While 2017 still has a number of new anticipated releases to look forward to, 2018 is just around the corner. Universal Pictures is getting a head start on the new year by unveiling the full synopses and cast lists for most of their 2018 slate, which includes the highly anticipated sequelJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,Ryan Gosling-led next film fromLa La LanddirectorDamien ChazelleFirst Man, thePeter Jackson-produced fantasy adaptationMortal Engines,a newPurgemovie,a brand new film fromRobert Zemeckis, and much more. The slate also includes the Amblin-producedEli Rothadventure filmThe House with a Clock in Its Wallsand the Legendary-producedDwayne JohnsonactionerSkyscraper.
Below we’ve culled together the synopses, cast and crew lists for each film, presented in order of release, so you can get an overview of some of the big movies headed our way next year from Universal Pictures. Take a gander.
Extinction – June 24, 2025
Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Cast: Michael Peña, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Colter, Israel Broussard
Directed by: Ben Young
Writers: Eric Heisserer, Spenser Cohen, Bradley Caleb Kane
Produced by: David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Joseph Drake, Nathan Kahane
Executive Producers: Alexander Young, Kelli Konop, Erin Westerman
Michael Peña (Ant-Man,Crash) and Lizzy Caplan (Now You See Me 2,Allied) star inExtinction, a sci-fi thriller in which a man must save his family from an otherworldly phenomenon. Directed by Ben Young (Hounds of Love), the film is written by Eric Heisserer (Arrival,Lights Out), Spenser Cohen (upcomingMoonfall) and Bradley Caleb Kane (STARZ’sBlack Sails).
Extinctionis produced by Todd Lieberman & David Hoberman of Mandeville (The Fighter,Beauty and the Beast), alongside Nathan Kahane of Good Universe (Don’t Breathe) and Joseph Drake. Mandeville’s Alexander Young executive produces, as do Good Universe’s Erin Westerman and Kelli Konop.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – July 23, 2025
Genre: Epic Action-Adventure
Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, BD Wong,
James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall and Jeff Goldblum
Directed by: J.A. Bayona
Writers: Derek Connolly, Colin Trevorrow
Based on Characters Created by: Michael Crichton
Produced by: Frank Marshall, Patrick Crowley, Belén Atienza
Executive Producers: Steven Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow
With all of the wonder, adventure and thrills synonymous with one of the most popular and successful franchises in cinema history, this all-new motion-picture event sees the return of favorite characters and dinosaurs—along with new breeds more awe-inspiring and terrifying than ever before. Welcome toJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.
Stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return alongside executive producers Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’sJurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Pratt and Howard are joined by co-stars James Cromwell, Ted Levine, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, while BD Wong and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles.
Directed by J.A. Bayona (The Impossible), the epic action-adventure is written byJurassic World’s director, Trevorrow, and its co-writer, Derek Connolly. Producers Frank Marshall and Pat Crowley once again partner with Spielberg and Trevorrow in leading the team of filmmakers for this stunning installment. Belén Atienza joins the team as a producer.www.jurassicworld.com
Skyscraper – August 17, 2025
Genre: 3D Action-Thriller
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Pablo Schreiber, Byron Mann, Hannah Quinlivan, Noah Taylor, Roland Møller and Chin Han
Written and Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Produced by: Beau Flynn, Dwayne Johnson, Rawson Marshall Thurber, Hiram Garcia
Executive Producers: Dany Garcia, Wendy Jacobson, Eric Hedayat, Eric McLeod
Global icon Dwayne Johnson leads the cast of Legendary’sSkyscraperas former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Ford, who now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in China he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he’s been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who is trapped inside the building…above the fire line.
Written and directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber (Central Intelligence,We’re the Millers), the 3D action-thriller is produced by Beau Flynn (San Andreas,Baywatch), Johnson, Thurber and Hiram Garcia (San Andreas,Central Intelligence).
Skyscraper’s executive producers are Dany Garcia (Baywatch,Ballers), Wendy Jacobson (San Andreas), Eric Hedayat (The Great Wall,Real Steel) and Eric McLeod (Kong: Skull Island,Pirates of the Caribbeanseries). The film will be released by Universal Pictures.
Untitled Next Purge Chapter – July 18, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Cast: Y’Lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Luna Lauren Velez
Directed by: Gerard McMurray
Written by: James DeMonaco
Produced by: Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Sébastien K. Lemercier
Executive Producers: Luc Etienne, Jeanette Volturno, Couper Samuelson
On Independence Day, 2018, experience the next terrifying chapter in our country’s 12 hours of annual lawlessness.
Coming off the most successful film in the series,The Purge: Election Year, creator James DeMonaco (writer/director ofThe Purge,The Purge: AnarchyandThe Purge: Election Year) returns alongside the producers of this worldwide phenomenon: Blumhouse Productions’ Jason Blum (Insidiousseries,Get Out,Split), Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form (Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesandOuijaseries,The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and DeMonaco’s longtime production partner, Sébastien K. Lemercier (Assault on Precinct 13,Four Lovers).
