As we push through this rigorous January movie lull, guest columnist, Greg Rouleau (Reel True), steps in to offer a detailed and heavily cataloged examination of the upcoming cinematic year. This two-part movie preview will begin with a "coming soon" section, then a look at the animated/family titles arriving in 2016, as well as a list of this syear's biggest blockbusters. Next week we'll reprise the column with an outline of the 2016's most anticipated comedy and horror releases, along with a breakdown of the presumed Oscar hopefuls. Enjoy!
Coming Soon (February - April)
Hail, Caesar! (Feb 5) – It’s a treat to see best of the year potential as early as February, and judging by the insanely fun looking trailers, we should be circling February 5th on the calendar for the Coen Brothers Hail, Caesar! Josh Brolin stars as a Hollywood fixer that goes on a mission to uncover the whereabouts of a missing star (George Clooney) who mysteriously disappears from the set of the big budget film. Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Ralph Fiennes, and Jonah Hill round out the ensemble.
Zoolander 2 (Feb 12) – We’ve seen Anchorman 2 and Dumb and Dumber To – comedies with their originals nearly a decade or more behind them – released in recent years to disappointing results. Should we expect the same with Zoolander 2? The trailer looks somewhat promising, all things considered, so let’s hope there’s enough laughs amongst the stupidity of Derek and Hansel that it’s worth the price of admission.
Midnight Special (Mar
18) – Once set for a
2014 release, Midnight Special is
finally reaching theaters in March of this year. From the director of Mud and Take Shelter,
Jeff Nichols, Midnight Special tells
the story of a man (Michael Shannon) on the run from authorities when they
discover his child possesses supernatural ability. The idea of a quasi-superhero movie on a smaller-scale
is intriguing and with his previous films, Nichols has displayed a talent for
directing young actors. The director
also has a drama called Loving –
about an interracial couple in 1950s Virginia – set for a late 2016
release. Both films star Joel Edgerton
and Nichols regular, Michael Shannon.
Batman v Superman: Dawn
of Justice (Mar 25) –
It’s difficult to feign a lot of enthusiasm for BvS: DOJ, which is a sequel to the highly disappointing Man of Steel, but I would at least
expect box office returns to be strong on opening weekend. The release date was switched around numerous
times before finally settling on March 25.
The trailers have been lackluster and there’s been word of a multitude
of production problems, and now rumors are circulating that this movie could be
more than the advertised showdown between the classic comic heroes…let’s just
leave it at that.
Everybody Wants Some
(Apr 15) – This spring we can look forward to
the latest from indie director Richard Linklater, who is a couple years removed
from his critical darling, Boyhood. Everybody
Wants Some has been described by Linklater as a “spiritual sequel” to Dazed and Confused, which focuses on the
lives of a group of college baseball players including Wyatt Russell (22 Jump Street) and Tyler Hoechlin (Road to Perdition).
Also Coming Soon: Race, Deadpool, Grimsby, Triple 9,
Knight of Cups, Demolition, The Huntsman Winter’s War, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
Family/Animated
The Jungle Book (Apr 15)
– This spring,
director Jon Favreau returns to the world of family entertainment with his
live-action version of Disney’s The
Jungle Book. The trailer looks to
have a slightly more serious tone than the animated feature, with plenty of
thrills and a talented cast to voice the animals including Scarlett Johansson,
Bill Murray and Christopher Walken.
Finding Dory (Jun 17) – Finding
Nemo was a major hit in 2003 that dominated the box-office and went on to
win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
Dory will find Ellen Degeneres
and Albert Brooks reprising their roles for the much-anticipated sequel that
finds Dory in search of her family after rekindling some childhood
memories.
The BFG (Jul 1) – Steven Speilberg finally returns to the genre where he made such hits as E.T. and Hook – possibly ending his latest excursion through dramatic period pieces – and brings an adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel to the screen this summer. The late Melissa Mathison, who also wrote E.T., adapted the screenplay and Spielberg regulars Janusz Kaminski, Michael Kahn and John Williams are on board in the craft departments, so you can expect more than the typical family fare. Bridge of Spies’ Mark Rylance stars as the title character, Big Friendly Giant, in what looks to truly be an entertaining story the entire family can enjoy.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (Nov 18) – With the Harry Potter franchise finishing up in theaters five years ago, author and screenwriter, J.K. Rowling and company will take the The Lord of the Rings route and release a three-part prequel epic, with the first chapter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, set for release in November. Beasts is the story of author Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his adventures in writing the textbook that shares the film’s title.
More Family/Animated: Angry
Birds Movie, The Secret Life of Pets, Zootopia, Ice Age: Collision Course,
Moana.
Blockbusters
Captain America: Civil
War (May 6) – Captain America: Civil War is set to
kick-off the summer movie season with a bang, as the story picks up following
the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron,
and government intervention is threatening to come between the group of
superheroes. On one side is Captain
America, Steve Rogers and firmly against him, in favor of regulation is Iron
Man, Tony Stark. While Iron Man 2 and 3 were lackluster sequels
to the outstanding first part, Civil War shows
promise of the reverse, and finishing the Captain America series with two solid
entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Independence Day:
Resurgence (Jun 24) –
After being in development for what seems like an eternity, with story ideas
being pitched as early as 2004, director Roland Emmerich is finally bringing
his long-awaited Independence Day sequel
to the theaters this summer. Subtitled Resurgence, the aliens have returned
twenty-years later after their defeat in the climatic battle of the original,
the idea here is that before their demise they were able to send out a distress
signal and alert the rest of the aliens in the universe, and they’ve finally
made their return. No Will Smith this
time around, but Jeff Goldblum reprises his role as well as Bill Pullman, and
Liam Hemsworth joins the cast, as well.
Suicide Squad (Aug 5) – Although I’m not entirely approving
of already putting The Joker back on screen so soon after Heath Ledger’s
classic portrayal, the Suicide Squad looks
like it could be one of DC’s best movies since the Dark Knight trilogy. Jared
Leto’s take on the iconic villain looks like enough of a departure from
Ledger’s and he won’t be the main focus here as he joins a large group of super-villains enlisted by the government to complete secret ops missions. David Ayer (Fury, End of Watch) directs while Will Smith stars as Deadshot,
Margot Robbie is the Joker’s accomplice, Harley Quinn.
Doctor Strange (Nov 4) – While Marvel will have presumably be
wrapping up the Captain America trilogy earlier in the year, come November
they’ll debut another superhero when Doctor
Strange hits theaters. Benedict
Cumberbatch has been cast in the title role, with Tilda Swinton portraying The
Ancient One, who trains Strange in the ways of mystic arts. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, and Michael
Stuhlbarg complete the impressive cast.
Rogue One: A Star Wars
Story (Dec 16) – We
may have to wait until December 2017 to get Episode VIII of the Star Wars saga, but 2016 will give us
our first of a few planned prequels/spin-offs of the franchise with Rogue One.
This story will go back and reveal how a group of rebel fighters
were able to capture the plans for the Death Star that aid the group in their
fight against the Empire. Gareth Edwards
who directed 2014’s Godzilla is
slated to helm this one.
More In Blockbusters: TNMT 2, Warcraft, The Legend of
Tarzan, Alice Through the Looking Glass, X-Men: Apocalypse, Star Trek Beyond,
Knights of the Roundtable: King Arthur, Jason Bourne Sequel, Gambit, Assassin’s
Creed.
*** Stay tuned next week for Part II of our Ultimate 2016 Movie Preview
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