We’re mid-April, which means there are still eight full months of the movie-year to come, and a helluva lot of blockbusters will be on the calendar. So roll up your sleeves and get ready for some sneak peeks at what’s on the horizon:
Let’s start with two movies that are due this summer, but are still without a trailer. First up is “300: Rise Of An Empire,” the oiled up sequel to the originally oiled up “300.” Here we have a first look at Eva Green in her role as Artemisia, and fearsome she does seem. The story will center on Greek general Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton), with a narrative that will apparently go the side-quel route, cutting in and out of the events of “300.” It arrives August 2nd.
Man, we totally forgot about “R.I.P.D.” Production wrapped in January 2012 (for real) and there was early talk that this thing was set up for a sequel, but at this point we can only guess that Universal is hoping they can keep this thing from being a total bomb. Due out in about three months, there has been zero marketing for it so far. And this isn’t a pre-existing property where they have the luxury of audiences at least knowing what “R.I.P.D.” is. Nope, its based on a comic you didn’t read about a pair of deceased detectives, one a recently murdered cop (Ryan Reynolds), the other a gunslinger from the Old West (Jeff Bridges) who are part of the titular crime-busting unit that is made up of ghosts. Good luck everyone. It opens on July 19th. [Popcultureology/Bloody Disgusting]
Next, here’s Hugh Jackman doing his thing in “Wolverine” which isn’t quite “Floating Weeds,” but it does at least spice things up by dropping Logan in Japan. What does that ultimately mean? He gets to do the same poses as in the other X-men movies, just with different backgrounds. This time around he’ll mope and be moody while facing off against Silver Samurai, with Viper being tossed into the mix and Jean Grey likely popping up. Find out on July 26th just how much better than “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” it is.
And now we end with “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,” which continues it’s full year marketing run by Lionsgate who are determined to make sure everybody goes to see it. Jennifer Lawrence is back in the dystopian world where kids fight kids, adults wear outrageous clothing and disguising yourself as a tree will save your life. Things are pretty grim in these pic, but we’re sure Katniss will bow and arrow her way to freedom. ‘Catching Fire’ blazes on November 22nd.
