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  • A Brief History of Denials by Marvel Studios Actors

    A Brief History of Denials by Marvel Studios Actors

    If you’ve been keeping up to date with the news, you’d know by now that Tatiana Maslany, who according to a trade report landed the role of Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk for the upcoming Disney Plus streaming series, has now denied that those casting rumors. Many people were taken by surprise when Ms. Maslany denied these rumors, however, it isn’t the first time actors that work within the MCU have denied such casting before. Today, we’re going to take a look at some prime examples of this concept.

     

    1. Paul Rudd

     

    Let’s all go back to a simpler time, 2013. Paul Rudd is fresh off production from Anchorman 2. By that time, Variety had released a report saying that Paul Rudd and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were the frontrunners to portray Ant-Man in the MCU. Now because the report came from another source outside official confirmations, when asked about the subject, Paul Rudd stated said “It’s all rumor, man!”.

     

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XIvS-qvRRk&w=560&h=315]

     

    And clearly, we all see how that rumor went years later, with him appearing in 2 solo MCU films and also appearing in Captain America Civil War & Avengers: Endgame.

     

    2. Benedict Cumberbatch

     

    It’s incredibly difficult to believe anyone else could have portrayed Doctor Strange since he was always the top pick amongst fans to portray the Sorceror Supreme but it’s true. Back in 2014, Benedict Cumberbatch spoke to MTV about the possibilities of him portraying Doctor Strange, & he mentioned that at the time, it couldn’t work out because he was doing a little play called ‘Hamlet’ in London. “So I don’t think I could even if that was in the cards. It sounds like a fantastic project. It’s a shame if I miss out, but who knows?”

     

    Clearly, he didn’t miss out, and thankfully he is our Sorceror Supreme today.

     

    3. Evangeline Lilly

     

    Just like Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly denied the rumors of her being the female lead in Ant-Man back in 2014. She stated back then that “No, I can’t. I don’t know anything about those rumors.” And look where she’s at now, kicking it as the resident Wasp in the MCU.

     

    4. Jeremy Renner

     

    Even an original core member of the Avengers had denied he was cast. Back in 2010, Jeremy Renner stated that the Hawkeye rumor was “just one of those things that got blown way out of proportion. It was an idea…So there’s truth that we talked about it, but there’s no truth to me doing it. “

     

    Thankfully, he decided to do it and now, he’s one of the main members of the OG Avengers, has appeared in multiple MCU films and will now have his own Disney+ show Hawkeye.

     

    What does this all mean? Essentially it means that actors are sometimes put into the position to deny any sort of casting rumor until an official confirmation from studios comes through. And what does this mean for Tatiana Maslany’s casting as She-Hulk? It most likely means she’s following suit and denying these “rumors” until they become “confirmations”.

     

    Besides, Mark Ruffalo already tweeted about it.

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Assembles as Best-Selling Game in September

    There has been a lot of focus on Marvel’s Avengers steam performance. As people have faced bugs and the post-games repetition, it has fallen below 1,000 at times. Still, this is just one of the three releases. Furthermore, these numbers hopefully increase as the game starts rolling out new content. We already saw a slight uptick with the recent Tachyon Missions that will keep people busy for a bit. It will be a challenge to build up its audience, but there is a sign that it will grow once more content added, as going by NPD, the game was the best-selling game of September.

    Crystal Dynamics’ first foray into GaaS was a bumpy one, but it seems the game still paid off. It is now the second-best-selling Marvel game after PlayStation’s Spider-Man. The character’s popularity was probably also a factor in the exclusivity deal for him to appear in this game. Also, keep in mind that the game went up against Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which was Nintendo’s second-best Switch launch. The list included a lot of newcomers with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, NBA 2K21, Star Wars: Squadrons, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

    Marvel is a popular franchise, but it still kept up its sales in September even as it faced media controversies. Its sales will calm down in the coming months, but the reception has been more positive online since the last update was released. It will still be an uphill battle for CD to regain its player base, but character updates will get them the attention they need. These sales numbers at least showcase that there is interest once the game starts getting into gear. In a recent podcast, we got a tease of that the Black Panther-focused Raid will offer. Its size could work as a new way to soft launch the game in 2021. You can read a recap of it right here. I am optimistic about the future of this game and cannot wait to see how it grows over time.

