Movies and art are still the pillars for our survival during the COVID-19 pandemic. As one awards season is currently underway, we look ahead to films that shifted from their original dates, features coming soon to theaters and streaming, and films that don’t have a date but have compelling directors attached.
Variety assembled a robust list of the biggest movies coming in 2021. But which filmmakers are bringing their signature styles or offering new perspectives this year? There’s plenty of material to choose from, whether it be the juicy source material of a beloved composer like Leonard Bernstein, the science fiction story of a futuristic hero or an upcoming superhero film that in a typical year would likely see a woman helm the highest-grossing motion picture of the year for the first time (on top of possibly being in the Oscars race).
The year looks to be very promising for inclusive voices, both on the mainstream and in the independent realm, which always breathes new life and energy into the art of filmmaking.
Other notable filmmakers with anticipated films set for 2021: Hollywood heavyweights Paul Thomas Anderson, George Miller, Steven Soderbergh, Baz Luhrmann, Terrence Malick and David O. Russell, and newcomers Kay Cannon, Rebecca Hall and Nia DeCosta are among the directors also releasing buzzy films this year.
NOTE: There are many projects still in development, others we’re unsure about in terms of timing and, even some that are on this list may not see the light of day this calendar year.
Here are the directors we’re looking forward to hearing from in 2021.
Wes Anderson
“The French Dispatch” (Searchlight Pictures)
The imagination and creative vision of Wes Anderson are undeniable and utterly recognizable. Anderson has racked up seven Oscar nominations, over four separate categories (picture, director, original screenplay and animated feature), beginning with 2001’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” and most recently with 2018’s “Isle of Dogs.” His next venture, which was originally scheduled to play at last year’s Cannes Film Festival before it was canceled due to COVID-19, is shuffling to a still-to-be-determined date this year. With many of his familiar cast members returning, we are sure to be in for another whimsical outing that’s described as a love letter to journalists.
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Léa Seydoux, Owen Wilson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Benicio del Toro, Rupert Friend, Liev Schreiber, Anjelica Huston, Fisher Stevens, Jason Schwartzman, Jeffrey Wright, Lois Smith, Jeffrey Wright
Written by: Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness
Synopsis: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch Magazine.
Andrea Arnold
“Cow”
British filmmaker Andrea Arnold has an Oscar in the best live action short category for 2005’s “Wasp.” Since then, her work in features like “Fish Tank” and “American Honey” have garnered respect and acclaim. It’s a rarity to see a documentary make an appearance on lists for anticipated films, and her first doc that looks at two cows’ daily lives. (The internet is sure to dub this one “Second Cow.”) It could be beautifully poignant with a filmmaker of Arnold’s stature.
Written by: Andrea Arnold
Synopsis: A close-up portrait of the daily lives of two cows.
Halle Berry
“Bruised” (Netflix)
The only Black woman to ever win the best actress Oscar has jumped into the driver’s seat and is ready to bring her filmmaking vision to the world. Picked at the Toronto International Film Festival by Netflix, it’s said to show her natural touch behind the camera, even managing some very high acting moments. It’s also lovely to see her tap composer Terence Blanchard, long-time composer of Spike Lee, to score the film, along with a rumored solid turn from Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences”).
Starring: Halle Berry, Adan Canto, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Written by: Michelle Rosenfarb
Synopsis: Follows a former MMA fighter struggling to regain custody of her son and restart her athletic career.
Wes Anderson
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Director Wes Anderson" width="862" height="575" />“The French Dispatch” (Searchlight Pictures)
The imagination and creative vision of Wes Anderson are undeniable and utterly recognizable. Anderson has racked up seven Oscar nominations, over four separate categories (picture, director, original screenplay and animated feature), beginning with 2001’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” and most recently with 2018’s “Isle of Dogs.” His next venture, which was originally scheduled to play at last year’s Cannes Film Festival before it was canceled due to COVID-19, is shuffling to a still-to-be-determined date this year. With many of his familiar cast members returning, we are sure to be in for another whimsical outing that’s described as a love letter to journalists.
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Léa Seydoux, Owen Wilson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Benicio del Toro, Rupert Friend, Liev Schreiber, Anjelica Huston, Fisher Stevens, Jason Schwartzman, Jeffrey Wright, Lois Smith, Jeffrey Wright
Written by: Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness
Synopsis: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch Magazine.
Andrea Arnold
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Andrea Arnold" width="1000" height="561" />“Cow”
British filmmaker Andrea Arnold has an Oscar in the best live action short category for 2005’s “Wasp.” Since then, her work in features like “Fish Tank” and “American Honey” have garnered respect and acclaim. It’s a rarity to see a documentary make an appearance on lists for anticipated films, and her first doc that looks at two cows’ daily lives. (The internet is sure to dub this one “Second Cow.”) It could be beautifully poignant with a filmmaker of Arnold’s stature.
Written by: Andrea Arnold
Synopsis: A close-up portrait of the daily lives of two cows.
