New Trailers! Supergirl, Masters of the Universe, Backrooms and I Love Boosters

🎥 Milly Alcock’s Supergirl races to save Krypto, Nicholas Galitzine becomes He-Man, Chiwetel Ejiofor discovers a nightmarish endless maze, and Keke Palmer leads a high-fashion heist.

🎥 “Supergirl” Official Trailer: Krypto’s Life Hangs in the Balance as Milly Alcock’s Kara Hunts Down a Ruthless Space Pirate in New DC Superhero Spectacle — In Theaters June 26th

‘70s iconic singer-songwriter Jim Croce once famously sang the lyrics, “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit in the wind. You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger. And you don’t mess around with Jim.”

The idea here is there are things you just don’t do unless you’re ready to deal with the consequences. And even then, you probably won’t like how it turns out if you cross that line. Well, one might want to add another item to that list: you don’t mess with Supergirl’s dog.

Because from the looks of this new official full-length trailer for the upcoming DC movie, Supergirl doesn’t just love Krypto, but sees the dog as her last connection to her home planet. And she’s not about to lose that without a fight.

James Gunn’s DC cinematic universe is just getting underway with Supergirl leading the charge this year with her own standalone film, a follow-up to last summer’s blockbuster Superman. In fact, actor David Corenswet makes a notable guest appearance in this new Supergirl trailer, reprising his role as Superman. Here, he’s heard and seen through a recording device, leaving a thoughtful message of encouragement for his cousin Kara Zor-El about “finding her people.”

The thing is, Kara is still deeply bitter and emotionally bruised, having witnessed everyone she ever loved perish in an instant when Krypton was destroyed. “Her people” are all gone. And the only one left, other than her, is her loyal dog, Krypto.

So, when a heartless space pirate named Krem of the Yellow Hills (played by Matthias Schoenaerts) crosses paths with Kara and Krypto on one of her many alcohol-fueled benders through the galaxy, he does the unthinkable: he shoots Krypto with a poisonous projectile, leaving him incapacitated and on the brink of death before taking off in his spaceship.

Now, Kara has only three days to track down Krem, find the antidote to save her dog, and, if time permits, kick some serious ass. Because this isn’t the Supergirl we’re used to. She’s full of pent-up rage, deeply scarred, frequently hungover, and running on nothing but grief and attitude.

Joining Kara’s planet-hopping journey is Ruthye Marye Knoll (played by Eve Ridley, from Netflix’s 3 Body Problem), a young alien orphan who is also hellbent on hunting down the sinister Krem, the man who slaughtered her entire family. The two make for an unlikely pair, bound by loss and driven by revenge. It’s a combination that could end in chaos if they’re not careful.

Adding a little fuel to the fire is Jason Momoa, who is getting to live out his lifelong dream of playing fan-favorite DC comic book character Lobo, the cigar-chomping, motorbike-riding bounty hunter. Here, Lobo (likely in a minor role in the film) enters the mix as a wild-card presence who could either help Kara or make things a whole lot worse.

Despite the film having major Guardians of the Galaxy vibes, the film isn’t directed by James Gunn but is instead helmed by Aussie filmmaker Craig Gillespie, whose credits include the acclaimed films I, Tonya and Disney’s Cruella, as well as the TV miniseries Pam & Tommy and Mike.

First-time feature screenwriter Ana Nogueira, who is currently attached to pen a Teen Titans film and a new Wonder Woman movie, wrote the screenplay, with clear inspiration pulled from Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s acclaimed comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.

Supergirl soars into theaters June 26th. So, consider this your official warning: hands off Krypto unless you’ve got a death wish.

🎥 “Masters of the Universe” Official Trailer: Nicholas Galitzine Transforms Into He-Man in Amazon MGM’s Big-Screen Take on the Classic ’80s Franchise with Idris Elba, Camila Mendes, and Jared Leto — Arriving in Theaters June 5th

Just when you thought ‘90s nostalgia has finally taken over ‘80s nostalgia, here comes one more remnant of ‘80s pop culture refusing to stay down.

