Every Movie Coming In 2018 That Should Be On Your Radar

Sometimes, we can look ahead to a coming year’s movie release schedule and feel less than enthused about what's in the pipeline. 2018, though, is most assuredly not one of those occasions. The next calendar year looks set to deliver something for everyone. From superheroes and family fare, to horrors and thrillers; from big studio comedies and smaller, indie films, to interesting documentaries and true-story dramas – 2018 is already packed with arrival slots for some very exciting films. While the release date for any movie is obviously subject to change, we've gone through the next 12 months and put together a comprehensive preview of all the releases you need to watch out for in 2018. Suffice it to say, it's going to be a very busy year for film, but a very exciting one, too. January Molly’s Game Date: January 5th Director: Aaron Sorkin Writer: Aaron Sorkin Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Joe Keery, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Chris O’Dowd, Graham Greene. Based on the book by the woman herself, Molly’s Game tells the story of Molly Bloom – an Olympic class-skier who became a target for the FBI after she was found to run the most exclusive high-stakes poker game in the world. This will be the first collaboration between Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba. It's also the first time either of those performers have worked with Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin, who makes his directorial debut here. Insidious: The Last Key Date: January 5th Director: Adam Robitel Writer: Leigh Whannell Cast: Lin Shaye, Javier Botet, Josh Stewart, Leigh Whannell, Kirk Acevedo, Marcus Henderson. This is the fourth instalment in the popular Insidious film franchise, which began in 2010 with a horror story starring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson, as parents who are haunted by terrifying demons from another plane – known as The Further. That first instalment kick-started a series of movies that are each presented as the case files of demonologists. This fourth film focuses on the returning parapsychologist character of Dr. Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), as she confronts a haunting in her childhood home. The Post Date: January 12th Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Liz Hannah and Josh Singer Cast: Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Bruce Greenwood, Matthew Rhys, Alison Brie, Carrie Coon, Jesse Plemons, David Cross, Zach Woods, Michael Stuhlbarg. With an incredible all-star, powerhouse cast, and Steven Spielberg at the helm, The Post is bound to attract a vast amount of attention upon release. The fact is, however, that the real attraction is the subject matter - which is the undeniably relevant battle between the first female newspaper publisher in the United States, her star journalist, and the Government they are trying to hold to account. Proud Mary Date: January 12th Director: Babak Najafi Writers: Steve Antin, John Stuart Newman, and Christian Swegal Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Neal McDonough, Xander Berkeley, Danny Glover, Margaret Avery. Any project that provides Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson with a complex lead role is something to get excited about, but here we have a movie that seeks to blend well-shot action with well-crafted characterization – headed up by the Hidden Figures star. The titular Mary is an assassin in the employ of an organized crime syndicate, but has cause to question her lifestyle when her path crosses with that of a young boy. 12 Strong Date: January 19th Director: Nicolai Fuglsig Writers: Ted Tally and Peter Craig Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Elsa Pataky, Taylor Sheridan, Michael Shannon, Michael Pena, Geoff Stults, Rob Riggle. This is the first of three – yes, three – Chris Hemsworth movies releasing in 2018, and relates the tale of the first team of U.S. Special Forces to arrive in Afghanistan after the terrorist attacks of September 11th. The tension mounts as the group must unite under the instruction of a new Captain, while working with a local warlord to undermine and defeat the Taliban. The film is based on the non-fiction book Horse Soldiers, by Doug Stanton, and is notable for the casting of Rob Riggle – who is famous for his work in comedy, but is also a former U.S. Marine who served in Afghanistan himself. The Final Year Date: January 19th Director: Greg Baker Featuring: Barack Obama, John Kerry, Samantha Power, Ben Rhodes This documentary promises to deliver an inside look at the endeavours of President Obama’s foreign policy team, during the final year of the Obama administration. As the main players strive to