Play to Screen - 25/08/26

It’s been another huge week in the world of movies, toys, games and comics! From some seriously exciting casting news and long-awaited sequels to toys making their way onto the big screen, massive collector releases and a few surprises we definitely didn’t see coming (spoiler alert - a movie based on the card game Uno?!), there’s plenty to catch up on. Sacha has rounded up everything you need to know in this week’s 'Play to Screen Report'.

'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' continues to absolutely dominate the box office, becoming only the eighth movie in history to pass $2 billion worldwide. Tom Holland's latest outing as Peter Parker has reached the milestone after just three weeks in cinemas, overtaking 'Spider-Man: No Way Home' and firmly securing its place as the biggest movie of 2026 so far. It seems Spidey still has plenty of pulling power!

The 2026 Young Inventor Challenge is officially open, giving kids aged 6 to 18 around the world the chance to submit their own original toy or game idea. More than a dozen previous winners have gone on to see their creations actually manufactured and sold in stores, and this year's competition is backed by some huge names including Disney, Mattel and Hasbro. Entries close October 25, with the winners revealed at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair in November.

'Galactic Cruise' was the big winner at this year's Dice Tower Awards, taking home Game of the Year, Best Strategy Game and Best Game from a New Designer. Crowdfunded games from smaller publishers had a huge night overall, with 'Luthier' winning three awards and titles including 'Critter Kitchen' and '20 Strong: Tanglewoods Red' also picking up wins. It’s a pretty impressive showing for indie board games!

Squishmallows are officially getting their own movie, with Jazwares teaming up with Amazon MGM Studios to bring the hugely popular plush characters to cinemas. The film is still in early development, but will explore the unique personalities behind the Squishmallows universe, which now includes thousands of characters and has grown into a $1 billion global franchise. Beau Flynn, whose credits include 'Moana' and 'Black Adam', is on board to produce, and we're very curious to see what a Squishmallows movie actually looks like!

Marvel Studios has unveiled the mutant line-up for its upcoming 'X-Men' reboot, with Sadie Sink as Jean Grey, Kit Connor as Cyclops, Christopher Abbott as Professor X, Samara Weaving as Emma Frost, Inde Navarrette as Rogue and Maya Boyd as Storm, while Adam Driver will play villain Mister Sinister. Directed by 'Thunderbolts*' filmmaker Jake Schreier, the film is set to hit cinemas in May 2028, marking the X-Men's first full-scale outing since joining the MCU.

Mattel is giving 'Monster High' another shot at the big screen, with a new live-action movie officially in the works, this time with a major theatrical release planned and Hannah Hafey and Kaitlin Smith on board to write the script. The film will be based on the hugely popular dolls and their world of teenage monsters, although plot and casting details are still firmly under wraps. With Mattel continuing to turn some of its biggest toy brands into movies, we're very curious to see what they have planned for this one!

Those classic 1990s WWF figures might be worth digging out of the toy box, with a recent auction showing just how much collectors are willing to pay for them. A 1992 Bret 'Hitman' Hart Hasbro figure still in its original packaging sold for £1,041 ($2,379NZD), while an Undertaker figure fetched almost £600 and Hulk Hogan around £300. Nostalgia, rarity and the love for wrestling's larger-than-life stars are keeping these vintage toys firmly in demand.

Dave Bautista has officially been cast as Kratos in Prime Video's live-action 'God of War' series, replacing Ryan Hurst after he suffered a serious bicep injury while filming. Four episodes had already been shot, meaning scenes featuring Kratos will now need to be reshot with Bautista when production resumes. Prime Video has already ordered two seasons, so Bautista looks set to be wielding that axe for a while!

After years of rumours and false starts, 'National Treasure 3' is officially back in development, with Disney bringing in 'The Conjuring: Last Rites' writers Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing to tackle the script. Jerry Bruckheimer is returning to produce, and while Nicolas Cage isn't officially confirmed to return as Benjamin Gates just yet, the team is reportedly hoping to bring back the original cast. It's been nearly 20 years since 'National Treasure: Book of Secrets', so this treasure hunt has been a very long time coming!

Brandon Sanderson is heading back to Roshar with 'The Stormlight Archive', but this time we're jumping into a completely new era. The upcoming tabletop war game 'War for Roshar' is set around 70 years after the events of the first five books, offering our first glimpse at what the world could look like after that massive time jump. With new factions, characters and plenty of potential clues about the future of the series, this feels like much more than just another 'Stormlight' spin-off.

