Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz, David Harbour, Olga Kurylenko, Ray Winstone, William Hurt, Ever Anderson, Violet McGraw, O-T Fagbenle
Director: Cate Shortland
Screenwriters: Eric Pearson; story by Jac Schaeffer, Ned Benson, based on the Marvel Comics

As Marvel powers onwards into Phase 4 with all the force of a high speed train (or perhaps a quinjet, or space ship may be more appropriate), Black Widow takes a step back, rewinding to Phase 3 to unravel some of the mystery surrounding the past of Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, spy and original avenger, fleshing out her character and giving some well deserved meat to her backstory. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role as Black Widow, and is joined by Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour in an action-spy thriller directed by Cate Shortland that sees Natasha reunite with her family of old to confront her past and take down the enemy who plagued her life long before she became an avenger. Though Black Widow has previously appeared in 8 MCU movies, this is the first solo film for the character, finally providing a much anticipated look into the background of a character whose past has, until now, remained largely unexplored. 

The opening sequence throws back to the 90s, with a fire-fly filled snapshot of Natasha’s childhood. Along with young Natasha (Ever Anderson), we meet her six-year old sister Yelena (Violet McGraw), and their parents Melina (Rachel Weisz) and Alexei (David Harbour). It’s sweet, it’s tender; for all intents and purposes, it appears to be a childhood as idyllic as any 90s American childhood could hope to be—at least until it warps into a bloody and brutal action sequence that tears the picture of family perfection apart. Russian accents surface and the truth about the situation is rapidly revealed—they’re not so much a family of four from a town in Ohio as they are a group of Russian intelligence agents posing as an American family. In a matter of heartbreaking moments, the family are separated by the orders of Alexei’s boss, General Dreykov (Ray Winstone), and Natasha and her sister are sent back to the Red Room, a twisted training facility masterminded by Dreykov where young girls are, among other things, brainwashed and manipulated as they’re raised to be the world’s most deadly killers. 

What follows is one of the most chilling opening sequences seen in a Marvel movie. In mere moments, the tone darkens dramatically as the screen is littered with shots implying various horrors endured by the girls at the hands of the Red Room. The suggestive imagery is perhaps more effective than showing an actual sequence from the girl’s life during this time; using nothing more than a series of cleverly arranged hints, the opening jarringly gives the audience more than enough to be thoroughly disturbed by the prospect of the Red Room by the time the sequence is over. 

The film then leaps forwards; 21 years later, Natasha is getting off the grid, trying to salvage the pieces of her life after the events of Captain America: Civil War (think that airport fight in Germany, Captain America on the run, Hawkeye, Ant-Man and Falcon all in prison). However Natasha’s efforts to disappear don’t quite go as quietly as planned; in a series of gritty action sequences, Natasha is reunited with her sister Yelena (Florence Pugh) in Budapest, who, it is revealed, has grown up to become a deadly and dangerous assassin with skills enough to rival Romanoff’s. Following a series of fights (both of the verbal and physical variety), and an escape, the central mission is established: take down the Red Room and free its brainwashed agents. 

Family dynamics are explored in all their messy, imperfect, heart-wrenching glory as Natasha reunites her faux family of old to find Dreykov and his Red Room. Florence Pugh, previously seen in Little Women and Midsommar, is a standout in her own right as the jaded, yet somehow still ridiculously endearing, Yelena. Responsible for some of both the wittiest and most poignant scenes on screen, Pugh cycles seamlessly from comedic relief to heartfelt dramatics, delivering an incredible performance that makes Yelena an instantly likeable character. Pugh and Johansson have an incredible on-screen chemistry that makes their sisterhood feel real, full of tangled emotions that stem from their broken lives. Also by their side is David Harbour as Alexei, who throws himself into playing a super solider gone to seed (à la a Russian Mr Incredible from The Incredibles before he went though the getting-fit-train-pulling montage), and comes across as a convincingly exasperating, frustrating goof of a barely competent father, with a tone very much reminiscent of his Stranger Things character (well, if Hopper had possessed super strength that is).

The strong character writing must be commended; aside from the level of depth given to each character, the number of rather brilliant quips, delivered in particular by Pugh’s Yelena, are a true highlight of the film. Surprisingly dark and gritty, with heavy themes that could easily have become despairing, Black Widow was well balanced, deftly interweaving the dark moments and heartbreaking topics with well placed, well timed, dry humour. It’s not hard to imagine that many of the lines will soon become iconic, quotable favourites. 

Action set piece, after action set piece, interspersed with a well delivered, tension filled family dinner sequence moves the plot along. Johansson once again rises to the occasion as the strong, feisty, yet still inherently human Black Widow. Half spy thriller, half action film, the movie contains many elements reminiscent of a Bond film (think mysterious lair, bad guy monologues, a Q type character delivering the goods)—in fact, it turns out Natasha is also a Bond fan in-universe. The third act delves more or less into what is expected of a standard Marvel action movie though, with many explosions, a flying headquarters and some fighting moves that defy physics, however at two hours, the movie doesn’t overstay its welcome. With well written characters and equally good acting, it’s faced passed and compelling, remaining dynamic through to the end without feeling stretched. While the fundamental plot isn’t groundbreaking, the true strength of any Marvel film, and what could be considered Marvel’s real recipe for success, lies in delivering stories that are character led first and foremost, grounding their fantastical universe and oftentimes far-reaching plots with relatable human struggles. Black Widow, to its benefit, is no different; at its core this is a film about family. Natasha and Yelena’s relationship is the heart and soul of the film (making the ending even more gut wrenching when it snaps back to the post Endgame timeline). Much of the narrative is driven by the exploration of the vulnerabilities of each character, and the family scenes are wonderfully fraught with real world tensions that are just as messy and dysfunctional as they are tender and humorous. 

