Movies - Lionsgate 2026: A Bold Year of Franchises, Biopics, Thrillers and Epic Returns

By Mulder, 25 december 2025

Taking a broad look at Lionsgate's 2026 film slate, the studio appears poised to deliver one of its most diverse and ambitious years to date, mixing high-stakes post-apocalyptic spectacles, horror finales, inspiring biographical dramas, musical biopics, tense action thrillers, and fantasy adventure prequels that promise to deepen existing universes while showcasing a new generation of voices and stars. At the heart of this lineup is a renewed commitment to not only capitalize on established successes, but also to expand the universes that audiences have passionately embraced, offering both continuity and new narrative frontiers in a way that reflects current audience demands and industry trends.

Greenland 2: Migration kicks off the year with a survival story that builds on the surprise success of 2020's Greenland, releasing January 9, 2026, with a realistic and visceral sequel that plunges the Garrity family back into the heart of a fractured world. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh and written by Mitchell LaFortune and Chris Sparling, the film sees Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin reprise their roles as John and Allison Garrity alongside Roman Griffin Davis, who plays their now-older son, Nathan. Updated trailers and official press releases reveal that the family is forced to leave their once-secure bunker and venture out into a ravaged Earth, where climate disasters, radiation storms, and relentless meteor strikes test their resilience. The production, which ventured to challenging locations including Iceland and the United Kingdom, reportedly pushed its actors to emotionally and physically demanding extremes — a reality that Baccarin herself described as “the hardest shoot of my life” in a recent interview, reflecting both the harsh conditions on the ground and the thematic weight of the story. Early industry rumors suggest that the sequel's narrative explores not only survival but also fragile hope in the face of environmental collapse, and producers are already hinting that the franchise could be extended if this installment resonates with audiences early next year. Wikipedia+1

Following on from this, The Strangers – Chapter 3 will be released on February 6, 2026, promising to conclude this chilling trilogy with heightened psychological terror. Directed by Renny Harlin, the final chapter reunites audiences with the masked antagonists who turned home invasions into nail-biting cinema, this time placing the survivors in situations where the line between raw reality and creeping paranoia blurs. With a cast led by Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, and Richard Brake, and supported by a production team including Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton, the film promises to expand the mythology of the Strangers and push its characters into scenarios that test both fear and survival instincts. The franchise's enduring appeal lies in its ability to tap into primal anxieties—isolation, vulnerability, and the terror of the unknown—and this latest chapter looks poised to amplify those themes with a visceral intensity that audiences crave.

Without being overshadowed by thrills and chills, I Can Only Imagine 2 offers a different emotional palette when it hits theaters on February 20, 2026. Continuing the heartfelt story of Bart Millard, frontman of the band MercyMe, this sequel explores the spiritual and personal challenges he faces at the height of fame, as Millard—played once again by John Michael Finley—confronts internal conflicts and trials that turn his life upside down. Directed by Andrew Erwin and Brent McCorkle from a screenplay by McCorkle, and starring Milo Ventimiglia, Sophie Skelton, Arielle Kebbel, Sammy Dell, Trace Adkins, and Dennis Quaid, the film follows in the tradition of religious dramas while addressing universal themes such as doubt, redemption, and perseverance. Its roots in a true story lend it a certain authenticity, and Lionsgate's marketing reflects its confidence in the sequel's ability to resonate with die-hard fans of the original while attracting new audiences seeking uplifting stories. Wikipedia

Spring heralds another genre shift with Michael, the highly anticipated biopic about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, directed by Antoine Fuqua from a screenplay by John Logan. Scheduled for release on April 22 (in the US) and April 24 (in France), the project stars Jaafar Jackson in the title role, supported by Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, and Colman Domingo. Produced by Graham King, John Branca, and John McClain, and distributed in partnership between Lionsgate and Universal Pictures for the French market, the film aims to strike a balance between reverence and critical scrutiny in its depiction of Jackson's meteoric rise, artistic innovations, and tragic personal struggles. With cinematography by Dion Beebe and editing by John Ottman and Harry Yoon, the production represents Lionsgate's attempt to bring a definitive musical biography to the cinematic canon, inviting comparison with examples of the genre while grappling with the complexity of portraying a figure who is both culturally influential and controversial.

The summer of 2026 will be marked by the explosive action of Mutiny, directed by Jean-François Richet and starring Jason Statham as Cole Reed, whose life is turned upside down by a global conspiracy after he is wrongfully accused of murdering a billionaire friend. With Annabelle Wallis, Roland Møller, and Jason Wong rounding out the cast, the film promises an intense thriller experience combining espionage, betrayal, and relentless action sequences. Scheduled for release in the United States on August 21, 2026, Mutiny illustrates Lionsgate's continued investment in star-driven, adrenaline-fueled cinema that emphasizes physical performances and realistic narrative stakes. Wikipedia

