Captain America
May 6th, 2016 may be two years away, but it is already one of the most talked about dates on the future film calendar, as Captain America 3 and Batman vs. Superman are set to go head: this really is set to be one hell of a superhero face off.
Marvel has held this release date for quite some time, but they have only confirmed this week that is will be Captain America 3 that will be filling that spot.
Batman vs. Superman was originally expected to hit the big screen next year - in what is turning out to be a bumper blockbuster 2015 - but the release date was pushed back by Warner Bros, to go up against the then untitled Marvel film. Did they hope that they would go up against a new franchise?
So when these two movies go head to head just which film is going to come out on top? It is Marvel vs. DC in the ultimate superhero battle to top the box office.
To say that Marvel have been enjoying huge success in recent years would be a bit of an understatement. Their movies have always been big hits, but since the billion-dollar smash that was Avengers Assemble, they have been totally untouchable at the box office.
Captain America: The Winter Solider is the latest Marvel film to hit the big screen, and it has won over critics as well as pulled in the cash at the box office. The movie has topped the charts in the U.S. and UK, and has already grossed over $320 million.
When it opened in the U.S. last weekend, it set an April single-day record as well as an April opening-weekend record.
It has already been announced that Anthony and Joe Russo, who have helmed The Winter Solider to great success, will be back in the director’s chair for the third instalment. I don’t know about you, but I think that is wonderful news as they have struck the perfect balance between action, comedy and character development.
I personally cannot wait to see how the brothers develop the story and characters further, as they have left themselves with plenty of scope for the third film. They have hinted that they have already been giving some thoughts as to where they are going to take the story next.
Moreover, by the time that Captain America 3 hits the big screen, the character will be even better established, due to the inevitable success of Avengers: Age of Ultron next year. The success of that second Avengers film can only strengthen the individual franchises as we head into Phase Three of Marvel films.
In the last ten years, we have seen the Superman franchise rebooted not once but twice: Bryan Singer delivered Superman Returns before Zack Snyder took over the helm with Man of Steel last summer.
Superman Returns grossed a very respectable $391 million at the global box office back in 2006: however, for a blockbuster like Superman that total was a disappointment. That would be the one and only time that we saw Brandon Routh in the title role.
Last summer Warner Bros. threw everything at the re-launch of the Superman franchise, as Snyder directed, David S. Goyer penned the screenplay, while Christopher Nolan was on board as producer. Not to mention names such as Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe and Kevin Costner were all on the cast list.
While the movie itself looks fantastic, I have to say it did leave me a little cold: if the truth be told, I was a little disappointed by it. At the box office, Man of Steel did fair better than Superman Returns, as it grossed over $687 million.
Many blockbusters movies would be quite content if they got that return on their investment, but it did pale in comparison when fellow summer blockbuster Iron Man 3 took over $1 billion.
In recent years, only Batman has been able to go toe to toe with Marvel at the box office: Nolan’s Batman franchise was not only financially successful but also a critical winner. Therefore, Batman and Superman are set to join forces in the upcoming film.
Snyder will be back in the director’s chair for Batman vs. Superman, while Henry Cavill will reprise the role of Clark Kent. This sequel to Man of Steel will see Ben Affleck take over the role of Batman as Warner Bros. looks set to move this franchise forward after the departure of Christian Bale.
The controversy surrounding the casting of Affleck in the role - which was all a little OTT if you ask me - has assured the success of Batman vs. Superman: so many will go and watch this film to see if they were right about how awful Affleck will be. I happen to think Affleck will do a fine job if he is given a meaty script.
Of course, a franchise does need time to establish an identity and build up an audience, but just how much more successful Batman vs. Superman will be compared to Man of Steel, I am not so sure.
It remains to be seen if both films stick to this release date, but we could well have a humdinger of a promotion campaign and box office battle. Sadly, we have a long wait to see how it will turn out.
If I were a betting person, then I would place a good chunk of money on Captain America 3 triumphing when these two films go head to head… let battle commence!!!
Tagged in Batman