Sequels to watch in 2018

Nothing makes more money for Hollywood studios than sequels but not all sequel movies appeal to the film-going audience. With the overwhelming success of films like Wonder Woman and Thor: Ragnarok in 2017 over many others, it is palpable that viewers are interested in ideas and not individuals (Tom Cruise’s The Mummy reboot) and that superhero films tend to prevail over other concepts (Justice League, Spiderman: Homecoming, Wonder Woman and Thor: Ragnarok made piles and piles of money) easily.

The lackluster response to films like Baywatch and King Arthur made it clear that some things are better left alone. With that in mind, here’s a quick look at five sequel films that make for essential viewing.

Avengers: Infinity War

Our story begins with the concluding chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that will come in the form of Avengers: Infinity War. The film, slated to release in May 2018, will see the founding Avengers team featuring Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) take on the formidable villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) to save the universe from apocalypse of some sort. They will be joined by Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) and the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters. The film will have a follow-up chapter, tentatively titled Avengers 4 after which many of the founding Avengers will cease to exist. That means the departure of the likes of Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson and several others from MCU for good. With the trailer having garnered millions of hits since appearing late last year, it’s safe to say that Infinity: War is the most anticipated sequel slated to release in 2018.

Ocean’s Eight

Some call it a spin-off while others have dubbed it a sequel but what’s important to note is that the all-star Ocean’s Eight, unlike the preceding Ocean films, consists of a primarily female cast. Sandra Bullock stars as Debbie Ocean and leads the cast from the front. In the heist thriller, Ocean plans to rob the annual Met Gala in New York and assembles a team that includes Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina. Anne Hathaway also stars as Daphne Kluger in what is the heist film of the year. Directed and co-written by Gary Ross, the film is releasing on June 8, on the occasion of it being the eleventh anniversary of the original film’s release.

Mission Impossible 6

Tom Cruise’s presence did not improve the prospects of The Mummy reboot that bombed on the box office in 2017 but Ethan Hunt has never let Cruise down (except that one time in the third film) nor us, the audience, for that matter.

Having flung himself from planes and skyscrapers, agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is looking to return at least one more time as the ultimate super spy in the upcoming Mission Impossible 6.

Christopher McQuarrie, who directed Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, is helming the sixth installment as well in which Cruise is joined by familiar faces such as Simon Pegg’s Benji Dunn, Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust, Alec Baldwan’s Alan Hunley and Ving Rhames’s Luther Stickwell. In addition, Henry Cavill, known for playing Superman in the rebooted DC Comics-backed films, has been cast in an unknown role as have Angela Bassett and Vanessa Kirby (The Crown fame). Michelle Monaghan is set to return as Julia as well in this all-star vehicle. Given the fact that Cruise has been shooting for the film in locations like Paris, London, Norway, expect action sequences when the film comes out this July.

X:Men: Dark Phoenix

In November 2018, the fourth installment of the rebooted X-Men franchise will finally make an appearance and perhaps redeem things after the mess that was X-Men: Apocalypse.

Like the title suggests, Dark Phoenix will trace the story of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) and her conflicting, powerful side that emerges after an accident. Set in the 1990s, the film is directed by Simon Kinberg and also stars James McAvoy as Charles Xavier, Michael Fassbender as Magneto, Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, Tye Sheridan as Scott Summers/Cyclops, Nicholas Hoult as Hank McCoy/Beast, Alexandra Shipp as Ororo Monroe/Storm, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler, Evan Peters as Peter Maximoff/Quicksilver, Olivia Munn as Psylock, and Jessica Chastain in an unknown role.

Black Panther

Black Panther first appeared in Captain America: Civil War and the stand-alone film will surely give comic book fans a deeper insight into where things stand in the lead up to the release of Avengers: Infinity War.

In that sense, it is definitely a sequel of sorts to Civil War. However, of the many superhero films slated to release in 2018 such as Aquaman, Deadpool 2 and Ant-Man and the Wasp, it’s Black Panther that has us most intrigued.

Chadwick Boseman, who appeared as T’Challa / Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, is returning in the titular role alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

In the film, he returns home to Wakanda and has to take on the mantle of king while joining forces with others to prevent a war. Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film is releasing in February 2018. In fact, according to a survey by Fandango, it is on the list of ten most anticipated films of 2018. Watch out.