Finally, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is Lionsgate's most ambitious project for this year. It is set to expand one of the most lucrative and culturally significant franchises in contemporary cinema when it is released on November 20, 2026. Directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray, the film adapts Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, delving into the harrowing 50th Hunger Games — the Second Quarter Quell — several decades before the events of the original trilogy. Starring Joseph Zada as a young Haymitch Abernathy, alongside Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Elle Fanning, Ben Wang, Billy Porter, Kieran Culkin, and Glenn Close, the prequel depicts the broader systemic oppression and early personal trials that shaped the future of Panem. Interestingly, according to recent industry rumors, former franchise members Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson may return in the respective roles of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark in crucial flash-forward sequences — a move that seems intended to bring old and new audiences together in a narrative arc that spans generations and offers great thematic depth. Wikipedia+1

Overall, Lionsgate's 2026 slate emphasizes a strategic mix of franchise deepening, genre diversity, and character-driven storytelling. From the desolate lands of Greenland to the bloody arenas of Panem, via deeply personal biographical struggles and explosive plots, the studio seems determined to offer a schedule that honors existing fans while inviting broader conversations about resilience, survival, identity, and legacy in the dynamic cinematic landscape.

Greenland 2: Migration

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh
Written by Mitchell LaFortune, Chris Sparling
Based on Characters by Chris Sparling
Produced by Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Sébastien Raybaud, John Zois, Gerard Butler, Alan Siegel, Ric Roman Waugh, Brendon Boyea
Starring  Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, Roman Griffin Davis
Cinematography : Martin Ahlgren
Edited by Eric Freidenberg
Music by David Buckley
Production companies : STXfilms, Anton, Thunder Road G-BASE Film Production
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release date : January 9, 2026 (United States), January 14, 2026 (France)
Running time : 98 minutes
Synopsis : After the devastating impact of a comet that reduced the Earth to ruins, the Garrity family must leave the safety of their bunker in Greenland. Thus begins a journey for their survival and the future of humanity across a devastated world in search of a new home.

The Strangers – Chapter 3

Directed by Renny Harlin
Written by Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland
Based on Characters by Bryan Bertino
Produced by Courtney Solomon, Mark Canton, Christopher Milburn, Gary Raskin, Alastair Birlingham, Charlie Dombek
Starring  Madelaine Petsch, Gabriel Basso, Ema Horvath, Richard Brake
Cinematography : José David Montero
Edited by Michelle Harrison
Music by Justin Burnett, Òscar Senén
Production companies : Mark Canton Productions, Fifth Element Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release date : February 6, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : In the Strangers finale, survivors face new threats from masked strangers. Secrets emerge, jeopardizing their lives as the line between reality and peril blurs in their battle for survival.

I Can Only Imagine 2

Directed by Andrew Erwin, Brent McCorkle
Written by Brent McCorkle
Based on The life story of Bart Millard
Produced by Cindy Bond, Kevin Downes, Bart Millard, Daryl Lefever, Joshua Walsh
Starring  John Michael Finley, Milo Ventimiglia, Sophie Skelton, Arielle Kebbel, Sammy Dell, Trace Adkins, Dennis Quaid
Cinematography : Johnny Derango
Production companies : Kingdom Story Company, LD Entertainment, Mission Pictures International, Kevin Downes Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States)
Release date : February 20, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Bart Millard, lead singer of MercyMe, faces a personal crisis at the peak of his success. As his world unravels, he struggles with his beliefs and inner demons while seeking a path through adversity.

Michael

Directed by Antoine Fuqua
Written by John Logan
Produced by Graham King, John Branca, John McClain
Starring  Jaafar Jackson, Nia Long, Laura Harrier, Juliano Krue Valdi, Miles Teller, Colman Domingo
Cinematography : Dion Beebe
Edited by John Ottman, Harry Yoon
Production companies : Lionsgate, GK Films
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Universal Pictures (France)
Release date : April 22, 2026 (France), April 24, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : Biographical film about the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. It will paint a portrait of the singer from his early days to his tragic death in 2009.

Mutiny
Directed by Jean-François Richet
Written by Lindsay Michel, J. P. Davis
Produced by Jason Statham, Marc Butan
Starring  Jason Statham, Annabelle Wallis, Roland Møller, Jason Wong
Edited by David Rosenbloom, Joe Rosenbloom
Production companies : MadRiver Pictures, Punch Palace Productions
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), SND (France)
Release date : August 19, 2026 (France), August 21, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : After his billionaire industrialist boss is murdered before his eyes, Cole Reed is framed for the crime, forcing him to go on the run as he tries to uncover an international conspiracy.

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (Hunger Games : Lever de soleil sur la moisson)

Directed by Francis Lawrence
Written by Billy Ray
Based on Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Produced by Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson
Starring  Joseph Zada, Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lili Taylor, Maya Hawke, Elle Fanning, Ben Wang, Billy Porter, Kieran Culkin, Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes
Cinematography : Jo Willems
Music by James Newton Howard
Production company : Color Force
Distributed by Lionsgate (United States), Metropolitan FilmExport (France)
Release date : November 20, 2026 (United States)
Synopsis : As dawn breaks on the 50th annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be drawn. In District 12, Haymitch Abernathy tries not to think too much about his chances. All he cares about is being with the girl he loves. But when he is called, all his dreams come crashing down. He is torn from his family and his love, transported to the Capitol with the three other tributes from District 12: a young friend who is almost like a sister to him, a compulsive gambler, and the most pretentious girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch realizes he has been set up to fail. But he is ready to fight... and make sure that this fight resonates far beyond the arena.

Update December 25 2025