Gallery: Superheroes, Robots and a Psychotic Tire: 2011's Most Intriguing Movies
01rubber
Amid the usual parade of familiar superheroes, cowboys and aliens this year, one character is anything but a retread: Robert, the murderous star of *Rubber*. Robert is a tire whose killing spree — feature-length! — makes this French film a top contender for weirdest movie of 2011. Thankfully, moviegoers can anticipate plenty of other fare that deviates from the tried and true. The changeups start with *300* and *Watchmen* director Zack Snyder, who switches from male-on-male violence to trot out a quintet of lingerie-clad ass-kickers in *Sucker Punch*. Pixar auteur Brad Byrd swaps in live action for animation to direct Tom Cruise in a fourth *Mission: Impossible* movie. Michael Bay attempts to salvage *Transformers* from the scrap heap of mediocrity, but robots also get a workout from directors you'd never expect: *Pink Panther* rebooter Shawn Levy gets in the ring with Hugh Jackman for a boxing-bot movie, and Martin Scorsese shifts gears for his first 3-D film, in which a French robot befriends a 19th-century orphan. *Goodfellas* it ain't. Will all these experiments turn out awesome? Probably not. But at least these filmmakers and a dozen others aren't afraid to put fresh spins on ancient movie formulas. For a full rundown of 2011's most intriguing movies, check the trailers and write-ups in the gallery above. __Above:__ Rubber ------ __Hook:__ Spare tire roams the desert killing all who get in its way. __Talent:__ French musician-turned-director [Quentin Dupieux](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1189197/) helms this surreal film, which debuted at the Cannes International Film Festival. Audiences may lose patience with a nonspeaking, road-hugging psycho killer, but at the very least Dupieux deserves an *A* for audacity for stretching *Rubber* into a full-length feature. __DNA:__ Dupieux dreamed up the concept for [Rubber](http://www.rubberthemovie.com/). __Release:__ April 1
02the-adjustment-burea
The Adjustment Bureau ---------------------- __Hook:__ After a New York politician meets a dancer, sinister men in hats push the action into wormhole land. __Talent:__ Director George Nolfi, who wrote the script for *The Bourne Ultimatum*, steers the always-edgy Matt Damon through the paranoid plot twists, with Emily Blunt on board as the *femme fatale*. Damon usually excels in suspense, as seen in the Jason Bourne trilogy and *The Departed*, but buyer beware: *Bureau*'s release date has been bumped twice. __DNA:__ [The Adjustment Bureau](http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/) is based on Philip K. Dick's short story "The Adjustment Team." __Release:__ March 4
03battle-los-angeles
Battle: Los Angeles ------------------- __Hook:__ Aliens invade Los Angeles. Call the Marines! __Talent:__ Michelle Rodriguez, Michelle Monaghan and Aaron Eckhart star for [Jonathan Liebesman](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0509448/). Will the cast and special effects successfully obliterate memories of last fall's identically premised *Skyline* flop? __DNA:__ Original [Battle: Los Angeles](http://www.battlela.com/) script by [Chris Bertolini](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0078203/). __Release:__ March 11
04paul
Paul ---- __Hook:__ Two sci-fi geeks hit the road with an alien in tow. __Talent:__ Comedy duo [Simon Pegg and Nick Frost](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/01/nick-frost-simon-pegg-paul/) (*Shaun of the Dead*) team up with Seth Rogen (*[The Green Hornet](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/01/green-hornet-review/)*), who voices the extraterrestrial. Greg Mottola (*Adventureland*) directs. __DNA:__ Original script for [Paul](http://www.whatispaul.com/) is written by Pegg and Frost. __Release:__ March 18
05sucker-punch
Sucker Punch ------------ __Hook:__ Female inmates go into fantastical trances to dream their way out of dire nuthouse circumstances. In 3-D. __Talent:__ Zack Snyder (*Watchmen, 300*) is not shy about hurling as much spectacle at the screen as possible. Besides a bone-rattling soundtrack, fresh assets include Aussie actress [Emily Browning](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0115161/) as lingerie-clad lead warrior Baby Doll. Vanessa Hudgens, Emily Browning, Jena Malone and Jamie Chung co-star as ferocious loony-bin inhabitants who unleash wild revenge fantasies under the guidance of a mad doctor (Carla Gugino). *Mad Men* star Jon Hamm also appears. __DNA:__ The [Sucker Punch](http://suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com/) script was penned by Snyder and co-writer [Steve Shibuya](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0793122/). __Release:__ March 25
