The coronavirus pandemic has hit the film industry, with studios forced to postpone releases and delay production cycles. Globally, many movies will be landing in cinemas later than expected.
Although movie theatres reopened across Dubai last month, reruns and old films have dominated the schedules. While this has been a great opportunity to catch up on some of the biggest films of 2019 and 2020, such as Parasite and Jojo Rabbit, it has also left movie fans wanting to see something new.
But that is about to change.
As life gradually returns to a semblance of how things were before Covid-19, cinemas are once again gearing up to show new releases. With that in mind, here we round-up nine of the most anticipated films coming to the big screen with their most up-to-date release dates.
‘The Wretched’
Release date: Thursday, June 25
The low-budget horror flick seems to be the first new film to hit UAE cinemas since the pandemic shut theatres down in March. The film tells the story of a teenage boy as he takes on a thousand year-old witch, who is posing as his next-door neighbour. The Wretched is one of the few films to have potentially benefited from cinema closures, becoming a sleeper hit in drive-in cinemas across the United States after it was released widely there at the start of May.
‘The Coma’
Release date: Thursday, July 2
This Russian dark fantasy tells the story of a young architect who wakes up after a mysterious accident in a world he can’t seem to recognise. Though it somewhat resembles the reality he left behind, the world the architect finds himself in is based on the memories of people living in comas.
‘Unhinged’
Release date: Thursday, July 9
Russell Crowe stars in this upcoming thriller that shows what happens when road rage goes too far. Simply billed as The Man, Crowe takes on the role of a stranger who begins stalking and tormenting a single mother after the two confront each other at a red light.
‘Tenet’
Release date: Thursday, July 16
An action epic with a time travel twist, Christopher Nolan’s latest release will tell the story of an international spy tasked with preventing another world war from breaking out.The film stars John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Michael Caine and Kenneth Branagh.
‘Mulan’
Release date: Thursday, July 23
Fans have been waiting some time for this live-action remake of the 1998 Disney classic. Like the original animation, Mulan tells the epic story of a young Chinese girl who disguises herself as a male warrior to save her father. The film was originally set to hit theatres in March, but was postponed.
‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’
Release date: Thursday, July 23
A fresh take on the Charles Dickens classic that tells the story of the young orphan as a comedy-drama. The film stars Dev Patel as the titular protagonist, and also features Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton and Peter Capaldi. It was initially set for a March release.
‘Wonder Woman: 1984’
Release date: Thursday, August 13
The sequel to 2017's Wonder Woman sees Gal Gadot reprise her role as the lasso-spinning superhero. The film pits Wonder Woman in the height of the Cold War, where she takes on media businessman Maxwell Lord and friend-turned-enemy The Cheetah.
‘A Quiet Place: Part II’
Release date: Thursday, September 3
The sequel to the nail-biting, dialogue-anaemic thriller by John Krasinski. The film continues the adventures of the Abbott family as they continue to fight for their survival in silence. The film stars Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe.
‘No Time to Die’
Release date: Thursday, November 19
Trailers and teasers of the 25th instalment of the James Bond movie started appearing well over six months ago, before the film's April release was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic. As eager as we've been to see Daniel Craig reprise his role as the super spy, we're more excited to see Rami Malek take on the role of the villain.
The film sees Bond break out of his retirement after his old friend Felix Leiter turns up asking for his help to stop a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
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'Get Out' to 'Just Mercy': 10 films that shine a light on racism and social injustice
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Please note: Movie release dates are subject to change
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Results
2-15pm: Commercial Bank Of Dubai – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (Dirt) 1,400m; Winner: Al Habash, Patrick Cosgrave (jockey), Bhupat Seemar (trainer)
2.45pm: Al Shafar Investment – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Day Approach, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash
3.15pm: Dubai Real estate Centre – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Celtic Prince, Richard Mullen, Rashed Bouresly
3.45pm: Jebel Ali Sprint by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Khuzaam, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
4.15pm: Shadwell – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Tenbury Wells, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.45pm: Jebel Ali Stakes by ARM Holding – Listed (TB) Dh500,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
5.15pm: Jebel Ali Racecourse – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Rougher, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
