Entertainment
8 Most Anticipated Upcoming Superhero Shows
Superhero movies may dominate the box office, but some of the most exciting storytelling in the genre is happening right on television. Let’s be real. Long-form formats give characters more room to breathe, relationships time to develop, and storylines the space to build towards satisfying payoffs. We’ve seen this time and time again. Just look at the recent release of Spider-Noir and Invincible. None of that development could have happened in a 2-hour window.
Luckily for us, several superhero shows are returning after critically acclaimed seasons, while others are finally bringing beloved characters and storylines to the screen after years of anticipation. Some promise universe-altering stakes, others are focused on deeply personal character arcs. Regardless, all of these superhero shows have given fans plenty of reasons to start counting down the days til they appear on our screens.
8
‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’ (2025–Present)
Season 2 Expected Release: Late 2026
As one of the best surprises in recent Marvel animation, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man avoids the trap of simply retelling familiar stories beat-for-beat. The first season established a completely new version of Peter Parker’s (Hudson Thames) origins, with his powers not seemingly coming from a lab-created radioactive spider, but a random spider infected by a monster in battle. However, the finale expands this lore, revealing how the spider was actually connected to a larger time-loop paradox involving Doctor Strange (Robin Atkin Downes) and Norman Osborn (Colman Domingo).
That’s why anticipation for season 2 keeps building—the show has already established that literally anything can happen. Between the Venom-like creature, the continued set up of Lonnie Lincoln’s (Eugene Byrd) transformation, the expansion of Nico Minoru’s (Grace Song) magical origins, and Oscorp’s mysterious experiments, there are so many questions left to answer. The time-loop twist alone suggests the writers are thinking much bigger than audiences initially expected.
7
‘Invincible’ (2021–Present)
Season 5 Expected Release: TBC
At this point, Invincible has evolved far beyond its original coming-of-age superhero premise. Recent seasons have pushed Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) deeper into the Viltrumite conflict, forcing him to confront impossible choices about family, loyalty, and what kind of person he wants to become. Every season somehow leaves him more powerful and more emotionally damaged than before, which is honestly becoming one of the show’s defining traits.
The anticipation surrounding Season 5 comes largely from comic readers knowing just how much chaos still lies ahead. Some of the biggest wars, character transformations, and emotional payoffs still haven’t happened yet. Just look at how Season 4 ended: Mark is keeping the Viltrumites’ Earthly presence a secret and an impending viral wipe out may just loom ahead. This is easily one of Prime Video’s best shows—and one that will continue to be, so long as they keep to the trajectory they’re on.
6
‘VisionQuest’
Expected Release: October 2026
When White Vision flew away at the end of WandaVision after recovering the memories of the original, the MCU essentially left a major dangling storyline unresolved for years. Thankfully, after a long limbo phase, VisionQuest is finally expected to pick up that thread later this year, following a version of Vision (Paul Bettany) who remembers an entire life he never actually lived. It’s a wonderfully intriguing arc for a character we all grew to love (at least the original version).
What makes the project exciting is that it has the potential to continue the most thoughtful and poignant elements of WandaVision. As a character, Vision has always been one of the MCU’s most philosophical, and this premise naturally raises questions about memory, identity, and whether someone can truly become the person they are meant to be. Plus, fans are eager to see how this will connect to the emotional fallout of Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) story, especially given the lingering uncertainty surrounding her future. VisionQuest could become something the MCU arguably needs more of: a character-focused story with genuine emotional weight.
5
‘Wonder Man’ (2026–Present)
Season 2 Expected Release: TBC
Breaking through the post-Endgame fatigue, Wonder Man managed to win audiences over precisely because it wasn’t trying to be another massive MCU event. It was a simple tale of Simon Williams (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a struggling actor navigating Hollywood while secretly grappling with unstable powers and an increasingly complicated friendship with Trevor Slattery (Sir Ben Kingsley). By the finale, not only did Simon embrace his powers, but Trevor himself took steps to write the wrongs of his past—even if this resulted in them both becoming wanted fugitives.
