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| Author | Tom Linay |
Disney announced a host of new films and television series for cinema and Disney+ at an investor event on Thursday 10 December. After Warner Bros confirmed its plans for cinema in 2021 the week before, the spotlight fell to Disney who confirmed that cinema remains a big part of its plans next year. The big news for Q1 is that the next Disney Animation original title, Raya And The Last Dragon, will be hitting cinemas and Disney+ simultaneously in March.
Kevin Feige confirmed that we can still expect three big Marvel films next year – Black Widow, Shang Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings and Eternals, and he also made a series of exciting announcements about what we can expect in 2022 and beyond. Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams will be returning in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, directed by Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 2). Former DC hero Christian Bale is making the move to the MCU to star in Thor: Love And Thunder, due out in May 2022, and it’s once again directed by Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok).
Black Panther director Ryan Coogler is returning to Wakanda and it has been confirmed that after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, the central role will not be recast in the Black Panther sequel out in 2022. One of the most exciting new filmmakers, Nia DaCosta, whose next project is the upcoming Candyman film, has been confirmed to direct Captain Marvel 2, out in 2022.
The Fantastic Four are hopefully getting the film they deserve as Jon Watts, who has directed Spider-man: Homecoming and Spider-man: Far From Home, has been confirmed to direct a brand new film featuring the famous team, while Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly will be returning for a third Ant-Man film in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.
Away from comic book films, there was big Lucasfilm news too as it was confirmed that after Wonder Woman 1984, in cinemas this Wednesday, Patty Jenkins is confirmed to direct a standalone Star Wars film called Rogue Squadron, due out in 2023. It was also announced that Harrison Ford, now 78 years-old is returning for Indiana Jones 5, directed by Logan’s James Mangold.
Finally, Pixar re-iterated that its next film in cinemas is Luca, a tale set in Italy, due out in June. They also announced that its next film after Luca is called Turning Red, about a teenager who happens to turn into a giant red panda when she gets excited. The final Pixar film announced is called Lightyear, with Chris Evans voicing the astronaut who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy. All very meta!
It all adds up to some hugely exciting films coming to cinemas over the next few years.
Disney’s current 2021 film slate: