2026 has given us a lot, with massive hits like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Obsession, and The Odyssey.
What’s more, Dune: Part Three and Avengers: Doomsday are releasing this December, likely to claim box office glory in projected sales.
However, with great promise can come great disappointment, writes Film News Blitz’s Kara Joubert.
Here are the forgotten films that were never released in 2026.
The Hunt for Gollum (moved to December 2027)
Building on the world of Middle-earth, this film was officially announced by Warner Bros in 2024. The film was originally targeting 2026 before being pushed to 2027.
This was due to a lengthy writing process, according to ScreenRant.
Following the lacklustre reception of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, it’s understandable that the creators want to take their time and ensure fans are satisfied.
Shrek 5 (moved to June 2027)
The memeification of the latest Shrek trailer was reminiscent of the reaction to the first Sonic trailer.
Many people were not happy about the redesign of the characters.
Since then, it has been delayed not once, but twice.
It was first moved to December 2026, but with Doomsday and Dune to compete with, perhaps it’s understandable why this has now been delayed to summer 2027.
While some look forward to it, others hold onto hope that the design will change between now and then.
Ice Age: Boiling Point (moved to February 2027)
The seventh instalment in the Ice Age series was announced in 2024 with a teaser trailer released in June this year.
Many of the original cast are set to return, including Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Simon Pegg and Queen Latifah.
Disney officially announced it will be delayed to February 2027, some months after its initial December release date.
While Disney has not provided a reason for the delay, the move also removes the film from a crowded December release window.
Unnamed Star Wars Film (Dec 2026 to no set date)
This one is a bit of a mystery as very few details were given.
Initially announced in 2023, rumours suggested this would be the next film centred on Daisy Ridley’s Rey.
Now, it has been pushed back and there is no set date for its release.
However, that does not mean we will never see Rey return to Star Wars.
According to Entertainment Weekly, reports indicate Jon Watts is attached to the first film of Simon Kinberg’s developing trilogy and that Ridley is expected to return.
Although Lucasfilm has not fully confirmed all of those details publicly, reports suggest it will continue the Skywalker saga.
However, with no release date in sight, we may be waiting a while.
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The Batman: Part II (moved to February 2028)
2026 was supposed to feature Pattinson’s second appearance as the crime-fighting vigilante.
However, the 2023 Hollywood strikes were among several factors behind the delays.
According to DC Studios, director Matt Reeves temporarily stepped away from production due to “a family matter”.
However, they added that: “Matt has the full support of DC Studios, and we look forward to continuing the journey soon.”
According to Deadline, the updated release date is February 18, 2028.
Fast Forever (moved to March 2028)
Speaking to Collider in 2025, director Louis Leterrier said the release was planned for June 2026.
However, it has now been moved to March 2028, according to IMDb.
In July this year, Jack Reacher star Alan Ritchson went on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast and said there were “a lot of obstacles” to making the film, citing its expensive nature.
He said: “We’re now at the crossroads of something very hard to figure out.”
However, he did add that: “Everyone is figuring it out” and assured audiences that he “thinks there will be another one [and that] it’s gonna be great.”
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (changed to Doomsday)
With Doomsday expected to dominate cinemas this December, it’s important to note that it was never the intended Marvel film of the year.
For years, the studio had been building up the villain Kang as the next Thanos, played by Jonathan Majors.
However, after he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, they dropped the actor altogether.
While it would have been possible to recast the role, the poor reception of Quantumania and a broader lack of enthusiasm for the villain may also have contributed to The Kang Dynasty being shelved.
At present, there are no public plans for either The Kang Dynasty or Kang’s return to the MCU.
Lots to look forward to
Delays are nothing new in Hollywood.
After all, making a film takes an extraordinary amount of time and resources.
This year has seen many incredible films being made.
However, there’s still plenty to look forward to with Star Wars: Starfighter, Gatto, The Legend of Zelda, Marvel’s Secret Wars and more expected next year.
Here’s hoping that 2027 can keep its promises.
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