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‘THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLIDER’ Set Video Reveals Potential Major Spoiler

With filming on The Falcon and The Winter Soldier moving to Prague and taking place outdoors, it was inevitable that some set video or photos would leak and today it did with the video revealing what might be considered a pretty major spoiler when taken in tandem with another piece of evidence. Read on at your own risk.

A set video posted by the Instagram account Fandimeflimu shows Wyatt Russell’s John Walker/US Agent using Cap’s shield to pummel a fallen foe.

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Noah Mills, who was cast in the series late last year in an unknown role, posted a photo to his Instagram showing his “stand in.” The stand in is a dummy who appears on the other side of the monument/stairs from where the video was shot.

Walker’s violent beating of the “stand in” certainly looks like it would prove catastrophic and, more importantly, is in line with Walker’s character arc in the comics and is something we’ve expected and talked about on the podcast in the past. Shortly after taking the mantle of Captain America in the comics, Walker’s inability to control his violent urges led to him murdering several members of the Watchdogs, an extremist terrorist group, and torturing a few others. This led to a confrontation between Walker and Steve Rogers and ended with Walker having being stripped of the legacy mantle of Captain America.

This video indicates that we can likely imagine the series will follow a similar path, but with no Steve Rogers around, who will step into the boots of Captain America? Will it be Sam Wilson or Cap’s lifelong best friend, Bucky Barnes? Hopefully we all find out early in 2021!

October 16, 2020
Xochitl Gomez Joins ‘DOCTOR STRANGE’ Sequel

Actress Xochitl Gomez has joined the cast of Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness, according to a trade report. Though the trade said her role was unrevaled, it’s almost certain that she has landed the prized role of America Chavez, an alien from the Utopian Parallel with the power to travel the multiverse! The Illuminerdi first broke the news that Chavez was set to appear in the sequel and now it would seem Marvel Studios has found their America!

Though terms of the contract were not discussed, it’s a near certainty that Gomez will appear in Marvel Studios Young Avengers project, which has been rumored to be in development for some time now, after completing the Strange sequel. The 14-year old Gomez previously starred in the Netflix series The Babysitters Club and also on the Disney Channel series, Raven’s Home.

October 16, 2020
‘Marvel’s Avengers’ State of the Game Confirms Slight Kate Bishop Delay
Marvel’s Avengers has been a crazy but enjoyable journey. I went into this game knowing full well what it means to start a Games-as-a-Service at launch. They get plagued with bugs at launch due to its online nature. The game is structurally sound, but it has some issues it needs to fight through. Sadly, it lost players fast in the beginning and became an easy target for repeating talking points online.

Still, Crystal Dynamics has been hard at work trying to fix the bugs and show the players that they care. They initially patched as much as possible early on. We just recently got our first content patch, which was slightly underwhelming but still offered something new to do. This week, we finally got a blog discussing the journey to this point. In it, they did what many avoid, they confessed that the bugs deterred players. It is a big move to confess to something like this. Yet, they aren’t stopping there but are also giving away free resources to thank players for their patience.
- Credits: 1500
- Units: 7000
- Upgrade Modules: 250
- DNA Keys: 20
- A Sarah Garza-Inspired Nameplate (Because seriously, you’re the best.)
Those credits can get anyone a Legendary Skin and a nameplate. They are giving away $15 in value for the credits alone. Plus, the in-joke of the game of Garza repeating her line is just a nice touch. It will be available as of October 22nd. The blog entry also includes some details about new community-driven features that are coming our way, such as a campaign replay option of the game’s story, a unique ping system for multiplayer and more clarity about mission rewards. We have seen a lot of Quality-of-Life improvements in their last update, so these will add a whole new level to the game.

They also dedicated an entire section to the issues that have been plaguing the game since launch. They also discuss the performance and stability issues, and their dependency on NVIDIA for the PC port. Crystal Dynamics is also looking into ways to optimize matchmaking by rethinking its structure and updating the rewards system. They also highlighted that work is underway to offer a multiplayer alternative to the Mega Hive. This game made was a big discussion point among players, as it is a single-player only mission.

It would be one thing to just focus on the fixes, but they also teased some new content coming soon. They will be introducing a new mission type called Omega-Level Threats. These are multiplayer-focused challenges for high-level players with unique rewards. In the blog, they also tease an Avengers-worthy fight at the end, which could hopefully include new villains. They also point out this is just the first step. Crystal Dynamics also finally confirmed that the first Omega threat is going to be the A.I.M. Cloning Lab, which will be a weekend-only event. Sadly, they do not include an exact release date but could be in the coming weeks.

