MCU has quite a lot of projects to release in 2024, 2025, and beyond. We know that there are several movies being worked on currently and affected by the strikes, but none of them are as anticipated as ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ which are expected to continue MCU’s tradition of majestic crossovers.
Although next to nothing was known about the projects, we do know that Kang the Conqueror was expected to take over from Thanos as the main villain of the Multiverse Saga; however, soon after the release of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ it became clear that the audience did not react to the new villain accordingly. Jonathan Majors, who was playing Kang and all of his variants, also got into some legal troubles and was promptly fired.
Following this turn of events, various theories started developing, that following Majors’ dismissal the “true” villain of the MCU would be revealed in ‘Secret Wars.
Although next to nothing was known about the projects, we do know that Kang the Conqueror was expected to take over from Thanos as the main villain of the Multiverse Saga; however, soon after the release of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ it became clear that the audience did not react to the new villain accordingly. Jonathan Majors, who was playing Kang and all of his variants, also got into some legal troubles and was promptly fired.
Following this turn of events, various theories started developing, that following Majors’ dismissal the “true” villain of the MCU would be revealed in ‘Secret Wars.
- 4/16/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
The MCU has a lineup of projects scheduled for release in 2024, 2025, and beyond. Among them, ‘Avengers 5’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ stand out as highly anticipated, continuing the tradition of grand crossovers in the MCU.
While details about these projects remain scarce, it was expected that Kang the Conqueror would replace Thanos as the primary antagonist in the Multiverse Saga. However, following the release of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ it became evident that audience reception to the new villain was not as expected. Additionally, Jonathan Majors, who portrayed Kang and his variants, encountered legal issues and was subsequently dismissed from the role.
Following Jonathan Majors’ dismissal, various theories have emerged speculating about the true villain of the MCU being unveiled in ‘Secret Wars.’ These theories range from Doctor Doom to the Beyonder, drawing from the original comic storyline.
There’s also been discussion about potential cameos, with the buzz reaching Marvel Studios executives.
While details about these projects remain scarce, it was expected that Kang the Conqueror would replace Thanos as the primary antagonist in the Multiverse Saga. However, following the release of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ it became evident that audience reception to the new villain was not as expected. Additionally, Jonathan Majors, who portrayed Kang and his variants, encountered legal issues and was subsequently dismissed from the role.
Following Jonathan Majors’ dismissal, various theories have emerged speculating about the true villain of the MCU being unveiled in ‘Secret Wars.’ These theories range from Doctor Doom to the Beyonder, drawing from the original comic storyline.
There’s also been discussion about potential cameos, with the buzz reaching Marvel Studios executives.
- 4/16/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
Kevin Feige was part of the infamous Marvel Creative Committee (McC) in the early stages of the MCU and played a crucial role in preventing the committee from ruining Captain America. According to reports, Feige and Louis D’Esposito vehemently opposed the committee’s idea to set the character in modern times. There were screaming matches during meetings of the McC, with Feige emerging successful and giving us the period piece, Captain America: The First Avenger.
Kevin Feige resisted many of the unpopular and toxic decisions of the McC (credits: Spider-Man: Far from Home)
According to the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, the McC consisted of Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Brian Michael Bendis, Louis D’Esposito, Kevin Feige, and Alan Fine. The book suggested that most of the unpopular and toxic opinions came from Alan Fine, who was the Dwight to Ike Perlmutter’s Michael.
Kevin Feige Saved Chris...
Kevin Feige resisted many of the unpopular and toxic decisions of the McC (credits: Spider-Man: Far from Home)
According to the book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, the McC consisted of Dan Buckley, Joe Quesada, Brian Michael Bendis, Louis D’Esposito, Kevin Feige, and Alan Fine. The book suggested that most of the unpopular and toxic opinions came from Alan Fine, who was the Dwight to Ike Perlmutter’s Michael.
Kevin Feige Saved Chris...
- 4/8/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Ever since 2008’s Iron Man release, MCU, with its box-office collection, became the most popular superhero franchise. But for them, 2023 was a disastrous year.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The first was in February with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The $200 million-priced film earned only $464 million in the worldwide market. The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, also went through the same phase as it roughly touched the $200 million mark globally and became the lowest-grossing installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only good news for the studio was the May release of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, starring Chris Pratt, which grossed $845 million at the global market.
SUGGESTEDDoctor Doom and Beyonder Are Coming to MCU? Deadpool 3 Trailer Has a Huge Avengers: Secret Wars Easter Egg
Amidst such a streak of flops, the MCU is hoping for the success of the 2027 Avengers movie, Avengers: Secret Wars. Meanwhile, there arises a new...
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The first was in February with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The $200 million-priced film earned only $464 million in the worldwide market. The Marvels, starring Brie Larson, also went through the same phase as it roughly touched the $200 million mark globally and became the lowest-grossing installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only good news for the studio was the May release of Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3, starring Chris Pratt, which grossed $845 million at the global market.
SUGGESTEDDoctor Doom and Beyonder Are Coming to MCU? Deadpool 3 Trailer Has a Huge Avengers: Secret Wars Easter Egg
Amidst such a streak of flops, the MCU is hoping for the success of the 2027 Avengers movie, Avengers: Secret Wars. Meanwhile, there arises a new...
- 4/6/2024
- by Prantik Prabal Roy
- FandomWire
The Marvel camp and the MCU have a lot lined up in the future which is all leading up to the highly anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars that is expected to release in 2027. Avengers: Endgame heralded the end of an era with many iconic characters including Iron Man and Captain America culminating their arcs.
A still from Avengers: Endgame
Now, Marvel buffs are eagerly making guesses regarding the storyline of the next film and the superheroes and villains who will play a pivotal role in it. While Kevin Feige and team have not divulged anything yet, this is not stopping fans from forming their own theories. One hyped fan theory sees Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland sharing screen space together once again.
One Avengers: Secret Wars Theory Hints At These Spider-Man Actors Reuniting On Screen
One of the biggest talking points of Spider-Man: No Way Home was the brilliant...
A still from Avengers: Endgame
Now, Marvel buffs are eagerly making guesses regarding the storyline of the next film and the superheroes and villains who will play a pivotal role in it. While Kevin Feige and team have not divulged anything yet, this is not stopping fans from forming their own theories. One hyped fan theory sees Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland sharing screen space together once again.
One Avengers: Secret Wars Theory Hints At These Spider-Man Actors Reuniting On Screen
One of the biggest talking points of Spider-Man: No Way Home was the brilliant...
- 4/5/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
The best (and worst) part of writing for the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that your movie/show is almost never just a self-contained story. It's part of a larger world, one where pre-existing characters can veer in and out of the narrative at seemingly any moment. But that's part of what made "Loki," the Disney+ series that began in June 2021, so fun. The main character was already established by several previous movies, so viewers knew who this guy was from day one, ad the first episode had a whole lot less work to do than a typical TV pilot.
So far, "Loki" hasn't involved any major characters from the main MCU, but part of the fun for fans is knowing that it could do so at any moment. It's hard to imagine a version of the series that doesn't at least have Loki somehow reconnect with his brother Thor, for instance,...
