The early months of 2020 have seen unprecedented changes in the movie industry as Hollywood continues to figure out how best to respond a global crisis. Part of that response has been to bring movies to the home market earlier than usual, with at least one film, Trolls World Tour, opting to release on home entertainment media on the same day as its scheduled theatrical debut. For others, it has meant postponing opening weekends, even if no new date has been announced
With all of that said, there is still a wealth of exciting movies to look forward to this year, even if we have to wait a little bit longer for some of them. Daniel Craig returns for his fifth – and final? – outing as James Bond in No Time to Die , Tom Cruise takes up flying again in Top Gun: Maverick, and Gal Gadot embraces the ’80s in Wonder Woman 1984.
It’s not all sequels and reboots though, as we’ll get a mind-bending new thriller from Christopher Nolan, a new Pixar movie, and another colorful ensemble treat from Wes Anderson. We’re also getting a slew of new thrillers, horror films, animated treats, action-adventures, and more. It’s never too early to get excited about movies, so start marking these titles in your calendar.
The Lovebirds (2020) Directed by: Michael Showalter Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Issa Rae, Anna Camp Premiering on: May 22 on Netflix (formerly April 3, 2020)
Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae star in this romantic comedy about a couple on the verge of a break-up who become embroiled in a murder mystery and must work together to clear their name. Veteran comedy writer Michael Showalter, who previously directed Nanjiani in the sleeper hit The Big Sick, is back in the director’s chair for this one, with Pitch Perfect‘s Anna Camp in a supporting role. After being pulled from its initial theatrical release, it was announced that The Lovebirds would move directly to Netflix, but a launch date for the comedy has not been announced yet.
Artemis Fowl (2020) Directed by: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Ferdia Shaw, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Colin Farrell, Hong Chau Premiering on: June 12 on Disney+
Director Kenneth Branagh and stars Judi Dench and Josh Gad, who all worked together on last year’s Murder on the Orient Express, reunite for this adaptation of the popular fantasy book series that centers on a young criminal mastermind who kidnaps a fairy in hopes of ransoming her to an evil pixie in exchange for his father. With all of the release date shake-ups due to the coronavirus outbreak, Disney has decided to skip Artemis Fowl’s theatrical release altogether, opting instead to release the film directly on its streaming service, Disney+.
Tenet (2020) Directed by: Christopher Nolan Starring: John David Washington, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Robert Pattinson, Kenneth Branagh, Michael Caine, Himesh Patel Opening on: July 17, 2020
We knew for a while that Christopher Nolan’s next film would be called Tenet, and we knew who was on board to star in it, but outside the fact that the story would have something to do with international espionage, we knew little else. We finally got the first trailer for it in mid-December, and though it’s cryptic enough that we still kind of don’t know what’s going on, we do know that John David Washington will play some sort of agent who is able to experience time both forwards and backwards, sometimes simultaneously…? We think…?
Mulan (2020) Directed by: Niki Caro Starring: Yifei Liu, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Gong Li Opening on: July 24, 2020
Following Disney’s live-action remake trend comes Mulan, directed by Niki Caro of Whale Rider and North Country fame. Featuring Chinese star Liu Yifei as the titular character and a host of other Chinese legends like Donnie Yen, Gong Li, and Jet Li, this one is poised to conquer the global box office and – if it taps into the animated original’s magic – our hearts.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) Directed by: Patty Jenkins Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig Opening on: August 14, 2020
As villain Cheetah, Bridemaids’ Kristen Wiig climbs aboard the Wonder Woman sequel, which sees Gal Gadot returning to her Amazon-princess role that catapulted the first film to a $412.5 million box office, a Certified Fresh 92% Tomatometer score, and the No. 2 spot in our list of the 64 Best Superhero Movies of All Time. The action is set during the Cold War in the ’80s and finds Chris Pine reappearing as Wonder Woman’s love interest Steve Trevor, despite his apparent death in the first film.
