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Colin Farrell knows how to play a man out of his depth, and that is exactly where he is finding himself in the new film from Conclave director Edward Berger, Ballad of a Small Player.

Netflix, which is distributing, has just announced premiere dates for the film, as well as released a handful of first look images.

What's it about?

Based on the novel by Lawrence Osbourne, the movie follows a high-stakes gambler (Farrell) who is lying low in Macau after his past debts begin to catch up with him.

Who else stars in it?

The film also stars Tilda Swinton, Fala Chen (Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire), Deannie Yip, and Alex Jennings (The Crown). Rowan Joffé (The American) wrote the screenplay.

When does it come out?

Ballad of a Small Player will open in U.S. theaters on Oct. 15, in U.K. and Irish cinemas two days later,...

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One of the most popular shows on Netflix for the past several years is "You," a psychological thriller based on the novel series of the same name by Caroline Kepnes. The series ran for five seasons and chronicled the adventures of serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) who traveled the world under various aliases while targeting fresh victims. Stylishly staged and sharply written, the series' protagonist gave it a distinctly villainous perspective on the world. And though "You" season 5 leaves Joe Goldberg's fate as a case closed, there are plenty of similar shows to keep the bloody thrills going.

There is no shortage of psychological thrillers available to watch, many of which are available on popular streaming services. Many of these shows involve serial killers and, on several memorable occasions, are told from the murderer's perspective like "You." Here are...

New York, New York – 6/24/25 – Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and John Cena attends the Amazon MGM Studios World Premiere of “Heads of State”

– Pictured: Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and John Cena

– Photo by: Marion Curtis / StarPix for Amazon MGM Studios

– Location: Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center Priyanka Chopra Jonas is definitely no stranger to the thrilling world of action. She’s proved herself, from her intense role in the FBI series Quantico to her portrayal in Prime Video’s spy show Citadel. Now, she’s really cemented her spot in the genre, teaming up with action heavyweights like Dwayne Johnson in past projects, and most recently, with Idris Elba and John Cena in the highly anticipated action-comedy Heads of State. In Heads of State, Chopra Jonas takes on a vital role as an MI6 operative. Her mission? To protect and make sure Elba and Cena’s characters play nice,...

Turn Up Charlie: The Idris Elba Netflix Show You Probably Missed but Definitely Need to Watch(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Netflix has quietly tucked away a lesser-known gem starring Idris Elba and it’s one many viewers have found surprisingly entertaining. While most people still associate him with darker roles like the brooding detective in Luther, this eight-part mini-series shows a completely different side of the actor.

What Is Turn Up Charlie About on Netflix

Turn Up Charlie, released in 2019, slipped past a lot of radars. Idris plays Charlie, a struggling DJ with his best days long behind him. After running out of options and being unemployed, his life takes an odd turn when he crashes a wedding and bumps into an old friend. That friend, a big-name actor, offers Charlie a strange deal, which is to help look after his out-of-control daughter in exchange for a shot at getting back into the music world.

“Heads of State” is a new comedy feature, directed by Ilya Naishuller, starring John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root and Carla Gugino, now streaming on Prime Video:

“…the ‘UK Prime Minister’ (Elba) and ‘US President’ (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance.

“But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run.

“Allied with ‘Noel’, a brilliant ‘MI6 agent’ (Chopra) they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world…”

Click the images to enlarge…

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‘Hijack’ didn’t get the spotlight it deserved, but it’s one of the most addictive series on the platform.

There’s so much dropping on Apple TV+ all the time (which is a great thing for subscribers!) that even a show starring the incredible Idris Elba can get lost in the shuffle. “Hijack” actually cracked Apple+’s Top 10 when it premiered, but you wouldn’t know it from the lack of buzz. Maybe it got overshadowed by shinier releases like “Silo” or “Ted Lasso,” but I was shouting about it to anyone who would listen. This show rips. It’s tense, addictive, and Elba is in full command. If you missed it the first time around, here’s why “Hijack” is the best under-the-radar drama on Apple TV+ right now.

Best under-the-radar drama TV show on Apple TV+

Why ‘Hijack’ is the most underrated drama series on Apple TV...

Idris Elba confessed that he still hasn't watched his iconic American breakthrough performance in The Wire, even though 20 years have passed. The British actor and DJ became known to American audiences for playing Russell "Stringer" Bell, the cerebral second-in-command of Avon Barksdale's (Wood Harris) drug empire in early 2000s Baltimore.

