Murphy's Multiverse

Category: Features

  • Marvel Studios is at a Crossroads

    Marvel Studios is at a Crossroads

    Marvel Studios’ has faced its worst opening weekend with The Marvels. Is it a simple discussion surrounding superhero or Marvel fatigue? Going by just how varied the discussions are online, it’s very likely not as simple as anyone wants it to be. One could discuss the impact of the last few years, a rough 2023 box office for blockbusters, the SAG as well as WGA strikes, and many more factors. So, there might simply not be a singular reason and just a lot of elements coming together.

    Of course, these kinds of numbers establish the expected “end” of Marvel Studios’ discussion online. Articles have dropped announcing that the films are no longer events which is why no one is watching them. Certain subsections proclaim the end of Marvel due to “wokeness” and whatever personal reason one has when leaving the franchise behind as “it should’ve ended with Endgame” echoes throughout the dark corners of the web. For years, the discussion was that superhero movies would go the way of the Western and if that point has been reached, we’ll likely see a very different Marvel Studios moving forward.

    As such, it seems like the perfect time to discuss what exactly the future might hold for Marvel Studios and likely the results that’ll come from this blow at the box office. We have no insight into what Marvel Studios will truly do moving forward but there are already some minor hints that may tease what the future has in store and what we can expect from the studio that reinvented blockbusters for over 15 years. We’re at a crossroads and potentially the beginning of a new era moving forward.

    First Signs Exist in 2023

    Bob Iger returned as the CEO of Disney, which saw Bob Chapek try his best to figure out what exactly they would be doing during a pandemic. He carried over the Disney+ goals that were started by his predecessor only to buckle under the weight and get replaced. Yet, Iger’s run since hasn’t been something one would describe as a “return to form” but he has pointed out that a reduction of releases is something they are definitely going to review the future.

    At the time the pandemic hit, we were leaning into a huge increase in how much we were making. And I’ve always felt that quantity can be actually a negative when it comes to quality, and I think that’s exactly what happened. We lost some focus.

    Bob Iger

    2023 was still a big push from all studios to make bank after a rough pandemic, but it has led to many films fizzling out. As much as we want to point to Barbenheimer and Super Mario Bros. Movie as a showcase of how strong the year was: it simply wasn’t. Many films have bloated budgets due to filming during COVID and subsequently were never going to truly make their money back outside of some massive numbers. Prices are on the rise and with a cost of living crisis affecting people’s decisions, it becomes clear that people are far more selective than they’ve ever been (a reason it’s not as simple as just fatigue).

    One thing is clear though: we’ll see fewer releases moving forward. We already saw the reduction of output in 2023 with only two Disney+ series hitting the streaming service with quite a bit of time between each release; even if Secret Invasion didn’t quite help matters. The Marvels was pushed from July to November, which ended up hurting it due to the actor’s strike heavily hampering its promotion build-up. So, we’re already in the middle of a transition phase for the studio.

    New Disney+ Strategy

    Actually, there is one new highlight I ended up leaving out and that is Marvel Spotlight. Out of nowhere, Marvel Studios unveiled an entirely new banner just for their “grounded” stories that aren’t necessary for the major storyline being told throughout the phases. It was a strategic move that definitely left some ripples alongside a strong first impression with Echo’s trailer. Ever since there’s been a bit more positivity in the air that was definitely needed for the franchise that has been. Of course, outlets were still ready to say it’s too late or won’t fix any of the issues it’s facing. Head of Streaming, Brad Winderbaum, shared the inspiration for this new brand:

    Marvel Spotlight gives us a platform to bring more grounded, character-driven stories to the screen, and in the case of Echo, focusing on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity. Just like comics fans didn’t need to read Avengers or Fantastic Four to enjoy a Ghost Rider Spotlight comic.

    Brad Winderbaum

    It’s unclear if this might just become the de facto banner for the Disney+ shows and the way it is being described is to ease viewers into it. The fact of the matter is: there’s a lot of debate about Disney+ and the film’s connections potentially muddling viewership a bit, especially with The Marvels that technically ties into multiple stories. While many have been quick to point out that every Marvel film quickly introduces elements from these shows and doesn’t require audiences to do the homework they complain about online, it’s a clever way to just visually create a distinction and ease audiences in.

    Still, one thing that the Disney+ shows should do is focus primarily on becoming the venue of exploring either side stories from movie characters or simply setting up its own subset within the grander universe. In a way, they could take the Defenders approach from Netflix and simply have its own little build-up with various characters that can bleed into Avengers releases that tie the entire Phase together. Small references here or there could ease viewers in but not lead to discussions of: “why is Ms. Marvel headlining a movie, does it mean I need to watch her show to know who she is?”

    Daredevil and Echo could become the grounded, street-level heroes on Disney+ that are visually and much more distinct from what they do with the movies. That would also help make the films stand out more, as these shows are no longer just as bombastic and expensive as their main counterparts. Agents of SHIELD worked as a complementary series that looked like it was part of the universe but distinctively is a TV series.

    New Cinematic Strategy

    2024 will only give us Deadpool 3 and that likely is mainly due to the writer’s strike but also potentially a deliberate choice to restructure next year. The only question is if they will stick with their 2025 schedule, which now includes three releases as is the usual norm for the studio. Yet, we might see them move away from that once they start reshuffling moving forward.

