10 Announced Films That Can’t Arrive Soon Enough

By Nick Maylor

I’m trying to focus here on films that have not started production and are still in the early stages. I also am avoiding films that are merely rumoured, as the following entries all appear to be confirmed to be going ahead.

There’s cool stuff coming, folks. Here they are (in no particular order)

 

10. KEVIN SMITH’S MOOSE JAWS

In 2014 I got to meet Kevin Smith after the world premiere of Tusk (2014). He’s been a huge influence on me and I’m a devout listener of his Hollywood Babble-On podcast with Ralph Garmen. Tusk was part one of his True North Trilogy, a series of films set in Canada. Yoga Hosers (2016) followed and the trilogy will be completed with this upcoming horror movie. What is Moose Jaws? Simple. As Smith has succinctly put it, the film is “Jaws with a moose.” Its the type of film only Smith could or would make. Right now Smith is prepping the shoot for Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, a sequel to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) but he has stated that funding for Moose Jaws has been secured. Smith’s character Silent Bob is set to be devoured by the Moose in the film; although, with Smith’s recent dramatic weight loss, the movie monster will need plenty of other victims to satisfy its hunger.

 

9. GREEN DAY’S AMERICAN IDIOT

Green Day is my favourite band still making new music. My first CD was their 1994 album Dookie. My first concert was a Green Day/Blink-182 double headliner. I love these guys. When I’m not writing about film, sometimes I pretend to be a musician. The smash Broadway hit based on their Grammy-winning album of the same name is set to be adapted into a film for HBO. Billie Joe Armstrong (the band’s frontman) is scheduled to reprise his role as St. Jimmy, one he performed on Broadway. Can’t wait. Wake me up when September ends.

 

8. DEXTER FLETCHER’S ROCKETMAN

Taron Edgerton has signed on to play Elton John in this forthcoming biopic. The young Welsh actor appeared in Sing (2016) as a vocally-gifted gorilla who performed a rousing rendition of Elton’s “I’m Still Standing” so we know he has the chops. The life and career of this British rock legend are sure to make for some compelling cinema. Dexter Fletcher recently finished directing duties on another British rock biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) after Bryan Singer was fired due to his sexual abuse allegations.

 

7. TODD McFARLANE’S SPAWN

Todd McFarlane’s demonic antihero was previously adapted for the big screen in Spawn (1997), starring Michael Jai White. The forthcoming rebooted adaptation will be written and directed by McFarlane himself who has described the movie as “more of a horror movie and a thriller movie, not a superhero one”. Jamie Foxx has signed on to star as Al Simmons/Spawn. The film will not have a massive budget, something which McFarlane happily agreed to so that he would be able to exercise full creative control.

 

6. STEVEN SCHWARTZ’S WICKED

Carrying on the tradition of the classic masterpiece, The Wizard of Oz (1939), this Broadway musical should hopefully wash the bad taste out of our mouths from the abysmal (and completely unnecessary) Oz the Great and Powerful (2013). The release date of the film was recently lost due to a lack of casting and that date was picked up by another musical adaptation; Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats. However, we should still look forward to this adaptation. Theatre aficionados would likely be thrilled to see Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth reprise their roles from the original stage cast. Here’s hoping.

 

5. RUBEN FLEISCHER’S ZOMBIELAND TOO

A simply brilliant entry in the long line of Zombie movies, Zombieland (2009) was a brilliant comedy with stellar performances by an impressive cast that has only gotten better in the years since the film’s release. The 2009 film also contains one of the greatest cameos in cinematic history. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (Deadpool/Deadpool 2) will return to write the screenplay and Ruben Fleischer (Venom) will return to direct. I’m excited for more instalments of the original film’s “Zombie Kill of the Week” segment.

 

4. ADAM SHANKMAN’S DISENCHANTED

If you don’t like Enchanted (2007), you’re likely dead inside. This long overdue sequel is set to see Amy Adam’s return to one of her greatest roles as Princess Giselle, a cartoon maiden who was sucked through a wormhole to live-action New York City. Great songs and tremendous, emotional performances made the first film a smashing success. Some of us still believe in happily ever after.

 

3. MEL GIBSON’S THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST SEQUEL

I’ve often stated that Mel Gibson’s insanity is like The Incredible Hulk; it cannot be controlled, but if you point it in the right direction, awesome things can happen. Recently Gibson announced that he will be making a sequel to his biblical epic (and the most violent film ever made), The Passion of the Christ (2004). Tentatively titled The Ressurection, the film will explore the events surrounding the aftermath of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. At first, I had no idea what this movie could possibly end up being until I realized that Jesus descends into the netherworld before coming back to the world of the living. In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (below), Gibson confirmed that there will be supernatural elements at play during the sequel. That’s right folks, Mel is taking us to Hell. This movie is going to be beyond insane. This time we’re going to have supernatural torture. It seems that Mel’s 2004 gore-fest was just the appetizer for this forthcoming main course. It’s going to be biblical as hell; literally. It saddens me that like the last time, many young children will likely be taken to see a film far too mature for their sensibilities but….. DAMN, I am excited.

 

2. STEVEN SPIELBERG’S WEST SIDE STORY

Spielberg recently confirmed that he will remake the famous musical (inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). The screenplay will be written by Tony Kushner who previously collaborated with Spielberg on Lincoln (2012). The director has confirmed that he is seeking ethnically appropriate latino actors to avoid any whitewashing, something many films (including the original cinematic adaptation) have been accused of.

 

1. MARTIN SCORSESE’S THE RISE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT 

For those unfamiliar with the life of the 26th President of the United States; he was (without question) the most badass human being to ever walk the planet. This is a man who laughed at death, mocked danger and ate raw adversity for breakfast each morning. The cinematic dream team of Marty and Leo have been planning the project for several years. Based on the 1979 book The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris, the movie will no doubt become a memorable entry in the long-standing tradition of the Presidential Biopic. The only issue the film might have is getting the audience to believe some of the insane (but completely true) elements of Roosevelt’s life; like the time he delivered a 4-hour long campaign speech with a fresh bullet wound in his chest.