Entertainment News (07/07/26)

Prime Video releases July lineup

PRIME VIDEO unveils its July lineup, featuring a diverse mix of global and local titles across series, animé, documentaries, and films. Leading the slate is Elle (July 1), a coming-of-age prequel that follows Elle Woods navigating high school in 1995. Also debuting is The Loyalty Game (July 3), where a wife tests her husband’s fidelity with unexpected consequences. Animé highlights include Ghost in the Shell (July 7), set in a technologically advanced 2029 Japan, and From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman II (July 9), continuing the journey of a countryside instructor adjusting to life in the capital. The docuseries Murder 101 (July 13) revisits a decades-old case through the eyes of a high school class. Comedy-drama Ride or Die (July 15) follows lifelong friends whose bond is tested by a shocking secret, while Young Farts Trailer Parts (July 17) spotlights entrepreneurial brothers turning scrap into profit. Closing the month is Batman: Caped Crusader, Season 2 (July 31), exploring the Dark Knight’s early years. On the film side, Boulevard (July 10) tells a story of love and risk in a new city, while Open Endings (July 17) follows four queer women navigating life, love, and friendship in their 30s.

Meanwhile, Prime Video has now released the first-look images for The Last Sunrise, the upcoming series based on the beloved novel by Anna Todd, the bestselling author of the After series. The heartfelt coming-of-age romance explores themes of love, family, and the importance of living in the moment amid life’s uncertainties. follows Ry (Maia Reficco), a college student living with a chronic illness, who travels to Mallorca with her mother (Eva Longoria) for a summer escape. There, she unexpectedly falls for Julián (Fernando Lindez) and begins embracing life more fully, but her worsening condition and long-hidden family secrets threaten to upend everything before the season ends. Directed by Carlson Young and written by Anna Klassen, the emotional drama stars Ms. Reficco, Mr. Lindez, and Ms. Longoria, runs for 106 minutes, and is rated R. The series is set to premiere globally on Aug. 26, including in the Philippines, and will be available in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Disney+ releases July lineup

DISNEY+ is rolling out a diverse lineup this July, headlined by the return of X-Men ‘97 Season 2 (July 1) and A Shop for Killers Season 2 (July 22), alongside new originals such as the crime thriller The Husband (July 4), psychological thriller Furious starring Emmy Rossum and Jake Lacy (July 27), and documentary-drama Pompeii: Out of Time with Tom Hiddleston (July 23). The platform is also debuting major sequels including Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (July 2) and The Devil Wears Prada 2 (July 29), while music fans can tune in to a live stream of Lollapalooza from July 31 to August 3 featuring artists such as Jennie, Charli XCX, aespa, and SB19. Disney+ has also curated a “Rainy Day Watchlist” featuring family favorites and feel-good classics including Descendants: Wicked Wonderland (July 17), Soul, The Princess Diaries, Lilo & Stitch, and The Parent Trap.

Meanwhile, Disney+ has announced that it will exclusively livestream all matches of the 2026 LoL KeSPA Cup, South Korea’s premier short-format League of Legends esports tournament, for global audiences beginning July 20. The competition will feature 10 teams from the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) battling for a total prize pool of KRW 52 million, with matches streamed every Monday and Tuesday through the Grand Final on Aug. 18 at the Daejeon e-Sports Arena in South Korea. The livestreams are part of Disney+’s expanded partnership with the Korea eSports Association and will be complemented by exclusive tournament content, including team greeting videos and behind-the-scenes features available through Disney+ Korea’s social media channels.

Finally, Lucasfilm and Production I.G’s Star Wars: Visions Presents – The Ninth Jedi is set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ Philippines on Aug. 5. The eight-episode limited animé series expands the story introduced in the acclaimed Star Wars: Visions shorts The Ninth Jedi and  Hope, following Lah Kara as she continues her Jedi training under Margrave Juro while embarking on a quest to save her father. The series is directed by Shunsuke Tada, with Kenji Kamiyama serving as supervising director, and features returning English voice cast members Kimiko Glenn, Andrew Kishino, Masi Oka, Patrick Seitz, JP Karliak, Simu Liu, and Neil Kaplan, alongside new additions Feodor Chin, Young Mazino, Chase Sui Wonders, and Keone Young.

Katrina Halili, Angel Guardian win Best Actress honors at Japan-based awards

SPARKLE ARTISTS Katrina Halili and Angel Guardian were both recognized as Best Actress at the 2026 World Class Excellence Japan Awards for their performances in GMA dramas. Ms. Halili received the award for her portrayal of Emma in Mommy Dearest, while Ms. Guardian was honored for her role as Sang’gre Deia in Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre. The awards ceremony, marking the 10^th anniversary of the World Class Excellence Japan Awards, was held on June 18 at the Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. Also among the winners was Rio Locsin, who was named Best Supporting Actress in a TV Series for her performance in GMA’s The Master Cutter.

KAIA embraces a softer sound in new single ‘hulog’

P-POP girl group KAIA released its latest single, “hulog,” marking a new chapter for the act following the viral success of its “Takedown” cover and the fan-favorite track “Tanga.” Released under Sony Music Entertainment Philippines, the song explores the excitement and vulnerability of falling in love, showcasing a softer and more mature side of the five-member group. Produced by hitmaker Shadiel Chan alongside Ken Ponce, it also features lyrics by Jikamarie, Red Ridao, Ron Pangyarihan, and Chan. KAIA said the track reflects both the group’s artistic growth and personal experiences, while allowing them to explore new emotional and vocal territory.

