100 Films To Look Forward To In 2016

Superheroes and Villains

Deadpool (10th Feb)

The first superhero film of 2016 introduces us to a new, or ‘rebooted’, Marvel superhero character, played by Ryan Reynolds. The eighth instalment in the X-Men film series, and directed by Tim Miller, the film follows a former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers. The film also stars Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein, T. J. Miller, Gina Carano, Brianna Hildebrand, Stefan Kapičić, and Leslie Uggams.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (25th March)

The follow-up to 2013’s Man of Steel and directed by Zack Snyder, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice sees the DC superheroes Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) fall into the same ‘extended universe’, as Gotham City’s own formidable vigilante takes on Metropolis’ modern-day saviour. The film will also see the first live-action portrayals of Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash, and also stars Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, and Gal Gadot.

Captain America 3: Civil War (29th April)

The sequel to 2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier and the thirteenth instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, sees the Avengers team fracture into two opposing factions, one led by Captain America (Chris Evans) and another by Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), after extensive collateral damage prompts politicians to pass an act regulating superhuman activity. The ensemble cast also includes Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Emily VanCamp, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, Daniel Brühl, and William Hurt.

X: Men – Apocalypse (19th May)

In another Marvel universe, the sequel to 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past and the ninth instalment in the X-Men film series sees the emergence of the world’s first mutant, Apocalypse. Directed by Bryan Singer, the X-Men must unite to defeat Apocalypse’s extinction level plan, as he recruits a team of powerful mutants to destructively “cleanse” humanity and create a new world order. The cast for this one includes James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Byrne, Tye Sheridan, Sophie Turner, Olivia Munn and Lucas Till.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Out of the Shadows (3rd June)

Outside of the DC and Marvel universes, we have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as they return to save the city from a dangerous threat. Directed by Dave Green, the sequel to the 2014 film stars Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Will Arnett, William Fichtner, Brian Tee, Tyler Perry, Brittany Ishibashi and Laura Linney.

Suicide Squad (5th Aug)

Introducing a bunch of new DC comic book heroes, or ‘anti-heroes’ in this case, Suicide Squad follows a secret government agency recruits imprisoned super-villains to execute dangerous black ops missions in exchange for clemency. The third instalment in the DC Extended Universe and directed by David Ayer, the film stars an ensemble cast featuring Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Karen Fukuhara, Jay Hernandez, Adam Beach, and Viola Davis.

Gambit (7th Oct)

Introducing another new “rebooted” Marvel character this year, and directed by Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow), Gambit sees Channing Tatum star as Remy LeBeau, better known as Gambit, alongside Léa Seydoux. Gambit is a Cajun thief with kinetic power of objects, which he uses by throwing playing cards to surprisingly devastating effects. His character has appeared in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, played by Taylor Kitsch. There is no official plot, photos or trailer for this film as of yet.

Doctor Strange (28th Oct)

And the final Marvel superhero film introduces us to Doctor Strange, who will be played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The fourteenth instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and directed by Scott Derrickson, the film follows a brilliant but arrogant surgeon, who, after his career is destroyed, gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under his wing and trains him to defend the world against evil. The film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Michael Stuhlbarg, Mads Mikkelsen and Tilda Swinton.