Summary
Despite theMCUtaking a more measured approach to their releases, and theDCUhaving yet to release their first official title, there are a lot of projects coming fromMarvelandDCstill in 2024.The last few years have seen the number of prjects from Marvel and DC reduce significantly.With the pandemic, strikes in Hollywood, and higher levels of negative feedback for superhero movies and TV shows, there was a steep decline in official releases.
Additionally, with the negative responses surrounding Marvel TV shows on Disney+, and the restructuring of DC’s offerings with the newly established DC Studios, comic book-inspired projects were few and far between. However, in 2024, it appears that things are getting back to normal at a rapid pacewith several TV shows and movies still tocome from both Marvel and DC.Many of these projects are animated TV shows, but there are a few blockbuster movies and live-action projects still coming in 2024 for all fans of superhero stories.
Is Jensen Ackles playing Batman in the DCU?
Batman will debut in the new DC Universe’s The Brave and the Bold movie. The Boys star Jensen Ackles has been rumored to play Bruce Wayne, which James Gunn, the DCU’s creative chief, has shot down. Ackles could still be cast as Batman; however, no actor has been chosen at the moment, with casting for the new Batman only starting when the movie has its script ready. Based on his dark and action-heavy roles in Supernatural and The Boys, as well as being the voice of Batman in DC’s animated Tomorrowverse, Ackles would be perfect for the DCU’s Dark Knight.
1Hit-Monkey (Season 2)
July 15
Hit-Monkey, also known asMarvel’s Hit-Monkey, is set to release season 2 on Monday, July 15, in its entirety. The first season was released in 2021, during which time Marvel was restructuring their TV offerings and folding Marvel Television into Marvel Studios. As a result, between the first and second seasons, the oversight for the show has changed hands,with Marvel Studios officially leading the charge on the show, despite the series not being set in the MCU proper.
Now, all 10 episodes of the second season of the show will debut on Hulu at once, just as the first did and continue the story of the hyper-intelligent animal assassin.The first season ended on an explosive cliffhanger with Bryce returning from Hell after making a deal with Mephisto, and Hit-Monkey making some new enemies. The show is expected to continue with these events and follow the same adult animated themes as were featured in season 1.
Hit-Monkey
Cast
Hit Monkey is a 2021 animated streaming series developed by Marvel Television for Hulu. With Fred Tatasciore, Olivia Munn, Jason Sudeikis, George Takei, and Ally Maki in its star-studded voice cast, the show tells the story of a deadly Japanese macaque who wages war on Tokyo’s criminal underworld with the help of the ghost of an assassin.
2Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
July 18
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!is a series based on an obscure villain from the comics who face off against Batman. However, his appearance on this titular show is not a debut for the character, buta return in the form of a spin-off from theadult animatedHarley Quinnseries.Kite Man has appeared numerous times on the show, voiced by Matt Oberg, who will be reprising his role here.
The series will tie in with theHarley Quinnshow, featuring all the primary cast members, including Harley and Ivy. The first two episodeswill be released on Thursday, July 18, with a further eight episodes appearing weekly thereafter on Max.The story is set to follow Kite Man as he and his girlfriend, Golden Glider, attempt to open a bar together on one of the seediest corners of Gotham’s mean streets.
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
Kite Man, along with his partner Golden Glider, ventures into the world of business by opening Noonan’s, a dive bar in Gotham’s underworld, shadowed by Lex Luthor’s Legion of Doom. The couple balances their criminal exploits with managing the bar, where Gotham’s infamous rogues come to unwind. The series, spinning off from “Harley Quinn,” showcases the humorous and chaotic private lives of these villains, filled with absurd heists and personal drama.
3Deadpool & Wolverine
July 26
Deadpool & Wolverinemarks one of the most highly anticipated films to come out of the MCU in a while. Not only will thefilm introduce Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool into the MCU, uniting the Fox X-Men timelines and the MCU within the Multiverse,but it will also welcome Hugh Jackman back as the Wolverine. Jackman has played the Wolverine for the best part of 25 years, and his arrival in the MCU has been something fans have cried out for ever since the MCU began in 2008.
The film will feature Deadpool and Wolverine as the titular anti-heroesin a story that will span multiple universe, and see Deadpool arrive in the TVA, which was first shown in the hit Marvel TV show,Loki. The movie is also expected to be filled to the brim with cameos from across various Marvel projects. While specific details are a closely held secret, the film is expected to perform well at the box office, and set the tone for the future of the MCU.
Deadpool & Wolverine
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
4Batman: Caped Crusader
August 1
Batman: The Animated Serieswas one of the most popular animatedversions of Batman’s storyever made. Airing from 1992 to 1995, the series featured incredible voice talent like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill.Batman: Caped Crusaderwas set to be a spiritual successor toBatman: TAS, althoughthe new series is set to explore the early days of Batman’s vigilante activism in Gotham City. However, when Kevin Conroy passed away, the show’s future was uncertain.
Batman: The Animated Serieswas one of the most popular animated versions of Batman’s story ever made.
Now, the show is full of a strong cast of talented voice actors, with Hamish Linklater tackling the lead role as The Dark Knight.It also features some twists on the traditional iterations of the characters from comic books,bringing the show up to date in terms of the setting and story. Little else is known about the project, butBatman: Caped Crusaderwill premiere on August 1 on Amazon Prime Video, where all 10 episodes of season 1 will be released at once.
Batman: Caped Crusader
Wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne, transformed by tragedy, takes on the mantle of Batman to combat the rampant corruption and crime in Gotham City. His vigilante actions attract both allies within the GCPD and City Hall and deadly adversaries, leading to unforeseen consequences. The series delves into the noir roots of Batman, exploring the psychological depths of Gotham’s inhabitants.
