I know that 2016 is nowhere near over but we are already looking ahead to 2017 and the blockbuster movies that are on the horizon.
Kong: Skull Island
If you love your blockbuster films, 2017 is going to be another treat as there are a whole host of films that will be heading our way and raking in the cash at the box office.
We take a look at some that we are looking forward to the most. Which movie can you not wait to see?
- The Dark Tower - released 17th February 2017
The Dark Tower is one of the films that we have talked a lot about this year as Stephen King's much-loved novel gets the big screen treatment for the first time.
We have seen a whole host of King's novels turned into feature films over the years... but few have caused as much excitement as The Dark Tower. I really am looking forward to seeing how this world and story translates onto the big screen.
The Dark Tower sees Nikolaj Arcel in the director's chair for what will be the fifth feature of his career and first film since the fantastic period drama A Royal Affair. This is the first big blockbuster of his career and could well send his star rocketing - as well as kick off a great new film franchise.
Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey take on the central roles of Roland Deschain aka The Gunslinger and Man in Black and are joined on the cast list by Jackie Earle Haley, Katheryn Winnick, Claudia Kim, Abbey Lee, Tom Taylor, and Nicholas Hamilton.
Gunslinger Roland Deschain roams an Old West-like landscape in search of the dark tower, in the hopes that reaching it will preserve his dying world.
Filming on The Dark Tower has now been completed and it will hit the big screen in February. Mixing elements of adventure, fantasy, and horror, this is a movie that you really cannot afford to miss.
- Kong: Skull Island - released 10th March 2017
Kong: Skull Island was one of the movies that did whip up a storm at Comic-Con earlier this summer. where the first trailer for the film was unveiled.
Kong: Skull Island will mark the return of Jordan Vogt-Roberts to the director's chair in what will be his first feature film since he made his directorial debut with The Kings of Summer back in 2013.
Needless to say, this is the biggest film of his career to date and I am looking forward to seeing him put his own stamp on a character and a story that we all know so well.
Tom Hiddleston is set to take on the central role of Captain James Conrad as he leads an all-star cast. Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Goodman will star as Weaver, Lieutenant Colonel Packard, and Randa while Toby Kebbell, John C. Reilly, Thomas Mann, and Corey Hawkins will complete the impressive line-up.
Kong: Skull Island reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling and original adventure. In the film, a diverse team of explorers is brought together to venture deep into an uncharted island in the Pacific - as beautiful as it is treacherous - unaware that they're crossing into the domain of the mythic Kong.
Kong: Skull Island will be one of the first big blockbusters of 2017 and the early footage does promise a lot.
I know that we have seen plenty of King Kong movies over the years, but Kong has always been an interesting and exciting character and I am looking forward to his return.
- Beauty and the Beast - released 17th March 2017
2017 is set to be another hugely successful year for Disney and Beauty and the Beast is just one of the movies that will be coming to cinemas.
Beauty and the Beast is the latest film to be given a live-action makeover as it follows in the footsteps of Maleficent, Cinderella, and The Jungle Book - all of which have enjoyed critical and commercial success.
I have to admit, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite Disney films and I cannot wait to see how it plays as a live-action movie. It really is set to be one of the early must-see films of next year.
Bill Condon is back in the director's chair for his first feature since Mr. Holmes while Emma Watson takes on the central role of Belle.
The filmmaker has assembled an impressive cast as Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson, Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will all star alongside Watson.
Beauty and the Beast is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.
So far, we have not been treated to much in the way of footage from the film; just a teaser trailer to get everyone excited. But I am confident that this is a movie that is going to live up to our very high expectations. I really cannot wait to see what Condon and co deliver.
- Fast 8 - released 14th April 2017
It is hard to believe that it was back in 2001 when The Fast and the Furious blasted into cinemas for the first time... fifteen years on, and it is one of film's biggest franchises.
2017 will see the hit film series return with the eighth movie, which will come two years after the billion dollar success of Fast & Furious 7. This is the only film to in the series to have grossed over $1 billion at the box office, will Fast 8 do the same? I guess we are going to have to wait and see.
F. Gary Gray is the latest filmmaker to take over the director's chair and follows in the footsteps of James Wan and Justin Lin. This is the first film for Gray since the success of Straight Outta Compton last year.
Of course, there are plenty of familiar faces on board as Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Nathalie Emmanuel, Michelle Rodriguez. and Tyrese Gibson will all be back.
