As audiences prepare for the return on Miles Morales in his second animated feature film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, word comes that Sony plans to bring the character back to the screen in a live-action project. At the red carpet premiere of Across the Spider-Verse, producer Amy Pascal confirmed with Variety that the project is one of many in development at Sony.
“You’ll see all of it. It’s all happening,” said Pascal when asked if the protagonist of the Spider–Verse trilogy would make his way into live-action. Created in 2011 by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli, Morales quickly became one of Marvel Comics most popular heroes. After originally becoming the Spider-Man of the Ultimate universe after the death of Peter Parker, Morales jumped into the mainstream/Earth-616 continuity in 2015’s Secret Wars and has remained a prominent part of the company’s line of comics since.
It’s unclear just how far into development the live-action Miles Morales project might be at this time and if it’s a project that Sony is tackling solo or in collaboration with Marvel Studios. Spider-Man: Homecoming featured Morales’ uncle, Aaron Davis, played by Donald Glover, and what has been interpreted to be a reference to Miles. While that reference could ultimately just be an Easter egg, it’s probably in both studios’ best interests to work together to define Miles Morales’ live-action future as allowing him to interact with the already-established MCU characters would benefit his development the same way it has with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker. As exciting as the news of a live-action Miles Morales film is, however, it’s best to temper expectations until the project is much further down the development pipeline.
For the better part of a year, leakers and scoopers in every corner of the internet have promised the imminent release of news concerning the status of the fourth movie in Marvel Studios and Sony’s ongoing collaborative Spider-Man franchise. Lo and behold it seems they were correct as news has finally arrived!
At the red carpet premiere for Sony’s highly-anticipated animated sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Amy Pascal confirmed that while there will still be a Spider-Man 4, the development of the film has been paused during the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America. “Are we going to make another movie? Of course, we are,” said Pascal of the next Tom Holland-led adventure. “We’re in the process, but the writers strike, nobody is working during the strike. We’re all being supporters and whenever they get themselves together, we’ll get started.”
What that means for the untitled fourth MCU-set Spidey flick remains to be seen but it probably won’t be making that oft-rumored Summer 2024 release date and even a projected 2025 release would be uncertain until some potential endpoint to the strike can be ascertained. At the very least, it’ll give Daredevil: Born Again stars Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio a nice respite following their year-long production on that ambitious streaming series before they step back into their roles in Spidey 4.
Short of Norman Osborn, no single man that has ever walked the fictional or non-fictional planet Earth has a greater vendetta against Spider-Man than Avi Arad. Unlike Norman, however, Arad seems relatively unaware of his ongoing destruction of all things Peter Parker. After producing Marvel Comic-based such as 1998’s Blade, 2000’s X-Men and 2002’s Spider-Man, Arad went on to produce some of the worst CBMs in the history of the genre and famously forcing Sam Raimi into including Venom into Spider-Man 3, tainting the franchise.
As penance for his sins, Arad went on to ensure that Sony could produce a number of outrageously terrible films built around Spider-Man villains including Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Morbius and the upcoming Kraven the Hunter along with another half dozen films that certainly aren’t making the top 25 CBMs. Now Sony leans heavily into both animation and their relationship with Marvel Studios to resuscitate the studio’s reputation with the Web-Head, Arad reveals that, once again, he is clueless about another Sony project.
In an interview with Variety, Arad claimed that a Spider-Woman movie–based on another character whose live-action right are shared by Marvel Studios and Sony–would be coming “sooner than you expect.” Wildly enough, since casting for Spider-Woman, which Sony exec Amy Pascal says “is happening“, was underway in prior to COVID shutting down Hollywood in 2020, fans have been expecting the film, once believed to be helmed by Olivia Wilde, to have been in theaters already. However, fans are set to be treated to Sony/Marvel fare such as Madame Web and, maybe, El Muerto instead while the theatrical future of Spider-Woman, a far more premiere Marvel Comics character, remains uncertain.
Whether or not Wilde is still attached to the Spider-Woman project–which was slated to feature Jessica Drew–is unknown. However, given that Marvel Studios and Sony have a very strange and unfortunate relationship over the character’s live-action right, anything less than a Disney/Sony co-op will not do the character justice.
