The future of Star Wars looks bright. Lucasfilm is currently working on multiple film projects, including The Mandalorian & Grogu by Jon Favreau and Star Wars: Starfighter by Shawn Levy.

A brand new trilogy is also on the way, produced by Simon Kinberg, well-known from the X-Men franchise of 20th Century Fox. Kinberg now reveals his inspiration for the trilogy.

Inspiration

In an interview with Nerdtropolis, Kinberg spoke about his love for Star Wars and mentioned one standout project: the hit series Andor on Disney+.

"I was tremendously inspired and simply impressed by what Tony Gilroy has done with Andor," Kinberg stated. "I thought it was about the best science fiction [there is]."

Andor

Andor is a spin-off of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that follows the story of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) before he joins the Rebels.



The series received incredibly positive feedback, with some calling it the best Star Wars ever. The second and final season released earlier this year and was nominated for 3 Emmy Awards.

War of the Worlds has received a dubious label: the worst film of 2025. The film ranks a disappointing 3% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been harshly criticized. This may have sparked morbid curiosity, as the film is now a huge hit on Prime.

The film is the latest adaptation of H.G. Wells' novel. It stars rapper Ice Cube as Will Radford, a leading cyber security analyst. Trouble begins when an unknown entity launches an attack that shakes the nation. Radford starts to suspect that the government is withholding information not just from him, but from the entire nation.

Big Streaming Hit

In addition to Ice Cube's leading role, there are also parts for Eva Longoria, Devon Bostick, and Clark Cregg. Many critics, however, are harsh towards the lead performance and the uneven execution. They also criticize the excessive product placement, which detracts from the story, although it can sometimes be unintentionally hilarious.

However, the negative reviews seem to have piqued viewers' curiosity. War of the Worlds ranks in the top 3 of the most-watched films on Prime worldwide just a week after its release. The label of the worst film of the year seems to have led audiences to engage in "hate-watching."

So Bad?

The poor reception may also be linked to the ambitious words of the creators. Co-creator Patrick Aiello stated: "For the first time, a studio-sized sci-fi epic has been made in a format that places the audience in the action, seen through the lenses of phones, computers, and tablets."



The creators thought that if aliens were to invade Earth, we would likely experience it through our phones. However, this approach has not worked out very well.

The long-awaited film Frankenstein from Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro now has an official release date for both theaters and Netflix. The film will have its North American premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival.

On October 17, Frankenstein will first be released in a limited number of American theaters (and possibly worldwide), followed by a global streaming release on November 7 via Netflix. The film is based on the iconic book by Mary Shelley.

A Grim Yet Familiar Tale

In Frankenstein, Oscar Isaac plays the role of Victor Frankenstein, while Jacob Elordi takes on the role of the monster he created. The cast also includes Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz.

The film tells the well-known story of a brilliant scientist whose experiment leads to tragic consequences for both himself and his creation. Filming took place between February and September 2024.

First Glimpses

Netflix has also released two new posters for Frankenstein via social media, marking the official start of the film's promotional campaign.

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Del Toro describes author Mary Shelley as an inspiration: "The most important figure from English heritage for me is a teenager named Mary Shelley. She feels like family to me, and her work reminds me not to give up."

It's that time of year for the Emmy Awards, which means a flurry of panels and interviews featuring the biggest contenders. One of the standout titles this year is HBO’s The Last of Us. Despite a controversial second season earlier this year, the series remains one of the most viewed and discussed shows on television. The show has received nominations in several categories, including Best Drama Series.

After 90 days, the first season achieved an average of over 30 million viewers per episode. For the second season, HBO reported that by the 45-day mark, it was already averaging 37 million viewers per episode, with an upward trend. However, a similar 90-day statistic has yet to be released.

Strong Performance On Streaming Platforms

Notably, every episode of the second season managed to secure a spot in the Nielsen streaming Top 10. However, there was a decline in live viewing numbers via HBO between the first and last episodes in the US. According to HBO, this was primarily due to the finale airing on a national holiday.

Public opinion on the second season is mixed. Some fans are enthusiastic, while others disengaged, and a portion continued watching out of frustration, a phenomenon observed more frequently with HBO Max series such as And Just Like That and The White Lotus.

Significant Changes In Season Three

The upcoming season promises to be even more challenging. The focus is shifting to Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, who will play a central role as the antagonist. Additionally, two new main characters will be introduced, and existing supporting roles from the second season will receive more depth. The scale of the story is also set to increase significantly.

Craig Mazin, the sole showrunner, indicates that season three will build around Abby, with ambitions higher than ever. One mystery from season two, 'what's on Level B3?', will finally be revealed. Mazin emphasizes the collaboration with the production team and hints at impressive visual effects and creatures, which will surely appeal to fans of the game.

Deeper Exploration Of Abby's Character

Actress Kaitlyn Dever states that her character will gain more context this season. In the game, Abby appears rather abruptly, with minimal background. The series will explore her motivations and grief in greater detail. According to Dever, Abby’s anger stems from mourning, making her more relatable than she initially seems.

Filming for the third season is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a projected release in 2027. It remains unclear whether the series will conclude with one long third season or be split into a shorter third and fourth season.

The crime series Dept. Q is set to return for a second season on Netflix. The renewal comes three months after the release of its first season, which premiered in May. The reception was excellent, making it one of the biggest surprises on Netflix in 2025.

The response was positive: the series spent six weeks in the Netflix Top 10 and received strong reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the British crime thriller based on Jussi Adler-Olsen's book series boasts an impressive 88 percent.

Cold Cases And New Opportunities

Set in Edinburgh, the series follows troubled DCI Carl Morck, played by Matthew Goode. His sarcastic attitude and problematic collaboration with colleagues make him an outsider within the police force.

After a tragic incident where a young officer loses his life and his partner becomes paralyzed, Morck is banished to the department's basement. There, he leads the new cold case unit: Department Q. Initially intended as a publicity stunt for a struggling police department, Department Q evolves into a serious unit. Carl gathers a small team of quirky colleagues who, just like him, have everything to prove.

Success And Critical Reception

The nine episodes were written and directed by Frank, featuring roles for Chloe Pirrie, Alexej Manvelov, Kelly Macdonald, Kate Dickie, and Leah Byrne.