Category: Features

Marvel Match-Up With 6 Confirmed Production Companies

A couple of months ago, Arlyn Murphy dug up what she believed to be 3 newly formed Marvel Studios production companies: Blueberry Waffles, Log Jam and Standoffish. Last month, just ahead of Disney’s Investor Day, we also discovered that Frequent Productions was set to begin work in Atlanta sometime this year and were able to confirm it as a Marvel Studios project. Today, I can confirm that Blueberry Waffles, Log Jam and Standoffish are all 100% Marvel Studios projects, joining Frequent, Grass-Fed and Solve Everything as production companies for upcoming Marvel Studios projects. With Marvel Studios having recently announced a slew of new projects, it seemed like a great time to try to make some sense out of which company each project might be!

While Marvel Studios has a lot of upcoming projects, there are 6 without production company pairs. (5 if we’re being honest because Solve Everything is DEFINITELY Fantastic Four). As it turns out, there are also 6 production companies we haven’t paired up with films (again, it’s really 5). With that out there, it seemed time to have a little fun trying to work out the best pairings between production company and project and…solve everything.

Blueberry Waffles Armor Wars

Frequent Blade

Grass-Fed Fantastic Four

Log Jam I Am Groot

Solve Everything Ironheart

Standoffish Secret Invasion

As stated above and described in detail here, it’s pretty easy to pair up Solve Everything with Fantastic Four. Beyond that, the next most likely pairing is between Log Jam and I Am Groot, a series of original shorts separate from the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. During Investor Day, Kevin Feige mentioned that they would be filming the Holiday Special during production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, meaning it wouldn’t need to be given its own production company, whereas I Am Groot, as a separate entity, would.

As we continue on, the only certainty is increased uncertainty in which goes with which. Early on in Riri Williams’ Marvel Comics appearances, her mother made a reference to her often making breakfast for Riri and having it go uneaten as she was always more interested in tinkering in her shop (I think I’m remembering that correctly. For the sake of argument, let’s make that a really good reason to pair Blueberry Waffles with Ironheart. Arlyn’s original premise was this it might be pointing towards a Young Avengers project, but that’s clearly farther off now and Ironheart is coming soon, so it could work.

While I can’t make the case for it to be as good of a fit as the ones already paired up above, Standoffish could pair with Secret Invasion, though I can also make a case for Grass-Fed pairing up with Secret Invasion as a reference to the four Skrulls who did time on Earth as cows following their run-in with the Fantastic Four. However, standoffish could absolutely refer to Fury’s personality, making this a bit of a toss-up. Bringing Blade into the mix muddies the water even further, but even Fury is more personable than Blade, so Grass-Fed for Secret Invasion and Standoffish for Blade as the most current, but totally wild guess.

That leaves Frequent to pair with Armor Wars and no good connection. Often times, as was the case with Pandemic Productions and Static Productions (the production companies behind The Falcon and The Winter Solder and WandaVision, respectively), the companies aren’t comic book references but refer very specifically to the events of the series. Perhaps that’s the case here or perhaps it’s a joke in reference to how often Tony’s armor is compromised in the comics.

Whatever the case, this important news here is in that following up on the newly formed production companies, I was able to confirm that they are all for Marvel Studios projects, meaning production on all of them is likely to get underway sometime this year.

January 12, 2021
How the Unusual Marketing of ‘WANDAVISION’ Could Turn Off Potential Viewers

WandaVision’s marketing is a little different than it probably would have been had the show been released at a time when there wasn’t a pandemic going on. But the core stuff – namely, trailers and TV spots – has been rolled out in a pretty typical manner (based on the admittedly few precedents we have from Disney+ headlining shows, at least). We won’t know how well it’s working until the show actually premieres, but there’s a lot to look over in the meantime.

WandaVision was shot mainly on soundstages and it has been said that Marvel Studios is even more invested than usual in preventing spoilers about it from getting out. And that sentiment has carried over to the trailers; unlike most MCU projects, WandaVision’s trailer isn’t really providing any plot details. Fans who have been following the development of the series have been able to understand what’s going on in most of the scenes that have been shown (the sitcom eras changing, S.W.O.R.D. trying to infiltrate, etc.) but for the general public seeing these ads during football or on Facebook, I have to imagine all of this is pretty confusing.

