie Abrams. Wolfhard is directing and starring in the film, while Alex Conn penned the adaptation.

Stretch Armstrong: Angela Bassett (The Stand, Dishonest) and Ruth Wilson (The Lone Gunman, Bunker 17) have signed on to join Ryan Gosling in the action figure adaptation Stretch Armstrong for directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Bassett will play a government official and Wilson will play a doctor. Giovanni Garcia is behind the unexpected adaptation.

Double Date: Olivia Rodrigo (New Christianity, Anarchy) and Joey King (Five Boroughs, Mimsley and Me) are set to headline the rom-com Double Date from writer Jacob Jones (Running from the Spotlight, Sister/Sister) about two young women after the same guy. David Iacono (Jurassic World Rebirth, Fear Street: Prom Queen) is set to play the guy between them. Nicholas Stoller (You're Cordially Invited, Bros) is set to direct the film.

1995: Grant Feely (ThunderCats, Gunner) and Nell Fisher (Dust Saint, Tethered) are set for leading roles in the coming-of-age drama/adventure 1995. The film tells the story of a group of friends who ditch school to go on a journey to find a haunted house. Stephen Chbosky (Wonder, Nonnas) has been tasked with the directing the film from a script by Joshua Collins (ThunderCats, The Friend Zone).

Lobo: Vin Diesel (Broadway, Gargoyles: A Tale Old as Time) was already at the LRF Comic-Con to hype this film - a solo Lobo film featuring Diesel as the main man himself. The film will depict Lobo hunting down a dying super-criminal across the cosmos, only to become tangled in a deadly family feud that threatens an entire planet. Diesel will be joined by Tom Hopper (Boba Fett, Crimson), who will play the dual roles of intergalactic mass-murderer Bludhound and celebrity superhero Gold Star. Doug Liman (The Lone Gunman, Life on Mars) is directing the DC Comics Universe production, which has been penned by Jack Brown (Blood and Glory, The Crow: Yomi) - marking his first film in the DC world.

PREMIERE MAGAZINE #351

 

THE ROUNDUP WITH JEFF STOCKTON (SEASON 36 ROUND 1)

 

Welcome to the all-new version of The Roundup with me, Jeff Stockton! It may look a little different, but you can expect the same level of studio-friendly, niticky-ness you have grown to know and love (hopefully).

Three films into Season 36 and already we’ve got one genuine blockbuster, two outright bombs, and enough overreaction material to keep me employed for another year. Let’s get into the biggest winners and losers of Round 1. Here's The Roundup....

BOBA FETT

If there was ever a proof-of-concept for what LRF can do with a legacy IP, Boba Fett is it.

For years now, Disney has treated the Star Wars universe like a franchise desperately trying to remember why people liked it in the first place. Bloated streaming shows, diminishing theatrical returns, and a general inability to decide whether nostalgia or reinvention should be driving the ship have left the brand creatively stranded. Then LRF hands the keys to James Wan and suddenly Boba Fett looks like an actual movie event again.

A $763 million worldwide haul and over $220 million in profit is the sort of result that doesn’t just justify the gamble — it announces that LRF’s Star Wars experiment deserves to be taken seriously. The biggest compliment I can give Boba Fett? It felt like somebody actually had a vision. Disney may want to take notes.

JASON MOMOA

At what point do we stop acting surprised and admit Jason Momoa has become one of the most bankable stars in LRF?

Seriously.

Tarzan was already a strong performer, but Boba Fett feels like the moment where this becomes a legitimate trend rather than a fluke. Momoa has somehow cracked the code of what modern action stardom actually looks like: charisma, physicality, and just enough personality to make larger-than-life characters feel approachable.

The irony is that Hollywood has spent years trying to force-feed audiences “the next big movie star” while Momoa has quietly become exactly that in LRF. Two major hits back-to-back changes perception quickly. Right now, if Jason Momoa headlines your movie, people seem willing to show up.

SEASON 36

You only get one chance to make a first impression, and Season 36 has gotten off to a strong start — aesthetically, at least.

