Deadpool
ETA 4 February
Nothing but an R-rating would have been suitable for one of Marvel’s most beloved anti-heroes, which is why fans should rejoice that Deadpool is tagged for suitable audiences. Ryan Reynolds reprises his role as the merc-with-a-mouth, but this time it would seem the actor will finally do the character justice with a storyline that’s more glued into the comics. Also featuring in the film are X-Men characters, Angel Dust, Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Colossus.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
ETA 24 March
The Dark Knight takes on the Man of Steel in arguably the biggest superhero smack down ever made for cinema. Zack Snyder and Warner Bros. has got a tonne riding on the project, even more so as it’s supposed to lead into a number of DC spinoffs, most notably the Justice League movie. But the success of Batman v Superman remains questionable especially judging by the most recent trailer that supposedly revealed way too much regarding the film’s plotline.
Captain America: Civil War
ETA 5 May
You got to wonder if Marvel considered calling this one Captain America v Iron Man, because that’s clearly what it is. That said, the Cap sequel takes on a different spin with heroes lining up against heroes due to the Sokovia Accords. With the Avengers on different sides of the fence, and the emergence of new heroes such as the Black Panther, Civil War could have stark consequences for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
X-Men: Apocalypse
ETA 26 May
Not outdone by both Warner Bros and Marvel/Disney, 20th Century Fox is entering the fray to produce another superhero battle on the silver screen with the sixth instalment to the X-Men franchise. Apocalypse sees a new and powerful villain emerging and threatening to tear the world apart with the aid of his four horsemen – Storm, Psylocke, Angel and Magneto. Will Mystique and Professor X with his mutant students have enough to face off against such a threat?
Suicide Squad
ETA August
With more focus and marketing being put behind Batman v Superman, we anticipate Suicide Squad to be the breakout DC superhero film of the year. Boasting an ensemble cast made up off Will Smith, Jared Leto and Margot Robbie, the Suicide Squad has all the trappings of a memorable outing especially for DC’s stable of villains such as Deadshot, Harley Quinn and the Joker.
Doctor Strange
ETA November
Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the mantle of the master of the mystics in this Marvel Phase III film. Delivering an origins story, it will be interesting to see what route Marvel takes for this one as it largely revolves around magic. We also wonder how Doctor Strange will tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and if the character has a major role to play in Infinity War Part 1 and 2.
