Movies To Look Forward To For The Rest Of 2018

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Now that we are over half way through 2018, the movie studio execs are most assuredly looking ahead to 2019.  However, there are still a cache of movies yet to be released this year.  Let’s take a look at a few of the more highly anticipated titles to look forward to before 2019.

AQUAMAN

Before we even got our first glimpse of Aquaman in last years Justice League, it had already been announced that the sub-aquatic hero would have his own outing.  When Arthur Curry (aka Aquaman) learns he is the rightful heir to the kingdom known as Atlantis, the reluctant king must man up to lead his people as well as being the hero he has become to the outside world.  Starring Jason Momoa in the title role, Amber Heard, and Nicole Kidman, Aquaman swims into theaters December, 21, 2018

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: FALLOUT

The fuse is lite for the sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise.  When a mission goes south, Ethan Hunt and crew, along with a few new allies, have to rally to save the day.  Almost assuredly, the film will be filled with death defying stunts, the majority of which will most probably be performed by Cruise himself.  Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson and Henry Cavill, Fallout flies into theaters July 27, 2018.

VENOM

One of Spider-Man’s most formidable foes will finally get his day in the spotlight.  In order to save his life, Eddie Brock will have to release control to the powers of the symbiont possessing him.  Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, and Jenny Slate, Venom takes over theaters October 5, 2018

THE PREDATOR

In the latest reboot of the iconic movie, The Predator returns.  When a signal is accidentally triggered, the result causes the Predator to return to Earth.  It will take a group of ragtag ex-soldiers along with a science teacher to make sure that the human race is not destroyed for good.  Starring Yvonne Strahovski, Olivia Munn, and Boyd Holbrook, the hunt begins anew September 14, 2018

FANTASTIC BEASTS:  THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD

A prequel to the world-famous Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second installment in the Fantastic Beasts series, set within JK Rowlings Wizarding World.  The film follows the further adventures of magizoologist Newt Scamander.  Starring Eddie Redmayne, Colin Farrell and Johnny Depp, the magic begins November 16, 2018.

THE MEG

The newest entry into the giant shark genre, The Meg follows the character of Jonas Taylor, who himself survives the attack of a massive 70-foot shark.  Jonas must move past the event and confront his fears in order to save others who are trapped in a sunken submersible.  Starring Jason Stratham, Ruby Rose and Rainn Wilson, The Meg takes a bite out of theaters August 10. 2018.

BUMBLEBEE

A prequel to the massively popular Transformers franchise, Bumblebee is set in California circa 1987.  The transformer is found by a young girl, battle scarred and broken, and together they each discover their place in the world.  Starring Haille Steinfeld and John Cena, Bumblebee transforms into theaters December 21, 2018

MORTAL ENGINES

Set in a post-apocalyptic type setting, the few cities that survived the “Sixty Minute War” move around on giant wheels.  In order to survive, the larger cities attack and devour smaller towns, in order to steal their resources to replenish their own.  Starring Frankie Adams, Hugo Weaving and Stephen Lang, Mortal Engines rolls into theaters December 14, 2018.

MOWGLI

The story of a human child raised by wolves, who must do battle with a tiger, as well as struggling to discover his own origins.  This tale will not be the Mowgli of the Jungle Book story we all know and love, but will have a rather darker, more sinister tone.  Starring Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Christian Bale, Mowgli swings into theaters October 19, 2018

HALLOWEEN

Forty years after the first installment in the Halloween franchise hit theaters, Laurie Strode returns for her final confrontation with the masked killer Michael Myers, thus ending a four-decade long nightmare.  Starring Judy Greer, Jamie Lee Curtis and Nick Castle, the terror will hit theaters October 19. 2018.

SLENDER MAN

A film based on an urban legend, Slender Man is reportedly responsible for the haunting and disappearances of multiple young children and teens.  Described as tall, thin, with unnaturally long arms, he is said to have no facial features. Starring Joey King, Javier Botet, and Julia Goldani Telles, Slender Man manifests in theaters August 24, 2018.

So, there you have it.  A few more movies yet to be released, rounding out this year in films.  Make sure you let us know of any others you are looking forward to, by commenting below.

What Does Phase Four Hold For The Future Of The MCU?

