GODS & MONSTERS
Tom Cruise in The Mummy
T
ent-poles dominate the multiplexes this month with the debut of some classic reboots( The Mummy), the debut of a new female superhero( Wonder Woman), and a sequel( Transformers: The Last Knight) that could be huge for fans of these giant franchises – and for the box office. We also have two comedies( featuring Kate McKinnon and Will Farrell) and the new Tupac biopic … basically something for everyone! Here are some highlights for June.
Wonder Woman
Director: Patty Jenkins June 2 • Rated PG-13
Gal Gadot brings to life the titular " superheroine "( yep, I ' m coining the phrase) in Warner
By Lori Vernon
Bros./ DC Comics 4th installment of the DC Extended Universe series, the first feature film about Diana, Amazon princess. Raised on the mythical island of Themyscira and trained by Amazonian warriors, Diana begins to fulfill a destiny bestowed on her by the Gods. When American pilot Steve Trevor( Chris Pine) washes up on her island, he tells her about the massive conflict that is World War I and Diana realizes that her home and the world at large is under great threat. Convinced she can stop it, she must leave her paradise and travel to the outside world for the first time. In doing so, she takes her first steps to discovering her full powers and her true destiny as Wonder Woman. Also starring Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis and Connie Nielsen.
The Mummy
Director: Alex Kurtman June 9 • Rated PG-13
First announced in 2012, this horror classic is a reboot of the modern day Mummy franchise and the first installment in Universal’ s new Dark Universe series that will eventually include classic horror films from Universal’ s original catalog, including Bride of Frankenstein, Creature From the Black Lagoon, Invisible Man, Van Helsing, The Wolfman and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. The plot has been kept under wraps but according to the trailers, Tom Cruise plays Nick Morton, a former Special Forces officer who somehow ends up on a plane transporting an ancient mummy. Morton mysteriously survives the crash and realizes he’ s somehow been cursed by the mummy, Ahmanet,( Sofia Boutella), a nefarious princess who is about to wreak havoc on the world after having been awakened from her crypt in the Egyptian desert, bringing with her malevolence and terror that defy human comprehension. Annabelle Wallis plays a scientist helping Morton and Russell Crowe plays Dr. Henry Jekyll, setting up the next installment in the series of reboots. Also starring Courtney B. Vance, Jake Johnson and Marwan Kenzari.
All Eyez on Me
Director: Benny Boom June 16 • Rated R
The film proclaims to tell the“ true and untold story” of the life and legacy of rapper Tupac Shakur( Demetrius Shipp, Jr.), including his rise to superstardom as a hip hop artist, actor, poet and activist, as well as his imprisonment and prolific, controversial time at Death Row Records, where he was deep in the East Coast / West Coast rap war that may have contributed to his death. According to The Hollywood Reporter,“ Against insurmountable odds, Shakur rose to become a cultural icon whose career and persona both continue to grow long after his passing.” Also starring Kat Graham( Jada Pinkett), Danai Gurira( Alena Shakur), Jamal Woolard( Biggie Smalls), Dominic L. Santana( Suge Knight), Patrick Faucette, Grace Gibson and Keith Robinson.
Rough Night
Director: Lucia Aniello June 16 • Rated NR
This all-female black comedy brings together five best friends from college( Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer and Zoë Kravitz), who reunite after 10 years for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. Their hard partying takes a hilariously dark turn when they accidentally kill a male stripper. Amidst the craziness of trying to cover it up, they ' re ultimately brought closer together when it matters most. Is this the female version of The Hangover? Girl power to the max!
Transformers
Director: Michael Bay June 21 • Rated NR
Based on a story by Akiva Goldsman, the fifth installment in the series shatters the core myths of the Transformers franchise and redefines what it means to be a hero. According to the official plot summary from Paramount, humans and Transformers are at war, Optimus Prime is gone, and the key to saving our future lies buried in the hidden history of Transformers on Earth. Saving our world falls upon the shoulders of an unlikely alliance: Cade Yeager( Mark Wahlberg); Bumblebee; an English Lord( Sir Anthony Hopkins) and an Oxford Professor( Laura Haddock). Michael Bay told Entertainment Weekly, " It ' s kind of like a new Transformers. We had three, the first tril-
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14 illinoisentertainer. com june 2017