New additions to major franchises, both new and old, are set to dominate the cinemas again in 2024. — Photos: Handout
This year is going to be a slightly unconventional one at the cinemas. Many of last year’s theatrical releases and film production were halted because of the writers and actors strikes in Hollywood, with production on a number of movies delayed and release dates pushed back. That has resulted in a 2024 schedule that seems a little more lightweight than usual, especially in terms of big blockbuster movies.
Then again, judging from the success of Barbie and Oppenheimer’s two-pronged ‘Barbenheimer’ onslaught on the box office, as well as Disney’s struggles last year with its Marvel and animated tentpoles, maybe it’s a good thing that this year’s releases are, well, more eclectic than usual.
Anyway, here are some that we are definitely looking forward to watching here!
The first big release of the year is set to be Dune: Part Two (March 1), the continuation of Dennis Villeneuve’s epic adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune. This time, we will get to see Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides lead the Fremen and take the fight to House Harkonnen. The director has promised a lot more action this time around, but we’re just excited to see Paul finally ride a sandworm. Long live the fighters!
Speaking of science fiction classics, the Planet Of The Apes franchise just keeps swinging along, with the next one, The Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes (May 24) jumping forward 300 years from the last one for a glimpse of just what an ape-led empire would be like.
'Dune: Part Two' is one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
And while we’re on the subject of apes, one of the most famous of them all, King Kong, will return alongside his new pal Godzilla in the monster mash-up Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (April 12).
This sequel to 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong will see the two titans working together once again to counter a new threat to the planet.
Does Mad Max count as a sci-fi? The dystopian action franchise enjoyed a revival with 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Road, which introduced the tough-as-nails warrior lady Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron. Furiosa’s origin story will be explored in the upcoming Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (May 24). also directed by George Miller, with Anna Taylor-Joy playing the younger version of the character.
Last year’s Super Mario Bros Movie, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Elemental, and The Boy And The Heron were the unexpected stars of the box office in terms of animated features. This year, however, the studios have reverted to type, with another bunch of sequels to long-running franchises coming out, including Kungfu Panda 4 (March 8), Despicable Me 4 (July 3), and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (Dec 20). Looks like the more things change in Hollywood, the more things stay the same in the animated feature arena.
'Inside Out 2' adds more emotions into the mix as Riley becomes a teenager. (Right) Who you gonna call? Ant-Man, apparently.
One animated feature we are definitely looking forward to, however, is Pixar’s Inside Out 2 (June 14). Released in 2015, the first Inside Out is considered one of Pixar’s finest ever movies, taking us inside the brain of an 11-year-old girl where her Emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust – live.
Inside Out 2 sees Riley becoming an adolescent, complete with new emotions popping up to make things complicated for our five core Emotions. Get ready to get emotional.
Thanks to last year’s writer’s strike, a number of Marvel Studios tentpoles were delayed, to the extent that there will only be one, yes, ONE Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movie coming out this year.
But what a movie that is going to be though. Yes, it’s Deadpool 3 (July 26), in which The Merc with a Mouth makes his MCU debut, with a merry band of X-Men in tow, including Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine.
Will this be a game changer for Marvel after last year’s expensive flops? Grab a chimichanga, sit back, and watch!
Deadpool will be making his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut, with Hugh Jackman returning as Wolverine in 'Deadpool 3'.
Sony Pictures will also be releasing not one, not two, but THREE Spider-verse movies this year – Madame Web (Feb 14), Kraven The Hunter (Aug 30), and the still-untitled Venom 3 (Nov 8). Yes, yes, we know, the last couple of movies haven’t been great (We’re looking at you, Moebius), but hey, it should help fill the Spider-void until Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse comes out next year.
While we wait with Kryptonite-baited breath for James Gunn to deliver his new DC cinematic universe with Superman Legacy (due out in 2025), sate your DC fix with Joker: Folie à Deux (Oct 4), the sequel to 2019’s critically acclaimed Joker, with Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Oscar-winning role as the iconic Batman rogue, and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn opposite him.
If that’s not enough to entice you, director Todd Philips has also apparently turned this into a musical., which should make it one of the most unconventional superheroes movie ever made. Now who wants to dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
'Joker: Folie à Deux' could be one of the most unconventional superhero movies ever made.
Speaking of musicals, one we are really looking forward to is Wicked: Part I (Nov 27), the adaptation of the hugely popular Broadway musical on the origins of The Wizard Of Oz’s the Wicked Witch Of The West.
Directed by John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), it will star Cynthia Erivo as the titular Wicked Witch, alongside Ariana Grande, Jeff Goldblum, and our very own Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh!
Another Broadway musical set to hit the big screen is Mean Girls (Jan 12). Wait, wasn’t there a Mean Girls movie in 2004 already? Well, yes – the Broadway musical is based on that movie, which in turn was based on a book. We’re not actually sure if this will come to Malaysia though, but if it does, as Gretchen Wieners would say, it is going to be ‘so fetch’.
If Disney musicals are more your thing, then maybe Mufasa: The Lion King (Dec 20) will entertain you. Scheduled to come out in December, the story supposedly takes a counter-clockwise look at the circle of life, as it explores Mufasa’s past, while also looking at how Simba is coping with his new role of being a parent and a king.
Who ya gonna call? Ant-Man, apparently.
What is it with the number of sequels to movies made decades ago that are coming out this year?
First up, we’ll have Twisters (July 19), which has been called “new chapter” of Twister, which was released in 1996 and starred Helen Hunt. This time around, we’ve got Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell, running around chasing tornadoes, and if we’re lucky, avoiding more flying cows.
After donning the Bat-cowl again in last year’s The Flash, Michael Keaton will be reviving yet another of his 1980s hit characters with the upcoming Beetlejuice 2 (Sep 24). Not that we’re complaining, of course, because Tim Burton’s 1988 classic film was quite the hilarious horror. And hey, just be thankful that Keaton isn’t reviving Mr Mom.
Are you not entertained yet? Well, then get ready for Gladiator 2 (Nov 22), Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Oscar-winning Gladiator movie from way back in the year 2000. While Russell Crowe won’t be reprising his role as Maximus, we do get Denzel Washington in the lead.
Other sequels to old movies coming this year include Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, Bad Boys 4, and Alien: Romulus. Nostalgia really rules, eh?
