Film News Today — August 18, 2026

The world of film is buzzing with exciting updates and announcements. For fans of beloved franchises, Disney's 'Toy Story 5' has just become available on digital, with a physical release slated for September. Meanwhile, another established franchise, 'Fast and Furious', is gearing up for its next installment, 'Fast Forever', which Vin Diesel confirms will start shooting in December. These highly anticipated releases are sure to thrill audiences, but there's also a lot of buzz around new and innovative projects.

International productions are also making waves, with a Croatian crime drama, 'Red Water', set to be co-produced by ZDF/Arte and Beta Film, and a Mandarin remake of Sundance breakout 'Thelma', titled 'Grandma, Please', being developed by Stars Collective. Additionally, fans of cult classics are in for a treat, as Chris Carter gets a second chance at bringing 'The X-Files' back to life with 'The X-Files: I Want to Believe'. With so many exciting projects in the works, it's an incredible time for film enthusiasts. To celebrate the diversity of talent in the industry, we're also highlighting six essential roles from actress Hayden Panettiere.

Today's signal:
• Disney’s ‘Toy Story 5’ Is Now Out on Digital, With a Physical Release Set for September (rollingstone.com)
• Croatian Crime Drama ‘Red Water,’ Directed by Cannes Prizewinner Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic, to Be Co-Produced by ZDF/Arte, Beta Film (EXCLUSIVE) (variety.com)
• Sundance Breakout ‘Thelma’ Set for Mandarin Remake by Stars Collective, Titled ‘Grandma, Please’ (EXCLUSIVE) (variety.com)
• Vin Diesel Says ‘Fast Forever’ Starts Shooting in December (variety.com)
• LISTEN: How Chris Carter Got a Second Shot at ‘The X-Files: I Want to Believe’ Film (variety.com)
• Hayden Panettiere: 6 Essential Roles (rollingstone.com)