This is what makes the second season so exciting. For the first time, the show doesn’t need to hold back. Critics and audiences responded strongly to the smaller-scale approach, particularly the chemistry between Abdul-Mateen and Kingsley. Now, the show can expand on that while also showcasing the true magnitude of Simon’s ionic abilities, all while they run from the Department of Damage Control. The first season proved Wonder Man wasn’t interested in following the typical MCU formula. It was artsy, creative, and extremely character-driven, leaving fans wondering just how much stranger (and better) it might get now that it has the confidence to fully be itself.
4
‘Vought Rising’
Expected Release: 2027
While The Boys may have spent the last five seasons exposing Vought International as a corporate nightmare, Vought Rising intends to go back to the very beginning. The prequel is set to focus on Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles) and Clara Vought (Aya Cash)—more famously known as Stormfront—during Vaught’s early years in the 1950s. Here, the show will explore how the corporation built its influence and how its most dangerous figures helped shape the world audiences now know.
Sure, reactions to The Boys’ final season may be a little mixed at the moment, but there’s no doubt this new spin-off has raised some eyebrows. For one, the show isn’t centered on the “heroes” at all. Viewers already know Stormfront to be one of the franchise’s most horrifying villains (with an extremely horrific past) and Soldier Boy is far from the patriotic icon Vought markets him to be. As such, this show has the potential to reveal just how deep the corruptions and atrocities run, continuing the creation of stellar satires.
3
‘Lanterns’
Expected Release: August 2026
After years of failed attempts to crack Green Lantern in live action, Lanterns is finally taking a different approach. Rather than immediately focusing on galaxy-spinning battles, the series will follow intergalactic cop Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and new recruit John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) as they investigate a mystery on Earth, using a more grounded detective-story structure to introduce audiences to DC’s cosmic mythology.
This approach is a huge part of why anticipation remains so high. Green Lantern lore can be vast and overwhelming. Choosing to anchor it through John and Hal’s partnership at least gives the show a stronger level of intrigue than another generic origin story. Better still, if Lanterns successfully balances noir-style mystery with the larger universe in the background, this could become one of the most important building blocks in DC’s new era.
2
‘X-Men ’97’ (2024–Present)
Season 2 Expected Release: July 2026
The first season of X-Men ’97 somehow managed to exceed nearly impossible expectations. What began as a nostalgia revival quickly became one of Marvel’s most emotionally ambitious projects, ending with the team fractured, key characters separated across time, and the future of mutant-kind hanging in the balance. Several storylines—including the Summers’ family arc, Apocalypse-related teases, and the fallout from Genosha—remain unresolved heading into Season 2.
And that’s exactly why fans are so invested in what’s to come. Season 1 wasn’t afraid to make painful decisions that fundamentally altered character dynamics. Season 2 is likely to follow suit—which is great given that this is what the show does best: highlight how the X-Men shine when the emotional stakes are just as important as the action. Season 2 now carries the rare advantage of having completely earned audiences trust, which makes every new development of this great modern animation feel even more exciting.
1
‘Daredevil: Born Again’ (2025–Present)
Season 3 Expected Release: March 2027
Having spent its first two seasons rebuilding Matt Murdock’s (Charlie Cox) world and escalating Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) grip over New York, Daredevil: Born Again appears to be approaching a major turning point. After all, Matt is now imprisoned after publicly revealing himself as Daredevil, while Fisk ultimately accepted an exile from his own city. Come season 3, the power dynamics would have completely flipped.
To make matters more exciting for fans, the new season appears to be diving directly into one of the most beloved Daredevil comic arcs of all time: The Devil in Cell Block D. Set photos, leaks, and official teasers have already revealed the reunion of The Defenders, with a larger street-level story looming in development—including the rise of new villains. There are also constant rumors connecting the show’s prison storyline to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, especially given Frank Castle’s (Jon Bernthal) involvement. More importantly though, Season 3 is likely to be where Born Again fully becomes its own saga. Matt is no longer protecting Hell’s Kitchen from the shadows. And that’s an incredibly dangerous ordeal.
Daredevil: Born Again
- Release Date
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March 4, 2025
- Network
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Disney+
- Showrunner
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Dario Scardapane
- Directors
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Aaron Moorhead, Justin Benson, David Boyd, Jeffrey Nachmanoff
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