HELLBOY
Cult series Hellboy is getting a long overdue reboot. Based on the Dark Horse comics, David Harbour (Stranger Things) is stepping into the role of Hellboy, the creature stuck between the supernatural and human worlds. Its pitched as an R-rated superhero film in a similar fashion to Deadpool.
Hellboy release date: April 12
AVENGERS ENDGAME
A decade on, the Marvel industrial complex shows no signs of slowing down, and the cliffhanger ending to last year’s Infinity War makes Endgame one of the most hotly anticipated releases of 2019. There are a lot of loose ends to tie up as the third phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe draws to a close, not least the challenge of undoing the events of the end of the last film, which left the fate of several characters (and half of all life on earth) in doubt.
Avengers: Endgame release date: April 26, 2019
DETECTIVE PIKACHU
It may seem unbelievable that we should have waited until 2019 to get a Pokémon film. But in any case, it is coming. Ryan Reynolds gets the privilege of Pikachu’s voice in a mystery comedy film that follows the famous yellow creature, now equipped with a Sherlock Holmes-style hat, as it goes around the Pokémon world resolving mysteries. The American-Japanese production is the result of a 2016 deal between Legendary Pictures and The Pokemon Company – and the outcome, based on the game of the same name, has potential to hit the spot for ex-Game Boy players.
Detective Pikachu release date: 10 May 2019
A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL
A joyous family reunion becomes a hilarious nightmare as Madea and the crew travel to backwoods Georgia, where they find themselves unexpectedly planning a funeral that might unveil unsavory family secrets.
A Madea family funeral release date: 1 March 2019
X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX
There is no such thing as too much Marvel, and nothing says it better than a twelfth instalment to the X-Men franchise. It is a direct sequel to the 2016 X-Men: Apocalypse, in which the X-Men stood as united as ever against the world-destroyer Apocalypse. This time, it is one of their own members that threatens to dismantle the gang, as Jean Grey develops superior powers and begins to turn into a corrupt Dark Phoenix. Thus bringing about the ultimate dilemma: save the friend, or save the whole world?
X-Men: Dark Phoenix release date: 7 June 2019
TOY STORY
Buzz Lightyear first appeared in Andy’s toy collection in 1995. Now, almost 25 years later the fourth instalment of Toy Story is due to be released. Buzz, Woody, Mr Potato Head and the rest of the toys are now in the possession of new owner Bonnie. And Woody has a problem with a new toy. “When Bonnie adds a reluctant new toy called “Forky” to her room, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends will show Woody how big the world can be for a toy,” Disney says. At the moment this is about all we know about Toy Story 4.
Toy Story 4 release date: June 21, 2019
SPIDERMAN – FAR FROM HOME
Peter Parker is back (well almost). Slated for release in July, the superhero film is a sequel to 2017’s Homecoming movie. Far From Home is set after Avengers: Endgame, so we don’t really know what’s set to happen. What we do know is Parker (played by Tom Holland) goes on a school trip to Europe with his friends. When he’s abroad though, he has to battle four extradimensional humanoids called the Elementals.
Spider-Man: Far From Home release date: July 5, 2019
ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
For his next film, Tarantino went big – although arguably, he usually does. His cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as two aspiring TV stars hoping to succeed in the film industry in 1969 Los Angeles. The film is set in the context of an America rocked by the Manson Family murders – the killings perpetrated by a cult formed in California and led by Charles Manson. By the end of the 60s, Manson was predicting an apocalyptic war based on racial tensions. Apology of violence and cult of deranged leaders: it is not hard to see how it all makes well for a classic Tarantino.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood release date: 26 July 2019
IT: CHAPTER TWO
A sequel to the 2017 film that left many a viewer terrified of looking into street gutters, and justified many more’s aversion of creepy clowns, the second chapter of It is yet another long-awaited, Stephen King-based, creeps-inducing production. The first film followed the disappearance of seven-year old Georgie and the ensuing persecution by an unknown force, called “It”, of his teenage brother and his gang, who call themselves “The Losers Club”. In chapter two, the gang is 27 years older, and determined to put an end to It. Literally.
It: Chapter Two release date: 6 September 2019
X-MEN: THE NEW MUTANTS
One year and two X-Mens? That’s right. 20th Century Fox is outdoing itself next year. Directed by Josh Boone (who was behind The Fault in Our Stars), it sets forward a cast that is largely new to the X-Men franchise, playing five new young mutants discovering their abnormal abilities as they are being kept against their will in a secret facility. Dark, tense, and laden with furious screams: it is a classic Marvel story of escape and redemption. Featuring Netflix favorite Charlie Heaton, who plays the role of Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things.
X-Men: The New Mutants release date: 2 August 2019
