A new year means a whole new year of film releases! David Ho picks out a list of 10 exciting projects to hit the silver screen

Mean Girls

This 2004 classic on female high school cliques gets the musical treatment on the silver screen 20 years after it first came out. Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey, who wrote the screenplay and had a role as Ms Norbert for the original, returns for writing duties. Music from the Broadway show have been adapted for this film and we already had a first taste of it with Not My Fault by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion. We bet it will be fetch!

Release date: 12 January in US. TBD elsewhere.

The Iron Claw

Already released in the US, this biographical film follows the true story of the Von Erich brothers, who made waves in the professional wrestling arena in the early 1980’s. Zac Efron undergoes a much discussed physical transformation for the role and it seems to have paid off as the A24 production had received great critical acclaim. Praised by members of the Von Erich clan, this story of tragedy and triumphs, coupled with accurate wrestling sequences, is certain to be quite a watch.

Release date: 9 February

Argylle

An introverted novelist gets drawn into the real world of spies, much like the books she writes. This spy action comedy features a star-studded cast of Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. Cavill rocks a new unflattering haircut that proves nothing can dim his good looks.

Release date: 2 February

Mickey 17

Written, directed and produced by Parasite auteur Bong Joon-ho, this follows the story of the titular Mickey (played by Robert Pattinson) who is an “expendable” worker sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Each time he dies, he is regenerated in a new body is regenerated with his memories intact. Not too different from the experience of we have of waking up every morning we presume.

Release date: 29 March

Deadpool 3

There’s been a superhero fatigue that has set in amongst audiences of late. But we still have room for the third installment of this sassy antihero, played by real life smart mouth Ryan Reynolds. This time, he is bringing Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine back in tow.

Release date: 26 July

Also see: The recipe of Netflix’s well done Beef

Beetlejuice 2

It took 36 years to get here but we are glad it is here. Amazingly, the sequel to 1988’s Beetlejuice comes with the original actors in tow. New additions include Willem Dafoe as a B movie action star who becomes a detective in the afterlife.

Release date: 6 September

Joker: Folie à Deux

No one would have thought the follow-up to the 2019 Joker film starring Joaquin Phoenix would be a musical. But with Lady Gaga onboard as Harley Quinn, why not? Colour us intrigued to see this new take on the clowns of crime.

Release date: 4 October

Gladiator 2

Ridley Scott continues the story of his 2000 opus Gladiator with a follow up story. This time, the lens is on Lucius (played by Paul Mescal), the nephew of Commodus, who has grown into a man after being saved by Maximus in the original Gladiator. Connie Nielsen and Djimon Hounsou are to reprise their roles as Lucilla and Juba.

Release date: 22 November

Wicked: Part One

The beloved musical touches on the origins of how the talented but misunderstood Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who is framed by the Wizard of Oz, becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. Ariana Grande stars as Galinda, who is eventually known as Glinda the Good. Wicked: Part Two will be released on November 26, 2025. Does that mean Defying Gravity will only be heard in the second part?

Release date: 27 November

Nosferatu

This one is coming much later in the year and at a slightly odd release date of Christmas day. Though Halloween would have been a more ideal showing, we are always down for another vampire story. The vampiric Count Orlok is played by Bill Skarsgård, who already earned his horror stripes as Pennywise in the It movies.

Release date: 25 December

All pictures from IMDB

Also see: 2023 in review: The triumphs, losses and what lies ahead