Animation takes a long time. But it looks as though the wait for Season 3 of Amazon Prime’s hit animated series, Invincible, won’t be nearly as long as the wait for the recently concluded second season. It took two and a half years for the sophomore season of the comic book adaptation to hit the streaming network following the surprising success of Season 1 in 2021. Even then, Season 2 was split into two parts, with Part 1 debuting in November 2023 and Part 2 debuting in March 2024. Animation takes a long time.
Season 2 of Invincible completed its run on April 4, 2024 and fans are hoping there won’t be another 30 month wait for Season 3. And according to showrunner Simon Racioppa, that won’t be the case. In an update posted on the official Invincible Twitter account, Racioppa shared that “we are deep in Season 3” and its release “should be sooner than Season 2.”
No new episode this week, so how about an everything we know about Season 3 so far post pic.twitter.com/xklLt65ePf
On the surface, that seems like great news for fans of the series. And while “sooner” could literally mean anything less than two and a half years, it does seem as though some real progress has been made. As creator Robert Kirkman told Collider, the show’s hour-long runtime along the expansive cast of characters and locations contribute to the amount of time it takes to make the show. However, they are learning as they go.
We’re an hour long animated show which is very unusual, but we have so many characters and so many settings, even in just one episode that we’re really kind of pushing the limits of what can be done in animation. So it takes a long time to make it. But it has also taken a long time to learn how to do it and figure it out because we’re doing a lot of things that you don’t necessarily do in animation.
Whenever Season 3 does hit Amazon Prime, it will feature the return of Battle Beast and Titan, two major players from Season 1 voiced by Michael Dorn and Mahershala Ali, respectively. And yes, Invincible will return as well.
Despite a dozen known projects being on it, DC Studios’ DCU slate is fairly undefined. Though Creature Commandos has been confirmed for a 2024 streaming debut, the only project with a known release date is Superman, which is currently in production ahead of its July 11, 2025 bow. It was originally believed that the streaming series Waller would hit Max in 2024; however, the 2023 WGA strike put a dent in those plans. With the scripts for Waller still being written by Jeremy Carver and Christal Henry, Season 2 of Peacemaker became next in line. Peacemaker star Jennifer Holland recently revealed cameras were set to roll on the John Cena-led series this summer but DC Studios co-chair James Gunn just surprised everyone with an update on the project.
Production Is Underway on Season 2 of Peacemaker
As is his way, Gunn–who confirmed he is directing some episodes of Peacemaker Season 2–took to social media to announce that production on the sophomore season of the streaming series had begun.
The announcement comes as a bit of a shock as principal photography on Superman is ongoing; however, there’s no arguing with the man with the plan.
Could Superman Appear in Peacemaker Season 2?
One interesting possibility that arises from Peacemaker and Superman filming in the same spot at the same time under the watchful eye of the man directing both and in charge of the shared universe is a potential crossover. At some point, Peacemaker’s presence in the new DCU will have to be explained since the events of Season 1 predate the existence of the all-new, all-different universe. Given Gunn is the boss, having all the principal actors available together provides the perfect opportunity for the director to cross major task off his to-do list.
For the second time in just a few weeks, a reliable Marvel Studios’ insider has indicated that production on the studio’s fourth Spider-Man film–which will once again be made in collaboration with Sony– will get underway before the end of 2024. While that’s definitely an encouraging development for fans who have been waiting to find out when Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker will return to the screen, the rumored start date could point to some interesting possibilities for the film.
If production does indeed kick off in late 2024, it provides Sony with an opportunity to release Spider-Man 4 in 2025, something they have been reportedly hoping to achieve. Production on the previous three Spider-Man films have taken 3-4 months to complete; if the same timeline is followed in the fourth installment, principal photography should be complete by the end of January 2025. Could the film then be ready to hit theaters before the end of 2025?
The short answer is that it absolutely could be. Each of the last three MCU-set Spider-Man films hit theaters roughly eight months after they wrapped principal photography. Most recently, Spider-Man: No Way Home began production in October 2020, took a break for the holidays, resumed in January 2021 and concluded in late-March. No Way Home hit theaters in mid-December 2021.
Being ready for theaters is one thing; finding a release date in an already jam-packed 2025 is something else entirely. Sony Pictures, not Marvel Studios, sets the dates for the releases of their Spider-Man collaborations. As of now, Sony has an Untitled Marvel Movie set for June 27, 2025. Even by Sony’s sometimes bewildering standards, 3 months in post-production surely can’t be enough. However, just because Sony sets the dates does not mean Marvel Studios, who produces the collaborations, won’t work with their partner in finding a suitable release date. And to that end, an interesting coincidence may point to a target date for Spider-Man 4.
