The Blockbusters
Let’s not mince words: the monoculture might be threatening to destroy us all, but damn if it isn’t a great ride getting there. While I’m happy to spend countless hours chasing down obscure cult classics or watching four-hour Chinese indie films at a festival, sometimes it’s cool just to watch heroes in spandex saving us all from toppling buildings.
Following the end of the Infinity Saga with Avengers: Endgame, the Marvel Studios series starts its next phase with two new entries. DC finally looks as though it has its game face on with their own pair of apparent winners. Plus, there’s all the apes, kaiju, super spies and spice we’ve come to expect from a summer season.
Black Widow
With chatter about this solo film originating back in 2012, it only took Marvel the better part of a decade to give Scarlett Johansson her own film. Co-starring David Harbour, Florence Pugh, O. T. Fagbenle and Rachel Weisz, the trailer to the Cate Shortland-helmed film makes this look like it will be a solid spy thriller.
Godzilla vs Kong
We haven’t had the smoothest run with the new Godzilla franchise. Complaints for the first entry in the Godzilla reboot series said there wasn’t enough of the monster, while the second had too many monsters. Maybe this entry, crossing over with 2017’s Kong: Skull Island, has just the right amount of monsters.
The Eternals
The second Marvel film of the year is the big unknown entity for the studio, thrusting into Phase 4 with a gamble in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy. Chloé Zhao (The Rider) will direct Richard Madden as Icarus, Lauren Ridloff as Ikari, and Kuma, Bryan Tyree Henry as Blastos, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, and Kumail Nanjiani – who seems to be jacked now.
The King’s Man
A prequel to Kingsman: The Secret Service, based on the comic by Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons. Director Matthew Vaughn returns to see if he can recapture lightning in a bottle by taking us back to the origins of the agency. Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, and Millar familiar Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick-Ass) lead the cast.
Wonder Woman 1984
The greatest trailer of 2019 is set to become the hottest blockbuster of 2020, perhaps revitalising DC’s cinematic prospects in the process. Combining all of our favourite things – kick-ass female heroes, shiny costumes and the 80s – Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot look set to win our hearts and wallets this year.
No Time To Die
This is one of those films I’ll believe exists when I’m actually sitting in the cinema with my stale popcorn in hand. Delayed several times, and seemingly plagued with production issues, Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond begins as a follow-up to Spectre with Bond out of the service and Blofeld in captivity.
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
If this isn’t the best superhero film of 2020, it’s already won the longest title award of the year. Spinning out of Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie returns as the cosplay muse Harley Quinn in a film based on the comic team created by Jordan B. Gorfinkel and Chuck Dixon, but seems to be based on more recent comics from the likes of Gail Simone, Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti.
Dune
There’s a special level in development hell for films named Dune. The first of a planned two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s books, director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runnner: 2049, Arrival) has assembled a massive cast to mine the spice of Arrakis.