On the heels of their live-action reimagining of The Little Mermaidgarnering an A Cinemascore and opening to largely positive critical reviews, the studio has found a director for one of its next big remakes. According to THR, Thomas Kail, who directed 2020’s filmed stage production of Hamilton as well as Broadway and Off-Broadway of Hamilton and In the Heights, has signed on to helm the Dwayne Johnson-led live-action Moana.
Earlier this year during a conference call with investors and Bob Iger, it was revealed that Johnson and his Seven Bucks Production Company were leading the charge in developing a live-action reimagining of Moana, one of Disney’s modern classics.
I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.
Dwayne Johnson on the Moana reimagining
While Johnson shared that he would be reprising the role of the demigod Maui, the studio made it clear that there was no timetable for when production might begin as they were searching for a director. Now, it seems they’ve found their guy in the Tony Award-winning Kail. After winning the 2016 Tony for Best Direction of a Musical for his Broadway production of Hamilton, Kail found himself on familiar ground when he led the Disney Plus production of the show which streamed to rave reviews in the COVID-ravaged entertainment landscape of 2020. Kail is currently in the midst of a Broadway run on Sweeney Todd and is also tapped to direct a feature film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof.
According to Disney, the live-action reimagining of Moana “will celebrate the islands, communities and traditions of Pacific Islanders as seen through the eyes of a young woman eager to pave her own path. Moana’s journey of self-discovery and reflection on the lives of her ancestors won hearts worldwide, as did her newfound friendship with an exiled demigod named Maui.”
Secret Invasion looks to stand apart from the usual MCU fare by shifting the focus away from its powered heroes and toward the shadowy world of spies. While that means that Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury is at the center, he’s not alone which means that this Ultimate List is quite a bit busier than most. If you want to get your homework done before Secret Invasion‘s June 21st premiere, you better get started.
Tier One
Tier One projects are non-negotiable essentials to be watched/re-watched before streaming Secret Invasion. If you want to understand what’s happening, these six projects–listed in chronological order– lay the foundation.
Captain Marvel
While the next chapter in Carol Danvers’ story will be told in The Marvels, which hits theaters in November, Secret Invasion is every bit of a sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel as well. The film introduced Talos and his refugee Skrulls–including his daughter, G’iah– to the MCU and set the stage for Fury’s relationship with them. As explained by Emilia Clarke, the faction of Skrulls looking to take over the Earth are sick and tired of waiting for Fury and Talos to make good on the promise of finding them a home world which is essentially what’s going on in Captain Marvel making that one a must on the rewatch.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Who do you trust? If you’re Nick Fury, you don’t trust too many folks at all. The Winter Soldier tore Fury’s life to shreds but he escaped and rose from the ashes like the fiery phoenix with an eye on taking down Hydra. Though she’s not featured in it, The Winter Soldier goes a long way in revealing just how much Fury trusts Maria Hill, who is set to play a big role in Secret Invasion. It also provides all sorts of opportunities for Fury to have been simmed and replaced by a Skrull, so if you’re rewatching it, try it through that lense and see how it might change the film for you.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Though Fury doesn’t play a pivotal role in the Avengers’ defeat of Ultron, the second Avengers film goes a long way in revealing just how little anyone really knows about Fury and just how capable he is of pulling off major surprises. If he helped hide the Bartons from the world and can happen to full a Hellicarrier out of thin air, what other surprises does Fury have up his sleeve? Or is that even Fury’s sleeve?
Captain America: Civil War
James Rhodes’ MCU story has truly been fascinating but the events of Civil War altered the trajectory of the character’s arc more than any project to date. After joining the New Avengers following the events of Age of Ultron, Rhodey found himself on the wrong end of a tragic accident that certainly made him rethink which type of suit he’d like to spend the rest of his life in. Obviously, he went on to help save the world because that’s what heroes do, but by the time Secret Invasion rolls around it seems as though he’s looking to step out of the armor for good. Or is he? Or is it even him?
