10 things we can actually look forward to in 2021. Movies, TV and more!

Certain, the lengthy winter forward might put you in a dim temper. However for the needs of this train, we’re selecting to have a look at the intense spots forward of us on the calendar for 2021.

TV! Motion pictures! Vaccines! Occasions and premieres that had been postponed … lastly occurring!

It might not have been straightforward to seek out issues to sit up for in 2020, however with a brand new yr comes new potentialities, proper?

It’s our pleasure to supply, in no specific order, a starter listing of what’s to come back in 2021.

The first photos and trailer (see under) are out for the sequel to the basic comedy “Coming to America,” and we’re prepared.

The film sees the return of Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall and their many beloved characters. Prince Akeem (Murphy), Semmi (Hall), Lisa McDowell (Shari Headley), King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Cleo McDowell (John Amos), Louie Anderson (Maurice), Garcelle Beauvais (Rose), Randy “Sexual Chocolate” Watson (Murphy), Rev. Brown (Corridor), Clarence (Murphy), Morris (Corridor), Saul (Murphy) and the man who sings “She’s Your Queen To Be” (Paul Bates) are all again.

New forged members embrace (Alpine’s personal) Tracy Morgan, Leslie Jones, Jermaine Fowler, KiKi Layne, Wesley Snipes, Teyana Taylor and Michael Blackson.

Murphy’s Prince Akeem lived fortunately ever after with Lisa within the first film, launched in 1988. Now, he finds himself heading to America once more, this time as a result of he discovers that he fathered a son in New York, making that son, Lavelle (Fowler, who was really born in 1988!), inheritor to the throne in Zamunda (Jones performs Lavelle’s mom).

John Amos, who reprises his function as quick meals entrepreneur Cleo McDowell (he of the golden arcs, not arches), chatted with us concerning the sequel this fall.

“Clearly the complete nation, the world wants some laughter proper now,” Amos, who grew up in East Orange, advised NJ Advance Media. “And there’s no larger supply of humor for my cash than Eddie Murphy. He’s a genius and a comedic icon after all, justifiably so. So I’m trying ahead to the movie.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY8gUtyeAKE?characteristic=oembed

See, issues to sit up for!

You’ll not have to depart your house/security bubble with the intention to see the film, since Paramount bought the distribution rights to Amazon Studios. The movie will likely be obtainable on Amazon Prime Video beginning March 5.

No, we haven’t seen the film, however who doesn’t cease and watch the unique each time it comes on TV?

You might have examine vaccine “mega-sites” on NJ.com — one other factor premiering in 2021.

Officers say coronavirus vaccines will likely be obtainable for most people in April or Might.

Health care workers began receiving the Pfizer vaccine this week. Longterm care residents are additionally on the prime of the precedence listing, slated for vaccinations by way of January and February. Then come different important employees, together with police officers, firefighters, teachers and transit, postal and grocery store workers, adopted by New Jerseyans over 65 and anybody with a high-risk medical situation.

The state is planning to open six of those vaccination mega-sites beginning in mid-January, with the purpose being to vaccinate 2,400 folks per day at every location, beginning with well being care employees.

The vaccination hubs will likely be on the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, Rockaway Townsquare, the New Jersey Conference and Exposition Heart in Edison, the Moorestown Mall, Rowan School of South Jersey in Sewell and Atlantic Metropolis Conference Heart.

A large assortment of sporting occasions internet hosting folks from everywhere in the globe?

The 2020 Summer season Olympics by no means occurred, for apparent causes. Fortunately sufficient for Olympics followers, the video games had been postponed till subsequent summer season as a substitute of being canceled altogether.

The “2020″ Olympics are headed to Tokyo for summer 2021, as was initially deliberate for final summer season. The summer season video games are scheduled to start July 23, 2021 and finish August 8. Which means gymnastics, seaside volleyball, swimming, fencing, soccer and extra.

So even in case you’ve not traveled a lot farther than your desk chair, you may proceed to do this and watch the athletes do no matter it’s they do — soar, twirl, dive, spike, and customarily transfer round!

Previous Bridge’s personal Laurie Hernandez, aka the Human Emoji, has been coaching for gymnastics competitors with a purpose of becoming a member of Workforce USA in Tokyo. Hernandez, 20, gained a gold and silver medal on the 2016 video games in Rio de Janeiro.

