Can We Have Too Many Superhero Movies?

The Justice League

So, as anyone that reads my ramblings at all, or listens to the podcast, or simply knows me at all, the fact that I'm a gigantic DC Comics fanboy shouldn't come as a shock. Honestly, I just spent my Saturday reading the entire New 52 run of Nightwing. Now onto Green Arrow. Anyways, the latest news regarding DC's movie universe plans has me quite giddy. According to Nikki Finke, formerly of Deadline, DC plans on releasing seven movies in a two year span. According to Finke, who tends to be good at getting scoops, this is what the schedule, that will most likely have it's big reveal at Comic-Con, looks like:

May 2016 – Batman v Superman

July 2016 – Shazam

Christmas 2016 – Sandman

May 2017 – Justice League

July 2017 – Wonder Woman

Christmas 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up

May 2018 – Man Of Steel 2

The biggest surprise on that list for me is the solo Shazam movie. While he's definitely one of the cooler characters in the DCU, I'd have much rather seen a solo Aquaman movie. Regardless, this is exciting and also a bit worrisome. The worrying part is that DC may over-saturate the market with their product by releasing a new movie every few months. With the rumour that Jason Mamoa will indeed play Aquaman, courtesy of Hitflix's Drew McWeeny, it is starting to make sense why Batman v. Superman v. The Board of Justice was delayed. 

According to the rest of Finke's article, it wasn't because of Affleck bulking up or Eisenberg or Gadot, but rather a fair few JLA regulars will be making appearances, and it's all about getting the actors and contracts signed. But apparently Zack Snyder, director of the upcoming BvS and Justice League, has clear costume designs ready for the characters he wants to use. Also, in regards to Sandman, I'm assuming this has to be the same version that Neil Gaiman and Joseph Gordon Levitt are working on together. Also, with the Rock suggesting he will be in a DC property coming soon, signs seem to point to Black Adam, Shazam's main villain and a character the Rock likes a lot.

Black Adam, The Rock and Lobo, just for kicks

So with DC finally announcing their plans, and Sony, Fox and Marvel's upcoming schedules also being public knowledge, it raises the concern that superhero movies could end up overstaying their welcome. According to Brad Brevet of RopeofSilicon, who I am also stealing this list from, there's going to be 22 superhero movies over the next four years. The schedule looks something like this:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy (8/1/14) - Marvel
2. The Avengers: Age of Ultron (5/1/15) - Marvel
3. The Fantastic Four (6/9/15) - Marvel
4. Ant-Man (7/17/15) - Marvel
5. Captain America 3 (5/6/16) - Marvel
6. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (5/6/16) - DC
7. X-Men: Apocalypse (5/27/16) - Marvel
8. The Amazing Spider-Man 3 (6/10/16) - Marvel
9. Shazam (Jul 2016) - DC
10. Untitled 2016 Marvel Movie (Dr. Strange?) (7/8/16) - Marvel
11. Sandman (Dec 2016) - DC
12. Venom (TBA 2016) - Marvel
13. The Wolverine 2 (3/3/17) - Marvel
14. Justice League (May 2017) - DC
15. Untitled 2017 Marvel Movie (Thor 3?) (5/5/17) - Marvel
16. Wonder Woman (Jul 2017) - DC
17. The Fantastic Four 2 (7/14/17) - Marvel
18. Flash and Green Lantern team-up (Dec 2017) - DC
19. The Sinister Six (TBA 2017) - Marvel
20. Man of Steel 2 (May 2018) - DC
21. The Amazing Spider-Man 4 (5/4/18) - Marvel
22. The Avengers 3 (TBA 2018) - Marvel

Along with all these movies, there's also the number of comicbook TV shows, with Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the upcoming Flash, Daredevil, Gotham and Agent Carter shows as well. It's a good time to be a comicbook fan. Bad time to be David Goyer, because he's a dick that shits on comicbook fans and hates Martian Manhunter. 

The Avengers