Both Marvel and DC face crucial tests in 2026, potentially defining the future of superhero movies. While 2025 wasn’t a failure, superhero films didn’t achieve the box office dominance they once had. Films like Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps performed well overall, but fell short of the incredibly high expectations for the genre. For Marvel, 2026 will determine if it can regain its momentum, and for DC, it will reveal whether the new DC Universe can expand beyond the vision of James Gunn, with several projects led by different creative teams.
2026 promises a lot for superhero fans! We’re excited for the return of shows like X-Men ’97 and the arrival of a Batman movie focusing on a less famous villain. Plus, Robert Downey Jr. will be back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this time as a major villain in Avengers: Doomsday. Beyond Marvel and DC, we’re also looking forward to series like Invincible and The Boys. This list covers the confirmed releases we’re most hyped about, though we’re eagerly awaiting Season 3 of My Adventures with Superman too, and hoping it arrives in 2026!
8
‘The Boys’ Season 5
Release Date: April 8
Prime Video
The popular show The Boys will be ending after five seasons. It premiered in 2019, right when superhero movies and TV shows were incredibly popular – between the releases of Avengers: Endgame and the major Arrowverse crossover event. Now, seven years later, the critically acclaimed series based on the comic book The Boys is set to conclude its run.
As a huge fan, I’m so excited for the final season of The Boys! It sounds like they’re really pulling out all the stops – not only are we finally going to see Butcher and Homelander go head-to-head, but the characters from Gen V are going to play a big part, which was hinted at in their finale. And get this – it’s going to be a Supernatural reunion! Erik Kripke is bringing back Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, but apparently Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins will be showing up too, though their roles are still a secret. It’s going to be epic!
7
‘Wonder Man’
Release Date: Jan. 27
Disney+
Marvel has a strong lineup of live-action shows planned for Disney+ in 2026, including the return of Daredevil: Born Again and the new series Vision Quest. However, Wonder Man, set to premiere January 27th with eight episodes, seems particularly exciting. This series will reportedly be a satirical look at the superhero genre, and even Marvel itself, offering commentary on things like superhero movie burnout, constant reboots, and the challenges of being an actor in Hollywood.
The marketing for Wonder Man has been remarkably clever. For example, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II appeared as his character, Simon Williams, at the premiere of The Fantastic Four, and Ben Kingsley reprised his role as Trevor Slattery in a podcast ad. Similar to She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Wonder Man seems like a lighthearted comedy with superhero elements, offering a standalone adventure within the Marvel Cinematic Universe that could eventually tie into larger storylines after Avengers: Doomsday.
6
‘Clayface’
Release Date: Sept. 11
DC Comics
The DC Universe’s third movie is taking a big risk. Instead of another typical superhero blockbuster or a team-up film, it will focus on Clayface, a horror movie centered around a Batman villain. While characters like the Joker and Penguin have had their own films, Clayface is different. It’s designed to expand the shared DCU and will have a very different feel compared to movies like Superman and Supergirl – and that seems to be exactly what the filmmakers are aiming for.
Unlike the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which gradually brought heroes together for team-up movies, James Gunn is expanding his universe by focusing on diverse, self-contained stories. The order in which you watch these films won’t necessarily matter, allowing each one to be enjoyed on its own. “Clayface,” with a script influenced by Mike Flanagan and directed by James Watkins (known for Speak No Evil), and starring Tom Rhys Harries, is a risky but potentially groundbreaking project. If successful, it could redefine what shared-universe films are capable of.
5
‘Lanterns’
Release Date: Late Summer 2026
HBO
After the poorly received Green Lantern movie from over fifteen years ago, Warner Bros. hesitated to revisit the character. Now, the Green Lantern brand is getting a fresh start as part of the new DCU with the TV series Lanterns. The show, created by Damon Lindelof (known for Lost and Watchmen) along with Chris Mundy and DC Comics writer Tom King, will be a mystery series set on Earth, similar in style to True Detective. It will follow veteran Green Lantern Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) as he trains new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre), creating a buddy-cop dynamic.
The new series, Lanterns, might not be what longtime Green Lantern fans anticipate, but its slow-burn approach to the larger cosmic story could be exactly what the franchise needs to attract a wider audience. With James Gunn suggesting the show’s central mystery will significantly impact the future of the DC Universe – potentially involving groups like the Red Lantern Corps or ‘The Centre’ – there’s a lot to look forward to in Lanterns.