Appearing as a guest on Good Hang With Amy Poehler, Idris Elba told host and The Wire superfan Amy Poehler that he feels bad he didn't watch David Simon's critically acclaimed HBO series. Elba explained that "a part of me died" when Stringer Bell died in The Wire season 3, and that it would feel "weird" for him to go back and watch it. Read Idris' quotes and watch the video below:

If I'm really honest, like, I didn't watch The Wire. And I feel bad. It's not that I'm not a fan of it. I was there. I made a show that was,...

With a near-perfect critics’ score of 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Wire remains one of the greatest crime drama series of all time. Over a five-season run, the series used dramatized situations to shed light on real-life issues and served as a social commentary. At the time, the casting team stayed away from large names, giving many of The Wire’s stars their first foot in the business. Among the blossoming superstars are names like Idris Elba, Dominic West, and the late Lance Reddick. Despite being one of HBO’s most popular productions in the history of the studio and the title that would launch his incredibly successful career, Elba recently admitted that he’s never watched the show.

During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the Luther star said,

“If I’m really honest, I didn’t watch The Wire. I didn’t watch it. And I feel bad.

Summer has officially set in, and there’s some hot new flicks to watch while you’re beating the heat in the house.

From crimefighting cyborgs that seek revenge to that magical Cynthia Erivo-Ariana Grande collaboration that still has us dancing through life, there’s a lot in store on Prime Video. Plus, Idris Elba and John Cena have dropped their comedic action-thriller “Heads of State.”

Here’s our curated list of the best new movies on Amazon Prime Video we think you should be watching next.

Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in “Wicked.” (Credit: Universal Pictures) “Wicked” (2024)

Of course, “Wicked” is on the list. We’re still not over Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s beautiful collaboration. Erivo plays outcast Elphaba, a green-skinned young woman with immense power. While attending school, she befriends Glinda, a fellow witch, who desires the spotlight at her institution. Together, they form...

“Heads of State,” now streaming on Prime Video, is an insanely entertaining summer movie blockbuster that you can watch from the comfort of your living room. It stars John Cena, as a former action hero turned President of the United States, and Idris Elba, as a stuffy Prime Minister, who are forced to band together and go on an adventure, even though they don’t like each other much.

The movie harkens back to the slick, studio-produced action comedies of the 1980s and 1990s, and delivers some hard-charging set pieces inside a PG-13 framework that the entire family can enjoy. It’s a hoot. And proof that you don’t have to leave your house for one of the year’s best summer movies.

Much of what makes “Heads of State” so enjoyable is the direction from Ilya Naishuller, who previously made “Hardcore Henry” and “Nobody.” He knows how to...

For the first time in weeks, The Accountant 2 has been displaced from the top spot on the Prime Video streaming charts. The movie that did it was Heads of State, an action comedy starring John Cena, Idris Elba, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. It shot straight to the number one spot after debuting midweek on the streaming service, and appears to be holding its position. Heads of State features Cena as the President of the United States, who gets lost in Europe after an attack on Air Force One with only Elba's British Prime Minister for company. The trouble is that they don't exactly see eye to eye. This is where Chopra Jonas' MI6 agent comes in.

According to FlixPatrol, Heads of State earned 505 points on its first day of release on Prime Video, and 510 points on its second. On both days, The Accountant 2 finished second on the charts.

The new action-comedy Heads of State, starring John Cena as the U.S. President and Idris Elba as the British Pm, unexpectedly echoes a real-life moment from George W. Bush’s time as the President of the United States.

For those of you who failed to guess which incident we are talking about, it is the infamous shoe-throwing incident from 2008, when a journalist threw his shoe at Bush during a live press conference. While there have been several ‘shoe-throwing’ incidents since then, the gag in the Prime Video movie lands with uncanny precision, blending dumb luck and political distraction into a sharp, on‑the‑nose political satire.

Spoiler Alert !!!Potential Spoiler for Heads of State Heads of State References Infamous Shoe Incident of 2008 A still from the action comedy flick | Credits: Prime Video

The American invasion of Iraq is one of the most controversial moments in the history of the United States.

The recent interaction Idris Elba had with John Cena has dropped a bombshell in the professional wrestling community. The Suicide Squad fame has announced a Mount Rushmore list of WWE legends of his own, and it’s baffling, not only because it’s far from what the popular opinion is, but also because the list lacks seriousness.

The list became a major talking point because of those legends and veteran performers he did not take into account, more than those he included in the list. Amongst others, he did not even consider, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels stood out as the most astonishing ones.

