Upcoming Sci-Fi Movies You Won't Want To Miss

Science-fiction. It's a genre that boggles the mind, broadens the imagination, and pays tribute to the awe-inspiring breadth of human innovation. Whether it's high-minded speculative fiction or explosive superhero blockbusters, sci-fi has something for everyone. And the upcoming line-up of sci-fi films shows the full range of the genre, with everything from bizarre indie sci-fi flicks, to alien invasion movies, to (several) highly anticipated sequels to sci-fi tentpoles that take place on distant planets with very unique climates. (Are we talking about "Dune" or "Avatar"? Who knows!)

There's a lot to look forward to in sci-fi cinema this year and the next. Here are the sci-fi movies that you absolutely do not want to miss in 2022 and 2023.

Release Date: March 25, 2022

The filmmaking team Daniels, made up of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, are known for their out-of-this-world weirdness. Their feature directorial debut "Swiss Army Man" is about the unlikely friendship between a suicidal man and a farting corpse, and their upcoming film, "Everything Everywhere All At Once," looks just as beautifully bizarre.

"Everything Everywhere All At Once" stars Michelle Yeoh as a Chinese-American woman who is trying to finish her taxes but ends up going on a multiverse-hopping adventure. The movie looks like a visual treat, with enough strange, stunning moments in the trailer to catch anyone's attention. Multiverses are popular right now, with Sony, Marvel, and DC all taking swings at the trope, so it will be fun to see a completely different take. Yeoh is an action-movie superstar with loads of charisma, so "Everything Everywhere All At Once" should be a blast of butt-kicking joy. (Danielle Ryan)

Release Date: April 14, 2023

Filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods made quite a splash with their script for 2018's "A Quiet Place," giving rise to a highly successful sci-fi-horror franchise in the process. The duo have since reunited for an intriguing new project titled "65."

An original sci-fi thriller, the movie stars Adam Driver as an astronaut who lands on a mysterious new planet, only to discover he's not as alone as he thought. Beck and Woods both wrote and directed the film, making it their third directorial effort after the found-footage thriller "Nightlight" and the well-received slasher movie "Haunt." With legendary "Evil Dead" filmmaker Sam Raimi serving as a producer and iconic Tim Burton movie composer Danny Elfman handling the score, "65" is shaping up to be another captivatingly tense sci-fi outing from Beck and Woods. (Sandy Schaefer)

Release Date: April 28, 2022 on Netflix

What is sci-fi, if not a place to break the rules of nature? Netflix's "Bubble" is taking that to the next level by completely destroying the laws of gravity. The film centers around an alternate version of Tokyo, years after bubbles mysteriously descend from the sky and break the laws of gravity within the city. Completely cut off from the rest of the world, the city becomes a playground for a group of young people without families, who've mastered the art of leaping from bubbles to buildings. After nearly falling to his death, one such teen named Hibiki is rescued by a mysterious girl, which kickstarts an epic love story. Screenwriter Gen Urobuchi came up with this as a play on the typical mermaid narrative: "Instead of a girl ending up as bubbles after falling in love, why not have a bubble fall in love and transform into a girl?"

If this enchanting presence isn't enough to win you over, the team of anime all-stars working behind the scenes will certainly do the trick. "Bubble" comes from Tetsuro Araki, the director behind the hugely popular "Attack on Titan." Screenwriter Urobuchi is known for work on "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," character design is done by "Death Note" alum Takeshi Obata and the music comes from Hiroyuki Sawano of "Promare." (Shania Russell)

Release Date: May 6, 2022

Brace yourselves, folks, the MCU's first big movie of the year is nearly here. Sam Raimi's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is set to explore the now cracked-open multiverse further. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) will be seen contending with various universes and creatures, traveling back and forth in time to find solutions, while battling the cyclopean squid villain known as the Shuma-Gorath and a corrupted, time-altered version of himself. He will have little help from the Scarlet Witch, who will be using the Darkhold to make sense of their new reality. Raimi, who helmed the original "Spider-Man" trilogy, appears to lean into his horror background for the MCU film and weaves the narrative with themes of science fiction and high fantasy.

