Science Fiction is at least partially about peering into the future. So lets do that with film. What’s coming in 2023 and beyond that you just might want to plunk your cryptoquarter down for?
First up, yet another franchise attempe with Zak Snyder’s Rebel Moon, tentatively scheduled for late 2023 on Netflix. Sounds a bit like Pournelle’s Janissaries and Foster’s The Damned – a main character with a mysterious past is recruited to collect warriors from around the galaxy to help defend a peaceful colony. (Who are we kidding? It’s just as much, if not more 7 Samurai than Star Wars was.) Nice touch sticking the word “rebel” in the title, guaranteed to siphon off at least a few Star Warriors. Graphics look good and is that Djimon Hounsou I see, not in the title role? From Zack Snyder (300), and written by Snyder, Shay Hatton and Kurt Jonstad. And no wonder it sounds very new hopey, it was originally written as a Star Wars sequel.
Next up, arriving this coming May, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The first flick in this series restored my faith in science fiction film with its wonderful blend of humor, action, pulpy space opera and excellent soundtrack. Volume 2 was enough of ok to keep me interested. Now, the tale completes with what looks to be a bit more adventure on the bit more serious side. Written by James Gunn, Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning, here’s the first trailer:
In what may be a case of squeezing every last drop out of a franchise stone, and with an official tentative release date in June, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. (Way to steal part of your title from another squozed franchise with “beasts”), this one is based on the comic book spinoff adventures Beast Wars, featuring robots that transform into beasts. In my childhood days before there were any transformers, I got my robots into beasts fix by throwing my brother’s stuff animals at walking robot toys. Maybe one of them will transform into a movie one day. Anyway, directed by Steven Caple Jr and written by Jobey Harold, Darnell Metayer and Josh Peters.
Part 2 of Dune is also up for a November release. The first, while lauded by many, left me convinced that no one can make a truly acceptable film interpretation of that novel. Give them credit for decent ornithopters. If you want more of that, then Dune 2 is for you. Directed by Dennis “I really like the color orange” Villeneuve. Original (and best) story by Frank Herbert.
On the animated side of things – Spider-Man Across the Spider-verse. I guess it takes three directors to handle the multiple universes that all of the different Spider-Beings come from, directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K Thompson. The first Spider-verse film wowed. Hoping for a reprise. Expected for this coming June.
Adam Driver will be back from medieval adventures, looking like he is in another medieval adventure in 65, a tale of an astronaut crash landing on a planet and discovering that he is not alone (we knew that already though as more than one actor is listed in the credits). Directed and written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Coming real soon now in March.
If you like the idea of a giant set of teeth rising from the darkened depths of the ocean to consume you, then The Meg’s sequel, The Trench, coming this August, is the film for you. Its seeing the return of Jason Statham, so it can’t be all that bad (though I think a comedic bit with Jason battling the shark while on a concrete floor covered in machine oil would probably improve things). Directed by Ben Wheatley.
No official trailer yet, but there are a number of fan made ones on Youtube.
A flick that may not be coming to theaters near you is DC’s The Flash. Its release may be compromised by its star’s bad behavior, or they’ll release it and then immediately begin production on a new Flash film with a different actor, both of which will be called “The Flash”.
Coming (maybe) in June, Directed by Andy Muschietti and with Ben Affleck (still looking for a superhero hit).
Dipping far back in comics history brings us The Blue Beetle (no, its not the story of the time that Paul got sad), a crime fighting police officer who gets his super powers from…yep, you guessed it, a blue beetle. The film features all Latino talent, making it something of an outlier (and a good move for diversity in film). Starring Xolo Mariduena (Cobra Kai) and directed by Angel Manuel Soto. Coming this August.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5I3t6LAv_g
Brie Larson returns as Captain Marvel in the November release of The Marvels. Last seen helping out the Avengers, Captain Marvel will be directed by Nia DaCosta. Looks like Ms. Marvel is in this one too. Looks like its maybe the all-female super hero flick a lot of folks have been asking for for a while.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (which one, Mu or Atlantis?). I’m sorry, but superheroes in speedos is just not my thing. Coming this December, directed by James Wong and featuring that Samoan that makes lots of people aqueous, this films writings credits include Mort Weisinger (you know, that fan who brought John Carter back to earth in a Kansan cornfield?). Also stars Willem Dafoe, not on stilts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htR0xOes_6Y
Looks like 2023 is going to be a big year for superhero flcks masquerading as science fiction, and a smattering of SF masquerading as original.
Source: Auto Draft