Idris Elba reveals the name he would choose for a fantasy WWE Mount Rushmore Idris Elba with John Cena in Heads of State trailer. (Image Credit: Heads of State)

The discussion between Idris Elba and John Cena occurred during a casual interaction between them for Complex.

Since his switch from wrestling to the film industry, John Cena has become a popular actor. However, not all his projects were big hits with the critics.

His latest release, the action film Heads of State, came to change that. The film is a new collaboration between Cena and Prime Video, which also featured his previous two releases, 2024's Ricky Stanicky and Jackpot!, and reunited him with Idris Elba after 2021's The Suicide Squad. Just one day after its release, Heads of State has proven that it's a major hit and topped the charts on Prime Video,FlixPatrol reveals.

Heads of State topped the Top 10 movie charts, replacing Ben Affleck and John Bernthal's The Accountant 2, which took second place, and sent 2024's Nosferatu into third place. In the Top 10 overall charts, Heads of State debuted in third place, just behind the new thriller series We Were Liars...

The new movie starring John Cena and Idris Elba has become an instant streaming hit. While both stars had their breakouts on television, they have since become well known for feature-length projects.

Cena got his start as a WWE wrestler, but he began acting in action movies starting in the 2000s, later expanding to comedies. Now, in addition to joining the Fast and Furious franchise in a major role, he has starred in titles including Bumblebee and The Suicide Squad, and John Cena movies have collectively grossed more than $5 billion.

Elba's breakout role came when he played Stringer Bell on HBO's The Wire. The six-time Emmy nominee also has a number of successful movies under his belt. In addition to playing Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has appeared in the Fast and Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, voiced Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, and more.

Heads Of State...

Idris Elba credits The Wire for his casting in The Office. According to the actor, the sitcom needed a villain like Stringer Bell, so he channeled his character from the crime drama series.

During an appearance on Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Elba said he basically played different versions of the same character in The Wire and The Office. He also revealed that he landed a role in the sitcom because John Krasinski was obsessed with the crime drama. "[Krasinski] was a big Wire fan, and he was like, 'We need that guy, we need that guy,'" he recalled. Elba played Dunder Mifflin boss Charles Miner in The Office Season 5. Though he only appeared in six episodes, the character was one of the show's best low-key villains.

"[Charles Miner] was described as this guy who's like Stringer Bell. He's real serious as a businessman, but you don't laugh at anyone, you don't suffer fools,...

Streaming films. Not only are they basically the modern equivalent of TV movies, but they’re also like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. Unless your company’s name is Netflix, there is a significant chance you will receive not a “Tudum” but rather a “Tun Tun Tuuuum.” Even so, occasionally you might get a good or even great film that receives major awards recognition, such as “The Irishman” or “The Power of the Dog.”

Then there’s Amazon Prime Video. A platform that’s been slowly making a name for itself in the streaming arena, I would personally probably place them in second place in terms of their quality. They also got a few films that have garnered some awards, love, and wins, such as “Sound of Metal” and “Manchester by the Sea,” but they also have a few stinkers or disappointing...

Dwayne Johnson may have a great career in Hollywood, but is he the best wrestler-turned-actor out there? While the answer to that is subjective, John Cena does not believe so.

Sure, Johnson has played a superhero and a demigod among other larger-than-life roles, but when it comes to which wrestler is ruling Tinseltown, Cena believes there is one clear answer, especially in terms of range.

Cena and Idris Elba sat down with Complex to promote their latest action comedy, Heads of State. During the interview, they were asked to name a “Goat wrestler-turned-actor.”

While Cena had a couple of other names in his mind, he eventually picked Dave Bautista as his champion. He stated,

I’m gonna give respect where respect is earned; Dave Bautista. The dude has range and now has like transformed his whole body, and the stuff he’s about to do – look out for Dave Bautista.

“Heads of State” (2025) starring Idris Elba, John Cena, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, is a goofy action-comedy that is successful in what it set out to do—giving you an hour or so of entertainment. Directed by Ilya Naishuller of “Nobody” (2021) fame, the film exudes unabashed transparency while embracing its innate silliness. And that is praiseworthy. Elba and Cena, working together after “The Suicide Squad,” elevate the otherwise middling save-the-western-world-from-an-eastern-conspiracy story with their palpable synergy. Then there are some really ‘cool’ cameos to tie everything together.

Let us dissect the ending of the film and how it could potentially set up for further instalments.

Heads of State (2025) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:

When the President of the United States, Will Derringer (John Cena), arrives in London to meet the British Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), their entourages are met with grave news. The CIA-MI6 joint venture to nab international weapons manufacturer,...

