Graham: 2017’s hottest films

Like sequels? Hollywood’s got your sequels. Want franchise builders? Hollywood’s got your franchise builders. How about new, original stories? Hey not so fast there, bub.

Ah, we kid because we love. In the next 12 months, Hollywood’s got plenty of everything you enjoy on tap, and is even offering up a few new, original stories.

For now we’re focusing on the mega blockbusters that are already building buzz for the year to come. Some will triumph, some will fall, but we won’t know which are which until they get here. (Although we’re pretty sure what to expect from “Transformers: The Last Knight.”)

Here’s a look at 2017’s biggest films. Opening dates, as always, are subject to change.

17 for 2017

1. “Star Wars: Episode VIII” — “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is still burning up the box office, but attention will soon turn toward the next proper chapter in the “Star Wars” saga, the odds-on favorite for the year’s biggest grosser. (Dec. 15)

2. “Untitled Detroit Project” — Director Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty”) takes on the 1967 Detroit riots in the biggest movie to hit our fair city since “8 Mile.” With “Star Wars” John Boyega. (TBA)

3. “Justice League” — OK “Avengers,” you’ve had your fun, now it’s DC’s turn. Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the gang assemble in the latest from Zack Snyder, who hopefully turns the lights on this time around. (Nov. 17)

4. “Dunkirk” — Christopher Nolan (the “Dark Knight” trilogy, “Inception”) takes on WWII. Say no more. (July 21)

5. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” — The sequel to the 2014 smash brings back the wise-cracking group (including Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill and Dave Bautista’s Drax) and adds Kurt Russell to the mix as Quill’s father. We’re intrigued. (May 5)

6. “The Fate of the Furious” — More cars, more stars (Charlize Theron is now in the mix), more insane stunts in Chapter 8 of the “Fast and the Furious” series. One question: Why not call it “The F8 of the Furious?” (April 14)

7. “Blade Runner: 2049” — Sequels that come decades after the original can either hit (“Tron: Legacy”) or miss (“Independence Day: Resurgence”). This one’s helmed by “Arrival’s” Denis Villeneueve and stars Ryan Gosling and Jared Leto, so we have faith. (Oct. 6)

8. “Alien: Covenant” — The second installment in the “Alien” prequel series brings back most of the cast from 2012’s “Prometheus.” Intriguing: James Franco and Danny McBride also join the cast, to what end we’re not yet sure. (May 19)

9. “Beauty and the Beast” — Another live-action Disney remake? After winning us over with “Cinderella” and “The Jungle Book,” sure, bring it on. With Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. (March 17)

10. “Wonder Woman” — Gal Gadot gets her time to shine in the latest building block of the “Justice League” franchise. Bright spot: Zack Snyder is not directing. (June 2)

11. “T2 Trainspotting” — Speaking of sequels that come decades after the original, reuniting the cast of 1996’s “Trainspotting” seems like a gamble. Will the clan of heroin junkies still be amusing now that they’re in their 40s? (March 3)

12. “John Wick: Chapter 2” — Okay, who messed with his dog this time? The first “John Wick” was a surprise hit in 2014, a film that came off like a comic book adaptation but wasn’t. We’re hoping for more of the same this time around. (Feb. 10)

13. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” — One of the highlights of “Captain America: Civil War” was Tom Holland’s debut as Spidey. That’s why anticipation is high for this new series, even though it marks the *cough* third time in 15 years a new Spider-Man series has launched. Cough. (July 7)

14. “The Lego Batman Movie” — The last few “Batman” installments have all but totally lacked a sense of humor. That’s what we have Lego Batman for, apparently. (Feb. 10)

15. “Logan” — The latest entry in the “Wolverine” series follows 2013’s “The Wolverine” and is slated to be the final entry in the Hugh Jackman-starring franchise. (March 3)

16. “Kong: Skull Island” — It’s been more than a decade since Peter Jackson took on the big guy with 2005’s “King Kong,” now Jordan “Kings of Summer” Vogt-Roberts takes the reins with a cast that includes Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson and Oscar winners Brie Larson and J.K. Simmons. (March 10)

17. “50 Shades Darker” — The world’s dullest couple (played by Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan) is back for more mainstream kink. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! (Feb. 10)

Not to mention: “Underworld: Blood Wars” (Jan. 6), “XXX: Return of Xander Cage” (Jan. 20), “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” (Jan. 27), “The Great Wall” (Feb. 17), “CHiPs” (March 24), “Power Rangers” (March 24), “The Smurfs: The Lost Village” (April 7), “Baywatch” (May 26), “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” (May 26), “The Mummy” (June 9), “Cars 3” (June 16), “Transformers: The Last Knight” (June 23), “Despicable Me 3” (June 30), “War of the Planet of the Apes” (July 14), “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” (Oct. 6), “Thor: Ragnarok” (Nov. 3).

agraham@detroitnews.com

(313) 222-2284

@grahamorama