63 Things to Look Forward to in 2022
You know... As long as everything isn't delayed by unprecedented catastrophe.
January
Superman & Lois (Season 2)
Premiers on the CW January 11
If you missed the first season of Superman & Lois on The CW, then you're missing out. Most Superman media focuses on aliens, robots, and threats from another dimension. But Season 1 of Superman & Lois focused on the struggles The Kents face while raising their twin boys Jonathan and Jordan. And so far, Season 2 seems like it will deal with problems in Clark and Lois' marriage. Super hero fans who are tired out by the standard MCU formula will find much to love here.
She-Hulk
Marvel Comics January 12
Jennifer Walters A.K.A. the Sensational She-Hulk has been having a hard time. The most traditionally level headed Hulk has been on a bit of a savage rampage for a while now. But she's had time to calm down, and now it's time to start putting her life back together. And that starts in She-Hulk #1 this January. Jen's back in court, back with her friends, and shaking up the Marvel Universe with an exciting new storyline from Rainbow Rowell and Roge Antonio. She-Hulk will be a great read for anyone looking to brush up before the the MCU show of the same name drops on Disney+ later this year .
Peacemaker
Premieres on HBO Max January 13
James Gunn's The Suicide Squad managed to do the impossible last year, by reinvigorating what seemed to be a dormant IP. And John Cena's Peacemaker character was one of the tricks to making that second pass at Suicide Squad a success. Now, fans can catch Cena on HBO Max in his own Peacemaker series. Anyone who enjoyed the new Suicide Squad movie will definitely want to make time for this series. How is he still alive? And how will Amanda Waller deploy her one-man task force? We'll all have to tune in this year to find out.
God of War
Windows PC January 14
You've probably heard about how difficult it is to find a Playstation 5 right now. To that I say: Some of us didn't even have a Playstation 4. This is a special announcement for that group. God of War was one of the greatest games of 2018. And players without a Playstation will finally get a chance to experience that greatness. That is, as long as they have a PC that meets the minimum requirements to run the game.
Destiny of X
Marvel Comics January 19
Jonathan Hickman gave us with a fresh look at The X-Men with Dawn of X in 2019. In 2022, the next chapter of the X-Men universe will begin with Destiny of X, a gigantic story with seemingly endless possibilities.
Our long-term plan that all our creators have been working on in our secret Council Chamber has only just begun to come to fruition. With the filling of the two empty council seats, the Reign of X has ended, and it’s time for mutantkind to reach for their destiny!
Jordan D. White, Senior Editor, X-Men
So good news for anyone who ever thinks they’d like to read comics but don’t know where to start. The individual titles include Wolverine, New Mutants, X-Men, and Immortal X-Men just to name a few.
Servant (Season 3)
Premieres on Apple TV+ January 21
It looks like Apple TV+ will continue to be the low key best streaming platform on the market in 2022. And Servant is going to lead the charge into the new year. If you haven’t been following along, Servant is the M. Night Shyamalan-produced series about a family with some pretty serious issues. Without going into much detail, a family struggling to cope with the loss of their newborn hires a nanny to care for a doll. But shortly after she begins work, the doll is replaced by a real baby boy. Believe it or not, things only get more unhinged from there. Psychological horror fans will want to catch up on the first two season before the third premieres in January.
Astrid & Lilly Save the World
Premieres on SyFy January 26
Astrid & Lilly Save the World has all the hallmarks of a series I’m going to love. Two unlikely heroes, best friends Lilly and Astrid, must have to battle monsters and travel to alternate dimensions while also contending with the everyday rigors of high school life. Fans of Riverdale, Smallville, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer should plan to fall in love with these two heroes we didn’t know we needed so badly
Saga #55
Image Comics January 26
Saga is one of the best comic books in the history of the genre. But it’s been absent from our lives since leaving readers on a cliffhanger back in July of 2018. That’s a long time to wait! Well, the wait is finally over. Saga #55 will finally drop at the end of January 2022. Wondering if you should try and catch up by then? Read Saga #1 online right now and find out.
February
Reckoning War
Marvel Comics February 2
We do not have time to get into all the details of Reckoning War right now. Mostly because in the works for 16 years. The event was originally teased in She-Hulk #3. Reckoning War promises to be an absolutely gigantic Marvel cosmic event. If you want to see the full scope of what comic book events are capable of, Reckoning War is for you. And be sure to subscribe the NIHF so you get my full Reckoning War explainer delivered straight to your email before the big event kicks off!