secure their legacy on the world stage, filmmaker Greg Baker gains unique access to the White House, the State Department, and the travels of high level U.S. diplomats and politicians. February Winchester: The House That Ghosts Built Date: February 2nd Director: Michael Spierig and Peter Spierig Writers: Tom Vaughan, Michael Spierig, and Peter Spierig Cast: Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook, Jason Clarke. Sarah Lockwood Pardee married William Wirt Winchester in 1862 and, after the death of both him and their only child, became the heir to a fortune built upon the success of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. According to legend, Sarah was informed by a medium that her family was cursed to be haunted by all those killed by Winchester rifles, and she moved to an 8-room Californian farm house in 1884, for the purpose of housing herself and the spirits of the dead. Believing that she would die if construction on the house ever stopped, she spent her ever-increasing inheritance expanding the house into a bizarre labyrinth that never found completion. The Winchester Mystery House stands today as a tourist attraction, but this film explores the myth behind it as a horror story– with Academy Award winner Helen Mirren starring as Sarah Winchester. Cloverfield Movie Date: February 2nd Director: Julius Onah Writers: Oren Uziel and Doug Jung Cast: Elizabeth Debicki, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Daniel Bruhl, Chris O’Dowd, Ziyi Zhang, David Oyelowo, Aksel Hennie, John Ortiz, Roger Davies. Previously referred to as God Particle, this is the third instalment in the Cloverfield anthology film franchise. With the series opener arriving in 2008 as a found-footage action movie featuring an other-worldly creature destroying Manhattan, 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane delivered a more claustrophobic story, with a young woman waking up in a bunker during what the bunker owner claims is an unseen but catastrophic event. Cloverfield Movie takes that claustrophobic atmosphere, and relocates it to space, with a space station scientific experiment going awry and leaving the astronauts isolated from Earth. The draw here is three-fold. Firstly, the fact that this is a Cloverfield franchise instalment makes it a must-see project. Secondly, any thriller set in near-space is something to get excited about. Thirdly, this film has assembled a phenomenal cast of epic proportions. Fifty Shades Freed Date: February 9th Director: James Foley Writer: Niall Leonard Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Arielle Kebbel, Kim Basinger, Tyler Hoechlin, Eloise Mumford, Eric Johnson, Rita Ora, Marcia Gay Harden, Max Martini, Luke Grimes, Andrew Airlie. This is part three of the contentious Fifty Shades trilogy, based on the best-selling book series of the same name, by E.L. James. Director James Foley returns to direct this final instalment, which sees lovers Christian and Ana settling in to married life, while external forces gather to derail their seemingly idyllic situation. With its two previous instalments having earned over $900m in global box office takings, Fifty Shades Freed will take the movie franchise into the billion dollar club with ease. Peter Rabbit Date: February 9th Director: Will Gluck Writers: Will Gluck and Rob Lieber Cast: James Corden, Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, Sam Neill, Rose Byrne, Domnhall Gleeson, Sia. In this combination of live-action and animation, the famous literary character Peter Rabbit competes with his legendary nemesis Mr. McGregor for the affections of their neighbour, (and fictional version of the author) Beatrix Potter. This interesting approach to the adaptation of the classic children’s tales from English literature is expected to bring a new audience to the work of Potter, as the film presents a viable alternative to the other, more adult fare available in theatres during February. Black Panther Date: February 16th Director: Ryan Coogler Writers: Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Marton Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Andy Serkis, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, John Kani, Florence Kasumba. This is, undoubtedly, one of the most highly anticipated films of 2018 – being the first solo movie of the excellent Marvel character that was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Until the predecessor of this film - Thor: Ragnarok - was released in 2017, the MCU had been directed exclusively by white men, and consisted entirely of stories led by white male superheroes. Black Panther changes all of that with the first black male director in the franchise, and the first leading black male superhero. In addition, and most crucially, Black Panther features a cast that includes many black women in roles that are significant, and help drive the plot – which is also a first for this film series. Annihilation Date: February 23rd Director: Alex Garland Writer: Alex Garland Cast: Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Oscar Isaac, Gina Rodriguez, Benedict Wong. This female-led thriller is based on the best-selling novel of the same name, written by Jeff VanderMeer – and sees four nameless women set out on an exploratory, scientific expedition to investigate Area X. This region is isolated from civilization, and has seen many expeditions end in death and disaster for all involved – including the husband of the group’s leader, The Biologist. Aside from the fact that the movie boasts four formidable leading women, and Oscar Isaac in a supporting role, it's also directed by Alex Garland, who previously delivered The Beach and Ex Machina. March Game Night Date: March 2nd Directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein Writer: Mark Perez Cast: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Jesse Plemons, Billy Magnussen, Kyle Chandler, Kylie Bunbury, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris. Sometimes, you just need a good old fashioned studio comedy – and this one boasts both an excellent cast, and a fantastic behind-the-camera pedigree. The story has a group of friends meet for their regular game night, only to be told that their usual round of Pictionary is being swapped for a murder-mystery. The question is, which parts are real, and which are faked? The draw here is the ensemble cast, which includes comedic stalwarts such as Jason Bateman, Billy Magnussen, Lamorne Morris and Sharon Horgan, as well as performers who are usually confined to drama – such as Kyle Chandler, and Jesse Plemons. Directing duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein previously helmed Vacation, but are perhaps most noted for writing the Horrible Bosses films, and Spider-Man: Homecoming – all of which is evidence of their perfect comic timing. Red Sparrow Date: March 2nd Director: Francis Lawrence Writer: Justin Haythe Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Mary-Louise Parker, Joel Edgerton, Ciaran Hinds, Matthias Schoenaerts, Joely Richardson, Jeremy Irons, Sergei Polunin, Charlotte Rampling, Sakina Jaffrey. Based on the novel by Jason Matthews, this spy thriller has Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence starring as a ballerina who is recruited into the Russian intelligence service – known as Sparrow School. When her inaugural mission has her targeting a CIA agent, her actions have the potential to threaten both Russia, and the U.S. While this project could be viewed as the Black Widow movie we should have had five years ago, the notion of Lawrence leading an action-packed thriller as a Russian spy will undoubtedly draw big audiences. Thoroughbreds Date: March 9th Director: Cory Finley Writer: Cory Finley Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin, Paul Sparks. Sadly, this independent movie will now likely be forever remembered as Anton Yelchin’s last film, since he tragically died shortly after its completion. Cory Finley’s feature debut drew praise after a screening at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, however, with its murderous plot about two highly privileged teenage girls and their nefarious plans. A Wrinkle In Time Date: March 9th Director: Ava DuVernay Writer: Jennifer Lee Cast: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Pena, Levi Miller, Andre Holland, Will McCormack. This highly anticipated, high profile movie release is based on the hugely popular novel by Madeleine L’Engle, and is directed by Academy Award nominee Ava DuVernay. In her first big budget, studio tentpole project, DuVernay has assembled an enviable cast – and early snippets of footage have indicated a family film of the highest quality. Pacific Rim: Uprising Date: March 23rd Director: Steven S. Deknight Writers: Steven S. DeKnight, T.S Nowlin, Kira Snyder, Emily Carmichael Cast: John Boyega, Rinko Kikuchi, Scott Eastwood, Adria Arjona, Charlie Day, Tian Jing, Burn Gorman. The sequel to 2013’s popular Pacific Rim sees John Boyega move into a producer role, as well as starring as the lead character. It's set a decade after the events of the first film, and sees an escalation in both the Jaeger program, and the nature of the Kaijus they must battle. Isle Of Dogs Date: March 23rd Director: Wes Anderson Writers: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Kunichi Nomura, Jason Schwartzman Cast: Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblum, Greta Gerwig, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Frances McDormand, Live Schreiber, Bill Murray, Fisher Stevens, Harvey