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  • Analyzing and Predicting Who Will Survive Past the End of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4

    Analyzing and Predicting Who Will Survive Past the End of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4

    WARNING: Spoilers for Stranger Things 4, Volume 1 ahead!

    One week has officially passed since the release of Stranger Thing 4’s first volume of episodes, and fans across the world have been getting caught up with the latest installment of the franchise. With that, discussions have begun to circulate on what may transpire in the second volume releasing on July 1. One major topic has been the potential fates of the many characters as they traverse into the intense climaxes of the season. Stranger Things has especially been known to be a show with a low body count of main characters, with Billy Hargrove and Bob Newby essentially being the only two to have definitive deaths amongst the principal cast. However, this season’s ensemble has grown to such a large extent that one would have to think some have to die simply for the sake of being able to manage all the characters heading into the final season. In this article we will take a look into the likelihood of survival for all main characters currently in Stranger Things 4.

    Characters with 0% Likelihood to Die: Joyce, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, Robin, Erica

    We will start by quickly going through all of the characters that, for all intents and purposes, will be penciled in to be part of Season 5 of Stranger Things. Joyce Byers still has a story to be told as she is the mother of both Will and Jonathan; there needs to be an explanation as to why she decided to essentially abandon them to rescue Hopper from Russia. It’s also fitting for the show’s original “main” lead character played by Winona Ryder to be part of the show’s endgame. As well, Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven has become too much of a lynchpin for the show to be killed off before its end. As for Dustin and Lucas, the characters are fan favorites and have fertile story opportunities to have an untimely end in the immediate future. And the same can be said as Season 3 standouts Robin and Erica — the latter especially would be too traumatizing of a killing for a young middle-school girl.

    Jim Hopper: Likelihood to be Killed – 10%

    The individual character being covered will be David Harbour’s Jim Hopper, the former Hawkins Police Chief being held captive in Russia after being presumed dead. Him being the main fake-out death of Season 3 makes him a safe bet to outright survive past the remaining Season 4 episodes. As well, there still has to be the emotional reunion between him and his surrogate daughter, Eleven, at some point in the show’s duration. If he is killed in these last two episodes, it will make the entire C-plot of this season for relative naught.

    Will Byers: Likelihood to be Killed – 20%

    As the character who has been the core of the show in the first two seasons, Will Byers carries a large amount of internal trauma and grief. That is something that would indeed make him an ideal target for Vecna, and him lacking the requisite information to survive his wrath could make him a prime target. Though he is especially low in percentage as it would be in very poor taste to just instantly kill off a character who is very likely about to come out as gay at the end of the season.

    Mike Wheeler: Likelihood to be Killed – 30%

    After having been the pure protagonist of the first season, Mike Wheeler’s character has struggled to really find footing in the writing of the show since then. He has essentially become a caricature of a doofy 80s young teen that struggles to connect with his girlfriend and friends. In my opinion, Mike should be killed off this season as it would be the largest twist the show has seen by killing a true main protagonist. As well, his death would hold large ramifications to the relationships amongst the remainder of more interesting lead characters (no shade is intended towards Finn Wolfhard, who is indeed a really strong actor). However, that would probably be too much of a risk for this show to take.

    Max Mayfield: Likelihood to be Killed – 30%

    One may be curious as to why Max is not in the 0% group after the arc seen in the fourth episode of this season, aka the high-water mark of the show since the first season (and maybe the outright best episode in the entire Stranger Things series). However, the eulogizing letters Max wrote to all her friends remain a smoking gun that has yet to fully go off. The likelihood that she dies in Season 4 is pretty low and this could be the fate she unfortunately meets in the final season, but as long as those letters remain unread by the group, audiences should be on high death alert for young Max Mayfield. 

    Nancy Wheeler: Likelihood to be Killed – 40%

    Following the completion of Stranger Thing 4’s first volume of episodes, my major takeaway is that one of the Nancy/Jonathan/Steve love-triangle has to die by the end of this season. A death would provide dramatic stakes to this dynamic, and could actually just outright end any romance subplot due to the trauma. I’d argue that Nancy is the least likely of this trio to die. Especially as she has become the key to understanding the history of Vecna, something that will be critical towards the end of this season and potentially for the show’s end times.

    Eddie Munson: Likelihood to be Killed – 50%

    Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson has become a massive standout as a new character this season. Very quickly, he has captured the hearts of audiences as the outsider is dealing with being the prime suspect in the string of murders happening across Hawkins. While one would think he’d need to survive to prove his innocence against Vecna, it would be much in line with how Stranger Things operates for the show to develop a popular new character and subsequently kill him off by season’s end. As well, I struggle to see the world where both of Dustin’s surrogate older brothers live to see the final season.