The refreshed looks for LRF’s various editorial segments give the season a noticeably cleaner identity, and while visuals obviously don’t make or break a season, presentation matters. When everything feels more polished, the whole operation feels bigger.

More importantly, having a major hit right out of the gate helps calm nerves. A season always feels healthier when there’s an early tentpole giving people something to rally around. Now the question becomes whether Season 36 has enough depth behind Boba Fett to sustain momentum.

BOX OFFICE

Here’s the less fun reality: two bombs out of your first three films is not exactly the dream scenario.

Yes, Boba Fett hit big — huge, even — but one success doesn’t completely erase the sting of Three Rounds and Heartbeat both losing money. Early-season box office struggles have a way of snowballing into larger conversations about slate quality, audience interest, and whether the studio is programming the season correctly.

One blockbuster can cover a lot of sins financially, but creatively? You’d still prefer not to be batting .333.

HOLDEN ABBOTT

At a certain point, we have to stop saying “bad luck.”

I actually think Holden Abbott is talented. His early output suggests somebody who clearly knows how to write compelling material and has a distinct voice. But four straight bombs to begin an LRF career is the kind of streak that starts raising uncomfortable questions.

Fair or unfair, box office matters. You can only hear “underrated” so many times before executives begin wondering whether audiences simply aren’t interested. Abbott feels overdue for a breakthrough, because right now he’s dangerously close to becoming one of those writers critics respect far more than audiences support.

HEARTBEAT

I’m just going to ask it.

Are Paul Mescal and Carey Mulligan actually movie stars?

Because based on this result, I’m leaning no.

Now, before everyone starts yelling — this isn’t me questioning whether they’re talented. They absolutely are. Mulligan has delivered strong performances for years, and Mescal is one of the more acclaimed younger actors working today. But acclaim and star power are not the same thing.

A courtroom-medical thriller with respected actors, a recognizable premise, and Ralph Fiennes directing only manages $25 million worldwide? That’s rough. At some point, audiences have to actually buy tickets for “prestige casting” to mean anything commercially. Right now, Mescal and Mulligan feel much more like “critics’ favorites” than genuine box office draws.

On Location (Season 36 Round 1)

 

Boba Fett

- Gold Coast, Australia

Three Rounds
- Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Heartbeat

- London, England, UK

BOX OFFICE BREAKDOWN (SEASON 36 ROUND 1)

 

BOBA FETT

Budget: $165,000,000
Total Box Office: $763,673,771
Total Profit: $220,005,056

Launching Season 36 in dominant fashion, Boba Fett immediately established itself as the season’s commercial juggernaut and one of the stronger performers in franchise history. While not quite reaching true blockbuster-tier profitability, the film comfortably became one of the most successful genre releases in recent LRF memory.

BOX OFFICE FACT

Over nine films as an LRF director — including five Resident Evil films — James Wan’s projects have now grossed over $1.8 billion worldwide for the studio.

GENRE RANKINGS
Action: #50
Fantasy: #5
Sci-Fi: #17

THREE ROUNDS

Budget: $28,000,000

Total Box Office: $34,386,590

Total Profit: -$19,100,201

Despite strong pedigree behind the camera, Three Rounds struggled to find a theatrical audience and became one of the rougher financial starts to a season in recent memory. The sports drama joins a surprisingly short list of box office disappointments for one of LRF’s most dependable filmmakers.

BOX OFFICE FACT

After 12 films with the studio, prolific director Jeff Nichols has suffered his first box office bomb since Animus in Season 2, his LRF debut.

GENRE RANKINGS

Drama: #298

Sports: #18

HEARTBEAT

Budget: $23,000,000

Total Box Office: $25,404,407

Total Profit: -$14,777,490

A modestly budgeted legal-medical drama, Heartbeat ultimately failed to generate enough audience momentum to overcome its costs. While hardly a catastrophic result, the film continues a mixed commercial track record for its writer.

