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  • Natalie Portman on Getting “Big” for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Working with Taika Waititi

    Natalie Portman on Getting “Big” for ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and Working with Taika Waititi

    When Marvel Studios officially announced Thor: Love & Thunder at Comic-Con International in 2019, many were surprised to see the studio was also bringing back Natalie Portman as Jane Foster. After all, Portman hadn’t been involved in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2013’s Thor the Dark World. Still, many were excited to see Marvel Studios cover the Mighty Thor storyline from the comics on the big screen. According to director Taika Waititi, Portman was drawn to return as Jane because of the character’s tough choices in the forthcoming film.

    Given that Portman is set to play Mighty Thor this time around, it was expected that her Jane would look a bit different in Love & Thunder. However, fans were surprised to see how big the actress got when set photos leaked during production. For Portman, it was surprising to see people calling her big. “To have this reaction and be seen as big, you realize, ‘Oh, this must be so different, to walk through the world like this,’” she said. “When you’re small — and also, I think, because I started as a kid — a lot of times I feel young or little or, like, a pat-on-the-head kind of person. And I present myself that way, too, because of that.” 

    In a recent sit-down with Variety, Portman and Waititi were asked about the cancer storyline from the comics and whether fans can expect to see it play out on screen. While Portman was notably hesitant to answer, Waititi suggested we’ll see the cancer storyline addressed. “Part of why [Natalie] wanted to play that character is that she has a dilemma in the book,” he told the outlet before noting Jane’s “big choices” from the comics they sought to keep in the film.

    The actress was also quick to note how different it was to work on Love & Thunder. For Portman, trying to adapt to Waititi’s shooting style took some getting used to as he has a tendency to ‘spitball’ on set. “It’s a really baller way to work on a movie like this. It was daunting at first, because I was like, there’s no way for me to prepare. How am I supposed to do a good job? And then I think I learned how to enjoy it.”

    She also got to train alongside at least two other actresses this time, too, with Tessa Thompson and Jaimie Alexander reprising their roles as Valkyrie and Lady Sif, respectively. “I haven’t had particularly bad workplace experiences, but I was usually the only female around. It’s just imbalanced. So it’s nice to feel the awareness of it. There doesn’t have to be the girl in the movie. There can be many women who have many different personalities and many different desires.”

    Thor: Love & Thunder hits theaters on July 8th.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3’s ‘Captain Marvel’ Ties Explained

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3’s ‘Captain Marvel’ Ties Explained

    Through 3 episodes of Ms. Marvel, fans have learned much about Kamala Khan. And while she’s already gone through changes over the course of the first half of the series, one thing that hasn’t changed yet is her love for Carol Danvers. Just like the comics, the MCU’s Kamala Khan is Captain Marvel’s biggest fan, and Episode 3 of the series just provided what might prove to be the bridge between the two characters.

    As Kamala learns about the origins of her bangle from the Clandestine through a flashback, the audience learns that it was taken by Kamala’s great-grandmother from the arm of a blue alien. While there are certainly several species of blue aliens in the pages of Marvel Comics and already a few established in the MCU, it seems most likely that the bangle came from the arm of a Kree. Should that arm indeed have belonged to a long-since-dead Kree, it’s incredibly likely that it is one of a pair (the other is missing for the time being) of powerful bands with ties to the Kree Empire.

    While the true identity of the bands will remain unclear for the time being, it does seem safe to assume that Kamala’s bangle is either a Quantum Band or a Nega-Band, both associated with the Kree, though in different ways. The Quantum Bands, also knows as the Power Bands of Rinn, are hundreds of thousands of years old and have been assigned, over the years, by a cosmic being named Eon (who recently showed up in the trailer for Thor: Love and Thudner) to the Protectors of the Universe. In the comics, one such protector was the Kree hero Mar-Vell. The Quantum Bands have been shown to have a wide array of powers depenind on who weilds them, among them the ability to create constructs out of energy, taken from the Quantum Zone, such as those demonstrated by Kamala Khan in Ms. Marvel. The Nega-Bands, of which there are multiple pair, are Kree-created weapons that mimic much of the powers associated with the Quantum Bands, but have a connection to the Negative Zone, rather than the Quantum Realm.

