2022 movie preview: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (finally … hopefully), ‘The Batman,’ a second ‘Avatar’ and much more

So … you’re, um, not tired of superhero movies yet, are you? No? Phew. This could have been awkward.

For what feels roughly like the thousandth year in a row, other-worldly beings are at the heart of many of the most noteworthy of releases of the next 350-plus days. However, you also can expect dramas, musicals, rom-coms and action flicks.

Here are but 22 of the movies expected to hit theaters in 2022, from fantastic beasts to the fabulous folks of Downton Abbey. (Remember: As the last couple of years have reminded us in no uncertain terms, release dates are subject to change.)

1. “Top Gun: Maverick” | May 27 >> For the third year in a row, this years-in-the-making, much-delayed sequel to 1986’s “Top Gun” certainly, probably, maybe will soar into theaters. (We were tempted to not lead with it this time, but we have in the sake of tradition.) Tom Cruise returns as the titular Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, but you certainly know that. By now.

2. “The Batman” | March 4 >> It feels fair to remain skeptical about the casting of “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson as wealthy playboy Bruce Wayne, who spends his nights bringing “vengeance” to the criminals who make Gotham City a less-than-ideal place to live as the Caped Crusader. On the other hand, based on the footage we’ve seen, it’s easy to be optimistic about the vision of director Matt Reeves (“Cloverfield,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”). His Batman movie appears to be something delightfully — and dirtily — distinct from the franchise director Tim Burton launched with 1989’s “Batman” and filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Trilogy,” stretching from 2005 to 2012. Plus, we love the casting of Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, Paul Dano as Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth and an almost-unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Penguin. Hopefully, the selection of “Twilight” star Pattinson will prove to be as wonderful as Nolan’s initially criticized choice of Heath Ledger to play the Joker in 2008’s “The Dark Knight,” for which the gifted late performer won the Academy Award for best actor.

3. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” | Nov. 11 >> Few celebrity deaths in the last few years hit harder than the way-too-early passing of “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman in 2020, following a secretive battle with cancer. We do not know much about this sequel to that 2018 smash-hit and culturally important film, but it is understood Disney-owned Marvel Studios chose against recasting the role of King T’Challa, aka Black Panther. Other cast members, including Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright and Martin Freeman — as well as director Ryan Coogler, who did an excellent job with the first film — are returning.

4. “Avatar 2” | Dec. 16 >> Do you remember a time when director James Cameron wasn’t supposedly working on a series of sequels to his giant 3-D hit “Avatar”? We don’t, either. (Maybe before the 2009 movie actually came out? It’s a little foggy, to be honest.) Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana will reprise the roles of former human Jake Sully and his Na’vi lover, Neytiri, as their lives on the planet Pandora continue. Assuming this release date actually holds, expect a more elaborate title as 2022 progresses.

5. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” | May 6 >> The year’s first MCU film is the sequel to one of its best, 2016’s “Doctor Strange.” The events for “Multiverse of Madness” were set in motion by what takes place in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” presently swinging through theaters and scooping up piles of cash around the globe. Returning characters include Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular hero, of course, as well as Rachel McAdams’ Christine Palmer and Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Karl Mordo. We also know from the preview that Elizabeth Olsen Wanda Maximoff — last seen in the impressive Disney+ series “WandaVision” — will have a key part to play. “Doctor Strange” director Scott Derrickson originally signed on for the sequel but left the project, reportedly, over creative differences, with the director of 2002’s “Spider-Man,” Sam Raimi, taking over for him. Raimi has a horror background, so he seems like a natural fit for a movie expected to offer a few scares.

6. “Jurassic World: Dominion” | June 10 >> We finally get dinosaurs wreaking havoc around the world — not just within an ill-fated amusement park — in this third installment in the “Jurassic World” franchise. Series stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard will be joined by “Jurassic Park” faves Sam Neil, Laura Dern and, last but not least, Jeff Goldblum. Colin Trevorrow, who helmed 2015 megahit “Jurassic World,” is back in the director’s chair following the disappointing “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018), directed by his pal J. A. Bayona.

7. “Mission: Impossible 7” | Sept. 30 >> That writer-director Christopher McQuarrie — director of 2015’s “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation” and 2018’s “Mission: Impossible — Fallout” — is sticking around all but ensures the same high level of quality for the latest in this high-thrills action franchise that sees Tom Cruise superspy Ethan Hunt. Sure to get a better title as the release nears, the movie was shot back-to-back by McQuarrie with an eighth installment expected to hit theaters next year.

8. “Nope” | July 22 >> We do not have many details about this one yet, but how much more do you need to know beyond that “Nope” is a horror film written and directed by the visionary Jordan Peele and starring one of the principals from his acclaimed directorial debut, “Get Out” — the very talented Daniel Kaluuya (“Judas and the Black Messiah”). The film also is set to star Keke Palmer (“Hustlers”) and Steven Yeun (“Minari”).

