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The trailer for the third installment in the Cap franchise just debuted last month and as expected, the Avengers are split down the center. They should reunite, but not without a few anticipated casualties, by way of storytelling or off-screen choices. These stories and these actors can't go on forever, they change, people take on other projects, so enjoy this cast and this year while it lasts.

Around the time of \"Civil War,\" Bryan Singer brings us \"X-Men: Apocalypse,\" another superhero film that reportedly will be the last \"X-Men\" title for Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence. In the summer, \"Suicide Squad\" will be revealed, spearheaded by the gritty genius that is David Ayer. The big names continue in November as Benedict Cumberbatch joins the MCU as Doctor Strange.

\"PHOTO:
Empire Magazine
PHOTO: Jared Leto in full costume as his "Suicide Squad" character Joker on the cover of Empire.
>

Next year won't be the end though; 2017 sports films like \"Guardians 2,\" \"Thor: Ragnarok\" and \"Justice League, Part 1,\" while 2018 boasts \"Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1,\" among others. But 2016 absolutely is the year it will all take shape and the year fans will start to take sides on who they care more about -- D.C. or Marvel.

But isn't that what all this is about? Being able to argue with your friends who is better, Batman or Iron Man, Thor or the Flash. That's why this is so much fun.

Again, there's no way to know if future films like \"Wonder Woman\" or \"Doctor Strange\" will be any good or if Affleck will be able to live up to what Bale and Keaton did previously, or even if all the movies promised to us will get made. But what we have is a discussion and for the first time as it pertains to movies, comic nerds are leading discussions and debates that the mainstream now cares about. That may or may not be what the purists want, but it's here and it starts in 2016.

Opinions expressed in this column are those of the author alone.

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