Summertime is drawing ever closer and now we are looking across at the second half of the year to see what big summer blockbusters will be lighting up the big screen and which movies we have to look forward to towards the end of the year.
2016 has already given us a huge array of fantastic films, but there is still so much more to look forward to with the likes of SUICIDE SQUAD, THE BFG, GHOSTBUSTERS and ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE arriving in cinemas; there is certainly something for everybody.
So, with all of the anticipation for the movies ahead, we have collated a list (in no particular order) of the biggest summer blockbusters and movies arriving later this year.
Suicide Squad
Release Date: August 5th, 2016
Director: David Ayer
Stars: Jared Leto, Ben Affleck, Will Smith, Margot Robbie
It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?
Assassin’s Creed
Release Date: December 26th, 2016
Director: Justin Kurzel
Stars: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard
Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.
Independence Day: Resurgence
Release Date: June 24th, 2016
Director: Roland Emmerich
Stars: Liam Hemsworth, Joey King, Maika Monroe
We always knew they were coming back. After Independence Day redefined the event movie genre, the next epic chapter delivers global spectacle on an unimaginable scale. Using recovered alien technology, the nations of Earth have collaborated on an immense defense program to protect the planet. But nothing can prepare us for the aliens’ advanced and unprecedented force. Only the ingenuity of a few brave men and women can bring our world back from the brink of extinction.
The BFG
Release Date: July 22nd, 2016
Director: Steven Spielberg
Stars: Mark Rylance, Jemaine Clement, Bill Hader
The BFG (played by Mark Rylance), while a giant himself, is a Big Friendly Giant and nothing like the other inhabitants of Giant Country. Standing 24-feet tall with enormous ears and a keen sense of smell, he is endearingly dim-witted and keeps to himself for the most part. Giants like Bloodbottler (Bill Hader) and Fleshlumpeater (Jemaine Clement) on the other hand, are twice as big and at least twice as scary and have been known to eat humans, while the BFG prefers Snozzcumbers and Frobscottle. Upon her arrival in Giant Country, Sophie, a precocious 10-year-old girl from London, is initially frightened of the mysterious giant who has brought her to his cave, but soon comes to realize that the BFG is actually quite gentle and charming, and, having never met a giant before, has many questions. The BFG brings Sophie to Dream Country where he collects dreams and sends them to children, teaching her all about the magic and mystery of dreams…
The Legend Of Tarzan
Release Date: July 8th, 2016
Director: David Yates
Stars: Alexander Skarsgard, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou.
IN THE LEGEND OF TARZAN, it has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.
Finding Dory
Release Date: June 17th, 2016
Director: Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane
Stars: Ellen DeGeneres, Hayden Rolence, Albert Brooks, Diane Keaton
The FINDING NEMO sequel welcomes back Nemo (Hayden Rolence) and Albert Brooks as Marlin the Clownfish as they embark on a quest to find Dory’s family. Diane Keaton and Eguene Levy join the cast as Dory’s mother and father.
FINDING DORY also introduces some new characters to the mix, these being a Beluga whale called Bailey ( Ty Burrell) who struggles with his sonar system, and also a whale shark called Destiny ( Kaitlin Olson) who can’t swim in a straight line.
Jason Bourne
Release Date: July 27th, 2016
Director: Paul Greengrass
Stars: Matt Damon, Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel, Tommy Lee Jones
JASON BOURNE sees original actor and director, Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, return to the iconic series they created along with Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel and Tommy Lee Jones.
Ghostbusters
Release Date: July 11th, 2016
Director: Paul Feig
Stars: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Chris Hemsworth
The new GHOSTBUSTERS film sees Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy as scientists Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, respectively. Gilbert is a particle physicist while Yates, Gilbert’s close friend, is an expert in the paranormal. As ghost sightings ramp up, they team with Kate McKinnon‘s Jillian Holtzmann, a nuclear engineer who winds up creating the team’s tech. Leslie Jones‘ Patty Tolan, then, is the team’s everyman character who winds up playing an important role connected to an early supernatural encounter.
The film also stars Chris Hemsworth as the new secretary, Andy Garcia as the Mayor of New York City, Michael K. Williams as a character named “Hawkins,” Matt Walsh as a character named “Rourke,” and Neil Casey as the film’s villain. New York City’s NY1 news anchor Pat Kiernan is also set to appear as news anchor in the film.
Ben-Hur
Release Date: August 12th, 2016
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Stars: Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell, Morgan Freeman,
BEN-HUR is the epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother Messala (Toby Kebbell), an officer in the Roman army. Stripped of his title, separated from his family and the woman he loves (Nazanin Boniadi), Judah is forced into slavery. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption.
The film is based on Lew Wallace’s timeless novel, “Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ.”
Jack Huston stars as the title character (Judah Ben-Hur). The cast also includes Nazanin Boniadi as love interest Esther, Rodrigo Santoro as Jesus, and Pilou Asbaek as Pontius Pilate.
The film has been helmed by Timur Bekmambetov and John Ridley (“American Crime,” “12 Years a Slave”) rewrote the script.
Doctor Strange
Release Date: October 28th, 2016
Director: Scott Derickson
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams
The latest Marvel movie is being helmed by Scott Derickson and stars Benedict Cumberbatch playing the titular character, Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 YEARS A SLAVE) as Baron Mordo, Tilda Swinton (ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE) as The Ancient One. Completing the casting ensemble is Rachel McAdams (THE VOW), Michael Stuhlbarg (PAWN SACRIFICE), Scott Adkins (THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM), Amy Landecker (Transparent) and Mads Mikkelsen (HANNIBAL).
The film follows the story of neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange who, after a horrific car accident, discovers the hidden world of magic and alternate dimensions.
Ice Age: Collision Course
Release Date: July 15th, 2016
Director: Mike Thurmeier
Stars: Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Jessie J
Loveable favourites of the world’s most unconventional herd; Scrat, Manny, Diego, Crash and Eddie can be found alongside brand new characters including Sid’s love interest Brooke (voiced by Jessie J) and the wonderful ShangriLlama (voiced by Jesse Tyler Ferguson).
Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, travelling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colourful new characters.
Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
Release Date: November 18th, 2016
Director: David Yates
Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterson, Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM opens in 1926 as Newt Scamander has just completed a global excursion to find and document an extraordinary array of magical creatures. Arriving in New York for a brief stopover, he might have come and gone without incident…were it not for a No-Maj (American for Muggle) named Jacob, a misplaced magical case, and the escape of some of Newt’s fantastic beasts, which could spell trouble for both the wizarding and No-Maj worlds.
The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose beloved Harry Potter books were adapted into the top-grossing film franchise of all time.
Star Trek: Beyond
Release Date: July 22nd, 2016
Director: Justin Lin
Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba,
In STAR TREK: BEYOND we see the return of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and John Cho along with new roles for Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella and Joe Taslim. J.J. Abrams, who directed the last two films, is producing the third film in the rebooted franchise. Lin is directing from a script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung.
With so many fantastic films to look forward to during the summer and later on in the year, we are spoilt for choice. Which films are you most looking forward to watching? Share your thoughts in the comment box below – and happy watching!