    Regardless of whether Kamala’s bangle is one of the Quantum Bands of the Nega-Bands, it’s clearly connected to the Kree and provides a straight shot of a plot point to bring Carol Danvers into the mix eventually. While the clear and present threat to Kamala comes from the Clandestine, it’s also very likely that her use of the bangle will attract the attention of the Kree Empire, providing them a very good reason to come nosing around on Earth. With Iman Vellani set to play a lead role in The Marvels, it’s becoming very clear how Marvel Studios plans to get to there from here and why they chose to change Kamala’s origins in the MCU.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3’s ‘Shang-Chi’ Easter Egg Opens a New MCU Mystery

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3’s ‘Shang-Chi’ Easter Egg Opens a New MCU Mystery

    Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel, “Destined”, provided an interesting backstory for the bangle that has been at the center of all of Kamala’s adventures thus far. In the opening scene of the episode, a flashback to the early 1940s shows how the Clandestine, specifically Kamala’s great-grandmother, Aisha, came to be in possession of the bangle. It’s a very informative scene filled with details, including one that ties Ms. Marvel to Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings.

    At around the 3:09 mark of the episode, as the Clandestine are discovered at the underground vault by British soldiers, an overhead shot established that this vault seemingly belonged to Wenwu’s Ten Rings as the organization’s symbol is clearly seen carved into the ground.

    As established in Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Wenwu existed roughly one thousand years before the MCU’s present-day and conquered most of Asia, so there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t have made his way to India during that time. Whether or not the blue alien in possession of the bangle came to the vault before or after it was abandoned by the Ten Rings and what else he may have had with him is relevant both to Ms. Marvel and Shang-Chi.

    The story of how exactly Wenwu came into possession of the Ten Rings is left intentionally vague, seemingly meant to set up the uncertainty of who or what is being hailed by the rings in the mid-credit scene to Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. Could Kamala’s bangle be tied to Shang-Chi’s ten rings? Could this be the “tomb” where Wenwu originally found them? Both artifacts certainly seem alien in nature and grant their users extraordinary power.

    Unfortunately, for now, it seems like fans are left with more questions than answers. The logo could be nothing more than an Easter egg that fits so well given the long lives of both Wenwu and the Clandestine. However, it’s equally possible that its presence in Ms. Marvel hints at a larger mystery that might bring Kamala into Shang-Chi’s world before too long.

  • ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    ‘Blade’ Star Comments on Character’s R-Rating in the MCU

    With the massive financial success of the Deadpool film franchise and Marvel’s upcoming reboot of Blade, the topic of R-rated superhero films is a passionate debate among fans. Some argue that in order to stay true to the origins of characters like Wade Wilson and Eric Cross Brooks and the source material they are based on, an R-rating is required.

    Wesley Snipes first suited up as the Daywalker in Stephen Norrington’s 1998 Blade, a cult classic film and the dawn of Marvel properties gracing the big screen. Part of the reason why the film is so beloved is due to the R-rating — there are no holds barred regarding the amount of gore that is seen.

    It has been 20 years since audiences last saw Blade in a movie. That will change soon as Marvel Studios announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019 that the character was going to be joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe and that Mahershala Ali would be starring as the Vampire Slayer.

    While the project hasn’t gotten into production just yet, Ali has already appeared in one Marvel Studios project. At the end of Chloé Zhao’s Eternals, Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman is seen approaching a strange-looking sword that has what appears to be black organic matter emitting from the weapon as reaches out with his hand. That’s when a voice emerges, “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?”, the mysterious voice asks. Fans speculated for a few days that it was Ali before Zhao herself officially confirmed it. Given that we know Dane Whitman’s history as Black Knight from the comics, it’s a good bet that the sword Dane is approaching is indeed the Ebony Blade, which possesses magical properties and grants it to those who wield it. It seems likely Whitman’s character will interact with Ali’s Blade given the nature of the sword and the connection established in Eternals‘ post-credit scene.

    There has been no official release date given for Marvel Studios’ Blade since it was first announced in 2019. And with the official introduction of the character into the MCU, fans are eagerly awaiting the studios’ foray into the world of vampires. The big question is: will the film receive an R-rating?

    In a recent interview with Adam Barnhardt from Comicbook.com, Snipes dished his thoughts on the matter:

    I think those kind of stories lend themselves to a wide range of dialogue and situations. Both adult and young adult. I don’t know, it seems like the R-rating and PG-13 base is sliding now because it seems that now the 13-year-olds can speak better words than the adults can. As long as it’s true and organic to the subject matter, the plot, and the world that’s created. If there’s consistency, I think it’s fine [to be PG-13].