The film is directed by Gerard McMurray (Burning Sands), working from a screenplay once again written by DeMonaco.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls – July 10, 2025
Genre: Adventure
Cast: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle MacLachlan, Colleen Camp, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Vanessa Anne Williams, Sunny Suljic
Directed by: Eli Roth
Writer: Eric Kripke
Produced by: Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt, Eric Kripke
Executive Producers: William Sherak, Tracey Nyberg, Laeta Kalogridis
In the tradition of Amblin classics where fantastical events occur in the most unexpected places, Jack Black and two-time Academy Award®winner Cate Blanchett star inThe House with a Clock in Its Walls, from Amblin Entertainment. The magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead.
Based on the beloved children’s classic written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey,The House with a Clock in Its Wallsis directed by master frightener Eli Roth and written by Eric Kripke (creator of TV’sSupernatural). Co-starring Kyle MacLachlan, Colleen Camp, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Vanessa Anne Williams and Sunny Suljic, it is produced by Mythology Entertainment’s Brad Fischer (Shutter Island) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), as well as Kripke.
Executive produced by William Sherak, Tracey Nyberg and Laeta Kalogridis,The House with a Clock in Its Wallswill be released by Universal Pictures.
Night School - July 22, 2025
Genre: Comedy
Cast: Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Taran Killam, Rob Riggle, Romany Malco,
Director: Malcolm D. Lee
Based on a Story by: Kevin Hart
Produced by: Will Packer, Kevin Hart
Executive Producers: James Lopez, Preston Holmes
Star Kevin Hart and producer Will Packer, who partnered for the hit Ride Along and Think Like a Man series, bring their signature style to Night School. Based on a story by Hart, the comedy from director Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip) follows a group of misfits who are forced to attend adult classes in the longshot chance they’ll pass the GED exam. Hart produces for his Hartbeat Productions, and Packer via his Will Packer Productions.
First Man – July 03, 2025
Genre: Drama
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler,
Patrick Fugit, Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Pablo Schreiber
Director: Damien Chazelle
Writer: Josh Singer
Based on the Book by: James R. Hansen
Produced by: Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, Damien Chazelle,
Ryan Gosling
Executive Producers: Isaac Klausner, Adam Merims
On the heels of their six-time Academy Award®-winning smash,La La Land, Oscar®-winning director Damien Chazelle and star Ryan Gosling reteam for Universal Pictures’First Man, the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie will explore the sacrifices and the cost—on Armstrong and on the nation—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
Written by Academy Award®winner Josh Singer (Spotlight), the drama is produced by Wyck Godfrey & Marty Bowen (The Twilight Saga,The Fault in Our Stars) through their Temple Hill Entertainment banner, alongside Chazelle and Gosling. Isaac Klausner (The Fault in Our Stars) executive produces. Amblin Entertainment co-finances the film.
Untitled Robert Zemeckis Project – August 19, 2025
Cast: Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Merritt Wever, Eiza González, Gwendolyn Christie, Janelle Monáe, Leslie Zemeckis, Diane Kruger, Neil Jackson
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writers: Caroline Thompson, Robert Zemeckis
Based on the FilmMarwencolDirected by: Jeff Malmberg
Produced by: Robert Zemeckis, Steve Starkey, Jack Rapke, Cherylanne Martin
Executive Producers: Jackie Levine, Jeff Malmberg
Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump,Flight,Cast Away) directs Steve Carell in the moving true story of one broken man’s fight as he discovers how artistic imagination can restore the human spirit.
The screenplay forUntitled Robert Zemeckis Projectwas written by Caroline Thompson and Zemeckis, while Oscar®-winning producer Steve Starkey (Forrest Gump,Flight), Jack Rapke (Cast Away,Flight), and Cherylanne Martin (The Pacific,Flight) of Zemeckis’ Universal-based ImageMovers banner produce alongside the director. It is executive produced by Jackie Levine, as well as Jeff Malmberg, who directed the riveting 2010 documentary upon which this film is based.
Mortal Engines – June 29, 2025
Genre: 3D Epic Adventure
Cast: Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Jihae, Leila George, Ronan Raftery, Colin Salmon, Patrick Malahide, Regé-Jean Page, Stephen Lang and Hugo Weaving
Directed by: Christian Rivers
Writers: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens
Based on the Book by: Philip Reeve
Produced by: Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Zane Weiner,
Amanda Walker, Deborah Forte
Executive Producers: Ken Kamins, Philippa Boyens
Following the conclusion ofThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringstrilogies, three-time Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh return to the screen with a startling and sweeping new vision of a future where Earth’s cities now roam the globe on huge wheels, battling each other in a struggle for ever-diminishing resources.
This is the world ofMortal Engines, the story of how two unlikely heroes come together and change the course of the future. Universal Pictures and MRC’s epic adaptation of the award-winning book series from Philip Reeve, published in 2001 by Scholastic,Mortal Enginesis directed by Oscar®-winning visual-effects pioneer Christian Rivers (King Kong).
Jackson and Walsh co-wrote the screenplay with their fellow Oscar®-winning collaborator,Mortal Enginesexecutive producer Philippa Boyens, with whom they craftedThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Ringstrilogies. Zane Weiner (The Hobbitseries), Amanda Walker (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) and Deborah Forte (Goosebumps) also produce, while Ken Kamins (The Hobbitseries) joins Boyens as executive producer. Universal will distribute the film worldwide.