Halle Berry
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Bruised TIFF" width="1000" height="563" />“Bruised” (Netflix)
The only Black woman to ever win the best actress Oscar has jumped into the driver’s seat and is ready to bring her filmmaking vision to the world. Picked at the Toronto International Film Festival by Netflix, it’s said to show her natural touch behind the camera, even managing some very high acting moments. It’s also lovely to see her tap composer Terence Blanchard, long-time composer of Spike Lee, to score the film, along with a rumored solid turn from Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences”).
Starring: Halle Berry, Adan Canto, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Written by: Michelle Rosenfarb
Synopsis: Follows a former MMA fighter struggling to regain custody of her son and restart her athletic career.
Janicza Bravo
“Zola” (A24)
The Sundance Film Festival may look different in 2021, but there are ripples still felt from 2020 and one of its breakout filmmakers Janicza Bravo and her sophomore directing effort, “Zola.” Based on the 148-tweet sensation that took the internet by storm in 2015, she establishes herself as one of the most exciting up and comers with her blend of dark comedy and statement on self-respect. With the dynamite trio of actors Taylor Paige, Colman Domingo (both from “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and Riley Keough (“It Comes At Night”), the early Park City buzz could surely return.
Starring: Taylor Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, Nicholas Braun
Written by: Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris (based on the tweets by A’Ziah King and the magazine article by David Kushner)
Synopsis: A stripper named Zola embarks on a wild road trip to Florida.
Wes Anderson
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/AP_120516023229-e1611450459623.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Director Wes Anderson" width="862" height="575" />“The French Dispatch” (Searchlight Pictures)
The imagination and creative vision of Wes Anderson are undeniable and utterly recognizable. Anderson has racked up seven Oscar nominations, over four separate categories (picture, director, original screenplay and animated feature), beginning with 2001’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” and most recently with 2018’s “Isle of Dogs.” His next venture, which was originally scheduled to play at last year’s Cannes Film Festival before it was canceled due to COVID-19, is shuffling to a still-to-be-determined date this year. With many of his familiar cast members returning, we are sure to be in for another whimsical outing that’s described as a love letter to journalists.
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Léa Seydoux, Owen Wilson, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, Adrien Brody, Benicio del Toro, Rupert Friend, Liev Schreiber, Anjelica Huston, Fisher Stevens, Jason Schwartzman, Jeffrey Wright, Lois Smith, Jeffrey Wright
Written by: Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness
Synopsis: A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional twentieth-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in The French Dispatch Magazine.
Andrea Arnold
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/arnold_0.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Andrea Arnold" width="1000" height="561" />“Cow”
British filmmaker Andrea Arnold has an Oscar in the best live action short category for 2005’s “Wasp.” Since then, her work in features like “Fish Tank” and “American Honey” have garnered respect and acclaim. It’s a rarity to see a documentary make an appearance on lists for anticipated films, and her first doc that looks at two cows’ daily lives. (The internet is sure to dub this one “Second Cow.”) It could be beautifully poignant with a filmmaker of Arnold’s stature.
Written by: Andrea Arnold
Synopsis: A close-up portrait of the daily lives of two cows.
Halle Berry
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=1000 1000w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bruised-tiff.jpg?w=1000 1000w" alt="Bruised TIFF" width="1000" height="563" />“Bruised” (Netflix)
The only Black woman to ever win the best actress Oscar has jumped into the driver’s seat and is ready to bring her filmmaking vision to the world. Picked at the Toronto International Film Festival by Netflix, it’s said to show her natural touch behind the camera, even managing some very high acting moments. It’s also lovely to see her tap composer Terence Blanchard, long-time composer of Spike Lee, to score the film, along with a rumored solid turn from Stephen McKinley Henderson (“Fences”).
Starring: Halle Berry, Adan Canto, Stephen McKinley Henderson
Written by: Michelle Rosenfarb
Synopsis: Follows a former MMA fighter struggling to regain custody of her son and restart her athletic career.
Janicza Bravo
https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shutterstock_editorial_10532370ew.jpg?w=640 640w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shutterstock_editorial_10532370ew.jpg?w=800 800w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shutterstock_editorial_10532370ew.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/shutterstock_editorial_10532370ew.jpg?w=1280 1280w" alt="'Zola' director Janicza Bravo Sundance" width="862" height="575" />“Zola” (A24)
The Sundance Film Festival may look different in 2021, but there are ripples still felt from 2020 and one of its breakout filmmakers Janicza Bravo and her sophomore directing effort, “Zola.” Based on the 148-tweet sensation that took the internet by storm in 2015, she establishes herself as one of the most exciting up and comers with her blend of dark comedy and statement on self-respect. With the dynamite trio of actors Taylor Paige, Colman Domingo (both from “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”) and Riley Keough (“It Comes At Night”), the early Park City buzz could surely return.
Starring: Taylor Paige, Riley Keough, Colman Domingo, Nicholas Braun
Written by: Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris (based on the tweets by A’Ziah King and the magazine article by David Kushner)
Synopsis: A stripper named Zola embarks on a wild road trip to Florida.
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