Keitel, F. Murray Abraham, Ken Watanabe, Courtney B. Vance, Bob Balaban, Yoko Ono, Akira Ito. A strange and devastating canine flu has swept Japan, causing the banishment of all dogs to a remote and isolated island. An intrepid young boy breaches the quarantine to search for his beloved pet, and a group of determined hounds band together to help him. Using his iconic animation style, Academy Award nominee Wes Anderson appears to have woven another heartwarming tale – this time, about a boy and his dog. Ready Player One Date: March 30th Director: Steven Spielberg Writers: Zak Penn and Ernest Cline Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, T.J Miller, Hannah John-Kamen, Simon Pegg, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Letitia Wright, Lena Waithe. Novelist Ernest Cline co-writes the screen adaptation of his own best-selling book here, as his celebration of pop culture and video gaming heads for theatres with Steven Spielberg at the helm. The story is set in a somewhat desolate future that finds mankind seeking escape in a virtual reality world known as the OASIS. When the creator of the OASIS dies, a video announcement from him states that the player who finds his Easter Egg will inherit OASIS, and his $240 billion fortune. Regular player Wade Owen Watts works with his friends to find the Easter Egg, while a giant corporation will stop at nothing to prevent them from doing so. This is a highly anticipated adaptation of a book that has become very popular among gaming communities, and Young Adult audiences. The fact that the virtual world in which the story is set incorporates vast amounts of pop culture references means that Ready Player One will doubtless appeal to older and younger generations alike. April The New Mutants Date: April 13th Director: Josh Boone Writers: Josh Boone and Knate Gwaltney Cast: Charlie Heaton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Alice Braga, Happy Anderson. This is the 11th installment of the X-Men film franchise, and the first contribution to such from director Josh Boone. It essentially introduces a new generation of mutants to the X-Men cinematic universe, by telling a story about five youngsters whose extraordinary abilities are just beginning to emerge. They're called to action when they resolve to escape the secret facility that is holding them against their will. With the X-Men film series desperately needing a shot in the arm, The New Mutants carries a great deal of hope and expectation. It's clearly intended to appeal to a somewhat younger audience, bringing a new crowd to the franchise as it heads into a new era. Tully Date: April 30th Director: Jason Reitman Writer: Diablo Cody Cast: Mackenzie Davis, Charlize Theron, Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston, Emily Hain, Elaine Tan. The professional partnership between director Jason Reitman and Academy Award winning writer Diablo Cody has delivered several excellent creative projects into movie theatres – and Tully will be the fourth. Billed as a comedy about motherhood, Academy Award winner Charlize Theron stars as mother-of-three, Marlo, whose brother hires a night nanny for her – named Tully. This is the second time Theron has collaborated with Reitman and Cody – the first being 2011’s Young Adult. May Avengers: Infinity War Date: May 4th Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Scarlett Johansson, Elizabeth Olsen, Karen Gillan, Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Benedict Cumberbatch, Pom Klementieff, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin, Zoe Saldana, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Renner, Vin Diesel, Jon Favreau, Paul Rudd, Bradley Cooper, Chadwick Boseman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany, Letitia Wright, Benicio Del Toro, Danai Gurira, Don Cheadle, Benedict Wong, Winston Duke. To say that Avengers: Infinity War is highly anticipated seems like something of an understatement. This is expected to be the culmination of every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie released to date, and essentially marks the 10th birthday of the juggernaut franchise. It is notable for the way in which it intends to include many fan favourite characters from across the film series – including the first time Thanos has appeared as the leading villain. A Quiet Place Date: May 4th Director: John Krasinski Writers: Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, and John Krasinski Cast: John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Noah Jupe, Millicent Simmonds, Cade Woodward. John Krasinski has carved a post-Office career for himself as a talented writer, producer, and director – as well as performing onscreen in variety of studio and independent productions. This - along