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Reboots and Remakes to Watch Out for in 2022

If you are of the opinion that Hollywood, or indeed the mainstream film industry as a whole, is running out of ideas, then the sheer number of reboots and remakes that have been made in recent years would certainly suggest that you are onto something.

It does seem that wholly original films are few and far between, and it’s not only big-budget movies that look to profit from old ideas; after all, the low-budget Apple+ hit CODA, which picked up the best film Oscar at the Academy Awards last month, is also a remake (of a hugely impressive 2014 French-Belgian film La Famille Belier) and as such it would be wrong to think that remakes and reboots are used by large production companies looking for an easy way out.

In many ways remaking or rebooting a franchise or film is a calculated risk that is perhaps preferable to a new project, not least if the film you are using as source material was a hit and retains a fan base. In this way, it’s as cost-effective an option as, say, using stock footage to help make your indie flick look more slick and professional. In other words, it’s a decision made off the back of work already put in by others.

The Batman

If you’ve lost count of the number of times the Batman franchise has been rebooted, then we don’t blame you. This latest version is broody in nature and takes its lead from the most recent reboot of Joker.

Robert Pattinson dons the bat-suit and does battle with Paul Dano (The Riddler) and Colin Farrell (Penguin), among others, and a lot was expected of the movie in terms of box office returns.

It has proven a big success thus far, grossing almost $700 million already, and has been well received by fans and critics alike. However, it is still some way behind the reception of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, which are universally considered the best version of the DC superhero.

Lightyear

This might well be a reboot we didn’t even know we needed. The Toy Story franchise is much beloved, and if you ever wondered about the backstory behind Buzz Lightyear, then this June, you’ll find out.

Pixar is sure to hit this out of the park when it comes to appeasing fans of the originals, and it’s something of an inspired piece of casting to bring in Chris Evans (Captain America) to voice Buzz, taking over from Tim Allen.

One wonders if other heroes from the Toy Story films will make an appearance?

The Man Who Fell to Earth

This promises to be an intriguing TV show, taking the subject matter from the acclaimed Walter Tevis novel (he also wrote the story that was adapted for The Queen’s Gambit), and Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the role David Bowie was cast in for the eerie 70s move from Nicolas Roeg.

The show will air on Showtime and has a great cast; alongside Oscar-nominated Ejiofor, we have the excellent Naomie Harri, Jimmi Simpson, and Bill Nighy.

Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

It would be fair to say that Amazon Prime has invested a large sum in getting the rights to produce a TV show that delves into Middle Earth, and the cost of production is also said to be akin to the financial activities of a small European country, but it’s a calculated risk that is bound to pay off, due mainly to the huge fan base that exists around the original J.R.R Tolkien novel and the resultant Peter Jackson-helmed movies.

This series is set a thousand years before the Lord of the Rings time frame, but you can expect a fair few hobbits, orcs, and other mystical creatures. This comes out in early September and will be huge.

Frasier

Fans of the original Kelsey Grammar show are sure to be heartened by a comeback for the radio host, albeit it will be without much loved John Mahoney, who has since sadly passed away.

There will always be some who wouldn’t want to revisit such a flawless show, as Frasier most definitely is, but if they are back with the same writing team and lead characters, it should be a relatively safe ride for this iconic comedy.

Top Gun: Maverick

Talk of a long-awaited reboot/sequel of the 80s classic has been going on for some years, and the coronavirus pandemic certainly affected the planned release date, but it’s almost upon us.

This May, Tom Cruise once again puts on the jumpsuit and does death-defying stunts, and on this occasion, we get to see Goose’s son, played by Miles Teller, as the new maverick in town.

Cruise is clearly a bankable star who rarely experiences flops, though The Mummy certainly counted as one, but we are confident that the retro appeal will help to get audiences packed in to see this blockbuster release.

Pinocchio

This is sure to be a feast for the senses. Disney has been remaking, rebooting just about every classic they own, and this time they trust their Pinocchio tale to the creative genius that is Guillermo Del Toro, which means it’s sure to have a spooky dark edge to it.

This version will be a stop-motion creation and already includes the voice of Ewan McGregor as Jiminy Cricket.

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