Fall preview: 'Black Panther,' 'Avatar' sequels and 23 more to see
Remember when you could watch some of Hollywood’s newest and biggest movies on the small screen?
That’s sooo 2021.
As the Covid-19 pandemic keeps fading (knock wood), movies are returning to theaters with a vengeance. Following up on the billion-dollar box-office of “Top Gun: Maverick,” Hollywood this fall will offer A-list stars and name-brand directors to get you off the couch and back to the multiplex. Want to see George Clooney and Julia Roberts in a rom-com? A semi-autobiographical drama from Steven Spielberg? How about the long-awaited sequels to “Black Panther,” “Shazam!” and “Avatar?” If so, you’ll have to go to the cinema.
It’s all part of a hopeful return to normalcy. At the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a new president is in and the pre-pandemic rules are back: Only theatrical movies, not streaming ones, will be considered for Oscars (with a technical exception or two). The “smaller” awards that got sidelined during the previous ceremony, such as Film Editing and Original Score, may come back to the live broadcast for 2023. As for that much-maligned “Fan Favorite” award, which went to a Netflix zombie film, there’s no official word on its return -- but don't bet on it. In general, the Acadmey seems to be back in old-fashioned, hooray-for-Hollywood mode.
Could it be that this fall will be filled with must-sees – the kind of movies you’ll actually want to watch before the Best Picture envelope is opened? Here’s your checklist for the rest of the year:
THE WOMAN KING (Sept. 16)
Viola Davis stars in "The Woman King." Credit: Sony Pictures/Ilze Kitshoff
The story of the Agojie, an all-female unit of warriors who protected Africa’s Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. Viola Davis plays General Nanisca. Gina Prince-Bythewood (“Love & Basketball”) directs.
SEE HOW THEY RUN (Sept. 16) The retro-whodunit trend continues with this murder-mystery set in London’s theatrical world during the 1950s. Sam Rockwell plays Inspector Stoppard. Also with Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody and David Oyelowo.
DON’T WORRY DARLING (Sept. 23)
Harry Styles and Florence Pugh in "Don't Worry Darling."
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) move into Victory, a experimental utopian town where things are not as they seem. Directed by Olivia Wilde.
BROS (Sept. 30) Universal Pictures is calling this the first gay rom-com from a major studio. Its star, Billy Eichner, co-wrote with director Nicholas Stoller (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”).
AMSTERDAM (Oct. 7)
Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in "Amsterdam."
Credit: Courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Courtesy of 20th Century Studios
Margot Robbie, Christian Bale and John David Washington play three friends pulled into a shocking crime plot in David O. Russell’s comedy-thriller. Based on a true story.
LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE (Oct. 7) A live/animated musical, based on the children’s book about an unusual Upper East Side pet. Singer Shawn Mendes is the voice of Lyle. Songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land”).
TILL (Oct. 14)
Jalyn Hall as Emmett Till and Danielle Deadwyler as Mamie Till Bradley in "Till." Credit: Orion Pictures/Lynsey Weatherspoon
The story of Mamie Till Mobley (Danielle Deadwyler), whose 14-year-old son, Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall), was tortured and murdered in Mississippi for allegedly offending a white woman.
WHITE BIRD: A WONDER STORY (Oct. 14) A bully expelled from school finds comfort in his grandmother (Helen Mirren), who survived Nazi-occupied France. This is a spinoff from the 2017 film “Wonder.”
HALLOWEEN ENDS (Oct. 14)
Michael Myers (aka The Shape) and Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode in "Halloween Ends." Credit: Universal Pictures/Ryan Green
The nearly 44-year saga of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her life-long stalker, Michael Myers, comes to an end -- or so says Universal Pictures. David Gordon Green returns to direct.
BLACK ADAM (Oct. 21)
Letitia Wright as Shuri in Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."
Credit: Marvel Studios
Dwayne Johnson and his “Jungle Cruise” director, Jaume Collet-Serra, re-team for this DC superhero movie. Johnson plays a 5,000-year-old being with the powers of the gods.
