Lupita Nyong’o, Evan Alex, and Shahadi Wright Joseph star in “Us.”
“Trailer Talk” rounds up recently released trailers for upcoming and anticipated movies.
Happy holidays! At Take 2, we hope all of you are enjoying the holiday season, and we wish you a happy new year.
The span around Christmas and New Year’s is a busy time for movie-going, so movie studios and filmmakers are taking the opportunity to release new trailers for 2019 movies. Here’s a rundown of the major trailers released leading up to the holidays.
“Us”
The trailer for Academy Award winner Jordan Peele’s anticipated follow-up to “Get Out” dropped on Christmas – normally a family-friendly time, but perhaps not so for the family at the root of Peele’s “new nightmare.”
The horror film follows a family led by Lupita Nyong’o and Winston Duke (reunited after “Black Panther”). After returning from a vacation with family friends, the family comes face-to-face with their own evil doppelgangers. The trailer features unsettling imagery – with masks, rabbits and scissors – as the family’s fight for survival turns brutal.
The film looks to explore the concept that we are our own worst enemies. With a vibe reminiscent of “The Strangers” but seeking to delve into our personal demons, Peele’s next horror turn promises to have us all talking.
“Us” breaks into theaters March 15, 2019.
“Men in Black: International”
The latest installment in the “Men in Black” franchise uncovers a new group of men – and women – in suits working overseas to battle aliens. The teaser promises another fun popcorn flick in the tradition of the sci-fi adventure series.
The film is set in the same universe as the three previous “Men in Black” films, but expands to locations outside the U.S. The film reunites Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson from “Thor: Ragnarok” in roles similar to those played by Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in the preceding films. This time, Hemsworth plays Agent H and Thompson plays new recruit Agent M, infusing a female presence into the lead dynamic. Emma Thompson reprises her role as Agent O from “Men in Black 3,” and Liam Neeson plays the head of the London branch of MIB.
There’s new aliens, gadgets and gizmos aplenty as Agents H & M (ha! A cute play on the retail store chain) must save the planet from an out-of-this-world threat. There’s even a subtle “Thor” reference as Hemsworth’s Agent H throws a hammer at an alien foe. I’ve also had Fergie’s “London Bridge” stuck in my head since the trailer came out.
“Men In Black: International” invades theaters June 14, 2019.
From left, Daniel Dae Kim, David Harbour and Sasha Lane star in “Hellboy.”
“Hellboy”
The half-demon, Nazi-hating superhero returns in this reboot of the 2000s franchise. The trailer focuses a lot on the humor, with quick flashes of bloody violence. You can watch the NSFW trailer here.
David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) takes over the titular role from Ron Perlman, who starred in 2004’s “Hellboy” and 2008’s “Hellboy II: The Golden Army.” The film also features a director change, with Neil Marshall taking over the reins from Guillermo del Toro. The big question is how will this version of “Hellboy” fare without GDT’s creative influence.
In the reboot, Hellboy must save the world from a medieval sorceress (Milla Jovovich) hellbent on destroying it. The movie also stars Ian McShane, Daniel Dae Kim and Sasha Lane (“American Honey”).
“Hellboy” lights up theaters April 12, 2019.
“Downton Abbey”
Yes! The magnificent British TV series about the aristocratic Crawley family that ran from 2010-2015 finally makes it way to the big screen. And judging by the trailer, we’re in for an elegant treat.
The trailer doesn’t tell us anything about the movie’s plot, but it shows us that we’re back home in the early 20th century world of the affluent Crawleys. We get shots of the familiar interior and exterior of the Crawley estate, plus a look at its sweeping grounds. And who’s that riding up on a bicycle to the estate? For some reason I keep thinking it’s Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery), but it could easily be Daisy (Sophie McShera) or maybe Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael).
One thing that the trailer does provide is a list of the show’s beloved and returning characters, including: the Dowager Lady Grantham (Maggie Smith), Lord Gratham (Hugh Bonneville), Tom Branson (Allen Leech), Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle), Mrs. Bates (Johanne Froggatt), Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and more.
“Downton Abbey” serves up elegance Sept. 20, 2019.
Rebecca Kivak and Joe Baress write about movies for Take 2 blog. Together, they review current flicks and offer their insights into the latest movie news. Rebecca is a copy editor and page designer at The Times-Tribune. She started her career with Times-Shamrock Newspapers in 2005 and has won several professional journalism awards for page design and headline writing. She also covers NASCAR races from Pocono Raceway. Contact: rkivak@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5126; @TTRebeccaKivak
