The 10 sci-fi movie franchises jostling to rule the universe
Rise of Skywalker may have signalled the end to the Star Wars franchise dominating the sci-fi universe and fans may be feeling the force of the dark side. But fear not - a new wave of films is jostling for universal popularity. READ THE LIST HERE
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Anticipation for the next big thing in sci-fi movies is moving as fast as the Millennium Falcon at warp speed, with the recent release of teasing glimpses at the upcoming blockbuster Dune.
Published in Empire magazine last month, the most recent showed leading man Timothee Chalamet as its conflicted protagonist Paul Atriedes training with blades in each hand and followed earlier glimpses of Chalamet with Rebecca Ferguson, who plays his mother, as well as co-stars Zendaya, Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin.
Helmed by acclaimed sci-fi master Denis Villeneuve (Arrivals, Blade Runner 2049), the epic scheduled for release around Christmas, is the second big-screen attempt to bring to life Frank Herbert’s cult sci-fi novel of the same name.
Herbert’s vision of a futuristic interstellar civilisation wracked by feudal infighting preceded Star Wars by more than a decade and is hailed by many fans as the greatest sci-fi book ever written.
And while fans of the award-winning book are keen to see if Villeneuve can pull off what others have so far failed to do, too-long deprived moviegoers are equally desperate to sink their teeth into another blockbuster space spectacle.
After Star Wars wrapped up last year with the underperforming Rise Of Skywalker, the crown for the next great sci-fi franchise is up for grabs for the first time since 1977, when A New Hope was released.
And while we still have to wait many months to judge most of them, thanks to COVID-19, here are the 10 jostling to rule the galaxy.
DUNE
Today, few people remember director David Lynch’s 1984 movie version of Herbert’s classic 1960s science fiction series.
That’s perhaps lucky for Sting, who played a bizarre baddie in that one, and Kyle McLachlan, who sported excessively electric blue eyes (the result of spice consumption).
While it tanked at the box office at least it made it to the screen, unlike attempts by Ridley Scott and Alejandro Jodorowsky, although Jodorowsky’s attempt did inspire an acclaimed 2014 documentary that captured his vision of what might have been.
Villeneuve’s new version has a star-studded cast, with Oscar nominee and Little Women star Chalamet, Ferguson, Momoa, Brolin and Zendaya sharing the screen with the likes of Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard and Javier Bardem.
Backed with more money and far better effects, there is perhaps no excuse for this to fail.
The story sees two noble houses, the good Atreides and the evil Harkonnens, battle for control of the desert planet Arrakis, the only place where the powerfully addictive spice Melange can be found.
Without its ability to extend life and enhance mental capacities, its value is incredible.
But, with prophecies, environmental themes and giant mutant space worms to throw into the mix, it is not a straightforward story.
With plenty of other books in the series, there is plenty of scope for a series.
AVATAR 2
Remember when this amazing 3D movie came out in 2009 and we all went crazy for it?
Well, 12 years later we should get a sequel, followed rapidly by a bunch more.
It’s easy to forget but this was the highest-grossing movie of all time until Avengers Endgame knocked it off.
If James Cameron can recapture the magic of the first — and actually apply some sort of storyline to it this time — this could be a sci-fi series that we still love in decades to come. Set for release late in 2021.
MONSTER HUNTER
Paul Anderson has made a name for himself not only through sci-fi but also through adapting video games, most notably the Resident Evil series.
Now he takes on a lesser-known game franchise, but has brought along his lead from Resident Evil, Milla Jovovich.
She plays the leader of a squad of soldiers transported to an alien world where they must fight monsters.
Obviously we’re not expecting mind-bending plot twists but if Anderson could get six movies and $1.2 billion out of Resident Evil, we cloud be seeing plenty more of these.
Also set for release late in 2020.
ARTEMIS FOWL
Disney has just released this one to Disney+ rather than waiting for a theatrical release.