Spider-Man: Far From Home
The post-credit scene to Far From Home is quite possibly more important to the ongoing narrative of the MCU than the entire body of the film. The revelation that Talos and his wife, Soren, had been simming Fury and Hill while Nick was on space vacation–meaning an entire movie’s worth of Fury events didn’t include Fury–should make us all question whatever we think it is we know about the MCU. This certainly wasn’t the first time Talos posed as Nick…and it certainly won’t be the last.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
All we know so far about Everett Ross’ role in Secret Invasion is that he’s sneaking around in the shadows as one of Fury’s allies. And while you might think all you’d need to know is how he escaped government custody at the end of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the additional backstory that film provides for him is worth the watch.
Tier Two
Once you’ve seen the Tier One projects, you’d be just fine settling in for Secret Invasion without feeling lost. That said, if you’ve got the time to dig deeper and get a little more context on the not-quite-necessary-but-still-important events in the main characters’ lives, the Ultimate List will point you in the right direction.
Avengers: Infinity War
The beginning of a two-film arc in which audiences really got to see Cheadle elevate the role of Rhodey, Infinity War comes close to a Tier One project but falls a tad short. Rhodes’ dismissal of General Ross’ order should have cost him his USAF career but it didn’t seem to derail it at all given where he is as Secret Invasion begins.
Avengers: Endgame
The Russos carved out a pretty meaty role for War Machine here and it’s by far one of Cheadle’s most enjoyable performances in the role. From tossing around the idea of killing baby Thanos to helping retrieve the Power Stone during the Time Heist, Endgame gives Rhodey a ton to do even if none of it seems to really be impactful in setting the stage for Secret Invasion.
Tier Three
If the completist in you is telling you to watch them all, then we encourage you to do so.
Iron Man
The beginning of James Rhodes’ MCU journey, Iron Man introduces the character as one of Tony Stark’s best buddies. Played here by Terrence Howard, Rhodey is constantly frustrated with Tony but can’t seem to say no to the guy. The film also marks the MCU debut of Nicholas J. Fury as he begins the work of assembling his Avengers by sneaking into Tony Stark’s Malibu mansion.
Iron Man 2
Don Cheadle stepped in as Rhodey in the 2010 sequel which is only really worth watching to track the character’s work with the U.S. Government, which is a major plot point in Secret Invasion.
Captain America: The First Avenger
Part of Nick Fury’s MCU story, Captain America: The First Avenger gave a very fair impression of the lengths The Spy would go to in order to sell a lie.
The Avengers
One of the best MCU films to date, The Avengers is worth watching at any point in time; however, it paints a very murky picture of Fury and just how willing he is to keep secrets from anyone and everyone. The project also marks the MCU debut of Fury’s right hand, Maria Hill, who looks primed to play her biggest part yet in Secret Invasion.
Iron Man 3
While he gets relegated to a bit of a sidekick role in his adventures with Stark, Rhodey’s political career is advanced here when President Matthew Ellis upgrades him to the Iron Patriot and puts him front and center in the battle against The Mandarin.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier
In his last appearance before we see him in Secret Invasion, Colonel Rhodes and Sam Wilson have a discussion about Sam’s decision to place the Captain America shield in the Smithsonian.
According to CanWeGetSomeToast, a scooper who is hiding in the Multiverse, Vision’s synthezoid children, Vin and Viv, who were created by Vision so he might enjoy the human experience of having a family, are both set to appear in Vision Quest.
While Viv has gone on to join the Young Avengers and have some wild adventures, the cookie crumbled a little differently for Vin who died within the same 12-issue series in which he was introduced. While any news or rumors about Marvel Studios projects are welcome at this point, it’s also a sobering reminder that Vision Quest, which was once on track to head into production in early 2024 will almost certainly be delayed by the ongoing WGA strike and the potential pending strikes of Screen Actors Guild and the Directors Guild of America. Though Disney was looking for a way to spread out its streaming content, this probably wasn’t what they had in mind.
Marvel Studios first streaming series of 2023, Secret Invasion, will debut on Disney Plus in just over three weeks and the hype for the project has begun to build. The series will see Samuel L. Jackson‘s Nick Fury uncover an ongoing plot hatched years ago by a faction of Skrulls who seek to take over the Earth. The promotional footage and material from the show has leaned heavily into the paranoid aspects of the spy thriller though one character who is rumored to play a heavy role in that has been notably absent.