    Source: GameRant (Sales), VG247, GameRant (Mario)

  • ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Data Miner Teases Black Panther’s Wakanda Raid

    We just got our first official content update for Marvel’s Avengers. It was a bit underwhelming, but we did hype it up a lot more than we probably should’ve. Their State of the Game blog confirmed that we are facing some delays with Kate postponed. We still will get some minor updates to tide us over until then, such as the A.I.M. Cloning Lab. I still firmly believe that the game has faced some challenges that made its release a much more harrowing experience for both developers and players. Games-as-a-Service have plagued with Day One issues, so this experience was nothing new for veterans.

    Their latest blog also confirmed that they were hit pretty hard by the ongoing pandemic and the California wildfires. It is crazy to think about how much they were able to get out within the given timeframe with such hurdles. It doesn’t excuse the game’s launch issues, but it puts everything into perspective. This genre is all about the community and ongoing developments. The Twitter user @mmmmmmmmiller has been very active in sharing what he found through data mines. Now, he also appeared in a podcast on the game by Assembly Podcast, where he teases some future developments. If you want to hear the entire thing be sure to check out the podcast below but you’ll find a summary of the biggest insights below.

    Keep in mind, Miller does not work for Crystal Dynamics, so he doesn’t have the insight into what happened. He purely can base his assumptions on the data he has uncovered through the game’s code. Still, it gives a somewhat feeling of how exactly the original plans looked like when the game initially launched. The recent release of the SHIELD Substation Zero alongside the Tachyon Rifts seemed to have planned for September. Even the first major event the AIM Cloning Lab was going to release during that time. It is possible that the bug fixing, the current conditions, and some internal meddling due to the reception have created a chaotic environment. In my opinion, CD’s focus on fixing bugs was the right move though current updates feel a bit lackluster.

    There is one aspect that Miller gets into more detail on, and that is the Omega Threats. He kind of grounds our expectations for the AIM Cloning Lab. This new mission type was probably part of the original operation for that addition. We now know they changed that to ensure that expectations for Kate Bishop’s story wouldn’t be affected, as she will have an actual storyline that is set-up by the Tachyon rifts. I do hope we will see more new mission types that add more reasons to return to the game.

    While discussing it, Miller does tease how expansive the Wakandan’ event will be. He teases a crazy boss fight, which he leaked to be Ulysses Klaue a long time ago. Black Panther is a popular character, and the addition of endgame content could get people back into the game. He described it as a potential to “soft launch” the game, which seems possible. He also confirms that Shuri, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje will have a role in this event. So, we will see how large this raid will end up being with hopefully a tease in the upcoming November War Table. He also says that it should be something to look forward to once it releases, which they believe could be the beginning of 2021.

    This reveal doesn’t downplay the upcoming operations, as we still get new playable characters with unique missions. Kate Bishop’s delay was a bit disheartening for some, but with the release being the end of October and the wording, it seems realistic to expect her early November. In CD’s first stream, they confirmed it won’t release during Thanksgiving, which is towards the end of the month. The chat did reveal that we will get some unique arrows with Kate that will add some fun alongside her teleporting skill. Miller does state that Clint was the one to utilize unique status effects, so he was surprised with this reveal. He does, however, confirm that these two characters will play different from each other, which is a good sign for future additions. He describes Kate as a Ranger while Clint is a Hunter. Kate has a drone that she uses in the fight while her former mentor can utilize traps.

    We are facing a delay for now. These small glimpses into what the game will offer us in the future showcase that Crystal Dynamics truly has a plan. Yes, the player base, especially on Steam is low right now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t grow again. We have seen support since the first day, so this isn’t another Anthem scenario. It is easy to make comparisons, but sadly, the negative press has not been helping. I do believe that a lot of it is connected to the general discomfort with the AAA GaaS standards. Marvel’s Avengers has a very popular that just put it into the spotlight. Hopefully, as Miller pointed out, the Black Panther release could be the change this game needs in the public eye.

