L’Empire

Already lauded with a jury prize at the Berlinale in February amidst a chorus of both jeers and cheers, the film spins the tale of a French village transformed battleground… for extraterrestrial knights. Bruno Dumont instills his signature touch of the absurd, blendingmadness and courage to satirize space epics, grounding them in the quaintness of provincial mundanity.

Maria

Pablo Larraín, the film’s favored son known for his loosely factual biopics, now ventures to capture the twilight years of Maria Callas. In a casting surprise, Angelina Jolie steps into the spotlight to portray the legendary opera diva.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga 

Anticipation is high for the “Mad Max” prequel, slated for its grand reveal at the Cannes Film Festival. Centering on the valiant Furiosa, the film shrouds its narrative turns in secrecy, with director George Miller consistently promising a plot that transcends the strict boundaries of its comic book roots (a fact already apparent following the first adaptation).

Le deuxième act 

While Cannes’ full program remains under wraps, Quentin Dupieux’s latest comedy is set to kickstart the festival. The master of absurdity and provocation has directed a road movie that boasts perhaps the most stellar ensemble of his career, with Léa Seydoux (Blue is the Warmest Color, Spectre) and Louis Garrel (The Dreamers, Godard Mon Amour).

Megalopolis

Cannes anticipates what might be Francis Ford Coppola’s magnum opus, a creative reimagining of the ancient Roman treatise ‘Conspiracy of Catiline.’ Set against the backdrop of a futuristic New York, the film follows a visionary architect (Adam Driver), who aspiresto erect an ideal metropolis, defying the regressive impulses of the authorities. The pre-release screenings have sparked polarized reactions—from acclaims of ‘reinventing cinema’to cautions of an ‘inevitable failure.’

The Fall Guy 

Labeled as ‘Drive in the Barbie universe’ by astute critics prior to its official summer premiere, this film marks the return of Ryan Gosling as a daredevil. In this venture, he embodies a stuntman on a mission to bolster his girlfriend’s directorial debut. However, those acquainted with David Leitch’s work (Deadpool 2, Escape Plan) should hardly expect anything otherworldly beneath the glossy cover.

Kinds of Kindness 

As the buzz from “Poor Things” still resonating, Yorgos Lanthimos is poised to reveal his next collaboration with Emma Stone this summer. The story, split into three parts, appears to departfrom the fantastical, yet a turn towards to stark realism from Lanthimos seems improbable.

Challengers 

Luca Guadagnino extends his reach into American cinema with a tennis-centric drama. The plot serves up a love triangle, with Zendaya at one of its poignant vertices.

Longless 

Nicolas Cage’s career resurgence is a spectacle unto itself. The latest curve in its trajectory unfolds in Osgood Perkins’ thriller, where the hunt is on for a serial killer. The question remains: Who will Cage portray?

Gladiator 2

Ridley Scott has been cultivating the seeds for a Gladiator sequel for more than two decades. Within the world of the film, a significantly longer time has elapsed, and we return to Rome at the close of the 2nd century. Paul Mescal steps into the arena, leading the charge.

The year’s end is set to be terrifying. Cinematically terrifying. Tim Burton will resurrect Beetlejuice in a sequel 35 years in the making, set for a September release. October will witness Joker: Folie a Deux uniting Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in a symphony of chaos. Come December, Robert Eggers will present his rendition of the vampiric tale of Nosferatu. Whether it might carve its place alongside the masterpieces by Friedrich Murnau and Werner Herzog is one of the year’s most tantalizing prospects—a true cinematic enigma.