Despite a batch of superheroes currently showing off their powers on television in shows like Heroes Reborn, Agents of Shield, The Flash, Arrow, Jessica Jones, Daredevil and the all-new Legends of Tomorrow, Hollywood’s obsession with superhero films isn’t dying down anytime soon. With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice releasing later this month, the spotlight is firmly back on superheroes.
CinemaScope
Deadpool paves way for R-rated superheroes while Batman gears up to fight Superman, later this month. Instep takes a look.
Despite a batch of superheroes currently showing off their powers on television in shows like Heroes Reborn, Agents of Shield, The Flash, Arrow, Jessica Jones, Daredevil and the all-new Legends of Tomorrow, Hollywood’s obsession with superhero films isn’t dying down anytime soon. With Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice releasing later this month, the spotlight is firmly back on superheroes.
In Hollywood, there is however a division. While mainstream superheroes like Batman, Superman, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk and many others represent the suitable for children, family-friendly superheroes, the recent release and success of Deadpool (which features Ryan Reynolds as the protagonist) could pave way for R-rated superheroes.
Zack Snyder, the director of the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, will release the film in two versions: the watered-down version will hit cinemas later this month, while the unrated version of the film will release on Bluray later. And this could just be the start. The stand-alone Wolverine films, a shoot-off of the mutant series X-Men that features Hugh Jackman, is all set to return one more time in a third film and the Deadpool effect is present in it. The first official poster of the film features Wolverine giving the ‘middle claw’ to well, everyone. The film, according to a report in the Hollywood Reporter, will feature bad language and a fair amount of violence.
In the next four years, over 30 superhero films are scheduled to release. If that isn’t an overdrive, we don’t know what is. How many of them will emerge victorious on box office, and with critics, remains to be seen but the battle has already begin.
Marvel’s multiple superhero starrer, The Avengers, is on the cards to return for a third time but before that the studio will give the world Captain America: Civil War which ironically will feature more superheroes than the last two Avengers’ films and will see Iron Man and Captain America go up against each other.
The year 2016 will also see several prolific stars making their debut in superhero avatars. Olivia Munn joins the ranks of X-Men as Apocalypse brings back Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy in the roles of Magneto and Professor Charles Xavier respectively. Jared Leto’s terrifying turn as Joker will be seen in Suicide Squad while Benedict Cumberbatch will star in Marvel’s Doctor Strange as Sorcerer Supreme.
Wonder Women, an Untitled Spiderman Reboot, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, The Flash, Avengers: Infinity War Part 1, Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 and an Untitled Ben Affleck Batman film will also release in the coming years which means prepare for a seriously annoying overdoze.
For now though, all eyes are on Zack Snyder’s Batman film which features an all-star cast that includes Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot making their debut as Batman and Wonder Woman, respectively, Jeremy Irons as Alfred and a menacing Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luthor.
