THE year is nearing its end but that’s fine as there’s so much to look forward to in 2023 – especially if you’re into films!
Action-adventure, a resurgence of classics, childhood nostalgia … it’s all happening next year. Get the popcorn popping in anticipation of the biggest hits of 2023.
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1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
Director: Peyton Reed
Stars: Jonathan Majors, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Bill Murray
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Marvel is all over the show at the moment so it’s no surprise they’re continuing to venture into the lesser-known characters. There are rumours about de-ageing technology being incorporated into this one (think Benjamin Button) with Bill Murray playing the villain. This could be good. Or bad. Can’t wait to find out!
2. The Super Mario Movie
Directors: Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic
Stars: Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, Keegan-Michael Key, Seth Rogen, Fred Armisen
Genre: Comedy, Adventure, Family, Animation
Nintendo’s popular video game is coming to the big screen with the Italian-style plumber and his brother taking on some turtles, tube plants, and a host of other obscure enemies – all while searching for the elusive princess. It’s got a good cast but whether it’ll work on the big screen is still to be seen.
3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Directors: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson
Stars: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation
If you haven’t watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse yet, get it done before the sequel – it’s well worth it! Expect more multi-verse adventures as we meet all the Spidey variants in this trippy, creative animation style. No doubt a great soundtrack is also in the line-up.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Director: James Gunn
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper , Karen Gillan
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
After the dreadful loss of Gamora, Peter Quill has rallied his team to defend the universe in another all-or-nothing conquest for the galaxy.
5. Indiana Jones 5
Director: James Mangold
Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas and John Rhys-Davies.
Genre: Action, Adventure
De-ageing technology seems to be a theme coming through in 2023 with Harrison Ford taking the title role of this unnamed fifth instalment of Indiana Jones – but not at age 80 as he is now! This is the first film without Steven Spielberg’s involvement, so it will be interesting to see if it retains the same flavour.
6. Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Stars: Tom Cruise, Simon Pegg’s, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Hayley Atwell, Vanessa Kirby
Genre: Action, Adventure
He’s back (at 60) for the 7th and 8th instalment of the Mission:Impossible franchise. Yip, Tom Cruise will be in another explosive, action-packed adventure film that will no doubt entertain, even if you’ll have to suspend your disbelief somewhat.
7. Barbie
Director: Greta Gerwig
Stars: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell, Emma Mackey
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Very little has been released about this colourful film beyond a few clips we’ve seen from the production stills. It comes with a pretty epic cast, so definitely well worth a watch.
8. Oppenheimer
Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Jack Quaid
Genre: War
The life of the man who invented the atomic bomb will be told through the eyes of the renowned film-maker, Christopher Nolan, with a stellar ensemble led by Cillian Murphy. This one has Oscar-worthy written all over it and is a definite must for 2023.
9. Dune: Part Two
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin , Florence Pugh
Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Drama
This is the long-awaited sequel to the cult sci-fi novel is set to hit the big screen in 2023, bringing Frank Herbert’s story to life. This is another one with a stellar cast and will be one for the sci-fi fans to look out for.
10. Wonka
Director: Paul King
Stars: Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, Sally Hawkins, Keegan-Michael Key, Mathew Baynton
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Adventure, Family
This is the story behind the story – what made the world’s greatest fictional chocolatier who he was. Based as a prequel to Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this will be a musical delight for the family to enjoy.
*Sources: www.gq-magazine.co.uk, www.esquire.com
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