As 2021 comes to a close and theatres finally re-open, many movies that were stalled due to the Covid-19 pandemic will finally release on the big screen. A large portion of the calendar for 2022 is loaded with blockbuster films that not just reveal new characters and universes but also bring new story arcs for existing characters with large fan bases. From Marvel and DC superhero films to more exemplary sci-fi movies, and everything in between, there’s such a huge amount to anticipate in the following year. This article, however, is limited to sci-fi films and anime that will be released in 2022. Sci-fi, a genre that was more niche at one point in time, is now becoming more commonplace. This is primarily due to massive budgets being allocated to sci-fi films, causing an influx of notable directors and actors (voice actors, in the case of anime). The time is ripe to get into this genre if you haven’t already since 2022 is stacked with some exciting sci-fi releases. Here’s a list of the best sci-fi films and anime that you must look out for in 2022.
Morbius – January 8, 2022
Initially scheduled to release on July 10, 2020, Morbius has been postponed multiple times already, much to the dismay of those who were really looking forward to this film. Now, Morbius is finally set to release on January 28, 2022. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that it doesn’t get postponed yet again. It brings to the big screen biochemist Michael Morbius who, in the quest to cure his rare blood disease, infects himself and turns into a living vampire. Oscar-winner Jared Leto will star in the titular role as Morbius, and Michael Keaton is set to return to his role as The Vulture in this film, indicating a potential greater MCU hybrid. Directed by Daniel Espinosa alongside screenwriters Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, this film will bring vampires into the Marvel universe and it is said to have a darker tone as well, which has some fans excited. The anti-hero character Morbius will be torn between saving lives and his newfound blood-lust.
Moonfall – February 4, 2022
As the name suggests, the moon does fall in this movie as a mysterious force directs it towards Earth, threatening to crush our planet and everyone on it. The sci-fi movie explores the possible disaster that could be caused by the moon crash-landing onto our planet. The film stars Halle Berry in the role of a NASA executive and a former astronaut who must figure out how to stop the potential doomsday while having little to no support from anyone. Director Roland Emmerich is back again with a sci-fi thriller and adds some apocalyptic chaos to the mix. It’s looking like a really exciting film to look forward to. If his body of work is any indication, we can surely expect a lot of explosions and havoc being raised. The film also stars Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Michael Peña, Donald Sutherland, Charlie Plummer, Eme Ikwuakor, Kelly Yu, Carolina Bartczak, Maxim Roy, Stephen Bogaert, Azriel Dalman, and others.
Jurassic World: Dominion – June 10, 2022
Jurassic World: Dominion is the third and final instalment of the current Jurassic World movie franchise. Only a teaser has been released so far, so the plot hasn’t really been disclosed yet. The movie is set four years after Jurassic World: the Fallen Kingdom which ended on a cliffhanger with the dinosaurs being set free into the world. The film brings back protagonists Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas) alongside the original trio of Sam Neill, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum, who reprise their original characters. Colin Trevorrow will be directing the movie and co-writing the script with Emily Carmichael. Jake Johnson’s Lowery won’t return to the movie due to the actor’s scheduling issues. Newcomers to the franchise in the third movie include DeWanda Wise and Mamoudou Athie, but their roles are yet to be made clear.
Avatar 2 – December 16, 2022
This is a highly anticipated sequel to the celebrated 2009 Avatar movie which is set for release in December 2022. The first movie was a path-breaking movie in itself, and finally, after 13 years of waiting and wondering, we are getting Avatar 2. We’ve sat tight for quite a while for this one. This is the first of the four sequels that have been announced by director James Cameron. The plot revolves around Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Ney’tiri (Zoe Saldana) who now have a family (and an adopted human child Miles Socorro, aka Spider, played by Jack Champion) and live in Pandora. But everything is not well as an antiquated danger drives them out of their home and sows a seed of conflict between the Na’vis and humans.
65, April 29, 2022
Sony and the filmmakers have been mysteriously secretive about this Adam Driver starrer sci-fi dubbed “65” so far. It’s speculated to be a spine chiller where Adam Driver plays an astronaut who crash lands onto a barren obscure planet, only to discover he isn’t alone. It is written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and also features Ariana Greenblatt and Chloe Coleman. Doug Merrifield is the executive producer. Deborah Liebling and Zainab Azizi also produce the film alongside Beck, Woods and Raimi.
