We polled The Daily Beast’s culture team to find out what art, films, books, TV, and music are worth looking forward to in 2012—and the results are promising.
From The Dark Knight Rises to Nicki Minaj’s sophomore album and from Marni’s collection for H&M to Kiefer Sutherland’s new TV show, Touch, here are The Daily Beast’s picks for the most anticipated releases of 2012.
With a built-in audience of fans of Suzanne Collins’s trilogy of young adult novels, the hype around this movie has been insane for more than a year. And it nearly got out of hand when each bit of casting news caused the Internet to have tremors: in the end, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth were signed to play the three teenage leads. But beyond fan madness, what could be more politically relevant than the class warfare under the books’ surface?
The plot revolves around Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence)—a poor 16-year-old girl from a destitute coal-mining community—who is conscripted to compete in the Hunger Games, a real-time reality show in which kids fight each other to the death. If the movie adaptation is faithful to the book, which the trailer indicates it will be, Katniss provides an antidote to the passive, marriage-oriented Bella from Twilight—a feminist heroine for millennials. With Donald Sutherland as the evil President Snow; Woody Harrelson as the charming, drunk mentor, Haymitch; and Elizabeth Banks as the not-as-clueless-as-she-seems Effie Trinket, the books’ devoted followers have much to look forward to.
So does everyone else, we hope.
Kathryn Bigelow was already working on a movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden before he was killed—clearly, things had to be rewritten!
After that delay on her first big project after the Oscar-winning Hurt Locker, the movie also faced controversy over its proposed release date: the month before the presidential election. Republicans sniped that the film would be designed to make President Obama look good as he sought reelection. They needn’t have worried, though.
The movie’s release date has been delayed until Dec. 19, 2012, and considering it hasn’t begun filming yet, and does not have a fully set cast, we’re just hoping to see it someday!
Lifetime has optioned the rights to Jeff Ashton’s memoir about prosecuting Casey Anthony. The movie is still in development, but how can this be anything but fascinating? In his book, Ashton spills behind-the-scenes beans like the fact that Anthony’s “smarmy” (Ashton’s word) lawyer tried to talk her into a last-minute plea bargain but she refused.
With lead characters like Casey, the world’s most prolific liar, a fictional babysitter named “Zanny the Nanny,” Casey’s father’s alleged mistress, Krystal Holloway, who also has other names, a car that smelled like death, and an adorable baby who did nothing to deserve what happened to her, this movie is a must-watch.
Tantalizingly little has been revealed about director Ridley Scott’s sort-of-but-not-really prequel to his trailblazing 1979 sci-fi epic, Alien. What we know so far: Michael Fassbender (Shame, X-Men: First Class) portrays an android accompanying Swedish Girl With the Dragon Tattoo triology star Noomi Rapace on some sort of mysterious mission in deepest space. Charlize Theron is also along for the ride. And as we know from dispatches out of San Diego’s Comic-Con, where the director debuted 15 minutes of Prometheus footage in July, she is depicted in the movie doing naked push-ups.
Scott promises the film will answer a “big question” from the first two installments of the blockbuster Alien franchise. “In the last few minutes of the movie, you’ll understand what I’m talking about,” Scott said.
Due out June 2012.
The third and final installment in filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy takes place eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, and sees Gotham experiencing a rare moment of peace. Batman (Christian Bale), a fugitive from justice after assuming responsibility for Harvey Dent’s crime spree—is drawn back to the city following an ominous warning from the mysterious Selina Kyle (Anne Hathaway) that hints at evidence of Occupy Wall Street undertones, painting the Dark Knight as the “1 percent”: “You and your friends better batten down the hatches because when it hits, you’re all going to wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.” Batman is then drawn back to Gotham to do battle with the muscle-bound menace, Bane (Tom Hardy).
Like his last film, Inglourious Basterds, writer-director Quentin Tarantino’s latest is a brutal slice of revisionist history. The movie is set in the antebellum Deep South. Django (Jamie Foxx), a slave-turned-bounty hunter, teams up with his mentor, Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), to rescue his wife from the ruthless Mississippi plantation owner Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio (in his first villain role). DiCaprio was supposed to star as Nazi Col. Hans Landa, but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. Waltz eventually replaced DiCaprio in the role, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Will this heinous villain bring DiCaprio a long overdue Oscar victory?