The trailer promises fans a return to the trippy mirror dimension, teases the cartoon dimension, and sees its titular character travel to many alternate realities. If you thought Doctor Strange's distinctive psychedelic visual effects set it apart from any other film in the MCU, "Multiverse of Madness" is going to be a treat for the eyes. Elizabeth Olsen returns as Wanda Maximoff, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, and Chiwetel Ejiofor reprise their past roles, and the film introduces Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. (Fatemeh Mirjalili)

Release Date: May 13, 2022

In Japanese, the word "shin" can translate to "heart," or "God," or "true." When Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi made "Shin Godzilla" in 2016, it was perhaps a response to America's recent attempt to make their own version of Godzilla, a character who is, to remind you, a Japanese citizen and a tourism ambassador for the Japanese government. Anno and Higuchi's version of Godzilla was, then, touted as the "true" version.

With the upcoming "Shin Ultraman," Anno and Higuchi have reteamed to give the same clarion of verisimilitude to everyone's favorite ultra-evolved, superpowered robot-like space alien being that ever hailed from 1960s Japanese tokusatsu television. (Witney Seibold)

Release Date: June 10, 2022

"Jurassic World Dominion" is set to round out the current "Jurassic" trilogy in grand fashion, with dinosaurs now out in the real world living amongst humans. Taking place four years after the events of "Fallen Kingdom," we're going to see what full-blown chaos really looks like.

Colin Trevorrow ("Jurassic World") is returning to the director's chair, with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprising their roles as Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, respectively. Most importantly, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum are reuniting as Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm for the first time since the original movie. That alone is worth the price of admission. (Ryan Scott)

Release Date: June 17, 2022

Pixar may not be making "Toy Story 5" but they are finding a creative way to continue with the franchise that started it all. Chris Evans is set to star in "Lightyear," a movie that will show us the actual space hero Buzz Lightyear in action. Not the toy, but the man behind the toy. Directed by Angus MacLane ("Finding Dory") this looks to be a true-blue action/adventure flick with Pixar's signature creative twist.

In a world absolutely overflowing with sequels and reboots, this looks to be one of the more unique ones coming down the pipeline. Also, there is a talking robot cat named Sox in it. (Ryan Scott)

Release Date: July 8, 2022

"Thor: Love and Thunder," directed by the brilliant Taika Waititi, comes out on July 8, 2022. It stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher. Though we don't have a ton of details yet, we do know that Jane will become the Mighty Thor. She'll have her own set of powers, not just a copy of OG Thor's. Not only that, but Valkyrie, the ruler of New Asgard and the MCU's first openly LGBTQIA character, is likely to get a love story of her own! Love is in the title, after all. For extra fun, we're getting "Guardians of the Galaxy" characters including Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) who still has a bit of a rivalry going with Thor. Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander), who got short shrift in the earlier films will return, badass that she is. The only thing that could make this any better is a cameo from Beta Ray Bill. Hey, one can dream. (Jenna Busch)

Release Date: July 22, 2022

With the runaway success of "Get Out" and "Us," Jordan Peele has earned the kind of goodwill that sells tickets based on name recognition alone. Which is perfect — because even though the first trailer for "Nope" gave us a solid two minutes worth of footage, we still don't know very much about what Peele has in store. Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Steve Yeun all star as residents of a small California town who make an uncanny and chilling discovery. So far we've seen a lot of ominous sky shots and a pretty creepy-looking cloud which doesn't sound like much to go on, but the internet is nothing if not clever. The secrecy surrounding the film has made lots of room for speculation and wild theories and the most popular guess promises a chilling sci-fi surprise: aliens.

An especially memorable moment from the trailer sees Keke Palmer whisked into the sky by an invisible force, which is pretty much a staple of alien horror. Some internets sleuths have dug a little deeper and begun to theorize that the title "Nope" is actually an acronym for Not Of Planet Earth." We don't have much to go on and Peele certainly hasn't let anything slip, but the tagline "What's a bad miracle?" also points us to the sky. After all, miracles are thought of as a gift from the heavens and aliens come from up above. But whether "Nope" delved into aliens or just intensely bad weather, Jordan Peele's track record is pristine and whatever's he's hiding up his sleeve makes this a must-see movie. (Shania Russell)

Release Date: July 29, 2022

The long-gestating "Black Adam" movie starring Dwayne Johnson will finally be hitting theaters this year! In the comics, Teth-Adam was selected as the wizard Shazam's champion long before Billy Batson, but was soon corrupted by his immense powers. Originally intended to be introduced in "Shazam!" as Shazam's archnemesis, DC has interestingly chosen to debut the character in his own solo movie. Because the character will be introduced in his own film, the big question is, how monstrous will Black Adam be? He was a villain in the comics for many years, before taking a more heroic turn in modern times. It seems likely that DC intends to portray Black Adam as something of an antihero. However, it's always possible that he will be the villain of his own story.

