14 Most Anticipated Superhero Movies

Release Date: April 5, 2019Studio: New Line CinemaDirector: Unknown

With two years to go until the projected release date, details surrounding Shazam have been scarce thus far. However, among the things we do know is that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will play the titular hero’s archenemy, Black Adam – a role that Johnson has seemingly been confirmed for since before the film was even greenlit. Additionally, we know that the screenplay will be written by Henry Gayden, and that director David F. Sandberg is in talks with New Line Cinema about possibly joining the project, as well.

One of the main concerns regarding the film, though, is that a man with as much star power as The Rock playing the villain will simply overshadow whoever ends up being cast as the hero, himself. After all, it’s already been revealed that Johnson will get his own Black Adam spinoff movie, which confirms the fact that the studio is putting a lot of their money in The Rock’s corner.

Release Date: March 16, 2018Studio: Warner Bros.Director: Unknown

So far, we’ve seen glimpses of Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen/Flash in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, as well as a few brief moments from the first Justice League trailer. Still, from what little we’ve seen, it seems as though Miller’s portrayal of the Scarlet Speedster will be fun and energetic, and the character will certainly benefit from having the time to develop in Justice League before going off on his own next year.

However, with the departure of not one, but two directors from the project (Seth Grahame-Smith, followed by Rick Famuyiwa), that March 2018 release is becoming increasingly unrealistic as each day passes. Furthermore, Warner Bros. also tapped Joby Harold to do a page-one rewrite to the script, which, all things considered, dampers some of the excitement for the film. Who knows, though? Things could certainly get back on track soon, but I wouldn’t hold your breath on seeing the Scarlet Speedster on the big screen next March, despite no official changes to the release date yet.

Release Date: July 6th, 2018Studio: Marvel StudiosDirector: Peyton Reed

After years in development hell and the departure of director Edgar Wright, Ant-Man still managed to captivate audiences, particularly due to Paul Rudd’s humorous take on the pint-sized hero, Scott Lang/Ant-Man. That being said, it came as no surprise when Marvel Studios greenlit a sequel, and thankfully, the post-credits teaser that shows Evangeline Lilly’s Hope van Dyne get a suit of her own will pay off, as the sequel has been titled Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Currently in pre-production, Ant-Man and the Wasp is set to begin filming this July, which means this summer and fall should be filled with plenty of set photos and behind-the-scenes buzz to help feed the hype machine as the release date approaches. Let’s just hope director Peyton Reed is able to make lightning strike twice because from what we know, Ant-Man still had some traces of Edgar Wright’s original vision when it was released.

Release Date: October 5, 2018Studio: SonyDirector: Unknown

A Venom standalone movie has long been rumored by Sony, until –seemingly out of nowhere – it was announced that not only was the project alive and well, but that the film would be released next year. In fact, production is set to being this fall, showing just how fast Sony is moving to establish their own Marvel film universe.

Venom, which is expected to have an R-rating, is currently listed as an Action/Horror/Sci-Fi film, which hopefully means we’ll get to see the outer space origin of the symbiote that was sorely missing from Spider-Man 3. While the plot is unknown at this time, we do know that Sony is eyeing Adi Shankar to direct the film and that longtime Spider-Man producers Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach will oversee the project. Here’s to hoping that Venom is truly in good hands.

Release Date: March 8, 2019Studio: Marvel StudiosDirector: Unknown

A Captain Marvel film was first announced back in 2014, and it wasn’t until two years later that the first cast member was revealed:  Brie Larson, the woman who will bring Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel to life. Now, with two years left until the film’s release, little else has been revealed, including who will be directing the movie.

Still, despite having little to work with, anticipation for Captain Marvel is high, as Larson promises that the film will bridge the gap between Earth and Space – two aspects of the MCU that have yet to cross paths. There’s still plenty of time before this one hits the big screen, so expect plenty of new developments as the year progresses.

Release Date: May 5, 2017Studio: Marvel StudiosDirector: James Gunn

Without a doubt, Guardians of the Galaxy was the biggest surprise to come from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date. After proving to be a runaway success for the MCU, few were surprised when a sequel was announced, and now, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is right around the corner.

So far, the trailers have been incredibly promising, giving us a taste of the action, adventure, and humor that we got from the first film, but dialed up to 11. Furthermore, none of the trailers have managed to give too much away in terms of plot, which is certainly rare these days but still much appreciated. Let’s just hope the inevitable plethora of impending TV spots keeps that trend alive.

Release Date: November 3, 2017Studio: Marvel StudiosDirector: Taika Waititi

After an enjoyable first film and an underwhelming sequel, the third chapter in the Thor franchise – Thor: Ragnarok – seems to have all the makings of an absolute show-stealer when it comes to the God of Thunder. This is largely due to the fact that the film will seemingly give us the closest thing we can hope for as far as a live action adaptation of Planet Hulk since conflicts with Universal Studios mean we shouldn’t expect another solo Hulk film anytime soon.

Additionally, Mark Ruffalo reprising his role as the Green Goliath means Chris Hemsworth’s Thor will have someone fun to play off of, rounding out the intense action sequences with some welcomed humor in what’s being described as a “buddy cop” film featuring Bruce Banner and Thor Odinson. Additionally, it will be great to see how characters such as Valkyrie and Hela factor into the film, since both have rich and storied histories in the Thor mythos.