06source-code
Source Code ------------ __Hook:__ *Groundhog Day* meets *Inception*, when a government agent finds himself traversing the same time loop over and over — in someone else's body. __Talent:__ *Source Code* star Jake Gyllenhaal demonstrated good taste by bringing [sci-fi fanatic Duncan Jones](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2009/06/duncan-jones-moon/) into the big-budget Hollywood tent after seeing the British filmmaker's provocative debut, *Moon*. [Michelle Monaghan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1157358/) and Vera Farmiga co-star. __DNA:__ [Source Code](http://www.enterthesourcecode.com/)'s story was penned by *Species* videogame scripter [Ben Ripley](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1618286/). __Release:__ April 1
07hanna
Hanna ----- __Hook:__ Raised by her CIA-employed father to kill people, a teenager goes on a deadly mission after breaking loose from her British Intelligence keepers. __Talent:__ Director Joe Wright steered precocious Irish actress [Saoirse Ronan](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519680/) to an Oscar nomination in their 2008 period piece *Atonement*. Following her star turn in Peter Jackson's *The Lovely Bones*, Ronan reteams with Wright for this moody action piece, which co-stars Eric Bana and Cate Blanchett and features a score by The Chemical Brothers. __DNA:__ Following in the tradition of *La Femme Nikita*, [Hanna](http://www.focusfeatures.com/hanna) is scripted by British TV writer [David Farr](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1996244/) (TV's *MI-5*). __Release:__ April 8
08apollo-18
Apollo 18 --------- __Hook:__ Found footage from a secret space mission throws civilians for a loop. __Talent:__ Produced by Russian action maestro [Timur Bekmambetov](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0067457 ) (*Wanted*), the movie, shot documentary-style, represents the first English-language feature from director [Gonzalo López-Gallego](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1018426/). __DNA:__ Original [Apollo 18](http://www.apollo18movie.net/) story by Brian Miller was inspired by NASA's canceled 1969 mission to the moon. __Release:__ April 22
09thor
Thor ---- __Hook:__ Nordic god throws bolts of lightning after being cast out of mythic Asgard and exiled to live among humans. __Talent:__ In 3-D flick [*Thor*](http://thor.marvel.com/), Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh takes his first shot at the superhero genre, directing muscleman [Chris Hemsworth](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1165110/) (*Star Trek*) in the title role. Oscar-winning knight Anthony Hopkins lends gravitas as father/big boss Odin. Natalie Portman plays the Earthling scientist. __DNA:__ Marvel Comics drew from Nordic mythology to introduce its version of [Thor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_(Marvel_Comics)) in 1962. __Release:__ May 6
10x-men-first-class
X Men: First Class ------------------ __Hook:__ Mutants band together in the 1960s. __Talent:__ Iconoclastic *[Kick-Ass](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/04/review-kick-ass/)* director Matthew Vaughn takes the reins after much revolving-door activity on the script and director fronts. The ensemble action extravaganza includes [James McAvoy](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0564215/) (*Wanted*) as Professor Xavier (previously portrayed by Patrick Stewart). The *de rigueur* X-Men eye candy this time around: [January Jones](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Jones) of *Mad Men* fame, who squeezes into the outfits worn by sexy mutant Emma Frost. Kevin Bacon co-stars. __DNA:__ Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the X-Men in 1963 for Marvel Comics. [*First Class*](http://www.facebook.com/xmenmovies?v=app_145527368840089) marks a clean break from three previous X-Men movies, by casting new actors in the familiar roles. __Release:__ June 3
11super-8
Super 8 ------- __Hook:__ Found footage unspools mysterious events. Extraterrestrials and [Area 51](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_51) are involved. __Talent:__ Writer-director J.J. Abrams steers [Kyle Chandler](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Chandler) (TV's *Friday Night Lights*) and Dakota Fanning's younger, talented sister Elle (*Somewhere*) through their paces. __DNA:__ Original [Super 8]( http://www.super8-movie.com/) story hearkens to Abrams' fondness for toying around with Super-8 cameras when he was a kid, a hobby shared by the film's producer, Steven Spielberg. __Release:__ June 10
