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  • Deleted Marvel Studios UK Tweet Adds Further Confusion to MCU’s 2023 Releases

    Deleted Marvel Studios UK Tweet Adds Further Confusion to MCU’s 2023 Releases

    There have been many stories on what exactly the future has in store for Marvel Studios’ 2023 slate. We have quite a few projects initially mapped out with Secret Invasion, Echo, Loki’s second season, Ironheart, and Agatha: Coven of Chaos on Disney+. That is all on top of three films that would find their way into theaters throughout the year. Many have been worried about Marvel Studios trying to push out too much with rumors even hinting that they are rescheduling their approach.

    A tweet by Marvel Studios UK hinted that they were still set to release those projects while rumors hinted at something else. Yet, it turns out that this tweet has been deleted adding to the confusion. Echo has currently been reported to get pushed back by the series’ showrunner as it would have to release before Daredevil: Born Again. Agatha was already hinted at a potential 2024 release but that tweet added the confusion.

    It would make sense to dial it back for Marvel Studios as they finally caught up with the projects that were all developed around the same time window. Plus, Bob Iger also retook the seat as Disney’s CEO meaning we’ll see some new developments over at Marvel Studios with more control back in the hands of Kevin Feige. Whatever may happen in 2023 remains to be seen, but we may be looking at a very different Marvel Cinematic Universe once Phase 5 rolls around next year.

    Source: Twitter via The Direct

  • New ‘Doctor Strange 2’ BTS Image Reveals Scratched Cameo was Filmed

    New ‘Doctor Strange 2’ BTS Image Reveals Scratched Cameo was Filmed

    We’ve come to learn over the months after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness‘ release that the film originally had many more cameos planned besides the already great additions we got. Among the many Illuminati members was the fact that Daniel Craig was going to play the role of Balder the Brave, a Thor stand-in for the multiversal group. We know that he couldn’t join the production and they ended up adding John Krasinski as Mr. Fantastic.

    Now, a new Instagram post has found a way online from Elizabeth Olsen‘s stunt double, CC Ice, who took to her personal Instagram account to look back at the filming of the brutal takedown of the team group at the hands of Wanda Maximoff at a rampage. In it, we get a good look at someone lying on the floor impaired by a sword. Going by the design, it’s clearly Balder the Brave.

    For those wondering how there is a BTS image of him on the floor even though they couldn’t get Craig in the film, they used stand-ins for various roles before they could finalize who would eventually become a part of the production. It’s one of the results of the chaotic rumors being spread online due to how many eventualities they prepared for in case they could get some cast members to join the production.

    It’s always interesting to see what may have been and it’s once again impressive how they made this team work together even though they didn’t film them all around the same time due to COVID restrictions. Plus, they managed to make the environment look as impressive as they did with the use of a green screen. It makes you wonder if we’ll get BTS images of other cameos that never made it into the final product.

    Source: Instagram via The Direct

  • First Look at Teagan Croft’s White Raven Costume in ‘Titans’ Season 4

    First Look at Teagan Croft’s White Raven Costume in ‘Titans’ Season 4

    Warner Bros. has been currently busy axing projects left and right, but some are still moving forward even in the chaos that is “HBO Max” or whatever new name it might get at some point next year. Among the various shows still in production, Titans are currently releasing its fourth season and the Twitter account has released the first look at Teagan Croft as White Raven.

    The show has been building up her development from Rachel Roth to embracing the light side of her powers, uncovering that there is more to her than the darkness that her father Trigon forced upon her. The design takes many cues from the iconic hood, which we saw in hoodie form in the earliest seasons but naturally with the white design and a new dress.

    This isn’t the first time that Raven’s white form was adapted, as 2003’s Teen Titans also built up a lot of its show to the eventual confrontation with Trigon, which resulted in Raven becoming White Raven. Titans has long been under the shadow of the original animated series but there’s the question of how they will generally handle her character.

    There’s also the question of what the future has in store for Titans. We don’t know if HBO Max shows will continue in their current form and that means there’s a good chance that some projects might not get another season. Who knows if Season 4 will be the final one for the project and if this might be their way of making use of the potential wrap-up of this series.

