Ever the contentious subject, we've reached a point where the Cinematic Universe is a tagline for big money. This is despite only one CU arguably being off the ground. None the less we're in a position where the networks and studios have decided that this is the future and this is where they're going to be funnelling all their attention for the next 10-15 years. As a part of that we have been offered line ups which give us more insight into the coming years than studios have ever given before.
In this PTE we're going to look at what we're facing in the coming years, starting with a breakdown of just what that actually includes:
MCU: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Currently the reference point for everyone and the only one to include TV projects. We currently have:
Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter and Daredevil
With the incoming:
Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Spiderman: The New Avenger, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War Part 1, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War Part 2, Inhumans, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and The Defenders
DCU: DC Cinematic Universe
One of the few to have its first film out in the market and set to ramp up quickly. Currently:
Man of Steel
With the upcoming:
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League: Part 1, The Flash, Aquaman, Shazam, Justice League: Part 2, Cyborg and Green Lantern with rumours of an eventual Man of Steel 2 and stand alone Batman entry
TCU: Transformers Cinematic Universe
Existing films are out but this one is one of the series retroactively being rolled into a shared universe. Currently:
Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction
With the upcoming:
Transformers 5, Transformers 6, Transformers 7 with rumours of a Combiners movie taking the lead on the first tie-in entry.
JCU: Jump Street Cinematic Universe
An unlikely thought but one that seems to be on the way. Despite the movie culture mocking, this comedy series seems to be headed towards cash cow status as Sony looks to cash in on its properties. Currently:
21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street
With the upcoming:
23 Jump Street, rumoured female led Jump Street and rumoured Jump Street and Men in Black crossover entry.
GCU: Ghostbusters Cinematic Universe
Probably Sony's most aggressively planned CU since Spiderman imploded on them. Plans are to have at least one film per year out. No films exist in the planned universe as Sony has opted to ignore the two films already out. It will currently be based on:
The upcoming:
Ghostbusters reboot, Ghostbusters tatum buddy copesque entry, Ghostbusters prequel and Ghostbusters Tatum and female cast crossover
SCU: Star Wars Cinematic Universe
Likely the easiest one to start given that the parent company has experience now with it and the franchise and tie-ins have always operated in a similar fashion. The biggest change up here is the expansion on films and the severing of existing content as of 2015. Currently:
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Rebels
With the upcoming:
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Star Wars Episode VIII, Star Wars Episode IX, Star Wars Anthologies I: Rogue One, Star Wars Anthologies II, Star Wars Anthologies III (one of which rumoured to focus on Boba Fett) and rumours of Star Wars Episode X
UCU: Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe
A throwback to what is possibly the original CU. Universal is setting in motion its plans to set up its own cinematic universe, not on Fast and Furious as you might expect, but on its old Monsters pantheon. A number of films are initially planned with Charles Dances elder vampire the connecting thread like Nick Fury was in the early Marvel films. Currently:
Dracula Untold
With the upcoming:
The Mummy, Untitled Monster Entry, The Wolfman, Val Helsing
XCU: X-Men Cinematic Universe
It might not have started out as one per se but it's kind of been the grandad of this current wave even if it's taken its time organising itself as a CU as they've become. Currently:
X-Men, X-Men 2: Unite, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past
With the upcoming:
Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine 3, Gambit, X-Men: The New Mutants and still rumoured X-Force
VCU: Valiant Cinematic Universe
Currently the most vague of all planned CU's. Valiant Comics have only so far confirmed a deal with the chinese company that backed Iron Man 3 to bring its characters to the big screen in multiple films that will span its own CU. So far no films have been set but the first should be within the year assuming the deal doesn't turn sour.
KCU: King Kong Cinematic Universe
Another one as Legendary Pictures looks to establish its own CU. This time based on King Kong and his fellow creatures. The first film will be a prequel to the classic King Kong story covering the discovery of Skull Island. Legendary hopes it will flesh out in various era tales over time but are also keeping the door open on retroactively including Godzilla for a face off down the line. Currently:
Possibly Godzilla
With the upcoming:
Skull Island, rumoured King Kong reboot and possibly Godzilla 2
UWCU: Underworld Cinematic Universe
As part of plans to resuscitate the vampire series plans are to retroactively turn it into a CU with various projects to expand the scope of its timeline. Currently:
Underworld, Underworld II: Evolution, Underworld III: Rise of the Lycans and Underworld IV: Awakening
With the upcoming:
Underworld V, Underworld new generation spin-off and rumoured Underworld TV series
RCU: Robin Hood Cinematic Universe
No word yet on whether this is a definite thing but Sony was said to be bidding for the rights for a Robin Hood CU which would see films based on individual characters from the classic tale with team up entries all toned like Avengers/Fast and Furious films.
LCU: Lego Cinematic Universe
The success of the first film led Warners to very quickly nail down the Lego movie rights and to fill its schedules quickly with projects. The same plan as Ghostbusters exists here to have a film out at least once per year with various shared universe nods and spins. Currently:
The Lego Movie
With the upcoming:
Ninjago, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Movie Sequel and rumoured Ninjago 2
Even without other films and sequels and reboots etc, it's an immense amount of releases with no end in sight. But for some the birth of the cinematic universe is also a dream come true, allowing their favourite characters to finally interact.
