Author: Charles Murphy

  • First Look at Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom Reveals Classic Inspiration for the MCU’s Take on the Villain

    First Look at Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom Reveals Classic Inspiration for the MCU’s Take on the Villain

    The recent Disney Blockbuster Consumer Products was not the sort of place one would expect first looks at Marvel Studios upcoming projects; however, it seems to have been the most revelatory convention for the studio in some time.

    Marvel reportedly let is slip that Scorpion, Boomerang and Tombstone were set to antagonize Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, potentially putting to rest a number of rumors about the film’s plot and villains. As if that wasn’t enough, a short sizzle reel of footage from Avengers: Doomsday was also shown and according to on attendee, it provided the first look at that film’s villain, Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr.

    According to Film Threat’s Chris Gore, Doom’s face will indeed be disfigured and, in his opinion, looks to be inspired by the look of creatures from “classic Universal Monster movies.”

    Without any additional context, Lon Chaney‘s Phantom of the Opera would seem to be one possible comparison and would like up with Jack Kirby‘s belief that Victor Von Doom was “paranoid” because of the damage done to his face. The extent of that damage has varied widely over the years, with Kirby drawing it as only a small scar, others, such as Esad Ribic depicting a much more complete disfiguration and John Byrne drawing something intermediate to the the two extreme ends of the spectrum.

    …he’s a good-looking guy, and he only has a tiny scar on his cheek, but because he’s such a perfectionist, he can’t bear to see that imperfection. He isn’t hiding his face from the public, he’s hiding it from himself.

    -Jack Kirby
    Doom as drawn by Jack Kirby
    Doom as drawn by John Byrne
    Doom as painted by Esad Ribic

    The description of a disfigured Doom certainly helps explain the tracking dots seen on Downey’s face in a recent behind the scenes photo of the actor and may indicate that Ribic’s interpretation of the character’s face, seen in Jonathan Hickman‘s 2015 Secret Wars, inspired the villain’s MCU appearance. With less than a year until Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters, perhaps it won’t be long before the studio chooses to let the whole world behold the face of Doom.

  • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Villains Reportedly Revealed

    ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Villains Reportedly Revealed

    With production set to kick off on Spider-Man: Brand New Day in just a few months, it’s relatively incredible how little is known about the Sony and Marvel Studios collaboration. While there have been plenty of rumors about potential plots, characters and locations, little has emerged outside of the casting of Sadie Sink, whose role may be linked to Sam Raimi‘s Spider-Man Trilogy. However, in an unexpected turn, it’s possible Disney revealed a great deal of information all at once.

    Instagram user Chris Higashi was in attendance at the Disney Blockbuster Consumer Products presentation and took to his account to share what he took in, including the identity of THREE villains set to appear in Spider-Man:  Brand New Day.

    According to Higashi, the fourth installment in Sony’s MCU-set Spider-Man franchise will feature Tom Holland’s Spidey taking on Scorpion, Boomerang and Tombstone.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ215H_PDij/?igsh=MnJxbXVxMWkwMnk5

    If accurate, the trio of villains is miles apart from the rumors that have made the rounds over the past few years. Additionally, it would call into question the legitimacy of recent reports of Mister Negative being the film’s protagonist, though it’s still possible he could appear if one of the other villains, such as Boomerang, wasn’t meant to have a major role or, as happened in the comics, he’s also a friend of Peter’s.

    Should Scorpion be among those tangling with Spidey in Brand New Day, it would follow up on one of the MCU’s many unresolved post-credit scenes and should mean the return on Michael Mando in the role. Interestingly, Scorpion and Tombstone featured in Marvel Animation’s Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

    While no confirmation has come down on these characters appearing in the film, it’s also not yet been debunked. We’ll continue to monitor this interesting development

  • ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Rumored to Feature a Major Connection to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

    ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Rumored to Feature a Major Connection to Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man Trilogy

    The fourth film in Sony and Marvel’s MCU-set Spider-Man franchise, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, won’t begin production for several more months but that hasn’t stopped the project from routinely making headlines.

