Murphy's Multiverse

Author: Charles Murphy

  • How ‘Wakanda Forever’ Could Set the Course to the Savage Land in ‘Thunderbolts’

    How ‘Wakanda Forever’ Could Set the Course to the Savage Land in ‘Thunderbolts’

    With the revelation that Wakanda is no longer the only nation with access to Vibranium, the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe changed dramatically. For all the reasons clearly outlined by Queen Ramonda in her speech to the UN and seconded by Everett Ross in his conversation with his ex-wife and current CIA Director, Valentia Allegra de Fontaine, it seems best if Vibranium is kept out of the hands of other nations. Fortunately, the two known locations of Vibranium on Earth now seem safer than ever with Wakanda and Talokan forging an alliance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. However, if Vibranium could be found buried in the ocean floor, who is to say that’s the only place outside of Wakanda where deposits of it might exist?

    An increasingly popular fan theory posits that it won’t be long before Vibranium’s history in the MCU is revised once more and that another deposit of the alien metal will be discovered in another place, like Wakanda and Talokan, thought to only exist in legend: the Savage Land. Hidden away in Antarctica, the Savage Land is a tropical game preserve created by an alien race over 200 million years ago that first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1941. Over the years, several individuals stumbled upon the Savage Land, filled with prehistoric flora and fauna such as dinosaurs, saber-toothed tigers and early hominids, allowing legend of it to spread among mankind and into “fictional” accounts. In addition to the wild array of creatures that inhabit it, the Savage Land from the pages of the Marvel Comics is also the only known location of an alternate form of Vibranium known as Anti-Metal. While Savage Land Vibranium shares some properties with Vibranium, its unique properties could make it, in many ways, a more dangerous alternative.

    By embracing the more fantastical elements of Namor and Talokan, Marvel Studios kept the door open to introducing the Savage Land in the MCU. And if the Savage Land does exist in the MCU, it could provide a fascinating opportunity to make good on Namor’s promise that one day the world would come for the resources of Wakana and Talokan. As eager as Val is shown to be to get her hands on Vibranium in Wakanda Forever, she’s not foolish enough to think her team of Thunderbolts could possibly be well enough equipped to take on either Wakanda or Talokan, much less their combined strength. However, the uncertain fate of Riri Williams’ Vibranium detector in the film could be just the type of unresolved plot point that could set the course of the Thunderbolts’ mission in the 2024 film: a trip to the Savage Land.

    Sending a few Super Soldiers, a cyborg, a spy and a sneaky quantum-phase shifter into the Savage Land to bring back some Anti-Metal might sound like a relative day at the park; however, as fans of the comics know, it isn’t just the dinosaurs and Man-Apes of the Savage Land that the Thunderbolts would have to deal with. The Savage Land has its own protector, Ka-Zar, and it’s unlikely he and his Smilodon companion Zabu would take kindly to a group of outsiders coming to raid his land.

    Since the Disney-Fox merger was completed, I’ve consistently heard whispers that Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige was eager to bring the Savage Land to the MCU. Fox never explored the potential of it and its inhabitants, making it ripe for Marvel Studios. Feige found a way to include a “Savage World” in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which served as a Savage Land Easter egg. Is it possible it also served as a way to prime audiences for the eventual inclusion of the location within another project?

    While on the surface, the group Val has assembled to be her Thunderbolts doesn’t really inspire much awe; however, putting them in the Savage Land and pitting them against Ka-Zar and/or the elements does seem to spice things up a touch. In the comics, Anti-Metal’s unique properties allow it to liquefy other metals. So much for John Walker’s shield. Could Anti-Metal do the same to Wakandan Vibranium? Bucky’s arm would make for an interesting experiment. Savage Land Vibranium also has unique vibrational properties. Could those be used to disrupt Ghost’s phasing abilities?

    Of course, Ka-Zar is no villain and if Thunderbolts was going to follow along this “hunt for Vibranium” path, the team wouldn’t spend the entire film locked in battle with him, but the idea of that team on a mission to the Savage Land is much more palatable than them taking on Wakanda, Talokan or really any group of powered people. The current makeup of the team is pretty weak and couldn’t handle any sort of Avengers-level threat. So who else could be in the Savage Land that would make a formidable and realistic threat to the team? Skrulls have been known to be interested in Anti-Metal in the comics and would provide just the kind of threat the Thunderbolts could handle while teaming up with Ka-Zar. It could also provide a great opportunity for Marvel Studios to adapt the big Savage Land battle from the Secret Invasion comic event into a smaller-scale third-act brawl that would make Thunderbolts a whole lot of fun.

