And you thought 2017 was packed...
Buckle in guys, because the 2018 blockbuster season is genuinely about to begin. Yes, long gone are the days when major motion pictures were reserved for a summer-time release date. Major, tent-pole releases from Disney, Warner Bros. and more are primed and ready to shake up the movie landscape in the coming weeks, but if you find it hard to remember what's actually coming out then you're in luck - here's a comprehensive list of the highest profile, multi-million dollar movies heading to your cinemas in the next 12 months...
Avengers: Infinity War
You knew this would be here, let's face it. The third (and kinda final?) film in the Avengers trilogy sees the original team members reunite for the last time to combat Thanos, the power-hungry brute who was first teased all the way back in 2012's Avengers: Assemble. According to rumour, a high-profile Avenger is brutally killed in just the first five minutes, and with multiple actor contracts coming to a close you can expect many of the heroes you've fallen in love with in the last 22 films to kick the bucket. Sure to be the biggest financial hit of the year, the recently released first trailer for Infinity War became the highest viewed trailer of all time with over a quarter of a billion views in the first 24 hours of release. This is one film you don't want to miss.
Avengers: Infinity War is released in the United Kingdom on the 27th April, and in the United States on May 4th.
Black Panther
Ranked by Fandango users as the second-most anticipated film of the upcoming year, Black Panther is the second of three Marvel films set to release in 2018. In a heated political climate bogged down by racism and xenophobia, this film marks a landmark moment for black talent in Hollywood, and for ethnic minority heroes as a whole. Black Panther is the first Marvel film to have a non-white lead, and explores T'Challa's journey after Captain America: Civil War. As he grapples with the role of being Wakanda's King, Black Panther must deal with a deadly rivalry within his own ranks too. From the director of Creed, the film also stars Lupita Nyong'o, Angela Bassett, Michael B. Jordan, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Forest Whitaker, Sterling K. Brown, and Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya.
Black Panther comes out in the United Kingdom on the 12th February and in the USA on February 16th.
The Incredibles 2
If Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War leave you hungry for more heroes, then look no further. Dinsey Pixar's long awaited sequel to The Incredibles (2004) is set to pick up where the first left off with a stronger focus on Mrs Incredible and the ambiguously powered Jack Jack. While not much has been revealed about the specifics of the plot, old favourites like Samuel L. Jackson's Frozone are set to return.
The Incredibles 2 will release in the United Kingdom on the 13th June, and in the United States two days after.
Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Another Disney animated sequel, but this time from the House of Mouse proper, Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet explores our lovable protagonists journey out of the first film's arcade and into the online gaming space. Surprisingly, the characters of Nintendo's Super Mario franchise are also set to appear alongside John C. Reilly's Ralph, marking the gaming legend's first cinematic outing since the abysmal 1993 live-action Super Mario Bros., starring Bob Hoskins as the titular plumber.
Wreck it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet is scheduled for release on the 30th November, and in the United States on November 21st.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
This sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is possibly the most controversial to appear on this list so far. For perhaps the first time in the history of Hollywood, the Crimes of Grindelwald is set to explore a homosexual romantic relationship between a young Albus Dumbledore and his manipulative friend Grindelwald (played by Jude Law and Johnny Depp respectively). Many fans, though, are furious that Johnny Depp, a man clouded by abuse accusations following his public divorce with Aquaman star Amber Heard, has been cast in the film. Fantastic Beasts, though, is still entrenched in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter world, and is set to up the drama substantially as a magical war brews across the wizarding world. Expect exciting things from this cinematic game changer.
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is set to release in the UK and USA on November 16th
Deadpool 2
In 2016, Valentine's Day was infused with another kind of scarlet. Deadpool, set adjacent to the multi-billion dollar X-Men franchise, introduced the globe to the foul-mouthed merc-with-a-mouth Wade Wilson, and thanks to a stellar ad campaign headed by Ryan Reynolds, the film was a major, major financial success. It's sequel adds the kick-ass Domino, and Josh Brolin as Cable, the (sort-of) son of Cyclops and Jean Grey from the future. The stakes have been raised, and so have the guns; Deadpool 2 is set to be one of the biggest movies of the year.
Deadpool 2 is scheduled for a different release from it's original - check out the sequel nearer to Halloween on October 15th.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
The third and final Marvel Cinematic Universe film to seek a 2018 release is Ant-Man and the Wasp, which marks another first for the 22 film strong franchise: it's first official female lead. Little is known about this film, with it coming out after the game-changing Avengers: Infinity War. The timing is made even more curious considering the hero's smaller status (pun intended) when compared to main plot influencers like Thor, Iron Man and the Hulk. For these reasons it can be assumed the film will take place before the events of Avengers 3. Michelle Pfeiffer joins Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Lawrence Fishburne and Paul Rudd in this sure-to-be charming "superhero rom-com".
Ant-Man and the Wasp flies into cinemas in the UK on August 3rd, with the USA getting to see it from July 6th.