It could have been a hard recipe to get right; to create a film about a character whose fate is already known and still make it seem valuable to the universe and captivating to watch, but Shortland does it. The result is a story that finally does Natasha justice, revealing enough about Black Widow’s past to round out her character and satisfy some curiosity, while still leaving just as much in the dark for the character to continue to retain some spy-appropriate mystique and intrigue that will leave audiences continuing to imagine what else took place during her life in the years surrounding the known MCU events (the references to the original Budapest escapade with Hawkeye were a gem). While Black Widow’s story may have concluded in the on-going MCU timeline, fans will be pleased to see a post credits scene that catches up to the in-universe present day, linking Yelena with a character last seen in the Marvel TV series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. If Pugh’s performance in Black Widow is anything to go by, Yelena will be more than capable of carrying the Black Widow legacy forward in the MCU (even if she’s one of those heroes who has to rely on an ibuprofen afterwards to get the job done).

What did you think of Black Widow? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Movie Review: Black Widow appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With recent news of a vaccine being distributed and ministered, it is—with hopeful caution and cautious hope—safe to say that there is light at the end of the darkest tunnel many of us have seen.

Film studios certainly think so as the film slate for 2021 is bountiful and sure to make up for last year. So, without further ado, here are the, at the time of writing, projected film releases of 2021. Things, of course, are subject to change at a moment’s notice. (Remember: hopeful caution and cautious hope!)

JANUARY

One Night In Miami (dir. Regina King)

One Night in Miami is a fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

The Little Things (dir. John Lee Hancock)

Deputy Sheriff Joe “Deke” Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who’s terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the culprit, Baxter is unaware that the investigation is dredging up echoes of Deke’s past, uncovering disturbing secrets that could threaten more than his case.

The Marksman (dir. Robert Lorenz)

A rancher on the Arizona border becomes the unlikely defender of a young Mexican boy desperately fleeing the cartel assassins who’ve pursued him into the U.S.

FEBRUARY

Cinderella (dir. Kay Cannon)

Based on the fairytale we all know and love, this musical romantic-comedy features Camila Cabello as the titular princess, Billy Porter as the Fab G (a genderless fairy godparent), and Idina Menzel the evil stepmother.

Minamata (dir. Andrew Levitas)

Based on the autobiography / photo essay of the same name by Aileen Mioko Smith and Eugene Smith, the film stars Johnny Depp as Smith, an American photojournalist who travels to Japan and documents what would become known as the first sightings of mercury poisoning in the city of Minamata.

The Mauritanian (dir. Kevin Macdonald)

This upcoming political thriller is based on the memoir Guantanamo Diary By Mohamedou Ould Salahi, which details Salahi’s unlawful and unsanctioned detention and torture at Guantanamo Bay. Tahar Rahim stars as Salahi. He is joined by Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Zachary Levi.

MARCH

Raya and the Last Dragon (dir. Paull Briggs, Dean Wellins)

Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina lend their voices as Raya and the last dragon (respectively) in Disney’s highly anticipated animated release that was inspired by Southeast Asian cultures.

The King’s Man (dir. Matthew Vaughn)

Vaughn returns to the Kingsman spy action-comedy universe with a prequel film that stars Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Matthew Goode, Tom Hollander, Harris Dickinson, Daniel Brühl, Djimon Hounsou, and Charles Dance. While plot details are scarce, the film, set in early 20th-Century, illustrates the formation of the Kingsman agency.

Morbius (dir. Daniel Espinosa)

Sony’s second film in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters, Morbius stars Jared Leto as Michael Morbius who becomes a vampire after he fails to cure himself of a rare blood disease. This film is allegedly part of Sony’s plans for a shared universe of Spider-man characters (following Tom Hardy’s Venom), and stars Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, and Tyrese Gibson in supporting roles.

Chaos Walking (dir. Doug Liman)

Based on the novel by Patrick Ness, Daisy Ridley and Tom Holland star in Chaos Walking which follows a dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others’ thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise.

APRIL

No Time to Die (dir. Cary Fukunaga)

After being delayed (twice) due to COVID-19, the twenty-fifth film in the James Bond franchise—and Daniel Craig’s final curtain call—is finally being released! In this film, Bond is pulled out of retirement to help rescue a kidnapped scientist, but the mission unearths the plot of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous technology. In addition to Craig, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Léa Seydoux, Christoph Waltz, and Jeffrey Wright all return, with Rami Malek, Ana de Armas, and Lashana Lynch in new roles.

