Written by Charissa Roberson
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous highly anticipated films have had to be significantly delayed. However, with the arrival of 2021, these films are finally heading to our screens. Here are some of the biggest films premiering this year!
On June 11, a full year after its original release date, Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical “In the Heights” is coming to the big screen! Starring Anthony Ramos and Miranda himself, this vibrant, pulse-pounding musical showcases a day in the neighborhood of Washington Heights, New York City. With big dance numbers and exhilarating music, this film will be worth the wait to see with a live audience.
Marvel fans have been waiting a long time for Black Widow to get her own solo film. The wait was even longer than expected, as “Black Widow”’s release date was repeatedly delayed due to the pandemic. But on July 9, Scarlett Johansson’s iconic character will finally return to the screen, this time in a leading role. Another Marvel film will follow a few months later, when “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” premieres on Sept. 3. “Shang-Chi” is Marvel’s first Asian-led superhero film, and, if all goes to plan, it will also be the studio’s first film releasing solely in theaters – and not simultaneously on a streaming platform – following the pandemic (Hollywood Reporter, The Verge).
A cinematic remake of the sci-fi epic “Dune,” starring Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, was set to release late last year. Helmed by Denis Villeneuve, the visionary director of “Arrival,” “Dune” stirred up excited buzz from those who saw its stunning previews. Now, on Oct. 1, audiences will finally get to experience “Dune” in its entirety, and depending on the film’s reception, a sequel could be in the works (Tech Radar).
Rounding off the year is another musical-turned-movie and yet another Marvel film! The title “West Side Story” and the name “Steven Spielberg” attached to one project would be enough to ramp up anticipation, even if the film’s release hadn’t been pushed back a full calendar year. With a new release date on Dec. 10, the musical stars Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in the iconic roles of this 1950s “Romeo and Juliet.” Marvel’s final entry for the year arrives on Dec. 17, when Tom Holland’s Spider-Man swings back into theaters for the third installment in the rebooted franchise. Audiences have been waiting with bated breath ever since the cliff-hanger ending of the second film – and the unveiled title, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” hints at some high stakes for everyone’s favorite webslinger.
Despite the hardships the entertainment industry has gone through over the past year, 2021 is looking up. With a line-up like this, it should be an amazing year for the movies!
