Proposed 2019 Movie Slate

Don't you just love tracking movie schedules? Things are always changing and most of the time, you wouldn't even expect a move to happen in the first place.

A fine example of this would be Avengers: Infinity War. Who would have thought, this late in the game, that it would move up a week from 5/4/2018 to 4/27/2018? Of course, not that it really mattered, because the film has crossed $2 billion worldwide. Of course, it would have made that amount at any time of the year, so Disney probably figured that the fans would be hype if they knew that one of their most-anticipated films of the year was opening a week earlier than planned.

And when you have a force like The Avengers in your way, you can bet your bippy that studios will scatter their films around. Boy, did they! Some films even took that 5/4/2018 slot! Dwayne Johnson's Rampage movie even moved from 4/20/2018 to 4/13/2018. Again, with Infinity War's massive success, don't be shocked if within the next big Disney slate update, you see something like this:

Avengers 4 moves from 5/3/19 to 4/26/19

UNTITLED MARVEL moves from 5/1/20 to 4/24/20

UNTITLED MARVEL moves from 5/7/21 to 4/30/21

UNTITLED MARVEL moves from 5/6/22 to 4/29/22

But wait, we have a problem! If Avengers 4 moves up a week, that'll place it a little too close to Captain Marvel (opening 3/8/2019). Where does that move to? I'll say they move it up a whole month to 2/8/2019. With Disney's plans to release untitled live-action films in February from 2020 to 2023, I wouldn't be surprised. That could really hold Disney over until Dumbo on 3/29/2019.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is also set to open on 2/8/2019. I say that moves up a week to 2/1/2019. That should give it enough time to breathe. I'm predicting Black Panther numbers for Captain Marvel, since both films tackle a type of superhero that you don't see very often (African Americans and females, respectively).

Set to open the week afterward is X-Men: Dark Phoenix, one of Fox's Marvel properties. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if the film got delayed yet again. 7/26/2019 is currently vacant, so I think they should take advantage. Only problem is that now it's sandwiched between Gambit and New Mutants(opening 6/7/2019 and 8/2/2019 respectively). I suspect the former will move to the 11/22/2019 slot that Fox has reserved for one of their Marvel movies. The latter may or may not happen at this rate, but if it does, I reckon it will get the 3/13/2020 slot (Friday the 13th, haha).

So now that we have established the chain reaction that might occur if Avengers 4 moves, why not look at 2019's other movies?

First off, I think one of the two Lionsgate films scheduled for 3/1/2019 will move. Those movies would be Chaos Walking and A Madea Family Funeral. I think it will be the former. Since Captain Marvel would be leaving 3/8/2019 vacant, why not move it there? The film is based off a series of science fiction novels that only a few people would be familiar with, while the Madea franchise is quite profitable for Lionsgate, so that could probably hold its own against DreamWorks' How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. That'll be Universal's first film for the studio, and given how their marketing department handles sister studio Illumination's films (both Minions and Despicable Me 3 reached $1 billion), we might be looking at DreamWorks' first box office monster in a long while.

The only movie currently scheduled for 4/26/2019 is Fox Searchlight's The Aftermath. With the practical inevitability that Avengers 4 will move there, I say they move that film to the current 5/3/2019 date. I also suspect that one of the two family-friendly pictures opening on 5/10/2019 will move up to that date as well. I suspect it will be STX's animated Uglydolls film, whereas Universal/Legendary's live-action Detective Pikachu movie will stay where it is.

5/24/2019 also contains two family movies, both live-action this time: Disney's Aladdin remake and WB's Minecraft adaptation. I suspect that the latter will trade places with Godzilla: King of the Monsters and land on 5/31/2019.

I know I've said this ad nauseum on my regular Predictions posts, but I think Fox/Blue Sky should move Spies in Disguise out of that terrible 9/13/2019 release date(where it's placed one week after The Angry Birds Movie 2). How about 7/3/2019? Illumination left it vacant, and its only competition is an untitled Conjuring spin-off. Plus, animated fare normally does well during the 4th of July. What's also funny is that another Tom Holland movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home, would open two days later. It reminds me of how Fox released DreamWorks' animated film Turbo on 7/17/2013, two days before Universal's live-action tentpole R.I.P.D. Both movies had Ryan Reynolds playing the main character.

Lastly, I think there's no way that Sony will release Masters of the Universe on 12/18/2019, especially with Star Wars: Episode IX opening two days afterward. What struck me as odd is that it didn't move when Sony announced that 12/13/2019 date for Jumanji 3. I expect other films opening that weekend to find new dates, such as Wicked and Death on the Nile.

