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  • New ‘WHAT IF…?’ Lego Leak Reveals the Name of Steve Rogers’ Iron Man Armor

    New ‘WHAT IF…?’ Lego Leak Reveals the Name of Steve Rogers’ Iron Man Armor

    With 2 months to go until Marvel Studios first MCU-based animated series, What If…?, hits Disney Plus, the leaks are coming fast and furious. A recent lego leak gave us some info about a new, Sakarrian Iron Man armor that we’re likely to see in an episode and, now, another leak connects to one of the earliest pieces of concept art we saw for the series. According to 1414falcon fan, Lego will be releasing a “Captain Britain and The Hydra Stomper” set.

    We can confirm that Rogers’ suit, which will be built by Howard Stark, is called the Hydra Stomper and is necessary for Steve to head into combat. Rumors have swirled that the Captain Britain episode will be the first to air though that has yet to be confirmed. We’re also still waiting for an official announcement from Disney as to when the series will hit their streaming service. It was reported earlier this week that the series would debut on August 6th, but Disney quickly retracted the information saying only that it was still on schedule to stream in August.

    What If…? will take fans through key events from the Marvel Cinematic Universe while reimagining them in major ways. The series will be told from the perspective of Uatu, the Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, and will see most of the cast of the MCU returning to voice their characters.

  • REPORT: Marvel Strategy Game In Development by ‘XCOM’ Developer

    REPORT: Marvel Strategy Game In Development by ‘XCOM’ Developer

    E3 is just around the corner and rumors abound. It’s the yearly tradition that various leaks find their way online claiming to have the hot scoop on what reveals we can expect once the event rolls out. Well, it looks like one might have gotten a bit more validity through the help of a well-known gaming journalist. Reddit is no stranger to leaks and a new one found its way online that game developer Firaxis Games may be working on a new game. It is described as “XCOM with Marvel Heroes” and it will involve some famous actors. Now, normally no one would give it a second glance until Jason Schreier confirmed the leak on Twitter.

    https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1400587141743353860

    The project seems to be running under the codename CODA and would give players a brand new turn-based game featuring the popular comic heroes. There is also the fact that Firaxis hasn’t released a new entry in the XCOM franchise since 2016 besides a few sizeable expansions. Marvel has been expanding their gaming repertoire throughout the last few years with Insomniac’s Spider-Man franchise and the GaaS game Marvel’s Avengers. There is also the rumor that they are currently developing a Guardians of the Galaxy game together with Eidos Montreal. They could be expanding their gaming franchises by using the unique corners of the Marvel universe with each franchise taking a unique approach. A strategy RPG would be a fun addition, especially with XCOM‘s core concept of developing your troops. There’s a lot of potential with this game and hopefully, we might get a reveal at E3 after all.

    Source: Reddit, Twitter, VGC

  • ‘Umbrella Academy’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Britne Oldford as Sparrow Academy’s Fei

    ‘Umbrella Academy’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Britne Oldford as Sparrow Academy’s Fei

    Netflix just recently dropped. major franchise as they decided not to move forward with the second season of Jupiter’s Legacy. Still, it isn’t their only superhero-focused franchise s they’re also still busy filming the upcoming third season of Umbrella Academy. Last month, we got our first look at Elliot Page on the set of the production and it seems that wasn’t all. @seansmovies shared an image on Twitter that reveals our first look at Britne Oldford as Fei Hargreeves, a member of the Sparrow Academy.

    We got introduced to the Sparrow Academy at the end of the last season. The group is similar to the Umbrella Academy as their actions in the past led to a brand new timeline where their father Sir Reginald Hargreeves build a new team. The roster was plucked from the 43 children who were adopted by Hargreeves, as they were all born simultaneously. In the comics, the team was only given the title The Sparrows. The series already seems to imply we’ll get more time with them as some of the members didn’t even have names in the original comic. It’s unclear what role they will have and if our team of unlikely heroes will find a way back to their original timeline. Whatever direction Netflix’s next series is heading, it will certainly be a wild ride.

    Source: Twitter, Variety

  • ‘John Wick 4’ Adds ‘IP Man’s Donnie Yen

    ‘John Wick 4’ Adds ‘IP Man’s Donnie Yen

    The John Wick franchise seems to be expanding as the fourth entry is slowly getting ready for production. Deadline has just revealed that IP Man‘s Donnie Yen has joined the production in an undisclosed role. His addition is a great sign that we’ll get a lot more hand-to-hand combat in the sequel. He will play an old friend of Keanu Reeves‘ John Wick who shares some of the same enemies. It looks like Wick will once again pull in some favors to survive the onslaught that awaits him in the upcoming sequel. Producer Basil Iwanyk shared his enthusiasm over Yen joining the franchise:

    Donnie Yen will bring a vibrant and powerful energy to the franchise. We were determined to bring him on board to John Wick 4 and are thrilled for the opportunity to have such a major talent to collaborate with Keanu.

    The film will be directed by Chad Stahelski and is based on a script by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. It is currently eyeing a Summer production start. In general, the franchise is also starting to expand with an official spin-off series titled The Continental in development. We got our first look into its story when the first plot details found their way online around a month ago. It is still uncertain how far into pre-production the project currently is. Whatever the future may hold, we know there will be a lot more John Wick in our future.

