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Casting ‘Spider-Man 3’s Multiversal Sinister Six

With the news that Jamie Foxx is set to return to the role of Electro and the rumors of Alfred Molina reprising his role as Doctor Octopus, it seems that what started out as whispers become louder and louder. It’s hard to deny that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will be a live-action Spider-Verse adaptation. One of the main questions many fans are wondering: who would be the main antagonist in this story? Especially if the film will reintroduce the pioneers of live-action Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. Well, Joseph Aberl and I have a pretty good idea of what we’d want to see. So, we think that if these castings are real, Marvel Studios and Sony are possibly setting up multiple antagonists. This film could be our first live-action introduction to the Sinister Six.

Who are the Sinister Six?

In 1964, Marvel introduced the world to the Sinister Six. It was a team of supervillains determined to defeat Spider-Man once and for all. In the comics, Doctor Octopus had contacted ﬁve of Spider-Man’s enemies. These included Electro, Vulture, Mysterio, Sandman, and Kraven to work together against their greatest foe. During their first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1, each member would take on Spider-Man one at a time. Their goal was to wear him down until he could not defend himself anymore. In the end, their plan failed. Since, there have been multiple versions of the team over the years with different members such as Hobgoblin, Chameleon, Lizard, Rhino, Shocker, Scorpion, and Mr. Negative, just to name a few.

So far, the Marvel Cinematic Universe of Peter Parker has only faced off against two main antagonists in his solo films, Vulture, and Mystery. There were a handful of secondary villains, which included brief appearances of Shocker and Mac Gargan. So bringing in the Sinister Six at this time would seem like an unlikely turn for the story to take. Not only are there not enough villains from Spider-Man’s lore in the MCU, but they would easily overpower the current version of Spider-Man, as he got pushed to his limits with one until now, so try to imagine him taking on six at the same time. Yet, what if the Sinister Six faced off against three different Spider-Men? Now, the story is expanding and opens up the question of who else may join the various Spider-Men into the MCU.

Multiversal Sinister Six

So, we want to explore the concept of a multiversal Sinister Six. We want to bring in villains from Spider-Man’s cinematic history. However, the iterations will not be the same characters that were in the previous films, but rather, just the same actors giving these iconic characters a new twist. Of course, we’ll also bring in some new faces. They will add some new twists to the upcoming threequel. So let’s kick it off with the main man leading the group.

1. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock

Edward: Alfred Molina‘s role as Doctor Otto Octavius was regarded as one of the most memorable performances of a supervillain in a comic book movie. But the last time we saw Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock, he sacrificed himself to save New York by drowning alongside his fusion power generator. So if I were to reintroduce Molina into the MCU as Doc Ock, I would probably go the route they did with J Jonah Jameson by introducing the same actor portraying a different version of the character. He would be the one to bring together the Sinister Six.

Joseph: Alfred Molina‘s take on Doctor Octopus is one of the most iconic in comic book cinema history. The selling point about Spidey’s villains, especially in the original Sam Raimi trilogy, is their connection to Peter. He was the mentor that Maguire’s Peter always wanted until a day went wrong turned him into something else. I hope that we don’t get an actual “Doc Ock” in this film. I think he would make for a perfect man in the shadows, who doesn’t participate in the fights. Octavius is the brain behind the operations. He only shows his hand once the film nears its climax and may have an ulterior motive in taking on the Spider-Men.

2. Jamie Foxx as Electro

Edward: Jamie Foxx returning as Electro opens a pathway to many possible ways he makes his return. The last time we saw Foxx‘s Electro in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), he absorbed so much energy that he exploded and just disappeared. However, there’s an essential law in Physics that may explain his reappearance. The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed. It converts from one form into another. He may have reached a level that allowed him to travel from one dimension to another. But again, I believe this will also be another J. Jonah Jameson scenario where the same actor will portray a different version of the character.

Joseph: I was a fan of the energy that Foxx brought to the role. The nerd angle was pointless, but he did prove he could be quite a menacing threat given the right tools. I think this version might be Max Dillon from the mainline MCU, who ends up fusing with his Amazing Spider-Man counterpart after his explosion. A rift in dimensions can do a lot, so the moment Elektro turned into pure energy, he may have accidentally bestowed these powers to a different version of himself. It would be a fun way to connect both storylines while also not always falling back on it just being a different version of an existing character. He will probably be the team’s heavy-hitter who does their dirty work throughout the film.

3. Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio

Edward: I don’t think Mysterio is dead. Marvel would not waste a talent like Jake Gyllenhaal for a one-time role. I’m betting that Mysterio is still alive in some way or form. Hiding out and biding his time to enact his revenge against Peter. And, as one of the original members of the Sinister Six, it would be a perfect opportunity to bring him back.

Joseph: So, Mysterio is a curious addition to this line-up. In a way, the version we got introduced to in Far From Home would not be the kind to listen to others. As such, he probably ends up working alongside Dock Ock to re-establish himself as the dominant hero of the MCU. I wouldn’t be surprised that he was hoping to make a return from the dead to build on that classic trope. He would then defeat Spider-Man to prove he is the true hero that Triple J claims. With the introduction of other multiverses, he uses this opportunity to add to his heroics, as he can never get enough. He could pretend he was under mind-control or was undercover to make his story stand out. Whatever role Gyllenhaal might have in this story, he certainly will leave some theatrics. Imagine Spider-Man’s accusations getting lifted and forced to work alongside Mysterio after the events of this film.

4. Michael Keaton as Vulture

Edward: This one seemed like a pretty easy add. We all know that Michael Keaton is returning in Morbius (2021) and possibly escape prison alongside Mac Gargan during that film. He’ll probably want to seek revenge against the person responsible for putting him behind bars in the first place.

Joseph: Vulture is the only hero who knew Peter Parker’s real identity before Mysterio released it to the world. I think he will be a reluctant villain throughout the film. Yes, Peter did put him in prison, but he also saved his life. There was no reason for him to keep his identity a secret. Now that it is public, there is no reason for him to hold that against him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to save Peter’s life. That way, they are even from the events in Homecoming.

5. Dane DeHann/Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds aka Hobgoblin

Edward: I’m going to be speaking on the prospect of Dane DeHann being the Hobgoblin in this film’s version of the Sinister Six. One of the most interesting aspects of Hobgoblin is that his identity was a bit of an enigma in the comics. Spider-Man (and the readers) were led to believe that Hobgoblin was the former fashion designer Roderick Kingsley. In reality, the mantle “belonged” to Ned Leeds, who was brainwashed by Kingsley. The rumors of Ned becoming Hobgoblin in this film truly are a remarkable idea and, while I would love to see Jacob in the role, imagine if Marvel added a unique twist. The Hobgoblin Spider-Man was facing was indeed Ned Leeds, but from another dimension, and portrayed by none other than Dane DeHann. It would allow Dane the opportunity to redeem his portrayal of the Green Gremlin, I mean, Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

Joseph: Nothing hurts more than your best friend betraying you. As interesting as it would be for DeHann to get a second chance at a Goblin role, it would take some time to explain. We spent a few films with MCU’s version of Ned, who deserves a bit more spotlight. Peter knows his best friend. He would trust him with his life. So, what if Spider-Man faces a Hobgoblin, who turns out to be a different version of someone Pete knows. Would he doubt his friend moving forward? Will Peter remember how important it is to balance his social life to ensure his friend never goes down that dark path. It would also become Peter’s lowest point when he realizes what his inaction could cause to the people he loves.

6. The “Joel Kinnaman-type” as Kraven the Hunter

Art by Freelance Digital Artist ultraraw26

Edward: The team would not be complete without one of their founding members. Kraven is hired to hunt down Spider-Man is an idea many fans had hoped to see. It was on everyone’s mind after seeing that post-credit credit scene in Far From Home. And I think it’s a fantastic idea. It’s also been rumored that Marvel Studios was looking for a Joel Kinnaman-type for an unspecified role in the upcoming Untitled Spider-Man Sequel, so it would be a fantastic time to introduce Kraven in the mix with the Sinister 6.

Joseph: Even if they do not give us a Sinister Six storyline, I want a live-action adaptation of Kraven. I do think he might be the connective tissue that starts the multiversal storyline. They may combine him with the character of Morlun, who has an obsession with hunting down Spider-Man. This version started working together with iconic villains throughout his multiversal travels. They managed to make his hunt easier, as each new Spider-Man added a new challenge. He let Dock Ock take control as he realized his strategic potential would make his life a bit easier so he can focus on the hunt.