with the fact that he's joined in the cast by Golden Globe winner Emily Blunt – makes A Quiet Place a very exciting prospect indeed. The story centers on a young family living in an isolated location. They exist in complete silence for fear of drawing the attention of an unknown, lethal menace. This is an original premise that mixes elements of horror and thriller genres – while relying on the compelling performances and direction of those involved. A Star Is Born Date: May 18th Director: Bradley Cooper Writers: Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters, Eric Roth, Irene Mecchi, Stephen J. Rivele, and Christopher Wilkinson Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott, Lady Gaga, Bonnie Somerville, Dave Chappelle, Greg Grunberg, Andrew Dice Clay, Anthony Ramos, Rafi Gavron. The third remake of the iconic 1937 film of the same name sees Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper make his directorial debut. The story centers on a young female singer who finds a mentor in an older, male star – and as her star begins to rise, he descends into an alcohol-fuelled spiral of despair. Cooper, who also leads the film, cast Lady Gaga as his star, while she'll also create new music for the project. Solo: A Star Wars Story Date: May 25th Director: Ron Howard Writers: Jon Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Paul Bettany, Warwick Davis, Clint Howard, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The second of the much-discussed Star Wars Anthology films focuses on the younger years of Han Solo. While the plot remains under wraps, the presence of a younger version of Lando Calrissian has led to speculation that we may see the depiction of Han Solo winning the iconic Millennium Falcon from his friend. The early days of this production were marred by the departure of original directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – a move by Lucasfilm that caused great consternation among fans. That directing team was quickly replaced by legendary helmer Ron Howard, though – which has pushed Solo: A Star Wars Story back to the top of everyone’s ‘must-see’ list. June Deadpool 2 Date: June 1st Director: David Leitch Writers: Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, Morena Baccarin, Brianna Hildebrand, T.J Miller, Eddie Marsan, Julian Dennison, Leslie Uggams, Stefan Kapicic, Karan Soni. It's unlikely that Deadpool 2 will be the project’s actual title when it finally arrives in theatres, but this is the sequel to 2016’s phenomenally successful comic book movie, Deadpool, which saw Ryan Reynolds star as the Merc With The Mouth. That first film was essentially an origin story for the iconic Marvel character, so fans are expecting this sequel to really kick the action – and the comedy – into high gear. Little is known about the plot beyond the fact that the characters of Cable and Domino will be introduced, while Vanessa, Blind Al, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, and Colossus will all return. Ocean’s Eight Date: June 8th Director: Gary Ross Writers: Olivia Milch and Gary Ross Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Olivia Munn, Dakota Fanning, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Richard Armitage, Rihanna, Katie Holmes, James Corden, Carl Reiner, Awkwafina. This is a female-led spinoff from the Ocean’s Eleven franchise that was popular in the early 2000s, and will see an impressive cast assemble to execute a heist at the annual Met Gala in New York City. It's undoubtedly the cast that is the draw here – the principals of which have amassed five Oscars, 12 Oscar nominations, 8 Golden Globes, and 25 Golden Globe nominations between them. The Incredibles 2 Date: June 15th Director: Brad Bird Writer: Brad Bird Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine Keener, John Ratzenberger, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner. When The Incredibles was released in 2004, it quickly became a fan favourite among the growing catalogue of Pixar movies. Now, 14 years later, Disney is revisiting with the Parr family – also known as Mr. Incredible, Elasti-Girl, and their three super-powered children. While the finer detail of the plot remains under wraps, it seems that the story will find Mr. Incredible being a stay-at-home Dad, while Elasti-Girl takes the lead with the superheroics. The fact that the first teaser trailer became the most viewed trailer for an animated movie within 72 hours of being released online bodes very well for the pic. