Just as 2021 filled to the brim with superhero movies, from “Black Widow” to “Shang Chi” to “Eternals” to “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” 2022 promises to be just as packed with spandex.
Whether you watch superhero movies for the hero or the villain or the eye-popping visuals, 2022’s roster has something for everyone, including multiple Batmen and battlegrounds in every imaginable ecosystem.
From anti-heroes to animated heros to multiple versions of the same hero no stone will be left unturned in this next crop of crime-fighters. Below, we’ve rounded up a complete list of every superhero movie coming in 2022.
The Batman – Mar. 4, 2022
Robert Pattinson puts his own spin on The Batman in this upcoming iteration of the Dark Knight’s story. This all-new reboot of the DC character finds Bruce Wayne discovering corruption in Gotham City during his second year of fighting crime. Suspensefully, this corruption somehow connects to his own family. Pattinson’s Batman also faces a serial killer known as the Riddler (played by Paul Dano) and the film features a robust ensemble that also includes Zoe Kravtiz as Catwoman, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Andy Serkis as Alfred and Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon. Matt Reeves co-writes and directs.
“Morbius” – April 1, 2022
Jared Leto swaps The Joker for a vampire as Dr. Michael Morbius in Sony Pictures’ non-MCU Marvel movie “Morbius,” which was originally set to premiere January 28, 2022. In the film, Leto plays a doctor who takes his chances experimenting with vampire bat DNA in attempts to cure his chronic blood disease. After accidentally turning himself into a vampire, Morbius is torn between his humanity and his thirst for blood.
“Morbius” diverges from the conventional hero story, as the character is classified an anti-hero not dissimilar from Sony’s “Venom” franchise. Daniel Espinosa directs.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” – May 6, 2022
The “Doctor Strange” (2016) sequel arrives May 6, 2022 in theaters. Without many specific plot details, we at least know that the MCU follow-up will continue the story of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) with new character crossovers including Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olson) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). Original stars Benedict Wong and Rachal McAdams will reprise their roles as Wong and Christine Palmer, respectively. The character’s strong connection to Tom Holland’s “Spider-Man” raises the hype for anything involving both film franchises, and with “No Way Home” bursting at the box office in the final days of 2021, the bar has been raised for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” Sam Raimi directs.
“Thor: Love and Thunder” – July 8, 2022
This latest installment of the God of Thunder’s adventures strikes theaters July 8, 2022. Natalie Portman will reprise her role as ‘old flame’ Jane Foster (who this time around takes up the mantle of Thor) in the MCU sequel, as will Chris Hemsworth as the hammer-wielder, of course. New and returning faces include Tessa Thompson, Matt Damon and Christian Bale as the film’s villain. Taika Waititi writes and directs.
“Black Adam” – July 29, 2022
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will star in this July 29 release as the DC anti-hero, Black Adam. Aptly titled “Black Adam,” the film will tell the tale of one of the predecessors of the DC superhero Shazam, who has appeared in comics as both Shazam’s archenemy and an antihero trying to redeem himself after wrecking devastation across the universe for thousands of years. A sort of antithesis to Superman, Johnson previously described the character as having been “blessed by magic with powers equal to Superman, but the difference is he doesn’t toe the mark or walk the line. He’s a rebllious, one of a kind superhero. Other co-stars include Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate and Noah Centineo as Al Rothstein. Johnson’s “Jungle Cruise” director Jaume Collet-Serra directs.
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)” – Oct. 7, 2022
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) will take up his Spider-Man title again in this sequel to 2018’s Oscar-winning and visually stunning animated film “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”. Alongside Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker and Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacey, new voices include Oscar Isaac as Miguel O’Hara and Issa Rae as Jessica Drew.
Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson direct from a screenplay by Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Dave Callaham.
“The Flash” – Nov. 4, 2022
The long-in-the-works The Flash movie finds Ezra Miller reprising his role from “Justice League” in his own movie. The plot finds Barry Allen opening up the multiverse, which brings him into contact with Michael Keaton’s Batman and Ben Affleck’s Batman, with Sasha Calle making her debut as Supergirl. Andy Muschietti directs.
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – Nov. 11, 2022
The sequel to “Black Panther” (2018), which starred the late Chadwick Boseman, will open Nov. 11, 2022. Bringing back Shuri (Letitia Wright), Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Okoya (Danai Guirira), W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya) and more, this sequel will continue to explore the world of Wakanda and the characters that make it home. Among the new faces joining the film is none other than Micaela Coel. Boseman’s role of T’Challa will not be recast. Ryan Coogler returns to write and direct.
“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” – December 12, 2022
Jason Mamoa will return to the screen as Aquaman in this sequel to his $1 billion grossing 2018 film. Though the plot remains largely unknown, it looks as if Black Manta may still be at large and director James Wan will return as well. Other co-stars include Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Amber Heard.
