Twenty most-anticipated movies for 2019.
Send in the clowns and the mutants and the lions.
Hollywood brings some classic heroes and villains back to the big screen while also adding a few new characters to its immense universe.
We’re going to see if there’s life after dust in the world of the Avengers, whether Jordan Peele can repeat the smash success of “Get Out,” what “Downton Abbey” looks like on the big screen and, maybe best of all, Tom Hanks as both Sheriff Woody and Mister Rogers.
‘GLASS’
Jan. 18
In a bizarre twist, the characters from M. Night Shyamalan’s “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Split” (2016) are united in this superhero thriller that finds David Dunn (Bruce Willis) employing his supernatural talents to chase down Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a villain with 24 personalities, including “The Beast.” Samuel L. Jackson returns as the Mastermind, Mr. Glass.
‘CAPTAIN MARVEL’
March 8
Oscar winner Brie Larson joins the Marvel Universe as the title character caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien worlds.
‘US’
March 15
Oscar-winning writer-director Jordan Peele (“Get Out”) is back with another horror thriller, this time on the beach. Gabe and Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke from “Black Panther”) find their family vacation thrust into chaos when a group of home invaders wielding scissors turn up looking to replace them.
‘DUMBO’
March 29
Disney and Tim Burton revive “Dumbo” in a live-action movie about the little elephant with the giant ears. Turns out he can fly, leading to adventure and heartbreaking exploitation by a ruthless entrepreneur (Michael Keaton). Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito and Eva Green also star. Unlike the 1941 animated classic, there are no talking animals, so gone are Dumbo’s mouse mentor and those troublesome crows.
‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’
April 26
When last we saw Thanos he was turning creatures all over the universe, including some of our favorite superheroes, to dust. In this sequel to “Avengers: Infinity War,” we learn whether it can be undone, as Doctor Strange seemed to suggest. New to the fold will be Ant-Man and Captain Marvel.
‘JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM’
May 17
Keanu Reeves is back as the hitman, with a contract on his head, having to fight his way out of New York City after assassinating a member of the High Table in The Continental.
‘ALADDIN’
May 24
Guy Ritchie directs and Will Smith plays the magic genie in this live-action remake of the swashbuckling animated Disney classic. Alan Menken will add some new songs to the soundtrack.
‘ROCKETMAN’
May 31
A year after Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” soared at the box office, Hollywood puts the spotlight on Elton John in this “fantasy musical” starring Welsh actor-singer Taron Egerton.
‘TOY STORY 4’
June 21
Nine years after “Toy Story 3,” Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks) and the gang meet a new toy named Forky (Tony Hale) and embark on what surely will be a hilarious road trip.
‘THE LION KING’
July 19
Twenty-five years after the original, Jon Favreau directs this photorealistic computer-animated remake of the Disney classic with the voices of Donald Glover (Simba), Beyonce (Nala) and James Earl Jones (Mufasa).
‘ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD’
July 26
Quentin Tarantino turns his sights on the Manson family in this drama about a former TV Western star (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) trying to make a name for themselves in the film industry while living next door to Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie).
‘THE NEW MUTANTS’
Aug. 2
This X-Men spinoff was on last year’s list as well, but things happen, and it has now been bumped — twice. Charlie Heaton (“Stranger Things”), Maisie Williams (“Game of Thrones”) and Anya Taylor-Joy (“Split”) are among the five young mutants discovering their abilities and fighting for their lives in a secret facility.
‘IT: CHAPTER TWO’
Sept. 6
Bill Skarsgard reprises his role as the heinous Pennywise in this sequel, also derived from the Stephen King novel, that jumps ahead 27 years to 2016 and finds Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Hader as members of the adult Losers Club.
‘THE DOWNTON ABBEY MOVIE’
Sept. 20
The latest chapter of the Crawley family moves to the big screen, picking up the
story in 1927, with Maggie Smith, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Joanne Froggatt, Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern all reprising their roles from the television series.
‘JOKER’
Oct. 4
The Gotham villain, played by Joaquin Phoenix, gets top billing in this origin story that follows his path from failed standup comedian to successful psychotic criminal. Batman won’t appear, but his billionaire philanthropist father, Thomas Wayne, will.
‘THE GOLDFINCH’
Oct. 11
Donna Tartt’s Pulitzer Prize-winning best-seller comes to life with Ansel Elgort (“Baby Driver”) portraying Theo, a teenager who is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a terrorist attack at the Met. Nicole Kidman plays the Manhattan socialite who adopts him, and Luke Wilson is the boy’s no-good, gambling, alcoholic father.
‘A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD’ Oct. 18
Tom Hanks dons the cardigan of the beloved Fred Rogers in this biopic, filmed in Pittsburgh, that is based on the close relationship between the iconic Pittsburgh TV host and Esquire journalist Tom Junod.
‘STAR WARS: EPISODE IX’
Dec. 20
J.J. Abrams wraps up the Star Wars Skywalker saga with the ninth and final installment and the end of the trilogy that began with “The Force Awakens” (2015) and “The Last Jedi” (2017).
‘CATS’
Dec. 20
The Broadway blockbuster finally makes its way to the big screen with Oscar winner Tom Hooper (“The King’s Speech”) directing a cast that includes Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench and Jason DeRulo.
‘THE IRISHMAN’
TBA
Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro reunite in this crime drama based on the book “I Heard You Paint Houses” and bring along Al Pacino in his first film with the legendary director. Mr. De Niro plays a union official and alleged hitman, and Mr. Pacino takes the role of Jimmy Hoffa, the union boss who vanished in 1975. Also starring are Joe Pesci, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale, Harvey Keitel and Ray Romano.