Bonus Chess Pieces

Edward: The beauty of the Sinister Six is that these villains can swap with other villains. They are like pieces on a chessboard, and with such a diverse rogue gallery, it’s nearly impossible to pick which six will be a part of the group. As such, we included some additional villains in reserve. So if I had to make a couple of bonus picks for the team to swap out with any of the others that we decided upon, I’d have to go with Thomas Hayden Church as Sandman and Paul Giamatti as Rhino. These two characters need a second opportunity to shine and take on the web-slinger. Plus, Sandman is one of the original members of the first Sinister Six, so it only makes sense to bring him in for that role. As for Paul Giamatti as Rhino, well, I won’t lie, Paul‘s take on Rhino was cheesy in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), but even with the little time screentime that he had in the film, you could tell he had a good time with the role.

Joseph: So, I want to go left-field with the reserve members. I would love to see them embrace villains outside of the pre-existing films. Just like how The Mandalorian brought animated characters into live-action, I would love to see them introduce the PlayStation 4’s version of Mister Negative, who was played by Stephen Oyoung. His character would be quite a visual distinction from the rest and it would be intriguing to embrace the multiverse in all its facets. Why stop there? We could see The Spectacular Spider-Man‘s Lizard appear, whose appearance is followed by Josh Keaton‘s Spider-Man shouting something before the reptile ends up in the MCU. In a multiversal storyline, it seems like anything is possible.

January 13, 2021
RUMOR: Animated ‘Mortal Kombat’ Film In Development

Warner Bros. is still building up hype for its upcoming Mortal Kombat film. It was originally going to air in January, but we never saw a trailer before it got inevitably pushed back. It is now eyeing a simultaneous release in theaters and HBO Max in April. Still, it looks like that isn’t all WB has planned for the R-rated franchise, as Illuminerdi uncovered that they are working on an animated feature. The thing that stands out the most is that it currently is given the title Mortal Kombat 3.

They reveal an active casting call for five characters. It includes a few key players from the franchise, such as Tremor, Kuai Liang, Kabal, Kobra, and Kira. There are no story details, but it seems that the story may focus on an older Sub-Zero forced to fight Tremor. There is the question if this connects to the existing project that is currently produced by James Wan. The title is a rather strange addition, as it would naturally make people assume that a second MK film may already be in development. Animation takes a long time, so they may have mapped out to end the trilogy with a time jump that was easier to balance. Yet, it makes no sense why they wouldn’t just bank on the franchise’s possible box Office success to continue making live-action sequels.

The more I thought about it, there is a possibility that this Sub-Zero story may take place in the timeline of the original Mortal Kombat film. So, technically it is going to be a sequel to Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. Why would they go down this route? The franchise is known for playing around with time travel and multiple dimensions, so why not have a sequel to the original franchise be the jumping-off point for the upcoming reboot. Sub-Zero accidentally rewrites history and restarts the cinematic version of this story. Keith Cooke played Kuai Liang in that original film, so why not expand that franchise.

It’s just fun speculation, but we’ll see what plans they have for this animated film, as we are still waiting for the trailer of the upcoming remake. There is a good possibility it is also just a new entry in the Mortal Kombat Legends‘ series, which started with last year’s Scorpion’s Revenge. Perhaps the second entry is already further into production, so they started work on the third animated feature. At this point, anything is possible, but I won’t complain about more Mortal Kombat content.

Source: Illuminerdi

January 13, 2021
‘MOON KNIGHT’ Adds May Calamawy to Cast

Baharani actress May Calamawy has joined the cast of Moon Knight, according to a trade report. Calamawy, is fresh off a big role in the Emmy-nominated Hulu series, Ramy, joins Oscar Isaac as part of the cast.

Moon Knight is expected to begin filming this March and should stream, as a 6-episode series, on Disney Plus sometime in 2022. It’s unclear at this time what role Calamawy is playing, but the 34 year-old actress fits the profile of a 30-something female lead described as “strong” and “no BS” actress to play an Egyptian character which many fans believe will be a version of Scarlet Fasinera, aka Stained Glass Scarlet.

January 13, 2021
Rosario Dawson Teases Live-Action Sabine Wren for ‘Ahsoka’ Series

Star Wars has quite a bright future ahead of it. Just today, a brand new open-world game was announced as Lucasfilms starts expanding beyond their EA deal. The Mandalorian kicked-off a slew of brand new series for Disney’s newest streaming service after being a key factor in its launch. It all seems to be going well for the service and all eyes are on its future. Among the many announced shows, many are excited to further explore the story of Ashoka Tano. The character was first introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. After a mixed reception, she grew into one of the show’s most popular characters.