Only a Fool Would Charge into Battle with a Dull Blade
With Marvel Studios still working on the back end of its Multiverse Saga, including the fifth Avengers film which is currently still slated for a May 1, 2026 release, its easy to imagine Blade being pushed to their open February 13, 2026 date even without Spider-Man 4 being taken into consideration. However, if Sony is keen on getting Holland’s Webhead into theaters in 2025, Disney could work with them on doing so since it benefits their MCU as well. While Sony likely covets a mid-December release for Spidey 4, James Cameron‘s Avatar 3–a sure billion dollar box office take for Disney–is set for December 19, 2025. Cameron recently claimed that Avatar 3 was on track for that date and if that’s true, there’s no way Disney budges from that date. However, they might happily move Blade into 2026 leaving a big opening for Spider-Man 4 to hit theaters on November 7, 2025.
Marvel Team-Up: The Wallcrawler and The Man Without Fear
After a lengthy delay in the production of Daredevil: Born Again which allowed Marvel Studios to retool the project, principal photography on the first nine episodes wrapped in early April 2024. With those episodes in the can, work on post-production to get the episodes ready for a 2025(?) release will take priority. With that work being done as well as continued work on the scripts for the next nine episodes, it was reported that the cast and crew won’t resume work on Daredevil: Born Again until November 2024. Isn’t that convenient…?
If work on Spider-Man 4 begins in September and production on Daredevil: Born Again doesn’t resume until November, there is ample opportunity for Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio and anyone else from the cast of the streaming series to film scenes for Spidey 4. Like Hannibal Smith, Feige loves it when a plan comes together.
To be sure, this is a big game of dominos and we’ve not even seen the first one fall just yet; however, should things line up with the schedules of directors (one is not yet in place for Spider-Man 4, though an offer was reportedly extended to someone), actors and studio availability, everyone could come out of a shit storm smelling like roses.
Kevin Feige‘s first trip to CinemaCon was impressive, revealing first look footage at Marvel Studios’ next two theatrical releases, Deadpool and Wolverine, out July 26th, and Captain America: Brave New World, slated for February 14, 2025. In addition to the footage, Feige talked about a pair of projects also set for 2025 releases, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four. Notably absent from the panel, however, was another projected slated for 2025 that’s been the subject of fan concerns for some time.
Some Motherfuckers Are Always Trying to Ice-Skate Uphill
First announced at SDCC ’19, the development of Marvel Studios’ Mahershala Ali-led Blade reboot has been as nightmarish as Dominic Purcell‘s portrayal of Dracula in 2004’s Blade: Trinity. A new writer here (Michael Green is the sixth writer to work on the film’s script), a new director there and multiple delays to the start of production have led fans to wonder if the Daywalker will ever see the light of day.
Though recent rumors indicate the project is headed in the right direction–and it sounds like a pretty badass direction–fans are still hesitant to believe the film will hit theaters, much less make its current November7, 2025 release date. That concern was exacerbated when Feige failed to mention Blade at CinemaCon while every other 2025 film was given at least some level of attention.
The World You Live in Is Just a Sugar-Coated Topping
Is Blade cancelled? Has it been moved to 2026?
At this point, there’s been no indication that Blade won’t get made. In fact, as recently as March 2024, reliable sources indicated a late-2024 start of production in the UK was on the schedule. What’s more likely, especially with Bob Iger‘s return to Disney coming with a mandate to make sure projects don’t begin production until they’ve passed some quality checks, is that Disney isn’t sure if it will make its 2025 date or move into 2026.
And, at this point in time, that’s just fine. As the old adage goes,”a finely crafted blade will never meet as many blows on the battlefield as it did on the anvil.” With three films (Captain America: Breve New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four) seemingly assured to release in 2025, Marvel Studios can comfortably take their time on the anvil to make sure their Blade is finely crafted.
Episode 5 of X-Men ’97, “Remember It”, was indeed memorable. In one of the most shocking episodes of Marvel Studios-produced TV to date, “Remember It” saw the mutant island nation of Genosha attacked by a Wild Sentinel. The body count from the attack seemed to include Gambit and Magneto, both of whom sacrificed themselves in amazing displays of their powers in order to save other mutants, including Rogue, who was in quite a particular pickle before the attack. Theories about who perpetrated the attack on the island have taken over social media and message boards and a few names have risen to the top of the suspect list. However, according to X-Men ’97’s key creatives, it’s time to remove one of the most popular potential mass murderers from the list.
