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