Strange Worlds
As of this writing, “The Return of
the King” is not only the Oscar frontrunner, it’s
the highest-grossing film of the year just past.
Look at 2003’s nine highest-grossing features, you’ll
find nothing but sci-fi and fantasy: aside from Frodo & Co.,
there’s the two “Matrix” sequels, “Terminator
3,” “Elf,” “X2,” “Bruce
Almighty,” “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Finding
Nemo.” Tales of the fantastic also comprise nine
of the top 10 all-time grossers: “Nemo,” two “Star
Wars” films, three “Lord of the Rings” features, “Jurassic
Park,” “Spider-Man” and “E.T.” It
therefore behooves the modern studio head who dares seek
stratospheric grosses to greenlight scripts teeming with
robots, mutants, goblins and the like. And it behooves
Next! to examine the magical and futuristic projects rocketing
our way this year.
“Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow” is
a sci-fi action thriller, set in the 1930s, about an inquisitive
female reporter who teams up with two pilots to investigate
why scientists from all over the world have begun disappearing.
Kerry Conran makes his feature directorial debut from his
own screenplay. Gwyneth Paltrow (“Sylvia”),
Jude Law (“Road to Perdition,” “Cold
Mountain”), Angelina Jolie (“Beyond Borders,” “Taking
Lives”), Bai Ling (“Anna and the King,” “My
Baby’s Daddy”) and Casey Affleck (“Gerry”)
star. Paramount has booked a flight for this summer.
“Alien
vs. Predator” is a science fiction adventure, set
in the early 21st century, about a group of archaeologists
who, while traveling to Antarctica on an ancient pyramid
exploration, meet dueling forces of interplanetary evil.
For the record, this comprises the fifth installment of
the “Alien” series and the third “Predator.” Paul
W.S. Anderson (“Soldier,” “Resident Evil”)
directs from a screenplay by Anderson and Shane Salerno
(“Shaft”). Ewen Bremner (“The Rundown”), “Alien” franchise
veteran Lance Henrikson (“Scream 3”), Raoul
Bova (“Under the Tuscan Sun”), Sanaa Lathan
(“Out of Time”), Colin Salmon (“Die Another
Day”) and Tom Woodruff Jr. (“Looney Tunes:
Back in Action”) star. Fox releases it Aug. 6.
“Exorcist: The Beginning” is
the much-delayed and controversy-(dare we say)-haunted
prequel to the 1973 thriller. Based upon characters and
events depicted in William Blatty’s novel “The
Exorcist” and set in the early part of the 20th century,
it deals with a young priest’s journey through Africa
and his first encounter with demonic possession. Directed
by Paul Schrader (“Affliction,” “AutoFocus”)
from a screenplay by novelist Caleb Carr (“The Alienist”)
and William Wisher Jr. (“Judge Dredd,” “13th
Warrior”) – with additional material reportedly
shot by Renny Harlin (“Deep Blue Sea,” “Driven”),
it stars Stellan Skarsgård (“City of Ghosts,” “Dogville”),
Clara Bellar (“A.I.”), Gabriel Mann (“Buffalo
Soldiers”), Antonie Kamerling (“Left Luggage,” “Mindhunters”),
Andrew French (“The Tailor of Panama”), Ralph
Brown (“Mean Machine”) and Billy Crawford.
Warner Bros. commands it to come out some time in 2004.
“I, Robot” is a sci-fi actioner,
set in 2050, about a detective trying to solve a murder
apparently committed by a robot whose hardwired programming
would not allow it to murder. It’s based on the “I,
Robot” anthology by Isaac Asimov (“Bicentennial
Man”). Alex Proyas (“Dark City,” “Garage
Days”) directs from a screenplay by Jeff Vintar (“Final
Fantasy”), Hillary Seitz (“Insomnia”)
and Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind”). Will
Smith (“Men in Black 2,” “Bad Boys II”),
stars with Bridget Moynahan (“The Recruit”),
Alan Tudyk (“Hearts in Atlantis”) and Chi McBride
(“Paid in Full”). Fox bypasses the July 4 holiday
(known in the business as the Will Smith Weekend) for a
July 16 release.
“Spider-Man 2” Peter Parker must
use his bizarre superpowers to combat the freakish multi-armed
supervillain Dr. Otto Octavius. It’s based on the
40-year-old Marvel Comics characters created by Stan Lee
(“X-Men,” “Daredevil,” “Hulk”).
Returnees from part one include director Sam Raimi (“The
Gift”) as well as actors Tobey Maguire (“Seabiscuit”)
as Parker, Kirsten Dunst (“Mona Lisa Smile,” “Eternal
Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) as Mary Jane Watson,
James Franco (“Sonny”) as Harry Osborne, J.K.
Simmons (“The Mexican”) as J. Jonah Jameson,
Ted Raimi (“For Love of the Game”) as Ted Hoffman,
Rosemary Harris (“The Gift”) as Aunt May, Elizabeth
Banks (“Seabiscuit”) as Betty Brandt, and Bruce
Campbell (“The Majestic”) as the Snooty Usher.