The Wire's Russell "Stringer" Bell is one of TV's most iconic villains, and it's all thanks to Idris Elba's gripping performance. The actor revealed his reservations about his character's exit, which is partly the reason he doesn't want to watch the series.

Attesting to The Wire's enduring legacy, Idris Elba said some fans still remember him best for the drama series. Having played the pragmatic, savvy crime boss Stringer Bell for three seasons, the actor confirmed he had qualms with his exit. "I had reservations about how Stringer was dying," Elba told Amy Poehler. "There was various ways that [series creator] David Simon wanted to depict that, and I was a little bit against some of that. But the actual beheading of Stringer was an important move, you know? Just to illustrate to the world that, 'Hey, man, take the blinkers off.'"

Introduced in the series premiere, Stringer Bell...

Idris Elba was having a 40-degree day when first reading his character Stringer Bell’s death scene on “The Wire.” The acclaimed HBO series spanned five seasons between 2002 and 2008; Elba’s drug kingpin Stringer was killed in the Season 3 finale in 2004 by Omar (the late Michael K. Williams) and Brother Mouzone (Michael Potts).

“I had reservations about how Stringer was dying,” Elba recently said during Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast (in the below video). “There was various ways that [series creator] David Simon wanted to depict that, and I was a little bit against some of that. But the actual beheading of Stringer was an important move, you know? Just to illustrate to the world that, ‘Hey, man, take the blinkers off.'”

The real-life inspiration for Stringer didn’t meet the same fate (thankfully). “The Wire” is famously based off of former crime journalist Simon’s reporting across Baltimore. Simon...

2025 has been a prolific year for Jack Quaid.

He began the calendar year with the critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller, Companion, and six weeks later, he became a full-fledged action star courtesy of another well-received film in Novocaine. A handful of weeks later, he co-starred in an indie called Neighborhood Watch with his The Boys castmate, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and now he’s topping it all off with another comedic action performance in Ilya Naishuller’s wildly entertaining Heads of State, featuring Idris Elba and John Cena.

Oddly enough, Quaid shot Naishuller’s actioner well before all his other recent work. His stretch of the film as Marty Comer, a station agent for a CIA safe house, consists of an ‘80s-inspired action sequence where he has to protect Cena’s U.S. President character and Elba’s U.K. Prime Minister character from continued assassination attempts. Quaid credits the elaborate set...

In the much-better-than-it-sounds Amazon-backed action comedy “Heads of State,” relations are frosty between the president of the United States (John Cena) and the British prime minister (Idris Elba), until a terrorist attack forces them to team up and take out the threat themselves. There are at least half a dozen things about that sentence that might strike you as preposterous, but only one worth reiterating: “Heads of State” is infinitely more entertaining than it comes across on paper.

America has never had a president as underqualified for the job as Cena’s Will Derringer, a swollen Hollywood action hero best known for the “Water Cobra” franchise. The model for this character was clearly Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose Austrian origins preclude him from governing (but not from gubernating). Otherwise, he’s no less plausible a commando-in-chief than the matinee idols and reality TV stars who’ve done the job in this crazy,...

John Cena might've risen to fame thanks to his wrestling days, but he has become a popular actor since he switched to the film industry. However, not all his projects attracted positive reviews, but his new release makes an exciting change.

Ahead ofPeacemaker Season 2's release later this summer, John Cena teamed up with Idris Elba for the action comedy Heads of State. A new project with Prime Video, the film premiered on the streaming platform on July 2. Ahead of the film's release,Heads of State debuted with an unfortunate score on Rotten Tomatoes, only 50%, per MovieWeb, but it has since improved and finally got a fresh score.

Since 2023, Cena has had a disastrous Rotten Tomatoes trend. Since Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which had stunning reviews, 95% from the critics and 90% from the audience with the two coveted badges, Verified Hot and Certified Fresh, Cena had only negative scores from the critics.

Idris Elba has opened up about the iconic Stringer Bell scene from The Wire that he had “reservations” about. Elba was the latest A-list guest on Amy Poehler’s new podcast, Good Hang, following in the footsteps of Paul Rudd, Jack Black, and Michelle Obama. Elba was there to promote his new Amazon action comedy, Heads of State, co-starring John Cena.

As an avid fan of The Wire, Poehler was eager to discuss the show, but Elba said he’d never seen it, because he doesn’t want to become too aware of his own performance style. However, he was happy to discuss it — particularly his “reservations” about Stringer’s demise, one of The Wire’s most shocking deaths. Read Elba’s full comments below:

I had reservations about how Stringer was dying. There was various ways that [series creator] David Simon wanted to depict that, and I was a little bit against some of that.

