This time last year, we all thought that 2016 would be the best year ever for superhero movies. There was certainly plenty to love about those 365 days, but we were also faced with a lot of disappointments. No one could have predicted that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice would be a flop with critics or that X-Men: Apocalypse - which looked like a hit - would be a box office failure.
With all of that in mind, it got me thinking about the possible ways that 2017 could also prove to be a let down for superhero movies and us fans. Do I think these will come to pass? Perhaps, but I certainly hope not! We'll just have to wait and see, but below you'll find a look at five ways I think that highly anticipated adaptations on the way this year could disappoint us and ultimately damage the genre...
5. Could Thor: Ragnarok Be A Franchise Killer?
Aside from a few blurry set photos and a leaked piece of promo art, we've seen nothing official from Thor: Ragnarok, but I don't think it's going too far to say it stands a chance of stealing the show when it's released later this year. I have a lot of faith in Taika Waititi, and it's been clear since the logo was revealed that we're getting a Thor movie with some very inspired visuals and a fun sounding story.
However, it's important to remember that it wasn't too long ago that we all thought Alan Taylor would deliver a Game of Thrones style Thor and, instead, we got The Dark World. Throw in the fact that that Ragnarok has a lot of big characters in the mix and the fact that Chris Hemsworth's contract is nearing an end, and unless the movie really impresses, we could be looking at the end of Thor's solo adventures in the MCU, not to mention the team up approach which seems to be a big part of Phase 3.
4. Will The DC Films Universe Crash And Burn?
2016 was a rough year for Warner Bros. The Flash lost a couple of directors and both Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad failed to live up to expectations (despite performing well at the box office). Should Wonder Woman, and more importantly, Justice League, not deliver, then we could see the DC Films Universe become less of a priority for the studio.
That's not to say the slate they've announced will vanish by this time next year, but you have to believe that the suits will be less and less willing to spend money on movies which simply aren't performing for them. Moving forward, that's not good news for fans hoping to see this world one day rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so it's essential that the two movies on the slate in 2017 exceed expectations and set these iconic characters on a path that will ensure they remain on the big screen for a very long time to come.