The Films Set To Hit Theaters In 2019 You Should Be Most Excited About
The Irishman
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The release of a new Martin Scorsese film would already be a cause for celebration, but The Irishman re-teams Scorsese with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, making this a must-see for anyone who has long pined for a Goodfellas reunion. The film marks another instance of Netflix luring a master auteur into its web by promising unlimited resources and full creative freedom. Scorsese dives back into the mob world he does best, exploring a hitman’s possible involvement in the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.
Lucy in the Sky
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Inspired by astronaut Lisa Nowak’s bizarre 2007 true story, Noah Hawley’s psychological sci-fi thriller centers on a married astronaut who returns to Earth after a mission and begins an affair with a fellow astronaut. She heads into a downward spiral as she loses her connection to her family — a condition that can afflict those who spend a long time in space — and when her lover begins another affair with an astronaut trainee, the bottom drops out. Starring Natalie Portman, Jon Hamm, Zazie Beetz and Dan Stevens, the film is set to be released some time in 2019.
Little Women
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In the murky sea of Hollywood remakes, there are a few that actually deserve our attention. One of them is Little Women, based on Louisa May Alcott’s beloved 1868 novel of the same name about an aspiring writer and her three sisters in Massachusetts during the Civil War. The 2019 film (set to be released on Christmas), directed by Greta Gerwig, will be the eighth film adaptation of the novel. The complete cast has since been confirmed with Emma Watson as Meg, Eliza Scanlen as Beth, Florence Pugh as Amy, and Saoirse Ronan as Jo (played by Winona Ryder in the 1994 film).
Beach Bum
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It’s been six long years since Spring Breakers, and Harmony Korine is finally back with another Florida-centric odyssey about outcasts living by their own rules. In The Beach Bum, Korine chronicles the quirky antics of a wandering Florida poet named Moondog, played by Matthew McConaughey under a flamboyant blonde wig. The cast includes Zac Efron, Jonah Hill, and Martin Lawrence with a release date set for March 2019.
Rocketman
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Rocketman is an epic musical fantasy about the uncensored human story of Sir Elton John’s breakthrough years, starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden and Bryce Dallas Howard. Paramount Pictures is due to release the film in the UK on May 24th— a week after its U.S. release. Rocketman is thought to be a pretty accurate portrayal of the “Candle in the Wind” singer’s life, due to the involvement of John’s husband David Furnish, who worked as a producer on the film.
Ad Astra
Image Source: Screen Rant
Ad Astra stars Pitt as an Army Corps engineer who decides to go on an ambitious space mission to find out what happened to his father — an astronaut who never returned from a one-way mission to Neptune. With direction by James Gray (The Immigrant), the supporting cast includes Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Donald Sutherland, and Jamie Kennedy. Ad Astra is currently scheduled to hit theaters in a late December limited release, in order to qualify for next year’s Oscars ceremony.
Under the Silver Lake
Image Source: Filmmaker Magazine
From writer-director David Robert Mitchell comes a sprawling, playful and unexpected mystery-comedy detective thriller about one man’s search for the truth behind the mysterious crimes, murders, and disappearances in his East L.A. neighborhood. Sam (Andrew Garfield) is a disenchanted 33-year-old who discovers a mysterious woman, Sarah (Riley Keough), frolicking in his apartment’s swimming pool. When she vanishes, Sam embarks on a surreal quest across Los Angeles to decode the secret behind her disappearance. Release date is set for April 2019.
X-Men: Dark Phoenix
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In Dark Phoenix, the X-Men face their most formidable and powerful foe: one of their own, Jean Grey. Game of Thrones‘ Sophie Turner gets her big shot as a leading lady with this Jean Grey-centered addition to the X-Men franchise, which also stars fellow mutant alumni James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence. Directed by Simon Kinberg, the film is scheduled to be released in June 2019.
The Woman in the Window
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This film is based on the thriller novel of the same name written by New York Times bestselling author A.J. Finn. The Woman in the Window tells the story of Dr. Anna Fox, a recluse in New York City who drinks her days away alone in her apartment, watching classic films and her neighbors. When the Russells move into the house across the way, Anna sees the ideal family and spies on them, only to witness a shocking event that changes her life. Directed by Golden Globe nominee Joe Wright, the film stars Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
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Can you imagine a better actor to play Fred Rogers than Tom Hanks? The two-time Oscar winner is set to portray the iconic Mister Rogers in an upcoming biopic, which now officially has the perfect title: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The film is being described as “a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism,” and will be based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The movie will hit theaters on October 18, 2019.
Joker
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The story of the Joker will finally be revealed (again). In 2019, Todd Phillips, best known as the director of The Hangover movies, will unleash Joker, a gritty crime thriller that explores a failed comedian’s descent into a life of villainy. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix in his own original interpretation of the character, and the release date is set for October 2019.
Dumbo
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From Disney and visionary director Tim Burton, the all-new grand live-action adventure Dumbo expands on the beloved classic story where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and dreams take flight. Dumbo stars an adorable CGI elephant, two cute kids, Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, and Oscar winning actor Michael Keaton — who’s bent on taking the failing circus and turning it into something great. The large-eared elephant flies into theaters on March 29, 2019.
Men in Black International
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Men in Black International is a spinoff of the original Men in Black series, which famously starred Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organization. The movie does reunite Thor: Ragnorok stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, who have already proven themselves to be perfect comedic action heroes.