Moonfall
In theaters February 4
Roland Emmerich loves destroying the Earth. And the director of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow is back with another big budget movie in which he plans to smash our sweet blue marble to tiny pieces. This time: By crashing the moon into it. But before you jump up to start collecting masks to save the day, you should know that Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson are already on the case. Which is great, because it means the rest of us get to just sit back and enjoy.
Dying Light 2: Stay Human
Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox February 4
The first Dying Light was a zombie survival-horror RPG that got fairly decent reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. So game studio Techland did what any reasonable game studio would do. They doubled down, hard. Dying Light 2: Stay Human is going to be gigantic. The map is four times larger than the original game. The arsenal of tools available to the player character has expanded. And the studio programed 3,000 distinct parkour moves depending on what type of building your character might be leaping between. That’s dedication. Of course, much like its predecessor, Dying Light 2 will offer cooperative multiplayer. Because you don’t have to be faster than the zombies as long as you’re faster than your friends.
Death on the Nile
In theaters February 11
One of the movies that I’m most eager to see this year, Death on the Nile is the follow up to Murder on the Orient Express (2017). Kenneth Branagh is back to start and direct, which sounds perfect. His take on Agatha Christie’s detective in Orient Express was a delightful combination of dogged and distracted. Early looks at Nile suggest he’s swapped out his color pallet, refreshed his all-star cast, and started the whole machine back up. Why fix it if it isn’t broken?
Iron Fist
Marvel Comics February 16
There’s a new Iron Fist in town! And fans will get to meet him over the course of a five issue mini-series kicking off February 16. After the backlash against Finn Jones’ role as Danny Rand in the Netflix Iron Fist, Marvel has finally decided to reimagine the character.
“The first issue is a dynamic, action-packed, eerie and…if I do say, charming comic. You’ll get the origin of this new Iron Fist but there are many cool mysteries that’ll unravel over the course of the series. Things even the most ardent Marvel fan would never expect!”
Mark Paniccia, Editor, Iron Fist
Whether you loved Netflix’s Iron Fist and want more, or wished the show was more representative, this comic is for anyone who wants more Iron Fist in their life. Fans of Dragon Heart Punches unite.
Horizon Forbidden West
Playstation February 18
In a pop culture landscape that has been overrun by sameness, the far future world of Horizon is unique. And the latest installment in this much beloved franchise promises to make everything bigger. In the newest installment, Horizon Forbidden West, Humanity fights the dual threats of environmental catastrophe and robotic terror. Colossal new monsters tower over the player amidst the majestic vistas of Forbidden West’s open world. Players will explore the world for clues that will unwrap a mystery from Horizon’s ancient past, and change Aloy’s life forever.
Destiny 2: The Witch Queen
Windows PC, Playstation, and Xbox February 22
The Witch Queen is the fourth major expansion for Destiny 2. And it introduces Savathun, the titular character, who has been lurking in the background of Destiny lore for years. Two of her family members were already major antagonists in previous Destiny expansions. This newest DLC will include a new world, Savathun’s Throneworld. The plot will dive deep into some fundamental questions about Destiny lore, including what exactly the player has been fighting against for all these years.
Bel-Air
Premieres on Peacock February 13
The origins of this one are wild. Three years ago, Morgan Cooper put together a fan-film reimagining The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a modern prestige drama. It quickly went viral—because it was amazing. Behold:
Anyway, while the internet is mostly a cesspool for fascism these days, something good happened in this one particular instance. NBC picked the show up for a full season of half hour episodes. And Will Smith is onboard to produce. This will be a must watch for any fans of the original Fresh Prince.
Uncharted
In theaters February 18
After going through seven directors over the course of 11 years, it was up for debate whether Uncharted would ever actually see the light of day. But here we are, living in 2022, with Tom Holland playing Nathan Drake. The movie is an adaptation of the popular video game series, and promises to bring the same swash-buckling spirit and roguish charm. Whether Uncharted can manage to avoid the classic video game movie curse remains to be seen. But it’s backed by a high end budget to deliver on triumphant spectacle worthy of the big screen.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
On Netflix February 18
There are only three things I need for a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie to be a success.
It must be set in Texas.
The villains main implement of destruction must be a chainsaw.
It’s gotta be a real bloodbath.
As long as Netflix delivers on those three things, I’ll be happy.
