Comic Book Movies and TV: What's Coming, And When?

There are a lot of comic book movies and TV series in development right now, and it's nearly impossible to keep track of them all on a day-to-day basis. Part of that comes down to the fact that a lot of them are in that weird, wobbly area where everybody knows they're in production but the studio hasn't officially announced it yet. Marvel is particularly guilty of this, with enough movies "planned out" but not yet announced to populate  a small island. The problem is, apparently everyone on that island knows Stan Lee, so he keeps telling people about these unannounced films. So we're collecting up announced, rumored and confirmed releases for your perusal. If something is already underway (like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Arrow), it won't be on the list. Here's the best we can make of a master list right at the moment. If we're missing something, please feel free to e-mail us or chime in in the comments. Marvel Comics

The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 3, 4 Release dates have been set for May 2014, 2016 and 2018. Spinoffs are also expected, although nobody has officially said based on what concepts or characters. Marc Webb, who directed the first film, will also direct the second and may try to stick around for more, but he still has an outstanding obligation to Fox that nearly stopped him being able to make #2. Venom Sony recently announced that Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Ed Solomon will write the screenplay for Venom, which Kurtzman will direct. The Sinister Six Sony recently announced that Daredevil showrunner Drew Goddard will write, with an eye to direct, The Sinister Six. Guardians of the Galaxy Coming in August 2014. Check out much more about it here. X-Men: Days of Future Past Slated for release in May 2014. Check out much more about it here. Fantastic Four Slated for release in 2015 from director Josh Trank. Production is expected to begin in March 2014. Check out more about it here. X-Men: Apocalypse Just announced, with a May 2016 release date. You can read what we know here. X-Force Apparently intended to be written and directed by Kick-Ass 2's Jeff Wadlow, news of this movie broke days before San Diego Comic Con International and it was widely expected to be announced there. It was not, but X-Force creator Rob Liefeld, who has creator participation in characters like Cable and Deadpool, confirmed via Twitter that weekend that he's known the movie was in development for some time. No official announcement has yet been made, so no release date or cast information is known. Deadpool The on-again, off-again adaptation of the Merc With the Mouth is more or less stalled out, as the draft the filmmakers have settled on is a hard R and Fox seems unwilling at this point to move forward with that. Nevertheless, so many people like the script and see value in Deadpool as a property that body particularly wants to let it drop. X-Men Origins: Magneto Apparently dead in the water, the idea of a Magneto movie continues to come up every year or so, especially with Michael Fassbender playing the character in the First Class movies. Along with Deadpool, it entered development around the time of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, but the failure of that movie seems to have had an impact on the rest of Fox's plans.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Coming in April 2014. Check out much more about it here. Ant-Man Coming in July 2015. Check out much more about it here. Avengers: Age of Ultron Coming in May 2015. Check out much more about it here. Big Hero 6 Animated feature film coming November 2014. Check out more about it here.

DaredevilComing to Netflix as a single-season series in 2015. One of the four shows that will focus on solo superheroes before building to a season-long Defenders event. Written and directed by Drew Goddard. Jessica Jones Coming to Netflix as a single-season series in 2015 or so. One of the four shows that will focus on solo superheroes before building to a season-long Defenders event. Written and showrun by Melissa Rosenberg, who previously developed it for ABC as AKA Jessica Jones. Luke Cage Coming to Netflix as a single-season series in 2015 or so. One of the four shows that will focus on solo superheroes before building to a season-long Defenders event. Iron Fist Coming to Netflix as a single-season series in 2015 or so. One of the four shows that will focus on solo superheroes before building to a season-long Defenders event. The Defenders Coming to Netflix as a single-season series in 2015 or so. The culmination of four shows that will focus on solo superheroes before building to a season-long Defenders event.