Newcomers to the series include novelist Michael Chabon
(“Wonder Boys”), who contributes the script,
as well as actors Alfred Molina (“My Life Without
Me”) as Doc Ock, Dylan Baker (“Head of State,” “How
To Deal”) as Curt Connors, and Daniel Gillies (TV’s “Jeremiah”)
as astronaut John Jameson. Sony releases it in the July
2 slot that “I, Robot” abandoned.
“The Manchurian Candidate” is
a remake of the 1962 political thriller about a POW brainwashed
by a foreign government into an unwitting assassin. It’s
based on a story by Richard Condon (“Prizzi’s
Honor”). Jonathan Demme (“The Truth About Charlie,” “The
Agronomist”) directs from a screenplay by Daniel
Pyne (“The Sum of All Fears”) and Dean Georgaris
(“Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,” “Paycheck”).
Denzel Washington (“Out of Time,” “Man
on Fire”), takes on the Frank Sinatra character,
Meryl Streep (“The Hours”) the Angela Lansbury
role and Liev Schreiber (“The Sum of All Fears”)
the Laurence Harvey part. Kimberly Elise (“John Q”)
and Jon Voight (“Holes”) also star. Paramount
joins the campaign this autumn.
“The Final Cut” is a science-fiction
thriller, set in a world where people have life-recording
chips implanted into their brains, about the man in charge
of the “final cuts” of recorded lives – and
the information he discovers that puts his own life in
danger. Written and directed by Omar Naim, it stars Robin
Williams (“One Hour Photo”), Mira Sorvino (“Gods
and Generals”), Anjelica Huston (“Daddy Day
Care”), Stephanie Romanov (“Thirteen Days”),
Chris Britton (“Tomorrow”) and Jim Caviezel
(“Highwaymen,” “The Passion of the Christ”).
Lions Gate saves you a slice Sept. 10.
“Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban” is
the third installment of the wildly successful franchise
(and the first without director Chris Columbus at the helm).
In the summer before his third year at Hogwarts, young
Harry is forced to contend with Sirius Black, a believed
enemy of the Potter clan who has just escaped after 12
years of imprisonment. It’s based on the 1999 novel
by J.K. Rowling. Alfonso Cuarón (“Great Expectations,” “Y
Tu Mama También”) takes over directing chores.
Returnees from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” include
screenwriter Steve Kloves (“Wonder Boys”) and
actors Daniel Radcliffe (“The Tailor of Panama”)
as Harry Potter, Rupert Grint as Ronald Weasley, Emma Watson
as Hermione Granger, Robbie Coltrane (“From Hell”)
as gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid, Maggie Smith (“The Divine
Secrets of Ya-Ya Sisterhood”) as headmistress Minerva
McGonagall, Alan Rickman (“Blow Dry,” “Love
Actually”) as Professor Severus Snape, Julie Walters
(“Billy Elliot”) as Mrs. Molly Weasley, David
Bradley (“Nicholas Nickleby”) as Argus Filch,
Warwick Davis (“Leprechaun 2”) as Professor
Flitwick, Tom Felton (“Anna and the King”)
as Draco Malfoy, Richard Griffiths (“Vatel”)
as Vernon Dursley, Miriam Margolyes (“Cats & Dogs”)
as Professor Sprout, Harry Melling as Dudley Dursley, Oliver
Phelps as George Weasley, Chris Rankin as Percy Weasley,
Fiona Shaw (“The Triumph of Love”) as Petunia
Dursley, and Danielle Taylor as Angelina Johnson. Newcomers
to the series include Gary Oldman (“Hannibal”)
as Black, Michael Gambon (“Open Range,” “Sylvia”)
as Albus Dumbledore, Julie Christie (“No Such Thing”)
as Madame Rosmerta, David Thewlis (“Gangster No.
1,” “Timeline”) as professor Remus Lupin,
Timothy Spall (“Nicholas Nickleby,” “The
Last Samurai”) as Peter Pettigrew, and Pam Ferris
(“Death to Smoochy”) as Aunt Marge. Warner
Bros. transforms the one-time holiday franchise into a
potential summer blockbuster on June 4.
“Constantine” is an action thriller
about a pragmatic occultist who travels the world investigating
supernatural trouble spots. It’s based on the comic-book
character created by Alan Moore (“The League of Extraordinary
Gentlemen”), and the DC Comics series “Hellblazer.” Veteran
video director Francis Lawrence (POD’s “Alive”)
makes his feature directorial debut from a screenplay by
Frank Cappello (“Timeline”), Kevin Brodbin
(“Mindhunters”) and Mark Bomback. Keanu Reeves
(the “Matrix” series), Rachel Weisz (“Runaway
Jury”), Tilda Swinton (“The Statement”),
Djimon Hounsou (“Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle
of Life”) and Gavin Rossdale (“Zoolander”)
star. Warner Bros releases it Sept. 17.