    The biggest problem that plagues these films is the production costs that have ballooned since COVID. The Marvels marks the final production that occurred during that time with everything heading our way in the coming years once again being under somewhat normal production rules for the studio moving forward. Though the SAG and WGA strikes are definitely going to show their thorns with Captain America: Brave New World which is getting extensive reshoots and Deadpool 3.

    Still, it would seem wise to perhaps pull back a bit going into 2025. Once again rolling out three films and who knows how many Disney+ series might just set them right back to where they are currently. Perhaps going back to the days of two releases a year to slowly build up momentum again might be the best way forward.

    Hell, if they do it right they could have one major event release per year with a bigger budget behind it, something we might see with Captain America 4, and then try to focus on a smaller project in that same year which can make back its money with even a softer release. Blade is rumored to have a $100M production budget and would perfectly fit that very bill. Once things “normalize” we might see the old MCU budgets back in action, as the current ones are definitely not intended. That way they can build up relevance and still given minor characters a spotlight even if they carry a bigger box office risk.

    No Single Solution

    Even making these examples and ideas of how Marvel Studios could move forward; mostly based on what signs are already there; there’s no true single solution to it all. Every franchise will eventually end up in a slump and the box office developments between The Marvels and previous projects are still showcasing a distinction. The current slump may remain an anomaly due to multiple factors affecting its release and the question will be if Deadpool 3 can draw in a crowd given where Marvel stands.

    Going into 2024, I wouldn’t expect many more releases outside of Echo and perhaps one more Disney+ series. There’s a chance the binge model works for them so they do make use of it to avoid the series occupying too much time and potentially not leading to the consensus of overwhelming audiences. Yet, this year has proven that they can have a massive success like Loki’s second season and a mild reception like Secret Invasion.

    The clear thing is: that once they show more consistency moving forward for audiences as they build toward Avengers: Secret Wars, we might see audiences once again return to theaters to not miss out on the latest Marvel movie. The studio is at a crossroads rather than an immediate stop. Whatever happens, moving forward depends on how they react to this current status and how they decide to build upon it moving forward.

    Source: The Verge, CNBC, Deadline, Variety, ComicBookMovies.com

  • ‘The Marvels’ Uncanny Post-Credit Scene’s Explained

    ‘The Marvels’ Uncanny Post-Credit Scene’s Explained

    By now, even if you haven’t seen the movie it’s likely you’ve heard about the beastly post-credit scene of The Marvels. The scene brought Monica Rambeau face-to-face with an alternate reality variant of her mother, Maria, and a very familiar furry friend. Despite it being clear who everyone is, there’s no clarity about exactly where in the multiverse she is, leaving the audience just as confused as Monica. While we can’t offer any clarity on that, we can look to the comics for a little help about what might have gone down in that universe before her arrival.

    After Kelsey Grammar’s Beast is revealed, a wider look at the facility in which Monica is recovering makes it clear that she’s in an X-Men facility. It’s also revealed that in this universe, Maria is a fully costumed superhero. While we’ve seen that idea fleshed out once before in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s a little different here as Beast refers to her as Binary and she’s wearing quite a different costume. Given what we know, it seems that this post-credit scene is very heavily influenced by longtime Marvel Comics writer Chris Claremont’s beloved Uncanny X-Men run.

    From 1975 through 1991, Claremont gave new life to the X-Men and made them one of Marvel Comics premier teams. In 1982, Claremont wrote Carol Danvers into Uncanny X-Men #158, kicking off a long run of her appearing in his X-book and even becoming an honorary member of the team. Claremont remade Danvers, who had never been anywhere near as fully realized as she was during her time in his books. In Uncanny X-Men #164, Danvers–with a brand new power set, took the name Binary.

    While not everything lines up perfectly, the universe in which Monica wakes up at the end of The Marvels may be one in which events much like those from Claremont’s Uncanny X-Men have unfolded. Just how that will impact the future of MCU, if at all, remains to be seen but it would be great to see nods to the Shi’ar space opera, Rogue’s interesting history with Carol (which would probably be with Maria, instead) or even the Morlocks pop up the next time we see that universe on screen.

  • REVIEW: ‘Loki’ Episode 5 Shows the Power of the Longform Narrative

    REVIEW: ‘Loki’ Episode 5 Shows the Power of the Longform Narrative

    As Loki nears the completion of its second season, it continues to stand as the nonpareil of what Marvel Studios television was initially intended to be and should endeavor to continue to be. Thanks in no small measure to the continued brilliance of Tom Hiddleston, the show continues, in modern parlance, to slap, slay and dish out weekly bangers. While it’s illogical, even preposterous, premise all but guarantees it’s not for everybody, Loki continues to embrace its place as a true sci-fi show and seems with each passing episode to submerge further into those depths. To that end, it’s no surprise that Season 2’s fifth episode, “Science/Fiction” turned out not only to be the most convoluted and nonsensical entry to date but also one of the series’ best and maybe one of Marvel Studios’ best episodic efforts.