My prediction is this: Wicked will move to 12/25/2019, ditto Death on the Nile. However, the latter will be facing another Fox film, the animated Call of the Wild. While they could pull an Alien: Covenant/Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul with it(both films were released by Fox on 5/19/2017), I think they'll put Wild in the 12/20/2019 slot against Episode IX. Fox seems to have a knack for placing their family movies right next to Star Wars(Road Chip went up against The Force Awakens; Ferdinand went up against The Last Jedi), so I wouldn't rule it out. As for Masters of the Universe, I can see that replacing The Crow as Sony's 10/11/2019 release. That film is reportedly in so much trouble to the point where it won't be making its planned release date, so I think He-Man and friends should take advantage.

So, with that said...

02/01/2019-The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
02/08/2019-Captain Marvel
03/01/2019-A Madea Family Funeral
03/08/2019-Chaos Walking
04/26/2019-Avengers 4
05/03/2019-The Aftermath
05/03/2019-Uglydolls
05/10/2019-Detective Pikachu
05/24/2019-Godzilla: King of the Monsters
05/31/2019-Minecraft
07/03/2019-Spies in Disguise
07/26/2019-X-Men: Dark Phoenix
09/06/2019-The Angry Birds Movie 2
10/11/2019-Masters of the Universe
11/22/2019-Gambit
12/20/2019-Star Wars: Episode IX
12/20/2019-The Call of the Wild
12/25/2019-Death on the Nile
12/25/2019-Wicked
03/13/2020-New Mutants

Side note: Disregard the fact that BOM even lists a Sony Animation movie for 12/25/2019. Kristine Belson said at Annecy 2017 that "we will make no movies in 2019", and before a certain someone tells me about Wish Dragon (you might know who it is if you follow me on Twitter), that's supposed to be a 2019 release in China. As I've said before, it could very well be a 2020 release in America. You may say that it could leak online, but so did Arthur Christmas, The Pirates!: Band of Misfits, and (for the UK, at least) Peter Rabbit. The same will likely happen to the latter film's sequel (opens 2/7/2020 in the US, 3/27/2020 in the UK). Also, disregard anything saying it will open 7/26/2019. If it were, I think BOM would have put it on their schedule instead of removing the untitled Sony Animation film that was once set to open that day.

Okay, TED talk over. What say you? Do you think of any of these films will move? Or do you say otherwise?

Random Thought: Will Sony Animation Hog Up A Year?

Ahh, good ol' Sony Pictures Animation. Founded in 2002, they started out doing short films and eventually released their first film, Open Season, in Fall 2006. It was a modest success, and it warranted three direct-to-video sequels. Surf's Up, which is considered to be the studio's best, barely made a dent in Summer 2007, but that somehow also got a DTV sequel.

But then came Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in Fall 2009. It got high praise from critics all across the board, and it made so much money to the point where it really launched Sony Animation to the forefront of the animation industry. So much so that they started to make two movies per year like their competitors. From 2011 to 2015, they were churning out movies that would range from "kinda meh"(Hotel Transylvania) to "oh God, please turn it off!"(The Smurfs 2).

But then the Sony Pictures hack happened (a year before the end of their hit streak), and exciting projects like Lauren Faust's Medusa and Genndy Tartakovsky's take on Popeye(a Popeye movie is still in the works, despite what some Emoji Movie haters will lead you to believe). In 2017, they had released a rather bad batch of movies. First came mediocre reboot Smurfs: The Lost Village, followed by the critically-panned Emoji Movie, and then Nativity story The Star which was just decent at best. 2018 looks to be a bit of a rebound for them. Peter Rabbit may have been mediocre, but their other three movies do bring promise. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, judging by the trailers, looks to redeem the franchise now that Adam Sandler and his crew aren't as involved as they were the previous installments. Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween looks to be more of the same, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse will likely be deemed the studio's best film.

But hold up a second! That's four movies in a single year? A bit much, eh? Especially since DreamWorks tried to release four films on two certain occasions. It seems like they'll stick with it too, since we're halfway through the year.

Although, if you think that is strange, look at their 2020 slate(they're sitting out 2019; though Wish Dragon is supposed to come out that year in China, it does not have a US release date):

01/10/2020-The Mitchells vs the Machines
02/07/2020-Peter Rabbit 2
04/03/2020-Untitled
07/24/2020-Untitled Shannon Tindle Film
09/25/2020-Untitled
11/06/2020-Vivo

If you've noticed, the studio has six movies scheduled for 2020! In case any of them don't move out of the year (don't be shocked if by mid-2019, Mitchells gets pushed to that April 2020 slot. Studios tend to move their films less than a year before their initial release date), it leaves me wondering. Will Sony Animation ever release more than that in a year? What if they made 12 movies in a year leaving one per month?