    Vecna: Likelihood to be Killed – 50%

    Stranger Things has finally found itself a central antagonist from the Upside Down that maintains captivating pathos and can stand on its own as a massive threat in the show. Though with the show seldom leaning towards overtly dark season endings, I’d argue there’s a 50/50 chance the story of Vecna is wrapped up in the next two episodes of the show. Then again, if I had my druthers about me, Vecna would come out relatively victorious this season and create an Empire Strikes Back type scenario for the protagonist ensemble heading into the true final act of the show.

    Jonathan Byers: Likelihood to be Killed – 70%

    Amongst the love triangle mentioned earlier in this article, I’m of the belief that Jonathan should be the character that dies. While being a compelling character within the first season of the show, there hasn’t been much for the character to do beyond being a romantic partner to Nancy. Separating him entirely from Hawkins has made this concept even more clear. His death would certainly be very emotional, but could also keep more characters around that the Duffer Brothers have active plans for. Also, I think there is a very compelling story with Joyce in having her deal with straying so far from being the over-protective mother in the first season and it now leading to the actual death of one of her sons.

    Murray Bauman: Likelihood to be Killed – 80%

    If Stranger Things wants to have the Russia plotline this season hold serious stakes beyond returning Hopper into the fold, killing off Murray Bauman would successfully do that. He is exactly the type of the character that this series is known to kill off as someone who has become a regular fixture, but still remains on the periphery of the main ensemble. His comedy style, while appealing to some, might have less of a place in the growing intensity of the Vecna plotline and where the show could in theory head towards in its final season. There is also in theory less trauma for general audiences in killing off the older characters of the show than the larger swath of young adult characters, making Murray’s demise that much more likely.

    Brenner and Owens: Likelihood to be Killed – 90%

    As we now reach towards the characters with high likelihoods to die, I’ve combined both Martin Brenner and Sam Owens into this one entry as I believe they will share the same fate. These characters have provided Eleven the ability to regain her powers and, in theory, become a more actualized version of herself, and I don’t think there is much more utility for them beyond that now. Especially with such a large cast, it would be reasonable to close off anyone who isn’t absolutely necessary for how the show ends. With the US government now closing in on their secret project and bunker, Matthew Modine and Paul Reiser’s characters will likely meet their untimely end and provide El some more trauma before her return to Hawkins.

    Steve Harrington: Likelihood to be Killed – 90%

    There is not a character more set up to meet their maker by the end of this season than Steve Harrington. While the hypothetical death of Max was built upon for the first four episodes of this season, Steve’s has been a long-build throughout. Steve’s entire arc this season has been highlighting to him (and the audience) how much he has become beloved by the group around him, serving as the quintessential friend and babysitter. With that in mind, killing him here would provide the most amount of heartbreak and dramatic tension for the season and would showcase that the show is getting serious as it enters its eleventh hour. Losing Joe Keery from the show would be an absolute shame, but it definitely seems most likely that this is the direction we are heading towards.

    Come July 1 and the release of Stranger Things 4’s second volume on Netflix, we will find out where exactly the show is heading and the fates of all characters.

  • The Morning After Huddle: June 4, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: June 4, 2022

    Welcome to your Saturday edition of The Morning After Huddle! Grab your coffee and settle in.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, ten teams participated in events to call more attention to recent shootings. Eagles Owner Jeffrey Lurie said, “These unspeakable tragedies wreak havoc in our communities…As we search for ways to effect positive change in our society, we pray for those grieving…”
    • Next, with mandatory mini-camps on the horizon, NFL.com’s Judy Battista covers the most interesting teams and issues to watch. On her list is everyone from Kyler Murray to the Buffalo Bills and some sleeper situations.
    • As you know, this might be the wildest free agency period ever and we are barely 3 months in. So, who is left and worth dropping some cash for? Alex Kay at Bleacher Report has your list.
    • Finally, Let’s chat about the Key Signings Roundup: NBC is eyeing Jason Garrett to replace Drew Brees as the game analyst on Notre Dame football and possibly on “Football Night in America”.

    Thanks for breaking down the final Huddle of the week with us. Of course, take it easy like Sunday morning and we’ll catch you next week!