Marilyn Monroe is getting the Barbie treatment once again, with Mattel releasing a new Signature doll to celebrate what would have been the Hollywood icon's 100th birthday. The doll recreates her unforgettable 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend' look from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes', complete with the iconic pink gown, matching gloves and plenty of sparkle. Designed in collaboration with Marilyn Monroe's estate, it's a very glamorous tribute to one of Hollywood's most recognisable stars.

The popular 40-year-old manga 'Please Save My Earth' is getting its first live-action adaptation, with Prime Video bringing the sci-fi romance to screens worldwide next year. The story follows a group of students who discover they share memories of past lives as alien scientists living on a lunar base. With the original manga selling more than 16 million copies since its 1986 debut, this is a pretty big one for longtime fans!

Disney has revealed the first look at its live-action 'Tangled', showing Teagan Croft as Rapunzel, Milo Manheim as Flynn Rider and Kathryn Hahn as Mother Gothel in their signature looks. Directed by 'The Greatest Showman' filmmaker Michael Gracey, the remake is currently filming in Spain and will arrive in cinemas on 31 March 2028.

Mattel is officially bringing 'UNO' to the big screen, with a live-action movie based on the iconic card game now given a theatrical release date. Perhaps even more surprising, it's being described as an action-heist comedy set against the backdrop of Atlanta's hip-hop scene, although exactly how Draw Fours, Reverse cards and questionable house rules fit into that is still being kept under wraps. The film is set to arrive on 19 November 2027, and we have a lot of questions, but we're definitely curious to see how this one plays out!

Things have got very messy for 'GTA 6' after a leaker known as Cyberleek began releasing gameplay footage, map details and other material online, with reports suggesting they may even have access to a playable build of the game. Take-Two is now taking legal action, filing federal subpoenas targeting Microsoft and Discord in an attempt to uncover who is behind the leaks, but that hasn't stopped more footage from appearing. It's all unfolding just days before Rockstar's planned 'Extended Look' reveal on August 27, while 'GTA 6' itself is still set to release on November 19.

Mattel Brick Shop is celebrating 25 years of Xbox with a massive 3,509-piece, full-size buildable version of the original console and its iconic 'Duke' controller. The set is packed with lights, authentic game soundtracks and hidden scenes inspired by 'Halo: Combat Evolved', 'The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind' and 'Psychonauts', plus 12 tiny NanoWorld figures. It's essentially a very elaborate love letter to the console that defined a generation, and we want one!

Disney has revealed that fan-favourite Experiment 624, better known as Angel, will make her live-action debut in 'Lilo & Stitch 2', bringing Stitch's pink counterpart to the big screen for the first time. The sequel will reunite Maia Kealoha as Lilo and Chris Sanders as the voice of Stitch, with the film set to arrive in cinemas on 26 May 2028.

'Gilmore Girls' fans can now bring a little piece of Stars Hollow home, with Mattel releasing a new Little People Collector set featuring Lorelai, Rory, Emily and Luke. The four characters have been recreated as adorable 2.5-inch figures, with packaging inspired by the iconic Stars Hollow gazebo. Nearly 20 years after the original series ended, it seems our love for 'Gilmore Girls' isn't going anywhere!

'LEGO Star Wars: The Exhibition' has landed in Wellington, bringing the galaxy far, far away to life with more than eight million LEGO bricks. Created by Ryan 'Brickman' McNaught and his team, the exhibition features huge life-sized models, iconic 'Star Wars' scenes, six hands-on building zones and more than two million bricks for visitors to play with. Wellington is its only New Zealand stop, with the exhibition running at Tākina until 26 October.

The first teaser for 'The Bluey Movie' has arrived, but its shift from the series' familiar 2D look to a more polished 3D animation style has already sparked backlash from longtime fans. While some parents argue the distinctive animation is a key part of 'Bluey''s charm, younger viewers appear less bothered by the change, with the film set to hit cinemas in August 2027.

And that’s a wrap on another very busy week of movies, toys, games and comics! With plenty of big projects now in the works and even more announcements surely just around the corner, we’ll be keeping a very close eye on what happens next. Come back next week for another 'Play to Screen Report' and all the news we think you need to know!