2020 has been a notoriously bleak year, but there’s some good news: audiences can look forward to multiple upcoming sci-fi films that could break new ground in the genre. It’s impossible to be certain of the impact these films will have before they’re released, but there are a number of major exciting titles including original stories, long-awaited sequels and Arrival director Denis Villeneuve's next contribution to the genre. From Avatar 2 to Dune, there's plenty to look forward to.
With the coronavirus pandemic derailing production, the future of the film industry is uncertain. Many films that were intended to premiere in 2020 have had their release dates pushed back to 2021 or later. This fate has been especially prevalent for sci-fi movies: they tend to be high-budget, so studios will most likely lose money if they release them while movie theaters are still closed.
Luckily, these films haven’t been delayed for too long – most will premiere in 2021. Some may even be able to release in 2020, even if they just barely make it into theaters before the end of the year. The release of Christopher Nolan's Tenet marks the return of both sci-fi movies and movies in general, but many theaters across the US are still closed and visiting the ones that are open is currently still risky. When we can finally watch new sci-fi movies instead of living in one, though here’s what we can look forward to.
Avatar 2 – 2022
In 2009, James Cameron shook up the film industry with Avatar. Its innovative technology gave viewers an immersive visual experience like no other, using motion capture technology that has since become ubiquitous. Motion capture had been used before on stationary cameras, but Cameron used the technology with cameras just inches away from the actors’ faces, allowing him to capture the actors’ performances. His efforts paid off: Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time, and held that title for more than a decade until Avengers: Endgame eventually surpassed it.
Ten years later, Cameron will use his knack for technological innovation in Avatar 2 by taking his motion capture technology underwater. This is no easy feat: Water often reflects the dots on the suits and adds unintended markers, forcing most underwater movies to rely on CGI. If Cameron can overcome this challenge, Avatar 2 could be just as groundbreaking and visually breathtaking as the original. The filmmaking techniques could open up new possibilities for the future, as more movies could take place underwater with increased realism.
The Matrix 4 – 2022
The Matrix franchise was a benchmark of science fiction, with the original trilogy being released in the late nineties and early 2000s. The last installment was released in 2003, but audiences can expect another Matrix film in 2021. With a 17 year gap, one might expect the film to be a remake, but it will actually be a sequel starring many of the original cast members. However, much of The Matrix 4 is shrouded in secrecy – including even the movie's title.
Leaked videos have given fans the fodder they need to come up with theories. Some believe that Neo no longer has his powers and that Trinity may now possess his abilities instead. Videos of explosions indicate that the film will use practical effects – either instead of or alongside CGI. With the success of the first three Matrix films, audiences have a lot to be hopeful about. This sequel has the potential to have just as strong a cultural impact as the original – and might even be successful enough to kick off a whole sequel series.
Dune – 2020
Many sci-fi films originally slotted for 2020 have been pushed back a year or two, but Dune is the exception... for now. Denis Villeneuve isn’t the first renowned director to have a crack at a film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s novel – David Lynch gave it a try in 1984. However, Lynch’s Dune is generally considered one of his worst films, and there's a lot of appetite for a truly great adaptation.
Dune is a notoriously difficult book to adapt into a film; it’s too dense, too complex, and too long. However, if anyone can pull it off, it’s the director of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 – another film that many were skeptical about, but which proved to be a success. With actors like Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya on board, Dune is packed with some serious talent. It would be wonderful to see Herbert’s novel done justice on screen, and if everything goes well, Dune could lead to more big-budget adaptations of classic sci-fi novels.
Little Fish – 2020
Chad Hartigan’s Little Fish may seem somewhat out of place on this list – it’s not a sequel to an existing franchise, a remake, or an adaptation of a popular book. It does not have the built-in curiosity that many of these other films do, but it may be hugely impactful due to its subject matter: a pandemic. The script was written long before the COVID-19 outbreak, but the film will be released when its story is at its most relevant.
Hartigan summarizes the film’s theme by asking, “When your disaster is everyone’s disaster, how do you grieve?” (via Indiewire). This is a question that anyone affected directly or indirectly by COVID-19 will be familiar with, but this pandemic is very different from ours: it causes memory loss. There was no way for the filmmakers to predict that the subject matter would suddenly become relatable, but Little Fish may be the only film that has had the COVID-19 pandemic work to its advantage. If successful, Little Fish could open the door for more intimate, science fiction romantic dramas.
Each of these movies has the potential to have a huge impact on the film industry and on the population as a whole, but it will be impossible to tell for certain until they are released. There’s plenty to go wrong – the pandemic could further hinder production, the opening of theaters, and audiences’ willingness to buy tickets. Even without all of these external factors working against science fiction right now, the films could still fail if they’re simply sub-par. However, if these films hit their marks, they could break new ground in the genre and define the next decade of sci-fi movies.
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