JUSTICE Ian Bunting
Looks at a super year ahead for movie goers... BIG
Despicable Me 3 The animated box-office juggernaut returns with Steve Carell voicing Gru and long-lost twin Dru.
The Minions are back too and South Park’s Trey Parker has been cast as the film’s new baddie, Balthazar Bratt, a former 80s child star.
Given that the first two flicks made $1.5billion worldwide, it’s safe to assume another hit is on the cards.
The Lego Batman Movie Will Arnett will butt heads with Justice League’s Ben Affleck in a battle to crown the year’s best Batman.
Arnett voiced the Caped Crusader in a small but terrific turn in The Lego Movie and now branches out into his own full-length feature.
The trailers hint at hilarity on a grand scale as the eclectic voice ensemble includes Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Ralph Fiennes and Mariah Carey!
Beauty and the Beast Disney’s latest live-action take on one of its classic tales will arrive in cinemas on the back of its record-breaking second trailer being viewed 127.6million times in its first 24 hours.
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens star as Belle and the Beast and the familiar tunes will be belted out by them and fellow Brits Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson and Ian McKellen. The God of Thunder’s third outing will see him once again join forces with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.
Speculation suggests the action will come to earth before going inter-planetary as new director Taika Waititi attempts to freshen the franchise.
Tom Hiddleston’s mischievous Loki is back and exciting series newcomers include Cate Blanchett, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum.
Blade Runner 2049 Thirty-five years after the ground-breaking original, the replicants return with Sicario and Arrival’s Denis Villeneuve replacing Ridley Scott behind the camera.
Harrison Ford’s Deckard is back, though, alongside Ryan Gosling, Jared Leto and Dave Bautista, and Scott is contributing to the storyline, which is a closely-guarded secret.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 The much-anticipated sequel to 2014’s surprise hit sees the ragtag bunch of anti-heroes continue their space-set adventures.
Perhaps even more intriguing, though, is the addition of action icons Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell to the diverse cast list.
Expectations will be higher, but director James Gunn is sure to embrace the challenge.
Cast newbies include Benicio Del Toro and Laura Dern, who will join the returning Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Adam Driver.
Rumours suggest an Empire Strikes Back-style darker turn to set up the trilogy-closing Episode IX in 2019. La La Land; Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea); Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) and Emma Stone (La La Land);
Foster (Hell or High Water) and Naomie Harris (Moonlight); La La Land.