Now that DC has chosen to play to their own strengths, rather than try to catch-up to the MCU, it's a particularly thrilling time to be a DC fan. Aside from Johnson in the titular role, the movie will also star Sarah Shahi as Isis, Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, and Aldis Hodge as Hawkman. The movie is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and the script is written by Adam Sztykie, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani. We'll have to wait and see if "Black Adam" can live up to expectations, but it's exciting to think about what Johnson's take on the character will be. (Jamie Gerber)

Release Date: Summer 2022 on Hulu

The "Predator" franchise has certainly seen its ups and downs over the years, culminating with the critical and box office failure of Shane Black's "The Predator" in 2018. However, the upcoming "Prey" promises to take the property back to its roots while telling a lean, mean, survival story set 300 years before the events of the previous "Predator" movies.

Amber Midthunder stars in the film as Naru, a young Comanche warrior who fights to protect her tribe from the very first member of the Predator species to make its way to Earth. "Prey" will also serve as director Dan Trachtenberg's long-awaited followup to his feature debut on "10 Cloverfield Lane," an excellent thriller that proves he knows a thing or two about how to make a riveting sci-fi monster movie. (Sandy Schaefer)

Release Date: September 16, 2022

Not everyone who goes to space gets the glory — in this case, low-level mining engineer Andy Ramirez (Anthony Ramos, "Hamilton"). "Distant" is a new space-thriller from the filmmaking team of Will Speck and Josh Gordon, known for their work in comedy films such as "Blades of Glory" and "The Switch."

The movie follows Ramos as his spaceship is struck by an asteroid, which sends him to an alien planet. Barely surviving with his non-functioning AI suit (voiced by Zachary Quinto, "Star Trek"), Andy finds himself grappling with the progressive loss of oxygen, realizing that his only shot at survival is to find another survivor. He soon discovers that he isn't alone — aliens are stalking his every move — and his fellow crew member, Naomi (Naomi Scott, "Aladdin"), who he connects to via radio, is trapped inside her escape pod. Spenser Cohen ("Extinction") wrote the script for the film, which is currently in the post-production stage, and a trailer is yet to be released! (Fatemeh Mirjalili)

Release Date: September 23, 2022

In her first film as a director since the excellent "Booksmart" in 2019, Olivia Wilde returns — with "Booksmart" co-screenwriter Katie Silberman — to present a mysterious psychological thriller that Wilde described as "'The Feminine Mystique' on acid." Starring Florence Pugh and Harry Styles, "Don't Worry Darling" is about an suburban experimental utopian community in the 1950s that, perhaps naturally, houses a dark secret.

Wilde has promised her film to be an adult and frank exploration of female lust, something Wilde feels isn't seen enough in mainstream feature films, and that's on top of it being a skeleton key to unlocking post-war America's haphazard experiments of Hegelianism. (Witney Seibold)

Release Date: October 7, 2022

Spider-Man swinging through New York is a thing of the past — now it's all about jumping through dimensions. After starting the year right with Peter Parker in "Spider-Man: No Way Home," we're gearing up to finally return to the Spider-Verse with Miles Morales. Shameik Moore and Hailee Steinfeld are back as Miles and Gwen, years after the adventure that bonded the original crew of spider-people. This time around they're set to embark on a story so epic, it needed two parts! And while watching Miles awkwardly flirt could certainly fill out a movie or two, our spider-duo are destined to grapple with much bigger problems that see them traveling across dimensions. They'll reunite with old Spidey-pals, including Miles' mentor, Peter B Parker (Jake Johnson), and meet some new faces along the way.