So far, "Loki" hasn't involved any major characters from the main MCU, but part of the fun for fans is knowing that it could do so at any moment. It's hard to imagine a version of the series that doesn't at least have Loki somehow reconnect with his brother Thor, for instance,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
Actor and recent Oscar-winner Robert Downey Jr. is known for his decade-long role as Iron Man in the MCU. The actor laid the foundations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, alongside director Jon Favreau and producer Kevin Feige. The film is largely credited with having changed how superhero films were perceived in Hollywood.
Downey Jr.’s off-screen persona often includes a self-aware yet inflated sense of ego. However, even he set it aside to name James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy as the best film in the franchise. The Oppenheimer star mentioned how he was surprised by how great the film was, with relatively unknown characters, and ended up being so important for the MCU.
Robert Downey Jr. Hails James Gunn’s Experimental Film As MCU’s Best Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. had a decade long-tenure in the MCU, starting with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man.
Downey Jr.’s off-screen persona often includes a self-aware yet inflated sense of ego. However, even he set it aside to name James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy as the best film in the franchise. The Oppenheimer star mentioned how he was surprised by how great the film was, with relatively unknown characters, and ended up being so important for the MCU.
Robert Downey Jr. Hails James Gunn’s Experimental Film As MCU’s Best Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man
Robert Downey Jr. had a decade long-tenure in the MCU, starting with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man.
- 3/28/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
Atx TV Festival announced new updates to its line-up Wednesday, including screenings of Fargo, Pretty Little Liars and the Season 3 premiere of HBO’s critically acclaimed Industry. All of these are in addition to the previously announced Suits reunion panel that’s set to take place at the annual Austin, Texas event later this spring.
Fargo creator, writer and director Noah Hawley will join for a screening of Season 5, Episode 1 (“The Tragedy of the Commons”), followed by a conversation about the overall season, which stars Juno Temple, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
More from TVLinePretty Little Liars: Summer School...
Fargo creator, writer and director Noah Hawley will join for a screening of Season 5, Episode 1 (“The Tragedy of the Commons”), followed by a conversation about the overall season, which stars Juno Temple, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh.
More from TVLinePretty Little Liars: Summer School...
- 3/27/2024
- by Claire Franken
- TVLine.com
It took Marvel Studios three Spider-Man movies to set up Tom Holland as the hero of his own film — a film that still hasn't materialized. Both producer Amy Pascal and Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige have seemingly confirmed a fourth Spider-Man movie starring the British actor is forthcoming, but just what form this will take and when it will arrive remain unclear. Which is a shame because, as mentioned, Holland has yet to really be the star of his own Spidey flick.
Debuting in "Captain America: Civil War," Holland went on to front three solo Spider-Man outings, but he always seemed to play second fiddle to either MCU world-building or other well-established MCU characters. But at the end of 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man was seemingly positioned to finally become the hero of his own story moving forward. In November 2023, however, the actor simultaneously confirmed...
Debuting in "Captain America: Civil War," Holland went on to front three solo Spider-Man outings, but he always seemed to play second fiddle to either MCU world-building or other well-established MCU characters. But at the end of 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home," Holland's Peter Parker/Spider-Man was seemingly positioned to finally become the hero of his own story moving forward. In November 2023, however, the actor simultaneously confirmed...
- 3/25/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Avengers 5: Fans Are Worried That MCU is Moving on From Recasting Kang After Jonathan Majors’ Firing
The MCU found themselves in a curveball following Jonathan Majors’ conviction, jeoparding their plans for the multiversal story surrounding Kang. While Marvel’s initial plans regarding the multiversal saga involved building Kang the Conqueror as the next big thing since Thanos, it appears they’re finally abandoning the storyline.
Confirming a February report, Disney revealed that the next Avengers entry will not be titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the company’s latest investors’ presentation. But fans are left conflicted about the change, as it appears the industry giant is moving on from Kang altogether.
Jonathan Majors as Kang | MCU Disney Might Be Abandoning Kang Altogether for Avengers 5
Per THR’s previous report, which initially claimed the movie would be renamed, Disney’s plans reportedly involved either scaling down or eradicating Kang’s presence completely from the movie. But considering how knee-deep MCU is in the multiversal saga, fans...
Confirming a February report, Disney revealed that the next Avengers entry will not be titled Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in the company’s latest investors’ presentation. But fans are left conflicted about the change, as it appears the industry giant is moving on from Kang altogether.
Jonathan Majors as Kang | MCU Disney Might Be Abandoning Kang Altogether for Avengers 5
Per THR’s previous report, which initially claimed the movie would be renamed, Disney’s plans reportedly involved either scaling down or eradicating Kang’s presence completely from the movie. But considering how knee-deep MCU is in the multiversal saga, fans...
- 3/14/2024
- by Santanu Roy
- FandomWire
With recent films in the Marvel franchise like The Marvels and Madame Web failing at the box office, there seems to be a definite case of superhero fatigue that has set in. Another defining factor for Marvel not finding favor with fans could be the absence of marquee stars like Chris Evans who hung up his boots as Captain America after Avengers: Endgame.
Chris Evans in Captain America: Civil War
The actor recently weighed in on the current situation and the reasons behind superhero narratives failing to connect with audiences. While he did defend the franchise that gave him superstardom, Evans was also realistic and candid about what could have gone wrong.
Suggestedmcu’s Boss Kevin Feige is Reportedly Facing a Serious Issue After Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans Left MCU
Chris Evans Spoke Up On Marvel’s Difficult Phase
The past year hasn’t been the most productive...
Chris Evans in Captain America: Civil War
The actor recently weighed in on the current situation and the reasons behind superhero narratives failing to connect with audiences. While he did defend the franchise that gave him superstardom, Evans was also realistic and candid about what could have gone wrong.
Suggestedmcu’s Boss Kevin Feige is Reportedly Facing a Serious Issue After Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans Left MCU
Chris Evans Spoke Up On Marvel’s Difficult Phase
The past year hasn’t been the most productive...
- 3/5/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
Actress Brie Larson became a household name with her portrayal of Carol Danvers a.k.a., Captain Marvel in Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress first appeared as Captain Marvel in 2019’s Captain Marvel, which marked the studio’s first female-led film. The movie became the first female-led superhero movie to pass the billion-dollar mark.
Larson reprised her role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and then for 2023’s The Marvels which served as the sequel to Captain Marvel. The Marvels underperformed at the box office and received a mixed response from the audience and critics. Brie Larson’s recent response upon her return as Danvers had her fans question her character’s treatment in the MCU.
SUGGESTEDAfter Back-to-Back Failures, Disney Executive Blamed the Fans as the Real Reason Behind The Marvels and Star Wars’ Downfall
Brie Larson
Is Brie Larson considering giving up her role as Captain Marvel?
Brie Larson was highly...
Larson reprised her role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame and then for 2023’s The Marvels which served as the sequel to Captain Marvel. The Marvels underperformed at the box office and received a mixed response from the audience and critics. Brie Larson’s recent response upon her return as Danvers had her fans question her character’s treatment in the MCU.
