PRINTSummer movies
May 22, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Between the enormous success of Iron Man and the four upcoming big budget entries, this is shaping up to be the year of the superhero. Vox takes a look at what’s coming down the line.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
The Incredible Hulk
Hancock
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Edward Norton, Tim Roth, William Hurt
Release date: June 13
After Ang Lee’s unsuccessful 2003 Hulk adaptation, the character is receiving an action-oriented reboot from the director of The Transporter. But will they give up too much story in the quest for a faster-paced, more stylish Hulk?
How excited are we: 2 out of 10
HANCOCK
Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron
Release date: July 2
Will Smith stars as a superjerk with superpowers who hires a PR agent (Jason Bateman) to improve his bad-boy image. People will go see this flick just for Will Smith, but this superhero idea has some real potential even without the big-name actor.
How excited are we: 7 out of 10
THE DARK KNIGHT
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
Release date: July 11
Batman faces off against his most well-known nemesis, the Joker (Heath Ledger), in what looks to be an even darker film than Batman Begins. Of all the upcoming superhero movies, this is the most likely to unseat Iron Man as most popular flick of 2008.
How excited are we: 10 out of 10
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor
Release date: July 11
OK, so the first Hellboy didn’t do that well, but writer-director Guillermo del Toro has since proven himself to a wider audience with Pan’s Labyrinth. With a bigger budget than the original, Hellboy II is something of a dark-horse candidate for a breakthrough movie.
How excited are we: 6 out of 10
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