Big week for fandom. Spider-Man just broke box office history, Doctor Doom got his biggest trailer moment yet, the DCU keeps expanding past Superman, and D23 handed us two new Star Wars looks. Here is everything worth knowing.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Swings Past $2 Billion Worldwide
Tom Holland's Spider-Man just made history. Brand New Day crossed the two billion dollar mark worldwide in only three weeks, and Deadline reports it is the fastest the franchise has ever hit that milestone. It already holds the domestic record for the biggest opening week a Spider-Man movie has ever had, and it kept smashing its own numbers through a second and third weekend that outran everything else in theaters. Fans are calling it proof that a quieter, more grounded Peter Parker story can still be a blockbuster. With numbers like these, expect Sony and Marvel to start teasing what comes next for this Peter very soon.
Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Puts Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom Front and Center
Marvel Studios saved a big one for D23. Kevin Feige brought Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and Hayley Atwell onstage to premiere a new Avengers: Doomsday trailer built around Downey's turn as Doctor Doom, facing off against Mister Fantastic, the X-Men, and an army of Sentinels. Per Variety and Hollywood Reporter, the footage leaned hard into the scale of a story spanning three universes colliding at once. The cast list keeps growing too, with Chris Hemsworth, Pedro Pascal, Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart all confirmed. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, and this trailer made it clear Marvel is treating it like the biggest crossover the MCU has ever attempted.
James Gunn's DCU Adds The People v. Gorilla Grodd as Man of Tomorrow Marches Forward
The DCU keeps growing outward from Superman. HBO Max has ordered an eight episode mockumentary series called The People v. Gorilla Grodd, with Jimmy Tatro playing the supervillain and Skyler Gisondo returning as Jimmy Olsen. SuperHeroHype reports Arian Moayed, who fans know from the recently canceled Marvel series Wonder Man, has now joined the DCU cast as well. On the movie side, James Gunn has confirmed Man of Tomorrow is moving forward as the direct Superman sequel, with David Corenswet's Clark Kent set to face the alien threat Brainiac when it lands July 9, 2027. Between the new show and the confirmed sequel, Gunn is clearly building out a connected DC world at a fast pace.
Star Wars D23 Reveals: Starfighter Names Ryan Gosling's Character, Ahsoka Season 2 Gets a Trailer
Lucasfilm brought two big reveals to D23. Ryan Gosling's mystery role in Star Wars: Starfighter finally has a name, Kade Auberon, a rogue from the wrong side of the galaxy whose fate gets tangled up with the fastest starfighter ever built. Director Shawn Levy is bringing in a stacked cast alongside Gosling, including Amy Adams, Mia Goth, and Matt Smith, with the film set five years after the sequel trilogy when it opens May 28, 2027. Dave Filoni also brought Rosario Dawson, Hayden Christensen, and Eman Esfandi onstage to debut the first teaser for Ahsoka Season 2, locking in a January 20, 2027 premiere. Two very different corners of the galaxy, both getting fans hyped for 2027.
The Batman Part II Pushed to 2028, But Robert Pattinson Footage Finally Drops
Mixed news for Gotham fans. The Batman Part II has been delayed again, this time landing on February 18, 2028, so director Matt Reeves gets extra time in post and the film can benefit from a four day holiday weekend release similar to Black Panther. The upside is Reeves did not leave fans empty handed. He posted a short camera test clip showing Robert Pattinson's Batman turning to face the camera, the first real look at his return since the first film. It is a long wait, but between the extended post production time and a planned Imax 70 millimeter rollout, this one sounds like it is being built for the biggest possible presentation.
Merch Watch
With Brand New Day still packing theaters and Avengers Doomsday trailers everywhere, expect a fresh wave of Spider-Man and Doctor Doom figures to start showing up. Marvel Legends already has plenty worth grabbing, and DC collectors should keep an eye out as Superman and Man of Tomorrow merch ramps up too. Or commission a custom piece inspired by your favorite character.
Check price on Amazon | Pre-order at Entertainment Earth
That's Press Play
That's what's worth watching and playing. If a drop has you hyped, we build custom pieces inspired by your favorite characters on the commission page. See you Saturday.
Some links in this post are affiliate links. Prices stay the same for you, I earn a small commission if you buy through them.