Unfortunately for the X-Men, the list of characters who have enacted terrible schemes resulting in the mass murder of mutants is pretty expansive. However, the mutant body count of one of those villains stands above the rest. In Grant Morrison’sNew X-Men arc, “E is for Extinction”, Cassandra Nova–the twin sister of Charles Xavier–murdered 16,000,000 mutants in a matter of minutes in what became known as the Genoshan genocide. That arc served as the template for “Remember It” but according to supervising producer Jake Castorena, fans should not expect to learn Nova was behind the attack.
In an interview with Inverse, Castorena scratched her name off the list of suspects saying, “I wouldn’t get my hopes up for Cassandra Nova being a huge villain in our show. But what I will say is, I don’t think people will be disappointed with our choices.” Though she’s not behind the attack, it seems as though the creative team has thought plenty about Xavier’s twisted twin. Emi Yonemura, who directed Episode 5, explained what she loves about Nova and may have given some insight into the team’s plans for the character. “I love her because she is a challenge for Xavier. I really love the tensions that she brings, the whole other level that she brings,” said Yonemura. “I love her character design as well. I cannot say where we go, but I think what’s so nice about using the original series and the comics for where we start [is that it] gives us so many options with so many rich characters like Cassandra to get to play with.” So while Nova won’t be popping in for a visit next week, it sounds as though she’s certainly a good bet to appear once Charles returns from his respite in Shi’ar space.
The first five episodes of X-Men ’97 are not streaming on Disney Plus.
About Cassandra Nova
Cassandra Nova is a formidable antagonist within the Marvel Universe, renowned for her cunning intellect and ruthless demeanor. As a mutant with telepathic abilities, she poses a significant threat to the X-Men and all who oppose her nefarious schemes. With a shape-shifting prowess that rivals even the most skilled adversaries, Cassandra Nova is a master manipulator who utilizes her powers to infiltrate and subvert the most secure organizations.
The Twisted Twin Sister of Charles Xavier
Conceived as the malevolent counterpart to Charles Xavier, Cassandra Nova embodies the darkest aspects of mutant potential. In a shocking twist of fate, Charles Xavier, unaware of his twin sister’s existence, unknowingly attacked Cassandra Nova while she was still in the womb. This event, shrouded in mystery and tragedy, set the stage for their tumultuous relationship and Cassandra’s eventual emergence as a formidable antagonist within the Marvel Universe. The repercussions of this prenatal conflict reverberate throughout their intertwined destinies, shaping the course of their lives and the fate of mutantkind.
Emerging from the depths of the Xavier Institute’s history, she has been a constant thorn in the side of the X-Men, often orchestrating elaborate plots to undermine their efforts for peace and equality. With ties to the Shi’ar Empire and Genosha, Cassandra Nova’s reach extends far beyond the borders of Earth, making her a global threat of unparalleled magnitude.
A Powerful Adversary
Driven by an insatiable thirst for power and domination, Cassandra Nova’s ambitions know no bounds. Whether manipulating world leaders or inciting conflicts between mutants and humans, she seeks to sow chaos and discord at every turn. Her ultimate goal remains shrouded in mystery, but one thing is certain: Cassandra Nova will stop at nothing to achieve her malevolent objectives.
Possessing a genius-level intellect and unparalleled telepathic abilities, Cassandra Nova is a formidable adversary capable of outwitting even the most seasoned heroes. Her shape-shifting prowess allows her to assume any form, making her a master of deception and subterfuge. Ruthless and manipulative, she will exploit any weakness to further her own agenda, leaving destruction in her wake.
Cassandra Nova’s modus operandi revolves around manipulation, scheming, and plotting. With a penchant for orchestrating elaborate schemes, she seeks to undermine her enemies from within, using their own vulnerabilities against them. Whether infiltrating secure facilities or instigating conflicts, she employs a wide array of tactics to achieve her goals, leaving chaos and destruction in her wake.
Coming Soon to the MCU
Cassandra Nova will make her live-action debut in Deadpool and Wolverine. Played by Emma Corrin, Nova will be the primary antagonist of the film and is rumored to be in a position of power in The Void, a region outside of time where pruned Variants are sent by the TVA.
Deadpool and Wolverine hits theaters on July 26th.
