Most Anticipated in Film & Television- 2019 Edition (Part One)

20 Most Anticipated TV Shows

20) Atlanta- Season 3

Creator: Donald Glover (seasons 1 & 2 of Atlanta)  Cast: Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, Lakeith Stanfield, and Zazie Beetz. 

It's one of the (multiple) TV shows I've been meaning to find time to watch, and after delivering- what was hailed by many as- another successful and brilliant season, it seems that I may have to do some serious catching up before Season 3 airs. The rumors surrounding Season 3 have been swirling through the internet for quite some time, and for a while it was unsure whether the hit series would even return in 2019. However, after doing some research, it looks as though FX doesn't want to waste any time with getting the next season up and ready, and although production hasn't (officially) started yet, the network has slated the series to return sometime this year; at this point, I'm assuming early fall or late summer is most likely. As it is, with production still being in the early stages of development, much of the details regarding season three are unknown at this point. The only comment that creator/star Donald Glover has made about the new season is that it will be similar to Kanye West's third album (Graduation), in that it will be the most accessible and enjoyable of the seasons thus far. Since I haven't watched any of the previous seasons yet, it's hard to say whether "more accessible and enjoyable" will be a step forward or backward, but if it prompts me to catch up on one of the hottest and most celebrated shows on network television, then I don't see that as a bad thing.

Release: TBA

19) The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

Director: Louis Leterrier (Now You See Me)  Voice Cast: Taron Edgerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nathalie Emmanuel, Donna Kimball, Caitriona Balfe, Helena Bonham Carter, Harris Dickinson, Natalie Dormer, Harvey Fierstein, Mark Hamill, Ralph Ineson, Jason Isaacs, Eddie Izzard, Theo James, Toby Jones, Keegan-Michael Key, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Simon Pegg, Andy Samberg, Mark Strong, Alicia Vikander, and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.

Let's face it, if we're being perfectly honest with ourselves, the world wasn't exactly crying out for a prequel to Jim Henson's beloved fantasy cult-classic. It's been 36 years since The Dark Crystal first hit movie screens and enchanted audiences, and the film has only aged like a fine wine. The movie received mixed reviews upon its initial release, with most of the praise attributed to the film's extraordinary technical wizardry and effects, as well as Henson's rich imagination on display. However, despite its narrative shortcomings, time has been kind to Henson's film- the American Film Institute even nominated it for their list of Top 10 Fantasy Films back in 2008- and The Dark Crystal has continued to delight and capture the imaginations of audiences both young and old (including my own.) It's for this reason that I can't help but be intrigued by what The Jim Henson Company (in association Netflix no less) have been cooking up, even if it does turn out to be the television equivalent to popcorn entertainment. The premise is pretty straightforward: the 10-episode series will chronicle the events leading up to the original Dark Crystal film, detailing how the evil Skeksis assumed power and took control of the planet Thra, as well as the resistance that attempted to thwart them. The thought of returning to the lush and vibrant world that Henson so lovingly created should prove to be appealing to most Netflix subscribers, especially those with a soft spot for nostalgia and high fantasy, and while the idea of Louis Leterrier directing doesn't exactly thrill me, there was enough magic and wonder in the Now You See Me films to make me believe (or hope) that the material will be well-suited for him. Henson's ambition of returning to the world and mythology of The Dark Crystal was never realized while he was alive, so hopefully the studios and creative talents involved have all worked hard to put together something special that honors his legacy while rewarding audience's time.

Release: TBA

18) The Mandalorian

Creator: Jon Favreau (Iron Man)  Cast: Pedro Pascal, Omid Abtahi, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte, Emily Swallow, and Carl Weathers.

