Despite the shifting sands of new movie release dates, these films are expected for your enjoyment this spring…and beyond

BY LAURA D.C. KOLNOSKI

INFINITE MAY (UNRATED)
This science fiction apocalyptic thriller based on the novel The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz stars Mark Wahlberg as Evan, a troubled man who discovers his hallucinations are actually memories of his past lives. The truth emerges when a secret group of “Infinites” rescue Evan and take him to an extraordinary world where some can be reborn with their accumulated memories. They embark on a quest to save humanity. Chiwetel Ejiofor (a Best Actor Oscar winner for 12 Years a Slave) also stars.

THE ASSET APRIL (UNRATED)
Anna (Maggie Q) and Rembrandt (Michael Keaton) are two of the world’s top assassins for hire. In this action thriller, their pasts are tied to events in Vietnam. They’ve traversed the globe since, competing for lucrative contracts. After the murder of Anna’s boss Moody (Samuel L. Jackson), they team up and return to the Southeast Asian nation to nail his killer. The venerable Robert Patrick (Scorpion, True Blood) also stars. From Lionsgate, the film was shot on location in London, Bucharest, and DaNang, Vietnam.

CRISIS MARCH (RATED R)
Oscar winner Gary Oldman plays whistleblowing university professor Dr. Tyrone Brower in this crime thriller about opioid research, smuggling, and addiction that blends three stories into one tense chase for truth and justice. The action begins in snowy Canada and takes viewers inside a drug company, the DEA, and the lives of those affected. The star-studded cast includes Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Kid Cudi, and LilyRose Depp.

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CRUELLA MAY (UNRATED)
Comparisons to Hunger Games Catching Fire’s famous combustible gown scene accompanied the release of the fiery second trailer for the latest reimagining of Disney’s animated classic One Hundred and One Dalmations (1961). This time it’s a live action origin story featuring Oscar winner Emma Stone sporting Cruella de Vil’s black and white locks as she endeavors to be a fashion designer in 1970s London, among other grisly pursuits. Glenn Close, who portrayed the iconic villain in 1996, is behind the scenes as executive producer. Emma Thompson plays the Baroness, a role hotly sought after by Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Julianne Moore.

BLACK WIDOW MAY (UNRATED)
We’ve lost track of all the missed release dates for Marvel Studios’ Black Widow showcase due to the pandemic, now set to debut a full year after it was first scheduled for public consumption. Titular star Scarlett Johansson embarks on quests between the Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War timelines. We learn more about Natasha Romanova, handed over to the Russian KGB at birth and trained to become deadly operative Black Widow until the U.S.S.R. disbands and her government tries to kill her. Oscar winners William Hurt and Rachel Weisz star, along with 2020 nominee Florence Pugh (Little Women). Expect heart-pounding action, violence, explosions, and eye-popping stunts.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
DON’T LOOK UP
Two astronomers (Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) are pressed into a media tour to warn the planet’s population about a comet on the way to destroy Earth. It’s a comedy (seriously). Written and directed by Adam McKay and featuring a constellation of stars including Chris Evans, Cate Blanchett, Timothée Chalamet, and Meryl Streep as President Janie Orlean. Ana de Armas (Knives Out) plays Marilyn Monroe to Adrien Brody’s Arthur Miller and Bobby Cannavale’s Joe DiMaggio. Fun fact: Armas’ own dog appears as Marilyn’s pooch. The fictionalized tale will be worth viewing for the casting alone.

THUNDER FORCE
Best friends Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer join forces as a superhero team imbued with powers gained through a scientific accident who battle evil in Chicago. Directed and written by McCarthy’s husband Ben Falcone, the film’s cast includes Jason Bateman, Melissa Leo, and Bobby Cannavale.