    Source: Twitter

  • Konami’s ‘Metal Gear Solid’ Producer Teases “Many Announcements” in 2023

    Konami’s ‘Metal Gear Solid’ Producer Teases “Many Announcements” in 2023

    We’ve seen quite a few rumors about Metal Gear Solid getting remakes in some form or another. We’ve heard stories that the first entry on Moses Island was going to get adapted with others hinting at the story of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater potentially getting the remake treatment. While we still have no official confirmation, long-time Konami and Metal Gear Solid producer Noriaki Okamura hinted that 2023 might be a bit year.

    The producer has hinted that “2023 will be a year of many announcements” for the franchise and even used the wording “long-awaited.” Of course, this kind of statement potentially hints that multiple rumors could end up being true but with no exact window, we’ll have to see when these announcements come together. Perhaps they’ll pull something similar as they did with Silent Hill, just dropping multiple game announcements in a special coverage.

    It should be noted that Metal Gear Solid is very likely going to be developed by an external studio since Konami moved away from the gaming industry’s usual standards. There’s also the fact that the mastermind behind the franchise is no longer involved with Konami and left in bad blood. It seems unlikely to think that Hideo Kojima and his self-owned production company would adapt a new entry with how their relationship ended all that time ago.

    There’s also a movie in development with Oscar Isaac attached as Solid Snake. Production has been moving forward slowly with the film adaptation, and it’s unclear if it is still in some form of active development. Sadly, many projects eventually land in development hell if there’s not enough push behind them. Still, here’s hoping it comes together and perhaps we finally get some update as part of this new tease for 2023.

    Source: Famitsu via Insider Gaming

  • ‘Knives Out’ Director Already Started Work on ‘Glass Onion’ Sequel

    ‘Knives Out’ Director Already Started Work on ‘Glass Onion’ Sequel

    After a long wait and $450M+ investment by Netflix, the first sequel to Knives Out has finally been released on the streaming platform. Glass Onion offers another exciting murder mystery starring Daniel Craig as the lovable detective Benoit Blanc. This time around, he finds himself stuck on a Greek island where things slowly start to unravel over an unlikely gathering of friends.

    Glass Onion has just been released on the platform and while it didn’t blow away any expectations with its viewership numbers, the film did have a strong short run in theaters showcasing the power of this franchise. Luckily for director Rian Johnson, Netflix is already all-in for a sequel and it looks like he already started work on it.

    So much of what I’m trying to do, because I’m starting to write the next one, is really just about trying to clear my head and think about what’s on my mind right now. Hopefully that translates in some way to what’s on all of our minds right now in terms of culture.

    Rian Johnson

    Speaking of “terms of culture,” he was asked if he would tackle something inspired by Elon Musk‘s chaotic management of Twitter but he jokingly points out that he already technically made that film. It’ll also be interesting to see what cast he once again gets together, as the film was not only jam-packed with a talented cast of characters but also had various cameos sprinkled throughout in supporting or minor roles. Whatever he has in store

    Source: Wired

  • 12 Days of X-Mas: Day 6, Colossus

    12 Days of X-Mas: Day 6, Colossus

    The X-Men are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel Studios has no small task ahead of them in making sure that the iconic team can lead the franchise in Phase 7 and beyond. Marvel Studios is also sure to make every effort to separate their adaptation of the team(s) from what came before. To celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas, we’ve decided to put together a list of which characters might play a key role and how Marvel Studios can ensure nobody will confuse them with their Fox counterparts.

    The Russkie

    Piotr Rasputin was given a pretty fair shake in Deadpool and was characterized pretty much in line with who he’s been in the comics since first appearing in 1975’s Giant-Size X-Men #1. However, much like his buddy Nightcrawler, Piotr’s best work comes as part of a team, something which he wasn’t able to be in Deadpool and was certainly robbed of in the nearly criminal portrayal of him in the X-Men films. A metal man with a soft heart, Petey may be more defined by his relationships with others than any other member of the team. Time and time again, Colossus has proven his willingness to sacrifice himself for those closest to him, including his sister, Ilyana, his friends Nightcrawler and Storm, his fastball special buddy, Wolverine, and the love of his life, Kitty Pryde.