Doctor Strange Rumored for Marvel Phase 3 (2016-2018) but not yet announced officially. Stan Lee has said in numerous interviews that it's a go. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige confirmed this production to MTV but no further details or release date have been made available. The Inhumans Rumored for Marvel Phase 3 (2016-2018) but not yet announced officially. Stan Lee has said in numerous interviews that it's a go. Black Panther Rumored for Marvel Phase 3 (2016-2018) but not yet announced officially. Stan Lee has said in numerous interviews that it's a go. Captain Marvel Widely rumored to be Marvel's first female-centric super-franchise, the character has been tipped to first appear in Avengers: Age of Ultron and then get a spinoff in Phase 3. No official information has been released from Marvel. Criminal: Coward Ed Brubaker adapted his own comic book scripts into a screenplay for director Kim Jee-Woon.

Thor 3 Rumored for Phase 3, Thor 3 has at least Jaimie Alexander, Tom Hiddleston and Chris Hemsworth under contract if it happens. Avengers 3 Reportedly the final film on the contracts of at least Robert Downey, Jr. and Chris Hemsworth, the film is expected to be announced for a 2018 release to close out Phase 3 and will likely be directed by Joss Whedon. Rumors were, at one point, that Marvel was interested in pursuing Planet Hulk as the basis for the story, but both Whedon and Marvel's Kevin Feige have denied those claims. DC Comics/Vertigo

Batman vs. Superman Coming June 17, 2015. Check out much more about it here. Batman Rumored. Ben Affleck, who plays Batman in Batman vs. Superman, is expected to direct and star. It's unclear whether any of Warner Bros.' major DC Comics solo films will take place before they attempt a Justice League movie. Booster Gold TV series announced as optioned by Syfy from Arrow and Flash writer Andrew Kreisberg. Seems to be stuck in development hell at this point; it's been a long time without any information, the series was expected to have been developed as a pilot by now and nobody has even been cast. Deadman Around the same time Fox optioned The Spectre and Syfy optioned Booster Gold, The CW announced that they were looking at a Deadman series. While it would be a great companion to The Vampire Diaries and Supernatural, both big hits for the cable network, it seems to have fallen off, with the network focusing on Flash and iZombie. Constantine In development at NBC as a one-hour drama. Pilot expected in fall 2014.

Dark Universe Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is working on a script with an unnamed (but apparently famous) writer. The status of this production (which basically is Justice League Dark) is unknown. Justice League Rumored. Expected in theaters between 2016 and 2018, starring Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman and more. The Flash (movie) Rumored. It's unclear whether any of Warner Bros.' major DC Comics solo films will take place before they attempt a Justice League movie. The Flash (TV series)

Spinning out of this week's episode of Arrow, the pilot is expected to air on The CW in 2014. It's not yet clear whether they will try to shoot the pilot for Spring 2014 (originally, it was going to back a backdoor pilot in an episode of Arrow) or wait until fall to air something a little different. Amazon On hiatus. The basic premise of "Wonder Woman as a kid" was to be a Smallville-type follow-up for The CW but Warners got cold feet, either when they read the script or when it became clear that Wonder Woman was headed for the big screen in Batman vs. Superman. Gotham Filming in March for a fall 2014 airdate on Fox. Sandman Rumored to be in development from Man of Steel writer David S. Goyer and with star Joseph Gordon Levitt. iZombie Heading to The CW with Veronica Mars showrunner Rob Thomas attached.

Preacher Reportedly being developed to pilot for AMC in 2014. No official confirmation yet, although writer/producer/actor Seth Rogen tweeted what appeared to be some confirmation that he's involved. Sleeper Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are producing an adaptation of Ed Brubaker's WildStorm comics series. Other Publishers 3 Guns The 2 Guns sequel is reportedly in early development at Universal, with both Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg expected to return. No official information has been released by the studio at this time. Boilerplate Not a lot is known about this graphic novel adaptation at this stage, except that it was adapted for J.J. Abrams to produce by Star Trek 3 writers J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. The Crow The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug's Luke Evans will star in this remake (unless he doesn't--rumors have swirled he's not happy and may bolt), which word is will hit theaters in 2016.