SUGGESTEDAfter Back-to-Back Failures, Disney Executive Blamed the Fans as the Real Reason Behind The Marvels and Star Wars’ Downfall
Brie Larson
Is Brie Larson considering giving up her role as Captain Marvel?
Brie Larson was highly...
- 2/27/2024
- by Avneet Ahluwalia
- FandomWire
The Marvels starring Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris, was a massive disappointment at the box office. The highly anticipated film that was touted to be the embodiment of feminine power, ended up being a damp squib with fans and critics brutally panning the narrative. This was an unfortunate result after the first film achieved success at the box office.
The Marvels is the 2nd film in the Captain Marvel series
With the dubious distinction of having the lowest opening weekend of any MCU film, the desire to develop another Captain Marvel film with Larson was recently dashed to the ground following information from an inside source. Fans of the franchise believed that this decision was brought on by the hate targeted towards the Captain Marvel films by hardcore male fans who were unable to accept a kickass female superhero.
Suggestedmcu Timeline For Fantastic Four: Pedro Pascal’s...
The Marvels is the 2nd film in the Captain Marvel series
With the dubious distinction of having the lowest opening weekend of any MCU film, the desire to develop another Captain Marvel film with Larson was recently dashed to the ground following information from an inside source. Fans of the franchise believed that this decision was brought on by the hate targeted towards the Captain Marvel films by hardcore male fans who were unable to accept a kickass female superhero.
Suggestedmcu Timeline For Fantastic Four: Pedro Pascal’s...
- 2/26/2024
- by Sharanya Sankar
- FandomWire
Echo and Reservation Dogs standout Devery Jacobs will be honored at this year’s Atx TV Festival with the 2024 Breakthrough Award. The award is given to a creative “whose voice has made a distinct impact on the current moment in TV and whose work exemplifies the emotional, entertaining, and artistic possibilities of the medium”, the festival announced Wednesday.
Jacobs will discuss her career in a one-on-one conversation, including her multi-hyphenate role as actor, writer and director on FX’s critically acclaimed series Reservation Dogs, her recent role in Marvel Studios’ Echo, and her producorial debut feature film, Backspot, in which she also stars.
Previous recipients of the award include Angelica Ross (Pose) and Sydney Sweeney.
The fest also will announce live TV-themed episode taping of The Ringer’s original podcast Trial By Content with hosts Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales and Neil Miller, as well as additional...
Jacobs will discuss her career in a one-on-one conversation, including her multi-hyphenate role as actor, writer and director on FX’s critically acclaimed series Reservation Dogs, her recent role in Marvel Studios’ Echo, and her producorial debut feature film, Backspot, in which she also stars.
Previous recipients of the award include Angelica Ross (Pose) and Sydney Sweeney.
The fest also will announce live TV-themed episode taping of The Ringer’s original podcast Trial By Content with hosts Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales and Neil Miller, as well as additional...
- 2/21/2024
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“Reservation Dogs” star Devery Jacobs will be honored at the 2024 Atx TV Festival. Jacobs will discuss her career as an actor, writer and director on the FX hit, as well as her role in “Echo” and her producorial debut feature film “Backspot,” as she’s awarded the “Breakthrough Award.”
Previous recipients include Angelica Ross and Sydney Sweeney.
On Wednesday, the festival also announced panels with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel, a casting panel featuring directors and actors from “The Bear” and “Reservation Dogs” and a live podcast.
“Talk Scary (TV) to Me: A Conversation with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel” will feature Flanagan, the creator of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Midnight Mass” and “The Haunting of Hill House,” and his wife, actor Kate Siegel, as they break down their collaborations and the current state of horror on television.
During “The Monologue Case Study with Mike Flanagan,” the...
Previous recipients include Angelica Ross and Sydney Sweeney.
On Wednesday, the festival also announced panels with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel, a casting panel featuring directors and actors from “The Bear” and “Reservation Dogs” and a live podcast.
“Talk Scary (TV) to Me: A Conversation with Mike Flanagan and Kate Siegel” will feature Flanagan, the creator of “The Fall of the House of Usher,” “Midnight Mass” and “The Haunting of Hill House,” and his wife, actor Kate Siegel, as they break down their collaborations and the current state of horror on television.
During “The Monologue Case Study with Mike Flanagan,” the...
- 2/21/2024
- by Emily Longeretta
- Variety Film + TV
"Avengers: Infinity War" remains a monumental piece of blockbuster filmmaking. It's the first half of a two-part culmination of a decade's worth of world- and franchise-building -- one that brought together dozens of heroes for the kind of crossover event you could previously only find in comic books. The movie also ended with one of the events that came to define pop culture in 2018: The Blip, wherein half of the universe disappeared from existence.
That moment not only made "Avengers: Endgame" an instant must-watch for every person on the planet with a pulse but also created a big concern for the head of Marvel Studios. In the book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige recounts how he was worried The Blip would forever ruin the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"I was wary of it becoming like the Battle of New York,...
That moment not only made "Avengers: Endgame" an instant must-watch for every person on the planet with a pulse but also created a big concern for the head of Marvel Studios. In the book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige recounts how he was worried The Blip would forever ruin the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
"I was wary of it becoming like the Battle of New York,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
These days it's strange to think of Marvel struggling to outdo DC at the box office. But believe it or not, there was a time when the latter was the undisputed champ of superhero filmmaking. Director Richard Donner kicked off that winning streak with 1978's "Superman," the film that provided the blueprint for the modern blockbuster. Next, Tim Burton solidified DC's box office prowess with 1989's "Batman" — a film that made a heck of a lot of money at the box office and established the principles of modern blockbuster marketing.
Meanwhile, Marvel had this comparatively abject filmography to offer: 1986's "Howard the Duck," 1989's "The Punisher," and the direct-to-video "Captain America" in 1990. By the time DC and Warner Bros.' "Batman Forever" hit in 1995 and made $336 million globally (an impressive number for the time) it seemed DC would rule the superhero blockbuster space for a long time to come.
Of course,...
Meanwhile, Marvel had this comparatively abject filmography to offer: 1986's "Howard the Duck," 1989's "The Punisher," and the direct-to-video "Captain America" in 1990. By the time DC and Warner Bros.' "Batman Forever" hit in 1995 and made $336 million globally (an impressive number for the time) it seemed DC would rule the superhero blockbuster space for a long time to come.
Of course,...
- 2/4/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
At the beginning of William Shatner's 1989 film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise-a is on shore leave, taking a much-needed breather while their ship undergoes extensive repairs and improvements. Scotty (James Doohan) and Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) are overseeing the repairs back on the ship. Chekhov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) are hiking together in Yosemite while Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Captain Kirk (Shatner), and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) set up their own camp nearby. This must not be a very long shore leave, otherwise I assume these people would all be at home visiting their families and not hanging out with their co-workers.