With how big their 2020 schedule, I certainly would not rule it out! I made a little schedule combining them with the other 5 big studios (Disney, Pixar, DreamWorks, Blue Sky, and Illumination) in terms where their movies could go. I'm using 2024 as an example since studios have yet to claim a date in that year (animation studios, that is. Fox have Avatar 4 scheduled for 12/20/2024).

With that said, here goes:

01/12/2024-Sony Animation Film
01/26/2024-Blue Sky Film
02/09/2024-Sony Animation Film
03/08/2024-Sony Animation Film
03/29/2024-DreamWorks Film
04/19/2024-Sony Animation Film
05/17/2024-Sony Animation Film
06/07/2024-Sony Animation Film
06/21/2024-Pixar Film
07/03/2024-Illumination Film
07/26/2024-Sony Animation Film
08/16/2024-Sony Animation Film
09/27/2024-Sony Animation Film
10/18/2024-Sony Animation Film
11/08/2024-Sony Animation Film
11/27/2024-Disney Animation Film
12/25/2024-Sony Animation Film

See the problem? Too much saturation! Audiences will likely get sick of their movies if they did something like this! Besides, I would expect a studio like Illumination to nab that Christmas slot(for what? Sing 3?)! I think Blue Sky would open a movie in early March(or Pixar, depending on if Disney or Comcast wins all of Fox's assets).

What say you? Do you think Sony Animation will eventually oversaturate the animation field? Or not?

Where is "Shaun the Sheep 2"? (Part 2)

Remember back in February of this year when I was initially worried about the US release of Farmageddon: A Shaun the Sheep Movie?

Well, I have even more reason to worry...

I'm a bit late on this, but about a month ago, Aardman had announced that they were making a sequel to their 2000 hit Chicken Run. In the tweet they made announcing it, something rather interesting came up regarding Farmageddon: A Shaun the Sheep Movie.

"Chicken Run 2 will be our next movie release following Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon in Autumn 2019 with StudioCanal."

If you've been following this film for a while, you'll know that it was initially pegged for April 5 of next year in the UK. A trailer was running before Early Man both over there and in the US, the latter of which has still yet to get an exact release date from Lionsgate.

In the original post, I had worried because they were playing the trailer in America before an exact date had been inked. I had worried that Lionsgate would break away from Aardman and we would have to wait a little longer to get the film. Well, that looks to be partially true.

Now, you may say that Lionsgate is only distributing because of their contract with StudioCanal, but that doesn't necessarily affect all of their movies. For example, Warner Bros. had gotten Paddington 2 from the now-disgraced Weinstein Company about a week or so after Lionsgate announced their partnership with StudioCanal which included the distribution rights to Farmageddon. Insiders say that Lionsgate was even in the running for Paddington 2's distribution rights!

Anywho, what I'm trying to say is that there's still the possibility that Lionsgate will end up not releasing this movie. After all, them moving it to a later timeframe in the UK could potentially be a result of how poorly Early Man did at the worldwide box office. I wouldn't be shocked if we have to wait until 2020 to see it for our American selves!

(Side note: When does Chicken Run 2 happen? 2021? 2022? Who distributes it? Could be Universal, since the first film is part of the DreamWorks Animation canon. Could it be that untitled DWA movie in December 2021? If not, then who? Lionsgate? A24[as I suggested for Farmageddon in the last post]? Paramount, maybe?)

What say you?

Alternate Predicted Animation Slate(07/19/2018)

UPDATE(07/24/2018, 10:25 PM EST): I'm a bit late on this, since I've been away on vacation for a few days, but Comcast has just decided to not go any further on their bid for 21st Century Fox, so what you see here will be the last time this page gets updated.

You've heard of my Predicted Animation Slate...

You've heard of my Disney/Fox slate predictions...

But now...

Here's an alternative version of the former. Why am I doing this, you may ask?

Well, currently, both Comcast and Disney are in a bidding war to acquire all of 21st Century Fox's assets. While I predict that Disney will ultimately end up winning the bid, I decided to make this slate in case Comcast somehow prevails. I'll only be making major changes to Fox and Universal's animated movies, since some of them are being released close to each other (e.g. Minions 2 and Bob's Burgers both coming in July 2020).

Let's begin, shall we?