Most of the marketing materials for WandaVision have focused on the changing eras of the sitcom world and songs that evoke feelings of nostalgia for many people but also may add to the sense of unease and mystery when played over some of the clips where things feel a bit…off, which seems to fit the tone of the project perfectly. There’s been a little bit of action and references to other Marvel projects teased, but not much. This has most likely been done not only to avoid spoilers, but also to prepare viewers for the difference in tone and style for much of the series. Those who have already seen the show’s first three episodes have commented that they firmly focus on the sitcom aspect rather than the fast-paced action typical of an MCU project. We’ve been told that’s coming as well, and the trailers have shown a little bit of it, but it’s definitely not something that’s going to be part of every episode.

Marvel has put out a new TV spot or clip reel for WandaVision seemingly every day for the past month or so, but a lot of them are recycled footage of the same few clips. That’s admittedly pretty typical for marketing, but the trouble may come with the mix of showcasing a whole new style without telling viewers much about the story to hook them in. We’ve mostly just been shown bits of footage that show off Wanda and Vision in their outfits through the various decades with the same few vague audio clips.

If this was an Avengers movie they could probably get away with this method no problem because the name alone creates massive hype. But this is a show about two previously side-characters in a style that may be jarring to a lot of Marvel fans. Those who follow Marvel updates know that all of this is going to lead into future projects like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but a lot of the general audience does not. If they could find a way to hint at this being big for the direction of the MCU while still preparing audiences for a new sort of setting with the sitcom stuff, that would have probably been the ideal way to go about it. But perhaps those on the fence about WandaVision will be more likely to give this series the benefit of the doubt considering there hasn’t been any new MCU content at all in the past year and a half. We’ll see how audiences respond to WandaVision when new episodes stream Fridays on Disney+ starting January 15.

January 12, 2021
Darcy Lewis: The Story So Far

If you have been watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe since Phase One, chances are you already know Ms. Darcy Lewis. She’s the one that decided to rename one of the most powerful weapons in the world as “Mew-Mew”. Darcy was a pioneer in establishing the concept of an intern having an intern. Oh, did we mention she also helped save the world from a Dark Elves invasion? The young assistant is making her return after seven years in WandaVision, so let’s take a look back at her MCU history.

After studying political science at Culver University, she started working with scientists Jane Foster and Erik Selvig. At the time, she was interning for Selvig and joined them on their trip to New Mexico. The point of their travel was to study several spatial anomalies, which would end up leading them to run over the God of Thunder. To make sure, she also tased him when he started to ramble about the Bifrost and Mjolnir. After running him over a second time, they helped him learn the lesson Odin wanted to pass on to him when he sealed his hammer. After Thor got stranded in Asgard, Darcy supported Jane Foster in her research to find a way to get to see him again.

Years later, Darcy and Jane found themselves researching anomalies once again. This time it was connected to an event only known as the Convergence. To help their work, Darcy went out of her way to hire Ian Boothby as her intern, an intern for an intern if you will. The trio followed the abnormal signals to an abandoned warehouse. There they witnessed the laws of physics going haywire. It also led to the random creation of various portals. Following that, Foster disappeared and got possessed by the Aether, which prompted Thor to return to Earth. Now, after a short visit, the God of Thunder took Jane back to his homeworld to find out how to extract the red substance from her body. Darcy and Ian were left behind on Earth, so they set out to find Dr. Selvig to solve the Convergence issue. The poor doctor, meanwhile, has lost his mind after being possessed by Loki. Eventually, they find him and reunite with Thor and Jane. They returned to Earth after the Dark Elf Malekith tried to destroy the planet in the wake of the Convergence.

Now, we have no idea how exactly she will play into the story. Charles did share some ideas for why she might be returning. In his article, he theorized that she is involved with uncovering what is happening inside Wanda’s sitcom bubble. Her background in researching anomalies alongside Jane Foster, who in the MCU became a serious candidate for the Nobel Prize. She could play a key figure in bringing Vision back. For now, we can only wait until the show finally airs this Friday and finally shows the world what has happened to Wanda and Vision.