TICKET TO PARADISE (Oct. 21)
George Clooney and Julia Roberts) in "Ticket to Paradise." Credit: Universal Pictures
George Clooney and Julia Roberts reunite for this romantic comedy about two exes trying to stop their lovestruck daughter (Kaitlyn Dever) from rushing into marriage.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (Nov. 11)
(L-R): Dorothy Steel as Merchant Tribe Elder, Florence Kasumba as Ayo, Angela Bassett as Ramonda, Danai Gurira as Okoye in Marvel Studios' "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." Credit: Marvel Studios
After the death of King T’Challa (the late Chadwick Boseman), the people of Wakanda must protect their nation from nefarious world powers. With Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o. Ryan Coogler returns to direct.
THE SON (Nov. 11)
Zen McGrath, Hugh Jackman and Laura Dern in "The Son." Credit: Sony Pictures CLassic/Rekha Garton
A man’s life is upended by the appearance of his troubled son from a previous marriage. With Hugh Jackman, Vanessa Kirby and Laura Dern. Directed by Florian Zeller from his stage play.
SHE SAID (Nov. 18)
(from left) Hywel Madden (Wesley Holloway), Laura Madden (Jennifer Ehle) and Iris Madden (Justine Colan) in "She Said." Credit: Universal Pictures/JoJo Whilden
Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) and Zoe Kazan (”The Big Sick) play New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, respectively, whose stories brought down the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
THE MENU (Nov. 18) What’s to eat? Diners might be sorry they asked at an island restaurant run by a crazed chef (Ralph Fiennes). With Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult.
THE FABELMANS (Nov. 23) Steven Spielberg directs a drama loosely based on his childhood. He co-wrote the screenplay with Tony Kushner. Starring Michelle Williams, Paul Dano and Seth Rogen.
BONES AND ALL (Nov. 23) Director Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet, of “Call Me By Your Name,” reunite for a horror-romance; it’s based on Camille DeAngelis’ novel about two cannibals in love. With Taylor Russell.
SPOILER ALERT: THE HERO DIES (Dec. 2) Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge and Sally Field star in an adaptation of Michael Ausiello’s memoir about his terminally ill partner. Michael Showalter (“The Big Sick”) directs.
EMPIRE OF LIGHT (Dec. 9) The latest from director Sam Mendes (“1917”) is a drama set in a British seaside town during the 1980s. With Olivia Colman, Colin Firth and Michael Ward.
A MAN CALLED OTTO (Dec. 14) A grouchy widower (Tom Hanks) strikes up an unlikely friendship with his pregnant next-door neighbor (Mariana Treviño). This is the American adaptation of “A Man Called Ove,” the Frederik Backman novel that became a box-office hit in Sweden.
AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
(L-R): Ronal, Tonowari, and the Metkayina clan in "Avatar: The Way of Water." Credit: 20th Century Studios
(Dec. 16) Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, this sequel focuses on former Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his Na’vi family on the tropical moon Pandora. With Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang. Directed by James Cameron.
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (Dec. 21) Antonio Banderas returns as the voice of the animated feline rogue, who suddenly realizes he has used up eight of his lives. With Salma Hayek Pinault.
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS (Dec. 21) Three years after the first film, the amiable DC superhero returns, this time battling… Helen Mirren? With Zachary Levi and Asher Angel.
I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Dec. 21) English actor Naomi Ackie plays the late Whitney Houston in this biopic. It’s directed by Kasi Lemmons (“Harriet”), written by Anthony McCarten (“Bohemian Rhapsody”) and co-produced by Clive Davis.
BABYLON (Dec. 25) Paramount isn’t revealing much (yet) about the latest from director Damien Chazelle (“La La Land”), but Variety says it features Brad Pitt as a silent film star and Margot Robbie as a Roaring Twenties icon. The studio must feel good about it; note the big Christmas Day release.
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