As part of its annual survey, one that also named Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman as the Most Anticipated Comic Book Character of 2017, Fandango has crowned Star Wars: Episode VIII with its biggest accolade: Most Anticipated Movie.
Rian Johnson’s blockbuster sequel saw off the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast to land the top spot. As one would expect, the list is largely dominated by superhero event movies, but there’s still room in there for Fifty Shades Darker, The Fate of the Furious and Universal and Illumination Entertainment’s animated sequel, Despicable Me 3.
When it comes to most anticipated actor and actress, Chris Pratt and Beauty and the Beast star Emma Watson were the respective champions, and Fandango’s Erik Davis fully expects the latter to enjoy a big splash come March, thanks in large part to the landmark success of Jon Favreau’s Jungle Book.
“The live-action Jungle Book made nearly $1 billion in box office and it’s not close to the brand of Beauty and the Beast. Bringing these beloved characters into live action with Emma Watson as Belle, with those songs, it’s going to be a box-office beast,” he said.
Will Bill Condon’s live-action tentpole join The Jungle Book in Hollywood’s billion dollar club? We’ll find out on March 17. Until then, here’s the list in full, which takes into account a poll of more than 2,000 site visitors. It was carried out the week of December 19, according to Fandango.
Most Anticipated Movie
1. Star Wars: Episode VIII (Dec. 15)
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5)
3. Beauty and the Beast (March 17)
4. Wonder Woman (June 2)
5. Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7)
6. Justice League (Nov. 17)
7. The Fate of the Furious (April 14)
8. Fifty Shades Darker (Feb. 10)
9. Logan (March 3)
10. Despicable Me 3 (June 30)
Most Anticipated Actress
1. Emma Watson (Beauty and the Beast)
2. Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: Episode VIII)
3. Jennifer Lawrence (Red Sparrow)
4. Halle Berry (Kingsman: The Golden Circle)
5. Charlize Theron (The Fate of the Furious)
Most Anticipated Actor
1. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)
2. Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji)
3. Hugh Jackman (Logan)
4. Idris Elba (Thor: Ragnarok)
5. Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)
Star Wars: Episode VIII is due to arrive on December 15, 2017, and when it does, it’ll feature a fairly significant role from the late, great Carrie Fisher.