Teen Titans Go! To the Movies(Warner Bros. Animation) - July 27, 2018
Animal Crackers(Blue Dream) - August 10, 2018

Gnome Alone(3QU)
Prediction: August 24, 2018 - This timeframe is open, and Smith Global Media has been sitting on it for a while, so I say go for it.

Charming(3QU)
Prediction: September 7, 2018 - Both of 3QU's movies are completed, but don't have release dates. With Gnome Alone pegged for late Summer, why not Charming in early Fall?

Smallfoot(Warner Animation Group) - September 28, 2018
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween(Sony Animation) - October 12, 2018
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch(Illumination) - November 9, 2018
Ralph Breaks the Internet(Disney Animation) - November 21, 2018
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse(Sony Animation) - December 14, 2018

The Extincts(Cirrina)
Prediction: January 18, 2019 - Fox had left January vacant when they moved Spies in Disguise, so I think that whoever picks up this film should take advantage of that timeslot.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part(Warner Animation Group) - February 8, 2019
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World(DreamWorks) - March 1, 2019
Wonder Park(Paramount Animation) - March 15, 2019
Missing Link(LAIKA) - April 19, 2019
Uglydolls(STX) - May 10, 2019
The Secret Life of Pets 2(Illumination) - June 7, 2019
Toy Story 4(Pixar) - June 21, 2019

Spies in Disguise(Blue Sky)
Current Date: September 13, 2019
Prediction: July 3, 2019 - September 13 is one week after The Angry Birds Movie 2, a sequel to a film that pretty much prevented Rovio from going bankrupt! How about July where Blue Sky's own Ice Age sequels have scored since the third entry? Take advantage of the holiday, too!

Farmageddon: A Shaun the Sheep Movie(Aardman)
Prediction: July 31, 2019 - Hear me out first. I am aware that according to Aardman themselves, this is supposed to be an Autumn 2019 release (meaning somewhere from September 21-December 20). However, nothing said that this film was being moved out of its April 5, 2019 UK bow. More thoughts on this here.

Since Lionsgate released the first movie on a Wednesday, why not do the same for its sequel? At least try to make some extra money before competition like New Mutants and Dora the Explorer comes crashing in.

Playmobil: Robbers, Thieves & Rebels(ON) - August 16, 2019
The Angry Birds Movie 2(Rovio) - September 6, 2019
Abominable(DreamWorks) - September 27, 2019
The Addams Family(MGM) - October 11, 2019
Sonic the Hedgehog(Paramount Animation) - November 15, 2019
Untitled Frozen Sequel(Disney Animation) - November 27, 2019
The Call of the Wild(Fox Animation) - December 25, 2019
The Mitchells vs. The Machines(Sony Animation) - January 10, 2020
Peter Rabbit 2(Sony Animation) - February 7, 2020

Nimona(Blue Sky)
Current Date: February 14, 2020
Prediction: February 21, 2020 - This really needs to move back a week, especially with all the family-friendly competition it has. I mean, Peter Rabbit 2, a live-action Disney film, and(to a lesser extent)an untitled DC feature? The only other competition on that date is Sony's Bloodshot, which may or may not make a huge mark, so I think Fox should use it to their advantage.

Untitled Pixar Animation - March 6, 2020
Prediction: Suburban Fantasy World - Out of all the originals on Pixar's development schedule, this is the only one that has the most details, so I can see it being the first of four originals that opens after Toy Story 4.

SPA Animated Franchise - April 3, 2020
Prediction: Wish Dragon - The film is aiming for a 2019 release in China, but Sony Animation has removed both of their 2019 release dates, so I think the earliest it opens is Spring 2020.

Trolls World Tour(DreamWorks) - April 17, 2020

Untitled Paramount Animation - May 15, 2020
Prediction: Monster on the Hill - It was recently announced at CinemaCon for a 2020 release, and Paramount has a date claimed in that year, so it all lines up.

Scooby(Warner Animation Group)
Current Date: May 15, 2020
Prediction: June 5, 2020 - This has some serious competition, with both Godzilla v. Kong and an untitled Paramount Animation movie in its way("Ruh-roh! Re've got rompetition!", if you want to talk about an inside joke between me and CoreyTheAnimator), so I think it should move. Early June could work before the inevitably big Pixar movie comes in.

Untitled Pixar Animation - June 19, 2020
Prediction: Untitled Mark Andrews Film - This movie is rumored to be a sci-fi film, so it kind of sounds like a Summer release. Plus, the movie's been in development since 2012 when Brave was completed, so...

