A Sneak Peak into Upcoming Blockbusters

There are many iconic films set to release in the coming year. Moana 2 sees Moana returning for a new oceanic adventure alongside Maui. In Mufasa: The Lion King, we see the origin story of Simba’s father. Wicked, a live-action adaptation of the Broadway hit, bring the untold story of the witches of Oz to the big screen, with dazzling visuals and a powerful cast. Finally, Snow White live-action brings a modern retelling of the classic tale, featuring new songs and a diverse cast. But which films will be the biggest hits? 

By: Ishita Chopra and Cally Li

Moana 2 

With Moana 2 soon to be released, there is a lot of excitement. The first movie was a huge hit and the second would have to match that. However, without Lin-Manuel Miranda, the music might not have the same popularity and growth as the first film, which had hits like “How Far I’ll Go”. The plot seems to expand on Moana’s original quest, focusing on uniting the islands, but it feels a bit repetitive to the first movie, just in a more intense setting. Hopefully, the banter between Maui and Moana will be the same, as that was one of the highlights of the first film for us. The movie faces high expectations to answer to, and we believe it will need to introduce fresh elements to avoid being seen as worse than the first one. 

Wicked

Wicked, a movie adaptation of the hit Broadway show, has a lot of buzz surrounding it. Starring some famous celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Cynthia Erivo, and many more, people have been talking about this film for a while. Based on the trailer, the music already sounds like it will be a hit, especially with hit pop star Ariana Grande singing some of the music. While there were some worries that the movie may not do justice to the musical, it seems that a lot of the depth and emotion is still seen on screen based on the trailer. The set design and costumes appear to be on point and create a visually stunning adaption of the story. We are personally super excited to watch this movie, but we think that with the cast and the storyline, it has very high expectations to meet. 

Snow White live-action

While the Snow White live-action has been rumored to come about for some time now, they have finally set a release date: March of 2025. A lot of controversy has surrounded this movie, especially with the lead actress Rachel Ziegler. People have remarked that she doesn’t fit the “fair skin as white as snow” model as she is Columbian. Furthermore, there was a lot of discourse about how she claimed she would make Snow White into a character who is stronger and more independent than what was portrayed in the original movie. People were upset with this and wanted the movie to stay true to the essence of the story, especially being the first Disney princess movie created. However, now that she has assuaged people’s concerns around her portrayal of the role, people, including us, are hopeful that the movie will be a good watch. They haven’t released an official trailer, but in the teaser, the music and the set stand out a lot and seem to capture that charm that the original movie had.

Mufasa: The Lion King

Get ready to immerse yourself once again in the Pride Lands of Africa this winter with the release of the highly anticipated live-action film Mufasa: The Lion King. Following the massive success of Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King, audiences will be transported back to the wonders of the lion kingdom through the lens of Mufasa, the father of protagonist Simba. This prequel to the beloved classic explores Mufasa’s origin and his journey and rise to become the king of the animal kingdom. The film features world superstar and artist Beyoncé as Nala, actor Donald Glover (otherwise known as Childish Gambino) as Simba, and last but not least English actor ​​Aaron Pierre as the film’s main protagonist Mufasa. Directed by Barry Jenkins, this film promises to blend breathtaking visuals and music with a fascinating storyline, thus making Mufasa a must-see for fans and newcomers.