    Colossus was central to many of the X-Men’s major adventures in the pages of Uncanny X-Men over the years and again in the early 2000s in the pages of Astonishing X-Men. Astonishingly enough, not only did Fox fail to utilize Colussus to his full capacity, they also didn’t adapt any of the wonderful stories to which he was so vital. From the rescue mission on Krakoa, to the major conflict with the Shi’ar, to his “adventures” in the Savage Land, to the horrors of Inferno and the sacrifice of his own life to help cure the Legacy Virus, Marvel Studios will have its pick of great stories involving Colossus thanks to Fox’s desire to make Wolverine and the X-Men films.

    Marvel Studios should have no problem providing a prominent role for Piotr in their X-plans. A proper presentation of Колосс may not require a story spread out over several solo projects, like Storm, for example, it’s essential that any stories being told involving Colossus touch on a few key things. Peter’s place as a mountain of a man who would rather not stand out in a crowd has always been an interesting part of his group dynamic. His bashfulness in the comics has always played such an integral role not only in his reluctance as a leader but also in the development of his romantic relationship with Kitty Pryde. His fearlessness in the face of danger, especially where his sister, the X-Man known as Magik, is concerned has often found him on the frontline where even his strength and stamina are stretched to their limits. Finally, the conflict that often brews within him as he balances his desire to live a peaceful life with the rage he feels when he sees wrong being done in the world. His inner conflict and sense of duty have pulled him in many directions over the years and are among the reasons he and Kitty drift apart and find each other again. It won’t take much planning for the creatives at Marvel Studios to find their way to a much more complete portrayal of the X-Men’s Chrome Dome should they choose to bring him into the MCU.

  • New ‘The Flash’ Merchandise Reveals First Look at Batman’s Batwing

    New ‘The Flash’ Merchandise Reveals First Look at Batman’s Batwing

    Superhero films are more than just the pure cinematic experience, as they also come with quite a few merchandises for fans of all ages. Ironically, these products end up spoiling quite a bit more than they should, as they tend to find themselves online much earlier than expected. That is especially the case with projects that end up getting delayed further back leading to the current situation of The Flash merch revealing our first look at Michael Keaton‘s new Batwing.

    Twitter user @flashpointsaber has shared a rather curious first look at merchandise that includes two figurines and a model version of the Batwing. It’s definitely inspired by the one we first saw back in 1989 which was a direct adaptation of his logo from that era. It seems that this time around they combined the elements from modern-day Batman with the classic, as it’s even titled the “Ultimate Batwing.”

    We know that it belongs to Keaton‘s Batman rather than to the version of the character played by Ben Affleck, who was confirmed to appear due to set photos of him back in action, due to the figurine included. That is the already teased version of the character and matches with what we saw in artwork since DC FanDome almost two years ago. The only question is how the Batwing might be used in the film and perhaps connects to the final arc of the film.

    Source: Twitter

  • RUMOR: Warner Bros. May Reboot ‘Harry Potter’ With New Cast

    RUMOR: Warner Bros. May Reboot ‘Harry Potter’ With New Cast

    Geminio! In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, this is the “Doubling Charm” used to duplicate any given object. If rumors are to be believed, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) may be looking to use it on the very franchise it originates from. According to a new report from industry insider Valliant Renegade, WBD wants to reboot the core Harry Potter films with a new cast in the next three-to-five years. The move would come after the company’s high-profile Fantastic Beasts prequels failed with fans, critics, and the box office, resulting in a halt on production of the final two planned entries.

    Valliant Renegade claims WBD has too much invested in the Harry Potter property, which they reportedly call “The Wizarding Division” internally, to let it slip away with Fantastic Beasts. As such, the studio has become willing to make the massive leap and begin anew with the characters and concepts that put the franchise on the map in the first place. Their rationale is, according to Valliant, that the fans of the original novel adaptations have aged past going to see the films and it is therefore time to reignite the passion in a new generation of moviegoers. They would like to make Harry Potter an “evergreen” property.

    As ambitious as this sounds, Valliant warns it’s not yet close to actually happening. WBD is apparently searching for a “James Gunn individual” who would shepherd the entirety of “The Wizarding Division”, and there have not been any talks as of now. Renegade also says that the reboot would likely not be an exact retelling of the classic story, with WBD exploring “many different ways” to bring back the cornerstone names and elements associated with Harry Potter. However, the exact method they’ll use to reboot the franchise is still undecided, if any of this is actually happening at all.

