Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021
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It’s a risky thing to make predictions these days, particularly in cinema. The past 12 months have had an impact on Hollywood that will be felt for years to come. However, a new year has arrived – and with it the chance to look ahead to what’s on its way to the big screen. It goes without saying that these releases are dependent on global events, with only tentative premiere dates at the moment. However, with two years’ worth of blockbusters moved into one, 2021 promises to be one of the most star-studded years yet.

By Victoria Luxford

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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No Time To Die (April) – One of cinema’s greatest heroes is back for one last adventure, as Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie sees him go up against villain Safin, played by Oscar winner Rami Malek. With Léa Seydoux and Christoph Waltz reprising their roles from Spectre, this promises to be a spectacular end to the Craig era – one in which he teams up with the first female 007, Nomi (Lashana Lynch), an agent who has been assigned Bond’s former double-O number. Co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective), it promises to be a high-octane adventure that will bring The Movies back with a bang!

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Last Night in Soho (April) – British director Edgar Wright’s follow up to Baby Driver will be well worth the four-year wait. Pitched as a time-bending psychological horror, Anya Taylor-Joy plays a young woman obsessed with fashion who mysteriously ends up in 1960s London, coming face to face with her idol. Typically, not all is as it seems, but you can bet the imaginative filmmaker will make the past come to life in the most unique way possible. Joining Taylor-Joy is Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, as well as real life ‘60s icons Terence Stamp and the late Diana Rigg, in her final big-screen role.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Fast & Furious 9 (May) – In an era of superheroes and Jedis, Vin Diesel’s all-star Fast & Furious saga has injected multiplexes with some old-school action. Evolving over the years from a racing franchise into a series of heist movies, the films are wildly popular, and this ninth instalment is reported to be the penultimate film in a 10-movie timeline (plus the obligatory spin-offs). This time, Diesel’s Dom Toretto faces a threat from within his own family: estranged younger brother Jakob (John Cena), a performance driver and master thief. There is a formula to these films that has worked for over a decade now, so it’s our guess that this will involve a lot of cars, a lot of explosions, and a lot of fun.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Godzilla vs. Kong (May) – Many readers may not be aware that the recent Godzilla and King Kong movies exist in the same universe, appropriately named The MonsterVerse. The fourth film in a series – following two Godzilla films and 2016’s Kong: Skull Island – sees the cinema icons square off in a collision that will threaten mankind’s very existence. Joining the giant stars are Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown and Rebecca Hall as the humans trying to figure out a way to stop the carnage. These movies have been surprise hits since the early 2010s, meaning this team-up should have twice the appeal to blockbuster fans around the world!

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Spiral (May) – Did you hear the one about the comedian who wrote a horror movie? Chris Rock was the surprise name behind this revival of the Saw franchise, renamed Spiral and starring Rock as a cop who investigates a grizzly series of murders with his young partner (Max Minghella). Samuel L. Jackson also stars in a film that seeks to revive a franchise that redefined the splatter horror subgenre, as well as taking it in a new direction that will feel fresh to contemporary audiences. All we know is we’ll be watching through our fingers when May arrives!

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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In the Heights (June) – If you only know Lin-Manuel Miranda from Hamilton, prepare to be dazzled! In the Heights, directed by John M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), is an adaptation of the 2008 Broadway show Miranda created with Quiara Alegría Hudes. Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born) plays a bodega owner dreaming of a better life as he interacts with the tight-knit Washington Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan. In development for over a decade, Miranda may not star, but a cast that includes Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton) and Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) will bring to life this tale of community and aspiration.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Ghostbusters: Afterlife (June) – The third movie in the original Ghostbusters timeline (2016’s Ghostbusters was a reboot of sorts), Afterlife focuses on a group of children who discover their connection to the Ghostbusters through their grandfather – just as a series of unexplained events start to terrorise their small town. It’s difficult to replicate a classic, but the return of all living members of the original films in supporting roles will delight fans, while the new cast (led by mentor figure Paul Rudd) will give a younger audience someone to root for. With this and Top Gun: Maverick on the horizon, 2021 is looking to be a summer of retro thrills.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Top Gun: Maverick (July) – Tom Cruise is the biggest name in movies, perhaps the last traditional movie star in an industry that prefers brands over marquee names. He returns to the role that started it all, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, in a sequel to 1986’s Top Gun. We return to find Maverick as a pilot instructor who hasn’t fulfilled the promise of his younger years, but gets a glimpse of the past with the arrival of Lieutenant Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of Maverick’s late best friend “Goose”. For a generation, Top Gun was every reason why they go to the movies – fun, action-packed adventures with a charismatic lead. If Cruise can bring that magic back after 35 years, it would be yet another achievement in a legendary career.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Jungle Cruise (July) – After Pirates of the Caribbean, Tomorrowland and The Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise becomes the latest theme park attraction to get its own movie. Dwayne Johnson takes the lead as a riverboat captain in the early 20^th century who agrees to transport a scientist (Emily Blunt) deep into a jungle to find the mythical Tree of Life. Johnson seems to be the secret ingredient to making a high-concept comedy work, having done so with the Jumanji reboots. The trailer promises all the laughs you might expect from a Disney live-action comedy, as well as two high-quality stars to lead us on a perilous adventure.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Space Jam: A New Legacy (July) – 25 years on from Michael Jordan’s smash hit, LeBron James takes the lead as he teams up with the Looney Tunes characters to travel through classic Warner Bros movies in order to save his son. Featuring many real-life NBA players and Don Cheadle as villain AI-G, the first film became a timeless classic for several generations of youngsters, let’s see if the four-time NBA champion can emulate Air Jordan’s success.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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The Suicide Squad (August) – James Gunn takes over this sort-of sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, set in the same universe but focusing on a changed group of misfits. Joining Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) and Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) are new characters such as Idris Elba’s Bloodsport, Pete Davidson’s Blackguard, and John Cena as Peacemaker. Viola Davis returns as the government operative controlling the group, sending them to South America on a perilous mission. It’s likely we’ll see more of the comedy antics that made Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy such a hit, and fans are salivating at the inclusion of Sylvester Stallone and Taika Waititi in as yet undisclosed roles.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Dune (October) – Having revived the world of Replicants in Blade Runner 2049, Denis Villeneuve tries his hand at Dune, an adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel. Timothee Chalamet plays a Duke in humanity’s future, charged with the stewardship of a valuable but dangerous planet known as Dune. The novel has been a puzzle for moviemakers for decades – David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation was a box-office flop but remained a cult hit, while several attempts have been made to adapt the story over the years. Villeneuve has proven his ability to handle vast worlds and elaborate concepts, and has assembled a wonderful cast that includes Oscar Isaac, Zendaya and Josh Brolin. If you’re a fan of sci-fi, this could be the epic you’ve been longing for.

