The year is wrapping up, but the new year has promising films! Now, it is early with a few trailers and promotions for a handful of movies, so this may all change when we get full trailers. There may be also the unexpected films that burst onto the scene! So let’s look at some of the upcoming films. First, for me, is From the World of John Wick: Ballerina. Storywise, it is sandwiched between John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) and John Wick 4 (2023). Filming had begun in 2022, post production in 2023, and additional scenes were filmed this year. It has also been some time since Ana de Armas had a film out since she has been working on Ballerina. The last was the Marilyn Monroe bio drama, Blonde (2022).
It has been some time since director, Len Wiseman’s last movie, Total Recall (2012) which had mixed results as a sci fi remake. The big factor was that if this spin-off looked like the John Wick films and the teaser trailer answered that it did have the look and the tone of the films. It is written by Shay Hatten who co-wrote John Wick 3 and 4. I like the return of Angelica Huston as the Director whom we saw in John Wick 3 and the last appearance of Lance Reddick as Charon! It opens in theaters on June 6th. I can’t wait for this one! Next up, Wolf Man, one reason, Leigh Whannell. His Invisible Man (2020) was sci fi horror, but given the real life threat of stalking. It seems like Wolf Man takes the supernatural horror and puts it in a domestic violence setting.
The Universal horror movies is just given a fresh angle with the terrors of real life. I’m fascinated with werewolf movies going back to the 1931 original which I think is fantastic early body horror, https://geektruth.blogspot.com/search?q=wolf+man. I’m eager to see the transformation, I hope with make-up effects more than CGi, and how or even if the Wolf Man is defeated. It is produced by Jason Blum, I had interviewed Whannell and Blum, and he has a great track record for sensibly budgeted horror films. Christopher Abbott plays the father, Blake, he is coming from Poor Things (2022). I hope he will turn in one of the best performances as a werewolf and wonder when iconic horror actors will earn nominations.
The movie will be released soon, January 17th, and may be my first new film of 2025! Number three is the live action How to Train Your Dragon. At this point, I’m really looking for a good fantasy film and I already noted that I had passed up the 2010 original. I think the animated trilogy is one of the first cartoon movies to show a character age up. Unlike other remakes, this is the original director and writer, Dean Deblois who guided the franchise. I think Deblois will really develop the story beyond the crowd pleasing comedy and I hope gives Hiccup a formal name. The trailer put this one high for expected movies. Mason Thames looks perfect as Hiccup. He was in the horror film, The Black Phone (2021). The dragons soar on June 13th.
I hope with How to Train Your Dragon and The Wolf Man that they will have some special events, premieres, or something at the Universal Epic Universe that is set to open on May 22nd. Fourth, Wicked: For Good, I really need to see the movie again after seeing the musical to pick up on what missed, and director, Jon M Chu, craft more of the world of Oz. I will probably go after New Year’s Day to see it at City Walk with the costumes. Likely go to Universal Studios and see some of the props. I really like Wicked, even more so as a musical, and I thought Cynthia Erivo put in an amazing performance as Elphaba. I hope she gets award recognition. Also, Ariana Grande, I felt the stage Galinda shifted more into a sister than the sudden change in the movie.
Again, I have to see it on screen to pick up on the character moments. I also thought that the stage production of “Defying Gravity” was more impressive, even though I knew it was Elphaba on a raised platform and it was just stage lights, but it was more stunning. I know the entire story now and look forward to part 2 out on November 21st. Number five, Zootopia 2, the first Zootopia (2016) floored me in the sophisticated topics about fear of others just because of their identity, bullying, and the difficulty of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) succeeding in a world of tough, towering authorities. Jared Bush and Byron Howard are back as directors and writers. I think the nine years were spent to really develop an original story.
