There’s always an ongoing discussion on the value that Marvel STudios brings as a production studio. There’s a bizarre fascination with the phenomenon of a Cinematic Universe running for over ten years and still having a powerful hold on the market. While Phase 4 may be considered their most “mixed” depending on who you ask, there’s no denying that they still remain a curious cinematic entry in the history.
Yet, as many discuss where its value lies, may it be in its cinematic approach to storytelling or even if it holds any actual cinematic value. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige believes that their main goal is to be “entertaining” to those watching their films or series; the same goes for the creatives working with them to bring these projects to life..
You can have as many beautiful messages, and beautiful life theories, and beautiful thematics that you want to put into the world, that all of us do, and all of our filmmakers do. But if you are not entertaining first, it will fall on deaf ears. And I think that has always been the way, and that thankfully when you are making the kind of movies that you love to see then that will also go into entertaining yourself, which is what we also try to do here at Marvel Studios
Kevin Feige
There are many discussions online, but there’s one thing that does showcase why of all attempts at a cinematic universe, Marvel manages to remain at the top. There’s a passion in the producing team and those they work with. If Marvel is forever only time can tell but as long as there is some passion, they won’t likely stop doing the things they enjoy bringing to life. No matter how the internet reacts but as long as their films fill the seats.
In 2019, Kevin Feige announced that Marvel Studios was developing a FantasticFour film much to the excitement of fans of the property. Four years and two directos later, little is known about the upcoming project. No actors have been announced for any member of the First Family and only the vaguest of rumored details about the potential plot have made their way online. However, according to a new rumor, the film’s villain may have been revealed.
Twitter users My Time To Shine Hello and Tom Smith have indicated that Galactus will be the villain of 2025’s Fantastic Four.
The rumors kicked off during a Q&A with My Time To Shine Hello. When asked who the main villain of the project would be, she simply stated “Galactus.” A matter of hours later, Smith backed up the claim that Galactus would be involved.
Starting off the franchise with a threat such as Galactus would be a bold move for Marvel Studios. While the character is one of the most well-known antagonists of the team in the comics, it’s been generally believed Marvel would start out with a less enormous threat. It’s unknown what route director Matt Shakman‘s adaptation of the character might take, but hopefully, if the rumors are true, fans will get to see Galactus fully revealed as Jack Kirby intended and not a cloud of cosmic dust in the wind.
Hours after it was announced that Amazon’s Prime Video was developing a Tomb Raider television series with Fleabag‘s Phoebe Waller-Bridge penning the scripts, it appears there’s more in store for Lara Croft. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Amazon has won the film rights to Tomb Raider and is also developing a new film.
Per the outlet, Amazon seems to have teamed up with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment to secure the film rights for Tomb Raider. It was previously announced in December that Amazon would also publish the next video game entry within the franchise. Amazon’s plan is to reportedly build out a connected world, much like with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, through television, film and video games. While financials regarding the deal are unclear, it’s thought that the deal is “among the largest commitments at Amazon after Lord of the Rings.” (Refresher: That deal ultimately cost Amazon $250 million just to secure the rights.)
THR was able to confirm that, while Waller-Bridge is penning the television series, she does not look to be involved with the film or video game. The film seems to still be in the very early stages and as of now has no writer, director or talent attached to the project.
According to Variety, Disney’s live-action Goosebumps series has added Rob Huebel to its cast in a recurring guest star role. The outlet states that Huebel will play a character named Colin, who is the father of Isa Briones‘ Margot. The character is described as “a well-intentioned high school guidance counselor who is about to discover the world is a lot bigger and scarier than he ever imagined.”
Huebel is perhaps best known for his work on the show Children’s Hospital, for which he was nominated for an Emmy. He has also appeared in I Know This Much Is True, The Goldbergs, and The Sex Lives of College Girls. On the film side, he has starred in films such as The Descendants, I Love You Man, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World.
The live-action series is said to follow a group of five high schoolers who accidentally unleash supernatural forces upon their town. In order to save the town, they will all need to work together, learning much about their own parents’ teenage secrets in the process. This will mark the second time that the Goosebumps books have been adapted for television, as there was a series that aired between 1996 and 1998. However, unlike that series which took an anthology approach, the Disney+ series will focus on five of the most popular Goosebumps books.
Huebel joins Briones, as well as previously announced cast members Ana Yi Puig, Miles McKenna, Will Price, Justin Long, Zack Morris, and Rachel Harris. Nick Stoller and Rob Letterman will act as the executive producers and are the co-creators of the Disney+ series adaptation. Neal H. Moritz, who was a producer on the 2015 and 2018 films, is also attached as an executive producer.
