Fall 2017 movie guide: Our 10 most anticipated films

There are less than 100 days until Star Wars: The Last Jedi is released.

In that time, there are a number of movies slated to hit theaters that we’re very excited about. Blade Runner 2049 is just around the corner, and the most adventurous take on the Thor franchise, Thor: Ragnarok, is within our grasp. That doesn’t even take into account all of the independent or major studio films gunning for an Oscar nomination.

During these expensive theater going times, it’s important to be selective and we’ve chosen the 10 movies that we’re looking forward to this fall. They’re a collection of sci-fi, fantasy and blockbuster movies; there are superheroes and Jedi, car chases and romance. We didn’t include smaller independent projects or major dramas, but instead focused on the films that we’re going to cover.

After a decent summer that gave us Wonder Woman and Spider-Man: Homecoming, the fall is shaping up to be one of the most exciting for those obsessed with genre entertainment.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Starring: Taron Egerton, Colin Firth, Mark Strong, Julianne Moore and Jeff Bridges

Release date: Sept. 21

Synopsis: The sequel to 2014’s Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Golden Circle brings the British spy agency across the pond to America. Following the devastation of the organization’s headquarters in London, the journey to discover who’s behind the attack leads them to their unknown sister organization in the United States. When they realize they have the same common enemy, the Kingsmen begin working together to figure out a way to stop this destructive force.

Why we’re excited: Kingsman: The Secret Service felt like it reinvented the action movie. There was a sleekness to its cinematography, a ubiquitous sense of fun that other action movies often lack. The Golden Circle looks like it’s going to further that elaborate action filmmaking we saw with the original but bring an additional, ridiculous comedy to the franchise. Juxtaposing British and American culture can be tricky because they’re similar in many ways, but Vaughn looks like he’s figured out how to walk that line.

Photo: Warner Bros.

Blade Runner 2049

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright and Jared Leto

Release date: Oct. 6

Synopsis: It’s the year 2049. 30 years have passed since the original Blade Runner. After a period of prohibition, replicants have reappeared. A wealthy and god-like inventor, Niander Wallace, has brought upon a new age of dangerous replicants. Officer K, a member of the futuristic LAPD, is on a mission that leads him to Rick Deckard, a former Blade Runner and a key to solving this story.

Why we’re excited: It’s the return to Ridley Scott’s dystopian future that enamored us all those decades ago. Scott won’t be at the helm, but Villeneuve has proven with films like Enemy, Prisoners and Arrival that he understands how drama works. The world Villeneuve and his team have imagined for Blade Runner 2049 is spectacular, based on what we’ve seen in trailers, and Gosling’s Officer K is an intriguing character.

Also, it’s a new Blade Runner movie. What more do you need?

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women

Director: Angela Robinson

Starring: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hill and Bella Heathcote

Release date: Oct. 13

Synopsis: Professor Marston tells the story of William Marston, the creator of Wonder Woman, and his relationship with two women, Elizabeth Holloway Marston and Olive Byrne. It was his romantic and professional relationship with the women that inspired him to create Wonder Woman, despite their relationship being frowned upon in the year 1941. The movie will examine the retaliation he faced when he first debuted Wonder Woman and how he overcame that with the help of his partners.

Why we’re excited: Wonder Woman is one of the best known superheroes DC Comics ever created, but the story of her creator isn’t widely known. William Marston, who wrote under the pen name Charles Moulton, was an academic, but it was his polyamorous relationship with Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and their secondary partner, Olive Byrne, that inspired his writing of Wonder Woman. Annapurna’s movie will examine the secret lifestyle he led and how crucial his relationship to women was to creating the most powerful and influential female superhero of all time.

Thor: Ragnarok

Director: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo and Jeff Goldblum

Release date: Nov. 3

Synopsis: Thor: Ragnarok takes from Marvel’s Planet Hulk series and adds a little bit of director Taika Waiti’s unique humor. When Thor is brought to the planet of Sakaar, he’s forced to fight his old friend the Hulk in a gladiatorial battle. It’s only after they manage to free themselves that Thor and Hulk embark on a journey back to Asgard to stop the evil Hela from bringing the apocalypse to its citizens.