I liked wandering around the photo ops of Marsh Market with the walrus plumber at the Ultimate Disney Fan Experience. The buddy cop team up with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) also has the return of Gazelle (Shakira)! Zootopia 2 competes with Wicked 2 on November 21st. The next two films have little information and no trailers, but it is really the directors. The first is Predator: Badlands, out on November 7th, directed by Dan Trachtenberg. Prey (2022) was incredible, Trachtenberg revitalized a fading franchise, like Fede Alvarez with Alien: Romulus. The change of setting and characters is interesting, he is really building a Predator world, and with a twist as the Predator is being hunted.
Elle Fanning is in the lead role, hopefully, a strong a part as Naru (Amber Midthunder). Brave is another film upcoming for Midthunder that also stars Wes Studi and Graham Greene! Also sharing the November 7th release date is the remake, The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright. I see any movie directed by Wright, Last Night in Soho (2021) was the best, but his films always seem to get sidelined at the box office. Wright has to bring his cinematic sensiblities to the film, possibly more from the Stephen King story, and he has the box office gold of Glen Powell as Ben Richards. Plus, Michael Cera returns after playing the lead in one of my favorite movies, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)!
Another director whose work I admire, Gareth Edwards, is at the helm of Jurassic World: Rebirth. His original film, The Creator (2023) was one of the most beautiful sci fi movies. He is able to work with long running franchises with Rogue One (2016) and starting one with Godzilla (2014). The screenwriter of the first Jurassic Park (1993), David Koepp, returns. The cast has Scarlett Johansson and also Jonathan Bailey from Wicked. The dinos are loose on June 2nd at the start of the summer season. Number nine, Michael, in theaters October 3rd. I have lately been watching videos of Michael Jackson on stage. It is directed by Antoine Fuqua who just makes the most compelling films from different genres.
I thought his Western remake, The Magnificent Seven (2016), was the best. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, is stunning in resemblence and ability! For number ten, I will go with a superhero comic book film, Captain America: Brave New World. It seems troubled, the director, Julius Onah, he directed The Cloverfield Paradox (2018), may have problems working with the studio. Still, I really like Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) becoming Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021). The show’s creator, Marcus Spellman, contributed the story. Will his vision be kept in all of the studio troubles for the film? He has Dalan Musson from the series and Rob Edwards working on the story.
We’ve seen Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres become the new Falcon. Shira Haas is working as an operative, but hasn't been seen yet as the hero, Sabra. Also, no sign of Rosa Salazar as Diamondback. I just worry about the connection to Eternals (2021). Promising is Snow White out on March 21st. There is so much backlash against it, I don’t know if it will be successful domestically, but I was interested from the new trailer. I really like the early film of Marc Webb, 500 Days of Summer (2009). I like Rachel Zegler’s work, her comments might be controversial, but I’m hopeful for her. I’m also ready for Gal Gadot’s Evil Queen. Superman hits theaters on July 11th. James Gunn really brings in the fans. I think there is potential for David Corenswet’s Superman and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane. It could be great, it could be terrible, I will need to see more. There are films that are exciting for 2025, what movies are on your must-see list?
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#ChristopherAbbott, #HowToTrainYourDragon, #DeanDeblois, #MasonThames
#WickedForGood, #JohnMChu, #CynthiaErivo, #ArianaGrande, #Zootopia2, #JaredBush, #ByronHoward, #GinniferGoodwin, #JasonBateman, #PredatorBadlands, #DanTrachtenberg, #ElleFanning, #TheRunningMan, #EdgarWright, #GlenPowell, #MichaelCera, #JurassicWorldRebirth, #GarethEdwards, #DavidKoepp, #ScarlettJohansson
#JonathanBailey, #Michael, #AntoneFuqua, #JaafarJackson, #CaptainAmericaBraveNewWorld, #JuliusOnah, #AnthonyMackie, #DannyRamirez, #ShiraHaas, #RosaSalazar, #MarcusSpellman, #DalanMusson, #RobEdwards, #SnowWhite, #MarcWebb, #RachelZegler, #GalGadot, #Superman, #JamesGunn, #DavidCorenswet, #RachelBrosnahan
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