While the release of these calendars allows speculation as to who will star in these movies, it also acts as a reminder of something else: one of these films is likely to fall flat. Not all blockbusters can be successful, and a lesser-known superhero like Marvel’s “Ant-Man” or DC’s “Shazam” might be prime for that spot.
Then again, “Guardians of the Galaxy” proved its doubters wrong, as it rode to a huge box office return and launched its leading man Chris Pratt, traditionally known for his comedic works rather than action, into the spotlight. A similar turn of events may be in store for “Ant-Man,” which has an adapted script by “Anchorman” writer Adam McKay. Paul Rudd is in the title role, and supporting roles are filled by Michael Douglas (“Wall Street”), Evangeline Lilly (“The Hobbit”), Corey Stoll (“Midnight in Paris”) and Michael Peña (“End of Watch”). Rudd may be in line for a Pratt-esque transition, and “Ant-Man” may be a pleasant surprise.
The DC universe, on the other hand, may have issues. Several of their films, including “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and the scheduled “Justice League” films, are currently slated to be in competition with Marvel, since “Captain America 3: Civil War” opens within two months of “Batman vs. Superman,” and both “Justice League” films face steep competition in “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” and “Thor: Ragnarok” in 2017, and the Avengers finale, “Infinity War: Part 2,” in 2019. Since Marvel has won the war so far in quality and quantity, DC has a lot of work to do if they want to keep up.
