It’s super early, but here are a bunch of awards-season contenders, and maybe a few pretenders, with Boston DNA to put on your radar.
5/14/24 Update: The film, previously titled “Flint Strong,” is retitled “The Fire Inside.”
By Dana Barbuto/Boston Movie News
“Madame Web” was the first local movie out of the gate this year, and the “Spider-Man” spinoff turned out to be a box office flop. But plenty of higher-caliber films with Boston connections are coming. Last year set a high bar with “The Holdovers” and “American Fiction,” racking up a total of 10 Academy Award nominations and bagging two wins. Da’vine Joy Randolph scored a win for supporting actress in “The Holdovers,” while Cord Jefferson took home the adapted screenplay award for “American Fiction.” Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro,” filmed in part in the Berkshires, also made waves with seven nominations. All three were nominated for best picture. How do we top that? Well, with films featuring Zendaya and hometown favorites Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, Steve Carell, and John Krasinski. There’s even a sequel to a cult classic and the feature-film directing debut from a Cambridge native on the horizon. The movie magic continues.
Ace actors in ‘Challengers’
Featuring a stellar cast, “Challengers” delves into the complexities of desire and competition as Zendaya takes on the role of Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy caught in a love triangle between her husband and his best friend.
After being delayed twice last year due to the actors’ strike, the movie will finally hit theaters on April 26. Scenes were shot mostly in the Back Bay and East Boston, with cameras also rolling in Bedford, Beverly, Braintree, Canton, Framingham, Lynn, and Norton from April through June 2022.
The “Spider-Man” actress shares the screen with Mike Faist, a standout as Riff in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” remake, and Josh O’Connor, recognized for his portrayal as a young Prince Charles in “The Crown.” Luca Guadagnino, director of 2018 Best Picture nominee “Call Me by Your Name,” adds Oscar pedigree, directing from a script by playwright and novelist Justin Kuritzkes, making his feature film debut.
As Tashi navigates the intricacies of her relationships with Patrick (O’Connor) and Art (Faist), the film explores themes of love, ambition, and redemption. From Tashi’s rise as a tennis star to her coaching her husband through a losing streak, “Challengers” promises an emotionally charged and sexually tense journey where old rivalries and past flames resurface.
‘The Fire Inside’: Rachel Morrison’s directorial debut
In the boxing drama “The Fire Inside,” Cambridge native Rachel Morrison, who made Academy Award history as the first female cinematographer nominee for her work on “Mudbound,” steps into the director’s chair for the first time. Set to hit theaters on August 9, Morrison’s directorial debut features a screenplay by “Moonlight” director and Oscar-winning writer Barry Jenkins. While August isn’t traditionally known for Oscar contenders, the Academy has a penchant for boxing dramas, as seen with past hits like the Lowell-set “The Fighter,” “Rocky,” “Raging Bull,” “Million Dollar Baby,” “The Champ.” This one could be a contender.
The Fire Inside” tells the real-life journey of Olympic gold medalist Claressa “T-Rex” Shields as she prepares for the 2012 Olympics. Ryan Destiny, known for her role in the sitcom “Grown-ish,” is poised for a breakthrough performance as Shields, while Brian Tyree Henry, an Oscar nominee for “Causeway,” could secure another nomination for his portrayal of Shields’ coach, Jason Crutchfield.
Morrison gained recognition with her work on Ryan Coogler’s 2013 drama “Fruitvale Station,” a story addressing racial injustice. Her collaboration with Coogler continued with the visually stunning “Black Panther,” where she helped bring Wakanda to life in the Marvel blockbuster.
Morrison attended Concord Academy, where she played ice hockey. After graduating in 1996, she chased her dreams at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, double-majoring in film and photography.
Ultimately, Morrison lost the 2018 Oscar race to the legendary Roger Deakins, who lensed “Blade Runner 2049.”
A graduate of Concord Academy, Morrison honed her craft at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, majoring in film and photography. She missed out on the 2018 Oscar win to the legendary Roger Deakins, who lensed “Blade Runner 2049.”
Journey back to Oz in ‘Wicked’
Concord writer Gregory Maguire’s “Wicked” has proven to be a lasting phenomenon, transitioning from a best-selling novel to a Broadway blockbuster. Now, fans eagerly anticipate the first installment of the two-part film musical adaptation, slated to hit theaters this November. Starring Cynthia Erivo (“Harriet”) as Elphaba and pop sensation Ariana Grande as Glinda, the film is helmed by director Jon M. Chu (“In the Heights,” “Crazy Rich Asians”), with a script penned by Winnie Holzman, co-writer of the stage production.
Originally published in 1995, Maguire’s novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” delves into the backstory of Oz before Dorothy’s arrival, captivating audiences with its imaginative narrative.
With its star-studded cast and acclaimed creative team, expectations are high for the film adaptation, with predictions of multiple Oscar nominations, particularly for its talented leading ladies. The Academy has a penchant for this genre, which bodes well for “Wicked’s” potential success.
Mark your calendars for the premiere of “Wicked: Part One” on November 27, followed by “Part Two” a year later on November 26, 2025.
