Phase 2425 of the MCU (Merlin Cinematic Universe)

By Lee Curtis

Paddington In Peru brings the beloved bear back for a family holiday that fans will never forget, but there’s plenty of cinema treats for cinemagoers to get their paws on first.

After Michael Keaton and Tim Burton resurrected the ghost with the most for a good time we’ve all been waiting a lifetime for, the dead exciting double acts continue as we round out the year. Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his alien symbiote bestie bring their bromance to a thrilling end in Venom: The Last Dance, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga bring Joker and Harley Quinn’s bad romance to the big screen in a bold musical sequel, and Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans team up to save Christmas – literally – in the festive action-comedy Red One.

If you’re not entertained by that, then there’s one of the main events of the year on the way: Gladiator II. Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal lead an illustrious ensemble cast as Ridley Scott takes us back to Ancient Rome to continue the legacy of Russell Crowe’s legendary Maximus.

There’s also the West End musical phenomenon Wicked flying from stage to screen with pop superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda aka the Good Witch and the brilliant, only one Oscar away from an EGOT, Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba aka the Wicked Witch of the West. Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible and Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of Oz is wonderful casting, too – here’s hoping audiences are off to see it in big numbers!

Family films are still the biggest crowdpleasers, thankfully there’s plenty on the horizon. Moana and Maui reunite for a new musical adventure that takes them into thrilling and dangerous new waters, while the origins of Mufasa and Scar’s legendary rivalry is told in stunning photorealistic live-action, with a roaring voice cast and new songs from Lin-Manuel Miranda. There’s also the untold origins of the famous robots in disguise in Transformers One, starring Chris Hemsworth as Optimus Prime and Brian Tyree Henry as Megatron. Another animated adventure coded to entertain the whole family is The Wild Robot, an adaptation of a bestselling book where tech meets nature. That’s still not all, the third film in the Sonic The Hedgehog series takes things to the next level again as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Robotic meet new characters from the SEGA universe, most excitingly Shadow, voiced by the one and only Keanu Reeves. The new year brings a brand-new musical Smurfs adventure that’s sure to have everyone singing in the aisles… “la la la-la la la!”

Horror fans have frights to enjoy with the return of the grinning terror that took the world by surprise in Smile 2 and a new take on a classic horror tale Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu. The latter is particularly enticing with its old-school gothic feel and ensemble cast that’s to die for: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

The Kick-Ass and Bullet Train star and front-runner to be the next Bond is also the new Marvel antihero getting the big screen treatment in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, Kraven The Hunter.

Talking of origin stories, Timothée Chalamet stars in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown that’s a surefire awards season contender. The answer to whether he’ll win or not is blowin’ in the wind. Also on the drama front is the devastating romance We Live In Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield as well as the next chapter in the story of the world’s most famous singleton, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy.

After the success of Deadpool & Wolverine and with Robert Downey Jr’s MCU return confirmed, audiences have fallen back in love with Marvel; back on track and about to launch their next era with Captain America: Brave New World which sees Sam Wilson cross paths with Harrison Ford’s President Thaddeus Ross, who really sees red when he gets angry.