Minions 2(Illumination) - July 3, 2020

Untitled SPA Animated Franchise
Current Date: July 24, 2020
Prediction: July 17, 2020 - The Emoji Movie sequel - I know this is the same day as the Bob's Burgers movie, but just try to bear with me here. Also, a sequel to this film is likely given what Sony Animation has done in the past like Open Season: Scared Silly and Surf's Up 2: WaveMania. If it goes straight-to-video like the two films I mentioned, then could there be room for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3? I'm shocked they haven't even announced it yet.

The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge(Paramount Animation) - July 31, 2020

Bob's Burgers(Fox Animation)
Current Date: July 17, 2020
Prediction: August 7, 2020 - This film, from Fox, is opening around the same time as Minions 2, from Universal. If Comcast does end up buying Fox, then they'll have to space them out. August 2020 is currently vacant in terms of animated films, so why not? This is also why I have that untitled Sony Animation project slotted for this film's current date.

The Croods 2(DreamWorks) - September 18, 2020

SPA Animated Franchise II
Current Date: September 25, 2020
Prediction: October 2, 2020 - Goosebumps 3 - I think Sony will fast-track this movie, but certainly not against The Croods 2. Pushing it back another week should work out fine.

Ron's Gone Wrong(Locksmith)
Current Date: November 6, 2020
Prediction: October 16, 2020 - Since this movie opens the same day as Sony Animation's Vivo, I say this moves up to mid-October for some extra money.

Vivo(Sony Animation) - November 6, 2020

Untitled Disney Animation - November 25, 2020
Prediction: Dragon Empire - It was just announced recently, so I think it'll ultimately be a 2020 release. Plus, Paul Briggs said a while ago that he was working on the 2020 feature with Dean Wellins, and they are attached to this project, so it lines up perfectly.

Sing 2(Illumination) - December 25, 2020

Untitled Gorgon Film(Sony Animation)
Prediction: January 22, 2021 - As for this date, Warner Bros has an untitled event scheduled for the week prior and it is likely going to be Paddington 3, so I think releasing something animated here is smart. My money's on a Sony Animation title.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: February 5, 2021 - Like in 2020, an in-house film in January followed by a co-production in February. This date is also one week before an untitled Marvel Studios film, which is sure to be a sequel to the gargantuan Black Panther.

Foster(Blue Sky) - March 5, 2021
Luck(Paramount Animation) - March 19, 2021

The Boss Baby 2(DreamWorks)
Current Date: March 26, 2021
Prediction: April 16, 2021 - Two things: First off, this Universal film opens in the same month as Fox's Foster. Secondly, this film is being released right next to a movie called Luck which, despite coming from a studio smaller than DreamWorks, sounds just about right for the St. Patrick's Day timeframe. I say push this film back to mid-April like they are doing with Trolls World Tour.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: May 21, 2021 - Can't hurt, right? Only competition is an untitled WB event picture.

The Beastlies(Paramount Animation)
Prediction: June 4, 2021 - J.J. Abrams said to expect an announcement on this franchise by the Fall, and with Star Wars: Episode IX scheduled for December 2019, the earliest I see this movie happening is in 2021. I think Paramount will push for his projects more due to his successful Cloverfield films.

Untitled Pixar Animation - June 18, 2021
Prediction: Untitled Pete Docter Film - If we are to go by how long it takes Pete Docter to make a film, he completed Inside Out in 2015, which was six years after 2009's Up. Logically, his next project should be ready by 2021.

Untitled Illumination Animated Film - July 2, 2021
Prediction: Super Mario Bros. - Simple. With the franchise turning 40 in 2021, it would only make logical sense if the movie were released around that time.

Hotel Transylvania 4(Sony Animation)
Prediction: July 16, 2021 - Going by my predictions, an in-house production for the Summer of 2021 just screams "logical" to me. Also, Hotel Transylvania movies tend to take three years to produce, and there is no way they're stopping after Summer Vacation, so I think a fourth film is inevitable.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: August 6, 2021 - Sony releases an in-house film in July, right before a co-production the following month. It's as simple as that.

Spooky Jack(DreamWorks) - September 17, 2021

Untitled Jon Saunders Film(Sony Animation)
Prediction: October 15, 2021 - From here on out, I won't describe why I think future Sony Animation movies are going where I think they'll go.

Untitled WB Animation Event Film
Current Date: December 22, 2021
Prediction: November 12, 2021 - Space Jam 2 or The Ice Dragon - The former if it's Warner Bros. Animation, and because the original turns 25 that year, the latter if it's Warner Animation Group. Either way, it's probably going to move since Universal just got that release date for a DreamWorks movie.