For many raised on a steady diet of ‘80s cartoons, He-Man has long been seen as the one franchise that never quite got its due... at least on the big screen. Sure, there was the 1987 Cannon-produced live-action attempt that came and went, panned by critics and audiences alike, which eventually settled into a ’80s cult curiosity. Fans, however, have been waiting for a more faithful take on the material. And after a long-gestating pre-production process for a He-Man and the Masters of the Universe revival that felt like it took decades, it seems this summer fans will finally get to see a live-action big-screen adaptation of the famed ’80s toyline and cartoon series. Though not necessarily a straight adaptation of the He-Man lore, it seemingly leans heavily into the iconography of Eternia and its larger-than-life characters—which, at this point, might be just enough to win over even the most skeptical fan.

Laika co-founder and animator Travis Knight, best known for directing the acclaimed stop-motion fantasy Kubo and the Two Strings and for making his live-action debut with the ’80s-set Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, once again steps into the director’s chair to spearhead this new He-Man reboot that will surely have fans talking... and debating.

English actor Nicholas Galitzine, from the raunchy high school comedy Bottoms and the Netflix romantic military drama Purple Hearts, takes on the lead role of Prince Adam, reimagined here as an Earthbound version of the character going by “Adam Glenn.”

After being sent away to Earth as a young child, Adam has been raised far from his home world of Eternia, which has since fallen under the control of Skeletor and his evil army. But after many years away, Adam is finally reunited with his legendary Power Sword (found at a local comic book store, obviously), granting him the power to return to his home planet and ultimately fulfill his destiny of restoring peace to Eternia and vanquishing Skeletor for good.

Of course, in order to do that, Adam must reconnect with old allies and childhood friends who may have forgotten who he once was... and may have lost faith in the legend of He-Man—Prince Adam’s superhero alter ego who gains his strength and superpowers by raising his Power Sword to the sky and shouting the signature line, “By the Power of Grayskull... I HAVE THE POWER!”

It’s the kind of setup that plays like a hybrid of fantasy epic and fish-out-of-water superhero origin, rather than a pure return to the show’s roots. But nevertheless, there’s a clear throwback vibe of old-school sword-and-sorcery that made the original He-Man cartoon such a terrific gateway to other iconic fantasy stories.

Joining Galitzine (who, we must say, got swole for the part) on this adventure are Idris Elba as Duncan aka Man-At-Arms, Adam’s loyal lieutenant, and Camila Mendes as Teela, Duncan’s daughter and second-in-command—who also happens to be Adam’s childhood friend. Kristen Wiig will voice Roboto, while Jared Leto steps into the role of the villainous Skeletor, with Alison Brie as the manipulative sorceress Evil-Lyn, alongside Morena Baccarin as the magical guardian of Castle Grayskull, known as the Sorceress (aka Teela-Na).

James Purefoy, Charlotte Riley, Sasheer Zamata, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson and Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson round out the cast.

Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Mattel Studios, Masters of the Universe raises the question: is there still a real appetite for sword-swinging fantasy where a prince can lift a magic sword and become the most powerful man in the universe? Or has that type of hero’s journey faded away with the rest of the ’80s fantasy boom? Well, we’ll find out soon enough when the film hits theaters June 5th.

🎥 “Backrooms” Official Trailer: Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve Discover a Hidden Dimension of Infinite Office Mazes in YouTube Horror Filmmaker Kane Parsons’ Feature Debut — In Theaters May 29th

At one time, film school was the place to find the next generation of filmmakers. It seems these days, it’s YouTube. The video sharing site has become the new hub for discovering filmmaking talent, especially when it comes to the horror genre, as more and more viral hits are coming from young horror filmmakers. As a direct result, we are seeing a new wave of rising filmmakers who aren’t coming from traditional paths like schools or universities, but instead emerging straight from online platforms and social media.

