After a tumultuous 2023, there’s plenty to look forward to in the world of entertainment during 2024. From eagerly anticipated book and film releases to the Olympics, we’ve got you covered.
Keep reading for your 2024 entertainment guide and the key dates to put in your calendar now.
Most-anticipated books of 2024
- The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Michaelides’ 2019 debut The Silent Patient became a multimillion-copy bestseller.
In February 2024, Michaelides releases his third novel, The Fury. Set on a private Greek island, an ex-movie star invites six friends on holiday but is one of them a murderer?
This tightly plotted, fast-paced thriller is likely to provide plenty of twists and sleepless nights for Michaelides’ hordes of fans.
- Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez
Gonzales follows up her best-selling debut, Olga Dies Dreaming (2022) with Anita de Monte Laughs Last.
Anita de Monte, a rising star in the New York art world of the 1980s is found dead. More than a decade later, art student Raquel becomes fascinated by Anita’s work and her untimely death.
- Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder by Salman Rushdie
One of the most eagerly awaited non-fiction books of the year comes from the Booker Prize winner Salman Rushdie.
Knife sees Rushdie relive the events of August 12, 2022, when he was stabbed on stage at a New York book event.
An intimate and personal exploration of violence and art, love, loss, and life, it is sure to have readers gripped upon its release in April 2024.
Sequels are set to dominate multiplexes in 2024
- Dune: Part Two
This year, director Denis Villeneuve brings the second part of his space opera to the big screen.
Returning stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Rebecca Ferguson will be joined by Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and Christopher Walken (among others) in the huge ensemble cast.
The film, based on the Frank Herbert Dune novels, is set for release in March, so there’s still time to catch up with Dune: Part One if you missed it the first time around.
- Joker 2: Folie à Deux
After the runaway success of the first film, Todd Phillips returns to the director’s chair for Joker 2: Folie à Deux in October.
Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as Harley Quinn.
The musical thriller is set to reach UK cinemas in October 2024.
- Gladiator 2
In November, an unlikely sequel will hit cinemas, in the form of Gladiator 2. Despite the original film’s huge commercial success, it took 24 years for Ridley Scott to return to the world of the Roman Empire.
Little is known about the plot but both Connie Nielsen and Derek Jacobi are said to be reprising their roles. The lead, meanwhile, will be taken by Paul Mescal (Normal People) in the role of Lucius, the child of Nielsen’s Lucilla from the first film.
A packed calendar means a great year for sports fans
- Formula One World Championship
Running from 2 March to 8 December, this year’s packed schedule will see a record 24 races, incorporating six sprints and an opening fortnight of back-to-back Saturday races.
Despite changes to the format, after the dominance of Max Verstappen and Red Bull in 2023, it may well be business as usual on the track.
- Men’s Twenty20 World Cup
In June, the US will host cricket’s T20 World Cup for the first time, part of a concerted effort to reach new audiences for the sport’s shorter format.
While England are the reigning champions, they’ll mainly be looking to put their disastrous campaign at the recent 50-over World Cup behind them.
The women’s T20 event takes place in Bangladesh in September and October.
- Euro 2024
The Covid-effected 2020 Euros took place back in July 2021 and saw England narrowly miss out on lifting the trophy after a penalties loss to Italy.
Germany host this time around and England will be hoping to go one better.
Scotland have also qualified for their second Euros in a row. Wales, meanwhile, will need to wait until the playoffs in March to see if they can earn themselves a slot in Group D, alongside France, Netherlands and Austria.
- The Olympics: Paris 2024
Rounding off a huge summer of sport, the Olympics is back between July and August.
Another event affected by the global coronavirus pandemic, Tokyo 2020 took place in 2021, leaving competitors with a shorter preparation time than usual.
Paris 2024 organisers are committed to setting a new standard for inclusive, gender-balanced and youth-centred Games. As part of this approach, four new sports will make their Olympic debuts: breakdancing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing.
British medal hopefuls include Laura Muir, Dina Asher-Smith, Sky Brown, Adam Peaty, and Jessica Gadirova.
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