- Joker: Folie à Deux (Todd Phillips) Expected October
2019’s Scorsese inspired Joker origin story was billed as a stand alone one-off, but its success (Over a billion at the global box office and 2 Oscars) mean a sequel was inevitable. Reuniting with director Todd Phillips are stars Joaquin Phoenix and Zazie Beetz, while Lady Gaga has been added to the mix as the Jokers on/off girlfriend Harley Quinn. Most intriguingly, the film will reportedly be an out and out musical! How that will work, only time will tell.
- Gladiator 2 (Ridley Scott) Expected November
Another unexpected sequel to an Oscar winning film, sees Ridley Scott return to the world of his epic 2000 best picture winner Gladiator. There’s no Russell Crowe this time, but Connie Nelson returns as Lucilla, and Paul Mescal takes on the role of her now adult son Lucius who will be the focus of this next chapter. The script from Napoleons David Scarpa will see Djimon Housou and Derek Jacobi also return and adds acting heavyweights Denzel Washington and Pedro Pascal to the cast.
- Nosferatu (Robert Eggers) Expected December
After building a loyal following with folk horrors The Witch and The Lighthouse, director Robert Eggers was let loose with a much bigger budget for 2022’s spectacular nihilistic blockbuster The Northman. For his follow-up he fulfils a lifelong dream by remaking 1922 horror classic Nosferatu. Bill Skarsgard will trade his Pennywise clown costume for a cloak, to play the terrifying Vampire Count Orlok, while Emma Corrin, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Nicholas Hoult will also star in this gothic tale of blood and obsession.
- Mickey 17 (Bong Joon Ho) Expected March
Based on the sci-fi novel ‘Mickey 7’ by Ashton Edward, which tells the story of the seventh cloned iteration of a human coloniser on an alien world. Mickey 17 will star Robert Pattinson in the lead role with support from Steven Yeun, Toni Collette and Mark Ruffallo. Acclaimed Korean filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, follows up his Oscar win for Parasite by bringing his unique style to proceedings and by adding an extra 10 Mickey’s!
- The Fall Guy (David Leitch) Expected May
Ryan Gosling, fresh from his iconic performance as Ken in the smash hit Barbie, turns his attention to 80’s TV, as the lead in this big screen remake of The Fall Guy.
Co-starring Emily Blunt, Gosling will play Colt Seavers, a stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter in his spare time. Directed by Deadpool 2’s David Leitch, a former stuntman himself, the film will borrow only loosely from the show, as Seaver’s is sent on a rescue mission to save Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s A list actor Tom Ryder from the clutches of a criminal gang.
- Love Lies Bleeding (Rose Glass) Expected April
Kristen Stewart stars as Lou, a reclusive gym manager in director Rose Glass’s follow up to the excellent Saint Maud. Falling for Katy O’Brian’s ambitious body builder the pair head for Las Vegas, but are soon pulled into a web of violence by Lou’s criminal father (a super creepy looking Ed Harris). Jena Malone and Dave Franco also star in this violent tale of revenge, romance and body building.
- The Bikeriders (Jeff Nichols) Expected June
Tom Hardy and Austin Butler team up with Jodie Comer for ‘Mud’ director Jeff Nichols Motorcycle club drama. The film follows the rise of Chicago MC ‘the Vandals’ and charts their evolution from small time outfit to feared criminal enterprise over the course of a decade. The starry cast includes Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook and The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus. Sons of Anarchy fans, this one is for you!
- Deadpool 3 (Shawn Levy) Expected July
Now part of the Marvel cinematic universe, Deadpool’s 3rd outing will be the studio’s only film of the year and as a result may have long standing implications for the MCU’s future. Ryan Reynolds returns as the merc with a mouth, alongside Hugh Jackman who is back once again as Wolverine and will finally get to don his classic yellow suit from the comics. Free Guy’s Shawn Levy will direct while Emma Corrin and Matthew Mcfayden have been cast in mystery roles. Expect superhero Cameo’s galore as Deadpool embraces the multiverse.
- The Iron Claw (Sean Durkin) Expected February
Fans of 80’s wrestling will remember former intercontinental champion the Texas Tornado Kerry Von Erich, but the tragic tale of his family isn’t quite as well known. Sean Durkin writes and directs this true story of Kerry and his brothers who made wrestling history in the early 80’s, under the guidance of their domineering father Fritz (Holt Mcallany). Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson star as the sibling grapplers while Lily James will play Efron’s wife-to-be Pam. Real life wrestlers Maxwell Friedman and Chavo Gurerro are also on board as producers and will bring vital insight and authenticity to the film.
- Civil War (Alex Garland) Expected April
English Filmmaker Alex Garland follows up his ultra weird 2022 film ‘Men’ with this near future tale of journalists travelling across America as an escalating civil war engulfs their nation. With a dictatorship government on high alert and an extremist militia at every turn, Kirsten Dunst struggles to survive alongside Cailee Speany, Nick Offerman and her real life husband Jesse Plemons. Expect a tense action blockbuster with an all too plausible premise.
Paul Steward
X @grittster
21/01/24
*Dune – Part 2 was my most anticipated film this time last year, but due to the Hollywood strikes it never arrived and has since been rescheduled for early March. Rest assured I’m still very much looking forward to it, but I’ve left it off this list to avoid repetition.