January 12, 2021
How The Pandemic May Lead to Spider-Man’s True Homecoming

The first 2021 delays have arrived, which included Sony’s upcoming March release of Morbius until October. The pandemic hasn’t been kind to many film studios, as many 2020 releases got pushed back multiple times. Many films are already finished and just waiting to get released. The uncertainty has led to some companies embracing the streaming future, especially Warner Bros., who just outright mapped out every 2021 release to include a premiere on HBO Max simultaneously. It still has led to quite a few controversies, especially Wonder Woman 1984‘s Box Office, but these are uncertain times. Even Disney seems to be considering this option with Black Widow at this point. While everyone else is considering streaming services, why is Sony still delaying their films for many months?

Let’s take a look back at 2019. Rumors were about that Sony Pictures was getting sold. The New York Post revealed that investor Dan Loeb was pitching to Sony a sales plan that included their Sony Pictures division. Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos seemed quite interested in the purchase and led to some discussions. It is interesting to note, that there are also rumors surrounding the Spider-Man franchise rights. It seems they would automatically return to Marvel if Sony decides to sell their film division. Of course, this put the entire sales process on everyone’s radar. Marvel was able to regain the rights to the X-Men and Fantastic Four after Disney purchased Fox. As such, the sale could indicate Marvel once again acquiring almost all the rights they sold to avoid bankruptcy back in 1999.

It seems that Sony needs the deal more than Marvel Studios does at times. Sony sold the merchandising rights to Spider-Man back in 2011, only a year before they rebooted with The Amazing Spider-Man. They even confessed that the sale was short-sighted before claiming that they won’t sell the division after a $1 billion write-down in 2017. Of course, it led to the deal to co-produce films alongside Marvel Studios, which seemed to work out in both companies’ favor. There was a falling out that led to the partnership suddenly getting discontinued in 2019. Luckily, it got amended to continue with the Tom Holland-led franchise, but it certainly left people wondering what led to that decision.

Why am I bringing all this up? Well, if Sony Pictures has been facing potential bankruptcy as frequently as it does, 2020’s pandemic could not have done them any favors. Now, they are continuously postponing their films without any streaming service of their own. Last May, they did make a $70 million deal for Tom Hanks‘ Greyhound on Apple+, but they didn’t see a reason to continue this business model. Their latest delay – most likely to be followed by many more – is most likely to lead them to re-explore new options. In the end, Marvel Studios and Disney may end up being the actual winner in this scenario. If they try to discuss streaming options with Apple for their streaming service, it may put them in a bind with their Marvel-Disney contract.

The logical conclusion would be to make a deal with Disney to add their family-friendly content on Disney+. Now, this dependency could give Marvel an advantage in future dealmaking for the character and every property surrounding him. The current situation may also lead to Sony Pictures re-evaluating the deals made to sell, especially if 2021 releases might not bring in the Box Office necessary to cover deficits from the constant delays. We will see how the next few months develop to see if Spider-Man may get his actual homecoming after all. This development is nothing more than speculation, but it does open up the question of what the future looks like for Sony Pictures in these uncertain times.

Source: NY Post, Deadline, Wall Street Journal, LA Times, Invezz

January 11, 2021
Jimmy Woo: The Story So Far

Agent Jimmy Woo is one of the more recent characters introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He made his on-screen debut in 2018’s Ant-Man and the Wasp. We got introduced to the cheerful FBI agent, who was assigned to oversee Scott Lang’s house arrest. Beyond that, we know very little about Jimmy Woo’s backstory. Going by his comic origin, there might be quite a lot more to unpack that the films have yet to explore. Especially, as we now know about his involvement in the upcoming Disney+ show, WandaVision, it might be a good time to take a look back at his short-lived story so far.

