‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Director: Destin Daniel Cretton
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink
Due: July 31
Having been forced, at the end of 2021’s “No Way Home,” to protect the multiverse by getting Doctor Strange to cast a spell meaning that everyone in his world forgets all about Peter Parker/Spider-Man (including his loved ones), Peter is now flying solo — both professionally, as an anonymous New York vigilante in his new Spider-suit, and personally, since his former girlfriend Mary-Jane and his best friend Ned have no idea who he is. While dealing with his own non-superhero issues, Spider-Man must also tackle “a powerful new threat,” but will discover while doing so that his own powers are evolving.
‘Masters of the Universe’
Director: Travis Knight
Starring: Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, Jared Leto
Due: June 5
Toy maker Mattel might have got a little carried away by the success of “Barbie.” It’s hard to see this swords-and-sorcery effort having anywhere near the same appeal, based as it is on a franchise that peaked some time in the Eighties. Perhaps the hope is that it will at least fare better than the 1987 live-action adaptation — in which Dolph Lundgren played He-Man/Prince Adam Glenn — which pulled in $17 million at the box office, but cost a reported $22 million. Here, British actor Galitzine plays the “most powerful man in the universe,” who must fight to free his homeland — Eternia — from the oppression of the evil sorcerer Skeletor (Leto), with help from his allies Teela and Man-At-Arms.
‘Disclosure Day’
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth
Due: June 12
Not much has been disclosed about “Disclosure Day.” But that’s OK. All anyone really needs to know is that it’s a new sci-fi movie from Steven Spielberg, who has serious pedigree in the genre, with “ET,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “War of the Worlds” in his filmography. The limited info we have comes from the trailer, which suggests that we’ll see alien life visiting earth in some form or another. It’s been described as “old-school Spielberg” by O’Connor.
‘Toy Story 5’
Director: Andrew Stanton
Voice cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack
Due: June 19
One of cinema’s greatest franchises is back for a fifth installment. With Woody off helping Bo Peep rescue abandoned toys, Jessie is now the leader of the pack in Bonnie’s room, with Buzz as her second-in-command. But when their eight-year-old owner receives a frog-like tablet named Lilypad, which swiftly becomes her favorite plaything, the old crew must reckon with technology threatening their place in Bonnie’s heart. So, naturally, Woody has to return. And, the trailer shows us, Buzz calls in some outside help too.
‘Supergirl’
Director: Craig Gillespie
Starring: Milly Alcock, Matthias Schoenaerts, Eve Ridley
Due: June 26
As we learned at the end of the first film in the DC Universe — last year’s “Superman” — Superman’s young female cousin, Kara Zor-El — has made contact with her last remaining family member. Kara (or Supergirl as she’ll be known) was raised on a chunk of Superman’s destroyed home planet, Krypton, and witnessed the deaths of everyone around her and has been traveling the galaxy with just her beloved dog, Krypto, for company. So, naturally, she’s a little less strait-laced than her more-famous cousin. Both Gillespie and producer James Gunn have described this version of Supergirl as an anti-hero.
‘Moana’
Director: Thomas Kail
Starring: Catherine Laga’aia, Dwayne Johnson, John Tui
Due: July 10
The tale of a young girl from the island of Motunui leaving home for the first time in order to save her community is the latest film in the Disney canon to receive the live-action adaptation treatment. Johnson reprises his role from the 2016 original as the demigod Maui, who accompanies Moana on her quest, while 19-year-old Australian actress Laga’aia makes her feature-film debut in the title role.
‘The Odyssey’
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway
Due: July 17
One of cinema’s greatest directors takes on one of the world’s greatest works of literature: Homer’s “Odyssey,” written nearly 1,000 years ago. It’s the tale of Odysseus, king of Ithica, who’s just spent a decade away from his wife and family fighting the Trojan War, and whose epic journey back lasts another decade. He has long been presumed dead, leaving his wife Penelope and son Telemachus dealing with an increasingly unhappy group of suitors looking to wed Penelope and take control of Ithica.
‘The Dog Stars’
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley
Due: August 28
The great English filmmaker helms this adaptation of Peter Heller’s post-apocalyptic 2012 novel. Following a pandemic that wiped out most of humanity, former civilian pilot Hig, his dog, and ex-Marine Bangley have banded together to try and survive, and to protect each other from the Reapers — murderous roaming scavengers. With encouragement from his love interest, a young medic called Cima, Hig begins to believe that there may be a better life available — if he’s willing to risk the life he already has.