    ICYMI: Friday – June 3, 2022 Edition

  • Indira Varma Reveals Her ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Character Was Originally a Love Interest 

    Indira Varma Reveals Her ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Character Was Originally a Love Interest 

    One of the great mysteries surrounding Obi-Wan Kenobi before its release was the identity of Indira Varma’s character. When she was first announced as part of the cast, theories began to run rampant. Many guessed she might be playing Kenobi’s long-lost love, Duchess Satine Kryze, in potential flashbacks, while others wondered if she might be a hidden Jedi. The first trailers for the series eventually revealed Varma to be playing an Imperial Officer, and the latest episode unveiled that she was actually a double agent working against the Empire from the inside.

    An original creation, Tala helps smuggle refugees to safety alongside Kumail Nanjiani’s Haja Estree. However, it seems fans weren’t actually that far off when they assumed Varma would be playing some sort of love interest on the show. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the former Game of Thrones star explained her character went through a few iterations in the script and was originally meant to be Obi-Wan’s romantic interest:

    There had already been different incarnations of the script and the story line. And I think, originally, she was going to be a love interest.

    Indira Varma

    Varma went on to describe why the creatives behind Kenobi ultimately decided against the idea:

    They felt that it was maybe a bit clichéd where always the woman turns up and they fall in love or whatever. And it’s more interesting that this is a woman with agency who is not just going to fall at the feet of Obi-Wan.

    Indira Varma

    So far, not much is known about Tala or her motives. She was able to survive the events of the most recent episodic installment, so hopefully, fans get to learn more in the coming weeks.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Writer Plays Coy on Grand Inquisitor’s Fate, Teases “Canon is Everything”

    ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Writer Plays Coy on Grand Inquisitor’s Fate, Teases “Canon is Everything”

    Obi-Wan Kenobi surprised everyone by debuting its first two episodes early last week, but the altered premiere date wasn’t the only thing that shocked fans. In the series’ second episode, Moses Ingram’s ambitious Third Sister impales Rupert Friend’s Grand Inquisitor with her lightsaber and leaves him for dead. This was an unexpected development for many reasons, the greatest of which being the fact Grand Inquisitor was previously shown to be alive much later in the franchise’s timeline. The character was the main antagonist of Star Wars Rebels’ first season, which takes place five years after the events of Kenobi.

    Speaking to Vanity Fair about the plot twist, Kenobi’s writer Joby Harold seemed to hint that the leader of the Empire’s Inquisitorious may not be dead after all. He referenced Lucasfilm’s commitment to established canon as evidence:

    As you know, we would never break canon. So, that’s all I’ll say. Canon is everything.

    Joby Harold

    The supposed demise of the Grand Inquisitor has been the topic of much debate in the last week. Rebels has a very dedicated and passionate fanbase, who felt understandably betrayed by the possible decanonization of their favorite Star Wars story. Luckily, it seems those faithful don’t have much to worry about. If Harold’s comments are any indication, Kenobi hasn’t seen the last of the Grand Inquisitor. There have already been quite a few theories on how he may have survived this ordeal, and we’ll likely find out later in the series if at all. Still, it looks like fans don’t have to worry about how it’ll affect canon moving forward.

    Source: Vanity Fair

  • ‘Deadpool 3’ Writer Talk Marvel Studios Being ‘Supportive’ of the Film’s R-Rating

    ‘Deadpool 3’ Writer Talk Marvel Studios Being ‘Supportive’ of the Film’s R-Rating

    There was a mixed feeling in the air when it was announced that a third Deadpool film was in development. On the one hand, we’re getting Ryan Reynolds back as the loveable fourth-wall-breaking mercenary but some believed that Marvel Studios’ usual PG-13 ratings wouldn’t allow for it to get added. Yet, it turns out that isn’t the case at all, as Marvel Studios President promised Deadpool 3 will be the MCU’s first R-rated project.

    Den of Geek got a chance to talk to the film’s writers, who are taking over from Bob’s Burgers Wendy Molyneaux and Lizzie Molyneau-Loeglin‘s first draft, after having written the previous two entries. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are thrilled to tackle the jokes that the MCU offers, and be back with Reynolds to bring the film to life. They are also joined by a new face as Shawn Levy is taking over directing duties for the project.

    It’s an absolute thrill to have the band back together, to have a new backdrop in the MCU with new characters, new villains, that kind of thing. You know, it’s never a marriage we necessarily saw coming—Fox and Disney, that was an external thing [separate] from our storytelling process. But we’re absolutely finding the serendipity and the gold in that situation, or we’re trying to.

