Here at Film on The Indiependent, we realise that sometimes, due to a plethora of options, most people struggle to know what to go and watch at the cinema. So to give you a helping hand this New Year’s Eve, we’ve decided (in no particular order), to bring you our most anticipated films of 2019.
Us, directed by Jordan Peele
After his breakthrough horror debut Get Out earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, Jordan Peele’s next work will star Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss in Us, where a serene beach house getaway quickly turns sour. Beady-eyed fans of the director have already picked up on similarities between the two films’ trailers. The difference, though? “Unlike Get Out,” Peele revealed, “Us is not about race. It is instead about something that I feel has become an undeniable truth. And that is the simple fact that we are our own worst enemies.”
Release date: March 15, 2019
Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, directed by Quentin Tarantino
It’s getting harder and harder to keep track of all the stars, both established and up-and-coming, who will star in Tarantino’s ninth directorial venture Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. From Leonardo DiCaprio to Brad Pitt, Lena Dunham to Maya Hawke, the star-studding billing isn’t the film’s only attraction: it will revel in 1960’s Hollywood nostalgia, with leaked on-set photos already sending fans into a frenzy.
Release date: July 26, 2019
Under the Silver Lake, directed by David Robert Mitchell
Publicity for Under the Silver Lake has revolved more around the fact that the release date has continually been pushed back than the film itself; principal photography began way back in 2016. The neo-noir mystery stars Andrew Garfield as young man who discovers a huge conspiracy after his neighbour goes missing.
Release date: April 19, 2019
The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau
The Lion King is ticking all boxes so far. A diverse cast, a hype-filled promotion campaign, the promise of Beyoncé’s dulcet vocals. There’s pressure to live up to the well-loved original, but if Favreau’s treatment of 2016’s The Jungle Book is anything to go by, there won’t be anything to worry about.
Release date: July 19, 2019
Mary Queen of Scots, directed by Josie Rourke
Hearing the words “Saoirse Ronan” is enough to get me hyped for a film. A tale of power dynamics, fear, and intimidation is set to be explored, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Ronan and her co-star, Margot Robbie, will be able to live up to their lofty reputations as the crème de la crème of actresses in the industry right now.
Release date: 18 January 2019
The Goldfinch, directed by John Crowley
Donna Tartt superfans (raises hand sheepishly) are counting down the days until her third novel, The Goldfinch, is brought to life on the big screen. Though some might be a little over-protective about the hazy tale of art theft, drugs and antiques, the task of bringing to life Tartt’s 784-page, Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece has been given to John Crowley, who recently flexed his muscles with 2015’s Brooklyn.
Release date: October 11, 2019
Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig
The film that was hot in film news this year has been the casting for Little Women. Who better to bring Louisa May Alcott’s much-adored tale to life than Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern and Emma Watson – not to mention the breakthrough director of 2018 herself, Greta Gerwig? This is definitely going to be one not to miss.
Release date: December 25, 2019
The Favourite, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Those well-acquainted with Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos will be no stranger to his barmy style – so the news that his next film will focus on the reign of Queen Anne in the early 18th century raised a few eyebrows at first. Fear not: his brand of kooky humour is set to permeate the period piece, with the three leading ladies – Olivia Coleman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone – all receiving rave reviews from the critics.
Release date: 1 January 2019
Vice, directed by Adam McKay
In his follow up to 2015’s The Big Short, director Adam McKay looks to satirise and bring to light the “untold” story of former Vice President Dick Cheney, played here by the unrecognisable Christian Bale. Bale, who piled on several pounds to accurately portray Cheney, is being touted as the frontrunner to take home Best Actor at the Oscars, and with a supporting cast that features Amy Adams, Steve Carrell and the brilliant Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, it’s certainly a must see.
Release date: 25th January 2019
Glass, directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Though director M Night Shyamalan’s 2000 film Unbreakable feels more like a cult movie, with his 2017 box-office smash Split, suddenly a trilogy was born. Glass, named after Samuel L. Jackson’s character from Unbreakable, brings back Jackson, Bruce Willis and James McAvoy for a final showdown that will undoubtedly have many twists and turns along the way.
Release date: 18th January 2019
Captain Marvel, directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
It’s about time. Finally, the MCU has its first female-led film, coming in the form of no other than Captain Marvel, played by the phenomenal Brie Larson. Described as “the most powerful superhero we’ve ever introduced” by Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige, Captain Marvel seeks to introduce us to Carol Danvers with a stylish 90s backdrop. This film is undoubtedly going to break some real barriers for the MCU, let alone be the perfect set up for the following film, arguably the most anticipated of the year.
Release date: 8th March 2019
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Joe and Anthony Russo
This is really it. After the devastating events of 2018’s Infinity War at the hands of MCU big bad Thanos, the Avengers are decimated and broken, half of them turned to dust by the Infinity Gauntlet. Endgame sees them in their efforts to recover and finally defeat Thanos once and for all, but it’s by no means going to be an easy feat. With directors the Russo Brothers already saying the film clocks in at around 3 hours, Endgame promises to be an unparalleled epic and is undoubtedly many people’s most anticipated film of the year.
Release date: 26th April 2019
Star Wars Episode IX, directed by J.J Abrams
If anything is able to rival the hype of the MCU, it’s the end of the Skywalker Saga. Star Wars Episode IX, still untitled, promises to be a truly spectacular ending to the rejuvenated series. With Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren and Daisy Ridley’s Rey having unfinished business and the Resistance on the brink of destruction by the First Order, returning director J.J Abrams will surely finish the saga off in some style. A trailer apparently coming soon will blow fan theories wide open, and this will certainly be a climactic, landmark film to watch in 2019.
Release date: 19th December 2019
Green Book, directed by Peter Farrelly
One of the frontrunners for Best Picture following its audience award win at the Toronto Film Festival, Peter Farrelly’s Green Book tells the true story of Italian-American driver Tony Lip and African-American classical pianist Dr Don Shirley and a concert tour of the Deep South in the 1960s. Their heartwarming story of friendship told through performances by Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali at the very top of their games, makes for a hilarious, emotional watch and this is reflected in its big Oscar buzz.
Release date: 30th January 2019
Dumbo, directed by Tim Burton
A story that really needs no introduction, but here the tale of the elephant that can fly is brought to life by Tim Burton, where the trailer already promises to capture both the amazement of Dumbo but equally its dark side. With a stellar cast featuring Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Eva Green, this retelling of a Disney classic surely looks to be a big hit.
Release date: 29th March 2019
Toy Story 4, directed by Josh Cooley
After the tearjerking ending of Toy Story 3, Woody, Buzz and co. are back for one more outing in Toy Story 4. Little is known about the plot following the first teaser trailer, but the addition of new characters voiced by the likes of Key and Peele, Patricia Arquette and even Keanu Reeves are more cause for excitement. Essentially 2019 is an absolutely huge year for Disney and this Pixar outing will surely prove to be a hit both critically and financially.
Release date: 21st June 2019
Words by Elliott Jones and Steph Green