At night, McCoy, Kirk, and Spock gather around a campfire, cook beans, and enjoy marshmallows. Everything is comfortably low-tech. Kirk and McCoy attempt to introduce Spock to the Earth tradition of singing songs around the campfire, teaching him the lyrics to "Row,...
At night, McCoy, Kirk, and Spock gather around a campfire, cook beans, and enjoy marshmallows. Everything is comfortably low-tech. Kirk and McCoy attempt to introduce Spock to the Earth tradition of singing songs around the campfire, teaching him the lyrics to "Row,...
- 1/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the great franchise experiment of modern times. It is an expanding universe telling different stories in a large movie continuity, converging in crossover events like the comic books that inspire them, with dozens of characters across dozens of movies.
Before the MCU became the creatively bankrupt and commercially unviable husk it is today, it dominated the pop culture conversation. Today, it is easy to forget that a decade ago it was unthinkable for a movie about a talking raccoon and a giant tree to be a huge commercial hit, but somehow we got a whole trilogy starring them.
That success climaxed in "Avengers: Infinity War," an unprecedented cinematic crossover that brought dozens of heroes together in a single movie, and then (briefly) killed half of them. Though these deaths were meant to be arbitrary, a throw of the cosmic dice, there was a bit of...
Before the MCU became the creatively bankrupt and commercially unviable husk it is today, it dominated the pop culture conversation. Today, it is easy to forget that a decade ago it was unthinkable for a movie about a talking raccoon and a giant tree to be a huge commercial hit, but somehow we got a whole trilogy starring them.
That success climaxed in "Avengers: Infinity War," an unprecedented cinematic crossover that brought dozens of heroes together in a single movie, and then (briefly) killed half of them. Though these deaths were meant to be arbitrary, a throw of the cosmic dice, there was a bit of...
- 1/29/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
What exactly are Thor's powers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? His actual threshold of strength and durability is tested several times throughout the MCU, but they fluctuate wildly. In one film, Thor (Christ Hemsworth) has trouble besting Captain America (Chris Evans) in hand-to-hand combat, but in another, he can seemingly withstand the heat of a solar flare. In one film, his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) states explicitly that they aren't gods, but in "Thor: Love and Thunder," Thor travels to Mount Olympus to converse with other deities, proving that he is indeed a god.
Perhaps Thor's powers need to fluctuate and remain unclear for dramatic reasons. If you have a literal god on your superhero team, why do you need other members at all? One might think that Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, would be able to slam his hammer into the face of any alien attacker and...
Perhaps Thor's powers need to fluctuate and remain unclear for dramatic reasons. If you have a literal god on your superhero team, why do you need other members at all? One might think that Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, would be able to slam his hammer into the face of any alien attacker and...
- 1/28/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The rumors about the MCU undergoing a reboot are not recent. Back in October 2023, there was significant speculation surrounding the potential role of ‘Secret Wars’ as the pivotal moment marking the transition between the old and new MCU.
Throughout 2023, the MCU faced considerable challenges, marked by a noticeable decline in content quality. Formerly successful elements failed to generate the same immense profits. ‘Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’ experienced a significant setback, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ achieved success but with a lackluster opening, and Disney+ shows faced criticism for their perceived lack of direction, leading to waning overall interest. ‘The Marvels’ proved to be the final blow, becoming the lowest-grossing movie in MCU history and the first Marvel Studios film to fall short of the $100 million mark in domestic box office revenue.
Concrete evidence of the MCU’s impending reboot surfaced through Joanna Robinson’s book, ‘The Reign of Marvel Studios,...
Throughout 2023, the MCU faced considerable challenges, marked by a noticeable decline in content quality. Formerly successful elements failed to generate the same immense profits. ‘Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’ experienced a significant setback, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ achieved success but with a lackluster opening, and Disney+ shows faced criticism for their perceived lack of direction, leading to waning overall interest. ‘The Marvels’ proved to be the final blow, becoming the lowest-grossing movie in MCU history and the first Marvel Studios film to fall short of the $100 million mark in domestic box office revenue.
Concrete evidence of the MCU’s impending reboot surfaced through Joanna Robinson’s book, ‘The Reign of Marvel Studios,...
- 1/23/2024
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
The screenplay to the 2014 mega-hit "Guardians of the Galaxy," the 10th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was credited to director James Gunn and longtime Hollywood screenwriter Nicole Perlman. Perlman also has story credits on the films "Captain Marvel" and "Pokémon Detective Pikachu," and has previously been attached to a sequel to the 1986 Jim Henson film "Labyrinth," as well as film adaptations of the 1980s toy properties "Visionaries" and "M.A.S.K."
Perlman, according to an old article on the Marvel website, was recruited into the Marvel writing room way back in 2009 and was offered the opportunity to write a spec script for a "lesser" Marvel property as a test of her style and working capabilities. She selected "Guardians of the Galaxy," a Marvel title that had been rebooted by authors Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning the year before. Perlman said to her interviewer that this was a common...
Perlman, according to an old article on the Marvel website, was recruited into the Marvel writing room way back in 2009 and was offered the opportunity to write a spec script for a "lesser" Marvel property as a test of her style and working capabilities. She selected "Guardians of the Galaxy," a Marvel title that had been rebooted by authors Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning the year before. Perlman said to her interviewer that this was a common...
- 1/21/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Do you remember the show "Raising Dad"? The 2001-2002 single-season series from The WB grabbed my attention because it was another show starring "Full House" star Bob Saget, but would also serve as the gateway to two actors who would become all-time favorites of mine: Kat Dennings and Brie Larson. When it was announced that the latter was going to appear in "Fast X," I couldn't resist bringing up her history of playing a hot rodder in the Disney Channel Original Movie "Right on Track," and I'm always elated when people realize that Larson is one of the members of the Six Chicks clique in "13 Going on 30" and one of the popular girls in "Sleepover."
When actors can transition into a successful acting career as adults, their childhood careers either become the comparison of everything they do moving forward, or a non-discussed subject. For Larson, her past as...
When actors can transition into a successful acting career as adults, their childhood careers either become the comparison of everything they do moving forward, or a non-discussed subject. For Larson, her past as...
- 1/17/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
"The Avengers" writer/director Joss Whedon may be long banished from the Marvel Cinematic Universe now, but his influence remains seeped into the whole enterprise. The screwball, genre-aware dialogue Whedon writes is now the McU's house style — if not a hindrance. Other writers have been aping it to diminishing returns ever since.
The behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Gavin Edwards, Dave Gonzales, and Joanna Robinson details how Marvel Studios first hired Whedon. His gain was another writer's loss; Zak Penn had already written a script for "The Avengers," but Whedon threw his version out and started from scratch. "There was a script. There just wasn't a script I was going to film a word of," Whedon said. This move is an early harbinger of how Whedon would make his style into Marvel's own.
As "MCU" notes, this wasn't the first time this had happened to Penn.
The behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Gavin Edwards, Dave Gonzales, and Joanna Robinson details how Marvel Studios first hired Whedon. His gain was another writer's loss; Zak Penn had already written a script for "The Avengers," but Whedon threw his version out and started from scratch. "There was a script. There just wasn't a script I was going to film a word of," Whedon said. This move is an early harbinger of how Whedon would make his style into Marvel's own.
