(via Shutterstock)
Super Bowl is HUGE.
HUGE HUGE … HUGE.
Apparently it’s a football game, so I’m told and – and here’s who won if that matters to you – but it’s also a chance for a metric ton of advertising of all kinds of items and, happily for those of us who love going to the cinema, lots and lots of movie trailers.
So here they are, along with a link to the ads, in all their mega-sized promotional glory …
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
Edgar-Jones stars as Kate Cooper, a former storm chaser haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado during her college years who now studies storm patterns on screens safely in New York City. She is lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi (Golden Globe nominee Anthony Ramos, In the Heights) to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. There, she crosses paths with Tyler Owens (Powell), the charming and reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures with his raucous crew, the more dangerous the better. As storm season intensifies, terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed, and Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives. Twisters is directed by acclaimed, Oscar-nominated Korean-American filmmaker Lee Isaac Chung, director of the films Munyurangabo, Lucky Life, Abigail Harm, and Minari previously, and an episode of Disney+’s The Mandalorian. The screenplay is written by Mark L. Smith (Séance, Vacancy 1 & 2, The Hole, Martyrs, The Revenant, The Midnight Sky, Marsh King’s Daughter). Produced by Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley. (courtesy First Showing)
Twisters releases 18 July 2024 in Australia and 19 July in the U.S.
(courtesy First Showing)
SNAPSHOT
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy, Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart. The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and those around her, will have unexpected & shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good… and the Wicked Witch of the West.Wicked is directed by American filmmaker Jon M. Chu, director of the films Step Up 2: The Streets, The LXD, Step Up 3D, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Jem and the Holograms, Now You See Me 2, Crazy Rich Asians, and In the Heights previously. The screenplay is written by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz. It’s adapted from Holzman and Schwartz’s stage musical Wicked, which is based on the 1995 novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire, inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Produced by Marc Platt and David Stone (of the Broadway musical). (courtesy First Showing)
Wicked releases Thanksgiving (27th November) in the U.S. and 28 November in Australia; part two will follow in late 2025.
KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic, sci-fi franchise now set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is directed by the American filmmaker / VFX artist Wes Ball, director of the trilogy of movies The Maze Runner, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure previously. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (writers of the previous Apes trilogy), Josh Friedman, and Patrick Aison. Produced by Joe Hartwick Jr., Jason Reed, Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver. (courtesy First Showing)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes releases 9 May 2024 in Australia and 10 May in U.S.
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE (DEADPOOL 3)
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Deadpool will change the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Wolverine. Or will he?! The third movie in the Deadpool franchise, Deadpool & Wolverine, formerly known as just Deadpool 3, is directed by the American producer / filmmaker Shawn Levy, director of many movies including Just in Time, Big Fat Liar, Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, Night at the Museum 1-3, Date Night, Real Steel, The Internship, This Is Where I Leave You, Free Guy, and The Adam Project previously, plus the All the Light We Cannot See series most recently. The screenplay is written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, as well as Zeb Wells, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Wendy Molyneux, and Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin. Based on the characters created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza. It’s produced by the MCU’s Kevin Feige, with Simon Kinberg, Shawn Levy, and Ryan Reynolds. (courtesy First Showing)
Deadpool & Wolverine releases 25 July in Australia and 26 July in U.S.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
After three death-defying adventures defeating villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to…give it a rest already. He’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position. Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po discovers heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by American comedy filmmaker Mike Mitchell, director of the movies Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Surviving Christmas, Sky High, Shrek Forever After, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Trolls, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, plus work on The Barbarian and the Troll series most recently. Co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, a storyboard artist and director of episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power previously. Produced by Rebecca Huntley. It’s created and animated by DreamWorks Animation (DWA) based in Burbank, CA. (courtesy First Showing)
Kung Fu Panda 4 releases 8 March 2024 in U.S. and 28 March in Australia.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Gru (Carell), the world’s favorite supervillain-turned-Anti-Villain League-agent, returns for an exciting, bold new era of Minions mayhem, along side his wife and fellow Anti-Villain League-agent Lucy (Wiig), their three adopted girls —Margo (Cosgrove), Edith (Gaier) and Agnes (Polan)— and the newest member to the Gru family, Gru Jr., who is intent on tormenting his dad. The family is forced to go on the run when they become targeted by escaped criminal Maxime Le Mal (Ferrell) and his femme fatale girlfriend Valentina (Vergara). (courtesy Wikipedia)
Despicable Me 4 releases 20 June 2024 in Australia and 3 July in U.S.
And here’s the full trailer, released two weeks ago …
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
Ryan Gosling is Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie—being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt)—goes missing. While the film’s ruthless producer (Hannah Waddingham), maneuvers to keep the disappearance of movie star Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film’s most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody’s good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt. The Fall Guy is directed by American stuntman / filmmaker David Leitch, director of the films John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and Bullet Train previously; he also still works as a stunt coordinator & stuntman. The screenplay is written by Drew Pearce (Iron Man 3, Hobbs & Shaw, Hotel Artemis). Produced by Kelly McCormick and David Leitch for 87North, and by Ryan Gosling and Guymon Casady for Entertainment 360. (courtesy First Showing)
The Fall Guy releases 24 April in Australia and 3 May in U.S.
And if you’re the kind of person who loves Super Bowl ads, then head to Entertainment Weekly for the full star-studded slate.