‘The Instigators’: Damon and Affleck’s Boston caper
Following their successful heists in the “Oceans Eleven” franchise, Cambridge natives Matt Damon and Casey Affleck reunite for another crime caper in the Apple Original Film, “The Instigators,” which was filmed across Boston and Quincy last year. Directed by Doug Liman, known for his work with Damon on “The Bourne Identity,” the movie is shrouded in anticipation as it gears up for its theatrical release later this year, although an official date has yet to be announced.
Last March, the production of “The Instigators” took Boston locales, including a Boston Fire Department station on Cambridge Street in Beacon Hill, Faneuil Hall, and Boston City Hall Plaza, where the set was transformed with fake cop cars and snow. Additionally, the historic Bova’s Bakery in the North End made a cameo, with the bakery temporarily closing its doors for filming a scene that involved smashing bakery cases. A car chase scene was staged along the Charles River Esplanade.
In Quincy, Malachy’s Saloon on Granite Street and the Squantum Yacht Club at Wollaston Beach set the scene for other moments in the film, which follows the story of two thieves who find themselves on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a heist takes an unexpected turn.
Rounding out the cast are Hong Chau (“The Whale”), Paul Walter Hauser (“I, Tonya”), and Michael Stuhlbarg (“Call Me By Your Name”).
Affleck, already an Academy Award winner for his performance as a grief-stricken Quincy janitor in “Manchester by the Sea,” and Damon, a three-time nominee for his roles in “The Martian,” “Invictus,” and his Oscar-winning screenplay for “Good Will Hunting,” add further prestige to the project.
With a rich history of Boston crime dramas (“The Departed,” “Mystic River,” “The Town,” “Gone Baby Gone”) making waves during awards season, “The Instigators” aims to continue the tradition.
Local voices in a pair of animated blockbusters
Burlington’s comedy queen Amy Poehler returns to voice Joy in Pixar’s anticipated sequel “Inside/Out 2,” catching up with Riley as she faces the challenges of teenage life alongside new emotions like Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), Envy (Dorchester native Ayo Edebiri), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos).
The original film, released in 2015, earned an Oscar for best animated feature and garnered a nomination for best original screenplay.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts funnyman Steve Carell prepares to unleash more villainous antics in “Despicable Me 4,” hitting theaters on July 3. Carell returns to voice Gru as he navigates challenges on the homefront, contending with his mischievous son Gru Jr. and facing off against new adversaries Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell) and his alluring accomplice Valentina (Sofia Vergara).
‘IF’: Krasinski and Carell reunite
Newton’s John Krasinski (“A Quiet Place”) reunites with his former colleague from “The Office” in the upcoming comedy-drama, “IF.” Written and directed by Krasinski, the film, set for release on May 17, explores a young girl’s (Cailey Fleming) journey through adversity as she witnesses everyone’s imaginary friends come to life—Carell lends his distinct voice to one of these whimsical characters. Ryan Reynolds stars.
Krasinski grew up in Newton. He attended Newton South High School and majored in English at Brown University in Rhode Island, graduating in 2001. He is married to actress Emily Blunt.
‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’: A haunting return
The juice is loose. “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the highly anticipated follow-up to Tim Burton’s 1988 horror comedy featuring Michael Keaton as the titular demon, was partially shot in Massachusetts last year. While most scenes were filmed in Vermont, crews descended upon a Melrose neighborhood for several days in November to capture a scene starring Jenna Ortega. Homes along Charles and West Emerson streets were transformed with jack-o’-lanterns and skeletons for the shoot.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” opens in theaters on September 6, just in time to rev up audiences for the Halloween season.
Ortega portrays Astrid, daughter of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder reprising her role), alongside Catherine O’Hara as the fan-favorite Delia Deetz. The star-studded cast includes Justin Theroux, Monica Bellucci, Arthur Conti, and Willem Dafoe, with Tim Burton returning as director.
The double “Beetlejuice” in the title serves as a nod to the incantation that summons the mischievous demon. The sequel’s plot details remain shrouded in mystery, particularly how Beetlejuice is resurrected. In the original film, he assists a recently deceased couple in haunting the obnoxious new owners of their former home. The film won an Academy Award for best makeup.
‘Great’ expectations for Kingston’s Chris Cooper
Kingston resident and Academy Award winner Chris Cooper joins Bryan Cranston, Allison Janney, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Simon Rex (“Red Rocket”), and Jack Champion in “Everything’s Going to Be Great,” directed by Jon S. Baird. The film, currently without a release date, follows the Smart family as they embark on a cross-country journey, performing in regional theaters.
Cooper won an Academy Award in 2003 for best supporting actor for his work in “Adaptation.” He was nominated for a Tony Award in 2017 for “A Doll’s House, Part 2.” His other film work includes “Seabiscuit,” “Capote,” “American Beauty,” “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” “Little Women,” and “The Bourne Identity.” Last year, he played a grizzled newspaper editor in “Boston Strangler,” which was filmed in Boston.
We’re also keeping our eyes on “The Collaboration,” director Kwame Kwei-Armah’s biopic about pop art legend Andy Warhol, and the Liam Neeson crime actioner “Thug.” Both were filmed at Marina Studios in Quincy and Canton.
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