The hottest and most popular film genre is the superhero genre. Since the late ’90s, thanks to DC Comics and Marvel Pictures, they have consistently produced superhero films that bring audiences in big masses to theaters. So far this year, there have been three films from that genre, and we are still waiting for the much-anticipated release of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1st.
In addition to strong popularity, it also appears to be the most lucrative genre. Box Office Mojo shows us that at the U.S. domestic box office, three of the top ten highest-grossing films of all-time are from the superhero genre: The Avengers, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises.
To add spice to the summer blockbuster season, Marvel created quite a buzz last week by announcing that later this year, there will be a new, female Thor in the comics. It is important to note that the hero’s name shall remain unchanged. A bold move like this raises so many questions and curiosity about what the future holds for these two comic giants. The future looks very bright, and I think that it will be one that will feature many more female superheroes on both sides. This is a genre that with all the shake-ups that are coming, could be around for much longer than we think. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the battle they will have for box office supremacy.
The Power of the Cape
In order for superheroes to remain in films for the long-term, longevity has to be the priority, and having female superheroes can make that happen. If you think about it, the addition of a female Thor is a change that was definitely needed. The fan support is there, but this genre could even be more dominant at the box office if there was an equal balance of male and female superheroes. If more heroines are brought into the film side of things, this would create a lot more room for growth for the genre as a whole. This would certainly be produced by more comic series, which could lead to the production of more films when the demand for them is so high.
Although we have seen female characters in superhero films such as Storm, Jean Grey, Black Widow, and Catwoman, they have yet to have a strong lead role. In 2004, Halle Berry did star in Catwoman, a solo-film for the character, but it is a film that is hardly even acknowledged now. The need for female superheroes is steadily growing, and the excitement for it is very palpable. According to Variety, for the first time ever, we will see the iconic Wonder Woman brought to life on the big screen by Gal Gadot; who agreed to play the character in three films.
Regardless of how Thor and Wonder Woman perform, the curiosity of doing more films with them and others has to be on the minds of actors, directors, and fans. I think that it is safe to assume that there is a lot more anticipation than nerves about seeing two huge female superheroes debut in films. The fact that we know that it will happen can only mean that we could most likely see more of them in the future.
The Kryptonite: The Cons of Being a Superhero
For every superhero that is out there, there is always a villain or more, that will challenge them. One of the arguments that can be made against the longevity of superheroes in films is that there would be a tremendous lack of originality. If making a great film in this genre is challenging enough, then making a sequel that surpasses the quality and originality of the first film is a very daunting task. However, when it comes to being in these movies, it is not just one or two films. Marvel has become the envy of the rest of the entertainment world for making such a universe of superhero films. However, it is that approach that has earned it millions of dollars since the release of Iron Man in 2008.
In the next two years, we will see the continuation of the Avengers, Captain America, Spider-Man, and X-Men franchises. In addition to that, Marvel recently announced that it will release five more films from 2017 through 2019. Did I mention that Marvel will also release a Fantastic 4 reboot film, an Ant-Man, and a Spider-Man spin-off film, The Sinister Six too? It is worth mentioning that Marvel has already released two previous Fantastic 4 films, Fantastic 4 and Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Lets imagine that this reboot does exceptionally better than the last two. If that’s the case, could we be looking at yet another trilogy?
If it wasn’t for the very successful Dark Knight trilogy that Christopher Nolan directed for Warner Bros. and DC Comics, then the discussion about superheroes in films would only involve Marvel. They have dominated this rivalry because of how quickly they have established such a universe for all of their characters. DC Comics is responding to that dominance by putting together two of the biggest, most iconic superheroes together for the first time in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice film. In addition to that, according to First Showing, DC Comics also has a number of films that they are planning to release in the near future. While this means that we are looking at more superhero films in the future, it is great for fans to see DC Comics make this a battle with Marvel at the box office.
The Actor is Stronger than the Superhero
As lucrative as this genre may be, there are also some setbacks for actors and directors who stay involved for too long. Hugh Jackman for example, has done three X-Men films, two Wolverine films, and he also had a role in this year’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is possible that he will make an appearance in X-Men: Apocalypse, and it appears that he is set to star in one more Wolverine film as well. When he is not doing work as the iconic clawed mutant, he is a dynamic and charismatic actor. He even received an Oscar nomination for his role in Les Misérables.
When we saw Jackman perform the role of Wolverine for the first time, his popularity grew tremendously because it was a fresh act. Now that we could potentially be watching the act for a seventh and eighth time, the act is not the same anymore. While there could be a great financial incentive to stay committed to a superhero series, it may be better to move on to work on other film projects so that you can be recognized for expanding the film resume.
When both Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale announced that they would not return to the Batman franchise to participate in a Justice League film, as reported by Entertainment Weekly, it was a decision that worked out well with for both of them. In the long-term, they will be remembered for their complete body of work, not just their involvement in superhero films that got them the popularity that they have at the moment.
The Battle Begins
One thing is for sure about the future of superheroes in films: there will be a real battle for supremacy at the box office between Marvel and DC Comics. Just when it appeared that Marvel was blowing away its comics competition, the plot is beginning to thicken at a very critical moment. Both of these rivals will be adding their own female superheroes in the near future: Thor and Wonder Woman respectively.
We know that we will see Wonder Woman in at least three films according to Batman News. While we know that the addition of the female Thor will have no impact on the presence of Chris Hemsworth‘s Thor in the upcoming Avengers films, that does not mean that we have to wait long to see her on the big screen. After Marvel announced that Sam Wilson will become the new Captain America in the comics, Marvel has also come out with more big news: the Avengers NOW! Initiative per IGN News. Under this new initiative, we will see a lot of this new Thor, as well as more female superheroes.
Now that we have an idea of what the future holds for superheroes in films, it is up to the fans to determine how far it can go. The expectations and curiosities of fans should have a tremendous influence over what we ultimately see on the big screen.
Up to this point, which is the best superhero film and why? Who are some of the superheroes that you would like to see in films that have not been mentioned?
This is the time to voice your opinions, whether they are positive or negative, about what the future holds for these superheroes. Like a summer hit song that is constantly getting requests to be played, this is what fans want: superhero films dominating at the movies. While it may seem very repetitive to those who are not fans of the genre, it is difficult to deny that this is what is in high demand, and the success of its future lies in your hands. Only time will tell who comes out on top in the battle for supremacy between Marvel and DC Comics.
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