11. Wonder Woman
Release Date: June 2, 2017
Director: Patty Jenkins
Cast: Gal Gadot, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, Chris Pine, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Lucy Davis, Ewen Bremner
A female superhero carrying her own movie, not just as a sidekick? It’s about damn time. Also, a woman director making a superhero film? Also way past overdue. There will be a lot riding on how well this film does, as I wouldn’t be surprised if it flails the studios will reconsider any plans to continue the trend. But just based off the trailer, I’d say any lingering doubts that the world is ready for this should be squashed.
12. Blade Runner 2049
Release Date: October 6, 2017
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Jared Leto, Mackenzie Davis, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, Sylvia Hoeks, Barkhad Abdi, Hiam Abbass, Lennie James, Carla Juri, David Dastmalchian, David Benson
There was a time when there was a better chance of seeing flying cars than there was of ever getting a Blade Runner sequel. But alas, the draw of revisiting the dark, noir-ish seemed too good to pass up. Ridley Scott is back as producer, Denis Villeneuve (director of my favorite movie this year, Arrival) is in the director’s chair, Harrison Ford is returning as Rick Deckard and Ryan Gosling is experimenting with sci-fi as newbie Officer K. The big question is whether audiences will turn out for the long-delayed sequel or will be too distracted/fatigued by other major releases to tune in. Either way, I can’t wait.
13. John Wick: Chapter 2
Release Date: February 10, 2017
Director: Chad Stahelski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, Ruby Rose, Bridget Moynahan, Peter Stormare, Peter Serafinowicz, Common
Keanu Reeves returns in the sequel to the 2014 hit as legendary hitman John Wick who is forced to back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, John travels to Rome where he squares off against some of the world’s deadliest killers.
14. Thor: Ragnarok
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Director: Taika Waititi
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Karl Urban, Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Benedict Cumberbatch
In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok—the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization—at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger—the Incredible Hulk!
15. Justice League
Release Date: November 17, 2017
Director: Zack Snyder
Cast: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Amy Adams, Amber Heard, Kiersey Clemons, Henry Cavill
We’re all masochists here. We have no earthly reason for optimism with this one. Zack Snyder made a dreary, slog of a Superman film that somehow had us longing for the days of Kevin Spacey’s vaudevillian Lex Luthor and that Brandon Routh guy. Then Snyder made Dawn of Justice, and any sense of narrative or visual competence within DC’s Cinematic Universe plummeted. That same man is in charge of uniting Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman along with first-ever big-screen iterations of The Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg to create the Justice League. Arguably a more A-list team-up than The Avengers. Certainly my preferred squad. And yet, the chances of this movie being halfway as coherent and entertaining as that Marvel film are so low. But we will all see it. Even if it’s a critical flop, it’ll make Taylor Swift’s net worth at the box office. All we can do is admit we’re willing spectators of a very large train crash and grab some popcorn. And with that long disclaimer out of the way, let me say: I honestly cannot wait to see it.
