Weekly International Movie & TV Show News Roundup
Welcome to the Friday 4 September 2026 edition of our weekly movie news roundup. The week of 1–4 September has brought major festival premieres, high-profile casting updates, exciting new trailer releases and plenty of streaming news.
From Venice Film Festival buzz to the return of The Gentlemen, here are the biggest stories from the world of international movies and TV shows.
Releases
Venice Film Festival opens with Danny Boyle’s Ink
The 83rd Venice Film Festival is now underway, running from 2–12 September 2026. As one of the most important events in the film calendar, Venice is once again offering an early look at films expected to feature heavily during awards season.
Danny Boyle’s Ink opened the festival this week. The film explores Rupert Murdoch’s rise and his takeover of the British newspaper The Sun. It has already received a positive response from critics, making it one of the first major talking points of this year’s festival.
Martin McDonagh’s Wild Horse Nine has also created plenty of excitement. Starring Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich, the dark comedy reportedly received a 13-minute standing ovation. That kind of reception has quickly placed the film among the titles to watch during the festival and has started early awards-season conversations.
Werner Herzog’s Bucking Fastard, starring Rooney Mara and Kate Mara, also premiered this week. With three very different films making an impact, Venice is already offering a strong mix of political drama, dark comedy and distinctive international cinema.
Opening night also saw George Clooney receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, celebrating his long career as an actor, director and producer. The award added an extra touch of star power to an already busy opening ceremony. You can follow the official Venice Film Festival programme for more details and screening information.
Mayday arrives on Apple TV+
Ryan Reynolds returns to action-comedy this week with Mayday, which premiered globally on Apple TV+ on 4 September.
The film also stars Kenneth Branagh and gives Reynolds another chance to combine fast-paced action with his familiar comic timing. Early reviews are reportedly among the actor’s best in more than a decade, making Mayday one of the weekend’s biggest new streaming releases.
For fans looking for an easy watch with a large cast, action set pieces and plenty of jokes, Mayday could be one of the most popular choices on Apple TV+ this weekend.
Spider-Man swings onto Disney+
Two recent Marvel favourites joined Disney+ on 4 September: Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
The films follow Tom Holland’s Peter Parker through two very different stages of his superhero journey. Far From Home takes Peter on an international school trip that quickly becomes a mission involving Mysterio, while No Way Home expands the story into a multiverse adventure featuring several versions of Spider-Man history.
Their arrival gives Disney+ subscribers the chance to revisit two of the most popular films in the modern Spider-Man series back-to-back.
The Gentlemen Season 2 is now streaming
Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy The Gentlemen has returned for Season 2 on Netflix.
The series continues its mix of criminal schemes, family tension, sharp dialogue and stylish action. After the success of the first season, the new episodes are expected to attract both returning viewers and fans who discover the show through Netflix’s recommendations.
If you enjoy British crime stories with a playful edge, The Gentlemen Season 2 is one of the week’s most obvious additions to your watchlist.
Casting News
Dave Bautista prepares to return as Kratos
Dave Bautista is back in training for Prime Video’s God of War series. The actor is now around three weeks into a new weight programme, with approximately two more months of preparation before filming resumes.
The production is also expected to reshoot all previously filmed scenes featuring Ryan Hurst, who was originally attached to the role. Bautista’s physical preparation suggests that the series is taking Kratos’ imposing appearance seriously as it moves into its next phase.
The live-action adaptation is based on the Norse-era God of War games and follows Kratos and his son Atreus on a dangerous journey. Bautista’s casting has already become one of the week’s biggest pieces of TV show news, especially among gaming and fantasy fans. More background on the recasting has been reported by Variety.
Noah Jupe joins Avengers: Secret Wars
Noah Jupe is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe in a secret role in Avengers: Secret Wars.
As with many Marvel casting announcements, the details are being kept under wraps. That has naturally led to fan theories about who Jupe might play and how the character could connect to the film’s wider multiverse storyline.
With Secret Wars expected to bring together major characters and storylines from across the MCU, even an undisclosed casting addition is enough to generate plenty of pop culture news.
