DAILY DIRT: Movies could make a big comeback in 2023

Personally, I’m looking forward to returning to the theater on a regular basis this year, and it appears there will be some great films awaiting … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 491 of The Daily Dirt.

1. A quick glance at what movies are scheduled for a 2023 premier indicates it might just be the best year for major movie releases since before the pandemic basically shut down the film industry for more than two years.

I’m an action/adventure kind of film guy, so here are my three most anticipated releases in the coming months:

Gold medal: “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1” (July 14): Tom Cruise returns as IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the seventh chapter of this spy thriller franchise. We are told that the film will include multiple death-defying stunts and action sequences, including Cruise driving a motorcycle off a cliff. In addition to Cruise, look for “Mission Impossible” regulars Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Henry Czerny, Vanessa Kirby and Frederick Schmidt to reprise their familiar roles.

Silver medal: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (June 30): Harrison Ford, who is now 80 years old, returns as now-retired archaeologist Indiana Jones in the long-awaited fifth installment of the popular adventure series, which is set during the 1960s space race. Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and John Rhys-Davies will also fill key roles. Former franchise director Steven Spielberg remains involved as an executive producer.

Bronze medal: “Creed III” (March 3): Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors jump in the ring for the third “Creed” film, which marks the ninth installment in the “Rocky” franchise. The film is a directorial debut for Jordan, who stars as Adonis “Donnie” Creed. Majors will make his first appearance in the franchise as Damian “Dame” Anderson,” Adonis’ former friend and new opponent. Sadly, no Sly in this one.

2. There is no bigger fan of “Yellowstone” than yours truly, bud Sunday’s midseason finale was a terrible disappointment.

No action, no twists, no game-changing activity at the end. And THEN it got worse.

Paramount announced the show would not return until “summer,” without any specific date(s).

C’mon “Yellowstone,” your fans deserve better. Has Taylor Sheridan and the rest of the creation team been devoting too much attention to the “1883” and “1923” prequels? And now “Tulsa King”? Those have been magnificent, but don’t forget about the mothership.

3. Soccer fans, rejoice!

The Women’s World Cup is July 20-Aug. 20 in Australia and New Zealand. To be honest, I had no idea until Monday night. My initial thought? “USA! USA! USA!” 

I became even more excited when I looked up the most recent FIFA women’s rankings:

• 1. United States
• 2. Germany
• 3. Sweden
• 4. England
• 5. France
• 6. Canada
• 7. Spain
• 8. The Netherlands
• 9. Brazil
• 10. South Korea

For the record, lowest-ranked county (No. 187) is Mauritius, which is an island in the Indian Ocean. Road trips are brutal for the Mauritians.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — I’m still perturbed at that “Yellowstone” episode.