Aquaman
It's no secret that Justice League was 2017's biggest disappointment, delivering Warner Bros. with a hurricane of negative articles, fan reviews and criticism. Aquaman's character, though, certainly wasn't the issue, and Jason Momoa's chiseled abs are set to return to Atlantis in Prince Arthur's first feature film. Joining him as the Atlantian Queen Mera is Amber Heard - she'll help Arthur as he takes on the mysterious villain only known as Black Manta, who is terrorizing the oceanic community. Also starring is Nicole Kidman, bringing much needed star power to the high-budget flick. Granted, even I'm not sold on this one, but if anything can make this palatable it's James Wan (the director of The Conjuring, and genius behind the Saw franchise), who has been drafted in to direct what could turn out to be one of 2018's biggest surprises.
Catch (heh, get it?) Aquaman in theatres worldwide on December 21st.
Ready Player One
Steven Spielberg used to be the king of the blockbuster, his film Jaws arguably inventing the genre. Since then, though, his power over the box office has waned, and so has his track record of stellar films. His comeback, though, is approaching. Ready Player One is an adaptation of a best-selling book that takes place in a futuristic world devastated by over-population and climate change. The only escape? Virtual Reality. Tye Sheridan, who you may remember as the most recent actor to play Cyclops in X-Men: Apocalypse, plays Wade Watts, a young guy who's developed an expert skill at navigating the OASIS - an interconnected virtual world. When the founder of OASIS passes away, the company ignites a competition, revealing one lucky person will inherit the company if they can discover a key, or 'Easter Egg', hidden within it's multi-layered virtual world. Set to be a visual masterpiece, this fresh, exciting flick is sure to cause a commotion.
Ready Player One is set to release on March 30th worldwide.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
While Justice League was 2017's biggest disappointment, there's no doubt that Star Wars: The Last Jedi was its most controversial. Hoping to clean up the franchise's mess is Solo, which follows the early adventures of Han Solo long before the events of Episode I. The film co-stars Emilia Clarke in a role quite different to the now iconic Danaerys Targaryen, as well as Donald Glover who takes on the role of the equally beloved Lando. While its quality is yet to be revealed, Solo: A Star Wars Story will at least be one of the years highest grossing hits, as The Last Jedi already takes the top spot as 2017's highest grossing despite negative reviews.
Solo: A Star Wars Story arrives in cinemas on May 25th in the US and UK.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
I'll be honest with this one, the trailer looks awful. Despite that, though, it's hard to deny Chris Pratt's ability to make a hit, with the first Jurassic World being one of the most surprising smash-hits of the decade in an unprecedented gross for the franchise. Also returning is Bryce Dallas Howard, fresh from her spectacular turn in Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror episode 'Nosedive'. I mean...you'll probably see it, right?
If you, too, reluctantly plan to visit the Park, the gates open on the 8th June in the UK and on June 22nd in America.
A Wrinkle in Time
This is what happens when Oprah, Ava DuVernay and Reece Witherspoon come together to adapt one of America's most beloved novels. A Wrinkle in Time follows Meg Murray, a schoolgirl who's scientist father (Chris Pine) goes missing after uncovering an inter-dimensional secret. On her journey through time and space to recover him, Meg encounters three inter-dimensional guardians (Mrs Who, Mrs Which and Mrs Whatsit, played by Mindy Kaling, Reece Witherspoon and Oprah) who aid her in her quest. With DuVernay being the incredibly talented director that she is, and the source material being so strong and beloved, it's hard to imagine this Disney film being sub-par.
Check A Wrinkle in Time out on March 9th in the US and the 23rd of March in the UK.
X-Men: Dark Pheonix
Considering Walt Disney Pictures has just acquired Fox, this latest mainline installment into the decades-long X-Men franchise will surely be its last. Despite that rendering this film kind of pointless (in regards to its continuation of the overall X-Men plot), Dark Pheonix will at least serve as a fitting finale to the fan-favourite series. Sophie Turner returns as Jean Grey, but this time she and her fellow X-Men (including James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult) are enterting orbit. Yes, the X-Men are blasting off into space as an inter-galactic showdown to recover the mind of Jean Grey is set to leave audiences fixated.
X-Men: Dark Pheonix will be released on November 2nd in the US and UK.
This star studded sequel takes the 'all-female' trope to new heights. Sandra Bullock stars as the sister of Danny Ocean (George Clooney) who, allegedly, has passed away. Thankfully for us, Ms. Ocean is just as crooked, with her latest criminal venture centering on the infiltration of the Met Gala in an attempt to recover priceless jewels from Anne Hathaway's character attending the event. The '8' in question include the music icon Rihanna, Cate Blanchett, Akwafina and Mindy Kaling, with the high calibre ensemble promising a thrilling romp in the summer movie season.
Ocean's 8 sets sail for the silver screen on June 8th in the US and June 22nd in the UK.