    After years of rumored plot lines that stretched from a street-level Civil War to a massive Multiversal adventure featuring The King in Black, the casting of Stranger Things star Sadie Sink set off an all-new, all-different wave of rumors centered on the identity of her character. Originally rumored to be a contender for the role of Jean Grey in Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men reboot, Sink‘s likely isn’t portraying that character in Spider-Man: Brand New Day but was, at one point, reportedly playing an alternate universe Mary Jane Watson which would be incredibly disappointing. Now, a new rumor suggests Sink will not be playing Mary Jane but rather someone with whom she would be awfully familiar.

    According to the Hot Mic Podcast’s John Rocha, Sink is set to portray May “Mayday” Parker, the daughter of Tobey Maguire‘s Peter Parker and, presumably, Kirsten Dunst‘s Mary Jane Watson.

    Tied to the controversial 1990s Clone Saga in which Mary Jane and Peter’s baby was stillborn, Mayday was brought back into the fold in What If…? #105 and was a major character in Marvel’s MC2 imprint. The character was so popular that the studio launched a Spider-Girl solo book by creators Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenzy that, at the time, grew to become Marvel’s longest-running female-centric title.

    Should Sink indeed be portraying Mayday, it might truly be a stroke of genius by the studio. As the daughter of Peter-Two/The Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Mayday would not only introduce another web-slinger (with one of THE best Spider suits ever designed) to work alongside star Tom Holland but also potentially become a major player in Avengers: Secret Wars. And, should Sony and/or Marvel so choose, become either a key player in the next MCU saga or help Sony relaunch its Spidey-related efforts.

  • Marvel Television’s ‘Wonder Man’ Adds Béchir Sylvain in Mystery Role

    Marvel Television’s ‘Wonder Man’ Adds Béchir Sylvain in Mystery Role

    Seven months before it’s scheduled release on Disney Plus, Wonder Man remains largely shrouded in mystery. The Destin Daniel Cretton-created series will feature Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams with Ben Kingsley reprising his role as Trevor Slattery and Demetrius Grosse filing the role of Eric Williams, brother to Simon and, in the comics, known as the villain The Grim Reaper. Beyond that, the roles of the rest of the cast haven’t been made clear and much of the cast hasn’t been revealed at all. However, one new name did emerge following Disney’s Upfront presentation.

    According to Variety, Béchir Sylvain (Black Summer, BMF and Diarra from Detroit) has joined the eight-episode series in a “mysterious role.”

    Based on the character of Wonder Man, one of Marvel’s oldest characters, first introduced in 1964 in the pages of Avengers No 9. Known as Simon Williams, a celebrity actor and stuntman. In a nutshell, it is a story of two actors struggling to make it in the Hollywood of the MCU, [asking] the big question what does Hollywood look like in a world where super heroes are real?

    -Official Synopsis for Marvel Television’s Wonder Man

    Once dismissed by The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron director Joss Whedon, longtime Avenger Wonder Man will finally join the MCU this summer and it sounds as though the studio will be strongly influenced by the comics. “If you’re a fan of the West Coast Avengers, you know a little bit about Simon Williams…you’re going to be very excited to see how much homage to the source material there is actually in the show,” said Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum. However, as the studio continues to work to keep the new series a mystery, we’ll have to wait to find out just what that influence will be.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Television’s Next Series Set to Roll Out ‘Andor’-esque Premiere

    Marvel Television’s Next Series Set to Roll Out ‘Andor’-esque Premiere

    During D23 2022, Marvel Studios shared a wonderful trailer for the streaming series Ironheart, which at the time was slated to hit Disney Plus in the Fall of 2023. However, as the studio began to reconsider its streaming output, the project’s release date was put on hold. Almost 3 years after the trailer was shared with attendees in Anaheim, the studio has still not officially shared anything with the public…but now, we know when to expect the first trailer and that the studio is coming out swinging when the series debuts on June 24th.

    Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).

