This year is destined to be a big one for fans of comic book films. Marvel Studios and DC/Warner Bros. are both taking their respective franchises to the next level, with Captain America: Civil War and Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. However, the coming months will bring a number of fan-favorite characters to life on the big screen for the very first time.
5. Bebop and Rocksteady, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
Ever since the early 1990s, fans of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have wanted to see these two characters make their live-action debut. Alas, it was not to be, as 1991 release Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze opted to include Tokka and Rahzar instead due to legal issues. Now that the franchise has clearance to do so, Gary Anthony Williams and Stephen Farrelly will play Bebop and Rocksteady, respectively, using motion-capture technology when the new film arrives on June 3. Introduced in the 1980s animated series, the characters are traditionally henchmen of the Shredder, a connection that will probably come to light in the film as well. Moreover, recent reports indicate that classic TMNT baddie Krang is also joining in on the fun. It’s a great time to be a fan of the characters.
4. Doctor Strange, Doctor Strange
Long before Marvel Studios officially announced that Oscar-nominated actor Benedict Cumberbatch would take on the role of Stephen Strange, fans were already fan-casting the Sherlock star in the part. Now it’s officially happening in director Scott Derrickson’s film, due for release on November 4. A neurosurgeon who winds up becoming the Sorcerer Supreme, the character could open up an exciting new world of story possibilities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, bringing magic and mysticism into the mix. There’s little doubt that Cumberbatch will shine as Strange, and considering that some have argued for a bit of freshness from the MCU, this could be exactly what the franchise needs to recharge itself before the Infinity War hits.
3. Black Panther, Black Panther
Black Panther may not be set to headline his own film until the 2018 release of director Ryan Coogler’s standalone adventure, but this year he enters the MCU in the midst of the game-changing events of Captain America: Civil War. Up-and-comer Chadwick Boseman (42, Get on Up) will don the mask as T’Challa, the Wakandan prince who gets caught up in the conflict between Cap and Iron Man, in the May 6 release. The character’s addition to the MCU finally addresses not only a clear lack of diversity in headlining heroes from within the films but also the long-running cries of Marvel fans for the studio to find a place for Black Panther in its slate of films.
2. Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman
For a long time, there’s been something terribly wrong with the films based on DC Comics characters. While Batman and Superman have regularly graced theaters, the other third of the group that has become known as the company’s “trinity” of marquee superheroes has never made a big-screen appearance. That injustice will finally be made right this year, as Gal Gadot (Fast Five) takes on the iconic role of Wonder Woman in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, hitting theaters on March 25. Like Black Panther, the Amazon princess is making her debut during a superheroic smackdown before leading her own film in 2017. However, it’s still a long-overdue step forward for the character and one that fans can’t wait to finally see.
1. Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad
The introduction of Harley Quinn in Batman: The Animated Series may have been born out of the desire to give The Joker a female counterpart to play off of, but over the years, the character has become so much more than simply Joker’s on-again/off-again girlfriend. Once a respectable psychiatrist, Dr. Harleen Quinzel has since evolved into a supervillain in her own right and remains one of the most popular comic book characters among fans. Equal parts hilarious and psychotic, Harley Quinn is sure to be the breakout star of director David Ayers’ villainous team-up (set for an August 5 release), and with the gifted Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) playing her, expectations are high that the film version will match what longtime fans of the character have been hoping to see for a long time.
Which character’s live-action debut are you most excited about? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