4
‘X-Men ’97’ Season 2
Release Date: Summer 2026
Disney+
X-Men ’97 was the standout superhero show of 2024. The continuation of the beloved X-Men: The Animated Series wasn’t just a trip down memory lane; it cleverly used familiar stories in the first four episodes before delivering a shocking twist in episode five that completely changed the direction of the show. Season two promises to adapt famous X-Men arcs like “Age of Apocalypse” and delve into the themes of Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely’s New X-Men. Beyond the action, X-Men ’97 cleverly uses its 1990s setting to reflect current issues, showing how prejudice and fear still exist and why heroes like the X-Men remain important.
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Season 2 of X-Men ’97, and whether it can live up to the high quality of its first season. The show’s original creator, Beau DeMayo, was dismissed before Season 1 even aired due to accusations of misconduct, which he denies. He’s since claimed sole credit for the season’s success online, sometimes downplaying the contributions of other writers and creatives. While the initial release of X-Men ’97 was seen as just another nostalgic revival, Season 2 is now one of Marvel’s most eagerly awaited shows.
3
‘Supergirl’
Release Date: June 26
Warner Bros. Pictures
The next DC Universe movie will be Supergirl, directed by Craig Gillespie, who also directed I, Tonya. Milly Alcock, known for her role in House of the Dragon, will play Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, following a short appearance in Superman. The film is based on the popular comic Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and acts as a sort of follow-up to Superman, introducing another member of Superman’s family in a new, expansive, and galactic setting.
The first glimpse of the Supergirl movie felt a bit too much like Guardians of the Galaxy and didn’t quite capture the stunning visuals of the original comic, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. However, there’s still a lot to look forward to. The film’s story is inspired by True Grit, with Supergirl taking on a similar role, which is a clever and entertaining concept. More importantly, Supergirl seems to be focusing on developing a compelling character rather than just pushing a larger plot forward. It’s designed to be a fun, standalone adventure, and a great follow-up to the highly anticipated Superman movie coming in 2025. Plus, Jason Momoa is playing Lobo – a role he seems perfectly suited for!
2
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
Release Date: July 31
Sony Pictures Releasing
It was always going to be hard to follow up the massive team-up in Spider-Man: No Way Home, but Spider-Man: Brand New Day seems ready for the challenge. The new film will include familiar Marvel faces like Jon Bernthal as the Punisher, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, and Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, plus the return of Michael Mando as Mac Gargan/Scorpion. However, Spider-Man: Brand New Day also appears to be a fresh start for the series in terms of its overall feel. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who previously directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the film is focusing on practical effects and exciting action sequences with plenty of web-slinging.
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Even though Spider-Man: Brand New Day was filmed in public locations, very little is known about the movie’s story. The main villain hasn’t been revealed yet, and a new character played by Sadie Sink has led to a lot of speculation. Fans are guessing she could be anyone from the X-Men’s Jean Grey to Firestar from Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, or even a powerful multiversal being named Shathra. Spider-Man movies always create buzz, but this upcoming film with Tom Holland isn’t just the start of a new three-movie series—it’s also expected to connect to the next Avengers movie, Doomsday.
1
‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Release Date: Dec. 18
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Despite some skepticism surrounding Avengers: Doomsday – including the return of the Russo brothers and Chris Evans after a definitive ending for his character in Endgame – it’s hard not to feel excited about what could be Marvel’s most ambitious film yet. From the announcement of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom to the elaborate five-hour livestream reveal of the cast and the exclusive trailers shown before Avatar: Fire and Ash, the movie has consistently made headlines. While there’s been plenty of debate and criticism, the high level of interest proves that the Marvel Cinematic Universe still has a strong hold on audiences.
A new Avengers movie is always a major event, and fans are particularly hyped about the potential debut of Doctor Doom and the integration of the Fantastic Four alongside the Avengers and classic X-Men characters. However, what really sets the 2026 film apart is the amount of mystery surrounding it. There have been significant changes to the original storyline, a shift in creative leadership, and a new focus on certain characters. All of this uncertainty around Avengers: Doomsday makes it a real gamble for Marvel Studios – it’s the first time since the original Avengers in 2012 that fans aren’t sure if it will succeed. Will the movie live up to expectations, or will it fall flat? Can Marvel recapture the magic of Endgame, or have things changed too much? It’s impossible to know for sure, but that unpredictability is precisely what makes Avengers: Doomsday so thrilling.
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2026-01-11 02:20