Blog

‘LOKI’ Finale Primer

This last episode of Loki was my favorite so far! In the void, four Lokis (Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Boastful Loki, and Alligator Loki) rescue Loki from Alioth and give him an explanation of what the wasteland is all about. Back at the TVA Sylvie tried to get Ravonna to help her find out who is running the show, but Ravonna lied to her and stalled for time until the Minutemen showed up. Rather than be arrested again Sylvie decided to delete herself and go to the wasteland. There, Loki had hatched a plan to destroy Alioth but President Loki showed up with his “army”, slowing down the process and showing the downside of being a Loki: the constant betrayals. In the middle of the fight Loki, Kid Loki, Classic Loki, and Alligator Loki escaped in hopes to get to Alioth. As they made their way through the void they ran into Sylvie, who was saved from Alioth by Mobius. Sylvie had her own plan to enchant the guard dog and Loki agreed to do this plan. Classic Loki sacrificed himself so Sylvie and Loki could get to the citadel.

During the period of time Loki was with the other Lokis, he was able to see the pros and cons of being a Loki. Classic Loki’s story hit the hardest as he explained how he came to understand while drifting in space after escaping Thanos, that pain followed him wherever he went, something Prime Loki wouldn’t be able to admit yet. Classic Loki also played a big part in helping Loki see how strong he actually is. When he created Asgard to distract Alioth, I remembered that Asgard was said to be the source of power for Hela and Thor in Ragnarok and after seeing Asgard again, Loki and Sylvie were able to enchant the guard dog. It was great to see Lokis working together, even though Classic Loki said they were just the God of Outcasts.

Arlyn’s Assumptions

When they get to the castle I think they will find that one version or another of Kang is behind the TVA. Sylvie’s whole plan is to kill the man behind the curtain, but is it Loki’s? I don’t want Loki to betray Sylvie, but knowing Loki, who betrayed his own family, it’s hard to believe he won’t. However, if the plan goes smoothly and the man in the castle dies at the hand of Sylvie, there will be no one to keep the Sacred Timeline safe, turning the MCU into a Multiverse of Madness.

The finale of Season 1 of Loki streams tomorrow morning on Disney Plus!

July 13, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Had No Idea She Was Auditioning for ‘Loki’s Miss Minutes

With Loki set to wrap its first season up later this week, fans are eager to uncover the secrets of the Time Variance Authority. We were just as confused as Loki on what was going on when he got dragged into the organization’s offices for the first time. Luckily, Miss Minutes, who is a living animated clock just bursting with southern charm, explained their origin.

Minutes is voiced by none other than the famous voice actress Tara Strong. She is no stranger to superhero stories, as she worked on Teen Titans, Powerpuff Girls, Ben 10, and famously voices Harley Quinn in many different shows. In a recent interview with our very own Charles Murphy, Strong revealed just how different the audition process behind this project was compared to others.

You know initially in the audition, when I get an audition it’ll have a drawing of the character, a character description, a show bible with what this world was all about, and I didn’t get any of that for Miss Minutes. In fact, I called my agent to learn more about her, because everything I get feeds into how I go into creating an audition and I auditioned first in my home studio and they couldn’t get anymore information. I didn’t even know what show I was auditioning for.

With so much mystery surrounding this process, she mentioned how she navigated her way through this process and how Miss Minutes was created. It seems she and director Kate Herron built upon her initial pitch without knowing fully what character she is going to play.

So, I’ll take between ten minutes or three hours ’till I get it exactly how I want it and they said to try one with an accent. So, I did this sort of Southern Belle and they really liked that and then it wasn’t ’till I booked it that I knew what it was and then working on the Zoom with Kate and them playing me which audition they really liked and we worked on that collabratively to get it exactly where Miss Minutes is now.

Strong‘s charming take on the character sure won fans over as she quickly became loved by fans of the show. We’ll see if we get more of Miss Minutes in the upcoming finale, but with her origin still remaining a mystery, there’s still a lot we can learn about the character.

July 12, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Talks Miss Minutes Mysterious Origins And ‘Loki’ Fan Theories

Loki has taken Marvel fans by storm as each episode slowly unraveled the sinister secrets behind the TVA. We are so close to the finale, and everyone is still wondering who is the mysterious mastermind behind the organization and the robotic Time-Keepers. There have been countless fan theories on the true identity of the man in the castle. The list includes a Loki Variant, Kang the Conqueror, and even the adorable Miss Minutes.

