Watchmen
Release date : March 6
Cast: Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Stephen McHattie, Matt Frewer
“Watchmen” is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the “Doomsday Clock” – which charts the USA’s tension with the Soviet Union – is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion – a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers – Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity… but who is watching the Watchmen?”
Duplicity
Release date: March 20
Casts: Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Paul Giamatti, Tom Wilkinson
Michael Clayton’s writer/director Tony Gilroy helms this dramatic caper re-teaming Closer stars Julia Roberts and Clive Owen as two lovelorn ex-spies who join forces to swipe a valuable product from the big-business corporate landscape.
State of Play
Release date: April 17
A political thriller set in Washington, D.C., starring Russell Crowe, Helen Mirren and Rachel McAdams, and directed by “The Last King of Scotland’s” Kevin Macdonald – hey, we’re there. Crowe stars as a reporter investigating a series of brutal murders that lead him to top politicians. Mirren is his tough editor and McAdams plays Woodward to his Bernstein.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Release date: May 1
Hugh Jackman rates a movie of his own in this epic tale of how his Marvel Comics character, Wolverine, came by his healing powers and retractable claws. Look for encounters with legends of the X-Men universe, including Wolverine exacting revenge from ultimate bad guy Victor Creed, played by Liev Schreiber.
Angels & Demons
Release date: May 15
Trouper that he is, Tom Hanks grew his hair into a mullet to reprise his role as religion authority Robert Langdon in this sequel to “The Da Vinci Code.” Instead of hooking up with a beautiful Frenchwoman to battle an evil ancient secret brotherhood, this time his equally beautiful partner is an Italian, played by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer.
Terminator Salvation
Release date: May 22
While Arnold Schwarzenegger is otherwise engaged, the franchise goes on, with this installment introducing Christian Bale as John Connor, the leader of the opposition to Skynet and its army of Terminators. When he uncovers a plot to annihilate humankind, the question becomes: Can he do anything about it? We’re betting he can, and that the Terminator will be back.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Release date: June 26
Leave it to Hollywood to turn a line of toys into a movie that’s so successful it rates a sequel. And here it is, back with original cast members Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox and Tyrese Gibson. LaBeouf joins forces with the Autobots against their enemies the Decepticons. If you don’t know what that means, check your local toy store.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Release date: July 17
Harry Potter fans were furious when this adaptation of the sixth Potter book was moved from fall 2008 to summer 2009. Hopefully, it will be worth the wait to see Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry face the fact that Hogwarts is no longer the secure haven it once was. Both Harry and buddy Ron find themselves in romantic entanglements. Almost all the gang of Britain’s finest actors reprise their roles from previous Potter films.
Funny People
Release date: July 31
Writer-director Judd Apatow captured the much-desired 20-to-40-year-old market with “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” This time he brings Adam Sandler into the mix as a famous comic with a terminal illness who wants to help someone out while he’s around. Apatow regular Seth Rogen plays a novice comedian who is the beneficiary of the dying man’s desire.
The Wolfman
Release date: Nov. 6
Benicio Del Toro re-creates the Lon Chaney Jr. title role from the 1941 “Wolf Man,” generally considered one of the best horror films ever. Del Toro is a haunted nobleman helping to search for the beast who’s been brutally murdering local villagers. Anthony Hopkins plays his father and Emily Blunt is his brother’s fiancee.