Release Date: February 16, 2018

Studio: Marvel Studios

Director: Ryan Coogler

After his breakout performance in Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman will reprise his role as the King of Wakanda – T’Challa/Black Panther – next year, as the character gets his long-awaited first solo film. However, even though Black Panther is still a year away, fans are already beginning to feel the hype, thanks to set photos, production stills, and the recent announcement that Doctor Who alum Letitia Wright will be playing T’Challa’s sister, Shuri.

The film, which boasts a cast largely consisting of African-Americans, seems to be heading in the right direction as far as faithfully honoring and exploring Black Panther’s rich history and his significance in comic book culture. Additionally, it will be interesting to see if the film picks up on the unresolved thread from Civil War regarding Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier. Although Sebastian Stan hasn’t been confirmed for Black Panther, he still has many films left on his nine-picture contract, so it’s entirely possible that the studio is keeping a surprise appearance from the Winter Soldier under wraps for now.

Release Date: December 21, 2018Studio: Warner Bros.Director: James Wan

From what little we’ve seen from the first Justice League trailer, one thing is certain, and that’s the fact that Warner Bros. seems to be putting a lot of stock in Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman. After all, he was one of the highlights of the trailer, as well as the sizzle reel that was shown at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con.

Not only does Momoa seem to be heavily invested in his role, but so too does his co-star, Amber Heard, who will play the Atlantean Queen, Mera, in both Justice League and Aquaman. In addition to Mera, we’ll also get to see a handful of Aquaman mainstays, including Vulko, as well as longtime Aquaman villains Ocean Master and Black Manta. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed that WB goes all-out and gives us Black Manta’s iconic giant helmet.

Release Date: July 7, 2017Studio: Marvel Studios/SonyDirector: Jon Watts

Although Black Panther was one of the best new characters to make his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War, one man managed to surpass him: a Spider-Man, if you will. Not only did Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man steal the show, but he also stole the hearts of fans that had been so sorely disappointed by the downward spiral of the Sam Raimi films, followed by the subpar Mark Webb reboot.

That being said, anticipation for Spidey’s first solo outing under the Marvel Studios banner, albeit in partnership with Sony, is sky-high, especially after the outstanding second trailer that was released. Although the trailer seemingly gives away many of the major plot points of the film, Holland’s fun and lively portrayal of Spidey, Robert Downey Jr.’s mentor-like role as Tony Stark/Iron Man, and Michael Keaton’s terrifying Vulture all seem to spell success for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Release Date: June 2, 2017Studio: Warner Bros.Director: Patty Jenkins

That fact that it took until 2017 to get a live action solo film featuring the Amazon Princess is unfathomable. That atrocity aside, after her show-stealing performance in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, is there anyone out there that isn’t excited to see Gal Gadot reprise her role as Diana Prince in Wonder Woman?

Despite the beating that BvS took from critics and fans, many were in agreement that Gadot was a ray of sunshine on an otherwise cloudy day, and from the looks of the trailers, it seems as though she’s prepared to bring that same charisma, excitement, and ferocity to Wonder Woman this summer. Remember when people were criticizing Gadot’s casting ahead of BvS? Well, who’s laughing now?

Release Date: November 17, 2017Studio: Warner Bros.Director: Zack Snyder

Few can deny that the DC Extended Universe has gotten off to a rocky start. However, after being bashed by critics left and right, it finally seems like Warner Bros. and Zack Snyder have taken notice, as evidenced by the recently released first official trailer for Justice League.

Fans complained that Man of Steel and BvS were too dark? Well, it looks like there’s just the right amount of tasteful humor sprinkled in Justice League. Fans complained that the BvS trailer spoiled the film by revealing Doomsday? Well, the Justice League trailer steered clear of showing Henry Cavill’s Superman, despite the fact that we all know he’ll return before the film concludes (though to be fair, there’s still plenty of time for WB to make the same mistake as before and spoil this).

The bottom line is Justice League looks like a fun, action-packed thrill ride. Plus, if the current trend of misfortunes continues, it might be the last time we get to see Ben Affleck’s amazing portrayal of Batman for years to come, so we should definitely enjoy it while we can.

Release Date: May 4, 2018/May 3, 2019Studio: Marvel StudiosDirector: Joe and Anthony Russo

There has been so much buzz surrounding Avengers: Infinity War, as well as its now-untitled sequel. Initially, the project was supposed to be a two-part mega movie. Then, it was rumored that the project would feature upwards of 60 characters, with speculation that the heroes from Marvel’s Netflix series would finally join the ranks of their big screen counterparts. One thing is certain, though: both films promise to serve as a culmination of everything the MCU has built thus far.

For Infinity War, we’ll finally see the MCU’s Earth-based heroes meet the protectors of the cosmic side of the MCU, with the Guardians of the Galaxy slated to make an appearance in the film. This will presumably be to aid Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in their battle with Thanos, which should finally provide a payoff for the Infinity Stone plot device that’s been the driving force of nearly every MCU film to date.

Then, after Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel, we’ll get the fourth installment in the Avengers franchise, which will likely provide further closure to the events in the previous film, as well as set the tone for the future direction of the MCU, as many of the main cast members will be reaching the end of their contracts (aside from Chris Evans, who has hinted that he may be done reprising his role as Captain America after Infinity War).

Despite these films no longer being a two-part affair, but rather separate entries into the MCU’s ever-expanding collection of movies, the ramifications for both put them on the same level as one another in terms of anticipation, hence the reasoning for them being grouped together in a single entry.

What about you? Which of these films are you looking forward to the most? Let us know in the comments section!