9 Upcoming Comic Book Movies Not Based on Marvel or DC

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For over a decade, superhero movies were not just a dominant force at the box office—they were the box office. The Marvel Cinematic Universe built itself into a monolith, dictating the rhythms of Hollywood with its serialized spectacle, post-credits teases, and increasingly intricate multiversal sprawl. DC, in turn, lurched through its own reinventions, sometimes chasing Marvel’s playbook, sometimes burning it entirely. For a while, it seemed like comic book movies could never truly fail. They weren’t just movies; they were billion-dollar events, corporate-backed cultural moments.

And yet, the past few years have cracked the foundation. Captain America: Brave New World is tracking for a box office bomb, following a long string of diminishing returns from both Marvel and DC. Audiences, once hooked on the cinematic universes, now seem fatigued by it. Martin Scorsese’s much-debated critique of superhero films as “theme parks” no longer feels like an argument to counter—it’s becoming a reality that even the studios are beginning to acknowledge. And in that uncertainty, the landscape is shifting.

The collapse of the old formula has left room for something new. Graphic novels, indie comics, and lesser-known properties—stories that don’t hinge on interconnected universes or obligatory franchise setups—are finally stepping into the spotlight. The upcoming slate of adaptations is refreshingly weird, sprawling across genres and aesthetics, from the cyberpunk surrealism of The Electric State to the hyper-violent existentialism of BRZRKR. While Marvel and DC recalibrate, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of the non-superhero comic book movie—where the stakes aren’t about saving the multiverse, but proving that this genre still has room to surprise us.

9

‘The Old Guard 2’ (2025)

Netflix’s The Old Guardwas a surprise hit in 2020, blending high-octane action with an unexpectedly emotional take on immortality. Based on the comic by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández, the film follows a group of ancient warriors who have been secretly shaping history for centuries. Now, with a new immortal (KiKi Layne’s Nile) joining the team and an old foe returning, The Old Guard 2 promises to dig deeper into the burdens and betrayals of eternal life while raising the stakes on the battlefield.

Immortal Warriors Return for Round Two

Charlize Theron returns as the battle-worn leader, Andromache of Scythia, alongside a cast that already proved they could make this concept work. The sequel will likely lean further into the emotional weight of Rucka’s comic while delivering the kind of brutal, grounded action that made the first film stand out. In a landscape filled with overpowered superheroes, The Old Guard 2 continues to offer something different—characters who can’t die, but still have everything to lose.

8

‘Rogue Trooper’

From the legendary 2000 AD comics—the same British anthology that gave us Judge Dredd—comes Rogue Trooper, a sci-fi war story about a genetically modified super-soldier hunting down the traitor who betrayed his squad. Created by Gerry Finley-Day and Dave Gibbons, Rogue Trooper is set in the toxic wasteland of Nu-Earth, where chemically enhanced “Genetic Infantrymen” are bred to fight an endless war. But when his brothers-in-arms are wiped out, Rogue goes AWOL, carrying their digitized personalities in the form of A.I.-infused equipment—his helmet, gun, and backpack.

A Bio-Engineered Soldier Seeks Revenge in a War-Torn Future

The film is being helmed by none other than Moon and Warcraft director Duncan Jones, whose knack for high-concept sci-fi makes him the perfect match for this material. With its mix of hard-hitting action, grimy world-building, and dark humor, Rogue Trooper has the potential to be the next great dystopian war movie. Unlike the polished heroes of Marvel and DC, Rogue is a soldier built for war but doomed by betrayal—making him a uniquely tragic, yet compelling, lead.

Based on Simon Stålenhag’s stunning illustrated novel, The Electric State transports viewers to an alternate version of 1997, where a teenage girl and her robotic companion journey across a desolate America populated by crumbling, abandoned technology and strange, looming war machines. As they travel west, they uncover the eerie remnants of a society once dominated by virtual reality and government conspiracies. It’s a world of faded dreams and forgotten futures, all painted in Stålenhag’s signature mix of nostalgia and quiet dystopia.

A Sci-Fi Road Trip Through a Ruined America

Directed by Avengers: Endgame filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo, and starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, and Ke Huy Quan, The Electric State is poised to be one of the most visually striking films of 2025. While it doesn’t follow the traditional comic book adaptation formula, its mix of intimate storytelling and grand sci-fi spectacle makes it an exciting departure from the usual superhero fare. With its road movie structure and deeply personal themes, it could be one of the most unique and hauntingly beautiful adaptations of the year.

6

‘BRZRKR’

If John Wick had a curse that made him immortal, you’d get BRZRKR. Co-created by Keanu Reeves and Matt Kindt, this hyper-violent comic follows an immortal warrior—known simply as B—who has fought through centuries of war, carnage, and bloodshed. Unable to die but desperate to understand his own origins, he takes on brutal black-ops missions for the U.S. government in exchange for help unlocking the secrets of his past. The live-action adaptation, with Reeves starring and producing, promises a film drenched in action, mythology, and existential dread.

Keanu Reeves Goes Full Berserker Mode

Unlike Marvel’s Wolverine or DC’s Lobo, BRZRKR is a brutal, R-rated action story with an edge of deep melancholy. Reeves, whose career has thrived on playing characters weighed down by their past (John Wick, The Matrix), is a perfect fit for the role. Given the comic’s over-the-top violence, the film could be a spiritual successor to The Northman or Gladiator—a raw, relentless exploration of war and survival. It’s the kind of adaptation that feels like the anti-superhero film: less about destiny and justice, more about blood, rage, and the weight of eternity.