Case in point: Kane Parsons (aka @KanePixels), a 20-year-old content creator and VFX artist who burst onto the scene a few years ago with a series of disturbing YouTube videos featuring a security camera aesthetic and long, lingering shots of eerily empty office conference rooms and construction sites. These videos were part of a visual concept that belonged to the viral creepypasta boom, leaning into mood and atmosphere rather than a detailed narrative. It was about the experience of watching something you couldn’t quite explain, even if you tried.

Now turning 21 this year, Kane Parsons is the newest young filmmaker with a YouTube background and a significant online following who will be making his feature film debut. He’s just the latest to have emerged seemingly out of nowhere to break into the industry with a big, buzzy horror film that will likely have moviegoers talking.

Inspired by his lo-fi creepypasta short films of the same name, Backrooms is, in a sense, a feature-length extension of what Parsons built on YouTube, only this time with big-name actors to play along, including Oscar nominees Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) and Renate Reinsve (Sentimental Value), along with Shrinking’s Lukita Maxwell, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Finn Bennett, Avan Jogia, and Mark Duplass.

Here, Ejiofor stars as a troubled man who believes he has discovered a secret dimension where one can wander endless corridors of empty office rooms leading to nowhere… but possibly somewhere extremely dangerous. After telling this to his therapist (played by Reinsve), she soon finds herself drawn into the same unsettling maze. As Ejiofor’s character goes on to secure video evidence of his inexplicable discovery, the therapist follows suit after hearing of his sudden disappearance. Now trapped in a seemingly endless maze, both are in way over their heads as reality begins to slip further out of reach.

Backrooms is slated to arrive in theaters May 29th. But be warned: you probably won’t want to return to an office building anytime soon; or sit through a conference meeting… ever.

🎥 “I Love Boosters” Official Trailer: Keke Palmer Leads a High-Fashion Heist Crew Targeting Luxury Brands in Boots Riley’s Sharp Satirical Crime Comedy with Demi Moore, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige & More — In Theaters May 22nd

Boots Riley’s 2018 film debut Sorry to Bother You not only stirred up plenty of conversations but also challenged audiences with its bold, surreal take on race, labor, and capitalism. And for anyone who hasn’t seen it, let’s just say the movie was out there and took some major swings that likely had people scratching their heads by the time the end credits rolled.

The Oakland musician-turned-filmmaker is back this year with his follow-up film, and it doesn’t look quite as out there as his debut, but he’s certainly not letting up on his colorful critique of capitalism, elitism, and the systems that sustain them.

Featuring a stellar ensemble cast led by Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, and Taylour Paige, along with Demi Moore and Don Cheadle, I Love Boosters is yet another Oakland-set madcap satire, this time revolving around the idea of “boosting”: stealing from retail stores to resell items for profit. In this instance, the film dives into the glossy yet absurd world of high-end fashion couture.

Demi Moore plays Christie Smith, a powerhouse fashion mogul whose high-end clothing stores in the city’s affluent districts have become targets of a series of organized shoplifting sprees carried out by an underground group calling themselves the “Velvet Gang.” They’re a crew of stylish young women from Oakland who have turned to boosting not just to make a living, but to make a statement on wealth, power, and access.

Palmer plays the leader of the Velvet Gang, while Ackie and Paige portray her loyal lieutenants, with Poppy Liu and Eiza González rounding out the crew.

Palmer’s character also claims her original designs were stolen by Christie Smith, turning this boosting operation into both a statement on labor exploitation and a revenge play over stolen creative work. The bigger question might be where to draw the line between art and commerce… and who really gets to decide where that line falls.

Co-starring LaKeith Stanfield and Will Poulter, I Love Boosters premiered to mostly rave reviews earlier this month at SXSW. The film is now set to open in theaters May 22nd.