When Captain America: Brave New World paused due to Hollywood’s work stoppages, Marvel Studios went to work behind the scenes and took a long look at the work that had been done. It’s becoming clear now that they were none too impressed with what they saw. Following reports that the film would require 5 months of additional photography comes word that the studio has brought in a new writer to craft those scenes.
According to Deadline, Matthew Orton has been tasked to put together the script for the additional photography. Orton must have only just new joined the production as Deadline’s report also indicates filming won’t resume until spring or summer of next year. It was originally reported that reshoots would begin in January. While he previously worked with Marvel Studios as the writer of one episode of Moon Knight, Orton does not have an extensive history as a writer.
Originally subtitled New World Order, Brave New World was originally co-scripted by Dalan Musson and Malcolm Spellman both of whom worked on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier where Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson took up the mantle of Captain America. Originally intended to release on May 3, 2023, following the strikes, Marvel Studios moved the release of the film from July 26, 2024 to February 14, 2025.
*NOTE: This spoiler-free review covers Episodes 1-3 of Season 2 of Reacher. All 3 episodes debut on December 15th.*
Alan Ritchson has found his home. After trying his hand as a pair of superheroes and voicing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, the mammoth Ritchson has found a character he nearly perfectly embodies in Jack Reacher. Based on the works of author Lee Child, Reacher follows Ritchson’s nomadic military police investigator who dispenses equal parts brains and brawn as an “avenging angel.” The 8-episode first season of Reacher was incredibly well-received by critics and audiences alike in early 2022 and the new season, adapted from Child’s 2007 novel, Bad Luck and Trouble, doubles down on everything that made Season 1 such as a hit with dads all over the globe.
Like Season 1, Reacher Season 2 makes a strong statement as an intentional antithesis to modern action franchises. Neither hyper-stylized like The World of John Wick nor full of adrenalized stunts like the Mission: Impossible series, Reacher is undeviating in the pursuit of purpose and predictably principled. Nothing about Reacher requires the audience to pay particularly close attention to detail, the villains are neither subtle nor nuances and both the series and the title character work methodically and joyfully through whatever impediments are introduced to solve the problem at hand. To that end, Ritchson gets to flex his mental muscle as well; despite his bullish physique and demeanor, Reacher is always the smartest guy in the room. Reacher presents a wonderfully full-bodied bouquet with hints of 80’s action films such as Commando and Cobra upfront with a tight, underlying structure of Columbo.
While Emmy-nominated showrunner Nick Santora was smart enough to veer too far from the formula that made Season 1 such a hit, the choice to adapt Bad Luck and Trouble, the 11th book in Childs’ series, does add a little more to the show in terms of a stronger supporting cast and to Ritchson‘s Reacher by humanizing him a bit more. The season opens with Maria Sten’s Neagley, who played a solid supporting role in Season 1 as one of the only characters to have a shared history with Reacher, contacting her old boss with some bad news: one of their old Army buddies was tortured and dropped from a helicopter. Their investigation quickly leads them to conclude that a bad man is out to get the members of Reacher’s old Army MP Unit: the Special Investigators of the 110th. As Reacher and Neagley track down the other members of their old unit, they continue to uncover clues that lead them down the road to a much bigger mystery.
Serinda Swan (Inhumans, Coroner), who plays the saucy Karla Dixon, and Shaun Sipos (Krypton, Outer Range), whose wise ass David O’Donnell serves as a wonderful foil to Reacher’s straight-man routine, work well as newbies whose connections with Reacher allow the audience to get to know the tough guy a little more. Teamwork makes the dream work and Reacher’s team of Special Investigators help transmute their old boss into something more than just a rageful ronin who is all-too-happy to rid the world of wrongdoers. In this case, that wrongdoer is Shane Langston, a character seemingly pulled directly from a late 20th-century action movie, whose commitment to corruption has put him on a collision course with the unstoppable, American knight errant. And to make Langston feel authentic last century, the series cast Robert Patrick, the face of one of the 90s greatest villains, in the role…and then dropped a T2 reference in case you missed it.
Season 2 of Reacher smartly hold on to the recipe that made the first season a wide-ranging success while adding just the right amount of accouterments to make it feel like a truly new chapter. Ritchson leans even harder into his portrayal of the stoical character yet maintains enough charm to elicit a few laughs in between the beatings. An unabashed ode to 20th-century action films and the tough guys that inhabited them, Reacher Season 2 is a triumphant throwback.
