After years of huge numbers (including the relatively recent and truly “amazing” success of Spider-Man:
No Way Home ) 2022 was a year of pseudo-downturn for superhero films, despite still more than interesting receipts in a couple of cases, but also disappointing in others: fewer films of this genre, which to the public perhaps seemed a bit redundant and without too many big names. Not to mention three excellent postponements, one for physiological production delays, two for “logistical” problems dictated by the legal-gossiping situations of some of its protagonists.
Anyway, what to expect from 2023 for superhero movies? Not huge jolts, actually.
Sure, Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universeit is now upon us, but it is not yet clear what it will bring us; the fate of the DC Universe is even more nebulous , with two films stopped and reworked several times and one about a minor superhero to be discovered. And in all this, Sony Pictures relaunches with sure success as the new animated Spider-Man and… a film about a villain/anti-hero whose “will work” on the big screen is yet to be understood. But let’s go in order…
Blue Beetle
Jaime Reyes , better known as Blue Beetle , is a DC superhero decidedly little known to the general public, who is preparing to make his big step on the big screen, embodied by the Xolo Maridueña of Cobra Kai , Created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers and Cully Hamner , the character first appeared in 2006’s Infinite Crisis #5, while his first issue came in May of the same year with Blue Beetle#1. In the comic, Jaime discovers the Blue Beetle in an abandoned area on his way home with his best friends Paco and Brenda. That night the Beetle comes to life and places itself at the base of the boy’s spine, giving him an extraterrestrial armor with enormous powers.
The rest of the cast includes George Lopez, Adrianna Barraza, Harvey Guillén, Bruna Marquezine, Damián Alcázar, Belissa Escobedo and Elpidia Carrillo . With them also Susan Sarandon , who will play Victoria Kord , a character created especially for the film, and will be the main antagonist of the story. Sharon Stone was initially considered for the role of her .
Blue Beetlewill be directed by Angel Manuel Soto , director of Charm City Kings . Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer , name linked to the reboot of Scarface for Universal, will instead take care of the screenplay. Blue Beetle started out as a project for HBO Max but was eventually slated for theaters. The release is scheduled for August.
Kraven the Hunter
Sergei Kravinoff , aka Kraven , was created in 1964 by Stan Lee (text) and Steve Ditko (art) on Amazing Spider-Man No. 15 . Belonging to a noble Russian family, Kraven is a hunter obsessed with defeating Spider -Man . He can stand up to him thanks to a mysterious potion – discovered in Africa – which gives him superhuman physical characteristics, such as strength, endurance, speed, reflexes and regeneration factor. The film, belonging to the so -called Sony’s Spider-Man Universe (like Venom, Morbius and the next Madame Web) will once again see a Bordeline Marvel character (anti-hero, if not quite a villain) as the protagonist. The cast of the film, arriving in October, includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson ( Kraven ), Russell Crowe (possibly Kraven ‘s father ), Fred Hechinger ( the Chameleon ), Ariana DeBose ( Calypso ), Alessandro Nivola (an unspecified antagonist), Christopher Abbott (the Stranger ), and Levi Miller . At the direction we will find JC Chandor , known for Margin Call, 1981: Investigation in New York, All Is Lost andTriple Frontier .
Shazam! Fury of the gods
After the tepid success of Black Adam , the saga of Shazam continues! with Fury of the Gods , second chapter (coming in March) starring the teenage superhero Billy Batson , with a new chapter that sees his “super-family” decidedly more grown up.
As for the actors, Zachary Levi plays the superhero, while Asher Angel plays his alter ego, little Billy Batson . Mark Strong was the villain Doctor Sivana in the first film, while Grace Caroline Currey plays Mary Bromfield . Also in the castJack Dylan Grazer ( Freddy Freeman ), Cooper Andrews , Marta Milans , Ross Butler , DJ Cotrona , Meagan Good , Adam Brody , Djimon Hounsou and John Glover . The sequel will star Rachel Zegler , Helen Mirren ( Hespera ) and Lucy Liu ( Kalypso ). It’s unclear whether cameos from other DC Universe superheroes, such as Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman , will be featured .