    Another, less exciting option for a big bad in Thunderbolts could be the MCU’s Power Broker, Sharon Carther. It’s worth noting that the D+ series Secret Invasion is said to lead right into Armor Wars, which is now being developed as a feature film. Having competing parties searching for Vibranium in the Savage Land is a lot less exciting than having Skrulls there, but it could also be said that they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I’ve not heard exciting things about the big bad of the Thunderbolts’ film, however, so this is just one boring place my mind goes while pursuing the possibilities.

    Again, it’s all just speculation generated from what’s become a fairly well-shared fan theory about what Val’s team will get up to in Thunderbolts, but there are certainly enough dots to connect to make up the bare bones of a boring story. However, given its slot as a July film, Marvel Studios will certainly want Thunderbolts to look and feel like a blockbuster and a trip to the Savage Land would go a long way in that regard.

  • Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 28: Reviewing ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 28: Reviewing ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

    Marvel Studios’ final Phase 4 theatrical release, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, hit theaters this weekend. You can read Hunter Radesi’s advance review here, but what did the rest of the team think? We team up to share our thoughts.

    Mary Rowe

    Overall, I think I loved Wakanda Forever as a total package, but I think I may have enjoyed it in the theater a little less than others seemed to. The overarching concept and plot for me was a 10/10, the actors and their performances were a 10/10, Namor was a 10/10, and the excruciating emotional heaviness that felt like a constant crushing sensation was a 12/10. Substantively, for me, the film was absolutely masterful in those regards. I did find it overly packed with what it wanted to do, and it was something I felt like I noticed frequently while I was watching it. Some amazing scenes felt abruptly cut short before transitioning a bit awkwardly to other (sometimes jarringly different) scenes. I struggled with Riri’s role in the film. I loved the character and Dominique Thorne, but Namor’s sole motivation being to kill her did not make a ton of sense. Clearly, others knew how to make the vibranium-sensing machines based on her invention and the general threat from world forces to find vibranium would never be solved by killing one scientist. So the driving force of the overarching plot felt weak, and Ironheart’s big role took up too much time and attention from the rest of the film, which was far more compelling. Val’s role in the film seemed absolutely unnecessary, especially since she really did not do anything that set up any other project in any way. A lot of people refer to a Thunderbolts setup, but literally at no time was that project actually set up or advanced in any way. Even if it was, the side plot of the U.S. government considering taking (idiotic) action against Wakanda was OK, but had too much time given to it. I think the film overall is a triumph, and it is wild how big of a film it is considering it is technically a solo sequel. I also think it is not discussed enough how the film is led by women and easily the most representative MCU film in that regard. I would be genuinely surprised if Angela Bassett did not get an Oscar nod for her performance, and I think the film (like its predecessor) has a strong chance at a Best Picture nod as well.

    Joao Pinto

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is nothing short of an incredible achievement given the terrible circumstances its development faced. But even though I’ve been a strong proponent that, following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios should not recast the role, there is no denying that that choice would present a few issues when it came to the project’s script and overall tone. Acknowledging Boseman’s passing would imbue the feature with almost inescapable emotional gravitas, something that would make everything else a Marvel movie is known to feature pale in comparison. And, in my opinion, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever struggles when trying to mesh everything into a single vision, revealing itself as a bit unfocused when moving from one thematical approach to another. 

    All in all, honoring Boseman’s legacy all while expanding on the Black Panther mythos, introducing an entirely new civilization and its background, moving the Cinematic Universe forward by hinting at several future projects, and doing all of it in a little less than 3 hours would always be a herculean task. What Ryan Coogler managed to deliver is about as good as one could expect given the hand he was dealt, and the entire cast was pretty much brilliant in the way their performances honored both their characters and their friend.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will surely be widely regarded as a standout project within a franchise with an already extremely high bar. It will be revisited countless times. and I’m sure time will keep doing it justice given the way it sets up the MCU’s future as well as it warm-heartedly honors its past.

