As 2015 draws to close and we look ahead to 2016, one thing's for sure - there's going to be a lorra, lorra movies to look forward to.
As always, release dates are accurate as of writing and some release dates are speculative. Enjoy!
10. TRIPLE 9 (Early 2016)
John Hillcoat's known for making beautifully structured, deeply emotional films such as The Proposition or his adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. So to see him trying his hand at a straight-up crime flick is really something. Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck, Kate Winslet, Norman Reedus and Aaron Paul star in this tightly-wound thriller about a cabal of armed robbers and corrupt cops who plan to murder one of their own as a distraction whilst they pull off a huge heist on the other side of town. The first red-band trailer made it look like a cross between Heat and Training Day - which is pretty amazing, in fairness.
9. THE REVENANT (January 15th, 2016)
If Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't bag an Oscar for this, he never will. Based on the supposedly true story of Hugh Glass, DiCaprio plays a feral fur-trapper who's left for dead by Tom Hardy and Domhnall Gleeson after an expedition goes horribly wrong. It's not just the cast that's impressive, however. It's all about who's behind the camera. Directed by Allejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, who did last year's Oscar-winning Birdman, The Revenant is a high-octane survivalist thriller that'll showcase just how far DiCaprio is willing to push himself to get an Oscar.
8. GHOSTBUSTERS (July 15th, 2016)
There's no plot. There's no trailer. We've only seen sporadic images from the set. We know (some) of the castmembers. Yet, despite this lack of knowledge, we are desperately excited for the new Ghostbusters movie. Kirsten Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Melissa McCarthy star as the new Ghostbusters with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig promising that it will honour the original whilst making something new. There's already been a host of the original cast confirmed to cameo; Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts and Ernie Hudson have all said they're taking part whilst our favourite, Rick Moranis, sadly bowed out. Aw.
7. BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE (March 25th, 2016)
With Marvel's Cinematic Universe now entering the final stages, Warners' DC Cinematic Universe is beginning to take shape with Batman v Superman kicking the whole thing off for us. Ben Affleck is a shrewd casting as Batman, really grabbing that more nihilist, cynical superhero that they're going for whilst Jesse Eisenberg is drawing parallels between his performance as Mark Zuckerberg and Lex Luthor. You've also got Israeli actress Gal Gadot turning up as Diana Prince AKA Wonder Woman and, if rumours are to be believed, Ezra Miller turning up as The Flash and Jena Malone as Barbara Gordon.
6. FINDING DORY (July 29th, 2016)
Finding Nemo was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best animated films of the last twenty years and cemented Pixar's place as the foremost animation studio working today. The depth and emotional intelligence on display really was incredible. Not only that, it lended itself to being told in one story. It wasn't being set up as a franchise or a huge, sprawling universe. It's one story. So, we were more than a little reticent when we heard that Finding Dory was happening. However, if the castings and story are anything to go by, we've nothing to worry about. Ellen DeGeneres returns as Dory whilst Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy play her parents, with whom she's trying to reconnect. Along the way, she meets a slightly unhinged beluga dolphin voiced by Ty Burrell of Modern Family fame and Ed O'Neill, seen below, as a cantankerous octopus. Amazing.
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5. HAIL, CAESAR! (February 26th, 2016)
The Coen Brothers return to wacky, period comedy after Inside Llewyn Davis and True Grit. In fact, the last time the Coens went near this type of film was back in 2004 with the so-so remake of The Ladykillers. Josh Brolin is Eddie Mannix, a studio executive and 'fixer' who works desperately to keep his actors in line and the studio in the black. However, one of the most well-known actors in his stable is kidnapped, he has to call in every favour imaginable in order to get him back and keep the large-scale production rolling.
4. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (April 29th, 2016)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier was one of the best standalone Marvel films to date, precisely because it didn't really feel like a Marvel standalone film. Blending '70s conspiracy thrillers like Three Days Of The Condor with the CGI-heavy finales we expect of Marvel movies, Winter Soldier just worked. Civil War, the follow-up from Age of Ultron, promises to be more of the same. Picking up shortly after Ultron, Tony Stark / Iron Man and Captain America begin to pull apart the Avengers after a massive incident changes how the world views superheroes. Based on the hugely popular comic-book storyline, Civil War will rejig the entire Marvel Universe in time for the eventual finale, Avengers: Infinity War.
3. UNTITLED FIFTH BOURNE FILM (July 29th, 2016)
Matt Damon famously said that he wouldn't do another Bourne film unless Paul Greengrass was directing. And sure enough, here we are. Damon is back and looking fighting fit as the amnesiac super-agent. There's no word yet on plot, although we do know that Tommy Lee Jones is playing the CIA honcho who's out to get Bourne once and for all, whilst Julia Stiles is said to be returning as Nicky. Early talks is that the as-yet untitled Bourne film will focus on a world that's seen the likes of WikiLeaks, Edward Snowden and NSA wiretapping and where Bourne fits into it all.
2. DEADPOOL (February 12th, 2016)
Deadpool truly was the little film that could. On paper, it seemed like an obvious choice. Ryan Reynolds, an R-rated action comedy about a superhero with regenerative powers and a host of comedic actors alongside him. Yet, for whatever reason, Deadpool languished in development hell for several years. However, when test footage leaked online (we covered it, it was immense) and garnered a huge response, the powers that be decided to put into production. If the red-band trailer is anything to go by, we're in for a real treat. An adult-orientated superhero comedy with self-aware jokes about The Green Lantern? Take our money. Take it all.
1. STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE (December 16th, 2016)
Again, like a lot of films on this list, we know next to nothing about it and it has all worked up and excited beyond belief. The Force Awakens, due for release before the end of this year, promises to have one of the largest openings ever - so there's no pressure on Rogue One. The film will be the very first Star Wars film NOT to feature the main set of characters, essentially acting as a spin-off film for the series. Gareth Edwards, who worked on Godzilla and the excellent Monsters, is directing here with an impressive cast behind him - Felicity Jones, Forrest Whitaker, Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen, Ben Mendelsohn and Alan Tudyk. The story, as well, is particularly tantalising. Edwards has said that the film is a more gritty, realistic version of Star Wars; something die-hard fans have been looking forward to for quite some time.
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Are you looking forward to munching popcorn and checking out any of these? Or what makes your top three?
