2017 is looking to be a huge year for sequels, reboots and remakes, with a sequel to the classic Blade Runner, the much anticipated Star Wars: Episode VIII and even a brand new King Kong in the works. But with a few totally original hidden gems to look out for also, The Edge have looked ahead to talk about our most anticipated films of the year.
The Lego Batman Movie (10th February)
The Lego Movie was one of the best films of 2014, capturing the hearts and funny bones of adults and children alike. The indisputable stand-out character of that film was Batman (voiced by the ever-brilliant Will Arnett), who amused us all with his deep, emo songs and impressive macho-feats. Though he’s not the first animated character to get his own spin-off (Puss in Boots, Penguins of Madagascar), he is certainly the one most deserving of his own film. Renewing our faith in the Caped Crusader, this new movie sees the Dark Knight go on a personal journey to find himself, coming to understand the importance of teamwork and friendship in his latest hostile encounter with The Joker. Featuring a fantastic voice cast including Michael Cera (Robin), Rosario Dawson (Batgirl), Ralph Fiennes (Alfred) and Zach Galifianakis (Joker), this is almost certainly the film you should be most excited for this year – and you don’t even have to wait very long!
Words by Anneka Honeyball
Hidden Figures (17th February)
Set for release on 17th February, Hidden Figures tells the historic story of the women behind NASA. Directed by Theodore Malfi, Hidden Figures explores the difficulties surrounding three African-American women who were integral to both NASA’s Project Mercury Mission and the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the Moon. Mathematician Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) and her colleagues Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monae) worked within the segregated West Area Computers portion of the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. It was here that the trio produced calculations that were able to make John Glenn the first American astronaut to make a complete orbit of Earth, and eventually led to the success of the Apollo mission. Already receiving critical acclaim in America, Hidden Figures is set to become one of the most influential films of this year.
Words by Sophie McEvoy
Logan (2nd March)
As a franchise, X-Men is a rare phenomenon of hit and misses with Wolverine’s stand-alone ventures being the worst offenders. Produced with good intentions but bursting at the seams with too many characters I simply didn’t care about, unworthy adversaries and Ryan Reynolds’ (disappointing) onscreen debut as the Merc With(out) A Mouth, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and The Wolverine are mostly forgettable. Suffice to say, I wasn’t excited about a Wolverine 3. And then the trailer happened.
Logan is a stunning departure from anything seen in X-Men to date marking a distinct change in tone as the trailer suggests that Hugh Jackman’s final appearance in the franchise after seventeen years will be a much more intimate affair which is refreshing in a cinema full of sweeping panoramic shots of destruction and super-hero team-ups. Logan is sure to be a bittersweet experience but I am truly excited to see The Wolverine’s finale chapter.
Words by Laura Woodhouse
Kong: Skull Island (10th March)
After the Jackson reworking of cinematic classic King Kong, the latest reboot brings about Legendary Pictures’ version of events. The production company are laying the groundwork for a monster clash in coming years, setting up Skull Island as the second film for a King Kong and Godzilla crossover – which is exciting enough alone. Updating the classic story from the 30’s to the 70’s, director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is bringing about a new era for the pop culture primate – and one that comes with epic proportions. A world of giant monsters, some seriously cool looking combat, and enough Hollywood names to bedazzle the walk of fame within itself, Kong: Skull Island promises to be a, ahem, massive hit this March.
Words by Ashleigh Millman
Beauty and the Beast (17th March)
Truth be told, the idea of live-action remakes isn’t one that necessarily appeals. However, ever since Disney announced Beauty and the Beast, I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for release day. Seeing Emma Watson and Dan Stevens at the helm, with a host of wonderful veteran actors supporting them, is quite literally a dream. Although there’s concerns about Watson’s singing, no doubt the rest of the ensemble will be able to pull their weight even if she doesn’t seem to. The original animated classic, released in 1992, is truly a magical film, largely due to its soundtrack. With Alan Menken returning and reviving unused songs from the musical as well as writing new tracks, I cannot wait. Between movie musicals seemingly being the ‘in thing’ again, and Disney having been on their A-game these last few years, I have high hopes for this ‘tale as old as time’ having ‘something there’ that makes it one of the year’s best.
