After three years of pandemic-related disruption, will cinema-goers be back in full force in 2023? That’s certainly what studios seem to be banking on given the impressive line-up of releases currently scheduled for the months ahead. The buzziest among them? A star-studded sequel to a sci-fi blockbuster, Greta Gerwig’s take on a fuchsia-clad icon, and Timothée Chalamet’s turn as a top-hatted chocolatier. These are the 10 films not to miss.
Chevalier
Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the pioneering Caribbean-born violinist beloved by Marie Antoinette, is the subject of Stephen Williams’s rousing biopic, which casts Kelvin Harrison Jr as the titular virtuoso and Lucy Boynton as the elaborately-dressed French queen.
The Little Mermaid
Rob Marshall’s long-awaited, live-action remake will feature Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula, Javier Bardem as King Triton, and Awkwafina as Scuttle, as well as spectacular visuals and sweeping new songs co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Asteroid City
Margot Robbie, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton and Tom Hanks are just some of the A-listers heading to the desert for Wes Anderson’s next heartwarmer – the story of an eccentric group of parents and students who gather for a stargazing convention in the ’50s.
Oppenheimer
Theoretical physicist J Robert Oppenheimer will be played by Cillian Murphy in Christopher Nolan’s heart-thumping drama about the creation of the atomic bomb. His co-stars include everyone from Florence Pugh and Emily Blunt to Matt Damon and Gary Oldman.
Barbie
The eye-popping costumes, satirical script and impressive ensemble – Emma Mackey, Emerald Fennell, Issa Rae, Marisa Abela, Ncuti Gatwa and Simu Liu, with Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken – will make Greta Gerwig’s romp essential viewing.
Challengers
Luca Guadagnino’s follow-up to the haunting Bones & All? A rom-com set in the competitive world of tennis starring Mike Faist as a prolific player in the midst of a losing streak, Zendaya as his wife and coach, and Josh O’Connor as his next opponent and her former lover.
Dune: Part Two
Expect more epic vistas, sandworms and the return of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya – alongside franchise newcomers Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Léa Seydoux and Christopher Walken – in the next instalment of Denis Villeneuve’s electrifying Frank Herbert adaptation.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Rachel Zegler and Hunter Schafer lead this explosive, Francis Lawrence-directed prequel to The Hunger Games, which tracks a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) as he rises to greatness. Also lending support? Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage and Jason Schwartzman.
Wonka
A buoyant musical fantasy about the early years of Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet), before he opened his magnificent chocolate factory, Paul King’s charmer will have showstopping numbers and appearances from Olivia Colman and Sally Hawkins.
The Color Purple
The stage musical of Alice Walker’s life-affirming classic is getting the big-screen treatment courtesy of Blitz Bazawule (and producers Steven Spielberg and Oprah Winfrey), with Taraji P Henson, Aunjanue Ellis, H.E.R., Ciara, Halle Bailey and Fantasia as Celie.