Adapted from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal novel, The Great Gatsby sees Midwesterner Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) seduced into the decadent world of Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio), his enigmatic neighbor who pines for Carraway’s fetching—and married—cousin, Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan). The film marks the reunion of DiCaprio and director Baz Luhrmann, who worked together on 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, as well as real-life pals DiCaprio and Maguire, who last shared the screen as young kids in 1993’s This Boy’s Life (that is, if you don’t count the 2001 disaster Don’s Plum, which never saw the light of day). The film will be shot in 3D, and, judging by Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!, will feature some eye-catching costumes.
Between multiple annual collections for Chanel and Fendi, a capsule collection for Macy’s, and countless other projects, Karl Lagerfeld is a busy man. So when he announced that he’d be launching yet another line in 2012, it took the world by surprise. But this time, he’s doing things a little differently: Lagerfeld will launch Karl, an online-only collection that will be sold exclusively on Net-A-Porter in February. And the “Kountdown” is already intense: the e-retailer has launched a social networking service called “Karl’s Kult” that allows people to follow Lagerfeld on the job, and have released a video to get people anticipated for the launch. The 70-piece collection (ranging from $50 to $1,000) will feature T-shirt dresses, metallics, jerseys, leather and sequins—and will be predominantly black, white, grey, silver, with the occasional burgundy and pink.
The Kardashians, it seems, may have finally met their match.
First it was Lanvin for H&M, then it was Missoni for Target, and Versace for H&M. The year 2011 was filled with frenzy-inducing collaborations between luxury brands and mega retailers—and it looks like 2012 is about to follow suit. Next up, it’s Marni for H&M, which will launch on March 8th. The collaboration will bring Consuelo Castiglioni’s bold colors and zany prints to 260 stores nationwide. The ad campaign for the collection reportedly features Sofia Coppola in Morocco, and while images from the collection are still under wraps, Casitglioni says the collection will have a “modern tribal” feel and will “juxtapose prints and colors.” Let’s just hope it doesn’t crash HM.com.
Armando Iannucci, the British satirist behind British cult political comedy The Thick of It (and its spin-off feature, In the Loop), turns his attention to America with HBO’s Veep, a half-hour comedy that follows a former U.S. senator who has been elected vice president. Seinfeld’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus stars in this biting and witty satire as Selina Meyer, the woman who is one heartbeat away from becoming the president, but who is more concerned about personal vendettas, biodegradable utensils, and people’s opinions of her than the current administration. Louis-Dreyfus—joined by a cast that includes Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, Sufe Bradshaw, and Timothy Simons—is at her trenchant best here, discovering early in her term as VP that the halls of power are filled with sharks. Not to be missed.
(Launches in 2nd quarter 2012)
Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) are back! The legendary bad girls of Britain’s Absolutely Fabulous return with three brand-new comedy specials celebrating 20 years of bad fashion, booze, pills, and outrageous behavior. (Worry not: Julia Sawalha’s Saffy, Jane Horrocks’ Bubbles, and June Whitfield’s Mother are also along for the madcap ride.) Among the targets of AbFab’s first special: the Kardashians, the original Danish version of The Killing, and children of celebrities in prison. These two fashion doyennes might be 20 years older than when we first met them, but some things—especially Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone—never go out of style. (The first special airs Jan. 8 at 10 p.m.)
Airing the night after the Super Bowl, NBC’s answer to Glee—or perhaps a more sophisticated, adult version of Glee—is this musical-drama, which revolves around a group of Broadway producers, actors, writers, and directors putting on a show about the life and death of Marilyn Monroe. Capturing the behind-the-scenes tension and stress—and well as the exuberance and emotional highs—that mounting such a huge production would lead to, Smash features an all-star cast that includes Debra Messing, Katharine McPhee, Anjelica Huston, Megan Hilty, and Jack Davenport, and original music from Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The result is intoxicating and contagious, and the songs impossible to get out of your head. (Launches Feb. 6 at 10 p.m.)
Chris Lilly—the Australian chameleon behind the cult hits Summer Heights High and We Can Be Heroes—returns with mockumentary comedy Angry Boys, another opportunity for the versatile writer/actor to don a series of wigs, costumes, and funny accents. In this case, the disparate characters that Lilly plays includes a deaf 17-year-old Australian boy and his twin brother, a black L.A. rapper, a surfer, and a grandmother who works as a prison official, to name but a few. Edgy, provocative, and at times lovingly bizarre, Angry Boys is ultimately an exploration about what it means to be a member of the male gender in the 21st century. (Launches Jan. 1 at 10 p.m.)