    -Official Synopsis for Marvel Television’s Ironheart

    Via social media, the studio revealed that the first trailer for Ironheart will debut on May 14th and that the series, produced by Ryan Coogler, will open with a three-episode premiere.

    Online rumors suggest that Marvel will release the final three episodes of Ironheart the following week, giving the series a two-week window.

    Marvel Television’s Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White.

  • Neve Campbell’s Marvel Role Revealed by Former Showrunner

    Neve Campbell’s Marvel Role Revealed by Former Showrunner

    The news that Scream franchise icon Neve Campbell had joined the MCU as Polaris spread quickly, with some “insiders” disagreeing on what the nature of her role was. While original reports indicated Campbell was cast as Magnet’s daughter for the studio’s upcoming X-Men reboot, other reports indicated she would make an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday. As it turns out, Campbell’s casting was for neither of those projects.

    According to former X-Men ’97 showrunner Beau DeMayo, Campbell was cast by him as the voice of Polaris for Season 2 of Marvel Animation’s streaming series.

    Voiced by Terri Hawkes, Polaris appeared in one episode of the third season of X-Men: The Animated Series. It’s unclear how big of a role the character will have in Season 2 of X-Men ’97; however, Marvel Television head man Brad Winderbaum did tease the potential return of X-Factor in the new season, which could set Polaris up for a large arc.

  • ‘Scream’ Franchise Star Rumored to Be Joining the MCU in Major Mutant Role

    ‘Scream’ Franchise Star Rumored to Be Joining the MCU in Major Mutant Role

    Fox’s X-Men: Days of Future Past stands as one of the studio’s strongest efforts in brining Marvel’s mutant heroes to the big screen, merging the talent from the original films with the First Class stars in a surprisingly satisfying film. Though the continuity reset provided by the film was largely ignored by Fox in its subsequent films, it’s possible it opened up the perfect avenue for Marvel Studios to work the OG big screen X-Men into the MCU.

    When Logan returns to his new present day, he finds that all the friends he’d lost along the way are alive and well in the new timeline. While it hasn’t been confirmed yet, that timeline may well be the one in which Monica Rambeau found herself stranded following the events of The Marvels. If that’s the case, it’s clear much has changed there as Lashana Lynch‘s Binary is see hanging out with Beast. Whatever the case, a significant amount of time has passed since Logan’s return which means that in that universe, the X-Men have had time to add and subtract from their roster of heroes. Now, a new rumor suggests an X-Man never before seen on the big screen maybe joining their ranks.

    According to social media scooper My Time To Shine Hello, Scream franchise star Neve Campbell has been cast as Lorna Dane, the mutant known as Polaris.

    The daughter of Magneto, Polaris has been an X-Man and a member of X-Factor and would make for a very interesting addition to the mix given she has often drifted into some dark places over the years.

    While some outlets are assuming Campbell has been cast for Marvel Studios’ X-Men reboot, it seems far more likely at this point that, if the rumor is accurate, she has been cast for Avengers: Doomsday. With production already underway on Doomsday and most of Fox’s original X-Men cast reprising their roles in the project, an older Polaris (Campbell is 51 years old) seems a better fit in that universe than one created from scratch by Marvel for their reboot.

  • Marvel Studios Reportedly Keen on Casting ‘Avatar’ Franchise Star in Key ‘X-Men’ Role

    Marvel Studios Reportedly Keen on Casting ‘Avatar’ Franchise Star in Key ‘X-Men’ Role

    The House of Mouse has always liked to work in-house, often sharing talent across its major studios. Paul Bettany, Oscar Isaac, Samuel L. Jackson and Mads Mikkelsen, Lupitia Nyong’o are among those who have starred in both the Star Wars and Marvel franchises; Jon Favreau has directed projects for three of Disney’s major production studios; and…Pedro Pascal.

    Reinforcing that trend, following a very successful opening for Thunderbolts*, Marvel quickly worked to get that film’s director, Jake Schreier, back in the chair for their currently untitled and undated X-Men reboot, which is arguably the studio’s most important project since 2008’s Iron Man. Now, a new rumor suggests that Marvel will be reaching across the aisle to borrow a star from 21st Century Fox’s Avatar franchise.

