Weekly International Movie & TV Show News Roundup

Welcome to the Friday, September 18, 2026 edition of the Weekly International Movie & TV Show News Roundup. This week brings a strong mix of new trailers, major casting updates, franchise first looks and fresh streaming picks from around the world.

Netflix is leading the trailer conversation with Sacrifice and animated musical Steps, while The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping gives fans another look at its darker prequel story. There is also movement on VisionQuest, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and several new international releases.

Before we get started, you can revisit last week’s roundup on Rock Universe, then settle in for this week’s biggest movie and TV news.

New trailer releases and first looks

Netflix releases the Sacrifice trailer

Netflix has released the trailer for Sacrifice, a satirical thriller starring Anya Taylor-Joy and Chris Evans.

The film follows a radical activist who kidnaps a fading celebrity and plans to use him in an extreme attempt to save the world. It looks like a sharp mix of dark comedy, action and celebrity satire, with the story taking aim at influencer culture and the idea of fame as a form of power.

For Taylor-Joy, the film marks another major Netflix project after her previous work with the platform. Chris Evans appears to be playing a very different kind of character from his familiar heroic roles, making this one worth watching for fans of both stars.

You can find more details in Netflix’s official Sacrifice coverage.

Steps gives Cinderella a new twist

Netflix has also dropped the trailer for Steps, an animated musical that turns the Cinderella story around.

The film features the voices of Amanda Seyfried, Daniel Radcliffe and Ali Wong, and appears to focus on Cinderella’s stepsisters. Rather than retelling the familiar fairy tale from the princess’s point of view, Steps promises a more playful look at the characters usually left on the edge of the story.

The musical approach should give the film plenty of room for big visual sequences, comedy and memorable songs. Netflix has announced a global release date of November 20, 2026.

Read more about the project in Netflix’s Steps cast and release-date feature.

A third trailer arrives for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Fans of Panem have received a third trailer for The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

The prequel returns audiences to the world of the Hunger Games and offers another look at the political tension, public spectacle and brutal competition at the centre of the franchise. The new footage reportedly includes several visual connections and Easter eggs for long-time fans.

With each trailer, the film is making its darker tone clearer. This is not simply another trip back to the arena. It looks set to explore how the Capitol uses entertainment, fear and public storytelling to control an entire nation.

Wife and Dog teases a twisted power struggle

Guy Ritchie’s upcoming thriller Wife and Dog has received a new teaser starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Rosamund Pike.

Details remain limited, but the footage points towards a tense battle of influence, secrets and control. Cumberbatch and Pike are well suited to material that requires sharp dialogue and characters who may be hiding their real intentions.

The teaser suggests a stylish thriller with the fast pace and dry humour often associated with Ritchie’s work. It could become one of the more intriguing original films to keep on the radar.

Marvel reveals Paul Bettany’s new Vision costume

Marvel has unveiled Paul Bettany’s new Vision costume for the upcoming series VisionQuest.

The costume reveal gives fans their first strong visual clue about the show’s direction. Bettany’s return as Vision has been expected for some time, but the new design suggests that the series may be ready to give the character a fresh identity rather than simply repeat his earlier appearances.

Marvel has not revealed every major story detail yet, which means the costume reveal is doing plenty of the early promotional work. For comic-book fans, it is another sign that VisionQuest is moving closer to the centre of Marvel’s television plans.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf

A first look at Ian McKellen as Gandalf has been confirmed for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

McKellen’s return gives the project an immediate connection to Peter Jackson’s original Middle-earth films. While the story is expected to focus on Gollum, the confirmation of Gandalf’s involvement adds another familiar presence for audiences who grew up with the original trilogy.

It is still early days for the film, but seeing McKellen back in the role will be one of the biggest talking points as production news continues.

Casting news and renewals

Jessica Chastain joins Netflix drama The Retrievals

Jessica Chastain has joined Netflix’s The Retrievals, alongside Emilia Jones and Amy Ryan. Fabien Frankel and Will Harrison have also joined the cast.

The series is inspired by a disturbing medical case involving patients who discovered that they had received inadequate pain relief during fertility treatment. Chastain will play a key figure in the legal and personal fallout surrounding the case.

The project brings together a strong dramatic cast, with Netflix aiming for a serious, character-led story rather than a straightforward legal thriller. Deadline’s casting report has more information about the new series.