As Disney continues to milk their properties for all they're worth, finding new ways of doing so and exploiting every last clever marketing technique they can use, the fans that wait with baited breath ponder what new and exciting product the studio will hurl at them next. With Star Wars probably being the studio's biggest cash cow at the moment, I suppose it was only a matter of time before they decided to monopolize on the success of online television series that have been pumping out of every major streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon) literally within each consecutive month. And because it's Disney, what better way to showcase your new series than by releasing it through your own exclusive streaming service (after all, "if you build it, they will come.") Dinsey+ is set to launch sometime this year, with The Mandalorian headlining the big launch in hopes that the new series will lure in potential subscribers. Spoiler alert: it will more than likely prove successful, as Disney knows its base only all too well. The story will be set in a galaxy far, far away, taking place sometime between Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens- after the fall of the Empire and before the rise of The First Order- and follows the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. With the addition of the image above, the story seems to be more space-western than space-epic, with an emphasis on bounty hunters and less-to-no emphasis on the Jedi (who have been the primary focus of the Star Wars saga thus far.) Personally, I find this concept to be an interesting way of expanding the Star Wars mythology and universe, and while the intent may be pure cash-grab on Disney's part, I hope it manages to succeed as a piece of quality entertainment as well. Jon Favreau has proven to be a reliable talent behind the camera, albeit particularly unique, and he's certainly no stranger to big-budget properties with mass-audience appeal. The cast they've signed on is certainly interesting (Wernor Herzog of all people is set appear), but even more interesting are the host of directors that have boarded the production, which include Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople), Rick Famuyiwa (Dope), and Bryce Dallas Howard! More announcements to come in the near future I'm sure..

Release: TBA

       

17) Snowpiercer

Creator: Graeme Manson (Orphan Black)  Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Daveed Diggs, Mickey Sumner, Iddo Goldberg, Lena Hall, Aaron Glenane, Happy Anderson, Jonathan Walker, Michel Issa Rubio, Annalise Basso, Alison Wright, and Susan Park.

It's been about four years since Bong Joon-Ho's Snowpiercer first wowed audiences back in 2014. Despite a botched theatrical release courtesy of Harvey Weinstein "Scissorhands" (who clashed with director Bong over creative differences regarding the final cut of the film), Snowpiercer was one of the best films released in 2014, and remains one of the best sci-fi films to come out in the last decade. Set aboard a moving train that shelters the last of the planet's only living survivors following the wake of a cataclysmic event, the story explores the tensions and upheavals between the different compartments of the train, which are each separated by class and their own distinct function that contributes to the economic "machine" that (literally) keeps their society running. A visionary, bracing and original post-apocalyptic adventure, Bong Joon-Ho's film explores a variety of social and political themes through a mostly Marxist lens, all tied together with an environmentally-conscious message that's become a staple of the director's work. On top of that, the film operates on a grand and ambitious scale, with impeccable production design and inventive action set pieces that are all dazzling to get lost in. The film is based on a French graphic novel created by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette that spans three volumes, so the idea of a television series isn't all that preposterous, as there is clearly more material to mine and explore. On the other hand, TNT (who has ordered the series) will have a tough act to follow after Bong Joon-Ho's stunner of a film, and they'll need to carve out their own distinct niche that sets itself apart while still containing the bare bones of the story. Some production woes behind the scenes, which have mostly involved reshoots and the replacement of showrunner Josh Friendman (Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles) with Graeme Manson, have definitely raised a few concerns. Hopefully though, these changes have all been made with the best intent, and the final product is able to live up to the promise of its brilliant and truly inspired source.  

Release: TBA 

16) His Dark Materials

Cast: Dafne Keen, Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, Clarke Peters, Ian Peck, Will Keen, Ariyon Bakare, Georgina Campbell, Anne-Marie Duff, James Cosmo, Lucian Msamati, Mat Fraser, Geoff Bell, Simon Manyonda, Lewin Lloyd, Daniel Frogson, Tyler Howitt, Archie Barnes, and Ruta Gedmintas. 

New Line Cinema did not hit the stride they were hoping for the last time they tackled Philip Pullman's acclaimed fantasy series with their 2007 film, The Golden Compass. The studio was coming off hot after the universal appeal of The Lord of the Rings, and had been searching for the next fantasy-epic that had the potential to be a worthy successor. Pullman's His Dark Materials series had been receiving wide acclaim since the first book hit shelves in 1995- BBC's Big Read, a national poll of viewers' favorite books, even ranked the series at number three (after Lord of the Rings and Pride & Prejudice) in 2003- so it seemed like a safe enough bet for the studio. With a production budget of $180 million, the film under-performed at the box office with $372 million and received mediocre reviews, making it vastly inferior to Peter Jackson's magnum opus Lord of the Rings trilogy. All plans for a sequel were immediately scrapped, and for a while it seemed the rights to Pullman's material would collectively gather dust after being shelved from the studio. But as they say, "If at first you don't succeed, try try again." With the help of BBC One and HBO, New Line Cinema has decided to revisit the material in the form of a TV series, enlisting some the creative talents behind hit shows like Sherlock and Doctor Who. Tom Hooper (The King's Speech, John Adams) will direct the first two episodes, while theater and television veteran Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) has penned the script. As it was before, there will be a lot riding on the new adaptation before it makes its debut, but the studios seem much more confident this time around, as the series has already been prematurely renewed for a second season! With Game of Thrones drawing to a close this summer, it's very possible that His Dark Materials could be the next pop culture phenomenon to come out of primetime television this year. 