Just last year, she finally made her live-action debut on The Mandalorian‘s second season. Rosario Dawson took on the character’s role for one episode before it was announced that she would get an entire series focused on her. Now, many wondered how her story would interlink with that of Star Wars Rebels. It seemed like her story picks up where that left off, especially after the mentioning of Thrawn during the episode’s climax. Of course, fans will know this also means we would potentially see the return of Sabine Wren, but it was uncertain if she’d make it to live-acton. Well. Dawson liking a tweet reporting on the possibility may add some credence to it:

https://twitter.com/starwarstuff/status/1349338989891878915?s=19

It makes sense that she would appear in the upcoming live-action show. Ahsoka will focus on her hunting down Thrawn through the galaxy, as he is the only connection she has on the whereabouts of Rebels‘ Ezra Bridger, which was talked bout in Kessel Run Transmissions’ latest exclusive. It seems the original plan was to create an animated sequel to Rebels that would’ve explored his storyline before Jon Favreau convinced Dave Filoni to continue her story in live-action. It seems that the sequel was already well into production, as they were unsure how successful Din Djarin’s adventures in The Mandalorian would turn out at the time. There may still be a chance that these animated sequences are released in some form or another if they already worked on them. Perhaps some of it was reworked as part of the upcoming animated The Bad Batch series so they don’t lose the existing assets. Dawson‘s like of a report on Wren is just the icing on the cake for how this story may unfold.

Source: Twitter, YouTube, ComicBookMovie

January 13, 2021
Vision: The Story So Far

After a year-long hiatus, WandaVision is ready to kick off the MCU’s Phase 4 in a massive way. So, we thought it might be a great time to recap fans on the various big players that will return in the upcoming series. In this article, we’re going to focus on a character that has been a part of the MCU since its conception back in 2008’s Iron Man. What once started as a simple voice-over job turned into something much bigger. So, without further ado, let’s kick off our blast to the past by exploring Vision’s history in the MCU.

Vision was once Tony Stark’s artificial intelligence known as Just A Rather Very Intelligent System. Of course, it was an acronym inspired by his father’s butler, Edwin Jarvis. He ran security at Stark’s home before becoming an essential part of his Iron Man suit. It wasn’t until Avengers: Age of Ultron that he would become the android we know and love. After believing Jarvis got destroyed by his newly created A.I. known as Ultron, Stark found him subconsciously protecting nuclear codes. At the same time, Ultron created an organic body that would become his new vessel. Well, that was until the Avengers got their hand on it and decided to upload J.A.R.V.I.S. into the system. With some help from Thor, Vision is born and greets a new world. He went on to aid the rest of the Avengers in the Battle of Sokovia and got the upper hand above Ultron before joining the team officially.

In Captain America: Civil War, Vision acts more like the voice of reason (and inspirational quotes), convincing the Avengers that registering for the Sokovia Accords is a reasonable and smart decision. Trying to reduce tensions after Wanda lost control in Lagos, Vision was assigned to watch over her at the Avengers headquarters. During that time, the two managed to bond over their powers, the Mind Stone and Paprikash. Eventually, Hawkeye came in to recruit her for Cap’s side, but not without Vision trying to stop them. These events led to Wanda making the choice to temporarily incapacitated Vision and escaping with Clint. The pair met one last time in Germany, where both sides took a stand against each other. During the battle, Vision accidentally injured War Machine while aiming for Falcon.

In Avengers: Infinity War, we find out that Vision had been evolving ever since he eloped with Wanda. During their time in hiding, they fell in love. Suddenly, the Black Order hunts down Vision for his Mind Stone and only managed to survive with some help from Steve Rogers, Black Widow, and Falcon. Their mission now becomes to find a way to safely remove the stone from Vision’s head without killing him. They seek refuge in Wakanda. Scientist and part-time princess Shuri uncovers a way to separate them but can’t finish it in time before the Black Order get in the way. Once Thanos arrives for the stone, he begs Wanda to destroy the stone in a last-ditch effort, as he proclaims he loves her. Sadly, Thanos already had the Time Stone in his possession and brought him back to life. Without mercy, he ripped the stone out of his head and left behind an empty grey husk.

