There are TWELVE huge comic book movies arriving in 2023

If we've done our maths right, then this is the most comic book movies released in single year.

It feels like ever since both Iron Man and The Dark Knight arrived in cinemas in 2008, we've been getting more and more comic book movies every year. But when they prove to be so massively popular - four of the top ten biggest box office hits of all time are comic book movies - then of course Hollywood is going to want to make more of them. However, due to the pandemic, movies that had already been finished had their release dates pushed back, while movies in production or pre-production were stalled over and over again until it was safe to resume filming. Which is why we ended up getting six comic book movies in 2021 (Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Venom 2, The Suicide Squad, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home), and we'll be getting nine in 2022 (The Batman, Morbius, Doctor Strange 2, Thor 3, Black Panther 2, Shazam 2, Black Adam, DC League of Super-Pets, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Part One). However, due to some new announcements and some scheduling reshuffling, there are now TWELVE comic book movies due to arriving in 2023. That isn't even including movies likes of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts or the newly rebooted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, both of which are also technically based on comic book series. So, if you are a fan of comic book movies, then you've got a lot to be excited about next year, starting with... Kraven The Hunter (January 23) Following in the footsteps of Venom and Morbius, this is Sony's next attempt to expand their Spider-Man Cinematic Universe, with J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year, Margin Call) directing Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the titular character, out to prove that he is the greatest hunter on the planet. How will he do that? Well, by targeting the most-difficult-prey, which may or may not be Spider-Man (Tom Holland) himself. The Marvels (February 17) The sequel to 2019's billion dollar making Captain Marvel, both Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson will be back in the roles from that first movie, joined by WandaVision's Monica Rambeau (Teyonnah Paris) and Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), who will be getting her own show, Ms. Marvel, on Disney+ later in 2022. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (March 17) Originally due to be released in December 2022 - on the very same day as the equally aquatically based Avatar 2 - WB and DC clearly seen how well The Batman's March opening did and decided to shove back a few months. It will have been a full five years since the first movie, with all of the primary cast returning for the top-secret sequel. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (May 5) Reportedly the final outing for the Guardians as we know them (although they are also set to appear in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder in some capacity), writer/director James Gunn has added Will Poulter (Dopesick, Black Mirror) to the already impressive cast. He'll play Adam Warlock, who was hinted at during the post-credits of Vol.2, an artificial being with extreme powers and a want to destroy the Guardians. The Flash (June 23) The movie in which both Ben Affleck AND Michael Keaton will return as Bruce Wayne/Batman, due to Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller) using his super-speed to travel back in time to save his mother from her untimely death, only to create several parallel universes in the process. So basically this is DC's answer to Spider-Man: No Way Home. Untitled Sony Marvel Movie (June 23) Whatever this movie is, it is currently scheduling to hit cinemas on the exact same day as The Flash, so expect one of these to blink and adjust their release dates accordingly. As for what the movie could actually be, chances are it won't be announced until audiences have seen the events of Morbius or maybe even Kraven The Hunter, in order to keep their cards as close to their chests as long as possible. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (July 28) Jeff Loveness, a writer of several of the best episodes of Rick & Morty, has been hired to script this threequel, with Paul Rudd and headline-attracting Evangeline Lilly back in the title roles. Most of the previous cast is also back, with two new additions: Bill Murray in an undisclosed villainous role, and Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror, the evil variant of He Who Remains we were first introduced to in final episode of the Loki show on Disney+. Blue Beetle (August 18) Perhaps the least-known property on this list (not including the ones that haven't been officially named yet, of course), it tells the story of a Mexican teenager (Xolo Maridueña - Cobra Kai) who finds an alien beetle that gives him superpowered armour. It is apparently set within the same DC Extended Universe as Wonder Woman, Shazam!, Aquman, etc., but how - or even if - it will be connected remains to be seen. Untitled Sony Marvel Movie (October 6) Yep, Sony have TWO secret movies coming out in 2023. There are currently quite a few projects in development, including Venom 3, the Sinister Six, and Madame Web (Dakota Johnson was recently confirmed to be cast in the role), so it could be either of those, or it could be something else entirely. Untitled Disney Marvel Movie (November 3) Not to be outdone, Disney have some secrets of their own in 2023, too. Movies like Blade, Fantastic Four, Deadpool 3, Shang-Chi 2 and Captain America 4 have all been announced to be in development, so this could really be any of those, or again, it could be something else entirely. Batgirl (TBD 2023) Continuing the mixing up of timelines, Michael Keaton will return as Batman, and J.K. Simmons will also be returning (after Justice League) as Commission Gordon. This movie will focus on his daughter Barbara Gordon (Leslie Grace - In The Heights), who takes up the title of Batgirl, hoping to assist in fighting crime in Gotham. The movie will skip cinemas entirely, being a HBO Max exclusive (hopefully landing on Sky and NOW over here) before the year is out. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse Part Two (TBD 2023) Across The Universe Part One arrives in 2022, with the sequel to the so-big-it-needed-two-parts following on at an unconfirmed date the following year. If they're both as good as 2018's Into The Spider-Verse, then we're in for a treat. Clips via Sony Pictures & IGN