As we head towards the halfway mark of 2021, there’s already plenty of hype around the movies coming out in 2022. However, we can’t forget about the blockbuster movies getting ready to hit the big screen in 2023. With a plethora of sequels and franchise continuations, here’s what you need to get ready for in 2023.
First up, there’s a lot of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies to look forward to. In 2023, we’ll be getting our first taste of the MCU’s Phase Five with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. This film will see the return of Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as the titular heroes, and Kathryn Newton taking over the role of Cassie Lang. We’ll also see the MCU debut of Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, who will likely become a recurring antagonist in the MCU for years to come.
Next, we have the highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The Marvel Studios production is the follow-up to the blockbuster film that broke barriers and box office records as the first Black superhero movie. The movie is shrouded in mystery of how it will handle the passing of lead actor Chadwick Boseman, who died in 2020. All we know is that director Ryan Coogler and the rest of the creative team aim for Boseman’s legacy to continue with the sequel. The film will likely see the return of the original cast members, including Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, and Winston Duke.
In addition to the MCU, there are plenty of other franchise movies coming our way in 2023. The fourth Indiana Jones movie has been in the works for quite some time, and it looks like it’s finally coming to fruition. Harrison Ford returns as the iconic archaeologist, and James Mangold is directing. While details about the plot are scarce, we do know that 80-year-old Ford will be performing some stunts in the movie.
Another sequel that has been a long time in the making is Avatar 2. James Cameron’s sci-fi epic was a massive success when it was released in 2009, and the sequel has been in development since then. The movie has been delayed numerous times, but it’s finally slated to hit theaters in 2023. The sequel will take us back to the world of Pandora, and we’ll be introduced to a number of new characters.
Finally, we have to mention the long-awaited Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, from writer-director Patty Jenkins. The film is aiming to reboot the Star Wars franchise as a ‘Top Gun’-style fighter pilot movie, and it’s bound to be one of the most anticipated movies of 2023. Jenkins has stated that the movie will take place in a “future era” of the Star Wars universe, following a new generation of pilots.
Overall, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year for movies, with sequels to beloved franchises and new properties alike. It’s never too early to start getting excited for the cinema of the future.