As we welcome the new year, the superhero movie industry is gearing up for an exciting lineup of new releases. With Marvel Studios entering its fifth phase of its connected universe and the renamed DC Studios and its new co-head, James Gunn, working to make a comeback, the competition for the top spot in comic-book cinema is heating up. Sony also continues to create villain spin-off movies without Spider-Man in hopes of establishing its own successful franchise.
The question remains, will 2023 be the year where Marvel Studios finally sees a worthy challenger? Will the DC heroes on the big screen be able to make a significant impact this year and survive James Gunn’s future plans? Is a Kraven the Hunter movie really in the works?
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the industry and bringing you all the latest updates and news. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the 2023 superhero movie slate.
1. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”
Release Date: 17th February
Ant-Man, Marvel’s comedic franchise, is back with its third installment “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” set to release in February 2023. This release marks the return of lead actor Paul Rudd and the debut of the villainous Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors. Kang, a time-traveling supervillain, first appeared in the Disney Plus series “Loki” and is set to play a pivotal role in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As the first movie of Phase 5, “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” is expected to have a significant impact on the MCU. The plot centers around Ant-Man, the Wasp, and other characters as they become trapped in the Quantum Realm, where they encounter Kang the Conqueror. Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp, is already familiar with Kang from her prior imprisonment there. The question remains, will they be able to escape?
Fans have been eagerly waiting for the release of this film for four years and it is set to be one of the first movies of 2023. We will keep you updated with all the latest news and information about this highly-anticipated film.
2. “Shazam 2! Fury of the Gods”
Release Date: 17th March
Get ready for the highly-anticipated sequel, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” as can call as Shazam 2 set to release in theaters on March 17, 2023. Fans of the original “Shazam” (2019) and the upcoming “Black Adam” (2022) will be excited for this new installment.
Although the plot details have not been officially released, fan theories suggest that the film will focus on six powerful gods represented by the acronym Shazam; Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Achilles, Zeus, and Mercury.
The cast will see the return of Asher Angel as Billy Batson, who transforms into an adult superhero played by Zachary Levi when he says “Shazam.” Joining the cast are Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu as the furious goddesses Hespera and Kalypso, who are not happy with Billy and his sibling superheroes having access to the power of the gods.
Stay tuned for more updates and information on this highly-anticipated sequel.
3. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Release Date: 5th May
The Guardians of the Galaxy are back for one last mission in the highly-anticipated “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” set to release on May 5th, 2023. James Gunn, who wrote and directed the previous two films, returns to bring the series to a close. This release comes six years after the last standalone Guardians film.
Marvel Studios has hinted at an emotional storyline for the final installment of the series, but details of the plot have not yet been confirmed. However, fans can expect the same thrilling cosmic adventures that the franchise is known for.
It is worth noting that this will be the last movie for this iteration of the team. James Gunn is now the head of DC Studios, and given his strong involvement in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, it is unlikely that Marvel Studios would ask another filmmaker to continue the series. Additionally, Gunn has hinted that a major character will die in “Vol. 3”, making it an emotional farewell for fans of the characters such as Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
4. “Spider Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
Release Date: 2nd June
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is Sony’s animated sequel to 2018’s Academy Award-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” set to release in the middle of the year 2023. This sequel will once again send Miles Morales, Spider-Gwen, and Peter B. Parker on a multiverse adventure, but this time mainly taking place in Gwen Stacy’s universe. Fans are looking forward to the possibility of seeing other versions of Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, or even Spider-Hams in the movie.
The lead arachnid kid will be portrayed by Shameik Moore as Miles Morales, a teenage African American/Puerto Rican Spider-Man. Hailee Steinfeld will also be returning as Spider-Gwen and will be joining Miles in facing off against the wall-crawler of the future, Spider-Man 2099 played by Oscar Isaac. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is Sony’s No.1 solo Spider-Man franchise, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release of this highly-anticipated sequel.
