Once a year, we here at Gabbing Geek take a look at what is supposed to be coming out in the upcoming year and talk about how much (if at all) we are looking forward to those entertainment items.
Well, here we are again. Happy New Year, everyone.
MOVIES
Ah yes, the movies. Probably out biggest section every year, but here we are. What is coming to the silver screen that we’re looking forward to in 2023?
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
What is it? Guy Ritchie’s latest, telling the story of a Hollywood action movie star who gets recruited to do the real thing.
Why we’re psyched! C’mon. This is the sort of thing Ritchie can do in his sleep, plus he’s reunited with his frequent collaborator Jason Statham.
Why we’re wary… This plot sounds an awful lot like The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and that played it a lot more tongue in cheek than I suspect this movie will.
Watson says: If this is 70% as good as the Gentlemen, count me in!
The Pale Blue Eye
What is it? A murder mystery set at West Point, early in the 19th century, where a retired detective is asked to find a killer before the newly established military academy is ruined by disgrace. Oh, and Cadet Edgar Allen Poe is the detective’s assistant.
Why we’re psyched! Christian Bale is the lead, and the book it’s based on is pretty good. Plus, it was shot more or less on location if not on West Point’s grounds, than close to it.
Why we’re wary… It’s a Netflix movie, but it’s also a January release. Does that matter?
Watson says: I learned about this seconds ago and already I am in a state of anticipation. Spoilers but I think Tom did it.
Knock at the Cabin
What is it? M Night Shyamalan’s latest, where a group of strangers confronts a family on vacation with claims they need to stop the end of the world somehow.
Why we’re psyched! Shyamalan does pop out a good movie every couple of years, and he does best when he sticks to what are basically B-movie with January release dates.
Why we’re wary… It’s still Shyamalan. There’s still a high probability it’s gonna be at best weird with a lot of talented actors giving really flat performances reciting lines that don’t sound like anything anyone has ever actually said out loud in the history of the Earth.
Jimmy says: I’ve seen the trailer a couple of times and can’t say it does much for me. I don’t like much MNS has done, including Sixth Sense.
Watson says: The trailer actually rung my bell a little, but so did MNS’s last trailer for Old. And that didn’t turn out so well.
Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey
What is it? It’s a horror movie about Winnie the Pooh and friends since they’re public domain characters now.
Why we’re psyched! Oh something like this has to know it’s a warped idea, right? It might be a hoot.
Why we’re wary… Something like this would be so darn easy to screw up.
Jimmy says: This will be awful. But hats off for originality.
Watson says: Always fun when something new enters the public domain.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
What is it? The third installment in the Ant-Man films, as Scott Lang, Hope van Dyne, Scott’s daughter Cassie, and Hope’s parents are sucked into the Quantum Zone.
Why we’re psyched! Who doesn’t like Paul Rudd? And Bill Murray? Oh, and KANG THE CONQUEROR is there!
Why we’re wary… The MCU has had more misses than hits since Endgame, but given the other Ant-Man movies seem to be more small stakes heists and the likes, why is Scott going to be the first hero to face off against Kang?
Jimmy says: Good question Tom. I’m curious what they do here with Kang supposedly being the next big thing in the MCU.
Watson says: This is the only MCU next year that actually excites me. Someone who has been around the MCU for a while is rare these days. But could it be middling like Thor 4.
Cocaine Bear
What is it? A dark comedy based very loosely on a true story about a bear that ate a large amount of cocaine dropped from a plane.
Why we’re psyched! This movie looks so freakin’ weird, like it tossed every screwy idea into a blender, that it just might work.
Why we’re wary… Director Elizabeth Banks’s previous movie was that execrable Charlie’s Angels remake/reboot/pile of garbage/whatever.
Jimmy says: When I saw this trailer I thought it was a joke. And it might be a very bad one, but it is a real movie. Unlike Peanut Butter Falcon.
Watson says:Two words: opening night.
Creed 3
What is it? It’s the next installment of the Creed movies, this time directed by lead actor Michael B. Jordan.
Why we’re psyched! Maybe Stallone is gone from the series, but bringing in rising star Jonathan Majors as a childhood friend turned rival is really promising.
Why we’re wary… Well, the Rocky movies soon became something of a joke, and it would be too easy for the Creed spin-off movies to do the same. So long as Creed doesn’t single-handedly win the Cold War or something, that shouldn’t be a problem, but…
Jimmy says: But I haven’t seen Creed 2 yet!
Watson says: This series has been enjoyable but a trade off of Coogler for Jordan poses a risk
SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS
What is it? It’s the next installment in the Shazam! series.
Why we’re psyched! Hey, the first Shazam! was, though not great, at least a fun, family-friendly superhero movie, and Zachary Levi played a good child-turned-adult hero.
Why we’re wary… Warner Brothers is such a mess right now, we should perhaps not be surprised if any and every DC movie scheduled for this year does not come out for one reason or another.
Jimmy says: I’m with Tom in the “good but not great” department on the first one. I actually think it was too kid friendly for me, but anyways. I’m sure I’ll see it as I see most all super hero movies. Though I still haven’t seen Black Adam…
Watson says: From the studio that BROUGHT you Black Adam…
John Wick Chapter 4
What is it? It’s the fourth installment in the John Wick Saga!
Why we’re psyched! Because these movies are awesome. Why else?
Why we’re wary… At some point in time, these movies might go from ridiculous fun to just ridiculous.
