Most Anticipated Films of 2018

Whether they’re films that have been on my radar for a few years now, or films I’ve just come across that I can’t wait to see, I’ve decided to compile a list of the ones I will be rushing to see in cinemas. While these are only a few of the films I can’t wait to see, you can check out my full list (which will be updated throughout the year) on my Letterboxd account.

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

What?: The Man Who Killed Don Quixote is a loose adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel set in the present day. Quirky and unpredictable, it promises to hold all the trademarks of director Terry Gilliam’s work.

Who?: Directed by Gilliam, the film stars Adam Driver, Jonathan Pryce and Olga Kurylenko and features performances by Stellan Skarsgård.

Why?: One of the most infamous cases of development hell, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote first started pre-production in 1998 and tried to get off the ground numerous times before production was finally completed in mid-2017.

Widows

What?: When four armed robbers are killed during a heist, their widows come together to finish the job.

Who?: The film stars Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Eviro. The screenplay, which was written by Steve McQueen and Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn, is based on the British ITV series of the same name and is the director’s first film since the Academy-Award winning 12 Years a Slave.

Why?: With a phenomenal director and the person behind Gone Girl, possibly the most inventive thriller of the last decade, Widows will be sure to be a whirlwind led by an incredible cast.

Boy Erased

What?: The film, which is based on the memoir of Garrard Conley, follows the life of the son of a Baptist pastor who is sent to a gay conversion program after he is outed to his family.

Who?: Boy Erased is directed by Joel Edgerton and stars Lucas Hedges as Garrard with Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman playing the pastor and his wife. Edgerton also appears in the film alongside singer and actor Troye Sivan and Xavier Dolan. 

Why?: In today’s current political climate, with many politicians attempting to take away sexual and reproductive freedoms, Boy Erased surely could not be more timely. Conley’s memoir was applauded for shining a light on practices that are considered so normal to some and so immoral to others, and the film is sure to do the same. 

Bohemian Rhapsody

What?: A biopic chronicling the lives of famed band Queen before their 1985 Live Aid concert six years before frontman Freddie Mercury’s death.

Who?: Based on a script by Justin Haythe (The Lone Ranger) and Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything), Bohemian Rhapsody began production with Bryan Singer (X-Men) as director before replacing him with Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle). The film stars Rami Malek as Mercury.

Why?: Debatably the biggest rock group on the planet (maybe only after The Beatles), a film on the career and cultural importance of queen is long overdue. Bohemian Rhapsody was first announced in 2010 and is produced by Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Tyer as well as Queen manager Jim Beach. 

Black Panther

What?: Black Panther follows T’Challa, the new king of the African country of Wakanda as he tries to balance his new role with his duties as Black Panther.

Who?: The film is directed by Ryan Coogler (Creed) and stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett, Forest Whittaker, Andy Serkis and Daniel Kaluuya.

Why?: Fast-paced, intriguing and exceptionally cast, Black Panther had me wowed since it’s first trailer. The film promises not only to be groundbreaking for being the first MCU film to center around a Black protagonist, but also appears to showcase Africa as a place rich in culture and resources, a side of the continent that is often overlooked due to centuries of colonialist perspective in the media. 

Annihilation

What?: Based on the science-fiction novel by Jeff VanderMeer, Annihilation tells the story of a group of researchers who venture into an environmental disaster zone to try and understand why few people manage to make it out alive.

Who?: Directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina), Annihilation stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson

Why?: Garland, sci-fi and a team of badass intelligent women, Annihilation has all the ingredients for a fast-paced and action packed franchise. The film will be released by Paramount Pictures in the US and the UK in February while Netflix will distribute the film internationally. 

Incredibles 2

What?: A long awaited sequel of the Pixar classic The Incredibles. 

Who?: The Incredibles director Brad Bird is joined by Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter and Samuel L. Jackson to bring the original Pixar characters back to the big screen.

Why?: I’ve been waiting since 2004 for this! 

Tully

What?: A comedy about motherhood

Who?: Written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, Tully stars Charlize Theron as mother Marlo and Mackenzie Davis as the nanny, Tully.

Why?: I don’t even need to know about the plot to know I want to see this just because it was written by the comedic genius that is Diablo Cody.

First Man

What?: A biographical drama based on the life of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.

Who?: Director Damien Chazelle reunites with Ryan Gosling in First Man. Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler and Corey Stoll also star.

Why?: While I was not blown away by La La Land, Chazelle’s directorial triumph Whiplash remains one of my favorite films. With a promising cast and compelling focus, First Man is one of those films I am cautiously optimistic for.

Isle of Dogs

What?: Stop motion animated adventure film set in a dystopian Japan where all dogs have been quarantined due to ‘canine flu.’

Who?: Director Wes Anderson revisits the world of stop-motion and is joined by the voices of Scarlett Johansson, Greta Gerwig, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and other long-time Anderson collaborators. 

Why?: While I often find Anderson’s films to be grossly overrated, there is a beautiful simplicity to his aesthetic when applied to animation (just see The Fantastic Mr. Fox).

A Star Is Born

What?: A remake of the 1937 film of the same name, A Star Is Born is a romantic drama that follows an aspiring actress and the movie star who mentors her.

Who?: Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut with A Star Is Born and stars opposite Lady Gaga. Sam Elliot, Dave Chappelle and Willam Belli also appear.

Why?: The Cooper vehicle is the third remake of the classic Hollywood film and after Lady Gaga’s triumphant acting debut in American Horror Story: Hotel, I can’t wait to see what else she can bring to the table. 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

What?: An animated superhero flick that tells the story of a new Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

Who?: The film is directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey (who became the first Black-American director to direct a big-budget animated film with Rise of the Guardians) and Rodney Rothman. The film features the voices of Shameik Moore, Liev Schreiber and Mahershala Ali.

Why?: It’s no secret that Spider-Man has a soft spot in my heart and, when I first heard about the introduction of a new Spidey so close to the MCU’s reboot, I was a bit wary. However, once I saw the first trailer for Into the Spider-Verse all worries went away: the film looks like a comic book come to life and I just can’t wait to see it on the big screen.

The Death and Life of John F. Donovan

What?: When an actor’s correspondence with an underaged boy get published, it unleashes a storm affecting the lives and careers of everyone in it’s path.

Who?: Xavier Dolan makes his English-language directorial debut with The Death and Life of John F. Donovan. The film stars Kit Harrington, Jessica Chastain, Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon.

Why?: In the current Hollywood climate following the various scandals of tycoons such as Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, the industry’s climate is not exactly welcoming of this kind of material. It’s precisely this reason which makes me so excited to see Dolan’s film, particularly given the young Canadian director’s previous success for his French-language films. 

Suspiria

What?: A remake of Dario Argento’s 1977 horror film, Suspiria follows the life of a group of dancers in a prestigious dance academy.

Who?: Luca Gudagnino reunites with actress Dakota Johnson in Suspiria. Chloë Grace Moretz, Mia Goth and Tilda Swinton also star while Jessica Harper, the original film’s lead actress also appears in a different role.

Why?: Call Me By Your Name was my favorite film of 2017 and Guadagnino has steadily become one of my favorite directors. I’m interested to see this contemporary Italian director’s take of one of Italy’s most classic cinematic figures.

What films are you looking forward to in 2018? Let me know in a comment or get in touch with me on Twitter (@gempecorini) or Instagram (@gemmareviews)