No matter what film genre people like, there appears to be something for everyone’s fancy getting released in the cinema next year. Trailers for some of these eagerly anticipated films are already appearing on TV and in the cinemas, so what films are expected to attract the most attention?
Alice In Wonderland (release date March 5, 2010)
Tim Burton is the perfect director for the adaptation of topsy-turvy book Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. His vision of the film looks fascinating and bewildering, following heroine Alice (Mia Wasikowska) as, 10 years after her first adventures in Wonderland, she again falls down a rabbit hole into a strange world peopled by talking rabbits, Cheshire Cats and a Mad Hatter. Much excitement from the film has come over Johnny Depp, a regular actor in Burton’s films, being chosen to play the Mad Hatter, although the pictures show him looking less attractive than most of his films depict him. Other actors appearing in the film are Helena Bonham Carter and Anna Hathaway as the Red and White Queens, and Stephen Fry as the voice of the Cheshire Cat. Watch the trailer here.
Clash of the Titans (release date March 26, 2010)
This remake of the 1981film of the same name promises to be bigger and badder than the original. While following the same storyline: Perseus (Sam Worthinton) son of the God Zeus (Liam Neeson) must kill the Gorgon Medusa in order to take on the Kraken and save the Princess Andromeda (Alexa Davalos). But this isn’t a simple ‘kill the bad guys, get the girl’ flick, as Perseus intends to go up against the Gods themselves, including Hades (Ralph Fiennes) after his adopted family are murdered by Hades’ followers.
Iron Man 2 (release date May 7, 2010 – April 30, in UK)
Robert Downey Jr returns in his role as wealthy inventor Tony Stark, who is only alive due to a mini arc reactor attached to his heart. This time he will battle bad-man Whiplash (Mickey Rourke) while also battling with alcoholism, as it has been hinted in January’s edition of Empire magazine.
In the work arena, he will also face business rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell). It promises to be a film comic lovers will, er, love, and contains eye-candy in the form of the returning Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the Black Widow (a dark haired Scarlett Johannson). The film is also important as part of Marvel Comic’s superhero shenanigans expected in 2012.
Sex and the City 2 (release date May 28, 2010)
Another May sequel, this one a must-see for the girls. Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha (Kim Cattrall), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) return as the four fun – and sex – loving New York women. Rumours have been flying about who is in the film, with singers such as Miley Cyrus and Lisa Minelli featuring as themselves. It has been promised that this film, partially filmed in Morocco, will not be as sad as the last one, and will look at old versus new traditions in marriage, gender wise.
Eclipse: The Twilight Saga (release date June 30, 2010)
With the Jacob (Taylor Lautner) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) teams already divided, this film can only make tensions of Twi-hards higher. The third in the Twilight saga sees Bella (Kristen Stewart) debating Edward’s marriage proposal, his condition to making her a vampire. At the same time, enemy vampire Victoria, still sore from the murder of her boyfriend James in the first film, makes an army of new, blood thirsty, vamps to kill Bella. Can she persuade her boyfriend she would be safer if she was turned, or will he agree with love rival werewolf Jacob that she should stay human?
With the three stars of the film apparently banding together to demand eight figure salaries for the finale Breaking Dawn – which may be released as two films - it is obvious the series, based on Stephanie Mayer’s books, is a worldwide sensation.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (release date November 19, 2010)
From one finale shot in two parts to another, as the first half of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is released. All the familiar faces return as fully grown ‘boy’ wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) must collect the Horcruxes in order to stop the evil Voldemort. With Hogwarts and the Ministry for Magic under Voldemort’s control, it is up to Harry, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) to save the world from crumbling.
A sneak trailer of the film has been released on the DVD for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, available to buy from 8 December. The trailer, leaked online before the DVD’s release, included Harry asking about the Horcruxes, people running in the woods, Harry lying flat on his back on the ground, and ended with the line: “it’s true...you don’t stand a chance.” Potter fans will be nibbling their nails until the release, then the final release eight months later.
The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (release date December 10, 2010)
Following 2008 film Prince Caspian, two of the Pevensie children – Edmund (Skandar Keynes) and Lucy (Georgie Henley) return to Narnia, this time with bratty cousin Eustance in tow. They join Caspian (Ben Barnes), who is now King, on a journey on impressive boat, the Dawn Treader. Photos of the giant ship are already available online. King Caspian is on a mission to find the Lords that enemy Miraz, from the last film, had sent away around the world. Some are dead, some still alive, and others under terrible curses. Dangers such as a sea serpent and a dragon must be overcome in this adaptation of the fifth book in C S Lewis’ series.
These are only a few of the films which are expected to enchant audiences next year, with others including French film Micmacs, by the director of Amelie; and The Green Hornet, the long awaited film of the comic, starring Seth Rogen.
Ishbel Macleod - Ishbel Macleod is a journalist from Glasgow, Scotland. She is a reporter for a media and marketing publication. She previously ...
