New Movies and Series Superhero

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II joins the MCU as Wonder Man, the title character in the upcoming Disney+ series. The super-powered character has been both a hero and a villain in the comics, and has tangled with and been a member of the Avengers. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton and “Hawkeye” co-producer Andrew Guest are developing the series.

Series expected streaming on Disney+

After her introduction in James Gunn’s Superman last year, Milly Alcock returns as Kara Zor-El, the Man of Steel’s hot mess of a cousin. Reunited with her dog Krypto, Kara set off on a “murderous quest for revenge,” teaming up with DC fan favorite Lobo (played by former Aquaman Jason Momoa). The vibes feel very Gunn-like, but the man behind the camera is director Craig Gillespie, whose previous work includes Cruella, I, Tonya, and Lars and the Real Girl.

In theaters June 26, 2026

When we last saw Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Dr. Strange had cast a spell erasing Peter Parker from the world’s memories. Four years later, the web slinger fights crime anonymously as he pines for MJ (Zendaya) and his old life. But new threats abound, including the return of Scorpion from Spider-Man: Homecoming and a frightening evolution of his powers. Lending their expertise are Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Frank Castle/Punisher (Jon Bernthal), and we’re anxious to see how confirmed cast member Sadie Sink factors into the excitement.

In theaters July 31, 2026

It’s been years in the making, but now that Superman has firmly established the basis for James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Universe, “Lanterns” is set to reintroduce audiences to iconic DC superhero Green Lantern, who was first introduced to moviegoers in the 2011 flop starring Ryan Reynolds. The eight-episode miniseries stars Kyle Chandler (Coach Taylor from “Friday Night Lights”) as veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan, and Aaron Pierre (who we loved in Netflix’s Rebel Ridge) as his protégé and newest member of the Green Lantern Corps.

Series premieres on HBO Max Aug. 15, 2026

When you learn the maestro Mike Flanagan is making a “folk-body horror” movie for the DC Universe, you start getting an idea of the creative freedom James Gunn and Peter Safran have as they co-chair a new direction for the constellation of superheroes at Warner Bros. As part of the rebooted DC Universe’s first chapter (“Gods and Monsters”) — which includes Gunn’s Superman, this year’s Supergirl, but not The Batman and “The Penguin” — Clayface stars Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries as an actor who gains shapeshifting ability when his body turns to clay. Costarring are Naomi Ackie as a “fringe” doctor, and Max Minghella as her Gotham City detective boyfriend.

In post-production and expected Oct. 23, 2026

The biggest news out of San Diego Comic-Con last year was easily Marvel’s shocker that Robert Downey Jr. will return to the MCU, this time as the legendary villain Doctor Doom. If you’re scratching your head wondering how the deceased Iron Man actor can play a different character, watch our theories here. Doomsday replaces the previously planned Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but will still serve as a the lead-in film to the final film in Phase Six of the MCU, Avengers: Secret Wars.

Expected in theaters Dec. 18, 2026

After the 2023 writers strike, multiple production delays, and a removal from Sony’s release calendar, all we know for sure is that it’s going to be awhile (possibly 2027) until we get some resolution to the reality-breaking cliffhanger Across the Spider-Verse ended on. We can wait, though, because we have faith in Lord and Miller. And with “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” and upcoming titles like “Spider-Noir” and even Spider-Man 4 on the horizon, we’ve got more than enough Spidey to keep us going as we count down the days.

In production and expected in theaters Jun. 20, 2027

Finally we get to see more of what James Rhodes (aka Rhodey, aka War Machine) can do with his own Marvel movie. Initially developed as a series, Armor Wars should be a direct lead out from “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.” Fans have been assured the story will address matters around Tony Stark’s passing, and what could happen if Stark’s technology were to land in the wrong hands. Apart from Don Cheadle, no further casting has been announced, but “Black Monday” writer and co-star Yassir Lester is one of the few creators still on board after the studio’s pivot to a feature film.

In production

The follow-up to Matt Reeves‘ The Batman will see Robert Pattinson don the cowl once again, but not until 2027 (!). No plot details yet, but several villains’ names are rumored, including Two-Face and the Joker, who was teased in the first film. Though not part of the official DCU, Pattinson’s Batman will be part of the “DC Elseworlds” category (along with projects like Todd Phillips’ Joker movies).