It seems McDonald’s character will go by the name of Chris Stearn, a name not associated with any Marvel Comics character though it could be a reference to legendary shock jock Howard Stern. The idea of a talking head who fans the flames of paranoia–and who could himself be a Skrull for that matter–is a great touch that provides some interesting commentary on the state of modern media. As originally reported, McDonald’s Stearn could end up finding himself included in other projects down the road after appearing in a fairly regular supporting role in Secret Invasion.
Who do you trust? Marvel Studios Secret Invasion begins streaming on June 21st.
As the WGA strike continues, multiple Marvel Studios productions have been halted or delayed. After kicking off in April, Destin Daniel Cretton‘s Wonder Man has been delayed indefinitely in Los Angeles and both Blade and Thunderbolts, which were slated to begin production in and around Atlanta, have been postponed. Marvel’s most ambitious project, Daredevil: Born Again, an 18-episode streaming series starring Charlie Cox, VincentD’Onofrio and Jon Bernthal, kicked off production in New York City earlier this year and its current status has been a source of confusion among some fans. Now, D’Onofrio has cleared up where it stands amid the strike.
Though production on the project was shut down for a day earlier this month, D’Onofrio told Comic Book that while it’s not “business as usual”, the streaming series is still filming. “I wouldn’t call business as usual because we want to… Well, I’ll speak for myself. I want to be loyal to the writers and to the teamsters,” D’Onofrio explained. “We’ve been told that the company is going to work through. Our writers are on strike, so we have no writers at the moment, but we have our scripts, so that’s good.“
Cox and D’Onofrio reportedly spent quite a bit of time ahead of the start of production making sure the scripts were in tip-top shape which is good news for fans as there are surely not two stars more invested in their Marvel Studios characters than them. And while they have those scripts to work from and they plan to move forward filming the series, that doesn’t mean that their won’t be more production delays along the way. “As long as we’re doing it in a gracious way and everybody’s in agreement that we can work when we’re allowed to work and we’ll shut down when we should shut down,” said D’Onofrio. “Out of respect for the teamsters and the writers and such, then that’s what we’re going to do. And so far, so good. It’s been going well.“
In summary, Daredevil: Born Again will face some challenges during its production but Disney has, at least for the time being, made the decision to push ahead. The streaming series is reportedly set to hit Disney Plus beginning in 2024.
Marvel Studios Fantastic Four relaunch has struggled to get off the ground since it was announced by Kevin Feige at SDCC ’19. Original director Jon Watts left the project to take on his Star Wars streaming project, Skeleton Crew, and even though he was fairly quickly replaced by WandaVision’sMatt Shakman, the film’s 2024 release date was scrapped in favor of a tentative 2025 slot. However, it remains one of the most buzzworthy projects in development at Marvel and as the casting process starts to draw to a close, a new rumor suggests the First Family has been found.
Twitter scoopster MyTimeToShineHello recently indicated that Marvel Studios has put together an incredibly talented cast for Fantastic Four, composed of some of the most consistently rumored talent. Should the rumor turn out to be true–and to be fair in coverage, one well-known sensationalist YouTuber has said no deals have been reached–it is quite a cast.
The rumored casting would see Adam Driver as Reed Richards, Margot Robbie as Sue Storm, Paul Mescal as Johnny Storm and Tony and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs as the Ever-Lovin’ Blue-Eyed Thing. If that is the cast Marvel Studio has assembled as the Fantastic Four, it would certainly stack up as one of their most talented ensembles to date. With a potential SDCC ’23 deadline looming, we’ll continue to monitor the rumor mill.
Disney’s live-action reimagining of the 1989 animated classic, The Little Mermaid, looks set to have one of the top five Memorial Day box office takes of all time with experts predicting as much as $125M. Critics have given the film mostly positive reviews and given it a thumbs up as a worthy companion to the beloved original. Now, following its opening night, audiences have given their opinion.
After taking in the film on its first Friday, audiences have spoken loud and clear about where they stand on the remaining with it grading out with an A according to Cinemascore.
Critics and audiences seem to agree that the film, carried by the strong performance Halle Bailey as Ariel, stands tall among Disney’s efforts to reimagine its catalog of animated classics. That’s good news for the studio whose Disney Plus release of Peter Pan & Wendy certainly didn’t catch the same positivity.
The Little Mermaid is now in theaters.
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