There have been many canceled comic book movies from theMCU, theDCU, and various adjacent franchises that could have been huge box office hits had they been made. Over the history of comic book movies, the genre has grown to become the dominant force at the box office. Themovies of the MCU, for example, have broken numerous records with their global success, furthering cementing the superhero genre as one of the most popular in modern cinema.
Sometimes, however,comic book movies are canceledbefore they can ever happen. On occasion, an announced movie is scrapped despite having massive potential, and even planned comic book movies that seem certain to achieve box office success go forever unmade. With that in mind, here are 10 canceled comic book movies that could have ruled the box office.
10Channing Tatum’s Gambit Movie Might Have Been Perfect
Tatum Has Proven That He Was Born To Play Gambit
After years of reportedly being considered for the role, Channing Tatum was announced as the star of a Gambit solo movie in 2014. However, the film entered development hell, and ultimately was scrapped in 2019 following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. As Channing Tatum was given the opportunity to play the role as part ofDeadpool & Wolverine’s castin 2024, it has become clear just what the actor’s solo Gambit movie could have looked like.
Tatum’s ability to amuse and entertain as Gambit made his appearance one ofDeadpool & Wolverine’s best inclusions. The brief time he spent playing the role on screen was the best live-action Gambit to date, proving exactly why Tatum has always been so heavily linked to the role. Had his solo Gambit movie come to fruition,it undoubtedly would have capitalized on both Gambit’s popularity and Tatum’s charisma, likely making it a box office smash.
9Guillermo Del Toro’s Hellboy 3 Is One Of The Genre’s Biggest Wasted Opportunities
Another Perlman-Led Hellboy Movie Should Have Materialized
Guillermo Del Toro’s reputation as a filmmaker speaks for itself, and his twoHellboymovies are some of the best comic book films of the ‘00s. Ron Perlman’s tenure in the role saw him embody the spirit of the character, bringing Hellboy to life in all his red, grouchy glory. After the success of the first two movies, a third entered production, but ultimately never came to pass.
Considering the huge anticipation surrounding another Perlman-ledHellboymovie, it almost certainly would have found box office success. The combination of Del Toro and Perlman so perfectly fit the world of Mike Mignola’s comics thatHellboy 3was eagerly awaited by many.The years of built-up anticipation would likely have translated to an impressive box office, but unfortunately the film was scrapped in favor of an ill-fated 2019 reboot.
8Tim Burton’s Batman Continues Already Sounded Excellent
Burton’s Batman Movies Could Have Continued With A Box Office Smash
1989 saw the release of Tim Burton’sBatman, followed by the sequel,Batman Returns, in 1992. The two films were originally intended to be followed up by a further sequel, reportedly dubbedBatman Continues. However, after concerns about how family-friendlyBatman Returnswas, the director was asked to step down from the sequel, andTim Burton’sBatmanmoviesended after two films. His planned sequel eventually becameBatman Forever, but Burton’s original vision had real potential.
Burton had reportedly eyed Robin Williams to play the Riddler and Marlon Wayans as Dick Grayson. Batman Continues also would have brought back Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Billy Dee Williams, rounding out an excellent ‘90s cast.With so much star power, and as the continuation of a successful franchise,Batman Continuescould have earned big moneyat the box office had it been made in line with Burton’s original plans.
7The DCEU’s Deathstroke Movie Sounded Fascinating
Unique Ideas Would Have Made Deathstroke A DCEU Hit
Of all the many canceled DCEU projects, theDeathstrokemovie may just be the most unique. The film would have paid off the tease from Justice League’s post-credits scene, which saw Jesse Eisenberg’s Lex Luthor meet with Joe Manganiello’s Deathstroke. Manganiello’s solo film was reportedly set to be directed byThe Raiddirector Gareth Evans. Despite barely making it past simply being rumored, the Deathstroke movie was a fascinating prospect.
Gareth Evans’ work onThe Raid, combined with Manganiello’s own star power, could have contributed to huge box office success.The action credentials of Evans combined with a DCEU setting and all the support of an existing shared universe could have contributed to a solid box office takefor theDeathstrokemovie. Though it never made it to the big screen, there was undoubtedly an interesting and unique comic bookmovie in the DCEUDeathstrokeplans.
6Man Of Steel 2 Was Too Highly Anticipated To Fail
Henry Cavill’s Superman Return Would Have Paid Off Massively
ThoughMan of Steelwas the film that started the DCEU, it never received a direct sequel within the franchise. Though one was initially planned to allow for Henry Cavill to reprise his role in a second solo movie, it was eventually scrapped in favor of the DCU reboot. ThecanceledMan of Steelsequelwas set to feature the villain Brainiac, as well as facilitating further exploration of Cavill’s Man of Tomorrow.
Considering the popularity ofMan of Steeland the high profile of the DCEU, it’s safe to say thatMan of Steel 2would have been a success.Zack Snyder’s slightly more grounded approach to the character of Superman was one that many fans enjoyed, particularly as it examined different aspects of the hero. Had Cavill been able to return forMan of Steel 2, the sequel would likely have found success at the box office, even though it was never meant to be.
