{"id":780513,"date":"2026-05-07T21:40:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:40:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/780513\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T21:40:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T21:40:22","slug":"all-3-marvel-and-dc-movies-tv-shows-releasing-on-hbo-max-in-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/780513\/","title":{"rendered":"All 3 Marvel And DC Movies & TV Shows Releasing On HBO Max In May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

Marvel<\/strong><\/a> and DC<\/strong><\/a> fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about HBO Max’s slate of releases this month, as the streaming service has some major projects coming in May. The Marvel Cinematic Universe and James Gunn’s DC Universe<\/a> view 2026 as a key year, as it could make or break the two franchises, depending on how some releases pan out.<\/p>\n

For instance, after the MCU’s 2025 movies<\/a> did not sparkle at the box office, two of the shared universe’s biggest franchises, Spider-Man and the Avengers, are on the way with new releases. As for DC, every project released thus far in the DCU’s Chapter One<\/a> has come from the mind of DC Studios co-CEO Gunn. 2026 does away with that.<\/p>\n

Milly Alcock’s Supergirl movie was neither written nor directed by Gunn, with the same applying to Clayface. The Batman villain movie is even more of a risky bet, as it is 100% a body horror film, which just happens to be set in Gotham City. Before those major releases and shows, such as VisionQuest and Lanterns, arrive, HBO Max has a few exciting projects in store for fans of both franchises.<\/p>\n

Earth-1610 \u00b7 Multiverse Edition
\n How Well Do You Know
Marvel\u2019s Ultimate Universe?<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf0fOriginsEarth-1610<\/p>\n

\u26a1HeroesUltimates<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca5EventsUltimatum<\/p>\n

\u2620VillainsThe Maker<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcabLegacyReborn<\/p>\n

ENTER THE ULTIMATES! \u2192<\/p>\n

01<\/p>\n

The Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) was launched in 2000 with a reimagined version of Marvel\u2019s most popular teenage superhero. Which comic series kicked off the Ultimate line?<\/p>\n

\n AThe Ultimates
\n BUltimate X-Men
\n CUltimate Spider-Man
\n DUltimate Fantastic Four\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Ultimate Spider-Man #1, written by Brian Michael Bendis with art by Mark Bagley, launched in October 2000 and retold Peter Parker\u2019s origin for a modern audience. It became the flagship title of the Ultimate line and ran for 160 issues.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Ultimate Spider-Man. Written by Brian Michael Bendis, it was the first Ultimate title, debuting in 2000. The Ultimates and Ultimate X-Men followed in 2001, while Ultimate Fantastic Four didn\u2019t launch until 2004.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

02<\/p>\n

In the Ultimate Universe, Peter Parker\u2019s Spider-Man eventually died heroically. A new character then took up the Spider-Man mantle and later crossed over into the main Marvel universe. Who is this character?<\/p>\n

\n ABen Reilly
\n BMiguel O\u2019Hara
\n CMiles Morales
\n DGwen Stacy\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Miles Morales debuted in Ultimate Fallout #4 (2011) after Peter Parker\u2019s death in the \u201cDeath of Spider-Man\u201d storyline. Created by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Miles became one of Marvel\u2019s most beloved characters and later migrated to Earth-616 after Secret Wars (2015).<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Miles Morales. Ben Reilly is the Scarlet Spider clone from Earth-616, Miguel O\u2019Hara is Spider-Man 2099, and while Gwen Stacy existed in the Ultimate Universe, she didn\u2019t become Spider-Woman there \u2014 that\u2019s Earth-65\u2019s Spider-Gwen.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

03<\/p>\n

The Ultimates was the Ultimate Universe\u2019s version of the Avengers. This series reimagined the team as a government-sponsored superhero squad. Who wrote the influential first two volumes of The Ultimates?<\/p>\n

\n ABrian Michael Bendis
\n BMark Millar
\n CJeph Loeb
\n DJonathan Hickman\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Mark Millar, alongside artist Bryan Hitch, created The Ultimates (2002) and The Ultimates 2 (2004). Their cinematic, widescreen approach to superhero storytelling heavily influenced the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly the first Avengers film.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Mark Millar. Bendis wrote Ultimate Spider-Man and Ultimate X-Men, Jeph Loeb took over the Ultimates later with volume 3, and Jonathan Hickman wrote the 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch. Millar and Bryan Hitch defined The Ultimates.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

