Hollywood Week: Summer Box Office, Star Wars, Disclosure Day, The Odyssey, James Murdoch, THR Aussie, Stew McLean

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Category: Entertainment News

Published on Saturday, 23 May 2026 11:02

Written by Janet Walker

Memorial Day weekend is here, and the start of the traditional summer box office season, when theaters are filled with the smell of popcorn and everyone is headed to the movie theaters to be mesmerized by the big screen.

The Summer Box Office

Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and with it the start of the traditional summer box office season, when theaters are filled with summer blockbusters and this year, even with the box office slump will rouse the streaming set and bring them to the movie theaters.

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"Heating up the months ahead, like the sun about to rise on the horizon: Steven Spielberg's "Disclosure Day," "Toy Story 5," "Supergirl," Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." And those are just the popcorn movies. For filmgoers with a taste for gritty drama, silly comedy, hot romance, suspense, family fun and almost everything in between," The Washington Post reported.

The first film of the summer "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," from Lucas Films, opens May 22, and is expect to compete against both "Michael" and "The Devil Wears Prada 2," for box office dominance.

For Star Wars fans, it is the first film after a seven year hiatus and expects to tap into the strong base of followers who show up at ComicCon, and other Star Wars events pledging unyielding loyalty to the intergalactic fight for truth, justice, dominance in a world filled with advanced weaponry, strange space beings, the Mandalorian bounty hunter and his charge, Grogu, "Baby Yoda."

"Disclosure Day," from Universal Studios and master director Steven Spielberg, opens in theaters June 12, 2026. The film stars Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell and Colin Firth.

The trailers, which have been circulating since early January, present the timely topic of aliens among us and government cover-up and one that Spielberg has presented with great success in the past. Who can forget "E.T. The Terrestrial," (1982)  and "Close Encounters of The Third Kind," (1977)? These films have become ingrained in our culture.

The early trailers present Emily Blunt, a Kansas City meteorologist having a meltdown on-air, and reciting a hidden language, that only a few are able to comprehend. As the film progresses those who believe the government cover-up should be exposed and have stolen the secrets that could prove it are forced to run and threatened with death. Spielberg includes footage from Roswell, NM and the long held belief, and recently released U.S. government program, that somewhere out in a second universe there is a civilization of aliens.

Disclosure Day opens exclusively in theaters June 12, 2026.  

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From Universal Studios, "The Odyssey," the follow-up film from Academy Award winner Christopher Nolan, who earned seven academy awards with his 2023 historic drama "Oppenheimer," will follow the same release schedule and hit the box office July 17, 2026.

Packed with academy award winning talents, and big box office draws including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Logan Marshall-Green, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel.

From the released trailers, the big budget film shot entirely in IMAX has something for everyone. The film is the Nolan's interpretation of the Greek scholar Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, which as many English literature students will remember is filled with treachery, deceit, deception, and war, as the doomed Odysseus attempts to return to his home after the trojan war.

The film is already drawing praise and criticism. The film is not modernized and drops the viewer into the ancient civilization with mythic creatures, raging tempests, whispering nymphs, and appears, from the trailers, to be over-the-top and a bit busy.

"The Odyssey" opens July 17, 2026 exclusively in theaters.  

More films expected this summer can be seen here at the annual The Washington Post summer movie preview.

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James Murdoch Finalizes Vox Deal

James Murdoch, the son of Fox Broadcasting owner, Rupert Murdoch, has distanced himself further from his father's conservative and MAGA agenda with the recent purchase of VOX media.

The deal, which has been rumored for weeks, was announced this week. Murdoch and his wife, purchased VOX and its assets New York Magazine, and its podcast library for $300 million. The deal which splits the company into two leaves the previous VOX empire without its most recognized brands: New York Magazine and former VOX media CEO Jim Bankoff.

"A new Murdoch-owned company, run by Bankoff, will include New York, Vox.com, and the podcast network. Another company, run by Vox Media President Ryan Pauley, will get a new name and comprise brands not included in the purchase: Eater, Popsugar, SB Nation, the Dodo and the Verge," The Washington Post reported.

The deal is expected to be finalized in four to six weeks.

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THR Launches Aussie Edition

The Hollywood Reporter announced this week the magazine would launch, in association with Raine Media, an Australian edition headquartered in Sydney.

According the Museum of Brisbane, Sean Sennit, who will assume the duties as editor in chief, Sean Sennett owned and operated Queensland's highest-circulating street press, Time Off and spent the majority of his career interviewing musical superstars include Bruce Springsteen and David Bowie.

"Australia is a powerhouse of screen talent and storytelling," said Lori O'Connor, executive vice president and publisher of THR. "With The Hollywood Reporter Australia, we're extending our trusted brand to a new market in partnership with Raine Media, creating a platform that celebrates Australian creators while connecting them to THR's global audience and editorial legacy," reported The Hollywood Reporter.

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TV Actor Stew McLean Dies

The remains of TV Actor Stew McLean, best known for the hit Netflix drama, Virgin Rivers, has been found days after he was reported missing. He was 45.

Stewert McClean, also known as Stew McClean, was last seen at his Lion's Bay home on or around May 15, and was reported missing by colleagues on May 18, 2026. His agency, Lucas Talent, made several posts in Facebook indicating their concern for the actor's safety.

Days later McClean's remains were found. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are treating this case as a homicide, and the case has been transferred to the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Squamish found, during the initial investigation, indication of a homicide. On May 20, the Homicide team requested the assistance of the Canadian Integrated Forensic Identification Service (IFIS) to advance the investigation. 

According to USAToday, McLean is known for appearances on popular TV shows, including the CW action series "The Arrow," Netflix's "Travelers," Freeform's "Beyond," Netflix's hit romantic drama "Virgin River," Fox's "Murder in a Small Town" and the Paramount+ crime series "Happy Face." He also had a role in the Lifetime TV movie, "The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story," along with several shorts."

Lucas Talent posted this message on their agency Facebook page when it was confirmed that Stewart was found deceased, "It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved client, Stew McLean. I was fortunate to have worked with Stew for more than 10 years.  He was always such a pleasure to deal with - dedicated, professional, eager, and endlessly funny! Many casting directors have reached out to share their condolences with Stew's family and with our agency, and every message says the same thing: what a truly great guy he was, and how deeply he will be missed. Rest in peace, Stew. Xo."

No further information is available.

This is a developing story.

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Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade.  A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five award-winning screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," a non-fiction narrative, "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," and "Songs of Freedom: A Collection of Biblical Teachings," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Authors Guild, the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.