Happy new year!
Having started this year at sea, with fireworks shooting off overhead somewhere in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it’s fair to say it began on a high for me. So, in order to keep that buzz going, I’ve started thinking about what I’m looking forward to this year.
Some of this is about film. Yet as I said in my end of year round-up, film is just one of the things that occupies my mind these days. TV, theatre, travel, books and shiny objects are all in my line of sight.
So, rather than do a traditional ‘most anticipated films of 2024 list’ — many of which I’ll disown by the end of the year — here’s just some stuff I’m looking forward to this year. Care to join me for a time?
Film
With the entertainment strikes last year, there’s a lot we’ve been extra patient for over the last 12 months.
Heavy-hitter blockbusters DUNE PART 2 and George Miller’s FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA fall solidly into this camp. While Marvel and DC have been very hit-and-miss the last few years, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious to see where DEADPOOL 3 takes the combined universes. MICKEY 17, Bong Joon-ho’s big-budget adaptation of Edward Ashton’s sci-fi novel, is something to get excited about. Also, how can MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART 2 possibly top its predecessor? Guess we’ll find out in June.
On a smaller scale, Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s EVIL DOES NOT EXIST is due for an international release this year. I always adore his films, even the five hour ones, and can’t wait. Similarly, after Andrea Arnold’s American Honey, her new film BIRD is high on my must-watch list. Jeff Nicholas returns with THE BIKERIDERS. Alex Garland’s CIVIL WAR has some good early buzz, and it would be impossible to not pay attention to Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut, PUSSY ISLAND.
As an animation fan, 2023 was a bit of a feast. This year continues that meal. While Inside Out probably didn’t need a sequel, Disney/Pixar’s introduction of Anxiety in INSIDE OUT 2 already makes me feel seen and invested. Towards the end of the year, Kenji Kamiyama’s prequel THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM, set 261 years before The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, is the first animated LOTR film since Rankin/Bass did The Return of the King TV special in 1980. There’s also THAT CHRISTMAS, based on Richard Curtis’ books, due out from Netflix.
2024 sees some significant anniversaries as well. The Godfather Part II turns 50. Ghostbusters, The NeverEnding Story, Footloose, Once Upon a Time in America, Purple Rain, Supergirl, This Is Spinal Tap and The Last Starfighter all turn 40. The Lion King and Pulp Fiction somehow turn 30. If you weren’t feeling old enough, The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, Fight Club and Toy Story 2 all turn 25. Look out for some anniversary pieces here on the site.
TV
James Clavell’s SHŌGUN has been adapted into a series, a Broadway musical and video game. Yet now it has Disney money and a stellar cast. PALM SOCIETY sees Kristen Wiig in 1969 trying to break into high society alongside Carol Burnett, Laura Dern, Allison Janney, Julia Duffy, Josh Lucas, and Ricky Martin. Then there’s FALLOUT. While I’m a little over video game adaptations, this one has me intrigued — and stars Kyle MacLachlan.
Of the returning shows, I’m just a big ol’ nerd and proud of it. Can’t wait to see what they make of THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER in Season 2 and Marvel’s DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN revival. If you’re not watching the hilarious GIRLS5EVA by now, get onto Netflix, watch all the back episodes and get ready for Season 3. Similarly, the return of HACKS brings me infinite joy. AMC’s INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE didn’t get anywhere near enough love, and it returns this year for you to all jump on this bandwagon.
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, which started the modern Trek era, debuts its fifth and final season in April. It’s a shame to see it go, but the torch remains strong with Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, the renewed Prodigy on Netflix and the upcoming Starfleet Academy. Plus, there’s the TV special SECTION 31 with Michelle Yeoh due to debut as well.
Theatre
Live theatre has become a big part of my life over the last few years, which is slightly ironic given that it all closed down in 2020 and 2021. At any rate, you can blame Ian McKellen’s impassioned one-man love letter to theatre we saw on the West End in late 2019, just before the world went to hell for a while.
HAMILTON returns to Sydney, bringing with it a new cast and a new excuse to play the cast album on constant repeat. The Tony Award-winning musical DEAR EVAN HANSEN and Tim Minchin’s GROUNDHOG DAY are making their Australian debuts. The iconic RENT returns as well.
Locally, I always look forward to Newtown Theatre’s Mardi Gras play, which this year is Jordan Seavey’s HOMOS, OR EVERYONE IN AMERICA. Hayes Theatre also has an eclectic season, kicking off this month with THE HELLO GIRLS, bringing originals like ZOMBIE! THE MUSICAL alongside cult-classic RIDE THE CYCLONE and Irving Berlin’s HOLIDAY INN (just in time for Christmas).
Books
Kathleen Hanna, the queen of our world, releases memoir REBEL GIRL in May. Kiley Reid follows Such a Fun Age with COME AND GET IT. The legendary Gabriel García Márquez returns with UNTIL AUGUST.
Stephen King also has a new collection of short stories appropriately called YOU LIKE IT DARKER out in May. Having read all of the extant King to this point, you can be pretty certain this will be a day-of-release read for me.
Finally, and this one is completely self-serving, there’s DRAWN TO THE STACKS, a collection of essays on libraries, librarians and archives in comics and graphic novels. Date is TBA but I have a chapter in this one on Grant Morrison and Final Crisis: Superman Beyond. First thing I’ve published in a few years, so I’m quite excited by that.
Life stuff
In 2023, we travelled to eight countries, five of which were brand new to me, and visited something like fourteen cities. We travelled by plane, train, ship, automobile and at least one funicular. 2024 will be decidedly less ambitious, and the coffers have to be restocked, but there’s already a few deposits and plans in place.
I have a book chapter (see above) and a couple of magazine articles coming out this year, and I’m circling a book idea. What I’m looking forward to is the research and writing process, regardless if any publishing comes to fruition.
In my Disney Minus Journey, in which I attempt to watch everything available from Disney since 1923, I enter the 1950s this year and my 500th film: Treasure Island (1950). I’m looking forward to seeing how far I get this year now that the features and TV specials outweigh the number of short films. I’d like to say I’m aiming for #750 by the end of the year, but — like everything else this year — I’m having more fun just seeing where it goes.