Release: TBA

15) Watchmen

Creator: Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Lost)  Cast: Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Adelaide Clemens, Andrew Howard, Jeremy Irons, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Adelynn Spoon, Lily Rose Smith, and Jean Smart

Not too unlike The Golden Compass (mentioned in the previous entry), another film that failed to meet its hefty expectations was Zack Snyder's adaptation of Alan Moore's Watchmen in 2009. A grossly ambitious undertaking that saw the director immensely out of his league, Watchmen failed to translate Moore's dense and heady story to an audience that was mostly unfamiliar with the source material. For those that are still unfamiliar with the groundbreaking graphic novel that made its debut in 1986, it's a bold and striking vision that's set within an alternate 1985 where Nixon is still President, the threat of WWIII looms large, and masked vigilantes and "heroes" are a constant center of controversy. At 162 minutes, Snyder's film still feels bloated and confoundingly misguided, validating the claims of filmmakers and skeptics across the board who have deemed Moore's novel "unfilmable." But a new series from the folks at HBO may hold the secret to cracking the material's toughest obstacle: time and development. With ten episodes already ordered from the network (including the possibility of more seasons to come) this should create plenty of space for showrunner Damon Lindelof to flesh out the characters and backstories while immersing audiences in the unique and incredible world Moore has inspired. In addition to that, Lindelof has stated that the new series won't be a direct adaptation of the original content, but rather introduce a brand new story and set of characters that exist in the same world of the novel. Some may find this news discouraging, but it may turn out to be an upside that works to the show's favor. For one, the demand and expectation from fans to see certain characters and story threads handled a particular way won't be as demanding, and for another, it gives the series more freedom to a craft a story that stands firmly on its own merits. HBO has certainly proven how adept they are at handling sprawling, ambitious stories (i.e. Game of Thrones), so their chances of delivering a strong adaptation of Watchmen are probably the highest they've ever been (and there have been many attempts aside from Snyder's film.) The announcement that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Netowrk, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo) would compose and produce the show's score is only an added bonus to this already exciting series! 

Release: TBA

14) The Crown- Season 3

Creator: Peter Morgan (seasons 1 & 2 of The Crown)  Cast: Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Watkins, Erin Doherty, Josh O'Conner, Marion Bailey, Emerald Fennell, and Charles Dance.

Last year, I finally sat myself down so I could binge through one of those series "that everyone is talking about" and which I apparently "have to see." In this particular case, it was the hit show on Netflix, The Crown. I can see why people speak so highly of it- it is truly a masterful and highly addictive show that more than aptly fills the gap left by BBC's Downtown Abbey, all while offering a heady dose of political intrigue, power dynamics, and fascinating historical context. The story traces the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and opens a profound and intimate window into the lives of the royal family and its struggles. Series creator Peter Morgan has always shown deep interest in this renowned political figure, having already penned The Queen roughly a decade ago which was later directed by Stephen Frears for 2006. But The Crown is a lot deeper and much more easy to slip into than that film, mainly thanks to Morgan's strong writing abilities and Claire Foy's career-defining performance as Elizabeth (she's been cast in pretty much everything else under the sun since then.) But as audiences are taken into the next chapter of the iconic figure's life, we are also graced with a brand new cast that will fill the shoes of the characters following a 20-year time span. Which brings us to the most exciting news about this upcoming season: soon to be Oscar-winner (at least, I'm sincerely hoping she wins, lest I flip multiple tables in anger) Olivia Colman! Having just played another infamous monarch in Yorgos Lanthimos' The Favourite, Colman is a brilliant bit of casting who should deliver plenty of great and memorable moments in Season 3, which will supposedly cover the Queen's relationship with Prime Minister Harold Wilson, the decolonization of Africa and the Caribbean, the birth of Prince Edward, and the movement of Prince Charles' into the public eye following his coronation as the Prince of Whales. While most of these details regarding the new season are fairly subjective, one thing is absolutely certain: Colman should probably prepare herself for another busy awards season come next year.

