Upcoming Releases: May 2023

April showers bring May flowers and lots of new pop culture releases! Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) is looking forward to dozens of new comics, video games and movies hitting the market, including some highly anticipated projects from favorite studios such as Lucasfilm and DC. Keep reading to see some of the highlights coming this month.

Upcoming Comic Releases

Titans #1 – May 16, 2023

The Teen Titans are all grown up, and now it’s time for them to take their next steps by… replacing the Justice League?!

The Dark Crisis ended with the Justice League’s disbandment. A new team must rise up to protect the Earth, and the Titans are ready to take the stage. Join Nightwing, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Raven and the rest as they attempt to fill the shoes of the heroes that came before them. They’ll face challenges from every corner, including assaults from superheroes and supervillains alike! Will they be able to live up to the Justice League’s legacy?

Featuring the all-star creative team of Tom Taylor and Nicola Scott, Titans is sure to keep fans on their toes.

Issue #1 of Titans hits comic store shelves on May 16, 2023.

Upcoming Film Releases

Star Wars: Visions – May 4, 2023

Get ready for more awe-inspiring animated shorts set in the Star Wars universe!

In September 2021, Disney and Lucasfilm partnered with several Japanese animators to give Star Wars fans something new — a series of short films in animation styles from all over the world. Lucasfilm gave each animator creative freedom over storyline and style, encouraging the studios to venture outside the typical Star Wars canon to create their very own masterpieces.

The result was nine episodes of thought-provoking stories and fascinating animation that kept Star Wars fans glued to the screen. From samurai-style Jedi battles to Force-wielding droids, each story gives viewers a peek into the mind of other Star Wars fans and their own visions for the series. The positive reception led to Disney greenlighting a second season, and we’re sure to see many more adventures from the minds of the world’s best creators.

The second season of "Star Wars: Visions" airs on Disney+ starting May 4, 2023.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures – May 4, 2023

Compassion, self-discipline, teamwork and patience — these are the qualities of a good Jedi!

If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to introduce your youngling to Star Wars, this is your chance. From the creative minds of Lucasfilm’s Michael Olson and Elliot Bour comes “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,” an animated children’s show that follows five young characters striving to become Jedi Knights.

Each episode follows Kai Brightstar, Nash Durango, Lys Solay and Nubs as they learn the ways of The Force. With Jedi Master Yoda as their teacher, nothing can go wrong… or so they think! The young warriors must learn how to work together to solve problems and complete their training. The show offers children an entertaining and educational introduction to the Star Wars series, and it’s sure to please fans of all ages.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” airs on Disney+ and Disney Junior starting May 4, 2023.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 – May 5, 2023

The Guardians are preparing for their most dangerous adventure yet — one that could disband the team for good, if they’re not careful.

Despite controversy and delays surrounding the film’s production, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” is looking to be one of the most-anticipated Marvel movies of the year. The story revolves around several plot points, including Rocket’s past catching up to him, and Peter’s struggles with a revived, younger Gamora. In addition, a life-threatening mission puts the Guardians’ entire existence at stake!

The culmination of James Gunn’s award-winning depiction of the superhero team, “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3” is set to release in theaters on May 5, 2023.

The Little Mermaid (2023) – May 26, 2023

Prepare to dive under the sea once again with Disney’s newest live-action remake!

Audiences will return to the kingdom of Atlantica in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” a live-action remake of the 1989 film. Halle Bailey stars as Ariel, the mermaid princess who becomes fascinated with the human world, especially after saving a prince from drowning. Her father, King Triton, forbids any interaction with humans, so Ariel secretly makes a pact with an evil sea witch to make her dream come true.

Fans of the original animated release will be glad to hear that familiar characters such as Flounder, Scuttle and Sebastian return along with the titular princess. Additionally, the movie will feature songs co-written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the musical genius behind much of “Moana” and “Encanto” as well as “Hamilton,” the award-winning stage production.

“The Little Mermaid” splashes onto the big screen on May 26, 2023.

Upcoming Video Game Releases

Redfall – May 2, 2023

Gear up for a bloody good time in this open-world vampire hunt!

A sinister vampire called the Night Manager is on the loose in Redfall, Massachusetts, and you’re the only one who can stop him. Ally with survivors to take back the town! In the game, players will shoot their way through vampires, cultists and nasty environmental conditions to take down the Night Manager and learn the truth behind the sudden vampire attacks.

In addition to the base game, fans can also purchase the Bite Back Edition and Bite Back Upgrade for additional heroes and story content, weapon skins, hero passes and more.

Redfall releases on Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows on May 2, 2023.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – May 12

One of the most anticipated video game sequels of all time is finally here!

“The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” blew away players and critics alike when it was released for Nintendo’s Wii U and Switch consoles in 2017. As the franchise’s first open-world title, “Breath of the Wild” took several risks that paid off — fans were obsessed with the game’s stellar graphics, amazing soundtrack and near-endless replayability, and they wanted more, more, more!

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” sees Link continuing his adventures in an open-world Hyrule. This time, he is joined by Zelda as they search for a way to stop a malevolent force seeking to destroy Hyrule, which is just starting to reconstruct after the siege by Calamity Ganon. Fans will find several returning mechanics in the new game — such as vertical exploration and rune control — while also discovering new ways to play, including fusing weapons together and sky-island exploration.

There’s no need to cry; “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” launches on Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.