In pre-production and expected in theaters Oct. 1, 2027

Batman will make his DCU debut in the upcoming The Brave and the Bold, where Robin will appear on the big screen for the first time since 1997’s Batman & Robin. Based on the comic run by Grant Morrison, the film will be helmed by The Flash director Andy Muschietti and is unrelated to the Matt Reeves/Robert Pattinson Batfilms.

This DC Universe project is in development at Warner Bros.

It’s been 20 years since Keanu Reeves first introduced moviegoers to the Hellblazer adaptation, and in that time Constantine developed its own cult following. Unfortunately for fans, it’s been a slow development process for Constantine 2, but that doesn’t mean enthusiasm for the movie has died down. After delays caused by 2023’s Hollywood labor disputes, it was recently reported that director Francis Lawrence and writer Akiva Goldsman have completed a script and the project sounds as if it’s back on track.

In pre-production

For an uncomfortably long time, it seemed uncertain whether a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings would happen. As Disney overhauled the MCU during Phase 4, this project, along with others on the Marvel whiteboard, felt like it could be backburned — or worse, mothballed entirely. Both Simu Liu and director Destin Daniel Cretton have confirmed the movie will be made, though, with Cretton also making Spider-Man 4, it’s hard to know when it might get off the ground. But, we mean, the movie has to pit Shang-Chi against Xialing, since his sister now leads the Ten Rings, right? And what will the multi-verse look like three to five years from now? If you’re a fan, now’s the time to get your theories together.

In pre-production

Expect a “simple, clean gothic horror” from the latest iteration of DC’s Swamp Thing. Director James Mangold (A Complete Unknown, Logan) has assured fans that his take on the tragic monster-hero will be a standalone film with no connection to the larger DCU. It’s not clear yet which version of Swamp Thing will appear in Mangold’s movie. Some fans are betting on a new telling of the Alec Holland story (scientist + chemicals + explosion = super creature), which was most recently seen in DC’s short-lived “Swamp Thing” TV series. But we suspect Mangold may base his tale on the original Swamp Thing from 1971’s “House of Secrets,” which features a love triangle, a betrayal, and bittersweet revenge.

This DC Universe project is in development at Warner Bros.

Back in 2021, Keanu Reeves released his comic “Brzrkr” and instantly broke records. The first volume sold 615,000 copies at publication, making it the highest-selling launch in 30 years for Boom! Studios. All those good vibes made it inevitable a movie wouldn’t be too far behind, and within the same month, Netflix announced the good news that they would be developing both a live-action feature and a spin-off anime series starring Reeves. Things have been pretty quiet since then, with the most recent update coming from co-writer Mattson Tomlin (“Terminator Zero,” The Batman II), who revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2024 that he had delivered the second draft of the feature and was named showrunner for the anime series.

In pre-production

We didn’t know we needed it either, but the minute Jensen Ackles announced a new spin-off in The Boys universe, we were hooked. Set in 1950s New York, “Vought Rising” will reveal the origins of the Vought Corporation through a twisted murder mystery. Starring Ackles as his gruff midcentury supe Solider Boy and Aya Cash as the fanatically fascist Stormfront, the new series looks like it could be the darkest entry into the franchise yet.

In pre-production

Back in 2017, Todd McFarlane teamed up with Blumhouse for a hard-R reboot of his iconic anti-hero, the murdered-mercenary-turned-Hellspawn, Spawn. With a draft script finally in place, Jamie Foxx cast as the lead, and the search for a director in the works, the momentum has us excited that King Spawn‘s “In Development” status will soon shift to “In Production.”

In development

Producer Don Murphy (Natural Born Killers, From Hell) is planning a return to the world of super-powered literary characters with a reboot of the comic series The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, 20 years after Murphy’s first adaptation hit theaters. There’s been no new information from Twentieth Century Studios since the initial announcement back in 2022, but as far as we know the movie is still slated for release on Hulu and reported to boast a script from writer Justin Haythe, best known for features like Revolutionary Road and  A Cure for Wellness.

In development