Photo Credit: Atsushi Nishijima
We may well be almost into February, but there remain plenty of movies to look forward to in 2018. If the likes of Deadpool 2 and Ocean’s 8 aren’t enough to get you excited, let’s not forget those smaller productions that fully intend to have made their mark by the time 2019 comes around. Here are just some of the movies we can expect to make an impact in the year ahead.
A Wrinkle in Time
A big-budget adaptation of the famed sci-fi young reader’s novel penned by Madeleine L’Engle. Selma’s Ava DuVernay directs, and Meg Murray and Chris Pine star. Storm Ried (Murray) goes in search of her father zapping her way through space and time, with guidance from Mrs Whatsit (Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon), Mrs Who (The Mindy Project’s Mindy Kaling), and Mrs Which (TV legend Oprah Winfrey).
Fun Fact: DuVernay is one of only three female directors in the history of Hollywood to be given a budget of $100mn+.
Ready Player One
“Steven Spielberg” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore
A dystopian action-packed blockbuster largely set in virtual reality. Stephen Spielberg directs this adaptation of the bestselling Ernest Cline novel. Wade Watts (played by Tye Sheridan) is a dreamer residing in a future America that is suffering from over-population. He spends his days playing video games and gets roped into a mission to inherit the wealth of the game’s creator.
Fun Fact: Spielberg was allegedly attracted to the novel due to its 1980’s pop culture obsession, which, of course, he had a large role in creating.
Avengers: Infinity War
All the favourite Marvel heroes (and a few bad guys, of course) are here to go to war with Thanos (played by John Brolin), a huge purple alien with a magical golden gauntlet who plans to take over the entire universe.
Fun Fact: This is the epic cross-over Marvel has been building up to for an entire decade.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
A stand-alone movie in the ever-expanding Star Wars franchise that takes us on an adventure with the young Han Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich) as he is introduced to Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian (played by Donald Glover) and no doubt embarks on the odd Kessel Run.
Fun Fact: The end result will be a combination of the work of Christopher Miller, Phil Lord, and Ron Howard. Miller and Lord, who were originally working on the film, were fired halfway through shooting, with Howard coming on board to replace them.
Deadpool 2
“Deadpool is coming” (CC BY 2.0) by Didit Putra
The sequel to the R-rated action comedy revolving around a mutant deadly assassin (played by Ryan Reynolds) that shocked the movie world in 2016 when it became one of the biggest financial successes in the history of Hollywood.
Fun Fact: Deadpool 2 will expand the X-Men universe it takes from by including Cable (once again, Josh Brolin). It will also likely be given a far larger budget than the original.
Ocean’s 8
A heist film in the mould of Ocean’s Eleven, which this time, sees a team of women attempting to pull off the heist of the century at the Met Gala, The movie is directed by Gary Ross, who also directed Pleasantville and The Hunger Games.
Fun Fact: The super ensemble comprises: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Mindy Paling, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, and Helena Bonham Carter.
6 down, 6 to go
So are you excited yet? With so many films to add to your to-watch list, there may come a time when you need a break away from the movies. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of other entertainment out there. Video games, of course, at least give you a chance to be more involved. There are plenty of film franchises also in game form, including some on this list, such as Deadpool and the upcoming Avengers game. Online slot games are popular right now and also have something to offer to film fans, with titles such as Baywatch and Psycho online slot. With up to 100 free spins and a 100% welcome bonus, unlike sitting back and watching a movie, you can actually win money, which is never a bad thing. And just like the two above examples, this next film is part of a franchise that hasn’t performed too badly, at all.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Yet another outing featuring the relentless dinosaurs, in a direct sequel to the 2016 smash, Jurassic World. The same heroes, played by Bryce Dallas and Chris Pratt, return. This time they’re tasked to make their way back to Dino island to help the dinosaurs survive a volcanic explosion. Director for Jurassic World, Colin Trevorrow, isn’t at the helm for this one, although he did write the script. A Monster Calls’ J.A. Bayona replaces him behind the camera.
Fun Fact: Dr Ian Malcolm (played by Jeff Goldblum) returns (at least according to the trailer).
Alita: Battle Angel
An adaption of Yukito Kishiro’s Battle Angel Alita, a Japanese manga. Alita is played by Rosa Salazar, a cyborg created by scientists (Jennifer Connelly and Christopher Waltz) who becomes involved in futuristic sport Motorball. Alita, who is rendered by motion-capture, is given huge anime eyes, which the trailer proves is truly an effect to behold.
Fun Fact: James Cameron (Avatar, Titanic) wanted to make the film for a long time, but is instead writing and producing. Sin City’s Robert Rodriguez is directing.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
A sequel to the ABBA-inspired musical, Mamma Mia!, that has become seemingly integrated into the foundation of 21st-century pop culture. Here We Go Again also serves as a prequel, showing Meryl Streep’s Donna as a younger woman (played by Lily James).
Fun Fact: Okay, this one isn’t quite so fun. The trailer appears to imply that Streep’s character is deceased. This may not go down too well among fans, despite Cher’s cameo.
Mission: Impossible 6
“Tom Cruise” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Gage Skidmore
Tom Cruise Is back in what has become his most iconic role, Ethan Hunt: a super-spy with the knack for finding himself in dangerous situations, such as hanging off skyscrapers in random parts of the world. Most of the team returns: Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames, as well as Rebecca Ferguson after she impressed critics in her last outing in the franchise. Christoper McQuarrie is back as director and Henry Cavill also features.
Fun Fact: This is the only movie in the franchise that serves as a direct sequel.
Christopher Robin
This take on A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories appears to run vaguely along the lines of Hook. An older Robin (played by Awn McGregor) has given way to his imagination before the bear reenters his world to help him rediscover it.
Fun Fact: While Finding Neverland’s Marc Forster directed, the script comes from indie filmmaker Alex Ross Perry; an intriguing choice for Disney, bearing in mind his typically caustic characters.
A Star Is Born
“Lady Gaga – ”I AM GAGA!” – The Monster B” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by punxie89
A story of fame won and lost, and one as old as Hollywood itself that has been given three treatments already (with Janet Gaynor in 1937, Judy Garland in 1954, and Barbara Streisand in 1976). Lady Gaga will this time play the blossoming talent, with Bradley Cooper providing the romantic interest.
Fun Fact: While Lady Gaga may be the main draw as far as the box office is concerned, this is very much a passion project for Cooper, who wrote and directed the film.
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