FX expands its Far Cry anthology cast

FX’s Far Cry anthology has added Brendan Gleeson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Hamish Linklater, Sam Spruell and Jamie Demetriou.

The anthology format gives the series plenty of flexibility. Each story can explore a different setting, conflict and group of characters while keeping the wider Far Cry identity intact. The new additions suggest FX is building a cast with experience across drama, dark comedy and action.

Bokeem Woodbine joins Apple TV+ series Disavowed

Bokeem Woodbine has joined James Marsden in Apple TV+’s Disavowed.

The series is expected to centre on characters dealing with loyalty, secrets and the consequences of being pushed outside an established system. Woodbine’s addition gives the project another experienced performer who can bring weight to a tense thriller.

More casting news

Amazon’s Rose Hill has added five series regulars, expanding its main ensemble ahead of the new drama’s arrival.

CBS has also added Lea Michele, Sam Richardson and Nat Faxon to season four of Elsbeth. Their involvement gives the returning series several new personalities to play against its central character.

For reality television fans, Peacock has renewed The Traitors for three more seasons. That long-term commitment shows the format remains one of the strongest competition shows in the current streaming and broadcast landscape.

Box office: Practical Magic 2 takes the top spot

The biggest box-office story of the week is Practical Magic 2, which opened in first place with approximately $30 million for the weekend.

That result ended Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s long run at number one. Spider-Man: Brand New Day still held strongly in second place, adding around $8.4 million and passing approximately $935 million domestically.

The rest of the weekend chart included:

• Runner in fourth place with around $6.46 million
• The Uprising in eighth place with around $3.31 million
• Hope in ninth place with around $3.23 million for the weekend

Practical Magic 2 also made an estimated $16 million internationally, giving it a worldwide opening of roughly $46 million. The result suggests that established properties with recognisable characters still have plenty of power when they connect with audiences across generations.

For the latest weekend figures, see The Numbers’ weekend box-office chart.

Streaming trends and international spotlight

The Scandal arrives globally on Netflix

Netflix’s Korean period drama The Scandal premieres globally today, September 18.

Starring Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook, the series is set during the Joseon era and follows a dangerous game of seduction, status and political intrigue. The period setting gives the drama a rich visual style, while the central relationship looks set to become increasingly complicated as the characters move between performance and genuine emotion.

It is an easy choice for viewers looking for a new international drama to start this weekend.

Shaque: Trust No One arrives next week

Indian mystery thriller Shaque: Trust No One, starring Parineeti Chopra, arrives on Netflix on September 24.

The title makes its central idea clear: nobody can be trusted. The film should appeal to viewers who enjoy twist-heavy mysteries, unreliable characters and stories where new information changes the meaning of what came before.

Mis Muertos Tristes brings a Spanish-language story

Pablo Larraín’s Argentine-Chilean miniseries Mis Muertos Tristes also lands on September 24.

Larraín’s involvement makes this one worth adding to the international television watchlist. The miniseries is expected to bring a distinctive South American perspective, combining personal drama with a darker, more unusual tone.

The Final Problem arrives on September 25

Spanish mystery thriller The Final Problem follows on September 25.

The late-September release adds another puzzle-box series to Netflix’s international schedule. It should be a good fit for viewers who enjoy investigations, hidden motives and stories that reveal their answers gradually.

Crew Girl continues to climb

Netflix’s teen sports drama Crew Girl has been building momentum since its September 10 debut.

The series follows a teenage rower who joins an elite school’s boys’ crew team, bringing together competition, friendship, rivalry and romance. Its sports setting gives it a strong weekly-discussion hook, while the coming-of-age story broadens its appeal beyond sports fans.

Final thoughts

This week’s movie and TV news has something for almost every kind of viewer: dark thrillers, animated musicals, superhero returns, fantasy favourites, international dramas and a big franchise box-office win.

The immediate streaming pick is The Scandal, while Sacrifice, Steps and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are giving fans plenty to anticipate. Casting news is also keeping the next wave of television busy, with The Retrievals, Far Cry, Disavowed and Elsbeth all adding fresh names.

If you are planning a movie night or a weekend binge, make it your own with something from Rock Universe’s official licensed tees and clothing. Wear the music, show your taste and check back next Friday for another international entertainment roundup.