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With a new year comes a new, exciting roster of movie releases to look forward to. From biopics to blockbuster, 2024 is the year of welcoming the weird and wonderful when it comes to cinematography. However, more so, it seems to be the year of the sequels, as franchises like The Lord Of The Rings and Kung-Fu Panda continue their stories in yet another exciting year of films. Following a fantastic year of film production, with blockbuster releases like Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, and the recent sinister but fantastically satirical Saltburn, it will be a pretty mean feat to beat the 2023 film releases.
Nevertheless, we here at CSP Times are super excited for the 2024 cinema. In the spirit of the new year and a celebration of the past year's enigmatic cinema collection, here is a varied list of your much-loved favourite franchises making a reappearance to movie theatres near you in 2024. (Better, still, we have chronologically ordered our list for easy-reading).
1. Dune: Part Two
Expected release date: March 1st 2024
Source: thewrap.com
Although its expected release has passed, with the end of 2023 leaving fans speculating when they will be able to see Timothée Chalamet return to Arrakis, it is finally time for the Dune franchise to return to our screens. Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya have been killing the game with their other projects, but now we are able to see them star alongside an array of other talented actors, including Florence Pugh, Austin Butler and Rebecca Ferguson, in the Warner Bros' next sci-fi installment. The sequel expects further epic battles, as Paul Atreides (Chalamet) seeks to stop a terrible future before it is too late.
2. Kung Fu Panda 4
Expected release date: March 8th 2024
Source: beebom.com
Jack Black is joined by a star-studded cast for the fourth installment of the Kung Fu Panda franchise. Big names including Viola Davis, Awkwafina, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong and Dustin Hoffman unite to provide another hilarious and family-friendly film. The premise for the fourth movie sees Po undergo a great journey as he searches for his successor to claim the title of Dragon Warrior, with the expectation to claim his own new title of the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. As we all know, a journey is no plain sailing for Po, and his new nemesis comes in the form of "The Chameleon", played by Viola Davis.
3. Despicable Me 4
Expected release date: July 3rd 2024
Source: youtube.com
Back at the beginning of 2022, this iconic sequel was revealed to be returning to our screens in July of 2024. This hilarious kids comedy starring Steve Carrell, Kristen Wiig and Miranda Cosgrove returns to theatres mid-year for a fourth time. The next installment is set to continue the comedic journey of Gru, his wife Lucy, and their adopted children (minions included!). As always, we can expect a fantastic soundtrack and feel-good fun for all the family in this fourth film of the Despicable Me collection, and the sixth installment of the overall franchise.
4. Deadpool 3
Expected release date: July 26th 2024
Source: imdb.com
One of the few Marvel films making an appearance this year is Deadpool 3, as a continuation from the 2018 installment, and marking the 34th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ryan Reynolds returns as Wade Wilson (AKA Deadpool), alongside his frenemy Wolverine (played by Hugh Jackman) in this unexpected duo, and this addition is set to be equally as R-rated and comedic as its predecessors. Again, we can expect drama, humour, and a new class of superhero with Reynolds' return.
5. Beetlejuice 2
Expected release date: September 6th 2024
Source: variety.com
Jenna Ortega is killing the Hollywood horror game, with the release of the much-watched Netflix show, Wednesday, alongside fantastic films including Scream VI, X, and now Beetlejuice 2. The film is set to follow the 1988 comedy starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, with their reappearance as principal characters of Beetlejuice and Lydia, and Ortega joining the troop under the role of Winona's on-screen daughter. The collection of iconic horror actors make their return alongside the iconic Tim Burton as director. This eccentric fantasy horror comedy has been long-awaited, and after nearly 40 years, we are excited to see it in theatres once more, with the much-loved characters starring alongside rising actors of the genre.
6. Joker: Folie a Deux
Expected release date: October 4th 2024
Source: marca.com
Joaquin Phoenix returns to theatres in his role of the Joker in the upcoming sequel to the 2019 film. Alongside Phoenix, the second installment is set to welcome Lady Gaga as the much-loved character, Harley Quinn. The premise of this new release follows the Joker as he faces a new life imprisoned in Arkham State Hospital, where he unites with Dr. Harleen Quinzel and they forge a life of crime, together. As the 2019 Joker was originally anticipated to remain as a standalone production, we are super excited to welcome the Joker back on our screens, alongside his new but familiar associate just in time for the spooky season.
7. Smile 2
Expected release date: October 18th 2024
Source: looper.com
With the welcome of the Halloween season comes the much expected release of an array of well-timed horror movies. One of this year's hauntings is the return of Smile, released by Paramount only October of last year. Timed again to coincide with the spooky season, the psychological horror film received excellent, yet terrified responses from viewers. In a recent update, it is now anticipated that a familiar character will be returning to the franchise, Rose's detective ex-boyfriend. Joel, played by Kyle Gallner is supposedly making his return as the new protagonist, starring alongside The Poltergeist star Rosemarie DeWitt, and Aladdin's Naomi Scott. Other familiar characters could include Jessie T. Usher who plays Trevor and Gillian Zinser as Holly, Rose's older sister, but this early on, we cannot say for certain. Whilst we may not yet know the plot, we can definitely expect a couple of creepy smiles...
8. Venom 3
Expected release date: November 8th 2024
Source: screengeek.net
Another of the Marvel additions for this year is Venom 3, following Tom Hardy as antihero Eddie Brock, the complex human-alien identity, as he works in cohabitation with an alien symbiote to bring to life the character of Venom. The second instalment, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, saw Hardy alongside the likes of Naomi Harris and Michelle Williams as he battles Woody Harrelson's character, Cletus Kadasy, (AKA Carnage) as he enters on a vicious killing spree. Like the majority of Marvel films, Venom 3 is set to feature the previous Marvel release, Spider-Man: No Way Home as a premise for the events unfolding. Exact plot however is unknown, and whilst a teaser has been released, the content is extremely limited when it comes to the plot. Anticipated viewers will have to wait until the end of the year to delve further into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
9. Gladiator 2
Expected release date: November 22nd 2024
Source: youtube.com
Hollywood heartthrob Paul Mescal is making his debut as the role of the newest protagonist, in Gladiator 2 at the end of 2024, alongside big names including Denzel Washington, Barry Keoghan and Pedro Pascal. Original Gladiator star, Russell Crowe, has paved the way for the anticipated sequel from his 2000 hit, as the newest adaptation follows Paul Mescal's character, the son of Crowe's on-screen lover, following Maximus's death. The historical drama is directed by Ridley Scott, and set to hit the big screen at the end of this year; however, for those who can't wait, the first teaser trailer was released last week and is accessible for viewing via Youtube.
10. The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim
Expected release date: December 13th 2024
Source: deadline.com
We will end the year, and this eclectic collection of films, with the newest instalment of The Lord of The Rings franchise, and the introduction of a distinct change to the life-like world of Middle-earth. This new adaptation will come in the form of an anime animation, and take place prior to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, 261 years prior to be exact. Tolkien's iconic worldbuilding inspired this new release, based on a story told in the appendices of the first novel. Stars of the new movie include Miranda Otto, Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Shaun Dooley and Luke Pasqualino. The return of a franchise so renowned provides the perfect end to the year, as viewers can expect epic battles and ruthless royals.
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