BIOS (dir. Miguel Sapochnik)

Tom Hanks stars as one of the last men on Earth who builds an android (played by Caleb Landry Jones) to keep him and his dog company. Laura Harrier, Samira Wiley, and Skeet Ulrich also star.

A Quiet Place Part II (dir. John Krasinski)

The much anticipated sequel sees the return of Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe as the Abbott family who must fight for survival in a world plagued by monsters with acute senses of hearing. Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou play characters the Abbott family meets as they venture away from their home.

Last Night in Soho (dir. Edgar Wright)

Wright’s psychological-horror film stars Thomasin McKenzie as a young woman with a passion for fashion design, who mysteriously travels back in time to 1960s England. There, she sparks a connection with Anya Taylor-Joy’s character, but, as with all time-travel, dark consequences ensue. (Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, and Terence Stamp round out the cast.)

MAY

Black Widow (dir. Cate Shortland)

Scarlett Johansson first appeared as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2 back in 2010. Much to the chagrin of many fans, it’s only now that the (arguably) most beloved original Avenger is finally getting her own solo movie. As with every MCU project, the plot details remain a mystery, but what we do know is that the film—which incidentally kicks of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War and sees Natasha returning to Russia to deal with some unfinished business. Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz also join the adventure.

Free Guy (dir. Shawn Levy)

Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a non-playable character, in a video game called Free City. As a result of new programming, Guy realizes that he is a background character and learns that the video game is set to be turned offline indefinitely. Taking upon the role of hero, Guy races against time to save the day (and the game). Reynolds is joined by Jodie Comer and Taika Waititi.

Spiral (dir. Darren Lynn Bousman)

This is the ninth instalment of the Saw franchise, starring Chris Rock and Samuel L Jackson as a detective and police veteran (respectively) who, as they investigate a string of murders, find themselves trapped in the killer’s twisted game.

Cruella (dir. Alex Timbers and Craig Gillespie)

Set in 1970s London, this film serves as a origin story of the beloved villainess and a prequel to the live-action remakes that starred Glenn Close. This time around, Emma Stone is set to play a young Estella de Vil, a fashion designer whose obsession with dogs’ skins—particularly that of Dalmatians—turns her into the Cruella we all know and love to hate.

Infinite (dir. Antoine Fuqua)

Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Dylan O’Brien star in this sci-fi film about a man who discovers that his hallucinations are actually memories from his past lives.

F9 (dir. Justin Lin)

It’s a family affair within the ninth film of the Fast & Furious series: Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family must face off against Jakob Toretto (John Cena) who teams up with Cipher (Charlize Theron). Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Helen Mirren all return in their respective roles.

JUNE

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (dir. Michael Chaves)

This film serves as the sequel to The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016) and sees the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

In the Heights (dir. Jon M Chu)

Based on the 2007 stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes, the film adaptation stars Anthony Ramos as a charismatic bodega owner who dreams (and sings) of a better life.

Luca (dir. Enrico Casarosa)

A Disney-Pixar original, the film tells the story of a young boy on the Italian Riviera whose friendship with a newfound friend is jeopardised by the fact that he is actually a sea monster from another world that exists just beneath the water’s surface.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (dir. Andy Serkis)

Tom Hardy returns as the titular Venom who, this time around, faces off against serial killer Carnage (Woody Harrelson). Michelle Williams and Reid Scott also return, and Naomie Harris is set to play Shriek, Carnage’s love interest.

JULY

Top Gun: Maverick (dir. Joseph Kosinski)

A sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer return as Maverick and Iceman (respectively). Plot details are scarce, but after decades of flying, Maverick finds himself training a new squad of graduates for a dangerous mission. Cruise and Kilmer are joined by Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, and Glen Powell.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (dir. Destin Daniel Cretton)

This is Marvel’s first film with an Asian lead, with Simu Liu playing the titular character, a skilled martial artist, who must face off against the Mandarin (played by Tony Leung), leader of the terrorist Ten Rings organisation. The film also features Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh.

Space Jam: A New Legacy (dir. Malcolm D Lee)

A sequel to Space Jam (1996), this film stars LeBron James who finds himself trapped in a video game with young son Dom (Ceyair J Wright) by a rogue AI (played by Don Cheadle). With the help of the Looney Tunes gang, James must find a way out.

Jungle Cruise (dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)

Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson star in this adventure-fantasy film that sees Blunt’s character, Dr Lily Houghton, enlisting the help of Frank Wolff (Johnson) to take her down the Amazon in search of ancient healing tree that holds the key to changing the future of medicine.

Uncharted (dir. Ruben Fleischer)

Based on the video game of the same name, Uncharted stars Tom Holland as fortune hunter Nate Drake. Mark Wahlberg plays Sully, Nate’s mentor and father figure. The film also features Antonio Banderas in an undisclosed role.

The Green Knight (dir. David Lowery)

AUGUST

The Suicide Squad (dir. James Gunn)

Serving as a soft reboot and standalone sequel to 2016’s Suicide Squad, the film stars Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Peter Capaldi, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, and more as imprisoned convicts who are sent to the island of Corto Maltese to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (dir. Patrick Hughes)

This action-comedy is a sequel to the 2017 film The Hitman’s Bodyguard and sees the return of Ryan Reynolds as the bodyguard, Samuel L Jackson as the hitman, and Salma Hayek as the wife (who, this time around, finds herself as the one in danger).