BOX OFFICE FACT

With 12 films written for Last Resort Films, Sammy-Jo Ellis now sits at an even 50-50 box office record — six profitable films and six money losers.

GENRE RANKINGS

Drama: #341

Round 1 Total Box Office:

$823,464,768

Round 1 Total Profit:

$186,127,365

Season 36 wasted little time making an impression financially, with Boba Fett accounting for over 92% of the round’s total worldwide box office.

Season 36 Total Box Office:

$823,464,768

Season 36 Total Profit:

$186,127,365

With only one round complete, Season 36 is already off to a massive start thanks almost entirely to the breakout performance of Boba Fett.

SEASON 36 BOX OFFICE STANDINGS

1. Boba Fett — $763,673,771 🔥

2. Three Rounds — $34,386,590 💣

3. Heartbeat — $25,404,407 💣

LRF TRIVIA TIDBITS (SEASON 36 ROUND 1)

 

Welcome back for more LRF Trivia Tidbits! Season 36 opens with a mix of franchise ambition, studio mainstays, and a long-awaited return behind the camera. From a major Star Wars swing to one of LRF’s most quietly reliable directors hitting a milestone, to a rare directorial comeback, Round 1 sets the tone for another packed season.

Boba Fett

Jason Momoa played a key role in shaping this project from the ground up, personally recruiting his Aquaman director James Wan to helm the film. With Momoa stepping into the iconic role of Boba Fett, the film is positioned not just as a standalone adventure, but as a potential launching point for a wider slate of Star Wars-related projects within LRF.

Three Rounds

With Three Rounds, Jeff Nichols quietly cements his status as the most prolific director in LRF history, marking his 12th film for the studio. Balancing franchise work like the Scion trilogy and a four-film Superman run with acclaimed prestige projects like Judas Iscariot, Nichols has become one of the studio’s most versatile and dependable filmmakers.

Heartbeat

Heartbeat marks Ralph Fiennes’ return to the director’s chair for the first time since Season 2’s Solution, one of the most critically acclaimed films in LRF history. That earlier project, centered on the 1942 Nazi conference that devised the “Final Solution,” set a high bar—making this new effort a notable comeback from one of LRF’s earliest standout filmmakers.

Release: Heartbeat

 

Heartbeat

Genre: Drama

Director: Ralph Fiennes

Writer: Sammy-Jo Ellis

Cast: Paul Mescal, Carey Mulligan, James Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Erin Doherty

Budget: $23,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $13,404,395

Foreign Box Office: $12,000,012

Total Profit: -$14,777,490

Reaction: Things have been slim pickings since Boba Fett kicked the season and the round off with a massive success. 

"Heartbeat is an engaging if somewhat formulaic legal-medical thriller elevated by strong performances from Paul Mescal and Carey Mulligan. Ralph Fiennes brings a quiet authority to both his direction and supporting role, and the film effectively taps into anxieties surrounding profit-driven healthcare. However, the plotting occasionally feels overly convenient, with conspiracy reveals arriving too neatly and courtroom turns lacking the complexity they need. Still, Mulligan and Mescal make the material compelling enough to carry through its familiar beats." - Kirk Langerhorn, The Sun UK

“It’s a bit by the numbers, and don’t be surprised if you can predict everything that happens, but Carey Mulligan gives an earnest and charming performance as the surgeon trying to save her career and livelihood from a healthcare system so horribly broken.” - Mitchell Parker, New York Times

"Despite an intriguing setup, Heartbeat quickly collapses into melodrama and increasingly implausible plotting. The film juggles hospital corruption, legal drama, romance, sabotage, and systemic healthcare criticism without giving enough depth to any one idea. Paul Mescal is charismatic but feels oddly miscast as a polished courtroom attorney, while the central conspiracy grows so broad and convenient it begins to resemble a prestige-TV medical soap. Carey Mulligan does strong work with Clara’s emotional conflict, but even she struggles against dialogue and twists that too often feel engineered rather than earned." - Wayne Heathcliff, Kansas City Star

PG-13 for language and thematic material