What are the cultural events to look forward to in 2012? The BBC's arts and entertainment team picks some of the big books, films, tours and shows for the new year.
Comic book heroes, action staples and a return to Middle Earth are sure to have box office tills ringing a merry tune over the next 12 months. A slew of films based on classic fairy tale characters continues the trend of established brands already familiar to international audiences.Attempts to woo punters to untested properties, such asCowboys and Aliens and the calamitous Mars Needs Moms, left more than one studio bruised in 2011. Hollywood won't be making that mistake again in a 2012 awash with dependable blockbuster titles and critic-proof "tent-pole" franchises. The biggest hitters are surely Batman and Bond, returning in July and October respectively in The Dark Knight Risesand Skyfall. The former appears likely to be Christian Bale's final outing as the Caped Crusader, while the latter will see Daniel Craig back as 007 after a four-year hiatus. Other superheroes doing the rounds include The Amazing Spider-Man, back in the form of Britain's Andrew Garfield, and all-star Marvel ensemble piece The Avengers. Hoping to match Skyfall in the action stakes, meanwhile, will be The Bourne Legacy - a new instalment in the Matt Damon series, this time with Jeremy Renner in the leading role.
On the fantasy front, new takes on Snow White, Hansel and Greteland Jack the Giant Killer will be seeking to capitalise on audience's affection for the original tales. Twilight fans, meanwhile, will bid a fond and possibly tearful farewell to Edward and Bella when the second part of Breaking Dawn hits cinemas in November. For many, though, the event of the year will be The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two prequels to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Currently shooting in New Zealand, the December release sees Martin Freeman joining such Tolkien regulars as Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Sir Ian McKellen. Before that, of course, is the traditional round of earnest Oscar hopefuls, featuring many titles you may have read about already on our pages. The Iron Lady, War Horse, J Edgar and The Descendants are among the January releases that will be angling for accolades in the run-up to the Oscars in February.
Those seeking more light-hearted fare will be catered for that month by fuzzy puppet stalwarts The Muppets. And there will be more laughs in March with the unveiling of The Pirates! In An Adventure With Scientists, a stop-motion romp from Aardman boasting Hugh Grant's dulcet tones.
Source BBC intertainment
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