    As the penultimate episode of Season 2, “Science Fiction” does what penultimate episodes do. It makes real the consequences of the season’s ongoing concerns about the stability of the Temporal Loom which finally gave out in Episode 4’s cliffhanger. The destruction of the Loom, which refines raw time into the timelines where people live their lives, resulted in both the destruction of the TVA and, as revealed in Episode 5, the destruction of those timelines. When the Loom isn’t Looming, entire realities and their inhabitants are reduced to spaghetti, something that not even Sylvie, the colder-hearted Loki Variant, can abide. The loss of the Temporal Loom also puts Loki back in a familiar predicament as his time-slipping, thought to have been remedied in the season’s first episode, resumes albeit with an interesting twist as he bops about to different realities where familiar faces from the TVA are living their lives. By episode’s end and with the help of Ke Huy Quan’s A.D. Doug, PhD, Loki is empowered to control time-slipping, creates a bare-bones TVA and puts himself on the path to make an effort to save all of reality in the Season 2 finale. Job well done.

    (L-R): Wunmi Mosaku as Hunter B-15, Owen Wilson as Mobius, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Eugene Cordero as Casey, and Ke Huy Quan as O.B. in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Gareth Gatrell. © 2023 MARVEL.

    However, as part of Marvel’s longest longform episodic narrative to date, “Science/Fiction” serves as a linchpin not only for Season 2 but for the series as a whole. Season 2 head writer Eric Martin’s presence as a key contributor to Season 1 allowed for continuity of the creatives behind the series which means that the big ideas from the first six episodes are far from forgotten. Indeed, “Science/Fiction” may have just put Loki and Sylvie right in the same boat in which they found themselves when they met He Who Remains in the Citadel at the End of Time. In that meeting, He Who Remains offered the pair the power to be curators of the Sacred Timeline as his replacement as the man behind the curtain of the TVA. By assembling an all-new, all-different team and learning to slip time at will, Loki has put himself in position to prevent the destruction of the TVA (man, the time wimey stuff here is so fun–and painful–to think through) and, with no leadership left to speak of, take control. Take a bow, Al Ewing, as Loki is about to become the God of Stories.

    There is, however, one fairly large question left to ponder as we wait for Episode 6: is Loki really writing this or any other story? Should Loki end up in charge of the TVA, isn’t that right where He Who Remains wanted him? Of course, as the God of Stories, Loki may somehow find a way to use Victor Timely’s Multiplier to allow the newly branched timelines to continue on but if not, if the decision is made keep all of reality intact by refining time back into the Sacred Timeline, won’t He Who Remains have accomplished exactly what he wanted? While he’s not the most trustworthy narrator, He Who Remains made it very clear that he was the architect of Loki’s existence and it was through his machinations that Loki ended up in the Citadel in the first place. As this Variant of Loki who has come so far on his road to redemption finally finds himself on the precipice of becoming the hero of all time, always, would Marvel Studios dare take his agency from him and reveal that he’s simply been He Who Remains marionette all along? With one episode left to go, it looks like we’ll all find out together just how much of this story has truly been written for Loki and how much has been written by him.

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

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘The Marvels’

    Marvel Studios’ third and final theatrical release of 2023, The Marvels, opens in theaters on November 10th. Since the title was revealed, fans have questioned why the studio wasn’t branding it a Captain Marvel sequel and the answer is pretty simple: The Marvels is more than a sequel to the 2019 Brie Larson vehicle. While Larson returns as Carol Danvers, she’s sharing the stage with Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris and The Marvels is as much a follow-up to the respective introductions of those characters in Ms. Marvel and WandaVision as it is the next chapter in Carol’s MCU story. For fans, that means your refresher course is a little more robust than for the average sequel…and it’s time to get started! As always, we’ve done the work for you and proudly present the Ultimate List of What to Watch Before The Marvels!

    Tier One

    If you’re short on time and want it boiled down to the minimum amount of prep that it’s going to take to enjoy The Marvels fully, you’ll want to carve out time the time on your schedule to watch the following 3 projects:

    Captain Marvel

    Though it’s not called Captain Marvel: Subtitle, The Marvels will very much deal with the fallout from Carol Danvers’ actions in the 2019 box office darling. Carol tore the Kree Empire a fresh one and took out their brightest and best with minimal effort. All these years later, things are going so well on Hala and Carol’s bill is about to come due. And, don’t forget, Captain Marvel is Nick Fury’s MCU origin story, too…


    Ms. Marvel

    In some ways, Kamala Khan may just be more central to the story of The Marvels than any other character. If you’re really short for time, you could just watch the final post-credit scene with was shot during production on The Marvels. However, you might want to catch back up on a little of the lore behind Kamala’s bangle and some of what makes her tick.


    WandaVision

    Finally, The Marvels also continues the story of Monica Rambeau. While you can catch up on her early days and her relationship with Carol by rewatching Captain Marvel. The last time Monica was seen on screen in the MCU, she had only recently become powered up and was just starting to get a handle on her impressive new skill set. Both those parts of her past will play prominent roles in The Marvels.

    Tier Two

    While Tier One projects should be considered non-negotiables as part of any rewatch, Tier Two projects should just be considered supplemental. If you have time to fit these three projects into your schedule, you’ll feel a little more satisfied contextually when you sit down in theaters to watch The Marvels.

    Avengers: Endgame

    Though she doesn’t take up a major chunk of screentime in it, Avengers: Endgame establishes that Carol kept very busy in the galaxy since Captain Marvel. It also makes it clear that she’s one of the most powerful heroes in the galaxy. But has she been so busy that she forgot about the people closest to her?

