The cosmic climax of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, mutation of the X-Men franchise, a Batman villain’s origin – 2019 will be an epic year of endings, new beginnings and minds blowing. New heroes opening doors and super sequels will hit cinemas this year.
Let’s begin our guide to 2019 biggest movies with a comic book movie not based on an actual comic book:
GLASS
The UNBREAKABLE sequel with a twisted tie into SPLIT. Director M. Night Shyamalan unites the unlikely super hero (Bruce Willis) criminal mastermind (Samuel L. Jackson) and the monster (James McAvoy). In UNBREAKBLE Willis played a security guard and only survivor of horrific train crash. With a the help of a disabled comic book art gallery owner (Jackson) this everyday hero learned he had super powers and an arch enemy. SPLIT was a thriller about young girls kidnapped by a man (McAvoy) with multiple personalities. The ending revealed it was set in the same world as UNBREAKABLE. GLASS picks up with all three in a mental institution but this time the criminal mastermind may have the ultimate weapon. (January 18)
CAPTAIN MARVEL
Brie Larson will soar as Carol Danvers, the human pilot who becomes a member of the Kree Starforce. The first female hero to headline a Marvel Comics Universe film may be the savior of Earth’s heroes and the rest of those who vanished in the cosmic snap of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. Set in the 90’s with a younger Nick Fury and Phil Coulson, the hero faces the shapeshifting invaders known as the Skrulls – my favorite Marvel aliens. This film will be based on the version of Carol by writer Kelly Sue DeConnick, who consulted on the film. DeConnick led the creative team who transformed Carol from Ms. Marvel to the Captain with a focus on her roots as a pilot. The big questions for MCU film fans – where was Carol during INFINITY WAR, why did modern day Fury call her with his old school pager? Does this retro tale set the stage of a Multiverse and a way to undo the tragic events of INFINITY WAR? (March 8)
SHAZAM!
The other Captain Marvel. Billy Batson is the kid who can transform into an adult super powered hero (Zachary Levi) by saying a magic word after an encounter with an ancient wizard. Comic book villain veteran Mark Strong plays arch enemy Doctor Sivana. The hero was originally known as Captain Marvel published by Fawcett Comics before joining the DC Comics Universe. SHAZAM is an acronym for the Immortal Elders – Soloman, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury. The big question – will fans see Black Adam, Shazam’s super powered rival? Dwayne Johnson has been rumored to play the villain turned antihero in a future production. (April 5)
HELLBOY
Mike Mignola’s creation is back on the big screen. David Harbour is now wearing the horns as the demon turned agent for the BPRD (Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense). The reboot welcomes Agent Ben Daimo, vigilante Lobster Johnson from comics to screen as Hellboy against an ancient sorceress. (April 12)
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
After the snap! Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and the Guardians of the Galaxy couldn’t stop Thanos from wiping out half the living beings of the universe including fan-favorite heroes . Tony Stark is lost in space. Captain America and Black Widow are mourning lost heroes and allies. Spider-Man, Black Panther, Shuri and Nick Fury are among turned to dust when the Mad God of Titan snapped his fingers after harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones. As seen in the first trailer, Clint Barton is back but he’s ditched his Hawkeye bow and arrow for a new role as the samurai Ronin. How did Ant-Man escape the Quantum Realm? Did Doctor Strange really find a way out of this? What about those killed by Thanos (Gamora, Heimdall, Loki) before the got all the stones? Is it really the end for Iron Man, Cap, Thor, Black Widow as those actors are leaving the MCU? (April 26)
DARK PHOENIX
I still cry when I read it. “The Dark Phoenix Saga” by Chris Claremont and John Byrne is the ultimate X-Men epic and maybe the greatest comic book story ever. Jean Grey gives in to the dark side burning inside her. The X-Men must fight one of their own to save the universe. The story was part of the drama in X-MEN THE LAST STAND – which kind didn’t happen thanks to DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. This is young Jean (Sophie) with the X-Men first introduced in FIRST CLASS. The big mystery: Who is Jessica Chastain playing? Emma Frost, Lilandra, Cassandra Nova or another villain? The X-Men will go into space but will they encounter the Shi’ar – aliens who share massive ties with the X-Men, Professor Xavier and the Phoenix Force? Why was the film reshot and rescheduled after more than a year? Now that the X-Men are coming into the MCU – is this the swan song for the X-films as we know them until there’s a cinematic rebirth….like a Phoenix. (June 7)
SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
The sequel to the solo reboot after Sony and Marvel became a duo sharing Spidey. Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his high school friends are on a European vacation but there’s no escape from classic villains. Jake Gyllenhaal plays Quentin Beck/Mysterio, a Hollywood special effects wizard and stunt man who turns to a life of crime. Michael Keaton is expected to be back as Vulture but what about the villain seen in the post-credits scene – Scorpion? How will Spidey’s solo pick up after the events of ENDGAME? (July 5)
THE NEW MUTANTS
The X-Men horror movie? The New Mutants (Mirage, Cannonball, Wolfsbane, Sunspot, Karma, Magik) were Professor’s third round of recruits co-created by Chris Claremont. Josh Boone directed the film featuring the young mutants trapped in a secret facility – psych ward? The comic book heroes often fought supernatural forces – Demon Bear, demons of the Limbo dimension – and the trailer suggests the film kid will do the same. Magik aka Illyana Rasputin is the little sister of X-Man Colossus. Like DARK PHOENIX – this film was pulled for reshoots and rescheduled after a trailer and more than year after the original release date. (August 2)
JOKER
The origin of the Clown Prince of Crime? Jared Leto played Joker in SUICIDE SQUAD but this version of the Batman villain will be separate from the DC Extended Universe. Joaquin Phoenix is Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian transformed into the psycho criminal. Robert DeNiro and Zazie Beetz (Domino in DEADPOOL 2) are among the cast of the Todd Phillips directed film. Thomas Wayne and young Bruce will appear in the film. (October 4)
The biggest consequence is how the Marvel movies will reshape after ENDGAME. Will SHAZAM lighten up the DC Universe? Have a heroic year at the movies.
By Editor