They also confirmed that Kate Bishop is not going to release in October. They state it is a slight delay, so that means it could be at the beginning of the month. I am okay with a later release, as it is for free, and that could mean they are adding more content to it. Their recent patch had many underwhelmed, so they might want to focus on making it deliver on what everyone is expecting. We will know more in November, as they have also confirmed we will finally get a tour next War Table video by then, which most likely will include the long-promised road map. They confirmed Clint will be included and what we can expect from 2021. I do fear that this means Black Panther won’t release this year, as originally predicted.

I believe this was a necessary and important move by the developer. It is very detailed and honest about the faulty launch. I did not expect a free bundle for early players, but it is a nice gesture. Hopefully, this is the beginning of continuous content drops for the game. I am having a blast with the game and I want to see where they are heading. Kate Bishop’s addition will be our first indicator of what we can expect from the game moving forward, so I am looking forward to that. Yes, the delay isn’t great but it means they are focusing on getting the game where it needs to be. Let’s see where this journey brings us in the near future.

Source: Play Avengers
October 16, 2020
DC’s ‘BLACK ADAM’: Who is Ma Hunkel?

Black Adam is quite possibly one of the most anticipated DC movies in development and is already living up to the hype with the addition of some of DC’s most iconic characters. With such a rich library to pick from, the film will introduce those from the Justice Society and the Black Marvel Family. The hierarchy of power in the DC universe is about to change and Black Adam won’t let anything stand in between him and protecting the kingdom that he’s called home for thousands of years.

First appearing in All American Comics #3, Ma Hunkel was created by Sheldon Mayer, would go onto don the mantle of the Golden Age Red Tornado in All American Comics #20 and became quite possibly the first female superhero, debuting even before Wonder Woman. Ma Hunkel was a simple housewife in New York city who would go onto open a grocery store with the help of her brother-in-law Gus. Ma was eventually approached by some local no good racketeers who demanded Hunkel pay up protection money to ensure her store’s safety. Ma responded by giving them a good ol’fashioned beatdown, leading them to hastily run to their car in which Hunkel’s daughter and friend Dinky were hiding. When the cops refused to help Ma in fear of retribution at the hand of the mobster Tubbs Torponi, Ma knew she had to take matters into her own hands and was inspired by her son’s admiration of Green Lantern to become the Red Tornado and rescue the children in a suit that consisted of Long Johns, a red cape, and a shiny pot on her head, but furthering the disguise by appearing as a man.

Ma would go onto attend the first official meeting of the Justice Society of America but would flee when the bottoms of her suit were ripped, in fear of her secret being revealed. She would later take on a pair of sidekids, the Cylclone kids, who were actually just her daughter Amelia and her friend Dinky. The character would later go on to raise her Granddaughter Maxine Hunkle, Aka Cylclone, and become the caretaker of the JSA headquarters. Ma Hunkel will make her first live action appearence in Black Adam and will be reimagined as a transgender character and work as the caretaker in Carter Hall’s Museum

October 16, 2020
How the Spider-Slayers Could Play Into ‘Spider-Man 3’s Story

In Charles’ latest ‘What I Heard This Week‘ he stumbled upon something rather interesting. There is a chance that Spider-Man 3 might add the character, Dr. Spencer Smythe. He is one of Spidey’s oldest villains, who made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man back in 1965. He is the man that created the iconic Spider-Slayers that were designed to hunt and kill Spider-Man. It seems like the perfect addition as the next film will feature Spidey on the run. He was branded as a murderer, and with the Sakovian Accords still in place, he will be a prime target for many. So, let us try to find out how exactly Smythe might fit into the story that might still feature some multidimensional shenanigans.

Originally, Smythe was financially backed by J. Jonah Jameson. We were introduced to the iconic character at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home. It would make sense to follow the comics but it doesn’t seem fitting for him to do such a thing. Yes, he is the one to call Spider-Man a menace but there is no reason for him to hire anyone to take him down. He probably makes more money as long as Spidey is on the run. My best guess is that Jameson will create a bounty on Spidey’s head that could play on their original connection. It also would give an initiative for other enemies that have been teased to make an appearance.