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Elvis (November) – The life of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, has been dramatised a number of times in a number of ways. Now, director Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge!, The Great Gatsby) tells the life story of one of the most famous musicians to ever have lived. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood star Austin Butler has the monumental task of playing the title role, while Tom Hanks portrays his famous manager, Colonel Tom Parker. While we don’t have any footage available yet, the above interview from Austin gives an idea of how closely he resembles the man he is playing.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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King Richard (November) – Will Smith is one of those actors who’s made us laugh, cry and cheer over the years, but incredibly has never won an Oscar (despite being nominated in 2000 for Ali). A second chance may come via another sporting biopic, his new film King Richard. He plays the title role of Richard Williams, the father and coach of future tennis greats Venus and Serena. It tells the story of how Williams trained his daughters to become heroes, despite little background in the sport and limited resources. A fascinating story that’s bound to be among the contenders come awards season.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Eternals (November) – Little is known about the new characters who are waiting to be introduced into the Marvel Universe, other than the official plot description of a team of alien immortals who reunite to stop an evil force after the cataclysmic events of Avengers: Endgame. What we do know is that the film stars Angelina Jolie in her first foray into the world of superhero movies, with her co-stars including Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani and Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden. With many of the old guard depleted after Endgame, a fresh team of heroes is needed – and who better to lead them than one of the most famous stars in the world?

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Untitled Spider-man Sequel (December) – This is a big one, as Tom Holland’s third solo movie will bring back a few familiar faces and establish a new concept for comic book movies: The Multiverse. Joining Holland’s Peter Parker and Zendaya’s MJ are characters from previous Spider-man trilogies, including Kirsten Dunst and Alfred Molina from Sam Raimi’s trilogy, as well as Andrew Garfield and Jamie Foxx from the Amazing Spider-man films. At the time of writing, the original big-screen Spidey, Toby Maguire, was reportedly in negotiations to appear, but not confirmed. Should all of these timelines converge, it would usher in an exciting new era for the superhero movie that needed a new direction after the spectacular Avengers: Endgame.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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West Side Story (December) – Hoping to dance its way toward 2022 Oscar glory is Steve Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. Taking influence from both the original stage musical and the classic 1961 movie, Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler play Tony and Maria, two young people who fall in love – but whose ties to rival New York gangs threaten to tear them apart. This reimagining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in 1950s New York makes for a visual feast, utilising the best young talent in Hollywood directed by a true great of the movie business. Lovers of film history will be in heaven.

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Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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The Matrix 4 (December) – The Matrix franchise ended with 2003’s The Matrix Revolutions… or so we thought. Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett-Smith all return to the world created by the Wachowski Sisters 18 years ago, with Daniel Bernhardt’s Agent Johnson replacing villain Agent Smith. The Matrix films are a landmark of pre-millennium culture, as the world wondered what the new century would hold. Will Lana Wachowski’s dystopian universe still feel as relevant 20 years on? We can’t wait to find out!

18/20
Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Free Guy (TBC) – Have you ever wondered what it’s like for the Non-Playable Characters (NPCs) in your favourite video game? This action comedy shows us the life of Guy (Ryan Reynolds), an NPC in the fictional open world game Free City who is oblivious to his existence as part of a game until a computer programmer makes him aware. Co-starring Jodie Comer and Taika Waititi, the hilarious trailer gives us a taste of a formula that feels like a cross between Toy Story and The Matrix, imagining what the world of a character is like when we aren’t playing.

19/20
Culture Get Ready
Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021.
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Death on the Nile (TBC) – Murder mysteries have come back in a big way in the last few years, thanks to the success of Knives Out and Kenneth Branagh’s Murder on the Orient Express. The sequel to the latter film is a star-studded affair, focusing on the murder of an heiress (Gal Gadot) aboard a leisure cruise on the Nile. Branagh is back as investigator Hercule Poirot, joined by a new gang of suspects that includes Armie Hammer, Annette Bening and Russell Brand. The key question behind this Agatha Christie adaptation is: Who is the culprit? Branagh hopes to keep you guessing until the very end!

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Better Late Than Never: The Films (Hopefully) Coming Our Way In 2021

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