New international projects announce leading casts
Édgar Ramírez and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart will lead Fernando Guzzoni’s historical drama Land of the Savages. The film is expected to explore a significant period of history through a character-focused story, with both actors bringing strong international experience to the project.
Meanwhile, Korean occult film Modub has begun production. The cast includes Yoo Hae-jin, Yim Si-wan and Kim So-hyun. Details about the story remain limited, but the combination of Korean horror, occult themes and a well-known cast makes Modub a project worth keeping an eye on.
Trailers
First major look at HBO’s Harry Potter
HBO has dropped its biggest teaser yet for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, the first season of its new television adaptation.
The teaser introduces Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape. It also offers new glimpses of Hogwarts, the Sorting ceremony, Quidditch and the Mirror of Erised.
The series is set to debut during Christmas 2026 on HBO Max. For fans of the original books and films, the teaser provides an early idea of how the new adaptation will create its own version of the wizarding world.
Street Fighter brings the fight to cinemas
A new trailer for Street Fighter has arrived ahead of its cinema release on 16 October.
Noah Centineo plays Ken Masters, with Andrew Koji and Callina Liang also appearing in the cast. The trailer promises martial arts action, colourful characters and the competitive energy associated with the long-running video game franchise.
The film will be hoping to attract both longtime fans and viewers who are discovering the Street Fighter world for the first time.
Netflix previews East of Eden
Netflix has unveiled the trailer for East of Eden, starring Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames, alongside Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist.
The seven-part series is a new adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic story, with the trailer focusing on family conflict, ambition and complicated relationships. All seven episodes will arrive on 1 October, making it a strong autumn addition to Netflix’s drama schedule.
More trailers arrive this week
Netflix has also released the trailer for The Final Problem, a Spanish mystery thriller inspired by Sherlock Holmes. Set in a hotel in Mallorca in 1959, the series appears to combine classic detective ideas with a more modern international mystery style. It premieres on 25 September.
The first teaser for Tulsa King Season 4 has also arrived. Sylvester Stallone returns as Dwight Manfredi, with the new season premiering on 16 October on Paramount+.
Nicolas Cage takes the lead in the new Fortitude trailer, a WWII spy thriller that promises espionage, danger and a tense wartime atmosphere.
Finally, Indian crime film Daayra has released its trailer ahead of its 18 September release. The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, giving international cinema fans another major title to add to their upcoming watchlists.
Streaming Trends
Lanterns continues to dominate on HBO Max
DC series Lanterns remains one of the biggest streaming talking points of the week. The show currently holds a reported 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that it has connected strongly with critics and viewers.
HBO Max also joined in with the online conversation by playfully “adding” Ryan Reynolds’ Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, into a scene as a joke cameo. Reynolds has previously shown interest in appearing in the series, but the cameo has not been officially confirmed as part of the main story.
The moment was enough to send fans into speculation mode, showing how streaming platforms can use social media humour to keep an active audience engaged between episodes.
Netflix continues its international push
Netflix has confirmed more international programming for the weeks ahead, including Turkish thriller Not a Stranger, which arrives on 17 September.
The announcement reflects one of the biggest streaming trends of 2026: audiences are increasingly comfortable watching shows from different countries, especially when subtitles and dubbing make them easy to access worldwide.
Alongside Korean, Spanish, Indian and Turkish productions, this week’s announcements show how streaming services are building schedules that reach well beyond Hollywood. For viewers who want something different, international movies and TV shows are now easier to find than ever.
Final Thoughts
This week’s entertainment news has covered almost every corner of pop culture. Venice Film Festival has delivered early awards-season buzz, Mayday offers a new Ryan Reynolds action-comedy, and The Gentlemen is back for another season on Netflix.
The casting news is just as varied, from Dave Bautista’s preparation for God of War to Noah Jupe’s mysterious MCU role. Meanwhile, the latest trailers have given fans new looks at Harry Potter, Street Fighter, East of Eden, The Final Problem and several more upcoming releases.
For another look at last week’s stories, read the previous edition of our Weekly International Movie & TV Show News Roundup.
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