It looks like Captain America will find himself going up against the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. At least these four superheroes, and likely a few more currently unknown, will be battling it out for your dollar on the weekend of May 6, 2016.
Disney has officially confirmed that Captain America will be returning to our big screens. After a slight detour next year in Avengers: Age of Ultron , in just a little over two years from today, Captain America 3 will be opening the same weekend staked out for Warner Bros’ Zack Snyder-directed Man of Steel sequel.
When the two American icons go head-to-head for opening weekend top earner, who will come out with a fatter wallet and who will rise above as the better film?
Chris Evans and company are currently riding on a $96 million opening weekend for Captain America: The Winter Soldier , casually snatching the title for best April opening weekend from 2011’s Fast Five , and clocking in already at 14% of Man of Steel ‘s $668 million worldwide take last year.
Captain America 3 also has the mind-boggling box office momentum of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with the stunning success of 2012’s Marvel’s The Avengers at its back ($1.51 billion worlwide), as well as the Iron Man and Thor franchises. This says nothing of the upcoming MCU Phase 2 films Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron , the latter of which has the return of director Joss Whedon, and the first of the Phase 3 films, the Edgar Wright-directed Ant-Man.
Zack Snyder’s still untitled Man of Steel sequel, outside a tenuous connection to Christopher Nolan’s superhero movie game-changing Dark Knight trilogy, has the handicap of still floating in the beginnings of DC Entertainment’s attempt to get their own blockbuster film universe off the ground.
The first Man of Steel not only had a controversial ending among fans, with some feeling Snyder and writer David S. Goyer had taken a step too far in Superman’s (Henry Cavill) defeat of General Zod (Michael Shannon), but its follow-up has already garnered controversy over casting choices. Ben Affleck taking over the cape and cowl from Christian Bale left many bewildered, especially following news that he wasn’t Snyder’s first choice for Man of Steel 2 , and the recent announcement of Jesse Eisenberg as perennial villain Lex Luthor didn’t seem to help matters.
In an interview with Hero Complex , Zack Snyder defended the casting:
There are two ways to think about it. We know the material. Unfortunately, the fans don’t know the material. So, we’re casting according to what’s happening in the script. And we’re hoping that leads to enough originality, enough perspective on what we’re doing that you get something fresh and exciting. I understand the canon. I’m not crazy. I know what these characters need from a mythological standpoint. I think Jesse is going to be an amazing Lex. Let’s not forget he was nominated for an Academy Award. It’s not like I just grabbed my friend to play the guy! This guy’s the real deal.
May 6. 2016 will be a showdown of legendary proportions. It’s DC versus Marvel. It’s Captain America and company vs Superman and friends. Which side are you on?