10. Havoc (Gareth Evans)
Originally filmed in 2021 this long gestating film from The Raid director Gareth Evans will finally see the light of day this year. Tom Hardy stars as a bruised detective fighting his way through the criminal underworld to rescue a politician’s son. Also featuring Forest Whittaker and Timothy Olyphant, the films long delay is reportedly due to reshoots which doesn’t instill confidence, but if the Welsh filmmaker can replicate anything close to the visceral breakneck violence of his Raid films, then this has the potential to be fantastic. It’s expected on Netflix sometime this year.
9. Frankenstein (Guillermo Del Toro)
Oscar winning director Guillermo del Toro will return this year with his unique take on Mary Shelley’s gothic tale. With a star-studded cast including Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, the films synopsis suggests it may follow-on from the classic novel, as Waltz’s Doctor Pretorius looks to track down the titular monster (Elordi), thought to have perished 40 years prior. Del Toro who has a penchant for the world of myth and monsters, has been working on the film for more than a decade and is quoted as saying his Frankenstein adaptation is a lifelong dream. Again, keep your eyes on Netflix for its release sometime this year.
8. Jurassic World: Rebirth (Gareth Edwards)
With the stench of Jurassic World Dominion still fresh in our nostrils, you’d be forgiven for not wanting to see another Jurassic Park film ever again. However, Universal studios have moved quickly to erase that memory by hiring David Koepp, writer of the original 1993 classic, and director Gareth Edwards to revive the franchise. This new entry will see Scarlett Johansson lead an expedition into Dino territory in order to extract prehistoric DNA for medical purposes. This seventh entry into the franchise will crash into cinemas in July.
7. Sinners (Ryan Coogler)
Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers (Michael B. Jordan in a dual role) return to their hometown, only to discover an even greater evil is waiting for them. Assembling a mouth-watering cast including Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell and Delroy Lindo, Black Panther and Creed’s Ryan Coogler turns his hand tantalisingly to horror for the first time for this film expected in April.
6. Wake up Dead Man (Rian Johnson)
Daniel Craig returns as Inspector Benoit Blanc for this third instalment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series. As with the previous two films Blanc will try to unravel a complex mystery surrounded by a stellar cast, which this time includes Cailee Spaeney, Jeremy Renner, Josh Brolin, Glen Close and Mila Kunis to name just a few. Plot details are scarce at the time of writing, but fans of the ridiculously entertaining previous instalments will expect more of the same. Again due on Netflix at some point in 2025.
5. Superman (James Gunn)
With the old DC now dead, new CEO James Gunn will begin his universe reboot with the studios most famous hero. David Corenswet will take on the lead role while Nicholas Hoult stars as his nemesis Lex Luthor. The trailer suggests a lighter tone, more in keeping with Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and seems to feature a raft of comic book heroes in supporting roles. DC have high hopes for a summer smash hit and will release the film in July.
4. Wolf Man (Leigh Whannell)
Following the critical success of his Invisible Man film in 2020, director Leigh Whannell has been handed the reigns to another of Universals monster properties. Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott play a couple on holiday at a remote farmhouse with their daughter, when they are attacked in the woods by an unseen animal. As the night stretches on, and the father gets sick, it becomes clear an otherworldly transformation is taking place. Wolfman is in cinemas now.
3. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Matt Shakman)
Looking to rebuild their reputation after a bumpy few years, Marvel will introduce The Fantastic Four to the MCU this Summer, with Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach assuming the roles of Marvels first family, while Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson are on board as antagonists The Silver Surfer and Galactus. Reportedly set in a different retro styled universe, fans will be eager to see how the quartet will integrate into the established timeline. Another July release which will see this go head-to-head with DC’s Superman reboot for summer comic book supremacy.
2. The Running Man (Edgar Wright)
The Schwarzenegger original hasn’t aged very well, so the time seems right for another take on Stephen Kings original novella. Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright will base his new version more on the book which is very different to the 80’s actioner. Replacing Arnie as Ben Richards will be Glenn Powell, while Colman Domingo and Josh Brolin co-star. This one is scheduled to hit cinema screens in November.
1. 28 years later (Danny Boyle)
With writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle returning to the franchise they began in 2002, excitement is brewing for this sequel to 28 days later (and 28 weeks later). Three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, a group of survivors from a secluded island must venture into the dark heart of the mainland to discover what has become of the infected and their fellow survivors. Scheduled to hit cinemas in June, Aaron Taylor-Johnson will lead the cast which also includes Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Jack O’Connell.
Paul Steward
19/01/25
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