By Lucas Allen
Many of us stuck at home during this pandemic, streaming the latest hits, are still wishing and hoping to return to the cinema for a real escape. Unfortunately, delays and changes in the release schedule as well as an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases across the country has made it impossible. There will come a day, though, when we get past this crisis and enjoy going to the movies all over again, with comfortable seats, popcorn and a giant screen to gaze at and wonder.
The following list is what could be considered the most anticipated films that were delayed from their original 2020 dates because of the pandemic, and these are the titles that audiences most wished to see on the big screen.
10. The New Mutants
The blockbuster X-Men franchise has its fair share of ups and downs, with last year’s “Dark Phoenix” leaving a terrible taste in fans’ mouths. Their first film under Disney-owned 20th Century Studios, “The New Mutants” takes a different route than their normal action-packed fare. Director Josh Boone creates a horror story about a group of young mutants fighting evil spirits in an asylum. Whether it’s set in the previous X-Men universe or within the MCU remains to be seen, but this film will certainly find an audience with both comic book fans and horror fans.
9. Soul
As the follow-up to last March’s “Onward,” Pixar brings a new level to its original storytelling in an unusual and daring approach. Jamie Foxx voices an aspiring jazz musician who met a tragic accident and his soul is stuck in purgatory until he has to find a way to get back to Earth. This story could go in any direction, but we can hope that the studio behind “Toy Story” and “Inside Out” can bring that same great creative magic behind their classic films to this original story.
8. Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Last year, fans celebrated the 35th anniversary of the 1984 comedy classic along with news of a new “Ghostbusters” film already in production. “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is set 30 years after “Ghostbusters II,” with new characters as well as more ghostbusting action. The film centers on the grandchildren of Dr. Egon Spengler (the late Harold Ramis) being given the mantle with the help of their kooky teacher (funnyman Paul Rudd). This film looks to be more of a family adventure, with Jason Reitman taking over directing duties from his father Ivan. One thing’s for certain, it’ll likely spawn a new generation of fans and maybe help develop some further adventures.
7. Top Gun: Maverick
Tom Cruise returns to the role that made him a superstar as ace fighter pilot Maverick in the sequel to the 1986 blockbuster. This time, he mentors a class of young Navy cadets including a hotshot pilot (Miles Teller) with something to prove. Expect more scenes of aerial combat, macho charisma, shirtless volleyball, and Cruise being more Cruise than your wildest dreams. Under the direction of “Tron: Legacy” director Joseph Kosinski, it’ll sure to be a high voltage experience 35 years in the making.
6. A Quiet Place Part II
This sequel to the 2018 horror phenomenon finds John Krasinski back in the director’s chair, while his wife Emily Blunt and kid actors Millicent Simmons and Noah Jupe facing more terrors in the outside world. The movie also added some new faces like Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou, with the threat of the aliens hunting by sound being greater than ever. In fact, it had its Hollywood premiere before the pandemic happened, so we can’t see what will happen to the Abbott family until theaters can open. In the meantime, fans will have the first film and other horror movies similar to it to hold them over.
5. Candyman
While Halloween Kills gets an honorable mention, this Jordan Peele-produced reboot of the 1992 horror film offers surprising thrills and chills judging from the trailer. It’s about a young street artist (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) absorbed by the Chicago projects and the myth of the hook-handed spirit (Tony Todd) that he uses it as inspiration for his art. Unfortunately, it unleashes the long dead spirit and the buzzing horror that follows. With Peele having previously dabbled in the genre with “Get Out” and “Us,” he’s perfect to bring back the unsettling terror of the menace that was created by Clive Barker of “Hellraiser” fame.
4. Wonder Woman 1984
The success of 2017’s “Wonder Woman” help to re-align the DC Extended Universe to its proper place. For this upcoming sequel, director Patty Jenkins brings the titular Amazonian warrior (Gal Gadot) to the 1980s, reuniting with her lost love Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), and battle the threatening forces of Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) and Cheetah (Kristen Wiig). The end result should be another colorful adventure with enough fun and exciting moments for both young and old fans. Not to mention, seeing the character in that new golden armor is enough to entice anyone who wants to see it.
3. Black Widow
Taking place between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” this latest MCU entry centers on Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) returning to Russia to face her past. She’ll team with an older Widow agent, (Rachel Weisz), a young woman (Florence Pugh) with her own set of skills, and Red Guardian (David Harbour), who was supposed to be Russia’s version of Captain America. Together, they help Romanoff re-discover her origins while battling the new villain Taskmaster in excellent Marvel fashion. Expect plenty of action, comedy, and drama plus classic character beats that help made Marvel Studios the grand champion studio for today’s blockbusters.
2. No Time to Die
In the 25th film in the long-running James Bond series, Daniel Craig returns as 007 for the fifth and final time as the character comes out of retirement for one last mission. His search for a missing scientist will have him come face to face with a mysterious villain (Oscar-winner Rami Malek) and reuniting with Madeline Swann (Lea Seydoux) from SPECTRE. Along with new allies (Ana de Armas and Lashana Lynch) and returning characters, this movie is sure to be a hit with Bond fans and action fans alike, with director Cary Joji Fukunaga carrying on the legacy that began nearly 60 years ago. Not to mention, fans are already taking bets on a potential new actor to inherit the Walther PPK from Craig.
1. Tenet
Naturally, any new movie that deserves the title of “most-anticipated” is the one directed by master auteur Christopher Nolan. Much like “Inception” 10 years earlier, this film is touted as an original film dealing with international espionage on a grand scale. In this case, it supposedly uses the concept of time travel as the leading hero (John David Washington) teams with another man (Robert Pattinson) to take down a criminal mastermind (Kenneth Branagh). Co-starring frequent Nolan collaborator Michael Caine, audiences will no doubt be left speechless by the impressive visuals and whatever new surprises coming at them. As the director himself promised, this film is meant to be seen on a giant screen to enjoy.
As this pandemic goes on, it’s likely many of these titles will have to be delayed further through the new year. Hopefully if we all stick together; we can win the pandemic battle soon so we can finally get back to normal. And when movie theaters are at last open to the public, the magic of the cinema will feel a welcome breath of fresh air all over again.
