After being one of the biggest surprises in upcoming shows announced by Marvel Studios, Agatha: Coven of Chaos has been subject to numerous questions as to what the show may pertain to. Though with a recent update, it may not be too long until there will be some idea of what to expect from the WandaVision spin-off. While at the Chicago Film Festival, Kathryn Hahn (who is set to star in the titular role) spoke about her excitement about what this opportunity has provided. As well, Hahn provided a somewhat surprising update on the speed at which the show is moving along.
It’s nothing I could have ever dreamed of, was to be asked to play a centuries-old witch that no one had ever heard of. And then all of a sudden, cut to a spin-off show, which is just like, ‘What?’ So, it’s very, very exciting. We’re in the middle of getting the Coven ready, and it’s going to be very delicious. I’m very excited for people to see that. We start shooting in about a month.
Kathryn Hahn
Production starting next month is certainly an exciting development for Marvel Studios as it begins producing the next swath of shows that will make up Phase Five. Some rumors, though, have already begun to surface for major players in the series. Firstly, a casting grid has been discovered that seems to potentially involve the inclusion of both Wiccan and Hulkling in Agatha: Coven of Chaos. And then comes the currently developing rumors that Sacha Baron Cohen will be playing the infamous Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While his debut would seemingly be in Ironheart, rumors suggest he will play a larger role in Marvel Studios’ future in projects such as the Agatha series. Either way, the concept of magic in the Marvel Universe is certainly set to be further explored for Agatha: Coven of Chaos.
The series is currently set to be released on Disney+ in the winter of 2023 and/or 2024.
After Moon Knight proved to be a critical and commercial success for Disney+ and Marvel Studios, star actor Oscar Isaac has confirmed that he is actively discussing a follow-up to Moon Knight with Marvel Studios executives. Though the major point of note comes in the uncertainty of whether this would come in the form of a second season or in a film. While talking with Comicbook.com, this is what the actor had to say about his future with Moon Knight.
There have been some specific conversations. They were pleasant. The spilling of the details is that there’s no details. We don’t know [if there will be a second season], but we’re talking about it.
Oscar Isaac
It should definitely come as a point of excitement that Isaac remains interested in continuing the story of the multi-personalities of Moon Knight. While further elaborating on the topic, Isaac talked about his openness to whatever type of story best keeps him passionate for the character (whether that be a second season, transferring him to a film franchise, or placing him as part of a team).
Truthfully, it’s about the story. Is there a story worth telling? Is it interesting? Will I feel embarrassed about it when it comes out? So it’s just about, is there something worth pouring everything you have into. And with Moon Knight, that was very much about that. It’s creating a structure so that every morning when the alarm went off, I couldn’t wait to get to the set because I wanted to try something different. Whether that’s in a group thing or maybe a great idea comes around for a season two or if it’s a standalone film or whatever it could be. I think it’s just approaching it in that kind of way. It’s the story first.
Oscar Isaac
Ultimately, it will be quite interesting to see what direction Marvel Studios will take with the character in the current landscape of the Multiverse Saga. The end of the first season of Moon Knight certainly left the door open for a solo follow-up focusing on the Jake Lockley persona and openly facing his Marc Spector and Steven Grant identities. Whether that will be in the form of a narratively extended second season or a more streamlined feature film or a special presentation remains to be seen at this point.
As well, Isaac‘s suggestion of a team-up is interesting with the current line-up of heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While the Avengers franchise is gearing up for its next two outings in the coming years, one of the more appealing teams for Moon Knight would potentially be the Midnight Sons (or whatever they’d be referred to as by Marvel Studios). With Werewolf by Night releasing this month and Blade (finally) arriving in the future, Moon Knight could have ample amounts of compelling stories in the supernatural side of the universe.
The entirety of the first season of Moon Knight is available to watch on Disney+
It feels like it’s been ages since the last John Wick film hit theaters. The saga’s third chapter, Parabellum, was released to critical acclaim in 2019, but audiences won’t be able to see the movie’s sequel until March of 2023. John Wick: Chapter 4 was originally set to debut on May 21st, 2021, but was delayed nearly two years by the global COVID-19 pandemic and star Keanu Reeves’ prior commitments to The Matrix Resurrections. As a result, expectations for the fourthquel have never been higher. Luckily for fans, franchise staple Laurence Fishburne thinks the wait will be well worth it.