The Walking Dead (The Final Season)
Premieres on AMC February 20
The main promise of The Walking Dead when it began as a comic book in 2003, was a zombie story that didn’t have to end. Zombie movies always end in one of two ways. Either everybody dies, or they cure the zombie plague. The Walking Dead didn’t want to be tied down by an ending. It was about the journey. And The Walking Dead on AMC has followed through on that same ethos. With multiple spin-offs currently on air, as well as movie rumors buzzing away, this won’t be the last we see of The Walking Dead. But is is the end of a very long journey.
Elden Ring
Windows PC, Playstation, and Xbox February 25
If I had to guess, I would say that this is the video game most likely to be 2022’s Game of the Year. Elden Ring was written by legendary video game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and famed Tolkien-fan-fiction author George R.R. Martin. Elden Ring will present players with an play style similar to Miyazaki’s previous work on the Souls games, and a narrative that’s familiar to Martin’s work. Players will explore The Lands Between, an area made up of six main areas all including castles, fortresses, and catacombs for the player to explore. Elden Ring has won Most Anticipated Game two years running at The Game Awards. All that’s left to do is play it and see if it lives up to the hype.
March
Batman #121
DC Comics March 1
From DC Comics:
The deadly conclusion to the "Abyss" arc as Lex Luthor's dangerous master plan for Batman Inc. is revealed. And an old ally returns to pull the lost Batman out of Abyss's darkness and a new member of Batman Inc. rises!
In the final chapter of "They Make Great Pets," Maps finds the missing piece to the shocking and deadly mystery...with a little help from Batman!
Batman: Killing Time #1 (of 6)
DC Comics March 1
From DC Comics:
Three villains, one Dark Knight, and a deadly heist gone wrong. Catwoman, the Riddler, and the Penguin join forces to pull off the greatest robbery in the history of Gotham City. And their prize? A mysterious and priceless artifact in the secret possession of Bruce Wayne! But, as the events unfold, what fun is a heist without a bloody double cross or two?
Suicide Squad: Get Joker #3 (of 3)
DC Comics March 1
From DC Comics:
The startling conclusion of this Black Label epic rockets to its surprising, yet inevitable, confrontation between The Joker and the Suicide Squad. With Red Hood wondering who he can trust as he’s forced to team up with Harley Quinn and other rogues against the Clown Prince of Crime, one last betrayal changes everything before the final page.
Trial of the Amazons
DC Comics March 1
From DC Comics:
After the events of Nubia & the Amazons, the dangers of Doom’s Doorway have found their way to Man’s World and garnered the attention of not one, but all three Amazonian tribes. The Bana-Mighdall consider it to be a weakness in the current regime and have decided to return to the shores of Themyscira to stake their claim over the island. Little do they know, the Esquecida are not far behind, but instead looking for help to combat the evil unleashed. Tempers rise and swords are brandished as the women argue about the best course of action.
War for Earth-3
DC Comics March 1
From DC Comics:
The Teen Titans, the Flash and the Suicide Squad all collide on Earth-3—home of the evil Crime Syndicate—on the hunt for former Task Force X mastermind Amanda Waller. As Waller tries to take over the alternate Earth and dethrone evil versions of Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and other heroes that rule it, her former partner—Rick Flag—arrives on E-3 bent on making Waller pay for her crimes, while the Titans and Flash hunt for a missing academy student they believe was kidnapped by Waller to form her mysterious Justice Squad.
The Batman
In theaters March 3
Look, I don’t even really know how to talk about this without sounding like a very unstable person. So I’ll just try to do it quick. Matt Reeves is directing Robert Pattinson in a Batman movie. Zoë Kravitz is playing Catwoman. I’m obsessed. Everything about it looks perfect and I’m very excited.
Triangle Strategy
Nintendo Switch March 4
Triangle Strategy is the newest turn-based tactical-role-playing game in the vein of Fire Emblem. The game focuses on the Saltiron War between the three fictional countries of Glenbrook, Aesfrost, and Hyzante. Each decision on the battlefront impacts your character’s worldview and influences how your story will unfold. Experienced video game players looking for a challenging play through that’s unique every time should be sure to preorder Triangle Strategy soon.
Punisher
Marvel Comics March 9
From Marvel Comics
Born of tragedy. Devoted to war. Unstoppable in his rage. As the Punisher, Frank Castle has become the most accomplished killer the world has ever seen. Now it's time for him to face his true destiny. What shocking secret from Frank's past will convince him to take the reins of the Marvel Universe's most notorious clan of assassins? And once Frank becomes the warlord of the deadly ninjas of the Hand, will it also mean an end for the Punisher? Or a whole new bloody beginning? Join the superstar team of writer Jason Aaron and artists Jes s Saiz and Paul Azaceta for an epic exploration of the dark and violent past and inevitable future of one of Marvel's most iconic characters.
