Most Anticipated Upcoming Superhero Movies of 2026

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While superhero movies aren’t as dominant in Hollywood as they used to be, both Marvel and DC are adjusting their plans and release schedules. Even so, there are still a number of exciting superhero films scheduled for 2026.

What are the most anticipated upcoming superhero movies in 2026?

For years, Marvel consistently released three movies annually, while DC’s schedule was less predictable, though they typically produced two films each year for about ten years. Now, both studios are investing heavily in TV series based on their superhero universes—the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the DC Universe (DCU). Despite this shift, movies remain their primary focus, and the coming year promises plenty of new releases.

Masters of the Universe (June 5, 2026)

Masters of the Universe, which debuted in 1982, was a groundbreaking franchise. Similar to Star Wars, it created an accessible world of myth blending fantasy and science fiction. The animated series that followed in 1983 added superhero themes, featuring Prince Adam who cleverly disguised his identity as the powerful He-Man. However, the series’ roots were more heavily influenced by gritty fantasy and dark futures than traditional heroic adventures in space. This led to rumors that Mattel originally intended the toy line to be based on the Conan the Barbarian movie.

Masters of the Universe has gone through many changes and updates in the last fifty years. While the 1987 movie was widely disliked by critics and didn’t perform well in theaters, there’s a lot of optimism surrounding the latest film adaptation.

Okay, so I just got a peek at what’s happening with the new He-Man movie, and it’s…different. Nicholas Galitzine is taking on the role of Prince Adam, but this isn’t the origin story you remember. Apparently, young Adam was sent to Earth with the Sword of Power when he was just a kid, and then…lost it. The whole movie is basically about him growing up on Earth and having to find the sword again so he can go back to Eternia and become He-Man. It’s a fresh take, for sure, and definitely puts a spin on everything we know!

The upcoming Masters of the Universe movie will include many fan-favorite characters. Camila Mendes will star as the strong warrior Teela, while Idris Elba will play Duncan, also known as Man-At-Arms. Morena Baccarin will portray the Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, Alison Brie will take on the role of the wicked witch Evil-Lyn, and Jared Leto will be the villainous Skeletor.

Supergirl (June 26, 2026)

I remember being totally surprised when Milly Alcock showed up as Kara Zor-El in the last scene of the 2025 Superman movie. Her take on Supergirl – a bit of a wild child, honestly – was a really bold choice, totally different from how most people picture the character. But it worked! It instantly got everyone talking and built a ton of anticipation for the Supergirl movie they were planning for 2026.

The movie takes inspiration from the comic book series Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Evely. It follows Kara Zor-El and her dog, Krypto, as they travel across the galaxy. Their journey is unique – Kara can only feel the effects of alcohol on planets with red suns, so they’re essentially hopping from planet to planet in search of a drink.

Amidst everything else happening, Supergirl meets a young girl named Ruthye (Eve Ridley) who’s looking for someone to help her get revenge for her father’s murder. Kara is hesitant, but agrees to help Ruthye, hoping to give her the sense of peace that Kara herself never found after her own father died.

The upcoming Supergirl movie will feature Jason Momoa joining the DC Universe as the character Lobo, a bounty hunter. While Lobo wasn’t part of the original comic book story, many fans are excited to see Momoa play the tough, rebellious character, and that’s a big reason they’re looking forward to the film.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day (July 31, 2026)

For the past five years, Spider-Man hasn’t been a major focus in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was only briefly mentioned once, by Wilson Fisk in the Daredevil: Born Again series, as someone he intended to target as the Mayor of New York. This lack of attention has led to a lot of speculation about the plot of the upcoming 2026 film, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

At the end of the 2021 film Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) faced a huge turning point. While he managed to keep his identity a secret, everyone around him – friends and fellow heroes alike – completely forgot who he was. This meant he had to rebuild his life from scratch, finishing school and navigating things on his own without the help he used to receive from Tony Stark.

The upcoming Spider-Man: Brand New Day will bring back familiar faces from previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. Mark Ruffalo will reprise his role as Bruce Banner/Hulk, and Jon Bernthal will return as The Punisher. Additionally, Zendaya will once again play Michelle “MJ” Jones-Watson, and Jacob Batalon will be back as Ned Leeds.

Beyond Marvin Jones III as the powerful villain Tombstone, the movie is adding Liza Colón-Zayas, Tramell Tillman, and Sadie Sink to the cast. While their specific roles haven’t been revealed, there’s speculation that Sadie Sink’s character might reappear in the 2027 film, Avengers: Secret Wars.

Clayface (September 11, 2026)

In 2022, James Gunn and Peter Safran launched DC Studios with a pledge to do things differently. Instead of solely concentrating on large-scale films featuring popular heroes, they planned to create both streaming shows and projects centered on lesser-known characters. The forthcoming Clayface movie perfectly embodies this fresh approach.

Clayface is a film Mike Flanagan, a well-known director, has been developing for a long time. He envisioned the Batman villain – drawing from the classic animated episode “Feet of Clay” – as a frightening, suspenseful, and ultimately sad story. DC liked Flanagan’s script, which he wrote with Hossein Amini, so much they quickly moved the project forward. However, Flanagan couldn’t direct it himself, so James Watkins – known for his work on Black Mirror and the horror film Eden Lake – will be taking on the directing role.

The film features Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, an actor whose face is horribly scarred during an encounter with a criminal. Seeking a solution, he turns to Dr. Caitlin Bates, a scientist working with unproven methods. Her treatment unexpectedly transforms Matt into Clayface, a creature with the power to change his appearance. Max Minghella also stars as a Gotham City detective who is in a relationship with Dr. Bates.

Avengers: Doomsday (December 18, 2026)

I’m incredibly excited for Avengers: Doomsday – it feels like the superhero movie everyone is waiting for in 2026! What’s really interesting, though, is how little we actually know about the plot. They’ve released a few teasers, but it’s still a total mystery. All we really know is that Robert Downey Jr. is coming back to the MCU, and he’s playing the big bad, Doctor Doom!

The cast for the upcoming Avengers movie is growing, with many familiar faces from past Marvel Cinematic Universe films and even the X-Men movies joining the project. While more actors may still be added, it’s certain the story will be a large-scale event that continues into the 2027 film, Avengers: Secret Wars.

How we chose 2026’s Most Anticipated Superhero Movies

There aren’t as many superhero movies scheduled for release as there have been lately. But fans are still very eager for good stories in this genre. So, here’s a list of the five most anticipated superhero films currently planned for release in 2026, based on their announced release dates as of today.

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2026-01-05 22:09