04<\/p>\n

In the Ultimate Universe, many characters were dramatically different from their main universe counterparts. Ultimate Reed Richards underwent a shocking transformation, becoming a major villain. What villain name did Ultimate Reed Richards adopt?<\/p>\n

\n AThe Thinker
\n BThe Maker
\n CDoctor Doom
\n DMolecule Man\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! The Maker is one of the most terrifying villains to come out of the Ultimate Universe. After being rejected by Sue Storm and experiencing a mental breakdown, Ultimate Reed Richards turned evil, stretching his brain to enhance his already genius-level intellect and becoming a multiversal threat.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is The Maker. The Thinker is a different FF villain, Doctor Doom is a separate character entirely (though Ultimate Doom was Victor Van Damme), and Molecule Man is an Earth-616 entity. The Maker survived Secret Wars and became a major threat across the multiverse.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

05<\/p>\n

The Ultimate Universe suffered a catastrophic event that killed off many major characters and dramatically changed the line\u2019s direction. What was this controversial crossover event called?<\/p>\n

\n AUltimatum
\n BCataclysm
\n CSecret Wars
\n DUltimate Fallout\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Ultimatum (2008\u20132009), written by Jeph Loeb, saw Magneto use Thor\u2019s hammer to reverse Earth\u2019s magnetic poles, causing massive global devastation. Characters like Wolverine, Daredevil, Doctor Strange, and many others were killed, making it one of the most controversial Marvel events ever.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is, ironically, Ultimatum itself. Cataclysm was a later event involving Galactus attacking the Ultimate Universe, Secret Wars (2015) ended the Ultimate Universe entirely, and Ultimate Fallout dealt with the aftermath of Peter Parker\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

06<\/p>\n

Ultimate Nick Fury was redesigned to look very different from his main universe counterpart. His new appearance was so popular that it influenced a major casting decision in the MCU. Who was Ultimate Nick Fury visually modeled after?<\/p>\n

\n ADenzel Washington
\n BWesley Snipes
\n CSamuel L. Jackson
\n DLaurence Fishburne\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Artist Bryan Hitch, with Mark Millar\u2019s approval, deliberately modeled Ultimate Nick Fury after Samuel L. Jackson in The Ultimates. Jackson himself gave permission for his likeness to be used, and was later cast as Nick Fury in the MCU \u2014 one of the most perfect comics-to-film casting decisions ever.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Samuel L. Jackson. Bryan Hitch specifically used Jackson\u2019s likeness when redesigning Nick Fury for The Ultimates. Jackson actually gave his blessing, reportedly in exchange for first refusal on any film role \u2014 which led to his iconic MCU casting.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

07<\/p>\n

The Ultimate Universe was eventually destroyed during Jonathan Hickman\u2019s Secret Wars (2015) event, with some characters migrating to the main Marvel universe (Earth-616). Which of these characters did NOT originate in the Ultimate Universe?<\/p>\n

\n AMiles Morales
\n BThe Maker (Reed Richards)
\n CKamala Khan
\n DJimmy Hudson\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) was created for the main Earth-616 universe, debuting in Captain Marvel #14 (2013) and getting her own series in 2014. Miles Morales, The Maker, and Jimmy Hudson (Wolverine\u2019s son) all originated in the Ultimate Universe before crossing over.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is Kamala Khan. She was created by G. Willow Wilson and Sana Amanat for the main Marvel universe (Earth-616), not the Ultimate Universe. Miles Morales, The Maker, and Jimmy Hudson (Ultimate Wolverine\u2019s son) all came from Earth-1610.<\/p>\n

NEXT \u2192<\/p>\n

08<\/p>\n

In 2024, Marvel relaunched the Ultimate Universe with a new line of comics set on a reimagined Earth-6160. This new Ultimate Universe features a world where who has secretly controlled everything from behind the scenes?<\/p>\n