As "MCU" notes, this wasn't the first time this had happened to Penn.
- 1/15/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
There are a lot of similarities between actor Robert Downey Jr. and his character Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. They're both smart-alecks with a history of substance abuse issues, they're both wildly talented, and they both are pretty darn proud. So when asked which movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) he thought was the best, one would assume that Downey would pick one of the "Iron Man" movies, or one of the "Avengers" movies at the very least, right? Wrong!
In the book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, the various Avengers discussed their picks for the "Best Marvel Movie Ever" and the man behind Iron Man had a pretty surprising pick that honestly feels close to impossible to argue with. After all, who knows the MCU better than the people at the very center of it -- and besides,...
In the book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, the various Avengers discussed their picks for the "Best Marvel Movie Ever" and the man behind Iron Man had a pretty surprising pick that honestly feels close to impossible to argue with. After all, who knows the MCU better than the people at the very center of it -- and besides,...
- 1/13/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
It's been more than a decade since "The Avengers" debuted, and my, how things have changed. The first big Marvel team-up was nothing short of a cinematic hinge event, cementing the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the Hollywood juggernaut we know it as today. Well, the Hollywood juggernaut we've known it as so far.
At this moment, we have too much of the MCU and it's getting ridiculous. So inundated with Marvel "content" are we that even "Secret Invasion," a show starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury — a show that should have been a historic moment in franchise history — failed to wow both critics and audiences.
But back in 2012, Jackson and his character were anything but struggling. Witnessing Fury finally assemble the various heroes we'd met in prior Marvel outings was an exhilarating moment, and heralded the true beginning of the company's Hollywood dominance. Directed by Joss Whedon, "The Avengers...
At this moment, we have too much of the MCU and it's getting ridiculous. So inundated with Marvel "content" are we that even "Secret Invasion," a show starring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury — a show that should have been a historic moment in franchise history — failed to wow both critics and audiences.
But back in 2012, Jackson and his character were anything but struggling. Witnessing Fury finally assemble the various heroes we'd met in prior Marvel outings was an exhilarating moment, and heralded the true beginning of the company's Hollywood dominance. Directed by Joss Whedon, "The Avengers...
- 1/1/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Genndy Tartakovsky makes everything he works on better, but even he wasn't able to fix the hot mess that was "Iron Man 2." In Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards' book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios," the acclaimed filmmaker behind beloved titles like "Samurai Jack," "Dexter's Laboratory," and "Star Wars: Clone Wars" reveals that he was tapped by director Jon Favreau to help streamline the Marvel sequel's climax.
"Jon was a fan, and he liked the sensibility that I had on 'Samurai,'" Tartakovsky said in an interview for "MCU." "I know what I would want from this situation, so I just tried to give it to him — and he could use all of it or none of it." The scene in question takes place in a park in Queens, where a Japanese tea garden was digitally created. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle...
"Jon was a fan, and he liked the sensibility that I had on 'Samurai,'" Tartakovsky said in an interview for "MCU." "I know what I would want from this situation, so I just tried to give it to him — and he could use all of it or none of it." The scene in question takes place in a park in Queens, where a Japanese tea garden was digitally created. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Rhodey (Don Cheadle...
- 12/30/2023
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
A decade and a half after the 2008 premiere of Marvel's "Iron Man," it's hard to remember a time without it. The film took a lesser-known comic book character and turned him into the most popular member of the Avengers, made him a cultural phenomenon, and changed the landscape of popular film as we know it. The film helped to revive Robert Downey Jr.'s career after his battle with substance abuse and made him one of the most beloved names in the geek world.
When we meet Tony Stark, he's kind of a jerk. He's rich, inherited his father's company, makes weapons of mass destruction, and he's really full of himself. However, when he's ambushed during a weapons test in Afghanistan and ends up in the hands of the terrorist organization the Ten Rings, he's gravely injured and shoved in a cave with fellow prisoner Yinsen (Shaun Toub). That cave scene ... well,...
When we meet Tony Stark, he's kind of a jerk. He's rich, inherited his father's company, makes weapons of mass destruction, and he's really full of himself. However, when he's ambushed during a weapons test in Afghanistan and ends up in the hands of the terrorist organization the Ten Rings, he's gravely injured and shoved in a cave with fellow prisoner Yinsen (Shaun Toub). That cave scene ... well,...
- 12/30/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Several notable actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have talked to fitness and health magazines about their workout regimens. Karen Gillan had to do a lot of lifting and fight training to play Nebula. Dave Bautista, who plays Drax the Destroyer, noted that "superhero fit" is rather different from "wrestler fit." Want to get fit like Chris Evans when he plays Captain America? Men's Health Magazine has a whole routine devoted to his body.
Comic book superheroes, since the birth of the medium, have typically represented idealized human physiques, usually fetishizing large muscles and athletic frames. Men typically all have broad shoulders and washboard abs, while women are all lithe and busty, infamously contorting their near-nude bodies in unusual ways. It's easy to see why the trend persists: young comic book fans likely enjoy projecting themselves into the most widely celebrated body types, while also ogling attractive imaginary people. Is...
Comic book superheroes, since the birth of the medium, have typically represented idealized human physiques, usually fetishizing large muscles and athletic frames. Men typically all have broad shoulders and washboard abs, while women are all lithe and busty, infamously contorting their near-nude bodies in unusual ways. It's easy to see why the trend persists: young comic book fans likely enjoy projecting themselves into the most widely celebrated body types, while also ogling attractive imaginary people. Is...
- 12/24/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Following the guilty verdict in his assault trial on Monday, Jonathan Majors has been fired by Marvel Studios. And on social media, fans have a lot of thoughts about it.
It’s not only a spectacular career imposion for an actor who less than a year ago seemed headed for permanent stardom. It’s also a massive headache for Marvel and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
And that’s on top of the fact that Majors, who continues to deny any wrongdoing, was found guilty of assault and harrassment against his ex-girlfriend. He’ll be sentenced in February and has signalled plans to appeal.
About that latter point, Screenrant writer Alisha Grauso called the whole thing “a damn shame.”
I'm not sure I've seen a more promising talent tank their career harder and faster than Jonathan Majors. What a damn shame. For him, for the people who are working with him,...
It’s not only a spectacular career imposion for an actor who less than a year ago seemed headed for permanent stardom. It’s also a massive headache for Marvel and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
And that’s on top of the fact that Majors, who continues to deny any wrongdoing, was found guilty of assault and harrassment against his ex-girlfriend. He’ll be sentenced in February and has signalled plans to appeal.
About that latter point, Screenrant writer Alisha Grauso called the whole thing “a damn shame.”
I'm not sure I've seen a more promising talent tank their career harder and faster than Jonathan Majors. What a damn shame. For him, for the people who are working with him,...
