As Hollywood gets ready to unleash its spring and summer superheroes on suspecting moviegoers, Quebec distributors are likewise readying their slates of potentially lucrative domestic films. This summer’s offerings are marked by literary adaptations and the return of proven production teams.

Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm enjoyed a strong cycle of Quebec films last year, and is looking to repeat. First out of the gate is the $6.6-million Le Survenant, from director Erik Canuel (Le Dernier tunnel) and Vision 4, which was due out April 22. Based on a classic Quebec novel, there are high hopes for this tale of a stranger (played by Jean-Nicolas Verreault) who shakes up a small turn-of-the-century community.

Also from AAV, the reality-show craze provides the backdrop for Cinémaginaire’s Idole instantanée (June 15), a comedy that follows four young women in their quest for musical stardom on a Star Académie-type program.

Meanwhile, the Quebec period-piece craze continues – sparked in part by the record success of Séraphin: un homme et son péché – with a July 8 release of the $7-million Aurore, also from AAV and Cinémaginaire. Directed by Luc Dionne (who wrote Monica la mitraille), the novel adaptation stars Marianne Fortier in an early 20th century drama that covers tuberculosis, an evil stepmother and murder.

Finally from the distrib, Ricardo Trogi – who impressed with his debut Québec-Montréal – is back Aug. 5 with the drama L’Horloge biologique. This time around, Trogi tracks the varying reactions of three young men toward fatherhood. Go Films produces.

TVA Films has C.R.A.Z.Y. coming out May 27, starring Michel Coté. A copro between Cirrus Communications and writer/ director Jean-Marc Vallée (La Liste noire), the film is about a boy fighting his four brothers for the attention of his father, played by Coté.

Looking to the end of the year, the film to keep an eye on will be Maurice Richard, the attempt by Cinémaginaire and AAV to tell the story of Quebec’s ultimate hockey icon. Séraphin director Charles Binamé helms – and certainly Séraphin-type numbers are hoped for. Roy Dupuis, who recently took home a Genie for Mémoires affectives, is penciled in to portray the Rocket, as he did in the 1999 TV series Maurice Richard: Histoire d’un Canadien. A Nov. 25 release is planned.