    Anthony Canton III

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an emotional sledgehammer and a necessary one for all parties involved. Ryan Coogler’s effort is full of all the emotions one can go through in dealing with the loss of a loved one. It is the truest of parallels from real life to screen. Chadwick Boseman’s absence is felt in this film and I say it endearingly. The director and cast wanted us to know this and didn’t hold back in expressing it as such. There are MCU ties sure, but this movie is more than that. From Angela Bassett’s Oscar-worthy performance of a heartbroken Queen to Letitia Wright’s powerful showcase as Shuri, we were reminded that these people went through this hurt on a grander level. It was touching, it was angry, and it was chaotic at times. Most importantly, it was real.

    The stages of grief, from regret to outright frustration were transferred to the viewer. Through Tenoch Huerta’s explosive arrival to the MCU as Namor, we saw a window into what endless vengeance could look like. Through it all, the end of the film is a stark example of life. There are the darkest of times, but through it all there is the simplest sliver of hope, and that hope saves. Salute to Ryan Coogler and the cast for making an unforgettable movie.

    Torbjorn Frazier

    There genuinely isn’t a Marvel Studios movie, let alone a major blockbuster film, like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The themes of grief and loss are explored in such a visceral way that are greatly unexpected, even with an understanding of what the film would be going into it. Ryan Coogler adeptly leads the audience through an odyssey of emotions that lead to hopefully some closure for the legacy of Chadwick Boseman. With that, the director proves himself to be truly one of the best of his generation. Each of the leads brings their best into their performances and highlights why Wakanda deserves to have a marquee role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Special attention needs to be placed on Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, who provides the MCU with another all-time great antagonist and a character that should be primed for a massive role in various future projects (and rightfully so).

    Though with that in mind, it does lead to the one noticeable folly I had with the film. While the threads being set up are certainly interesting, essentially all of the content involving Martin Freeman and Julia Louis-Dreyfus would’ve been way better served in a different project (ie Secret Invasion or Ironheart). The extensive runtime of the film isn’t an issue at all, but it would’ve been much better served to focus directly on the themes of grief and legacy alongside the conflict with Talokan. There are some noticeable nitpicks with the film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever absolutely sings in the parts where it needed to, and that’s what matters most at the end of the day. It’s a bonafide 9/10 in my book.

    Dalbin Osorio

    10/10. Zero notes.

    Seriously, it was that good. Namor was incredible, and I think that’s a good place to start. This isn’t a villain who you root for because he’s conflicted: this is a villain that you root for because he’s 100% right in a way that Killmonger was not. His warning about other nations coming for Wakanda seems incredibly predictive, given that it seems Val (hello CIA Director) is sending the Thunderbolts in to get it. His mistrust of the surface world drives him to seclude his Kingdom much like the Wakandans and Wakanda. The parallels between him and T’Challa are hard to ignore, and I can’t help but wonder how powerful T’Challa versus Namor would’ve been.

    However, Shuri more than holds her own weight. Her arc, like Okoye and M’Baku, is earned. That’s the best thing I can say about this movie: every choice is earned, and there are actual consequences to decisions made in the first. It’s what you want to see in these sequels. Riri Williams is a star, and I cannot wait to see her build her Mark 3 suit and battle The Hood. Angela Bassett deserves all the praise: her grief as she banishes Okoye was palpable, and Bassett remains one of the more underrated actresses of our time. It’s Marvel’s best sequel, and if Ryan Coogler can stick the landing in the third Black Panther film, it will be Marvel’s best trilogy.

    Charles Murphy

    It has never seemed fair to critique a movie for what it is not, but it’s nearly impossible to think about what Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could have been with Chadwick Boseman. Though the film was reworked after Boseman’s passing, the shadow of what it was is still visible. Boseman’s death turned the cast and crew of Wakanda Forever inside-out and the film necessarily expresses their grief and mourning; it would have been impossible to make the sequel without addressing it. The cast and crew handled this with incredible poise and their work was beautiful.

