CinemaCon 2026: Hollywood Previews Future Blockbusters from Avengers to Top Gun

Excitement buzzes as CinemaCon showcases the most anticipated films, with returning characters, AI technology in filmmaking, and the re-emergence of beloved actors.

The 2026 CinemaCon has revealed thrilling previews of upcoming films, including the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, where Robert Downey Jr. dons the mantle of Doctor Doom. Other highlights include Tom Cruise resuming his role in Top Gun 3, a star-studded cast for The Odyssey, and advanced AI technology resurrecting Val Kilmer for a new role. Fans also witnessed sneak peeks of Focker In-Law, Dune: Part III, and more as Hollywood ramps up for a blockbuster year ahead.

Some of the most hotly anticipated films of the next couple of years have been previewed at the annual gathering of the cinema industry, CinemaCon, in Las Vegas this week. The event gives fans and cinema owners a glimpse of the biggest movies coming down the tracks, with footage and trailers screened there - often before they're posted online.

A-list stars and directors were on hand to give peeks at what to expect. From the Avengers to Ariana Grande and an AI Val Kilmer, here are some of the main films and what we learned.

Doomsday is nigh

Disney showcased the first proper trailer for the long-awaited next Avengers film, Avengers: Doomsday, as the conference closed on Thursday. The clip gave the first look at Robert Downey Jr - who played Iron Man in 2019's Avengers: Endgame - as the new masked villain, Doctor Doom. The latest film, out on 18 December, brings together a host of Marvel characters old and new.

On stage, Chris Evans told the CinemaCon crowd: 'I said I would only come back if there was a real reason. And in Doomsday, there is a very real reason that these heroes need Steve Rogers.'

Tom Cruise back in the Top Gun hot seat

Tom Cruise is returning for Top Gun 3, Paramount announced. The follow-up to the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick is 'officially in development with a script well under way', according to Paramount's Josh Greenstein.

Cruise was at CinemaCon earlier in the week to preview a very different film, Digger, in which he plays a grey-haired oil baron who has to clean up his environmental mess.

Ariana Grande meets the parents (and grandparents)

Fresh from her Oscar-nominated turn in Wicked, Grande is flexing her comedy muscles in Focker In-Law. The singer will appear alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in the latest installment of the franchise that began with 2000's Meet The Parents.

Christopher Nolan unveils footage from The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan returns this year with his first film since 2023's Oppenheimer, which won the Oscar for best picture. Adapted from Homer's ancient Greek poem, The Odyssey will star Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya.

Chalamet and Zendaya return for 'action-packed' Dune: Part III

The stars of Dune, including Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa, were on hand to introduce a seven-minute opening scene from the third film in the epic franchise.

Val Kilmer resurrected by AI

Val Kilmer was cast in As Deep As The Grave before his death last year, but the filmmakers have used AI to resurrect him - with the blessing of his family - and have now revealed the results in the first trailer.

James Bond will return 'when the time is right'

Amazon MGM Studios' head of film Courtenay Valenti gave fans an update on how preparations for the next era of James Bond are going, assuring that they are approaching the process with 'deep respect'.

Fourth Paddington film confirmed

The humble marmalade-loving bear is going from strength to strength. After three hit films and a West End musical, a fourth big-screen outing was confirmed at CinemaCon.

A reckoning comes in Sorkin's Social Network sequel

Sixteen years after The Social Network, a sequel titled The Social Reckoning will explore the 2021 Facebook leak by whistleblower Frances Haugen.

Michael B Jordan remakes The Thomas Crown Affair

Michael B Jordan is starring in and directing an updated take on The Thomas Crown Affair for a new generation, alongside co-stars Adria Arjona, Lily Gladstone, and Aubrey Plaza.

Rick Moranis out of retirement for Spaceballs sequel

Mel Brooks unveiled the title for the forthcoming sequel to 1987's Spaceballs. The film will also see the return of Rick Moranis after a three-decade absence from live-action films.

Playing a young Sylvester Stallone in I Play Rocky

CinemaCon launched the first trailer for a film about the tumultuous making of the boxing classic Rocky. Anthony Ippolito plays a young Stallone, earning praise for his portrayal.

Dakota Johnson and Anne Hathaway's Colleen Hoover adaptation

Another of Colleen Hoover's novels, Verity, is being adapted as a film starring Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, and Anne Hathaway.

Jumanji stars remember Robin Williams

Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, and Jack Black announced a new film titled Jumanji: Open World, paying homage to the late Robin Williams.

Sequels, more sequels

The conference also saw footage of Toy Story's fifth installment. In addition, Disney presented clips for upcoming films including The Devil Wears Prada 2 and the latest Star Wars offering, The Mandalorian and Grogu.