Warner Bros. has announced release dates for several high-profile upcoming movies, including J.J. Abrams' sci-fi project 'The Great Beyond' and a new prequel in 'The Conjuring' universe. The slate features stars like Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Julia Roberts and Keanu Reeves. These announcements come amid ongoing changes at the studio.
Warner Bros. revealed its upcoming film schedule on January 16, 2026, highlighting a mix of original projects and franchise extensions set for release in 2026 and 2027.
Leading the lineup is J.J. Abrams' 'The Great Beyond,' an original sci-fi film written, directed and produced by Abrams alongside Tommy Gormley. Starring Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Merritt Wever and Samuel L. Jackson, it is scheduled for theaters and IMAX on November 13, 2026. Details remain limited, consistent with Abrams' secretive style, though rumors suggest it involves a novelist discovering his fantasy worlds are real. This marks Abrams' return to big-screen blockbusters since directing 'Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker' in 2019.
For 2027, Sam Esmail's thriller 'Panic Carefully' will debut in IMAX on February 26. The film reunites Esmail and Julia Roberts from collaborations like 'Homecoming,' 'Gaslit' and 'Leave the World Behind.' The cast includes Eddie Redmayne, Brian Tyree Henry, Ben Chaplin, Aidan Gillen, Joe Alwyn, Naledi Murray and Elizabeth Olsen. Producers are Esmail, Roberts, Scott Stuber, Chad Hamilton, Marisa Yeres Gill and Lisa Gillan. Originally planned for Netflix, it shifted to Warner Bros.
An untitled sci-fi action film directed by Tim Miller and starring Keanu Reeves arrives on August 13, 2027. The plot follows a smuggler trapped in a Caribbean time loop, evading mercenaries and sharks. Miller directs from a script by Ian Shorr, with producers Matthew Vaughn, Aaron Ryder, Andrew Swett and John Zaozirny. It was previously titled 'Shiver.'
Rounding out the announcements, New Line Cinema's 'The Conjuring: First Communion,' a prequel directed by Rodrigue Huart from a screenplay by Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, is dated for September 10, 2027. Produced by James Wan and Peter Safran, it expands the $2.7 billion-grossing franchise. Casting for younger versions of Ed and Lorraine Warren, originally played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, has not been revealed. The latest entry, 'The Conjuring: Last Rites,' earned nearly $495 million worldwide, making it the series' highest grosser.