If there is one lesson that the past decade has taught us about the state of cinema, it is that superhero movies are, in many ways, the dominant film-going attraction. The anticipation for upcoming Marvel movies as well as upcoming DC movies may be higher than ever, considering the insane amount of new films on the bill.
There are plenty of comic book movies like those to look forward to on our upcoming 2024 movies schedule, as well as on our slate of upcoming 2025 movies, and even further into the foreseeable future. The following is a sneak peek at literally everything in the category of superhero movies that you have to look forward to.
Kraven The Hunter (December 13, 2024)
J.C. Chandor, director of Netflix’s Triple Frontier, is helming an origin story about Kraven the Hunter that is coming out in December 2024. MCU alum and Kick-Ass star Aaron Taylor-Johnson will play the Russian-born predator, who is famous for going after the biggest game imaginable (namely Spider-Man) and is also the brother of the Chameleon, believe it or not.
Captain America: Brave New World (February 14, 2025)
Those who have felt like they’ve been in the dark since Steve Rogers gave up his shield shall not fear, for there is a new Cap in town. Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson officially took up the mantle in the Falcon and the Winter Soldier series finale, and it looks like we will see him finally bear the stars and stripes on the big screen in Captain America: Brave New World (which was formerly titled New World Order) when it releases in February 2025.
Thunderbolts* (May 2, 2025)
In 1996, Marvel Comics introduced a team of reformed supervillains – a la DC’s Suicide Squad – known as the Thunderbolts, which will be inducted into the MCU in Summer 2025. The likes of Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova are set to return in the Thunderbolts movie cast, which also includes Harrison Ford filling in as Thunderbolt Ross.
Superman (July 11, 2025)
Snyderverse fans were sad to learn Henry Cavill would no longer be playing Superman, but it was exciting to later learn that writer and director James Gunn would be introducing a new interpretation of the Man of Steel in the upcoming Superman, which was titled Superman: Legacy previously. David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan have joined the film's cast as Clark Kent and Lois Lane, respectively, for the first big screen installment of the DCU’s first chapter, “Gods and Monsters,” coming in July 2025.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 25, 2025)
Marvel's first superhero family is finally being inducted into the MCU, as played by Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. WandaVision director Matt Shakman will be at the helm of Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot, which is officially titled The Fantastic Four: First Steps and will be released in July 2025.
Watchmen: Chapter II (2025)
The first half of Brandon Vietti's adaptation of Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons' seminal novel ends with our (mostly) retired vigilantes put in complicated situations. Witness the epic saga's conclusion with Watchmen: Chapter II comes out sometime in 2024.
Avengers: Doomsday (May 2026)
Originally called Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the fifth Avengers movie has been reworked into something even more exciting. Joe and Anthony Russo appeared at San Diego Comic Con 2024 to confirm they are directing Avengers: Doomsday and announce that the MCU's Victor Von Doom will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in a shocking return to the franchise for the Academy Award winner and former Iron Man actor.
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow (June 26, 2026)
For the first time since 1984, Clark Kent’s cousin will lead her own cinematic adventure with the DCU’s Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow – inspired by Tom King’s comic book run of the same name. Following her breakout performance in HBO’s House of the Dragon cast as Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen’s younger self, Milly Alcock is playing the titular Kryptonian in the new film from director Craig Gillespie.
Spider-Man 4 (July 24, 2026)
Everybody has their own favorite live-action, cinematic iteration of Peter Parker – all three of which got to share the screen together in 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. The ending of the cross-dimensional epic also introduced the beginning of a new era for the webslinger that will continue with the fourth MCU-canon solo adventure starring Tom Holland, which will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and is due for a July 2026 release.
The Batman: Part II (October 2, 2026)
While not part of the new DCU continuity, co-writer and director Matt Reeves’ follow-up to his refreshing new vision of Gotham is still one of the most highly anticipated upcoming Batman movies at the moment. Robert Pattinson is expected to put the cape and cowl back on for The Batman: Part II, which Alfred actor Andy Serkis told Popverse is set to start shooting in 2025.
Avengers: Secret Wars (May 7, 2027)
A year after Avengers: Doomsday, Robert Downey Jr.'s Dr. Doom will return for Avengers: Secret Wars. The final chapter of the MCU’s Phase 6 will also be helmed by Joe and Anthony Russo.
