The new Paul Thomas Anderson
In the coming weeks, we will be able to discover quite a few films that marked the last Venice festival, such as Babygirl (in theaters 15/1) by Halina Rejn, an erotic thriller which earned Nicole Kidman the award for best actress on the Lido. Who blew it away from Angelina Jolie, stunning as Maria Callas in Maria (5/2) from the Chilean Pablo Larraín. While Brady Corbet pocketed a well-deserved directing award for The Brutalist (5/2), with Adrien Brody as a Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor trying his luck in the United States. And that ex-James Bond Daniel Craig broke his image in Queer (26/2), adaptation of the novel by William S. Burroughs by the Italian Luca Gudagnino.
Coming from Cannes, we will discover Wild fig tree seeds (12/2), which would have made a magnificent Palme d’Or, but the dissident Iranian Mohammad Rasoulof, who had just fled his country, was content with an almost insulting special jury prize in the face of this masterpiece. work of political-family tension. When the Italian Palo Sorrentino walked Gary Oldman in Parthenope (12/3), a loving ode to his city of Naples.
With the brilliant “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, Mohammad Rasoulof challenges the Iranian regime in Cannes
Will Terrence Malick have finished editing The Way of the Wind for the next edition of the Cannes Film Festival? The new film by the Texan filmmaker is in any case expected to be the Messiah. And for good reason since it stars Géza Röhrig as Jesus and Mark Rylance as Satan, but also the Flemish Matthias Schoenaerts in the role of the apostle Peter.
After the great Poor creatures (Golden Lion 2023) and the disappointing Kinds of Kindnessboth released in 2024, the Greek Yorgos Lanthimos will already be back, at the end of the year, with Bugonia (5/11), in which he casts Emma Stone for the third time. But the most exciting art-house film of the year is undoubtedly The Battle of Baktan Cross (6/8), the new project, shrouded in mystery, by Paul Thomas Anderson. Three years later Licorice Pizzathe gifted filmmaker will find the young Alana Haim, within a five-star cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. His namesake Wes Anderson will unveil (in Cannes?) The Phoenician Schemewhich marks his reunion with Bill Murray, but also with Scarlett Johansson, Willem Dafoe, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch…
Without forgetting A Complete Unknown (19/2), authorized biography of Bob Dylan by James Mangold, where the Nobel Prize for Literature is played by Timothée Chalamet. When young Jaafar Jackson portrays his uncle in Michael (1/10), biopic of the King of Pop directed by Antoine Fuqua.
Tom Cruise’s farewell to “Mission Impossible”?
On the blockbuster side, the end of the year should be marked by Avatar : Fire and Ashthe third part of the James Cameron saga, scheduled for December. During the summer, we will discover Jurassic World : Renaissance (2/7), the 7th part of the dino saga this time worn by Scarlett Johansson and signed Gareth Edwards (Star Wars : Rogue One).
We are especially curious to discover Mickey 17 (16/4) by Korean Bong Joon-ho, a Hollywood project in which the multi-Oscar winning director of Parasite returns to SF, with Robert Pattinson. Just like Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, Slumgod Millionaire) which, a quarter of a century after the brilliant 28 days lateroffers a sequel that promises to be impactful: 28 years later (18/6), still co-written with Alex Garland (Civil War) and always with Cillian Murphy, who, all these years, managed to survive (or not) the zombie attack…
Like always with Eddingtona horror western by Ari Aster (the author of the radical Midsummer), with Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix. But also with the Frankenstein by Guillermo del Toro, where the creature will be played by Jacob Elordi, opposite Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein. Note that Maggie Gyllenhaal will sign, The Bride ! (24/9), with Jessie Buckley in the role of the monster’s wife (here played by Christian Bale). The continuation of Wickedthe prequel to Wizard of Oz which is a hit in theaters, is expected for November 19.
“Wicked”: the fabulous prequel to “The Wizard of Oz” revives the magic by inviting Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo
During the summer, Brad Pitt will be appearing in F1 (25/6), thrilling thriller (partly filmed on the Francorchamps circuit) directed by Joseph Kosinski, the author of Top Gun : Maverick in 2022. From May 21, Tom Cruise fans will flock to Mission Impossible : Dead Reckoning Part 2 (21/5), continuation of Mission Impossible : Dead Reckoning in 2023. This eighth opus since 1996 should be the last for the 62-year-old American star.