5Agatha All Along
September 18
Another exciting MCU project,Agatha All Along, will see Kathryn Hahn’s character fromWandaVisionreturn to star in her own spin-off. The show will premiere on Disney+ on September 18 with two episodes. Then, the show will likely release the remaining seven episodes on a weekly basis until the show’s conclusion.The cast will see some of the familiar faces from Westview return, and a few new faces as well, including Joe Locke,who rose to popularity in Netflix’sHeartstopper, and Aubrey Plaza, from popular shows likeParks and Recreation.
Kathryn Hahn also appeared inStep Brothers(2008) as Alice Huff andTransparent((2014-2019) as Rabbi Raquel Fein.
The story will see Agatha trapped after her final encounter with the Scarlet Witch at the end ofWandaVision. However,being the powerful witch that she is, Agatha will not take such a punishment lying down, and she will likely look for a way to escape her cursed enchantment. How this will tie in with the wider MCU is unclear, but as an official MCU TV show, it is likely it will introduce some details that will feature in the wider universe.
Agatha All Along
Agatha Harkness, after the events of “WandaVision,” seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
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6The Penguin
September
Not quite in the newly revised DCU,The Penguinis a spin-off from Matt Reeves’The Batman.The show will see Colin Farrell reprise his role as Oz Cobb, better known as Penguin, in a devastated Gotham City after high-profile figures and buildings have been destroyed. The film isset in DCU’s Elseworlds, the off shoot of the DCU, which is not canonically with the primary stories, but happening somewhere else in the Multiverse.
The show will see Colin Farrell reprise his role as Oz Cobb, better known as Penguin, in a devastated Gotham City.
Whether Robert Pattinson’s Batman will make an appearance is unclear,although the series is set to follow directly on from the events ofThe Batman.With such a clear connection to the movie, and Reeves establishing a small Batman-focused universe on the outskirts of the DCU, it would make sense to lock in a cameo appearance to cement this branch of DC stories, especially with a new Batman and casting set to appear in the DCU.
The Penguin
Created by Lauren LeFranc, The Penguin is a crime-drama spin-off television series of 2022’s film The Batman. Set shortly after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb, A.K.A. the Penguin, begins his rise in the underworld of Gotham City as he contends with the daughter of his late boss, Carmine Falcone, for control of the crime family’s empire.
7Joker: Folie à Deux
October 4
Another DC Elseworlds project, the incredibly popularJokermovie starring Joaquin Phoenix in 2019, is set to finally continue the story inJoker: Folie à Deuxon October 4. Todd Phillips serves as writer and director for this compelling and twisted story about an alternative origin story for Batman’s greatest rival. And in the sequel,the Joker will be joined by his lovely therapist turned devoted assistant, Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga.
The film offers a twist on the usual superhero format with this R-rated picture being portrayed as a musical. However, the grit and violence is expected to be just as punchy and dramatic as the music, which will ensure the story of Arthur Fleck and his deteriorating mind will be told in as authentic a way as that narrator can offer. This is also expected to perform well at the box office,considering the first movie earned over $1 billion (viaThe Numbers), and managed to win 2 Oscars.
8Spider-Man: Freshman Year
November 2
The final entry from the MCU comes in the form of an animated series based on the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. WhileSpider-Man: Freshman Yearwas initially set to explore Tom Holland’s early years as the Web Slinger, the series has since opted to include a variety of villains that only appeared for the first time in later Spider-Man movies, and thusthe series is now a much looser version of the story set somewhere in the Multiverse.
The show will follow Peter Parker as he gets to grips with his powers,and as he fights against some of the greatest foes the hero has ever faced in the comics.At present, few other details have been revealed, but the show is set to feature the voices of Charlie Cox as Daredevil, andVincent D’Onofrio as Kingpin. These talented actors will be sure to bring the characters to life as they begin to appear more prominently in multiple MCU projects ahead ofDaredevil: Born Againin 2025.
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9Creature Commandos
December
While Superman will be the first official movie to introduce James Gunn’s DCU in 2025, there is another project which will have the honor of being the first DCU project.Creature Commandosis set to debut in December 2024, and it will feature familiar voices from projects likeThe Suicide Squad, while also setting up new characters that will appear across the DCU.Gunn has promised that actors voicing the characters will play those roles within the animated and live-action projects,soCreature Commandosmarks an exciting moment for the incoming DCU.
The story features a misfit set of monstrous powered people who are organized into a team.The series will feature Viola Davis in the role of Amanda Waller, who has also been seen in several DC movies and shows, including bothSuicide Squadmovies,PeacemakerandBlack Adam. However, the rest of the plot for the show remains under wraps, but the series will begin streaming on Max from December.
10Harley Quinn (Season 5)
Unknown Release Date
Finally, in an unknown release slot, Harley Quinn returns for season 5 of her animated adventures. The series originally began in 2019, with Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) voicing the titular character. Since that time, the storylines have gotten ever more entangled with villains and heroes, and R-rated humor. The show has proven to be one of the most popular DC animated shows in recent years, andwith spin-offs likeKite Man: Hell Yeah!coming from the show, it’s proving to be a great testing ground for DC’s obscure characters.
Season 5 will continue to explore Harley’s journey of self-discovery as she becomes more heroic with each new season.As season 4 came to an end, Harley set up a team with Ivy, Barbara Gordon and Catwoman called the Gotham City Sirens. Season 5 will likely pick up where it left off, although it could connect in with Kite Man’s premiere season since the character will have cameo appearances on the show. Altogether, 2024 remains a packed year for newDCandMarvelprojects.
Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn is a 2019 animated series focusing on the titular character’s evolution after severing ties with the Joker. As she seeks to establish herself as an independent force in Gotham City’s criminal underworld, the film explores her journey toward becoming Gotham’s criminal Queenpin.
June 11, 2025
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