We all believed his story ended, but it seems to have only begun. From the trailers, it looks like Vision and Wanda are living their perfect lives. They are happily married, with kids, living peaceful, quiet lives in a suburban neighborhood. But there are still so many questions that remain from all of this. How is Vision back when he was destroyed during Avengers: Infinity War? Hopefully, all of these questions and more will get answered when we delve into the world of WandaVision this coming January 15th.

January 13, 2021
Ubisoft Developing an Open-World ‘Star Wars’ Game

Looks like the Lucasfilm Games rebranding really got the ball rolling. Just yesterday, we got the announcement that Bethesda is working on an Indiana Jones game. Now, WIRED revealed that they have also contacted Ubisoft to develop an open-world game that takes place within the galaxy far far away. Ubisoft’s Massive Entertainment will be at the helm, who has developed Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. They are also working actively on a game based on James Cameron‘s Avatar franchise.

This move is huge, as it is the first Star Wars game that is not being developed by EA since Disney acquired the rights in 2021. Originally, EA stated they have exclusivity rights for ten years, so either the contract was altered since, or it was only for publication, as development is very early and probably won’t be released until the earliest of 2023. Still, Disney’s Global Games and Interactive Experiences Senior Vice President Sean Shoptaw gave the following statement:

EA has been and will continue to be a very strategic and important partner for us now and going forward. But we did feel like there’s room for others.

Julian Gerighty, who worked on both The Division 2 and The Crew will serve as creative director. It will use Massive’s Snowdrop engine. It will be interesting to see what direction they go with this game. An open-world game is a tricky one if you can explore the entire galaxy. Jedi Fallen Order offered multiple areas that were free to explore on various planets. Massive may try to focus on a specific planet. Originally, there were two open-world games that got canceled at some point in development. Visceral Games was working on a game in 2017 before the studio was shuttered. There was also Star Wars 1313 that would’ve featured a playable Boba Fett. We even got an E3 demo for the game a while back that showcased what would’ve been possible.

Source: Wired, Massive Entertainment, Gadgets 360, ScreenRant

January 13, 2021
Amazon’s ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ Synopsis Revealed

The Tolkien superfans over at TheOneRing.net revealed as an exclusive Tuesday night, live on Twitter that they got their little Hobbit hands on the “authentic and official” synopsis for the long-awaited Lord of the Rings Amazon series!

Check it out below!

Amazon Studios’ forthcoming series brings to screens for the very first time the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earth’s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkien’s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness. Beginning in a time of relative peace, the series follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth. From the darkest depths of the Misty Mountains, to the majestic forests of the elf-capital of Lindon, to the breathtaking island kingdom of Númenor, to the furthest reaches of the map, these kingdoms and characters will carve out legacies that live on long after they are gone.

It’s been known for some time now that the Amazon series would be taking a deep dive into the history of Middle Earth, and the heroes and villains of its past. With a huge and diverse ensemble cast, a return to the original breathtaking and beautiful filming locations of New Zealand, and the chance to explore the history behind the beloved world created by J.R.R. Tolkien, this is one of my most highly anticipated series. No release date has been set yet, but Lord of the Rings is currently expected/hoped to begin streaming on Amazon Prime sometime in 2021.

Source: TheOneRing.net

January 12, 2021
‘WANDAVISION’: How Family is at the Center of the Series

Murphy’s Multiverse was fortunate enough to take part in WandaVision’s press junket this past Sunday, and Kevin Feige‘s long and thoughtful answer to a question by our very own Charles Murphy deserves some expanding on. Feige himself said he appreciated the question and were it not for time constraints it seemed he would be willing to dive even deeper into what WandaVision personally means to him, his team, and how those feelings could translate into the show itself.

The show’s initial intent was to simply allow Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany to further explore the characters they’ve both inhabited since 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, while expanding the story of the Scarlet Witch. As things evolved, sitcoms became an integral part of the show, as it was made clear that they would provide an exceptional vehicle to Wanda’s journey. Charles’ question focused on how a personal connection to that format, as well as the medium, might have helped to guide Feige and his team, through such a unique show like WandaVision. A show that seamlessly meshes together all the action, the twists and turns you’ve come to expect from a Marvel Studios project, but that also brings the warmth and comfort behind the nostalgic feel of one of the most iconic television formats of all time. One that brought families together both inside and in front of the television screen for over half a century. And that more often than not managed to go a step further and bring both those worlds together. Feige, Elizabeth Olsen, director Matt Shakman, and a few others that are a part of the production team, all have both personal and professional backgrounds that connect them to sitcoms, and all these ideas that they represent in our, the audiences’, collective imagination, and that shines through.