    As writer/director Ryan Coogler has pointed out, Namor was always on track to be the villain of Wakanda Forever. The introduction of one of Marvel Comics’ oldest and greatest characters needed to be done no a big stage and it was. The choice to adapt Wakanda vs. Atlantis into the film was ballsy. Add to it the choice to completely reinvent Atlantis into Talokan and provide a backstory to it that was on par with the one given to Wakanda in Black Panther was even ballsier. The cast and crew nailed this. Talokan was beautiful. Namor was every bit who he should have been. Maybe the action wasn’t 10/10, but it was plenty.

    Wakanda Forever, ultimately, had to try to balance these two stories and blend them into one coherent film. It did that unequivocally. However, it was the ancillary plot that threw the film off-kilter. Despite Dominque Thorne crushing her role as Riri Williams, the character’s arc in the film never felt as though it fit smoothly. Even less smooth was the inclusion of CIA Director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in what seemed to be nothing more than a set-up for another project and a poor one at that.

    The principal cast all delivered monster performances. Letitia Wright’s performance hasn’t garnered anywhere near enough praise. Tenoch Huerta gave Namor all the edges he should have and still made him just likable enough. Angela Bassett went off. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Winston Duke were all given opportunities to mourn their onscreen and real-life friend AND be a part of the other arc as well. One would have to think the entire experience was cathartic for them all.

    Incredible performances. Two impossible stories intertwined into one. Just a few speed bumps along the way. As always, I’ll have to see it again to really know where it fits, but I do know this: unlike some of Marvel Studios’ recent theatrical releases, at least I WANT to see it again.

    Joseph Aberl

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a film that explores grief in a complex world that wants you to push forward. Most of the film’s conflict centers around Letitia Wright‘s Shuri and Angela Basset‘s powerful performance as Queen Ramonda, who bring their A-game to this film. One can feel that this is an emotional journey for everyone involved, especially with how difficult it must be to handle the tragedy of Chadwick Boseman.

    Tenoch Huerta is a new powerhouse and a reminder of the star power that Marvel Studios creates with its projects. He brings a balance to Namor that wasn’t going to be easy to handle by introducing him as the film’s main antagonist but they pull it off. While the film can drag at one point or another, it feels like a project that wants to take its time. And, it’s something we don’t see often in these bombastic larger-than-life films. The film doesn’t want to run away from the grief but forces us to face its consequences through many eyes.

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Makes Good on One of Namor’s Many Comic Book Aliases

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Makes Good on One of Namor’s Many Comic Book Aliases

    In introducting Namor to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever writer/director Ryan Coogler almost entirely recreated on of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters. Coogler created a brand new backstory for the character, a new “lost city” and a new timeline. In doing so, Coogler created one of the MCU’s most fascinating and powerful characters by managing to keep him true to who he has always been in that comics despite the changes. One of the aspects Coogler chose to keep was Namor’s identity as a mutant and by giving the character such a long life span, he also made good on one of the many aliases the character has been given over his decades in the comics.

    Avenging Son. The Savage Sub-Mariner. Lord of the Seven Seas. Those are among the many titles given to Namor in the pages of Marvel Comics and they could all certainly all still apply to the MCU version of the character (though Avenging Son would have to be more of a title and less the Atlantean translation of his name). One title that absolutely applies, however, is The First Mutant. Given Namor has been alive in the MCU for 500 years, give or take, Wakanda Forever chronologically established the character as the first MCU mutant. While Kamala Khan may have been the first character to have been identified as a mutant, Namor just flat out did it first.

    Of course, in the comics the title ultimately became a bit of a misnomer. While he was the first mutant to be introduced in the comics (his first appearance in comics predated the X-Men by 25 or so years), there are plenty of other mutants who walked the Earth before him. Apocalypse, Selene and even Amahl Farouk all predated the known history of Namor but, in the pages of the comics, he came first.

    So what Coogler has done in Wakanda Forever is not only introduce an incredibly complex and conflicting character, he’s also retroactively established the existence of at least one mutant in the MCU to a time well before the word was first uttered on the timeline. Could other ancient mutants find their way into the MCU? Or does the future of the mutants lie in one of the infinite Earth’s in the Multiverse? MCU fans might not find out as quickly as they’d like, but Namor’s identity as The First Mutant now makes either option possible.

