Comic book adaptations have become much bigger, bolder and, let’s face it, better than what many fans had to put up with in the past.
From low budget attempts, the comic book movie has become the driving force in Hollywood entertainment – thanks in large part to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) spawning billion dollar hit after hit.
With the movies turning more people into comic book fans than ever before, let’s check out the biggest adaptations coming this year…
Most anticipated comic book movies of 2022
The Batman
Naturally, Robert Pattinson (R-Patz) stepping into the role of Batman (R-Batz) is the top of many comic book fans’ lists this year.
Some are excited and some are excited… to judge/mock and likely hate everything about it.
As such a popular character, people’s portrayals of the Caped Crusader will never appease everyone. George Clooney’s (Bat nipples) campy take on the character might have been close to Adam West and the TV show of the ‘60s, but it was widely panned by critics and fans alike. But, at the same time, Ben Affleck’s brooding, moody take for the DC Universe equally left fans wanting something… else.
How will R-Patz measure up? Fans will be flocking to find out this year.
The Batman is released on 4 March, 2022.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
The first Aquaman was a massive hit for the DCEU, becoming its highest-grossing movie, so it’s more than likely that the same winning formula will be applied to the sequel.
When it comes to the plot and other details of the sequel, they’ve been keeping their cards close to Jason Momoa’s incredibly toned chest, so fans will have to find out more when the film is released in December.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
A mixture of excitement and sadness lingers over the upcoming Black Panther sequel following the death of Chadwick Boseman, the film’s first Black Panther/T’Challa.
While the supervillain Namor hasn’t been confirmed to be the film’s main antagonist, many fans have speculated he might appear since the story will look into outreaches of Wakanda.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be released in cinemas in November 2022.
Morbius
Fans have been a sucker for Spidey’s vampire villain for years, and now he’s finally getting his time to shine on the big screen.
Suffering from a rare blood disease, Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) tries a dangerous cure that afflicts him with a form of vampirism. Along with this supernatural curse, Morbius gains superhuman abilities but none of the superstitious weaknesses associated with vampires.
Coronavirus has sucked (last vampire pun, we promise) the fun out of the film for some time, causing major delays but it is now expected to be released in April 2022.
Black Adam
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson will step into the role of DC’s Black Adam in what is both a spinoff and a prequel of the 2019 Shazam! movie.
Black Adam first appeared as a one-time villain for the first issue of Fawcett Comics’ The Marvel Family comic book (December 1945). However, Black Adam was revived as a recurring character after DC Comics first licensed and then acquired the Fawcett characters and began publishing Shazam (formerly Captain Marvel) Family stories under the title Shazam! in the 1970s.
Black Adam was a corrupted, ancient Egyptian predecessor of Captain Marvel, who fought his way to modern times to challenge the hero and his Marvel Family associates.
Black Adam is expected to be released in July 2022.
The Flash
Despite The Flash being the main focus of The Flash (unsurprisingly), fans are most excited for this movie as it will see the return of Michael Keaton as Batman.
DCEU’s The Flash is set to introduce the multiverse to the franchise, which will see Michael Keaton’s Batman jump into this universe to become its primary Caped Crusader, reclaiming the role he made famous in 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns.
The Flash will look into Barry’s attempt to save his mother’s life and mark the return of Ezra Miller as the titular character after five years.
The Flash movie is coming out in November 2022.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Fresh from his involvement in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange is conjuring up his own standalone sequel this year.
Fans are also excited to see Sam Raimi returning to comic book movies after over a decade: the director remains a popular figure due to the original Spider-Man movie trilogy.
In the new Doctor Strange movie, the Doctor will be traversing different realities when Baron Mordo will mess things up, with the implication that Strange will have to team up with an evil version of himself.
Wanda aka the Scarlet Witch will also appear back in the MCU for the first time since appearing in WandaVision.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is out in May 2022.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Thor has been on quite the journey throughout the MCU. From his original movies to joining the Avengers to then giving it all up and last being seen heading off somewhere with the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Mighty Thor is returning with a fourth solo movie this year.
Director Taika Waititi confirmed the film would adapt elements from Jason Aaron’s run on the Mighty Thor comic book, which sees Portman’s character Jane Foster take on the mantle and powers of Thor whilst suffering from cancer.
Thor: Love and Thunder comes out in July 2022.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
While Spider-Man in the MCU recently brought back Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parkers to pow wow with Tom Holland, there’s another Spidey who wasn’t involved in that multiverse chaos – Miles Morales.
The first Miles Morales fronted Spider-Man film, Into the Spider-Verse, surprised just about everyone to go on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Picture and expectations are sky-high for the follow-up.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse comes out in October.
