Award season is long behind us and the easily forgettable early-in-the-year releases have made their trivial debuts. Now, with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” kicking off the summer film season, we can look forward to the upcoming blockbusters and indie flicks that’ll give our suntanned (or burned) bodies a break as we enter the air-conditioned theater. Here are some films to keep on your radar for this 2017 summer movie season.
“Wonder Woman” – June 2
In a film genre that may seem oversaturated, it’s surprising that there has yet to be a solo superhero film with a female protagonist. Wonder Woman is finally going to break this chain and will be headed by director Patty Jenkins (“Monster”). A highlight of this film is the casting of Gal Godot (“Fast & Furious”), who was the sole redeeming quality in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” This appears to be about the origin story of the heroine, and it’ll be exciting to see how Gadot will carry the pressure of portraying such an iconic character. Hopefully, this can be the film that will help the DC movie universe get back on track.
“Baby Driver” – June 28
Fans of cult classic films such as the Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” are in for another exciting adventure as director and writer Edgar Wright returns in this heist film about a getaway driver played by Ansel Elgort (“The Fault in Our Stars”). With an all-star cast including the talents of Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”), Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”), Jamie Foxx (“Django Unchained”) and Lily James (“Cinderella”), this film looks to be another charming addition to Wright’s collection of genre-bending films with clever, comedic twists. Consider this film as an alternative Fast and Furious.
“The Big Sick” – July 14
Fresh from “Silicon Valley” fame, Kumail Najiani takes on the role of the leading man in this sweet biographical rom-com about the beginning of he and his wife’s relationship and the challenges that come with being an interracial couple. “The Big Sick” looks to be promising for hopeless romantics, indie and comedy fans alike.
“Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” – July 21
Although this sci-fi film resembles disappointments like “Cloud Atlas” and “Jupiter Ascending,” it’s this title’s source material that makes this a film that moviegoers must not overlook. This film is based on the 1967 French comic “Valerian and Laurenline,” which looks to be the influence of various sci-fi properties; the most famous example of this being “Star Wars.” Not only do the visual effects look to be worth the price of a ticket alone, but the opportunity to see a new space opera that is not already a part of a franchise is thrilling nonetheless.
“Dunkirk” – July 21
Reenacting the World War II evacuation of the allied troops from Belgium, the British Empire, Canada and France when they were attacked by the German army in 1940, director Christopher Nolan (“Interstellar”) returns to his convicted position of director and writer in this surefire cinematic blockbuster. If the trailer is any indication of what to expect, this film appears to be filled with high, unnerving tension that Nolan and film fans will be appreciate.
“The Dark Tower” – Aug. 4
The opposite end of the spectrum, “The Dark Tower” will be the fantasy film to keep an eye out for. Based on Stephen King’s eight-part series, the story follows Roland Deschain as he searches for the mysterious dark tower and what it holds. Starring Idris Elba (“Luther”) and Matthew McConaughey (“Dallas Buyers Club”), the film looks to be a mix of horror, western and fantasy, which are all genres that 2017 could use more of. This book series combines many of King’s other novels, which makes for a complex universe, but it is also described to be a story as epic as other well-known fantasy tales. It’ll be fascinating to see how this film adaptation will live up to its own hype.