Release: TBA

13) Big Little Lies- Season 2

Creator: David E. Kelley (season 1 of Big Little Lies)  Director: Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, American Honey)  Cast: Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, Zoe Kravitz, Meryl Streep, Kathryn Newton, Robin Weigert, Merrin Dungey, Sarah Sokolovic, Douglas Smith, Crystal Fox, Mo McRae, Denis O'Hare, and Poorna Jagannathan.

Big Little Lies landed with a splash when it premiered back in 2017. Based on a novel by Liane Moriarty about three troubled women living in Monterey, CA who become embroiled in a murder investigation, the series became an instant hit with both audiences and critics, and its subject matter concerning abuse and sexual assault told through the lens of its female characters made its arrival timely in the early stages of the #MeToo movement. Originally intended to be a miniseries, the show was renewed for a second season after making waves at all the major awards competitions, landing five Emmys, two SAG awards, four Golden Globes, and a WGA. Of course, since the first season had already covered the entirety of Moriarty's novel, this meant that showrunner David E. Kelley would need brand new material if they were to continue telling these women's stories. Enlisting the help of the famed author, the two set to work to develop a story that would stand as a worthy follow-up to what had been so brilliantly done in the first season. After the beautiful and poignant conclusion that ended Season One, I will admit that I'm a bit concerned and skeptical that the new material may feel forced and completely unnecessary this time around. However, if they manage to deepen the story arc while continuing to build on the show's themes without spoon-feeding or tying irrelevant loose ends, then this could definitely turn out to be something special, and the addition of Andrea Arnold as the new season's director certainly brings an extra level of interest.
Release: Nicole Kidman recently said the network was aiming for June, although nothing is official yet.

12) Killing Eve- Season 2

Creator: Emerald Fennell  Cast: Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona Shaw, Nine Sosanya, Edward Bluemel, and Julian Barratt.

After the heart-stopping cliffhanger of a finale that ended Season 1, I think I speak for almost everyone when I say how ridiculously excited I am for the next chapter of Killing Eve. Ever since her scene-stealing performance in Alexander Payne's Sideways, it's been all too clear that Sandra Oh was one of the most criminally underrated actresses working today, but her performance as Eve Polastri- a security operative for British intelligence hunting a deadly assassin- proved she was a force to be reckoned with. Armed with crisp dialogue and a mesmerizing protagonist, it's the kind of juicy role that most actors spend their entire careers trying to land, and Miss Oh pulls it off with aplomb-  commanding the screen with a richly layered and complex performance that shifts between bitingly comic and compellingly human with hardly a false note. The acclaim she's been receiving for her work on the show has kept her very busy this awards season, setting her sights on every major trophy and winning most of them (the Golden Globes, BFCA and SAG), but our sights are currently set on Season Two, which is slated to premiere this spring. Oh will resume her role as Eve, along with Jodie Comer (another standout in the series) as the enigmatic assassin, Villanelle. Shockingly, the only player who is not expected to resume their role in the subsequent season is writer and series creator, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who will return as an executive producer with newcomer Emerald Fennell taking over the reins as her replacement. While this development does give me slight pause (Fennel is still relatively new and doesn't have a lot of substantial writing credits), I'm confident the folks at BBC know what they're doing, and with Waller-Bridge overseeing the project as executive producer, the show shouldn't lose too much of its touch.
Release: April 7th

11) True Detective- Season 3

Creator: Nic Pizzolato (True Detective)  Cast: Mahershala Ali, Carmen Ejogo, Stephen Dorff, Scoot McNairy, Sarah Gadon, Jon Tenney, and Ray Fisher.

Following a solid first season and then a risky, but ultimately uneven second season, creator Nic Pizzolato returns to the world of his award-winning anthology series, True Detective. Despite the mostly mixed results of Season 2, Season 3 looks a lot more promising. For starters, Academy award-winner Mahershala Ali is the new season's leading star, and plays three generations of his character, Wayne Hays, through extraordinary makeup effects. Even if it's not particularly groundbreaking, I love the nonlinear narrative structure and how it's woven through Hays' three separate timelines, as it not only gives Pizzolato a chance to redeem himself after mishandling Season 2's convoluted narrative of multiple protagonists and shifting timelines (which was interesting and ambitious, but messily executed), but also gives its brilliant rising star (Ali) a much more dense and complex role to cut his teeth on. While most of the praise at the moment seems to be attributed to the actor's work in Green Book, this looks like a much more layered and methodical performance, and it's honestly the role I'm most excited to see the actor this season. The other exciting player in the upcoming season is director Jeremy Saulnier of Blue Ruin and Green Room fame. Saulnier is one of most exciting new directors working today, and has proven to be an incredible talent in the field of genre filmmaking, so the show's crime-noir trappings should fit perfectly within his wheelhouse. The only downside to the director's involvement is how surprisingly limited it is. Weighted by scheduling conflicts (although it's also rumored that it had more to do with creative differences with Pizzolato), Saulnier exited the season after directing the first two episodes, in spite of the fact he was expected to helm three. Although his early departure from the project is disappointing, the promise of two episodes from the young auteur is still very enticing, and his replacement with veteran television director/producer Daniel Sackheim (The X-Files, Game of Thrones) definitely helps ease any concerns about the new season finding its footing.
Release: January 13th