Candyman (dir. Nia DaCosta)

Starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Teyonah Parris, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Colmon Domingo, and written by Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, and DaCosta herself, Candyman is a direct sequel to the 1992 film of the same name.

Respect (dir. Liesl Tommy)

Jennifer Hudson stars as Aretha Franklin in this biopic (a casting choice made by Franklin herself). Forest Whitaker, Mary J Blige, Audra McDonald, Marlon Wayans, and Titus Burgess also star.

SEPTEMBER

Death on the Nile (dir. Kenneth Branagh)

A follow-up to Murder on the Orient Express (2017), Branagh returns as the legendary Hercule Poirot to investigate a murder aboard the S.S. Karnak, featuring an all-star ensemble cast that includes Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie, Sophie Okonedo, Jennifer Saunders, and Letitia Wright.

The Man From Toronto (dir. Patrick Hughes)

Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson star in this action-comedy about a screw-up who is forced to team up with an assassin after the two are mistaken for one another while staying at an Airbnb.

OCTOBER

Dune (dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Arguably one of the most anticipated films of 2021, after being pushed back (twice) from an initial 2020 release, this sci-fi film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, and Zendaya.

Halloween Kills (dir. David Gordon Green)

Jamie Lee Curtis returns as Laurie Strode in this sequel to 2018’s Halloween and the twelfth film in the Halloween franchise. With her family and new and old allies, Strode must face off against Michael Myers (Nick Castle) who is still loose and murderous in Haddonfield.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins (dir. Reobert Schwentke)

Henry Golding plays the titular character in this spin-off of the G.I. Joe film series alongside a cast that features Andrew Koji, Iko Uwais, Peter Mensah, Úrsula Corberó, and Samara Weaving.

The Last Duel (dir. Ridley Scott)

A historical drama-thriller set in 14th-Century France detailing the last legally sanctioned duel, this film reunites Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (both of whom co-wrote the script together along with Nicole Holofcener) and features Adam Driver and Jodie Comer in principal roles.

NOVEMBER

Eternals (dir. Chloe Zhao)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s third film of 2021 (and Phase 4), the story centres around an immortal alien race called the Eternals, who have lived on Earth, hiding in plain sight, for over 7000 years, and must band together to protect the world from their evil counterparts, the Deviants. Angelina Jolie leads an epic cast that includes Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Gemma Chan. (A spot of trivia: this film will also feature the MCU’s first openly gay superhero.)

Elvis (dir. Bad Luhrmann)

Austin Butler stars as the titular rockstar alongside Tom Hanks in this biopic of the legendary artist.

Mission: Impossible 7 (dir. Christopher McQuarrie)

Tom Cruise returns as the legendary Ethan Hunt in the seventh instalment of the Mission: Impossible franchise. Set to return as well are: Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, and Angela Bassett. Joining the cast are: Shea Whigham, Henry Czerny, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, and Hayley Atwell.

King Richard (dir. Reinaldo Marcus Green)

Will Smith plays Richard Williams—father and coach of tennis royalty Serena and Venus Williams—in this biopic that details how the tennis superstars came to be.

Encanto (dir. Byron Howard, Jared Bush, Charise Castro Smith)

This Disney animated film, featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, tells the story of a Colombian girl named Mariana who grows up as the only non-magical person in her family.

Gucci (dir. Ridley Scott)

Based on the book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden, the murder-dram film stars Jeremy Irons opposite Lady Gaga with a supporting cast that includes Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Al Pacino, Jack Huston, and Reeve Carney.

DECEMBER

West Side Story (dir. Steven Spielberg)

This latest film adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name tells the love story between two teenagers, Tony and Maria (Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler, respectively), who belong to rival gangs in 1950s New York.

The Matrix 4 (dir. Lana Wachowski)

Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Lambert Wilson, and Daniel Bernhardt all return in the fourth instalment of The Matrix franchise. Joining the cast in new roles are: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Max Riemelt, Brian J Smith, and Priyanka Chopra.

Sherlock Holmes 3 (dir. Dexter Fletcher)

Robert Downey Jr returns as the titular Holmes, alongside Jude Law as Watson and Rachel McAdams as Irene Adler, in this sequel to 2011’s Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

Babylon (dir. Damian Chazelle)

Chazelle’s directorial follow-up to La La Land (2016) stars Margot Robbie opposite Brad Pitt in a film that is set in old Hollywood when the industry transitioned from silent films to talkies.

What 2021 release are you looking forward to seeing or at least hoping to see this year? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated Movie Releases of 2021 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

So, if you’re after a sequel or new instalment, you can pick from Bad Boys For Life, A Quiet Place II, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, Fast & Furious 9, Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun: Maverick, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Minions 2, Bill and Ted Face The Music, Death On The Nile, Halloween Kills, Godzilla vs Kong, and Coming 2 America… Phew, and this isn’t even all the 2020 movie releases, plus there’s also a few prequels scattered throughout the year too!