Based on a hugely-popular series of eight books by Eoin Colfer, it is the story of Fowl, 12-year-old genius who comes from a long line of criminal masterminds.
But he finds himself in an ongoing series of battles against a secret race of fairies who may be responsible for his father’s disappearance.
Comparisons with Harry Potter are inevitable, if inaccurate.
But with the backing of Disney — and as long as they have stuck to the heart of the books and don’t try and infect the story with wholesome American apple pie-ness — this could be a winner.
Although, Disney has pulled it out of theatres and will drop it onto Disney+ on June 12, which doesn’t augur well.
THE ETERNALS
Yes, this is Marvel, so technically it is part of the superhero franchise.
But, now that the Avengers vs Thanos storyline is over, this will splinter somewhat.
One of the most intriguing films is The Eternals, starring Richard Madden and Kit Harington, both from Game Of Thrones, as well as Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie.
This race of immortal beings, able to fight foes on Earth and beyond could well become their own franchise.
So much so, we might one day look upon the Avengers as the series that led to The Eternals. Due for release in 2021.
THE TOMORROW WAR
This film is from Chris Pratt (Jurassic World, Guardians Of The Galaxy) and could be a one-hit wonder, or it could be the start of an ongoing franchise.
Earth in the future is losing a bitter war against a race of aliens.
So they decide to go into Earth’s past and bring mighty heroes from history into their time to lead the fight against the aliens.
Pratt is naturally one of the heroes they bring forward in time, kind of like a reverse Terminator.
Pratt has already started two franchises — can he make this a third?
Out late this year.
TENET
This is one that looks like it really needs to be a franchise.
But it’s from the mind of Christopher Nolan, so it could just be a singular work of genius like Inception.
The trailers feel very much like Inception, with John David Washington as a super-spy apparently able to jump back and forward in time.
A stellar cast includes the likes of Michael Caine, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki and Kenneth Branagh.
If the rest of the movie is as good as the trailer, then this spy should go on as many missions as James Bond.
It was scheduled to be one of the first films to release when Hollywood reopens for business, but a new trailer last week dropped minus a release date which doesn’t bode well.
ROBOPOCALYPSE
This is based on the book of the same name, about the human resistance against the machines following a robot uprising.
Steven Spielberg was to direct, with Chris Hemsworth and Anne Hathaway to star, but the project has now been taken over by Michael (Transformers) Bay, with a new cast.
With Bay at the helm, expect plenty of explosions.
But he managed to get five Transformers movies out of a slimmer story, so this could well be a sleeper franchise.
No release date yet.
CHAOS WALKING
If you have been wondering what Daisy Ridley (Rey) has been up to since Star Wars, well, she’s been filming this dystopian sci-fi with Tom (Spider-Man) Holland.
And it’s directed by Doug (Edge Of Tomorrow) Liman, based on a best-selling book by Patrick Ness.
It’s got the star power to do well — and keep going.
It sees Holland as the hero in a land where all the women are dead, until he finds Ridley.
To add to the fun, all living creatures can hear each other’s thoughts.
Could be big … could be the next Maze Runner.
It’s had a troubled birth but word is we finally see it in early 2021.
STAR WARS
That’s right bitches. Just when the other sci-fi films thought the Star Wars franchise had thrown itself down its own exhaust shaft and blown up, comes news that the Emperor of the genre is back.
Taika Waititi, the unbelievably talented mind behind Thor Ragnarok and JoJo Rabbit, has just signed on to write and direct a new Star Wars movie.
There will be no Skywalkers in this one — and probably no Baby Yoda from The Mandalorian either.
But, if there’s anyone that can make Star wars sing again, it’s this Kiwi genius.
He has to put out Thor Love And Thunder in 2021, so we won’t see Star Wars again until, probably, 2023.
But he saved Thor following the pile of bantha poodoo that was Dark World — and he also directed the last episode of The Mandalorian — so he might just bring Star Wars back to life.
Originally published as The 10 sci-fi movie franchises jostling to rule the universe
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