Send Help, Disney Has A New CEO, and A Sundance 2026 Recap

On the February 4, 2026 episode of /Film Weekly, /Film editor Ben Pearson is joined by several people to talk about the latest movie and TV news, have a discussion about Sam Raimi’s Send Help, and talk about almost every single movie we saw at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival.

(~00:19) News

• https://www.slashfilm.com/2089157/catherine-ohara-home-alone-schitts-creek-star-dead-obituary/
• The Chain
• HBO has given an eight-episode, straight-to-series order for THE CHAIN, a new limited series written and executive produced by Emmy®-winner Damon Lindelof (HBO’s “The Leftovers,” “Watchmen”). Lindelof will showrun, a position not held since HBO’s “Watchmen.” HBO has also signed a two-year overall deal with Lindelof which began in September 2025.
• Based on the acclaimed New York Times bestselling book by Adrian McKinty of the same name, THE CHAIN is the first project under this deal with the Emmy®-nominated television studio Media Res (“The Morning Show,” “Pachinko”) serving as the co-studio. Details are under wraps, but Lindelof is said to be expanding the mythology of McKinty’s award-winning thriller.
• Edgar Wright was going to turn this into a movie a few years ago: https://www.slashfilm.com/574844/the-chain-movie/
• the “expanding the mythology” aspect is intriguing, because the premise of the book sounds pretty bonkers
• The Chain tells the story of Rachel, who learns that her 11-year-old daughter has been kidnapped. The only way to get her back is to kidnap another child. Her daughter will be released only when that next victim’s parents kidnap another child. If Rachel doesn’t kidnap another child, or if that child’s parents don’t kidnap a child, her daughter will be murdered. She is now part of The Chain, a terrifying and meticulous chain letter-like kidnapping scheme that turns parents from victims into criminals. The book tells Rachel’s harrowing story as victim, survivor, abductor and criminal. What the masterminds behind The Chain know is that parents will do anything for their children. But what they don’t know is that in Rachel they have finally met their match, as she is smart and tough enough to have survived a bout with cancer and is determined to break The Chain while getting her daughter back.
• https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nancy-meyers-comedy-penelope-cruz-kieran-culkin-jude-law-release-date-2-1236649935/
• https://www.slashfilm.com/2089145/final-fast-and-furious-movie-fast-forever-2028-release/

(~4:31)

• https://www.slashfilm.com/2092175/disney-bob-iger-ceo-replacement-josh-damaro-meaning/
• The Drama trailer

(~18:40) Send Help Review: Rachel McAdams Is Delightfully Unhinged In Sam Raimi's Bloody Horror Comedy

(~41:22) Sundance 2026

2026's First Truly Shocking Comedy Has Scenes You Have To See To Believe [Sundance 2026]

A24's New Horror Film Is Already The Scariest Movie Of 2026 [Sundance 2026]

The Moment Review: The Charli XCX Brat Phenomenon Gets A Bitterly Hilarious Mockumentary

Olivia Wilde's New Movie Is A Perfect Comeback After The Disastrous Don't Worry Darling [Sundance 2026]

All the other stuff you need to know:

• You can find more about some of the stories we mentioned on today’s show at slashfilm.com, and linked in the show notes.
• You can subscribe to /Film Weekly on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
• Check out patreon.com/popcultured to hear more from many of the folks you heard on this episode!
• Send your feedback, questions, comments, concerns, and mailbag topics to us at bpearson@slashfilm.com. Make sure to leave your name and general geographic location in case we mention your e-mail on the air.
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• Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
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