Most Anticipated Movies of 2014

by Helen Earnshaw | 4 March 2014

2014 has already been a brilliant movie year with the likes of 12 Years A Slave, Dallas Buyers Club, Monuments Men and Lone Survivor all hitting the big screen: all of which were great films.

However, 2014 is set to get even more exciting as there are a whole host of great films on the horizon. We take a look at some of the movies that are not to be missed.

- Captain America: The Winter Soldier - released 26th March

No year is complete without a Marvel film, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier is set to be the first Marvel movie to hit the big screen.

Joe and Anthony Russo have taken over the director's chair, and you can tell from the trailer that this is going to be more of an action packed and epic affair that its predecessor.

Chris Evans is back in the title role, while Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson are also back as Black Widow & Nick Fury.

There are some big new additions to the cast list as Robert Redford and Anthony Mackie are also on board.

This movie will really explore the character of Steve Rodgers and how he fits into the modern world; which was something that they didn't have chance to do in Avengers Assemble.

We are also going to learn more about Black Widow and Fury and see the relationships between these trio of character grow.

Marvel has enjoyed a hugely successful couple of years, and The Winter Soldier looks set to see that success continue. I can't wait to see this latest instalment.

- Divergent - released 4th April

Veronica Roth is the latest author to get her young adult novels adapted for the big screen.

The book was adapted for the big screen by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor, and is directed by Neil Burger.

Shailene Woodley will take on the central character of Tris Prior, while Theo James will also play Four. These are two upcoming actors, who are set to see their stars rocket with this movie.

Divergent is set in a dystopian society, which is split into factions. Tris Prior (Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group.

When she discovers a conspiracy to destroy all Divergents, she must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late.

Divergent is one of the movies that I am looking forward to, as I am such a huge fan of the books and I can't wait to see how this world and story translates on to the big screen.

- Transcendence - released 25th April

2014 looks set to be another incredibly exciting year for sci-fi, as there are a whole host of films to watch out for... Transcendence is just one of them.

Transcendence will explore the idea that the mind can be downloaded to the internet in Wally Pfister's hugely anticipated directorial debut.

Johnny Depp will take on the lead role of Will, a scientist who downloads his mind into a computer - only to become unstoppable.

Morgan Freeman, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, and Kate Mara complete a stellar line-up.

Transcendence promises to be another fast-paced sci-fi film, which tackles some interesting themes and ideas.

It has been a while since we have seen Depp take on a great role, and Transcendence promises to see him back on form.

- Godzilla - released 16th May

Another movie that is currently surrounded in hype and excitement is Godzilla: a character we haven't seen on the big screen since 1998.

The movie will see Gareth Edwards return to the director's chair for his second directorial outing. He made his debut with Monsters, and this really is his first step into the big budget blockbuster.

This promises to be the biggest Godzilla movie that we have ever seen, as the story of this big screen icon is rebooted once again.

He has brought together a terrific cast as Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, David Strathairn, Sally Hawkins, and Ken Watanabe are all on board.

We have been getting glimpses of the look and scale of this movie: the more I see the more epic it appears to be.

- X-Men: Days of Future Past - released 22nd May

X-Men: Days of Future Past is set to be the biggest X-Men movie we have ever seen, as actors from X-Men: First Class and the original trilogy come together for the first time.

The movie sees Bryan Singer return to the director's chair to helm his first X-Men movie since X2 - I personally cannot wait to see him return to this franchise.

Singer says he is going to re-address some of the events of X-Men: Last Stand, and I am excited to see Singer's work on this film.

Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy are back as Magneto and Charles Xavier, while Ian McKellan and Patrick Stewart will also be back in these roles.

Hugh Jackman is also returning as Wolverine, and will be set back in time to change history that will save both humans and mutants.

Singer's first two X-Men movies, are the two best X-Men films in the franchise and it is an exciting prospect to see him explore this world and these character further.

- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - released 17th July

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and comes three years after the first film.

Matt Reeves is in the director's chair this time around, and takes over from Rupert Wyatt.

Survivors of the simian plague trigger an all-out war between humanity and Caesar's growing forces.

Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke and Toby Kebbell make up a fantastic cast list: only Serkis is the only main star to return to his role of Caesar.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was one of the surprise movies of 2011 - it really did surpass all expectations and was a terrific piece of blockbuster cinema.

Serkis delivered a terrific performance as Caesar in the first film, and seeing him return to this role is something that is I cannot wait to see.

- Jupiter Ascending - released 25th July

Jupiter Ascending is another science fiction film that I am looking forward to as Andy and Lana Wachowski return to the director's chair.

This is their first film since Cloud Atlas, but this time around, the Wachowski's have penned the screenplay.

If you haven't seen the trailer yet then you really should check it out, as it promises to be a visual and epic treat.

In the future, a young destitute human woman gets targeted for assassination by the Queen of the Universe, and begins her destiny to finish the Queen's reign.

Channing Tatum teams up with Mila Kunis for the first time, while Sean Bean, Eddie Redmayne, and Douglas Booth are also on board.

Jupiter Ascending is one of the sci-fi films that I am most looking forward to this year as it promises to be an action packed ride.

- Guardians Of The Galaxy - released 1st August

Guardians of the Galaxy is another exciting Marvel film on the horizon this year, as we are going to be introduced to a completely new set of characters.

James Gunn is in the director's chair for the film, in what will be the biggest movie in his career to date: it is also his first Marvel film.

Chris Pratt will take on the central role of Peter Quill, and is joined on the cast list by Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Karen Gillan, and Dave Bautista.

The movie follows Quill, who finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan, a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe.

He is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits - Rocket, a gun-toting raccoon, Groot, a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer.

Guardians of the Galaxy looks set to expand the Marvel universe further than ever before for a truly intergalactic adventure.

- Interstellar - released 7th November

Christopher Nolan is one of the best directors around, and he is back at the helm this autumn with Interstellar.

Interstellar is the first film for Nolan since the success of The Dark Knight Rises, and it is a welcome return to the sci-fi genre for the director.

A group of explorers make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage.

As you may expect, an all-star cast has come together to star in the film and work with this fantastic director. Matthew McConaughey will lead the cast and is joined by Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Casey Affleck and Topher Grace are all on board.

There is always excitement when a Nolan directed project is on the horizon, and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for us next.

- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 - released 21st November.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was one of the most successful films of last year, and the moment the credits rolled, I was desperate to see the next instalment.

Mockingjay - Part 1 is the next instalment, as the final book in Suzanne Collins' trilogy is split into two movies.

Francis Lawrence will remain in the director's chair for the next two films: which is great news as he did such a fab job of Catching Fire.

The movie sill follow Katniss as she becomes a symbol of the revolution as Panem is plunged into war.

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Woody Harrelson, and Liam Hemsworth are some of the familiar faces that are returning.

Julianne Moore is the big new addition to the cast list, as she is set to take on the role of President Alma Coin.

With ever instalment The Hunger Games series has got better and better, and the final two movies are going to be an epic conclusion to this fantastic series.