Lionsgate then began its presentation with Motion Group Chair Adam Fogelson, who seemed to do his own various Q and A for talent available for their slate. The most well-known title and highly anticipated was Ballerina, starring Ana De Armas. The CinemaCon audience was given an extended look. Notable characters from the franchise, such as Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and Angelica Houston, appeared, with De Armas showing off her new action chops to a thunderous crowd applause. Ana De Armas and director Len Wiseman joined Fogelson and discussed her 3 ½ to 4 months of training compared to only three weeks for No Time To Die.
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The Long Walk, one of the first stories ever written by Stephen King, had director Francis Lawrence, star David Johnson, and Mark Hamil wearing sunglasses in character, come out on stage to “Walk on” by U2. Slated for a September 12th release, the trio debuted the trailer. It was described as similar to a Hunger Games but also reminded me of a take on the reality show Survivor, where contestants must test their stamina. In this case, if they drop or can’t keep up the pace, they die. Francis Lawrence also stayed to discuss Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, with casting currently happening and shooting in July. An animated logo teaser of the title was shown with the harrowing voice, “I think these games are gonna be different.”
Fogelson continued by announcing a first-look deal for director Paul Feig, and director Luca Guadagnino delivered a pre-recorded message that he would be doing a new adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho. The Kingdom Story Company also got a shout-out along with the announcement of a sequel to I Can Only Imagine.
Perhaps to save Keanu Reeves’ from so much bruising, fans of John Wick and the team behind the franchise will produce an animated prequel about the “impossible task” and further news that Donnie Yen will reprise his role in a live-action film. Of course, the worst-kept secret is that there will be a John Wick: Chapter 5, reuniting Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski.
There were some trailer drops, one for Good Fortune written and directed by Aziz Ansari, where Keanu Reeves is an angel who seems like a genie, swapping the lives of Aziz Ansari, who wants the life of Seth Rogen with a little bit of Freaky Friday vibe. Power Ballad starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas and what happens when a wedding singer creates a hit song for a former boy band member, but pawns it off as his own.
The official title and trailer drop for Now You See Me: Now You Don’t, the third in the series, brought out director Ruben Fleischer appropriately to Olivia Newton-John’s “Magic” and his take on the film and working again with Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg along with directing the original cast members and new characters played by Dominic Sessa in his first ever studio movie with Ariana Greenblatt and Justice Smith.
Director Paul Feig, Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, and Brandon Sklenar all joined Fogelson to announce and show the trailer for The Housemaid, coming out this Christmas and based on the book which played like A Simple Favor meets The Hand That Rock The Cradle.
Other release titles mentioned were another sequel to The Strangers, Greenland 2, and The Mutiny, starring Jason Statham.
Lionsgate saved the best for last, Hurry Up Tomorrow showcasing Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd. Initially, director Trey Edward Shuts and Jenna Ortega graced the stage to show the trailer, followed by a surprise performance by The Weeknd, who sang the title track and gave attendees one more of his hit songs, “Blinding Lights.” It was a massive finale and showstopper for Lionsgate.