Luckily, our very own Charles Murphy got the chance to sit down with Miss Minutes herself, Tara Strong. She didn’t give away what we can expect in the next episode, but she gave a cheeky in-character answer when asked. She did share her love for the various fan theories that Miss Minutes is the evil mastermind behind the series.

I love, you know, connecting with the fans and seeing what they’re doing on social media. I’ve loved all the art that’s been made. It’s been incredible. And I love all their theories, I can’t comment if things are right or not, but it’s been fun to see people so invested in the show.

She also talks about the challenge of playing Miss Minutes, who is an original creation for the show. Strong didn’t have a chance to research the character’s backstory and implied she still doesn’t know her origin. It’s a curious reveal if you consider her origin should tie directly into the TVA. Perhaps it is something they are keeping open to explore in the future if it doesn’t get answered in the upcoming finale. Whatever happens, Minutes will certainly stick with audiences and she hopefully has a long history ahead of her in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

July 12, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Tara Strong Says ‘LOKI’ Finale Will Leave Fans “Happy and Excited” After a “Great Ride”

While Marvel Studios has made quite a splash in the streaming market with its first two original series WandaVision and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, there’s been some sentiment among the fans that neither series really stuck the landing in their respective finales. With the finale of Loki just over a day away, fans are starting to wonder if this series, which has been incredible so far, will follow suit. Earlier today, I chatted with Tara Strong, who voices the TVA’s AI interface Miss Minutes, and asked her how fans would feel after this week’s episode.

They’re going to be so happy. A lot of times you watch a show and you’re invested in a show and the final episode leaves you disappointed. And I think this series of Loki, from start to finish, has been one of the most stellar, perfect shows I’ve ever seen and everyone’s just going to happy and excited and feel like they’ve gone on a great, great ride.

Strong’s answer should leave fans feeling pretty hopeful about how Kate Herron, Michael Waldron, and the rest of the series’ creative team have chosen to wrap up the first season of the show. We know that Loki and Sylvie are headed to the citadel at the end of time to take on whoever is the true power behind the TVA (who could it be?) and that the MCU is headed towards the Multiverse of Madness, so it seems that not only will the finale wrap up this episode but also serve as a springboard into the next wave of Phase 4.

July 12, 2021
‘John Wick 4’: Keanu Reeves to Face Off Against Marko Zaror

It looks like we finally know who the main antagonist will be for John Wick 4. We’ve seen a variety of castings over the course of a few weeks, which included legends like Donnie Yen. Yet, there was no confirmation on who exactly would be Wick’s main foil throughout the film. According to Deadline, Marko Zaror is in negotiations to join the film that started filming not too long ago. He would join a stellar cast that includes Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Lance Reddic, and many more.

It will be based on a screenplay by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. We’ll find out what happened to Wick after he got betrayed by Winston and maps out his next vengeance. They won’t disclose which role Zaror has in the film, but the martial artist will offer an interesting adversary. He’s known for his work on Alita: Battle Angel, and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. Marvel fans might recognize him as Shaft from Marvel’s The Defenders.

John Wick‘s use of choreography makes it stand out among many iconic action franchises. The combination of Reeve’s subtle performance and creative action has put the next installment on everyone’s radar as Wick continues to get screwed over. At his point, it makes you wonder if he’ll ever escape his life as Babayaga. The man wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet with the last memories of his wife. One fatal mistake set the man on a path of vengeance that seems almost endless at this point. We’ll see how long he can pull it through moving forward.

Source: Deadline, IMDb

July 12, 2021
‘Black Widow’ and the Potential Future of the Taskmaster Protocol

Marvel Studios made a grand return to cinemas, as Black Widow released after a year-long release. We got a final goodbye to Scarlett Johansson‘s character. We also were introduced to a unique spin on the iconic Marvel villain, Taskmaster. In this universe, it wasn’t Tony Masters that donned the skull-like helmet but rather the daughter of the Red Room’s big head, Dreykov. She isn’t a mercenary but a pawn of the Red Room and an emotional anchor for Natasha’s arc in the film. The question on everyone’s mind is this the end of Taskmaster? I’d argue it is just the beginning.

The cheekily-named Antonia uses an implant in the back of her neck and her helmet’s visor to analyze people’s movement. It’s nowhere near the character’s comic roots, where it was an innate ability of the mercenary. He was born with a photographic memory and enhanced it through a failed Super-Soldier serum that came at the price of his memory each time he learned something new. It was his arrogance and desire for power that compelled him to seek the abilities over his life.