    Secret Invasion

    The events of this Disney Plus streaming series will probably have a whole lot less to do with what happens in The Marvels than you think but it is absolutely relevant if for nothing more than it served as a bridge for Nick Fury to get back in action. Fury is front and center in The Marvels and back to that “old Nick” the Secret Invasion writers bludgeoned you to death with.

    Thor: Love and Thunder

    Why is this on the list? If you’re brave enough to rewatch Thor: Love and Thunder and have paid attention to rumors about The Marvels, you’ll be able to figure it out.

    Tier Three

    For the completists out there only. Realistically, having watched these projects once should provide all you’ll need to enjoy any characters or residual plot points in The Marvels; however, rewatches aren’t all about pragmatism! These are listed in chronological order for your viewing pleasure.

    The Nick Fury stuff speaks for itself: the man plays a major role in Carol’s life and she in his.

    The rest of these projects…take your best guess. This is a rewatch guide not full spoilers!

    Captain America: The First Avenger

    Iron Man

    Iron Man 2

    The Avengers

    Captain America: The Winter Soldier

    Avengers: Age of Ultron

    Thor: Ragnarok

    Loki

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    Hawkeye

  • Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ and the Road to Season 2

    Netflix’s ‘One Piece’ and the Road to Season 2

    Netflix is infamous for being very specific on what show will return for a second season, especially regarding high investments. So, there are a lot of questions surrounding One Piece and its chance to get a renewal potentially. The adaptation surprised many by getting a fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a high IMDb score, while also now flaunting the #1 spot in 84 countries, which is higher than what was reported for Wednesday and even Stranger Things. Yet, that isn’t the “Season 2” confirmation quite yet that some might be hoping for.

    Fair Wages

    As long as studios aren’t paying writers and actors any fair wages, we’re not going to see any shows go into production anytime soon. So, Netflix might either wait it out completely before even making a decision. As of now, the discussions between the WGA, SAG, and AMPTP remain at a standstill and there’s likely still going to drag out going into the rest of the half year. So, some shows’ future remains a big question mark at the moment.

    However, Netflix did renew XO, Kitty for a second season while the writer’s strike was still going on. They can always make an announcement to keep interest in the project and ride the discussions online. In May, they also gave The Witcher two additional seasons even though Liam Hemsworth is going to replace one of its main stars and one of the show’s draws, Henry Cavill. At the time, WGA was the only one striking so who knows if they are more hesitant now that SAG also is fighting for a fair wage.

    Budgetary Concerns

    The big concern is the high investment for this series. It reportedly is more expensive than even Game of Thrones and while we don’t know how it compares to Stranger Things or Wednesday, it still will need to impress with its viewership. We are still only a few days in and there’s also the factor that the series’ completion rate showcases an ongoing interest in the series beyond just its first season. What’s On Netflix has a great breakdown of how exactly the streaming service decides what is worth continuing and not.

    The recent news on the #1 placements in the world is a great start but doesn’t reflect the exact viewership quite yet. Netflix changed its metrics recently and is also hopeful for these binge series to last for multiple weeks (instead of ensuring that with an actual weekly release). So, the next few weeks will give us a better look at how well the show holds up and if word-of-mouth might keep the series at the top spot for weeks to come.

    The one additional factor that may give One Piece some benefit is that the series already includes a variety of merchandise. So, an additional income source may give the series some additional potential for the streaming service to decide if it is worth continuing. The original manga and anime series supposedly generated $3 billion in merch sales alone. So, Netflix might be hopeful to accomplish the same with this new adaptation given how fast they are rushing them out around the series’ release.

    Cautiously Optimistic

    For now, it’s just too early to say if One Piece is going to face a renewal or not. The positive reception gives it the potential to grow through strong word-of-mouth and we’ll have to see if the series also had people watching the full way through. The inclusion of elements from future seasons and a variety of Easter eggs for new and familiar fans of the series could give some incentives to rewatch the series.

    They also added the Japanese dub later on that could have some hardcore fans give it at least one more watch. There is enough here that its audience can grow throughout the next few weeks, as there is also no real competition with other major releases. So, we’ll also have to see if Netflix makes a grand statement on its performance similar to what they did with Wednesday shortly after its release.

    Source: What’s On Netflix, IndieWire, Own Your Own Future, NetflixLife, Deadline, Twitter

  • The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Season 2 of ‘Loki’

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Season 2 of ‘Loki’

    With the recent news that Marvel Studios had once again reshuffled their streaming slate, fans have just one more live-action adventure to look forward to on Disney Plus in 2023. The good news, however, is that it’s the second season of what was undoubtedly one of the studio’s strongest beginning-to-end streaming series to date: Loki!

    With a strong core cast returning and Season 1 writer Eric Martin taking over as showrunner, Season 2 of Loki should prove worthy of the lofty expectations fans have for it. While it certainly has some heavy lifting to do in terms of furthering the ongoing narrative of the Multiverse Saga–especially filling in some more of the background of its big bad, Kang–the second season also promises more of what made the first season so great: the bromance between star Tom Hiddleston’s redeemed Loki and Owen Wilson’s Mobius.

    With Season 2 of Loki slated to premiere on Disney Plus on October 6th, it’s time to start your rewatch and, as always, we’ve prepared THE only resource you’ll need to get you started.

