Strap yourself in, 2011 looks to be a rollercoaster of a year. Blockbusters, mega-mergers, contract showdowns, Terrence Malick returns and Steven Spielberg has two movies on deck … and that's just a start.
Here’s TheWrap's Top 11 we picked to plan your ride.
1. RICKY GERVAIS HOSTS THE GOLDEN GLOBES
The first time he did the job last January, he openly joked about the zero-credibility of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. With a Jan. 16 encore gig coming on the heels of more HFPA scandals and some ridiculous nominations, will he have the cojones to completely devour the hand that feeds him? He just might.
2. WGA CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
SAG, AFTRA and the DGA went meekly, but once again the Writers Guild promises to put up a fight. The battle between the guild and producers should reach fever pitch in the spring, when the current deal is set to expire on May 31.
3. BLOCKBUSTER BATTLE
Lots of people are looking forward to Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch” (pictured right) when it comes out on March 25, but the real box office death match is in the summer when a barrage of blockbusters will fight for audiences and their money.
Marvel debuts with “Thor” on May 6. Johnny Depp is back with “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” on May 20. “Hangover 2,” with its Bill Clinton cameo, comes out May 27. There’s a new “X-Men” on June 3, Warner Bros. has Ryan Reynolds’ “Green Lantern” stopping evil on June 17, “Transformers 3” is out July 1 and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2” ends the franchise on July 15.
Marvel’s back building their Avengers portfolio with “Captain America: The First Avenger” on July 22 and Jon Favreau’s “Cowboys and Aliens,” starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, lands on July 29 -- and there’s still more after that. Whew!
4. ANOTHER CBS NEWS SHAKEUP?
The "Early Show" team will be replaced Jan. 3, and Katie Couric's contract expires at the end of May. Though she says she's happy where she is, CNN and NBC are reportedly interested. Will CBS need a new evening anchor along with its new morning team? Could that be good news for ousted morning man Harry Smith, who's already been designated Couric's "Evening News" backup?
5. SUPERMAN / THE CROW
Krypton’s finest and the urban legend are the hottest open parts in Hollywood right now. Director Zack Snyder is said to be looking for a muscular man between the ages of 30-40 to play the Man of Steel. Will Warner Bros. go with an established star or an unknown? Meanwhile, Relativity Media and producer Ed Pressman will soon announce who will star in their reboot of "The Crow." Brandon Lee originated the iconic role before his untimely death in 1993 and whoever lands the part will have some big shoes to fill.
