After the Super Bowl: You can't miss these new film trailers
Last night was the Super Bowl. That means: lots of new film trailers for the half-time break. Including intelligent monkeys, witty mercenaries, violent hurricanes and green witches.
When the American football Super Bowl is on, the world is glued to the screen. To be precise: Over 100 million people a year. In the USA alone. The perfect moment for Deadpool to present the first teaser trailer for "Deadpool 3" - and also stage himself as Marvel Jesus.
"Deadpool 3" becomes "Deadpool & Wolverine"
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is in a mess. I'm not the only one saying that. The Time Variance Authority (TVA) says it too. Because since "Avengers: Endgame", Disney subsidiary Marvel has hardly produced any more cinema hits. That has to change. The TVA, which monitors all possible timelines in the multiverse (including ours), seems to know the solution: Bringing Deadpool into the MCU.
Haha. Okay, that's my version of the story. The trailer rather implies that TVA is offering Wade Wilson aka Deadpool to stop being just the wisecracking arsewipe of his own timeline. Instead, he should finally realise his potential. To become a "hero among heroes". And in the MCU, side by side with Iron Man, Thor and Captain America. Or in Deadpool's words: he should save Disney's arse. At least financially. After all, Deadpool knows that he's just a comic book character within a superhero film.
Film release: 26 July
But that's not the only new cinema trailer that was shown during the Super Bowl.
"Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" is the fourth instalment in the resurrected "Planet of the Apes" series
We're getting closer to the 1968 sci-fi original starring Charlton Heston: "Planet of the Apes". And by closer, I mean that "Kingdom" is now the fourth instalment in the series, which was relaunched in 2011. Back then, in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes", we saw how the chimpanzee Caesar, played by Andy Serkis, becomes intelligent thanks to an experimental drug, leads the apes in an uprising against humans and ultimately founds his own civilisation.
"Kingdom" seems to be set at least a few decades, if not centuries, after that. At least judging by how much more intelligent and eloquent the apes have become in comparison. The original, however, is set in the year 3978 AD. "Kingdom" doesn't seem to be that far in the future after all. It is therefore quite possible that "Kingdom" is nevertheless a remake of the original, simply not told from the perspective of the time-travelling human (Charlton Heston), but from that of the evolved apes.
Film release: 10 May
The sequel to the 1990s hit is coming: "Twisters"
Oh, what I loved "Twisters", the original from 1996 with Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton and Philip Seymour Hoffman (God rest their souls). I only watched a few VHS tapes more often. The computer effects, which were groundbreaking at the time and perfectly captured the beauty, power and horror of such a force of nature, were too fascinating. The fact that the story surrounding the storm-chasing characters was pretty hare-brained didn't interest me one bit as a child. It still doesn't today: I still consider "Twister" to be a film gem that has withstood the test of time - despite the rather poor film reviews at the time.
I don't really know what to make of the sequel yet. Mainly because the days of new, amazing computer effects that can be used to animate hurricanes are long gone. At least Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos are two good actors on board who should be able to carry the stormy vehicle on their shoulders with confidence - despite inane sayings such as "if you feel it, chase it!"
Film release: July (exact date unknown)
One of the most successful musicals of all time becomes a film: "Wicked"
"Wicked" is not just the musical that made "Frozen" actress Idina Menzel world-famous. It is also one of the most successful Broadway musicals of all time. The song "Defying Gravity" in particular has become an inspirational anthem for those who long for change, liberation and the courage to make their own decisions. It has been played up and down the world since 2003. To this day.
The musical tells the prequel to "The Wizard of Oz". Or rather: the prequel to the Wicked Witch of the West. She is repeatedly ostracised and hurt by society precisely because of her green skin colour and otherness. Until she decides to stop playing by society's rules - or those of a certain wizard. And so things take their course.
Film release: 28 November
I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»