Words by Rehana Nurmahi
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 (28th April)
This year (and this list) is full of sequels, reboots, remakes and spin-offs. And although it is sad that cinema has taken on this lazy trend, there are some sequels that are actually worth getting excited for. Case in point? Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2. The first Guardians film was a triumph for Marvel, proving that even with a film starring a talking raccoon and a tree, they could provide first class, box office smashing entertainment. With everyone returning for a second galactic adventure, we have very high expectations for the second film, which sees Chris Pratt’s Star Lord finally meet his long-lost father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Oh, and did we mention Baby Groot?
Words by Anneka Honeyball
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (26th May)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, is set to hit cinemas this May and even though the fourth film proved a little disappointing, I think this one is going to restore our faith in the film saga. Based on a similar plot construction, and seeing the return of Orlando Bloom, it centres on a battle between Jack Sparrow and Captain Salazar as they battle across the seas to find the Trident of Poseidon: an artifact guaranteeing control over the seas. While the plot seems more fun that the last, I also think it will allow for Johnny Depp to return in full character and essentially do exactly what he does best. I also can’t wait to see how Bloom takes on the role of the new Davy Jones: a character that I think makes room for some interesting plot twists and repertoire between Jones and Sparrow. I’m certainly anxiously waiting to sail the seas once more!
Word by Bruno Russell
Spider-Man: Homecoming (7th July)
Following his debut in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland will return as everyone’s favourite teenage superhero this July in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Set during Peter Parker’s high school days, Homecoming follows Parker as he navigates through struggles of adolescence whilst simultaneously being one of the world’s most famous superheroes. Robert Downey Jr. also returns as Tony Stark, continuing his role as an unwitting mentor that began in Civil War, whilst Michael Keaton and Donald Glover join the cast as two of the film’s villains. With a sequel already confirmed for 2019, it seems that Marvel and Sony are pretty confident about this one, and if the amazing first trailer is anything to go by, they’re right to be!
Words by Jack Sheppard
War of the Planet of the Apes (14th July)
“War has… already begun. Ape started war. And human… Human will not forgive”
And with those words, Matt Reeve’s spectacular Dawn of the Planet of the Apes closed out, setting us up for the highly anticipated third installment in the rebooted Planet of the Apes franchise: War for the Planet of the Apes.As Caesar, Andy Serkis has broken new ground in both technology and acting, so much so that the Apes are the draw for these movies. Even with Woody Harrelson’s terrifying looking Colonel joining the franchise, it’s Caesar, Maurice and the rest of the genetically superior primates that we want to see. And better yet, they’re going to war with Woody and the humans. After the apes dual wielding machine guns whilst riding horses of the last installment, the prospect of an all out war between apes and humans is that much more exciting.
July cannot come soon enough.
Words by David Mitchell-Baker
Dunkirk (21st July)
2017 will see the release of Christopher Nolan’s latest epic, Dunkirk. It’s a story we already know, one that has seen countless depictions since the event. The release of the first teaser trailer in August 2016 produced a massive response on twitter. Everybody wanted to talk about it. With a teaser being shown in IMAX before last years big release, Rogue One, excitement for the new film is building. Hans Zimmer is composing the score, and is a lot of buzz and hope that this will rival Inception as one of Nolan’s best recent works. With the mixed response to Interstellar released in 2014, it seems the historical epic is the way to go and will no doubt be breathtaking on the big screen. As Dunkirk is being released at the start of the holidays, it is sure to fill cinema screens, and we can only hope that it lives up to the hype.
Words by Jordan Brown
Baby Driver (11th August)
Edgar Wright. What more do you need to know? With Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs The World and The World’s End forming his pitch perfect and endlessly fun pedigree, Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver is all but guaranteed to be one of the films of the year. Boasting the powerful cast of Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, Ansel Elgort and Jon Hamm to name just a few, this could be Wrights biggest film yet. Telling the story of a getaway driver (Elgort) with Tinnitus, the film is choreographed to the music he plays to drown out the ringing in his ears. Supposedly more serious than his previous films with a few jokes shared throughout, this film promises to be a stylish and thrilling crime caper which will hopefully only extend Wright’s faultless record.