  • What the ‘Wakanda Forever’ Post-Credit Scene Means for the Future of the Franchise

    What the ‘Wakanda Forever’ Post-Credit Scene Means for the Future of the Franchise

    If you thought you were done crying when the credits for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever began rolling, you were simply fooling yourself. As newly-minted Black Panther Shuri symbolically moved past her grief by burning her mourning garments, the post-credit scene to the film stirred a whole new batch of emotions. If you haven’t seen the film yet and wish not to be spoiled, turn back now as we’ll take a look at what the surprising PCS might mean for the future of the franchise.

    The PCS reveals that Nakia hasn’t just been hiding out in Haiti mourning the loss of her lover, King T’Challa but rather has been raising their son, Prince T’Challa. As Shuri and the audience learn all about the royal son, who goes by the name Toussaint in Haiti, it becomes clear that the young Prince has been taken away from the craziness of succession in Wakanda but is being prepared to ascend to the throne one day. Only 6 years old, Prince T’Challa has a long road ahead of him before he’s ready to become King and Protector of Wakanda, not to mention the backlash and political ramifications of revealing his existence to Wakanda. What could his existence mean for the future of the Black Panther franchise?

    According to Executive Producer Nate Moore, there are multiple D+ projects being developed within and adjacent to the World of Wakanda. The events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever could easily lead to several such projects. While fans might be familiar with rumors of an Okoye-centric project (which could become a Midnight Angels), the PCS of Wakanda Forever could turn into another project sometime down the road. With Marvel Studios Multiverse Saga slate pretty full, there might not be room in it for a third Black Panther film and director Ryan Coogler isn’t quite ready to make the decision about whether he wants to sign on for it or not, but the longer it takes for Black Panther 3 to hit theaters, the older Prince T’Challa gets to be. Is there room for a streaming project about Prince T’Challa between now and when Black Panther 3 hits theaters? Or, perhaps it’s better to ask if there’s room for one between now and when Avengers: Secret Wars hits theaters?

    Ultimately, the PCS of Wakanda Forever doesn’t truly feel like it’s setting up much of anything as much as it’s making a statement in line with the film’s subtitle: the legacy of T’Challa, and Wakanda, will continue on. With the deaths of T’Challa and Ramonda, Shuri stood as the last member of the family who had ruled Wakanda since their ancestor, Bashenga, became the first Black Panther and united four of the five tribes of Wakanda into one nation. Prince T’Challa serves as a promise that the line will continue for another generation. But will audiences ever see the Prince become the Black Panther?

    It’s a tough question to answer because, in the comics, 616-T’Challa doesn’t have a son. Some alternate universe T’Challas have had children, but for the most part any story involving Prince T’Challa will be an original. And again, whether or not those stories end up being told is a big question. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that while Marvel Studios chose not to recast Chadwick Boseman in Wakanda Forever, the potential to do so down the road a few years in Avengers: Secret Wars remains tempting. A post-Secret Wars MCU could potentially be built around one new universe in which characters from others find themselves together. In that case, a new actor coming in as a Variant T’Challa provides opportunity for Marvel Studios to have the character working alongside the Fantastic Four and, yes, the X-Men where a potential relationship with Storm can finally come to the big screen.

    That’s not to say Marvel Studios may not chose to keep Prince T’Challa in the plans. A D+ series about the young Prince, his mother and aunt could be a way to continue to explore the rich history of Wakanda or another film, 5+ years down the road set in Wakanda could end up exploring the changing political landscape of the country, a theme that’s often been explored in the comics. So while it’d be great to “know” just what Prince T’Challa’s appearance means for the future of Wakanda, all it really does is ensure that there is one.

  • New Report May Have Revealed the Main Villain of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    New Report May Have Revealed the Main Villain of ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’

    With filming on the Marvel Studios D+ streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos set to kick off over the next couple of months, news on the project has been rapidly accumulating. Joe Locke has seemingly been cast in the role of Billy Kaplan and Aubrey Plaza has also joined the project as one of a group of female supporting characters, likely witches of the titular coven. Now, new info from the Illuminerdi may have revealed the villain of the piece.

    According to the report, the series is looking to cast a female to portray a “strong, evil and ancient soul” in a recurring, supporting role. The character is described as having “a chilling effect” simply through her presence and the studio is looking for actresses with previous experience with motion capture who also have either stunt or dance experience.