Right here’s why an Olympic sequel can be significant for Hernandez, past the possibility to medal once more. The New Jersey gymnast moved to Orange County, California to coach after taking two years off from the game.

“Finally I simply realized how much I missed it and I selected to come back again,” she advised NJ Advance Media final yr.

However in April, after U.S.A. Gymnastics suspended her former coach Maggie Haney (of MG Elite Gymnastics in Morganville) for eight years for emotional and verbal abuse, Hernandez opened up on social media about why she initially hesitated to return.

“I assumed I hated gymnastics, and it wasn’t till mid 2018 I spotted that it was the folks that made the expertise dangerous, not the game itself,” Hernandez mentioned in Instagram publish.

In the identical publish, the Olympic gymnast alleged verbal and emotional abuse from Haney, together with feedback concerning the gymnast’s weight, and retaliation Hernandez mentioned occurred after she advised her dad and mom about Haney’s conduct. The suspension got here after the Hernandez household and different college students filed complaints about Haney with USA Gymnastics.

“Possibly what was once OK will not be OK anymore, and maybe it shouldn’t be,” Haney advised The New York Occasions. “I believe possibly the tradition has shifted.”

Hernandez stored making progress in the course of the pandemic, sharing updates on social media.

“The stronger I get, the extra certified I really feel to be a part of the Avengers,” she mentioned in a current publish.

Tony, Tony, Tony has completed it once more!

“The Many Saints of Newark,” the “Sopranos” prequel film set for launch in 2021, follows a younger Tony Soprano and his family in 1960s Newark.

The movie was initially scheduled for September and postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the film will debut on HBO Max the identical day it involves theaters: March 12, 2021. (Will probably be obtainable to stream for a month after that.)

Within the prequel, written by sequence creator David Chase and Lawrence Konner, Michael Gandolfini, 21, carries on the legacy of his father, James Gandolfini, who died in 2013. Michael performs younger Tony Soprano, whereas Jon Bernthal (”The Punisher”) play his father, Giovanni “Johnny Boy” Soprano.

One other main Jersey expertise, Vera Farmiga, performs a younger model of Tony’s caustic mom, Livia Soprano (portrayed within the sequence by Nancy Marchand earlier than her demise in 2000). Alessandro Nivola performs Dickie Moltisanti, mentor to younger Tony and future father to Christopher Moltisanti, who followers know from the unique HBO sequence (Moltisanti interprets to “many saints” in Italian, therefore the connection to the movie’s title). Corey Stoll (”First Man”) is getting into the footwear of (Uncle) Junior Soprano.

Just like the HBO present, the movie, directed by “Sopranos” alum Alan Taylor, will likely be full of precise New Jersey locations. A specific focus this time round will likely be on some real-life occasions.

As a result of the film will depict the 1967 Newark riots, Newark streets were transported to the ‘60s and strewn with particles throughout filming in 2019. Background actors performed Newark residents, police, National Guardsmen and state troopers.

The manufacturing additionally filmed at Holsten’s, the Bloomfield ice cream parlor the place Tony Soprano and his household had been final seen in 2007. On Market Road in Paterson, some movie magic (specifically, signage) turned an extraordinary constructing and lot into the aspect of Satriale’s Pork Store.

The “Many Saints of Newark” forged additionally consists of Union’s Ray Liotta, who isn’t any stranger to Mafia movies, in addition to Leslie Odom Jr. (”Hamilton”), Billy Magnussen (”Aladdin”), John Magaro (”Not Fade Away”) and Italian actress Michela De Rossi.

Many reveals needed to halt manufacturing when COVID-19 shut down units this spring. This HBO sequence was no exception. In fact, meaning we’ve got to attend longer for the third season. It’s an unlucky actuality no self-respecting Cousin Greg fan needs to simply accept (California Pizza Kitchen, anybody? How a few Tomelet?).

However keep it up we should, all of the whereas questioning what has occurred with Kendall, Waystar Royco and Greg’s photocopies after that bombshell press convention.

Who, in the long run, will likely be Logan Roy’s successor? Up till now, the reply has all the time been, properly, Logan Roy. Workforce Cousin Greg, the way you feeling?

Ah, cash, energy, affect, decadence, intrigue and backstabbing! In some way it all the time retains us coming again for extra, form of like Kendall crawling again to daddy — minus the entire manslaughter factor.