- 12/19/2023
- by Drew Taylor, Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
Superhero movies had entered something of a transitional period in 2007. Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" run had reached an unplanned end with the tepidly received "Spider-Man 3," leaving Sony facing the daunting prospect of rebooting a franchise that still had plenty of box office juice (the third installment racked up the webslinger's highest worldwide gross to date). Bryan Singer whiffed badly on the hugely expensive "Superman Returns," forcing Warner Bros. to pin its DC Comics hopes almost exclusively on Christopher Nolan's forthcoming sequel to "Batman Begins" (which was a modest commercial success). 20th Century Fox's "Fantastic Four" grossed just enough to merit a sequel, while the future of the "X-Men" franchise rested solely on the yoked shoulders of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine.
And then there was Marvel Studios, which, after watching their most popular characters make billions for other companies, yearned to control the narrative destinies of the characters they hadn't sold off.
And then there was Marvel Studios, which, after watching their most popular characters make billions for other companies, yearned to control the narrative destinies of the characters they hadn't sold off.
- 12/17/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" and Louis Leterrier's "The Incredible Hulk" (both 2008) in many important ways weren't yet part of the then-nascent Marvel Cinematic Universe when they were first made. Favreau put in a post-credits stinger with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury more as a wink to fans than as an announcement that larger film projects were afoot. Additionally, Downey's cameo in "Incredible" was treated equally casually, with the actors reportedly improvising their dialogue. It would only be until after Disney purchased the Marvel library in 2009 that plans for an MCU would be put into place in earnest. In many ways, then, it would be Favreau's "Iron Man 2" in 2010 that launched the MCU properly and put plans for an "Avengers" feature film into motion.
Of course, constructing a Marvel Cinematic Universe from the ground up required a new kind of filmmaking. Individual features now had to be...
Of course, constructing a Marvel Cinematic Universe from the ground up required a new kind of filmmaking. Individual features now had to be...
- 12/12/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The fantastic book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" has been out for a bit now and we're still finding fascinating tidbits and details within those pages. If you haven't already, I highly recommend you pick up a copy for yourself because as much fun as it is to single out little fun details, reading them in context against the backdrop of just how Marvel Studios became the powerhouse they are is even more fulfilling.
Today we're going to focus on a little bit of Robert Downey Jr. lore involving a particularly odd request from him about the kind of tech Tony Stark uses. You may or may not have noticed, but when Tony Stark is typing anything up (usually via some fancy digital interface) it's not using a typical keyboard. Mr. Stark's keyboard has a bunch of seemingly random symbols. Those symbols are Mayan, which is what Downey...
Today we're going to focus on a little bit of Robert Downey Jr. lore involving a particularly odd request from him about the kind of tech Tony Stark uses. You may or may not have noticed, but when Tony Stark is typing anything up (usually via some fancy digital interface) it's not using a typical keyboard. Mr. Stark's keyboard has a bunch of seemingly random symbols. Those symbols are Mayan, which is what Downey...
- 12/12/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Once upon a time, Roger Ebert held that "no movie featuring either Harry Dean Stanton or M. Emmet Walsh in a supporting role can be altogether bad." The Stanton-Walsh rule could be violated, as Ebert noted in his scathing review of the unfathomably awful "Wild Wild West," but you only did yourself a favor if you cast one of these gentlemen. The script could be dire and the direction poor, but an appearance from Stanton and/or Walsh was/is – we lost Stanton in 2017, but Walsh is still going strong at 88 years old — only ever a joyous occasion.
The Stanton-Walsh rule applies to other character actors, and I can't think of many performers who've given me more pleasure over the last few decades than Sam Rockwell. He first popped for me in Tom Dicillo's hugely underrated indie comedy "Box of Moonlight" as a ball of non-conformist energy who...
The Stanton-Walsh rule applies to other character actors, and I can't think of many performers who've given me more pleasure over the last few decades than Sam Rockwell. He first popped for me in Tom Dicillo's hugely underrated indie comedy "Box of Moonlight" as a ball of non-conformist energy who...
- 12/11/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
In Jon Favreau's 2008 film "Iron Man," the playboy weapons industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has an ethical crisis about his line of work following a traumatic kidnapping incident. Tony was held hostage in a cave by a rogue terrorist (Faran Tahir) who was using the weapons his company produced to spread chaos and death in the Middle East. With the help of a fellow kidnapping victim, a doctor named Ho Yinsen (Shaun Toub), Tony builds a high-tech, weaponized suit of armor to escape his cave. Sadly, Yinsen is killed in the process. Tony returns to the United States broken and sad, and soon announces that his company will no longer be making weapons.
No one is more startled by Tony's change of heart than his long-suffering personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). For years, Pepper took care of Tony's business, but also his messy personal life; early in the film,...
No one is more startled by Tony's change of heart than his long-suffering personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). For years, Pepper took care of Tony's business, but also his messy personal life; early in the film,...
- 12/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The modern comic book movie era -- which began in, take your pick, 1998 with Stephen Norrington's surprise hit "Blade", 2000 with Bryan Singer's bonafide blockbuster "X-Men," or 2002 with Sam Rami's four-quadrant phenomenon "Spider-Man -- might've looked a lot different had certain key players signed on to write and/or direct different projects that were in the works at the same time as the films wound up turning superhero flicks into the dominant genre of the 21st century thus far (though that may be changing).
The period between the release of "Blade" and the shocking success of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" was rife with maneuvering within multiple studios, particularly when it came to the Marvel Universe. 20th Century Fox controlled the rights to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Sony owned Spider-Man, Universal had the Hulk and Sub-Mariner, and New Line battled like hell to make an...
The period between the release of "Blade" and the shocking success of Jon Favreau's "Iron Man" was rife with maneuvering within multiple studios, particularly when it came to the Marvel Universe. 20th Century Fox controlled the rights to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Sony owned Spider-Man, Universal had the Hulk and Sub-Mariner, and New Line battled like hell to make an...
- 12/10/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
"The Incredible Hulk" was an early stumbling block for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Released in June 2008, a mere month after "Iron Man," lightning did not strike twice for Marvel Studios' burgeoning movie enterprise; "Incredible Hulk" got a shrug from critics and underperformed at the box office.
Even so, Marvel Studios steamrolled ahead. Star Edward Norton didn't return for any future MCU films and Bruce Banner was recast with Mark Ruffalo for "The Avengers." The behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Dave Gonzales, Gavin Edwards, and Joanna Robinson features a chapter about "The Incredible Hulk" and its gamma radiation-flavored fallout. The book ultimately puts the production's unpleasant memories on the shoulders of Edward Norton, suggesting his actor-as-auteur approach solidified Marvel's top-down filmmaking tactics.
An unnamed "Marvel performer" tells the authors, "We have a no-a**hole policy on our movies," and the book traces this policy back to Norton's behavior.
Even so, Marvel Studios steamrolled ahead. Star Edward Norton didn't return for any future MCU films and Bruce Banner was recast with Mark Ruffalo for "The Avengers." The behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Dave Gonzales, Gavin Edwards, and Joanna Robinson features a chapter about "The Incredible Hulk" and its gamma radiation-flavored fallout. The book ultimately puts the production's unpleasant memories on the shoulders of Edward Norton, suggesting his actor-as-auteur approach solidified Marvel's top-down filmmaking tactics.