Untitled Disney Animation - November 24, 2021
Prediction: Untitled Stephen J. Anderson Film - Since this is Disney's 60th animated feature, I reckon it'll be something special. Since I have Dragon Empire pegged for 2020, I have a feeling that Stephen Anderson's project is next.

Untitled Dreamworks Animation Film - December 22, 2021
Prediction: Shrek 5 - The franchise turns 20 years old in 2021, so I think it only makes logical sense. Another possibility is The Boss Baby 2 taking this date while this film goes for the traditional May slot.

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: January 14, 2022

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: February 4, 2022

Wonder Park sequel(Paramount Animation)
Prediction: March 4, 2022 - Since it seems like Ilion is doing more animated movies for Paramount, they can start this one right after Luck is completed in early 2021. It seems inevitable because Wonder Park is supposed to start a Nickelodeon TV series.

Untitled Pixar Animation - March 18, 2022
Prediction: Untitled Bob Peterson Film - Since he got kicked off of The Good Dinosaur back in late 2013, he's likely been working on this project for a good while, so I wouldn't be shocked if it ended up getting a March 2022 release date.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: April 1, 2022

Untitled Dreamworks Animation Film - April 15, 2022
Prediction: Madagascar 4 - They really can not delay on this sequel, can they? The last film will be almost 10 years old by this time, so they might as well utilize it. I figure Tom McGrath could do this film back-to-back with his Boss Baby sequel.

Ice Age 6(Blue Sky)
Prediction: May 20, 2022 - Sorry, guys, but this one seems like it's going to happen theatrically. While Collision Course may have underperformed, it still made a good-sized amount. Plus, the franchise will be 20 years old around this time. I didn't choose July because Universal has it occupied for an untitled Illumination feature

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat(Warner Animation Group)
Prediction: June 3, 2022 - With most of the Summer being empty for this year, I say Warner Bros. should take advantage. I mean, they probably will anyway with some of their live-action tentpoles, but I think something animated should go here. My money's on Cat in the Hat, since that is likely to move forward once Illumination's Grinch movie wraps up at the end of this year.

Untitled Pixar Animation - June 17, 2022
Prediction: Monsters, Inc. sequel - With the four originals out of the way, a sequel is pretty much guaranteed for the June 2022 slot. I say a third Monsters film because Pixar seems to have this three-year pattern with sequels to their most well-known franchises (the other two being Toy Story and Finding Nemo).

Untitled Illumination Animated Film - July 1, 2022
Prediction: Despicable Me 4 - I mean, think about it. The first one opened in 2010, its sequel opened three years later, and then Illumination waited four years to release the third film. If they wait five years this time, then the fourth movie will be out by 2022.

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: July 22, 2022

The Loud House Movie(Paramount Animation)
Prediction: August 5, 2022 - Initially pegged for 2020, no official word on if Paramount removed it from their schedule or not, but a Loud House writer said that they decided not to make a movie as of now. I still think it'll happen eventually, since The Loud House is a Nickelodeon hit on the level of SpongeBob SquarePants. It likely won't be here until 2022 at the earliest.

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: September 23, 2022

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: October 14, 2022

Untitled Disney Animation - November 23, 2022
Prediction: Zootopia sequel - Ralph Breaks the Internet and Frozen's untitled sequel are opening exactly six years after their predecessors, so I wouldn't be shocked if the same thing happened to Zootopia.

Untitled Illumination Animated Film - December 21, 2022
Prediction: Johnny Express - To me, this sounds like it could be Illumination's Christmas 2022 movie. I think Universal could do a whole marketing joke where Johnny delivers packages like how Santa Claus delivers presents.

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: January 13, 2023

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: February 10, 2023

Split(Paramount Animation)
Prediction: March 10, 2023 - I wouldn't be surprised if Ilion starts doing one movie a year for Paramount, and then this happens as early as 2023. A title change may or may not occur, since this is opening long after that other movie named Split.

Untitled Dreamworks Animation Film - April 7, 2023
Prediction: Sputnik - David Matsuda was just brought on, and he's obviously going to do an adaptation before Yokai Samba, so this lines up pretty darn well. Not to mention the fact that this was the latest project that DreamWorks has announced.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: April 21, 2023

The Jetsons(Warner Animation Group)
Prediction: May 19, 2023 - They've had the director of Sausage Party and Madagascar 3 attached for a while, so it seems it'll be the next Hanna-Barbera movie that WAG does after Scooby. I also think it could switch years with Bone.