    Source: State of the Game, Assemble Podcast, Twitch

  • Potential ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’ Audition Video Description Revealed

    Potential ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’ Audition Video Description Revealed

    On Friday evening an audition video was shared with me. Though it was labeled “Titans”, it became clear upon watching it that it was something very different than that. The now-deleted video was an audition for a Spider-Man project of some kind.

    Audition videos get posted on sites like Vimeo all the time. Sometimes they’re legitimate, other times they’re not. I have no way of discerning for you whether or not this one was, but I was able to watch it before it was taken down and I can describe for you what was in it. From there, you can decide for yourselves how/if it might fit the MCU’s Spidey narrative arc. This young actor was trying out for the role of “Daniel.” Marvel Studios always uses code names for their roles, so the actual identity of the character is unknown, but the audition video gave a few interesting tidbits that could help determine who he is playing.

    Before reading any further there are 2 things you need to keep in mind:

    1. The now-deleted audition video could have been for a fan film or something completely unrelated to Sony’s MCU-set Spider-Man films.
    2. The now-deleted audition video, were it truly for Spidey 3 and if its contents related to the actual script of Spidey 3, would possibly reveal a pretty heavy spoiler.

    The two-part video begins with a young African-American man out delivering food for what appeared to be his parents’ restaurant. The young man is stopped by the NYPD because he is wearing some sort of Spider-Man gear. When questioned by police, he states he’s a fan of Spidey but it’s clear that in whatever universe this takes place, being a fan of Spidey is NOT ok. This would certainly seem to be in line with where we’d think things would pick up in Spidey 3 following the events at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home.

    The second part of the video sees the young man first in a conversation with his father, then his cousin (?). When talking to the second person, a breaking news report airs on TV indicating that the costumed hero Spider-Man has been found dead at a museum.

    Flashback Friday: DEATH OF SPIDER-MAN - Freaksugar

    Now there are all kinds of possibilities spinning out of this video if, in fact, it’s legitimately for Sony’s third Spider-Man film. Could the young man in the video have been auditioning for the role of Miles Morales? Could this be a Spider-Man from a different, parallel Earth or is this the MCU’s Peter? Could Doctor Strange have cast some sort of illusion that could somehow allow Peter to return to some semblance of a normal life? Has someone else put on the Spider-Man costume and died? While I have a hard time believing that the big picture revolves around killing Tom Holland’s character, I can think of several ways “Spider-Man” could die and Holland could continue on in the role. As is often the case with these videos, we know very little because we don’t know the connection to the larger plot (assuming this is legit and there even is one), so it’s hard to determine very much but we do know that we’re talking about a universe where Spider-Man seems to be an enemy of the state and ends up dead and if that gives us any sort of insight into the plot of Spider-Man 3, then we know it’s going to be a wild ride and that Marvel Studios has chosen to go down a shocking path for the threequel.

  • ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos Reveal Batmobile and New Wig

    ‘Batwoman’ Set Photos Reveal Batmobile and New Wig

    Batwoman‘s second season will introduce fans to a brand new heroine. Javicia Leslie has taken over the mantle from Ruby Rose to protect Gotham. The rest of the series’ cast is set to return with a lot of the story still a secret. We got some pictures from the set that teased Leslie in the iconic costume from the first season. It seemed she was carrying over the red wig and costume from her predecessor. A new image from the set may have revealed that we will see some new changes over the course of the show. Twitter user @Pagmyst shared an image where we can see that Batwoman has ditched the red wig.

    https://twitter.com/Pagmyst/status/1317354669304283136

    The image is from far away so we don’t get a good look if the costume has changed as well. Her new wig seems to be brown, which is a great way to highlight Leslie making the character her own. There is also the reveal of the show’s brand new Batmobile. @Pagmyst also shared a much better image of her new vehicle.

    https://twitter.com/Pagmyst/status/1317353770171260928

    CW won’t have the same budget as the movies. We originally thought we saw what would become the Batmobile in the last video, as it seemed to be updated with CGI. Yet, we are getting an actual Batmobile that even has her symbol on the front. Perhaps she uses an older model owned by the original Batman before switching to a car of her own choice. It looks a bit strange with the orange decals. Our only giveaway that this is the Batmobile would be the orange symbol on the front. This also could highlight that Batwoman‘s second season will switch from its red to an orange visual to highlight the new direction.