Heads of State puts the audience right at the heart of a political thriller where John Cena is the U.S. President Will Derringer and Idris Elba is Sam Clark, the British Prime Minister.

Not liking each other very much, the U.S. President and the U.K. Prime Minister become the targets of a foreign adversary and have no choice but to stick together in hopes of thwarting a global conspiracy that threatens to rein in the free world of people. But… who is trying to kill Sam Clark and Will Derringer exactly?

Who is trying to kill Sam and Will in Heads of State? Spoiler Alert !!!Major spoilers for Heads of State.

The film features two major antagonists, namely, Viktor Gradov and Elizabeth Kirk. Gradov’s son is killed by NATO during a raid, and his technology is stolen and used by NATO for the betterment of their alliance,...

Why did it feel like the President could be our buddy or our hero in the 1990s?

While it would be tempting to say we’re so divided right now, American history is filled with deep divisions. Instead, the ’90s, with a growing economy and the end of the Cold War, led to an era of, if not good feelings, then a sense of optimism where political differences weren’t so all-consuming. However you want to parse the “why” of the era, the fact remains that audiences got to see the chief executive as a romantic lead (“The American President”), a sensible guy-next-door (“Dave”) or an all-out action hero.

Amazon MGM Studios’ new action movie, “Heads of State,” works to return audiences to that time while also acknowledging the inherent ridiculousness of such a premise in the first place. Instead, the script carefully walks a tightrope of being broadly apolitical...

Plot: When the UK Prime Minister and US President become the targets of a foreign adversary, they’re forced to rely on one another to thwart a global conspiracy.

Review: It’s tough to make a political movie these days without being compared to modern-day politics. But every now and then, something comes along that’s able to comment, while not overly alienating anyone in the process. Heads of State is able to poke the bear while being relatively non-partisan and going more for relatable fun. As much as this is about the attempted assassination of two heads of state, it is more going the fun ’90s route than a political thriller. So strap in, ready yourself for some laughs, and plenty of massive stuntwork.

Heads of State follows the UK Prime Minister and US President as they become targeted by an arms dealer, resulting in the greatest security breach in either country’s history.

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas stood out in London with elegance and style as they celebrated the premiere of Heads of State.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas were the picture-perfect couple during a special evening in London, where they attended the premiere of the highly anticipated film Heads of State. The 42-year-old actress turned heads in a sophisticated Burberry dress from the Autumn 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, while Nick Jonas matched her effortlessly in a navy pinstripe suit.

Priyanka’s dress, in shades of brown, orange, and black, stood out for its delicate details, including sheer fringes that adorned the bodice and midi skirt. The design was completed with a black belt that accentuated her figure and added a modern touch to the look. Meanwhile, Nick opted for a classic and refined ensemble, featuring a double-breasted jacket and leather loafers by Burberry — an outfit that exuded style and sophistication.

Courtesy of...

Widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, The Wire has earned near-universal acclaim, but one of its biggest stars has never seen it. During a conversation with Amy Poehler on the Good Hang podcast, Idris Elba revealed that he’s never watched The Wire and has no plans to change that. Elba played Russell “Stringer” Bell, one of the show’s most popular characters.

“If I’m really honest, I didn’t watch The Wire,” Elba said. “I didn’t watch it. And I feel bad. It’s not that I’m not a fan of it — I was there. I made a show that was, you know, so intense and so real, so important, even though we didn’t realize it. I didn’t realize the importance of the show while making it. I didn’t participate in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan.

Two world leaders must team up to stop a global conspiracy — whether they like it or not.

Action comedies are one of my favorite genres. And lately, Prime Video has been quietly crushing it in that department (you can see my favorites here). I’m definitely not complaining. First there was “The Fall Guy” last year, then they followed it up with the improv-gone-wrong chaos of “Deep Cover,” and now they’re back with “Heads of State.” This one pairs Idris Elba and John Cena as rival world leaders forced to team up to stop a global conspiracy — which sounds ridiculous in the best way. Here’s everything to know about the new Prime Video original movie, “Heads of State.”

How to watch ‘Heads of State’ When: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 3:01 a.m. TV: Prime Video Stream: Watch with a 30-day free trial to Prime Video. From anywhere: Watch with a subscription to a Vpn.