Here’s a surprise, it looks like Matt Owens has a new co-showrunner going into the second season of Netflix’s live-action adaptation of One Piece. After a strong showing in its first season and critical acclaim, there’s been quite a bit of silence on the project since they are preparing to start production on the next season. Rumors are hinting at a June production start, but we still have no updates on who might be joining the cast.
As first shared by @OP_Netflix_Fan, they noticed that the Writing Guild of America site has updated the page for the second season which now includes Joseph E. Tracz as showrunner alongside Matt Owens, who has been part of its creation. What stands out is that Steven Maeda is no longer involved with the project after having been the showrunner in the first season. He’s also an Executive Producer on the series moving forward.
Tracz has worked on a variety of series in the past. He was the showrunner of the Netflix romance Dash & Lily. He’s also worked on series like Lights Out, the recent Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians as well as A Series of Unfortunate Events, one of the first major adaptations for Netflix. For the latter, he also was involved with the series finale
Though there’s quite a bit of work left to do on Captain America: Brave New World, Marvel Studios used CinemaCon to show off the first footage from the film and, following that, released the fkrdt official images from the sequel through EW.
As part of a post-CinemaCon exclusive, EW unveiled a look at Harrison Ford‘s President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Sam Wilson’s updated Captain America suit.
As expected, Captain America: Brave New World will give Anthony Mackie’s newly-minted Cap a chance to establish himself before taking on any Multiversal threats. “It made more sense for it to be more of a grounded espionage action movie as opposed to aliens and airplanes coming through portals and shit,” said Mackie.
However, according to Mackie, Brave New World plays an integral part in the Multiverse Saga, similarly to the role played by The Winter Soldier in the Infinity Saga. “This movie is a clear reset. It really reestablishes the idea of what this universe is and what this universe is going to be,” said Mackie. “I think with these movies, you’re getting a clear, new branding of what Marvel is headed towards the same way they did with Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
Should Brave New World deliver on a level anywhere near the 2014 Cap sequel, it would be a welcome boost for Marvel Studios following a string of disappointments. With under a year to go until its February 14, 2025 release, Brave New World reportedly has a significant amount of filming left to do but it’s clear Mackie and the folks at Marvel are confident it will come together and remind fans why they enjoyed the MCU in the first place.
Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, took the stage at CinemaCon in Las Vegas for the first time and the head honcho did not disappoint. In addition to rolling out the first looks at footage from Deadpool and Wolverine and Captain America: Brave New World, Feige also confirmed a minor title change to one of their 2025 projects and left fans with a cryptic tease about its meaning.
During a recently staged behind-the-scenes video from Marvel Studios’ star Florence Pugh, a new logo and title for the studio’s Thunderbolts project was revealed. Originally titled Thunderbolts, the film’s new logo revealed it was now titled Thunderbolts*. About as minor of a change as one can imagine. During his time on stage in Las Vegas, Feige confirmed the title change while showing off the new logo and also leaving fans hanging as to the meaning of the asterisk. “Yes, you’ll notice the asterisk on Thunderbolts. That is the official title of Thunderbolts and we won’t talk more about that until after the movie comes out.” teased Feige, leaving fans to do what they do best: speculate wildly.
Florence Pugh is here to show you a few things she can't show you.
Typically when placed at the end of a word, an asterisk indicates some sort of footnote is being cross-referenced. That does not seem to be the case here which leaves a little mystery around the minor change to the title. It’s possible the asterisk indicates some additional context is needed to understand the title of the film which is also the title of the team of antiheroes who undertake a secret mission in the film. Given all the online hubbub about one purported explanation for how the team gets the name, it’s possible that the asterisk is indeed a reference to how the team chooses its moniker. However, fans are looking much deeper for explanations.
One possible explanation that’s beginning to take root is that the asterisk somehow indicates that the team will become known as the Dark Avengers, a team that debuted in Marvel Comics in 2009. Ironically enough, word reached my ears almost 6 years ago that Marvel Studios commissioned a writer to put a Dark Avengers script together. At the time, the studio was also still developing Eternals, Black Widow and sequels to hits like Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Guardians of the Galaxy that were all intended to be set after Avengers: Endgame, which still hadn’t even hit theaters at the time. Time went on, COVID happened and we assumed that like many other projects that begin development–such as Power Pack–, Dark Avengers was moved to the bottom of the pile, never to be heard from again.