"Across The Spider-Verse" promises the introduction of Issa Rae as Spider-Woman and finally gives us a chance to learn more about the futuristic Spider-Man 2099, voiced by Oscar Isaac. The film is set to take everything we loved about the first movie and amp it up to the next level, including the animation style. Like "Spider-Verse," the film blends 2D and 3D animation with comic-book-inspired textures. The bonus? We also get a new animation style for every alternate universe that Miles visits. (Shania Russell)

Release Date: November 2, 2022

Ezra Miller returns as DC's resident speedster in "The Flash," the first standalone film based on the superhero character. Argentine filmmaker Andy Muschietti directs the movie — it is inspired by the "Flashpoint" comic book crossover story, where Barry Allen travels back in time to prevent his mother's murder. If there's anything we've learned from Barry Allen's story arc, it is that bad things happen when you mess with time, and changing the past rarely ever changes the future ... in a good way, at least. The comic book story follows the character as his actions bring unintended consequences.

In the film, Miller's superhero opens a multiverse by traveling back in time and runs into two different versions of the caped crusader — the Batman (portrayed by Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck, respectively) during his missteps. Whether the film achieves the emotional complexity as the Arrowverse television show episode that adapted the same story remains to be seen. Sasha Calle makes her silver screen debut as Supergirl. Kiersey Clemons plays Iris West, Michael Shannon will be seen as General Zod, and Maribel Verdú will play Barry's mother, Nora Allen. (Fatemeh Mirjalili)

Release Date: November 11, 2022

It's been nearly four years since "Black Panther" changed the trajectory of the superhero film. Fans have been anxiously waiting for a sequel to the 2018 phenomenon — but returning to the world of Wakanda feels bittersweet after the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020. Marvel Studios are adamant about honoring Boseman's legacy moving forward, and though the role of T'Challa will always belong to the late actor, the legacy of the Black Panther will continue in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever."

Director Ryan Coogler returns to helm the sequel, and so have key members of the cast like Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke and Angela Bassett. They'll also be joined by some new faces: Michaela Coel ("I May Destroy You") and Tenoch Huerta ("Narcos"). Though their roles in the film are under tight wraps, "Wakanda Forever" will also mark the live-action debut of Riri Williams — also known as Ironheart in Marvel Comics.

"Wakanda Forever" is but one of many superhero projects on the horizon. While franchise fatigue can be overwhelming, "Black Panther" has always felt like a departure from the genre. The film helped bring afrofuturism (and a roster of powerful Black characters) to the MCU for the first time. Setbacks aside, "Wakanda Forever" will definitely expand the world that Boseman helped bring to life, and it's a world that Coogler believes the actor would have wanted fans to continue celebrating. (Lyvie Scott)

Release Date: November 23, 2022

Get ready for a brand new animated adventure from Disney when "Strange World" heads your way this Thanksgiving! Little has been announced about the film thus far, but Disney Animation did reveal concept art, describing "Strange World" as a film that "journeys deep into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest — and by far — most crucial mission."

This marks the 61st animated feature from the Mouse House, and will be written Qui Nguyen, who will also co-direct with Don Hall. The pair previously worked together on "Raya and the Last Dragon." No voice cast has been announced as of yet and little is known about the plot. However, Hall has cited pulp magazines as a major inspiration for "Strange World," which should give Disney's newest animated feature a unique spin. (Jamie Gerber)

Release Date: December 16, 2022

Director James Cameron is on record with his philosophy that a film is not worth making if it won't be the biggest movie of all time. This certainly held true for "Titanic" in 1997 and "Avatar" in 2009, and there's no reason to believe that "Avatar 2" will be any different. Cameron has spent the last 12 years improving special effects technology and underwater photography to capture an undersea adventure the likes of which audiences cannot yet imagine.

Inspired by Maori and Polynesian cultures, "Avatar 2" will take place under the oceans of Pandora, where the Sully family (complete with a new child!) shall meet a tribe of reef-dwelling Na'Vi. Even if Cameron's plan to follow this with multiple additional "Avatar" sequels never bears fruit, audiences can be assured they will see something impressive here. (Witney Seibold)

Release Date: 2022

On the long list of horrifying sci-fi scenarios looming on our horizon is a world where we can successfully clone human beings. The thought of large-scale cloning has inspired all sorts of dystopia and horror, but "Dual" proves that it can also be a source of comedy.