Justice League #74
DC Comics March 15
From DC Comics
Justice League Dark crossover conclusion! Another full double-size issue crossover spectacular as Xanadoth, the original Lord of Chaos, has returned. With unlimited power and revenge against all on its mind, the Lord of chaos has taken the form of Black Adam and no. One. Is. Safe. The final chapter of the Eisner-winning Bendis Justice League run wraps up with brand-new status quo for all!
Tunic
Mac, Windows PC, Xbox March 16
Tunic is an isometric adventure game about a small fox on a big adventure! Its adorable aesthetic is matched only by the amount of adventure it promises to unfold. You could try to come up with a good reason why you don’t want to play a super-cute Zelda-like. Or you could just have a great time. The choice is yours, adventurer!
Atlanta (Season 3)
Premieres on FX March 24
After a long time off the air, Atlanta is back with what Donald Glover is promising will be the best season yet. And that’s a big promise, considering the show has already earned multiple Emmys and become a cultural icon. But Glover seems set to deliver. In a move that that is begging to reignite the #DonaldForSpiderMan campaign, Atlanta’s third season is getting far from home and heading to Europe. How will Paper Boi and his crew adjust to the cultural differences on the other side of the pond? Who knows? But I’m sure it will be hilarious.
Everything Everywhere All At Once
In theaters March 25
Michelle Yeoh is one of the finest working actors in the world right now, and I will fight you in the streets if you say any different. Which is what makes it so satisfying that she’s finally getting a chance to travel the multiverse and fight cosmic evil to save the world. Of course, for her, that means a $20M A24 picture and not a $250M Marvel film. If this movie is as good as I think it will be, it will likely be my favorite movie of the first part of 2022.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland
Windows PC, Playstation, and Xbox March 25
Tiny Tina’s Wonderland is a D&D inspired Borderlands spinoff that’s been in development for ten years. Fans will get a chance to explore the Borderlands lore in great new detail. Tiny Tina’s Wonderland includes castles, ships, mountain trolls, fighting skeletons, and lots of guns. It’s a cross-over adventure experience that will be familiar to Borderlands diehards and fantasy fans alike.
Astro City: That Was Then…
Image Comics March 30
From Image Comics:
Astro City returns with an all-new special! Who were the Jayhawks? How did they inspire five teen sidekicks looking for answers to hit the road in a rickety crime mobile in 1969? And how will this affect Astro City in the present? This one-shot special features new and existing heroes and launches a mystery that will drive the forthcoming Astro City series. And don't miss the Astro City Metrobook, collecting the first three years of the acclaimed series!
April
Morbius
In theaters April 1
Morbius, the Living Vampire, is one of the most interesting anti-heroes in the Marvel comics universe. In the comics, Dr. Michael Morbius is cursed with a rare blood disease that grants him pseudo-vampiric powers. Morbius’ struggle against his vampiric alter ego is the central source of his conflict, which causes him to butt heads with Spider-Man and Blade. How much of that carries over to Jared Leto’s movie remains to be seen.
Ambulance
In theaters April 8
Jake Gyllenhaal and Yaya Abdul-Mateen II star in this year’s largest exporter of Bayhem. Two veterans attempt to rob a bank in order to cover medical bills. But when the heist goes off the rails, they’re forced to make their getaway in an ambulance—with a wounded police officer in the back! Do yourself a favor and mark your calendars for this one now. I haven’t told you to do it yet, so you know I mean it! This is going to be a fun time with your best friends at the movie theater. You deserve it.
The Lost City
In theaters April 15
They don’t make ‘em like this anymore, folks. Loretta Sage (Julia Roberts) is a romance novelist whose latest installment gets the attention of maniacal billionaire Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe). When Fairfax kidnaps Sage to help him find the fictional lost city from her latest book, it’s up to cover model and not-at-all-tough-guy Alan (Channing Tatum) to save her. If reading that fed something in your heart, you need to see this movie.