Jimmy says: Definitely a worry, but we’ll enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Watson says: I like all of them, but they’ve gotten worse with each installment. I suspect the trend will continue.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
What is it? It’s a movie set in the world of Dungeons and Dragons involving a group of thieves who steal the wrong thing for the wrong person and have to put things right.
Why we’re psyched! Fantasy stories have been doing better of late, and this one does have Chris Pine and an amusing trailer.
Why we’re wary… Well, this isn’t the first time someone tried to do a D&D movie…
Jimmy says: Well, I never expected to hear a Led Zeppelin song in a trailer for Dungeons and Dragons, but now I am cautiously intrigued.
Watson says: They don’t seem to be playing this one straight and that might save it.
The Super Mario Brothers Movie
What is it? It’s an animated adaptation of the popular Nintendo franchise.
Why we’re psyched! Mario actually has some rather deep lore and imagery that could work well with an animated feature, and Jack Black sounds like he had a ball playing Bowser in the trailer.
Why we’re wary… Yeah, Chris Pratt as Mario hasn’t exactly been embraced by the fans, and to a lesser extent, Charlie Day’s Luigi seems to be getting a similar reception. Plus, movies based on video games often don’t work…such as the previous Super Mario Brothers movie. RIP Bob Hoskins.
Jimmy says: I’m sure I’ll manage to miss this.
Watson says: I see everything but unless this gets stellar reviews, I won’t see this in the theater.
Next Goal Wins
What is it? It’s a comedy about an underdog soccer team, possibly based in a documentary of the same title about an American Samoan team.
Why we’re psyched! Sure, Michael Fassbender might be an unconventional choice for a comedy, but this is coming from writer/director Taika Waititi. That guy is usually gold.
Why we’re wary… Thor: Love and Thunder shows even Waititi isn’t infallible.
Watson says: This is the kind of film Taika should do. One of my top anticipated films of the year.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3
What is it? It’s the next Guardians of the Galaxy movie, the one that got put on hold during the period when James Gunn was fired by Disney.
Why we’re psyched! This is likely to be James Gunn’s swansong for the MCU as he took over DC’s movie division where he may get a lot more freedom to do stuff. But this one brings in Adam Warlock, the High Evolutionary, and, from the looks of things, Rocket’s backstory.
Why we’re wary… Pretty much the same reason we’re wary about Ant-Man given the last couple MCU big screen adventures.
Jimmy says: I think Ryan put it best after the trailer: it won’t be as good as Vol 1, but better than Vol 2. With it being the swansong of not just Gunn, but this incarnation of the Guardians, will they do anything to really shake things up with lasting repercussions? The trailer seems to think so.
Watson says: The Christmas special got me more excited for part 3 than the trailer. Even if it is only as good as Part 2, it’s a nice time at the theater.
Fast X
What is it? It’s the tenth (and according to some suggestions, final) part in the long running series of films that began as a Point-Break-with-cars rip-off.
Why we’re psyched! These movies, for most, are usually good for turning off the brain and watching cars defy the laws of physics.
Why we’re wary… These movies aren’t for everyone…such as Watson, who oddly enough hates these movies but included it in his list of anticipated movies, but he does that every year a Fast and Furious movie came out.
Jimmy says: I liked the first one. Two wasn’t great. Three was straight to video dreck. Then they got the band back together and 4 through 7, especially 7, were awesome. They should have stopped there. 8 was a huge step down and 9 was just putrid. Hopefully they can rebound with this, but I’m certainly skeptical.
Watson says: Sadly this isn’t the last one. Eleven is the final chapter. Sigh.
The Little Mermaid
What is it? It’s the latest in a long line of live action adaptations of Disney movies.
Why we’re psyched! Well, what little I have heard the lead actress sing, it does sound as if she has a hell of a voice, and that’s really all any Disney heroine needs.
Why we’re wary… Most of these live action remakes just aren’t very good.
Watson says: I want it to succeed just because of the haters bashing the color blind casting.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
What is it? It’s a sequel to the animated Miles Morales (and friends) Spider-Man movie.
Why we’re psyched! Because that may have been the best animated superhero movie in years, the best Spider-Man movie in years, and possibly in the top five for Marvel movies. Plus, do you know how hard it is to get Watson onboard for a multiverse movie that doesn’t feature Michelle Yeoh?
Why we’re wary… This one might suffer from expectations too high for any movie to meet, truth be told.
Jimmy says: That’s certainly a good point. Expectations are going to be through the roof for this. I liked the first one well enough, and it’s Spider-Man, so you know I’ll be seeing it.
Watson says: The trailer looks so gooooood! In my top five anticipated movies of the year!!!
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
What is it? It’s the next Transformers movie, this one adding the characters from the popular Beast Wars line/series.
Why we’re psyched! Well, the Bumblebee movie actually was pretty fun. Amazing what happens when you step away from Michael Bay.
Why we’re wary… One good non-Bay movie doesn’t mean that others will be. And for some reason, these movies focus too much on dull human characters over the cooler robots.
Jimmy says: I gave up on these after the dreadful Age of Extinction. I’ve heard good things about Bumblebee, so maybe I’ll catch up. And maybe not.
Watson says: I look at movies like this and says “Well…something’s gotta be in the bottom ten…”
Elemental
What is it? Pixar’s latest, this time about a water elemental and a fire elemental who fall in love.
