Photo: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films
From a high-octane racing drama to robotic horror sequels and spy franchise shakeups, Hollywood is buzzing at the box office, signaling the beginning of a big summer movie season.
First up: Formula 1 fever is officially taking over Tinseltown. The global racing sensation has found a firm grip on American audiences, with celebrity-packed paddocks, Netflix’s Drive to Survive, and an upcoming F1-themed movie starring Brad Pitt revving up interest. The F1 craze isn’t slowing down, and its Hollywood crossover is speeding into the spotlight.
Photo: Photo Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films
In F1, director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) dials down the drama and turns up the engines, delivering a stripped-down, adrenaline-filled sports epic. The film follows Sonny Hayes, played by Brad Pitt—a former Formula One driver who flamed out decades ago and now races anything with wheels, including, at one point, a New York City taxi.
Hayes gets pulled back into the elite racing world when Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), a former rival turned team owner, begs him to help save his struggling F1 team. The stakes? Win at least one race this season or face removal by the league’s governing board.
The plot is refreshingly simple: A man needs to win a race. But what makes F1 compelling is its devotion to the real-world mechanics of Formula One. With the full cooperation of the sport’s official governing body, Kosinski captures the speed, precision, and technical chaos of the racetrack—making this a visually thrilling, if narratively streamlined, ride.
Next, horror fans have something to celebrate: M3GAN 2.0 has been plugged in and recharged. The sequel to the 2023 hit about a deadly AI doll promises even more tech terror and dark humor. With Allison Williams and Violet McGraw returning and Akela Cooper once again writing the script, expectations are high for another dance-fueled nightmare.
And finally, it’s Bond. New Bond. The producers behind the 007 franchise have tapped a new director to take the reins for the next chapter in the iconic spy series. Denis Villeneuve (Dune) will direct the next James Bond film, set for a 2028 release under Amazon. The studio is seeking a British actor under 30 to replace Daniel Craig, with Jacob Elordi, Tom Holland, and Harris Dickinson in the mix. Villeneuve beat out top contenders like Edgar Wright and Alfonso Cuarón, but won’t have final cut. A writer has yet to be attached.
While casting for the next James Bond remains under wraps, the creative direction of the franchise is clearly shifting, and fans are watching closely.
For more on these stories and what they mean for moviegoers, tune in to KFI's entertainment pro Heather Brooker’s weekly entertainment report on The Gary and Shannon Show where she breaks down all the latest news, inside scoops, and Hollywood buzz you need to know.