Lionsgate Hypes The Next ‘John Wick’, ‘Expendables’ and Others At CinemaCon

Tasked with the final studio presentation of this year’s CinemaCon event, Lionsgate brought its biggest gun – and fist, foot, or anything else that can be turned into a weapon.

We’re talking, of course, about John Wick: Chapter 4’. Though the ‘Wick’ footage didn’t open the event, it was one of the clear highlights.

The trailer is full of everything ‘Wick’ fans might be looking for – more of the title character taking on fellow assassins using all manner of violent tactics, including, in this case, nunchuks.

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’, which opens on March 24th, 2023, stars Reeves, Chad Stahelski, who directed the previous three films, is back behind the camera, and ed the star to present the movie.

Reeves described the ‘Matrix’ franchise, while Stahelski enthused about paying tribute to action icons through the ages in this latest installment.

Action icons also form a huge part of ‘Iko Uwais. Uwais is set to play the movie's villain.

The footage was predictably crazy, with Stallone crashing a plane through a tunnel and plenty of fighting. ‘Expend4bles’, with Scott Waugh directing, is still awaiting a formal release date, but should be in theaters this year.

Jack Black voicing the robot Claptrap who unexpectedly takes a bullet from Blanchett’s gun but keeps on chatting.

As for the synopsis? Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe's most powerful S.O.B., Atlas (Edgar Ramirez). Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team — Roland (Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Jamie Lee Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands — but they'll be fighting for something more: each other.

‘Borderlands’ will blast into theaters on a date still to be decided this year.

Comedian Robert De Niro plays his father. In the pic, Maniscalco tells his old-school Italian immigrant father Salvo that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her wealthy parents.

Talking about his movie, and the origins for it, Maniscalco said, “I wanted to make a movie where you could take the family. I didn’t think this thing was going to be made. I can’t believe Robert De Niro is playing my father in this movie. It hurt my feelings when I heard Leonardo DiCaprio should play me.”

‘About My Father’ doesn’t yet have a release date scheduled.

On a different family front, stars Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret’.

This initial glimpse of the Judy Blume classic in movie form drew plenty of laughs (and a few squirms) of recognition as the footage revealed coming-of-age challenges, sex education classes and teenage girls chanting that they must improve their bust.

The movie arrives on September 16th.

Then there was ‘Jacob Tremblay) in the original film. He’s been expelled and is now trying to fit into a new private school.

In the story, Julian gets a visit from his Grandmère from Paris (Helen Mirren) who was a child in Nazi-occupied . She tells the story of how she went into hiding, helped by a young man from her school, who took a huge risk in doing so. Together they find love and comion.

‘White Bird: A Wonder Story’ is due in theaters on October 14th.

Lionsgate wrapped up their event with one more big title, one that many had almost forgotten was still happening: the prequel to the ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’.

With Francis Lawrence back to direct (he handled three of the original ‘Games’ movies), the prequel is set years prior to the original movies. We meet the 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who would become the tyrannical President of Panem. The young Snow sees a chance for a change in fortunes when he is chosen to be mentor to Lucy Gray Baird, the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.

No other information about the movie (which is now shooting) was given, other than the news that it’ll be in theaters on November 17th next year.