An unnamed "Marvel performer" tells the authors, "We have a no-a**hole policy on our movies," and the book traces this policy back to Norton's behavior.
- 12/9/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Now that the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to be winding down in earnest (films like "The Marvels" and shows like "Secret Invasion" aren't nearly as successful as their forbears), perhaps audiences may finally be able to speak about the series as it if weren't an inevitability. The MCU indeed stood like a mighty colossus over the entire film industry for the better part of 15 years, but there was nothing beyond our uncreative assumptions to indicate that it had to happen or that it would last forever.
Perhaps with that attitude gone, audiences will be able to see films like "Blade" as a stylish action/horror flick unto itself, and not a dry run for something better down the line. Perhaps the 1996 pilot for "Generation X" can be accepted merely as a low-budget, MTV-inflected take on the X-Men. And perhaps TV movies like David Goyer's 1998 actioner "Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D....
Perhaps with that attitude gone, audiences will be able to see films like "Blade" as a stylish action/horror flick unto itself, and not a dry run for something better down the line. Perhaps the 1996 pilot for "Generation X" can be accepted merely as a low-budget, MTV-inflected take on the X-Men. And perhaps TV movies like David Goyer's 1998 actioner "Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D....
- 12/8/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
I am an old man. I'm not particularly old for, like, the Earth as Craig Robinson might say, but I'm just about entering my grandpa era in terms of the online culture. My time writing about movies online began in the mid-'90s while I was still in high school and that gave me a front row seat to the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe empire, so I remember that era very well.
When that first MCU end credits scene hit in "Iron Man," it was a mind-blower for many reasons. We'd never seen anything like that in blockbuster filmmaking. The shared universe idea is commonplace now, but back then the idea that Marvel could be building up to an "Avengers" crossover movie was so exciting.
However, for readers of movie rumors, that reveal was ... well, it was spoiled for them by the website I wrote for, Ain't It Cool News.
When that first MCU end credits scene hit in "Iron Man," it was a mind-blower for many reasons. We'd never seen anything like that in blockbuster filmmaking. The shared universe idea is commonplace now, but back then the idea that Marvel could be building up to an "Avengers" crossover movie was so exciting.
However, for readers of movie rumors, that reveal was ... well, it was spoiled for them by the website I wrote for, Ain't It Cool News.
- 11/30/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
The rumours have proved to be true and Loki scribe Michael Waldron has been named as the new writer on the next Avengers movie.
A couple of weeks ago we covered a story that reported that Destin Daniel Cretton had exited the director’s chair of Marvel Studio’s upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Following the film being pushed back by a year into 2026, the Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings director left the role, probably because he has other Marvel commitments including a Shang-Chi sequel and directing and executive producing duties on the Wonder Man TV show.
When that story was circulating, The Ringer's Joanna Robinson, author of the recently-released book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, (well worth a read by the way) offered an additional take: the film’s writer, Jeff Loveness, wouldn’t be staying on the project either given that it was looking...
A couple of weeks ago we covered a story that reported that Destin Daniel Cretton had exited the director’s chair of Marvel Studio’s upcoming Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Following the film being pushed back by a year into 2026, the Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings director left the role, probably because he has other Marvel commitments including a Shang-Chi sequel and directing and executive producing duties on the Wonder Man TV show.
When that story was circulating, The Ringer's Joanna Robinson, author of the recently-released book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, (well worth a read by the way) offered an additional take: the film’s writer, Jeff Loveness, wouldn’t be staying on the project either given that it was looking...
- 11/28/2023
- by Dan Cooper
- Film Stories
To remind readers, outside of Batman and Superman, superhero characters were once often considered to be bad bets at the box office. Many film execs assumed that audiences were too small to make a superhero movie profitable, and the special effects needed to realize a superhero character were going to be too extensive to do cheaply. It wouldn't be until film VFX technology had sufficiently advanced that certain filmmakers would give mainstream Marvel superheroes a try. 2000 saw the release of Bryan Singer's "X-Men," a steel-glinting superhero flick that developed its own aesthetic instead of cleaving to the colorful costumes of the comic book page. 2002 saw the release of Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man," a limp and unengaging drama, but one with first-rate Spider-Man visuals that still look impressive to this day. It looked like a trend was starting.
That trend seemingly hit two speedbumps in 2003, however, with the release...
That trend seemingly hit two speedbumps in 2003, however, with the release...
- 11/25/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
If you keep up with superhero movies, you probably know how Marvel Studios started as an underdog and became a behemoth. The omnipresent Cinematic Universe all started with 2008's "Iron Man," which was far from a guaranteed hit; the title character was a B-list comic star at best, and comeback vehicles (like this was for Robert Downey Jr.) can be anything but.
According to the recent behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, even the film's writers didn't initially know if it would work. Their concerns went back to the source material. The most famous "Iron Man" comic was and is "Demon in a Bottle", about Tony Stark succumbing to and then beating alcoholism.
During the Bronze Age of Comics (the 1970s), superhero stories gestured to social relevance. "The Reign of Marvel Studios" says that writers weren't keen on such a premise being a blockbuster hit,...
According to the recent behind-the-scenes book "MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios" by Joanna Robinson, Dave Gonzales, and Gavin Edwards, even the film's writers didn't initially know if it would work. Their concerns went back to the source material. The most famous "Iron Man" comic was and is "Demon in a Bottle", about Tony Stark succumbing to and then beating alcoholism.
During the Bronze Age of Comics (the 1970s), superhero stories gestured to social relevance. "The Reign of Marvel Studios" says that writers weren't keen on such a premise being a blockbuster hit,...
- 11/23/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Well, "The Marvels" might have been a box office dud, signaling a historic low point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the franchise will always remain one of the biggest Hollywood success stories of all time. By now, we all know how Kevin Feige and his cohorts took under-appreciated Marvel characters and created a run of obscenely popular blockbusters that dominated the box office for the better part of a decade. But there was a lot more involved than simply whacking Robert Downey Jr. in an Iron Man suit and raking in the dough.
2008's "Iron Man" was, of course, where it all started, with the Jon Favreau-directed film proving a massive hit and changing Hollywood forever. But even getting to the point where they could start producing an Iron Man movie proved to be a journey of its own for Marvel. In 2005 the Wall Street Journal reported that...
2008's "Iron Man" was, of course, where it all started, with the Jon Favreau-directed film proving a massive hit and changing Hollywood forever. But even getting to the point where they could start producing an Iron Man movie proved to be a journey of its own for Marvel. In 2005 the Wall Street Journal reported that...
- 11/20/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
The character of The Mandarin first appeared in the pages of Marvel Comics back in 1964, created by Don Heck and Marvel bigwig Stan Lee. In John Coates' 2014 book "Don Heck: A Work of Art," Heck admitted that the Mandarin was more Lee's idea, as he wanted an old-fashioned Fu Manchu-like villain to face off against Iron Man, one of the company's B-list characters. A lot of the cliches and stereotypes embodied by Dr. Fu-Manchu (a villain character from a 1913 pulp novel by Sax Rohmer) transferred directly into the Mandarin. The Mandarin is a supervillain from China and was initially drawn as a racist caricature.