 10) The Twilight Zone

Producers: Marco Ramirez (Daredevil), Jordan Peele (Get Out) & Simon Kinberg (Legion)  Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Adam Scott, Damson Idris, Kumail Nanjiani, John Cho, Allison Tolman, Jacob Tremblay, Erica Tremblay, Greg Kinnear, Steven Yeun, Jessica Williams, DeWanda Wise, Jefferson White, Jonathan Whitesell, and Jordan Peele. 

From its opening monologue, to the creepy, disorienting music that sets the tone, The Twilight Zone has carved out an iconic place in the pantheon of classic television. This full-blown pop culture phenomenon, which first premiered back in 1959 and enjoyed a successful 5-year run, has tremendously influenced many sci-fi/horror films and television shows that followed in its wake (and that's not even including the comics, radio series and Disney's theme park attraction that are all based off the series.) There have been two revivals (one in 1985 and the other in 2002), and even a feature length film produced by Steven Spielberg and John Landis, but its Rod Serling's original five seasons that have unanimously remained the best and most praised. Sometime this year, CBS will release the now third revival of the popular anthology series through its exclusive streaming service, CBS All Access. In a wave of new entertainment where the heaviest hitters have been remakes, sequels, and reboots, the arrival of a new Twilight Zone isn't so much a surprise as it was inevitable. What is interesting about the new series is the significant involvement of Jordan Peele, who will executive produce through his own Monekypaw Productions. Still basking in the success of his breakout hit, Get Out, and with another psychological horror film on the way this year (as well as some other new and exciting projects), Peele is a brilliant choice to pump some creative juices back into the series. With the addition of producers Marco Ramirez and Simon Kinberg, including some stellar casting in the first few episodes, this is shaping up to be a series that may be worth revisiting.
Release: TBA

9) Lovecraft Country

Producers: Jordan Peele (Get Out), J.J. Abrams (Fringe), Misha Green (Underground) & Ben Stephenson (Westworld)  Cast: Jonathan Majors, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Wunmi Masako, Aunjanue Ellis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Courtney B. Vance.

Speaking of new and exciting projects from Jordan Peele, another one to watch out for is HBO's upcoming series of Lovecraft Country, based on the popular novel by Matt Ruff. Peele will serve as executive producer to the series, which follows a young black man named Atticus who embarks on a journey through a Jim Crow-era America in search of his missing father. Accompanied by his friend Leticia and Uncle George, they encounter demons and monsters of both the supernatural kind and the frighteningly real, struggling to survive and overcome obstacles that are terrifying manifestations affiliated with the sociopolitical climate of the time. After doing such a brilliant job of examining the fears and anxieties of a black man living in America with the deftly allegorical Get Out, leave it to Jordan Peele to tackle a novel that presents new and interesting territory to further deepen and expand upon those themes. In a word, I think the new series sounds: AWESOME (in case that wasn't already abundantly clear.) The additional pedigree of the other executive producers involved (J.J. Abrams, Misha Green and Ben Stephenson) definitely gives further reassurance that this is one of the most exciting television series being released this year!
Release: TBA

8) I Am The Night

Director: Patty Jenkins (Monster, Wonder Woman)  Cast: India Eisley, Chris Pine, Jefferson Mays, Leland Orser, Connie Nielsen, Yul Vazquez, Theo Marshall, Justin Cornwell, Dylan Smith, Jay Paulson, Golden Brooks, Monique Green, and Shoniqua Shandai.