5

‘Irredeemable’

In a world that’s grown tired of flawless superheroes, Irredeemable takes the ultimate concept of power and asks: what if the greatest hero became the greatest villain? Based on the comic by Mark Waid, Irredeemable follows the fall of the Plutonian, a seemingly invincible, beloved superhero who turns on humanity, slaughtering millions in a god-like rage. As his former allies scramble to stop him, they uncover shocking truths about his past and what led to his breaking point. Unlike most superhero deconstructions, Irredeemable doesn’t just ask if power corrupts—it asks what happens when someone who was supposed to be our savior gives up on us entirely.

When Superman Goes Bad, Who Can Stop Him?

For a film landscape fatigued by formulaic hero stories, Irredeemable feels like a necessary antidote. Unlike The Boys, which satirizes corporate superhero culture, or Joker, which plays in the realm of psychological realism, Irredeemable exists on a grander scale—it’s a mythological tragedy, a catastrophic unraveling of power. With director Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall) attached, expect Irredeemable to blend operatic, Western-infused storytelling with superhero iconography, delivering something that feels both larger-than-life and disturbingly intimate.

4

‘Spawn’

Todd McFarlane’s Spawn has always occupied a unique space in the comic book world—too dark for mainstream superheroes, too visually striking to be ignored. First adapted into a 1997 film and later a cult-favorite HBO animated series, Spawn is finally getting the big-screen treatment it deserves, with McFarlane himself overseeing the project. The story follows Al Simmons, a black-ops assassin betrayed and murdered, who is resurrected as Spawn, a Hellspawn warrior caught in a cosmic battle between Heaven and Hell. With his grotesque yet formidable powers, Spawn struggles to retain his humanity while exacting revenge on those who wronged him.

Hell’s Antihero Rises Again

This reboot has been in development for years, but with Jamie Foxx attached as Spawn and Blumhouse Productions backing the project, it’s shaping up to be a grittier, horror-infused take. Unlike the glossy superhero films of Marvel and DC, Spawn promises to lean into its supernatural horror roots, embracing the grotesque and the violent. If done right, this could be the rare comic book film that doesn’t just entertain but genuinely unsettles—closer to The Crow or Blade than anything in the MCU.

3

‘Red Sonja’

She’s been a warrior, a legend, and an icon of the sword-and-sorcery genre for decades, but Red Sonja is finally making her long-overdue return to the big screen. Adapted from the Robert E. Howard-created character (and later popularized by Marvel and Dynamite Comics), Red Sonja follows a fierce, flame-haired warrior seeking vengeance against those who destroyed her home. Known for her brutal combat skills and fiery independence, Sonja has always been a character that embodies raw power and survival in a world dominated by tyrants and monsters.

The Return of Sword-and-Sorcery’s Fiercest Warrior

With Matilda Lutz (Revenge) set to wield the sword, this Red Sonja reboot looks to be a welcome revival of the kind of pulpy, high-energy fantasy that hasn’t been seen since Conan the Barbarian. Unlike the 1985 version starring Brigitte Nielsen, this adaptation is rumored to embrace the grittier, darker side of Sonja’s world. In an era where fantasy has been dominated by Game of Thrones-inspired political dramas, Red Sonja could bring back something audiences have been missing—pure, unfiltered adventure.

2

‘Masters of the Universe’

For anyone who grew up in the ‘80s, Masters of the Universe is more than just a toy line—it’s a full-blown nostalgia trip. Originally adapted into a 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren, He-Man’s story is getting a long-awaited reboot, this time from The Lost City directors Aaron and Adam Nee. The film will follow Prince Adam, a warrior from the planet Eternia, who transforms into the mighty He-Man to defend his kingdom against the evil Skeletor. With its mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and over-the-top action, Masters of the Universe has the potential to deliver a spectacle unlike anything else in modern comic book adaptations.

By the Power of Grayskull, He-Man Returns

What makes Masters of the Universe stand out is its unabashed weirdness—talking skull villains, intergalactic battles, and a hero who somehow fights in a loincloth while wielding a magic sword. With Nicholas Galitzine (The Idea of You) cast as He-Man, there’s hope that this reboot will embrace the colorful, operatic fun of the original while updating it with modern effects and storytelling. Unlike the grim and gritty superhero films dominating Hollywood, Masters of the Universe has a chance to be something rare in the comic book movie world: a full-throttle, fantastical adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

1

‘One Punch Man’

Few modern superheroes subvert genre expectations as brilliantly as One Punch Man. Created by the artist ONE, the manga and webcomic follow Saitama, a hero so powerful he can defeat any opponent with a single punch—an ability that, rather than empowering him, leaves him bored and existentially unfulfilled. The series blends over-the-top action with sharp satire, poking fun at the tropes of shonen anime and superhero storytelling while delivering some of the most exhilarating fight sequences in modern animation. A live-action adaptation has been in the works at Sony since 2020, with Rick and Morty writers Dan Harmon and Heather Anne Campbell attached, and Justin Lin (Fast & Furious 9) rumored to direct.

The Live-Action Adaptation That May (or May Not) Happen

Despite the buzz surrounding the project, updates on One Punch Man have been scarce, leading to speculation on whether it will ever get off the ground. The challenge of adapting its unique mix of self-aware humor and high-energy spectacle into live action is massive—can a Hollywood production capture the absurdity of Saitama’s effortless victories while still delivering compelling action? If done right, it could be a breakthrough for anime-to-film adaptations, proving that big-budget versions of beloved manga can work. But until there’s more movement on production, One Punch Man remains an intriguing, if uncertain, addition to the list of upcoming comic book movies.

“}]] Superheroes aren’t the only game in town—these upcoming comic book movies bring fresh, bold stories beyond the Marvel/DC formula.  Read More