Top Gun: Maverick that was long overdue, returning Tom Cruise as the extremely gifted and confident Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, was originally set to hit theaters in the summer of 2020. The COVID-19 crisis defined these plans. Paramount and Skydance then transferred the film several times so that it could be released properly worldwide. The decision to treat the cinema owners to the first screening of the film was a way to thank them for their patience and it seemed to pay off. But before the big debut, the show began with an electric rendition by female rap trio JJ Fad of their hit single “Supersonic”, backed by more than a dozen dancers dressed in red, white and blue sweat as shots from the latest hit. Sonic of Par. Hedgehog 2 played on the big screen. Known for his pranks at CinemaCon, Paramount Home Distribution President Chris Aronson did not disappoint. He arrived on stage wearing the mustache and glasses preferred by the character of Sonic Dr. Ivo Robotnik, played by Jim Carrey. “Are you all awake?” Aronson asked. “Good! Welcome to Paramount Pictures, it’s so wonderful to be back here.” Aronson arrived with good news, telling the series of four consecutive studio tickets No. 1: Scream ($ 140 million so far), Jackass Forever ($ 80 million), The Lost City ($ 130 million worldwide to date), Sonic the Hedgehog 2 ( opened the record $ 72.1 million). “We look forward to maintaining momentum.” He then thought that, as the audience finally returns to the halls, “Luck favors the brave,” adding: “But we have not returned completely. Now is not the time for complacency. We must cooperate in every possible way. “ In doing so, he invited theater owners to meet the studios halfway (“Help us help you”) to enhance the guest experience, not playing too many trailers that end up numbing the audience and making sure the price ratio is fair to moviegoers. Aronson then presented footage from the studio bids in 2022 and 2023, with the biggest revelation being Damien Chazelle’s Babylon, an epic old-fashioned Hollywood’s transition from silent movie to Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. Not much is known about the plot details, but it seems to be an impressive high-octane drama with Pete playing silent film star John Gilbert and Margot Robbie as Clara Bowe. Pete’s character, who appears in many scenes with white boxers and a T-shirt, says at one point: “When I first moved to Hollywood, the signs on all the doors read: ‘Actors and dogs are not allowed.’ We changed that. “ Robbie’s bow appears in the preview footage of scenes and dancing at a giant Hollywood backyard party. As she stands on the set as the camera comes in to capture her face, Robbie says, “How about we get in on my close-up now?” The Babylon cast also includes Katherine Waterston, Max Minghella, Flea, Samara Weaving, Rory Scovel, Lukas Haas, Eric Roberts, PJ Byrne, Damon Gupton, Olivia Wilde, Spike Jonze, Phoebe Tonkin, Jean Smart, Li Jun Li, Jovan Adepo, Diego Calva, Chloe Fineman, Jeff Garlin and Troy Metcalf. Paramount president Brian Robbins, in his first screening at CinemaCon, later described Chazelle’s film as “brilliant” and “truly spectacular.” During his time on stage, Robbins reassured theater owners how much he appreciated the power of the big screen. He also talked about the recent success of The Lost City and Sonic 2 studios, which played exclusively in cinemas. “Theatrical films are the cornerstone of our business,” Robbins said. Robbins then turned his attention to Cruz, calling him the studio’s most important relationship and the “hardest working and daring performer in Hollywood.” Unfortunately for CinemaCon attendees, Robbins confirmed that the actor would not be there personally as he was busy filming. But Cruz gave a “special message”, faithful to his compliment and his story at CinemaCon. Cut to Cruise, he got up from his seat on an antique red plane and as the camera zoomed out, it was revealed that the plane was hovering high over a gorge in South Africa. “Hello everyone,” Cruz said, his voice slightly muffled. “I wish I could be there with you. I’m sorry for the extra noise. As you can see, we are shooting the last installment of Mission: Impossible “. Just then, a yellow plane appeared with Christopher McQuarrie at the helm and instructed Cruise that it was time to go. Before flying, Cruz made his first appearance in the movie trailer, followed by Top Gun: Maverick as a whole. “Let us all try to have a wonderful summer. See you in the movies! “ The seventh Mission: Impossible will be released on July 14, 2023, with an eighth and possibly last Cruise-led Mission to be released on June 28, 2024. The seventh film is subtitled Dead Reckoning: Part 1. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, the new Top Gun follows Maverick as he is asked to train a new team of elite pilots on the orders of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky of Val Kilmer, now Navy Admiral (Kilmer has a brief introduction). Kosinski and one of the stars of the film, Glen Powell, were in the audience. Top Gun: Maverick will make its world premiere in San Diego on May 4 before heading to the Cannes Film Festival. It will be released in domestic theaters on May 28. The film was the only summer scene to be fully screened for exhibitors at CinemaCon 2022, which is being completed today.