The promise of a good old fashioned noir is always appealing to me, and TNT's new miniseries, I Am The Night, looks like it will more than aptly satisfy my expectations in that department. Based on a true crime memoir by Fauna Hodel, the story recounts her search as a young woman to discover the identity of her birth mother, only to uncover secrets from her past that are linked to the infamous Black Dahlia murder. The unsolved crime that shocked the country and shook the press in 1947 has been the basis of numerous books and films (both fiction and non-fiction), but the mystery it evokes and the legacy it has spawned have made it a consistently fascinating subject to revisit. Patty Jenkins, who directed the first three episodes of the new series and served as executive producer for all six, showed exceptional proficiency with handling compelling crime-dramas in 2003's Monster, and the success of Wonder Woman (both financial and critical) have catapulted her into the league of today's most talented and sought after directors. I'm very excited to see the results of her first major project following Wonder Woman, and hope the TNT-produced miniseries is strong and intriguing enough to keep the director and her future work on our radar. 

Release: January 28th 

     

7) The North Water

Director: Andrew Haigh (45 Years, Looking)  Cast: TBA

Andrew Haigh is certainly one of the most exciting and exceptional talents to breakout within the last decade. From his hit television series, Looking, on HBO, to indie stunners-turned-Criterion favorites Weekend and 45 Years, the director has proven to be an emotionally sensitive and compassionate storyteller with a keen attention to detail, visuals and of course, his characters. While relationship dramas have been the focus in most of his work, the director's next project will put him in new and and unfamiliar territory as he adapts Ian McGuire's acclaimed novel, The North Water. Set aboard a whaling vessel in the Arctic waters, the story sounds a lot like last year's terrific The Terror with a heavy dose of Moby Dick, and follows an expedition that's marked by survival, the nature of human cruelty, and redemption. Last year's Lean on Pete saw the director tackling similar themes in a similar context as he followed the journey of an orphaned boy who treks across the country in search of his aunt, but this material sounds much darker and more bleak, and I'm very curious to see how it is translated in the director's hands. Haigh may in fact be one of the few directors working today who could convey the novel's stark coldness while still hitting the necessary emotional notes to balance the whole narrative out. My only concern at this point is that it may not be ready in time for this year. BBC is expected to release the five-episode miniseries sometime in 2019, but it doesn't look as though cameras have even begun rolling yet, let alone the announcement of a cast. However, that doesn't mean a 2019 release is entirely out of the question. After all, Chan Wook Park's The Little Drummer Girl was not expected to be ready until 2019, and we were pleasantly surprised when it premiered last November much earlier than anticipated- so anything is possible. 

Release: TBA

6) Central Park Five

Director: Ava DuVernay (Selma, 13th)  Cast: Jharrel Jerome, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Freddy Miyares, Justin Cunningham, Michael K. Williams, Vera Farmiga, John Leguizamo, Felicity Huffman, Niecy Nash, Aunjanue Ellis, Kylie Bunbury, Caleel Harris, Ethan Herisse, Marquis Rodriguez, Asante Blackk, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Storm Reid, Joshua Jackson, Chris Jackson, Adepero Oduye, Omar J. Dorsey, Blair Underwood, Famke Janssen, William Sadler, and Aurora Perrineau. 

Ok, I think most of us can all agree that A Wrinkle in Time was a blunder for acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, despite the fact it had so much going for it. In all fairness, many filmmakers have said it's a difficult novel to adapt for the screen, and the script by Frozen scribe Jennifer Lee had some glaring issues, but I digress- at least we can commend its inclusive cast and crew, and recognize what a remarkable step forward it was for female filmmakers getting big-budget projects. But if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that DuVernay has done some of her best and most vital work when it comes to true stories about civil rights and social injustice. Her film Selma, a powerful, blistering gut-punch account of Martin Luther King Jr's participation in the voting rights marches, made her the first black female director to have their film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars- although, she was still undeservedly snubbed a nomination for Best Director. When the director finally was nominated, it was for her follow-up feature 13th, a Netflix-produced documentary that explores how the country's prison system has been exploited to perpetuate systematic racism and inequality. Both of these impassioned films left a strong, incendiary impact, which is why I'm so immensely excited about the subject of her next project. Reteaming with Netflix for the second time, DuVernay will direct a four-episode miniseries that chronicles one of the most controversial and widely publicized criminal cases in the last thirty years. Borrowing the name of the award-winning documentary that covered the same subject, The Central Park Five refers to the five men of color who were wrongfully accused and convicted of a wide variety of crimes they didn't commit- most specifically, the brutal rape and assault of a white female jogger- and were't cleared of the charges until over a decade later. Although the [previously mentioned] documentary from PBS already did an excellent job in its covering of the story, this remains a pivotal and eye-opening chapter of racial injustice in the US that's more than deserving of its newfound platform at Netflix, and should fit perfectly within DuVernay's oeuvre next to Selma and 13th. While it may strike a chord that rings too familiar coming off the heels of last year's If Beale Street Could Talk, and Detroit the year before that, I'm hoping DuVernay's distinct filmmaking qualities keep it from losing its impact.

