Universal gave attendees a double helping of The Odyssey at the CineEurope convention in Barcelona last week, launching its slate presentation with an extended sequence, and then wrapping up with a filmed message from Christopher Nolan and the latest trailer.
Projected in 70mm, the initial Odyssey footage showed a flashback sequence featuring one of the most famous stories of literature: the Greeks entering the city of Troy in a wooden horse.
Lead presenters Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, president of international distribution, and Niels Swinkels, EVP and managing director of Universal Pictures International, both placed cinema audiences at the heart of the conversation in their opening remarks.
After all, Universal’s big successes in 2026 include two films that – in different ways – lean into the power of fandom. Obsession is directed by Curry Barker, whose earlier works The Chair and Milk & Serial engaged millions of viewers on YouTube. And Universal has international rights on Michael Jackson biographical tale Michael, the most successful musical biopic of all time.
“Our partnership with all of you is essential,” Kwan Vandenberg told the seated cinema operators. “Together, we are not just releasing films, we are rebuilding habits, transforming culture, and creating lasting memories.”
“Universal meets audience demands with innovation,” said Swinkels. “Among the many types of films we release, our strategy also includes focusing on changing consumer behaviours, tapping into the power of strong fandom, to ensure that we have a variety of offerings, from documentaries to live concerts, K-Pop, live musicals and more.”
Kwan Vandenberg introduced next Illumination release Minions & Monsters before pivoting to the animation studio’s 2027 offering Not Alone, voiced by Timothée Chalamet and Selena Gomez. Eric Guillon, co-director of Despicable Me 3, moves up to lead director for the space adventure. Universal’s trailer made effective use of David Bowie’s 1969 hit ‘Space Oddity’.
Swinkels, who also serves as president of international distribution at Focus Features, introduced footage for Focus release Sense And Sensibility from director Georgia Oakley (Blue Jean). Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles star as the opposites-in-temperament Dashwood sisters, with George MacKay, Frank Dillane and Herbert Nordrum as their suitors.
Pivoting in genre, Rob Savage’s Other Mommy is produced by Atomic Monster and Blumhouse Productions, and stars Jessica Chastain in a supernatural horror film about the titular entity who takes the identical physical form of a young girl’s real mother.
Next came One Night Only from Anyone But You director Will Gluck, which is set in a US where extra-marital sex is illegal, apart from one night a year where the mandate is suspended for 12 hours. “The Purge crossed with a romcom” might be one way of pitching the concept. Universal screened the completed film – which stars Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro – at a cinema near CineEurope’s convention centre venue.
From one possible James Bond candidate (Turner) to another – next came a teaser for Robert Eggers’ Werwulf, set in 13th-century England and starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the title role. The cast for the Focus Features title also includes Nosferatu’s Lily-Rose Depp and Willem Dafoe.
Studio touts Shrek fandom
Julien Noble, Universal president of international marketing, took over presenting duties to introduce Violent Night 2 – director Tommy Wirkola’s sequel to the 2022 Christmas action comedy that introduced a Santa Claus (David Harbour) who proved more than a match for a group of criminal mercenaries.
Noble introduced a sizzle for How to Train Your Dragon 2, which continues Dean DeBlois’ live-action remake trilogy. Footage from the 2027 release was interspersed with commentary by DeBlois and stars Mason Thames and Cate Blanchett.
Given the $4bn worldwide box office for DreamWorks Animation’s Shrek franchise – four Shrek and two Puss In Boots films – summer 2027 release Shrek 5 will clearly be a priority title for Universal.
Before the trailer, the studio presented slides showing social media Shrek memes, reinforcing the message that Generation Z and kids not yet born when Shrek Forever After was released in 2010 have bought into the fandom, engaged by Shrek’s online persona and constant streaming of the films. Original cast members are joined in Shrek 5 by Zendaya, who plays Shrek and Fiona’s daughter Felicia.
Hitting cinemas ahead of Shrek 5 is DreamWorks Animation’s Philippines-set Forgotten Island, which tells the story of two female best friends who after graduating high school are transported to the titular fantastical world, where memories fade the longer one remains. This places the pair in a race against the clock to leave the island before they forget everything including their own precious bond.
CineEurope’s 2026 edition wrapped up with a screening of the near-completed Forgotten Island, but first the Universal presentation looked ahead to four key IP releases, before ending with more of The Odyssey.
A fourth The Mummy film will see the return of both Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz (the latter missed out on 2008’s The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor) and is directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett aka Radio Silence (Ready Or Not and Scream franchises).
From director Jason Moore (Pitch Perfect), a new Murder She Wrote will see Jamie Lee Curtis take on the role made famous on screen by Angela Lansbury – mystery writer turned amateur detective.
Miami Vice ’85 stars Michael B Jordan and Austin Butler as Tubbs and Crockett, and is directed by Joseph Kosinski.
And Fast Forever continues the extraordinarily successful Fast franchise, with Louis Leterrier directing a cast including Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham and Jason Momoa.
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