We have sequels, reboots, and even debuts to look forward to, and while chances are that they won't all be good, 2017 most definitely has the potential to be one of the biggest years ever for the genre.
So, with that in mind, what you'll find here is a look at these eight upcoming superhero movies ranked from least to most anticipated. With that comes a brief breakdown of what we know about them so far and why they're either worth getting excited over or probably won't end up being worth your time. As always, you'll no doubt have your own rankings, so feel free to share them in the usual place!
8. Gambit
Originally set to be released this October, Gambit has dropped off Fox's release schedule but is now expected to reach theaters during that same month next year. Despite Simon Kinberg's claims that it begins production in the spring, that feels hard to believe, especially as director Doug Liman has lined up a number of other projects in the meantime and Channing Tatum appears to have so much work scheduled that he'll be too busy to devote a big chunk of 2017 to this comic book adaptation.
Assuming everything does fall into place though, and do we really have any valid reasons to be excited for Gambit? Tatum has delivered some great performances in recent years but feels miscast in the role, while this doesn't really feel like a character who can hold his own in a compelling two hour movie. There are better places for Gambit and this spinoff feels destined to fail, making it hard to anticipate.
7. Wolverine: Weapon X
I loved The Wolverine, but Wolverine: Weapon X looks like it could very well be every bit as disappointing as X-Men Origins: Wolverine despite the fact that James Mangold is returning to direct. With this being Hugh Jackman's last appearance as the clawed mutant, expectations are already through the roof, and those involved have done themselves no favours by teasing an adaptation of Old Man Logan which its since become clear we definitely won't be getting.
The cast which has been put together is unusual to say the least, and we've yet to hear of an actor being chosen who could make for an amazing Mr. Sinister on the big screen. X-23 appearing is no bad thing of course, but if that's her in the set photos, she's going to be a child rather than the teenage badass from the source material. This movie has potential, but so far appears to be shaping up to be an underwhelming end to Logan's story.
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Considering the fact I'm a massive Spider-Man fan and that the wall-crawler was one of the highlights of Captain America: Civil War, I feel like I should be more excited for this Marvel Studios led reboot than I currently am. The gigantic cast is undeniably impressive, and photos from the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming have looked undeniably great, but this one also has a lot going against it.
For starters, it was penned by the writers of that abysmal Vacation reboot, while there's still no sign of J. Jonah Jameson and the rest of The Daily Bugle staff. Throw in the fact that the movie could have as many as three villains (something which has never gone well for the franchise), and it's hard not to be concerned, especially when Homecoming's big bad is The Vulture, arguably one of Spidey's least interesting and exciting foes. Don't get me wrong, I think it will be good, but it likely won't end up stealing the show in 2017.
5. Kingsman: The Golden Circle
Ok, so it's not a "superhero" movie as such, but the Kingsman: The Secret Service sequel is without a doubt one of 2017's most noteworthy comic book adaptations. That first instalment took everyone by surprise, and unlike Kick-Ass 2 (which was terrible), the good news here is that Matthew Vaughn is going to be back in the director's chair for The Golden Cirlce.
An incredible cast has been put together by the filmmaker, with the returning Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, and Colin Firth being joined by names like Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges, Channing Tatum, Pedro Pascal, Vinnie Jones, and hell, even Elton John! Plot details have been kept under wraps, but it's thought that this movie will introduce us to the American arm of Kingsman, and given Vaughn's penchant for great action and comedy, don't be surprised if The Golden Circle ends up being both a huge commercial hit and one of next year's biggest highlights.
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
No one really expected Guardians of the Galaxy to be that great, but it's arguably one of Marvel Studios' best movies. Seeing as that ended up being funny, heartwarming, and generally just awesome, expectations are understandably high for the follow-up, but all the signs are pointing to writer and director James Gunn delivering the goods. At least some additional plot details are expected to be revealed at Comic-Con, but we do already know that the story is going to revolve around Star-Lord's father.
How this will end up tying into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe and Infinity War remains to be seen (Thanos isn't expected to appear), but with some solid casting additions - Kurt freaking Russell! - and cosmic characters like Mantis added to the team, there's clearly a lot to look forward to when this group of A-Holes return. Alas, there's another superhero ensemble which tops this one, but I'll get to that later.
3. Wonder Woman
As excited as I am to finally see Wonder Woman get her own movie (especially after how great the character was in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice), I think this one may have been a few spaces down had I written this list a week ago. However, the news that the screenplay was written by Allan Heinberg and Geoff Johns, from a story by Zack Snyder and Allan Heinberg, has increased my excitement tenfold.
After all, past collaborations between Heinberg and Johns have resulted in gold, while the former knows all about how to properly handle a female lead thanks to his work on the likes of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. Snyder's involvement is also no bad thing given that, whatever other faults Batman v Superman may have had, Wonder Woman was a highlight. All that aside though, and this is shaping up to be an awesome World War I adventure for the iconic hero which will make Gal Gadot a huge star.
2. Thor: Ragnarok
I enjoyed the first two Thor movies, but there's no denying that both were lacking. That probably explains why Marvel is looking to make the biggest instalment in the franchise to date with Thor: Ragnarok, bringing in not only a major new villain in the form of Hela (played by the always amazing Cate Blanchett), but also The Hulk for what looks set to be at least a partial adaptation of the beloved Planet Hulk storyline.
When you throw in the fact that this will be a cosmic adventure which spends little to no time on Earth, it gets even more exciting, while I don't think it's too outlandish to predict that Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster is going to steal the show. However, arguably the biggest plus point for Thor: Ragnarok is the fact that it's being directed by Taika Waititi. His work on What We Do In The Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople was phenomenal, and if Kevin Feige believes in his abilities, then so should we.
1. Justice League
Now, some of you are going to be mad that Zack Snyder's Justice League is at #1, but c'mon, we're talking about the freaking Justice League! While Steppenwolf is an undeniably underwhelming villain, we still know very little about how things will play out in regards to everything from Darkseid's role to the resurrection of Superman, so there's a lot to look forward to here.
Everything we've heard from the set points to the director not repeating the mistakes he made with Batman v Superman, while the expanded roles of Ben Affleck and Geoff Johns will no doubt ensure that's the case. Warner Bros. may have stumbled a little when it comes to building the DC Films Universe, but this iconic team is finally here, and that alone makes this arguably the most exciting superhero movie set for release in 2017. The only real downside is the lack of Green Lantern, but who knows what surprises Justice League has in store...
Which of these movies are you guys most looking forward to? Do you agree with this ranking or would you place another 2017 release at #1? Let us know your thoughts below.