Speaking to Variety on the red carpet for his newest project, The School For Good And Evil, the Hollywood icon revealed his opinion that the next John Wick is the best they’ve ever made. When asked what people should expect from Chapter 4, the actor responded:
For me, I’ve gotta tell you. Honestly, when I read it, I was like, ‘This is the best one’. On the page, it just was. I mean, from the way that it opens, there are like three or four really incredible set pieces that are, just like, ‘Whoa!’. There’s new characters, one in particular that’s so much fun. Well, actually, three that are crazy fun. Yeah, and I got to be in it again. I come back from the dead.
Laurence Fishburne
Fishburne closed his statement with a reference to the last time viewers saw his character, The Bowery King. Parabellum ended with both the King and Reeves’ protagonist severely wounded, but ready to take revenge on those who wronged them. As for the “fun” new faces, Fishburne could be talking about Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, or BillSkarsgård – all of whom are major stars making their Wick debuts in the film.
John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to release on March 24, 2023.
Earlier in the month, tracking for Black Adam had the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-led flick looking at a $70 million opening, with the potential to go even higher. Now, following less-than-stellar reviews, it looks like those estimates have dwindled a bit. Box office experts currently have Black Adam on track for a $60 million domestic opening.
In the Pandemic-era, that’s not necessarily a bad number. However, Black Adam is said to have cost $195 million to produce. With such a hefty price tag, Black Adam will need to legs at the box office and hope that word of mouth among audiences is better. While that is still higher than 2021’s The Suicide Squad, which opened to $26 million while simultaneously debuting on HBO Max, it’s far behind The Batman‘s $134 million opening. That film, of course, featured one of DC’s most famous characters, the Caped Crusader. Black Adam does not have that same advantage, though.
Black Adam will easily defeat Universal’s Ticket to Paradise starring Julia Roberts and George Clooney, which is expected to open with $15 million from 3,500 cinemas. It should also easily overtake the poorly reviewed Halloween Ends, which opened with $41 million last weekend. As is often the case with estimates, though, it’s entirely possible Black Adam could open lower than expected. Worldwide, the movie is only expected to clear $135 million worldwide. With a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s possible word of mouth hurts the film, but it’s also a superhero film, so that should help push it forward some.
Marvel Studios has been the top player in the superhero genre for quite some time now, and with more titles still yet to come, the studio has become the subject of some big debates among creatives. In the past, we’ve seen creatives such as Martin Scorsese, Bong Joon-ho, Ridley Scott, Francis Ford Coppola, Jodie Foster, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu speak out against Marvel movies – and often superhero films in general. They seem to feel that these projects are hurting smaller projects, are not true cinema, or are simply for children.
During a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, actress Lupita Nyong’o was asked to weigh in on this debate. Especially as, not only was Black Panther nominated for Best Picture, but Nyong’o has moved between franchise films and indie films throughout the years. As it puts it, it all boils down to what one deems art and what one deems to be its purpose.
“It becomes a philosophical question about what is art and what is its purpose. I believe that art plays a role in moving the people that experience it, and a lot of people are moved by Marvel. Is you being moved by this thing less important than me being moved by Picasso?”
Using sugar as a metaphor, the actress continues to explain why she feels options are not necessarily a bad thing. And that, just because something is a small character-driven film, it doesn’t mean it lacks an emotional pull.
“I think to be culturally prosperous, to be artistically prosperous as a people, is to have options. In Kenya, sugar was sugar, it was brown or it was white. You come to the States, and a whole section in the supermarket is dedicated to sugars. So many different sugars. That is a symbol of prosperity, when you have options. So I personally love a good Marvel movie, but it doesn’t take me away from really wanting the little character-driven film. I believe in the fight for those things to be kept alive because the one thing we always want, the ultimate privilege, is choice.”
While superhero films and television shows have been a mainstay for a while now, they’re not merely just mindless titles for children. As Nyong’o explains, there’s nothing wrong with giving people a choice.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a film meant to honor the late Chadwick Boseman, will hit theaters on Nov. 11th. Tickets are on sale now.
The penultimate episode of House of the Dragon did its best to match Game of Thrones‘ Episode 9s, let’s check into how they are preparing for the season finale.
The Green Council
After the initial discovery of Viserys’s death, the Hightowers quickly corraled anyone who would know about it, in order to keep things quiet while they did their scheming. Alicent told the council about her interpretation of Viserys’s last words, which she believed to mean that he wished that his son Aegon to succeed him as king. Stop naming your kids Aegon, please. Get creative.