5The Amazing Spider-Man 3 Would Have Been A Major Franchise Payoff
Teases For Garfield’s Spider-Man Threequel Made It A Surefire Success
After first appearing in the role in 2012’sThe Amazing Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield reprized the role for the 2014 sequel,The Amazing Spider-Man 2. The second film set up many mysteries to be revealed by its own successor, teasing a number of exciting plot points that seemed to promiseThe Amazing Spider-Man 3would be the most exciting movie in the franchise. However,The Amazing Spider-Man 3was ultimately canceled before it could be made.
The planned movie would have seen Peter Parker uncover more of the mystery surrounding his parents, as well as potentially facing off against the Sinister Six.AsThe Amazing Spider-Man 2went to great lengths to tease the third film’s story, it seems to be a huge missed opportunityfor box office success. What’s more, the talents of Andrew Garfield, Sally Field, and Dane Dehaan would almost certainly have been utilized once again, contributing to even further success.
4Ben Affleck’s Batman Movie Could Have Been A DCEU High Point
Affleck’s Batman Needed More Exploration In The DCEU
Ben Affleck’s role in theDCEU’s movie timelinewas a critical one, despite the fact that he felt severely underused. Making his debut in 2016’sBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he later appeared inJustice LeagueandThe Flash. Affleck’s Batman never starred in his own solo movie, despite one having been in the works with Affleck himself tipped to direct.
An Affleck-driven Batman solo story could have proven to be one of the DCEU’s most profitable entries. In terms of appeal,few characters can boast such widespread popularity as Batman, and Affleck’s own gritty and tortured take on the vigilante was especially good. Though Affleck’s film was scrapped before he got to make his own movie, it likely would have made use of both Affleck’s skill behind a camera and in front of it.
3Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 4 Would Have Expanded On His Incredible Vision
Another Raimi Spider-Man Movie Would Have Continued His Trilogy’s Success
Sam Raimi’sSpider-Mantrilogy has gone down in history as a landmark piece of superhero cinema. 2002’sSpider-Manand the 2004 sequel,Spider-Man 2, set a high bar, and though 2007’sSpider-Man 3didn’t quite live up to it in quality, it still made a respectable amount at the box office. Sam Raimi originally planned to continue the franchise with a fourth movie, and althoughSpider-Man 4was never made, it could have performed well if it had been.
Raimi’s reported plans forSpider-Man 4were ambitious, but it’s his approach to the other 3 movies that make the canceled film seem so promising. Raimi’s vision and the meticulously built world he established over the span of the trilogy made for an especially rich franchise, and a further entry would only have capitalized on that. Regardless of independent details,three successful movies would mean that Raimi’sSpider-Man 4would have ruled the box officehad it been made.
2Zack Snyder’s Justice League Sequel Could Have Been Huge
Snyder’s Plans For The DCEU Would Have Translated To Box Office Success
As proven by theMCU’s movie timeline, team-up movies are a big deal. The DCEU’s first attempt at a grand scale crossover inJustice Leaguemay not have had the desired effect, but it wasn’t a total disaster. However, Zack Snyder departing halfway through production ultimately led to several issues with the film, and it never received its planned sequels. Had Snyder’s vision been carried out, theJustice Leaguesequels likely would have earned big at the box office.
Capitalizing on the set-up of Darkseid’s arrival on Earth and the dark Knightmare future glimpsed by Batman,Justice League 2seemed to have a fascinating story to tell. The return of Henry Cavill’s Superman, Ben Affleck’s Batman, and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, as well as their fellow heroes, would only have been a big draw for global audiences.It’s hard to imagine anything but a huge box office take for the DCEU’sJustice League 2had it come to fruition in line with Snyder’s plans.
1Superman Lives Could Have Capitalized On Major Star Power
Nicolas Cage As Superman Would Have Been Huge Moment For The Genre
When it comes to canceled comic book movies, few are as well-known asSuperman Lives. With many famous names attached to the unmade movie, it’s one of the most high-profile cancelations of a superhero movie in the history of the genre. With a script originally written by Kevin Smith, Tim Burton attached to direct, and Nicolas Cage signed on to play Superman,Superman Liveswas once slated for a 1998 release.
Ultimately,Superman Livesswiftly entered production hell and was eventually placed on hold in April 1998. A few more years languishing under creative differences with various writers and directors, andSuperman Liveswas scrapped altogether. The combination of Nicolas Cage, Tim Burton, Kevin Smith, and the iconic figure of Superman could only ever have been a box office success, making it one of the most hypothetically lucrative canceled movies from theMCU, theDCU, and beyond.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
DC Universe
The DC Universe is one of the biggest comic book franchises and often competes with Marvel. DC Comics started as National Allied Publications, founded by Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson in 1935. Since then, the franchise has exploded with thousands of comic books, movies, TV shows, and video games. 2013 marked the beginning of the most recent iteration of the superheroes, with Zack Snyder introducing Henry Cavill as Superman. After several movies with mixed reviews, DC underwent a soft reboot under the helm of James Gunn and Peter Safran.