12green-lantern
Green Lantern ------------- __Hook:__ 3-D origins story follows the journey of test pilot Hal Jordan, who gains special powers through the gift of a special ring. __Talent:__ Experienced at the comic book adventure genre (he played gnarly mouthed Wade Wilson in *X-Men Origins: Wolverine*), Ryan Reynolds stars in the film that Warner Bros. hopes will launch its next big superhero franchise. Co-star [Blake Lively](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515116/) (TV's *Gossip Girls*), who plays rival pilot Carol Ferris, proved she can act when she portrayed a drug-addled barfly in last fall's *The Town*. British action ace [Martin Campbell](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0132709/), who directed the excellent 2006 James Bond flick *Casino Royale*, helms the $150 million [Green Lantern](http://greenlanternmovie.warnerbros.com) movie. __DNA:__ DC Comics launched the Hal Jordan iteration of [Green Lantern](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Lantern) in 1959. __Release:__ June 17
13transformers-dark-of-the-moon
Transformers: Dark of the Moon ------------------------------ __Hook:__ Friend of transforming robots Sam Witwicky deals with unintended consequences that can be traced back to the 1969 moon landing, when Autobots and Decepticons got secretly involved in the Russian-American space race. __Talent:__ A returning Shia LaBeouf teams with Megan Fox replacement [Rosie Huntington-Whiteley](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Huntington-Whiteley) to provide the human interaction. Director Michael Bay will shower his pyrotechnic prowess — in 3-D this time — on the 'bots, including Bumblebee, Ratchet, Ironhide, Sideswipe and leader Optimus Prime, plus new villain Shockwave. __DNA:__ Inspired by the [Hasbro toy line](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers) launched in 1984, [*Dark of the Moon*](http://www.transformersmovie.com/) is preceded by two previous Michael Bay *Transformers* blockbusters, including the noisy *Revenge of the Fallen*, which appalled critics but raked in [$836 million](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=transformers2.htm) worldwide. Bay himself admits *Revenge* was "[kind of a mess](http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/01/14/michael-bay-ready-to-make-you-forget-transformers-2-it-was-kind-of-a-mess/)," but promised the *Los Angeles Times* a more-coherent story this time around. __Release:__ July 1
© 2011 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc.14harry-potter
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II --------------------------------------------- __Hook:__ Three young wizards face their final encounter with nemesis Lord Voldemort, this time in 3-D. __Talent:__ Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint channel Harry, Hermione and Ron for the grand finale orchestrated by director David Yates. In charge of the gradually maturing franchise since 2007's *Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*, Yates told Wired.com the final installment "will be this [huge spectacle much closer to Harry Potter's roots](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/11/deathly-hollows-david-yates/) in some ways, in that it's got goblins and dragons and all sorts of things like that. It's much more of an action picture than \[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows\] Part 1." __DNA:__ [Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II](http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/) is more or less faithfully adapted from novelist J.K. Rowling's book series. __Release:__ July 15
15captain-america
Captain America: The First Avenger ---------------------------------- __Hook:__ When regular guy Steve Rogers gets rejected for military service during World War II, a secret laboratory transforms him into a star-spangled superhero decked out in red, white and blue and wielding a [high-tech shield](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America's_shield). __Talent:__ Visual effects expert turned director Joe Johnston has more time to make this 3-D piece work than he did with previous rush job, last year's kibble-quality horror remake *[The Wolfman](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2010/02/wolfman-review/)*. His star: Chris Evans (*Fantastic Four*). Samuel Jackson reprises Nick Fury, who popped up briefly in *Iron Man 2*. Character actors Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving and Tommy Lee Jones co-star in [Captain America: The First Avenger](http://captainamerica.marvel.com/) with sensational British actress [Natalie Dormer](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1754059/) (*The Tudors*). __DNA:__ Marvel Comics team Jack Kirby and Joe Simon invented [Captain America](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_America) in 1941. __Release:__ July 22
