Ryan Gosling, Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and other Hollywood A-listers took center stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas as Amazon unveiled its growing commitment to theatrical filmmaking. Gosling appeared in person to promote his upcoming science fiction adventure Project Hail Mary, based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir. In the film, he plays a schoolteacher-turned-astronaut who embarks on a desperate space mission to save Earth, eventually forming a bond with an alien named Rocky. “This is why we go to the movies,” Gosling told the crowd. “And I’m not just saying that because I’m in it—but also because I’m a producer,” he joked.
Project Hail Mary is slated for release in March, part of Amazon’s ramped-up film slate. The tech giant, which also operates Prime Video, has released a few theatrical films per year over the past decade. That number is now set to grow substantially, with plans to release at least 15 films annually by 2027, and 14 already lined up for 2026.
Amazon acquired MGM and its extensive film library in 2022. This year marks the company’s debut presentation at CinemaCon. Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, emphasized Amazon’s long-term vision: “When Amazon commits to something, we tend to do it big.”
Theater owners responded with optimism, viewing Amazon’s presence as a welcome boost amid lingering box office challenges post-pandemic. With Disney’s acquisition of Fox in 2019 reducing the number of major theatrical studios, Amazon’s increased investment brings new hope to exhibitors.
Stars continued to energize the presentation. Chris Pratt entertained the audience with a prop from his upcoming crime drama Mercy. Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri introduced their academic thriller After the Hunt. Hemsworth and Berry teased Crime 101, a stylish heist story. Ben Affleck promoted The Accountant 2 and cheekily corrected director Gavin O’Connor’s timeline of the original film’s release with his character’s trademark precision.
O’Connor praised Amazon’s theatrical-first strategy, saying that streamers are now the gatekeepers of cinema. “If they don’t put films in theaters, these kinds of stories could vanish,” he warned.
Amazon also teased the future of the James Bond franchise, now under its creative control, promising to honor the legacy of the iconic spy while preparing for an exciting new chapter.
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