We are first introduced to the character officially when he checked in on Scott Lang, who accidentally broke through his fence. He arrived shortly on the scene after Lang’s house arrest ankle monitor accidentally exited his house’s perimeter. Here we learned that Woo doesn’t know how to talk with kids, as he tells Cassie Lang her father’s legal rights in full detail. He is fascinated by Scott’s magic tricks before warning him that violating the rules would get him sent to prison for twenty years. Throughout the film, we see Woo hot on Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne’s tail, as they get an anonymous tip about their whereabouts at Berkely. He has a brief interaction with Bill Foster trying to get information out of him.
During this time, he is unaware that Scott had escaped his home. Meanwhile, a giant ant is copying his daily routine to get the FBI off his trail. At one point, he checks in on Lang. Cassie delayed him long enough for her father to get back in time. Woo was also part of the team that captured Hope and Hank during their confrontation with Ghost, which he called his first win in a long time. Later on, the FBI would see Giant-Man on television and assume it was Lang. After another goose chase, he ends up running into Scott one last time at his place. So, he took his ankle bracelet and was just about to ask him if he wanted to hang out before leaving again.

Funny enough, Jimmy Woo got briefly mentioned in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It seems he used to work for the spy organization and worked alongside Melinda May. As the show’s canonicity is uncertain, we do not know if that will remain part of his background. He was a member of Agents of Atlas alongside Shang-Chi at some point in the comics, so it could be in his future. For now, he will return in this week’s WandaVision. Still, his appearance is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one. With his appearance in the show, chances are he will be one of the more prominent federal officers that will be in charge of “strange occurrences” in the town of Westview. And he’ll be working with the likes of the FBI and S.W.O.R.D., who we know will be present in the show. Whatever his role may be, we’re sure this agent is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way.

January 11, 2021
Monica Rambeau: The Story So Far

Finally, we have only a few more days until WandaVision gets released on Disney+. So, we thought it would be the perfect time to catch you guys up on some of the essential players in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the upcoming series. To kick it off, we’re taking a look at a character that appeared around two years ago on the silver screen for the first time. Canonically, she has been in the MCU for over 20 years, so she’ll be quite different when she makes her return to the franchise. So, let’s not waste time and take a closer look at Monica Rambeau.

Monica Rambeau made her debut in 2019’s Captain Marvel. She grew a close relationship with Carol Danvers, who she saw as part of their family. Monica would often refer to her as Auntie Carol. She, however, got the adorable nickname Lieutenant Trouble. When Carol was presumed dead after the accident with Lawson’s plane, young Monica refused to believe that her aunt died that day. She kept all of Carol’s things, so it would be ready when she made her eventual return. A few years later, they were finally reunited. Monica was essential to help jog Carol’s memories, which got jumbled after the explosion and her time with the Kree. Even at the age of eleven, Monica had quite a lot of insight and handled the sudden introduction to aliens almost better than her mother. Carol gave her the honor of choosing which color she should use for her former Kree uniform, which ended up being the iconic colors we know from her comic run.

All these events happen in 1995, so we won’t see her again until she’s all grown up. As far as we can tell, she is working for a government agency known as S.W.O.R.D. We’ll get a chance to possibly delve more into her personal history and story once we get into WandaVision. Lieutenant Trouble’s past experiences as a child and her interest in the bizarre make her the perfect character to help pull Wanda out of whatever strange sitcom-inspired dimension she is trapped in. Going by her comic origins, her inclusion might also tease a bright and heroic future for Rambeau.

January 11, 2021
‘WANDAVISION’ is Pivotal to the Future of Disney Plus and The MCU

WandaVision has a tall order to fill. It’s not only the first Marvel project of Phase 4, it’s the first MCU streaming series and the first project released after a longer-than-expected year-and-a-half hiatus for the franchise. All of that makes for a lot of weight riding on this show’s shoulders.

The scheduling for Phase 4 and beyond has gone through a lot of changes. Many of them have obviously been due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there was shifting going on well before the crisis hit. For instance, had James Gunn not been fired (only to later be rehired) as director of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, it would have shot in early 2019 and most likely been the first project to be released in May 2020 (you know, if the pandemic didn’t happen).

