People are already concerned we’ve reached peak superhero. But with every studio intent on creating a shared universe, the market is only going to get bigger. If you thought these past few years have been exhausting, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
If you count Doctor Strange, Marvel alone has released 14 superhero movies in just eight years. No other studio has been that prolific—not even Fox, which has released nine X-Men movies since 2000. Going forward, Marvel plans to release three new films a year, starting with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 next May.
Even if fatigue is setting in, you have to admit next year is particularly exciting. The stakes are becoming ever more precarious for each studio, making the next twelve months important for several different reasons.
For Marvel, its next three films will further flesh out its universe and move fans closer to the big showdown with Thanos. Meanwhile, the pressure is on for Warner Bros. to rebound from two successive duds (Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad). Fox, well, the studio is all over the map.
I understand the feeling of fatigue brings up a lot of negative emotions. But, now more than ever, we should be celebrating the escape these movies provide. Who would have thought we’d see Hulk and Iron Man fight on screen? Or witness an anthropomorphic tree interact with a talking raccoon?
With so many comic movies on the horizon, which one are you most excited to see? Below are the major comic movies to expect next year.
Logan
Logan is what would happen if The Last of Us came to the X-Men universe. This is supposedly the last time actor Hugh Jackman will play Wolverine, making Logan important in more ways than one. With his healing abilities deteriorating and mutants becoming extinct, Logan will have to protect Charles Xavier and a young girl named Laura, who just so happens to have similar abilities to that of Wolverine. Sounds to us like the baton will be passed on.
Release date: March 3, 2017

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The lineup of the guardians is getting shaken up in Marvel’s upcoming sequel about a team of misfits ridding the universe of evildoers. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will not only introduce major new personalities but mark the debut of the most anticipated Marvel character in cinematic history: Baby Groot. We can’t wait.
Release date: May 5, 2017

Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman was the best part of Batman v Superman, so we’re very excited about her solo debut. Taking a trip back to World War I, Wonder Woman will see Diana Prince join the war to protect the world from a mysterious threat. The action looks amazing, the visuals fantastic, and her theme is as good as ever. Whether it comes together into a cohesive story remains to be seen.
Release date: June 2, 2017


Spider-Man: Homecoming
Tom Holland’s Spider-Man made his long-awaited debut in this year’s Captain America: Civil War, but that was just a small taste of what’s to come. Spider-Man: Homecoming is supposedly more like a John Hughes movie than a straight-up superhero romp. We’ll see if that holds true when the movie hits theaters next summer. My only question is, when will the first trailer drop?
Release date: July 7, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok
Taika Waititi is directing what is essentially the big screen adaptation of Planet Hulk. In other words, expect plenty of action and even a potential gladiator battle between Hulk and Thor when Thor: Ragnarok drops. But it’s not just the action we’re excited about. If the hilarious mockumentary is any indication of what to expect from Waititi’s Thor, then fans are in for a treat.
Release date: Nov. 3, 2017

Justice League
Probably the movie with the most to prove. The DC Expanded Universe is in dire straits right now and it doesn’t sound like things are improving. However, we’ve liked the footage that’s been released thus far and the addition of Flash and Cyborg should help shake things up. I’m cautiously optimistic but we’ve been burned in the past. Come on, Zack, I believe in you.
Release date: Nov. 3, 2017