The Darkness This film, which will also feature Witchblade, is being adapted by Todd Wise (Total Recall) and produced by David Manpearl (The Muppets). No release date is known. Scott Stuber Productions (The Kingdom, The Break-Up) will be the producer for the project as well. Day Men Universal is developing a feature film version of the fledgling Boom! Studios series. Ghost Projekt The series from Joe Harris and Steve Rolston is being developed for TV at NBC, with an eye toward a presumed fall 2014 pilot date. The Great Pacific Nothing solid, but co-creator Joe Harris recently hinted on social media that something was in the works to bring the acclaimed Image Comics series to TV or film. I, Frankenstein Due in theaters in February. Read more here. Kick-Ass 3 Around the time Kick-Ass 2 was in theaters, Mark Millar was said to be writing the script for a third and final installment. Since the second didn't perform at the box office, the idea of a third is likely up to home video sales. Nemesis Mark Millar's celebrity cameo-laden comic will come to the big screen via director Joe Carnaha, based on a script from Carnahan and his brother, the film is still in the early stages, but that's a huge step forward from where it's been for the last year or so, as it seemed stranded in development hell. It's being produced by Scott Free Productions and was their first film announced following the death of co-founder Tony Scott last year.

Rachel Rising The series has been optioned for television by Alcon Television Group. It is the first property optioned by Alcon's TV arm. Lloyd Levin, the producer of Watchmen and Hellboy, who has worked with Moore in the past on abortive efforts to to bring Strangers in Paradise and Echo to the screen, will executive producer with Moore and Alcon's Andrew Kosove, Broderick Johnson and Sharon Hall. Ben Roberts, who served as a consultant on AMC's The Walking Dead, will also produce. No firm date is set for a pilot, although Moore recently told us he should know more by the end of the year. Rust The movie, which was optioned in summer 2012, will reportedly be directed by Joe Cornish, who also adapted the graphic novel adaptation The Adventures of Tintin for director Steven Spielberg and will be one of the writers on Marvel Studios's Ant-Man with director Edgar Wright. Cornish and Wright know each other from working together on Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead. The Secret Service Coming March 6, 2015 (six years to the day after the release of Zack Snyder's Watchmen). Directed by Matthew Vaughn based on the comic book of the same name created by Dave Gibbons and Mark Millar. Because of a similar concept in development at another studio, Vaughn reportedly left X-Men: Days of Future Past, which he was set to direct, to get this movie on track. The script is co-written by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman. The film stars Colin Firth, Michael Caine and Samuel L. Jackson. The Stuff of Legend is being developed as a live-action/CGI hybrid at Disney with Pete Candeland to direct and Shawn Christensen writing the script. Tracker, the Atlas Comics book by Jonathan Lincoln and Francis Teal-is being developed as a film and will be going to studios soon. Epoch, meanwhile, will also be coming to film by Imagine Entertainment in cooperation with Top Cow and Heroes & Villains. Bushido: Way of the Warrior, which  will be a comic about samurai fighting vampires in feudal Japan. The comic is being co-developed as a feature film produced by Adam Stone. It is unrelated to Ron Marz's Shinku, a comic already published about samurai fighting vampires in feudal Japan and their last surviving clan member in the modern day. Bone and RASL Jeff Smith has been blazing a self-published, creator-owned trail for a couple of decades now and, while doing so, creating some of the most beloved and critically-acclaimed comics in the business. Both of his works are reportedly in the works as feature films and while they've been stumbling out of the gate, he says he's got scripts to both projects in hand. Feeding Ground The Archaia-published vampire drama has been picked up as a feature film. Co-writer Swifty Lang detailed its road to being optioned for ComicBook.com a while back, and he shared some of the experience he had from working on his first major comics project all the way up through the film being purchased from the guys who produced Das Boot and The Crow. Shadowman Valiant's voodoo-powered hero is getting a script from J.M. Straczynski right now. No production schedule is yet set.