John Cena and Idris Elba's new Prime Video action comedy debuts with a surprisingly fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. The WWE wrestler's first starring role was in the 2015 action movie The Marine, though he has also shined in comedic roles, such as inTrainwreck (2015), Ferdinand (2017), and Blockers (2018).

Cena has also starred in several action franchises, including the Transformers movie Bumblebee (2018), playing Jakob Toretto in the Fast & Furious movies F9 (2021) and Fast X (2023), and Peacemaker in the DC Universe, including in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad (2021) and his eponymous television series, with season 2 set to premiere on August 21.

On the other hand, Elba is an English actor who rose to prominence playing Stringer Bell in HBO's The Wire and the titular chief inspector in BBC'sLuther, the latter role earning him four Primetime Emmy nominations. Elba's Emmy-nominated performances also include his guest role in Showtime's dramedy The Big C and his...

The last few years have seen an uptick in the production of a very particular kind of streaming movie; these films are typically flat to look at, often revolve around spies and global intrigue, and are sometimes designed to start franchises. Apple made Ghosted, starring Ana de Armas and Chris Evans; Netflix produced Heart of Stone, headlined by Gal Gadot; and now, Prime Video has delivered Heads of State, an action comedy with an A-list cast and an exciting filmmaker at the helm. However, the movie has earned mediocre reviews, and is currently sitting at a rather unimpressive Rotten Tomatoes score just ahead of its release on July 2.

Starring Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister and John Cena as the President of the United States, the movie also features Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra Jonasas a secret agent, and is directed by Ilya Naishuller. The Russian filmmaker is best known...

This July, Netflix is starting the fireworks early. Pacific Rim, Guillermo del Toro's 2013 monsters vs. robots blockbuster, is coming to the streaming service. Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, and Rinko Kikuchi star in the science fiction extravaganza, which grossed over $400 million Usd from the global box office. Pacific Rim will be available to stream on Netflix starting on July 1. It joins Pacific Rim: The Black, a Netflix-original animated series that is also available to watch on the streamer.

Pacific Rim came about in the wake of another project collapsing: del Toro's long-dreamed-of adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. The film was penned by del Toro and Travis Beacham, and was conceptualized as a loving homage to mecha anime and kaiju movies. The film, which bore a $190 million budget, was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; it was del Toro's first film produced there, and it has subsequently become his home base.

Remove a few mobile phones and gadgets and Heads Of State could believably be a relic of the 1980s. And that is absolutely its greatest strength. An old-school mismatched-buddy movie with apparently no ambitions other than to be a thoroughly fun time, it hits that rare undemanding-but-entertaining sweet spot that so many modern action-comedies miss.

Early on, you might wonder if it’s misjudged its tone. The opening sequence, in which an undercover sting to apprehend a miscellaneous bad guy (Paddy Considine) goes fatally wrong, comes off like a cut-price Mission: Impossible. Then there’s the slightly stiff introduction of two clashing world leaders: long-serving UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba), whose slumping popularity has put him in a persistent grump, and newly elected US President Will Derringer (John Cena), a former action-movie star who sees little difference between being a scripted hero and a real one. There’s...

John Cena likes to say the phrase "You can’t see me" in the wrestling ring, but outside the squared circle, it appears as if a lot of folks wish they would never see him in another movie ever again. That's if you go by what critics think of his new Prime Video action comedy, Heads of State, which hit Rotten Tomatoes today with a rotten rating of just 50%. This continues a disastrous trend for Cena, as his last two movies for Amazon, Ricky Stanicky and Jackpot!, both failed to not only impress critics, but fans as well, as they hold ratings of only 46% and 31%, respectively.

Also starring Idris Elba, Heads of State sees the two former Suicide Squad pals play strange bedfellows, as Cena takes on the role of actor-turned-American president Will Derringer, while Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke. The two headstrong leaders have a very public rivalry,...

After years of build-up (and one diplomatic disaster too many), Heads of State is finally gearing up for its global debut. Collider has the exclusive first look at the upcoming Prime Video action-comedy, and if the explosive sneak peek is any indication, we’re in for a wild, combustible ride. Think Nobody energy, but with global stakes, and slightly more presidential flair. In the sneak peek, we find John Cena and Idris Elbaas two heads of state — hey, that's the name of the movie! — hunkered down in a not-so-safe room while all hell breaks loose around them. That’s thanks in large part to Jack Quaid, who plays what can only be described as an “American nutter” and takes an, um, unorthodox approach to protecting the two world leaders. It’s explosive, it’s loud, and it’s a total blast. Literally.