A different kind of female lead film, Mary Poppins Returns (completely unrelated to Batman Returns) will revive the Mary Poppins character who, this time around, looks a lot like Emily Blunt. This film is an absolute mystery at the moment, but with the phenomenal success of Disney's recent live-action fairy tales it's hard to imagine it wont be great. Joining everyone's favourite nanny is Lin Manuel Miranda (the Hamilton star) and Dick Van Dyke makes a charming return to the franchise in a mystery cameo set to delight fans of the 1930's original. Also starring are Meryl Streep and the beloved Angela Langsbury, who's IMDb credit is listed simply as "Balloon Lady".
If you're as intrigued as I am, Mary Poppins Returns will begin its run in the UK on December 21st, and on Christmas Day in the US.
Tomb Raider
Angeline Jolie has passed down the iconic role of Lara Croft to the Academy Award winning Alicia Vikander in this reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise. Inspired by the 2013 video game series reboot of the same name, this version of Croft's world takes us back to basics with a new origin story and emphasis on gritty realism as opposed to the glossy, leather-clad, trigger happy depiction of the explorer made famous by Jolie. While, again, much of this film's plot remains a mystery, the trailer seems to promise us some lush visuals and Indiana Jones style temple running that is sure to dazzle on the grandeur of the silver screen. Could this be the dark horse of the 2018 summer movie season?
You can find out soon, as Tomb Raider swings onto screens on March 16th in the US and UK.
If you thought Henry Cavill's face looked a bit...off during last years Justice League, you can discover the reason why in this latest installment of Tom Cruise's landmark franchise. The aforementioned Man of Steel joins Angela Bassett, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin and Rebecca Ferguson in the spy series' latest entry. While nothing is known yet about the sixth edition, not even its official title, it has already caused a kerfuffle when Paramount, the studio behind the film, refused to let Henry Cavill shave off his Mission Impossible moustache when he was called back for Justice League re-shoots by Warner Bros. What followed was a terribly CGI-d upper lip that haunted Clark Kent's face as much as bad reviews haunted Justice League's commercial success.
To see the trouble-making 'stache up close, check out Mission Impossible 6 in cinemas on April 8th.
New Mutants
Fox's X-Men franchise has recently been taking major creative risks. Deadpool took the first step, introducing audiences to an adult, explicit and ultra-violent mainstream superhero film for perhaps the first time since the comic-book movie renaissance in 2008. Logan, next, explored Wolverine's future in a non-canonical look at his and Professor X's deep-rooted friendship. Both were huge successes, and their spiritual follow up is arriving this year. New Mutants stars Stranger Things and Game of Thrones alumni and hopes to usher in a new group of fan favourite heroes. Directed by Josh Boone (who's previous films include The Fault in Our Stars), New Mutants hopes to merge the coming of age genre with the horror one, in what will at minimum be an interesting take on a world we already love so much.
The New Mutants are coming in April - the 13th in the US and in the UK on the 11th.
It's not just Fox that want a slice of the adult-oriented, comic-book box office though - in 2018 Sony gears up to bring Venom back to the big screen but this time with Tom Hardy donning the lycra suit. It's unclear whether, due to Marvel Studios and Sony recently teaming up for Spider-Man: Homecoming, this will be a part of the Avengers universe. It's not very likely. Despite that, though, Venom is shaping up to be a really interesting film packed with genuine acting talent and a story as action packed as it is intellectual and thought provoking .
Catch Venom from October 5th worldwide.
Mary Poppins Returns isn't Disney's only Christmas live action fairy tale to releasein 2018. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland meets The Chronicles of Narnia, and looks like one of the most visually impressive films of the year. Focusing on an interracial relationship between the young Nutcracker and Mackenzie Foy's Clara, this film details what happens when a young girl is transported into a Christmas-themed, ornate other world of gingerbread soldiers and an army of mice.
Cosy up to The Nutcracker and the Four Realms from November 2nd in the US and October 26th in the UK.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Miles Morales finally makes his long-deserved big screen debut in Into the Spider-Verse, an animation for older audiences which takes its time to reveal the multiple web-swingers that inhabit the deeper Marvel world. This vibrant universe has been brought to life by The Lego Movie's Phil Lord and Chris Miller, who combine comic-book aesthetic with traditional 3D animation to create a never-before seen style for the silver screen. It's not just Miles Morales donning the spidey-suit though, with rumours indicating Marvel fan-favourites Silk, Spider-Gwen and White Tiger are also set to appear.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is coming to screens on December 14th.
So what do you think of the 2018 blockbuster line-up? It's pretty packed, right? Which are you most looking forward to? For me it's obviously Avengers: Infinity War, closely followed by Black Panther. Into the Spider-Verse's trailer looked so well animated though, and as a long time Nintendo fan the rumours that Super Mario might finally arrive in cinemas in Ralph Break's the Internet: Wreck it Ralph 2 makes me kinda excited. Let me know what your favourites are in the comments below, and if you want to make the most of the Oscar movie season before the tidal wave of popcorn-munchers hits our shores, you can check out the current top contenders for the Academy Awards right here!
Written by James Green
No comments:
Post a Comment