Marvel has released an updated schedule for it's upcoming superhero films, and as it stands right now they are looking pretty friggin' dominant. The updated schedule sets Marvel on a firm path to the launch of the highly anticipated The Avengers film, which will combine heroes from a number of established Marvel franchises. Also, Sony Pictures has announced a release date for the upcoming Spider-Man 4 film, Marvel's most iconic character and highest grossing franchise to date.
Iron Man 2 maintains it's established release date of May 7th, 2010.
On May 6th, 2011 Spider-Man 4 hits theaters. No details on what the storyline will entail this time around. The Spidey franchise has grossed over $2 billion worldwide so far.
The Thor film, about the Norse god of thunder, strikes theaters on June 17th, 2011, a mere month after the Spidey film, giving Marvel a brutal one-two punch.
And if that's not enough, The First Avenger: Captain America slings it's shield only a month later, giving Marvel three consecutive months of major exposure and no doubt hundreds of millions in box office.
As of now, The Avengers film is set to release a year later on May 4th, 2012.
I'm actually surprised Marvel hasn't spaced this out a bit more. Even though there's little doubt that all of these films will succeed commercially, there is some risk of these movies cannibalizing one another a little bit. It does, however, leave Warner Bros. little room to position itself. Trying to fit in a proposed Green Lantern film in the midst of all this must seem daunting. Marvel's universe is established, while DC is basically trying to start from scratch.