    Rhett Reese

    They promise that “Deadpool is gonna be Deadpool” and highlight that Marvel Studios has been very supportive of embracing the character’s R-rated nature.

    Don’t worry about that. They’ve been very supportive with regard to that. Now when it comes to a particular joke, if we cross a line, maybe we’ll hear at some point, ‘Maybe not that joke.’ But I think they’ve been incredibly supportive of what we’re doing, because obviously we were doing it separate from them for a long time, and I think they’ve seen the success and they’ve had their own even greater success. So hopefully it’ll be a marriage made in heaven. But we’ve definitely got their support, and that’s a great thing to feel.

    Rhett Reese

    It’s great to see that they aren’t shying away from anything and will very likely keep the meta-jokes that’ll now focus a bit more on the MCU. The fact it’s the same character from the 20th Century Fox franchise also expands the way they tackle the character and how he may find himself in the new cinematic universe with his usual perchance of comedy.

    Source: Den of Geek

  • Dermot Mulroney Joins ‘Scream 6’s Cast

    Dermot Mulroney Joins ‘Scream 6’s Cast

    The actor is the latest to join the cast of the sixth Scream film. The news comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, with the outlet revealing that the My Best Friend’s Wedding actor has officially closed a deal for the Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures flick. While details are sparse regarding Mulroney’s role, it is thought that he is playing a cop in the film.

    Filming on the sixth Scream film is expected to begin this summer. It’ll pick-up shortly after the events of the fifth installment, Scream, which released earlier this year. That film managed to pull in $140 million worldwide, reigniting an excitement for Ghostface. Returning from the fifth installment are Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding and Jenna Ortega. They’ll be joined by Hayden Panettiere, who will reprise her role as Kirby from 2011’s Scream 4. Also returning for the sixth film is Courtney Cox as Gale Weathers.

    The latest Scream film hails from returning writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick, as well as returning directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett. The sixth Scream film will see the story attempt to move outside of Woodsboro as the four survivors of the latest Ghostface killings try to seek a fresh start elsewhere.

    Along with My Best Friend’s Wedding, Mulroney has appeared in titles such as The Family Stone and Young Guns. More recently, he starred in Prime Video’s Hanna series and Hulu’s Four Weddings and a Funeral.

    The sixth Scream installment is expected to hit theaters on March 31st, 2023.

    Source: THR

  • Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige is Open to Create a Real AvengersCon

    Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige is Open to Create a Real AvengersCon

    After two years of being canceled, forced online, or reduced, fan conventions are back. Disney just held the first in-person Star Wars Celebration since 2019 and dominated the news cycle for four consecutive days. They’re expected to attend SDCC this July and will host their own line-wide con in September with D23. But with Marvel Studios producing up to 4 live-action films, 4 live-action series and a couple animated series per year, could it be time for a Marvel-centric convention?

    That very question was posed to Marvel Studios One-Above-All, Kevin Feige, during the global Ms. Marvel press conference. Central to the plot of the first episode of Ms. Marvel is the fictional First Annual AvengersCon. Kamala and Bruno attend a celebration of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes that is complete with all the convention norms, including a cosplay competition that has been highlighted in much of the marketing for the series. Could Ms. Marvel inspire Marvel Studios to hold a real life AvengersCon?

    We were definitely talking about that on the set. We shot that right in the middle of COVID protocols. So, there hasn’t been a convention in a very long time and it was very cathartic for all of us to see that. We were shooting Spider-Man: No Way Home on the stage right next door, believe it or not. And a lot of that crew kept sneaking over to see and attend AvengerCon, walking around. I think that would be fun to do some time.

    Kevin Feige

    If it’s something that Feige can get behind, then it’s something that could happen. It wouldn’t take much to give it a try during this year’s D23. Simply allowing Marvel Studios to hold its own panel called “AvengersCon” could be a nice dry run. Even though Star Wars has a 3-decade head start on Marvel Studios, any information on upcoming Marvel Studios projects generates an insane amount of buzz (see Investor Day 2020). Disney would be wise to take advantage of eventually carving out an entire 4-day chunk of time during which the future of Marvel Studios would be the only news in town as opposed to sharing the news cycle with other big-time properties. It would be a fascinating case of “life imitates art.”

    Ms. Marvel debuts on Disney Plus on June 8th.

  • Kevin Feige Shares Why ‘Ms. Marvel’ Became a Disney+ Show

    Kevin Feige Shares Why ‘Ms. Marvel’ Became a Disney+ Show

    Disney+ has become a way for Marvel Studios to further explore different stories that they may otherwise not have had the chance to do so. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is expanding in interesting ways with new characters getting introduced to further expand the potential stories to tell on the small and big screen. Yet, we never fully know when and who gets the cinematic or streaming treatment.