    Wesley Snipes

    So, even Blade himself doesn’t necessarily think an R-rating is required in order for the portrayal to be successful.

    What about you, do you think that the MCU’s Blade has to be rated R? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

    Source: Comicbook.com

  • REVIEW: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Part 6

    REVIEW: ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Part 6

    I won’t lie that my feelings about Obi-Wan Kenobi were a bit mixed throughout my viewing experience. There are strong personal moments sprinkled throughout and Ewan McGregor once again showcases why he was the perfect choice for this role. There were interesting plot threads and while it did seem to drag out at times, the story cohesion and personal touches made it feel just that, personal. Yet, some gripes still gathered throughout especially when it came to the action and some sequence staging. Even with all that, I can’t deny that the final episode hit me emotionally in all the right ways.

    I am not going to call this a perfect finale, as the limited series still had to do some jumping to keep its plot threads together. The Vader conflict wasn’t really directly tied to what would be the final sequences, as Obi-Wan had to rush home due to Reva going on a rampage while chasing down a young Luke Skywalker. While many will try to point to canon issues this sequences causes, Luke never sees Reva’s face or even her lightsaber. So, he just fled from whatever he thought might be chasing him due to what Beru and Owen were warning him about.

    Still, that’s jumping the gun on this episode’s true strength; it’s an emotional rollercoaster throughout in all the best ways. A lot of the emotional core depends on the previous episodes as well as your own investment into the Prequel Trilogy. May it be the showdown between Obi-Wan and Vader with its strong emotional climax; or just the tender greetings with a young Luke Skywalker. The series is definitely focused on Kenobi and many of the characters surrounding him reflect that very tale.

    There still is a conflict if that many pieces are truly moved from the Prequels going into the Originals, yet it’s less about story development but character exploration. Owen’s powerful line as he says that Luke is his son while fighting off Reva was definitely a moment the character truly deserved. After his harsh criticism earlier on, it gave him a nuance and highlighted the journey we never got to see in the originals. It adds context and seeing him fight Reva alongside Beru to protect the kid highlighted that very thing.

    Yet, even Reva’s arc comes to an emotional arc. Her vengeance had pit her on a path of no true return, if it weren’t for that last bit of humanity catching up with her. She’s definitely highlighted as fighting as much as she could to stay alive, and she knows Luke’s connection to Vader, but she lost herself in the rage thinking if she can’t take the man himself, she’d do it to his legacy. Even if he may never truly find out given that it was a secret kept from him. The flashes to her simply becoming the same as the man she vowed to kill reflects her arc in this story. Even if it was a bumpy one, Moses Ingram gives one hell of a performance in this episode.

    It’s an emotional climax that might be among the better final episodes of a Disney show. Yet, the road to it simply was one of its bumpiest as well. At least this time around, the action is quite a bit more focused and the camera stops shaking. We get Kenobi’s iconic pose and see him regain his strength with some spectacular visuals of the Jedi Master showcasing what he is truly capable of. Him actually forcing Vader to his knees was a rather surprising direction but echoed the flashback that we watched in a previous episode. Vader’s rage is what defines him and it’s also the obsession that becomes his downfall.

    Finally, we got a good look at Hayden Christensen behind the mask, and he really gave it his all. The way his voice overlaps with that of James Earl Jones added a unique showcase of how these two sides of the same coin meld together. The way he takes away Obi-Wan’s grief and points to his actions being his own were powerful to say the least. His obsession then continuing even beyond the mercy shown by his master once more, only to continue his hunt with a fitting cameo by Palpatine trying to discourage him and keep his focus on the Empire’s growth.

    Leia also gets a small farewell, as we see her put on a rather similar outfit that combines elements from her future look and even some Padme in there. Didn’t expect an origin for her blaster, but it was a nice touch and rounded out her design. Kenobi coming to visit to bring her back the droid was a nice little touch, as it also shows that the Jedi Master has finally broken free from his old life. Though the ending especially seems to hint at him going on a journey, which muddles the concept of this series being a limited series even more.

    Also, the cameo finally happened. After all the theories after the first mention of Qui-Gon Jinn and Liam Neeson pretending he’d never do it, there he is just waiting around for his former Padawan to figure things out on his own. There does seem to be an open aspect to this ending that may lead into another story, and we don’t quite see what the future has in store for Reva. At first I assumed she succumbed to her wounds, but Kenobi helps her up; ironically highlighting how he did for her what he couldn’t for Anakin.