First announced more than three years ago, Heads of State...

While Heads of State may not be out just yet, the director of the John Cena and Idris Elba-led Amazon Studios and MGM Studios film addressed what a sequel could look like. The movie follows Cena's U.S. President and Elba's UK Prime Minister, who are forced to team up to survive and unravel a massive conspiracy trying to kill them and reshape the world stage.

The movie, releasing on Amazon Studios' Prime Video on July 2, 2025, also stars Priyanka Chopra, Paddy Considine, Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, and more. The Direct spoke with Heads of State director Ilya Naishuller in an exclusive interview, where he revealed how he feels, "There are plenty of stories you can tell with these characters." He proposed how a future movie could "combine [John Cena and Idris Elba's characters] with other heads of state from throughout the world."

Naishuller also addressed the movie's insane action, explaining that whenever those sequences start,...

Exclusive: Ex-Warner Bros. Discovery (Wbd) docs SVP Howard Swartz is heading to the UK to lead Pioneer Productions.

Swartz joins Pioneer immediately from Banijay-backed American Playboy producer Stephen David Entertainment. He will take on a CEO role that has been vacant for more than a year at Pioneer, the producer behind Gold: A Journey with Idris Elba, How the Universe Works and The Unsinkable Titanic. He will lead the company’s effort to expand a slate of factual content spanning feature docs, limited series and docuseries.

Swartz is a former Wbd SVP of docs and specials, during which time he oversaw more than 100 hours of Shark Week programming and launched several limited docuseries including Serengeti narrated by Lupita Nyong’o and Emmy-nominated feature January 6th. He moved to Stephen David two years back and counts Arrow Media and PBS as former employers.

“Pioneer Productions has always stood for intelligent, ambitious,...

Many Star Trek fans know that Beatles legend Paul McCartney and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry almost joined forces in the early 1970s for a proposed sci-fi musical project based on a concept by McCartney. It never came to fruition, and any material devoted to it -- such as outlines or script drafts -- has gotten lost in the sands of time. There exists, however, a cool photograph of Roddenberry and McCartney together, smiling as they talked. The 366 Project at the Roddenberry Vault shared the photo publicly in 2016.

Now, fans are set to get an enterprise that will bring together McCartney and members of the Star Trek universe. The production company Gaumont will transform McCartney’s 2005 children’s book, High in the Clouds, on which he collaborated with illustrator Geoff Dunbar and co-writer Philip Ardagh, to the big screen as a 3D animated feature. The film has been in development for more than a decade,...

It’s been a big year so far for Jack Quaid, who has already starred in projects such as Companion and Novocaine, and now his next film just got an exciting new look. Collider is thrilled to partner with Rlje Films to unveil a new sneak peek at Neighborhood Watch, which releases in limited theaters and on digital platforms this weekend. The new clip from the film shows Ed (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) severely wounded as Simon (Quaid) tries to find him some help. The film follows Simon, a young man grappling with mental illness who becomes convinced he’s witnessed an abduction. However, when the police refuse to believe his report, he turns to his neighbor, Ed, a former security guard with a troubled past.

Neighborhood Watch comes from director Duncan Skiles (The Clovehitch Killer) and also stars Malin Akerman (Watchmen). The film was written by Sean Farley, with Luke Daniels,...

“Heads of State” is a new comedy feature, directed by Ilya Naishuller, starring John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root and Carla Gugino, streaming July 2, 2025 on Prime Video:

“…the ‘UK Prime Minister’ (Elba) and ‘US President’ (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance.

“But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run.

“Allied with ‘Noel’, a brilliant ‘MI6 agent’ (Chopra) they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world…”

Click the images to enlarge…

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Heads of State Credit: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios Copyright: {CALVO_BRUNO} Get ready for a power duo you didn’t know you needed! Prime Video is dropping the action-comedy Heads of State on July 2, and it’s bringing together the formidable talents of Idris Elba and John Cena. Imagine this: the UK Prime Minister (Idris Elba) and the US President (John Cena) are not exactly best buds. In fact, their public rivalry is causing some serious tension between their nations. But as fate (and a powerful enemy) would have it, these two leaders find themselves in the crosshairs. Suddenly, their animosity takes a backseat to survival as they’re forced to team up and go on a high-stakes, globe-trotting adventure. Adding to the excitement is Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Noel, a sharp MI6 agent who allies herself with this unlikely pair. Together, they’ll need to uncover and stop...