    Tier One

    Tier One projects are non-negotiable essentials to be watched/re-watched before streaming Season 2 of Loki. If you want to understand what’s happening, these two projects–listed in chronological order– are all you truly need.

    Loki Season 1

    Since first appearing in 2011’s Thor, Tom Hiddleston has curated one of the MCU’s most enduring and beloved characters in Loki; however, one of the most interesting and certainly most important things to remember while watching Season 2 of Loki is that this iteration of the character, for the most part, isn’t the one fans got to know so well through his five film appearances. This Loki is a Variant–Variant L1130, to be exact–created when Loki escaped with the Tesseract during the Battle of New York during the Avengers’ time heist. While an argument could be made, then, that Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012) could be included in Tier One, those projects don’t seem to have a significant amount of influence on the streaming series so for folks who need their rewatch to be short(ish) and sweet, those can probably be avoided.

    Of course, Loki isn’t just the story of Hiddleston’s Loki Variant but also the wonderfully spicy L1190 Variant, Sylvie Laufeydottir, played by Sophia Di Martino. It was her actions, after all, that allowed the timeline to branch and create the Multiverse and set the MCU on the path toward Secret Wars. Her relationship with Loki Laufeyson was one of the most interesting aspects of Season 1 and she once again plays a massive role in Season 2. There are also the to-be-continued stories of Wilson’s Mobius, Wunmi Mosako’s Hunter B-15 and Gugu Mbatha-Raw‘s Ravonna Renslayer (please give her something more to do) that will play a role in the sequel season as well. And, of course, there’s Jonathan Majors‘ incredible debut as He Who Remains which provides as much insight into the Multiverse and the Multiverse Saga as anything so far. There’s just no way you can watch Season 2 without at least refreshing yourself on the highlights on Season 1!

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

    Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2022 MARVEL.

    Jonathan Majors‘ Kang Variants haven’t really accomplished too much onscreen just yet but relative to what Thanos got done at the same point in time in the Infinity Saga, the new Saga’s big bad has the edge. The death of He Who Remains in Season 1 of Loki allowed for Kang the Conqueror to menance Scott Lang, the Ant-Family and the Quantum Realm in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania and his death (or disappearance) at the hands of those allied forces put the Council of Kangs on watch. When the Multiverse Saga is all said and done, Kang is going to play/will have played a key role which makes Quantumania must. The film also helps to get an understanding of how the MCU’s Multiverse works and with how little we actually know, it’s worth it for that alone. Additionally, at least one more Kang Variant, Victor Timely, is known to appear in Loki Season 2 and their are rumors that He Who Remains will find his way back into the mix. It’s possible other Variants will pop up, too, and it’s also very likely that the Conqueror plays some role as well.

    Tier Two

    As mentioned, these three films are the prelude to the opening of Season 1 of Loki. As such, they certainly inform who the character is when he’s apprehended by the TVA’s Minutemen in the Gobi Desert. That Loki underwent significant character development in Season 1 but it’s still worth your time to revisit these projects if for nothing else than to enjoy Hiddleston’s devilish performances as the God of Mischief.

    Thor

    After originally auditioning for the role of Thor, Hiddleston accepted the role of Loki after Chris Hemsworth was named as the God of Thunder…and Marvel fans everywhere have benefitted from it for over a decade. While it took Hemsworth a couple of projects to grow on fans as Thor, Hiddleston owned the role of Loki right away. While Thor may not be at the top of everyone’s rewatch lists, simply ask yourself what the MCU would have been without it and then sit down and enjoy.

    Avengers

    By the time Loki arrived on Earth in the opening of 2012’s The Avengers, Hiddleston’s legend had already taken on a life of its own…and it grew greater as the Prince of Lies became the driving force for the Avengers to assemble for the first time. While he ultimately found himself on the business end of one of the MCU’s most memorable beatings, he was still a dirty, rotten scoundrel with designs on fulfilling his glorious purpose.

    Avengers: Endgame

    Endgame is always worth the rewatch but in this case it provides the Nexus Event that allows for the divergent timeline on which the events of Season 1 of Loki took place to be created. While you really only need to rewatch the film’s retelling of the Battle of New York, feel free to relive one of the MCU’s greatest films in its entirety.

    Tier Three

    These six Tier Three projects are unlikely to have much of anything to do with the plot of Season 2 of Loki; however, if you’re a completist, you’re going to want to do all of your relevant homework!

    The first three projects on the list complete the story of the redemption of Loki, Prince of Asgard, Odinson who ultimately died at the hands of Thanos. They also give you an opportunity to see Hiddleston fully inhabit the character in some of his best work.

    Thor: The Dark World

    Admittedly one of the toughest films to rewatch in its entirety, it’s no fault of Hiddleston; if anything, he makes it watchable. The Dark World begins to truly dive deeply into who Loki is and what is motivations are, creating a version of the character that you love, hate, trust and fear all at once.

    Thor: Ragnarok

    Like everyone else, Hiddleston was having a lot of fun in this one and gave one of his most complete performances as Loki. Ragnarok gave Loki a chance to be the god and hero he always longed to be…but Loki’s gonna Loki and by taking the Tesseract, he sealed his own fate.