Why we’re excited: Out of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe characters, Thor has been in desperate need of a change. The first two movies were a little stale, but that looks like it’ll change with Ragnarok. Bringing director Taika Waititi on board ensures a level of absurd humor that will take advantage of Hemsworth and Hiddleston’s comedic talents. Add in Jeff Goldblum essentially just playing Jeff Goldblum and it’s become one of our most anticipated movies of the year.

Warner Bros.

Justice League

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Amy Adams and Amber Heard

Release date: Nov. 17

Synopsis: In a post-Superman world, Bruce Wayne is on a hunt for more superheroes to form a team that can take down an approaching evil. He forms the Justice League with Flash, Cyborg, Wonder Woman and Aquaman just in the nick of time, too, as a deadly foe named Steppenwolf unleashes his own army on Earth.

Why we’re excited: This is the culmination of everything Warner Bros. and DC Comics have been working on the past few years. We saw Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman come together in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, but this will give the Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman a chance to shine in their respective roles as part of the Justice League. Despite the production complications Justice League has suffered, the film has the potential to be one of Warner Bros.’ biggest and best.

Death Wish

Director: Eli Roth

Starring: Bruce Willis, Vincent D’Onofrio and Elisabeth Shue

Release date: Nov. 22

Synopsis: A mild-mannered doctor from Chicago is forced to go on a violent, vindictive rampage across the city when his wife is murdered and his daughter is attacked by a group of assailants.

Why we’re excited: After a string of bad movies, Eli Roth is back with something to prove. The director’s adaptation of Michael Winner’s 1974 film, which was inspired by Brian Garfield’s book of the same name, comes with some raised eyebrows. It’s a big project and presumably one that Roth wouldn’t have taken if he was unsure he could nail a more modern version of the story. Bruce Willis and Vincent D’Onofrio starring opposite each other is just the icing on the cake.

Coco

Directors: Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Starring: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Gabriel Iglesias, Edward James Olmos and Alanna Ubach

Release date: Nov. 22

Synopsis: Pixar’s Coco is set in a creepier version of a village inhabited by main character Miguel’s dead relatives. When Miguel accidentally joins the Land of the Dead, he must decide what’s more important: family or music. If he wants to play music, he’ll remain in the Land of the Dead and if he wants to see his family again, he’ll have to give up music.

Why we’re excited: We’re excited any time a new Pixar movie is on the horizon, but the story about a boy who wants to play music in a family that has forbidden it, set in the Land of the Dead, has us vibrating.

The Disaster Artist

Director: James Franco

Starring: James Franco, Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Lizzie Caplan

Release date: Dec. 8

Synopsis: A behind-the-scenes look at director Tommy Wiseau’s acclaimed, “best worst” movie of all time, The Room.

Why we’re excited: Any serious fan of The Room has read Greg Sestero’s book, The Disaster Artist, and waited for someone to bring it to the big screen. The story of how Tommy Wiseau made the best, most celebrated worst movie of all time is fascinating. James Franco, an actor who has suffered from some perplexing career decisions himself, seems to be the perfect person to both direct and star in the film. Best case scenario, we get the movie we’ve always wanted about the making-of process behind The Room. Worst case scenario, we get something that’s akin to The Room. Honestly, both would be fine.

Lucasfilm/Disney

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Directed by: Rian Johnson

Starring: Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, Carrie Fisher and Gwendoline Christie

Release date: Dec. 15

Synopsis: Luke Skywalker has been found on the planet of Ahch-To by Rey. The war between the First Order and the Resistance is growing. Finn will have to make a difficult decision regarding his future. Kylo Ren is plotting revenge against Rey following his humiliating loss to her during their battle in the woods.

Why we’re excited: It’s Star Wars. Need we say more?

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Directed by: Jake Kasdan

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart and Jack Black

Release date: Dec. 20

Synopsis: When four teenagers get transported into the world of an ‘80s video game, they have to band together fight and find their way back to the real world.

Why we’re excited: At first we were concerned about a new Jumanji movie, but the fact that it’s quite a departure from the original and Dwayne Johnson is starring in it has eased our nerves. We’re big fans of all four actors and think this may be a good comedy to round out the year.