Jenna Ortega In Talks To Join Glen Powell In J.J. Abrams Secret New Movie

Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell are two stars who know a thing or two about legacy sequels. Ortega has helped spearhead the latest Scream reboot in recent years and is about to star in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, whilst Powell has proven his movie star chops with standout turns in the likes of Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters. But, according to Deadline, it looks like the duo are set to leave franchise fare behind to team up on the latest film from J.J. Abrams. Per the trade's reporting, Ortega and Powell are both in final talks to board Abrams' as-yet-untitled latest movie at Warner Bros.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say we know next to nothing about what Abrams is cooking up over at his Bad Robot HQ at this point, beyond the fact the Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise Of Skywalker director has written the script himself and — as Deadline curiously note — it is *not* a time travel movie. However, we did learn last year that Abrams' production company and Warner Bros. are buddying up to adapt Stephen King's Billy Summers for the big screen. Now, with the secrecy surrounding this particular potential Powell and Ortega starring Abrams joint, the likelihood is that this movie and the King adaptation are two entirely separate endeavours, but Billy Summers does centre around an American hitman forced to lead a double-life. If only we knew a guy who could play a part like that, eh?

Despite the dearth of info on J.J. Abrams' new project, the prospect of the Super 8 filmmaker returning to non-IP territory after The Rise Of Skywalker's rocky reception is a warmly welcome one. While we wait for confirmation of Powell and Ortega signing on the dotted line and Abrams setting a shooting schedule for this one though, there's still plenty to look forward to from both of its potential stars. Powell is prepping to get his Running Man on when production starts on Edgar Wright's hotly anticipated King retooling later this year, whilst Ortega's got the aforementioned Beetlejuice Beetlejuice about to hit cinemas and is currently hard at work on Season 2 of The Addams Family spin-off Wednesday. And if Abrams' secret film does turn out to be Billy Summers after all, you heard it here first! (And if it doesn't, then no you didn't!)