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.

Ethan Hunt is back and this time he has to face the biggest mission yet. Impossible, right? It would not be a Tom Cruise movie if he would not top every ones expectations. However, maybe this time he went too far.

Fallout picks up where Rogue Nation left the audience. Two years after capturing Solomon Lane, Hunt and his team has to stop the Syndicate once more, but only now they call themselves the Apostles and want to get their hands on three nuclear bombs for their latest client, John Lark. Of course Ethan accepts this mission and travels with his team, Luther and new-in-the-field Benji, to Berlin where they should buy the bombs. However, nothing goes to plan and Ethan has to decide between his team’s life or the life of thousands. To put a life of a single person above a dozens more, that is what makes Hunt so special to the IMF.

The mission continues in Paris where Ethan is joined by August Walker, a CIA assassin who should not only help Ethan but watch his steps. After Ethan learns he has to free Solomon Lane in order to get the bombs, his cover is in jeopardy. What follows is the main reason why I watch this franchise, a stunt filled chase through Paris.

The story changes after the true identity of Lark is revealed and when we see Ethan’s love of his life, Julia again.

There cannot be peace without first, a great suffering. The greater the suffering, the greater the peace. The end you’ve always feared is coming. It’s coming, and the blood will be on your hands.

You do not go to see Mission Impossible for the story; you want to see the action scenes that are way too far from reality as this is what made this franchise famous. Nevertheless, this time Cruise and his team went a bit too far. For like 10 minutes you believed them that Rome, Jerusalem, and Mekka are gone forever because they could not get the bombs. In the light of current events and the possibility for this being real, this was not something I enjoyed to see.

Then there was a bit of a love story within this movie that gives the audience a bit of conclusion. We know that Ethan had a wife, Julia, and both of them never could let go of one another. In the end of Fallout, we see Julia being in the center were two bombs should detonate. It is just a small appearance of her, but has a big impact on future movies, of which I am certain of that there will be. Julia may still have feelings for Ethan, but she’s moved on, so now Ethan can move on as well. It comes in handy that Isla—the MI6 agent from Rogue Nation—is around as well. This twist comes so fast you have not processed it and credits start to roll.

Before the movie even got his first trailer out, we heard about the silent but albeit elephant in the room, Cavill’s moustache gate. Cavill was called in for reshoots for Justice League while he was in the middle of shooting Fallout. The one role required a moustache, the other did not. This expensive fight between the two productions studios could have been easily avoid if the Fallout people would have let Cavill shave, because this little moustache could have been easily glued to him before every scene.

So if you are in the mood for an action-packed movie, this is definitely one to watch. Even if the story is a bit chaotic (oh you are the big bad guy, oh no now you), Cavill from saviour (I am thinking about Superman) to assassin, and Ethan seems to have a God complex (only he is able to save the world), the movie is worth its existence and guarantees you a good time.

What did you think of Mission Impossible Fallout? Tell us in the comments below!

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Half the world is looking to head to the beach, while the other half is looking to escape the cold, but nevertheless, there’s always time for a great new movie regardless of the weather! Luckily there will be plenty of movies to keep everyone occupied this July with some highly anticipated movies coming our way!

The two most anticipated movies on our list would have to be the Mamma Mia sequel, which sees Sophie now pregnant with flashbacks to her mother’s own pregnancy, and Marvel’s Ant-Man and The Wasp, even though it’s way down on the list of Marvel fan favourites, it still looks like it’s going to be filled with plenty of laughs!

For the kids and family, the third Hotel Transylvania will see Dracula and the family go on a summer vacation cruise, while the big kids can enjoy some action-packed movies such Skyscraper starring Dwayne Johnson and a new Mission Impossible movie!

Read on to discover what movies are coming out this month and tell us in the comments below which one you are excited for!

Ant-Man and The Wasp

As Scott Lang balances being both a Super Hero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past. Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfieffer, Judy Greer (Jurassic World), Hannah John-Kamen (Killjoys), and Walton Goggins (Justified).

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Sophie finds out more about her mother’s past while seeking guidance on how to handle her pregnancy. Starring Mamma Mia alums Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, and Dominic Cooper with newcomers Lily James (Cinderella 2015), Cher, Jeremy Irvine (War Horse), Hugh Skinner (The Windsors), Josh Dylan (Allied), Jessica Keenan Wynn, and Alexa Davies (Harlots).

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Mavis surprises Dracula with a family voyage on a luxury Monster Cruise Ship so he can take a vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. The rest of Drac’s Pack cannot resist going along. But once they leave port, romance arises when Dracula meets the mysterious ship Captain, Ericka. Now it’s Mavis’ turn to play the overprotective parent, keeping her dad and Ericka apart. Little do they know that his “too good to be true” love interest is actually a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing, ancient nemesis to Dracula and all other monsters. Voiced by Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, David Spade, Selena Gomez, and Kathryn Hahn.

Skyscraper

FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran Will Sawyer now assesses security for skyscrapers. On assignment in Hong Kong he finds the tallest, safest building in the world suddenly ablaze, and he’s been framed for it. A wanted man on the run, Will must find those responsible, clear his name and somehow rescue his family who are trapped inside the building…above the fire line. Starring Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle), Pablo Schreiber (Orange Is The New Black), Neve Campbell (House of Cards), Chin Han (Marco Polo), and Roland Møller (Atomic Blonde).

Mission: Impossible – Fallout

Ethan Hunt and his IMF team find themselves in a race against time after a mission goes wrong. Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson (The White Queen), Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), Henry Cavill (Man of Steel), Michelle Monaghan (The Path), Angela Bassett (American Horror Story), Simon Pegg (Ready Player One), and Alec Baldwin.

The First Purge

To push the crime rate below one percent for the rest of the year, the New Founding Fathers of America test a sociological theory that vents aggression for one night in one isolated community. But when the violence of oppressors meets the rage of the others, the contagion will explode from the trial-city borders and spread across the nation. Starring Y’Lan Noel (Insecure), Lex Scott Davis (SuperFly), Joivan Wade (EastEnders), Steve Harris (Legends) and Marisa Tomei (Spider-Man Homecoming).

The Equalizer 2

Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves? Starring Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), Bill Pullman (The Sinner), and Melissa Leo (I’m Dying Up Here).

Sorry To Bother You

In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre universe. Starring Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta), Tessa Thompson (Thor: Ragnarok), Jermaine Fowler (Superior Donuts), Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead), Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name), and Omari Hardwick (Power).

Siberia

When an American diamond trader’s Russian partner goes missing, he journeys to Siberia in search of him, but instead begins a love affair. Starring Keanu Reeves (The Matrix), Molly Ringwald (Riverdale), and Ana Ularu (Emerald City).

Which movie are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

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