Untitled Brian Fee Film(Pixar)
Prediction: June 16, 2023 - I chose this date because it would mark exactly six years after his directorial debut, Cars 3.

Untitled Illumination Animated Film - June 30, 2023
Prediction: The Secret Life of Pets 3 - If we follow Despicable Me's sequel pattern, it actually matches quite nicely with the Secret Life of Pets franchise, so the third film (you know it will happen!) opening in 2023 would not shock me.

Spies in Disguise sequel(DreamWorks)
Prediction: July 14, 2023 - By my predictions, July 2023 will mark four years after the original, so it could work out.

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: July 28, 2023

The Flamingo Affair(Paramount Animation)
Prediction: August 11, 2023 - I figure that after J.J. Abrams finishes the safe-sounding Beastlies movie for Paramount Animation, he'll go right to this ambitious film and it'll open in 2023.

Abominable sequel(DreamWorks)
Prediction: September 22, 2023 - Four years after the original, so it lines up pretty nicely.

Untitled Co-Production(Sony Animation)
Prediction: October 13, 2023

Untitled(Sony Animation)
Prediction: November 10, 2023

Gigantic(Disney Animation)
Prediction: November 22, 2023 - Typical Disney Thanksgiving slot, but I think Gigantic makes sense so that it doesn't open right after another fairy tale (it was supposed to open in 2020, which would have placed it right after Frozen 2)

The Bad Guys(DreamWorks)
Prediction: December 22, 2023 - Since this is the second-to-latest DreamWorks project we've heard any word about, I would not be surprised if this film opens after Sputnik.

That's all for now...

Early CinemaCon Predictions: Lionsgate

Don't know how "Early" this is, since CinemaCon starts today, but here are my predictions for Lionsgate's show. Here is their schedule:

Film: Overboard
Release Date: May 4, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Film: Beast
Release Date: May 11, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Film: Uncle Drew
Release Date: June 29, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Film: Whitney
Release Date: July 6, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Film: Blindspotting
Release Date: July 20, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will be shown.

Film: The Spy Who Dumped Me
Release Date: August 3, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Film: Juliet, Naked
Release Date: August 17, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Kin
Release Date: August 31, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: A Simple Favor
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Lizzie
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Hellfest
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Hunter Killer
Release Date: October 26, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Robin Hood
Release Date: November 21, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut.

Film: Hellboy
Release Date: January 11, 2019
Prediction: A quick tease will be shown off.

Film: Flarsky
Release Date: February 8, 2019
Prediction: A teaser trailer may or may not appear.

Film: Chaos Walking
Release Date: March 1, 2019
Prediction: A quick tease with Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley will be shown.

Film: John Wick: Chapter 3
Release Date: May 17, 2019
Prediction: They may or may not change the title.

More than anything, I'm thinking that Lionsgate will announce a release date for Farmageddon: A Shaun the Sheep Movie. It's already scheduled for April 5th in the UK, so I'm thinking (as I have been for a while now) it'll be out on Wednesday, July 31st, 2019.

What say you?

Early CinemaCon Predictions: Amazon Studios

Second-to-last studio presenting, has only four movies on their schedule, let's just get this over with. I think they'll only show trailers for the following:

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot - July 13, 2018

Generation Wealth - July 20, 2018

Life Itself - September 21, 2018

Beautiful Boy - November 21, 2018

Whatever Amazon Studios puts out, whether it's what they already have or if they schedule new movies, it'll likely bore me to death...unless they say something about the animated Emily the Strange feature that they have in the works. But, I won't get my hopes up too high for that.

What say you?

Early CinemaCon Predictions: 20th Century Fox

One more day until the show, but four more days until Fox's show. Let's go over their schedule, shall we?

Title: Deadpool 2
Release Date: May 18, 2018
Prediction: An extended clip will be shown.

Title: The Darkest Minds
Release Date: August 3, 2018
Prediction: A new trailer may or may not show up.

Title: The Predator
Release Date: September 14, 2018
Prediction: The trailer will debut at the show.

Title: Bad Times at the El Royale
Release Date: October 5, 2018
Prediction: The trailer will premiere at the convention.

Title: The Old Man & the Gun
Release Date: October 5, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will show up.

Title: Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Release Date: October 19, 2018
Prediction: Just the trailer will be shown.

Title: Bohemian Rhapsody
Release Date: November 2, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut at the show.

Title: Widows
Release Date: November 16, 2018
Prediction: The trailer will debut.

Title: The Favourite
Release Date: November 23, 2018
Prediction: A trailer will debut at the show.

Title: Alita: Battle Angel
Release Date: December 21, 2018
Prediction: A new trailer will play at the show.

