Retrospective 2016 – A Year in Film
July
Summer Dollar Free-for-all
Image sources: Universal, Disney, Sony Pictures & Icon Film
The summer cinema season got into full flow in July as several studios threw their chips on the table with a whole host of big blockbuster releases; from long-awaited sequels like ‘Jason Bourne’ and ‘Finding Dory’, to short awaited one ‘Star Trek Beyond’ and latest “Tarzan” iteration ‘The Legend of Tarzan’, as well as Steven Spielberg’s screen adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ‘The BFG’ and the polarising all-female ‘Ghostbusters’ reboot.
A usual though the big summer releases were balanced out by more nuanced and offbeat fare in the form of foreign language releases such as dark and bizarre comedy/dramas like Greece’s ‘Chevalier’ and Denmark’s ‘Men & Chicken’, as well as dark minimalist Chilean drama ‘From Afar’, and we also got to bear witness to Nicolas Winding Refn’s latest dark and provocative visual feast ‘The Neon Demon’.
The Con 2016
July also mean the return of world’s biggest pop-media convention to northern California, with comic-book, Movie, video-game and TV fans amassing to share passions at geek “Valhalla”. As usual the world’s biggest publishers and media conglomerates were present to promote & sell their wares, and give us a glimpse of what to expect over the next 12 months and beyond. You can check out our full recap of Comic-Con 2016 with full cast panel videos here, below are some of the movie highlights from this year.
The Bros. Conquer the Con
Wonder Woman
Image Source: Getty Images
Taking full advantage of 20th Century Fox’s conspicuous absence this year; Warner Bros. did a sterling job in filling the void by showing up in force and wrangling the MC-ing skills of Conan O’Brien, kicking off their Hall H takeover with the panel for 2017’s much anticipated ‘Wonder Woman’.
“Diana Prince” herself Gal Gadot was in attendance along with co-stars Chris Pine and Connie Nielsen as well as director Patty Jenkins, to talk about what to expect from the first “Justice League” film to follow this year’s much maligned ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’. ‘Wonder Woman’ is out on the 2nd of June 2017 in the UK & US.
Justice League
Image Source: AP
As David Ayer did last year while still shooting ‘Suicide Squad’; director Zack Snyder made a brief Hall H walk-on appearance, bringing an exclusive trailer and the main cast of the “Justice League”; Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher and Henry Cavill. ‘Justice League’ is out on the 17th of November 2017 in the UK and US.
Suicide Squad
Image Source: AP
Following on from his all-too-brief visit last year, and not one to miss a last pre-release push; writer/director David Ayer was on hand to blow the trumpet for the “Bad Guys” and talk all things ‘Suicide Squad’.
He was joined by his cast in a fully stocked panel which included; Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Scott Eastwood, Adam Beach and Karen Fukuhara.
Kong: Skull Island
Image Source: AP
The crowd in Hall H were also treated to non superhero or non comic-book fare, with Warner Bros. showcasing some other big releases. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts brought an impressive cast to talk about his fresh new take on the “King Kong” mythology ‘Skull Island‘, a Vietnam era adventure about a capable group of explorers who discover a dangerous uncharted island.
The ‘Kong: Skull Island’ panel included stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman, Corey Hawkins and Jason Mitchell as well as director Vogt-Roberts, ‘Kong: Skull Island’ is out on the 10th of March 2017 in the UK & US.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Image Source: AP
One of the most popular events this year was the panel for much anticipated ‘Harry Potter’ spinoff/prequel ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’; on call was director David Yates and stars Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol and Ezra Miller to talk about their magical 1920s New York fantasy adventure.
Marvelous Feige
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Image Source: Getty Images
Not to be outdone by his DC and Warner Bros. counterparts; President of Marvel Studios and chief architect of the modern comic book film revolution Kevin Feige was in town once again this year, along with the directors and casts of several upcoming Marvel projects, for some brief walk-ons and full cast panels.
Culminating in an energetic and rather creative cast panel for the much anticipated ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’, complete with actors in and out of costume and a teaser which nobody outside the hall is privy to. In attendance along with director James Gunn were stars; Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker and Dave Bautista, along with Marvel newcomers Elizabeth Debicki, Pom Klementieff and Kurt Russell. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ is out on the 28th of April 2017 in the UK, and the 5th of May 2017 in the US.
Doctor Strange
Image Source: Getty Images
Feige also introduced the assembled Hall H masses to the director and cast of the most imminent and probably the most unique comic-book movie we’re bound to see for a while.
“Doctor Strange” himself Benedict Cumberbatch was on show with fellow stars Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen and Benedict Wong, along with director Scott Derrickson; to talk briefly but reveal little about their adaptation of this distinctly mystical and transcendental part of the Marvel universe.
Black Panther & Spider-Man: Homecoming
Image Source: Getty Images
Arguably the two standout stars of the recent ‘Captain America: Civil War’ were the two new additions to the MCU, “Black Panther” and “Spider-Man”. And despite the former not having started shooting yet and the latter being only weeks into the process, the directors and casts of both upcoming solo films were in attendance for a brief walk-on appearance.
On hand from ‘Black Panther’ were director Ryan Coogler and star Chadwick Boseman, as well as cast members Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Michael B. Jordan. From ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ we were introduced to director Jon Watts and star Tom Holland, as well as cast members Laura Harrier, Tony Revolori, Jacob Batalon and Zendaya for the spidey one’s return to his spiritual home. ‘Black Panther’ is out on the 6th of July 2018 in the UK and 16th of February in the US, ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ is out on the 7th of July 2017 in the UK and US.
Those We Lost
Image source: Warner, Granada, MGM & Sony Pictures
This July meant the loss of classic Hollywood actress and second ever screen “Lois Lane” Noel Neill (95) (Superman, Junior Prom) and British television comedy star Caroline Aherne (52) (The Mrs. Merton Show, The Royle Family), as well as veteran writer/director Michael Cimino (77) (The Deer Hunter, Heaven’s Gate) and legendary American comedy & drama actor/writer/director/producer Garry Marshall (81) (Beaches, Pretty Woman).
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