    Source: ScreenGeek

  • George R.R. Martin Discusses Statuses of Future ‘Game of Thrones’ Spin-Offs

    George R.R. Martin Discusses Statuses of Future ‘Game of Thrones’ Spin-Offs

    When it comes to major stories in the television industry in 2022, one of the most notable was the triumphant return of the Game of Thrones franchise. House of the Dragon was a marquee hit for HBO this Autumn and is still part of the conversation as award season approaches. With the fantasy franchise back in the good graces of the public zeitgeist, questions are being asked about what else is in store for the universe. In his latest blog entry, author George R.R. Martin provided some updates on the status of the world of Game of Thrones on HBO.

    Martin confirmed that work on season two of House of the Dragon is well underway, though no further word has been given on when audiences should expect the hit series to return. In terms of other spin-offs of Game of Thrones, this is what the author had to say.

    Some of those are moving faster than others, as is always the case with development.   None have been greenlit yet, though we are hoping… maybe soon.  A couple have been shelved, but I would not agree that they are dead.   You can take something off the shelf as easily as you can put it on the shelf.  All the changes at HBO Max have impacted us, certainly.

    George R.R. Martin

    It will be interesting to see which of the potential series come to light and which remain in development hell. Of note, fans of the franchise are likely most curious about the status of the Kit Harrington-led series following Jon Snow after the events of the Game of Thrones finale. It would be a series that’d certainly have people talking with it being so tied to the controversial end of the original television series. Though there are still a plethora of other potential projects set within the vast world of Westeros.

    With the success of House of the Dragon, it will be fascinating to follow the amount of output that will come out of the world of Game of Thrones moving forward. And of course, the notion of being under the tumultuous Warner Bros. Discovery company is a major factor in this franchise among others under their umbrella.

    Source: georgerrmartin.com

  • Conflicting Information Casts Uncertainty on Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Slate

    Conflicting Information Casts Uncertainty on Marvel Studios 2023 Streaming Slate

    Following Kevin Feige‘s big summer blowout at SDCC ’22, Marvel Studios’ 2023 streaming slate seemed incredibly ambitious and full. Secret Invasion, Season 2 of Loki, Echo, Ironheart and Agatha: Coven of Chaos were set to be spread out from Spring to Winter, making 2023 Disney +’s most Marvel-ous year to date. No official updates to the streaming slate were given at D23, but as the year has progressed, the possibility that the slate might shift has begun to become realistic. Rumors that Echo might be delayed seemed to be confirmed by showrunner Marion Dayre and that show’s connection to Daredevil: Born Again may lead to other shows being bumped around. In the past, it was Disney’s practice to send out a preview of the upcoming year’s slate to members of the media who would be covering their projects, but given the ongoing impact of COVID on those projects, it’s become difficult for the company to make long-term plans. In the absence of that, fans are left to take what they can find online and right now, that means conflicting information even from official sources.

    As 2022 comes to an end and fans are hungry for information about what Marvel Studios projects they’ll be able to catch at home in 2023, it appears that the studio itself isn’t sure. Conflicting reports today from various official branches of Marvel have called into question what exactly the plan might be. First, Marvel’s UK and Ireland account released a small teaser that indicates all five streaming series originally planned for 2023 are still on the docket!

    https://twitter.com/MarvelUK/status/1608764836191649792?s=20&t=eLJ7qnoJoXXOroDL7Fw-CQ

    However, a trip over to Disney + Japan shows that only Secret Invasion, Loki and Ironheart are expected to be released in 2023. So which source is to be believed? It’s impossible to say at this point. Marvel Studios official Twitter account has not shared the Marvel UK & Ireland tweet and the Disney website still lists all five projects as 2023 releases and does not seem to have been updated recently. Fans may remember as similar situation arising in 2020 as Marvel Studios seemed to be intent on releasing WandaVision before the end of the year, but did not have it ready to stream until 2021. Unfortunately, with no official release from Disney available, it seems like the studio’s lack of information is working against itself for the time being.