Title: Ad Astra
Release Date: January 11, 2019
Prediction: A trailer will appear.

Title: X-Men: Dark Phoenix
Release Date: February 14, 2019
Prediction: A small tease may or may not appear.

Title: The Kid Who Would Be King
Release Date: March 1, 2019
Prediction: A cast may or may not be revealed.

Title: Breakthrough
Release Date: April 12, 2019
Prediction: They may or may not reveal the cast.

Title: Spies in Disguise
Release Date: April 19, 2019
Prediction: They will tell us who else is in the movie besides Will Smith and Tom Holland, and maybe they'll show a teaser trailer as well.

Title: Gambit
Release Date: June 7, 2019
Prediction: The film is likely getting delayed again, if you ask me.

Title: New Mutants
Release Date: August 2, 2019
Prediction: Oh, please! The chances of this movie coming out are so low, that I have better chances of getting struck by lightning!

Title: Death on the Nile
Release Date: November 8, 2019
Prediction: They will announce more cast members aside from Kenneth Branagh.

Title: Untitled Fox/Marvel
Release Date: November 22, 2019
Prediction: This is likely not happening, due to a certain mouse. More on this later.

Title: The Call of the Wild
Release Date: December 25, 2019
Prediction: A cast may or may not be revealed. Of course, more than anything, I want to know if this counts as a Fox Animation movie or not.

Title: Nimona
Release Date: February 14, 2020
Prediction: A release date change, and maybe a cast as well. Renders of the characters are also possible.

Title: Untitled Fox/Marvel
Release Date: March 13, 2020
Prediction: See previous Untitled Fox/Marvel

Title: Untitled Fox/Marvel
Release Date: June 26, 2020
Prediction: See previous Untitled Fox/Marvel

Title: Bob's Burgers
Release Date: July 17, 2020
Prediction: A plot may or may not be revealed.

Title: Untitled Fox/Marvel
Release Date: October 2, 2020
Prediction: See previous Untitled Fox/Marvel

Title: Ron's Gone Wrong
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Prediction: They may or may not talk about this one aside from a release date change.

Title: Avatar 2
Release Date: December 18, 2020
Prediction: They may or may not reveal details on this one.

Title: Foster
Release Date: March 5, 2021
Prediction: They may or may not talk about this one.

Title: Untitled Fox/Marvel
Release Date: March 5, 2021
Prediction: See previous Untitled Fox/Marvel, especially since this one has Foster against it.

Title: Avatar 3
Release Date: December 17, 2021
Prediction: See Avatar 2

Title: Avatar 4
Release Date: December 20, 2024
Prediction: See Avatar 3

Title: Avatar 5
Release Date: December 19, 2025
Prediction: See Avatar 4

One thing I expect to hear more than anything is a little something regarding the Disney-Fox deal. Set to complete by Summer 2019, I'm willing to bet we hear something about its progress. This is partially why I don't think many movies on each studio's slate will happen, such as those untitled Fox/Marvel films and the Pixar movies in March 2020 and March 2022. See here for further thoughts.

Other than that, I have one hope. Remember the gigantic animation slate that Fox put out back in 2013? These were the dates:

March 10, 2017

June 16, 2017

July 21, 2017

November 3, 2017

December 20, 2017

March 23, 2018

June 29, 2018

July 20, 2018

November 2, 2018

December 21, 2018

Let's say that the Disney deal does indeed fail, and then Fox can do whatever they like buy themselves. I have put a proposed slate together.

(Also, I am making the assumption in this case that The Call of the Wild is not a Fox Animation movie)

Spies in Disguise - April 19, 2019

The Book of Life 2 - July 26, 2019

Nimona - December 20, 2019

Bob's Burgers - February 14, 2020

Rio 3 - July 17, 2020

Ron's Gone Wrong - October 2, 2020

Foster - March 5, 2021

The Simpsons Movie 2 - July 16, 2021

Ferdinand 2 - November 12, 2021

Untitled Locksmith - February 11, 2022

Untitled Blue Sky - July 22, 2022

Untitled Fox Animation - November 11, 2022

Untitled Blue Sky - April 7, 2023

Untitled Locksmith - July 21, 2023

Untitled Blue Sky - November 10, 2023

I know, I know. It seems a little far-fetched, but don't rule anything out just yet.

Speaking of Fox and animated films, what is going on with Rio 3? You'd think it'd be announced or released already, considering how profitable 2 was. I mean, Hotel Transylvania 2 made roughly the same amount, and the threequel will be out this coming July, so...

What say you?