    According to Jeff “The In” Sneider, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss, the young star who plays Tuk in James Cameron‘s Avatar films, is being considered for the role of Jubilee in Marvel Studios’ X-Men.

    A central character in X-Men: The Animated Series and Marvel Animation’s X-Men ’97, Jubilation Lee never made it out of the background in Fox’s original X-Men trilogy. However, Kevin Feige has reportedly been keen on including the character in the MCU reboot and, over a year ago, she was been reported to be part of the upcoming film’s core cast.

    With Schreier boarding the project now, it’s likely the studio is looking to get production underway next summer, allowing X-Men to hit theaters in July 2027, launching the studio’s post-Multiverse Saga era.

  • ‘Daredevil Born Again’ Set Photos May Confirm a Popular Season 2 Theory

    ‘Daredevil Born Again’ Set Photos May Confirm a Popular Season 2 Theory

    After some time out of the public eye, production on Season 2 of Daredevil: Born Again hit the streets of New York once more and may have confirmed a growing theory about the role Wilson Bethel’s Bullseye might play.

    Following an action scene filmed in public in early April, fans began to believe that Season 2 may see Bullseye teaming up with Daredevil to take on Mayor Kingpin. While that would make for some uncomfortable moments, Bullseye has no love for Fisk and Matt Murdock is in no position to turn down help. Now, new photos captured from the set show the two frenemies together again…and it’s clear some time has passed.

    Shared by @_DaredevilShots, the new images reveal battered battle-buddies and a closer look at Matt’s gear gives the impression that the right against Kingpin has been raging on for quite some time. A side-by-side comparison with Matt’s suit from the April set photos shows that the black paint job has significantly worn away, revealing more of the original red suit.

    At last check in April, Episodes 3 and 4 were being filmed, which would bring the second season to its halfway mark. It’s unclear if the recent shots are from those episodes or if production has progressed beyond at this point; however, it would seem that Matt’s fight against Fisk hasn’t gone well up to wherever in the season these photos are from and, eventually, he’s going to need to find further help in taking down the Fat Man.

  • The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Ironheart’

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Ironheart’

    After a nearly two-year delay, Marvel Television’s Ironheart will debut on Disney Plus on June 24th. Originally intended to stream in 2023, the project will  feature Dominique Thorne‘s Riri Williams as she returns to Chicago after being swept up in the war between Talokan and Wakanda. The six-episode series will introduce Parker Robbins, aka The Hood, played by Anthony Ramos, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s “mystery man”, believed to be Mephisto.

    We’re getting to see her in her element, which is quite literally the opposite of what we saw of her in Wakanda Forever. We’ll get more time to see what the other colors are and to see how she leads her life, rather than how she is when life is leading her.

    -Dominique Thorne

    The second of three live-action Marvel series set to hit D+ this year, Ironheart looks to veer significantly from the source material as it will see Riri’s formidable mind and technological genius up against dark magic. In order to prepare audiences around the globe for the show, we present to you THE ULTIMATE LIST OF WHAT TO WATCH BEFORE IRONHEART!!

    Tier One

    As is always the case with an Ultimate List, Tier One projects are considered “must see.” In this case, it’s pretty straightforward.

    Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

    🍅 84%

    The first appearance of Riri Williams, 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever introduced Dominique Thorne‘s character to the MCU and immediately traumatized her by throwing her into the middle of the Talokanil-Wakandan War. Set after the events of the Black Panther sequel, Ironheart will follow Riri as she attempts to navigate an entirely different type of conflict.

    Riri is carrying the experience that she had in [Black Panther: Wakanda Forever]back home to MIT & there’s some interesting repercussions to her adventures that will set her on a fun course.

    -Marvel Studios Parliament member Nate Moore

    Tier Two

    If Tier One projects are essential, Tier Two projects are supplemental. Any important events from Tier Two projects are likely to be covered in the body of the film, making watching/rewatching those projects non-essential; however, seeing them in their original context is always better than having them explained to you from someone else’s perspective. In this case, you get to treat yourself to the movie that started it all and remains one of the best the MCU has to offer.

