These 10 characters are sure to die this summer (well … maybe) …
Star Trek
(May 8)
Suspected victim: Nero (Eric Bana)
The evidence: Rumor says that Nero, who comes back from the future, totally eats it when faced with the formidable team of young Kirk (Chris Pine) and young Spock (Zachary Quinto), who join forces to man the USS Enterprise and thwart the Romulan baddie. Also, on the movie’s soundtrack, there’s a tune titled “Nero Death Experience.”
Time of death: Seems like a climactic kinda event, no?
KEEP READING: Wither Wolvie’s woman?[PAGEBREAK]
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
(May 1)
Suspected victim: Kayla (Lynn Collins), Wolverine’s (Hugh Jackman) girlfriend.
The evidence: In X-Men canon, Kayla appears to die at the hands of Wolverine’s half-brother Sabretooth (Liev Schreiber), setting the Adamantium-clawed mutant off on a dark, vengeful path.
Time of death: Early in the movie, since it’s the spark for Wolverine’s vendetta against Sabretooth.
KEEP READING: A homocide at Hogwarts? [PAGEBREAK]
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
(July 17)
Suspected victim: Albus Dumbledore (Sir Michael Gambon)
The evidence: The movie is, of course, the film adaptation of author J.K. Rowling‘s sixth, and penultimate, Harry Potter novel. And in the book, Hogwarts headmaster/legendary wizard/friend o’ Harry Dumbledore bites the dust.
Time of death: Towards the end of the movie. Dumbledore’s death helps set up the action in the Potter franchise finale.
KEEP READING: Who’s targeted for termination?[PAGEBREAK]
Terminator Salvation
(May 22)
Suspected victim: John Connor (Christian Bale)!
The evidence: Director McG has denied it’s true, but the rumor has been rampant since last fall that Connor loses a battle with a terminator and dies. The twist, according to the buzz: to keep Connor’s resistance movement motivated, his cohorts put Connor’s skin on a cyborg named Marcus, thus fooling them into believing John Connor lives on.
Time of death: According to that rumor, the end of the movie. Though, again, McG not only denies that ending, but claims only three people know how the movie actually ends.
KEEP READING: Who’ll perish in Pelham?[PAGEBREAK]
The Taking of Pelham 123
(June 12)
Suspected victim: Bernard Ryder, aka Mr. Blue (John Travolta)
The evidence: Travolta’s performance as the subway-hijacking baddie Blue has spawned much positive buzz, but, if the movie remains faithful to the 1974 original, Mr. Blue will meet a nasty fate for his misdeeds.
Time of death: Near the movie’s end.
KEEP READING: Which Decepticon is doomed? [PAGEBREAK]
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
(June 24)
Suspected victim: Megatron (Hugo Weaving). Yes, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) killed him with the Allspark in the first movie, but he’s baaaack in the sequel (he’s a robot — it’s not that big a stretch), and, as the title suggests, he and his Decepticon brethren are out for vengeance. The other big death rumor for Transformers 2: Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), the leader of the Autobots and Megatron’s nemesis.
The evidence: It’s all rumor at this point, but since one of them has already gone to that big junkyard in the sky — and since Megatron’s resurrection proves there’s not a lot of risk in “killing” the robots — it seems like a good bet that the Transformer war would lead to a machine casualty … or two.
Time of death: Probably near the end, in the big blowout at the Egyptian pyramids.
KEEP READING: Is this pretty woman in peril?[PAGEBREAK]
Fireflies in the Garden
(July 17)
Suspected victim: Lisa Waechter (Julia Roberts)
The evidence: The movie revolves around the Waechter family matriarch’s death, which leads to the breakdown — and, perhaps, eventual reconciliation — of her family, particularly between her strict husband Charles (Willem Dafoe) and their son Michael (Ryan Reynolds).
Time of death: Early in the movie, though that doesn’t mean Roberts doesn’t get a good bit of screen time … flashbacks, y’all.
KEEP READING: Will this gangster get gunned down?[PAGEBREAK]
Public Enemies
(July 1)
Suspected victim: John Dillinger (Johnny Depp)
The evidence: History. And the book, Bryan Burrough’s Public Enemies: America’s Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933–34, on which the Michael Mann-directed crime drama is based. Bank robber Dillinger, a Robin Hood-ish figure to some, died in a shootout with the FBI in 1934, the end of the time period the book and movie cover. Sounds like a Depp vs. Christian Bale (as FBI agent Melvin Purvis) showdown to us.
Time of death: Would you kill Johnny Depp off before the end of the movie?
KEEP READING: Which sister survives?[PAGEBREAK]
My Sister’s Keeper
(June 26)
Suspected victim: Anna (Abigail Breslin) or her sister Kate (Sofia Vassilieva)
The evidence: The Jodi Picoult novel on which the movie is based. Anna was conceived to be a genetic match for her leukemia-stricken sister Kate. When she tires of the situation, Anna sues her parents to be medically emancipated and able to make her own decisions about her body. The fallout includes the death of one of the sisters.
Time of death: Obviously, you can read the book if you really want to know, but we will say that the twist-y turn takes place near the end of the story.
KEEP READING: Who’s destined for a death trip?[PAGEBREAK]
Final Destination: Death Trip 3D
(August 14)
Suspected victim: Who isn’t?
The evidence: C’mon, people, it’s right there in the title … it’s a death trip. Besides, the biggest names in the cast — aside from Forrest Gump’s pal Mykelti Williamson — are George Clooney-ex Krista Allen and Nick Zano, meaning it’s quite likely that many heads will roll, perhaps literally.
Time of death: They’re really gonna want to take advantage of that 3-D aspect, so we’re guessing the gruesome gotchas will be liberally sprinkled throughout the horror movie.
More:
THE 2009 ULTIMATE SUMMER GUIDE
10 Must-See Action Flicks | The Best of the Rest | Celeb Flick Picks
Merchandise You Gotta Have | Quiz: Guess the Movie!
Star Trek Timeline | Villains of Summer | Action Stars of Tomorrow