Why we’re psyched! Even though a number of the more recent Pixar films have been a bit…questionable, the studio does tend to do better when it does something a bit more abstract and creative.
Why we’re wary… Well, the last few Pixar films have been a bit…questionable.
Jimmy says: Pixar films used to be must see for me, but now I almost have no interest in them.
Watson says: I agree with Jimmy’s pessimism on Pixar but this does look more like Soul or Inside out than the stinkers.
The Flash
What is it? It’s the long awaited cinematic solo debut for the Fastest Man Alive.
Why we’re psyched! OK, Andy Muschietti behind the camera and Michael Keaton reprising his Batman alone should be cool.
Why we’re wary… Has there been a more troubled DCEU production than The Flash? And will we be surprised if more revelations about Ezra Miller don’t get this thing shelved or something? That Batgirl movie got shelved for less than that…
Jimmy says: There is somehow good buzz for this film, even with everything going on with DC and Miller. Keaton’s return as Batman is intriguing, especially since we won’t get to see it in the aforementioned Batgirl. But I’ve always hated Miller’s version of Barry Allen, so there’s that.
Watson says: (sobs audibly)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
What is it? It’s Indiana Jones, back and still played by Harrison Ford.
Why we’re psyched! C’mon! It’s Ford as Indy! And no sign of Shia LaBeouf!
Why we’re wary… Ford is, what, 80 years old? No Spielberg behind the camera, and Disney has been hit or miss on its Lucasfilm big screen stories. Plus, yeah, Shia was not the only problem with that last one.
Jimmy says: I’m pretty sure I’m an Indiana Jones fan, but I didn’t like half the movies and despise Crystal Skull. But this trailer looks good, with a good helping of de-aged Harrison Ford which seems to indicate this will be heavy on the flashbacks to a pre-Shia era.
Watson says: The trailer made me more excited for this one than I thought I’d be at this point. Manigold actually excites me more than if it were directed by the great Steven Spielberg.
Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One
What is it? It’s the next installment in the popular Mission Impossible series.
Why we’re psyched! Tom Cruise pretty much always delivers, and even the worst of these movies is generally awesome all by itself.
Why we’re wary… Part One? Seriously? Has that ever worked? And for a movie series that is as forgettable as it is fun–the Gabbing Geek bullpen calls it cinematic Chinese food for a reason–would something like that possibly work?
Jimmy says: Tom stole all my jokes in his last line. They’re very good fun, but after the 4th, I dare you to tell them apart. They’re so forgettable, I even forgot the name of the 6th film.
Watson says: They should release the same film as part 2 the following year. We’d never know. 
Barbie
What is it? It’s a movie about the popular fashion doll starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.
What we’re psyched! OK, something like this could be the ultimate trainwreck of a movie, but look at who’s behind the camera for a moment: Greta Gerwig directed and co-wrote the script with Noah Baumbauch. Factor in the trailer, and it looks like the movie is out there to mock the whole Barbie phenomena as much as anything while questioning the sorts of things Gerwig often does in her work. That alone makes this worth a look.
Why we’re wary… It would be very, very, very easy to screw this thing up.
Jimmy says: I’m having a hard time figuring out the target audience for this.
Watson says: This is not the writer/director Team I would have predicted for a Barbie movie.
Oppenheimer
What is it? It’s Christopher Nolan’s next movie, this time a biopic about Robert Oppenheimer, the man credited as the father of the atomic bomb.
Why we’re psyched! Even weak Nolan works are often at least intriguing. This sort of thing is a change of pace from the more science fiction sort of work Nolan’s been up to lately, but that just suggests it’s the sort of movie he really wanted to make. Granted, Nolan seems that way about all of his work…
Why we’re wary… Nolan didn’t exactly win over many fans around here with his response to Tenet‘s potentially going to straight to streaming during the early days of COVID. Granted, that may have been due to the fact that a lot of people who worked on the movie other than the director and actors didn’t get their usual piece of the financial pie if the movie went to streaming as opposed to theatrical release, but for a guy who tells such great stories, you’d think he could have maybe addressed that idea somewhat…
Jimmy says: The trailer is…ok. I think if it didn’t have Nolan’s name on it, not many would be intrigued. (Though they’d probably leverage the deep stellar cast more in the advertising.)
Watson says: Nolan has never made a bad movie. I’m sure this will be fantastic.
The Marvels
What is it? It’s the next Captain Marvel movie where Carol Danvers teams up with Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan.
Why we’re psyched! Well, it’s the MCU.
Why we’re wary… And it’s the same MCU that hasn’t been firing on all cylinders lately.
Jimmy says: Not sure what to think about this one. Captain Marvel was mediocre. Monica Rambeau was a decent addition to Wandavision, but nothing that makes me want to rush out to the theatre to see her further adventures. And Ms. Marvel might have been the weakest MCU Disney+ show. Not exactly a recipe for Jimmy excitement. Jenny excitement…now that’s another story.
Watson says: I feel we are getting cheated out of a Brie Larson follow up but adding a ton of other heroes to the original. That’s how we got Bat Soup.
The Meg 2: The Trench
What is it? It’s the sequel to a giant shark movie that came out a couple years ago with Jason Statham.
Why we’re psyched! Hey! Giant sharks!
Why we’re wary… You know, that first movie was more stupid than anything else, but speaking honestly for a moment, how can Statham bash working in a Marvel movie when he makes something like this? I can respect an actor who doesn’t want to play certain roles, but don’t pretend something like this is any better than the MCU.