5. “The Flash Movie”
Release Date: 23rd June
“The Flash” is a beloved superhero who has appeared on the big screen once in “Justice League” and has primarily been featured on TV shows. However, in June of 2023, DC is set to release a standalone “The Flash” film.
The plot of “The Flash Movie” is centered around Barry Allen’s attempts to alter the past in order to change the future through Flashpoint. The film will also introduce Supergirl and Barry’s father, Henry Allen.
Previously, “The Flash” was set to be a big deal as it was rumored to be a time-travel story that would serve as a reset for future DC movies. However, it may now be a goodbye flick, as James Gunn has made it clear that most of the Zack Snyder Justice League era will not be a part of his new vision at DC Studios. Despite this, “The Flash” has managed to outrun recent controversies surrounding lead actor Ezra Miller and is still set to mark the return of Michael Keaton as Batman, which could be a memorable moment in geek culture in 2023.
6. “The Marvels”
Release Date: 28th July
“Captain Marvel” fans can finally look forward to “The Marvels” releasing in July 2023, after a wait of four long years. This sequel will feature Carol Danvers on another adventure.
In “Ms. Marvel” episode 6, Marvel had already hinted at the events of “The Marvels” through the post-credits scene, where Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel switched places due to Kamala’s mysterious bangle. This connection to Kamala is what will bring Carol and Monica together in this sequel.
“The Marvels” is not only the sequel to “Captain Marvel” but also serves as a mini-Avengers movie, connecting to two other Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney Plus series. Joining Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel will be Monica Rambeau played by Teyonah Parris from “WandaVision” and Kamala Khan played by Iman Vellani from “Ms. Marvel”.
7. “Blue Beetle”
Release Date: 28th July
“Blue Beetle” is set to be DC’s first feature film centered around a Latin superhero. Following in the footsteps of “Black Panther”, the cast and crew are also predominantly Latin.
The film tells the story of Jaime Reyes, a Mexican-American boy who discovers a mechanical scarab that fuses with his spine, creating a powerful exoskeleton suit. As he learns to navigate the abilities that come with the suit, Jaime must also grapple with the fact that the scarab has its own consciousness and sometimes takes control of his body.
Starring Xolo Maridueña from “Cobra Kai” as Jaime Reyes, this marks DC’s first Latino superhero movie. The success of “Blue Beetle” will determine if it will become a franchise, with the potential for sequels. However, if the film has a strong cultural impact, it may be added to the future slate by James Gunn, the co-head of DC Studios.
8. “Kraven the Hunter”
Release Date: 6th October
In October 2023, “Kraven the Hunter” is set to hit theaters. This is the latest addition to Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, following Venom and Morbius. The plot for this movie is currently unknown, but early reports suggest it may be a retelling of the popular comic book storyline, “Kraven’s Last Hunt.” However, there’s been no confirmation of whether or not Spider-Man will be featured in the film.
Sony is making efforts to turn Spider-Man villains into successful movie franchises. While the Venom franchise has had mixed success, the vampire flick Morbius did not perform as well as the studio hoped. “Kraven the Hunter” stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the lead role and will be the next attempt to change the narrative. Will it be able to stand out among the many Spider-Man movies being produced, or will the animated and Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man movies continue to be the only ones that matter? Only time will tell.
9. “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom”
Release Date: 25th December
The release date for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is yet to be announced but it is one of the most highly anticipated DC movies of 2023. The plot of the movie is currently under wraps, but it is said to follow Aquaman as he attempts to save his beloved Atlantis and the rest of the world from disaster by trusting a dangerous ally.
The first “Aquaman” movie was a box office success, grossing over $1.14 billion globally. This sequel is expected to bring the same level of action and adventure as the first movie. It is also speculated that this could be the last movie in the Aquaman franchise, as there are changes happening at DC Studios. Fans can expect to see a new actor play Aquaman in future movies, but Jason Momoa’s portrayal of the character will always be remembered.
