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Films I'm Excited for in 2021 & Beyond

With cinemas and new releases set to return, here's what I'm looking forward to

By Ted RyanPublished 3 years ago 6 min read
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Films I'm Excited for in 2021 & Beyond
Photo by Myke Simon on Unsplash

This year past year has been tough on the industry - especially for films. However, with lockdown set to ease in the UK and films scheduled for release across steaming platforms and cinemas - I'm thrilled at the prospect of dusting off my Cineworld card and dive into new content.

Promising Young Woman (2020)

Nothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be -- she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.

Release Date: 16th April 2021 on Sky Cinema Premiere.

Writer & Director: Emerald Fennell

Starring: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Laverne Cox, and Connie Britton.

My Thoughts: Fennell's writing has been proven to tackle bold and dark female-lead dramas - from the second series of Killing Eve, Andrew Lloyd-Webber's reimaging of Cinderella set to debut in the West End and short film Careful How You Go (which starred Phoebe Waller-Bridge). This film marks her directorial debut, delving into a psychological thriller of a young woman seeking vengeance on faux-nice men who abuse women like her recently deceased friend. As well as subverting the "nice guy" trope, this film explores the aftermath of sexual assault within a university setting and how revenge can consume someone's entire life.

West Side Story (2021)

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.

Expected Release Date: 10th December 2021 in Cinemas.

Director: Steven Spielberg

Writers: Tony Kushner (screenplay) & Arthur Laurents (based on the original stage play book)

Starring: Ansel Elgort, Rachel Zegler, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Mike Faist and Curtiss Cook.

My Thoughts: This is a Romeo & Juliet story that deserve a well-made adaptation. Although Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise's adaptation of the musical is critically-acclaimed, it is not without its faults. Granted, the 1961 film won ten Academy Awards in its eleven nominated categories, including Best Picture. It received the most Academy Awards (10 wins) of any musical film, including Best Picture. Most notably Rita Moreno (Anita) was the first Latina actress ever to win an Oscar. However, the original production's refusal to cast Latino/Latina actors (resorting to incredibly distasteful brown face) and lack of authentic Latino representation has always been a problematic element to the original.

Screenwriter Kushner reportedly kept the story closer to the original Broadway musical than the 1961 film, stating that "There are aspects of urban life in '57, '58, '59 that weren't touched on in the 1961 movie that we are focusing on." and Spielberg's determination to capture authenticity of this time period of racial tensions, forbidden love and gang culture with a fresh faced cast - even bringing back the legend that is Rita Moreno in a different role, this has to be one of the strongest castings for a musical I've seen in a while. This a duo I'm certain will do great at bringing Maria and Tony to life.

V.C. Andrews' All That Glitters (2021)

All That Glitters picks up as Ruby is driven from the Dumas mansion and returns to her beloved childhood home in the bayou where she's intent on creating a new life for her baby daughter, Pearl. Ruby's high-school sweetheart Paul is there to support her again, and when he moves her into his impressive home, she has new hope for the future.

However, Ruby can't escape the judging eyes of Paul's mother Gladys (Alfonso) who knows Ruby and Paul's dark secret, and Giselle continues to torment Ruby when she reveals news about Beau (Wood), Pearl's real father and Ruby's true love. Ruby longs for another life, and the web of deceit continues when Giselle falls into a coma and Ruby is lured into a twisted plot to be with Beau.

Initial Release Date: 27 March 2021 on Lifetime USA.

Director: Michael Robison

Writers: V.C. Andrews (based on the book) & Scarlett Lacey (screenplay)

Starring: Raechelle Banno, Karina Banno, Kristian Alfonso, Sam Duke, Crystal Fox and Ty Wood

My Thoughts: The chaos of V.C. Andrews' Gothic Horror sagas has always been guilty pleasure of mine - based on my reviews of the first and second films in the Landry Family saga, this has to be one of the strongest V.C. Andrews adaptations to date. Plus after watching the final instalment, I have more questions than answers of what went on between the second and fourth film. I never like to leave a series uncompleted.

In the Heights (2021)

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.

Expected Release Date: 16th June 2021 in Cinemas.

Director: Jon M. Chu

Writers: Quiara Alegría Hudes (screenplay, co-wrote the musical stage play) & Lin-Manuel Miranda (Concept, co-wrote the musical stage play and lyrics/songs)

Starring: Stephanie Beatriz, Anthony Ramos, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana Greenblatt, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits and Dascha Polanco

My Thoughts: Truth be told, I have never seen a Lin-Manuel Miranda musical - I think Disney's Moana was the closest I have come. But this is another musical adaptation I am excited to see - Chu's Crazy Rich Asians was a beautifully filmed production and with the recent announcement he will be directing the long-awaited Wicked musical, I am optimistic to see his take on the musical genre. Plus, to go this long without any spoilers of the plot so far - especially with social media these days - it's exciting the thought of going into a screening room with no real expectations and watching it completely fresh. Plus for a story that is set in Washington Heights, I love that they filmed it IN Washington Heights - it's a small detail, but this will bring so much authenticity and character to the production.

The Batman (2022)

A feature version of DC's Batman is set to be released in Spring 2022. The plot is still unknown at this point, but director Matt Reeves is already planning multiple stories set within this universe across film and TV.

Expected Release Date: 4th March 2022 in Cinemas.

Director: Matt Reeves

Writer: Peter Craig

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Colin Farrell, Zoë Kravitz, Andy Serkis, Paul Dano, Peter Sarsgaard and Jeffrey Wright

My Thoughts: Due to COVID-19, like many productions - this film was pretty start and stop production-wise during the early days of the pandemic. With the release date pushed back till next year and still no details about the plot, there's not much I can say on this film yet. Based on the teaser trailer released early last year, Pattinson's Batman appears to be much darker and more aggressive in this version. Although Christopher Nolan's trilogy is my favourite Batman adaptation and I do wish other DC comics we haven't seen on screen will be adapted (still waiting for a Barbra Gordon Oracle origin movie!), I am looking forward to seeing Reeves' interpretation of this iconic character.

I may have to do a follow-up, because this list can go on for an eternity - but at the moment, these are ones that come to mind first. I'm honestly just looking forward to seeing new films on the big and small screens.

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About the Creator

Ted Ryan

When I’m not reviewing or analysing pop culture, I’m writing stories of my own.

Reviewer/Screenwriter socials: Twitter.

Author socials: You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Goodreads as T.J. Ryan.

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