The third Guardians movie would have been a natural fit to open Phase 4, as the plan appeared to be for it to close the book on the current iteration of the team while introducing some new ideas as well (there was said to be some set-up for Eternals in the film’s original script, which has surely changed now that Guardians 3 is set to come out well after that movie). But the Gunn firing controversy happened, and now we have The Suicide Squad coming out this year and Guardians 3 postponed (presumably to 2023).

Since the early May (or sometimes late April) date is the prime one for Marvel Studios, the decision was made to drop the planned July 2020 release date and push Black Widow forward to the May one. To me, this never seemed like quite the right way to open Phase 4 (even though its place as the opener was circumstantial). Even though it would have worked in a similar way as Spider-Man: Far From Home to tie up some loose ends and set up some new stuff for the future, a midquel starring a character who has already died in the main timeline that appears to be a much smaller-scale project than the most recent ones being the big comeback after a relatively long break for the MCU just seemed a tad underwhelming. These concerns weren’t about the movie’s quality so much as the level of hype it could bring and “Marvel’s back, baby!” statement it could make not seeming as potentially impactful as other projects, for various reasons.

Here’s the thing: The MCU keeps setting the bar higher and higher for itself, and it’s going to be hard for them to top it in terms of scale a la Avengers: Endgame, at least for awhile; for now they need to try to work on other ways to dazzle and surprise audiences. So after Guardians 3 moved back a few years and we started learning more about the first batch of MCU Disney+ series, I honestly wished Marvel would be able to get one of those done in time to be the project to kick off Phase 4, even though the shooting schedules clearly didn’t allow for it. All three of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki looked to be exciting and future-building for the MCU, taking it to new places via new genres. And the new-to-the-MCU medium of streaming for these projects would help them get away from some of the inevitable comparisons to what we saw in the Infinity Saga and allow them to stand as their own sort of thing.

Of these three, I would have chosen The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to be the first Phase 4 project out of the gate. (I know it’s because of production scheduling and the pandemic that it’s not going to be the first series anymore, but let’s pretend it was a possibility, okay?) There looks to be some level of focus on recovery from the Blip and setting things up for the MCU’s future. It looks like it’s going to be different enough to feel fresh and exciting, but not so different as to throw everyone into the deep end first thing and alienate potential viewers…which is a concern I have for what is actually going to be the Phase 4 opener, WandaVision.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited for WandaVision (even more than TF&TWS, actually). I’m glad the MCU is taking big swings with this show, and I expect it to be a critical hit. But those who have seen the first three episodes – including our own Charles Murphy – have said the episodes they were shown are very much focused on the domestic life of Wanda and Vision, and while that was pretty much what I expected based on interviews and promotional footage, I’m worried it’s going to be a turn-off to certain audiences. I can’t help but wonder what people who want a lot of action and big set pieces right out of the gate when getting their MCU fix, might feel when the first content they get in a year and a half is a 1950’s sitcom homage with no action and little supernatural or magical elements, especially when it seems like we’re going to be getting several weeks of these sitcom antics before getting to the more typical superhero fare.

As I said, I’m personally very excited for all of this, and am glad the MCU is exploring new formats and genres. But this particular project being the first taste of Phase 4 – an era that is already sort of “primed for hate” no matter what it produces because what came before it was so well-received – is definitely a big risk. I do think it’s a better fit for the opener than, say, Black Widow would have been precisely because it’s going big in certain respects (likely in ways that are atypical) and I can only hope that MCU fans will keep an open mind about WandaVision (and the rest of the upcoming slate) and that it may even draw in some new viewers to the franchise. If this works out well for Marvel, we’re sure to get an even wider array of stories in the future.

January 10, 2021
How Disney+ Impacted the Streaming Market With What Hulu Pioneered

WandaVision is only a few more days away. We just got the first reactions to the show’s first three episodes, and it seems we are in for a curious mystery. The upcoming Marvel Studios’ series are embracing the weekly release model that Disney+ introduced with The Mandalorian. It was in stark contrast to Netflix’s approach, which made the concept of binge-watching a household regularity. They tend to release their eight- to thirteen-episode seasons in one day. So, anyone can sit down and watch the entire series in one sitting. It was the streaming standard for some time. Well, that was until The Mandalorian switched things up during the launch of Disney+ in 2019.