I watched too much TV as a kid. TV meant a lot to me and I found comfort in television families.

–Kevin Feige

It isn’t an overstatement to reinforce how sitcoms helped shape generations. At one point or another, we’ve all felt a part of the families we saw on-screen on a weekly basis. Their experiences became our experiences, and we often did learn a thing or two. The (sometimes) idyllic settings, the established and safe structure, the way issues were resolved after 20 minutes, all helped in turning the genre into a sort of comfort food for whoever sought a short but much-needed escape. And in the same way, the team behind the show has a very real-world connection to this format of storytelling, the characters within the show are now showing that same longing, respect, and nostalgia towards a, in many ways, better time. It is then through the hearts of the production team that Wanda is also turning to this safe haven to deal with Marvel Universe heartbreak.

From Wanda’s point of view, she would describe WandaVision as a family sitcom of two people trying to fit in. And not be discovered for being different.

–Elizabeth Olsen

Even though there have been hundreds of sitcoms through the years, the ones best suited to intertwine with Wanda’s story, and therefore the ones WandaVision will focus on, are all about family. Those are the truly timeless ones, the ones exploring family dynamics that remain relevant to this day. Nowadays we might talk differently, dress differently, act differently, but the underlying issues are largely the same. Connecting with our loved ones, understanding each other, sharing the days, the weeks and months, entire lifetimes. And that’s where Wanda finds herself. Trying to reconnect, trying to take advantage of a chance to live as normal a life as the ones she saw portraited on TV, trying to enjoy the time she was never given before.

There were a lot of different sorts of workplace sitcoms and other types of sitcoms, but the family piece sort of kept us very very centered.

–Jac Schaeffer

Through the years, TV ended up losing that unabashed optimism and innocence, as problems became more serious, family relations became more complex and reality began to set in a little bit more with the passing of time. The evolution that TV in general, and sitcoms in particular, went through seems to mimic what Wanda will have to endure in order to get to the present day, as hard as getting away from a more comfortable reality may turn out to be. So being, her search for family, for the normal sort of happiness her subconscious envisions as the only comfortable place for her to be in, (and that we as an audience without reality-warping powers share on a different level when reminiscing about quieter times in our youth) will need to face a tough truth. There always comes a time when the real world comes calling and there is little more to do than to turn off the metaphysical tv and soldier on. We are now left wondering if Wanda will find the remote so she can do the same.

January 12, 2021
‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’: Harry Lenix Confirms Martian Manhunter Appearance

Zack Snyder’s Justice League is by far one of the most anticipated films of 2021. The film has risen to legendary status at this point. Many thought the rumored cut of the film would never see the light of day. Throughout the past few years, Snyder would take to Vero to tease aspects of the film that never made it into the version we saw from Joss Whedon. One scene, in particular, was the reveal of General Swanwick’s true identity. It seems he always intended for the character to be the Martian Manhunter in disguise. Now that the Snyder Cut is a reality, it opened up the floodgate on theories if we’d get to see Manhunter on the silver screen after all.

In a recent interview with Collider, Harry Lennix got asked about his thoughts on the upcoming mini-series and his character. He then revealed that he’d never actually filmed these scenes due to scheduling issues on The Blacklist. At the time, he knew nothing of his secret identity. He didn’t get a chance to read the script before Snyder left the production. However, Lennix stated that he met with Zack and his team back in October. As such, he was able to finish his scenes for the film via green screen.

With Lennix on set for Snyder‘s additional photography, it could be possible that Snyder may have included the Martian in the newest Knightmare scene. The timing would match when rumors hit that other actors shot some scenes for this sequence, such as Jared Leto and Joe Manganiello. It would be a great addition to Batman’s resistance and would give fans much more Manhunter than they initially expected. Zack Snyder’s Justice League will reportedly release in March as a four-part mini-series on the HBO Max streaming service. We are only a few months away before Snyder’s original vision of the Justice League is revealed, so who knows what else may be heading our way until then.

Source: Collider

January 12, 2021
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