Film News Today — July 29, 2026

The world of film is abuzz with news that's got everyone talking, from the potential retirement of a legendary director to the latest developments in some of the most anticipated movies and TV shows. Mike Leigh, known for his poignant and thought-provoking films, has revealed that he may be calling it quits after his next project due to illness, leaving fans and fellow filmmakers alike to wonder what this means for the future of cinema. Meanwhile, Evan Rachel Wood has expressed her disappointment at not being asked to reprise her role in the upcoming 'Practical Magic 2', a sentiment that's sure to resonate with fans of the original film.

But it's not all about looking back - there are plenty of exciting new projects on the horizon, too. The trailer for 'Jumanji: Open World' has just dropped, giving us a glimpse of what to expect from the third and final installment of the action-packed franchise, with Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, and Jack Black all set to return. And in a move that's being hailed as a major victory for workers' rights, on-set visual effects workers on 'Star Wars' productions have joined the IATSE union. With new films like 'Mooch' and fresh faces joining the team at '60 Minutes', there's no shortage of interesting stories and developments to keep film enthusiasts engaged and entertained.

Today's signal:
• Mike Leigh Says It’s ‘Very Likely’ He’ll Retire After Next Film Due to Illness (variety.com)
• Evan Rachel Wood Was ‘Sad’ Not to Be Asked Back for ‘Practical Magic 2’ (rollingstone.com)
• ‘Jumanji: Open World’ Trailer: Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black Return for Third and Final Movie (variety.com)
• On-Set Visual Effects Workers on ‘Star Wars’ Productions Join IATSE (variety.com)
• Byron Allen’s Freestyle Digital Media Picks Up Jeff Ryan’s Golf Crime Comedy ‘Mooch’ – Film News in Brief (variety.com)
• Ross Douthat, Sebastian Junger, Gianna Toboni, Trevor Phillips to Join CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ (variety.com)