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RATED 2018
IAN BUNTING’S rundown of what to watch out for in cinemas this year
Mission Impossible 6
Released: July 27 Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down as the world’s most agile spy makes another comeback.
The fifth movie’s Christopher McQuarrie directs again and rumours suggest Superman himself, Henry Cavill, is playing the antagonist.
Both Rebecca Ferguson and Michelle Monaghan return to compete for Cruise’s heart. Black Panther Released: February 12 Introduced to the cinematic world in Captain America: Civil War, the African-based superhero finally gets his time in the solo spotlight.
Creed’s Ryan Coogler is an exciting choice to direct Chadwick Boseman as the King of Wakanda and an impressive supporting cast includes Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis and Angela Bassett. Deadpool 2 Released: June 1 Ryan Reynolds’Merc with a Mouth is back in the sequel to 2016’s surprise critical and commercial success.
He will be joined by Josh Brolin, pulling comic book double duty just two months after his Thanos tackles the Avengers, as mutant Cable and Zazie Beetz’s Domino as John Wick’s David Leitch takes the directing reins. Incredibles 2 Released: July 13 After a long 13-year wait, Pixar’s family of superheroes suit up once again for this hugely-anticipated sequel.
The teaser trailer quickly became the most-viewed animated trailer of all time, which suggests enormous expectation levels.
Cast newbies Catherine Keener and Bob Odenkirk are on board alongside old favourites Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson. Fifty Shades Freed Released: February 9 The much-derided – but hugely popular – erotic trilogy comes to a close as we finally get to discover if Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey get to live happily ever after.
Will stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan continue to be handcuffed by a poor script? How many sexual puns will the marketing campaign supply us with? Find out on Valentine’s Day. Solo: A Star Wars Story Released: May 25 The second Star Wars spin-off flick has experienced a troubled production, with original helmers Phil Lord and Chris Miller replaced by Ron Howard.
But Rogue One’s re-shoots didn’t affect its quality and the appetite for all things Star Wars is at fever pitch.
Whether Alden Ehrenreich can do the iconic anti-hero justice in this prequel is another matter. Ready Player One Released: March 30 Ernest Cline’s seminal sci-fi novel couldn’t have asked for a much more creative mind to bring its futuristic trappings to the big screen than Steven Spielberg.
Set in 2045, Tye Sheridan and Olivia Cooke escape their slum-like city home by entering virtual reality world the OASIS.
This could be one of the year’s biggest and best. Fantastic Beasts The Crimes of Grindelwald Released: Nov 16 J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter spin-off gets a second adventure as Eddie Redmayne’s Newt Scamander faces off against Johnny Depp’s titular villain.
He won’t be alone, though, as buddy Katherine Waterston is back by his side, along with Jude Law as a younger version of wizard Albus Dumbledore.
With a further three Beasts films planned, expect much universe-building twists and turns. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Released: June 8 Jeff Goldblum returns to the Jurassic franchise alongside the previous movie’s co-leads Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Not much is known about the plot, but The Orphanage’s J.A. Bayona takes over from Colin Trevorrow behind the camera.
Teaser footage suggests the raptors will once again play a key role in the dino carnage.