Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Superbowl LX is this Sunday and as is always the case, it’s movie trailer Christmas. Alasdair Stuart previews what’s likely to be in store.

Across the course of this week a lot of those trailers will be confirmed and or released early (because… capitalism I guess).But this year there looks set to be one really striking absence: Marvel. And maybe, superhero movies altogether.

Deadline report that Marvel are parking publicity for Doomsday and Spider-Man: Brand New Day until nearer release for both movies. That, and the surprising lack of confirmation as to whether DC movies will follow suit has caused some consternation. But honestly, I think it’s a good thing.

It makes perfect sense, especially given the colossal early exposure of Doomsday for Marvel to not push too hard for it. Given the multiverse fatigue a lot of us are feeling too I can see a situation where letting the movie sit until a few months out makes a lot more sense. Brand New Day, releasing July 31st, is a little more surprising but not much. It’s a Spider-Man movie, the first one in years. I like its chances at doing well and, way more importantly, being fun.

In ‘big movie’ terms the one thing that seems very likely is a trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu (due May 22nd). Given the ‘…huh’ response some folks had to what we’ve seen already that works on the same logic but the opposite direction to the Marvel absence. Likewise, DC win either way. Show up and you’ve got the only superhero movies on deck. Don’t show up and you’re letting audiences rest.

There’s another element to this relatively low-key approach which I can’t help but think about: crunch. ‘Crunch’ is a game development term for when you have a deadline that isn’t realistic and the company enforces mandatory overtime. It’s a nice way of saying overworking and it’s a toxic process that hurts games and worse, people. Given the much discussed brutal turnaround time on a lot of Marvel movies this feels a little like a confluence of good events. The movies need time to look good, the audiences need a break, the production culture has to change and as a result we get other, original movies getting the spotlight. The simple fact that will kill at least three ‘it’s all just remakes and sequels’ takes on the vine is recommendation enough.

Speaking of sequels, Minions 3, Scream 7 and Toy Story 5 are all expected to release trailers. We’ve already seen a trailer for the Michael Jackson biopic Michael and odds are will get something else. Likewise another Super Mario Galaxy Movie trailer and a longer trailer for Disclosure Day. That last one, with Spielberg making a first contact movie? That one has my attention.

Anyway, the Superbowl (Go Hawks) is this Sunday. The trailers will hit over the next few days. And hey, maybe this is finally my year again and a new Cloverfield will show up too!