By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Cinema-goers can look forward to a blend of familiar faces and untested properties over the next 12 months.

Ford last played Indiana Jones in 1989's Last Crusade film

The so-called "three-quel" dominated Britain's multiplexes in 2007, with Hollywood betting its shirt on expensive third instalments to established film franchises.

The year ahead promises another slew of big-budget sequels, comic book adaptations and TV-inspired spin-offs.

Sprinkled among them, however, are some new titles that may, if successful, spawn movie franchises of their own.

As enticing as they look, though, it will be old favourites like Indiana Jones and James Bond who will be the ones to beat.

It has been almost 20 years since Harrison Ford's daredevil archaeologist last graced the big screen.

Rambo sees Stallone's Vietnam veteran venture into Burma

Small wonder, then, that Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - aka Indy IV - is one of the year's most eagerly anticipated titles.

Before then, though, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone returns with a belated fourth instalment in his Rambo franchise.

Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem, meanwhile, represents the fourth film outing for the latter half of this intergalactic duo - should there be anyone out there still keeping count.

With the second Chronicles of Narnia film Prince Caspian arriving in June and Harry Potter back for a sixth adventure in November, audiences will not be starved of magical fantasy.

Ben Barnes plays Prince Caspian in the Chronicles of Narnia sequel

Nor will they be short of action with Daniel Craig's second James Bond film due in cinemas before the end of the year.

Batman Begins sequel The Dark Knight heads a raft of summer superhero spectaculars that includes a second Incredible Hulk film and a big-screen debut for Iron Man.

Lost creator JJ Abrams, meanwhile, is set to resuscitate the Star Trek series with a prequel charting Kirk and Spock's early days.

Before that, however, Abrams will bring Godzilla-style destruction to New York in Cloverfield - details of which have been shrouded in secrecy.

The Sex and the City film reunites all four of the TV show's stars

Godzilla's director Roland Emmerich, meanwhile, will transport audiences back in time with his mammoth prehistoric epic 10,000 BC.

Matrix makers Andy and Larry Wachowski will be regressing themselves with Speed Racer, a live-action adventure based on a 1960s animated series from Japan.

Other TV shows making a big-screen comeback in 2008 include The X-Files, Sex and the City and spy spoof Get Smart.

As usual, though, the first few months of the year will be dominated by high-profile awards contenders and Oscar hopefuls.

Jolie plays a member of a secret society of assassins in Wanted

They include the Coen brothers' thriller No Country for Old Men, Tim Burton's musical Sweeney Todd and Iraq war drama In the Valley of Elah.

After that lot has come and gone, audiences may well find themselves in need of some light relief and escapism.