Since the studios took a break from releasing HD DVD discs this week, we’ve been discussing what they’re likely to be putting out in the months ahead. This time around, we’ll take a look at movies from Universal Studios, a studio that’s been HD DVD exclusive from the very start, and whose catalog is huge (should they ever choose to release way more of it in the future). The movies below are all scheduled for theatrical release in 2008, and it’s probably a safe prediction that they’ll be out on HD DVD around five months later.

I should mention that these lists were originally compiled by Neil Miller for the “Film School Rejects” site, and summarized over at MovieWeb.com, which is where most of the movie trailers come from. If you missed it, here’s a link to the previous posting about Paramount’s 2008 releases.

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins – February 8
Martin Lawrence plays Roscoe Jenkins, a talk-show host living large in L.A., but who turns out to be just another one of the folks when he visits his parents for their 50th wedding anniversary.

(Click here if the video doesn’t show up above — link goes to official movie site.)

 

Definitely, Maybe – February 14, though trailer says Feb. 8
This Valentine’s Day release is about a divorced dad recounting stories about the three failed relationships in his life and leaving it to his daughter guess which of those three ladies is her mother. From its release date to the storyline, this has chick-flick written all over it, and if the movie turns out to be half-decent, I’m sure there are many guys who will be adding this to their HD DVD collection to make the woman of the household happy — and probably seeing it at the theater too.

(Click here if the video doesn’t show up above)

 

Leatherheads, April 4
George Clooney stars in and directs in this movie about professional football in the 1920s. Renee Zellweger is a sports reporter wooed by a couple of the players she’s doing a story on.

(Click here if the video doesn’t show up above.)

 

Wild Child, April 4
Emma Roberts plays a rich, spoiled brat from L.A. who’s shipped off to a boarding school in England.

No trailers or teasers or movie site just yet, stay tuned.

 

Baby Mama, April 18
I’m not sure if it’s the female equivalent of 2007’s Chuck and Larry, but this movie brings Tina Fey and Amy Poehler together in a story about a career-driven woman (Fey) who enlists the services of a surrogate mother (Poehler).

No trailers or teasers or movie site just yet, stay tuned.

 

Forgetting Sarah Marshall, May 30
Peter Bretter (Jason Segel) is dumped by his actress girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell), and is utterly devastated. Months later, he runs into Sarah and her new beau at a Hawaiian resort, and finally comes to terms with the end of his relationship.

(Click here if the video does not show up above)

 

The Incredible Hulk, June 13
The studios save their superhero movies for the summer, and The Hulk gets another shot in The Incredible Hulk, starring Edward Norton as scientist Bruce Banner.

No trailer or teaser for this one just yet, but here’s a link to the official site, which seems to be a little under construction, itself.

 

Wanted, June 27
Universal sticks with a comics theme on this movie based on Mark Millar’s graphic novels. Wes (James McAvoy) is a slacker who turns ninja after joining a secret society of assassins that trains him to avenge his father’s death. His tutors include Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.

(Click here if the video does not appear above — you can see the trailer at the official movie site instead)

 

Hellboy II: The Golden Army, July 11
Universal’s final contribution to comic-themed movies for the year reunites Ron Perlman as Hellboy, and director Guillermo del Torro with a much bigger budget to blow stuff up. I’m not sure why it’s not being released a week earlier for the long weekend of July 4, because that would also give it another week before Warner Bros. brings out the next Batman movie.

(Click here if the video does not show up above — link goes to official movie site)

 

Mamma Mia, April 18
Just about every Bollywood movie is a musical, but it’s not the case in Hollywood. Mama Mia aims to offset that deficit with this English remake of a romantic comedy that’s already been done in 8 languages before. Starring Meryl Streep, and featuring songs by ABBA, Mamma Mia is the story of a daughter seeking out her father’s identity so that he can walk her down the aisle. Sounds a little bit like Definitely, Maybe, but with a whole other angle.

(Click here if the video is not available above – or visit the mammamiamovie.com site)

 

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, August 1
Didn’t they stop making these Mummy movies about five years ago with Scorpion King? The series continues with Brendan Fraser, but in a brand new location: Asia, and brings Jet Li to the mix. Universal made the good decision to release this Mummy movie a couple of months after the the latest Indiana Jones installment.

The film just finished shooting a few weeks ago, and all we have is a link to the director’s blog: RobCohenTheMummy.com which has behind-the-scenes videos.

 

Latter half of 2008
The movies released past summer (and a few before) are in post-production and don’t even have trailers or teaser videos yet, or even release dates. Most of them don’t even have websites, but here’s the scoop on those releases…

Death Race, September 26
Just as the latest Mummy faces competition from Indiana Jones, Warner’s Speed Racer will duke it out against Universal’s own racing-themed movie, Death Race. The difference is that Death Race shares only a racing theme and little else with the Warner flick. Death Race is about a demolition race where one man, Jensen Ames (Jason Statham), competes to survive.

The Express, October 3
This is the true story of Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Davis played for the Syracuse Orangemen, and was coached by Dennis Quaid’s character, Ben Schwartzwalder. A tragedy prevented Davis from playing in the NFL, but that was only one of the many challenges in his life.

The Tale of Despereaux, December 19
An all-star cast of voices (as pretty much every other animated feature does nowadays) including Matthew Broderick, Dustin Hoffman, and Tracey Ullman. It’s the story of Despereaux, a mouse, and his buddy, Roscuro the rat, sharing their world with humans in the dreary kingdom of Dor, and how the tiny mouse makes a big difference in many lives.

Changeling, release date to be announced
Based on a true story from the 1920s, Angelina Jolie plays a mother who has just been reunited with her kidnapped son, except the boy that the authorities have returned to her isn’t really her son. With a different set of actors, this might have been a comedy, but this is actually a Clint Eastwood-directed drama, also starring John Malkovich as the reverend who helps Jolie’s character in her legal battles.

Frost/Nixon, release date to be announced
Frank Langella won a Tony award for his portrayal of Richard M. Nixon, and Michael Sheen played the role of David Frost in the same stage production. Now, director Ron Howard brings this story of the famous Nixon-Frost interview from stage to screen.

Flash of Genius, release date to be announced
The story of Robert Kearns (Greg Kinnear) who battled with the automotive industry over stealng his invention, the intermittent windshield wiper, and the toll it takes on him and his family.

Doomsday, release date to be announced
A team of specialists must save an entire nation from the deadly “reaper” virus.

Movie site: doomsdayiscoming.com

Kids in America, releaste date to be announced
Universal closes out the year with a few comedies. Kids in America is about some college graduates and their Labor Day party.

Little Big Men, release date to be announced
In this other year-ending comedy, two guys are forced to enroll in a Big Brother program to make amends for their inexcusable behavior.

In addition to any of the films above, Universal has a huge catalog of even more titles they’ll be releasing HD DVDs from this year. Stay tuned for more information on those discs as they come out.