Looking ahead, categorically

Australia

Down Under titans Baz Luhrmann, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman team for this romance between an English aristocrat and a cattle driver at the onset of World War II. With David Wenham, Jack Thompson and Bryan Brown. Written by Luhrmann, Ronald Harwood, Stuart Beattie and Richard Flanagan. 20th Century Fox, Holiday release.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

The second film based on the classic C.S. Lewis fantasy series continues the saga with Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy returning to the kingdom to discover Narnia is overrun by Telemarines and a merciless tyrant. With Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, Peter Dinklage and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan. Directed by Andrew Adamson. Screenplay by Adamson and Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Walt Disney Pictures, May 16.

City of Ember

As the great lamps of the illuminated municipality begin to flicker and its once-powerful generator starts to fade, two teenagers endeavor to find the truth behind the burg’s mysterious origins. With Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Saoirse Ronan, Harry Treadaway, Martin Landau, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Toby Jones and Mary Kay Place. Screenplay by Caroline Thompson, based on the novel by Jeanne Duprau. Directed by Gil Kenan. Fox Walden, Oct. 10.

Dragonball

Akira Toriyama’s popular manga (and Japanese TV series) about the battle for the mystical spheres of the title gets a big-screen adaptation. With Justin Chatwin and James Marsters. Directed by James Wong. Written by Ben Ramsey and Wong. 20th Century Fox, Aug. 15.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Romance blooms as hormones rage at Hogwarts while Voldemort strengthens his hold on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. With Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, , Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Julie Walters, David Thewlis and Bonnie Wright. Written by Steve Kloves, based on the blockbuster series of books by J.K. Rowling. Directed by David Yates. Also opening in IMAX. Warner Bros., Nov. 21.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Harrison Ford returns for a fourth go-round as the fedora-wearing, whip-wielding, artifact-hunting professor of archaeology. With Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent and Shia LaBeouf. Screenplay by David Koepp; story by George Lucas. Directed by Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures, May 22.

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D

Brendan Fraser stars in this update of the Jules Verne classic. Directed by Eric Brevig. Written by Michael D. Weiss and Jennifer A. Flackett and Mark Levin. New Line, July 11.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

The franchise shifts to China where explorer Rick O’Connell’s (Brendan Fraser) son, Alex (Luke Ford), inadvertently awakens a 2,000-year-dead ruler and his 10,000-strong terra cotta army. With Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah and Michelle Yeoh. Screenplay by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Directed by Rob Cohen. Universal Pictures, Aug. 1.

Nim’s Island

When her scientist father disappears, a young girl teams with the reclusive author of her favorite literary character. With Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler. Written and directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, based on the novel by Wendy Orr. Fox Walden, April 4.

Severed Ways

Tony Stone wrote, directed and stars in an epic about two 11th century Vikings left behind in North America. Magnet Releasing, May.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Mysterious happenings await the Grace family when they move into the secluded old home of their great-great-uncle Arthur. Freddie Highmore, Mary-Louise Parker, Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, David Strathairn and the voices of Seth Rogen and Martin Short. Screenplay by Karey Kirkpatrick and David Berenbaum, and John Sayles, based on the books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Directed by Mark Waters. Also opening in IMAX. Paramount Pictures, Feb. 15.

Star Trek

Director J.J. Abrams takes the helm for the 11th big-screen outing of the science fiction franchise tracking the origins of the young Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine), Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the USS Enterprise crew. With John Cho, Ben Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Winona Ryder, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Anton Yelchin, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy. Written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Paramount Pictures, Dec. 25.

The Time Traveler’s Wife

A Chicago librarian’s genetic disposition to involuntarily cross time puts a strain on his relationship. Rachel McAdams, Eric Bana and Jane McLean star. Written by Jeremy Leven and Bruce Joel Rubin, based on the novel by Audrey Niffenegger. Directed by Robert Schwentke. New Line Cinema, TBA.