From Riley Stearns, the same mind that brought us 2014's "Faults" and 2019's "The Art of Self-Defense," comes a darkly comedic tale of human cloning. Karen Gillan ("Doctor Who," "Guardians of the Galaxy") is Sarah, a woman recently diagnosed with a rare and incurable disease. To save her boyfriend and mother from the impending loss, she decides to undergo a medical procedure called "Replacement," which is just as horrifying as it sounds — Sarah is thus cloned and plans to spend her last days on Earth preparing her copy to take over her life. If this sounds a little familiar, it's because AppleTV's "Swan Song" told a very similar tale of a terminally ill man replacing himself with a clone. But there's one major difference — Sarah makes a miraculous recovery. Because no advanced society would be complete without horrific dystopian rules, it turns out that humans can't exist alongside their clones and the pair are scheduled to fight to the death. Whoever comes out on the top gets the pleasure of living Sarah's life. With the help of her combat trainer (played by "Breaking Bad" alum Aaron Paul) Sarah prepares for a duel to the death. (Shania Russell)

Release Date: 2022 on Netflix

John Boyega, Jamie Foxx, and Teyonah Parris are no strangers to the blockbuster. Each actor is a total scene-stealer; they've appeared in some of the most successful franchises to date — so it's a little surprising that their upcoming film, "They Cloned Tyrone," has been so under the radar until recently.

Described by Boyega himself as a "stateside 'Attack the Block,'" the Netflix film follows the drug dealer Tyrone Fontaine (Boyega), pimp Slick Charles (Foxx), and sex worker Yo-Yo (Parris) as they uncover an eerie conspiracy lurking beneath their hood. Though not much is known about the project — apart from the sleek first look that appeared in Netflix's 2022 movie preview — it's sure to turn heads as its release date approaches.

Sci-fi films that feature Black leads are often few and fear between. Boyega has been one of the stars helping to shift the status quo since his breakout role in "Attack the Block." With a seasoned talent like Foxx and an up-and-coming actor like Parris, "They Cloned Tyrone" seems like a match made in pulp heaven. (Lyvie Scott)

Release Date: January 22, 2023

Frant Gwo's "The Wandering Earth" is the fourth highest-grossing non-English-language films of all time, but — thanks to a half-hearted Netflix distribution deal and the caprices of streaming algorithms — was not widely seen in the United States. The original took place in a future when the sun is about to go supernova, and humanity must band together to build giant rocket engines that will push the Earth out of its orbit and fly it to the next sun over. Farfetched, of course, but a fun premise. Humanity, meanwhile, had moved into underground bunkers for the duration of the centuries-long voyage.

The sequel, starring Hong Kong superstar Andy Lau, will continue with the Earth's interstellar voyage, and will doubtless boast impressive special effects and a further delve into the mind-boggling technology required to turn the whole planet into a spacecraft. (Witney Seibold)

Release Date: February 17, 2023

Fans will still have to wait a year to see Brie Larson's Carol Danvers suit up for the sequel to "Captain Marvel" and as the film's title implies, she won't be on her own. Perhaps even more exciting than seeing Carol return for her second solo adventure is that she'll be joined by Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris), who we saw gain superpowers in "WandaVision," as well as Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), who is set to debut in her own series, "Ms. Marvel," later this year. Little else is known about the movie's plot, with Marvel keeping its stars tight-lipped as always. However, Larson has referred to the sequel as "bonkers" and cited it as an example of Marvel's ability to continually reinvent itself.

"The Marvels" is directed by Nia DaCosta, who previously worked with Parris on "Candyman," and the script is penned by Megan McDonnell, who wrote for "WandaVision" as well. Carol will reportedly be squaring off against Zawe Ashton, as the as yet unnamed villain. "The Marvels" will also see Samuel L. Jackson reprise his role as Nick Fury while Park Seo-Joon ("Parasite") joins the cast as well. Aside from "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the MCU has a lousy track record with the second entries in its various properties. However, with this many great characters and a director who's already proven herself capable of reinventing a franchise, "The Marvels" is definitely a movie to look forward to! (Jamie Gerber)

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Fans of James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" have been waiting for the third installment for more than five years. Thankfully, we'll all get a chance to hear Star-Lord's fantastic mixtapes again in May of 2023, when "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" hits theaters. The Guardians of the Galaxy are a team of misfit heroes that includes Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, and the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper as Groot and Rocket Raccoon. The first two films are candy-colored space adventures full of humor and heart, and it will be great to follow the adventures of this rag-tag crew once more.