    Source: Twitter (costume), Twitter (Batmobile)

  • Superman and Wonder Woman Seemingly Exist in ‘The Batman’ Universe

    Superman and Wonder Woman Seemingly Exist in ‘The Batman’ Universe

    So far, The Batman seems to be set within its own universe. It will not be directly connected to the DC Extended Universe to explore Bruce’s second year as the titular vigilante. It seemed like the story would mainly focus on Batman and his rogue’s gallery. Even the first trailer revealed a much more grounded story. As such, we didn’t really think there would be any connection to the wider DC Universe, as it could collide with Matt Reeve’s vision. Interestingly enough, recent set photos may have changed that perception. Twitter user @DCEUMX shared an image from the film’s set that features people in costumes for a Halloween set. Among them, there are two very distinctive and recognizable designs.

    It seems that Superman and Wonder Woman might exist in this universe. Of course, these are just costumes and not the real deal. ScreenRant shared the first image teasing Superman, so this is our best look at the character. However, we did not see Wonder Woman until now. This reveal would imply that these characters have existed to some degree in this universe. Perhaps, Reeves is trying to distinguish this version of Batman from the rest by having them be characters from comic books that are the base for these designs. The costumes in question are closer to that of the original comic runs than any modern designs we’ve seen. So, that could be the reason for their appearance. Still, there is one more picture from the set that may confirm Superman’s existence. @Bat_Source shared an article of the Gotham Times mentions the line: “faces looking up to the skies, fingers pointed, everywhere looking for you know who”.

    There is one more aspect that sticks out. This is definitely showing the inspiration from The Long Halloween. The comic also included a Halloween costume party. So, this might be shortly before another murder happens in the story. We got our glimpse at the Riddler, who is quite a unique take on the character. He might be hiding among the crowd in a comic-accurate costume. The concept of this Halloween party could also be a way to sneak in a lot of references if characters like the Penguin are also included in the scene. Sadly, the wait will be a bit longer until the film releases but these set photos are already very promising.

    Source: Twitter, ScreenRant, Twitter (Article)

  • DC’s ‘Green Lantern’: Who is Jessica Cruz?

    DC’s ‘Green Lantern’: Who is Jessica Cruz?

    The Green Lantern Corps is one of many emotional spectrum corps that have protected the galaxy since they were formed over three billion years ago by the Guardians of the Universe. The Corp has known no prejudice, welcoming a variety of species and races, choosing only those with the greatest amount of willpower to fight and protect the universe from those who seek to spread fear, anger, and greed. The most notable of lanterns have become staples in the DC Universe and will return to live-action in HBO Max’s Green Lantern series, one that will span decades and focus on some of the most iconic corp members.

    Jessica Cruz, who first appeared in 2014’s Justice League Vol 2 #30, was created by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver. Originally known as Power Ring, she was the unwilling successor to Harold Jordan of the Crime Syndicate after he was killed during the Syndicates attack on Earth Prime. The Ring of Volthoom forced it self upon Cruz and took over, physically and mentally torturing her, and then forcing her to attack her hometown of Portland, Oregon. Jessica then came face to face with Batman, who reached out to her telling her that he was a victim as well and that only in their darkest hours, when they face their fears head on , could they truly persevere. Breaking the influence that the ring had on her, Jessica was able to take control of the ring and learn to wield it with the help of Hal Jordan, joining the Justice League.

    in360news: The Most Powerful GREEN LANTERN Ever is Jessica Cruz

     

    Jessia Cruz is also a character that deals a lot with mental health, suffering from severe anxiety that she developed after a traumatic experience while hunting with friends. During the trip Jessica came across two men dumping a body in the woods. Not wanting n witnesses, the men killed everyone but Jessica, who was able to get away. After the incident, Jessica’s mental state worsened and she locked herself within her apartment for almost four years, until the Ring of Volthoom found her. Jessica’s battle with anxiety proves the willpower within her has strengthened over the years and has become worthy of the title.

