List compiled by Eddie on 11/01/2019

There seems to be more sequels, prequels, re-do’s, reboots and remakes than we’ve ever had before coming our way in 2019, but I’m not going to lie, I’m excited for what the cinematic year has in store!

Around all the more as to be expected soon to be box-office smashes like The Lion King, Aladdin, Captain Marvel and Toy Story 4, there’s some original and potentially great projects heading our way, that unite some of the best the industry has to offer in some exciting singular packages.

Whenever the likes of Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, J.J Abrams or Terrence Malick have new projects on the horizon there’s good reason to start counting down the days, making 2019 a hopefully standout year of cinematic offerings.

Below is a collection of films I can’t wait to see, sure there are a lot of others I wish were on the list too, but this selection of film’s is hopefully a good example of why this year should be one to savour as a film fan.

See you in the cinema.

Happy reading and happy watching!

10. Call of the Wild

Directed By: Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon) Starring: Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens

A sled dog struggles for survival in the Alaskan wild

Another adaption of the famous novel of the same name, Call of the Wild could well be the break out hit of this year’s Xmas period rush. With an all-star cast and an intriguing choice of director in the form of animation expert Chris Sanders, Wild will hopefully be a thrilling adventure for young and old.

Release Date: December 26^th

9. Captive State

Directed By: Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) Starring: John Goodman, Vera Farmiga

Set in a Chicago neighborhood nearly a decade after an occupation by an extra-terrestrial force, Captive State explores the lives on both sides of the conflict – the collaborators and dissidents.

After a few untimely delays, it’s not long till Captive State finds itself on our cinema screens. While it’s been a long time between drinks, director Rupert Wyatt has proven to be a solid behind the scenes presence and the concept behind this Sci-Fi appears to provide a great sounding board for a hugely entertaining ride.

Release Date: March 29^th

8. Ford v. Ferrari

Directed By: James Mangold (Logan) Starring: Christian Bale, Matt Damon

The true story of the battle between Ford and Ferrari to win Le Mans in 1966

After the success of Logan, director James Mangold is riding a wave of good will that hopefully extends to his long-gestating examination of the vicious battle between Ford and Ferrari to win the Le Mans race in 1966. With a great ensemble cast and big-budget to boot, here’s hoping Ford v. Ferrari is an accessible drama that’s for petrol heads and cinema fans alike.

Release Date: June 28^th

7. The Lighthouse

Directed By: Robert Eggers (The Witch) Starring: Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe

The story of an aging lighthouse keeper named Old who lives in early 20th-century Maine

The Witch was a stunning debut horror film from up and coming director Robert Eggers and while the plot-line of his sophomore effort remains under wraps this has been billed as another horror/drama hybrid that when combined with its lead actors in the form of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, should make for thrilling viewing.

Release Date: TBC

6. Joker

Directed By: Todd Phillips (The Hangover)   Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro

Plot kept under wraps. Film will centre on how the popular comic book villain known as The Joker came to be.

Little is known about the actual plot line of this Joker origin story but you’d be silly to bet against this high-profile new DC film. While its always going to be a thankless task competing against Heath Ledger’s take on the crazed criminal, Joaquin Phoenix seems like the perfect fit to bring the Joker to life once more.

Release Date: October 4th

5. Avengers: Endgame

Directed By: The Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War)   Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Brie Larson

The plot is yet to be revealed. Will be the fourth instalment of the ‘Avengers’ series

After the amazing result of Infinity War everything seems in place for this Avengers finale to become a genuine comic-book classic. With the return of the Russo Brothers behind the camera and with so much narrative goodness still to cover, this new Avengers outing should well be one of the years biggest and most enjoyable hits.

Release Date: April 26th

4. Ad Astra

Directed By: James Gray (The Lost City of Z)   Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones

Astronaut Roy McBride travels to the outer edges of the solar system to find his missing father and unravel a mystery that threatens the survival of our planet.

