Story by Grant Dillard, Staff writer
Graphic by Sara Howell/The News
2019 is here, and with it comes a huge slate of films throughout the year. With so many movies to choose, here’s a handful of films to keep an eye out for throughout the year.
Avengers: Endgame (April 26)
Avengers: Endgame starts off this list. All movies from the past 11 years of the MCU lead up to this, so it’s expected that the hype for this film would be through the roof. Because of the secretive marketing and advertising of this film, it looks like “Avengers: Endgame” will have plenty of surprises and twists in store for fans. Given that Joe and Anthony Russo will be directing once again after “Avengers: Infinity War,” this film looks to be an incredible culmination to the 11 years of buildup.
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (May 10)
Video game movies have performed poorly in the past, but “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu” looks like it may be able to break the cycle. Instead of retelling the story of one of the main games in the series like “Pokemon: Red” or “Pokemon: Blue,” this film adapts a recent spinoff of said series, “Detective Pikachu,” which was a point-and-click adventure game that focused on a young detective teaming up with a talking Pikachu to find his lost father. The film follows the story closely, with the only difference being that Ryan Reynolds will be voicing Pikachu instead of the original voice actor, Kaiji Tang. If things turn out well for “Pokémon: Detective Pikachu,” things may finally start looking up for the video game movie genre.
Toy Story 4 (June 21)
After the emotional ending of “Toy Story 3,” it seemed unlikely that the beloved animated film series would continue. But it turns out the writers and animators at Pixar still have at least one more story to tell in the franchise. Nobody knows anything about the plot so far, except that an inanimate spork somehow comes to life after being made into a toy. Keanu Reeves is also said to be featured, playing an unrevealed role. Hopefully, this will be a welcome addition to the series, rather than feeling like another lackluster Pixar sequel like “Cars 2.”
Spider-Man: Far From Home (July 5)
“Spider-Man: Far From Home” is the second installment of the “Spider-Man” film franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This one is also the first installment of Phase Four of the MCU. The film focuses on Peter Parker (Tom Holland) going on a European vacation with his friends, but, he is recruited by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) to help a dangerous situation. Fans can also look forward to the film debut of the iconic villain Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal.) With Mysterio’s involvement, along with a new location for a web-slinging adventure, the fourth phase of the MCU should be off to a fantastic start.
The Lion King (July 19)
There are other live-action Disney remakes coming out this year, including Dumbo and Aladdin, but the Lion King is the most promising. Jon Favreau, who worked on “The Jungle Book,” returns to direct this film. The teaser trailer, released last year, already shows that this film is set to be a visual powerhouse. The film also boasts a fantastic cast including Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, and James Earl Jones reprising his role as Mufasa from the original film. Hopefully, this remake is able to live up to the original.
Dora the Explorer (Aug. 2)
Next is the live-action adaptation of the Nick Jr. children’s series, “Dora the Explorer.” Isabelle Moner, better known for her roles in “Transformers: The Last Knight” and “Instant Family” stars as Dora. Benicio Del Toro also joins the cast as the voice of Swiper and Michael Pena portrays Dora’s father. Perhaps the most questionable aspect about the film is what the tone will be. Will it be an educational experience like the children’s show? Or given the explorer aspect of the character, will it be a treasure hunting adventure in the vein of “Indiana Jones” and “National Treasure?” In whichever direction the film goes, it is expected to be somewhat enjoyable; though whether or not for how good or bad it is, that’s yet to be seen.
Joker (Oct. 4)
Directed by Todd Phillips, “Joker” is a standalone origin story for the iconic supervillain that takes place in its own continuity; meaning it is not in the same universe as “Batman v Superman” or “Suicide Squad.” This film looks to be more serious and mature than the average superhero film, with Phillips directing such high-caliber actors as Joaquin Phoenix and Robert De Niro. If all goes well, this film could end up as both a hit with audiences and a huge contender for the Academy Awards.
Star Wars: Episode IX (Dec. 20)
Back in 2017, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” left audiences divided as to whether or not they liked or disliked the film. Fans were also unsure if they liked the direction of the “Star Wars” franchise. The underperformance of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” at the box-office last year didn’t help with the confusing opinions either. “Episode IX” might be what the franchise needs to get back on track. With J.J. Abrams returning to direct and the fact that this is the last film in the Skywalker saga, this film has the potential to be one of the best. Here’s hoping it goes in the right direction.