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Date: June 22nd Director: J. A. Bayona Writers: Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly Cast: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jeff Goldblum, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, James Cromwell, BD Wong, Geraldine Chaplin, Rafe Spall. Colin Trevorrow’s re-launch of the Jurassic Park franchise in 2015 became a success of giant proportions, thanks to a great script, and the casting of Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Now, the sequel is hoping to build on that success by having Jurassic Park’s Jeff Goldblum join the two leads, along with the returning BD Wong. It's not yet clear what the nature of the plot will be, but a recently released teaser seems to indicate that Chris Pratt’s dinosaur training character is indeed still training dinosaurs. July Ant-Man And The Wasp Date: July 6th Director: Peyton Reed Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari, and Paul Rudd Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Pfeiffer, Walton Goggins, Judy Greer, Hannah John-Kamen, Michael Douglas, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Pena, Randall Park, Abby Ryder Fortson. The overriding suspicion surrounding this sequel to 2015’s Ant-Man is that Scott Lang’s forays into the Quantum Realm in that film will lead him back there in this sequel, for the purpose of rescuing the original Wasp – Janet Van Dyne. In what is sure to prove to be epic casting, Janet (mother of Hope, the new Wasp) will be played by Michelle Pfeiffer. The Nun Date: July 13th Director: Corin Hardy Writers: Gary Dauberman and James Wan Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Bonnie Aarons, Demian Bechir, Charlotte Hope, Jonny Coyne, Ingrid Bisu, Jonas Bloquet, Sandra Teles. The fifth instalment in the Conjuring franchise, this film is a spinoff of 2016’s The Conjuring 2. It's essentially a prequel, exploring the story behind the demonic nun that appeared in the core films. Set in 1952, the story follows the investigation into the strange death of a nun at a Romanian Monastery. This will be the third Conjuring spinoff script from screenwriter Gary Dauberman, after Annabelle, and Annabelle: Creation. Mission Impossible 6 Date: July 27th Director: Christopher McQuarrie Writer: Christopher McQuarrie Cast: Tom Cruise, Michelle Monaghan, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Simon Pegg, Alec Baldwin, Ving Rhames, Angela Bassett. There was already a great deal of press coverage of Mission: Impossible 6 before the film was ever in the can. Firstly, Tom Cruise was reported to be holding out for a salary increase, then the production schedule was altered due to the star injuring himself while performing a stunt. More recently, a vast amount of column inches have been dedicated to the fact that Henry Cavill’s M:I6 moustache had to be digitally removed from Justice League reshoots. But, what about the actual plot? It remains unconfirmed – but rumours suggest a greater focus on the personal life of Ethan Hunt. August The Predator Date: August 3rd Director: Shane Black Writers: Shane Black and Fred Dekker Cast: Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Jane, Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn, Sterling K. Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, Jake Busey. If a studio is going to revisit a story from the 1980s, it certainly helps if one of the cast of the original story has since become a respected writer and director in his own right. Such is the case for Shane Black’s The Predator, which is supposed to fit between 1990’s Predator 2, and 2010’s Predators. Black was a cast member in 1987’s Predator, which kicked off the entire iconic franchise, and here sets out to bring the story back to the suburban streets of Earth. So far, we know three things about this movie. Firstly, the cast play characters ranging from Special Forces, to scientists, to government agents. Secondly, the heart of the tale is a father-son story. Thirdly, Shane Black is intent on using as much practical effects as possible, to retain the feel of the original movie. Everything else is being kept under wraps. Barbie Date: August 8th Director: Alethea Jones Writers: Lindsey Beer, Jenny Bicks, Kim Caramele, Diablo Cody, Bert V. Royal, and Hilary Winston Cast: Anne Hathaway Movie theatres are now regularly filled with properties derived from toy lines – from Transformers, to Lego, to My Little Pony. It's unsurprising, then, that Mattel wishes to incorporate Barbie into that landscape. The production and release of this project has already been pushed back several times – with Amy Schumer attached to the lead role at one time – but it's currently set for August 2018, with a live-action story that will see Barbie exiled from doll-world for being imperfect, and having to find her way in the real world. September Boy Erased Date: September 28th Director: Joel Edgerton Writers: Joel Edgerton Cast: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Joel Edgerton, Russell Crowe, Xavier Dolan, Troy Sivan, Jesse LaTourette, Britton Sear, William Ngo. With 2015’s The Gift, Joel Edgerton revealed himself to be a filmmaker of exceptional ability, in addition to being a highly accomplished writer and actor. With Boy Erased, he turns that combination of skills to an adaptation of the memoir by Garrard Conley – which relates his experiences as a young man in Arkansas whose family forces him into ‘gay conversion therapy.’ This film features a powerhouse cast – including Edgerton, Russell Crowe, and Nicole Kidman – built around a central performance by Lucas Hedges (Manchester By The Sea), in the role based on Conley. October Venom Date: October 5th Director: Ruben Fleischer Writers: Kelly Marcel, Jeff Pinkner, and Scott Rosenberg Cast: Tom Hardy, Jenny Slate, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Michelle Lee, Grace Wan. Venom is a comic book villain who exists in the world of Spider-Man – a fact that instantly makes this a fascinating project. Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock, who is host to an alien symbiote, which transforms him into Venom. The reason this is interesting is two-fold: this will be a film centred on an antagonist, and it will be a film in which the antagonist’s most famous nemesis will not appear. It has Ruben Fleischer at the helm, though, and if he brings any of Zombieland finesse to the project, it should be something very special indeed. First Man Date: October 12th Director: Damian Chazelle Writers: Nicole Perlman and Josh Singer Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jon Bernthal, Pablo Schreiber, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Jason Clarke, Patrick Fugit, Cory Michael Smith, Lukas Haas. Based on the book First Man: The Life Of Neil A. Armstrong, by James R. Hansen, First Man will be the second collaboration between Academy Award winner Damian Chazelle, and Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling. Playing the lead role of Neil Armstrong, Gosling headlines an all-star cast to depict NASA’s epic mission to put a man on the moon. Halloween Date: October 19th Director: David Gordon Green Writers: David Gordon Green and Danny McBride Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer. Writer-director David Gordon Green takes John Carpenter’s classic character, Laurie Strode, back to face her infamous masked tormentor one last time. It's rumoured that story will ignore the lacklustre sequels that have preceded it, and will instead be directly linked to the first movie, released in 1978. Jungle Book Date: October 19th Director: Andy Serkis Writer: Callie Kloves Cast: Rohan Chand, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Naomie Harris, Peter Mullan, Eddie Marsan, Matthew Rhys, Freida Pinto, Tom Hollander, Jack Reynor. This adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel has been in development since 2012, with director-producer-actor Andy Serkis joining the project in 2014. It's set to be a live-action depiction of the well-known tale of Mowgli and the animals he encounters during his childhood in the jungle. The motion capture aspect of the film is being undertaken by Serkis’ Imaginarium Studios. The Girl In The Spider’s Web Date: October 19th Director: Fede Alvarez Writers: Fede Alvarez, Jay Basu, and Steven Knight Cast: Claire Foy, Sylvia Hoeks, Claes Bang. Based on the novel of the same name, by David Lagercrantz, this film features the same characters as those that appeared in 2011’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo – which was directed by David Fincher. While the source novel is a sequel to Dragon Tattoo, The Girl In The Spider’s Web film is something of a reboot, with Claire Foy taking the role of Lisbeth Salander – previously played by both Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara. November X-Men: Dark Phoenix Date: November 2nd Director: Simon Kinberg Writer: Simon Kinberg Cast: Sophie Turner, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy, Evan Peters, Olivia Munn, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alexandra Shipp. Accomplished writer and producer Simon Kinberg makes his directorial debut with the 13th instalment of the X-Men movie franchise, which explores the Jean-Grey centred Dark Phoenix saga of the Marvel comic book source material. This is the third X-Men film to be released in 2018, after The New Mutants and the Deadpool sequel, and is notable for its woman-led plot. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald Date: November 16th Director: David Yates Writer: J.K Rowling Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Johnny Depp, Zoe Kravitz, Katherone Waterston, Alison Sudol, Carmen Ejogo, Claudia Kim. The sequel to 2016’s Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, this is the big screen continuation of J.K Rowling’s wizarding world that began with the Harry Potter series. This instalment see Albus Dumbledore recruit Newt Scamander to thwart the nefarious plans of Dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, who has escaped the custody of MACUSA (the Magical Congress of the United States of America). Creed II Date: November 21st Director: Sylvester Stallone Writers: Sylvester Stallone Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren. Following the success of Ryan Coogler’s 2015 Rocky spinoff, Creed, Sylvester Stallone takes the helm of Creed II – which sees Adonis Creed the younger seek to avenge the death of his father by facing the man who killed him in the boxing ring. Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 Date: November 21st Directors: Phil Johnston and Rich Moore Writers: Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon Cast: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Kristen Bell, Auli’I Cravalho, Mandy Moore, Kelly Mcdonald, Alan Tudyk, Taraji P. Henson, James Corden, Ming-Na Wen, Idina Menzel, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, Irene Bedard, Anika Noni Rose. Six years after the events of Wreck-It Ralph, Vanellope Von Schweetz and Ralph head for more adventures, when a WiFi router is plugged into the arcade, and a whole new world of possibilities opens up. This sequel will see the inclusion of many familiar faces – from Star Wars icons to Disney Princesses. December Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse Date: December 14th Directors: Bob Persichetti and Peter Ramsey Writers: Rodney Rothman, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and Alex Hirsch Cast: Liev Schreiber, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Shameik Moore. Comic book fans have been hoping for a big screen appearance by the Miles Morales version of Spider-Man for years, and now it appears to be on its way, in animation. This project stands as independent from any of the live-action Spider-Man projects – either from Sony, or Marvel – and is, instead, a new addition to the array of Spider-Man stories available to audiences. Bumblebee Date: December 21st Director: Travis Knight Writer: Christina Hodson Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, Pamela Adlon, John Cena, Peter Cullen, Kenneth Choi, John Ortiz. This is a spinoff from the Transformers franchise, and is essentially a prequel – being set in 1987. This is also the first big screen Transformers story to have a female-led story, since it focuses on a teenage girl who stumbles upon Bumblebee in a junkyard, as well as being the first film in the Transformers series to be written by a woman. Aquaman Date: December 21st Director: James Wan Writers: Will Beall, Geoff Johns, and James Wan Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Dolph Lundgren, Patrick Wilson, Graham McTavish, Temeura Morrison, Ludi Lin, Michael Beach, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The first live-action solo film for the iconic DC character, Aquaman will see the half-human-half-Atlantean forced to balance the will of his underwater civilization with the protection of the polluting humanity, as he also faces his destiny as reluctant King of Atlantis. Mary Poppins Returns Date: December 25th Director: Rob Marshall Writer: David Magee Cast: Emily Blunt, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Colin Firth, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Lin-Manuel Miranda, David Warner. This sequel to the 1964 Disney classic, Mary Poppins, is set 25 years after the first story. It sees the now adult Banks children revisited by their former nanny after a family tragedy during the Great Depression. Emily Blunt assumes the titular role, and is joined by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is also set to develop additional, original songs for the musical movie. Bohemian Rhapsody Date: December 25th Director: Bryan Singer Writers: Justin Haythe, Anthony McCarten, Peter Morgan, Stephen J. Rivele, and Christopher Wilkinson Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Mike Myers, Aidan Gillen, Joseph Mazzello, Tom Hollander, Ben Hardy, Allen Leech, Gwilym Lee, Aaron McCusker. This is a biographical drama that focuses on the 15 year period from the establishment of the band Queen, to their iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985. Emmy winner Rami Malek has already caused a stir with his uncanny Freddie Mercury likeness in still images released from the production, but the key point here is that guitarist Brian May, and drummer Roger Taylor – along with long-time Queen manager Jim Beach – are producers of the film. This alone should reassure fans that the legacy of beloved icon Freddie Mercury remains protected.