Anika Begay
Summary
- The superhero movies of 2026 promise to have a major impact on the genre.
- The Batman: Part II is set to continue the successful Elseworlds series, and Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow promises to be another exciting DC release in 2026.
- Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, marking a pivotal moment for the MCU following Endgame.
Two years ahead, the superhero movies of 2026 offer a selection of releases that have already convinced me that it is a dream year for the genre. After a period of colossal growth and popularity, what comes next for superhero releases is a hotly debated topic. Arguments have emerged that the genre will take a downturn after reaching a potential peak with releases like the MCU Avengers: Endgameor that it will continue to reach unprecedented heights, now that the MCU and DCU timelines present so many examples of how financially profitable superhero series and films can be that it justifies continuing the series.
Whatever your perspective, it’s safe to say that the spotlight is on the genre in a major way, which makes it all the more of a relief for someone who loves it to know that Marvel and DC’s announced release slate promises some upcoming projects with serious potential. In fact, despite being over a year away, 2026 is already set to debut some major Marvel and DC films with some monumental implications for both their respective brands, and I’m excited for every one of them.
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2026 brings a sequel to my favorite Batman movie
The Batman – Part II continues DC’s new Dark Knight film series
Batman – Part II will be released on October 2, 2026, marking a four-year window between the original film and its highly anticipated sequel. Currently, The Batman It’s my favorite Dark Knight movie, and part of that favoritism is how it sets things up for a potential expansion while still feeling like a complete standalone thing, like The BatmanGotham’s iteration is now perfectly primed for the emergence of more villains and heroes as the city attempts to rebuild from the damage caused by Riddler’s plans..
Although very little is known about Batman – Part IIThe plot, the movie has a whole show to help set it up, like The penguin The spin-off is confirmed to fill The Batmanending at the beginning of the sequel, meaning anyone who wants to get the full story can enjoy hours of connective tissue. With creator Matt Reeves also helping to make Batman: Caped Crusader – which also released its first season around this time to positive reviews – it seems like Reeves isn’t in a position to participate in a Batman outing that isn’t well-received, which is a promising idea considering the high expectations for the live-action film sequel.
The second DC Universe film in the new timeline will debut in 2026
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is set to cover so much new cinematic ground
The first DC Universe film will debut in 2025 Supermanbut 2026 enters even more uncharted territory. Supergirl: The Woman of the Future It is the second live-action film featuring the hero, the first being in 1984, so there is a huge amount of comic book history and lore surrounding the character that has not been exploited in terms of film adaptations.
As such, The Supergirl movie is seemingly set to reveal how DC’s new franchise handles characters who have less cinematic history behind them than the likes of Superman or Batman.. This should be especially fascinating given that much of the hype for the DC Universe is tied to the fact that it’s already introducing a ton of characters who are rightfully adored but have largely remained in the comics, with characters like Booster Gold and Swamp Thing already confirmed.
That said, the premise of Supergirl: The Woman of the Future It’s exciting even without that context in mind. James Gunn’s teaser for the Supergirl movie saw him state that, “We’ll see the difference between Superman, who was sent to Earth and raised by loving parents since he was a baby, and Supergirl, who grew up on a rock, a fragment of Krypton, and who watched everyone around her die and be killed in terrible ways for the first 14 years of her life and then came to Earth. She’s much more hardcore and not the Supergirl we’re used to..”
A darker look at Supergirl is promising in and of itself, especially if the character’s origin story is directly contrasted with Superman’s, as Gunn seems to suggest. Supergirl’s story of adapting to life on Earth is nothing new in the superhero genre, but that likely only sets the stage for a more compelling character arc, as the film is undoubtedly set to play with both audiences’ general perceptions of the character and their perceptions of what to expect from the film overall.
2026 Brings Robert Downey Jr. Back to the MCU as Doctor Doom for an Avengers Movie
Avengers: Doomsday Will Be a Truly Crucial MCU Release
Marvel’s 2024 panel at San Diego Comic-Con brought us some really surprising MCU news right after Deadpool and Wolverinewhich revealed not only that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the franchise, but that he would be playing none other than Doctor Doom. While this is certainly a concept that carries some major risks, the combination of the Russo brothers and RDJ getting back together seems like one that could pull off what might otherwise seem impossible, as Avengers: Infinity War AND Final can attest.
As such, Avengers: Judgment Day is perhaps the most exciting superhero project to come out this year so far, as it offers the opportunity to forever change the face of the MCU and address the complications the franchise has faced in the years since FinalBringing the Iron Man actor back in a new role is a drastic move, but drastic action might be just what the MCU needs, and a superhero movie that manages to bring Robert Downey Jr. back into the fray to use his acting talents for a big bad like Doom is sure to reap immeasurable rewards if all goes well.
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Batman Part II
The Batman Part II is the sequel to Matt Reeve’s 2022 film The Batman and will continue where the original film left off. The film shares a universe with HBO Max’s original Penguin series and features the return of the Riddler and a different incarnation of the Joker.
- Release date
- October 2, 2026
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Avengers 5
Avengers: Doomsday is the fifth Avengers film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will bring together heroes, new and old, to face Victor von Doom, played by the returning Robert Downey Jr.. Avengers 5 will also mark the beginning of Phase 6 of the MCU.
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Supergirl: The Woman of the Future
Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow is one of several DC films released by Warner Bros. under the direction of DC co-directors James Gunn and Peter Safran. Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow was officially confirmed in January 2023 along with other DC titles, including Superman: Legacy, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, and Swamp Thing.
- Release date
- June 26, 2026