Words by Liam Beazley
Blade Runner 2049 (6th October)
Cyberpunk. It is a genre that has been mostly unplugged, in the film industry at least, since the release of Mamoru Oshii’s Ghost in the Shell. The proto-cyberpunk of Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror is perhaps the closest we’ve gotten in a while. So, where are all of the neo-noir films about the oppressive technology and gritty, dystopian police-states we’re headed towards?
Thankfully, Blade Runner 2049 is almost here. Denis Villeneuve, director of the critically-acclaimed Sicario and Arrival, looks comfortably set to return us to the high tech low life. Under guidance from the visionary Ridley Scott, and with the acting chops of the perpetually-prickly Harrison Ford and the endlessly-amicable Ryan Gosling, Villeneuve will surely answer all of our questions raised in the 1982 original. Well, perhaps not; it is a Blade Runner film, after all.
I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. But I haven’t seen Blade Runner 2049. I’d really like to.
Words by Rob Jones
God Particle (27th October)
2008’s Cloverfield took to the streets of Manhattan to follow a city-consuming monster consume those who stood in its path. 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane wisely chose to retreat indoors, tailing a recently hijacked woman held under the steely gaze of John Goodman’s obsessive saviour complex. Now, 2017 will see the third installment of the Cloverfield franchise, and will take to the skies as the J.J. Abrahms produced God Particle hits the big screen this October.
Cloverfield’s tertiary chapter will follow a group of astronauts who find themselves in a deadly pickle after a scientific experiment gone haywire causes Earth to disappear in a blink. Free of the predatory brutes that formed the backbone of Cloverfield and its successor (the big brown city-destroying monster in the former, John Goodman in the latter) and the namesake of its predecessors, God Particle promises to be a step up from its Earthly origins and could even prove to be one of this year’s biggest blockbusters. And considering how great 10 Cloverfield Lane was, that’s some promise to make.
Words by Sophie Trenear
Thor: Ragnarok (27th October)
Thor: Ragnarok is definitely one of the most anticipated films of this year. Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the HULK (Mark Ruffalo) are finally back for some new adventures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There will be a fight between our favourite green beast and the Asgardian gods. Those characters were deeply missed in Captain America: Civil War. Also, the talented Benedict Cumberbatch will resume his role as Doctor Strange in the new film meaning that there will be a glimpse of the characters’ dynamic before their return of the Avengers. The MCU has always delivered high-quality comic movie adaptations and I cannot wait to watch this one.
Words by Lisa Veiber
Justice League (17th November)
After the critical backlash towards last year’s Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, it may seem odd that my most anticipated film this year is DC’s Justice League. But let’s forget, for a moment, how good it turns out to be. The fact that we’re actually getting a film of the greatest superhero team ever (the Avengers pale in comparison, sorry) still blows my child-like mind, and the proper on-screen debut of Flash and Aquaman is a massive deal to anyone who’s grown up with these characters as I have.
On a more un-biased front, though, the biggest question will be whether Zack Snyder can prove all the doubters wrong and make a truly great, ensemble superhero film. Or, will Justice League be the final nail in the DC cinematic universe’s coffin? And – most importantly – will Green Lantern make a surprise appearance? We really don’t know, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
Words by Rob Tucker
Star Wars: Episode VIII (15th December)
I’ll admit – I’m a huge Star Wars fan and these past two winter movie periods have been bowled over due to the anticipation and success of The Force Awakens and Rogue One. And lets face it, no franchise incites excitement and anticipation like Star Wars, which is why there is only one answer for what is the most anticipated film of 2017: Star Wars: Episode VIII. With the exciting addition of Looper director Rian Johnson, 2017 sees the return to the galaxy far far away and back to the characters we know and love. I am beyond psyched to see the return of Rey, Finn, BB-8, Kylo Ren and Poe Dameron and to get some answers to the big questions: who (or what) is Supreme Leader Snoke? Who are Rey’s parents? Where does Kylo Ren go after that scene in The Force Awakens? What has Luke Skywalker been doing this whole time? How fantastic is BB-8 going to be this time round? So many questions, so much excitement… and only 11 months left to go… I’m crossing off the days in anticipation…
Words by David Mitchell-Baker