    Avengers: Infinity War

    As painful as it might be to watch Loki have his godly neck snapped by Thanos, it’s one of the most important deaths in the entirety of the MCU. Audiences learned quickly that Thanos was a threat to be taken seriously and Thor was given all the motivation he needed to avenge his newly-redeemed brother’s death.

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

    Eh…it talks about the multiverse.

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    Though this movie doesn’t reference any of the Loki Variants, it does introduce the idea of Incursions and it’s likely that idea will be revisited or further explored in Season 2.

    What If…?

    Season 1 of Loki created the Multiverse in which the stories told in What If…? exist and Loki features as major character in one of the series’ most interesting episodes. The series also gave fans a look at Loki fully realized in all his frost giant glory, something that after being teased briefly in Thor was never really addressed again. So rewatch the entire season or just the episodes with Loki, if you want, but don’t leave these animated stories off your list!

    Frost Giant Loki in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…? exclusively on Disney+. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

    There you have it! Now put down your phone, pick up your remote control and get to it!

  • ‘Ahsoka’: Who are the Nightsisters of Dathomir?

    ‘Ahsoka’: Who are the Nightsisters of Dathomir?

    Ahsoka featured the return of Diana Lee Inosanto’s nefarious Morgan Elsbeth. First seen in Chapter 13 of The Mandalorian, “The Jedi”, Elsbeth was the magistrate of the small, walled city of Calodan on her home planet Corvus. The episode revealed that Elsbeth was loyal to Grand Admiral Thrawn and had some knowledge of where he had disappeared to. In the hopes that finding Thrawn would help her find Ezra Bridger, Ahsoka Tano sought out, battled and defeated Elsbeth, who proved a capable adversary. When last seen, Elsbeth was headed to a New Republic prison for her crimes as an Imperial Loyalist.

    The first episode of Ahsoka, “Master and Apprentice”, reveals that not much has changed for Elsbeth since she was last seen. While headed to trial for her crimes, she’s freed by Dark Jedi mercenaries Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati. By the end of the second episode, “Toil and Trouble”, Elsbeth’s plan to find Thrawn by following the Path to Peridea is revealed. The first two episodes also touch on something even more sinister: Elsbeth is a descendant of the Nighsisters of Dathomir!

    Who are the Nighsisters of Dathomir?

    First introduced in Season 3, Episode 12 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Nighsisters are a clan of witches from the planet Dathomir–the same planet from which Darth Maul and Savage Oppress’ Zabrak species hailed. While neither Sith nor Jedi, the Nightsisters were adept Force users who gave little care to the duality of the Force so often chattered about in Star Wars projects. The clan was often caught up in the Sith’s plans, however, due to their powerful connection to the “magick” they wielded. Darth Sidious coveted Maul, the son of the Nightsister’s leader, Mother Talzin. Another powerful Nightsister, Asajj Ventress, became the apprentice of the fallen Jedi-turned-Sith Count Dooku before being betrayed. Upon returning to her people, Ventress was hunted down by General Grievous who massacred the Nightsisters, putting an end to their small civilization.

    The revelation that Elsbeth is a descendant of the Nightsisters instantly makes her a much larger threat than she was previously revealed to be and gives Ahsoka further room to explore different interpretations of the Force. Elsbeth is seen tapping into the familiar green magical ichor that the Nighsisters manipulate as part of their connection to the Force. Using the ichor to help power the map to Thrawn, Elsbeth speaks of finding the lost Grand Admiral among an “ancient people from a distant galaxy.” One of Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni’s favorite themes is exploring alternate explanations and understandings of the Force. It’s something he explored through not only the Nightsisters but also Bendu. Elsbeth’s connection to the Nightsisters provides an immediate reminder that while the Jedi (and thus the audience) have one very strict interpretation of the Force, it’s not the only interpretation and it seems possible–even likely–that Ahsoka is about to unveil another new take.

  • Episode One of ‘Ahsoka’ Features the Return of a Classic Star Wars Staple

    Episode One of ‘Ahsoka’ Features the Return of a Classic Star Wars Staple

    When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story debuted in 2016, it became the first Star Wars movie without the trademark opening crawl. In an interview with Variety, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy explained that the narrative crawl, which was created by Dan Perri and first appeared in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, was “indicative of what those saga films are,” and that non-saga films, like Rogue One would begin “with just the title.” Perri unloaded on Kennedy for the omission and the President took note.

    “Frankly, it is a huge mistake, because the image is so iconic and it’s so important to tens of millions, hundreds of millions of fans. I couldn’t imagine it starting without that. It’s foolish.”

    Dan Perri on omiiting the opening crawl from Rogue One

    During 2023’s Star Wars Celebration, Kennedy revealed to EW that “the crawl’s coming back” with the caveat that “the crawl is for movies.” Either Dave Filoni didn’t get the memo or he just went full honey badger because Episode 1 of Ahsoka, “Master and Apprentice”, was preceded by the traditional opening crawl, albeit with one minor difference.

    The EVIL GALACTIC EMPIRE has fallen and a NEW REPUBLIC has risen to take its place. However, sinister agents are already at work to undermine the fragile peace.

    A plot is underway to find the lost IMPERIAL GRAND ADMIRAL THRAWN and bring him out of exile. Once presumed dead, rumors are spreading of Thrawn’s return which would galvanize the IMPERIAL REMNANTS and start another war.

