40. “Infinity Pool”
Filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg is a chip off the old block, and “Possessor” cemented his status as a director who could get as gnarly and fucked-up as dear old dad, but with a distinct voice too. His latest tackles the all-inclusive vacation industry and centers on a fatal accident that exposes a resort’s perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence, and surreal horrors. Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, and Cleopatra Coleman star.
Release Date: TBD, but it’s already in post and feels like it could debut at Cannes if it’s ready.
39. “Strangers”
Following his overlooked detour into TV (BBC’s “The North Water”), acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh (“45 Years”) returns with “Strangers.” Starring Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, and Jamie Bell, it sounds like a surreal drama where a screenwriter discovers his dead parents are both living and look the same age as the day they died over 30 years ago.
Release Date: TBD, Searchlight Pictures but they might be looking for a fall awards contender.
38. Untitled Safdie Brothers/Adam Sandler film
It’s low on the list because we’re not convinced it’ll land in 2023, to be honest. Shooting in April (which, who knows, it could get pushed), Adam Sandler is reteaming with his “Uncut Gems” filmmakers, the Safdie Brothers. Sandler has called it similarly intense, but different and even “romantic,” in a recent interview otherwise, the plot is unknown, but Daniel Day-Lewis liked the first collab so much he evidently texts Sandler often, so there’s that.
Release Date: Probably 2024, but if we’re super lucky late 2023.
37. “The Actor”
Ryan Gosling has quite a few projects on the horizon, including the aptly titled “The Actor,” based on Donald Westlake’s (a.k.a. Richard Stark) novel “Memory,” and directed by Duke Johnson (co-director with Charlie Kaufman on “Anomalisa”). Gosling plays Paul Cole, a man struggling with memory loss, and he attempts to rebuild his life in 1950s Ohio after being hospitalized and left for dead.
Release Date: TBD via Neon. – AB
36. “The Exorcist”
Yep, many will agree that after a super promising start, filmmaker David Gordon Green screwed the pooch on the “Halloween” trilogy. Well, it’s too late to get worried now cause Green is already set for a new ‘Exorcist’ trilogy coming in the fall. Ellen Burstyn returns, reprising her original role in the William Friedkin original, and Leslie Odom Jr. and Ann Dowd co-star, in what will presumably be a similar kind of legacy sequel.
Release Date: October 13, 2023, via Universal Pictures.
35. “Nightbitch”
Filmmaker Marielle Heller has already received a ton of acclaim for her body of work (“Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood“), but her next film, “Nightbitch,” about a stay-at-home mom who begins to worry that she may be turning into a dog, sounds wild. Amy Adams stars, and around her are Scoot McNairy, Ella Thomas, and Mary Holland. Searchlight Pictures and Annapurna Pictures produce
Release Date: TBD, via Hulu.
34. “The Last Planet” / “The Way Of The Wind”
Auteur Terrence Malick takes years in the editing room, but maybe his latest— a retelling of several episodes in the life of Christ— will manifest in 2023. Starring Mark Rylance (as Satan apparently), Matthias Schoenaerts (Apostle Peter), Geza Rohrig (“Son of Saul,” as Jesus), Joseph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Tawfeek Barhom, Ori Pfeffer, and more, given Malick’s spiritual tendencies, it’s a bit surprising it has taken this long to tackle this subject matter.
Release Date: TBD, and kind of a toss-up if it does arrive this year.
33. “Love Lies Bleeding”
We love it when a great actor also has great taste and uses their Hollywood clout to help elevate projects by exciting new filmmakers. Kristen Stewart is that actress, and by the sounds of it, she became obsessed with “Saint Maud” director Rose Glass, chased her down, and forced her to work with her (or something like that). Essentially it’s a gay body-building movie from A24 starring Stewart, but also with Jena Malone, Ed Harris, Dave Franco, Katy O’Brian, and Anna Baryshnikov. It’s shot, and we’re sold.
Release Date: TBD, but it’s A24, and it smells like a film festival title.
32. “Magic Mike’s Last Dance”
If you were guessing a big reunion for all the buff makes in the “Magic Mike” franchise, guess again. From director Steven Soderbergh, “Magic Mike’s Last Dance” is mostly influenced by the Magic Mike stage show that toured the world and the title character played by Channing Tatum. This go-round features a new cast of characters, including Salma Hayek, Ayub Khan Din, Jemelia George, Juliette Motamed, and Vicki Pepperdine.
Release Date: February 10, 2023, via Warner Bros.
31. “No Hard Feelings”
Jennifer Lawrence is teaming up with Lynne Ramsay, and her hit list includes arty auteurs like The Coens and Leos Carax, but she loves a dumb comedy like the rest of us. This is where Gene Stupnitsky steps in for the R-rated comedy “No Hard Feelings” with Andrew Barth Feldman, Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Natalie Morales, and more. The plot is under wraps, but it’s apparently Hard-R, funny, and every studio in town wanted it.
Release Date: June 16, 2023, via Sony Pictures Releasing.