Read on to discover a few of 2020’s movie releases and tell us what you’re looking forward to in the comments below!

JANUARY

The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle

After losing his wife seven years earlier, the eccentric Dr. John Dolittle, famed doctor and veterinarian of Queen Victoria’s England, hermits himself away. But when the young queen falls gravely ill, a reluctant Dolittle is forced to set sail on an epic adventure to a mythical island in search of a cure. Starring Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Emma Thompson (Love Actually), and Michael Sheen (Masters of Sex).

The Gentlemen

A very British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires. Starring Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club), Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey), and Jeremy Strong (Succession).

Bad Boys For Life

Marcus Burnett is now a police inspector and Mike Lowery is in a midlife crisis. They unite again when an Albanian mercenary, whose brother they killed, promises them an important bonus. Starring Will Smith (Bad Boys), Martin Lawrence (Bad Boys), Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical), and Alexander Ludwig (Vikings).

The Rhythm Section

FEBRUARY

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord. Starring Margot Robbie (Suicide Squad), Ewan McGregor (Moulin Rouge), and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World).

Sonic The Hedgehog

A cop in the rural town of Green Hills will help Sonic escape from the government who is looking to capture him. Starring Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation), Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Tika Sumpter (mixed-ish), and James Marsden (X-Men).

Bloodshot

Based on the bestselling comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation. With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he’s an unstoppable force –stronger than ever and able to heal instantly. But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too. Now, Ray doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not – but he’s on a mission to find out. Starring Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious), Sam Heughan (Outlander), and Eiza González (Baby Driver).

The Invisible Man

When Cecilia’s abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see. Starring Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Oliver Jackson-Cohen (The Haunting of Hill House), and Aldis Hodge (City On A Hill).

MARCH

Mulan

A young Chinese maiden disguises herself as a male warrior in order to save her father. A live-action feature film based on Disney’s ‘Mulan.’ Starring Yifei Liu, Li Gong, and Jet Li.

Onward

Set in a suburban fantasy world, two teenage elf brothers embark on a quest to discover if there is still magic out there. Featuring the voices of Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy).

A Quiet Place: Part II

The sequel to the 2018 movie, A Quiet Place. Currently the plot of the movie is unknown. Starring Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders).

I Still Believe

The true-life story of Christian music star Jeremy Camp and his journey of love and loss that looks to prove there is always hope. Starring KJ Apa (Riverdale) and Britt Robertson (Tomorrowland).

APRIL

No Time To Die

Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. Starring Daniel Craig, Léa Seydoux, Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), and Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel).

The New Mutants

Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy (Split), Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones), Antonio Banderas (The Mask of Zorro), and Charlie Heaton (Stranger Things).

The Secret Garden

When Mary Lennox’s parents suddenly die, she is sent to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, on his remote country estate deep in the Yorkshire moors. While exploring, she discovers a hidden magical garden. Starring Dixie Egerickx, Colin Firth (Kingsman), and Julie Walters (Harry Potter).

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

Despite his efforts, Peter can’t seem to shake his reputation for mischief among the other rabbits. Once he adventures out of the garden Peter finds himself in a world where mischief is appreciated, but soon his family come to bring him home.

MAY

Black Widow

A film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. Starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh (Outlaw King), Rachel Weisz (The Favourite), and David Harbour (Stranger Things).

The Woman In The Window

An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbours only to witness a disturbing act of violence. Starring Amy Adams (Sharp Objects), Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight), and Julianne Moore (Still Alice).

Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl II, a young Irish criminal mastermind, kidnaps the fairy LEPrecon officer Holly Short for ransom to fund the search for his missing father in order to restore the family fortune. Starring Josh Gad (Beauty and the Beast), Hong Chau (Watchmen), and Judi Dench (Skyfall).

Fast & Furious 9

The ninth instalment of the Fast & Furious franchise. Starring Vin Diesel, John Cena, Helen Mirren, Michelle Rodriguez, and Nathalie Emmanuel.

JUNE

Wonder Woman 1984

Wonder Woman squares off against the Cheetah, a villainess who possesses superhuman strength and agility. Starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), and Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaid).

In The Heights

A feature version of the Broadway musical, in which a bodega owner has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic after inheriting his grandmother’s fortune. Starring Anthony Ramos (A Star Is Born), Dascha Polanco (Orange Is The New Black), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns).

Top Gun: Maverick

Pete “Maverick” Mitchell mentors a new generation of U.S. Navy fighter pilots. Starring Tom Cruise, Monica Barbaro (UnREAL), Miles Teller (Fantastic Four), and Glen Powell (Scream Queens).

Soul

A musician who has lost his passion for music is transported out of his body and must find his way back with the help of an infant soul learning about herself. Featuring the voices of Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained), Tina Fey (30 Rock), and Daveed Diggs (Black-ish).

JULY

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is an upcoming American fantasy comedy film directed by Jason Reitman from a screenplay by Reitman and Gil Kenan. Starring Paul Rudd (Ant-Man), Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things), and Mckenna Grace (Designated Survivor).

