There are a lot of highly anticipated movies coming out in 2023. Like a lot! But along with returning heroes like the Carpenter sisters in SCREAM VI, Keanu Reeves’ titular assassin in JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4, and the Toretto gang in FAST X, there is also a long list of movie villains we can’t wait to see either return to the screen or make their debut in some of the upcoming theatrical releases.
As we look towards what could very well be the best year moviegoers have experienced in nearly half a decade, we just can’t overlook some of the movie villains that will give our favorite heroes a run for their money and push them to their limits in the coming months. Here are the seven anticipated movie villains that will soon be coming to an AMC Theatres location near you…
Ghostface
Over the years, the SCREAM movies have been set in a quiet California town, a college, and even Hollywood, but with its latest installment, the meta slasher franchise will see the Ghostface killer prey upon victims in the Big Apple.
Though Samantha (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) thought they could leave their past experiences behind by moving to New York City, a new version of the masked killer is on their heels and lurking in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike again. A new killer – or killers? – with a new playground is a recipe for bloody, bloody fun.
SCREAM VI opens March 10thMarquis de Gramont
Over the course of his first three movies, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) faced off with some incredibly deadly and unique adversaries, ranging from members of the Russian mafia to the High Table and its various highly-trained assassins and crime lords. But with the arrival of a new powerful enemy who sits atop the shadowy organization, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 could feature the Baba Yaga’s most formidable foe yet.
Of course, we’re talking about Bill Skarsgard’s Marquis de Gramont, a charismatic, ruthless, and powerful member of the High Table who is the one thing standing between Wick and his freedom. And while we don’t know too much about the villain, this mystery and intrigue makes his arrival all the more exciting.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 opens March 24thBowser
Is there a more iconic video game villain than Bowser? The main antagonist of the “Super Mario Bros.” video game franchise has been stealing Princess Peach and making life difficult for Mario, Luigi, and everyone else who stands in his way for nearly 40 years now, and at long last, he’s getting the big screen treatment. And best of all, Jack Black is voicing King Koopa!
If the rest of Black’s portrayal of Bowser is as great as the brief glimpses we’ve seen in THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE trailers so far, then we could very well be seeing a video game movie villain on the same level as Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik in the first two SONIC THE HEDGEHOG titles. Portrayed by Dennis Hopper in the 1993 SUPER MARIO BROS. movie, this new version is among our most anticipated villains coming to the big screen in the near future.
THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE opens April 5thThe High Evolutionary
The Guardians of the Galaxy have faced off against some of the biggest villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the likes of Ronan the Accuser, Ego, and Thanos, meaning their latest battle won’t be their first rodeo. However, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji) could very well provide for the group’s most emotional battle yet, and perhaps even their last in GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.
The High Evolutionary is new to the MCU, but his presence has been felt since the introduction of Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) back in the first GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movie, considering he was the highly skilled yet sociopathic scientist that created the fearless, wise-cracking character. His past with Rocket makes this comic book villain all the more interesting, and dangerous.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 opens May 5thDante Reyes
There are two camps of FAST & FURIOUS villains: those with deep ties to the franchise’s roots and then those who push Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and company to the breaking point with over-the-top theatrics and some serious fire power. Luckily for fans of the franchise, Dante Reyes (Jason Momoa) falls into both categories, which means he could very well find a place at the top of the list when FAST X arrives in theaters later this spring.
The son of FAST FIVE villain Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), Dante, will be coming for Dom with everything he has, in hopes of avenging his father’s death all those years ago. And he won’t be alone, as the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) will be back for her third consecutive FAST & FURIOUS movie.
FAST X opens May 19th
