From a new Lord of the Rings film to fresh talk around Ghost Rider, Avengers: Doomsday and the next DCU Batman, this week’s entertainment conversation has been packed with major franchise updates. There are also reports about an ambitious Elden Ring adaptation, a new Blade Runner series and the future of several familiar Marvel and DC characters.
One important note: Several items in this roundup are reports, casting chatter or early development updates rather than official confirmations. We have labelled them accordingly and have not treated speculation as fact.
Lord of the Rings could be getting another story after the original trilogy
Peter Jackson has reportedly discussed another film project, Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, which is said to be in the scriptwriting stage. The reported story would take place 14 years after the events of the original trilogy. It would sit alongside the previously announced The Hunt for Gollum, meaning Middle-earth may have more than one new big-screen story in development.
The update is exciting for fans, but details such as the final story, cast and release plan still need to be confirmed.
Avengers: Secret Wars and Doomsday: IMAX, trailers and promotion
A report discussed in this week’s update claims that Marvel has secured an exclusive IMAX arrangement for Avengers: Secret Wars. The comparison was with the competition for premium large-format screens around Dune. If the report proves accurate, it could give the next Avengers event a major advantage in IMAX theatres.
Meanwhile, the next Avengers: Doomsday trailer is now being rumoured for around November 15, after earlier speculation pointed to late October. A promotional drone show in South Korea reportedly featured Thanos, Tony Stark and Doctor Doom. A Doctor Doom-themed popcorn container has also been circulating online. None of this, by itself, confirms the timing or contents of a trailer.
Ghost Rider may be moving closer to a return
One of the most intriguing updates concerns Marvel’s Ghost Rider project. The report says the film is being planned for a traditional film-camera presentation, with the cinematographer associated with Dune 3 reportedly involved. Actor Connor Story is said to have joined in a mysterious role, prompting speculation that he could play an antagonist such as Blackheart.
There is also talk that Sacha Baron Cohen could appear as Mephisto, but that remains unconfirmed. The project is reportedly expected to begin filming in 2027, and the discussion suggests Marvel may be looking at a larger Midnight Sons direction. For now, fans should treat the casting and story details as rumours until Marvel makes an announcement.
DCU updates: Poison Ivy, Batman and the next Joker-era questions
A Poison Ivy series is reportedly in development, with producers associated with The Penguin said to be involved. The project is not expected to be part of Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, but its exact place in the wider DCU has not been made clear.
James Gunn has also indicated that the DCU Batman casting announcement may not be far away. The new Batman is expected to be in a similar age bracket to David Corenswet’s Superman, and the role is expected to go to a new actor. Another detail discussed is that Batman has already been operating for years by the time of Clayface. The precise continuity and timeline still need clarification.
Chris Pratt hints that Star-Lord will return to the MCU
Chris Pratt has reportedly said that Star-Lord will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while keeping the timing and circumstances secret. The presenter expects the character to appear in Avengers: Secret Wars, but that is a prediction rather than a confirmed casting announcement. A possible reunion with the Russo brothers has naturally added to fan speculation.
X-Men casting and The Batman Part II production talk
An actor known for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is reportedly set to play Beast in the next X-Men film. The report has generated interest because the actor’s look is already being compared with the character, although Marvel has not formally confirmed the casting in the material covered here.
Robert Pattinson has also praised Steven Soderbergh’s reported involvement in handling work around The Batman Part II. Shooting is said to be approaching, but the update does not provide a confirmed start date. Until production details are officially announced, the film’s schedule should be treated cautiously.
James Bond: the next 007 may be closer to being revealed
The next James Bond casting process is reportedly narrowing, with three publicly discussed candidates and a possible fourth mystery contender. The names of the candidates were not identified in the update, so there is no reliable basis here to name a front-runner. The next official announcement will be the one that settles the speculation.
Elden Ring film reportedly has a huge budget
The film adaptation of Elden Ring, directed by Alex Garland, is reportedly being developed with a budget of around $200 million. If accurate, that would make it A24’s most expensive production to date. Garland is said to want to do justice to the game’s lore and bring its distinctive creatures and monsters to the screen as faithfully as possible.
The scale of the reported budget reflects the challenge: the film will need to translate a vast fantasy world into a cinematic story while meeting the expectations of players and newcomers alike.
Blade Runner 2099 explores a changed world
The upcoming series Blade Runner 2099 is described as taking place in the same universe as the films. The story reportedly follows a replicant uprising in which replicants have gained power over humans. The video discussed a November 25 release date, but viewers should check the official platform and local schedule for the confirmed premiere details.
Extraction 3 wraps filming, while GTA VI rumours keep growing
Sam Hargrave has reportedly announced that filming on Extraction 3 has wrapped, with Chris Hemsworth also sharing an update. The production is said to have involved Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia.
On the gaming side, new claims about Grand Theft Auto VI describe a very large map and an unusually dense population of non-player characters with routines and dynamic reactions. The specific claims about the map’s size and hundreds of thousands of NPCs remain unverified, so they should be treated as online speculation rather than confirmed game features.
More updates: Arkane’s Blade game and a PUBG series
The update also discussed reports that Arkane’s Blade game is close to completion but may need a buyer or additional funding by November 13 to avoid cancellation. That claim has not been independently established here, and the project’s status should be checked against an official statement from the studio or publisher.
A live-action PUBG series is also reportedly in development, with Donald Glover linked to the project. Separately, a possible DC project centred on Polka-Dot Man’s mother and her superhero children was mentioned, but it remains an unconfirmed idea rather than an announced series.
Deadpool & Wolverine’s reported production cost draws attention
The video cited reports that Deadpool & Wolverine had production spending above $500 million before tax incentives, with roughly $100 million in credits or subsidies bringing the effective figure closer to $420 million. The reported cost was linked to the 2023 writers’ strike, reshoots and script changes. The film’s worldwide box-office total was described as around $1.3 billion. Budget figures can vary depending on what is counted, so these numbers should be read as reported estimates.
What to watch next
The biggest developments to keep an eye on are official updates on the next DCU Batman, confirmation of the Ghost Rider cast, the first proper details for Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, and the next Avengers: Doomsday trailer. On the gaming front, an official update on Arkane’s Blade project would help separate the current reports from speculation.
This weekly roundup is based on entertainment updates discussed in a recent video. Development reports, casting rumours and release-window claims are identified as such; they should not be mistaken for studio-confirmed news.