Still, it is also possible Smythe works for the government. As far as we know, the Sokovia Accords could still be active. They might have a vested interest in capturing Spidey. He was involved with the big airplane fight alongside Iron Man, so who knows if he technically signed them. Plus, Thunderbolt Ross will be featured in Black Widow, so they might have some bigger plans for him in Phase 4. So, the government is funding Smythe’s Spider-Slayer program but in reality, he is using this opportunity to get his hands on the bounty. Perhaps they will introduce his son Alistair, who was played by BJ Novak in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, as his main motivation. This could potentially also set-up for future appearances.

Smythe’s inclusion would definitely lead to the slayers being the ones chasing down Spidey. It would be a fun idea of seeing him constantly having to upgrade them as Spidey takes them down. Now that the bounty is up, a group of bad guys is hunting him through New York City. Add to his frustration, the multiverse starts playing tricks and Spidey is barely able to keep up. Somehow, he manages to stay afloat throughout the journey. He has to handle a multitude

Smythe doesn’t defeat the web-head, he does manage to get some DNA off of him. His lab assistant Miles Warren offers to take care of it. Little does Smythe know, his assisstant has other plans. Spidey uses the chance to take down the Spider-Slayers, but finds a dead Smythe. His son, Alistair, finds the scene of the crime and blames the web-head for it starting his own path. Peter can only watch from the distance not realizing what he may have unleashed. He also is unaware that someone else was cooking up something that will come back to haunt him in the future.

October 15, 2020
RUMOR: Ma Hunkel to appear in ‘Black Adam’

With Black Adam set to introduce the Justice Society of America, many have wondered what the ranks of the team will look like. It is also unsure if this is their first iteration within the DCEU. In the comics, the Justice Society first showed up around WW2 after thwarting an assassination attempt against President Roosevelt. We know about a few members, but a new one might be joining the roster. One of the team’s honorary members, Ma Hunkel a.k.a. the Golden Age Red Tornado may be next in line to make her first live-action appearance in the film.

Recent reports have pointed to the character making their appearance in the film. Ma Hunkel will act as the caretaker of Hawkman’s museum. This introduction is similar to how she transpired brought back in Geoff Johns JSA run, where she was the caretaker of the JSA headquarters. In her first appearance, she disguised herself as a man to go out and fight crime under the monicker of the Red Tornado. She would lead the way for our favorite red android years later. The character also happens to be the grandmother of the recruit Cyclone, who is also set to make her live-action debut in the film. Along with the report, it’s rumored that the character will be reimagined as a transgender character, a welcome addition for more inclusivity.

Black Adam currently has no set release date and will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. The film will star Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo, and Sarah Shahi. The character of Ma Hunkel has yet to be cast, and it’s unclear if the character will don the Red Tornado name.

SOURCE: Illuminerdi

October 15, 2020
Pitching The Live-Action Spider-Verse

There’s been a lot of Spider-Man related news making headlines these past few days. With the casting of Jamie Foxx as Electro and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, many fans have started to speculate about how the multiverse plays into the plot of this film, considering the film is set between the events of WandaVision (2020) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022). Now, along with this news about the casting and the potential chance of the Multiverse becoming a major theme in this film, right now, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is whether or not the two previous iterations of the Spider-Man; Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, could have a role in this film.

Right now, there is no official confirmation as to whether or not Tobey and/or Andrew could reprise their roles in this film, or whether or not the Spider-Verse will be adapted to either the upcoming Spider-Man 3 film, or another film entirely, IF AT ALL, but the rumors of them returning are just too loud for anyone to ignore. Personally, as the Spider-Man fan that I am, I, like many, would freak out at the potential return of both Tobey and Andrew, but with that excitement, I also carry with me both concern and trepidation that it may not be done correctly. An event as big as this cannot simply be condensed into a two-hour film in my view. So today, I’m here to “pitch” if you will how Marvel Studios/Sony could “if done correctly”, create one of the best comic book films by dividing the story into three different arcs; Tom Holland, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield.

Tom’s Arc: The Rise of Peter Parker

One of the heaviest criticisms Tom Holland’s portrayal of the character faces is that Peter has been subjected to living under the Avengers’ shadow and their adventures, rather than be able to stand out on his own. His own ties to the MCU (Tony Stark, Nick Fury, Doctor Strange) have fans arguing that Peter Parker’s story as an individual with a world of his own, has not been explored in its entirety. For me, I like to see the last 2 Spider-Man films as the foundations for some decent world-building for Peter. In Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Peter learned that the suit does not make him Spider-Man, it’s the values of a hero that make him who he is. In Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), Peter understood that while the world wanted him to be the next Iron Man, he could never live up to those expectations. The world didn’t need another Iron Man, it needed Spider-Man. And now, with these lessons in place, I think that we are finally one step closer to seeing the Spider-Man that most fans want him to be. The Spider-Man that doesn’t need to live in the shadows of the Avengers when he can stand out in the light of his own power. And who better to teach him that…than himself (himselves???).