About Reacher Season 2
Reacher Season Two begins when veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one. Pulled from his drifter lifestyle, Reacher reunites with three of his former teammates turned chosen family to investigate, including Frances Neagley (Maria Sten); Karla Dixon (Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant for whom Reacher has long had a soft spot; and fast-talking, switchblade-wielding family man David O’Donnell (Shaun Sipos). Together, they begin to connect the dots in a mystery where the stakes get higher at every turn, and that brings about questions of who has betrayed them—and who will die next. Using his inimitable blend of smarts and size, Reacher will stop at nothing to uncover the truth and protect the members of his unit. If there’s one thing Reacher and his team know for certain, it’s that you do not mess with the Special Investigators. This season, get ready for Reacher and the 110th to hit back hard.
Based on Bad Luck and Trouble, the 11th book in Lee Child’s global best-selling series, Reacher Season Two stars Alan Ritchson in the title role of Jack Reacher, with Maria Sten, Serinda Swan, and Shaun Sipos as key members of the 110th MP Special Investigations Unit. Rounding out the cast are Ferdinand Kingsley as A.M., a mercenary that homeland security refers to as a “ghost;” Robert Patrick as Shane Langston, head of security for a private defense contractor with a questionable track record; and Domenick Lombardozzi as tough NYPD detective Guy Russo.
Reacher is produced by Amazon Studios, Skydance Television, and Paramount Television Studios. Based on the novels by Lee Child, who serves as an executive producer, the series is written for television by Emmy-nominated writer Nick Santora (Scorpion, Prison Break), who also executive produces and serves as showrunner. In addition to Santora and Child, the series is executive produced by Don Granger, Scott Sullivan, and Adam Higgs, with David Ellison, Dana Goldberg, and Bill Bost for Skydance.
Marvel Studios held a press event for Season 2 of What If…? at the Walt Disney Studio Lot last night and screened two episodes of the animated multiverse adventure. Marvel Studios head of streaming, television and animation, Brad Winderbaum, writer and executive producer AC Bradley, director and executive producer Bryan Andrews and writer Matthew Chauncey were on hand for the event in which press viewed the first and third episodes of the new season before participating in a question and answer session. Following the event, Disney released some new information about each episode.
Season 2, Episode 1: “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?”
In a world where Ronan deposes Thanos long before the events of “Infinity War,” Nebula is recruited to join the Nova Corps. Desperate to escape her father’s shadow, she sets out to prove her detective chops.
Season 2, Episode 3: “What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?”
When Justin Hammer lays siege to Avengers Tower during the annual holiday party, there’s only one person left on site to stop him—Happy Hogan. But in setting out to prove his hero chops, Iron Man’s errand boy may end up transforming himself in more ways than one.
While Marvel debuted only 2 episodes, a list of episode titles for the rest of the series has leaked. Among the many interesting ideas rumored to be explored in the second season is one based on a Marvel Comics series written by Neil Gaiman that’s set in 1602.
Disney is rolling out one episode of the series a day beginning on December 22nd. With just ten days before the first episode debuts on Disney Plus, there’s still time to work your way through The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Season 2 of What If…?!
About What If…? Season 2
The Watcher returns to season two of Marvel Studios’ What If…? when the animated series begins streaming on Disney+ on Dec. 22. And in the spirit of the holiday season, fans are invited to unwrap a new episode nightly for nine nights.
With a new episode debuting nightly beginning December 22, season two of What If…? continues the journey as The Watcher guides viewers through the vast multiverse, introducing brand new and familiar faces throughout the MCU. The series questions, revisits and twists classic Marvel Cinematic moments with an incredible voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles. Featuring fan-favorite characters this season like Nebula, Hela and Happy Hogan, episodes are directed by Bryan Andrews (eps 2-9) and Stephan Franck (ep 1) and written by AC Bradley (eps 3, 4, 5, 8), Matthew Chauncey (eps 1-3, 7, 9) and Ryan Little (eps 6, 8). The animated series is executive produced by Brad Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Bryan Andrews and AC Bradley. Available press
Following a screening of two episodes of Season 2 of What If…?, Marvel Studios head of streaming, television and animation, Brad Winderbaum, gave an update on the studio’s animated projects. In addition to revealing Eyes of Wakanda for the first time, Winderbaum revealed that the studio’s upcoming Spider-Man animated series now has an all-new, all-different title and remains on track for a 2024 release.