    Overall, Obi-Wan Kenobi definitely ended on a high note. perhaps one strongly dependent on your nostalgia, but a high note nonetheless. while I do wish aspects of the show were tweaked a bit and the action wasn’t as jumbled as it was, it definitely was a series I am glad I got to witness. The cast carry the show and its emotional storyline that is more a love letter to those that grew up with the original series, while also giving some characters a bit more character development they otherwise only had in our memories.

  • REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3—”Destined”

    REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 3—”Destined”

    Ms. Marvel’s third episode, “Destined”, does a remarkable job at maintaining the heart and integrity of the series while also bringing it to new heights in an exciting way. The episode hit the ground running straight off of Episode 2’s cliffhanger in Kamran and his mother’s car. There is a very welcome shift in pace throughout the beginning of the episode, which also takes the series in a very bold new direction. While the bangle remains mysterious, Kamran’s mom, Najma’s, explanation of its history to Kamala suggests that Najma (along with her family) and Kamala’s mysterious great-grandmother Aisha are Clandestines, or Djinn, from another dimension. While their narrative should be taken with a grain of salt at this point, they seek Kamala’s power to get them back to their home Noor dimension from which they had been exiled. The very end of the episode suggests there is more to the story of Aisha’s disappearance still, as Najma shows both Kamala and her grandmother Sana a vision of a train marked “Karachi”, which seems to be a callback to Sana’s family’s escape from India and Aisha’s disappearance. 

    The rest of the third episode once more brought the Kamala Khan charm to the screen. Particularly in the wedding scene, the episode proves that Ms. Marvel is one of the most colorful Marvel Studio’s projects in existence and is filled to the brim with personality. The teenage drama involved in Kamala’s story is amplified here, as she struggles to maintain trust, confidence, and honesty with and from her friends and family. Bruno begins to hesitate about Kamala’s plans with the bangle and tells her he is headed to CalTech, which complicates their adorably awkward crush-type relationship. Nakia angrily discovers that Kamala is actually the masked person who has caused problems for the community, and Kamala’s relationship with her family is further strained by her inability to tell them what she is going through. 

    The episode spends much time celebrating and dissecting the concept of family. This theme was introduced, foreshadowed, and explored in the first two episodes, but Episode 3 featured multiple scenes back to back that explicitly state the importance of family through dialogue. Kamala’s relationship with the Clandestines is yet another layer to that discussion—assuming they are to some extent her family, what is her duty to them? How can Kamala honor her lineage or heritage while not betraying her closer family and community?

    While we have still yet to see Kamala go into full superhero mode, the episode’s first major action scene set to Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On a Prayer” was a strong start for the series in that regard. This episode also solidified the villains of Ms. Marvel even if there was no surprise to it. The tease of the mask Bruno made Kamala tees up her eventual triumphant debut as her own bona fide superhero, but that moment still seems potentially distant on the horizon.

    Overall, Episode 3 of Ms. Marvel dramatically raises the stakes and implications for both Kamala and the series. While the more “classic” elements of the series are still going strong—teenage awkwardness, crushes, family responsibilities, and self-discovery—there is now an additional element of inter-dimensional or multiversal travel and Kamala’s direct connection to it. The fact that there is a missing bangle is a mystery that foreshadows its inclusion down the line. Sana’s request that Kamala and her mother come to Karachi is clearly setting up an adaptation of the Ms. Marvel comics “Mecca” arc, but it also is the prime (or closer to it) location for exposing the truth about Kamala’s family history, the significance of the bangles, and Kamala’s powers.

  • Marvel Studios Reveals Where ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Fits on the Official Timeline

    Marvel Studios Reveals Where ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Fits on the Official Timeline

    From 2008 through 2019, Marvel Studios released 23 films in their shared cinematic universe. After sitting out 2020 due to the pandemic, Marvel Studios got back in the game in 2021, releasing the first of its Disney Plus streaming series, WandaVision. With Ms. Marvel currently in the middle of its streaming run, Marvel Studios has now released over half as many projects (12) in the past 18 months as they did in their first 11 years as a production company, making a comprehensive rewatch tougher all the time.

    For those looking to start working on the rewatch in Timeline Order, the release of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness on Disney Plus adds another rewatchable project to the list and now, Marvel Studios has made it clear exactly where it fits in. According to the “Marvel Cinematic Universe in Timeline Order” section of Disney Plus, fans looking to view the projects chronologically should check out the Doctor Strange sequel AFTER Eternals.

