Hello and welcome to my first ever article for cbm.com! I had a lot of spare time today so i would like to post my thoughs on the biggest surprises that the next two years may hold for us. I would ask your understanding in advance if you find some typos or weid phrased sentences as English isn't my first language. If i mess this up, don't be afraid to le mt know!
In what is often described as the Golden age of comicbook media the next two years are crucial for the future of the genre. Comicbook Juggernatus like DC and Marvel will lay out their heavy guns in 2016 with Civil War and BvS competing for box office and critic/fan praise. Meanwhile veterans like Fox will trade to reconcile for some missteps of the past in the form of Deadpool and Fantastic Four this year. Of course Ant-man cis coming in our screens in less than two months, will he shrink from expectations (i always wanted to use a bad pun)? Here are the movies that i believe have the highest chance of catching us off guard! The list starts with the movie i personally feel has a chance of being a sleeper hit, just not as big as the ones on top.
5) GAMBIT (2016)
The charming Cajun is coming in our screen in 2016 and Channing Tatum is taking the reigns of the role from Taylor Kitch who starred in the less than spectacular X-men Origins: Wolverine. Channing has made steps in the right direction over the past years mainly due to Steven Soderbergh's mentorship but i am still not convinced he can hold a franchise on his own. His name is a strong plus in the general audience but for us comic book fans, there is something more that's needed. A vision!
Josh Zetumer is the scrrenwriter of the movie and his only credit involves the Robocop reboot, which had a mixed response. The film currently has no director and the fact that has been turned down by 4 possible candidates isn't a very good sign for the production. However Gambit is Fox's mega producer's Lauren Shuler Donner's passion project and it seems the studio is willing to go smaller for this to work. Due to the absense of a director in the captain's position and Tatum's debatable ability to lead a franchise on his own i keep my reservations for the project.
Optimism Meter: 5/10
4) Fantastic Four (2015)
Now, the snake's egg for many people here in our loving and open-minded community, Josh Tank's F4 reboot. The project has had many ups and down so far in it's production and the cast has gotten a mixed response so far with much unneeded hate being targeted towards Michael B. Jordan. It also doesn't help that the tone the movie is aiming for isn't exactly the classic fun and somehow vibrant F4 comics have used for nearly 60 years.
However the two trailers have showed us a concentrated movie that will focus on the family aspect that made the F4 popular so many years ago. Trank has shown that he knows how to go under the skin of his characters in Chronicle and put ordinary people in extraordinary situations. A huge question mark for me is Dr.Doom, one of the most iconic villains in pop culture and the treatment he is going to receive. It seems the relentless sovereign is being replaced by a social programmer in order to modernize a dated concept. If this is true or it's just the first step in Victor claiming Latveria, is remained to be seen. So far i am not quite happy with what we know about this approach . Overall the film seems to know what it's aiming for and is going to shoulder itself in it's four talented young actors with the hope that it will recreate some of the family dynamic that is not seen yet in a comic book film in such degree. I firmly believe that the film will be good/great.
Optimism Meter: 7.5/10
3) Ant-man (2015)
Marvel's biggest bet since GotG. Ant-man shrinking ability and inscect communication are by no means considered the most badass of powers but they certainly make him unique. The film also had a unique production history so far. Ant-man's helmer for years, Edgar Wright left the project last year due to creative differences with Marvel. The studio isn't new to disputes with it's creators but such incidents are involved in all other studios that make comic book movies as well. Peyton Reed was brought in to helm the project and his not so impressive resume is something that fans have been concerned about. Add to the pot the fact that the film didn't seem to have a solid screen writing team and you can understand why it has gotten the "first Marvel flop" label on it (hm, that rings a bell though, doesn't it?)
Fortunately there are good news. Marvel has a track record of finding gems in the mud or making directors exceed expectations. No one believed Favreau in 2007, no one believed the Russos in 2013 and James Gunn was considered "irreverent" due to his unique style of movie making. Could Peyton Reed surprise us? He is big comic book fan and his pitch for F4 back in 2002 sounded pretty spot-on in my opinion. His ability to make a truly great film is really debatable but his knowledge of the material isn't. Paul Rudd and Adam McKay have been tasked with the re-write of the script and although both of them are known for comedic material this might actually prove a plus for a film that for no reason should take itself too seriously. I have not been impressed by McKay yet but apprently Feige has with his pitch. I am cautiously optimistic
Optimism Meter: 8/10
2) Suicide Squad (2016)
Wait, Joker has earings???? What the Hellboy?
Kidding, the majority of this movie looks great. Joker, Harley, Croc, Deadshot, Katana and a bunch of other cannon fodder are united in order to bring some gusto in the whole righteous and heroic business. Add a cameo from the Dark Knight himself and you have some really good ingredients in the hand of a director who knows gritty and dark. Ayer has some solid credits in the form of End of Watch, Training Day and Fury and some not so solid ones (Harsh Days, Street Kings and Sabotage). Overall his good outweight the bad and i believe he will bring a more militaristic approach instead of a full-blown superpowered film. The costumes match the tone and although they aren't anything particular impressive the emphasis on practical effects is a welcome one.
There is a question mark on Will Smith and his willingness to put his status below the film but that remains to be seen. Leto's Joker also seems to take a drastic turn and his look has gathered mixed responses. I personally believe he will be a different but also really captivating Joker and a fan-favorite for that matter.
Optimism Meter: 8.7/10
1) Dr Strange
You expected Deadpool didn't you? Let me clarify. Deadpool isn't on the list for the simple reason that i don't believe will surprise any of us. Everything from the movie looks great and the R-rating indicates we are going to get the Merc we deserve. So the surprise chance in this case is that the movie will be bad. Personally, i don't see it!
Now to our Sorcerer Supreme. This ranking will be definitely controversial since almost nothing is known about the film itself. We know Scott Derrickson is directing it, Jon Spaights is writing it and Benedict Cumberbatch is going to bring his gravitas to the role. Apart from that, nothing except some rumoured castings. THEN WHY IS IT NUMBER 1?
Because i believe the film has the ability to be something even more unique than anything else in those years. The combination of magic and heroics is something the cinema has only experienced in the form of Harry Potter in length. Dr Strange's visuals are described by Joblo's scoop Inception and acid-trip like and that is good guys (although acid trip isn't, stay aways from drugs!). The first superhero sorcerer to come in the screen added by the aesthetic of a horror director such as Derrickson is a interesting dish that at least intrigues. Derrickson isn't the best of writers but his track record is solid and has a few good films under his belt. Spaights is known for Prometheus mostly and that might raise an eyebrow but i am not personally sure that the film's problem derived from him or from Lindelof's involement. The team behind the film has possibly many of you in the fence but i am personally on the "excited" side of that fence.
Optimism Meter: 9/10
So this is it folks. My top 5 candidates for the black horse of 2015-16 starting from the outsider of the outsiders and reaching to "Lebron James 2012 NBA finals" of the outsiders! Sound off in the comments below and remember this is just an opinion. Tear it down, it's your right but being respectful.