Could the asterisk point to a Dark Avengers adaptation? Possibly, though the composition of the current roster of Thunderbolts (Yelena Belova, Taskmaster, Ghost and John Walker) is a long way from the collection of scum and villainy that Norman Osborn put together for the Dark Avengers. Even thematically, the name change doesn’t truly fit since the Dark Avengers were almost all non-redeemable sociopaths and psychopaths. However, as we say far too often, Marvel Studios has no qualms about co-opting names and titles without any intention of comic-accurate adaptations, as proven by the fact that their roster of Thunderbolts features not a single character from the original team despite Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo, founder of the OG team in the comics, being fully established in the MCU. Thunderbolts* is cool but Dark Avengers has the A-word in it and the A-word sells.
Thunderbolts* is currently slated to hit theaters on May 2, 2025.
About Dark Avengers
The Dark Avengers, a formidable and morally ambiguous team within Marvel Comics, emerged as a stark departure from the traditional hero archetype. Introduced during the “Dark Reign” storyline, orchestrated by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mike Deodato, the Dark Avengers debuted in “Dark Avengers” #1 in 2009.
Led by Norman Osborn, the former Green Goblin and head of the clandestine organization H.A.M.M.E.R. (replacing S.H.I.E.L.D. during the “Dark Reign”), the Dark Avengers were a twisted reflection of the original Avengers. Osborn meticulously handpicked each member, often selecting individuals with dark pasts and a willingness to embrace villainy or anti-heroism.
One of the most notable aspects of the Dark Avengers was their masquerade as Earth’s mightiest heroes. Osborn, now rebranded as the Iron Patriot, donned a modified version of Iron Man’s armor and positioned himself as the leader of this new Avengers team. The team roster comprised individuals who assumed the identities of classic Avengers characters, albeit with their own unique twist. For instance, Bullseye took on the mantle of Hawkeye, Moonstone portrayed Ms. Marvel, Venom (Mac Gargan) became Spider-Man, and Daken, the son of Wolverine, assumed the guise of his father.
The dynamic within the Dark Avengers was fraught with tension and moral ambiguity. While some members harbored genuine desires to reform or redeem themselves, others reveled in their newfound power and embraced their darker impulses. This internal conflict often led to explosive confrontations and power struggles within the team.
Despite their dubious motives and methods, the Dark Avengers proved to be a formidable force, wielding significant influence over the Marvel Universe during the “Dark Reign” era. Their actions challenged the very fabric of heroism, blurring the lines between good and evil and forcing readers to question the nature of heroism itself.
Over time, as Osborn’s machinations unraveled and his grip on power weakened, the Dark Avengers disbanded, with each member returning to their own path, whether it be redemption, continued villainy, or anti-heroism. However, their legacy continues to linger in the annals of Marvel Comics, serving as a testament to the complexity of the human condition and the ever-shifting nature of morality in a world of super-powered beings.
As the final big presentation at this year’s CinemaCon, Disney had a chance to send attendees home on a high. From the sound of it, Kevin Feige’s time on stage to present Marvel Studios upcoming slate did just that, especially with the first look at the studio’s fourth installment in the Captain America franchise, Brave New World.
Though the film is set to undergo significant additional photography this year, the studio still plans to roll it out in theaters on February 14, 2025. Regardless of what’s left to film, enough of the film is in the can to provide a short look at the film.
In a scene that was described as reminiscent of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Harrison Ford‘s President Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross is the target of an assassination attempt. The big reveal, however, is that Super Soldier Isaiah Bradley–first seen in The Falcon and The Winter Soldier–is the triggerman. As per THR, Bradley seems to be a victim himself as music subconsciously triggers him. Anthony Mackie’s Captain America steps in to save the day but the footage leaves open just who is truly behind the attempt on Ross’ life.
Other highlights from the footage include Ross and Wilson debating over reforming the Avengers and Ross telling Wilson “You’re no Steve Rogers.” Obviously Ross didn’t watch The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.
Paramount is looking to keep the Teenage Mutant Turtles around a bit longer. After the success of the animated movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the studio has unveiled its next move. On Thursday, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Paramount is developing a movie based on The Last Ronin.
The movie will be based on the IDW comic of the same name from writers Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz. The comics were released between 2000 and 2002, and a video game adaptation has already been announced although a release date is currently unknown. Tyler Burton Smith, who wrote the 2019 Child’s Play, is on board to write the screenplay. The movie is expected to have an R-rating. As of this writing, no director is attached to the project.
The Last Ronin is being produced by Walter Hamada via his 18hz production banner as part of his multi-year deal with Paramount.
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