It: Chapter 2
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Every 27 years, an ancient shapeshifting evil creature plagues the small town of Derry, Maine. The being often assumes the shape of Pennywise, the Dancing Clown, and it just loves devouring children. Based on Stephen King’s iconic novel of the same name, It: Chapter 2 reunites most of the same people for another confrontation with the monster 27 years later. Dealing with a totally new cast, It: Chapter Two will be coming to theaters September 6, 2019.
Aladdin
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With Disney’s ongoing efforts to revive their most popular animated films as live-action features, Aladdin seemed ripe for the picking. Co-written and directed by Guy Ritchie, the film is setting out to conquer box-offices and audiences alike as it retells the Aladdin story that first made its mark with the 1992 animated release. Taking over the role originally voiced by the late Robin Williams, Will Smith will turn blue for the film as Genie with Mena Massoud (Jack Ryan) starring in the title role alongside Terra Nova’s Naomi Scott as Jasmine. Release date is set for May 2019.
Zombieland 2
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Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin will return for the sequel to the 2009 black comedy. Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family. Director Ruben Fleischer returns for the Zombieland sequel, which is set to be released around Halloween 2019.
Spider-Man: Far From Home
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Director Jon Watts returns again to helm the next Spider-Man adventure for Sony. Far From Home will see Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his pals go on a summer vacation to Paris. If he was hoping to get away from his double life, though, Peter will be left disappointed as we know that he’ll end up facing Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio. Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders will drop by as Nick Fury and Maria Hill as well, reprising their roles as the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Spider-Man: Far From Home is penciled in for release on July 5, 2019.
Frozen 2
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Good news Frozen fans! The long-awaited return of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna is coming sooner than you expected. Disney’s Frozen 2 is set to be released on November 22, 2019, a full week earlier than originally planned. According to Variety, the sequel to 2013’s Frozen not only features the main cast we all fell in love with, but also four new songs. Directed by original filmmakers Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, Disney has been very quiet on story details, but expect all that to change as its release date approaches.
The Lion King
Image Source: Screen Rant
From Disney Live Action, director Jon Favreau’s all-new The Lion King journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. The live-action remake is the one everyone is really waiting for, with early reviews from sneak peeks claiming it’s as stunning as the animated original. And there’s also the incredible cast: Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé as Nala, and James Earl Jones returning as Mufasa. The Lion King is scheduled for theaters on July 19, 2019.
Captain Marvel
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Set in the 1990s, Marvel Studios’ Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It follows the journey of Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. The film will star Academy Award winner Brie Larson in the title role, and is directed by Mississippi Grind filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The script is from Tomb Raider screenwriter Geneva Robertson-Dworet. Captain Marvel is the studio’s first female-led solo superhero movie, with a release date set for March 2019.
Toy Story 4
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Have you fully recovered from the weepy ending of Toy Story 3? Nine years (yes, nine) after Toy Story 3 hit theaters, Buzz (Tim Allen), Woody (Tom Hanks), and the gang are back for another big toy adventure. The Toy Story franchise is undoubtedly one of the most popular film series in the world. As it stands, what few known details we have of the film’s plot suggest a new epic adventure, this time to a carnival with new friends, including Forky (voiced by Tony Hale), Ducky (voiced by Keegan-Michael Key), and Bunny (voiced by Jordan Peele).
Avengers: Endgame
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When the first television spot for Avengers: Endgame dropped during the Super Bowl, one thing was certain — the upcoming blockbuster from Joe and Anthony Russo is sure to be grim. The trailer shows the aftermath of Avengers: Infinity War, as we see the heroes that Thanos didn’t vaporize — Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, and Thor, among others — begin to come to terms with what happened when half of all life disappeared from the planet. The film will mark the culmination of 11 years of Marvel moviemaking, and is scheduled to open in theaters on April 26th.
US
Image Source: USA Today
Following the massive success of 2017’s Get Out, a lot is riding on director Jordan Peele’s next project, Us. A mother (Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong’o) and a father (Winston Duke) take their kids to their beach house, expecting to unplug and unwind, but as night descends, their serenity turns to chaos when some shocking visitors arrive uninvited. Given Peele’s interest in social horror, the film is likely to be more than just a bloody thrill ride, and no matter what happens, anticipation will inevitably be high for Peele’s sophomore outing. Us hits theaters on March 15, 2019.
Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Image Source: The Independent
Quentin Tarantino’s next film is set to be a landmark entry into his filmography, a period piece exploring hippie culture and the Hollywood studio system in the late 1960s. Written and directed by Tarantino, the film follows the story of an actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) as they try to make it in Hollywood around the time of the famed Charles Manson Family murders. Margot Robbie will also star in the film, portraying famed actress Sharon Tate, who fell victim to the Manson family murders. The film’s release date is believed to be July 26, 2019.
STAR WARS: EPISODE IX
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There’s arguably no film franchise quite as popular as Star Wars. It’s also fair to say that Star Wars Episode IX is one of the most eagerly-anticipated movies in history, with the upcoming film set to cap off the Skywalker saga after decades of onscreen storytelling. Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver, and Lupita Nyong’o are all confirmed to return for the final film, with the likes of Joonas Suotomo (Chewbacca) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) in tow. Directed once again by J.J. Abrams, the film is scheduled for release in December 2019.