    In the series’ official press event, Marvel Studios CEO Kevin Feige talks about why they generally decided to tackle Kamala Khan and how they’ve been asked to bring her to live-action ever since the initial comic was released.

    Why not I say! I mean, honestly, at Marvel, it is such a privileged, because not only are there reinterpretations every few years of existing wonderful characters. Every once in a while, almost every decade or so, there’s a new character that comes around that catches the audience’s imagination. This character clearly did that and as I said to some people on the red carpet last night: Almost form the first few issues, people started asking us in environments like this when is Kamala Khan coming.

    Kevin Feige

    He goes on to highlight that it was part of their plans to introduce her through Disney+ and set up an appearance in a feature film, which we now know is The Marvels. Not just that, but Feige also revealed what his true goal is with these series and introducing new characters to the franchise.

    So, t always seemed inevitable in a great way that we would be able to do it. When Disney+ came around, it really us the opportunity to do what we really wanted to do and tell her full story in six episodes and have her transition into a feature. [..] I am so proud of bringing new characters to the screen and not just telling reinterpretations of characters that people have seen for decades and decades. And I think that’s important. I want people who never even considered a Marvel Studios feature before to be excited and watch this show.

    Kevin Feige

    Of course, he also jokingly adds for them to watch the others, which isn’t uncommon. There are people that find themselves introduced into the franchise through a specific new series, and that becomes their gateway to explore the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We learned back in May that an Egyptian director Mohamed Diab stated that his home country saw Moon Knight as their Black Panther, which highlights what Marvel Studios is currently accomplishing with these projects.

  • ‘Jurassic World’ Kicks Off Strong Internationally As ‘Top Gun Maverick’ Passes $200M in the US

    ‘Jurassic World’ Kicks Off Strong Internationally As ‘Top Gun Maverick’ Passes $200M in the US

    Top Gun Maverick will end the day passing $200M as it pulled in a powerful Wednesday with $14.8M, which is a 6% drop. An incredible weekday takes and highlights the power this film has on the word-of-mouth side. It already passed the original’s domestic box office, which stood at $180.2M, and Mission: Impossible‘s $180.9M. Internationally, the film is already on its way towards $400M and may even pass $500M by Sunday. So, it’ll definitely be a contender for the top release for the summer.

    The film has seen a younger draw, which is great in addition to the older main crowd, and is now enjoying the fact that 46% of schools closed and 88% of colleges went on break. Its only main competitor that might take a big chunk out of its box office will be the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion. Speaking of, the film has already pulled in $16.7M on Thursday and is on its way to potentially pull in $50M+ over the weekend internationally.

    It’s only available in a few markets and will release in 44 more once June 10th rolls around. It had a huge opening over in South Korea, and the film is likely to be a big competitor this year. Surprisingly, the only European market it released in was Italy, where it is 75% ahead of Fallen Kingdom. Top Gun is still performing strong internationally, but it may take a bite once it truly releases fully next week. It’s going to be quite interesting to see two giant releases once again compete for the market, which hasn’t been seen at this size since before the pandemic.

    Source: Deadline (Top Gun), Twitter, Deadline (Jurassic World)

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Disney+ Release Includes IMAX Extended Format

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Disney+ Release Includes IMAX Extended Format

    According to the Disney+ app, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, one of the biggest films of the year, will be streaming in the IMAX format when it releases on the streaming service. This latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has led theater audiences on an exciting journey across the multiverse and grossed over $800 million at the box office. Now, the Doctor Strange sequel will bring all of that signature Marvel action, and spectacle to your home in a larger format.

    Recently, Disney confirmed in an official press release that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will debut on Disney Plus on June 22nd. The film joins 14 other Marvel Cinematic Universe films now streaming in IMAX ratio on Disney Plus, which gives viewers more to enjoy from their favorite entry. What stands out is that this was added to the service on their very first Disney+ Day last year. It was a new selling point for select films getting the addition, as it also was made available with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ release on the platform.

    The IMAX format makes for a nice extra on the platform, even if it’s not exactly the same experience without the giant screen to enjoy it on. Different formats add to the streaming experience to ensure that we have options and even new ways to enjoy the projects that we’ve seen years ago. Multiverse of Madness also gaining the IMAX format seems like a good hint we can expect the same from future additions.

    Source: ComicBook