    As is typically the case, the casting call does not reveal the true nature of the character, but in a series about witches, Chaos magic and those with experience with the Darkhold, no character comes to mind faster than ancient witch Morgan Le Fay. Ironically enough, Le Fay was among a group of characters who came to mind as a potential role for Plaza. Le Fay is about as ancient and chilling as it gets, having been alive in the comics since around 18,000 BC. As always, Marvel Studios had no comment on the casting, so audiences shall wait to find out just who the character is.

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • REPORT: Joe Locke’s Role Seemingly Revealed as ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Casting Wiccan’s Parents

    REPORT: Joe Locke’s Role Seemingly Revealed as ‘Agatha: Coven of Chaos’ Casting Wiccan’s Parents

    Following the casting of actor Joe Locke in an unrevealed role in Marvel Studios D+ streaming series Agatha: Coven of Chaos, social media seemed divided over just who the Heartstopper star would play. Locke certainly bears an uncanny resemblance to Marvel Comics’ Young Avenger Billy Kaplan and the description of Locke’s character as gay, male lead with a dark sense of humor and a penchant for being a fanboy fits the character perfectly. However, it wouldn’t be the internet if a little-known and hardly-used character from the comics didn’t suddenly develop a devoted fanbase and so, such a base now exists in support of Locke playing Nicholas Scratch, the adult son of Agatha Harkness. While almost all the evidence available and information from scoopers reliable and otherwise points toward Locke playing Billy Kaplan, aka Wiccan, the rising Cult of Scratch drones on…until now.

    A new report from The Illuminerdi has dealt what should be the poisoned Kool-Aid to the Cult of Scratch, reporting that Maria Dizzia has been cast as a Jewish woman in a recurring role that is being paired with a Jewish man of the same age. While Dizzia’s casting is not new news, she had been reported by trades to be playing one of several witches who are expected to be associated with Kathryn Hahn’s title character.

    The casting of two Jewish characters in their 40s should prove the final piece of evidence In the comics, Rebecca and Jeff Kaplan are Reform Jews and the parents of Billy Kaplan who it turns out is the reincarnated soul of Billy Maximoff. As the Illuminerdi report states, while there is no official word from Marvel, the two characters, who are expected to appear in 1-3 episodes, are almost certainly the Kaplans, meaning the series’ lead will indeed by Billy Kaplan and not crusty, musty Nicholas Scratch.

    Updating…

    Source: The Illuminerdi

  • ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Outpacing the Original at the Box Office After Thursday Night Previews

    ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Outpacing the Original at the Box Office After Thursday Night Previews

    As the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drew nearer, box office estimates for the film continued to rise. Most projections have the film pulling in between $175-185M domestically over the opening weekend, but last night’s previews may indicate those numbers are a bit on the low side. According to a trade report, the sequel opened with a massive $28M Thursday, good for 15th all-time at the box office.

    2018’s Black Panther took in $25M, which served as an early indicator that its opening weekend predictions may have been a bit low. That film eventually went on to rake $202M over its opening weekend, making Wakanda Forever’s first weekend worth watching. Critics have responded well to it overall and social media buzz around the film seems to be growing after early sentiment that audiences may lose interest following the death of Chadwick Boseman and the choice not to recast T’Challa.

    Though most estimates had it lower, there were some experts who felt Wakanda Forever could open close to $200M, which would put give it the largest opening weekend of 2022, topping Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film, which introduces one of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters, Namor, pits the nations of Wakanda and Talokan against one another in the wake of the loss of T’Challa, King and Black Panther of Wakanda.

    Source: Variety

  • RUMOR: Indiana Jones Streaming Series to Feature a Previously Unseen Character

    RUMOR: Indiana Jones Streaming Series to Feature a Previously Unseen Character

    As Harrison Ford prepares to say goodbye to Doctor Henry Jones Jr., the iconic character he’s played multiple times since 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Lucasfilm is reportedly working with Disney Plus to create a streaming series set within his world of archaeological wonder. The show is in the earliest stages of development, with no creatives yet attached, but a new rumor might indicate the direction in which the show is headed and it’s rather surprising.

