Alden Ehrenreich as ‘Solo.’
Women’s films (‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘Oceans 8’) and a proliferation of superheroes (‘Deadpool,’ ‘Ant Man’) signal the summer season
.ARNOLD WAYNE JONES | Executive Editor
jones@dallasvoice.com
The summer movie season kicks off earlier and earlier each year; this week, it arrives in a kind of one-two punch: First, the USA Film Festival returns for its 48th year (see story Page 16); and second, Avengers: Infinity War moved into April with its opening (see review, Page 20), meaning even May is no longer the launching pad for popcorn movies. And when we say popcorn, we mean a lot of sequels, prequels, remakes and franchises. Like, lots.
So, ahead of USA fest and the Dallas International Film Festival, which begins its weeklong run next week, here are some highlights to look forward to. (Opening dates are subject to change.)
APRIL
27
Disobedience. Sebastian Lelio, Oscar winner for this year’s trans drama A Fantastic Woman, returns to exploring sexuality in this story of a woman shunned years earlier for her attraction to a school friend. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star.
Avengers: Infinity War. See review, Page 20.
MAY
4
Tully. A new comedy reuniting Charlize Theron with director Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody (Young Adult). It might be the first of the summer’s tentpoles centered around strong female characters.
11
Life of the Party. Melissa McCarthy reteams with her real-life husband, director Ben Falcone, for this comedy (surprise!) about a divorcee who heads back to college.
The Seagull. Out stage and film director Michael Mayer directs this adaptation of the Chekhov classic starring Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Annette Bening.
18
Deadpool 2. The sequel to the self-referential comic book series with Ryan Reynolds is back with more tongue-in-cheek, very adult action.
Book Club. Oscar winners Diane Keaton. Jane Fonda and Mary Steenburgen, and Candice Bergen, play women whose lives get upended when they read 50 Shades of Grey.
25
Solo: A Star Wars Story. Ron Howard took over directing this outside-the-series space opera prequel, with Alden Ehren-
reich as Han and Childish Gambino himself, Donald Glover, as a young Lando.
JUNE
8
Hereditary. A hit at last month’s SXSW Film Fest, this horror thriller stars Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne and Ann Dowd.
The women take over for ‘Oceans’s 8.’
Ocean’s 8. Another entry in the heist series, this time featuring all women, led by Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett.
15
The Incredibles 2. It’s been more than a decade since Brad Bird’s retro deconstruction of the superhero genre amazed audiences, and the whole cast is back for a new Pixar adventure. We can’t wait.
Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist. A documentary about the radical fashion designer Vivien Westwood.
22
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Chris Pratt and company are back for the sequel-to-the-series-sequel about an amusement park overrun by dinosaurs.
29
Sicario 2: Soldado. Sequel to the acclaimed drug smuggling hit, once again with Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro (but a new director on hand).
Valley Girl. A musical remake of the 1983 cult classic.
JULY
6
Ant-Man and the Wasp. This is a superhero-heavy summer — dare we call it Marvel-ous? — with Paul Rudd back for his second solo outing as the mighty miniature man.
Sorry to Bother You. While Donald Glover is off in a galaxy far, far away, his Atlanta co-star Lakeith Stanfield headlines his own film, a sci-fi comedy about a magical key to success.
Whitney. A documentary that looks in depth at the life and legacy of the iconic pop superstar.
13
Skyscraper. The Rock’s third actioner since Christmas is yet another disaster film, this time set in a Hong Kong highrise beset by terrorists.
McQueen. Just as Vivien Westwood gets a June doc, tragic gay fashion icon Alexander McQueen gets his own.
20
‘Mamma Mia’ returns.
Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! Cher returns to feature films, once again alongside Meryl Streep (Silkwood), in this sequel to the musical based on the songs of ABBA.
27
Mission: Impossible — Fallout. Tom Cruise’s latest entry in the M:I series — the first one so far to repeat a director (Christopher McQuarrie).
AUGUST
3
The Wife. Jane Anderson wrote this drama, which is generating a lot of early Oscar buzz for star Glenn Close, who plays the spouse of a Nobel laureate who begins to question her life choices.
17
Captive State. Rupert Wyatt (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes) directs this sci-fi film about the aftermath of an extra-terrestrial occupation.
Crazy Rich Asians. Kevin Kwan’s raved about novel gets its big-screen adaptation as a wedding reveals secrets and wealth among second-generation Asians.
24
Slender Man. The film version of the internet sensation about a spooky supernatural character who stalks children finally arrives in theaters.
31
Kin. James Franco has become persona non grata in recent months, so his latest drama, about an ex-con on the run, gets a late-summer release.