It follows the pattern that you see in [Captain America:] Civil War. Down to Peter getting the broken Blu-ray player from the trash and he walks into his department for the famous moment where Tony Stark is waiting for him to offer him the stark internship and take him to Berlin. But because of things that happen in the multiverse because of new, random occurrences, it’s not Tony Stark who’s waiting for him there. It’s Norman Osborn and that sends his life in an unexpected trajectory that collides him with many unexpected characters in the Marvel universe
Peter Parker’s life, while getting ready for his High School orientation, is forever changed by events that send him on a journey like none before. In the first episode, we discover that the new era of Spider-Man begins here!
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will feature the voices of Hudson Thames as Peter Parker,Eugene Byrd as Lonnie Lincoln, Grace Song as Nico Minoru, Hugh Dancy as Otto Octavius, Kari Wahlgren as Aunt May and Zeno Robinson as Harry Osborn
Jeff Trammell served as the head writer and executive producer.
Titled Eyes of Wakanda, the animated series will tell the story of “brave warriors” who “throughout Wakandan history have been tasked to travel the world retrieving dangerous vibranium artifacts.“
One of the rarest metals on the planet, Vibranium came to Earth 2.5 million ago as a series of meteorites crashed into Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. Wakandans mined the Great Mound and learned to refine the precious metal which quickly allowed them to become the most technologically advanced civilization on the planet. Though they worked hard to keep the Vibranium a secret, artifacts have made their way outside the isolationist nation. Captain America’s shield, created by Howard Stark, was made of Vibranium that a group of researchers from Stark Industries located in Africa; aided by N’Jobu, Ulysses Klaue stole a quarter ton of the substance in 1992; and, as seen in Black Panther, a Vibranium Wakandan warhammer was on display in the Museum of Great Britain until it was taken by N’Jadaka.
Given the enormous period of time available for storytelling, Coogler’s Proximity Media has the opportunity to explore some previously unexplored eras of the MCU’s timeline, though no indication has been given at this time Eyes of Wakanda will be considered canon. As of now, no release date has been given by Disney.
Marvel Studios Loki stands out among the MCU streaming series as having delivered high-quality episodes consistently. The Season 2 finale did a fine job of wrapping up both the sophomore season and the longform narrative that kicked off in 2021. If no further Loki stories were to be told, though it would be a shame, the character–and those who worked as supporting characters over two seasons–were well served. However, star Tom Hiddleston has made it clear that he hadn’t entirely closed the door and now Kevin Wright, who worked as an executive producer on Season 2, has made it clear that the studios is open to more stories being told in that corner of the universe.
“For two seasons, I’ve loved working with this team… I would love to keep telling those stories with them, in this world,” Wright told TVLine. “I don’t think any of us would ever want to rush into a Season 3 if there’s not a good story to tell. But I think this team could go off and tell other stories. Maybe it’s not Loki Season 3. Maybe there’s something we can continue to do at the TVA, and it’s like our Better Call Saul to Loki‘s Breaking Bad. That would be cool, to me.”
The notion that more stories could be told through the lens of the TVA and its various interesting characters seems to fit with Marvel Studios new creative strategy to produce multiple seasons of serialized streaming series. Wright was quick to clarify, however, that his comments aren’t an indication of what is happening, only what he would like to see happen. “I don’t know the future of these characters in the MCU,” Wright explained, adding it’s only him saying when he “would love to do.”
Given the very unique nature of the TVA, it would seem logical that it’s very fetrile creative ground. Add to that the fact that Loki has been among the studio’s most roundly praised shows and it does seem as though there might be some more stories to be told. “I have to think, with how people have really enjoyed this story,” he continues, “that other filmmakers are going to want to come in and continue to tell stories [in this world]. That would be my hope.” And that’s a hope shared by many who would love to see further adventures in the very strange sci-fi world Marvel Studios has built at the TVA.
Marvel Studios next streaming series, Echo, will be one of many “firsts.” Echo will be the studio’s first TV-MA project and the first to debut under the Marvel Spotlight banner. It’s also the studio’s first superhero project to be led by a Native American in star Alaqua Cox, the first series to have all episodes available immediately and the first to debut simultaneously on Hulu and Disney Plus. With the holiday season coming up, now is good a time to start preparing for the series which debuts on January 10th, 2024. That means it’s time for…THE ULTIMATE LIST OF WHAT TO WATCH BEFORE ECHO!