The Authority (TBA)
At the moment, we do not know how the forthcoming DCU aims to introduce the Justice League into its continuity, but we do know a more underrated DC superhero team is about to make its cinematic debut. James Gunn calls The Authority – featuring characters from DC’s Wildstorm imprint like Midnighter and Deathblow – a passion project of his.
Blade (TBA)
Taking over a role originated onscreen by Wesley Snipes is two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali in Blade, which has been delayed indefinitely as of October 2024. Bringing back the vampire hunter, whenever that may be, could mark a turning point where the MCU gets a little darker.
The Brave And The Bold (TBA)
In addition to Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves' “Elseworlds” movies, the DCU will also have its own version of Batman. Director Andy Muschietti’s The Brave and the Bold will be the first big screen endeavor since Joel Schumacher’s live-action Batman movies to pair the Dark Knight with Robin, in the form of his estranged son, Damian Wayne.
BRZRKR (TBA)
In 2021, Boom! Studios published a comic book called, which is about an ageless, merciless warrior and is based on an idea by actor Keanu Reeves. The actor is set to play said character in an adaptation of the book for Netflix.
Constantine 2 (TBA)
The first and only time that magic-wielding occult detective John Constantine has been portrayed in a live-action movie was by Keanu Reeves in a 2005 thriller that has since gained a cult following. The long-awaited follow-up, Constantine 2, is now in the works with the John Wick actor set to reprise the role after hoping for the chance for some time.
Irredeemable (TBA)
At this point, “superheroes-gone-bad” stories are not exactly anything new, with shows like The Boys and Invincible proving to be successful. However, Mark Waid’s Boom! Studios title, Irredeemable, is one of the most acclaimed stories that fall under said theme, and with a filmmaker as uniquely talented as Jeymes Samuel at the helm (according to Deadline), Netflix’s feature adaptation is poised to be something special.
King Spawn (TBA)
Todd McFarlane’s story of a mercenary sent back from Hell to atone for his sons on Earth as a do-gooder has been adapted twice – as a 1997 feature with Michael Jai White and as an HBO animated series starring Keith David. Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx is set to play the title role in a reboot of Spawn from Blumhouse, which McFarlane revealed on X is called King Spawn and has a script ready.
The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen (TBA)
Alan Moore’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen – depicting a team-up of various literary figures, including Alan Quartermain and Captain Nemo – was adapted into a 2003 movie hated even by its star, the late Sir Sean Connery. Hulu is giving a feature-length adaptation of the beloved comic a second try.
Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse (TBA)
The second half of Miles Morales and co.’s latest interdimensional adventure was originally set to come out roughly a year after Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Easily the most highly anticipated upcoming movie related to Spider-Man at the moment, Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse has been removed from Sony's release schedule for now, as of late July 2023.
Swamp Thing (TBA)
The half-man, half-plant humanoid hero is finally getting another shot on the big screen, following the premature cancellation of his otherwise well-received DC Universe TV show. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold said on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast that he intends to make his Swamp Thing something in the vein of a “noir mystery horror film.”
Teen Titans (TBA)
DC's Teen Titans – a team of younger superheroes like Robin and Starfire – was first adapted for live-action as a hit TV show, but they will soon be returning to that format on the big screen for the first time. According to an exclusive report by THR, a Teen Titans movie is in development with Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow writer Ana Nogueira at work on the screenplay.
The Toxic Avenger (TBA)
One of the most iconic (and quite nasty) superhero comedies, 1984's Troma release The Toxic Avenger, has a reboot from the original creators Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz producing, Macon Blair writing and directing, and Peter Dinklage leading. Despite premiering at Fantastic Fest in September 2023, according to ComicBookMovie.com, the gross-out sci-fi comedy has been reportedly deemed "unreleasable," leaving its fate up in the air for now.
J.J. Abrams/Ta-Nehisi Coates Superman Movie (TBA)
James Gunn’s Superman might not be the only new iteration of the hero coming to theaters, as J.J. Abrams is also producing a new blockbuster with comic book writer Ta-Nehisi Coates penning the script. The film – which James Gunn confirmed is still happening on Threads – is one of two upcoming titles featuring a Black interpretation of the Man of Steel, along with producer Michael B. Jordan’s Val-Zod series for Max.