Tomb Raider is heading to the small screen. The Hollywood Reporter revealed on Friday that Phoebe Waller-Bridge is currently developing the project as part of her overall deal with Amazon. While the project is still very much being developed, it’s said that Waller-Bridge will pen the scripts. She is not expected to star in the series, though. Waller-Bridge will also executive produce the project along with the former head of comedy and drama, Ryan Andolina, and the former head of overall deals, Amanda Greenblatt.
This will mark the latest attempt to bring Lara Croft to life in live-action. Angelina Jolie previously starred in two films as the archaeologist, while Alicia Vikander starred in a 2018 film that was originally set to receive a sequel. That project, which had Lovecraft Country‘s Misha Greenset to pen the script, was ultimately scrapped when MGM lost the film rights last year.
Fans of the series will not only be getting a new live-action take thanks to Amazon, but also a brand new video game installment. Back in December, it was revealed that Amazon Games would publish the next video game within the Tomb Raider franchise. As of now, that project does not have a release date.
With production currently underway in Vancouver, Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, based on the novels by Rick Riordan, already has quite the cast with Walker Scobell as Percy, joined by Aryan Simhadri‘s Grover and Leah Sava Jeffries‘ Annabeth. Some other impressive actors set to appear in the project are Jessica Parker Kennedy, Olivea Morton, Jason Mantzoukas, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jay Duplass, and Timothy Omundson. And now, it seems the series has found two more major additions that will surely have fans of the books excited.
Variety has revealed that the series has cast The Wire and John Wick actor Lance Reddick as the Disney+ shows’ version of Zeus. Per the official character description, “The all-powerful god of the sky and leader of Mount Olympus, Zeus is tempestuous and mistrustful. He’s promised to wage a war if his stolen thunderbolt is not returned.” Lost in Space and Black Sails‘ Toby Stephens will take on the role of Poseidon, god of the sea and Percy’s absent father, with whom Percy shares many qualities. Per the official character description, “Though he has stayed away throughout Percy’s life, his deep feelings for his son (and Percy’s mother, Sally) are evident.”
The casting is definitely exciting and it does seem like Disney is all-in with the project. It has yet to be seen if Disney will start working on a second season or wait it out until viewership numbers are in, but the cast is already quite promising and will ensure that the adaptation stands out from the original films.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is currently aiming to release its first season in early 2024.
Marvel Studios 2024 team-up film, Thunderbolts, has been in the news quite a bit recently as rumors about one of Marvel’s crazier characters, Sentry, have excited fans. The film is set to introduce the titular team, under the watch of Julia Louis-Dreyfus‘ Val, to the MCU. Among the team are a trio of characters who debuted in 2021’s Black Widow and it seems like that’s more than just a coincidence.
In an Instagram post, Marvel Studios Director of Visual Development Andy Park explained that Thunderbolts is serving as a sequel to Black Widow.
It’s not the first time the comparison has been made, but having Park seemingly confirm it is fantastic and gives fans an idea of what to expect from the tone of the film…and who the lead might be.
With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania set to start Phase 5 in February, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is about to dramatically change course in the midst of the Multiverse Saga. Much like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the official list of what a fan should watch to prepare for the film is not quite as simple as you’d think. Part of this is the mere fact that the MCU now has 30 films, 8 Disney+ series, 2 Disney+ special presentations, and I Am Groot. Still, considering the absolute chaos of the Multiverse, the introduction of the Multiverse Saga’s main villain, a Young Avengers setup, and threequel status make Quantumania a fun one for our latest Ultimate List of Things to Watch Before.
At the end of the day, 16 projects made this list with varying degrees of relevance. First, the top three tiers are focused on Scott Lang/Ant-Man’s story as well as the Multiverse. After that, it is hard to ignore that Cassie Lang’s role in Quantumania is setting up yet another (likely) future Young Avenger, so the list takes a stroll down memory lane of others we have already seen. As is tradition, the last category really pushes the limit of what makes sense. In any event, somehow every single MCU Disney+ series has made this list, so get started.
Top Tier
The top tier, as you would suspect, comprises the most important projects to watch before Quantumania based on what we know about the film.
1. Ant-Man
It should go without saying that anyone watching the third film in a solo franchise should start with the original film. In 2015, Ant-Man was the epilogue of Phase 2 and introduced Scott Lang, Hank Pym, and Hope Van Dyne for the first time along with several other key players. From the official Quantumania trailer, we also know that the villain Darren Cross appears to be the face of M.O.D.O.K.
2. Ant-Man and the Wasp
While Ant-Man and the Wasp received notoriously mixed reactions, its focus on the Quantum Realm set up so much of the future of the MCU. The film brought the character Janet Van Dyne into reality but also set up the Quantum Realm as a real place to exist—this is where we will find our characters for much of Quantumania. It also highlights Scott’s relationship with his young daughter Cassie, who will be a teenager and seemingly much more important character in the threequel.