Famous for his character driven dramas, James Gray enters the Sci-Fi landscape with a killer double-bill of cast members in the form of Pitt and Lee Jones and while you expect there will be some visual delights in this high-concept space adventure, I get the feeling this could be a particularly moving examination of the bond between father and son.

Release Date: TBC

3. Star Wars Episode IX

Directed By: J.J Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens)   Starring: Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver

The conclusion of the new ‘Star Wars’ trilogy

Although The Last Jedi left many die-hard and casual fans a little bemused, there’s still good reason to hope that this finale to the new Star Wars series will be one of the year’s biggest blockbuster delights. With the return of J.J Abrams to the director’s chair, I am confident this will be a Star Wars film to remember.

Release Date: December 20^th

2. The Irishman

Directed By: Martin Scorsese (Silence) Starring: Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci

A mob hitman recalls his possible involvement with the slaying of Jimmy Hoffa.

It feels like it’s been coming for some time now, but it finally seems to be a reality for the imminent release of this big budgeted Netflix offering. Heralding in the reunion of esteemed actors like De Niro, Pacino and Pesci, this mobster drama has all the hallmarks of a new classic.

Release Date: TBC

1. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Directed By: Quentin Tarantino (Django Unchained)   Starring: Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie

A faded TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Helter Skelter reign of terror in 1969 Los Angeles.

I think this film speaks for itself, with a dream cast filled with some of Hollywood’s top talent and DiCaprio’s first film since his triumphant Oscar win for the Revenant in 2015, Quentin Tarantino’s latest epic (and supposedly second last film) should be one of the year’s best cinematic treats.

Release Date: July 26^th

Best of the Rest –

11. Radegund

Directed By: Terrence Malick (Song to Song)   Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Nyqvist

The Austrian Franz Jägerstätter, a conscientious objector, refuses to fight for the Nazis in World War II.

Release Date: TBC

12. Velvet Buzzsaw

Directed By: Dan Gilroy (Nightcrawler) Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Toni Collette

Big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce.

Release Date: TBC

13. Us

Directed By: Jordan Peele (Get Out) Starring: Kara Hayward, Elizabeth Moss

Plot unknown. Described as a “social horror-thriller.”

Release Date: March 15^th

14. Light of My Life

Directed By: Casey Affleck (I’m Still Here)   Starring: Casey Affleck, Tom Bower

A father and his young daughter find themselves trapped in the woods.

Release Date: TBC

15. Metalhead

Directed By: Derek Cianfrance (The Light Between Oceans) Starring: Edgar Livengood, Gazelle Amber Valentine

The story of a heavy metal drummer who blows his eardrums out and must learn to adapt to a world of silence. An introspective journey into the vortex of our senses, tinkering with cinema’s boundaries.

Release Date: TBC

16. The Beach Bum

Directed By: Harmony Korine (Spring Breakers) Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher

A rebellious stoner named Moondog lives life by his own rules.

Release Date: March 22^nd

17. Under the Silver Lake

Directed By: David Robert Mitchell (It Follows) Starring: Andrew Garfield, Riley Keough

Sam, intelligent but without purpose, finds a mysterious woman swimming in his apartment’s pool one night. The next morning, she disappears. Sam sets off across LA to find her, and along the way he uncovers a conspiracy far more bizarre.

Release Date: April 19^th

18. Midway

Directed By: Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow)   Starring: Woody Harrelson, Mandy Moore

The story of the battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the soldiers who fought it.

Release Date: November 8^th

19. JoJo Rabbit

Directed By: Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie

A young boy in Hitler’s army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish boy in their home.

Release Date: TBC

20. Knives Out

Directed By: Rian Johnson (Looper)   Starring: Chris Evans, Daniel Craig

Plot unknown. Described as a modern murder mystery in a classic whodunit style.

Release Date: TBC

What film’s are you excited for this year? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear your thoughts!