    While the events of Eternals have no impact whatsoever on the events of Multiverse of Madness, its placement ahead of the sequel also gives us an idea of where Spider-Man: No Way Home should fit in, given that it is probably the direct predecessor of the events of Multiverse of Madness. It’s also of note that Multiverse of Madness now clearly follows the events of Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, which briefly featured Wong, the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth. With Wong set to appear in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, it’s worth paying attention to where that project will fit in the timeline when it releases next month.

  • ‘Doctor Strange 2’s ‘Assembled’ Episode to Release in July on Disney+

    ‘Doctor Strange 2’s ‘Assembled’ Episode to Release in July on Disney+

    We’re only a few more hours away from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness finding its way to Disney+. While the film will still be available in theaters, it does seem like people will be given Marvel’s first true trip into horror another shot from the safety of their home. Well, it seems that fans will get a little extra, as on July 1st we’ll also get the Assembled entry from the latest Marvel Studios film.

    Disney Plus Informer has shared the release date, which will follow a week right after its Disney+ premiere. The timing is also perfect to build up some momentum for the release of Thor: Love and Thunder which is also set to fire up the box office. The entry will be titled Assembled: The Making of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

    Sadly, it seems the future episodes will remain as individual episodes rather than summarized under the Assembled banner. It does continue to imply that they simply draw in more viewers individually rather than as a continuing series. Who knows they might get combined in the future, but it’s great that they are continuing the tradition of adding new entries once a film is added to the streaming service.

    Source: Disney Plus Informer

  • Chris Hemsworth Open to Return as Thor after ‘Love and Thunder’ After All

    Chris Hemsworth Open to Return as Thor after ‘Love and Thunder’ After All

    Chris Hemsworth has recently made a statement that had many surprised, as he hinted that Thor: Love and Thunder may be his last outing as Thor. With Natalie Portman‘s Mighty Thor arriving, many assumed that might be the reason and would take over. Yet, in a new interview with Entertainment Tonight, he reveals that he is actually open to returning if the right story comes around.

    Each time I’ve done it, I’ve sort of thought: “I don’t know what else I can say as this character but thanks for having me, great.” then something else came up, a new script, new director, and has given me a new idea or perspective on it. I am open to anything. I am so thankful for having done so many. I am so proud of this film and if I am lucky enough to do more, great, if not, it’s fantastic.

    Chris Hemsworth

    There are definitely quite a few stories to explore with the character, especially given the iconic Fear Itself story is still open to being adapted. It would’ve been a shame to not give Theor the send-off he deserves if Chris Hemsworth genuinely is leaving the franchise behind.

    Yet, it may simply depend on if someone offers the right script and Marvel Studios is in, he’ll jump on board. So, we shouldn’t expect that we’re seeing the last of Hemsworth moving forward after all. Here’s hoping that either Taika Waititi has an idea to continue to story or maybe a new director can take the character into a new direction.

    Source: Twitter

  • Paul Downs Colaizzo to Take Over ‘Harbinger’ as Wes Ball Focuses on ‘Planet of the Apes’

    Paul Downs Colaizzo to Take Over ‘Harbinger’ as Wes Ball Focuses on ‘Planet of the Apes’

    Wes Ball has been quite busy working on the next Planet of the Apes film, and it seems that his commitment led to him stepping down from his upcoming adaptation of the Paramount film, Harbinger. As the Disney/20th Century reboot is deep in pre-production, it seems that Paul Downs Colaizzo is currently in talks to take over the film. Valiant Entertainment’s Dan Mintz is producing alongside Original Film’s Neal Moritz and Toby Jaffe. The adaptation will follow the story of teen superheroes, who take on a corporation that is exploiting their abilities.

    Colaizzo has made a name for directing and writing the Sundance darling Brittany Runs a Marathon. The film was a massive success back in 2019’s Sundance Film Festival and would eventually release on Amazon prime Video. He’s definitely an interesting choice for the project and may be his step out of the indie scene into the blockbuster scene. With one Sundance darling under his belt, it’s a big step for his career and it’ll be interesting how he adapts the iconic comic.

    We’ve seen quite a few superhero adaptations over the years, but a group of teen heroes hasn’t been truly explored. The Boys has been trying to bring a spinoff that takes place in college to life, but it’s only been recent that it picked up any kind of speed. Marvel is also seemingly building towards a Young Avenger storyline. So, now’s the time to explore the storyline before the big guns get their chance.

    Source: Deadline