Andrew & Tobey’s Arc: The Swan Song

The biggest criticisms amongst Spider-Man fans is that after being promised sequels to their respective franchises (mainly Spider-Man 4 and The Amazing Spider-Man 3), the projects were abandoned and many fans disliked that it essentially left their stories without a decent closure. The incorporation of the Spider-Verse storyline could allow fans to delve once again into the worlds of these Spider-Men.

We could see how Peter’s life in the “Raimi-Verse” continued following the events of Spider-Man 3 (2007), with him perhaps being married to Kirsten Dunst’s “Mary Jane Watson” and perhaps even having a child of their own. He could play an older version of Peter Parker, perhaps even be retired from being Spider-Man. As for Peter in the “TASM-Verse”, I could see him being a Spider-Man who still lives with the guilt of Gwen’s death from “The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)”, struggling to comprehend whether he’s worthy to wear the mask if he broke his promise to keep Gwen safe. As the Multiverse collides, elements from their world begin to condense into the MCU/SMCU “shared universe” where we can bring back other actors from these franchises such as William Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Rhys Ifans, Dane DeHaan, and the list goes on and on. By having this storyline play out, we could incorporate a sort of “swan song” which could allow both Tobey and Andrew to give it their all while finally giving fans the closure they need in order, and move on with Tom Holland as the new Spider-Man.

Overall Arc: With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility.

One of the most iconic lines in all of comic book history and arguably the most important lesson in all of the Spider-Man lore. In order for the Spider-Verse to work, this needs to be the central theme in the overarching story and be the lesson that 3 Peters teach each other and can be applied in different ways. By doing so, you can make it an original take on the iconic line.

Raimi Peter: Since in my pitch, he’s retired and doesn’t want to be Spider-Man anymore, he could be reminded of the lesson and understand that he does not need to sacrifice power over responsibility. The Peters could teach him that his power is what keeps his family and his world safe (MCU Peter) and what happens when he does not act on his power (TASM Peter_. And it could allow him to shift his perspective that by being Spider-Man and using his power due to the responsibility of protecting those around him, the meaning behind that iconic phrase is far greater than by simply just not using his power at all.

MCU Peter: He can learn the central lesson by understanding from the other two Peters that by having great power, you have a greater responsibility to protect those you love (Raimi Peter with his family) and the consequences that can come with it (TASM Peter’s inability to save Gwen).

TASM Peter: Haunted by the guilt that he could not protect the one he loved, the Peters could teach TASM Peter that he cannot allow the guilt of Gwen’s death to influence his role as Spider-Man. With great power can come great consequences and those consequences can either make us or break us. But that only he has the power to forgive himself and the responsibility to move on as Spider-Man.

Hopefully, we’ll know more about the project soon.

October 15, 2020
What I Heard This Week: Spider-Slayers in ‘SPIDER-MAN 3’

Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. For instance, on February 19th, I wrote this piece relaying some rumors I’d heard about Marvel Studios updating its Disney Plus slate; the next day, the news broke that a special Disney Plus event would be held in London on March 5th where it is expected that Marvel Studios and Star Wars slates will be updated. I also shared information about Peyton Reed directing episodes of season 2 of The Mandalorian months before he made it official. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been able to hear much of anything, so I’m excited to share this bit on info with you.

I was recently contacted and had some information shared with me that has led me down a pretty wild path of speculation to an end point that I think makes a ton of sense. The information, while nebulous, comes from a trusted source and I’ve spent some time trying to get a little more context and clear up what I’ve been told, but at this point that is hard to come by, so I’ve landed on the option that makes the most sense to me: Spider-Man 3 may well introduce one of the Wall-Crawler’s oldest villains, Dr. Spencer Smythe.

