2020 has plenty of comic book movies for us superhero fans, but which ones are the most eagerly anticipated?
2019 was one heck of a year for the comic book movies landscape. All you have to do is look to the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame just to get a hint of just how big last year was for the genre. However, the year had so much more to offer than just that admittedly awe-inspiring spectacle, giving us unbelievably enjoyable offerings like Shazam! and Spider-Man: Far From Home, the MCU’s first ever female-led big-screen adventure in Captain Marvel and Warner Bros.’ game-changing (and Oscar-nominated) Joker.
Yes, it’s safe to say that the comic book genre isn’t just alive and well, but it’s more popular than ever as these superhero showdowns continue to break new ground and reach new heights in Hollywood. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what’s on the horizon, shall we?
2020 looks set to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps, with eight comic book movies set to hit the big screen throughout the year – three of which are female-led. That being said, just how anticipated are people for all of these films? Let’s find out as we rank all of 2020’s upcoming comic book flicks by anticipation.
8. Bloodshot
Release date: March 13, 2020
This Vin Diesel-led action flick follows a marine who is resurrected after he and his wife were murdered. However, he’s been changed forever (in more ways than one) as his body is enhanced with nanotechnology, making him a deadly super-soldier. However, when his memories come flooding back to him, he sets off on a mission of revenge to kill the man who took his wife from him.
While Bloodshot sounds like it has the makings of a compelling and gritty showdown, the Valiant Comics-based flick runs the risk of falling below everyone’s radar simply because it isn’t inspired by a Marvel or DC Comics hero. Here’s hoping that this is not the case.
7. The New Mutants
Release date: April 3, 2020
You could be forgiven for forgetting that The New Mutants was even happening, given the amount of time it has languished in pre-release hell, but 20th Century Studios are finally unveiling their little-horror-that-could to the rest of the world early this year.
It’s hard to know what to expect from this as it’s rather alien compared to what comic book fans are used to seeing from the genre’s big-screen films these days, but given how successful the subversive Joker was , there’s a chance this might make a solid dent in the market… if people are still interested in seeing it after all that rescheduling.
6. Morbius
Release date: July 31, 2020
Of all of this year’s comic book movies, Morbius is perhaps the most intriguing. The second solo project in Sony’s Marvel Universe, it stars Jared Leto as the titular vampire – in what might just be one of the finest instances of casting in the history of comic book movies – and, in many people’s minds offers him a chance to nail a comic book role after his Joker in Suicide Squad didn’t receive the expected response.
Though there were initially pretty low expectations for the film (for some reason), its trailer surprised people – so here’s hoping the film will too.
5. Venom 2
Release date: October 2, 2020
Venom was one of the more divisive comic book movies in recent memory as the film was shredded by critics and yet enjoyed by fans for the off-the-wall and unintentionally hilarious CGI-showdown that it was. And the fans’ appreciation for it showed, as the film because something of a surprise hit, exceeding expectations to gross over $800 million at the box office.
The question is: Was it simply curiosity, or can the second Tom Hardy-led Venom match its predecessor’s success? One thing that could work in its favor is Spider-Man. With all the uncertainty surrounding the use of Sony’s wall-crawler in the MCU, it’s likely that fans will be interested to see if there are any more hints of a potential crossover between the two properties in Venom 2.
4. The Eternals
Release date: November 6, 2020
The MCU moves into uncharted territory at the conclusion of the year as it officially kicks off the linear narrative of its fourth phase with The Eternals. Based on the Marvel characters of the same name, the film will follow the group of heroes as they attempt to protect the world from The Deviants.
Very little is currently known about the plot of the film as everything has, thus far, been kept hush-hush but given the source material, the MCU’s knack for strong ensemble pieces and the stellar cast (which includes Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Kit Harrington and Angelina Jolie), you can rest assured expectations for this one remain high.
3. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Release date: February 7, 2020
After receiving praise for her performance in the otherwise panned Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie will return to the streets of Gotham as the joyously unhinged Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey. However, a run-in with Black Mask (Ewan McGregor) results in her becoming one of the city’s most wanted individuals.
But when she crosses paths with Dinah Lance/Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell), Helena Bertinelli/Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez) , the quartet team up to take down Black Mask.
Fans are excited for Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn) for a number of reasons, but that title essentially reveals two of them. With Robbie’s Quinn back on our screens and the cinematic debut of the iconic Birds of Prey, fans are undoubtedly in for a treat with this one.
2. Black Widow
Release date: May 1, 2020
The story continues for the MCU’s Natasha Romanoff – well, her pre-Avengers: Endgame story anyway – as Black Widow finally gets the chance to go it alone in her self-titled feature film later this year. Taking place after Captain America: Civil War, the film will delve into how the character lived her life while on the run.
Taking into account how much fans adore the character and the fact that they’ve been waiting years to see her headline her own solo film – not-to-mention the fact that it’s technically the first film in the MCU’s Phase Four – it’s highly likely that Black Widow will have no problem continuing Marvel Studios’ reign of dominance over the box office.
1. Wonder Woman 1984
Release date: June 5, 2020
The story of Wonder Woman‘s success in 2017 has almost become as legendary as the Amazonian warrior herself. A film that, in no uncertain terms, saved DC’s Extended Universe from extinction, it highlighted that Warner Bros. cinematic shared universe was capable of pulling off a good film. But the truth is that Wonder Woman was so much more than a good film; it was an inspiring and empowering tale that pushed boundaries and ensured that the character’s solo film debut was worth the decades-long wait.
Naturally, we’re all excited to see if Diana of Themyscira is capable of doing it all again. Wonder Woman 1984‘s first trailer certainly suggests so, and given that the film is set in the ’80s – and that Chris Pine’s Steve Trevor is somehow set to return – we could be in for yet another magical period piece from Gal Gadot’s uplifting heroine.
As Ares learned the hard way, you should never bet against Wonder Woman.
Which 2020 comic book movies are you most excited for? Are you looking forward to all of them? Let us know in the comments below!