Spaceman, 2022
Based on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia written by Jaroslav Kalfař, the film Spaceman will be directed by Johan Renck of Breaking Bad and Chernobyl fame, and written by Colby Day. It stars Adam Sandler, Paul Dano, Carey Mulligan, Kunal Nayyar. It narrates the story of Jakub Procházka (Adam Sandler), the first independent Czech Republic astronaut and how he sets on a dangerous solo mission in space leaving his pregnant wife behind. Adam Sandler’s character was originally offered to Robert Downey Jr and later Joaquin Phoenix. The film will release on Netflix. Channing Tatum is also among the names of the producers of the film.
Distant, 16 December 2022
After a crash landing on an alien planet, a low-level mining engineer (Anthony Ramos) has to figure out his way back home. His only hope is to find another survivor. When he does connect with another human, a fellow crew member (Naomi Scott), who herself is trapped in her escape pod, he has to find his way to her all while being chased by space creatures and very little oxygen to spare. His AI, voiced by Zacry Quinto, isn’t much help in his quest to survive either. The film is directed by Josh Gordon and Will Speck and Distant will hit theatres in December 2022.
Dr Stone Special
Have you ever wished to be born in the stone age era just to skip having to go to work? No? Just us? Never mind… The beloved main character in Doctor stone, Senku Ishigami, wakes up in a time where a strange phenomenon has turned all of humanity into stone for a couple of millennia. When he awakes, he has to rebuild humanity with the knowledge of modern science. The last two seasons were a great delight to watch and the third season is currently expected in 2023. But fret not because a new special titled Dr Stone: Ryusui will be premiering this April 2022. This special will act as a bridge between Dr Stone: Stone wars and the much anticipated season three.
Attack On Titan Final Season Part 2
Unless you live under a rock, you know of this one. If you are just venturing into anime, this is possibly one that will be recommended to you the most by anime lovers. The first half of the finale series already left fans wanting more and eager for the next half. The basic plot of the anime revolves around man-eating abominations dubbed “Titans” threatening humanity. However, the humans decide to retaliate and take their lives back into their hands. If we say anything more, we’ll have spoiled it for you, so we won’t. You don’t have to wait long for this one, it’s set to release on January 9, 2022. The only downside is that this is the final season of the show.
Uru In Blue
An anime film that was shelved in 1993 due to financial reasons and the lack of profit made by anime films back then, is now finally going to see the light of day. It was the sequel to the 1987 film Royal Space Force: The Wings of Honnêamise which followed a group of pilots. Rumours have always floated regarding the movie given the hype and the waiting period attached to it. The production of the film was announced back in 2013. It was transferred from Gainax to Gaina, a different organisation that announced the release of the film worldwide in 2022. The film may be a lot different than what was perceived and planned back in 1993, given that it has changed production houses, yet it’s one to look out for.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a spinoff of the CD Projekt Red video game Cyberpunk 2077, but can be watched without having played the game. The story will take place in Night City. The 10-episode series revolves around an all-new character – a street kid who struggles to survive in a technology-obsessed world by turning into an Edgerunner also known as Cyberpunk. The anime series will be directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi and will feature music from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka. Trigger studios, in their announcement video, mentioned it as a special project for their 10th anniversary, so expectations are high. The series will be available to watch on Netflix, and that’s about it for what we know about it so far.
The Orbital Children
The Orbital Children is a two-part Japanese anime sci-fi film. The plot is set in 2045 and it revolves around two children named Touya and Konoha who were born on the moon. They meet Taiyo, Mina, and Hiroshi, three kids who came from Earth to space and now have to try to survive on a stranded space station after an accident. The Film is divided into 2 parts and will be released on Netflix with part 1 scheduled to release on January 28, 2022, and the second part scheduled for release on February 11, 2022. It comes from the brilliant mind of Mitsuo Iso, who has been widely regarded as a somewhat hidden gem for his previous work.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is an incredible blend of dark fantasy, satire, gore and horror with a plot that is more than what meets the eye. The anime revolves around “Devils” who feast on human fear. Our hero Denji, who is a devil hunter, meets a chainsaw devil and enters into a contract with him. The agreement sees him acquire chainsaw arms, chainsaw legs, and even a chainsaw head! The series is wicked and dark. Amidst all the blood and gore, the series will also pull at your heartstrings. Given how well the manga itself was received, we have some high expectations from the anime adaptation. The release date is yet to be announced but it has already been a fan favourite since the release of the official trailer. No official statement about the streaming platform has been made but rumour has it that Netflix might stream it for general public viewing.
Be it at the theatres or your couch, 2022 sure has a lot of sci-fi movies and series for us to enjoy. One list is not enough for all the action-packed movies that are set to be released. Do note, the release dates mentioned in the article are subject to change (COVID, you see). But hopefully, they release on schedule. What sci-fi movie or anime we listed are you most eager to watch? Let us know by writing to us at editor@digit.in.