Jungle Cruise

Based on Disneyland’s theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travellers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles, but with a supernatural element. Starring Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji), Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns), and Jack Whitehall (Good Omens).

Minions: The Rise of Gru

The continuation of the adventures of the Minions, always in search of a tyrannical leader.

Free Guy

A bank teller discovers that he’s actually an NPC inside a brutal, open world video game. Starring Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Channing Tatum (Magic Mike), and Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).

AUGUST

Bill & Ted Face the Music

Once told they’d save the universe during a time-travelling adventure, 2 would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfil their destiny.

Infinite

A man discovers that his hallucinations are actually visions from past lives. Starring Mark Wahlberg (Ted), Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave).

The One and Only Ivan

A gorilla named Ivan tries to piece together his past with the help of an elephant named Stella as they hatch a plan to escape from captivity. Featuring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren, Danny DeVito, and Sam Rockwell.

SEPTEMBER

The King’s Man

As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Starring Ralph Fiennes (Harry Potter), Harris Dickinson (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), and Gemma Arterton (Prince of Persia).

Last Night In Soho

A young girl, passionate in fashion design, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch), Thomasin McKenzie (The King), and Matt Smith (Doctor Who).

Monster Hunter

When Lt. Artemis and her loyal soldiers are transported to a new world, they engage in a desperate battle for survival against enormous enemies with incredible powers. Feature film based on the video game by Capcom. Starring Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil), Tony Jaa, and Ron Perlman (Hellboy).

The Many Saints of Newark

A look at the formative years of New Jersey gangster, Tony Soprano. Starring Michael Gandolfini, Vera Farmiga, Jon Bernthal, Billy Magnussen, Ray Liotta, Corey Stoll, and Alessandro Nivola.

OCTOBER

Death On The Nile

While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress. Starring Kenneth Branagh (Murder on the Orient Express), Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name), Rose Leslie (Game of Thrones), and Letitia Wright (Black Panther).

The Witches

Based on Roald Dahl’s 1983 classic book ‘The Witches’, the story tells the scary, funny and imaginative tale of a seven year old boy who has a run in with some real life witches! Starring Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada), Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures), and Stanley Tucci (Easy A).

Halloween Kills

The saga of Michael Myers and Laurie Strode continues in the next thrilling chapter of the Halloween series.

BIOS

On a post-apocalyptic earth, a robot, built to protect the life of his dying creator’s beloved dog, learns about life, love, friendship and what it means to be human. Starring Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump), Samira Wiley (Orange Is The New Black), and Skeet Ulrich (Riverdale).

NOVEMBER

Eternals

The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilisations. Starring Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians), Angelina Jolie (Maleficent), Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), and Richard Madden (Game of Thrones).

Godzilla vs Kong

As the gigantic Kong meets the unstoppable Godzilla, the world watches to see which one of them will become King of the Monsters. Starring Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), Eiza González (Baby Driver), and Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood).

Red Notice

An Interpol agent tracks the world’s most wanted art thief. Starring Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji), and Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool).

Raya and the Last Dragon

In a realm known as Lumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon. Starring Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians) and Cassie Steele.

DECEMBER

Uncharted

The story is a prequel to the games, starring Holland as a younger Drake, showing us details of how he came to meet and befriend Sully. Starring Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) and Mark Wahlberg (Ted).

West Side Story

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love, and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Starring Ansel Elgort (The Fault In Our Stars) and Rachel Zegler.

Coming 2 America

Akeem learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to America to meet the unlikely heir to the throne of Zamunda. A sequel to the 1988 comedy ‘Coming to America’. Starring Eddie Murphy, Tracy Morgan, and Leslie Jones.

Dune

Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Starring Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Fallout), Timothée Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), and Oscar Issac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens).

What 2020 movie are you looking forward to the most? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Most Anticipated Movies of 2020 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

“I love you, 3000” has quickly become an iconic sentence in pop culture history since Avengers: Endgame premiered in April 2019. 11 years and 23 movies later, the MCU as we know it closes its finale chapter of the Infinity Saga. It may be the end of this storyline, but has it been the final curtain call for every Avenger?

THE ORIGINAL 6

Iron Man

The man who started it all, reminded us with his last breath that he will be forever our Iron Man. Tony sacrificed himself to save millions of people not only on earth, but in the entire universe. His legacy is now in the hands of those who he left behind, however, I am certain that Tony’s spirit will be around for quite some time. His inventions and ideas he never finished in his garage could be picked up by someone – Peter, I am looking at you – and this way we do not need to say our farewell for good. Of course, there is always a possibility for a different timeline (I will come to that at a later point) or, considering we are talking about Mr. Anthony Howard Stark, we could even see him becoming the next A.I. Who knows?

Black Widow

I don’t know about you, but my tears have not dried yet. I love Nat and Clint’s friendship since the beginning and to see them going to Volmir together broke my heart. In a way, it does make sense why Nat had to die. She finally had a family, a place where she belonged to, and she wanted to make sure that they would survive and find their happiness. Is it fair? Hell no! She deserved better. I still hope that Kevin Feige will bring her back. After all, in the comics Gamora was freed from the Soul Stone, even if she had to lose a part of her soul in the process, she came back. The Soul Stone which appeared for Gamora was destroyed, that is why this cannot happen with her, but the one Clint got was brought back by Steve, so Nat has to come back, right? Until anything is confirmed, farewell, brave warrior queen.