In the original comics, the Mandarin possessed 10 magical rings, salvaged from a crashed alien spaceship. He was one of Iron Man's earliest nemeses. The character has stubbornly remained in the background of Marvel comics for decades.
By 2013, Iron Man had become a hot commodity in...
In the original comics, the Mandarin possessed 10 magical rings, salvaged from a crashed alien spaceship. He was one of Iron Man's earliest nemeses. The character has stubbornly remained in the background of Marvel comics for decades.
By 2013, Iron Man had become a hot commodity in...
- 11/19/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
For the first three phases, the Marvel Cinematic Universe seemed to be bulletproof. Even when a wrench was thrown into the machine, and Marvel Studios had to recast for someone like Edward Norton or replace a director like Edgar Wright, Kevin Feige’s ultimate vision would keep the train from derailing. The studio’s bubble is currently expanding to the point that many feel it will burst from the tension. One of the biggest hurdles going forward is how the studio plans to handle actor Jonathan Majors in his role as Kang the Conqueror. Majors’ ongoing controversy and a lingering trial, which will either convict or release the actor of domestic abuse charges, is casting an unforeseen shadow on the future of the multiverse era.
Many have been waiting to see what Marvel decides to do with either the Kang character or Majors in the role. Some think they can...
Many have been waiting to see what Marvel decides to do with either the Kang character or Majors in the role. Some think they can...
- 11/14/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Comic book fans in the late 1990s likely recall the ambitious plan by Artisan Entertainment, a then-rising indie film studio, to make a long series of mid-budget films based on Marvel superheroes. Avi Arad, then the CEO of Marvel Entertainment, had overseen a deal that would allow Artisan to make movies with Black Panther, Thor, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Iron Fist, and Morbius, as well as Power Pack, Longshot, and an irreverent dark comedy about Mort the Dead Teenager. The deal was finalized in 2000. In 2003, however, Artisan was acquired by Lionsgate, effectively ending what would have been the ambitiously planned early-2000s mid-budget version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Despite how successful Disney's MCU would become a decade later, Marvel was once considered a non-viable source of film revenue. Indeed, while comic book sales were up across the board in the 1990s, Marvel was struggling to make their characters more visible in the marketplace.
Despite how successful Disney's MCU would become a decade later, Marvel was once considered a non-viable source of film revenue. Indeed, while comic book sales were up across the board in the 1990s, Marvel was struggling to make their characters more visible in the marketplace.
- 11/6/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
One of the highly anticipated projects in the MCU that had fans buzzing was ‘Wonder Man.’ It’s a Hollywood satire with Williams portraying an actor-turned-superhero in Tinseltown. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is set to star as Simon Williams (Wonder Man), alongside Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, and Ed Harris. However, recent rumors, sparked by Joanna Robinson on ‘The Watch’ podcast suggest that ‘Wonder Man’ is on the verge of cancellation.
This isn’t entirely surprising, given that many MCU projects are at risk of significant reworking. The most recent shock came with the announcement that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ would undergo major changes because the studio deemed the original concept dull. Instead of sticking to the comic material, the writers are shifting towards a procedural legal drama, focusing on Matt as he takes on a group of rogue policemen.
As for ‘Wonder Man,’ details about the project were scarce, and Joanna claimed...
This isn’t entirely surprising, given that many MCU projects are at risk of significant reworking. The most recent shock came with the announcement that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ would undergo major changes because the studio deemed the original concept dull. Instead of sticking to the comic material, the writers are shifting towards a procedural legal drama, focusing on Matt as he takes on a group of rogue policemen.
As for ‘Wonder Man,’ details about the project were scarce, and Joanna claimed...
- 10/17/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
One of the upcoming projects in the MCU that fans were often buzzing about was ‘Wonder Man.’ Wonder Man is a Hollywood satire featuring Williams as an actor-turned-superhero in Tinseltown. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will star as Simon Williams alongside Ben Kingsley, Demetrius Grosse, and Ed Harris. But the recent rumors started by Joanna Robinson on the podcast ‘The Watch’ claim that ‘Wonder Man’ is all but canceled.
This isn’t as surprising considering that many MCU projects are in danger of at least being significantly reworked. The latest shock came when the studio announced that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ would undergo major overhauls because the studio found the original concept of the soft reboot boring. Instead of honoring the comic material, the writers were going more in the direction of procedural legal drama, focusing on Matt as he tries to take on a group of rouge policemen.
But, regarding ‘Wonder Man,...
This isn’t as surprising considering that many MCU projects are in danger of at least being significantly reworked. The latest shock came when the studio announced that ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ would undergo major overhauls because the studio found the original concept of the soft reboot boring. Instead of honoring the comic material, the writers were going more in the direction of procedural legal drama, focusing on Matt as he tries to take on a group of rouge policemen.
But, regarding ‘Wonder Man,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Comic Basics
Joanna Robinson, co-author of MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios, recently discussed how Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania was perceived as a home run by Marvel before it debuted
Most would agree that the third film in the Ant-Man franchise had a lot of issues. It lacked the size-changing charm of the first two, it kept the series’ titular couple of Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne separate, and it presented special effects that could be described as sub-standard.
The box office returns for Ant-Man 3 reflected its dismal reception and contributed to the notion among fans that Marvel Studios had lost a step (or several.)
Read full article on The Direct.
Most would agree that the third film in the Ant-Man franchise had a lot of issues. It lacked the size-changing charm of the first two, it kept the series’ titular couple of Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne separate, and it presented special effects that could be described as sub-standard.
The box office returns for Ant-Man 3 reflected its dismal reception and contributed to the notion among fans that Marvel Studios had lost a step (or several.)
Read full article on The Direct.
- 10/15/2023
- by Jennifer McDonough
- The Direct
The MCU has been facing challenges over the past few months, marked by a noticeable decline in the quality of released content. Strategies that once raked in billions in profit are now faltering. ‘Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’ experienced a significant failure, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ found success but with an underwhelming opening, and Disney+ shows are facing heavy criticism for their lack of direction, resulting in a dwindling audience interest. The recently projected numbers for ‘The Marvel’ Box Office echo a similar narrative, with the movie expected to lag almost a billion dollars behind its predecessor.
Joanna Robinson, in her book ‘The Reign of Marvel Studios’ and on the podcast ‘The Watch,’ has made some bold assertions about the future trajectory of the MCU.
Recent reports indicate a significant revamp for Daredevil, with new directors and writers taking charge. Executives deemed the legal procedural drama they were...
Joanna Robinson, in her book ‘The Reign of Marvel Studios’ and on the podcast ‘The Watch,’ has made some bold assertions about the future trajectory of the MCU.
Recent reports indicate a significant revamp for Daredevil, with new directors and writers taking charge. Executives deemed the legal procedural drama they were...
- 10/14/2023
- by Valentina Kraljik
- Fiction Horizon
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