    Former Jedi Knight AHSOKA TANO captured one of Thrawn’s allies and learned of a secret map which is vital to the enemy’s plan. Ahsoka now searches for the map as her prisoner, MORGAN ELSBETH, is transported to the New Republic for trial….

    Albeit in red text rather than the traditional yellow, Filoni’s decision to attach the crawl to the beginning of Ahsoka–and to follow it up with the traditional shot of a ship in space–makes a strong statement about how the heir to George Lucas‘ empire feels about his new series.

    Sources: Variety, THR, EW

  • Why Marvel Studios Should Steer Clear of a Time Runs Out Adaptation for ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    Why Marvel Studios Should Steer Clear of a Time Runs Out Adaptation for ‘Doctor Strange 3’

    Even as it becomes increasingly unlikely that Marvel Studios meets its previously slated 2024 release dates as the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes begin to knock down some dominoes, rumors about the future of the MCU continue to swirl. One such rumor indicated that Marvel Studios is contemplating an adaptation of Time Runs Out, a 20-issue comic book event published in 2014 and 2015, for the plot of the third Doctor Strange film. Written by Jonathan Hickman, Time Runs Out served as a prelude to his 2015 Secret Wars and capped his long run on Avengers and New Avengers titles. With Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga set to end with Avengers: Secret Wars, it seems sensible that the studio would turn to the comic book prelude to Secret Wars for inspiration; however, for a studio that’s already losing connectivity with its fanbase, it might be best for them to stay clear of borrowing anything but the title for Doctor Strange 3.

    What is Time Runs Out?

    In 2012 and 2013, Jonathan Hickman took on one of his most ambitious Marvel Comics projects. Working across both the Avengers and New Avengers titles, Hickman laid the groundwork for a new iteration of Secret Wars. Hickman, through Reed Richards “Everything Dies” speech, introduced the idea of the contraction of the Marvel Multiverse through incursions, an eight-hour timeframe in which parallel Earths collide with one another. Those collisions cause the destruction of both universes and, over time, only two universes remained: Earth-616’s, the original Marvel universe, and Earth-1610’s, the Ultimate Universe.

    Time Runs Out tells the story of the final eight months before the incursion between Earth-616 and Earth-1610. It is a vast that includes high-profile members from across the Marvel universe such as the Avengers, the Illuminati, the Cabal, the Fantastic Four, members of the Future Foundation, the Shi’ar Empire, Doctor Doom and more. As a member of the Illuminati, Doctor Strange played a pivotal role in the event. Though a prelude to Secret Wars, Time Runs Out was also the culmination of nearly 60 issues of storytelling by Hickman and required every inch of runway to make it work. As is often the case with Hickman’s work, Time Runs Out included high-concept science fiction and complicated real-world science and, as is often the case with Hickman’s work, it wasn’t for everyone.

    Why Should the MCU Steer Clear of Adapting Time Runs Out for Doctor Strange 3?

    Before answering the question, it’s worth pointing out that if Marvel Studios does choose to move ahead with Doctor Strange: Time Runs Out, the film adaptation will likely only borrow the title and a few plot points and/or characters from Hickman’s work…and that’s for the best.

    An Incursion occurs when the boundary between two universes erodes and they collide, destroying one or both entirely.

    Reed Richards explains incursions to Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    As of now, incursions are the only thing the MCU has in common with Hickman’s run on Avengers and New Avengers and that’s in name only. Whereas in the comics incursions are just part of the natural order of things, though sped up a bit by the untimely end of one alternate Earth, as once again explained by Reed Richards, the MCU’s incursions are–maybe–the result of too much traveling between alternate Earths in the multiverse and, so far, pretty much all caused by different Doctors Strange. Want to destroy an alternate Earth? Just travel to it and hang out there and you’ve got it done.

    The decision to make incursions the results of choices made by characters rather than part of the contraction of the multiverse makes TRULY adapting Time Runs Out impossible. The whole point of Time Runs Out is to put the heroes up against the clock as they try to find a way to stop the incursion that will wipe out their Earth. As more incursions happen, they learn more and more, including how to prevent one. According to the present rules of the MCU’s multiverse, that entire scenario isn’t viable. Incursions are super easy to avoid: just stop traveling the multiverse. And what happens when there are only two Earths left, like in the comics? Why are the heroes and villains of each Earth fighting each other at that point? To keep each other from traveling to each other’s Earth? It seems like moving forward in the MCU, an incursion will probably be an intentional tool of destruction.

    In the Time Runs Out comic book event, Stephen Strange actually joins up with a group of powerful beings, The Black Priests, who were actually all in on intentionally destroying other universes. By deleting a few intrusive Earths, The Black Priests hoped they would stabilize the contracting multiverse. These same Black Priests are rumored to be part of Marvel Studios’ Time Runs Out adaptation and apparently one of them, Clea, has already appeared on screen. Clea’s goal: to fix the latest incursion caused by Strange’s trip to Earth-838. Black Priests fixing incursions rather than causing them (how can they be fixed, anyway?) would make them Black Priests in name only.

    So what’s the problem with adapting Time Runs Out? Nothing has been earned. Nowhere near enough has been set up. And as has already begun to happen, general audiences are going to have a very hard time following the multiversal logic that causes incursions and how they can be fixed. Any true adaptation of Time Runs Out would need to include a significant amount of exposition about the origins of the multiverse and should include a much bigger team of heroes working on the problem. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the comic event was, as a reader, working through the problems in lockstep with the greatest minds of the Marvel Universe. Having Doctor Strange be the sole POV character for an event of this magnitude would not only be underwhelming it would underserve the enormity of the event itself.