Fans of the series Downton Abbey will be delighted to discover the third film of the British soap opera (10/9), designed as a tribute to Maggie Smith, who died on September 27.
The Return of Superman
Somewhat reassured by the box office triumph of Deadpool & Wolverine (which finished third in the world in 2024, with more than $1.3 billion in revenue), Marvel will launch at least three new titles in 2025: Captain America : Brave New World (12/2), which marks Harrison Ford’s entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thunderbolts (30/4), with Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, and The Fantastic Four : First Steps (23/7). First film of phase 6 of the MCU, the latter will notably introduce the characters of Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) and the Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby).
Rachel Brosnahan: “I grew up watching comedies”
After leaving the head of Marvel Studios to head the competition, James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) will attempt to breathe new life into Warner’s DC Cinematic Universe by putting into orbit Superman Legacy (9/7), where Clark Kent is this time played by the young David Corenswet (seen this year in Twisters), alongside the sparkling Rachel Brosnahan (star of the series The Fabulous Mrs. Maisel) in Lois Lane.
A new Snow White
Continuing the “live action” porting of its animated classics, Disney will offer a new Snow White on March 19. Directed by Marc Webb, the film will feature in the title role the young Rachel Zegler (skin not white enough for some racist detractors…) and Gal Gadot in that of the Witch Queen. 21/5 will follow Lilo & Stitch.
We undoubtedly preferred animation as such, with Zootopia 2 (26/11), the continuation of the explosive adventures of the rabbit and the fox, nine years after a brilliant first part. While the Pixar studios should treat us with Elio (18/6), which tells the story of the extraterrestrial misadventures of an 11-year-old boy.
The little ones will also enjoy the new adventures of the teddy bear Paddington in Peru (5/2), but also a musical version of Smurfs (16/7). While Jack Black and Jason Momoa will try to make them laugh by interfering in the universe of Minecraft (2/4), “live” adaptation of the famous video game.
- Release dates are given for information purposes only. Many will evolve over the course of the year.
Fabrice Du Welz rereads the Dutroux affair
After Love phew by Gilles Lellouche and Their children after them by the Boukherma brothers, at the end of 2024, French cinema will once again offer two literary adaptations expected at the start of the year. On January 29, sisters Delphine and Muriel Coulin transposed, in Play with fire, What you need at nightthe novel by Laurent Petitmangin. Presented in Competition in Venice last September, this powerful drama won the best actor prize for Vincent Lindon, in the role of a father overwhelmed by the fascist drift of one of his sons.
“What you need at night”: Everything can change into nothing
Also seen at the Show, Attachment (19/2) by Carine Tardieu is a beautiful adaptation of the novel by Florence Noiville, with a very touching Valeria Bruni Tedeschi. For Guillaume Nicloux, Sandrine Kiberlain will camp, Sarah Bernhardt, La Divine (19/3).
Twenty-two years after making an impression with The Triplets of BellevilleSylvain Chomet will be back with Marcel and Mr. Pagnol (15/10), which transposes the Provençal universe of Pagnol into animation.
The Dardennes back in Cannes?
On the Belgian side, 2025 will begin in force on January 22, with Feeling sick by Fabrice Du Welz, a very dark rereading of the Dutroux affair seen in Venice, and with Steel flowed through our veinsthe new documentary by Thierry Michel. Which leaves the Congo to tell the story of the Liège steel industry.
The following week, on 1/29, Jean Libon will unveil Strip-Tease Intégralcollection of five funny, absurd or touching documentary stories. While, on 19/2, the Flemish duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys 3 et 4) will deliver Patsersthe sequel to their action comedy Patser in 2018.
“Maldoror”: a disturbing and uncomfortable film echoing the Dutroux affair
Finally, filmed last fall in Liège, The maternal housethe new film from the Dardenne brothers, will perhaps be ready, in May, to enter Competition at the 78th Cannes Film Festival…
