The Future Blockbusters Draft: The Directors, Actors, and IP That Will Define the Next Decade

Summary of The Future Blockbusters Draft: The Directors, Actors, and IP That Will Define the Next Decade

by The Ringer

34m•July 27, 2026
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Overview of The Town — The Future Blockbusters Draft: The Directors, Actors, and IP That Will Define the Next Decade

This episode is a two-part Future Blockbuster Draft in which Matt Belloni and Lucas Shaw build their ideal “10-year box office team” by selecting movie franchises, filmmakers, and stars they believe will drive theatrical success over the next decade. The central argument: while big IP still matters most, elite filmmakers are increasingly acting like movie stars themselves. The episode also includes a major news update on the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, which is now delayed amid antitrust and political legal challenges.

The Big Idea: What Really Sells Movies?

Belloni opens with the question driving the draft: if a studio could pick only one thing to build a movie around, would it be a franchise, a filmmaker, a star, or a piece of IP?

Core thesis from the discussion

  • A-level IP is still the safest bet
  • Top-tier directors may now be the closest thing to “movie stars”
  • Theatrical success increasingly comes from a mix of brand recognition, trust, and event status
  • Premium large-format presentation and global appeal still matter

Future Blockbuster Draft: Picks and Rationale

Matt Belloni’s picks

  1. Spider-Man

    • Seen as the most bulletproof superhero property.
    • Strong in both live action and animation.
    • Belloni argues it is the current outlier among superhero brands, with enduring audience demand.

  2. Christopher Nolan

    • Considered the most dependable filmmaker in the business.
    • His movies are treated like events, even when they’re challenging or adult-oriented.
    • Belloni emphasizes Nolan’s dominance in IMAX / premium large-format (PLF) theatrical business.

  3. Batman

    • Belloni calls Batman the safest DC property.
    • Even if a film underperforms, the character can always be rebooted.
    • He values the flexibility and repeated reinvention of the brand.

  4. Demon Slayer

    • Belloni is betting on anime as a global theatrical growth category.
    • He sees Demon Slayer as the strongest anime franchise for worldwide box office potential.

  5. X-Men

    • A riskier pick, but Belloni believes Disney/Marvel will successfully revive it.
    • He sees the brand as having untapped upside despite previous uneven films.
    • He’s betting on a renewed Marvel push and audience excitement for a fresh X-Men era.

Lucas Shaw’s picks

  1. Mario

    • Shaw chooses Mario as the safest and most reliable game-to-film franchise.
    • He argues the brand has massive global awareness and sequel/spin-off potential.
    • He views the franchise as a long-term studio asset, not a one-off hit.

  2. Ryan Coogler

    • Shaw picks Coogler as the next major director/producer force.
    • He cites Coogler’s ability to make both prestige and commercial films.
    • He points to his franchise experience, event-making potential, and long runway.

  3. Shrek

    • Shaw sees Shrek as the best nostalgia franchise in the late-90s/early-2000s lane.
    • He expects cross-generational appeal from parents and kids.
    • He believes DreamWorks/Universal are planning for a longer-term revival, not just a one-off sequel.

  4. Frozen

    • Shaw sees Frozen as a massive, still-underexploited Disney property.
    • He expects Frozen 3 and beyond to remain huge for family audiences.
    • He treats it as a reliable tentpole franchise with deep brand equity.

  5. Michael B. Jordan

    • Shaw selects Jordan as a star who also functions as a filmmaker.
    • He cites Jordan’s success in Creed, Sinners, Black Panther, and his directing work on Creed III.
    • Shaw argues Jordan is one of the few true modern movie stars who can also shape projects behind the camera.

Key Debates and Takeaways from the Draft

1. Nostalgia is powerful, but timing matters

  • Shaw argues the biggest wave of nostalgia is currently centered on late-90s / early-2000s IP.
  • They discuss the risk of over-sequeling or releasing follow-ups too quickly.
  • Examples raised:
    • Minions potentially arriving too soon
    • Moana sequel/remake timing creating confusion or fatigue

2. Directorial brands are increasingly valuable

  • Nolan and Coogler are framed as more than filmmakers; they are theatrical brands.
  • Belloni stresses that major directors now function as audience draws in the way stars once did.

3. Animated and family IP remain essential

  • Mario, Shrek, and Frozen are treated as long-tail franchises with strong global and generational appeal.
  • Family entertainment is presented as one of the safest long-term box office bets.

4. Anime is an emerging theatrical force

  • Demon Slayer is highlighted as the clearest example of anime with major global box office potential.
  • The conversation suggests anime could become a bigger fixture in mainstream film strategy.

Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Update

After the draft segment, the episode shifts to a detailed industry news discussion about the delayed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal.

What happened

  • The merger/acquisition process has been delayed until at least June of next year or until there is a resolution on antitrust claims.
  • Paramount appears to have agreed to the delay rather than risk losing a preliminary injunction fight.
  • The dispute involves state-level legal challenges, especially from blue-state attorneys general.

Why it matters

  • The deal is now in limbo.
  • Both Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery are constrained while the case plays out.
  • The hosts frame this as a setback for Paramount, even if the company continues to publicly project confidence.

Key legal/business points discussed

  • Paramount reportedly wants a sooner trial date; the states want to push things further out.
  • There is a $650 million quarterly ticking fee tied to the delay.
  • If the deal collapses, a $7 billion breakup fee could be on the table.
  • The hosts note that the Ellison side appears unlikely to abandon the deal, even if the legal path is difficult.

Broader implications

  • The conversation suggests this is as much a political fight as a legal one.
  • The hosts note that Paramount’s aggressive posture toward Trump-era politics helped create the current backlash.
  • While Paramount says it’s business as usual, the hosts argue the company is effectively stuck waiting.

Main Takeaways

  • IP still rules, but the strongest filmmakers are now powerful enough to function like brands.
  • The most valuable long-term movie assets are a mix of:
    • franchise recognition
    • trusted directors
    • cross-generational nostalgia
    • global appeal
    • family-friendly IP
  • The draft favorites were:
    • Spider-Man, Mario, Nolan, Coogler, Shrek, Frozen, Batman, Michael B. Jordan, Demon Slayer, X-Men
  • The Paramount-WBD merger is not dead, but it is now a high-stakes, drawn-out legal battle with major financial and strategic consequences.