Hawkeye

Are you one of those, who always where like “Clint, who?”, then shame on you! Clint gradually got a bigger part in every movie he was in and it is important that he has become a valued member of the team. Everyone else has a gadget or some supernatural powers, but all that Clint has is his bow and arrow and an impressive skill set. Yes, you can be a superhero with just so little. Clint definitely found his peace and all he wants is to be with his family and know that they are safe. However, I do hope to see him again, not as an active member, but as a mentor in one or more of the upcoming movies.

It is confirmed that Marvel is planning a web series on their new streaming site, Disney+, which will launch in November 2019. In that series, Clint will train a fellow archer – Kate Bishop – to become the next Hawkeye.

Hulk

In the five years between Infinity War and Endgame, Bruce has combined the best of his two personalities and has become Professor Hulk. Yes, this is awesome! Hulk is so happy; you have been able to see how Mark Ruffalo enjoyed playing that new Hulk. I do not think that we have to worry about him much. I gave up hope on seeing another Hulk movie anytime soon and maybe it is the best for this character. There is nothing known about his future, but I think that he will stick around one way or another, perhaps he’ll work on a new HQ for the Avengers?

Captain America

During the time heist, Hulk and the Ancient One had an intense discussion about whether they would change the future by borrowing the infinity stones from the past or if they create a different, new parallel timeline to the one we know.

So, we know that when Steve stayed in the past to get his well-deserved happy ending with Peggy, he did not change the timeline we know. All that we saw still happened and was not erased, but he created an anomaly by staying in the past with another Peggy. So, there is a different timeline, which could be of importance in the future. Steve has moved on from being the perfect soldier, even though I do think that he will wield his shield from time to time because that is the Steve we know. He will always help those in need.

At the end of Endgame, a well-aged Steve is back in our timeline which means that he had to do a time jump once more. Was he unhappy? Did new battles occur? How is everyone in the other timeline? Chris Evans announced that he will not return to the MCU anytime soon, but if the fans will ask for it, he gladly would tell us this part of his life.

It has been announced that Marvel is in pre-production of a “What if…” series which will premiere on Disney+. The first episode will be focusing on what if Peggy took the super soldier serum, instead of Steve.

Thor

Thor had a lot to deal with. Losing almost all of the Asgardians, losing Heimdall, and Loki and still thinking why he did not go for the head. At least, he got his second chance. I think, even if he was not in shape – physically and mentally – he was by far the best version of himself. He understands loss; he understands what it means to feel human. I think it is important to see that sometimes even the god of thunder has to face his mistakes and deal with human problems. His journey did not end in Endgame, it only took a new direction. Will he become a member of the Guardians? Will he find a new purpose somewhere else in the galaxy? Thor could also join Captain Marvel on her quest. For Thor, the possibilities are endless.

It is confirmed that Chris Hemsworth has signed a new contract with Marvel so he will definitely stick around for some more years and take us with him on his journey.

THE NEW AVENGERS

We have lost some of the Original 6, but that does not mean that the Avengers will not be around anymore. There are some guys who will not stop to protect earth from anyone who will do them harm and some “new” faces could join them.

Falcon

… or should I say, Captain America? After all the speculations who would get Steve’s shield if he ever would step aside from the battling, we know that it will be Sam. Honestly, I do think that this is a great choice. Steve and Sam are very similar when it comes to empathy, putting others first, and leadership. Sam deserves it and I think he will make Steve very proud. He is already a valued member and knows how everything works. He knows most of the others already and combined with his humour, he is able to build a new team who will follow his lead

Bucky

I am sorry if you are one of those who hoped to see Bucky as the new Captain America, but do not be sad, it is better that way for him. Bucky has lost his memories and his identity more than once. To put on another one would have been too much as Bucky is still recovering. Living in Wakanda by himself was the beginning of his journey to find inner peace and becoming whole again. In my opinion, part of his recovery will be to make his wrongs right and fight for those who cannot fight on their own. It is sad to know that we will not see Bucky and Steve’s friendship on-screen anymore, but I am sure that Bucky has found a new friend already in Sam, who will help him find his place and purpose.

Disney and Marvel have announced that there is a series in pre-production called “Falcon and Winter Soldier”. Nothing more is known so far, so it will be interesting to see when this show will take place.

War Machine

Tony’s best friend, Rhodey, is still very much alive and now has his chance to become the new Iron Man. I do not think that he will retire and live a quiet live in the woods as Tony did, but instead he will stay an Avenger. Unfortunately, they made Rhodey such a side character that there is currently nothing that could be a potential story line for him so Marvel better make some up ASAP.

Scarlet Witch (and Vision)

Wanda is alive and well and besides Clint, who seems to be a father figure for her, she doesn’t really have anyone left who she trusts. Her brother is dead, Vision is dead, and Steve is gone. However, the Avengers have become her family, so I do think that she will help with building a new team. I really hope so because we need every bad ass woman we can get. Maybe she will hop in and out of the Avengers HQ and will go see Clint and his family.