In any case, manufacturing did resume, so we are able to (barring any additional delay) anticipate the third season of “Succession” to land someday in 2021. *Cue epic piano theme from Nicholas Britell*

In the event you’ve seen “Cobra Kai,” you recognize that the “Karate Child” revival stays true to the unique spirit of the ‘80s films whereas updating rivals Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in a approach that’s much more compelling than most reboots.

New Jersey associates Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz and Josh Heald (who hail from Randolph and Pink Financial institution, respectively) created the sequence.

This time, Johnny Lawrence is down and out — at a drawback — and Daniel (the proprietor of a profitable automotive dealership) is on prime, flipping the script on the outdated highschool dynamic.

However there’s loads of nostalgia, too, by way of footage of Mr. Miyagi and the return of different characters from the previous. As Daniel and Johnny discover their approach again to karate, extra acquainted faces present up — some welcome, some not so welcome.

The premise drew in followers of the unique films whereas taking part in to a youthful viewers by way of a deal with a brand new era of fighters. Issues get fairly … hectic … with faculty violence within the second season.

After shifting from YouTube to Netflix this yr, the sequence claimed much more followers.

Regardless that there was a 34-year hole between the 1984 movie and the revival’s 2018 debut, you gained’t have to attend for much longer for the third season premiere. (There’s additionally a fourth on the way in which.) Search for new alliances and a heel flip within the coming episodes. And, as ever, a plumbing of the previous.

Netflix introduced it will launch the third season of “Cobra Kai” one week early, Jan. 1 as a substitute of Jan. 8.

Right here’s the trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcDQqGJG8pA?characteristic=oembed

On the subject of large, buzzy studio films filmed in New Jersey, we’ve got a humiliation of riches headed our approach in 2021.

First comes “Sopranos” film “The Many Saints of Newark” in March. Steven Spielberg’s film musical “West Side Story” arrives Dec. 10, 2021, practically the one-year anniversary of its authentic premiere date (Dec. 18, 2020). Like most movies, the Disney/Amblin film was postponed with the hope that folks can be again in theaters subsequent yr.

Whether or not or not Disney will make additional modifications to how “West Side Story” will likely be launched stays to be seen.

Warner Bros., for instance, is releasing its 2021 movies (together with “The Many Saints of Newark”) on-line and in theaters on the similar time, because it did with “Marvel Girl 1984″ on Dec. 25. However there’s additionally precedent for Disney making a streaming play. In September, the postponed “Mulan” was released on Disney Plus for a premium worth of $29.99.

What we do know: “West Aspect Story” filmed in Paterson (and Newark, amongst different locations) in the summertime of 2019 and stars Clifton’s personal Rachel Zegler, 19, in her movie debut as Maria reverse Ansel Elgort as Tony.

Whereas filming a film was new for Zegler, the function was not. She performed Maria in a BergenPAC Performing Arts School production of “West Side Story” in 2017.

Paterson storefronts had been remodeled to appear like 1950s New York for the film. Actors carrying colourful skirts twirled and danced close to Paterson Metropolis Corridor in August. Days later, a Newark loading dock was became Gimbels for the film.

Spielberg’s adaptation of the 1957 musical from Arthur Laurents, Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein will depart considerably from the Oscar-winning 1961 movie. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner labored on the script. Spielberg and Zegler have each talked concerning the potential for the brand new model of “West Aspect Story” to right the wrongs of the first movie, through which white actors like Natalie Wooden performed Latinx characters (Zegler is Colombian American).

Rita Moreno, who gained an Oscar for enjoying Anita within the authentic movie, is returning as a producer. She additionally performs Valentina, an adaptation of the Doc character.

One forged member — Corey Stoll — could get our Jersey MVP award for 2021, and he’s not even from right here. Stoll, who performed Montclair’s Buzz Aldrin in “First Man,” from Princeton director Damian Chazelle, has the excellence of starring in each the “Sopranos” film and “West Aspect Story.” In “The Many Saints of Newark,” he performs a younger Junior Soprano (Uncle Junior). In “West Aspect Story,” he performs Lt. Schrank (Brian d’arcy James performs Sgt. Krupke).

One other main theatrical launch of 2021 stars two New Jersey actors: Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson.

They reprise their roles as real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” which relies on an actual story.