    According to The Hot Mic Podcast, the new series may focus on a character who has never been seen on screen in the Indy franchise but had a major impact on the life of Indiana Jones: Abner Ravenwood. Ravenwood was Jones’ mentor in archeology and had a lifelong fascination with the Ark of the Covenant. Ravenwood died while searching for it and it was his connection to Jones that put Indy on the trail of the artifact in Raider of the Lost Ark. Of course, the two had a much more personal connection as well, and one that ended their professional relationship: Indy’s affair with Ravenwood’s daughter, Marion.

    By putting the focus on Abner Ravenwood, the series’ timeline could extend as far back as the late 1800s and serve as a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark. While Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy has said there will never be Indiana Jones without Ford in the role, there might be some wiggle room in casting an actor as a very young Henry Jones Jr. if the Ravenwood rumor turns out to be true. Whatever the case, rest assured that Lucasfilm has their top men on the case. Top. Men.

    Source: Hot Mic Podcast

  • 5 Spidey Suits We’d Like to See in the MCU Following Tom Holland’s New Deal

    5 Spidey Suits We’d Like to See in the MCU Following Tom Holland’s New Deal

    Rumors persist that Tom Holland and Marvel Studios have struck a deal that will allow the actor to reprise his role as Spider-Man in a bevy of upcoming MCU projects. If that’s true, there’s one thing above all others that fans can count on: new suits! New suits sell toys and there’s nothing Disney loves more than that.

    Now all on his own within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker has to fend for himself and that means creating his own suits. He put together a very nice-looking one at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home and that’ll almost certainly be the one he’s wearing when he’s first seen in his next appearance. However, Marvel Stuios has done a pretty great job of incorporating some of the most memorable Spidey suits into their films, even if they’ve not all been Peter’s and not all been entirely comic accurate. With that in mind, we take a look at five comic-book suits that might inspire Peter’s wave of costumes in the MCU!

    Spider-Armor

    At SDC ’22, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige listed Spider-Man and Daredevil as headliners of the MCU’s street-level heroes. Being a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man means spending a good deal of time in the streets and less in space, and it’s pretty likely that’s exactly what will happen in Holland’s fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Battling crime on the streets, especially with the likes of a guy like Kingpin and his goons, almost certainly means coming under gunfire. With that in mind, it seems like it would be a pretty good idea for Peter to put together an armored suit. The comics provide inspiration for a few different choices, but the very metal silver and black MK1 that he first donned in 1993’s Web of Spider-Man #100 would look great on screen and serve as a nice contrast the bright red and blue of his default suit.

    The Symbiote Suit

    Everyone wants to see Holland’s Parker bond with Venom and bring the Symbiote Suit to the MCU. The post-credit scene of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home set the stage and it’s likely that Holland’s new contract will have him signed on for Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning if Marvel Studios chooses to, they could pay homage to the comics by having him bond with the symbiote for the first time in the the 2026 conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.

    The Bombastic Bag-Man Suit

    With Marvel Studios Fantastic Four film set to come out in 2025, Holland’s new contract could work him into the film in a larger-than-a-cameo-but-still-pretty-small-role. If that’s the case, there’s no more MCU-type gag that Matt Shakman and the creatives behind Fantastic Four could play than having Peter suit up as the Bombastic Bag-Man for a scene. If Marvel Studios can give Peter a new suit by making him turn one inside-out, they can definitely come up with a way for him to need to borrow one of the FF’s suits and put a paper bag over his head.

    The Future Foundation Suit

    A much more iconic suit that Peter could wear a bit longer in either Fantastic Four or something like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the Future Foundation suit seems like a must to shove Holland into over the next 6 years. The suit has been featured heavily in video games, Marvel Legends and in the comics. It’s a fascinating design and the colors can be inverted at will, meaning Disney could go two-for-one as far as getting toys out of a suit. Keeping in mind that just because it’s called the Future Foundation suit in the comics doesn’t mean there needs to be a Future Foundation in the MCU, this seems like the second surest bet on this list.

    The Big Time Suit

    Another suit that gamers are already plenty familiar with is the Stealth Suit, aka the Big Time Suit. It could be argued that Peter already had a Stealth Suit in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but that’ll almost certainly go down in memory as the Night Monkey Suit. The Big Time Suit could show up down the road in Spidey 5 or 6 after Peter has had some time to build on his already impressive engineering skills. Interestingly enough, Peter first wore it in the comics to help defend him from Hobgolin, a villain who has yet to appear in any Spider-Man films but who could pretty readily be worked into the MCU.

