3. X-men: Apocalypse (2016)
The X-Men franchise has been a smashing success. The date for the release of the 9th installment of the X-men series has been set for May 27, 2016. It is intended to be the sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past. The movie was announced by director Bryan Singer in December 2013 and casting began in late October 2014.
The story takes place a decade later after the events of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The film will be focusing on the origin of the mutants and will feature the young versions of Cyclops, Jean Grey and Storm. The action in the movie will be taking place in the early 1980 and will complete the trilogy that started with X-Men: First Class. In the chronological frame the film will be set 20 years previous to the events of the first X-Men movie from 2000.
The main focus of the film will be, as it is stated in the title, Apocalypse; his origin and his role in the mutant world. The roles of the young Scott Summer, Jean Gray and Storm will be an important part of the full story showing how Cyclops did not begin as well round-up leader, how Jean Grey is a confuse yet complex character and Storm a troubled young girl going down the wrong path.
The film will feature the same main cast as in the previous films for Prof. Charles Xavier, Magneto, Hank McCoy and Mystique. Apocalypse will be portrayed by Oscar Isaac and young Cyclops, Jean and Storm will be played by Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner and Alexandra Shipp, respectively. In the cast there will also be staring Olivia Munn as Psylocke, Kodi Smit-McPhee as Night-Crawler, Lana Condor as Jubilation Lee, Ben Hardy as Angel and Lucas Till as Havoc.
2. Fantastic 4 (2015)
The “Fantastic 4” is having a reboot after the total failed attempt of the initial franchise which were heavily criticized by comic fans and cinema buffs alike, getting on Rotten Tomatoes only 26%, 37%, respectively. There was even a “proto” Fantastic 4 in 1994, which was so bad, that the producers chose not to release it.
The New Fantastic 4 (hopefully a series as well; we have to wait to find out) shall be taking place in the same Marvel Universe, that Marvel Studios has created and is going to create for all upcoming Marvel films.
Story
The Origin story is, in essence, the same like in the previous series but with its own twist and turns. The plot of the film will be based on the “Ultimate Fantastic Four” comic-books (that is Universe-1610, for all those who are in the know). Four people teleport to an alternate universe, altering their physical form and granting them super-power like ability.
Now they must learn to manage and control their new found powers and work together as a team to save the Earth from their friend turned villain, Dr. Victor von Doom.
Casting
Milles Teller will be playing Reed Richards a.k.a. Mr. Fantastic, while the role of Ms. Fantastic or Susan Storm will be played by Kate Mara. Johnny Storm or “Human Torch” will be portrayed by Michael B. Jordan while the role of “The Thing” will be taken by Jamie Bell. Toby Kebbel will be tacking up the mantel of the villainous old friend Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom.
1. Dr. Strange (2016)
There have been many attempts to begin development on “Dr. Strange” starting as early as 1986, but they never materialized, the most promising one being the one in which Guillermo del Toro was attached to direct it in 2008.
Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer were hired in 2010 to write the screenplay for “Dr. Strange”. Marvel Studios confirmed that Doctor Strange would be appearing as part of “Phase Three” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In the main Marvel Universe origin story, Dr Strange is a reputable but narcissistic neurosurgeon whose only concern is wealth, reputation and living the good life. But after a tragic car accident, where is hands are damaged, he cannot perform any longer surgery.
Being too proud and stubborn Stephen strange declines the offer of becoming a professor and desperately begins to search for a way to restore his hands by any means necessary, consulting with his peers, trying homeopathy and even travelling around the world for exotic cures .
After failing many times to find the wonder cure for his ailing hands, he ends up homeless after he exhausts all his funds and ends up decreasing himself by performing “back ally operations” for whomever has the money to pay.
All down on his luck and still desperate to find a cure to his ailment, Strange travels to the Himalayas to look for the hermit called Ancient One, hoping that he might heal him.
It has been confirmed by Marvel Studios that Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing the protagonist Dr. Stephen Strange and in a twist to the original Marvel Universe the Ancient One shall be portrayed as a female character played by Tilda Swinton. Chiwetel Ejiofor is rumored to take the role of Baron Mordo, but the studio hasn’t confirmed that yet, but nor have they denied it.