Release: TBA

Stranger Things- Season 3

Creators: The Duffer Brothers (Seasons 1 & 2 of Stranger Things)  Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Thurman-Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Jake Busey, Francesca Reale, and Cary Elwes.

Hold on to your Eggo waffles kids, because the kids of Hawkins are back this summer for some more supernatural thrills and adventure. Since its first season premiered back in 2016, the Netflix-produced show has taken off like a rocket, ratcheting up millions of ratings, numerous awards and nominations, and generating an entire brand of merchandise from t-shirts to key chains, making it one of the most popular and successful commodities to hail from the giant streaming service. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, IN, the story follows a group of kids who find themselves caught up in the strange and paranormal events that spawn from experimental tampering with an alternate dimension. Borrowing from a number influences associated with the styles and sensibilities of genre films from the 80s and 70s, the show utilizes these qualities and reinvents them in a way that is truly its own, creating a nostalgic factor that's equally inventive as it is entertaining. Part of the reason this works so well to the show's favor is the attention that is lovingly devoted to the development of the characters and the authentic bonds they share; the viewer becomes a part of this town and a member of its group, and we care about what happens to these people. Season 2 left us with plenty of unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries, and the almost two-year gap in between 2 & 3 has had us eagerly counting the days till the story resumes this July. Hopefully, The Duffer Brothers are able to retain their fresh creative energy and keep these wonderful characters grounded and engaging.
Release: July 4th.

4) The Eddy

Creator: Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash)  Cast: TBA

Since his electrifying breakout, Whiplash, and after becoming one of the youngest filmmakers (at 32) to win an Oscar for Best Director with La La Land, Damien Chazelle has established himself as one of the fastest-rising talents in cinema today. Last year saw the director explore outside of his usual wheelhouse with the extraordinary and deeply human First Man, a biopic about legendary astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the events leading up to the infamous Apollo 11 mission, but this year will see the young auteur return to territory he's more familiar with: music. The Eddy is an upcoming miniseries created by Chazelle and written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), which centers on a French nightclub owner and the challenges that arise while maintaining a live music venue in the heart of Paris. The series, which will be produced through Netflix, is set to run eight episodes long, with Chazelle slated to direct the first two episodes. While most directors coming off the success of an Oscar-winning box office champ like La La Land might've been lured by one of the major studios to direct the next big-budget blockbuster or superhero flick, Chazelle seems to have remained very thoughtful about the projects he chooses, and although there were some that were not completely wooed over by First Man, I don't think anyone would label it a dud or a misfire. Having said that, The Eddy looks exactly like the kind of project that was tailor-made for the director, and I'm sure it will play to a lot of his strengths as a filmmaker who delivers his most personal work through music. Although cameras have not started rolling and the cast is still yet to be announced, I imagine we'll start seeing developments in spring or summer, with the final project ready to stream by fall.
Release: TBA

3) Devs

Director/Writer: Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina)  Cast: Sonoya Mizuno, Nick Offerman, Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, Aimee Mullins, Akshay Kumar, Oliver Powell, and Alison Pill. 