What are your thoughts on the trend and which ones (in this multi-option selectable poll) are you in favour of?
In this PTE we're going to look at what we're facing in the coming years, starting with a breakdown of just what that actually includes:
MCU: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Currently the reference point for everyone and the only one to include TV projects. We currently have:
Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter and Daredevil
With the incoming:
Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Spiderman: The New Avenger, Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Infinity War Part 1, Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War Part 2, Inhumans, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Luke Cage and The Defenders
DCU: DC Cinematic Universe
One of the few to have its first film out in the market and set to ramp up quickly. Currently:
Man of Steel
With the upcoming:
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League: Part 1, The Flash, Aquaman, Shazam, Justice League: Part 2, Cyborg and Green Lantern with rumours of an eventual Man of Steel 2 and stand alone Batman entry
TCU: Transformers Cinematic Universe
Existing films are out but this one is one of the series retroactively being rolled into a shared universe. Currently:
Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon and Transformers: Age of Extinction
With the upcoming:
Transformers 5, Transformers 6, Transformers 7 with rumours of a Combiners movie taking the lead on the first tie-in entry.
JCU: Jump Street Cinematic Universe
An unlikely thought but one that seems to be on the way. Despite the movie culture mocking, this comedy series seems to be headed towards cash cow status as Sony looks to cash in on its properties. Currently:
21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street
With the upcoming:
23 Jump Street, rumoured female led Jump Street and rumoured Jump Street and Men in Black crossover entry.
GCU: Ghostbusters Cinematic Universe
Probably Sony's most aggressively planned CU since Spiderman imploded on them. Plans are to have at least one film per year out. No films exist in the planned universe as Sony has opted to ignore the two films already out. It will currently be based on:
The upcoming:
Ghostbusters reboot, Ghostbusters tatum buddy copesque entry, Ghostbusters prequel and Ghostbusters Tatum and female cast crossover
SCU: Star Wars Cinematic Universe
Likely the easiest one to start given that the parent company has experience now with it and the franchise and tie-ins have always operated in a similar fashion. The biggest change up here is the expansion on films and the severing of existing content as of 2015. Currently:
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Rebels
With the upcoming:
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, Star Wars Episode VIII, Star Wars Episode IX, Star Wars Anthologies I: Rogue One, Star Wars Anthologies II, Star Wars Anthologies III (one of which rumoured to focus on Boba Fett) and rumours of Star Wars Episode X
UCU: Universal Monsters Cinematic Universe
A throwback to what is possibly the original CU. Universal is setting in motion its plans to set up its own cinematic universe, not on Fast and Furious as you might expect, but on its old Monsters pantheon. A number of films are initially planned with Charles Dances elder vampire the connecting thread like Nick Fury was in the early Marvel films. Currently:
Dracula Untold
With the upcoming:
The Mummy, Untitled Monster Entry, The Wolfman, Val Helsing
XCU: X-Men Cinematic Universe
It might not have started out as one per se but it's kind of been the grandad of this current wave even if it's taken its time organising itself as a CU as they've become. Currently:
X-Men, X-Men 2: Unite, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, X-Men: First Class, The Wolverine, X-Men: Days of Future Past
With the upcoming:
Deadpool, X-Men: Apocalypse, Wolverine 3, Gambit, X-Men: The New Mutants and still rumoured X-Force
VCU: Valiant Cinematic Universe
Currently the most vague of all planned CU's. Valiant Comics have only so far confirmed a deal with the chinese company that backed Iron Man 3 to bring its characters to the big screen in multiple films that will span its own CU. So far no films have been set but the first should be within the year assuming the deal doesn't turn sour.
KCU: King Kong Cinematic Universe
Another one as Legendary Pictures looks to establish its own CU. This time based on King Kong and his fellow creatures. The first film will be a prequel to the classic King Kong story covering the discovery of Skull Island. Legendary hopes it will flesh out in various era tales over time but are also keeping the door open on retroactively including Godzilla for a face off down the line. Currently:
Possibly Godzilla
With the upcoming:
Skull Island, rumoured King Kong reboot and possibly Godzilla 2
UWCU: Underworld Cinematic Universe
As part of plans to resuscitate the vampire series plans are to retroactively turn it into a CU with various projects to expand the scope of its timeline. Currently:
Underworld, Underworld II: Evolution, Underworld III: Rise of the Lycans and Underworld IV: Awakening
With the upcoming:
Underworld V, Underworld new generation spin-off and rumoured Underworld TV series
RCU: Robin Hood Cinematic Universe
No word yet on whether this is a definite thing but Sony was said to be bidding for the rights for a Robin Hood CU which would see films based on individual characters from the classic tale with team up entries all toned like Avengers/Fast and Furious films.
LCU: Lego Cinematic Universe
The success of the first film led Warners to very quickly nail down the Lego movie rights and to fill its schedules quickly with projects. The same plan as Ghostbusters exists here to have a film out at least once per year with various shared universe nods and spins. Currently:
The Lego Movie
With the upcoming:
Ninjago, The Lego Batman Movie, The Lego Movie Sequel and rumoured Ninjago 2
Even without other films and sequels and reboots etc, it's an immense amount of releases with no end in sight. But for some the birth of the cinematic universe is also a dream come true, allowing their favourite characters to finally interact.
What are your thoughts on the trend and which ones (in this multi-option selectable poll) are you in favour of?
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