    While there’s plenty of reasons for Marvel Studios to turn to Hickman’s works as they approach Avengers: Secret Wars, trying to make an event that included dozens and dozens of Marvel Comics’ brightest and best into another Doctor Strange multiverse adventure (especially considering the lukewarm reaction to the last one) would be a mistake…and Marvel Studios can’t really afford another theatrical mistake in their Multiverse Saga. If they’re not careful, they are going to end up with a film, that like Hickman’s work, is not for everyone.

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

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Ahsoka’

    On August 23rd, Lucasfilm’s latest Star Wars streaming series, Ahsoka, will debut on Disney Plus. Rosario Dawson, who brought the beloved character from animation into live-action in The Mandalorian, now takes the lead in her own series that will reunite the former Jedi with her friends–and enemies–from Star Wars Rebels. With the debut of the series creeping closer, it’s time for the Ultimate List of What to Watch…

    Tier One

    If you feel the need to know watch or rewatch everything that might be important to the show before tuning into Ahsoka, you better set some serious time aside and get started ASAP. Though this is an Ahsoka Tano solo series, it will almost certainly follow threads from her appearances throughout animation and live-action and advance the plot of the ongoing Mandoverse/New Republic Era stories being told by Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. If you want to ensure you won’t miss a beat, watch every second of everything listed here:

    Tales of the Jedi Season 1
    Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1-7
    Star Wars: The Bad Batch
    Star Wars Rebels
    The Mandalorian Seasons 1-3
    The Book of Boba Fett

    Tier Two

    If you don’t have quite that much time on your hands, Disney Plus has already done a fantastic job of assembling a collection of key episodes that will prepare fans, both old and new, for what to expect in Ahsoka and we’ve added plenty of our own suggestions to that list!

    The Beginning

    Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Season 1: Episode 1-Life and Death

    The birth and early days of Ahsoka Tano. “Life and Death” provides a wonderful look at Togruta culture and Ahsoka’s first dabbling with The Force.

    The Clone Wars Season 1

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1: Episode 2-Rising Malevolence

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1: Episode 19-Storm Over Ryloth

    The Clone Wars Season 3

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3: Episode 21-Padawan Lost

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 3: Episode 22-Wookie Hunt

    Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Season 1: Episode 5-Practice Makes Perfect

    The Clone Wars Season 5

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5: Episode 17-Sabotage

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5: Episode 18-The Jedi Who Knew Too Much

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5: Episode 19-To Catch a Jedi

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5: Episode 20-The Wrong Jedi

    The Clone Wars Season 7

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 5-Gone with a Trace

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 6-Deal No Deal

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 7-Dangerous Debt

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 8-Together Again

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 9-Old Friends Not Forgotten

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 10-Phantom Apprentice

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 11-Shattered

    Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7: Episode 12-Victory and Death

    Order 66

    Back-to-back episodes of the first season of The Bad Batch take place on Ryloth where a young Hera Syndulla finds herself in the midst of a crisis that changes the course of her life. Now alone and in hiding, Ahsoka finds herself face-to-face with an Inquisitor in the final episode of the first season of Tales of the Jedi.

    Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1: Episode 11-Devil’s Deal
    Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 1: Episode 12-Rescue on Ryloth
    Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi Season 1: Episode 6-Resolve

    Rebels Season 1

    Star Wars Rebels Season 1: Episode 1-Spark of Rebellion, Part 1

    Star Wars Rebels Season 1: Episode 2-Spark of Rebellion, Part 2

    Star Wars Rebels Season 1: Episode 15-Fire Across the Galaxy

    Rebels Season 2

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 1-The Siege of Lothal: Part 1

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 2-The Siege of Lothal: Part 2

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 3-The Lost Commanders

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 4-Relics of the Old Republic

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 18-Shroud of Darkness

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 21-Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 1

    Star Wars Rebels Season 2: Episode 22-Twilight of the Apprentice: Part 2

    One of the best seasons of any animated Star Wars series–maybe any series of any kind–Season 2 of Rebels gives Ahsoka a big story with a big payoff.

    Rebels Season 3

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 5-Hera’s Heroes

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 8-Iron Squadron

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 10-An Inside Man

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 15-Trials of the Darksaber

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 17-Through Imperial Eyes

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 21-Zero Hour, Part 1

    Star Wars Rebels Season 3: Episode 22-Zero Hour, Part 2

    These episodes, by and large, showcase Thrawn, the Heir to the Empire who will play a major role in Ahsoka.

    Rebels Season 4

    Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Episode 10-Jedi Night

    Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Episode 12-Wolves and a Door

    Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Episode 13-A World Between Worlds

    Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Episode 15-Family Reunion

    Star Wars Rebels Season 4: Episode 16-Farewell

    The final season of Rebels left fans wanting more and Dave Filoni responded with the suite of New Republic Era projects that include Ahsoka.

    Mandoverse Appearances

    The Mandalorian: Chapter 13-The Jedi

    The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 6-From the Desert Comes a Stranger

    As you can see, if you have any intentions of being fully prepared for Ahsoka, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Get after it and may the Force be with you!