Tier One
Given Maya Lopez has only appeared in one project so far, there isn’t much you MUST know about her character before jumping into Echo. In fact, Marvel Studios promises that viewers don’t have to watch any other Marvel projects to understand the plot of Echo or any of their Marvel Spotlight projects. However, if you want as much background as possible, everything you need to know takes place in another D+ series.
Hawkeye
The synopsis for Echo reveals that following the events of Hawkeye, Maya is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s criminal empire. Hawkeye provides all the information you need to understand why Fisk, played once again by Vincent D’Onofrio, is after her and allows an idea of their long history together. If you haven’t seen it yet, Hawkeye will give you a little taste of who Maya Lopez is…and explain why Fisk is wearing that fancy eye patch in the trailer.
Tier Two
Tier Two projects are supplemental/non-essential viewing even for typical rewatches. Given Echo’s Marvel Spotlight banner, they are even more non-essential (?).
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Episode 8
Again given Echo’s identity as a Marvel Spotlight project, no additional viewing is required; however, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock/Daredevil is slated to appear in a couple of episodes of Echo so if you want or need a reminder of how the character has been portrayed on the Sacred Timeline (or if you’ve yet to watch it yet), you can check in here. There’s some courtroom stuff, some high-flying fighting and some smashing…and, of course, the stride of pride. Cox is ALWAYS great as Murdock and it’s no different here even though it’s different here.
Tier Three
So you’re a completist…
Tier Three projects are there for those who absolutely must see every second of every project even tangentially related to the current one. In this case, there are just a pair of projects that you could watch (or better yet just Google the clips) before January 10th.
Cox’s return for the final scene of the She-Hulk finale is highly unlikely to be referenced in Echo (the way the MCU pays off scenes like this, it may never be referenced again) but we understand your compulsion, so we’re including it here for you.
Tier Four
This is a BRAND NEW ADDITION to the Ultimate List just for Echo. Tier Four projects are projects that you don’t need to watch but a slew of rabid fans are going to argue should be included anyway…
Daredevil (2015)
Watching Netflix’s Daredevil will do absolutely nothing to add to your enjoyment or understanding of Echo. You’d get just as much out of watching Ben Affleck‘s Daredevil…but don’t let that stop you! Anything you need to know about Maya’s history with Kingpin and/or Daredevil will be included in Echo but if you want to slog through an additional 39 hours of TV before January 10th, get nuts.
Echo also stars Chaske Spencer (Wild Indian, The English), Graham Greene (1883, Goliath), Tantoo Cardinal (Killers of the Flower Moon, Stumptown), Devery Jacobs (FX’s ReservationDogs, American Gods), Zahn McClarnon (Dark Winds, FX’s Reservation Dogs), Cody Lightning (Hey, Viktor!, Four Sheets to the Wind) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Hawkeye, Godfather of Harlem).
No bad deed goes unpunished on Jan. 10, 2024, when Marvel Studios’ Echo launches on Disney+ and Hulu. The five-episode streaming event spotlights Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal empire. When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy.
Official Press Announcement for Marvel Studios Echo
Episodes of the series are directed by Sydney Freeland (Navajo) and Catriona McKenzie (Gunaikurnai). Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Victoria Alonso, Richie Palmer, Jason Gavin (Blackfeet), Marion Dayre and Sydney Freeland. Co-executive producers are Jennifer L. Booth and Amy Rardin.
Following Star Wars Celebration 2023, it was clear that Lucasfilm wanted Star Wars to make a triumphant return to theaters. The studio announced three new theatrical releases set to debut in three different era of the Star Wars timeline. Of those, it was widely believed that director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film–which will be set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker and see Daisy Ridley‘s Rey found a new Jedi Order–is Lucasfilm’s top choice to kick off their return to theaters. And right up until a pair of Hollywood work stoppages, that seemed to remain the case. However, a new report from insider Jeff Sneider indicates that Lucasfilm may have quickly pivoted to a project even further along in development as the one to get Star Wars back in theaters on May 22nd, 2026.