Watson says: The first one was dumb fun. Not sure they needed to go back for seconds.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
What is it? It’s an animated feature about everyone’s favorite ninja turtles.
Why we’re psyched! Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg produced this one, and those guys have a track record for comics adaptation that includes the likes of The Boys, Preacher, and Invincible. This one could have a bit of an edge or at least human adults can appreciate that kids just don’t understand.
Why we’re wary… It’s still a Nickelodeon movie, so how much edge is might have is up to debate.
Watson says: What franchise is more on its last legs: this or Power Rangers?
Blue Beetle
What is it? It’s an adaptation of the Blue Beetle superhero comics from DC.
Why we’re psyched! Jaime Reyes is a very different sort of hero in many ways, and his relative anonymity means the movie might be able to get away with stuff that better-known hero adaptions can’t.
Why we’re wary… Given the overhauling going on at DC, this one might be an anomaly in many ways. Will this be a one-and-done depending on what Gunn and Co. want to do? What happens if its successful? Does it even pretend to exist in the Snyderverse?
Jimmy says: Who asked for this? I suppose the same was said of Guardians of the Galaxy, so who knows. With everything happening at DC, it’s a wonder this didn’t get canned. It shows they have a lot more faith in it than a known property like Batgirl with the return of Michael Keaton as Batman.
Watson says: So much uncertainty around this one. I just hope it is an enjoyable two hours.
A Quiet Place: Day One
What is it? It’s a spin-off of the Quiet Place movies showing what happened in other parts of the world when those sound-sensitive aliens landed.
Why we’re psyched! Hey, it’s got Lupito Nyong’o in a universe that has been rather intriguing if nothing else.
Why we’re wary… Yeah, this just seems like it could be a bad idea if not done right. Don’t overuse the monsters from the Quiet Place.
Jimmy says: The first one was great. The second wasn’t bad, but was mostly unnecessary. Do we need a spin-off essentially covering the same ground as the beginning of the sequel and without Blunt and Krasinski and not directed by the latter?
Watson says: I like this world so I’m hopeful they’ll give us something new. Maybe scenes in a big city?
Kraven the Hunter
What is it? It’s the next live-action attempt by Sony to build a live action cinematic universe using just the Spider-Man characters.
Why we’re psyched! Well…I suppose this makes more sense than giving Morbius his own movie.
Why we’re wary… Seriously?
Jimmy says: Can Disney cowboy up and just please, please, please buy back the Spider-Man character movie rights already? A Kraven movie? Seriously? I mean, what’s next? A Madame Web movie? Bwahahahaha…um, what did you just say?
Watson says: Madame Web is the second most iconic Madame in all of comics, Jimmy!
Dune Part 2
What is it? It’s the next part in director Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune.
Why we’re psyched! Considering how little actually happens in the novel–much of the conflict is people plotting against each other mentally–Villeneuve managed to put together a great first part.
Why we’re wary… Well, he didn’t make the second at the same time as the first, so how far along is he in actually getting it done?
Jimmy says: Yawn.
Watson says: The first one had me hooked the first hour. The rest of the film was boring as shit.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
What is it? It’s basically the origin story for The Hunger Games‘s villainous President Snow.
Why we’re psyched! Considering the sort of story this is, this movie once again features an overqualified cast, a young up-and-comer (Rachel Zegler), and returning director Francis Lawrence. As long as they don’t split the movie into two parts, it should work.
Why we’re wary… Do prequels ever work?
Jimmy says: Not often.
Watson says: If it is on par with Part 2, consider that a success.
Wonka
What is it? It’s basically the origin story for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory‘s villainous Willy Wonka.
Why we’re psyched! Ever realize what a twisted SOB Willy Wonka is? Maybe this version starring Timothee Chalamet will show just that.
Why we’re wary… Do prequels ever work?
Jimmy says: Not often.
Watson says: I have never seen a single Willy Wonka movie all the way through.
The Color Purple
What is it? It’s a film adaptation of the stage musical based on Alice Walker’s novel.
Why we’re psyched! Admit it: if you didn’t know what this was, you might have thought it was someone trying to remake a Steve Spielberg movie. This is a totally different sort of thing.
Why we’re wary… But it will probably draw comparisons to Spielberg all the same…
Watson says: The original is still on my blind spots list. Need to see that before this.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
What is it? It is probably the last hurrah for the Snyderverse.
Why we’re psyched! Jason Mamoa and James Wan probably found the right tone for a hero as goofy as Aquaman. The first one probably took itself far less seriously than most superhero movies, and it made for a nice swashbuckling adventure.
Why we’re wary… Oh, the usual Warner Brothers nonsense, plus some generally different-every-time DC nonsense. And if the movie bombs, plenty of people are probably going to blame Amber Heard whether she deserves the blame or not.
Jimmy says: I don’t mind Momoa, but RIP Snyderverse. What happens after this? It sounds like they are rebooting Superman even with a super popular actor in the role, so will the likes of Momoa and Gadot be next? With the only DC film on the 2024 docket currently being the Joker sequel, a lot needs to happen with DC really soon.
Watson says: Rumors (or speculation likely) say Mamoa pivots from Aquaman to Lobo in the new film universes.
Heart of Stone
What is it? It’s a spy thriller starring Gal Gadot as a CIA agent trying to protect the world.