16cowboys-&-aliens
Cowboys & Aliens ---------------- __Hook:__ Nineteenth-century settlers in Arizona get gob-smacked by extraterrestrials. __Talent:__ *Iron Man* director Jon Favreau drops the irony to play it straight in this homage to classic Western and sci-fi flicks. Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford star as cranky pioneer loners stuck between hostile Apaches and nosy aliens. Scribes include *Lost* co-creator Damon Lindelof and dynamic duo Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (*Fringe, Star Trek*). __DNA:__ [Cowboys & Aliens](http://www.cowboysandaliensmovie.com/) is based on Platinum Studios' 2006 [graphic novel](http://www.cowboysandaliens.com) by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Fred Van Lente, Andrew Foley and Luciano Lima. __Release:__ July 29
17real-steel
Real Steel ---------- __Hook:__ A down-on-his-luck boxer makes his comeback, thanks to a robot clone. __Talent:__ *[X-Men Origins: Wolverine](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2009/04/review-x-men-origins-wolverine/)* star Hugh Jackman plays the lead for comedy director Shawn Levy (*The Pink Panther*, *Date Night*). Big news for *Lost* fans: [Evangeline Lilly](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangeline_Lilly) co-stars. __DNA:__ [Real Steel](http://www.steelgetsreal.com/) is based on a short story by veteran sci-fi author [Richard Matheson](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Matheson). __Release:__ Oct. 7
18hugo-cabret-660
Hugo Cabret ----------- __Hook:__ A 12-year-old French orphan who lives in a Depression-era Paris train station befriends a robot. __Talent:__ *Kick-Ass* star Chloe Moretz steps it up for director Martin Scorsese in what will be the maestro's first 3-D outing. Also on board for [Hugo Cabret](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Cabret): old pros Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee and Sacha Baron Cohen. Arguably Hollywood's most gifted shotmaker of the past half-century, Scorsese will either elevate 3-D cinematography to new period-piece heights or fall short of 2-D masterpieces like *Raging Bull* and *GoodFellas*. __DNA:__ Based on Brian Selznick's young-adult novel, [*The Invention of Hugo Cabret*](http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm) (pictured above). __Release:__ Dec. 9
19mission-impossible-660
Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol ------------------------------------ __Hook:__ Superspy reactivates for a new challenge. __Talent:__ For his fourth time out as impossibly clever agent Ethan Hunt, Tom Cruise puts himself in the hands of Pixar Animation Studios auteur [Brad Bird](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0083348/), who worked for *The Simpsons* before hitting the big time with his superhero family comedy, *The Incredibles*. J.J. Abrams, director of Cruise's third *Mission: Impossible* picture, wrote the script for [Ghost Protocol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible_%E2%80%93_Ghost_Protocol). The wild cards: Oscar-nominated Jeremy Renner (*The Hurt Locker*) and Brit wise guy Simon Pegg join the returning Ving Rhames. __DNA:__ A 1960s TV series starring Peter Graves, *[Mission: Impossible](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission:_Impossible)* inspired Cruise and company to update the high-tech spycraft for the big screen in three previous iterations (including *Mission: Impossible III*, pictured above). Each was underscored by composer [Lalo Schifrin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalo_Schifrin)'s famously jagged theme song. __Release:__ Dec. 16
20another-earth-brit-marling-660
Another Earth ------------- __Hook:__ An MIT astrophysics student discovers a planet that was previously hidden behind the sun — and it may contain life as we know it. __Talent:__ Director Mike Cahill, a former National Geographic documentary maker, teams with co-writer/actress Brit Marling, who plays the scientist in this Sundance hit. Marling also co-wrote and starred in quirky Sundance sci-fi thriller *[The Sound of My Voice](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/01/sound-of-my-voice/)*. __DNA:__ Cahill wrote the original script for [Another Earth](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/underwire/2011/01/another-earth/). __Release:__ 2011 release date to be decided.