This was all the justification that the rest of the council needed, as it became clear that Otto and company have been planning to usurp the throne without Alicent’s knowledge. This knowledge seemed to paint her in an innocent light and not the mastermind of these plans. The only two to oppose the seizing of the throne were the Master of Coin, Lord Beesbury, and the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Harrold Westerling. Beesbury got his head caved in by our favorite guy, Criston Cole, for speaking out, but Westerling was let go after he tossed his white cloak off.
The Search for King Aegon II
Now, you can’t exactly place a new king on the throne without the king, so where was Aegon? Two search parties were sent out. One by Otto, led by the twins Erryk and Arryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard, and one by Alicent, led by Cole and Aemond. The race for Aegon was a little cloudy, but the root cause is that Otto will try to convince Aegon that Rhaenyra and her family must die in order for him to keep the throne while Alicent would try to offer mercy.
After a romp through the bowels of Flea Bottom where Aegon spends a lot of time, we got a look at one of his bastards, as well as the child fighting pits that Aegon reportedly frequents. All this to prove that Aegon is a scumbag whereas Aemond studied the blade. Aegon was fiinally found being held captive by Mysaria, who was flexing her status as the true power of King’s Landing. She gave up Aegon’s location to Otto after negotiating the end of child fighting pits in Flea Bottom: a true hero to the smallfolk.
Mysaria was ratted out by Larys the clubfoot, who shockingly has a fetish for normal-looking feet. In exchange for getting a look at Alicent’s piggies, he promised that Mysaria will die, and the information being fed to Otto through her will also end.
After being freed from captivity, Aegon felt that he wasn’t truly worthy of the crown, being spurned by his father for Rhaenyra, as well as being a general screw-up in his family’s eyes. Only when he learned from Alicent that Viserys “wanted” him to ascend did we get the full Joffrey look in his eyes when he was toying with Aegon the Conqueror’s dagger. Alicent’s pleas to give Rhaenyra mercy fell on deaf ears as well. The smallfolk cheering for Aegon II had him puffing his chest out, until Helaena’s dragon dream from the last episode came to fruition.
The Beast Beneath the Boards
It turns out that Rhaenys and her dragon, Meleys, were the beast beneath the boards. Moments after Aegon was crowned, Meleys burst out of the floor of the dragon pit, killing and injuring a couple hundred/thousand smallfolk before giving the Greens a death stare. This fell really flat for me. Rhaenys knew that this act would lead to war, because she knew that Rhaenyra would not sit idly by while her half-brother steals her birthright. Her act of mercy to the royal family was pure plot armor, and had vibes of the later seasons of Game of Thrones. She had no problem with demolishing the smallfolk to get in a stare-down with Alicent, and then chose to fly away without royal bloodshed, to avoid being a kinslayer. Killing a couple hundred commoners, no problem, but if you choose to kill a distant third cousin, you’re DAMNED to eternity.
I’m still convinced there is another beast between the boards, but that is likely being pushed to season 2. The rats will have a part to play, I guarantee it.
Things to Come
The Black council was omitted from this episode, but they’ll be taking over for most of the season finale. Rhaenys and Erryk Cargyll will be delivering the bad news, and we’ll get to see the reactions. Surely Rhaenyra and Daemon will handle things in a mature matter, right?
This coming episode will not only see the Black Council’s planning but also the gathering of allies and dragons as well. We’ll finally see Storm’s End, where the Baratheons will have to decide which side to join, whether it be the Greens or the Blacks. No spoilers, but this meeting on Storm’s End will set the tone for the entire war in the seasons to come.
Following the incredible success of Black Panther, many were curious when a sequel to the blockbuster film would follow. Fans were eager for more of Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, as well as more of the Dora Milaje and Letitia Wright’s Shuri. What no one knew, though, was that Boseman was terminally ill. His untimely passing was a shock to nearly everyone, including the cast and crew of Black Panther, and in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lupita Nyong’o discussed what it was like to lose him.
As the actress noted, Marvel Studios and the rest of the cast and crew from Black Panther didn’t know how – or if they could – revisit the franchise without their leading man. As Nyong’o explains, director and co-writer Ryan Coogler had already drafted a screenplay for the sequel before Boseman’s passing. That film would’ve heavily focused on T’Challa and it was expected to “delve deeply into his psyche and situation.” Many fans had expected Marvel Studios to recast the role, but out of respect, the studio opted not to. The sequel was later reworked, instead turning Wakanda Forever into a film meant to honor T’Challa and Boseman without recasting the role – a decision the actress wholeheartedly agrees with.