    Ultimately, it was tough to choose just 5 suits. Outside of Peter’s vast array, there are the iconic looks of Ben Reilly, Miguel O’Hara, Kaine Parker and, of course, Miles Morales. Of those characters, it doesn’t seem like more than one could ever have a future in the MCU, so should Marvel Studios choose to do so, they could work some of those into the next half-dozen or so appearances by Holland. In all likelihood, whatever suits they do choose to adapte, we won’t see the same one twice!

  • The New Deal: A Look at Tom Holland’s Future as Spider-Man

    The New Deal: A Look at Tom Holland’s Future as Spider-Man

    Though it hasn’t been officially announced, the buzz around Sony and Marvel Studios reaching a new deal to continue their collaborative efforts to co-produce Spider-Man films has been at an all-time high this week. The deal, should it be reached, would allow Marvel Studios to get to work on developing new Spidey films with Sony and for them to negotiate a deal with star Tom Holland that would allow him to appear in non-Spidey films. As we wait for word to come down that Holland is ready to get back to work, we take a look at how Tom’s New Deal might play out over the next several years.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2024)

    Once the new deal is announced, expect things to advance pretty quickly on the first new solo Spidey outing. In late 2021, Kevin Feige admitted that he and Amy Pascal had already begun developing the story for the fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Even though the film hasn’t been officially given the green light yet, the fact that a story has been in the works for nearly a year means that some of the principal talent involved might be privy to some of that info. Feige announced at SDCC that Spider-Man and Daredevil were going to lead the way as street-level heroes and Tom Holland, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have all dropped some breadcrumbs along the way that make it sound like the fourth MCU Spidey film might feature Spidey and Daredevil teaming up to take on Mayor Fisk. Of course, it’s also time for Peter Parker to complicate his life by adding a new love interest and there’s no better time than now for that to be Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.

    Fantastic Four (2025)

    Undoubtedly, part of Holland’s New Deal will include stipulations that allow for appearances in non-Spidey MCU films. Given that the New Deal will coincide with the Fantastic Four finally making their way into the MCU and that one of Peter Parker’s longest-lasting and most important friendships in Marvel Comics is with Johnny Storm, it’s nearly impossible to think he wouldn’t show up in their film.

    Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)

    Spider-Man is among Marvel’s most valued and beloved characters, so it’s all but a sure thing that they’ll want Holland’s New Deal to include appearances in both their upcoming Avengers’ films. Secret Wars is probably the most ambitious project Marvel Studios has ever attempted and it’s likely to take inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 version, which means that another Spider-Man could potentially be introduced here, setting the stage for the remainder of Holland’s time as the Wall-Crawler. It also allows for Marvel Studios to make good on the symbiote suit tease in the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, allowing Holland to get at least one go around in the beloved black suit.

    Spider-Man: One More Day (2026)

    Assuming Sony wants to keep churning out new Spidey films every 2 years as they did during the first deal, Holland’s next MCU-based Spidey film will hit in 2026. Assuming the rumors of Sacha Baron Cohen signing on as Mephisto for multiple projects are true, it’s likely that at least one of those appearances would be for a major film and it’s also likely he didn’t sign on to something that would keep him busy for a decade or more. In the comics, Spider-Man made a deal with Mephisto that had long-lasting ramifications for the character. It’s not out of the question that Peter’s MCU story could see him try to find a way to have “one more day” with MJ. Mephisto is just the guy to grant that kind of wish to Peter, but at what cost?

    Spider-Man: End of Days (2028)

    Unfortunately, Holland can’t and won’t go on forever as Spidey; fortunately, the comics provide a fantastic road map for what to do next and both Sony and Marvel Studios would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Miles Morales is one of the most important Marvel Comics’ characters not just of the modern age but of all time. Giving Peter and Miles time to get to know one another after meeting in Secret Wars would deepen and enrich both characters, make Peter’s death feel like an even great loss and set up Miles as THE Spider-Man for the next decade.

    6 projects in 4 years for Holland seems crazy, but obviously, this is all just speculation and no dates are set in stone, not even, as we’ve seen, those for movies as big as Fantastic Four and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, whether the dates are even remotely correct or not, Holland’s New Deal will certainly keep him incredibly busy over a very short amount of time.