9. “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” | April 15 >> The third entry in this “Harry Potter” spinoff series will see Mads Mikkelsen take over for the ousted Johnny Depp as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. Reprising their roles will be Eddie Redmayne, as Newt Scamander; Jude Law, as Albus Dumbledore; and Ezra Miller as Aurelius Dumbledore, aka Credence Barebone. This will mark director David Yates’ impressive seventh film in the “Potter”-verse.

10. “Thor: Love and Thunder” | July 8 >> Hey, this is going to be a party. By the looks of it, Taika Waititi had a blast as the director of 2017’s crowd-pleasing “Thor: Ragnarok,” and he’s back for this fourth Marvel Cinematic Universe entry built around Chris Hemsworth’s namesake character based on the Norse god. Plus, we’ll get not only the return of Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster — Thor’s ex — but also the presence of at least one of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, whom you may know as Star-Lord. (“Star-Lord, man. Legendary outlaw? Guys?”) And if all that isn’t enough, the talented Christian Bale drops into the MCU as Gorr the God Butcher, who certainly sounds like someone who will be a thorn in Thor’s side.

11. “Lightyear” | June 17 >> Pure joy — that’s the experience you have the first time you watch the dazzling teaser for Pixar Animation Studios’ “Lightyear,” assuming you have any fondness for the acclaimed Disney affiliate’s “Toy Story” franchise. The origin story for the character Buzz Lightyear — one of the two lead “Toy Story” figures — looks to be adventure-filled and take quite a different tone from “Toy Story.” Captain America himself, Chris Evans, will voice the daring spaceman — not “Toy Story” fixture Tim Allen. But, come on, Allen will be involved in some way, right?

12. “Downton Abbey: A New Era” | March 18 >> When 2019’s “Downton Abbey” hit theaters, it was enough that the Julian Fellowes-penned film brought us back together with the beloved characters from his television series of the same name revolving around the goings-on at fictional English estate in the early 20th century. It would be nice, though, if “A New Era” had a bit more meat on its British bones. We don’t get much from the teaser trailer that’s been released, aside from the fact our beloved Crawley clan and their associates — Hugh Bonneville’s Robert, Michelle Dockery’s Lady Mary, Jim Carter’s Mr. Carson, et al. — will be talking a trip to the South of France. You see, Maggie Smith’s enduring Violet, the dowager countess, has inherited a villa. Well, count us in, even if this proves to be little more than a high-society getaway.

13. “Uncharted” | Feb. 18 >> It’s hard to believe it’s finally almost here. In development for more than a decade, this adaptation of video game studio Naughty Dog’s fantastic franchise for Sony PlayStation consoles had seen numerous directing and casting issues, as well as the inevitable pandemic related-shooting delay. Ruben Fleischer of “Zombieland” fame eventually landed in the director’s chair. It’s hard for a fan of the games to love the casting of Tom Holland (“Spider-Man: No Way Home”), however talented he may be, and Mark Wahlberg as treasure-seeking adventurer Nathan Drake and his mentor, Victor Sullivan, respectively. (Fine, they’re playing younger versions of the characters, but Wahlberg looks especially nothing like Sully.)

14. “Babylon” | Dec. 23 >> Written and directed by Damien Chazelle (“La La Land,” “First Man”), this film set in the 1920s, during Hollywood’s transition from silent movies to talkies. It’s obviously being positioned for awards consideration by Paramount Pictures. Details are scarce, but Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie will lead the cast.

16. “Bullet Train” | July 15 >> Few directors working today can match the action chops of David Leitch (“John Wick,” “Atomic Blonde”), so the idea of him at the helm of a flick about assassins aboard a fast-moving train is pretty enticing. And oh by the way, the cool-as-ice casts boasts, among others, Brad Pitt, Zazie Beetz, Sandra Bullock and Michael Shannon.

17. “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Part One)” | Oct. 7 >> How successful was 2018’s amazing “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”? So much so that the spectacular animated film gets a two-part sequel. This second multiversal adventure featuring young Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as a young Spider-Man also will boast voice work by fellow returnees Hailee Steinfeld and Jake Johnson and newcomers Oscar Issac and Issa Rae.

19 “Death on the Nile” | Feb. 11 >> Another film that has seen multiple pandemic-related delays, this is the follow-up to director-star Kenneth Branagh’s excellent 2017 adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel “Murder on the Orient Express.” In “Nile,” Branagh will re-don the mustache of detective Hercule Poirot and go about solving another mystery. The supporting cast includes Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Rose Leslie and Annette Bening.

