Apple is still in awards season with “F1,” but the tech monolith has popped the hood on a slew of new movies scheduled for release in 2026.
At a huge media event in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Apple Studios took over the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica to release footage and conversations about what’s to come. Cameron Diaz, Keanu Reeves, Chris Pratt, Amy Adams, Colin Farrell, and more made headlines and influencers around the world.
Five full-length titles, including Jonah Hill’s “Outcome,” were introduced, with a focus on series. This is Hill’s third directorial effort, following 2018’s Mid90s and 2022’s therapy documentary Stutz.
Led by Reeves, Diaz and Matt Bomer, Outcome tells a story of sobriety and redemption through a Hollywood lens. Reeves plays Leaf Hawk, a movie star who spends five years off the grid recovering from a heroin addiction. Hawk’s handlers, Bomer and Diaz, learn that a mysterious incriminating video featuring Hawk may come to light. The team struggles to figure out what’s left on the tape, sparking an atonement spree for the protagonist and helping him confront his old ghost and ask for forgiveness.
It’s interesting to see Hill explore themes of isolation and social exposure. The actor and director himself has kept a low profile since his ex-girlfriend, pro surfer Sarah Brady, made private text messages public in 2023.
“Outcome,” which Hill co-wrote with Ezra Woods, questions what an apology actually means and who it serves. An early trailer was shown to the audience, the highlight of which was a cameo from soap queen Susan Lucci (who plays Reeves’ abusive mother). It has a “Jay Kelly” vibe and remains bleached by the Malibu sun (which apparently is the setting for much of the film). The film will be released worldwide on Apple TV on April 10th.
Next was a brief introduction to “The Dink,” a pickleball comedy starring Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, and Ed Harris. Johnson, a member of the popular ensemble “New Girl,” will play a genius tennis player who gets his leg cut off in a collision with Andy Roddick. Much to the chagrin of his father (Harris), Johnson’s character begins playing pickleball with Steenburgen as his partner. He finds new passions and confronts old demons, perhaps enjoying a very low-impact cardio workout. Directed by Josh Greenbaum (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”), the film will be released on July 24th.
Arturo Castro (left), Jessica Bale, John Cena, Teyonah Parris, and Sam Richardson in Matchbox The Movie.
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The third is “Matchbox the Movie,” which will be the second major production for Mattel Pictures since 2023’s box-office sensation “Barbie,” which restarted the division. The trailer that played in the room showed off what appeared to be a very clean take on “Fast and Furious.” This cute ensemble includes John Cena and Jessica Biel (the two have amazing chemistry and we’re so happy to see Biel back on screen), Sam Richardson (Veep), Teyonah Parris (Marvels), and Arturo Castro (Broad City). Skydance will co-produce the project, which will be released on October 9th.
Chris Pratt has tapped to release “The Way of the Warrior Kid,” an adaptation of Navy SEAL Jocko Willink’s nonfiction work that teaches children about courage. Pratt plays the uncle of the often bullied Mark (“Belfast” star Jude Hill), who helps him train him in self-defense and integrity. The film, co-starring Linda Cardellini and directed by McG (“Charlie’s Angels”), will be released on November 20th.
The day ended with virtual messages from Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh, who spoke from the set of Apple and Skydance’s “Mayday.”
This Cold War action comedy is Reynolds’ first film, and he’s probably happy to be fighting a different kind of battle. In a pre-recorded greeting, the actor said he was finally able to “play a character who has to be saved.” Reynolds, a Navy pilot who crashes on Russian territory, relies on Branagh, a former KGB agent, to survive and protect American interests. It comes to Apple TV+ on September 4th.