Kiefer Sutherland back on TV: do we really need to say more? We don’t have to, but we will. Fox’s new Touch has so much promise—Kiefer Sutherland and the young actor, David Mazouz, who plays his son—are terrific as a father and son struggling to communicate in more ways than one. The show is emotional, spiritual, and has a strong overall message about connecting. If you’re worried you can’t see Kiefer Sutherland as anything other than Jack Bauer, the pilot episode quickly works hard to dispel that image. Danny Glover and Gugu Mbatha-Raw are also in the cast.
Since setting the world on fire with “Hey Ya!,” one of the most electrifying, universally-beloved singles of the ‘00s, the rapper-singer-multi-instrumentalist—who comprises one-half the multi-platinum-selling “Hotlanta” hip-hop duo OutKast—has been relatively quiet on the music front. Just a few songs on the soundtrack to OutKast’s fizzled 2006 movie musical Idlewild and guest verses on a bunch of other artists’ songs. Despite his low profile, however, fascination surrounding the notoriously perfectionist vegetarian fashion icon (who has reportedly been working on his solo LP for more than two years) never went away. And even if Andremay or may not claim the starring role in a long-gestating Jimi Hendrix biopic, the public appetite for new music from Andre 3K remains huge. (Release date TBD.)
In the decade-plus since this multi-platinum-selling ska-pop quartet released its last album, Rock Steady, lead singer Gwen Stefani stepped away from the band to have children with Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale and forge a chart-topping, arena-rocking career as a solo artist. Although No Doubt’s new disc was scheduled for release this year (with recording begun in 2008), the group punted its rollout into 2012. “We don’t want to rush this album just to get it out,” the band said in a statement. But does out of earshot mean out of mind? As evidenced by No Doubt’s rumored announcement as a co-headliner for 2012’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival—and, moreover, the excitement that news caused—the fans apparently haven’t forgotten them or moved on.
When she won the Best New Artist Grammy in early 2011, beating out more established pop phenoms such as Justin Bieber and Drake, the biggest question surrounding the jazz singer-bassist-composer was “Who the hell is Esperanza Spalding?” (Collateral damage: an upset legion of Beliebers hacked Spalding’s Wikipedia page to disparage the kinky-coifed performer.) While her unique song styling has been described as “where jazz, classical, folk and world music collide,” Spalding, 27, will reportedly take her chamber music-inspired sound in a different direction on her new album, “Radio Music Society” under the auspices of her producer Q-Tip, jazzy musical mastermind of the seminal late ‘80s/early ‘90s hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. (Due out in early 2012)
Question: can a snotty, bratty alterna-rock band hold on to its indie snarl after becoming one of the biggest pop acts in the world? After recording eight studio albums and mounting a successful Broadway adaptation of its music? Seven years on from the release of its barrier-breaking rock opera (turned musical) “American Idiot” and two years since Green Day’s last CD 21st “Century Breakdown,” the Berkeley, Calif. trio return with what is arguably 2012’s most eagerly awaited rock offering. According to early intel (i.e. reviews of an intimate Halloween gig in New York City), the new material incorporates the harmonies, hooks and power chords of the group’s two previous discs. But lyrically, the new material is said to be more straightforward and less emo. Sample lyric: “Shut your mouth ‘cause you’re talking too much and I don’t give a f--- anyway.” (Release date TBD.)
The much-anticipated follow-up to pop-rap chanteuse Nicki Minaj’s platinum-selling debut album Pink Friday, which including the breakout single “Super Bass”—albeit on the deluxe version only—will be released on Valentine’s Day. Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded will mark the return of the eclectically styled, Indian-Trinidadian singer’s bizarre alter ego, Roman Zolanski (think: Sasha Fierce with a screw loose, and a penis), which featured on her debut. So far, Minaj has released two singles from the upcoming album—“Roman in Moscow,” which received mixed reviews, and “Stupid Hoe.” Expect several high-profile cameos on the record, including her recent tour-mate Britney Spears, her boss, Lil Wayne, and former flame, Drake.
