by Matthew Gammond
Moviegoers have been spoiled for the last couple of years, we’ve had some enormous blockbusters and exquisite indie projects to sink our teeth into almost every month. But 2012 through to right now feels like an appetiser for next year. 2015 might just be the greatest year ever for movies, in terms of fan passion, critical acclaim and box office takings.
2014 still has a lot to give, but seeing as we’re fast approaching holiday season I thought I’d take a look at what lies in wait for us in 2015, pointing out what I’m looking forward to the most. It’s going to be quite a year, and don’t forget that this part two. If you missed part one you can view it here.
Moviegoers have been spoiled for the last couple of years, we’ve had some enormous blockbusters and exquisite indie projects to sink our teeth into almost every month. But 2012 through to right now feels like an appetiser for next year. 2015 might just be the greatest year ever for movies, in terms of fan passion, critical acclaim and box office takings.
2014 still has a lot to give, but seeing as we’re fast approaching holiday season I thought I’d take a look at what lies in wait for us in 2015, pointing out what I’m looking forward to the most. It’s going to be quite a year, and don’t forget that this part two. If you missed part one you can view it here.
Pan
2015 is going to be a big year for Disney; lots of their properties are getting a run out, and one of the most mysterious is the remake/reboot/prequel to the beloved animation classic Peter Pan.
This movie charts the rise of the legendary hero from his humble orphan beginnings through to his kidnapping and transportation to Neverland. Garrett Hedlund and Hugh Jackman are on-hand to play the pirate villains – perfect casting if you ask me.
Origin stories can be great (Batman Begins) or fairly flat (The Amazing Spider-Man) but there’s enough material here to have a bloody good go at making something loveable, adventure-filled and, most importantly, fun.
2015 is going to be a big year for Disney; lots of their properties are getting a run out, and one of the most mysterious is the remake/reboot/prequel to the beloved animation classic Peter Pan.
This movie charts the rise of the legendary hero from his humble orphan beginnings through to his kidnapping and transportation to Neverland. Garrett Hedlund and Hugh Jackman are on-hand to play the pirate villains – perfect casting if you ask me.
Origin stories can be great (Batman Begins) or fairly flat (The Amazing Spider-Man) but there’s enough material here to have a bloody good go at making something loveable, adventure-filled and, most importantly, fun.
The Jungle Book
From one Disney reboot straight to another, the loveable Baloo and his child counterpart Mowgli are back. Iron Man’s Jon Favreau is taking up directing duties whilst a legendary cast, including Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and Christopher Walken, has been assembled to voice the movie’s iconic animal characters.
Not to be confused with Andy Serkis’ darker remake, Jungle Book: Origins (due out in 2016), this is a direct remake of the Disney classic, mixing live-action people with animated animals and no doubt cracking out several famous tunes along the way.
Favreau is a very hit and miss guy but, just like Pan, there’s plenty of great material to work with and hopefully he turns out a Disney classic for a new generation.
From one Disney reboot straight to another, the loveable Baloo and his child counterpart Mowgli are back. Iron Man’s Jon Favreau is taking up directing duties whilst a legendary cast, including Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray and Christopher Walken, has been assembled to voice the movie’s iconic animal characters.
Not to be confused with Andy Serkis’ darker remake, Jungle Book: Origins (due out in 2016), this is a direct remake of the Disney classic, mixing live-action people with animated animals and no doubt cracking out several famous tunes along the way.
Favreau is a very hit and miss guy but, just like Pan, there’s plenty of great material to work with and hopefully he turns out a Disney classic for a new generation.
Birdman
This film just about meets the criteria for inclusion on this list; coming out on January 2nd it’s very nearly a 2014 film, and it’s certainly not a mega-budget action spectacular either. But that’s one of the reasons so many people are hyped for it.
Michael Keaton plays a washed-up actor who once found fame playing a superhero who’s trying to rebuild his career with a Broadway play.
One look at the trailer will fill you with the happiness that only a quirky, off-beat movie can. It’ll most definitely be an interesting character study peppered with humour and feel-good moments; exactly what we’ll need come January.
This film just about meets the criteria for inclusion on this list; coming out on January 2nd it’s very nearly a 2014 film, and it’s certainly not a mega-budget action spectacular either. But that’s one of the reasons so many people are hyped for it.
Michael Keaton plays a washed-up actor who once found fame playing a superhero who’s trying to rebuild his career with a Broadway play.
One look at the trailer will fill you with the happiness that only a quirky, off-beat movie can. It’ll most definitely be an interesting character study peppered with humour and feel-good moments; exactly what we’ll need come January.
Terminator: Genisys
Get your “I’m back” Arnie jokes at the ready, the hulking Austrian is slipping into his exo-skeleton once more to deliver yet more flat, emotionless one-liners.
The plot is being kept under lock and key for now, but we can assume we’ll dropped right into the post-Judgement Day war between man and machines. Older versions of the important characters (Sarah Connor, John Connor and Kyle Reese) have been cast and Game of Thrones’ Alan Taylor is directing following his success with Thor: The Dark World last year.