This will be the final outing for this team of Guardians under Gunn's direction, which means that anything could happen and the stakes are higher than they've ever been. Will Star-Lord ever get the hero status he desires? Is alternate-universe Gamora the same as the Gamora we knew and loved before the Blink? Will Rocket steal any body parts? We'll have to wait until 2023 to find out, which seems way, way too far away. (Danielle Ryan)

Release Date: June 9, 2023

It has been several years since "Bumblebee" began a course correction for the "Transformers" franchise and longer still since we've seen a full-blown entry in the series. No longer. Paramount is bringing us "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" in summer 2023 which will bring the beloved '90s spin-off "Beast Wars" into the equation.

Steven Caple Jr. ("Creed II") is directing with "In the Heights" star Anthony Ramos and "Project Power" breakout Dominique Fishback leading the way on the human side. Peter Cullen is also returning to voice Optimus Prime, with Ron Perlman taking on the role of Optimus Primal, leader of the Maximals. (Ryan Scott)

Release Date: July 23, 2023

It seems like forever before we'll get to see "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania," on July 23, 2023. The details are scarce on this film, but there is something we do know and that's the important part; Jonathan Majors will appear as Kang the Conqueror! We saw him monologuing as a Kang variant in the "Loki" Disney+ series, but now that the multiverse has been broken wide open after "Spider-Man: No Way Home," all the universes could potentially become Kang's playgrounds.

The "Ant-Man" movies haven't been hugely pivotal to the MCU as a whole, but they've been a joy to watch. We know we'll see the return of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and a grown up Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton). What's even more fun though, is that Bill Murray will likely be in it as well as a villain! Peyton Reed is returning to direct the third "Ant-Man" film, and he reportedly impressed Murray, which is one of the highest compliments you can get in Hollywood. (Jenna Busch)

Release Date: September 22, 2023

Before we catch up with the Abbott family in "A Quiet Place Part III," the sci-fi-horror franchise is going to take a detour with an as-yet-untitled spin-off film. The movie will shift the focus away from the Abbotts and onto other individuals in the "Quiet Place" universe, possibly shining a light on how other people have been fighting to stay alive in the property's post-apocalyptic landscape.

Michael Sarnoski is writing and directing the spin-off, making it the first movie he's worked on since helming the critically-acclaimed drama "Pig" starring Nicolas Cage. Sarnoski will also be drawing from a story conceived by "A Quiet Place Part I and II" director John Krasinski, which should only further ensure that the film clears the same bar for quality as the first two entries in the franchise. (Sandy Schaefer)

Release Date: August 4, 2023

No rubbers suits or CG characters eating pizza here. "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Next Chapter" will be a computer animated affair. It's coming to us from some comedy heavy hitters with Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg's Point Grey Pictures. This time around we're focusing on the "teenage" side of things. Maybe we'll see turtle acne and awkward turtle crushes!

This film will be followed by a series of villain-driven films in the franchise for Paramount+. Though we don't have any info on the cast yet, we do know that Jeff Rowe will direct. This is the man who wrote and co-directed "The Mitchells vs the Machines," which was an absolute delight. Not a bad tidbit for fans! The script comes from Brendan O'Brien who wrote "Neighbors" and its sequel. We'll keep you updated as news breaks for this one. The film is currently in pre-production, and will hit theaters in August 2023. (Jenna Busch)

Release Date: 2023

The spice must flow ... and so must the "Dune" franchise. Denis Villeneuve's highly-anticipated "Dune" somehow managed to live up to the weight of crushing expectations, wracking up solid numbers at the pandemic-adjusted box office along with a hefty total of 10 Academy Award nominations. Frank Herbert's classic sci-fi novel served as the inspiration for what would eventually become "Star Wars," giving the 2021 adaptation even more pressure to do what David Lynch's 1984 "Dune" could not — become a genuine pop culture event. Mission accomplished, as evidenced by Warner Bros. and Legendary wasting no time at all to keep the good times rolling and greenlight "Part Two."

