Beasts versus Rogue
Or is it Redmayne versus Jones? Once co-stars playing a couple in an Oscar-nominated movie, each is starring in a franchise movie of his and her own to be released at year's end
Not too long ago, these two became one of cinema's most endearing couples thanks to the Oscar-nominated biopic The Theory Of Everything (below).
The 2014 drama revolving around the romance between real-life English physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife Jane saw Eddie Redmayne, 34, and Felicity Jones, 32, playing soulmates.
But in a few months' time, the on-screen lovebirds will find themselves on opposite ends, battling it out for box-office glory.
The English actors are headlining two huge, highly-anticipated spin-off properties: Redmayne in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Nov 17), while Jones has Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Dec 15).
Here's what we know so far about the shoo-in winners of 2016's year-end slate of releases.
BRAVE NEW WORLDS
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Harry Potter author JK Rowling wrote Fantastic Beasts as a 128-page booklet to mimic the "textbook" used by the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Detailed by magizoologist Newt Scamander, it's a guide to 85 magical creatures found around the world.
The book only has a short biography on Scamander so not much is known about him. And what the heck is a magizoologist in the first place?
It's a relief to know that Rowling serves as screenwriter for the new movie, which means we know it will definitely be as spellbinding as the rest of her precious Harry Potter universe.
The story follows Scamander's (Redmayne) adventures in trying to capture and document the creatures. Of course, mayhem ensues.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
This Star Wars prequel, helmed by Godzilla director Gareth Edwards, documents the Rebel Alliance's attempts to steal the plans for the Death Star before it can be used to strengthen the Empire's might.
We know how the story will unfold since the plans ended up in the Rebels' hands in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977). We also know how Luke Skywalker successfully destroyed the Death Star.
But what we don't know is if all the rebels, led by Jones' Jyn Erso - the loner whose scientist father has knowledge vital to both the Rebels and the Empire - survived the mission. Could her team be the real-deal "suicide squad"?
FAN FRENZY
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
The recent release of Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, a rehearsal script book based on the West End play by English playwright Jack Thorne which is considered the eighth Harry Potter novel, has rekindled Pottermania ever since Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 bowed out in 2011.
According to CNN, The Cursed Child is Amazon's most pre-ordered book of 2016. Clearly, Harry Potter fans are still alive, kicking and hungry for more. This bodes well for Fantastic Beasts.
However, the movie is set in the 1920s and in New York, and unlike The Cursed Child, Harry and familiar characters from the beloved film franchise are not part of this spin-off.
Redmayne has loads to carry on those thin shoulders, but Rowling remains confident though.
She has already started writing the screenplay sequel to Fantastic Beasts, which is expected to be released in 2018 .
It is the perfect way to make fans happy and keep the magic alive.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The gargantuan success of last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens has rejuvenated the decades-old sci-fi saga, so Jones' burden isn't as heavy as Redmayne's.
Star Wars fans will lap up whatever is thrown at them.
Also, Rogue One has familiar Asian stars Donnie Yen and Jiang Wen as part of the main ensemble, and both have significant roles to play.
Clever casting move, since Star Wars has a massive following in China and the Chinese market is huge for Hollywood films.
According to box-office aggregation website Box Office Mojo, Star Wars: The Force Awakens raked in over US$124 million (S$167 million) in China, while Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 only amassed US$60.8 million.
KEEPING IT CURRENT
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
English director David Yates, who helmed the last four Harry Potter movies, told Entertainment Weekly that the 1920s setting best juxtaposes the parallels between present-day struggles and society nearly a century ago.
"It feels like the world is on a precipice. Everyone's a bit nervous. There are things happening that make everyone uncomfortable, and people have a choice to make about which side they want to stand on," said Yates.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
The Star Wars movies, particularly the last one, heavily championed female empowerment, which is always a hot topic.
Jones told Entertainment Weekly that her Jyn Erso character is an unlikely heroine, saying: "She's someone on the edges and fringes of society. Physically, she's smaller than everyone else around her, but when someone has something they believe in, that's what powers them, that's what motivates them, that's what can give someone enormous strength."
Looking at Star Wars' history, the women have been the ones calling the shots, like Natalie Portman's Padme, Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia and Daisy Ridley's Rey, who was the star of The Force Awakens.
Jones added that girl power could not be more timely as the US just may get its first female President in Hillary Clinton.
"It's vital that we are getting more female action heroes," she said.
"As we're seeing in politics, it is a world where women are becoming leaders of nations, and films should be reflecting that."
SUPPORTING PLAYERS
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them
Redmayne has the support of Colin Farrell, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Jon Voight and Ezra Miller. Besides knowing that Waterston plays Scamander's love interest, Fogler is Scamander's roommate and Farrell is an Auror who may have something against Scamander, these characters are shrouded in secrecy. Will we be able to connect with the unknown?
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Apart from Yen and Jiang, Jones has Diego Luna, Forest Whitaker and Riz Ahmed by her side, as well as Star Wars icons like the Death Star and Stormtroopers. Her secret weapon for box-office gold? An appearance by Darth Vader himself.Nothing can top that.
Other releases to look out for
These other year-end movies may stand in the shadows of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but they could be underdogs giving the frontrunners a run for their money.
Doctor Strange (Nov 3)
This is quite a gamble for Marvel as it is venturing into a new and untested realm of magic and the supernatural.
Unlike Marvel superhero staples such as Captain America, Iron Man and Thor, Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme isn't all that popular to begin with.
The movie is an origin tale of how gifted New York surgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), whose hands are horribly damaged in a car accident, acquires seemingly magical superpowers under the mentorship of the mystic, The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton).
Marvel has taken risks before, striking gold with Guardians Of The Galaxy and Ant-Man.
The studio's Midas touch may continue with Doctor Strange, even though Cumberbatch, as popular as he is, has yet to open a big movie on his own.
Moana (Nov 24)
Disney's first Polynesian princess is going to capture your hearts with her courage, gumption and tenacity.
Set 3,000 years ago in the South Pacific, the titular heroine (Auli'i Cravalho) enlists the help of the once-mighty demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) to join her on a quest to save her island while dealing with monsters and impossible odds.
Disney has been on a roll with its animation offerings this year, with hits like Zootopia and Finding Dory. Also, in a post-Frozen world, its princesses are guaranteed to be hits with younger audiences too.
Passengers (Dec 22)
Banking on the A-list star power of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt, this space romance sees the pair playing two of 5,000 passengers travelling in suspended animation before they're mistakenly awakened 90 years too early.
Alone in outer space with the luxury space-liner as their personal playground, they soon fall in love, but it becomes apparent that the ship is malfunctioning, thus endangering its entire population.
Assassin's Creed (Dec 22)
The video game-to-movie genre has always been a tricky one. Warcraft garnered mixed results around the world, while Resident Evil is a rare success.
Michael Fassbender is gunning for a hit with this popular Ubisoft game, wearing both hats of producer and lead actor.
He plays Callum Lynch, who discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society after gaining the memories of his ancestor Aguilar. He subsequently attains the skills of a Master Assassin.
Like Cumberbatch, Fassbender also has legions of fans and has starred in blockbusters, but he, too, has yet to be tested as a solo leading man in a movie of such scale.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