The House of Mouse decided to release their episodes weekly in the same vein as classic television. It was a massive success for the new streaming service, as people were discussing the latest episode and reveal of the Child. Word-of-mouth would spread and add new subscribers to the platform, as everyone wanted to know why everyone is talking about Baby Yoda. Of course, the show hasn’t released every episode yet. So, each week would come with Social Media buzz, discussions, and theories. Disney+ didn’t invent the weekly release, as it was something another Disney-owned service had been doing for a while. Hulu has been a pioneer in this department by sticking to their weekly release schedule, which got highlighted in a 2015 review with Hulu’s VP, Craig Erwich:

We value the shared experience and the joy of the water cooler that is television

The buzz surrounding The Mandalorian was no small feat and quickly got Amazon’s attention. They then decided to release the second season of The Boys weekly to build up some hype with each episode’s release. It sounded great on paper, as they could add more relevance to the season’s overarching plot, but it ended up becoming quite the controversy. The series got review-bombed for taking this route. It was a considerable shift for the series, as the initial season was available to binge-watch on Day 1. Netflix has also been embracing a weekly release with a few shows, such as The Great British Baking Show in late 2019. Their dominant strategy will remain with binge releases, but it certainly proves Hulu was correct to stick to their guns.

Now, why did this shift only really start to get traction across streaming markets after Disney+ copied Hulu’s model? Well, it most likely has to do with branding. Yes, it sounds a bit too simple, but Disney’s name gets a lot of attention. Hulu did have Disney-based intellectual properties, most notably Runaways, but didn’t have the same kind of build-up. It also is only available in the United States, so the buzz that existed was strictly kept to local markets. Disney+ was smart and focused on popular IP-based series, such as The Mandalorian building on the hype of being the first live-action Star Wars series. They also are very deliberate with pointing out that WandaVision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the many other future Marvel shows are marketed as Marvel Studios’ productions.

It also has the selling factor of being a hub for all Disney IPs alongside the promise of high-quality productions. You have a perfect recipe for a new streaming service to enter the market and disrupt it. 72.4 million new subscribers by November are proof of that. Hulu’s limited availability also is a key factor here. Instead of expanding the brand, Disney is more focused on adding its content library to Disney+ through the STAR brand, which will help boost its standing internationally. Netflix will most likely stick to their binge format, but we could see them explore this concept with other shows. Amazon’s test with The Boys‘ second season was certailny successful. It was so popular enough to give Netflix’s highest-rated shows some fierce competition. Disney+ may not have revolutionized the streaming market, but it certainly left quite an impact on how others in the market will approach their scheduling moving forward.

Source: Forbes, Variety, The Wrap, Business Insider, Forbes

January 9, 2021
Marvel Studios’ ‘Legends’ Is Good, But It Can Be Better

Yes, I used a tagline from Wonder Woman 1984 to discuss Marvel Studios’ latest addition: Legends. I can’t help myself, as the title was just too perfect. The first Disney+ original show produced by Marvel Studios is an interesting one. Technically speaking, WandaVision will be the first actual show, but this is the first series released by Marvel Studios. It even is categorized as a documentary series interesting enough. The idea is perfect for any Disney+ subscriber who doesn’t have a categorical memory of Marvel Cinematic Universe history. I enjoyed watching the premiere episodes, but it felt like something was missing. It wasn’t until I saw a tweet by @RICHARDLNEWBY that my gears started to turn. So, I started to ponder ideas that could’ve made this good series even better.

Right now, Legends is an official supercut of each character’s history in the MCU. The first episodes highlight the moments that defined Wanda and Vision’s journey so far. The series exists to build up the release of WandaVision and every subsequent franchise. It is no longer than seven-minutes per episode and re-uses existing assets to highlight their journey to this point. It works well and is a great idea to help those that haven’t actively memorized every moment or just needed a pick-me-up after the year-long hiatus.

