‘Shrek’ to ‘Pirates,’ box-office record brewing

updated 3:37 p.m. ET Jan. 16, 2007

LOS ANGELES - There are big years for movies, and there are BIG years. Then there’s 2007, which has some Hollywood types thinking a record box-office year may be at hand.

The month of May alone has dollar signs dancing in studio executives’ heads as the third installments to three of the all-time biggest movie franchises hit theaters within a three-week span.

First up, “Spider-Man 3,” with Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst returning as the young superhero and his dreamgirl. Next comes “Shrek the Third,” with Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas back as mouthpieces of the lovable animated fairy-tale kooks. Then there’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End,” with Johnny Depp continuing the cliffhanger left from last summer’s blockbuster.

Two other heavyweights follow soon after: the animated “Ratatouille,” a comedy about a gourmet rodent from the Disney-Pixar partnership; and “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” with Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint going back to wizardry school in the fantasy series’ fifth chapter.

“There is a lot to see,” said Maguire, whose boyish Peter Parker — the nerd turned superhero by a mutant arachnid’s bite — finds himself wrestling with his dark side in “Spider-Man 3” just when he thought he’d gotten his act together.

“Things are going pretty well for Peter. He’s got his girl, he’s got his job and school. He’s kind of just managing his whole life,” Maguire said. “Generally, Peter’s in a good state. Of course, it doesn’t stay that way.”

If they matched the business their predecessors have done, those five films alone would account for nearly 20 percent of the $9.4 billion haul that all movies rang up domestically last year.

The schedule is so loaded that even the sequels “Ocean’s Thirteen,” “The Bourne Ultimatum,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” and “Rush Hour 3” would make for an impressive summer. Plus, there’s an animated lineup that includes a big-screen take on “The Simpsons.”

Winter and spring have some intriguing movie prospects, including comedies from Eddie Murphy (“Norbit”) and Will Ferrell (“Blades of Glory”), a dramatic turn from Adam Sandler (“Reign Over Me”), and thrillers featuring Hilary Swank (“The Reaping”) and Sandra Bullock (“Premonition”).

The fall and holiday season presents such highlights as Will Smith in the apocalyptic tale “I Am Legend,” Nicolas Cage in the sequel “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” Nicole Kidman in the fantasy “The Golden Compass,” Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe in the crime saga “American Gangster,” and the voices of Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger in the animated comedy “Bee Movie.”

But as usual, the real heavy hitters are crowded into summer. Here’s a look at what’s up with summer’s key blockbusters in waiting:

“Shrek the Third” — All a hideous ogre wants is to settle down in the swamp with his not-so-beautiful bride. But Myers’ Shrek finds himself drafted into the family business after his kingly father-in-law expires and the ogre faces the prospect of ruling the land in his stead.

“For Shrek, he’s just convinced he’s not capable of that. He’s an ogre. He’s not wired that way,” said Chris Miller, a story artist on “Shrek” and head of the story department on “Shrek 2” who now graduates to directing “Shrek the Third.” “There is another option, which is finding the next heir.”

Shrek heads out with sidekicks Donkey (Murphy) and Puss In Boots (Banderas) to find the future King Arthur, a royal cousin next in line for the throne. Meantime, Fiona (Diaz) finds herself mentoring Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Rapunzel and Snow White, teaching the pampered princesses to stand on their own after Prince Charming usurps the kingdom.

Among the new additions to the voice cast: Justin Timberlake, Cheri Oteri, Amy Sedaris and Ian McShane.

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