Welcome back to the blog. I thought that I would give you the run down on a few films that I am looking forward to in the year ahead. I know that 2023 is young but all the biggest films are yet to come out. So in no particular ranking or order, here are some of my most anticipated films of 2023.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
I decided to start with the closest released film to the posting of this. I hope you know by my last few posts that I am a huge Marvel fan. I cannot believe that this is film number 31. Where the hell did the time go?
This installment of the MCU sees the Ant-Fam being sucked into the Quantum Realm where they will be pushed to their limits. Everyone from the main cast of Ant-Man and the Wasp will be returning, with Kathryn Newton being cast as the teenage Cassie Lang, replacing Emma Fuhrmann from Avengers: Endgame. David Dastmalchian returns in a different role and Jonathan Majors will make his debut as Kang the Conqueror (after playing his variant He Who Remains in Loki).
As of this writing, the second trailer has been released and it was incredible. Marvel is doing an incredible job of making Kang look like a legitimate threat, and he should be since he's going to be the next big villain of the MCU. The action looks incredible and if they can get the story right, it can be the best film in the MCU since Endgame. Let's hope Phase 5 is a banger!
Releases February 17.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Let's stay in the realm of the MCU as we take a look at film number 32: the third and final installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.
James Gunn returns one final time to helm the script and the direction of the film, that will see the Guardians having to defend their galaxy from a threat bigger than them while protecting one of their own. The whole cast from Guardians Vol. 2 returns with some notable additions: Maria Bakalova will make her big screen debut as Cosmo the Spacedog. Will Poulter will play the uber-powerful Adam Warlock, and Chukwudi Iwuji will play the villain, the High Evolutionary.
The first trailer for this was released at the 2022 CCXP and it definitely packed a punch. You could feel the presence of the High Evolutionary and you can assume it's gonna be an emotional watch. With the news that James Gunn is co-heading the new DC Studios with Peter Safran, let's hope his final MCU outing is as great as his last two.
Releases May 5.
The Marvels
This is gonna be an interesting one. Let's stay in the MCU with film number 33.
Directed by Candyman (2021) director Nia DeCosta, The Marvels will see Carol Danvers teaming up with some interesting allies to determine what's going on with them when they start swapping places. Starring with Brie Larson will be Ms. Marvel's Iman Vellani (who I am a major fan of) and WandaVision's Teyonah Parris. Zawe Ashton will be playing a villain, Kamala's family from Ms. Marvel and Samuel L. Jackson are also part of the cast.
Not much else is known about the film, but I am excited to see where they decide to go with it. Especially because it features characters from my two favorite Marvel Disney+ series. I can't wait to see these characters again, and I'm interested to see where this one goes.
Releases November 10.
John Wick: Chapter 4
When action films are fun, they are fun. And I couldn't think of a more fun series than John Wick. Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves know how to put the pedal to the metal and find creative ways to entertain the audience.
The fourth installment of the wildly popular series will see John Wick attempt to take the fight to the High Table while facing off against an adversary who attempts to turn the legendary assassin's world upside down. Reeves is joined by old friends Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne and Lance Reddick; and new characters played by Bill Skarsgard, Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Clancy Brown, and singer Rina Sawayama.
This franchise is one of the best action franchises in a long time and they have set the bar very high. Based on the trailer that was released, I'm expecting nothing less than full metal mayhem. I cannot wait for this one.
Releases March 24.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
The Mission: Impossible franchise is another one that has aged like fine wine. Each installment gets better than the last, and I believe that is a testament to Christopher McQuarrie and star Tom Cruise's attempts to continue to push the envelope.
Not much is known about the plot, but Cruise returns alongside Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson. Joining the cast is a who's who that consists of Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby, Esai Morales as the villain, Pom Klementieff, Rob Delaney, and Indira Varma. This one is gonna be more action-packed than ever.
Ded Reckoning Part One is designed to be the first of 2 films that will be a sendoff to IMF agent Ethan Hunt, and the trailer that was released in 2022 was mesmerizing. Crazy stunt after crazy stunt after crazy stunt. I can't wait for this one, especially THE stunt. If you know, you know.
Releases July 14.
Oppenheimer
I would be lying to you if I said I wasn't insanely hyped about this film. Everything about this screams Oscar contender. I mean, when you have Christopher Nolan, anything is possible.
Cillian Murphy (frequent Nolan collaborator) stars as the titular scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who leads the Manhattan Project to develop the very first nuclear weapon. Speaking of who's who, this cast is INCREDIBLE. I'm not gonna list everybody, so I'll link the film's IMDB and you can see for yourself who decided to work with one of the best directors today.
The trailer that was released in December 2022 tells us everything we need to know about this film. It's gonna be dark, it's gonna be heavy and it's gonna be awesome.
Releases July 21.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Adventure films can be fun as hell. Take last year's Uncharted. I never played the games but I found the film fun to watch. Another example: the Indiana Jones franchise. I love all of them, although I am indifferent to Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Dial of Destiny seems to be going back to basics. Directed by James Mangold, (Logan, Walk the Line, Ford v. Ferrari) we'll get to see an older Indiana Jones as he battles Nazis during the space race to prevent them from gaining a power that will change the course of history. John Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah, and him and Harrison Ford are joined by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Toby Jones and Boyd Holbrook.
The brief teaser we saw at CCXP brought back all the feels as we ride with Indy one last time. And it just may be one of the more emotional films of the year.
Releases June 30.
Dune: Part Two
I very much liked the first Dune film released in 2021. A story about revenge, opportunity, and family, it worked well enough to become my number 8 film of that year. A stacked cast that was very effective and the open-ended story made it an essential watch in 2021.
Part Two will continue the journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with the Fremen and races to prevent a war only he can foresee. Much of the cast from the first film will return: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgard, (who killed it in Andor) Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Charlotte Rampling. Joining them are some heavy hitters: Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan, Austin Butler as Feyd-Rautha, Christopher Walken as Emperor Shaddam, Lea Seydoux as Lady Margot, and Tim Blake Nelson in an undisclosed role.
People have said the second half of the book (on which this film is based) is better and more action-packed than the first half, and I cannot wait to see my boy Chalamet kill it again. I do believe John Campea that he'll be the next Daniel Day-Lewis.
Releases November 3.
The Flash
I should have subtitled it as "I hope so."
The Flash is supposed to come out in 2023, and incorporate the very popular Flashpoint story, in which Barry Allen attempts to go back in time and save his mother from being killed, while facing a multitude of consequences in his and other universes.
Ezra Miller returns (for the last time) as Barry, while being joined by Ron Livingston (replacing Billy Crudup), Kiersey Clemons as Iris West, Sasha Calle as Supergirl, and Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck as Batman!!!!
If they can do Flashpoint right, I think this can be a very interesting film, even despite all of the issues going on with Ezra. I hope they can continue to get the help that they need, and no longer being the Flash is some good initial punishment.
Releases June 16.
Some other films that I have some interest in include: Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Creed III, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Blue Beetle, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and Scream VI.
Thanks for reading this latest blog post and have a wonderful day.
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