2012 isn’t the end of the world. It may just go down in history as the year of the comic book movie! DC and Marvel are scheduled to release four big-budget extravaganzas based on their signature characters: Batman, Spider-Man, Superman and The Avengers.
Batman (Warner Bros.)
Last week’s announcement that Christopher Nolan would be returning to direct the third and final installment of this current incarnation of the caped crusader was a no-brainer. The internet has been abuzz with casting rumors since the release of 2008’s Dark Knight—who could possibly follow up as a villain after Heath Ledger’s brilliant performance as the Joker? So far, my favorite guesses have been Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the Penguin or Johnny Depp (if the performance is restrained) as the Riddler. After Inception, I have complete faith that this is going to be the comic book movie to beat of the four releases.
Spider-Man (Sony)
This franchise didn’t require a reboot, just a more focused direction after the disastrous Spider-Man 3. Director Mark Webb (spoiler alert: this poor guy is in for some lame puns) does not seem an instantaneous choice for a Spider-Man film, but the director of 500 Days of Summer has expressed an affinity for the Ultimate Spider-Man line of books. Truth be told, the Brian Michael Bendis-penned title has been the most consistently excellent Spidey book for the last decade, so Webb is off to a good start. I am also happy with the choice to include longtime Peter Parker love interest Gwen Stacy into the fold; her story has continued to bring dramatic and emotional heft to the Spider-Man mythos over the years.
Superman (Warner Bros.)
Superman Returns was not a terrible movie. It just wasn’t a great one. And a movie about the Man of Steel needs to be a great, fun, popcorn adventure of a movie. Director Zack Snyder was announced today as the helmer of this latest reboot. While Snyder definitely has comic book chops (300 and The Watchmen), his movies have been the polar opposite, tonally, to what you would expect from a Superman film. Snyder has already expressed that he is an enormous fan of the character, so I am waiting to hear more from him before passing judgment that is for sure. Add Christopher Nolan’s guidance as a producer and I think this film is being steered in the right direction.
When the cast of The Avengers was officially announced at the San Diego Comic-Con in July, Robert Downey Jr. said that he thought Nolan’s Inception was the most ambitious movie ever made. Then he added "Marvel Studios is going to take all their characters and put them into the same movie? That is most ambitious." The guy wasn’t kidding. This could be the biggest mistake in the history of comic-book movies or a perfect example of corporate synergy. Regardless, it is hard to dispute that this is the movie with the most buzz among comic book readers. Since Nick Fury came out of the shadows at the end of 2008’s Iron Man, we have been waiting for the big screen version of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (namely Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye). With Writer-Director Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly) guiding the troops into action, this movie has the perfect fanboy pedigree.
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