With only two films under his belt so far, writer-turned-director Alex Garland has already delivered two of the best science-fiction films of the last decade (I'd go even further in saying that Annihilation is one of the best of all time.) This year, the auteur will make his television debut on FX with his new miniseries, Devs, a new drama-thriller (with some sci-fi undertones) about a computer engineer who investigates a new division in her company that may be behind the disappearance of her boyfriend. It definitely sounds intriguing, and I'm so excited to see a new project from the director after delivering Annihilation only a year ago! One of the things I love most about Garland, aside from his knack for delivering sharp and cerebral sci-fi, is the fact that he's one of the few true auteurs in today's cinema who both writes and directs their own work; even all eight episodes of his new miniseries are written and directed exclusively by him. For someone this incredibly talented, whose scripts have been directed by the likes of Danny Boyle and Mark Romanek, I'm beginning to wonder whether Garland should've been running his own show from the beginning! Needless to say, the idea of Garland getting 8 hour-long episodes to himself is like David Lynch creating a new season of Twin Peaks or Jane Campion returning to Top of the Lake, so I can't wait to see how he utilizes that time and what he delivers with that creative freedom. Another layer of icing on the cake is the addition of Oscar-winning producer, Scott Rudin, who also served as an executive producer on Annihilation as well. I'm very glad to see Rudin and Garland collaborating again for a second time, especially since Rudin had a huge hand in helping Garland keep the original cut of his last film when Skydance didn't think it was accessible enough for audiences (boy, were they wrong.) Clearly, he has good judgement and seems to realize that in the case of auteurs like Garland, it's best just to let them make the movie (or show) they want to make and help them in any way possible.

Release: TBA

2) Too Old To Die Young

Director/Writer: Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, The Neon Demon)  Cast: Miles Teller, William Baldwin, Jena Malone, John Hawkes, Cristina Rodlo, Augusto Aguilera, Nell Tiger Free, Babs Olusanmokun, and Callie Hernandez.

Welcome back, The Prince of Darkness. Whether you loved or hated The Neon Demon (I personally had mixed feelings, but still worth a watch for the adventurous film-goer), the fact remains that Drive is still an incredible film, and Nicolas Winding Refn has remained an exciting director to watch for. The auteur's unique vision of LA's dark underbelly has become a central component in his more recent work, and it looks to be something he'll further elaborate on in his upcoming series for Amazon Studios. The story follows the existential journey of a grieving police officer, as well as the man who killed his partner, as they find their lives transformed by the roads they take through LA's criminal underworld- a dark and strange society of working-class hit men, Yakuza soldiers, cartel assassins from Mexico, Russian mafia captains and gangs of teen killers. In this dangerous and brutal landscape of survival of the fittest, characters must quickly discover that the only way to survive in one piece means transforming from killers to samurai.........I'm going to give you a moment to fully absorb the equal amounts of crazy and awesome in that plot description. Wow! What a premise! It sounds like what I would imagine the lovechild of L.A. Confidential and Kill Bill to look like, and if you're me, that's about as strong of an endorsement as they come. The arcs of NWR's characters are some of the most fascinating aspects of his work, and based on the plot description, it seems like that same level of attention will be present here as well. Even if the final product doesn't turn out to be as wild and incredible as it sounds, there is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be interesting, and if does turn out to be that amazing, it will be a special treat for anyone who subscribes to Amazon and has the privilege to experience it.

Release: TBA    

1) Game of Thrones- The Final Season

Creators: David Benioff and D.B. Weiss  Cast: Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Liam Cunningham, Alfie Allen, Nathalie Emmanuel, Gwendoline Christie, John Bradley, Isaac Hempstead Wright, Rory McCann, Iain Glen, Hannah Murray, Conleth Hill, Carice van Houten, Jerome Flynn, and Joe Dempsie.

Winter is here...In the eight years that have spanned since the series premiered on HBO, Game of Thrones has become the adult Star Wars of our time. We've followed these characters through every shocking twist and pulse-pounding triumph, and we've finally made it to the end with the last standing survivors. The question of who makes it out alive by the end of the series finale is on everyone's mind, and it seems that each person has their own theory. Let's be honest though, no amount of theorizing will be able to prepare us for this long-awaited epic conclusion and the surprises it brings. It's quite extraordinary what the this show has accomplished in the time since it first aired, especially given the fact that the last book from series author George R. R. Martin remains unfinished (he's been incrementally involved in the writing process of the show, providing creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss with a reliable blueprint to compensate for the lack of source material in the last couple seasons.) With record-breaking viewership and a total of 47 Primetime Emmys, not to mention its significant influence on pop culture and the launching pad it provided for its exceptionally talented cast, Game of Thrones is nothing short of a triumph in modern television that has set the bar for any aspiring series in the future to come. Many networks, including its home at HBO, will be attempting to replicate its incredible success now that the series has come to an end (and they'll assuredly have their work cut out for them), but there's no doubt in my mind that this epic fantasy series will be revisited and enjoyed by countless generations in the years ahead. It's a bittersweet ending to a truly grand adventure, but we're so incredibly grateful that we got to be a part of it and live in the midst of its hype.
Release: April 14th.