12 Films to Look Forward to in 2021

Sound of Metal, dir. Darius Marder

Riz Ahmed enters the awards race with his stunning performance as Ruben, a drummer who begins to lose his hearing. Struggling to perform gigs as part of a metal-duo, Ruben refuses to accept his situation; but staying with a deaf community for recovering addicts forces him to confront his denial.

This beautiful, superbly acted film is set for a UK theatrical release later this year.

Elvis, dir. Baz Luhrmann

Any new film from Baz Lurhman is worth getting excited for, as even his follies (I’m looking at you Australia) tend to be grand in scope and style.

This new biopic of the King of Rock and Roll stars relative unknown Austin Butler as Elvis, with Tom Hanks playing his manager – the notorious Colonel Tom Parker.

Production was paused due to the pandemic, but it is now set for a November 2021 release.

Nomadland, dir. Chloé Zhao

One of my most anticipated films this year is this new one from Chloé Zhao – and if you haven’t seen her previous film The Rider, go and watch it immediately.

Frances McDormand plays Fern, a woman who decides to travel across the American West as an itinerant worker after losing her job at her small-town plant.

It screened at various festivals across the past year, and hopefully will get a full cinema release in the UK in the near future.

Those Who Wish Me Dead, dir. Taylor Sheridan

This new thriller comes from Taylor Sheridan, the writer of the Hell or High Water and director of Wind River, and is based on the book of the same name by Michael Koryta.

Set against the backdrop of a Montana wildfire, a teenage murder witness and the survival expert protecting him are pursued by two assassins into the wilderness; the cast includes Angelina Jolie, Jon Bernthal and Nicholas Hoult.

One Night in Miami, dir. Regina King

The feature directorial debut of actor and director Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk) follows the fictionalised meeting of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke as they gather to celebrate Ali becoming Heavyweight Champion, with all four men at pivotal moments in their lives.

Although seemingly skipping a UK theatrical release, this powerful, brilliantly acted film will arrive on Amazon Prime in mid-January.

No Time to Die, dir. Cary Joji Fukunaga

Will anyone ever get to see the latest Bond film? Fingers crossed it will be this year, though perhaps later than expected. Daniel Craig’s final outing as the legendary spy was due for release in early 2020, then late 2020, and is now precariously set for April 2021.

When a “retired” Bond is called upon to find a missing scientist, he soon finds himself confronting a terrifying new villain who is out for revenge.

The Green Knight, dir. David Lowery

After the stunning trailer was released in February 2020, I’ve been desperate to see this new film from David Lowery (A Ghost Story, Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, The Old Man and the Gun), now set for release in July.

Billed as a medieval fantasy epic based on an Arthurian legend, Dev Patel stars as King Arthur’s nephew Sir Gawain who sets out to find and fight the eponymous Green Knight.

The Northman, dir. Robert Eggers

The director of The Witch and The Lighthouse has assembled a delectable cast for his new film, including Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, Anna Taylor-Joy, Bjork, and Skarsgård brothers Alexander and Bill.

A viking revenge saga set in Iceland, Alexander plays a Nordic prince who seeks vengeance after his father is murdered.

Production wrapped in December 2020 so we’re hoping to see this towards the end of 2021.

The French Dispatch, dir. Wes Anderson

The much-delayed new film from Wes Anderson promises to be another blissfully enjoyable slice of symmetrical cinema.

Described as “ a love letter to journalists set at an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th century French city”, Anderson regulars Bill Murray, Ed Norton, Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody feature in an incredible cast that also includes Tilda Swinton, Timothée Chalamet, Benicio del Toro and Jeffrey Wright.

Annette, dir. Leos Carax

It’s been nine years since Leos Carax’s sublime Holy Motors (easily one of my favourite films we’ve ever screened at Phoenix) and this new film will mark his English-language debut.

Rumoured to be a rock-opera musical with nearly all dialogue being sung, Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard star as a provocative stand-up comedian and a famous soprano, whose lives change when their daughter is born with a unique gift.

Dune, dir. Denis VILLENEUVE

Originally set for a late 2020 release, this sci-fi epic from Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) is the first in a planned two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic novel.

In the far future House Atreides are assigned stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis, but must contend with betrayal, the savage environment and the enormous sandworms that patrol the planet’s deserts.

Next Goal Wins, dir. Taika Waititi

Hopefully 2021 be the year we get to see Taika Waititi’s (Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) new film.

A comedy-drama based on the 2014 documentary of the same name, Michael Fassbender stars as coach Thomas Rongen as he tries to lead the American Samoa Football team to qualify for the 2014 World Cup Finals.

It entered post-production last January so fingers crossed it appears at festivals later this year.