Ruhi Gilder
While 2021 marked a year of delayed releases, cancelled shoots and slow production processes, 2022 brings with it a barrage of releases on the big screen as well as OTT platforms. Escapist romantic comedies, magical worlds and iconic superheroes are set to make this year a whole lot better than the last. While we stay huddled inside our homes waiting out COVID, here are a bunch of shows and films to look forward to.
1. Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts
Potterheads worldwide have been counting down to this special episode. Much like the Friends reunion, this is also a retrospective featuring cast interviews of the loved series. The trio Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, along with other popular cast members, reunited for the first time to celebrate 20 years since the first film. Fans can stream this special now on Amazon Prime Video.
Release Date: January 1
2. How I Met Your Father
It’s going to be legen… (wait for it) …dary! Yet another iconic show is hopping onto the reboot train. How I Met Your Father is a series starring actress Hilary Duff in the role of Sophie, the female version of Ted Mosby, from the original show, How I Met Your Mother. Like Ted, Sophie is on a mission to find ‘The One’, in the world of online dating and social media. The series also stars Kim Cattrall, aka Samantha Jones who narrates the story as grown-up Sophie. Hopefully, we will also see guest appearances by the original cast (here’s looking at you, Neil Patrick Harris).
Release Date: January 18
3. Prithviraj
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This Akshay Kumar starrer marks the debut of Miss World 2017, Manushi Chillar. The plot follows the life of Rajput King Prithviraj Chauhan as he faces off against Muhammad of Ghori, the Sultan of the Ghurid Empire. The historical action-drama film is set to release in cinemas on January 21 but unfortunately, may be delayed due to the closure of theatres and rising COVID-19 cases.
Release Date: January 21
4. Death on the Nile
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Death on the Nile is based on Agatha Christie’s famed 1937 Hercule Poirot novel of the same name. The ensemble cast includes the graceful Gal Gadot, Russell Brand, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, and Kenneth Branagh as Poirot. The movie revolves around the murder of a guest on a cruise ship sailing on the Nile. Expect grand costumes, scenic locales of Egypt and a Christie’s signature mystery plotline in this film.
Release Date: February 11
5. Marry Me
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A rom-com featuring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson is just what we need to start off this year. A Valentine’s Day release date is set for this film that follows the life of a pop star who marries a stranger in one of her crowds, after she discovers her fiancé has been having an affair. Glamour, Hollywood, romance and J-Lo, it’s the perfect recipe for Valentine’s (or Galentine’s) Day!
Release Date: February 11
6. Gangubai Kathiawadi
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, another much-awaited period piece is due to release this year. The biographical crime drama is based on the life of Gangubai, one of the most powerful madames in Kamathipura during the 1960s. Initially scheduled to release on July 30, the film met with production delays and is now slated for release in February. SLB’s grandeur and Bhatt’s acting undoubtedly makes this one of the most anticipated films of the year.
Release Date: February 18
7. The Batman
Fans early await Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson reprisal of the iconic superhero Batman in a film directed by Matt Reeves. In this instalment of the series Batman pursues the Riddler, a serial killer who targets elite Gotham City citizens. Pattinson appears in the long-awaited film opposite Zoë Kravitz who plays Catwoman.
Release Date: March 4
8. Bridgerton: Season 2
Shonda Rhimes delivered yet another fan favourite with Bridgerton, the show based on historical romance Julia Quinn’s novels. The period drama is set to release its second season on Netflix. While we won’t see Season one’s dreamy Regé-Jean Page, the next eight episodes will focus on Quinn’s second novel in the series, the love story of Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sharma, played by Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley respectively.
Release Date: March 25
9. The Lost City
Add this movie to your to-watch list, as it features the stellar cast of Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Bradd Pitt and Daniel Radcliffe. The plot surrounds popular adventure novelist Loretta Sage (Bullock) who goes on a book tour with Alan (Tatum), the male model on her book’s cover. While on tour, she gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Radcliffe) who believes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest novel. Alan sets off to rescue her and many romantic, action and comedy scenes are set to ensue.
Release Date: March 25
10. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
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Another fantastical story from the Harry Potter world is ready to hit the big screen this year. The third instalment in the Fantastic Beasts series picks up from the end of the second film. Eddie Redmayne and Jude Law lead the way to fight dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who has replaced Johnny Deep in the role. It is reported that the film will be set in locations like Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, and China, where magi zoologist Newt Scamander and a team of wizards, witches and a Muggle encounter outlandish beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing followers.
Release Date: April 8
11. Laal Singh Chaddha
The Bollywood adaptation of the classic film Forrest Gump (1994) is to hit cinemas early this year. The popular pairing of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan, last seen together in Talaash, will make an appearance in Laal Singh Chaddha. The film has reportedly been shot in 100 locations, including Ladakh, Kashmir, Turkey, Chandigarh, Delhi and Mumbai.
Release Date: April 14
12. Brahmāstra
Though this film has been subject to many delays, Ayan Mukerji’s awaited superhero film is prepped for release in September. Produced by Karan Johar, the film features Bollywood power couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, as well as Amitabh Bachchan. The big budget film is about Shiva, a young man with superpowers who goes back in time to pre-Mahabharatha era to learn about weapons such as the Brahmastra to fulfil a current mission that he has been dealt with.
Release Date: September 8
13. The Crown: Season 5
The British royals will grace our screens once again in November 2022. The fifth season of The Crown will bring us closer to the modern day and features an all-new set of actors. Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth II, Jonathan Pryce as Prince Philip, Lesley Manville as Princess Margaret, Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana and Dominic West as Prince Charles are part of the ensemble cast. Political secrets, historical event and royal drama is on the agenda for this season as it presents Queen Elizabeth II’s reign from the early to mid-1990s.
Release Date: November
14. House Of The Dragon
The premiere of the prequel to Game of Thrones is set for 2022, though an exact date has not been decided. Fans hope to see grand sets and intricate storylines in this Targaryen’s-centred spinoff series. House of the Dragon is set 200 years prior to the events of GOT and is based on George R.R. Martin’s 2018 book Fire & Blood. The dysfunctional Targaryen’s are played by an ensemble cast including Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Paddy Considine, Sonoya Mizuno and Rhys Ifans.
Release Date: To be decided
Watch now
15. The Lost Daughter
Based on a book by the accomplished author Elena Ferrante, the Maggie Gyllenhaal directed film is a psychological thriller that offers a sobering reflection on the complexities of motherhood. A star-studded cast including Olivia Colman (from The Crown), Dakota Johnson, Paul Mescal and Ed Harris, the emotional rollercoaster hits you with its one-liners and poetic long-takes.
Streaming now on Netflix
Also read:
Stories of hope: 5 gripping, real-life based movies to watch this weekend
Bridgerton’s fashion diary: The Netflix show and its splendid costumes