Why we’re psyched! Gadot by herself is a draw, but the script was co-written by Greg “Old Guard” Rucka, and if nothing else, that man knows how to pen a good action story starring a tough woman at the center of it all.
Why we’re wary… Gadot is many things, and she’s not a bad actress or anything, but she isn’t on the same level as Charlize Theron. And that’s about all I could think to say here.
Jimmy says: Hey! I just mentioned Gadot above, not knowing this was the next entry. Gadot starrer written by Rucka? Yes please.
Watson says: Rucka is one of my favorite comic writers ever. Count me in.
Missing
What is it? It’s the story of a teenage girl, worried about her mother’s disappearance, and her personal investigation into it.
Why we’re psyched! This one comes from the people behind the mystery thriller Searching where the entire movie took place on someone’s computer monitor, consisting of emails, videocalls, and the like. This looks like it is doing the same thing, and Searching was surprisingly good.
Why we’re wary… It would be pretty easy to mess this up, truth be told.
Watson says: Searching was excellent. I’m willing to give this a shot.
House Party
What is it? It’s another House Party movie, this time where two aspiring club owners decide to throw a huge bash…in Lebron James’s house.
Why we’re psyched! Oh, who doesn’t love a good party in a famous person’s house without said famous person’s permission?
Why we’re wary… Lebron James doesn’t exactly have a good track record with these belated remake/reboots.
Watson says: The trailer made me chuckle a couple of times but that might be the only funny parts.
M3GAN
What is it? It’s a killer robot/killer doll movie.
Why we’re psyched! This is the first movie to come out of the new partnership between horror guys James Wan and Jason Blum, both of whom have good track records for producing if not great horror, then at least some creative stuff often while letting writers and directors be as creative as they want. I mean, there’s been killer dolls. There’s been killer robots. Has there ever been a killer robot doll? You know, besides the Child’s Play remake with Mark Hamill voicing Chucky…
Why we’re wary… It’s a January release date for a doll that for some reason reminds me of Elizabeth Olsen…
Jimmy says: Dear God this looks awful.
Watson says: I want a double feature with this and Cocaine Bear!
65
What is it? It’s a sci-fi adventure where a space ship crash lands on a planet, forcing the human survivors to deal with what’s outside: dinosaurs because the movie is set in Earth’s prehistoric past.
Why we’re psyched! Oh come on! This looks awesome! And with Adam Driver to boot!
Why we’re wary… It’s very easy to slip from stupid-fun to stupid-ridiculous. The former would be better.
Jimmy says: Are we sure this isn’t a secret Jurassic Park prequel?
Watson says: The premise was obviously pitched at a Hollywood cocaine party.
Argylle
What is it? It’s Matthew Vaughn’s latest spy thriller, starring Henry Cavil.
Why we’re psyched! Because pretty much all of Vaughn’s movies are over the top crazy in a good way.
Why we’re wary… Is this why we haven’t gotten another Kingsmen movie?
Watson says: We got one last year. It was just bad.
Black Canary
What is it? It’s a solo movie for Jurnee Smollet’s Birds of Prey character.
Why we’re psyched! Smollett was one of the highlights of the Birds of Prey movie.
Why we’re wary… It’s supposed to go to HBO Max. We’ll see if it actually happens. We might have a better chance of seeing The Winds of Winter in print this year.
Jimmy says: No way this gets made, let alone released in 2023.
Watson says: It’s still on the schedule so fingers crossed. I love Smollett.
Extraction 2
What is it? It’s a sequel to the Chris Hemsworth-starring action movie that hit Netflix a couple years ago.
Why we’re psyched! That first one was exciting!
Why we’re wary… …I think. I don’t really remember much about it.
Jimmy says: The first one was good, though the ending didn’t leave much room for a sequel…
Watson says: I have a LOT of latitude for a Netflix movie.
Ghosted
What is it? It’s a romantic action-adventure movie starring Chris Evans and Ana de Armas.
Why we’re psyched! Two talented actors doing a action romance? What’s not to like when it features the two very likable co-stars from the original Knives Out, a movie beloved by all except Jimmy Impossible.
Why we’re wary… Both de Armas and Evans haven’t had much success the past couple years. I like both actors, but Blonde was a travesty and The Grey Man was exceedingly dull at times, though both de Armas and Evans managed to pull out good performances regardless.
Jimmy says: Knives out? Boo. de Armas and Evans? Yay!
Watson says: FUCKING JIMMY!
Killers of the Flower Moon
What is it? It’s Martin Scorsese’s next movie, featuring for the first time both Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Why we’re psyched! Scorsese’s telling a story of murder and intrigue, based on true events, with both of his frequent costars. Sounds good to me!
Why we’re wary… So, I read the book that inspired this movie, and it’s about how a number of Osage Indians, fortunate enough to have a lot of oil on their reservation, started turning up dead and how J Edgar Hoover himself sent the burgeoning FBI down to crack the case. The movie looks to be about the white husband (DiCaprio) to one of the Osage whose wealthy uncle (De Niro) presses him into maybe murdering members of his wife’s family, and possibly her as well. That seems to be taking the focus away from the people who had evil done to them (the Osage) and putting it on a guy who didn’t really do anything to stop it despite knowing about it, and that is a very different focus from author David Gunn’s excellent follow-up to The Lost City of Z.
Watson says: Leo + Scorsese is always good.
