Moana
Release date: November 23rd, December 2nd (UK)
The furthest out of the animated movies of 2016 also has the biggest weight on its shoulders, when considering its stance as the 56th feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios – not to mention the next all-important Disney Princess film. As such, not much is known about the film, except that Moana Waialiki (Auli’i Cravalho) is a navigator who sets sail on the ancient waters of Oceania, eventually partnering up with demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) in search of a fabled island.
Expect cute animal sidekicks (this time a chicken and a pig!), dazzling animation, and the next “Let it Go,” all directed by Ron Clements and John Musker – creators of the somewhat forgotten Princess flick The Princess and the Frog. Walt Disney Animation Studios has been on a streak of solid flicks for a few years now and, although publicity of the movie has yet to begin being pushed (the studio is currently focused on the spring release of Zootopia), it’s easy to see the Frozen-esque potential of Moana’s feisty female lead.
– Mitchel Broussard
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Release date: December 16th
Gareth Edwards’ meteoric rise continues in late 2016 with the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Taking a firm step back from the trailblazing success of The Force Awakens – and all the new lore, characters, and ultimately, the universe it introduced – the director’s first entry into Disney’s planned Anthology series is a prequel heist movie that slots into the time period between Revenge Of The Sith and A New Hope.
Indeed, eagle-eyed fans may have already spotted the core plot point for Rogue One as it’s buried in the opening crawl for A New Hope. It’s simple, really – a ragtag group of daring Rebel fighters pull together in order to steal the precious blueprints for the Death Star from the Galactic Empire.
Still in its formative years, Edwards’ offshoot takes place in a time before the Empire became the dominating force in the galaxy, and the near-impossible heist is designed to scupper Palpatine’s rise to prominence. A fascinating and novel pitch, no doubt, and Rogue One stands as the perfect platform for Edwards to prove that the Star Wars cinematic universe does not in fact begin and end with the Skywalker family.
But can the director find success with a narrative largely devoid of Jedi and the Force? Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, Ben Mendelsohn, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen and Firefly alum Alan Tudyk will look to answer that question when Rogue One arrives in cinemas.
– Michael Briers
Assassin’s Creed
Release date: December 21st (US), December 30th (UK)
Between them, Warcraft: The Beginning and Justin Kurzel’s live-action rendition of Assassin’s Creed are shouldering a very particular set of expectations going into 2016. Though genres may divide them, each of them in their own right are gunning to produce the rarest of all cinematic phenomenons: a video game movie that is, you know, a genuinely good movie.
Compelling, yet nuanced, well-paced, and not disrespectful of the source material are just some of the factors lining the collective wish list of moviegoers – though, perhaps more so than any other adaptation before it, Assassin’s Creed is harbouring enough potential for Justin Kurzel’s film to dispel the lingering curse once and for all.
Rounding out the Macbeth reunion are stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, with the former on board to play the dual role of Callum Lynch and ancient Spanish ancestor, Aguilar. With a wealth of historical lore at its disposal, Ubisoft Motion Pictures is eager to nurture Assassin’s Creed into a bankable movie franchise. But before such a plan ever comes to pass, Kurzel’s feature will have to prove that it’s much more than simply the sum of its parts.
Situated largely in 15th Century Spain, Assassin’s Creed will thrust Fassbender’s newcomer into the age-old battle between the assassins and the Knights Templar, with our protagonist gaining the ability to unlock genetic memories through the Animus – a video game MacGuffin is ever there was one.
Even still, after serving up one of the finest Shakespearian adaptations of the last decade, we’re cautiously optimistic that the core trifecta of Fassbender, Cotillard and Kurzel can serve up another brooding slice of gripping drama, alongside supporting cast members Jeremy Irons and Brendan Gleeson.
– Michael Briers
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Release date: December 25th (US)
Wisely skipping over the Alice in Wonderland sequel, Tim Burton’s next film has much more promise as he adapts Ransom Riggs’ mixed media novel about time travel and super-powers.
Asa Butterfield, whose own otherworldliness has yet to be exploited in a Burton movie, plays the teenage hero, who stumbles upon the titular orphanage and must find the courage to help protect the peculiar children of Miss Peregrine’s home.
In a year filled with superhero movies, one might consider Miss Peregrine as basically Tim Burton’s X-Men. If you’ve read the book at all, you know that this tale about an unusual orphanage and the even more unusual residents therein should play well into Burton’s wheelhouse, with themes of alienation and bizarre camaraderie.
Like Edward Scissorhands or Ed Wood, the kids of Miss Peregrine’s Home feel like freaks who find family with each other, and Burton will likely push the extremes of just how freaky the story and its characters can get. Also working in Burton’s favour is the fact that he cast Eva Green as the title character, who was by far the best thing about Dark Shadows and maybe the most Burton-ready of actresses since the director’s own ex, Helena Bonham Carter. A stellar supporting cast of Burton first-timers including Samuel L. Jackson, Allison Janney, Chris O’Dowd and Judi Dench only sweeten the deal.
– Adam Donaldson