Amazon MGM Studios has released the official trailer for Heads of State, offering an action-packed first look at the their upcoming summer action comedy starring John Cena (Peacemaker; The Suicide Squad; Fast X) and Idris Elba (Luther; Beasts of No Nation; The Suicide Squad) in the lead roles, as the leaders of the United States and United Kingdom, respectively, with Priyanka Chopra (Don: The Chase Begins Again; The White Tiger; Citadel) serving as their MI6 bodyguard.

As per the synopsis, "The UK Prime Minister and US President have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent, they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world."

The film will reunite Elba and Cena for...

The Suicide Squad‘s John Cena and Idris Elba reunite for Heads of State, a buddy action comedy that finds the duo playing the US President and UK Prime Minister. The two-minute trailer shows what begins as an adversarial relationship transforms into a formidable team after they’re attacked and forced to run for their lives. Thankfully, Priyanka Chopra Jonas shows up to keep them safe from killers … and themselves.

The film also stars Carla Gugino, Jack Quaid, Stephen Root, Sarah Niles, Richard Coyle, and Paddy Considine. Per Prime Video: “The film is an action-packed comedy about the U.S. President (Cena) and the UK Prime Minister (Elba), who must set aside their rivalry to thwart a global conspiracy and save the world — if they can work together.”

Directed by Ilya Naishuller (Nobody), Heads of State will premiere on Prime Video on July 2, 2025.

John Cena and Idris Elba in ‘Heads of State...

Prime Video has released the first trailer for Heads of State, an upcoming action comedy starring Dcu actors John Cena and Idris Elba as Will Derringer, the President of the United States, and Sam Clarke, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, respectively. The footage teases the "debut duet" of the two characters, and they might just be the duo that we never knew we needed or, at least, the one we needed again following their previous team-up as Peacemaker and Bloodsport in James Gunn's 2021 superhero film The Suicide Squad.

Cena and Elba are seen entering new territory as world leaders in the action-packed trailer for Heads of State (shared below). The clips reveal a rivalry between Derringer, a former fame-hungry Hollywood star, and Clarke, a straight-talking government leader, which, according to the synopsis for the movie, could "risk their countries' alliance." However, they realize that two heads are...

Idris Elba and John Cena reunite for the first time since The Suicide Squad to headline Heads of State. The first trailer for the upcoming action comedy has just been released ahead of its streaming debut on Prime Video this July.

"The UK Prime Minister (Elba) and US President (Cena) have a public rivalry that risks their countries’ alliance. But when they become targets of a powerful enemy, they’re forced to rely on each other as they go on a wild, multinational run. Allied with Noel, a brilliant MI6 agent (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must find a way to thwart a conspiracy that threatens the free world," reads the synopsis for the buddy cop movie." Check out the official trailer and poster for Heads of State below.

Image via Prime Video

Heads of State was first announced in October 2020, with Ilya Naishuller coming aboard the project two years later as director.

It’s been a while since we have heard much chatter on Heads of State – the buddy action-comedy starring John Cena and Idris Elba – but now Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first teaser trailer.

Here is the official plot of Heads of State: “The UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship.” But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other. Ultimately allied with the brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

It's been a long time since the action-comedy movie that promised to reunite John Cena (Jackpot!) and Idris Elba (Hijack) was first announced. The good news for fans of both actors is that the wait is almost over. Today, Prime Video finally decided to unveil a trailer for Heads of State, which provides some insights into the story and reveals some of its characters. The streamer also announced a release date: it debuts on July 2, just in time for Independence Day.

The timing of the release is not random. In the story, Cena plays Will Derringer, the President of the United States, and Elba plays UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke. The two leaders have a very public feud, which is a huge problem for the nations' relationship. Their connection doesn't get any better when they are forced to spend time together during a diplomatic event. However, they need to put...

The folks at Amazon have released a brand new trailer for the upcoming action/comedy "Heads of State." This is a two-hander that reunites Idris Elba and John Cena, who previously starred in "The Suicide Squad" together. This time, instead of playing villains turned heroes, they're playing government officials at the highest levels. Elba is the U.K. Prime Minister, and Cena is the U.S. President — and they don't like each other. Let the comedy ensue.

The new film, which is going straight to Prime Video in July, was directed by Ilya Naishuller, best known for his work on 2021's "Nobody" starring Bob Odenkirk. So this seems to be right in his wheelhouse. Much of the trailer focuses on the dynamic between Elba and Cena, which is very contentious, not unlike Peacemaker and Bloodsport in "The Suicide Squad." It doesn't look particularly original, but it certainly looks like the...