Films, Games, TV And Music: What Does 2014 Have In Store?

2013 saw Iron Man 3 break the $1 billion club, Grand Theft Auto V smash sales records, Daft Punk permeate everyone’s summer playlists and Netflix redefine the term ‘binge watching’, not to mention a certain Walter White… It was a pretty startling year, and even though Breaking Bad had to say goodbye, there’s plenty to look forward to in 2014 for lovers of film, games, music and TV, and here are the highlights.

Films

The Oscars

Film lovers are generally divided into sections, and the Oscars can define these sections. Some think the Oscars are a waste of time, politically fuelled and not indicative of true quality, while rest simply argue as to who should take home the golden statuettes.

Whatever your opinion, March 2nd 2014 is the biggest date in the cinematic calendar as we prepare for a battle between the old guard and the new blood. Tom Hanks and Leonardo Dicaprio could be deserved winners on any other year, but Chiwitel Ejiofor’s efforts as Solomon Northrup in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave seems to have enamored even those with a passing interest in the film.

Noah

This is one of the riskiest projects of 2014, and an epic trailer released just before the turn of the year has reignited interest in Darren Aronofsky’s biblical trailblazer. Having helmed Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan, Aronofsky certainly has a solid reputation to maintain, but the questionable cast comprising Russell Crowe, Emma Watson and Ray Winstone could prove a very public undoing.

Superhero Crazy

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If a theme of 2013 was superhero films, then 2014 is set to be defined by them; Guardians of The Galaxy, Transformers: Age of Extinction, The Amazing Spiderman 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past are just a few to look forward to. The genre has gone from niche superfan-pleaser to mainstream must for studios, proving the emergence of the geek and providing all-action blockbusters along the way.

Next page: videogaming

Videogaming

2013 went out with a bang for console gamers; the next generation was welcomed in the form of the XBOX ONE and the PlayStation 4 while games like GTA V and The Last of Us defined the previous one. But with a less than solid catalogue of games readily available for those next-gen gamers, 2014 has a heavy burden on its shoulders.

Watch Dogs

But if any game has the potential to lighten that load, it’s Watch Dogs. Dystopian open-world adventures seem to grab gamers’ attentions more than any other genre, and Ubisoft’s upcoming next-gen release has been hyped beyond belief; now it just needs to follow it all up. The game has already been delayed, which is probably a good sign; it means Ubisoft are ready to disappoint fans in the short term to deliver the game they truly want in the long term. We can’t wait to hack traffic lights, steal secrets and jump in and out of other people’s games.

Destiny

This is Bungie’s first effort since they gave Halo up, which means it has a place on any ‘2014 gaming’ list going, including ours. Taking elements from their seminal franchise – great shooting mechanics, beautiful graphics and theatrical storytelling – Bungie are opening up their work to an open world, multiplayer-centric audience, much like Gearbox’s Borderlands, which has been a huge smash. Definitely one to look out for.

And loads of other games

In truth, there are so many games to mention, we could put out a top 50 Games of 2014 piece (and we still might). With Metal Gear Solid V, Dark Souls 2, Thief, Titanfall, Mariokart 8, Infamous: Second Son, Halo 5, more episodes from The Walking Dead game and plenty more, 2014 - and excuse the tired cliché – really is going to take gaming to a new level.

Next page: Music.

Music

Glastonbury 2014

The world’s most famous music festival is relentless, and even if ticket prices rise every year, so are its core fans. Last year saw The Rolling Stones make a triumphant return to the scene, dominating Glasto headlines at the first time of asking, and 2014’s Worthy Farm antics are shaping up nicely. Arcade Fire and Lily Allen are confirmed, while plenty of huge acts are rumored. Not Led Zeppelin, though.

The return of Adele?

It speaks volumes of Adele’s popularity that she’s being mooted for a ‘comeback’ aged just 25. The powerhouse singer hasn’t exactly taken it easy since her last album, winning an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Skyfall while having a baby. 2014 could easily see the triumphant return of Britain’s favourite female vocalist, though. Beyonce set a new standard in 2013, proving that press and marketing aren’t prerequisites to an album release. So Adele, the ball’s in your court.

Big, big names

Sure, we saw The Rolling Stones, Daft Punk and Arcade Fire make remarkable comebacks in 2013, but can they really complete with the likes of Coldplay, U2 and Bruce Springsteen? Well, maybe, but for the aging, balding I.T technicians out there, it’s going to be a stellar year.

Springsteen kicks things off this month with a brand new album, while U2 and their old bones are choosing a slightly warmer season to make their comeback: the Spring. Dangermouse produces their album. And with Coldplay and Radiohead set to release new material, 2014 could crown the best rock band of all time.

Next page: TV

TV

2013 is still grinning uncontrollably, wielding a middle finger through the rear-view window while 2014 tries to find the gearstick. But that won’t last long; with Breaking Bad breathing its final breath, there’s room for one more, “oh man, have you watched…” show in the roster. Which one is it going to be?

True Detective

HBO are nothing if not adaptable, and they’re kicking off their anthology series in a big way with Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey in True Detective. Much like American Horror Story, True Detective will feature new actors and a new plot in every series, but starting things with an eerie Deep South backdrop and two in-demand a listens is a great way to start. The trailer certainly coloured us eager.

Turn

With AMC on such a hot streak, they’ve earned the right to grab attention when they announce a new show. Turn is a period show, set during the American Revolution, and is based on the best selling book, Washington’s Spies. Jamie Bell stars in what looks like a brilliant new show, underlining the importance of one of the first spy rings, pivotal to winning the war.

Welcome back, guys

In addition to a bunch of new shows, we’ll also be welcoming back some familiar faces. The second half of The Walking Dead’s fourth season is coming, and has some work to do if the first half was anything to go by. But probably the most highly anticipated is Game of Thrones; season three dominated TV chat in 2013, and the folks of The Known World are set to repeat that in 2014.