Today, it’s eleven films I’m looking forward to in 2017 (because I just couldn’t narrow it down to ten). Now I’ll say at the outset that this list is pretty franchise-heavy, though I should think that’s because studios nail down these big-budget dates first and open their smaller films later. For reference, I don’t think we knew about Fences and La La Land back in February 2016. It’ll be interesting to see which of these films make it to my end-of-year list in eleven months!
We start with something pretty imminent – next week, in fact. I had remarked that The Lego Movie was “delightfully self-aware” and better that it had any right to be, and so I’m excited to see that film’s ethos carried over into a full feature film about my all-time favorite fictional character. Will Arnett returns, joined by Michael Cera as Robin, Zach Galifianakis as The Joker, Ralph Fiennes as Alfred, and Rosario Dawson as Batgirl, but we have a whole bevy of characters on display, from the Justice League to the Condiment King. Early reviews are coming in positive, which augurs well for this fan.
Director James Mangold and star Hugh Jackman managed to wipe away the bad taste of X-Men Origins: Wolverine from Joe Popcorn’s mouth with the fine pseudo-sequel The Wolverine in 2013, and it looks to be another first-rate solo film with Logan, which borrows loosely from the “Old Man Logan” comics to show our favorite X-Man on the run in the barren wastes of Texas. Taking Logan into the neo-western looks luscious and fun, and the inclusion of both Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and X-23 (newcomer Dafne Keen) roots Logan in the X-Men film universe.
Everyone’s favorite a-holes are back! James Gunn has carved out a weird kind of auteur status within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, apparently bucking the studio influence in favor of keeping his Guardians divorced from the major franchise proceedings. And although we’ve already gotten confirmation that most of the Guardians and their friends are showing up for Infinity War (May 4, 2018), there’s enough in Vol. 2 to guarantee my attendance – chief among them, Baby Groot and Kurt Russell as Ego the Living Planet. Finally, it’s more than a little liberating to know that the trailers haven’t given us a sense of the film’s plot!
Jack is back, baby, and I don’t mean Jack Bauer (though 24 returned after last night’s Super Bowl, I wasn’t watching). Johnny Depp sails again as Captain Jack Sparrow, and although the franchise is not without its detractors, I love Pirates of the Caribbean. New directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg bring Javier Bardem to the high seas as the ghostly Captain Salazar, who’s pursuing Sparrow for reasons unknown. As much as I’m looking forward to more pirates, I’m eager to hear what Geoff Zanelli brings to the score; alas, Hans Zimmer is not returning (though if we’re being fair, he did phone it in a bit for On Stranger Tides).
FINALLY. It’s patently absurd that we are getting two movies about a raccoon and a talking tree (see above) before Wonder Woman gets a solo feature, but thank heavens we don’t have to go another year without our favorite Amazon throwing down in her own film. Gal Gadot was one of the brightest spots of Batman v Superman, and her enthusiasm for the role looks to be transferring to the audience, as well. Director Patty Jenkins has a titanic endeavor ahead of her, helming the first female-led superhero film, but Wonder Woman looks to be a home run.
Tom Holland was one of many, many bright spots in Captain America: Civil War, and you don’t need your own spidey-sense to get excited about seeing him usher the wall-crawling webhead into his own film. Michael Keaton continues his avian-themed career resurgence, going from Birdman to The Vulture, which he looks to be reinventing as a blue-collar criminal rising to the occasion of supervillain. Best of all? The film starts in the midst of Spider-Man’s career, meaning we won’t need to see Uncle Ben killed one more time.
It’s a toss-up whether my favorite director of all time is Martin Scorsese or Christopher Nolan, but either way it’s a good day at the movies where these guys are concerned. Scorsese had a meditative win with Silence, and Nolan is moving from high sci-fi to historical drama with this World War II true story and an all-star cast, many of whom are Nolan staples: Kenneth Branagh, James D’Arcy, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, and Mark Rylance. That’s Hans Zimmer music in the trailers, too. Seeing Nolan’s particularly fantastic vision applied to that which is not fantastical, that which is undeniably real, will surely be worth the price of admission.
The Incredible Hulk aside, Thor has been something of an also-ran in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, not as critically beloved as Iron Man or Captain America but also not as lushly crafted as those two’s standalone films. Director Taika Waititi is responding by sending Thor into space, teaming him up with The Hulk, and stirring in Cate Blanchett as Hel, Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, and Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. This is also likely our best shot at a lead-in to Infinity War (May 4, 2018), to boot.
Some of you might have stayed home from Suicide Squad in protest over Batman v Superman, but you’ll be back for Justice League. (“Just a hunch...”) For my money, Zack Snyder’s done exemplary work with the DC film universe; even if it’s not for everyone, as popular opinion has shown, it’s just right for me – he takes this stuff as seriously as I do, and he’s not afraid to engage in big ideas about faith, human nature, gods, and myth. Heck, let him direct The Batman while we’re at it. The inclusion of Ciaran Hinds as antagonist Steppenwolf also bodes well for the inevitable inclusion of Darkseid as the next big villain.
This one might seem like the odd man out on this list – indeed, it’s probably the only movie on the list where nothing will blow up – but a new version of the Agatha Christie classic is cause for excitement. It’s a great mystery, one I guarantee will keep you guessing up until Hercule Poirot’s “two solutions” monologue, and the Albert Finney version was fascinating, but I’m curious to see what a few new faces do with the material. Kenneth Branagh stars and directs (in typically self-aggrandizing fashion, I am sure), but there’s a star-studded cast snowed in aboard the train, including but not limited to: Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Derek Jacobi, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley. And speaking of Daisy Ridley...
Nuff said? The recent announcement of the film’s title sparked a slew of speculation about its significance (though the title crawl for The Force Awakens identifies Luke Skywalker as “the last Jedi”), adding fuel to the fire that sparked when we left Luke and Rey on that cliff. I for one can’t wait to rejoin that galaxy far, far away; Rogue One was a sufficient appetizer, but even at one film a year I’m chomping at the bit for more Star Wars.
Five Honorable Mentions:
· Kong: Skull Island – March 10
· Beauty and the Beast – March 17
· Kingsman: The Golden Circle – June 16
· War for the Planet of the Apes – July 14
· Blade Runner 2049 – October 6
What’s on your list? What is guaranteed to get you to the cineplex in 2017? Sound off in the comments below!
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