    Jessica Cruz will make her live-action debut in HBO Max’s Green Lantern.

  • Sony Promises First Look at Spider-Man 3 in 2020

    Sony Promises First Look at Spider-Man 3 in 2020

    Announced during ExpoCine 2020.

    These past 2 days, ExpoCine held its annual convention in virtual form. ExpoCine is the largest event in Latin America regarding the cinematographic industry, where movie companies from around the world exhibit their upcoming lineups to multiple film exhibitors from Brazil and worldwide. The biggest names at the event were Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Universal, Netflix, and more.

     

    I was able to attend and listen to the conferences from these major companies and was treated to some nice goodies. But the biggest heavy hitter of the day was definitely Sony Pictures, who treated attendees to first looks and behind the scenes footage for the upcoming Monster Hunter film, along with some updates on Connected, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Hotel Transylvania 4, and more.

     

     

    The most important update for me was the upcoming ‘Spider-Man 3’ sequel, currently set to release in December 2021. Camila Pacheco, the Executive Marketing Director of Sony Pictures Entertainment in Brazil, (who was wearing a Spider-Man shirt mind you), told attendees that the film had already started production and that we would get our first look at the film THIS DECEMBER 2020. She alternated between the words preview and teaser trailer when discussing the project but the point of the matter is, we should be getting some info on the upcoming Spider-Man 3 film sometime for the holiday season. The film was confirmed to keep its December 16th, 2021 release date and she also stated that the Morbius and Venom: Let There Be Carnage films will still have their March 2021 and June 2021 releases.

  • Michael B. Jordan to Produce Warner Bros. ‘Static Shock’

    Michael B. Jordan to Produce Warner Bros. ‘Static Shock’

    Back at DC FanDome it was slyly mentioned that a live-action Static Shock project was in development at WB. It was revealed during the announcement that Milestone comics would be returning with an all-new slate of titles to be released next year. Now it seems that the project has picked up steam and that they’ve already been assembling creatives to work on the project shifting it officially into active development.

    Today it was announced that Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan will be joining Reginald Hudlin on the project as a producer. This will be done through his Warner brothers based production company, Outlier Society. We even got an official statement on the cooperation.

    I’m proud to be a part of building a new universe centered around black superheroes; our community deserves that. Outlier Society is committed to bringing to life diverse comic book content across all platforms and we are excited to partner with Reggie and Warner Bros on this initial step.

    Static Shock gained is popularity from the original early 2000’s animated series based on the character, and is set to return along with the other Milestone characters for new issues next year. It’s mentioned in the article that if the project is a hit, it could spawn a “multi-platform franchise” possibly opening the door for Outlier Society to develop more characters from Milestone and DC Comics.

    Source: The Hollywood Report

     

  • ‘The Falcon And the Winter Soldier’ Adds ‘On My Block’ Danny Ramirez

    ‘The Falcon And the Winter Soldier’ Adds ‘On My Block’ Danny Ramirez

    Looks like there were still some new actors that haven’t been revealed for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Falcon and the Winter Soldier series. The Hollywood Reporter revealed that up-and-comer Danny Ramirez will be joining Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie‘s Disney+ series. They do highlight that his role has not been revealed as of now but that it will be an important one. Production is still underway, as some videos from the set revealed the new Captain America taking someone out in brutal fashion. It is uncertain when we will see the series released next year, as production continues but hopefully we could see it early 2021.

    Ramirez has been slowly garnering attention. he appeared in Netflix’s On My Block and the Fox show The Gifted. His credits also include Assassination Nation and Valley Girl, as well as the highly anticipated Top Gun: Maverick. He will be joining an extensive cast that will see the return of Daniel Bruhl, and Emily VanCamp. The cast is truly shaping up to be one of Marvel’s best. This year’s WandaVision will offer us some crazy antics in multiple dimensions while Falcon and the Winter Soldier will stick to the more grounded realism that Captain America introduced us to.