There are also some big new additions to the cast list as Charlize Theron and Helen Mirren are set to be introduced. Theron will play villain Cipher while Mirren's character is yet to be announced. Sadly, we are not going to be seeing Mirren behind the wheel of a car in the film.
The plot is still being kept quiet at the moment but it is set to be another huge instalment for the franchise. If it goes on to be the most success remains to be seen.
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 - released 28th April 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is already one of the most anticipated comic book films of next year and will be the first of three Marvel films to hit the big screen; the others being Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 marks the return of James Gunn - who steered the first film to huge success - back in the director's chair and on writing duties. It is good to see him back and carrying on the journey with these terrific characters.
While details about the plot are being kept under wraps, we do know that the film will explore Peter Quill's true parentage and we will come face to face with this father.
Kurt Russell is the big new addition to the cast list and will play Peter's Father, Ego. Elizabeth Debicki and Pom Klementieff are on board as Ayesha and Mantis while Sylvester Stallone will also star but his role has yet to be announced.
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, and Karen Gillan will all be reprising their roles as Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Nebula. Michel Rooker and Glenn Close are some of the other familiar faces that will be returning.
Guardians of the Galaxy was a huge critical and commercial success when it was released in 2014 and this sequel looks set to be an even bigger hit.
Gunn has revealed that the movie is set just months after events of the first - so will be set prior to Captain America: Civil War. It looks like we are also going to be seeing the Guardians make an appearance in Avengers: Infinity War - however, the cast list for the film has not yet been announced.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - released 26th May 2017
Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the best and most iconic film characters in recent times... and he is heading back to the big screen next year in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth film in the POTC franchise and the first since the huge success of On Stranger Tides back in 2011.
Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow as he teams up with filmmakers Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg for the first time. This is the biggest film of their careers and comes five years after the critical success of Kon-Tiki, which really put them on the directing map.
Depp is not the only familiar face on the cast list as Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, Stephen Graham, and Kevin McNally are reprising their roles as Will Turner, Barbossa, Scrum, and Gibbs.
There are also some great new additions to the cast list as Javier Bardem, Kaya Scodelario, Brenton Thwaites, and David Wenham are all also on board.
The new movie will follow Jack Sparrow as he searches for the trident of Poseidon. We are yet to see the film's first trailer.
- Wonder Woman - released 2nd June 2017
Earlier this year we were introduced to Wonder Woman in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice... and now she is set to lead her first solo film.
Filming has wrapped on Wonder Woman, which will hit the big screen before Justice League next year, and marks the return of Gal Gadot to the role.
Wonder Woman is the biggest role of Gadot's career and I am excited to see her develop the character of Diana Prince for a new generation.
Wonder Woman sees Gadot team up with filmmaker Patty Jenkins, who is in the director's chair for her first feature film since Monster back in 2003. It is great to see Jenkins back and I cannot wait to see her tackle a big blockbuster project for the first time.
The director has brought together an impressive cast as Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen, David Thewlis, Lucy David, Ewen Bremner, and Danny Huston are also on board.
Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat.
Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers... and her true destiny.
Wonder Woman is set to be one of the biggest female-driven blockbusters of 2017 and looks on course to be another box office success of Warner as they continue to expand the DC film universe.
- Star Wars: Episode VIII - released 15th December 2017
For all Star Wars fans who are looking forward to Episode VIII, there is still over a year to wait but it is going to be one of the most successful films of 2017.
In fact, is it too early to predict that Star Wars: Episode VIII will be the highest-grossing film of next year? I think I will nail my colours to the mast right now and make that prediction.
The movie sees Rian Johnson take over the director's chair from J.J Abrams in what is his first film since Looper back in 2012. As well as being in the director's chair for the film, Johnson has also penned the film's screenplay.
Johnson has movies such as Brick, The Brothers Bloom and Looper under his belt and I cannot wait to see him tackle this huge blockbuster and continue the adventure that was kicked off in The Force Awakens.
Daisy Ridley is back in the central role of Rey and is joined on the cast list by Domhnall Gleeson, Gwendoline Christie, Oscar Isaac, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Carrie Fisher, Andy Serkis, John Boyega, and Lupita Nyong'o.
At the moment, the plot is being kept a secret as is the film's title. However, if you are having Star Wars withdrawal symptoms, spin-off Rogue One: A Star Wars Story will be released at the end of the year.
Other blockbusters that will be heading our way next year, include Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Wolverine 3, Alien: Covenant, and Thor: Ragnarok.