The Northman
In theaters April 22
In 2015, Robert Eggers gave us The Witch, a gripping horror-mystery straight out of the folklore of colonial New England. Then, in 2019, he gave us The Lighthouse, a gripping psychological-horror story straight out of the folklore of maritime New England in the 1890s. Now, he’s gifting us with his newest film, The Northman, which promises to be a gripping historical epic straight out of the folklore of tenth century Iceland. As a big fan of Eggers’ previous films, I can say with confidence that nothing about it doesn’t look perfect, and I cannot wait.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
In theaters April 22
Full disclosure up front: I’m a big fan of the modern Nic Cage movie. I think people who don’t like them either haven’t seen them or hate fun. I’ve genuinely enjoyed 8 of his movies in the last 5 years. Who else is putting up numbers like that? Yes, they’re cheap. And in general they’re not on the higher end of the prestige scale. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t excellent films. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a Nic Cage movie about Nic Cage movies. It’s a celebration of this man’s bonkers career. And anyone who has ever watched him freak out in a motion picture—be it National Treasure or The Wicker Man—should make this one a priority.
May
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
In theaters May 6
If you’re one of the literal millions who are celebrating the reverie of Spider-Man: No Way Home, we need to have a talk. Once upon a time, Colombia Pictures hired a horror director named Sam Raimi to direct a Spider-Man movie for them. So far, the result has been 20 years of successful superhero movies. And after long-last, Raimi is back to draw on his superhero and horror roots for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Hopefully Marvel lets him get dark on this one. He’s earned it.
Forspoken
Windows PC and Playstation May 24
From Square Enix:
Forspoken follows the journey of Frey, a young New Yorker transported to the beautiful and cruel land of Athia. In search of a way home, Frey must use her newfound magical abilities to traverse sprawling landscapes and battle monstrous creatures.
Top Gun: Maverick
In theaters May 27
If the rumors are to be believed, Tom Cruise is winding down his career. And at 59 years old, who could blame him? And after he broke his ankle while filming Mission Impossible: Fallout, he’s seemed to have a sudden sense of his own morality. Rumors are that Cruise wanted to put a coda on Top Gun and end Mission: Impossible with a gripping two-parter. Then he might feel ready to start thinking about retirement. If that’s the case, the long-delayed Top Gun: Maverick should be a sight to behold, indeed.
June
The Boys (Season 3)
Premieres on Amazon Prime Video on June 3
Jurassic World: Dominion
In theaters June 10
The weirdest thing about the new Jurassic Park trilogy is realizing that it won’t be the last. The original trilogy (1993–2001) this new trilogy (2015–2022) have spanned almost identical lengths of time. But the new trilogy, the Jurassic World trilogy, has opened the door to entirely new ideas. There are early rumors that Dominion may finally merge human and dino dee-en-ay, a prospect that’s been bumping around Jurassic writers rooms for years. If we finally got it? I’d change my entire tune on the Jurassic World era.
Lightyear
In theaters June 17
I’ll be honest. My initial reaction to this one was to pull away. The idea of Disney making a movie about the “actual guy” the Buzz Lightyear toy was based on, within the Toy Story universe was just way too synergistic for my taste. But the more I think about it, the more I kind of love it? In Toy Story, Buzz comes in with the cocksure attitude of a bonafide hero. And it was cool! Let’s find out what gave him that confidence in the first place.
The Black Phone
In theaters June 24
Earlier, we celebrated a great horror director getting the opportunity to direct a Doctor Strange movie. Now lets celebrate the director of Doctor Strange getting the opportunity to direct a great horror movie. The movie is an adaptation of the absolutely chilling Joe Hill story from 2004. For those of you counting pedigrees, Hill is the son of Stephen and Tabitha King of Bangor, Maine. Ethan Hawke stars as a serial killer kidnapping children in Colorado. Surly there’s nothing darker or creepier afoot.
The Walking Dead: Clementine: Book One
Image Comics June 28
From Image Comics
It’s a new beginning for Clementine, the star of the bestselling video game franchise Telltale’s The Walking Dead, in Clementine Book One, as she’s back on the road, looking to put her traumatic past behind her and forge a new path all her own. But when she comes across an Amish teenager named Amos, the unlikely pair journeys north to an abandoned ski resort in Vermont, where they meet up with a small group of teenagers attempting to build a new, walker-free settlement. As friendship, rivalry, and romance begin to blossom amongst the group, the harsh winter soon reveals that the biggest threat to their survival…might be each other.
July
Thor: Love and Thunder
In theaters July 18
I have so many theories about Thor: Love and Thunder that I’ll be excited to share closer to the release date1. But for now let’s cover the facts. Director Taika Waititi is set to return, as well as Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. And Christian Bale will serve the role of villain as one of my all time favorites, Gorr the God Butcher. Check back later in the year for a full run-down on his deal. But trust me when I say this one’s going to be dark.
