The time when families used to plan going out for an 'event' summer flick seems to be a thing of the past. The best they can do currently is get together on a couch with a large bowl of popcorn and settle down in front of their big screens.
Or each person in a corner with their own device.
This is how things roll today...
But if cinema is dead or not, as Martin Scorcese famously declared it to be, Hollywood is kicking hard.
Here is my list of the upcoming Hollywood projects that sound really promising. The release dates range from 2021 to 2022.
The list covers most genres and I will keep updating this list as more are announced and discovered. Also: these are in no particular order:
Dune (2020)
Cast: Timothy Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, Stellan Skarsgard and Dave Bautista
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Frank Herbert fans must be excited. Hollywood is taking a crack at the famous sci-fi classic again. The first version, by David Lynch is not considered one of his more stellar efforts (though I can't comment on it as I have yet to see it), but this one looks promising.
If you enjoyed Villeneuve's sequel to Bladerunner, you might be even more interested.
I think he is still one of the interesting directors working today so I am looking forward. And that cast - a mixture of veterans with new blood - seals the deal for me.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2021)
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro
Director: Martin Scorsese
I could just say "its Scorsese" and move on to the next one but David Grann's true crime book is superb and if you haven't read it yet, you must. It is about the murder of the members of the Osage Tribe and its subsequent investigation that leads to J. Edgar Hoover.
Though the whole cast is yet to be announced, I am already a fan of "The Irishman" and can't wait to see this. Plus, Dicaprio and DeNiro are both at the top of the game and yes, its Scorsese!
The Last Duel (2021)
Cast: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jodie Comer and Adam Driver
Director: Ridley Scott
King Charles VI declares that a knight settle a dispute with a squire with a duel.
This is one project that I find intriguing but also have some reservations about. Damon and Affleck's last screenplay won them both Academy Award but one can't help but wonder if they can handle this period or not. They are also acting here.
Scott's oeuvre is of a rather hit or miss variety but at the same time, he has had more success with historical. Driver is one of the best new actors and Comer is riding high on the success of Killing Eve. This could end up a strong contender on "the most glamorous night of Hollywood".
Jurassic World: Dominion (2021)
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neil and Laura Dern.
Director: Colin Trevorrow
Oh yes, they are not leaving us so soon. The dinosaurs in these films have become less of reminders of our past and the films have become less of cautionary tales about "man playing God". They increasingly look more like any other 'monster in the house' films but our fascination with these animals continues.
The plot is being kept under wraps but we all can guess that the first half will have people fawning over the animals and the second one running away for their lives. Trevorrow's last film of in the same world was one of the better ones in the series (after the first one, of course) and it will be interesting to see what he does next!
Untitled Paul Thomas Anderson Project (2021)
Cast: Unknown
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
One director who has only grown in strength with each film. I am sure that his films will gain much more reputation as they grow older.
All information that we have of his latest is that the plot concerns a child actor and is set in the 1970's. I will keep updating as more information comes through.
The Matrix 4 (2022)
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jonathan Groff, Carrie Ann-Moss, Priyanka Chopra, Jada Punkett Smith, Neil Patrick Harris
Director: Lana Wachowski
Didn't see this coming, did you? Well, I didn't!
While the Wachowski's films post Matrix have not been out of this world and frankly, their last film 'Jupiter Ascending' was terrible, but this is could be an exciting return to form.
Joining the cast is Jonathan Groff of Mindhunters. Could it be that Reeves will now be playing the part of Fishburne, recruiting new people to go against the Matrix?
The inclusion of Neil Patrick Harris (Gone Girl) and Indian star Priyanka Chopra (Quantico) is also intriguing.
Mad Max: The Wasteland (TBA)
Cast: Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron (unconfirmed)
Director: George Miller
I don't know how much more of a wasteland the film's desert setting could be but with George Miller, the mad genius that he is, you never know. He knocked our socks off with Mad Max: Fury Road and this prequel to that film, centering around Furiosa is all set to be a wild ride.
One curious thing: there is still no mention of Charlize Theron reprising her role on IMDB. If they are going back in her past maybe they will take another actor?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Elizabeth Olsen
Director: Sam Raimi (Rumored)
It has taken longer than expected but the sequel to the hit Doctor Strange is finally coming. The full cast, like the plot, is being kept under wraps for now. Though, I am sure Tilda Swinton will be seen (sure and hope!).
The delay in this announcement can be attributed to the previous director Scott Derrickson dropping out. Sources cite “creative differences” to be the cause of this split. Derrickson is the director of 'Sinister, one of the better horror films of recent years, and he wanted Doctor Strange's horror elements more pronounced. This was resisted by the Producer, who wanted a more kid friendly version.
Sam Raimi seems a great choice then cause his Spiderman films were very "kid-friendly".
But this could also be the film where Sam Raimi gets his mojo back with all his filmmaking idiosyncrasies. His last Spiderman is not only maligned now but also made studio come up with a reboot. But I guess that machinery is not really angry with him if he gets to do this.
The release date, according to IMDB is 22nd March, 2022.
This is it for now, friends! As I said, I will keep updating this list so... subscribe!