This upcoming MoMA exhibit will feature a retrospective of more than 180 photographs from Cindy Sherman’s career. In addition to classic Sherman pieces, such as black-and-white photographs of the artist dressed up as a typical 1950s actress and people from various levels of society, this MoMA exhibit will include new photographic murals in their American premiere. For 30 years Sherman has disguised herself in wigs, makeup and a variety of costumes, using herself as the model for some of the most beautiful, glamorous, and disturbing photographs. New York’s Museum of Modern Art will be running the Cindy Sherman exhibit—which includes selected films as well as photographs—from February 26-June 11, 2012.
From his shark suspended in formaldehyde to his diamond-encrusted skull (complete with the original owner’s real teeth), Damien Hirst’s art has garnered controversy, praise and a lot of money since he first appeared on the U.K. art scene as a student in 1988. To coincide with the London Olympics, the Tate Modern will host the first-ever U.K. retrospective of Hirst’s work opening April 4, 2012. The infamous skull, called “For The Love of God” and covered in 8,601 diamonds and a 52.4 carat pink diamond on the forehead, will be among the many Hirst pieces on display—in a special viewing room and behind very tight security, that is.
Roy Lichtenstein is perhaps best known for his comic book-like paintings, ubiquitous with Pop Art. But the late artist is responsible for several sculptures, drawing, collages and even Chinese landscapes that will be featured in the Art Institute of Chicago’s upcoming retrospective of Lichtenstein’s career. The display, which will run from May 16-Sept. 3, 2012, will be the first scholarly assessment of Lichtenstein’s entire career since his death in 1997.
Video games have changed how technology influences entertainment and, according to an upcoming exhibit at the Smithsonian Art Museum, how it affects art. “The Art of Video Games” will explore 40 years of video games as an artistic medium, featuring influential video game designers and artists and examining the growing prevalence of video games in popular culture. The exhibit is interactive, allowing visitors the opportunity to play some of the featured games. After 3.7 million votes from around the world, the exhibition’s curator Chris Melissinos, founder of Past Pixels and a video game collector, chose 240 games to display. DC’s Smithsonian Art Museum plans to ring in the exhibit with a “Game Fest”—panel discussions and talks with designers and artists, movie screenings, hands-on play and costume photo-ops. The exhibit itself will be on display until Sept. 30, 2012.
A whirlwind 24 hours of action plays out in Fear Index, a gripping financial thriller by Robert Harris. Its protagonist, Dr. Alex Hoffman, is a partner at a hedge fund in Switzerland who has developed a brilliant program that makes market trades by analyzing fear language in the media. The night before he is set to unveil the next level of his software to investors, an intruder breaks into his mansion and knocks him unconscious. He awakes to a financial nightmare in which he analyzes his own fear index while his personal and professional lives mysteriously fall apart.
New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor has obsessively covered the lives of Barack and Michelle Obama since the beginning of 2007. Five years later, she’s releasing The Obamas a book about the first couple’s marriage, an in-depth and intimate portrait of both their public and private relationship. A journalistic sleuth, Kantor takes readers inside the White House’s bedrooms and offices as the two struggle to simultaneously maintain a normal home life and fulfill their roles as president and first lady.
In Mortality, his final, posthumous book—a memoir based on a series of essays he wrote for Vanity Fair about his battle with esophageal cancer—legendary polemicist Christopher Hitchens chronicles how he moved “from the country of the well across the stark frontier that marks off the land of malady,” as he wrote in the first of the series, ”Topic of Cancer”. It’s a token of his singular character and incomparable gift that Hitchens continued to dazzle readers with his fierce wit and brilliant intellect (on the subject of his own death, no less) in his final months. While his body deteriorated, his mind seemed only to sharpen and produce the most effervescent prose. Though he remained an atheist, his writing had an otherworldly quality that became increasingly profound as he approached death. “Before I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer a year and a half ago, I rather jauntily told the readers of my memoirs that when faced with extinction I wanted to be fully conscious and awake, in order to ‘do’ death in the active and not the passive sense,” he wrote in his last column for Vanity Fair. “However, one thing that grave illness does is to make you examine familiar principles and seemingly reliable sayings.
And there’s one that I find I am not saying with quite the same conviction as I once used to: In particular, I have slightly stopped issuing the announcement that ‘Whatever doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.’"