Yet, it feels like there was an opportunity here to do more. As Newby pointed out, there is no mention of the character’s comic origins, no interviews with the actor, or even highlighting their transition from concept art to live-action. It would’ve been the perfect opportunity to showcase all the artwork and ideas that never made it to the screen. Especially now, as specific entries in Marvel Studios’ Art Of book collection aren’t easy to purchase.

However, I want to go one step further and highlight what I believe to be the truly missed opportunity of this base concept. Legends could’ve been an actual show with its cast. I think it should’ve been the MCU’s version of Kurt Busiek and Alex Ross‘ iconic Marvels mini-series. The Daily Bugle has already gotten introduced in Spider-Man: Far From Home, so it would’ve been the perfect time to introduce Phil Sheldon.

We see all these events unfold from the perspective of a regular news reporter. In each episode, Sheldon works on a case that revolves around one of the characters. For example, he could’ve explored Wanda’s sudden disappearance. It would lead him to retrace her steps, visit the remains of Avengers Headquarter. He may interview people that worked there and their impression of the former Sokovian. In a way, his existence allows Marvel Studios to fill in the blanks that occur between each film’s release. We get witness accounts of various events and gain a new perspective.

It probably is an unrealistic expectation that this show would exist to fill in the blanks. The route they chose was the financially most viable option, as you don’t need to cast people, write scripts surrounding each episode while also mapping out productions so it’ll be ready in time. Still, I would love to see this concept explored as a Disney+ series at some point. It is the reason I started the podcast series LockeDown, as it was just such a fun idea to explore the MCU beyond the heroes we know. The Legends concept is good as it is, but I believe there is a lot of potential here to make it a great and memorable addition to Marvel Studios’ library of content.

January 8, 2021
Theory Thursday: Let’s Talk Terrigen

Good Day Class! Today, we’re going to talk about the substance known as Terrigen.

Long ago, the alien race of the Kree created the rare mineral and gave it to another race known as the Inhumans for safekeeping on Earth’s Moon. An interesting aspect of the mineral is that when the crystals are exposed to water at the correct temperature, the crystals can react with the water to produce another substance known as Terrigen Mist. Exposure to this Terrigen Mist can have varying effects amongst Humans, Inhumans, and Mutants, based on the genetic information we each carry.

In regular humans, the Terrigen Mists can actually be very lethal and even kill them. In mutants, the effect can also be similar as it is highly toxic for mutants and can lead to the development of a disease known as M-Pox. For Inhumans, on the other hand, it produce a different effect. Let’s remember that Inhumans are essentially human beings whose genetic composition was altered via experimentation by extraterrestrial beings. On the surface, they look like the average human. But when exposed to the Terrigen Mists, the dormant Inhuman gene activates, and the Inhuman undergoes a process known as Terrigenesis. The process allows the Inhuman to essentially gain abilities, making them meta-humans. An example of an Inhuman whose ability was unlocked by the Terrigen Mist was none other than Kamala Khan. Kamala is an Inhuman whose powers manifested following exposure to the Terrigen Mists. Kamala’s Inhuman powers have been present in her DNA her whole life, it just took the Mists to unlock them.

How does this backstory translate to the MCU when Ms. Marvel finally arrives?

In the comics, Kamala had gone to a party the night the Terrigen Mist was released when the ﬂoating Inhuman city of Attilan was destroyed. While it is unlikely that we’ll actually see the city of Attilan appear during the Ms. Marvel series, it is highly probable that the circumstances leading to her exposure to the Terrigen Mist might be similar. A few weeks ago, we got out first look at Kamala wearing a Captain Marvel inspired outfit, presumably for a Halloween party. It seems that Marvel Studios is adapting the events of Ms. Marvel Vol 3 #1 for Kamala’s origin and her powers, Kamala sneaking out to go attend a party, the partygoers might make fun of her for dressing as Captain Marvel, she leaves and we know how the rest of the story plays out. Perhaps it can all go down during the first episode of the series and it could end with Kamala being wrapped up in Terragenesis cocoon, her emerging with her new powers and ending in a similar fashion to that comic.

Ms. Marvel will premiere exclusively on Disney+.

January 7, 2021