    Iron Man (2008)

    🍅  94%

    She’s dumpster-diving, whereas Tony Stark [was] this bajillionaire. What she’s able to accomplish is remarkable.

    -Dominique Thorne

    Who knew Obidiah Stane had a son? Solo: A Star Wars Story star Alden Ehrenreich joins the MCU as Ezekiel “Zeke” Stane, who, in the pages of Marvel Comics, was raised to hate anything related to Tony Stark. Should Ironheart follow that path, it will be incredibly interesting to see what Zeke’s take on the Duel of Los Angeles might be, given that it resulted in his father’s death. Whatever the case, Jeff Bridges‘ performance as Obidiah Stane is always worthy of a watch and Iron Man, the film that launched the MCU, remains one of the best films in the series as its 20th anniversary draws nearer.

    Tier Three

    Ironheart stands as a unique project at this point in the 17-year history of the MCU in that it really is not deeply connected to much of what has come before it. However, the series will delve into the realm of magic, which means some connections to prior projects, either set in the mystical corner of the MCU or featuring magic, might be worth a look. However, Tier Three projects are intended for completists only, so don’t sweat it if you can’t fit them in.

    Thor (2011),Thor: The Dark World (2013), Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

    🍅 77%, 67%, 93% and 63%, respectively

    Asgard existed blend of magic and technology and many Asgaridans, such as Frigga and Loki, were known to be powerful magic weilders. The Thor films included multiple weapons, relics and other assorted artifacts that are enchanted via spells by Odin and, perhaps, others as well. With Anthony Ramos‘ Parker Robbins known to be sporting an enchanted cloak and Ironheart‘s central conflict billed as a battle between technology and magic and dealing with ancient forces, their may be some value to taking a peek at the Thor franchise.

    Your ancestors called it magic and you call it science. Well, I come from a place where they are one and the same thing.

    -Thor

    Doctor Strange (2016) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

    🍅 89% and 74%, respectively

    As explained to Stephen Strange by the Ancient One, the Masters of the Mystic Arts simply utilize extra-dimensional energy to “make magic.” Given that her statement is the foundation for the understanding of magic in the MCU, it’s possible–perhaps even likely–that Riri Williams’ survival may depend on using her own technology to disrupt or take advantage of that energy flow.

    The language of the Mystic Arts is as old as civilization. The sorcerers of antiquity called the use of this language ‘spells,’ but if that word offends your modern sensibilities, you can call it a program; the source code that shapes reality. We harness energy drawn from other dimensions of the Multiverse to cast spells, to conjure shields and weapons, to make magic.

    -The Ancient One

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

    🍅 79%

    Possibly the last project one might expect to see on this list, Episodes 3, 4 and 9 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law see Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme, target Donny Blaze, a former student of Kamar-Taj who was expelled and now works as a stage magician. Wong crossed Blaze’s path when the latter opened a portal and sent Madisynn King to another dimension where she met a demon named Jake…and in Ironheart, there be demons.

    About Ironheart

    Marvel Television’s Ironheart stars Dominique Thorne, Anthony Ramos, Lyric Ross, Alden Ehrenreich, Regan Aliyah, Manny Montana, Matthew Elam and Anji White.

    Set after the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Television’s Ironheart pits technology against magic when Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne)—a young, genius inventor determined to make her mark on the world—returns to her hometown of Chicago. Her unique take on building iron suits is brilliant, but in pursuit of her ambitions, she finds herself wrapped up with the mysterious yet charming Parker Robbins aka “The Hood” (Anthony Ramos).

    -Official Synopsis for Marvel Studios Ironheart

    Ironheart was created by Chinaka Hodge, directed by Sam Bailey and Angela Barnes and produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Zoie Nagelhout, Chinaka Hodge, Ryan Coogler, Sev Ohanian and Zinzi Coogler.