“That is not the death of the Black Panther, that’s the whole point. It’s laying to rest [T’Challa] and allowing for real life to inform the story of the movies. I know that there are all sorts of reasons why people want him to be recast, but I don’t have the patience. I don’t have the presence of mind, or I don’t have the objectivity to argue with that. I don’t. I’m very biased.”
While moving ahead with the sequel was emotionally difficult for all involved, Nyong’o said that Coogler had successfully crafted something to honor Boseman, while still carrying the story forward.
“Ryan wrote something that so honored the truth of what every one of us was feeling, those of us who knew Chadwick. He created something that could honor that and carry the story forward. By the end, I was weeping.”
Fans will get the chance to help honor Boseman’s legacy when Wakanda Forever hits theaters on Nov. 11th.
In true Marvel Studios’ fashion, their latest project, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, has continued to make news nearly a week beyond its finale streamed on Disney Plus. Most of that news has come from post-finale interviews and most of those have been focused on guest star Charlie Cox, whose appearance as both lawyer Matt Murdock and the costumed vigilante Daredevil in Episode 8 fully integrated his character into the MCU after a brief appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Cox has a lot of MCU in front of him, with a rumored appearance in Echo and an 18-episode series of his own, Daredevil: Born Again, set for 2024. With all that ahead of him, however, much of the focus remains on his past and whether or not this Matt Murdock is the same one introduced in Netflix’s Daredevil.
Interestingly enough, EW addressed this very topic in a recent interview by asking Cox if he was playing Daredevil “the same as in the Netflix series”
It should be and it is always the same character. The difference is just like with people, we morph and change and are very different based on what’s going on in our lives. The Matt Murdock from the Netflix show, that world and what was going on for Matt meant that most of the time we were living with a man who had a huge amount of pressure and strain and tonally the show was very dark and gritty and heavy. I don’t know what the new show will be like, but when I came over to do Spider-Man and She-Hulk, the tone is much more lighthearted and tongue in cheek and fun and witty and full of levity, so the hope was that Matt is able to fit into that world and participate in it without it being a different character, a different person.
Charlie Cox
Pretty clear cut. Same character, same person. However, asked by THR if the character he will be playing in Daredevil: Born Again will be “the exact same character” as the one from the Netflix series, Cox’s response was a little different.
I honestly don’t know. I haven’t read any scripts yet, and we haven’t really talked at length about what this current iteration will be like. Just by the fact that they’re using me as an actor to play the part, it’s clear that there are going to be some consistencies and … some differences. We have an opportunity to at least take what worked really well and then also add some cool elements, ideas, concepts and themes that we weren’t able to do before. So it’s Daredevil, but upgraded.
Charlie Cox
Given that Daredevil entered the MCU in the Multiverse Saga, the second statement seems to fall in line with what Marvel Studios has put on film so far in Phase 4. Plenty of examples exist of characters who are almost identical, but just a little different. And that statement also points out the creative freedom of choosing to portray Daredevil (and Kingpin or any other Netflix character for that matter) as a Variant. As Cox says, they would have the “opportunity to at least take what worked really well” while also having the freedom to change parts of the story they didn’t like. A well-placed Nexus Event essentially makes Matt Murdock the same character at his core but allows Marvel Studios to retell stories (as Cox indicates they are willing to do) in a way that fits their shared narrative rather than having to force the Netflix stories into it.
Fans of the Netflix series may not love it, but Cox said it himself: “it’s Daredevil, but upgraded.” Ultimately it’s clear that Cox isn’t even sure himself what’s happening and the truth is that the longer he and fans are kept in the dark, the better it is for Marvel Studios because it allows them to do what they do best: keep interest in their characters and project alive even when there’s nothing new to see.
Netflix’s The School For Good and Evil is based on the bestselling series of novels by author Soman Chainani and illustrator Iacopo Bruno. It tells the story of two young girls – Sophia and Agatha – who soon find their less-than-stellar lives changed forever once they’re transported to the School of Good and Evil. It’s a simple plot, one that isn’t exactly brand new, and yet, it was given the movie treatment by Netflix with some huge stars attached. It should’ve been incredibly exciting, right? Sadly, that wasn’t necessarily the case.