What we do know is that we have not seen the last of her and Vision together. “Vision and Scarlet Witch” are currently in pre-production and the show will premiere on Disney+ in the near future. Not much is known at this current point in time, but maybe we will see what happened between Civil War and Infinity War or we will see both of them in an alternative timeline.

The new team does not end with the ones mention above. There are also others, who could join them. You can read more of them below when we will discuss Phase 4.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Pepper and Morgan

We know that we will not see Pepper appear in a movie again because Gwyneth Paltrow announced that Endgame is the last one for her. Well, thinking about how many times she has said that and has always returned because RDJ has asked her to, I would not bet on it, especially because there is a new character in the game, who would need her mother for quite some time.

Squirrel, as Happy has called her by the end of the movie, could be a relevant character in the future of the MCU. Maybe not in Phase 4 or 5, but when the little girl will be old enough, she could follow into her fathers’ footprints. Her father, Iron Man. Her mother, Rescue. Morgan, Ironheart? Which path Marvel will choose for Morgan we will see in the years to come, but we definitely have to see more of her.

Happy

From chauffeur to bodyguard, then head of security to babysitting Spider-Man, followed by Uncle Happy to little Morgan, and then back to babysitting Spider-Man agin. Or so it seems.

Happy Hogan was not a big part of the movies since Iron Man 3. This may have to do with Jon Faverau being busy with his other projects, but, we know that we will not lose him just because Tony is not around anymore. The man, who truly founded the MCU and fought to bring Iron Man on the big screen, when not many believed in the success of the movie, will come back and be there for Peter Parker. The second trailer of Spider-Man Far From Home shows us that Happy will look after our friendly neighbourhood Spidey. For me, it seems that Happy could even work with Nick Fury, because what could be the reason that he is more around Peter as working at Stark Industries? I need answers!

S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Spider-Man trailer also confirmed that Nick Fury and Maria Hill are back and hunting the bad guys together, now those from the Multiverse. If they do that under the name S.H.I.E.L.D., it has not been confirmed yet, but we do not need to wait long to get some answers.

New Asgard and Valkyrie

Thor leaving with the Guardians at the end of Endgame means that New Asgard is now in the capable hands of their queen, Valkyrie. I cannot imagine that this will be enough for her as she certainly will pick up her sword again and fight some battle. We really need more of her and Marvel should explore this character and give her a bigger part in their upcoming movies.

Loki

Our favourite trickster is dead. Period. However, time-heist Loki has stolen the Tesseract and disappeared. Marvel confirmed that this way he created an alternative timeline and that is why Loki is able to get his own Disney+ series, which will explore his new mischief in a new created timeline.

Phase 3 is now closed, but this does not mean that we will never see or hear of our beloved superheroes ever again. Phase 4 is right behind the corner. Marvel Studios is the most secretive place right after the Vatican, but we do know already of some movies that are confirmed.

Phase 4

The second solo Spider-Man will be the last movie of Phase 3. In Spider-Man Far From Home we will follow Peter and his friends in Europe where he still has to find his place in a post-snap world and work for Nick Fury. As far as it is possible to tell, all of Peter’s friends have been gone for five years as he was, and they now have to finish high school. We also know that this movie will introduce us to the Multiverse, which brings new possibilities for interesting characters and new worlds.

Before Endgame, Marvel announced that a Black Widow solo movie is finally in pre-production. Scarlett Johansson will become once more Natasha and she will be the first actor of the MCU who will co-produce a movie. Now we also know, that this movie will be a prequel and maybe we will finally see how she became the Black Widow. The question I want an answer to is, what the hell has happened in Budapest? How did she and Clint became friends?

Another movie we know is in pre-production, but was delayed because of James Gunn being fired and then rehired, is Guardians of the Galaxy 3, in which Thor will be a part of. Starlord and his friends are looking for Gamora from 2014 and are up for another crazy adventure. Being a part of Endgame, I was hoping for them to stay longer on Earth, especially because Peter is human, but maybe another time.

Every actor who joins the MCU signs a contract for three solo movies. So, we wait for Doctor Strange to drag us back into his world in the sequel while Captain Marvel will also come back for a sequel. We will also all scream “Wakanda Forever” in Black Panther 2. Maybe Bucky has returned to Wakanda and will help Okoye, Shuri, and T’Challa with their upcoming problem. We also can look forward to see Scott and Hope back in action in Ant-Man 3.

To the already established heroes we get introduced to some new as well. Shang-Chi and The Eternals are already announced and will be the first to take us with them into the multiverse.

Now that FOX is part of Disney it means that the rights for some characters are back with Marvel. There are rumours that the Fantastic Four and the X-Men could be rebooted once more to become part of the MCU. Fans do hope to see an A-Force movie, after that short but important scene in which all female heroes are seen fighting together.

The possibilities are endless, and the comics have so many stories which can be adapted for the big screen.Then, there is always the possibility of exploring a different timeline, because we actually have two now!

What are you excited to see the MCU? Tell us in the comments below!

The post The Future of The MCU appeared first on The Nerd Daily.