Wilson and Farmiga first performed the Warrens within the 2013 horror movie “The Conjuring.” Farmiga grew up in a Ukrainian enclave in Irvington and attended St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, later graduating from Hunterdon Central Regional High School. Wilson lives in Montclair.

So let’s really snatch that 2021 MVP title again from Corey Stoll. Not solely is Farmiga taking part in Lorraine Warren this yr, she’s additionally taking part in the formidable Livia Soprano, mom to younger Tony Soprano in “The Many Saints of Newark.”

“The Conjuring: The Satan Made Me Do It,” directed by Michael Chaves (“The Curse of La Llorona”), was initially deliberate for a Sept. 11 launch. Now postponed till 2021, the movie will debut on HBO Max and in theaters June 4.

The movie relies on the Warrens’ encounters with David Glatzel. The couple attended exorcisms of the 11-year-old in Connecticut after he confirmed indicators of demonic possession. Later, Arne Cheyenne Johnson, who lived with Glatzel, the youthful brother of his fiancée, was charged with manslaughter after the 1981 stabbing demise of his landlord, Alan Bono. Johnson claimed he had been possessed by Glatzel’s demons when he stabbed Bono, having requested the satan to depart David’s physique and enter him as a substitute.

The case was dubbed the “Satan Made Me Do It” case, because it was the primary time within the historical past of the US {that a} homicide suspect tried to use demonic possession as his defense (a superior court docket choose refused this). Johnson was released early from prison for good behavior in 1986 after serving a sentence of just about 5 years.

Sufficient Jersey in 2021 leisure for you? Right here’s some extra.

Ms. Marvel, a superhero from Jersey Metropolis also called Kamala Khan, is getting her personal sequence on Disney Plus. It’s only the start of a larger display screen presence for the character, who is because of be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Author G. Willow Wilson (a Jersey native) and artist Adrian Alphona launched Ms. Marvel in 2014 as Marvel’s first Muslim character to lead a comic book. Khan’s dad and mom are immigrants from Pakistan.

Within the comedian, Khan protects the streets of Jersey Metropolis after she is uncovered to an historic alien mist that provides her the flexibility to alter the scale and form of her physique, what Marvel calls her “embiggening power.”

Canadian actress Iman Vellani will play the New Jersey superhero within the Disney Plus present, created by author and government producer Bisha Okay. Ali (Hulu’s “4 Weddings and a Funeral”). Marvel says the sequence will premiere in late 2021. Vellani can be anticipated to play the function in Marvel movies.

Beginning in 1976, Ms. Marvel was the title Carol Danvers used earlier than she turned Captain Marvel. Khan, who assumed the title, considers Danvers to be a mentor and “has near encyclopedic knowledge of the Avengers.”

Nonetheless cautious of going to the films?

You’ll be capable to watch Keanu Reeves’ newest work from the consolation of your traditional binge-watching spot.

“The Matrix 4″ is among the Warner Bros. movies premiering on HBO Max and in theaters the identical day. Nevertheless, like “West Aspect Story,” you’ll have to attend all yr for it — the premiere date is Dec. 22, 2021.

It’s really been fairly a rollercoaster for this film. The movie was initially set to open Might 21, 2021, reverse Reeves’ different large movie, “John Wick: Chapter 4″ (one thing concerning the “4″ synergy, maybe). The film was then pushed to April 1, 2022 because of the pandemic (filming needed to be shut down in March, however picked again up this previous summer season).

April Fools’! Effectively, kind of. The movie was moved again to 2021, albeit in December. After the Dec. 22 premiere, house viewers can entry the movie for a month earlier than it leaves HBO Max (the film will stay in theaters).

The final “Matrix” movies each got here out in 2003 — “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions.”

Lana Wachowski, who has written and directed each “Matrix” film since 1999 (along with her sister Lilly Wachowski), returned to direct, and a number of the gang is again collectively — Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss (Trinity), Jada Pinkett Smith (Niobe), Lambert Wilson (the Merovingian) and Daniel Bernhardt (Agent Johnson).

“Matrix” newcomers will embrace Neil Patrick Harris, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (”Watchmen”), Jessica Henwick (”Sport of Thrones”), Priyanka Chopra (”Quantico”) and Jonathan Groff (”Hamilton”).

Thanks for counting on us to supply the journalism you may belief. Please take into account supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Amy Kuperinsky could also be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and adopted at @AmyKup on Twitter.