Holding out for more superheroes
THE Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers. The Amazing Spider-Man. Been there, done that. Where is our next comic-book superhero fix coming from?
THE Dark Knight Rises. The Avengers. The Amazing Spider-Man. Been there, done that. Where is our next comic-book superhero fix coming from?
-- IRON MAN 3
April 2013
Robert Downey Jr, Jon Favreau (now just an exec producer and actor), Don Cheadle and new writer-director Shane Black stole Comic-Con last weekend, showing footage of Stark HQ being destroyed and Iron Man falling into the ocean. Of where the film will take Tony Stark, Downey said: "We tried to be practical, in a post-Avengers world. What are his challenges now? What are some limitations that might be placed on him? And what sort of threat would have him, as usual, ignore those limitations?" Ben Kingsley is the major villain, Mandarin, while Guy Pearce will also cause a few problems.
-- MAN OF STEEL
June 13, 201
Brandon Routh's 2006 effort become a punchline, so now it's over to Brit Henry Cavill (Immortals) to don the red undies in an attempt to reboot Superman. At Comic-Con, Cavill said he wants his Clark Kent to be a more "modern version ... for everyone who hasn't quite experienced what Superman can be, hasn't gone through comics books, hasn't felt that world and seen how it changed."
His nemeses this time will be fellow Kryptonians General Zod (Michael Shannon) and Faora (Antje Traue). Our Russell Crowe is Superman's distant daddy Jor-El, while Kevin Costner is his early father, Jonathan Kent. Directed by Zak "Watchmen" Snyder. See the first trailer in front of The Dark Knight Rises.
-- LEGO: THE PIECE OF RESISTANCE
April 2014
Henry Cavill is not the only young buck aiming to fill Superman's tights. Channing Tatum is in line to voice the Man of Steel (or is that Man of Plastic?) in this animation about a regular old LEGO figure called on to save the universe. Will Arnett is mooted to voice Batman. The movie is being steered by Cloudly With a Chance of Meatballs directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller and may also feature some of LEGO's other licensed characters. Harry Potter meets Superman, anyone?
-- ANT-MAN
2014
This Marvel character (a biochemist who can change size) is being taken to the big screen by Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright - so expect a healthy dose of laughs. Wright unveiled some test footage at Comic-Con last week, saying, "Ant-Man will kick your ass, one inch at a time". But he has to make The World's End before truly moving on to this project.
-- CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
April 2014
Mere moments after Marvel Studio head Kevin Feige announced it at Comic-Con, the geek patrol had already read an entire storyline into that sub-title. Apparently, we'll learn the real story behind Cap (Chris Evans) and his WWII sidekick Bucky, who will be revived in the present day ... minus the old friendliness.
-- JUSTICE LEAGUE
2015
This film would bring the likes of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Batman together. A George Miller helmed version (which had already cast Megan Gale and Armie Hammer) fell over in 2008 and The Avengers rushed into the vaccuum. Warner Bros recently approached Chris Nolan about but he has since said he'll have no involvement in Justice League.
A script is said to be written and Warner Bros have promised to lay out their plans for DC movies after The Dark Knight Rises is released. Zak Snyder further raised hopes at Comic-Con when he said: "Superman is the jewel in the DC crown. What we're trying to do is get his house in order, and then who knows what's possible."