Films Films

The show must go on When the world needed light relief, the Covid 19 pandemic hit the entertainment industry badly with studios closed. But Hollywood returns to its feet this year with these six blockbusters set to hit screens before December

Jungle Cruise (29 July) Inspired by the famous Disneyland theme park ride, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in an adventure-packed rollercoaster down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s Dune (22 October) Above and right: Tom Cruise two children arrive in a small questionable services to guide This adaptation of the 1965 Frank and Daniel Craig are up to old town, they begin to discover her downriver on La Quila – Herbert sci-fi classic has an all- tricks in Top Gun Maverick their connection to the original his ‘charming’ boat. star cast that includes Timothée and the latest James Bond ghostbusters and the secret Lily is determined to uncover Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, film,No Time to Die legacy their grandfather left an ancient tree which is rumoured Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, behind. The film is written by to have unparalleled healing Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Josh Dune is still scheduled to Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan. abilities and the power to change Brolin, Dave Bautista and Javier have its world premiere at the future of medicine. Thrust Bardem. Dune is slated to be the the Venice International Film Top Gun Maverick on this epic quest together, the first of two movies based on the Festival in September. (November 2021) unlikely duo encounter myriad book, with the first covering the It’s been 30 years since the dangers and supernatural forces, massive novel’s first half, while a No Time to Die first Top Gun movie graced our all lurking in the deceptive beauty second as-yet-unnamed movie is (8 October) screens. That wait should have Black Widow (8 July) Above: Scarlett Johansson is of the lush rainforest. But as the planned to cover the rest. There The 25th James Bond ended back in July 2019 when In Marvel Studios’ latest action- Black Widow Below: Dwayne secrets of the lost tree unfold, was also an HBO Max prequel installment, Daniel Craig’s final Top Gun: Maverick was meant packed spy thriller spin-off Black Johnson, Emily Blunt and Jake the stakes climb even higher for series in the works. turn as 007, finds Bond having to be out. Star Jon Hamm Widow, Natasha Romanoff (aka Whitehall in Jungle Cruise Lily and Frank. Dune is among the upcoming left active service and enjoying did promise that the sequel is Black Widow) confronts her Warner Bros movies slated a tranquil life in Jamaica. His worth the wait. “It’s everything darker self when a dangerous to debut on HBO Max at the peace is short-lived when his old you hope it’s going to be,” conspiracy arises that digs up same time it hits theatres. That friend Felix Leiter from the CIA he told Today. the past. Natasha must deal controversial decision announced turns up asking for help. The “The movie has exactly with her history as a spy and the by Warner Bros in December, mission, to rescue a kidnapped the right mix of nostalgia for broken relationships left in her didn’t sit well with many in the scientist, turns out to be far more the first one, but then the wake long before she became industry including director Denis treacherous than expected, and continuation of the story and an Avenger. Scarlett Johansson Villenueve. He blasted the studio’s leads Bond onto the trail of the characters.” reprises her role as Natasha and then-parent company AT&T, a mysterious villain armed with Tom Cruise will be hoping Florence Pugh stars as Yelena, saying in a Variety op-ed that it dangerous new technology. nobody has lost their need for with David Harbour as Alexei (aka had “hijacked one of the most Franchise actors Lea Seydoux, speed in the extended wait as The Red Guardian) and Rachel respectable and important studios Jeffrey Wright, Ben Whishaw, Maverick returns to pass his Weisz as Melina. A thrilling watch in film history.” AT&T announced Ralph Fiennes, and Naomie Ghostbusters Afterlife comes the next chapter in the wisdom onto a new batch of Top as Natasha is pursued by a force in May that it would spin off its Harris join Craig as he hands in (Fall 2021) original Ghostbusters universe. Gun recruits before they head on that will stop at nothing to bring WarnerMedia business to merge his James Bond credentials for From director Jason Reitman In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a specialised mission that has her down. it with TV company Discovery. the last time. and producer Ivan Reitman, when a single mum and her never been seen before. ■

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