There’s plenty of scope for huge, CGI, seizure-inducing battles to take place here, and hopefully we’re given something that series creator and box office playboy James Cameron (Jimmy C to the kids) is proud of.
Get your “I’m back” Arnie jokes at the ready, the hulking Austrian is slipping into his exo-skeleton once more to deliver yet more flat, emotionless one-liners.
The plot is being kept under lock and key for now, but we can assume we’ll dropped right into the post-Judgement Day war between man and machines. Older versions of the important characters (Sarah Connor, John Connor and Kyle Reese) have been cast and Game of Thrones’ Alan Taylor is directing following his success with Thor: The Dark World last year.
There’s plenty of scope for huge, CGI, seizure-inducing battles to take place here, and hopefully we’re given something that series creator and box office playboy James Cameron (Jimmy C to the kids) is proud of.
Fast and Furious 7
OK, so they may not be the most sophisticated films on the planet but this series has given me years of entertainment. This time around though I get the feeling there will be less extravagance and a more melancholic atmosphere following the tragic death of series star Paul Walker in November last year.
The cast and crew have already said this was one of the toughest shoots of their lives, and rather than canning the project out of sympathy they continued and strived to create something that’d honour his legacy.
Where the series goes after this point is unknown, hopefully the tone hasn’t been altered too much but you can understand why if it has. I’ll be seeing this on opening night and I’m certain many Walker fans will also make the pilgrimage on April 3rd.
OK, so they may not be the most sophisticated films on the planet but this series has given me years of entertainment. This time around though I get the feeling there will be less extravagance and a more melancholic atmosphere following the tragic death of series star Paul Walker in November last year.
The cast and crew have already said this was one of the toughest shoots of their lives, and rather than canning the project out of sympathy they continued and strived to create something that’d honour his legacy.
Where the series goes after this point is unknown, hopefully the tone hasn’t been altered too much but you can understand why if it has. I’ll be seeing this on opening night and I’m certain many Walker fans will also make the pilgrimage on April 3rd.
The Fantastic Four
Another year, another superhero franchise reboot. Worrying few details have emerged about this project, but we know principal filming has wrapped and I am quietly confident.
In all the internet chaos that followed the news that Michael B. Jordan had been cast as Johnny Storm we seemed to forget that the first two movies were fairly lame so it’s almost a zero-effort task to make this a solid entry for a cast of beloved characters. They can’t really lose.
Josh Trank (of Chronicle fame) is the man in charge and, just like me, I bet he has his fingers crossed that his young, fresh and interesting cast pull off the impossible and actually please a baying hoard of comic book fanatics.
Another year, another superhero franchise reboot. Worrying few details have emerged about this project, but we know principal filming has wrapped and I am quietly confident.
In all the internet chaos that followed the news that Michael B. Jordan had been cast as Johnny Storm we seemed to forget that the first two movies were fairly lame so it’s almost a zero-effort task to make this a solid entry for a cast of beloved characters. They can’t really lose.
Josh Trank (of Chronicle fame) is the man in charge and, just like me, I bet he has his fingers crossed that his young, fresh and interesting cast pull off the impossible and actually please a baying hoard of comic book fanatics.
The Revenant
Here’s a film that not a lot of people have heard of... yet. Just you wait until they start marketing the fact that Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy are both starring.
It’s a tale of revenge as one man, who is left for dead after a bear attack, sets out to wreak vengeance on those who left him behind.
As with a lot of 2015 releases, we don’t yet have any media for it, but for those in the know this is definitely one to watch.
Here’s a film that not a lot of people have heard of... yet. Just you wait until they start marketing the fact that Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy are both starring.
It’s a tale of revenge as one man, who is left for dead after a bear attack, sets out to wreak vengeance on those who left him behind.
As with a lot of 2015 releases, we don’t yet have any media for it, but for those in the know this is definitely one to watch.
Bond 24
No, we don’t have a title but that hasn’t stopped everyone’s excitement levels hitting 11, and then sailing way beyond.
The world’s favourite spy is back and, fantastically, he’s brought director Sam Mendes back with him after doing such sterling work on 2012’s Skyfall – for my money, the best Bond movie ever.
The plot outline is keeping under as much secrecy as the contents of M’s ‘special drawer’, but there are plenty of rumours and ‘leaks’ out there if you want to go and spoil it for yourself, something I won’t be doing here.
No, we don’t have a title but that hasn’t stopped everyone’s excitement levels hitting 11, and then sailing way beyond.
The world’s favourite spy is back and, fantastically, he’s brought director Sam Mendes back with him after doing such sterling work on 2012’s Skyfall – for my money, the best Bond movie ever.
The plot outline is keeping under as much secrecy as the contents of M’s ‘special drawer’, but there are plenty of rumours and ‘leaks’ out there if you want to go and spoil it for yourself, something I won’t be doing here.
What Do You Think?
So there you have it, 15 movies that’ll be heading our way in 2015, all of which I’m supremely excited for.
I’m sure you’re sitting there shouting “where’s Ant-Man?!” or “fool, where’ve you put American Sniper?!” but that’s the beauty of the internet.
Feel free to post your suggestions in the comments below, we’d love to read them.
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