There are plenty of movies to get excited for each year, and while most of those rescheduled films have finally hit theatres or streaming, Hollywood isn’t slowing down either for new products. Instead of reiterating what’s been pushed back again, I’m only touching on the new blockbuster movies that’ll be coming soon.
Advancing of ZQ
Feb 1 (China)
This comedy is due to hit theatres come Chinese New Year and it might get an America side screening in the weeks following. It’s a strange superhero family drama about Zheng Qian, the black sheep of the family, coming home and trying to make amends before his grandfather’s funeral.
When a meteorite strikes nearby and brings back the dead, the supernatural shenanigans don’t end there. The family has a rival out to get their fortunes and the Qians better have their act together than be splintered apart if they’re to save the day.
Moonfall
Feb 4
Roland Emmerich is no stranger to disaster films, and when he’s ready to drop a moon onto the planet Earth, facing extinction is the least of humanity’s problems. I’d say he’ll be offering his take in what Brian Harper has to do when taking on Armageddon.
What they find may well change the history books and lore about why this lunar sphere is hollow, as the teaser trailers suggest.
Uncharted
Feb 18
Tom Holland is trading in his red and blue long johns for something more practical in this adaptation of the video game action adventure archaeological franchise. Instead of the 40s where the Indiana Jones adventures took place, this series is set in the modern day. But as for who can help this bartender (that’s Drake’s day job), this first outing focuses on how Sully becomes his partner in arms. That is, no knowledge of the franchise is required.
The Batman
March 4
This reboot has a new Bruce Wayne, played by Robert Pattinson, and instead of focussing on his ongoing career fighting crime, it deals with the “past.” Like the Batman: Year One comics, the tale focuses on this superhero’s early life. In this film’s case, it’s actually his second year in the cowl, and taking on a better version of The Riddler.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
April 8
SEGA fans who thought the first film was not enough will get their wish. As Sonic adapts to live in a human world, others are gunning after him by crossing the dimensional rift and finding him on Earth. We’ll have Knuckles and Miles in this world. One is an ally and the other enemy.
Plus, we’ll see the return of Jim Carrey in full Ace Ventura mode in this film. I can’t wait to see Doctor Eggman!
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
April 15
Despite all the problems that occurred during pre-production and cast changes (Johnny Depp is out), the third instalment is connecting itself to the Harry Potter side of things. We have Dumbledore in the fore. But he can’t deal with Grindelwald alone. He’ll need Newt and his friends to help as the fight gets real and this series of films either finishes with this one (most likely not) or sees how this battle affects the future, namely inspiring a certain He Who Must Not Be Named rise to power.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
May 6
After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, the Master of Mysticism will have to deal with the fallout of casting two spells to make the multiverse forget about Peter Parker. Nobody knows who Spider-Man is except for us, but as for those god-like beings that exist outside of the known universe, it’s safe to say they’re paying the Doc a visit, and he’ll have to explain himself.
They may well ask him to repair those fractures that formed when he toyed with the lives of everyone in the multiverse, hence this film’s title.
Jurassic World: Dominion
June 10
It’ll be terrific to see Sam Neill return to this franchise and deal with the large reptiles. They’ve taken over the world, and it’s going to be hard to wrangle them up and send them off to live on a quiet island. he isn’t alone as much of the original trilogy’s cast–Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Daniella Pineda, Isabella Sermon, Justice Smith, Omar Sy, and BD Wong–are back, and as for whether they’re here to help or hinder, that’s up to the newer trailers to reveal.
Fans have been offered a Jurassic look at how the dinos have amalgamated with the world.
Thor: Love and Thunder
July 8
This sequel to Thor: Ragnarok is exciting in the fact Natalie Portman is back and most fans know she’s going to be the next person to wield the hammer. We also have a few members from the Guardians of the Galaxy involved–Star Lord, Drax and Mantis–and that’s enough to show the mainline heroes are still important in the ongoing MCU saga.
Marvel Entertainment should stick to focusing on these characters rather than introducing new ones every Phase because with this film, it might as well be called Guardians of the Galaxy 2½ given the number of misfits involved. On that note, will the Grandmaster be a friend or foe?
Black Adam
Oct 21
Dwayne Johnson, as the Black Adam and Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, are two reasons this film is going to be big. This take will introduce him as a figure from the world of Kahndaq rather than Ancient Egypt, and the assumption is that he’ll somehow make his way to Earth to deal a lot of hurt. No, that’s not the smell of lighting cooking in the aftermath of wherever Adam travels to. He has all the same powers as Shazam, and in order to stop him, I’m assuming Doctor Fate is the only member of the JSA who’ll be able to imprison this mad god.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
November 11
The screenplay for this sequel might have been rewritten when Chadwick Boseman passed. Instead of recasting and going forth with previous plans, I’m placing my bets that this instalment is some kind of anthology collection, and building up to revealing who will rule this kingdom in his wake. We won’t necessarily know he’s passed as this movie progresses, and what we’ll see is a huge funeral honouring this hero’s legacy.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Dec 16
This sequel will have to examine Black Mantis’ plans for revenge. Since he can’t take over Atlantis on his own or exact revenge upon the ruler, he’ll need help. I’m thinking this film will be about the search for another kingdom that can turn the tide of who rules the oceans. Atlantis isn’t the only lost civilization, as we also have Lemuria and Mu. With Wan in charge, he may well steer into this territory to give this franchise some much needed intrigue.
