After a seven-year break from directing, J.J. Abrams is returning with a new film that’s a departure from his usual work. Best known for science fiction like the recent Star Wars movies—he last directed Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019—Abrams is now taking on a different genre.
While he created HBO’s upcoming 2025 show Duster and has a few producing credits, he’s generally kept a low profile since 2019. Early TV shows like Felicity and Alias helped establish his reputation, but it was Lost that really made him well-known. That popular sci-fi series then led to other projects including Fringe, Person of Interest, the rebooted Star Trek films, and Super 8.
I’ve been a huge fan of this director for years – his work always feels like it comes straight out of a sci-fi novel! But I was so excited to hear about his next project, The Great Beyond, which he announced back in April 2026 at CinemaCon. The cast is amazing too; Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell are leading the film, and Samuel L. Jackson and Emma Mackey will be joining them in supporting roles. I can’t wait!
The movie is scheduled to hit theaters everywhere on October 1, 2027. Although details about the story are still limited, a trailer shown at CinemaCon hinted that the characters played by Ortega and Powell will journey to a strange, new world. While it might seem like a typical sci-fi film, director Abrams promises this one will be unlike anything he’s created before.
J. J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond Is A Mashup Of Genres, Some Of Which He’s Never Done
We still haven’t seen the trailer for The Great Beyond, but people who saw it at CinemaCon say it began with a quote from H.G. Wells.
Though I can’t explain how, there’s another world beyond our senses, hidden from both sight and sound.
The trailer opens with vintage technology powering on, showing quick glimpses of the characters Powell, Ortega, Mackey, and Jackson. It concludes with a close-up of someone turning a key in an enigmatic device. While reminiscent of Super 8, director Abrams describes the film as blending multiple genres (according to Variety).
I didn’t want the book to fit neatly into one genre. I aimed for a blend of thriller, mystery, romance, and science fiction – a little bit of everything, really.
Before this film, J.J. Abrams primarily stuck to single genres. His previous movies like Mission: Impossible III were straightforward spy thrillers, while Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Force Awakens, and The Rise of Skywalker are classic science fiction adventures. Even Super 8 clearly drew inspiration from the sci-fi films of Steven Spielberg in the 1980s and 90s.
J.J. Abrams usually focuses on a single type of story, but his new film, The Great Beyond, seems much more ambitious. Combining different genres and narratives is harder than sticking to a familiar formula. It remains to be seen if Abrams successfully took on this challenge, or if the movie truly blends genres as he intends – we’ll find out when it’s released next year.
Abrams’ First Movie Since The Rise Of Skywalker Has Some Making Up To Do
By the time J.J. Abrams releases his next film, The Great Beyond, it will have been over seven years since he last directed one. His previous movie, The Rise of Skywalker, received largely negative reviews from both critics and fans. While the Star Wars franchise has faced challenges for a long time – some might say even dating back to Return of the Jedi – it’s unfair to place all the responsibility on Abrams.
However, his last film in the sequel series didn’t really improve things for the franchise. This new project, The Great Beyond, could be Abrams’ opportunity to prove that Rise of Skywalker was just a misstep and not an indication of his future creative direction.
2026-07-21 01:19