2016: Year Of The Comic Book Adaptations

Since 1989, when Batman became a mainstream film series for DC, and in 2002 when Spider-Man kicked off Marvel’s campaign, the legacy of the superhero on the silver screen has progressively grown. Particularly throughout the 21st century and through to the 2010s decade, superhero adaptations and the science fiction genre have practically dominated the Hollywood film industry, with the vast majority becoming massive commercial triumphs.

We have seen a number of films released each year, and in 2016 we are awaiting a variety of superhero/comic book adaptations from Marvel, DC and others. Some of these characters we have seen before and some we are seeing on the big screen for the first time. This article suggests that 2016 could become the biggest year for superhero films so far, and discusses each of the films that are soon to be released. Trailers can be seen below, too, for you to revisit.

Deadpool

UK release date: 10 February 2016, US release date: 12 February 2016, worldwide release dates

To kick off 2016’s campaign of superhero adaptations, we will be fired with R-rated action in Deadpool. The story is about a government operative who harbors extensive healing powers but becomes physically disfigured and mentally unstable following an experiment. The film has many elements of the standard revenge film, one that in some ways resembles V For Vendetta (2006), as Deadpool/Wade Wilson hunts down the individual who almost wiped him out.

In the titular role is Ryan Reynolds. He portrayed the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) in a supporting role, and he also took on the leading superhero role in Green Lantern (2011). According to various sources, Reynolds says his role in this stand-alone film will be more fitted towards the comics than his role in Wolverine. In that film, Reynolds’ role of Green Lantern/Hal Jordan flopped massively. With Deadpool, Hollywood is appearing to offer him another chance, perhaps similar to Ben Affleck as Batman following his role as the titular protagonist in Daredevil (2003).

Deadpool is not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it has connected ties with the X-Men series. So in 2016, we are going to see two films from two different Marvel universes – Deadpool and X-Men: Apocalypse in one universe and Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange in the MCU. Regardless, the trailers and clips so far indicate that Deadpool could fly the comic book adaptations of 2016 off to a flying start, and stand out among Marvel’s few R-rated films.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

UK & US release date: 25 March 2016, worldwide release dates

Superman and Batman have each had franchises of their own that go as far back as the 1960s. They have been adapted from their DC comic books into countless live-action features and animated TV shows. However, despite being in the same universe, Batman and Superman have never been on the big screen together, not at least in contemporary mainstream cinema. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is as an immediate sequel to Man Of Steel (2013) and, from Batman’s point of view, serves as a partial reboot in itself. So, in some ways, it is a reboot of a reboot.

Like all high-concept comic adaptations, Batman v Superman features an impressive ensemble cast. Alongside Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Laurence Fishburne and Diane Lane reprising their roles from Man Of Steel, we have new additions. These include Ben Affleck as the caped crusader Batman/Bruce Wayne, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred and Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry/Aquaman.

We can probably guess that from the cast alone as well as what we’ve seen so far, DC is trying to achieve with Batman v Superman what Marvel did The Avengers. It is certainly possible that it may do just that from early impressions, and we should find out in the next few months whether Zack Snyder has improved from Man Of Steel. If it does, then we can only be more excited about the upcoming Justice League: Part I (2017) and Part II (2019).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yViIi3gie2c

Captain America: Civil War

UK release date: 29 April 2016, US release date: 6 May 2016, worldwide release dates

Following the end of Phase Two in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that concluded with Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man (2015), 2016 introduces us to Phase Three, where we’ll be seeing more superhero adventures. The first is Captain America: Civil War, which is the sequel and third installment in the live-action Captain America legacy. As it is Marvel and yet another of their sequels, they have to make Civil War bigger and better than both The Winter Soldier (2014) and The First Avenger (2011).

By this, I’m referring to that viewers are now open to a much broader universe of comic book stories. This was primarily led by The Avengers (2012) and its sequel. In some ways, Captain America: Civil War may be following the immediate aftermath of Age of Ultron. As the title suggests, we’ll even see our heroes come to blows. Hopefully, it will also explore character depth a bit further, specifically by evaluating between the superhero and their alter ego. While we know little of the plot, it should simultaneously build us up for Infinity War: Part I in May 2018 and Part II in May 2019.

X-Men: Apocalypse

UK release date: 19 May 2016, US release date: 27 May 2016, worldwide release dates

As we already had an X-Men trilogy before the reboot installments, beginning with First Class (2011) and continued with Days Of Future Past (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse looks to round off the series for a second time. The tools behind the success of the two predecessors were their value in storytelling being on an equal measure with action and visual effects. They don’t try to outmaneuver from what has already been made, but they instead reinterpret it within both time settings.

The X-Men series has already been impressive with their ensemble cast. In Apocalypse, which is due for release in May 2016, we’ll be seeing the majority of our previous stars reprising their roles. These include James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne and Evan Peters. We’ll see new faces, including Oscar Isaac as titular antagonist Apocalypse, and returning characters played by different actors, such as Kodi Smit-McPhee as Nightcrawler, Josh Helman as William Stryker, Alexandra Shipp as Storm, Sophie Turner as Jean Grey and Tye Sheridan as Cyclops.

