MUST-SEE SUMMER MOVIES,
With theaters cautiously reopening after the crushing curse of COVID-19, some films are coming back to the big screen. Check out Parade’s must-see list for summer 2021. — Neil Pond
1
Find out how a classic Disney character came to be in Cruella (May 28 and on Disney+), with Emma Stone in the title role of fashion-forward young London design diva Cruella de Vil, who’ll become the iconic villain of 101 Dalmatians. Many miles away from the cartoon of 1961, this campy, vampy live-action backstory looks like a playfully punkish cousin to Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker. Hold on to your puppies!
2
Start your engines for the latest installment of the high-octane Fast & Furious franchise—which began 20 years ago! In F9 (June 25), Michelle Rodriguez, Vin
Diesel, Charlize Theron, Helen Mirren, John Cena and other familiar gearheads are back (no Dwayne Johnson, though) for another asphalt-ripping, eye-popping ride, some absolutely gonzo stunts and— of course—something about a deadly assassin and settling old scores. Vrooooom!
3
Do you believe in fairy tales? Cinderella (July 16) gets a modern live-action shine (it has been made into a TV movie or a theatrical film more than 20 times ) with singer Camila Cabello in her movie debut as the rags-to-riches princess; Billy Porter as Fab G, her fairy godparent; Frozen’s Idina Menzel as the chilly stepmom; and
James Corden as the carriage footman who becomes a mouse.
4
The latest from DC Comics’ “Extended Universe,” The Suicide Squad (Aug. 6) features a big ensemble cast ( Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone and Pete Davidson) in a wild romp about a group of released cons and supervillains sent on a dangerous, super-secret mission. Expect director James Gunn to bring some of the same quippy, action-y fun he stirred up in his two Guardians of the Galaxy y V ð
5
Nice guy Ryan Reynolds stars in the comedy Free Guy (Aug. 13) as a background character in a brutal video game (think Grand Theft Auto) who decides he wants to be . . . something more. With Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, cameos by several real-life YouTube personalities and the final appearance of late Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek.
6
Sing it! Jennifer Hudson may bring home another Oscar—to add to her Best Supporting Actress trophy for Dreamgirls— as the star of Respect (Aug. 13), the life story of the legendary R&B singer Aretha Franklin. She was hand-picked for the part by Franklin, who was involved in the project until her death in August 2018. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, indeed!
7
If you loved Westworld, check out the directorial film debut of Lisa Joy, a cocreator, writer, director and producer of that award-winning sci-fi series. The twisty Reminiscence (Aug. 27 and on HBO Max) stars Hugh Jackman as a “private investigator of the mind” who dives in way too deep while helping his clients relive their memories. Westworld’s Thandiwe Newton co-stars.
8
Were you bummed when The Sopranos ended on HBO? Then you’ll be primed for The Many Saints of Newark (Sept. 24 and on HBO Max), the movie prequel about how gangster Tony Soprano got his start on the mean streets of New Jersey. Michael Ganolfini, the son of the late James Gandolfini ( who starred in the TV series), plays young Tony.
9
Actor Ben Platt reprises his Broadway role in the film version of Dear Evan Hansen (Sept. 24), the Tony-winning musical drama about a high school student and his journey of self-discovery after the suicide of a fellow classmate. With Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever and Amy Adams.