The thing that stands out about Antonia’s story is that she isn’t Taskmaster but rather is part of the Taskmaster Protocol. While they went with a more tech-based direction, it doesn’t exclude the fact that someone can carry on the mantle. Her story is over as she finally got freed from her father’s manipulation. There is no emotional anchor for her to continue her life as the titular villain. Yet, a group of young Widows seeking guidance in a world that would reject them? They spent their life as rained killers, and as we learn in the post-credit sequence, there isn’t much else the world has to offer.

So, they end up in the hands of Val and her associate, Tony Masters. A former SHIELD agent who has built up quite the reputation as a demanding trainer. He’ll take them under his wing but finds quite a curiosity in the Taskmaster protocol. He’s been known for his memory and sees it as a possibility to enhance his inherent ability. So, he promises to help free Antonia from her microchip for the price of getting access to it.

Once he implants it into the back of his neck, even using an enhanced version, his brain cannot sustain it. It was tailor-made with Antonia’s injuries in mind. He slowly starts forgetting things, even the thing that caused it. In his head, he always had these abilities and continues training the Widows. There are traces of memories in his mind, and he believes he was the original Taskmaster. As such, he takes on the mantle. He even adapts the suit to his liking and takes on mercenary or even training jobs on the side. The whole world has no idea who Antonia was, but they will know who Tony Masters is.

July 12, 2021
‘Black Widow’: O-T Fagbenle Initially Auditioned for a Different Role

If you are still wary of spoilers, the following article will discuss the twist involving Taskmaster. Only continue reading at your own risk.

There has been much debate online regarding the Taskmaster twist in Black Widow. For a long time, we’ve kind of expected it to be O-T Fagbenle to reveal he is behind the skull-inspired mask. Well, the film certainty surprised us when it turned out to be Olga Kurylenko‘s character of Antonia, the daughter of the film’s main antagonist. After being used as a human bomb in Natasha’s darker years, she ended up surviving and getting outfitted with a chip that lets her copy everyone’s abilities.

It was certainly a surprise and a far removal of the original character known as Tony Masters in the comics. So, some wondered if the character may have changed throughout the filming process, as there were some rumors of a male antagonist getting cast. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Fangbenle revealed that he indeed originally was auditioning for a different role.

You know what? The audition process was funny, because my character was very different. The character I auditioned for was very, very different. I had a different accent and everything. Then the character changed and Cate liked me, so I thought I’d have to audition again. But she was like, “Nah, just come” and I was like, Alright, sure, okay.” The funny thing is there was a time I didn’t think I’d be able to do it. At the time, I was writing and directing my own TV show called Maxxx on Hulu. It looked like there was going be a clash and I’d have to decide which one I’d be able to do. Luckily, they managed to make it happen, so I got to do both.

It sounds like he originally got cast for the role of Taskmaster. We don’t know why any changes happened, but it seems like they shifted towards the current incarnation at some point in production. In the end, he did get a Marvel comics-inspired role as the character Rick Mason, who is better known as the Agent. Perhaps the original casting was a misdirect to avoid the twist finding its way online.

He primarily has a support role throughout the film supplying Natasha with whatever she needs. It’s an oddly underused character that still adds some fun scenes to the film. Of course, he might be building up to a bigger role moving forward in the MCU. We also don’t know if Taskmaster will make a return. They may pass the torch to a brand new character.