The sequel promises to cover material from the book that Villeneuve had to leave out the first time around, leaving fans eager to see more of Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides, Zendaya's Chani, sandworms, and the holy war to come over control of the desert world of Arrakis. (Jeremy Mathai)

Release Date: 2023

Director J.J. Abrams famously jump-started the "Star Trek" franchise with the 2009 movie, bringing together an all-star cast to step into the legendary roles of James Kirk, pointy-eared Spock, and the rest of the beloved crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Thanks to an alternate universe twist, Abrams was able to boldly go and create brand-new adventures that eventually led to 2016's "Star Trek Beyond," directed by Justin Lin. The threequel's somewhat disappointing box office performance temporarily derailed plans for a potential sequel. First, director S.J. Clarkson's time travel plot featuring the return of Kirk's father (portrayed by a then-unknown Chris Hemsworth) became shelved, followed swiftly by Quentin Tarantino's grounded take on the material, and ultimately Noah Hawley's pitch, as well.

Thrillingly, however, we recently heard news that "Star Trek 4" has been given new life and will bring back the fan-favorite cast of Chris Pine's Captain Kirk, Zachary Quinto's Spock, Karl Urban's Leonard "Bones" McCoy, Zoe Saldana's Lieutenant Uhura, John Cho's Sulu, and Simon Pegg's Scotty. "Star Trek" has been flourishing on television and it's about time it did so once more on the big screen. (Jeremy Mathai)

Release Date: TBD

What happens when three aliens hunting for a mystical sword on Earth are magically transported back in time? This is the oddly-specific hypothetical that Choi Dong-hoon hopes to answer in "Alien." The two-part sci-fi blockbuster will follow a trio of aliens from present-day South Korea to the Goryeo era — AKA the "golden age of Buddhism" — where swordfighting and religious zeal went hand-in-hand. Kim Tae-ri ("The Handmaiden"), Kim Woo-bin, and Ryu Jun-yeol are just three of the stars appearing.

Aside from its "unpredictable plot, unusual characters and witty humor," not much is known about the film. Since shooting wrapped in 2021, all signs point to a 2022 release, so hopefully more details about this interesting adventure pop up soon. (Lyvie Scott)

Release Date: TBD on Netflix

One of the greatest first-person shooters of all time is getting a feature-length adaptation, and it's about time. BioShock instantly made waves among gamers upon release in 2007, building out an incredibly well-realized underwater labyrinth full of dystopian architecture, fearsome creatures, steampunk aesthetics, and — oh yeah — one of the most compelling video game villains ever created. "Would you kindly" raise your excitement levels for the potential of seeing Rapture's unforgettable world-building brought to life in all its cinematic glory?

Netflix will be taking a shot at adapting the tricky material and hopefully breaking the dreaded "video game curse." No director, writer, or cast have yet been announced, but the mere promise of seeing this project brought to life easily makes this a must-watch. (Jeremy Mathai)

Release Date: TBD

It appears as though director Bong Joon-ho has found his much-anticipated followup to the Best Picture Oscar-winning "Parasite." Bong is now working on "Mickey7," a sci-fi film based on Edward Ashton's book about a disposable employee who's serving on a human mission to colonize a new planet when one of his clones goes missing and is presumed dead, only to surprisingly return not long after.

Ashton's novel combines social commentary with fascinating sci-fi ideas and characters in the same way that Bong did in movies like "Snowpiercer" and "Okja," making it the perfect match for the revered filmmaker and his unique style. On top of that, Robert Pattinson is in talks to star as the titular "Mickey," which all-but-guarantees that "Mickey7" will be as weird and wild as anything else Bong has made. (Sandy Schaefer)

Release Date: TBD

Thanks to the acclaim of films like "The Handmaiden," "Burning," and (of course) "Parasite," all eyes are on South Korea. Unfortunately, the country's movie industry has struggled to find a new normal in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's kept a number of films from their scheduled theatrical releases. Some have been stuck in limbo since the pandemic began. But with a new year comes new chances for the most anticipated South Korean films to finally find their audience.

Kim Tae-yong's sci-fi romance "Wonderland" is one project slated for a promising 2022 release. The film takes place in a virtual world where people can reconnect with loved ones that have passed on, and touts big names like Bae Suzy ("Start-Up"), Choi Woo-shik ("Parasite," "Our Beloved Summer"), Park Bo-gum and Gong Yoo ("Train to Busan," "Goblin") — performers who have definitely helped keep the hype alive.

Using technology as a means to cheat death hasn't always had the best results on screen, but South Korean films are pretty well-known for surpassing expectations with genre-bending stories. Even if it doesn't quite live up to its hype, "Wonderland" will be a great showcase for some of South Korea's most popular actors. (Lyvie Scott)