Smythe first appeared in 1965’s The Amazing Spider-Man #25 and made a mess of things for Spidey at the behest of J. Jonah Jameson who, as you know, viewed the young hero as a MENACE! Without giving away some details I’ve been asked to keep quiet, Smythe was one of a handful of alliterative Spider-Man characters that I had to choose from based on the information at hand but he’s also the one that fits the best given the way the last film ended. While there’s currently no shortage of crazy Spidey rumors going around right now, it seems a certainty that the film will open with Peter dealing with the fallout from the revelation of his secret identity by Mysterio at the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Of course that movie also brought J.K. Simmons‘ J. Jonah Jameson into the MCU and given his history with Smythe, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising to see the two team up at the beginning of this threequel. Smythe, of course, doesn’t pose much of a threat himself but he’s more than capable of causing Spidey problems by developing Spider-Slayers!

The Spider-Slayers were a series of robots developed by Smythe with the original model even bearing the face of J. Jonah himself. An appearance by the Smythe and the Spider-Slayer(s) could prove for some incredible shots of Spidey swinging through NYC with the Slayers in pursuit as well as making Jameson a true antagonist in the MCU while bringing a classic Spidey villain to the screen for the first time. It’s also worth noting that Smythe’s son, Alistair, played by BJ Novak, made an appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and we know that Feige has no problem reinventing characters from the previous Spidey franchises at this point with both Simmons and Jamie Foxx reprising their roles in the MCU, so Novak’s Alistair, who was a part of the series of events that saw Foxx’s Max Dillon become Electro, could make his way into this shared universe as well.

Again there are so many wild rumors out there right now that it’s hard to tell what to believe and hard to get a good idea of just what this movie is about, but adding Smythe and his Spider-Slayers to the film is certainly in line with where things left off last time we saw Spidey! Hopefully, we’ll see where things end up for Peter and company and if I made the right choice in my deductions sooner than later as filming is set to kick off soon and Spider-Man 3 is due in theaters on December 16, 2021!

October 15, 2020
DC’s ‘Black Adam’: Who is Isis?

Black Adam is quite possibly one of the most anticipated DC movies in development and is already living up to the hype with the addition of some of DC’s most iconic characters. With such a rich library to pick from, the film will introduce those from the Justice Society and the Black Marvel Family. The hierarchy of power in the DC universe is about to change and Black Adam won’t let anything stand in between him and protecting the kingdom that he’s called home for thousands of years.

Based on a character played by Joanna Cameron from the Shazam!/Isis Hour, Adrianna Tomaz, once a slave, was a gift to Black Adam from the infamous Intergang, a group of mercs powered up by stolen Apokolips technology. Adam quickly cut these mercenaries down and freed Adrianna who quickly became critical of the way Adam was running Kahndaq and how he could be doing things better. Adam quickly fell for Adrianna and the two would wed in a ceremony officiated by Shazam, with many prominent members of the Shazamly in attendance such as Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr, Uncle Dudley, and of course Tawky Tawny.

Adrianna was given the the amulet of Isis after being approved by now sitting wizard, Captain Marvel. The amulet once belonged to Queen Pharaoh Hatshepsut, a previous champion of the wizard. The amulet of Isis, once in hand and the words “I am Isis” are spoken, allowed he or she who wore it to be instilled with the powers of the goddess Isis: speed, strength, wisdom, flight, and the ability to control nature. Together Adam and Adrianna traveled throughout the Middle East freeing the enslaved and searching for Adrianna’s lost brother, Amon, after the two were separated in enslavement. Amon would soon become bestowed with powers similar to Adam and Tomaz, donning the name Osiris.

A much more watered down version of the character named Zari, played by Tala Ashe, has become a series regular on Legends of Tomorrow wielding a similar amulet that allows her to control wind, the character is a hacker from the future who joined the legends to save her brother. Sarah Shahi has been cast in Black Adam and will play the powerful love interest herself.

October 15, 2020
‘SHANG-CHI’ Production Headed to SF, Home of the Agents of Atlas

Production on the Marvel Studios film Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will shift stateside next week with scenes being filmed in San Francisco. Production on the film has been ongoing in Australia for the past couple of months and may still continue there even as stunt crews begin work in California this week in preparation for some stunt sequences that will be filmed next week.

The MCU is no stranger to filming in the 415 as scenes were filmed in the San Francisco Bay Area for both Ant-Man and Ant-Man and The Wasp, opening the door for a possible connection between the two franchises, perhaps via Jimmy Woo whose comic book counterpart leads the Agents of Atlas from their secret base, the Temple of Atlas, located in caverns beneath the city. Earlier this year, it was rumored that Marvel Studios was developing Agents of Atlas as a Disney Plus series, and given the team’s recent resurgence in the comics, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them join the MCU at some point.

Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings is currently set to hit theaters July 9, 2021.

October 15, 2020