SEPTEMBER
A Quiet Place Part II (2020) Directed by: John Krasinski Starring: Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou Opening on: September 4, 2020
Director John Krasinski returns to helm this sequel, which he also wrote, starring his real-life wife Emily Blunt, as it follows up with the Abbott family after the events of the first film. Judging from the first trailer, we’ll also get some flashbacks to the beginning of the… invasion? Infestation? Whatever you want to call it, it looks like Krasinski has done a bang-up job ratcheting up the tension, and audiences should be in for another great ride.
The King's Man (2020) Directed by: Matthew Vaughn Starring: Harris Dickinson, Ralph Fiennes, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Gemma Arterton, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance, Daniel Brühl, Stanley Tucci, Djimon Hounsou Opening on: September 18, 2020
While both a third installment of the Kingsman franchise and a Statesman spinoff are still on the way, audiences will first get a taste of how the whole thing came to exist in the first place with this prequel, set in the early 1900s. Ralph Fiennes leads an all-star cast in an origin story that will show how a group of ex-soldiers formed the spy agency.
Candyman (2020) Directed by: Nia DaCosta Starring: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Tony Todd, Teyonah Parris Opening on: September 25, 2020
Longtime fan and contemporary horror maestro Jordan Peele is producing this sequel to — not a remake of — the classic 1992 horror film about the murdered son of a slave whose ghost haunts the Chicago neighborhood where the Cabrini Green housing projects once stood. We don’t know yet exactly what direction the new story will take, but we know that Nia DaCosta (Little Woods) is directing, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman) and Teyonah Parris (If Beale Street Could Talk) will star, with Tony Todd reprising his role as the iconic title character.
The French Dispatch (2020) Directed by: Wes Anderson Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Léa Seydoux, Benicio Del Toro, Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Jeffrey Wright, Owen Wilson Opening on: October 16, 2020
Initially reported to be a musical, Wes Anderson’s next film will be a drama that brings to life a handful of stories from a magazine created by an American living in a fictional city in France. The film’s press release calls it a “love letter to journalists,” and it brings together several regular collaborators in a massive, star-studded cast.
Black Widow (2020) Directed by: Cate Shortland Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz Opening on: November 6, 2020
The first Marvel property to kick off its Phase 4 will be this prequel focusing on Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff. We don’t quite know what the story surrounding the character will be, but we do know that she’ll be joined by David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, and rising star Florence Pugh, among others. And who knows? Maybe Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye will make an appearance.
No Time To Die (2020) Directed by: Cary Fukunaga Starring: Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Rami Malek, Naomie Harris, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Rory Kinnear, Jeffrey Wright, Ana de Armas, Lashana Lynch Opening on: November 25, 2020
True Detective director Cary Fukunaga takes the reins for the 25th James Bond film, with Daniel Craig returning for his fifth and (presumably) final turn as 007. He’s joined by series regulars Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Rory Kinnear, and Ben Whishaw, as well as returning characters played by Lea Seydoux and Jeffrey Wright. Recent Best Actor-winner Rami Malek is reported to play the villain, while it’s presumed Captain Marvel‘s Lashana Lynch will play a newer 007 who may have to relinquish her famous code number back to Bond when he comes out of retirement.
Free Guy (2020) Directed by: Shawn Levy Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Taika Waititi, Jody Comer, Joe Keery, Lel Rel Howery Opening on: December 11, 2020
Ryan Reynolds brings his sarcastic wit and boyishly good-looking everyman charm to this self-referential, special effects-driven comedy. He stars as Guy, a nondescript bank teller non-player character (NPC) in a violent, open-world video game who suddenly becomes self-aware and decides to take his destiny into his own hands. Expect a lot of ironic, self-referential humor and over-the-top action shenanigans, which, when Ryan Reynolds is involved, is essentially its own genre these days.
Top Gun: Maverick (2020) Directed by: Joseph Kosinski Starring: Tom Cruise, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Val Kilmer, Jay Ellis, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro Opening on: December 23, 2020
Great balls of fire, we’re getting a Top Gun sequel after 31 years! Not a whole lot is known about the movie, except that the filmmakers have recruited a cast of some of the most in-demand young actors in Hollywood – including Miles Teller, who will play Goose’s son – and that Val Kilmer is officially back as Iceman. And as the trailer released during Comic-Con promises, it will again feature Tom Cruise riding motorcycles, playing volleyball, and flying jets like a madman.
Comments