2013: Three Threequels To Look Out For

There’s no doubt 2012 was a great year for the film industry, with box office records being smashed. Skyfall became the highest grossing film of all time in the UK, after it raked in over £94.3 million in just 40 days of its release. It was also the first time four films (The Avengers, Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Hobbit) made over $1 billion, beating last year’s record of three. So what can we expect from 2013?

A couple of evenings ago I was scrolling through the list of films to be released this year, and there were so many films I wanted to see. The sci-fi genre looks especially tasty. However what really stood out was the amount of sequels there were lined up. Now what I could do is write a long list telling you what they are and what to expect, but I’m not going to do that. Instead, I’ve narrowed it down, and found three threequels that will get your mouth watering…

IRON MAN 3: 

Release date: April 25^th

Director: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rebecca Hall, Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, James Badge Dale, Stephanie Szostak

Plot: When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has his world torn to pieces by an evil terrorist known as the Mandarin (Kingsley), Stark embarks on a harrowing quest to find out those responsible.

What to expect:  Judging by the trailer this is going to be big, and I mean BIG. This sequel looks as though it’s going to be darker and more sinister than the others, and with Shane Black taking over as director it will be interesting to see how he stamps his mark on the film. John Favreau directed the previous films and will stay involved by offering his support to Black, meaning Iron Man 3 will be an exciting blend of conventional and fresh ideas. This is definitely one to look out for.

THE HANGOVER PART III:

Release date:  May 24th

Director: Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Jamie Chung, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson, Mike Epps,

Plot: This time it's not about a wedding or a bachelor party - the Wolfpack go on a road trip instead. We all know something is bound to go wrong…

What to expect: The Hangover films are arguably one of the most talked about comedies since the first one hit theatres back in 2009. I am though hoping that the third instalment will prove to be slightly more original than the last, and with no bachelor or wedding this time around it does look promising. If The Hangover Part III shows a little more vitality and verve then this will surely be one the comedies of the year. Still, with Zach Galifianakis playing Alan, what’s not to love?

RIDDICK:

Release date: TBA

Director: David Twohy

Starring: Vin Diesel, Katee Sackhoff, Karl Urban, Nolan Gerard Funk, Jordi Mollà, Dave Batista, Keri Hilson

Plot: Riddick (Diesel) is betrayed and left for dead on a sun-scorched planet full of dangerous predators - where, naturally, he takes down the competition and arises even deadlier than before. Soon bounty hunters from all over the galaxy descend on Riddick, where they find themselves victims of his bigger plan for vengeance.

What to expect: It’s been a while since Riddick’s predecessors Pitch Black (2000) and The Chronicles of Riddick (2004) were released, so director David Twohy will have more on his tool belt this time around. The action scenes have been superb in the previous two films, and I expect Riddick will have more of the same. There are a fair few sci-fi films out this year, including the eagerly anticipated Star Trek Into Darkness, so Riddick will really have to pull out all the stops if it wants to stamp its mark on 2013.

Conclusion:

And there you have it, three tantalising threequels to add to your list of films to watch this year. I will be looking out for Riddick, as I’m a fan of the previous two films. But I think it’s safe to say nearly everyone’s eyes will be on Iron Man 3 and The Hangover Part III. Robert Downey Jr. is arguably the reason why the series so great. His acting abilities are first class, and his knack of delivering humour in a witty, intelligent manner is what makes him so remarkable. I particularly like him in the Sherlock Holmes films. The Hangover’s excellence is down to a number of characters. For me though, Alan is the reason why it is so funny, and is one of the main reasons I watch it. Without him, the series just wouldn’t be the same.

Thank you for reading, and feel free to comment below with the films you’re most looking forward to in 2013!