20. “Elvis” | June 24 >> It’s easy to be intrigued by a biographical musical drama about Elvis Presley directed by Baz Luhrmann (“The Great Gatsby,” “Moulin Rouge!”) and featuring Tom Hanks. No, Hanks is not portraying the King of Rock and Roll — that honor goes to Austin Butler (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) — but instead manager Colonel Tom Parker.

21 “The Flash” | Nov. 4 >> The headline with this 12th film in the DC Extended Universe isn’t that the speedy hero finally gets his one big-screen showcase, with Ezra Miller from “Justice League” continuing on as Barry Allen/The Flash, but that Michael Keaton returns to his version of Bruce Wayne from 1989’s “Batman” and 1992’s “Batman Returns.” This universe-bending adventure also will see Michael Shannon return as General Zod, whom he portrayed in 2013’s “Man of Steel.”

22 “Scream” | Jan. 14 >> A quarter-century after the release of the director Wes Craven’s beloved meta-horror flick “Scream,” we get this similarly titled fifth entry in the franchise. Sadly, Craven died in 2015, so the directorial reins have been handed over to Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, the duo who helmed the highly enjoyable 2019 movie “Ready or Not.” (Original screenwriter Kevin Williamson is around as an executive producer, while the screenplay was penned by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick.) The cast is led by “Scream” OGs Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette. Is anyone else worried the only reason it’s not called “Scream 5” is so the filmmakers didn’t have to follow through on the time-travel joke from 2011’s “Scream 4”?

Spare parts

Here are a few more expected 2022 movies. Just because.

“Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” | Dec. 16 >> All the key players from 2018’s uneven “Aquaman” — titular star Jason Momoa; supporting cast members Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Nicole Kidman; and director James Wan — swim back for this sequel. Plus, longtime action star Dolph Lungren joins the mix as King Nereus, father to Heard’s Mera, Aquaman’s best gal.

“Black Adam” | July 29 >> Dwayne Johnson portrays the movie’s powerful namesake DC Comics antihero in the 11th film in the DC Extended Universe. Its director is Jaume Collet-Serra, whose credits include horror films (“Orphan”) and Liam Neeson-led action romps (“Unknown”). Given that Johnson originally was set to portray the character in 2019’s “Shazam!,” we can’t help but wonder if we may see him pop up in next year’s “Shazam! Fury of the Gods.”

“Creed III” | Nov. 23 >> Of course, Michael B. Jordan will continue to portray boxer Adonis Creed, the son of the late, great Apollo Creed. However, he’ll also step behind the camera to make his directorial debut. Apparently, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa — a friend of Apollo and mentor to Adonis — won’t be around for this one. Say it ain’t so, Rock.

“DC League of Super-Pets” | May 20 >> Dwayne Johnson voices Krypto, Superman’s pooch, in this animated adventure in which the Justice League heroes need to be rescued by their animal companions. The voice cast also features Kevin Hart, Natasha Lyonne (“Russian Doll”), Vanessa Bayer (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”), John Krasinski and Marc Maron.

“Halloween Ends” | Oct. 14 >> The new “Halloween” trilogy — which began promisingly enough with 2018’s “Halloween” before stumbling badly with last year’s “Halloween Kills” — will conclude with, you’d presume, Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode finally getting the best of the homicidal, seemingly indestructible Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney).

“Legally Blonde 3” | May 20 >> After a break of almost two decades — “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde” hit theaters in 2003 — Reese Witherspoon will step back into all the fabulousness that is Elle Woods for another lawfully comedic adventure.

“Minions: The Rise of Gru” | July 1 >> We’ll get more of the pleasantly peculiar and pintsized Minions (voiced by Pierre Coffin) and more of their young master, Gru (Steve Carell), in this second prequel to the “Despicable Me” movies.

“Moonfall” | Feb. 4 >> Director Roland Emmerich (“The Day After Tomorrow,” “2012”) is no stranger to science-fiction disaster films and his back with this one, in which, yes, the moon begins to fall to the earth. The cast is led by Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson.

“Morbius” | April 1 >> Jared Leto portrays the titular Marvel Comics character, who will exist on the big screen in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe. Ill with a dangerous blood disorder, Dr. Michael Morbious attempt a desperate gamble that (spoiler alert) likely will have vampiric ramifications. The cast also boasts Matt Smith, Jared Harris and Tyrese Gibson.

“Ticket to Paradise” | Oct. 21 >> No strangers to working together, Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts will portray divorced parents who dash to Bali to try to stop their daughter from making what they see as a huge mistake. The romantic comedy is directed and co-written by Ol Parker (“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again”).

“Turning Red” | March 11 | Disney+ >> In the next offering from Pixar Animation Studios, a Chinese Canadian teen, Meilin “Mei” Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang), discovers she has the ability to transform into a red panda, which, seemingly, turns from a curse to a blessing. It is directed and co-written by Pixar vet Domee Shi, who is making her feature-directing debut.