Recording Academy voter Jonathan Manalo surpasses 10.2B cumulative streams

FILIPINO songwriter-producer and Recording Academy voting member Jonathan Manalo has surpassed 10.2 billion cumulative streams across major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, according to Muso AI data as of June 25. This marks a milestone that reflects the enduring popularity of his work with some of the country’s biggest artists, from Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, and Sarah Geronimo to Moira Dela Torre, SB19, and BINI. The ABS-CBN Music creatives, content, and operations head credited listeners for the achievement, saying each stream represents a personal connection to a song, story, or moment. Fresh off the milestone, Mr. Manalo also welcomed the Recording Academy’s introduction of the GRAMMY Award for Best Asian Pop Music Performance, calling it an important step toward greater global recognition for Asian and Filipino artists and an opportunity to spotlight the Philippines’ rich musical talent and artistry on the world stage.

The Itchyworms brings Akin Ka Na Lang tour to Hong Kong

FILIPINO pop-rock band The Itchyworms will bring their successful Akin Ka Na Lang tour to Hong Kong for the first time on July 26, with two performances scheduled at The Wanch in Wan Chai — a 4 p.m. matinee and an 8 p.m. evening show — to accommodate members of the Filipino community in the city. Known for OPM hits such as “Beer,” “Love Team,” and “Di Na Muli,” the band said the concert offers an opportunity to reconnect with overseas Filipinos who have continued to support Filipino music while living abroad. The special show is also expected to feature collaborations with Hong Kong-based Filipino musicians Jesper Mercado and Rendel Frendol. Tickets are now available via https://bit.ly/AkinKaNaLangHK.

Coco Martin films and comedy favorites headline Cinema One’s July lineup

CINEMA ONE is dedicating July to blockbuster films starring Coco Martin, with a lineup of action-comedy and fantasy hits airing every Friday at 10 p.m. under its “Friday Action” block. Featured titles include Ang Panday (July 3), Beauty and the Bestie (July 10), Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles (July 17), 3pol Trobol: Huli Ka Balbon (July 24), and The Super Parental Guardians (July 31). The channel will also showcase comedy films during “Blockbuster Sundays” at 7 p.m., featuring The Mall, The Merrier, Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity, Da One That Ghost Away, and Love or Money. Meanwhile, a “Rom-Com Heartthrobs” special will highlight films starring Joshua Garcia, James Reid, Enrique Gil, Daniel Padilla, and Gerald Anderson throughout the week. Cinema One is available via iWant and major cable providers nationwide.

Rol3ert releases Kodoku EP and ‘Aftertaste (feat. REJAY)’ MV

JAPANESE singer-songwriter Rol3ert has released his second EP, Kodoku, alongside the music video (MV) for “Aftertaste (feat. REJAY),” capping off a breakthrough month that included his first overseas headline show in Taipei, a performance at the prestigious 2026 Golden Melody Awards Showcase, and a Radio Special Award win at Music Awards Japan 2026. Anchored by the title track “Kodoku,” Rol3ert’s first song titled in Japanese, the five-track EP explores themes of loneliness and self-discovery through noise-infused alternative pop and stripped-back acoustic piano arrangements. The release comes amid growing recognition across Asia, with the 20-year-old artist continuing to build a strong following throughout Southeast Asia ahead of appearances at major festivals such as Summer Sonic Tokyo and Sweet Love Shower 2026.

Shakira & Burna Boy’s ‘Dai Dai’ is the #1 global song

COLOMBIAN superstar Shakira continues her global dominance with “Dai Dai,” her collaboration with Nigerian artist Burna Boy, which has become the most-streamed song on Spotify worldwide and topped the Billboard Global Chart for the week of June 30. Released on May 14 as the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in support of the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, the track blends Latin pop and Afrobeat influences while celebrating perseverance, football, and global unity. The song has surpassed 500 million streams across digital platforms, with its music video amassing more than 296 million views, helping Shakira become the first Latin female artist to exceed 99 million monthly Spotify listeners. The milestone comes amid the continued success of her record-breaking Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, which remains one of the highest-grossing tours in the world.

New season of Regal Studio Presents this July

GMA’S Regal Studio Presents returns for a brand-new season with the romantic drama Til Debt Do Us Part, starring Nikki Co and Sarah Edwards as Alex and Maya, two strangers brought together by debt and unexpected circumstances. Alex, a hardened debt collector working for a ruthless loan shark, finds his life changing when he meets Maya, a determined young woman struggling to pay off her late mother’s hospital bills while caring for her younger sister. As an unlikely partnership blossoms into romance, Alex must choose between his job and his heart, while Maya wrestles with trust and uncertainty.

EastWest Dream Run returns this August

THE EastWest Dream Run returns for its second year in 2026, expanding to four cities — Manila, Clark, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro — after drawing around 14,000 participants nationwide during its inaugural edition last 2025. Organized in partnership with RUNRIO, the event aims to celebrate fitness, perseverance, and personal milestones, with race categories ranging from a 1K Dog Run to a 21K half marathon. The Manila leg will take place on Aug. 2 at Filinvest City in Alabang, followed by the Clark leg on Aug. 30 at Filinvest Mimosa Plus Events Grounds. EastWest cardholders can also enjoy added value when they sign up. Runners who pay using their EastWest Credit Card may receive a P500 rebate with a minimum single-receipt spend of P3,000 on Dream Run registration, as part of an ongoing promo running until Oct. 18. Participants may register through www.eastwestbanker.com/dream-run-2026.