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With the release of Captain Marvel and Avengers 4 next year, phase three of the MCU timeline will officially be wrapped up.  So, the question remains what does Feige and crew have in store for the fourth phase of the franchise?  We have had no grand announcement, as of yet, from Marvel Studios, as fans continue to anxiously wait with the hopes of seeing a projection of further movies, along a timeline, such as was presented with phase one thru three.

We do know so far that phase four will be kicked off with the movie Spider-man: Far From Home in July of 2019.  If Marvel Studios continues its schedule into the next phase of three entries into the franchise each year, which characters could possibly hit the theaters after Spider-Man?

Marvel Studios has already announced plans for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and rumors are still flying of a possible Black Panther 2, so we know that both movies will factor into the fourth phase in some manner.  James Gunn did make mention of the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will be the last entry into what was originally a three-part storyline, confirmed to be hitting the big screen in 2020.  However, he wants to make sure fans did not take that as meaning the Guardians franchise is done.  It just simply means that we have gotten a good look at Star Lord and his crew, and their individual stories could possibly move on from there.  There were even hints Guardian spin offs, and possibly a back story on the creation of Rocket Raccoon.

Also reported as being in production is the much-anticipated Black Widow outing, as well as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirming a sequel to Doctor Strange “some point in the future.”  Disney on the other hand is keeping any information pertaining to phase four close to the vest.  Feige has stated he expected them to keep any information secret for as long as they can.  However, considering that Marvel Studios loves sequels, we may just see Captain Marvel 2 and possibly an Ant-Man 3 added to the phase four mix.

Keeping all of this in mind, the question now is how is phase four going to differ from phases one thru three, if at all?  We can pretty much speculate that there will be no entries from Iron-Man or Captain America (at least not with Steve Rogers in the patriotic suit), as both actors portray8ing the characters have so much as said they are looking for an exit.  And, depending on the outcome of Avengers 4, there may very well be more characters retired and shelved from the MCU.  As Joe Russo said at Comic-Con "everything has to have an end at some point in order for it to have value."

How Will The Quantum Realm Factor Into Avengers 4?

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If you have seen Ant-Man and The Wasp, then by all means continue.  However, if you do not want to be spoiled, turn back now.

If you have seen the after credit for Ant-Man and The Wasp, then you are more than aware that Scott is trapped in the Quantum Realm.  He had entered the realm to obtain quantum energy that would be used in an attempt to help heal Ghost.  Hank, Janet, and Hope remained in the normal universe, and communicated over radio with Scott.  All of sudden Scott loses contact with them.  The camera cuts to the normal world, and there are three whispers of ash.  It would seem that Hank, Janet, and Hope fell victim to Thanos’ finger snap.

 

With Scott now stranded in the Quantum Realm, there are so many directions in which the continuing storyline could go.  Keeping in mind that this is all speculation, as nothing is known for sure yet, but it is a pretty good bet that it will play into the Avengers 4 storyline.

We know that Janet’s extended length of time in the Quantum Realm changed her, she as much stated that fact herself.  Granted, she was stranded in the realm for way longer than Scott will probably be, but one has to wonder how the exposure will change Scott.  After all, this is his second trip within the realms boundaries.  It is almost a given that it will change him in some manner, even if a small bit.  Could he become like Janet, and transfer quantum energy with just a touch?  Or could he go the route of Ghost, and end up in a state of perpetual flux between our universe and the Quantum Realm?  There are so many directions and end scenarios the writers could take this particular portion of the plot line in. 

But the one idea that has come to mind is, because of his exposure to the Quantum Realm, could Scott be the answer to defeating Thanos’?  If Scott does absorb just a minute bit of the quantum energy as Janet did, could that be the key to the Avengers winning?  All this time we were lead to believe that Captain Marvel was the answer, because in the comics she defeated Thanos’.  However, there are plenty of times the MCU went off canon with their comic book characters.  Some they swung back around, and on track, but the MCU has taken artist license more than once since the its inception ten years ago.

So, the question remains, is Ant-Man a major cog in bringing down Thanos’?  And if so, how does he escape the Quantum Realm in order to achieve this goal?  So many questions, so much time to wait.  One thing is for sure, in May of 2019 we will get our answers to these questions, along with many, many more.

Written by:  Tracy Few