Nope
In theaters July 22
Jordan Peele’s third movie declared what it was from the jump. A single dark cloud, hanging over an illuminated city in the dark, suspended by some sort of sci-fi future wire, told us everything we needed to know about the Academy Award Winner’s next picture. But just in case we didn’t get the message, the title of the film encapsulated the thoughts of each and every one of us, emblazoned across the bottom of the poster for all to see: Nope.
Black Adam
In theaters July 29
August
ShadowHawk 30th Anniversary Special
Image Comics August 2022
The original creator of ShadowHawk Jim Valentino announced on Facebook that he is working on an anniversary special to celebrate ShadowHawk’s 30th Anniversary. ShadowHawk was one of the original Image Comics characters. The image Valentino previewed included the main creations of the other Image founders still with the company
Spawn created by Todd McFarlane
Savage Dragon created by Erik Larsen
Witchblade co-created by Marc Silvestri
Badrock created by Rob Liefeld
Any Image Comics fans will want to make sure they check this one out.
September
The Lord of the Rings
Premieres on Amazon Prime Video September 2
Mission: Impossible 7
In theaters September 30
If the rumors are to be believed, Tom Cruise is winding down his career. And at 59 years old, who could blame him? And after he broke his ankle while filming Mission Impossible: Fallout, he’s seemed to have a sudden sense of his own morality. Rumors are that Cruise wanted to put a coda on Top Gun and end Mission: Impossible with a gripping two-parter. Then he might feel ready to start thinking about retirement. If that’s the case, the seventh Mission: Impossible should be a sight to behold, indeed.
October
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part 1)
In theaters October 7
Halloween Ends
In theaters October 14
This rebooted Halloween trilogy was originally pitched as taking place over one night. But due to Hollywood logistics and COVID restrictions, the original restriction had to pivot. But so far, the pivot seems to be working. Halloween Kills was a pandemic-hit by any measure. And audiences are surly primed for a Michale Myers capper. The trick will be whether or not director David Gordon Green’s plan can survive COVID.
November
Starfield
Windows PC, Xbox November 11
Bethesda Studios and, more importantly, its somewhat infamous leader Todd Howard, has been in a bit of a slump. That is to say, they’ve literally never developed an original game. Since its first project, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Bethesda Studios has never had the opportunity to develop a piece of IP from the ground up. That’s a glaring mark against a studio that’s made its bones on recognizable gamer IP. Starfield will be their first chance at building something from the beginning Here’s hoping they nail it.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
In theaters November 11
The Flash
In theaters November 14
Poor DC Comics. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. Their plan to develop the iconic comic book Flashpoint into a Flash movie staring Ezra Miller dates back to the inception of the DCEU. But due to unforced errors and administrative delays, The Flash is now doomed to be “the DC Copy of No Way Home.” The movie is poised to give us two Batmen (Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck) as well as multiple Flashes and an entirely alternate version of the DCEU. For what it’s worth, DC is the OG when it comes to alternate universe stories. Maybe they’ll overcome the odds this time and deliver something better than the Marvel alternative.
The Fabelmans
In theaters November 23
In the 2017 HBO documentary about his life, Steven Spielberg seemed to be pretty comfortable discussing the more his personal life. Which makes it less than surprising that he’s embarking on the deeply introspective Fabelmans shortly after his father’s passing in 2020. While the premise of the movie is strictly fictional, it is by far the most personal of Spielberg’s movies. Anyone interested in his career will appreciate this personal investigation of the auteur’s worldview.
Strange World
In theaters November 23
Disney’s next in-house animation production looks like it’s actually set to test the limits of the House of Mouse. Which would be great! For too long the best animation studio on the face of Planet Earth hasn’t been focusing on making good animated movies. Strange World is the first time in literal decades that I feel excited for a proper Disney animated movie.
December
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
In theaters December 16
Jason Momoa returns as the King of the Seven Seas. That is both cool and good, and we should be excited about it. I’m not quite sure what’s happening with any of the DC movies. But the fact that Momoa’s Aquaman seems to be the most Teflon DC franchise right now warms my Aqua-stan heart.
Avatar 2
In theaters December 16
Once upon a time, a movie called Avatar took over the world. Apparently, James Cameron wants to make more of them. If one comes out this year, I’ll be excited. I’m pretty sure it’s all just a big misunderstanding though. Only time will tell…
Mario
In theaters December 21
I dunno man. They tell me Chris Pratt is going to play Mario. That sounds bad. I just did like… 62 of these. This one sounds like it sucks. Cut me a break. Go watch the original Super Mario Bros. Movie. It kinda rules.
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