Source: Buzzfeed, That Hashtag Show

July 12, 2021
‘Marvel’s Avengers’: Black Panther’s Wakanda Won’t Reuse Art Assets
We’re so close to finally playing as Black Panther in Marvel’s Avengers. It’s been a long wait, but the first teases have promised what seems like a whole new chapter in the game. Last week, we got a first look at some of the concept art for the War for Wakanda expansion. Tore Blystad, Crystal Dynamics Experience Director, offered some small insight during the dev stream, as they would go into more detail with a developer blog. It has finally arrived, and there are quite some curious details alongside new concept art.
- Many of their designs are directly inspired by the comics, as they seek to recreate the “Marvel DNA.” As such, they used comic panels as a direct reference for some of their concept art.
- Their main focus was also on making the new biome, the Wakandan Jungle, stand out. As we saw in the already released artwork, they want the sun to pierce through the plant life. They added many nooks and crannies to offer some worthwhile explorations.
- A new artwork teases the Warrior’s Gate, which is part of a trial to re-enter Wakanda. Their goal with the designs was to combine traditional elements from ancient civilizations but showcase they were still millennia ahead of many other civilizations.
- Crystal Dynamics’ goal was to ensure Wakanda is a contiguous space. Unlike other biomes, you’ll be moving from the crater rim staring at the Golden City, and the next scene will have you in the city.
- They highlight that no art is recycled, which includes gameplay objects and resources. As the nation is unconquered, it’ll feel fresh and new. You’ll even be able to interact with elements, such as unique puzzle mechanisms, transportation devices, or defenses, such as a Wakandan turret or monorail.
The description of the biome promises not one but multiple unique environments. Hawkeye’s Wasteland biome was a fun addition to the game with its orange post-apocalypse, but it was a repetitive view from one location into the next. The fun aspect was looking for the various comic references, such as the Kree heads scattered across the sand. Crystal Dynamics worked alongside Virtuous Shanghai and Nixxes to bring this unique biome to life.

They tease many comic references, and it’s going to be exciting to explore the various new locations that add some needed variety to Marvel’s Avengers. The best part, this is only the first part that’ll explore the upcoming War for Wakanda DLC. So, it’s going to be exciting to see what else they reveal on the game’s first expansion.

Source: Play Avengers
July 12, 2021
‘What If’: Andy Serkis Confirms Return as Ulysses Klaue in Disney+ Series

What If‘s latest trailer shocked people when Tony Stark appeared on screen not voiced by Robert Downey Jr. While there were rumblings that not every MCU cast member was open to returning in the animated series, it still was strange to see it happen. Especially if you consider how many iconic stars are returning to reprise their roles. All the way when the first cast listing was announced during SDCC 2019, we wondered if they purposely left some out. It seems we were right, as Andy Serkis just confirmed via his Instagram page that he’ll return in the upcoming series as Ulysses Klaue.

View this post on Instagram

Klaue made his MCU debut in Avengers: Age of Ultron before stealing every scene in Black Panther. Sadly, the character met his untimely doom at the hands of Killmonger. He is getting an episode focused on his unlikely alliance with Tony Stark. We got a brief snippet of how they meet in the latest trailer and even see him in Wakanda. A toy leak may have also confirmed he might take on another mantle in the series. Klaue might once again be his entry point into the African metropolis, as he is the only one who knows how to break into the secure city.

It’s fantastic seeing Andy Serkis return, as he was a personal highlight whenever he was on screen. Exploring the multiverse also opens up many possibilities to revisit these characters in new and curious ways. There was always hope they might revisit T’Chaka’s early years where Klaue first got his hands on the rare metal Vibranium. There’s a lot of history that is worth exploring. It could be worth exploring in the untitled Wakanda Disney+ series. Here’s hoping his return might signal more in the MCU’s future.

Source: Instagram, Twitter

July 12, 2021
Dwayne Johnson Shares New Destruction-Filled ‘Black Adam’ BTS Image

It’s crazy to think that we’ve seen more from Shazam: Fury of the Gods‘ set than from Black Adam. The latter started quite a bit earlier but has been kept tightly under wraps. Around five days ago, Sarah Shahi did confirm that we’ll meet the Intergang in the upcoming film. Yet, their exact role remains uncertain. In last year’s DC FanDome, we got a tease of Dwayne Johnson‘s Black Adam facing down the Justice Society of America, which includes Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate.

With a stellar cast, the film is already a promising entry in the ever-expanding DCEU. Luckily, Johnson shared a new BTS image that teases the size of the sets they are working with and a glimpse at the detailing of his iconic black suit. Of course, it wouldn’t be an anti-hero film if he didn’t leave quite a bit of destruction in his wake.

View this post on Instagram

Johnson has been a strong force behind Black Adam’s strong marketing campaign. Unlike most films that keep a lot of things tightly under wraps, he’s openly shared images from the set and various teases to hype up his DC premiere. It’s a character that he is personally very invested in, which is always a good sign for a project.

We do not know if there are any plans for Shazam and Black Adam to crossover into each other. They both gained their abilities from the same wizard with Adam taking a darker turn. We even got a brief glimpse of his appearance in the first Shazam film when Djimon Honsou as the wizard explained the history of these abilities. Here’s hoping we get the showdown of a century. The battle between him and Henry Cavill‘s Superman would also be an iconic cinematic event.

Source: Instagram

July 12, 2021