\n AThanos
\n BThe Maker (Reed Richards)
\n CDoctor Doom
\n DMagneto\n <\/p>\n

\u2713 Correct! In Jonathan Hickman\u2019s 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch, The Maker (Ultimate Reed Richards) has secretly reshaped Earth-6160 from behind the scenes, preventing many heroes from ever gaining their powers and manipulating global events. The new Ultimate line follows heroes discovering and resisting his hidden influence.<\/p>\n

\u2717 That answer didn\u2019t survive Ultimatum! The answer is The Maker (Reed Richards). In the 2024 Ultimate Universe relaunch by Jonathan Hickman, The Maker has been secretly pulling strings on Earth-6160, suppressing the emergence of superheroes and reshaping the world to his design. He is the central antagonist of the new Ultimate line.<\/p>\n

REVEAL MY SCORE \u2192<\/p>\n

\n Briefing Complete
\n Your Ultimate Clearance\n <\/p>\n

\n \/ 8\n <\/p>\n

Are you an Ultimate expert \u2014 or still reading Earth-616?<\/p>\n

\u21bb TRY AGAIN<\/p>\n

While the streaming service is usually viewed as DC’s home, given that they are both under Warner Bros. Discovery, Marvel movies and shows tend to come and go from HBO Max. That will repeat itself in May, with one of Marvel’s most popular heroes having arrived at the streamer. As for the DC side of things, fans can look forward to new Dark Knight adventures and a fresh way of watching a hit movie.<\/p>\n

3 <\/p>\n

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse<\/p>\n

First up is the only Marvel release to drop on HBO Max in May. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse swung onto the streaming service on May 1 and is currently available on the platform. The animated movie is the second entry in the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse franchise. It makes the most of the multiverse, amplifying the concept after 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse. While the original film brought Spider-Man variants to Miles Morales’ universe, it is the hero who travels in the sequel.<\/p>\n

This allows Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to widen the franchise’s scope. Fan-favorite characters like Oscar Isaac’s Spider-Man 2099, Daniel Kaluuya’s Spider-Punk, and more are introduced in the sequel. The Spot makes for a surprisingly terrifying villain, while Miles oozes charisma and is relatable throughout the multiverse journey. Given how the trilogy comes to an end with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse on June 18, 2027, HBO Max can now be all caught up a year before it arrives.<\/p>\n

2 <\/p>\n

Superman (ASL)<\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bAs a way of celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day, multiple movies and shows are getting American Sign Language (ASL) versions on HBO Max on May 21. One of those releases happens to be David Corenswet’s first movie as DC’s new Man of Steel, 2025’s Superman. This will allow a different side of the DC fandom to enjoy the hero’s DCU adventure to the fullest on HBO Max.<\/p>\n

Superman was 2025’s highest-grossing superhero movie. It introduced a new wave of DC heroes and villains, including characters like the Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Lex Luthor, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Ultraman, and many more. The DC film is action-packed, but its biggest strength is Superman’s emotional core, staying true to the hero’s comic book roots.<\/p>\n

1 <\/p>\n

Batwheels Season 3C<\/p>\n

\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200bFinally, DC is bringing back Batman in a new batch of episodes this month, as Batwheels season 3C drops on HBO Max on May 22. The animated series is aimed at young viewers, making the DC show a perfect one for parents to watch with their children, teaching them about Batman’s corner of the franchise. It also brings a perfect what-if live-action casting to life, as Ethan Hawke voices Batman on the show.<\/p>\n

As its name suggests, Batwheels might feature Hawke’s Batman, but the true stars of the animated series are the Bat-Family’s vehicles. Think Cars meets the DC Universe; that is what Batwheels is all about. That said, iconic DC characters like Nightwing, the Joker, Harley Quinn, Green Arrow, Catwoman, Green Lantern (John Stewart), and more also appear. The first half of Batwheels season 3 also introduced a new take on Christian Bale’s Batmobile, the Tumbler, from The Dark Knight franchise. All these very different Marvel <\/strong>and DC <\/strong>releases should keep subscribers happy on HBO Max in May.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Marvel and DC fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about HBO Max’s slate of releases this…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":780514,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[171,53,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-780513","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-movies","8":"tag-entertainment","9":"tag-movies","10":"tag-united-states","11":"tag-unitedstates","12":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116535468265142389","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=780513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/780513\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/780514"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=780513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=780513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=780513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}