J.J. Abrams’ Return to Directing Takes Shape with the Fantasy Film THE GREAT BEYOND
J.J. Abrams has officially locked in the title for his long-gestating return to directing, and it gives us the first real sense of what kind of ride he’s planning. The filmmaker’s upcoming Warner Bros. fantasy, previously known under the working title Ghostwriter, is now officially called The Great Beyond.
The project began production in London back in May 2025 and is now deep into post-production, with heavy visual effects work underway. While Warner Bros. hasn’t announced a release date yet, there’s a chance the film could land before the end of the year.
The title change surfaced through a WGA filing that credits Abrams as the screenwriter and lists the movie under its new name, The Great Beyond.
It’s a notable step forward for a project that’s been kept tightly under wraps since it was first announced. The cast features Glenn Powell, Jenna Ortega, Emma Mackey, and Samuel L. Jackson.
Plot details are still officially secret, but according to reports, the story centers on “an author of popular fantasy novels who reveals that the mythical world he’s known for creating is actually real, sending the lead character (Powell) on a quest.”
There’s also been speculation from Jeff Sneider, that the film plays as an ’80s-style throwback, with tonal inspiration drawn from The Last Starfighter. If true, that points to a mix of big-hearted adventure and genre nostalgia, something Abrams has leaned into before when he’s at his best.
The Great Beyond marks his first time Abrams has directed a feature in seven years. In the meantime, several of his television projects stalled or were scrapped, and his role in the industry shifted largely toward producing.
At one point, the UK’s Telegraph even claimed he was in “director’s jail” has directing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This high-budget fantasy is clearly positioned as his way out, and it could end up defining what the next phase of his career looks like.
Abrams’ résumé still carries plenty of weight. He created Felicity, Alias, and Lost, shows that shaped early 2000s television. His move into features brought Mission: Impossible 3, Star Trek, and Super 8, and for a while he was even being labeled “the next Spielberg.”
That trajectory didn’t quite pan out, and expectations now are very different. This time, the question isn’t about hype but execution.
Abrams is also developing another film starring Dwayne Johnson, written by Zak Penn, and it’s described as leaning into the same kind of meta, genre-bending energy Penn explored in The Last Action Hero.
For now, The Great Beyond stands as the clearest signal yet that Abrams is ready to step back into the director’s chair and remind audiences why his name once carried so much excitement.
Whether it becomes a redemption story or a final roll of the dice, it’s one of Warner Bros.’ more interesting wild cards on the horizon.
Via: World of Reel
