Here are the 11 most anticipated movies I’m most looking forward to seeing during the second half of 2018:
“MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN” (July 20)
Released almost 10 years to the day after the original, it’s the all-star Abba musical sequel and prequel to the 2008 mega-hit Broadway adaptation. Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Pierce Brosnan & Co. are back, joined by Lily James (“Darkest Hour”, “Cinderella”) and… Cher.
“CHRISTOPHER ROBIN” (Aug. 3)
Disney’s live-action Winnie the Pooh tale is certainly a curiosity. But with director Marc Forster (“Finding Neverland”, “World War Z”) at the helm and Ewan McGregor in the title role, this has great potential.
“A STAR IS BORN” (Oct. 5)
Bradley Cooper is behind the camera for the first time, but he’s also in front of it, alongside Lady Gaga, for this updated musical remake.
“FIRST MAN” (Oct. 12)
It’s director Damien Chazelle’s follow-up to “La La Land”. He re-teams with Ryan Gosling, who plays Neil Armstrong for this dramatic biopic.
“GOOSEBUMPS 2” (Oct. 12)
I really enjoyed Sony’s 2015 family adventure, based on the very popular R.L. Stine books. Looking forward to seeing Jack Black back as Stine.
“CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?” (Oct. 19 – Limited)
Melissa McCarthy returns to drama for this film based on the life of celebrity biographer Lee Israel.
“DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH” (Nov. 9)
Universal takes us back to Whoville for the first time since their 2000 holiday favorite with Jim Carrey – this time for a CGI animated version with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of The Grinch.
“HOLMES & WATSON” (Nov. 9)
It’s been too long since Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly starred in the same movie together. This comedy based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books could be a hoot.
“WIDOWS” (Nov. 16)
“12 Years a Slave”‘s Steve McQueen directs a screenplay from “Gone Girl”‘s Gillian Flynn, with Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell and Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) part of the ensemble.
“MARY POPPINS RETURNS” (Dec. 25)
This probably tops my “Most Anticipated Movies of 2018” list overall. Disney’s follow-up to their 1964 classic will feature Emily Blunt as Poppins and a supporting cast of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Meryl Streep, Emily Mortimer, Colin Firth, Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury and… Dick Van Dyke. Director Rob Marshall (“Chicago”, “Into the Woods”) has a lot on the line. They can’t mess this up.
“BACKSEAT” (Date TBA)
Dick Cheney’s life story is being told by Oscar-winner “Big Short” writer/director Adam McKay. And he’s got quite a cast for it: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell, Bill Pullman and Tyler Perry.