“The Stepford Wives” is a remake
of the 1974 thriller about suburban wives who find themselves
systematically replaced by more compliant, more fully endowed
robots. It’s based on the novel by Ira Levin (“Rosemary’s
Baby”). Frank Oz (“In & Out,” “Bowfinger,” “The
Score”) directs from a screenplay by Paul Rudnick
(“Isn’t She Great,” “Marci X”).
Nicole Kidman (“The Hours,” “The Human
Stain,” “Cold Mountain”), Matthew Broderick
(“You Can Count On Me”), Christopher Walken
(“The Rundown,” “Envy”), Glenn
Close (“Anything Else”), Bette Midler (“What
Women Want”), Roger Bart (“The Insider”)
and recording artist Faith Hill star. Paramount finds June
11 to be the perfect release date.
“Sounds Of Thunder” is a fantasy
actioner about a game hunter who embarks on a time-traveling
safari in search of dinosaurs. Peter Hyams (“The
Musketeer”) directs from a screenplay by Thomas Dean
Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer, Clement Enlatarne and Gregory
Poirier (“See Spot Run,” “Tomcats”).
Ben Kingsley (“House of Sand and Fog,” “Thunderbirds”),
Edward Burns (“Life or Something Like It,” “Confidence”),
Catherine McCormack (“Spy Games,” “The
Weight of Water”) and August Zirner (“Bella
Martha”) star. Warner Bros. mounts it on the wall
Aug. 20.
“Thunderbirds” is a feature version
of the British comic book and marionette TV series about
hot-shot aviators who combat uncanny evil. Jonathan Frakes
(“Clockstoppers”) directs from a screenplay
by William Osborne (“The Scorpion King”) and
Michael McCullers (“Austin Powers in Goldmember”).
Ben Kingsley (“Sounds of Thunder”), Anthony
Edwards (“Northfork”), Bill Paxton (“Spy
Kids 3D” “Broken Lizard’s Club Dread”),
Lex Shrapnel (“K-19: The Widowmaker”), Sophia
Myles (“From Hell,” “Underworld”),
Dominic Colenso and Ben Torgeson star. Universal pulls
the strings Aug. 6.
It’s “Alien vs. Predator” vs. “Thunderbirds” vs. “Code
46,” which MGM also bows on Aug 6. The sci-fi romantic
thriller is about a man who falls for a mysterious woman
and later discovers that she was cloned from his mother’s
DNA. Michael Winterbottom (“24 Hour Party People”)
directs from a screenplay by Frank Cottrell Boyce (“Hilary
and Jackie,” “24 Hour Party People”).
Tim Robbins (“Mystic River”) and Samantha Morton
(“Morvern Callar,” “In America”)
star.
“Riddick” is the follow-up to
2000’s “Pitch Black.” The sci-fi actioner
is about an escaped convict who learns more about his special
vision powers as he is drawn into a galactic war. It was
written and directed by David Twohy (“Pitch Black,” “Below”).
Vin Diesel (“A Man Apart”) reprises the titular
role. Thandie Newton (“The Truth About Charlie”),
Judi Dench (“Die Another Day”), Colm Feore
(“National Security,” “Highwaymen,” “Paycheck”)
and Karl Urban (“The Return of the King”) co-star.
It’s also known as “The Chronicles of Riddick” and “Pitch
Black 2.” Universal lights up movie screens June
11.
What’s a recap of fantasy movies without
the undead? “Resident Evil II” has got a city
overrun by zombies. In it, elite military operative Alice
finds herself teaming with cop Jill Valentine to combat
the hulking monster Nemesis while trying to remain more
traditionally undead herself. Returnees from part one include
screenwriter Paul W.S. Anderson (“Alien vs. Predator”)
and actors Milla Jovovich (“Dummy”) and Eric
Mabius (“Cruel Intentions”). Longtime second-unit
director Alexander Witt (“Daredevil,” “The
Italian Job,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”)
makes his feature directorial debut. Other newcomers to
the series include Sienna Guillory (“The Time Machine”),
Oded Fehr (“The Mummy Returns”), Sandrine Holt
(“Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever”), Mike Epps (“The
Fighting Temptations”), Zack Ward (“Freddy
Vs. Jason”) and Jared Harris (“Igby Goes Down,” “Sylvia,” “The
Reckoning”). Sony hopes the box office is lively
Sept. 10.
Finally, “Van Helsing” is a
horror thriller, set in the late 19th century, following
Bram Stoker’s famed monster-hunting doctor as he
travels to Eastern Europe to single-handedly wipe out the
horror genre by destroying Count Dracula, the Wolf Man
and Frankenstein’s monster. Stephen Sommers (the “Mummy” franchise)
writes and directs. Hugh Jackman stars as Abraham Van Helsing,
Kate Beckinsale (“Underworld”) as Anna, Richard
Roxburgh (“The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”)
as Count Dracula, Will Kemp as The Wolf Man, Shuler Hensley
(“Someone Like You”) as Frankenstein’s
Monster, Kevin J. O’Connor (“The Mummy”)
as Igor, Samuel West (“Notting Hill”) as Victor
Frankenstein and David Wenham (“The Return of the
King”) as Carl. Universal has staked out May 7 for
the release. 
