Matthew Lillard hints at original role in Man of Tomorrow; Serpentine thriller announced
Recent updates in film and television highlight new projects and shifting strategies. Matthew Lillard may join Man of Tomorrow as an original character, while director Darren Lynn Bousman is attached to Serpentine, a thriller blending figure skating and horror. Meanwhile, the Red Rising adaptation moves from Netflix to Paramount as a theatrical film.
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Man of Tomorrow casting hinted
Actor Matthew Lillard appeared to suggest in an interview with The Direct that he may play an original character in Man of Tomorrow, an upcoming film described as having a "very James Gunn moment." The project is associated with DC Studios, where Gunn serves as co-CEO and creative lead.
Details about the character or the film’s plot remain unconfirmed.
Serpentine to merge sports and horror genres
Director Darren Lynn Bousman, known for horror projects like Saw II and Spiral, is set to direct Serpentine, a thriller blending the competitive world of figure skating with crime and horror elements. The film is set in a New England town where organized crime, corrupt police, and buried secrets collide with the high-stakes figure skating scene.
No casting or release details have been announced.
Red Rising switches from streaming to theatrical release
The adaptation of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising novel series, initially planned as a Netflix series, will now be produced as a theatrical film by Paramount. The change reflects a broader industry trend of reassessing high-budget projects for streaming versus theatrical release, particularly as studios navigate shifting audience behaviors and economic pressures.
This move aligns with recent industry shifts, including layoffs at Netflix and consolidation among major studios.
Additional entertainment project updates
Sosie Bacon will star alongside Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in The Black Tapes, a paranormal mystery series set to premiere on MGM+. The show follows a doctor and a physicist as they debunk supernatural cases while uncovering an occult underworld.
Cupertino, another upcoming project, explores the ethical implications of AI after an algorithm alters a transplant list to favor a wealthy patient over a protagonist’s roommate.
Amy Poehler’s character in Dig makes a history-altering discovery at a dig site in Greece, adding a layer of archaeological intrigue to the series.
What this means
Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.
These updates reflect broader trends in the entertainment industry that may interest founders and operators in adjacent sectors. The shift of Red Rising from a Netflix series to a theatrical film at Paramount underscores the volatility of content distribution strategies, particularly for high-budget projects. Studios are reassessing the risks and rewards of streaming versus theatrical releases, which could influence decisions for startups in content production, distribution, or technology supporting these industries.
The announcement of Serpentine, a sports-horror thriller, also highlights the appetite for genre-blending projects that target niche audiences. Founders in entertainment or adjacent fields—such as gaming, immersive experiences, or marketing—might take note of how directors like Darren Lynn Bousman are experimenting with unconventional themes to attract diverse viewerships. Meanwhile, unverified casting hints, like Matthew Lillard’s potential role in Man of Tomorrow, demonstrate how early buzz is often leveraged to build anticipation, a tactic startups in content or influencer marketing could study.
Related on Lazyfounder
Sources
- Gizmodo · 2026-10-28
Matthew Lillard Might Be Playing an Original Character in ‘Man of Tomorrow’
This story is an original summary drafted with AI by Lazyfounder from the reporting listed above and checked by automated validation. Facts are attributed to their original publishers; sections marked as analysis are Lazyfounder's. Where a source is in another language, facts were machine-translated and quotations are reported, not reproduced. Read the original coverage via the links, and see our AI policy and corrections policy.
About the author
Editor, Lazyfounder
Tarun Mottlia edits LazyFounders, covering Indian startups, funding rounds, AI and product launches. Every story on the site is AI-assisted and checked against its cited sources before publication.
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