Napoleon
What is it? It’s a biopic about Napoleon Bonaparte.
Why we’re psyched! Hey, Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon? He’s generally good about picking scripts.
Why we’re wary… Director Ridley Scott can be a bit hit or miss.
Watson says: He was average height for his age!
Beau is Afraid
What is it? It’s the latest from horror director Ari Aster.
Why we’re psyched! Aster gave the world Hereditary and Midsommar, so this’ll be different at the very least. But it stars Joaquin Phoenix and is supposedly a horror comedy stretching over time and set in an “alternate present”. At the very least, it’ll be ambitous.
Why we’re wary… Aster’s work is an acquired taste, but this one might be too weird even for him.
Watson says: Not for me.
Red One
What is it? It’s a holiday-themed action-adventure movie starring the Rock and Captain America.
Why we’re psyched! If for no other reason, because JK Simmons is playing Santa Claus in an action movie.
Why we’re wary… Hey, have any of Amazon Prime’s original movies been any good? Besides Sound of Metal?
Jimmy says: The Tomorrow War?
Watson says: Violent Night stole some of their thunder.
Television
Television can be both more consistent and more hit or miss. A nice comfort show can be a nice way to spend some time, and even notorious TV-hater Watson has come around on more than a few shows. But what are we hoping for this year?
Jack Ryan
What is it? It’s the long-awaited season three to this spy thriller based on the writing of Tom Clancy.
Why we’re psyched! It’s been a long time for this well-done action/spy series to return.
Why we’re wary… Well, Mr. Fantastic jokes aside, and the fact the season actually started in December of 2022, it has been a long time. Will people come back to see more? I mean, I don’t think anyone in Gabbing Geek has said anything about it yet…
Jimmy says: I only just noticed the new season starts this week (as I write this). Now, I liked the first 2 seasons, but do I care enough to sign up for Prime to watch the 3rd immediately?
Avatar: The Last Airbender
What is it? It’s the long-awaited live action adaptation of the popular (and awesome) Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Why we’re psyched! The world of Avatar has a lot of rich lore, and the people behind it actually cared enough not to cast a bunch of white people this time around. That’s a lot more promising.
Why we’re wary… Netflix’s financial problems make me wonder if we’re going to get more than a single batch of episodes for this no doubt expensive show.
Watson says: The cartoon is a classic. More like that and less like the movie.
The Gentlemen
What is it? It’s a TV adaptation of one of Guy Ritchie’s crime movies.
Why we’re psyched! Ritchie’s films are often full of criminal oddballs and weirdos, and quite frankly, it’s surprising this hasn’t been done before. Plus, I can always pretend Gus Fring just took his business overseas.
Why we’re wary… Well, as much as Ritchie’s movies might loan themselves out to TV spin-offs or sequels or whatnot, it’s still a tricky thing to do since very few shows based on movies seem to have lasted all that long.
Watson says: Loved the movie. Hope this captures the magic.
The Three Body Problem
What is it? It’s a TV adaptation of the best selling Chinese sci-fi series about an imminent alien invasion.
Why we’re psyched! The story, where humans learn aliens are coming, aren’t friendly, and probably can’t be stopped, may be a depressing one, but this is one of the biggest selling and most popular sci-fi book series for a reason.
Why we’re wary… American TV doing a Chinese novel series? Yeah, I can think of a reason or two to be a little wary…
Watson says: Ryan turned me off to reading the book, but the premise could make it a better show.
The Last of Us
What is it? It’s HBO’s live action adaptation of the popular video game series.
Why we’re psyched! Video games have stories and settings that should loan themselves to good live action adaptations, and this one features Game of Thrones alums Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay.
Why we’re wary… Well, it is still a video game adaptation…
Jimmy says: The trailer looks good. It’s kind of a Walking Dead/Resident Evil type of game with a dash of Uncharted thrown in. With Pedro in the lead, it certainly has potential.
Watson says: This has the potential to be my fill-in for a year where House of Dragon is on hiatus. But it coming out in January doesn’t allow me to space things out much.
Invincible
What is it? It’s Amazon Prime’s animated adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s superhero saga.
Why we’re psyched! The first season gave us a story that was faithful enough to please existing fans and made changes that worked for an updated story, and it still only scratched the surface of Mark Grayson’s fantastic story.
Why we’re wary… Is it even coming out this year? I mean, sure, Amazon says it is, but they haven’t been more specific than “2023”.
Jimmy says: I really need to read this series. (PS. Season one was awesome.)
Watson says: No announcement yet but they damn sure need to be in production.
What If…?
What is it? It’s another season of Disney+’s animated MCU series about places where things turned out differently.
Why we’re psyched! The premise is promising, and who doesn’t love Jeffrey Wright?
Why we’re wary… Eh, season one wasn’t that good. There were maybe two good episodes, and I don’t think we here at Gabbing Geek quite agreed as to which those two were.
Jimmy says: I mentioned above that Ms. Marvel might have been the weakest MCU Disney+ show…but this is in the running as well. I did like that many of the original MCU actors returned to reprise their roles, but much of the stories fell flat.
Watson says: The worst MCU property yet.
Secret Invasion
What is it? It’s Nick Fury vs. the Skrulls!
Why we’re psyched! Nick Fury has been a supporting character in a whole lot of MCU movies, so it will be nice to see him in a starring role. Plus, the Skrulls have been an interesting addition to the MCU.
