Paramount Unveils Exciting Slate at CinemaCon 2023

On Thursday, Paramount took center stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, unveiling first looks at several highly anticipated films set to hit theaters over the next two years. The event allowed exhibitors and journalists to get a sneak peek at both animated and live-action projects from the studio, which is primarily distributed in Italy by Eagle Pictures.

Among the major announcements were:

• Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
• PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie
• Killers of the Flower Moon
• Bob Marley: One Love
• A Quiet Place: Day One
• Transformers One
• The new Smurfs movie
• The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants
• Avatar: The Last Airbender

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

Anticipation is building for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, which received a noteworthy update at CinemaCon: its release date has been moved up by two days to July 12. Attendees were treated to 20 minutes of footage from the film, showcasing a selection of scenes rather than just the opening moments. Highlights included an exhilarating chase through the streets of Rome, featuring Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell swapping seats while handcuffed, all against iconic backdrops such as the Spanish Steps and the Colosseum.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem

Scheduled for release in August 2023, the new animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem draws inspiration from previous animated hits like The Mitchells vs. The Machines and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg shared their vision of creating a family-friendly film featuring real teenagers voicing the characters, infusing their youthful energy into the dialogue and animation. "You have no idea how many gross things they said that we cut from the movie!" they revealed while showing some scenes.

PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie

A work-in-progress trailer was unveiled for PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, which features a cameo by Chris Rock as a dog. The first film was a commercial success, grossing $144 million in both theaters and streaming. This sequel is set to premiere in theaters on September 29, 2023.

Killers of the Flower Moon

One of the year's most anticipated films, Killers of the Flower Moon, produced by Apple and distributed by Paramount, is expected to be released in October. Details on the film were also shared during the presentation.

Bob Marley: One Love

Paramount showcased early footage from the biopic Bob Marley: One Love, starring Kingsley Ben-Adir and directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (King Richard). The trailer features Ben-Adir singing as Bob Marley and highlights significant moments from Marley’s life, including the attempted assassination in 1976. Ziggy Marley, Bob's son and producer of the film, described it as "a message of rebellion and revolution." The film is set for release on January 12, 2024.

A Quiet Place: Day One

A first look at the horror prequel A Quiet Place: Day One was also presented, scheduled for release on March 8, 2024. Producer John Krasinski explained that the film is set in the "loudest city on Earth," New York City. The trailer, which was shown shortly after filming wrapped, depicts a meteor shower hitting the city, with Lupita Nyong'o’s character facing peril while trying to escape. The cast also includes Alex Wolff, Joseph Quinn, and Djimon Hounsou, reprising his role from A Quiet Place 2. Directed by Michael Sarnoski, the film follows Krasinski's original vision, with a third installment, A Quiet Place 3, already planned for 2025.

Transformers One

Slated for release on July 19, 2024, Transformers One will be an animated feature featuring a star-studded voice cast, including Chris Hemsworth as young Optimus Prime, Brian Tyree Henry as young Megatron, and Scarlett Johansson as Elita. The story will explore the origins of Optimus Prime and Megatron's rivalry on Cybertron. Directed by Josh Cooley, this marks the franchise's first animated film in 40 years.

The New Smurfs Movie

Paramount is developing a new animated Smurfs film featuring Rihanna as Smurfette. The pop star has contributed original songs for the movie, which she will perform, and she is also serving as a producer. The film is set to be released on February 14, 2025, with Chris Miller and Matt Landon directing and Pam Brady scripting.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants

CinemaCon attendees were treated to concept art for The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants, which will follow SpongeBob on a journey through the ocean depths to confront the ghost of the Flying Dutchman. Directed by Derek Drymon, the film is scheduled for release on May 23, 2025.

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Lastly, the first details about the animated film Avatar: The Last Airbender were revealed, set to be released on October 10, 2025. This film will blend the anime style of the original series with computer-generated imagery, continuing the story long after the series finale. Lauren Montgomery will direct.