New Trailers 29 | Super Bowl 2020 Edition
Thanks to end-of-decade lists, the Dublin International Film Festival programme launch and the Oscar nominations, the New Trailers column took a backseat last month. However, we’re jumping back into it to give a round up of the best teasers to play during the Super Bowl last night.
Most Anticipated – A Quiet Place Part II, Dir John Krasinski
Between this and the longer, very effective A Quiet Place Part II trailer that dropped on New Year’s Day, one can’t help but be intrigued in this follow-up to 2018’s smash hit sci-fi horror – regardless of any sequel fatigue. While the first film wasn’t exactly calling out for a continuation of its story, there’s interest to be mined from exploring the loss of humanity in a post-apocalyptic world (symbolised by a bearded, grizzled Cillian Murphy) and getting a glimpse of day zero of the sound monsters’ invasion of Earth.
2. Top Gun: Maverick, Dir Joseph Kosinski
So long as Tom Cruise continues to push the type of practical stunts that send shivers down one’s spine because of how dangerous they look (something which resulted in the masterpiece that is Mission Impossible: Fallout), I will be first in line for this long-awaited sequel to Tony Scott’s 1986 classic.
3. No Time to Die, Dir Cary Joji Fukunaga
While sadly we didn’t get a preview of Billie Eilish’s theme tune, this teaser is still very promising. Showcasing what looks like some impressive action beats, as well as a few new franchise characters, No Time to Die’s April release date can’t come soon enough.
4. The Invisible Man, Dir Leigh Whannell
On the basis of the teasers for Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man reboot, the Saw and Upgrade filmmaker seems to have cracked the formula for updating a Universal Monster, something the people behind Tom Cruise’s The Mummy or Dracula Untold failed at.
Instead of framing the title character as the central anti-hero, here he is the villain – an abusive ex who torments Elizabeth Moss’ heroine who literally can’t see him. A timely thrilling change to the source, here’s hoping this Invisible Man is as good as Whannell’s previous works.
5. Mulan, Dir Niki Caro
A Disney live-action remake of an animated movie that actually looks great? There must be some mistake! With the stunning colours and set-pieces on display in this teaser, Mulan 2020 looks like a Zhang Yimou movie. High praise indeed.
6. Black Widow, Dir Cate Shortland / Marvel’s Disney + Shows
Justice for Black Widow! Following her character getting the short shrift in Endgame, it’s about time Scarjo’s Avenger had a solo movie. Already good news in itself, couple Black Widow’s release with the addition of recent Oscar nominee Florence Pugh into the MCU and I’m actively excited.
Also during the Super Bowl, viewers got a first look at footage from Disney +’s MCU shows The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and WandaVision. While the slate reel only contained brief snippets of each, WandaVision feels the most promising of the bunch, a psychedelic portrait of suburban life between the mutant Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and the android Vision (Paul Bettany).
7. Fast & Furious 9, Dir Justin Lin
The Fast & Furious 9 trailer which premiered over the weekend manages in four minutes (way too long) to spoil two major reveals and a host of bananas action sequences. Instead, you are better off just watching this brief Super Bowl spot. It tells viewers all they need to know ahead of the movie’s release, that it feautres fast cars and new franchise addition John Cena.
8. Hunters, Amazon Prime
Following Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Irishman, Al Pacino looks set to continue his late career renaissance with Hunters, an Amazon series executive produced by Jordan Peele. Pacino plays the Jewish leader of a band of Nazi Hunters living in 1977 New York City. The Hunters have discovered hundreds of high ranking Nazi officials are conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the U.S.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – who in their right minds could be against a fantasy show where Jews hunt down Nazis in bloody splattery fashion?
9. The Fugitive, Quibi
Quibi went all out at the Super Bowl this year, dropping trailers for two of their original shows and a funny advertisement explaining the upcoming streaming platform. For those who don’t know, Quibi will be launched on April 6 and is focused on delivering content delivered in “quick bites” for viewing on the go.
Out of the two shows spotlighted (the other being a Kaitlin Olson and Will Forte comedy called Flipped), most impressive looking is the service’s loose adaptation of The Fugitive, formerly an acclaimed TV show and excellent Harrison Ford movie. Remixing the original’s premise Fargo style, Boyd Holbrook is framed for a subway bombing and goes on the run. Kiefer Sutherland is the detective determined to track him down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPuomRV5C8
