Have a Happy New (Superhero) Year!
The year 2016 can be called the ‘Year of superheroes.’ For as many as eight fantastic movies (and one featuring a very human hero) are getting ready to take your breath away.
While there are some concerns that moviegoers may face a glut of superhero films, fanboys and girls are rubbing their fists in glee. Without further ado, here are the ‘anticipated nine.’
Which one are you looking to see?
1. Deadpool
Deadpool, simply put, is an anti-hero film and something that Marvel Studios is attempting for the first time. This may probably be the only R-rated movie from their stable.
Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) volunteers for the ‘Weapon X’ programme in the hope of curing his cancer. While he gains accelerated healing powers, it also leaves him disfigured and a little insane.
He dons a red and black costume and plots revenge against Ajax, the man responsible for destroying his life and everything he held dear.
Director: Tim Miller
Expected release date: February 12.
2. Batman V Superman : Dawn of Justice
The movie starts off from where the Superman reboot ended. Superman’s fight against General Zod leaves Metropolis in ruins. He also gets detractors and admirers in equal measure.
Batman (Ben Affleck), Gotham City’s masked vigilante, sees him as a threat to humankind. They face off. Meanwhile, Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), an evil genius, formulates plans for worldwide destruction. The two superheroes must put their differences behind to stop the maverick villain. Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) comes in smooth things over.
Director: Zack Snyder
Expected release: March 25.
3. Captain America: Civil War
When the Avengers assemble, mass destruction almost always follows. The huge collateral damage that occurs during a fight in Sokovia prompts the government to order all superheroes to come under their strict control.
While Captain America (Chris Evans) doesn’t trust politicians, Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr) agrees to submit to further scrutiny. When their conflicting viewpoints clash, other avengers are forced to take sides and fight each other.
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Expected release: May 6.
4. X-Men: Apocalypse
This is touted as the mother of all X-Men movies.
It is the story of En Sabah Nur (Oscar Isaac), the oldest and most powerful of mutants, who wants to cleanse humankind and set up a new world order.
While some mutants like Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and Psylocke (Olivia Munn) find Apocalypse fascinating, others, like Professor X (James McAvoy) and The Beast (Nicholas Hoult), fight the menace.
When the unstoppable force meets an unmovable object, fireworks are bound to happen. The trailer has also helped whet appetites.
Director: Bryan Singer
Expected release: May 27.
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Four mutated turtle brothers — Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo — hate bullies and does anything to stand up to them. They have saved their favourite city from evil before, but things are soon going to get even more dangerous.
Foot Clan leader Shredder (Brian Tee) and Dr Baxter Stockman (Tyler Perry) create Bebop and Rocksteady — a mutated humanoid boar and rhinoceros — to defeat the turtles.
Their journalist friend April O’Neil and street vigilante Casey Jones (Stephen Amell) are going to help them in their quest.
Director: Dave Green
Expected release: June 3.
6. The Legend of Tarzan
This is not a superhero movie in the strictest sense of the word, but it does deal with a former human ape-man.
It’s been several years since Tarzan left the jungles behind him for the city. He is now John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke and he has his lovely wife Jane by his side.
When he is invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, he becomes part of a deadly plan of greed and revenge. And he goes back to doing what does best — become the king of apes.
Director: David Yates
Expected release: June 30.
7. Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad is a group of super villians who are secretly released from prison to attempt the impossible and neutralise grave threats. The villians, consisting of Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), among others, are kept in control by surgically implanted micro-bombs.
Suicide Squad is a big experiment, one that has attracted a lot of attention in recent times.
Director: David Ayer
Expected release: August 5.
8. Gambit
Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit, is a thief whose mutant powers allows him to control objects’ kinetic energy. He uses the energy by throwing playing cards and getting devastating effects.
Gambit, who first appeared as a supporting character in 2009 in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is finally getting a spin-off movie. Channing Tatum will be playing the lead role.
Director: Doug Liman
Expected release: October 7 (Could go into 2017 as well).
9. DOCTOR STRANGE
After narrowly surviving a car accident, world-famous neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) discovers a hidden world of mystical powers and alternate dimensions.
His professional career is in ruins and he goes on a journey of discovery. The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) teaches him magic and he faces a powerful rival in Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor).
Director: Scott Derrickson
Expected release: November 4.
Can they bring back Kickass
I want to see "more" of The Black Widow and Captain Marvel :O)
Time to do away with Batman and X-Men... The Avengers rule ....