Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement
Flight of the Conchords' Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement
What lies ahead in the upcoming year? We've gazed into our crystal ball to make some bold – and some obvious… - predictions of what to expect, get excited about and look out for. We think 2018 is the year of…
The year of... superfatigue
Marvel's Ant-Man (Paul Rudd)
While we love a goodsuperhero yarn as much as the next geek we can't help but think things are now super out of control. A quick rundown of all the comic book movies hitting the cinema this year (deep breath):
. You're gonna need the super-stamina of a true believer and buns of steel to sit through all the upcoming cinematic spandex.
The year... guitars stay sidelined
Donald Glover, who goes by the stage name Childish Gambino, performs in New York.
R'n'B continues to be one of the most innovative and star-making genres of music, and 2018 may see the return of a number of auteurs – Frank Ocean is expected to (belatedly) follow through on his promise of releasing five albums before he's 30; Blood Orange has "mostly" finished a new record; and Childish Gambino is expected to follow up 2016's
2018 is already stacked with a range of huge concerts and it's barely started. There's bound to be more and more confirmed as the year rolls on. But for now Foo Fighters, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift each have massive Mt Smart Stadium shows scheduled, while Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Pink and Mariah Carey will take the stage at Spark Arena throughout the year. Start saving your pennies now.
The year... we evolve into couch potatoes
A scene from Netflix show Black Mirror
Having disrupted network and subscription television with its on-demand convenience and bingeability, Netflix now appears to be taking aim at the hallowed grounds of the cinema. With over 80 (!) original movies scheduled to drop next year we're convinced their ultimate goal is to ensure humanity never gets off the couch again.
The year... kiwis come home to roost
It's business time for Flight of the Conchords who have a whole lot of activity planned. Firstly, they're returning to the small screen with a one-hour special (hope Murray's present…) and, secondly, they're returning to performing with a series of live shows. No local gigs announced yet but it'd be hugely surprising if the fiercely patriotic duo didn't hit some stages here. Chart topper Kimbra has also been getting busy and is lining up to release her third album
Chadwick Boseman in a scene from upcoming superhero film Black Panther
After a year in which the top three highest-grossing films featured female protagonists, cinema (gradually) continues to diversify – for the better. 2018 will see a number of heavyweight films featuring diversity in race, gender and sexuality, such as Disney's
In 2018, expect to see some of pop music's greatest stalwarts return to show everyone how it's done. Beyonce has reportedly recorded an album with her husband Jay-Z, while Rihanna is expected to follow up 2016's fantastic
Anti
; Ariana Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen and Lady Gaga all also reportedly have new albums on the way. Get ready to dance.
How will Hollywood move forward in a post-Weinstein landscape? After the Golden Globes all eyes now turn to the Oscars to see how the stuffy awards acknowledge the conversation. Especially after famously bungling its best picture announcement last year. There's also the question of sexual assault-accused director Woody Allen's next film, which reportedly features a sexual relationship between a 44-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl. It'll be interesting to see how they justify that one.
The year... Kiwis take Hollywood
Caren Pistorious in Slow West
KJ Apa and Frankie Adams are steadily becoming big names in tinsel town, and more Kiwis are set to join them this year. Already making waves with parts in