According to Sneider, Lucasfilm is making moves to reframe the fourth season of Jon Favreau’s The Mandalorian as a film and have it ready to make the 2026 date. “I think we’ve all been operating under the impression that the Daisy Ridley movie was going to be the next Star Wars movie, I know I certainly was,” said Sneider. “They announced like three movies and it was like, ‘okay, the Daisy Ridley one is the furthest along I think.’ It has a director and all that. Anyway, it doesn’t sound like that may be the next one,” he teased before revealing the news from his source.
A couple of months ago I shot this one down, that there were rumours that season four of The Mandalorian could be turned into a movie. I think at the time I didn’t think that was necessarily the case. However, that is now what I am starting to hear. That the odds are in that projects favour, whatever season four of The Mandalorian turns out to be, whoever is in it, what it turns out, whatever shape it takes, it is looking like that could be the next Star Wars movie and that might be the thing that’s announced before the end of the year.
Sneider’s Star Wars source has proven to be fairly informative in the past, specifically around the Ridley-led film, and if it’s correct again here, fans may get news in the next couple of weeks. Favreau completed work on the scripts for Season 4 of The Mandalorian well before the WGA strikes and until the SAG strike backed up the production pipeline, principal photography was expected to begin this past fall. Given all those factors and where the current plot of the New Republic era stories have left off and the popularity of the ongoing series, it does seem possible Lucasfilm is making those moves.
However, with leading daddy Pedro Pascal heavily rumored to portraying Reed Richards in Marvel Studios Fantastic Four—said to be filming in the spring of 2024–and also set to be tied up on production of Season 2 of The Last of Us, it’s hard to imagine he’d have time to fulfill his duties as Din Djarin. Fortunately, it’s fairly widely known that Pascal mostly does voice work for the series while the Beskar suit is filled by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder. With all the in mind, this sounds very much like a rumor worth paying attention to. Perhaps this is the way for Star Wars to get back to theaters!
With Marvel Studios untitled Deadpool and Wolverine film continuing to bring back all sorts of characters from previous Fox Marvel films and the plot clearly revolving around time travel/multiversal hijinks, it’s easy to believe that just about anything is fair game for the 2024 films. The Fox X-films were certainly not known for their attention to continuity details so any plot thread left dangling could be in play as well as continuing some stories that were ongoing when Disney and Fox struck a deal for the live-action rights to the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and related characters. Foremost among those, it would seem, would be the events of the post-credit scenes to Deadpool 2 in which Wade Wilson used Cable’s time-traveling tech to undo some damage done in the film, including saving the life of his fiancée, Vanessa, played by Morena Baccarin. Earlier in the year, the actress explained that she had not finalized terms to return but that’s all changed now.
In an interview with CBM, Baccarin confirmed that she had struck a deal with Marvel Studios to appear in the film. “It did work out! I finished my shooting days on it, already,” said Baccarin, indicating she’s most likely finished work on her part well before the mid-summer work stoppage. “I think the film is now underway again after the strike and I think it’s going to be quite good! Yeah, I think fans are in for a fun surprise.”
Given the rumored presence of the TVA in Deadpool 3, and what is already known about the organization, it’s a safe bet they’d be pretty unhappy with the Merc with a Mouth’s actions in Deadpool 2. The threequel is shaping up to be quite something and with it being Marvel Studios only 2024 film, it’s sure to be under intense scrutiny. Whatever director Shawn Levy and stars Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman have in store, it’s rumored to be tightly tied to the overarching Multiverse Saga narrative and lead into the events of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. Let’s see if any of the film goes unspoiled before its July 26th, 2024 release.
With Superman: Legacy having significantly rounded out its cast over the past several weeks, director and DC Studios co-chair James Gunn has turned his attention to some major world-building for the new DC Universe. According to a trade report, Gunn has cast his brother, Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1-3), as one of DC Comics more intriguing supervillains.
Deadline reports that the actor is set to portray Maxwell Lord, a one-time ally of the Justice League turned nemesis, who first appeared in 1987’s Justice League #1. If the character sounds familiar, it’s because he was recently played by Pedro Pascal in 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984. Additionally, Lord appeared on the small screen in both Smallville and Supergirl.
According to Deadline’s sources, Lord will be referenced in Superman: Legacy but is not expected to appear on screen. With the streaming series Waller set to debut ahead of Superman: Legacy and Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow and The Brave and the Bold up next on the theatrical slate, it looks like Gunn’s been cast for the long haul. It’s entirely possible that Lord shows up in multiple projects in Gods and Monsters: Chapter One and could even be the driving force behind the formation of the DCU’s Justice League.
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