The School For Good and Evil stars Sophia Anne Caruso as Sophie and Sofia Wylie as Agatha/Auggie. The young girls are the best of friends, having formed a bond after the death of Sophie’s mother when they were both younger. They’re both outcasts in their small town of Gavaldon; Sophie is teased because of her love of fairy tales while Auggie is deemed a witch by the folks in her town. After one bad day too many, Sophie seeks to escape to The School of Good and Evil, a school she’s heard about where she believes she’ll have a chance at the life she’s longed for. But Auggie isn’t willing to let her leave, not wanting to be left behind in Gavaldon where she’ll be tormented daily with no one to confide in without Sophie. This leads to both girls being pulled to the School of Good and Evil, but with surprising results.
The movie isn’t entirely bad. In fact, most of the film is rather delightful, but it is quite messy. From so-so CGI work to off-putting music choices, The School For Good and Evil often feels rushed. With a cast that includes the likes of Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington and Laurence Fishburne, it’s hard not to enjoy the absurdity of it all. Theron and Washington are a delight and deserve far more screentime than they are allotted. Theron chews the scenery as the headmistress of the School of Evil, while Washington charms as the headmistress of the School of Good. And in the very limited time she’s on screen, Michelle Yeoh as Professor Anemone is fantastic. Perhaps the best surprise, though, is how great Fishburne is as the School Master. He’s charming, mysterious and can sometimes be conniving. With a stellar adult cast, it’s a shame that the younger cast is so inconsistent. Wylie’s Agatha carries the movie, and Caruso’s performance often wavers. The emotional moments the duo share, though, are great and help to sell the story of friendship at the film’s core.
While The School For Good and Evil often feels like a poor Disney Channel Original Movie, it does pack a hell of an emotional punch. The movie is ultimately about the complexities of humanity – people are not merely good or bad, and the movie explores this with ease. All in all, The School For Good & Evil can often be uneven, but it’s still an enjoyable watch in the end. For young tweens struggling to understand themselves, The School For Good & Evil offers a positive message of friendship and learning to love ourselves. So, despite the bad, there’s plenty of good in The School For Good and Evil… but the good doesn’t come without the bad.
The season finale was all about fourth wall breaking by doubling down on the few times Jen did just that in the previous episodes. She now literally breaks the fourth wall by breaking out of Disney+, going into the real Marvel Studios HQ all while demanding script changes from K.E.V.I.N., an in-joke for the Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige.
Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 9
Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Episode 9
This, the breaking out not just to connect with the viewer/reader but going a step beyond and conversing with the creator itself, questioning his decisions and proposing something more to her liking, is fairly similar to what happened in the John Byrne’sThe Sensational She-Hulk #37. Here, Jen, after getting into a dispute with the Living Eraser, mishandles his Dimensionizers and erases herself blaming Byrne for such a poor decision.
The Sensational She-Hulk #37 (1992)
This serves as a prime example of the kind of impact that Byrne had on the character since, at the time Stan Lee wrote her first issue, 1980’s The Savage She-Hulk #1, her ability to step out of the comics wasn’t yet a thing. It wasn’t until Byrne’s iconic 1989 run that she truly became one of the most distinct Marvel characters by gaining such power. But instead of just breaking the fourth wall, Byrne’s She-Hulk made use of it. She tore pages apart so she could skip ahead to the villain more quickly and when things weren’t going her way she would request to basically skip over a fight she knew she would lose. She would even try to convince Byrne and the Marvel editors to change her looks whenever she felt her hair looked bad. The Sensational She-Hulk really made a tremendous contribution to both establishing a comic paradigm shift and dismantling comic book physics.
And the same can be said regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if K.E.V.I.N. identified the programming error that allowed Jan to step out of the show into the real world, making sure to say to her that this was the last time she would be able to do that, there is no denying that the level of self-awareness the character may yet instill into the MCU is substantial. That is, if the other characters actually believe her on that, something that both She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and the comics hint at, as these panels from The Incredible Hulk #412 can attest to.
The Incredible Hulk #412 (1993)
If Marvel Studios ever decides to introduce a character that is also in on the gag, much as Marvel Comics did with her boyfriend Wyatt Wingfoot and the Blonde Phantom that decided to make a comeback as a She-Hulk sidekick while breaking the fourth wall herself, in The Sensational She-Hulk #4, there are surely a number of possible contenders. Even if this may somehow make Jen’s powers feel less unique, in the context of the MCU it is a concept that will surely thrive. With the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, why not introduce the idea of a universe where every single Marvel character grew bitter and disgruntled by knowing their free will, their freedom to do otherwise, and the power of self-determination was in the hands of a random writers’ room on Marvel Studios HQ?
The Sensational She-Hulk #4 (1989)
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming, in its entirety, only on Disney+.
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