The annual trade show for movie exhibitors, CinemaCon, has kicked off in Las Vegas with a major presentation from Sony Pictures. The studio unveiled a slate of upcoming films that generated significant buzz, showcasing everything from adaptations of beloved video games and sci-fi novels to new chapters in established franchises and surprising sequels. This article details all the key announcements and reveals made during the Sony panel, covering upcoming release dates, production updates, and the initial reactions from industry attendees to the exclusive footage shown.
Resident Evil
Director Zach Cregger, known for Weapons, aims to keep his adaptation of Resident Evil stripped back and true to the spirit of the original games. The trailer screened at CinemaCon featured Austin Abrams as his car breaks down in a snowy landscape; he finds refuge in an abandoned house and calls his girlfriend, stating he’s in a seriously fucked up situation right now.
The footage reportedly included numerous shots of horrifying zombies, with a horde chasing Abrams off rooftops and splattering violently.
Cregger told the audience he wanted to capture the resource management
aspect of the games along with their signature atmosphere and pacing. According to test screening reports, the film is described as a 90-minute, relentless experience, akin to a horror version of Mad Max: Fury Road. Resident Evil is scheduled for release on September 18 of this year.
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Sony moved the release date for the third Spider-Verse animated movie up by one week to June 18, 2027. The studio also released some still images and announced that the film is being rendered in a tall aspect ratio to optimize the IMAX screen experience – a rare technique in animation. The exclusive footage presented reportedly wowed attendees, described as beautifully composed,
smart and funny,
and worth the unexpected wait.
The Legend of Zelda
The only new information provided about the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie was a production update: filming has wrapped. Director Wes Ball (the Maze Runner films) completed the shoot under impressive secrecy. Beyond the confirmed actors for Link and Zelda, the full cast remains unknown. The film is slated for release on May 7, 2027.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Sony offered an extended look at the fourth Tom Holland Spider-Man movie, due on July 31. The main scene shown, familiar from the recently released trailer, involves Peter Parker (Tom Holland) crashing a party attended by his former girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) and best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon), who have no memory of him. Attendees also saw a brief fight scene described as quite different from the spectacular, effects-heavy trailer shots. The action was noted as very grounded,
with a grainy, filmic look reminiscent of the Tobey Maguire/Sam Raimi films.
Jumanji: Open World
The third installment in the current Jumanji series acquired its subtitle at CinemaCon: Jumanji: Open World. It was revealed that the plot involves the video game characters played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart entering the real world. The vibe suggests more of the same from the series’ cast and director Jake Kasdan, with The Playlist noting reassuringly that this cast knows the characters, each other, and the tone Kasdan seeks. The film is set for a Christmas Day release.
Grandgear
No full footage was shown for this project, only a short clip of test material. Grandgear is a kaiju/giant robot/mecha movie from Godzilla Minus One director Takashi Yamazaki, marking his English-language debut. Filming begins soon, with Sony scheduling a release for February 18, 2028.
The Social Reckoning
2026’s unlikeliest sequel is this follow-up to David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin’s 2010 docudrama The Social Network. The new story deals with the 2021 Facebook Files leak; screenwriter Sorkin also directs this time. Mark Zuckerberg is now portrayed by Jeremy Strong (Succession) instead of Jesse Eisenberg. IndieWire reported that Strong’s performance is inspired
and that the trailer tease shown was the best thing they saw at Sony’s presentation, describing his dead-eyed, intense stiffness… was gripping.
The Social Reckoning opens on October 9.
Klara and the Sun
Taika Waititi adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s sci-fi novel about an AI companion for a sickly child, with Jenna Ortega playing the android, Klara. The footage shown at CinemaCon reportedly featured a 1950s Hollywood musical future aesthetic
and seemed to oscillate between fun, crowd-pleasing moments and a more serious prestige awards movie
style. Klara and the Sun will be released on October 23.
Insidious: Out of the Further
The sixth Insidious film had its trailer shown, which is publicly available. The preview notably leans hard into dental horror. Insidious: Out of the Further hits theaters on August 21.
Sony Pictures’ CinemaCon 2026 presentation was an ambitious showcase of its future slate, blending established franchises with bold new adaptations and visionary projects. From the grounded horror of Resident Evil and the innovative animation of Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Debuts with Hulk, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Debuts with Hulk, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Debuts with Hulk, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Debuts with Hulk, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Trailer Debuts with Hulk, Punisher and Rogue’s Gallery of Villains”>Punisher and Rogue’s Gallery of Villains”>Punisher and Rogue’s Gallery of Villains”>Punisher and Rogue’s Gallery of Villains”>Punisher and Rogue’s Gallery of Villains”>Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Images Show Miles Saving His Father“>Beyond the Spider-Verse to the surprising sequel The Social Reckoning and director-driven projects like Grandgear, the studio demonstrated a commitment to diverse storytelling across genres. While many trailers remain exclusive to attendees, the announced updates and release dates paint a clear picture of Sony’s strategic roadmap through 2028, aiming to captivate both general audiences and cinephiles with a mix of spectacle, narrative depth, and technical experimentation.