Days Of Future Past was an experiment in jumbling two separate time settings in the X-Men universe into one. Particularly as you can see with familiar characters returning at a younger age in Apocalypse, this third installment looks to seal the deal with the X-Men series and should (hopefully) round it off nicely. Particularly even more so with Bryan Singer returning to the franchise to direct Apocalypse.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The Shadows

UK & US release date: 3 June 2016, worldwide release dates

Some may consider this new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film to be a different addition to those among this article, particularly as is it not DC or Marvel. The TMNT film series began in 1990, six years after the first publication of the original comic books, which followed with two sequels in 1991 and 1993. The films failed among critics, but particularly the first installment and the 2014 reboot did reasonably well at the box office.

If critics are panning the TMNT features and the films aren’t officially blockbusters, why are we getting a sequel to the reboot? The reason is because the TMNT team is admired by children. The series garners merchandise and cinema tickets from that specific target audience. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have never been anything to take seriously or to over-analyse, but from the viewpoint of its target audience, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) will be an appealing film for those specific viewers to look forward to. Maybe they’ll even avoid Razzie nominations this time around.

Suicide Squad

UK & US release date: 5 August 2016, worldwide release dates

Over the years, comic book adaptations have usually featured protagonist superheroes who overcome an evil force with a predominant power to destroy. The films usually add a sense of closure, but this doesn’t seem to be the case with Suicide Squad (2016). As the second official trailer said via on-screen text – “the worst heroes ever”, it may be the first time we see that the protagonists of a comic book story are actually the villains. Each member is recruited by a government agency to join a criminal community as a price to cut down prison sentences.

Suicide Squad features another ensemble cast of talented young stars within the group, including Scott Eastwood, Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Adam Beach and Jay Hernandez. We also see veteran stars including Will Smith in the squad and Viola Davis as a government agent. Perhaps the most standout stars, though, are Margot Robbie as the sexy but psychotic Harley Quinn and Jared Leto taking on the role of the Joker.

The expectations of those two particular characters are at high level, mainly as to how Leto will interpret his Joker compared to the other portrayals in the past. That being said, as we are seeing our protagonists clash (like Batman and Superman in Dawn Of Justice as well as Iron Man and Captain America in Civil War), we are surely going to see villains double-cross each other in their efforts. Speaking of which, we are also expecting to see Ben Affleck’s Batman in a cameo role. We see him distinctly on the top of the Joker’s car when he drives with Quinn.

So, we know from that information that Suicide Squad takes place in the same universe as Batman v Superman, maybe even straight after. So, what does it have in store for future instalments? We shall find out in August 2016 when Suicide Squad hits cinemas.

Doctor Strange

UK release date: 28 October 2016, US release date: 4 November 2016, worldwide release dates

Doctor Strange (2016) has been a film that has been anticipated for quite some time, even as far back as 1986 during its development phase. Marvel acquired the full rights in 2009, and now in November 2016 we are finally going to see the unorthodox Doctor appear on the screen. Serving as a continuation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange looks to reach deeper into the scope of what constitutes a superhero by actually crafting sorcery for his own measures.

If anyone deserves this titular role, it simply is Benedict Cumberbatch. ‘Doctor’ matches Cumberbatch’s caliber as an actor, having previously played intelligent characters, and ‘Strange’ fits with his eccentric style of acting. He leads another pack of stars in Doctor Strange, who expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe even further. Alongside him are included Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams and Mads Mikkelsen.

Doctor Strange rounds off the comic book campaign of 2016, when Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has well and truly gone underway. The film will resemble a similar involvement to last year’s Ant-Man, and we can only hope with installments following release that we’ll see more of Cumberbatch as the eccentric sorcerer in the near future.

Conclusion

As mentioned in the introduction, Hollywood is completely dominated by science-fiction and comic book adaptations. It is mainly where the money lies as of late, and from the number of releases that we are going to see in 2016, it appears that all studios (including Marvel, DC and others) are now seeing it as a competition; at least at the box office. From the majority of films discussed in this article, it is relevant to say that from both Marvel and DC we are seeing a rapidly expanding universe, with Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad being in the same world, X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool in their own, and Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange in the MCU.

Although not always well-received by critics, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series remains timeless for children, and even now in 21st century mainstream cinema it is still a highly-marketed series for children. These days, Hollywood seems to turn to comic books and their expanding universes for ideas to make into feature films. While that does sound exciting, it may be narrowing down their originality. Despite this, 2016 certainly seems an exciting year for comic book fans and for the Hollywood industry as a whole, where bank accounts are likely to reach an even higher peak.

Are you excited about the comic book blockbusters of 2016? Which film are you most looking forward to?