Why we’re wary… While this is not going to be that faithful an adaptation, the original Secret Invasion was nowhere near as good as its premise. Let’s hope the same does not hold true for this story.
Jimmy says: There’s a lot of question marks around this one. For one, they’ve already made the MCU version of the Skrulls allies instead of enemies, so how is that going to work? Two, Fiege has said that this takes place during the Snap. Unless he backtracked on that, it makes no sense since Fury got dusted in Infinity War. Either way, I’ll be watching. This could be THE D+ show to see this year. Well, except for Loki season 2.
Watson says: I’m going in with no real expectations. Hope it’s a nice treat.
Echo
What is it? It’s a spin-off from the Hawkeye series featuring the deaf Native American assassin Echo.
Why we’re psyched! Echo, as a character, has a lot of promise, and kudos to Marvel for casting a deaf Native American actress in the role.
Why we’re wary… Was Echo all that interesting in Hawkeye, or did they just add her to pad the length out a bit?
Jimmy says: I found that Echo was one of the weakest parts of the other stellar Hawkeye series. I’m not sure how she ended up with her own show.
Watson says: This is a show I don’t want to watch but have to because you have to watch everything or you miss out.
Loki
What is it? It’s another season of Loki, Norse God of Mischief, running afoul of the TVA.
Why we’re psyched! Season one showed just much fun Loki is, and Tom Hiddleston is still having some charming fun as the character.
Why we’re wary… We are probably not going to get anything as awesome as Richard E Grant’s Old Loki this time around.
Jimmy says: Season one was excellent as was Hiddleston as always. Even though it is deeply imbedded in the multiverse, will it continue to hang out on the fringes or will we start seeing some relevance with it via Kang, etc?
Watson says: I liked it because it was on the fringes and not an Easter Egg hunt.
Ironheart
What is it? It’s the MCU’s new Iron Man, sort of, in the form of genius college student Riri Williams.
Why we’re psyched! If the MCU has shown a knack for anything, it’s armored heroes. Riri already made her premier in Black Panther 2, so seeing more of her might be a welcome development.
Why we’re wary… Yeah, Riri appeared in Black Panther 2, but she was arguably overshadowed by a whole lot of other characters in that movie, most notably Namor. Can she hold down her own series?
Jimmy says: Riri could have been completely cut from Wakanda Forever without affecting the movie at all. Is that a springboard to launch a character into her own series?
Watson says: They didn’t really spend enough time on her, but I liked the actress enough that I’m open to enjoying her series.
X-Men ’97
What is it? It’s Disney’s continuation of the Fox Saturday morning animated series.
Why we’re psyched! This is a beloved series, perhaps second in this era only to the outstanding Batman: The Animated Series, and Disney is apparently trying to recreate that era as much as it can, even using most of the original voice actors with only a few not returning because they happen to be dead.
Why we’re wary… Yeah, uh…something about this bothers me for some reason.
Jimmy says: Why Tom? I’m looking forward to this. I better start rewatching the original soon…
Agatha: Coven of Chaos
What is it? It’s a WandaVision spin-off featuring Katheryn Hahn’s breakout character Agatha Harkness.
Why we’re psyched! Hahn stole the show on WandaVision, and not only is she getting her own series but she’s being joined by the also awesome Aubrey Plaza.
Why we’re wary… As much fun as Hahn is in general, sometimes a supporting character needs to stay a supporting character.
Jimmy says: Your last statement is my biggest concern with this show. Plaza is a nice addition though as Mephisto!
Watson says: CONFIRMED!
The Mandalorian
What is it? It’s more of the adventures of the Mandalorian and his sidekick/son Grogu.
Why we’re psyched! It is doubtful any of Disney’s Star Wars content has gotten the feel of classic Star Wars right as much as this show has. Arguably the best episodes of The Book of Boba Fett were the ones that seemed more like bonus episodes of The Mandalorian.
Why we’re wary… Hopefully it doesn’t become more like Boba Fett and stays more of itself.
Jimmy says: Can. Not. Wait. And the Mandalorian and Grogu are the only things that kept The Book of Boba Fett from being completely unwatchable.
Watson says: What was the point of the second season if they immediately undid that progress before Season 3?
Ashoka
What is it? It’s a live action series about Anakin Skywalker’s former padawan Ashoka Tano.
Why we’re psyched! Rosario Dawson showed a good take on the character in her appearances so far, and Ashoka was the break-out character in the animated Clone Wars and beyond for a reason.
Why we’re wary… We’ve only really gotten small tastes of Dawson’s Ashoka, so hopefully she’s a strong enough character to hold down a series.
Jimmy says: Having not watched Clone Wars, I sometimes feel like I’m missing something with some of these current D+ shows.
Watson says: I love Rosario Dawson and the promise of Thrawn!
Skeleton Crew
What is it? It’s a Star Wars story that is supposed to embrace the 80s style kid adventure story.
Why we’re psyched! About all we know is Jon Watts, director of the Spider-Man MCU movies, is working on this and it stars Jude Law.
Why we’re wary… About all we know is Jon Watts, director of the Spider-Man MCU movies, is working on this and it stars Jude Law.
Jimmy says: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Gen V
What is it? It’s a spin-off series from Amazon Prime’s The Boys where college-aged supes learn how to be superheroes at a college for gifted youngsters.
Why we’re psyched! The world of The Boys is a lot of things, and its raunchy style of humor would probably work well on a college campus.