3. Loki
Other than the Ant-Man franchise, the Disney+ series Loki is probably the most important project to watch before Quantumania. The finale introduced us to the first variant of Kang the Conquerer in Jonathan Majors’ He Who Remains, though “Kang” is set to make his more formal debut in the third Ant-Man film. He Who Remains provided an extremely important monologue about who he was and what would happen if variants of himself were allowed to live on. Now, we’re going to watch the consequences of Loki begin to play out, presumably all coming to an end in Avengers: Secret Wars. Quantumania may have gotten the Multiverse Saga’s most important character as its solo film antagonist, and we will surely see the actual multiverse truly come into play in the wider MCU after this film.
Tier Two
The second tier of “must watches” before Quantumania is short, but it focuses on the remainder of Scott’s on-screen story as well as the Quantum Realm’s connection to the multiverse.
4. Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame very casually dropped the first hints of the Multiverse and the first major consequences of the Quantum Realm and quantum-related technology. Of course, the film shows another appearance of the character, and it is the first time we saw Cassie as a teenager. The father and daughter’s lost time is clearly central to Quantumania, so their reunion early in this film has major significance. A pro tip for the real fans here is that it is always best to watch Avengers: Infinity War along with Endgame, even though there is virtually no Ant-Man significance.
5. Captain America: Civil War
The events of Captain America: Civil War will likely not have much relevance to Quantumania’s story, but in the true MCU spirit of preparing oneself for a solo threequel, all appearances of the character should be watched.
Tier Three
The third tier is (mostly) dedicated to the multiverse. While Quantumania is the first film of the second phase of the Multiverse Saga, Kang’s introduction will likely kick the stakes up a notch.
6. Ms. Marvel
True, Disney+ series Ms. Marvel is not related to the Multiverse. But the series (or at least the first minute or two of the first episode) is here because it mentions that Scott has become a relatively famous person and Avenger post-Endgame. The beginning of the Quantumania trailer also alludes to this fact, so this moment in Ms. Marvel is a significant connecting piece.
7. What If…?
The entrance of Kang and the beginning of Phase 5 can only mean that the MCU’s Multiverse is actually going to start coming out to play. Whether or not it’s a major factor in the main portion of Quantumania is yet to be seen, but the fallout of the film probably carries a lot of multiversal weight. The best way to get into the multiverse mindset is to watch the only project actually dedicated to it, even if it’s at the bottom of most people’s Phase Four favorites lists.
8. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
How can you talk about the Multiverse without the film that has the word in its title? Several potential Young Avengers are present here (discussed more below), but Multiverse of Madness was the first live-action project to genuinely explore the multiverse to a significant extent. While it did not live up to all fans’ expectations, Quantumania will surely build on what we know from the Doctor Strange sequel.
9. Spider-Man: No Way Home
The events of Spider-Man: No Way Home are likely well-removed from the world of Quantumania, but the film is a Multiverse classic, and likely the general population’s favorite of all MCU Multiverse-centered projects to date.
Introducing the Young Avengers
An ongoing rumor—or, more likely, prediction—is that the Young Avengers are slowly being assembled throughout several projects. Cassie Lang’s status as a teenage superhero in Quantumania means yet another obvious candidate will be introduced. Notably, Multiverse of Madness (which is already listed above) introduced America Chavez and featured young versions of Wiccan and Speed for the second time in the MCU.
10. Hawkeye
Kate Bishop’s inclusion in Disney+ series Hawkeye got plenty of Young Avengers hype. Not only is she a classic Young Avenger in the comics, but the character has received by far the most attention of any of the likely future members.
11. WandaVision
Wanda’s children, Billy and Tommy, perhaps sparked the first rumors of a future Young Avengers project. The duo’s powers as Wiccan and Speed were also featured in the Disney+ series WandaVision, making it clear that they likely have a superhero future outside of the show.
12. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
Often overlooked, another likely Young Avenger made his debut in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Elijah Bradley, who becomes the superhero Patriot in the comics, has a couple of brief appearances alongside the focus on Isaiah Bradley, a lost/covered-up supersoldier Bucky encountered during the Korean War.
Why Not?
The title of this section says it all. The following projects do have some connection (maybe) to Quantumania in some way, but those connections are extremely distant from anything particularly important. This category is for the true fans.
13. Moon Knight
While Disney+ series Moon Knight notably omits references to the broader MCU, one of its few Easter eggs is actually Kang-related. In its third episode, the image on the back of one of the generic goons Marc Spector fights is a reference to Kang the Conquerer’s time as the pharaoh Rama-Tut in the comics (and presumably the MCU as well).
14. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
One of the worst connections thrown your way yet, the post-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shows that the Ten Rings have a beacon—and the Quantumania teaser trailer also featured a beacon that clearly led to the Quantum Realm and likely Kang directly. Are all beacons the same? No. But could the Quantum Realm be relevant to mystical items like the Ten Rings or Ms. Marvel’s bangles? Maybe—you should probably watch this just in case.
15. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
The final two projects in this list are certainly a reach but a connection can still be made. The final Disney+ series so far, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, teased the criminal organization the Intelligencia. While we do not know if the name is the only thing borrowed from the comics, we do know that M.O.D.O.K., a Quantumania villain, is a member of the supervillain and super-scientist organization in the comics.
16. Iron Man 3 (AIM)
Like She-Hulk, Iron Man 3 has a loose connection to Quantumania involving M.O.D.O.K.’s comic book history. M.O.D.O.K. has an extensive history with the criminal organization A.I.M., which was briefly introduced and teased in the final Iron Man film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17, 2023.
HBO has renewed The Last of Us for a second season. The series, which stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, is an adaptation of the video game series of the same name. Since its premiere earlier this month, The Last of Us has quickly become a breakout hit for HBO, amassing an astounding 22 million viewers across all platforms.
“I’m humbled, honored, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey. The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast and crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations. Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two!”
Neil Druckmann, Executive Producer
To date, the series has only aired two episodes, with the third set to premiere this Sunday. However, the adaptation of The Last of Us looks to be connecting with viewers. Episode 2 reportedly jumped 22% in the overnight ratings compared to the first episode across HBO and HBO Max.
Mazin, who serves as the showrunner on the project, expressed his gratitude to those involved in the project as well as the fans of the show. “I’m so grateful to Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey.”
The Last of Us is expected to tackle the second video game, The Last of Us: Part II, for its second season. Season 1 of The Last of Us consists of nine episodes, with a new episode dropping every Sunday.
While 2023 will be home to various marquee theatrical blockbuster-event movies, the world of independent cinema remains primed to stay strong in the new year. And one notable entry is set to provide a fresh spin that hybridizes the “coming-of-age” and “reunion” film subsections. Premiering at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival, Waiting for the Light to Shine will serve as the directorial debut for Linh Tran. The screenplay was written by Tran, alongside Jewells Santos and Delia van Praag. And the small ensemble cast consists of Jin Park, Joyce Ha, Qun Chi, Sam Straley, and Erik Barrientos.
The film follows five friends of various connections spending a weekend at a vacation house that subtly forces some to confront their lots in life through cold winter walks and ample amounts of marijuana. While watching, audiences will likely view Waiting for the Light to Shine as a less political but more culturally diverse inversion of Return of the Secaucus 7. The deviation naturally comes from the characters making internal self-revelations that could disassemble these friendships before a future reunion.
Linh Tran adeptly weaves a resonating and modern story about the internal struggles that plague young adults in finding their true identities. Waiting for the Light to Shine accurately and poignantly depicts the highs and lows of youthful experience. Viewers will tangibly feel the weight of the character’s sobering hangovers in the third act. Waiting for the Light to Shine is further elevated through Jin Park’s powerhouse performance as Amy, who essentially serves as the film’s protagonist. Park perfectly plays a tragic figure stuck between being internally tormented by her past and struggling to find an identity for her future. The evolution that her friendship with Joyce Ha’s Kim goes through is the crux of the weekend getaway and is the strongest narrative element to boot. In addition, the themes of depression and otherness are explored in interesting facets as ancillary plot points.
The film ultimately isn’t a perfect take on this story in Tran’s directorial debut. The few issues predominately come from various instances of unnatural lines of dialogue present. The screenplay is generally strong but would have likely been its best version with a few more touch-ups. Though in the film’s defense, the actors play some of the lines adeptly into the nervous energy pertinent to people in the dawn of their true adulthood. As well, the concept of presenting a film through hardline vignettes partially hurts the flow of the story. This is a movie that shines in the moments when it moves past the static nature of one-on-one conversations. The faults of the film are predominately present in the first act of the film, in which it takes too long to establish the group’s character dynamics with each other. Waiting for the Light to Shine markedly improves after this point, and one could wish the film could’ve reached that point sooner.
Though beyond these specific qualms, Waiting for the Light to Shine is a film worth seeing if one can do so. This is especially the case with a project created on an approximate $20,000 budget and with it serving as an independent film debut for many involved with the project. One can hope that the film can serve as a launching point for future stories from these young, diverse voices.
Waiting for the Light to Shine made its Slamdance debut on Sunday, January 22.
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