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Alice In Wonderland - Source: ONE News -
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Who said history never repeats? 2009 might have seemed like the year of the sequel but 2010 is proving a worthy challenger, with a host of blockbuster follow-ups due for release.
Superheroes and childhood favourites will dominate the box office, as yesteryear's most popular characters undergo a Hollywood reinvention in 2010.
And you can expect to see new works from some of Tinseltown's most respected moguls, with new films from Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan and Tim Burton all heading to the multiplex.
Scorsese is first off the blocks this February with the much anticipated Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, the thriller marks the director's fourth collaboration with DiCaprio, following The Aviator, Gangs Of New York and The Departed.
DiCaprio keeps himself busy with a second major feature out this year, working alongside The Dark Knight's Christopher Nolan on Inception. The dark and brooding sci-fi thriller will also feature Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard and is due out in July.
Tim Burton brings his trademark brand of gothic whimsy to the big screen this March with his re-imagining of the classic Alice In Wonderland. Starring Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter and Anne Hathaway, the film has already captured the imagination of Burton fans, who have leaked images from the film across the internet.
Acclaimed director Ridley Scott also takes on a childhood favourite this year with his interpretation of Robin Hood, starring Russell Crowe. The Aussie actor will play alongside his fellow countrywoman Cate Blanchett when the film is released in May.
Other blasts from the pasts include a reimagining of the classic satire Gulliver's Travels, starring Jack Black and Emily Blunt, and a modern take on the '80s classic Tron - Tron Legacy. Both films are due out in December.
The A-Team is also in for a modern remake, with Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper starring in the summer blockbuster, while Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz will help to bring The Green Hornet to life when it is released in December.
Sequels fill in the rest of the movie release calendar with new instalments from Sex And The City (May), Harry Potter (May), Iron Man (May), The Chronicles Of Narnia (Dec), Shrek (May) and Toy Story (June).
The most anticipated films of 2010 will be determined by your nostalgia threshold but for my money - here are the titles I'll be holding out for.
1. ALICE IN WONDERLAND: Controversy abounded when Tim Burton first remade a children's classic, taking on Charlie And The Chocolate Factory in 2005. But the master of magical madness only improved the beloved tale. Alice In Wonderland promises to deliver a similar delight, as Burton avoids the twee and saccharine, bringing a darker undertone to the psychedelic story. With the added bonus of Johnny Depp playing the maddest hatter of them all, Alice in Wonderland is guaranteed box office gold.
2. IRON MAN 2: Those who enjoyed the first Iron Man instalment, stand by for take off. Part two promises to blow its predecessor out of the water as Robert Downey Jnr returns as the billionaire genius Tony Stark. Where the first film centred on the birth of Iron Man, it was simply laying the foundations for this follow up, which will see the superhero take full flight.
3. SHUTTER ISLAND: Martin Scorsese and his boy wonder Leonardo DiCaprio team up for the fourth time in what should make for some eerily enticing viewing next month. Centred on a missing psychiatric patient and the detective charged with finding her, the film promises some seriously twisted mind games if the chilling trailer is anything to go by. Originally scheduled for release last October, the premiere was pushed back to February, leading many to believe Shutter Island is a major Oscar hope for Paramount.
4. ROBIN HOOD: It was one of the most talked about films of 2009 - for all the wrong reasons. Sienna Miller was set to play Maid Marion, before she was dropped just weeks before production began. Some claimed it was because the whippet blonde would have made Russell Crowe look like a fat, weathered oaf. Others said the producers didn't want her home-wrecking reputation tainting their $US130 million movie. Either way, Miller was out and the ever-divine Cate Blanchett picked up the plum role. With two Oscar winners in front of the camera, and Oscar nominee Ridley Scott behind it, the big budget remake is sure to be a classic in the making.
5. HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (PART 1): At over 600 pages long, it's no wonder director David Yates felt the need to split this final Harry Potter instalment into two parts. And while the first may not be quite as epic as next year's final release, it's essential viewing for all those who have invested their time in the previous six films - and seven books. After chopping and changing directors throughout the series, Yates took over the franchise in 2007 and brought a more brooding tone to Potter and his mates, which is sure to be more marked than ever as Harry embarks on his final crusade against the Dark Lord.
6. THE A-TEAM: First it was Transformers, now it's the A-Team's turn for an '80s big screen revival. But don't expect to see any of the original crew in this blockbuster feature. Leaving Mr T to pimp his chocolate bars and other wares on the small screen, martial arts expert Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will take on the role of Bosco Baracus - alongside Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel. Known for its cheese factor and appalling one-liners, the '80s classic is set to get a modern makeover with writer Michael Brandt claiming it will be more akin to Casino Royale and The Bourne Identity. Either way, it has awesomeness written all over it.
7. TOY STORY 3: It was the original CGI animation. Before Nemo, Shrek or Wall-E, there was Woody, the humble cowboy and star of Toy Story. More than a decade after the original was released, it remains a children's favourite and this third instalment is sure to delight both young and old as it draws on the excellent scripting skills of Pixar and the vocal talents of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. You can expect big things from this original trailblazing team.
8. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS: Nearly 300 years after Jonathon Swift penned his giant satire, Gulliver's Travels is scheduled for its first big-budget, big screen debut - following several television and animated adaptations. Jack Black will head an impressive comic cast, including Billy Connolly, Jason Segel, Emily Blunt and Catherine Tate.
9. TRON LEGACY: The future has arrived. What was once the stuff of far-fetched fantasy in 1982 is now a reality, so it's about time this sci-fi classic got an update. The original made a star of Jeff Bridges and now - 28 years on - the actor returns for the sequel, Tron Legacy . It's been a long time between drinks but we're confident this family favourite will prove as daring and dangerous as its predecessor.
10. THE EXPENDABLES: It might be a case of "so bad it's good" but there's something irresistible about the idea of Sly, Arnie and Bruce lining up for a geriatric action adventure. Sylvester Stallone wrote the film as a serious homage to action blockbusters of the '80s and '90s and approached all the original action heroes to join the ride. Jean-Claude Van Damme turned him down, as did Wesley Snipes and Kurt Russell, but the final line-up is still pretty sweet, with Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Willis, Jet Li and Mickey Rourke all heading up the cast.
