From Left: Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Stanley Simons, Jeremy Allen White. IMDB 

We can't be the only ones not incredibly ecstatic about whatever Marvel is about to put out anymore (literally The Marvels). DC isn't exactly holding up the front with all that's going on with the Jason Momoa-led sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. A reboot of the Hunger Games franchise seemingly appears out of nowhere, a questionable Wonka is in town (what was wrong with the last one?), and Killers Of the Flower Moon is not immune to controversy. Since Argylle is still some time away, these are the upcoming movies of the rest of 2023 we're looking forward to, in no particular order (okay, maybe some particular order called bias).

The Iron Claw

Director: Sean Durkin
Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson

Synopsis
The biopic of professional wrestlers, the Von Erich brothers, through tragedy and triumph on the biggest stage in sports in the early 1980s.

Why we're looking forward to this
It's between the fact that The Bear's Jeremy Allen White gained approximately 18kg of muscle for the role, and Zac Efron's ridiculous haircut.

Napoleon

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Ludivine Sagnier

Synopsis
The action epic follows the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte (Phoenix), including visionary military and political tactics in some of the most dynamic battle sequences filmed in large scale.

Why we're looking forward to this
If you want anyone to do a cinematic homage to the odyssey of the historic French Emperor, it's definitely Ridley Scott. Apparently, a four hour long director's cut will be released on Apple TV+.

Poor Things

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruffalo, Willem Dafoe

Synopsis
A young woman (Stone) is brought back to life by unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin Baxter (Dafoe), but soon runs off with slick lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Ruffalo) on a whirlwind adventure.

Why we're looking forward to this
Yorgos Lanthimos! Emma Stone! A reunion since The Favourite!

The Killer

Director: David Fincher
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Tilda Swinton, Charles Parnell

Synopsis
A cold and methodical professional assassin (Fassbender) navigates a world without a moral compass, armed to the teeth and slowly losing his mind.

Why we're looking forward to this
The man behind Fight Club, Se7en, and Gone Girl cites this as graphic novel adaptation as a passion project for almost twenty years.

Saltburn

Director: Emerald Fennell
Cast: Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Archie Madekwe, Rosamund Pike

Synopsis
Awkward Oxford University student Oliver Quick (Keoghan) is invited by the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Elordi) to his eccentric family's estate, Saltburn, for one unforgettable summer.

Why we're looking forward to this
Saltburn marks Fennell's return since her Oscar-winning directorial debut Promising Young Woman. Fun fact: Fennell cameo-ed as pregnant Midge in Barbie. So crazy, we know.

May December

Director: Todd Haynes
Cast: Natalie Portman, Julienne Moore, Charles Melton

Synopsis
Two decades after a notorious tabloid romance, a married couple (Moore, Melton) buckles under pressure when an actress (Portman) arrives for research on a film about their past.

Why we're looking forward to this
Have we ever seen these two great women face off in the same film?

Priscilla

Director: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, Ari Cohen

Synopsis
Rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley (Elordi) through the eyes of his wife Priscilla Beaulieu (Spaeny), from a German army base to his dream-world estate at Graceland, in a detailed portrait of their marriage.

Why we're looking forward to this
A female memoir from Sofia Coppola's POV? Sold.

By now you've likely already watched at least one of the four shorts gleaned from Roald Dahl's literary world, retold through the symmetrical, pastel lens of Wes Anderson. This is not Anderson's first rodeo when it comes to a Roald Dahl adaptation, but it is the first live-action since Fantastic Mr. Fox was an animated take.

“I like the idea, right off the bat, of having a little company play the whole film,” the director told Netflix early this year. The release of The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison spanned the last week of September, keenly featuring different combinations of six key recurring actors. And perhaps you're wondering where you recognise some of these faces from. Successful thespians in their own right, here are some of their most notable work across film and TV that you may have come across. Or, if you've not had these titles on your watchlist, where to see more of their performances.

Ralph Fiennes. NETFLIX

Ralph Fiennes

Playing the almost fourth wall-breaking narrator across the series as Roald Dahl himself, Fiennes also repeats in minor roles as the policeman (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar) and rat man (The Rat Catcher). His collaboration with Anderson began from The Grand Budapest Hotel as concierge Gustave.

Where you've seen him

The Menu, Schindler’s List, Harry Potter franchise, Kingsman franchise, James Bond franchise

Benedict Cumberbatch. NETFLIX

Benedict Cumberbatch

The titular Henry Sugar also rotates as makeup artist Max Engelman within the same film, and Harry Pope (Poison).

Where you've seen him

Doctor Strange, Sherlock, The Imitation Game, The Power of the Dog, Patrick Melrose

Ben Kingsley. NETFLIX

Ben Kingsley

Is it me or is it always a delight to see Sir Ben Kingsley appear on screen? He plays the intriguing Imdad Khan, the casino croupier (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), as well as Dr. Ganderbai (Poison).

Where you've seen him

Ghandi, Schindler’s List, Iron Man 3, Sexy Beast, Shutter Island

Dev Patel. NETFLIX

Dev Patel

Rotating between Dr. Chatterjee and financial manager John Winston (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), Patel is perhaps the chattiest as Woods (Poison).

Where you've seen him

The Green KnightLionSlumdog MillionaireHotel Mumbai, Chappie

Rupert Friend and Asa Jennings. NETFLIX

Rupert Friend

The main narrator in the haunting true story-inspired tale (The Swan) alongside Asa Jennings, and well, Claud (The Rat Catcher).

Where you've seen him

Asteroid City, Hitman: Agent 47, Homeland, Pride and Prejudice

Richard Ayoade. NETFLIX

Richard Ayoade

You first catch Ayoade as Dr. Marshall, but later heavily disguised as the mysterious yogi (The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar), and once again as the reporter (The Rat Catcher).

Where you've seen him

The IT Crowd, Gadget Man, Travel Man

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, The Swan, The Rat Catcher and Poison are now showing on Netflix.

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