With the likes of 'Doctor Strange', 'Moana' and 'Assassin's Creed', big studios are introducing new characters to moviegoers with the hope of creating new franchises.
- Jan 1, 2016
AceShowbiz - Hollywood is never short of idea for movies. As big studios are competing to lure moviegoers to come to theaters, they come up with big projects which have generated a lot of buzz even long before they're due to arrive stateside. In anticipation of the arrivals of those eagerly awaited movies, AceShowbiz offers a preview of some selected titles which are not to be missed in the coming year.
To be noted, this article compiles most anticipated movies which stories have never been brought to the big screen before, while sequels and follow-ups alike are listed in a separate article. Superhero movies like "Gambit (2016)", "Deadpool" and "Doctor Strange" dominate the list and they are expected to perform well at the box office, considering that the source materials have already had a lot of die-hard fans. Those comic book adaptations aside, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies", "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" and "Assassin's Creed" are here to offer wider selections for audience.
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES
Described as an expanded version of Jane Austen's classic tale, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" mixes a Victorian love story and zombie tale. It is based on Seth Grahame-Smith's best-selling mash-up novel of the same name which takes place in a 19th-century English countryside, where Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley) engage in a love story amid the outbreak of a deadly virus, which turns the undead into sadistic killers. Elizabeth will be joined by her four equally badass sisters to clear up the creatures that hunt the human flesh.
DEADPOOL
The answer to your long wish is here. The foul-mouthed mutant is finally getting the spotlight in his own movie following an appearance in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine". Unlike most superhero movies, which are targetted for teens and older audiences, "Deadpool" is likely rated R for its raunchy jokes and the use of expletives. Telling the origin story of the title character, the movie shows how former Special Forces turned mercenary Wade Wilson gets his accelerated healing powers. Ryan Reynolds still takes on the role of the Merc With a Mouth, who is claimed to be the first pansexual superhero appearing in the big screen.
WARCRAFT
"World of Warcraft", one of the most popular games, is brought to the big screen with great details to the costumes, sets and many others. Like the original work, the movie takes place in the world of Azzeroth as humans and orcs come to blows. Depicting a clash between humans versus orcs, the movie will show that there's not just black and white in this world, but there's a grey area. According to producer Stuart Fennegan, the main villain in the movie, the Horde, might not be completely bad guys, because "both sides of every conflict always think they're right."
SUICIDE SQUAD
Sometimes bad guys aren't always bad. In "Suicide Squad", U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) assembles DC Comics supervillains and gives them a governmental task to defeat an enigmatic insuperable entity. But what seems to be a chance at redemption turns out to be a suicide mission. Oscar winning-actor Jared Leto takes on the role of the Joker and it became a big challenge following Jack Nicholson's and Heath Ledger's unforgettable performance as the famous villain in previous Batman movies. The new Batman, Ben Affleck, also makes appearance in this movie, while Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jai Courtney play other members of the titular group.
GAMBIT
"Gambit (2016)" is indeed happening after several setbacks due to director exits. Though it follows the origin story of the card-throwing mutant, who is possessing a unique kinetic energy that can cause villain to explode, the upcoming movie may not be completely the same as its source material as Channing Tatum previously hinted that the team behind the flick would "shift things a little bit." Having Tatum playing the titular mutant is a big advantage for the movie, which is described as "a heist movie and a sexy thriller in a way." The actor has plenty of knowledge about Southern accent which will be useful to approach the accent used by the Cajun mutant.
DOCTOR STRANGE
Doctor Strange, a Marvel character with supernatural power, is the next to make his cinematic debut in 2016. Yet, don't judge that it will be boring. While many superheroes are battling mutants or aliens, Strange is fighting against magical and mystical threats. Described as "a mind-trip action film," this movie follows the titular neurosurgeon who discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions after he experienced a horrific car accident. Tackling the lead role is none other than one of the most-sought actor nowadays, Benedict Cumberbatch, who is considered a perfect choice because he "has got an incredibly complicated emotional structure going on," which helps him portray a character with a complex psychological condition and dealing with an issue of controlling his emotion and selfishness, especially after the life-changing accident.
MOANA
Moana will be the first woman of color to be introduced by Disney since Tiana of "The Princess and the Frog". Set in pre-historical era, "Moana" mixes the traditions and myths of the Pacific. It follows the Polynesian young lady who explores the ocean where she encounters demigod named Maui (voiced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) and battles ancient creatures. Joining the titular character in this adventure are her sidekicks Pua, the adorable pig, and Hei Hei, a cocky rooster. Making the movie different from other typical fairy tale pics is the originality of the story which appears to be timeless. It is said to be emotional and contain "a lot of magic."
ASSASSIN'S CREED
Good news comes for video games fans as the highly-anticipated movie adaptation "Assassin's Creed" will hit theaters in 2016. Supported by acclaimed actor Michael Fassbender, this latest adaptation goes back and forth between present and past, as the central character Callum Lynch uses a futuristic technology that unlocks his genetic memories and allows him to travel back in time. He gets into an Animus, which lets him take on the role of one of his assassin ancestors, Aguilar, who lived in 15th century Spain and has been battling the Knights Templar for centuries.
MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
Skipping the "Alice in Wonderland" sequel, Tim Burton pours his creative visions into the big-screen adaptation of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children". As readers of Ransom Riggs' novel have known, the story is about a sixteen-year-old boy named Jacob who follows clues that take him to a mysterious island where he discovers a home for peculiar children. As he explores the hallways, he finds out that its former occupants were far more than peculiar. Like its title, the movie boasts a strange, odd and even weird fantasy world, especially when it comes to Burton, who is known for his touch of dark, gothic and quirky horror on his movies. With a solid cast which includes Samuel L. Jackson, Asa Butterfield and Eva Green, the movie is expected to blow everyone's mind with its creepy vibe.
