2012 Preview

It wasn't very tough to decide which film we're looking forward to the most in 2012 -- how could it be anything other than Christopher Nolan's final installment in the Batman franchise 'The Dark Kinght Rises.'

After taking a 16-year breather, Soundgarden is set to make one of the biggest comebacks of all-time in 2012. The most avant-garde band of the 90's are readying a new album for a tentative spring release and this isn't just a one-off occurrence -- Soundgarden is here to stay.

Topping our list of the best television coming in 2012 is the continuation of the incredible second season of 'The Walking Dead.' We're dying to see where the show will take us in season 2's final six episodes and beyond.

After the season finale of FX's hit series 'American Horror Story,' many were left wondering how the show could continue to be interesting. The answer -- starting over with a new location, new horrors, and some new/old faces...we'll explain after the jump.

The Smashing Pumpkins are taking a detour from their massive 44-song project 'Teargarden by Kaleidyscope' to bring you a full album called 'Oceania.' Frontman Billy Corgan says it's their best since 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' -- hopefully we'll be able to confirm that this Spring.

Metallica are working with producer Rick Rubin on the album that will hopefully make us forget all about the whole 'Lulu' debacle. You never know with Metallica, but there's a good chance we will see the follow-up to 'Death Magnetic' in 2012.

2012 will see the arrival of Quentin Tarantino's next film, which he describes as a spaghetti western set in the deep south or a "southern". 'Django Unchained' is the story of a slave turned bounty hunter (Jamie Foxx) who sets out to free his wife from a sadistic plantation owner who is played by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Last we heard, Alice in Chains were hard at work on material for their second album since the death of original vocalist Layne Staley. There's no doubt the album will be one of the year's best -- the only question we have is will we hear the album in 2012?

One of the albums we're looking forward to the most in 2012 is the fifth studio album from the masters of art metal -- Tool. The band has been writing the new material for some time now, leaving everyone curious about whether or not the highly anticipated follow-up to '10,000 Days' will surface in the new year.

If 2012 does bring about the apocalypse, at least we'll be able to see the ultimate action film before we go. After a action-star studded first outing, the Sylvester Stallone led 'The Expendables 2' ups the ante with the addition of Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and expanded roles for Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One of the shows we're most excited about for 2012 is the third season of FX's brilliant comedy 'Louie.' The Louis C.K. comedy may not be predictable when it comes to format or subject matter, but one thing you can count on is being brought to tears with laughter almost every episode.

Among the more noteworthy releases coming our way in 2012 is the tenth studio album from Seattle rock giants Pearl Jam. After spending much of the year reflecting on their 20-year run, the rock vets aim to finish their next record by spring 2012.