X-Men (TBA)
When Disney purchased Fox and all of its licensed properties, fans knew that the X-Men would finally be coming to the MCU and Kevin Feige once said that the goal was a Phase Five introduction in 2019. It looks like that is no longer the plan, but recent titles – such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ms. Marvel – have dropped hints of the reboot’s imminent release.
Shang-Chi 2 (TBA)
Simu Liu filled the shoes of the MCU’s first Asian superhero in the action-packed 2021 hit, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. He will reprise the role in a follow-up, along with Destin Daniel Cretton also returning as the writer and director.
Armor Wars (TBA)
Finally getting his own big screen adventure in the MCU is Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes – otherwise known as War Machine. Originally conceived as an upcoming Disney+ Marvel TV show, Armor Wars takes inspiration from a comic that sees the Iron Man technology fall into the wrong hands.
Untitled Sony/Marvel Project (TBA)
In Sony’s mouthful of a Spider-Man universe, fellow arachnoid superhero Spider-Woman may soon be getting her own movie. Olivia Wilde has been tapped to direct the currently untitled female-centric project, but there is no word on which specific iteration of the character (Jessica Drew? Gwen Stacy?) it will focus on at the moment.
Bloodshot 2 (TBA)
Right about the time that going to movie theaters started becoming a rarity in 2020, Bloodshot became the first movie based on a Valiant comic. In November of that year, a direct follow-up with Vin Diesel reprising the title role was announced, giving hope to a new shared universe inspired by the lesser-known publisher.
Harbinger (TBA)
Another Valiant movie adaptation reportedly in the works is Harbinger, which first went into development under Sony (which made Bloodshot) before switching to Paramount in 2019. According to ScreenRant, Paul Downs Colaizzo of Brittany Runs a Marathon fame will direct this adaptation of an “X-Men-esque” property about psionic superhumans.
Faith (TBA)
One of the protagonists of Harbinger has her own movie in development as well, according to Variety's exclusive report from February 2023. The title character of Faith -- which will be penned by Jurassic Park: Dominion writer, Emily Carmichael -- also goes by the name Zephyr, in reference to her ability to fly and allow other people to soar with her.
Shadowman (TBA)
Another movie based on the Valiant comic called Shadowman was greenlit back in 2017 with House Party director Reginald Hudlin and writers J. Michael Straczynski and Adam Simon attached. Not many further developments have been made regarding this movie about a New Orleans man given dark, supernatural abilities.
Green Hornet And Kato (TBA)
Hollywood first adapted The Green Hornet – originally a radio play – for the big screen as a Seth Rogen-led comedy in 2011, and Universal Pictures and Amasia Entertainment have reportedly teamed-up for a David Koepp-penned reboot called Green Hornet and Kato. According to Deadline, The Invisible Man director Leigh Whannel is reportedly in negotiations to helm this new adventure that a report by Giant Freaking Robot claims might star Chris Pine as The Green Hornet.
One Punch Man (TBA)
The only way to make One Punch Man – a satirical manga-turned-anime about a superhero bored by his ability to defeat any enemy in one strike – into a feature-length film is to make it a comedy. Hopefully, that is the intention of the screenwriting duo behind Venom, who have been tapped by Sony to adapt it, and Fast and Furious movies helmer Justin Lin, who has been brought on to direct, according to EW.
My Hero Academia (TBA)
My Hero Academia is a popular anime inspired by a popular manga that follows a powerless boy who enrolls in a special school to learn how to be a superhero. In 2018, Legendary Entertainment purchased the rights to develop a live-action adaptation that, according to THR, will be released on Netflix.
El Muerto (TBA)
The first Latino character to lead a live-action Marvel movie is among the last you might expect to be chosen for such an honor, having only a handful of appearances in the comics to his name so far. However, El Muerto – a solo film about a luchador and Spider-Man adversary – was recently pulled from Sony's release schedule after musician and Bullet Train cast member Bad Bunny dropped out of the title role.
Whether you put your stock in the Marvel Universe (or Marvel Multiverse), the DC Universe (or DC Multiverse), or even neither, there is sure to be something hitting the big screen at some point that will satisfy your craving for a fun superhero adventure.