Why we’re wary… It would be real easy to dilute this brand too much.
Jimmy says: I really need to catch up on The Boys.
Watson says: You do. It’s excellent, Jimmy.
Horizon Zero Dawn
What is it? It’s a Netflix adaptation of a popular video game series.
Why we’re psyched! The premise is really cool-sounding: set in a post-apocalyptic world where machines hunt any living thing that moves, a young woman fights for survival.
Why we’re wary… Is it even coming out this year?
Watson says: It all depends on the stories they tell in this crazy setting.
That 90s Show
What is it? It’s the sequel series to popular sitcom That 70s Show where Red and Kitty Foreman (Kurtwood Smith and Debra Jo Rupp) have to watch over their granddaughter and her own group of basement-hanging friends.
Why we’re psyched! Smith and Rupp are great scene-stealers, and the reason the 70s Show worked was because the joke was rarely about the time period and more about the characters who just happened to live in the 70s. Stick to that formula, and the series should work.
Why we’re wary… OK, aside from the fact no one really asked for this, it does look like most of the original cast will at least be making cameo appearances except for Danny Masterson. What’s he been up to lately anyw…oh.
Jimmy says: Seeing Red and Kitty back is fun, but I feel like this will be quickly forgotten.
Watson says: I am a big fan of the original, but the last season was bad. This is probably more like that than the show in it’s prime.
What We Do in the Shadows
What is it? It’s the TV spin-off series based on the Taika Waititi film about vampires living in the modern world, in this case Staten Island.
Why we’re psyched! The cast is top notch, the show is often hilarious, and it does actually have a heart even as it collects a group of oddball characters, most of whom happen to be vampires.
Why we’re wary… I dunno. Some people don’t like fun? Most of the Gabbing Geek crew hasn’t seen it.
Jimmy says: I hear this is awesome, but I want to catch the movie first.
Star Trek Picard
What is it? It’s the final season for the return of Patrick Stewart’s Jean-Luc Picard.
Why we’re psyched! Aside from a few cameos here and there, most of the Next Generation cast has sat this series out. For this final season, the thing the fans probably wanted most has come to pass and they’ve all returned for one last go-around…at least for this series.
Why we’re wary… The first two seasons haven’t exactly been Star Trek at its best.
Jimmy says: Season two was a disappointment, but I’m looking forward to the TNG reunion, which is hopefully more than just extended cameos and Riker cooking dinner.
Star Trek Lower Decks
What is it? It’s the animated comedy about life in the Star Trek universe for the average Starfleet officer.
Why we’re psyched! Ensign Peanut Hamper aside, this is a fun show with great characters that both mocks and honors the universe of Star Trek.
Why we’re wary… Jimmy Impossible still hasn’t seen this show. I dunno. I had to put something here.
Jimmy says: He’s right, I haven’t.
The Flash
What is it? It’s the last of Arrowverse shows, headed into its final season.
Why we’re psyched! Well, the Arrowverse always did the best it could with very little money, and Grant Gustin is probably a better Barry Allen than Ezra Miller will ever hope to be.
Why we’re wary… Um, does anyone care about this show anymore? Speaking for myself, I realized at a certain point I only watched episodes out of habit, and even if I missed one, I didn’t care to go back and watch it again later.
Jimmy says: I tried to get into The Flash earlier on as it had great buzz, and I failed. I tried again with the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover and it felt like bad fan fic and cosplay, so I doubt I’ll be revisiting the Arrowverse again.
Video Games
We don’t always say much about video games, but when we do, well, there must be a good one coming. Or at least an anticipated one.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League
What is it? It’s just what it says on the cover: the Suicide Squad needs to take down the Justice League.
Why we’re psyched! The trailer for this one looked suitably exciting, and even if the likes of Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, King Shark, and Deadshot may not seem tough enough to bring down Superman, that just makes it all the more challenging. Oh, and Kevin Conroy voiced Batman for perhaps the final time before his death.
Why we’re wary… You know, it has already been delayed once…
Jimmy says: I’ve pretty much given up playing video games, but I did love the Batman: Arkham series (minus the last one), so if anything can get me back into gaming, it could be this. It won’t, but it could.
Watson says: Please be released this year!!!
Spider-Man 2
What is it? It’s the sequel to the popular PlayStation game.
Why we’re psyched! Hey! It’s MIles Morales!
Why we’re wary… Hey, he still has that weird white spider costume?
Jimmy says: I liked, but didn’t love the first game. I finished the main story (though not all the DLC), but I just found there were way too many levels of fighting infinite bad guys that should have no chance against Spider-Man.
Watson says: I will buy the PS75 or whatever to play this.
Wolverine
What is it? It’s another Marvel PlayStation game, this time featuring everyone’s favorite short mutant Canadian.
Why we’re psyched! Hey, it could be as good as that Spider-Man game!
Why we’re wary… Probably needs more Deadpool.
Watson says: I’m hoping this one is story heavy.
Books
Hey, we can read too! And it’s time for our annual book prediction!
The Winds of Winter
What is it? Oh, you know. And won’t we look clever if we’re ever actually right?
Watson says: Never. Not. Funny.
Gabbing Geek
What is it? It’s our site right here.
Why we’re psyched! Well, we don’t do this for the fame and fortune. And maybe Watson will right another article before December.
Why we’re wary… We are not. We just have fun here.
Watson says: Low expectations help.
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