    Source: Deadline

  • REPORT: First Details on Black Widow’s ‘What If’ Post-Apocalyptic Episode

    REPORT: First Details on Black Widow’s ‘What If’ Post-Apocalyptic Episode

    It looks like we are getting some more information on the upcoming What If series heading to Disney+ this summer. After recently offering the first details on the Thor-centric episode Illuminerdi is back revealing that Black Widow will be the focus of a post-apocalyptic storyline. It will explore a scenario where Ultron won the battle against the Avengers and his meteor ended up changing Earth forever. Natasha Romanoff will be one of the few survivors. This report matches up with leaks from April that offered a glimpse at Ultron, who seemed to be donning a cape. It is still unclear if James Spader is returning to voice the iconic robot in the episode. Still, this may be the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the Wasteland, which was the focus for various iconic Marvel Comic storylines such as Future Imperfect and Old Man Logan.

    It’s a really creative concept for an episode that highlights how unique each episode might end up being. We know that one will have T’Challa become Star-Lord and another that introduces the Marvel Cinematic Universe to zombies. We still don’t know how this franchise might tie together throughout the season and may even have a relevant role as the multiverse expands. We could get some cameos from these characters in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Marvel Studios’ first animated series still has no official release date but seems to be eyeing a release in August. Here’s hoping we get a trailer once Loki premieres next week

    Source: Illuminerdi

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Offers First Look at Mark Ruffalo in Latest Set Photos

    ‘She-Hulk’ Offers First Look at Mark Ruffalo in Latest Set Photos

    Marvel Studios has been busy working on their various Disney+ shows and it seems that their latest entry has just entered production. Actress Anais Almonte took to Facebook to share a few images from the She-Hulk set that offer us a small glimpse of what they are working on. The picture includes a look at Mark Ruffalo, who is in full mo-cap gear. He most likely will return to play Professor Hulk, who was introduced in Avengers: Endgame but there is no look yet at the titular heroine, who is played by Tatiana Maslany. We did get a brief glimpse of her around a month ago when the series slowly started production.

    The set photos don’t reveal too much, but it does showcase the film’s production title Clover, which was revealed in Production Weekly a few months ago. It is uncertain which role Almonte has in the series, but she could play a minor role or even act as a double for another character. We still know very little about the series’ plot and which direction they might be heading with the character. Here’s hoping we get some of her fourth wall breaking that mixes up the way we see the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Anyone involved with Marvel is under are under strict NDAs until the series’ releases. So, it’s quite surprising she released these images online as they are still working on the Disney+ series. We’ll see how long she’ll be able to keep those on her Facebook page. Either way, it is great to get a glimpse at the series production.

    Source: Facebook, Production Weekly

  • Theory Thursday: Exploring ‘Eternals’ Anime and Manga Inspirations

    Theory Thursday: Exploring ‘Eternals’ Anime and Manga Inspirations

    Following her historic win at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and Oscars for her directorial work on Nomadland, all eyes are on the Academy-Award-winning director Chloé Zhao. She will deliver what could very well be a heavy Award Season contender for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Regardless, fans are definitely in for what could very well be one of the most original cinematic experiences the MCU has ever produced. In an interview with Variety, she discussed some of the inspirations for her work on Eternals.

    Jack Kirby and his imagination, his incredible work, is really the foundation of it. On top of that, there is what Marvel Studios has built, this incredible journey they have going on. And then on top of that is me as a fan of the MCU. And then, me as a fan of the genre, but also growing up with sci-fi and manga and fantasy films. And how can we have this big melting pot and cook up something that may just taste a little bit different? It was just an exciting thing; all of us went in wanting to do that. We’ll see.

    That particular quote teases a visual feast that will arrive in theaters this November. The combination of Jack Kirby‘s original designs with modern manga and sci-fi adaptations through the lens of Zhao sounds like an incredible visual experience. The one element that stands out amongst these components is the reference to the Japanese comic. Manga and its animated counterpart, Anime, aren’t always mentioned by directors as an inspiration. So, why don’t we take a look at what may be the potential inspiration that lends Eternals a unique visual style?

    Neon Genesis Evangelion

    The concept art for the god-like Celestials instantly reminded me of Neon Genesis Evangelion. The Celestial seems to have an uncanny resemblance to the EVA mechs from the anime and could’ve been how they will bring these larger-than-life beings to live-action. Pacific Rim did something similar by grounding its camera work and immerse viewers into the scenery of giant mechs fighting giant Kaiju. Zhao may have taken a similar approach to make the Celestials stand out even more. The iconic anime may also inspire the Marvel Studio film’s story. Evangelion‘s protagonists, who pilot the titular mechs, take on an onslaught of Kaiju-based creatures known as Angels. These creatures are creations by the first race of beings of the universe. They are simply known as the Seeds of Life. In Eternals, the alien race faces off against an evil race only known as “Deviants.” These inhuman-looking creatures were also created by the Celestials in the comics. Notice the similarities between the two?

    Berserk

    Now, there is one Berserk. The series’ protagonist, Guts, could very well be the character template for Kit Harrington‘s Dane Whitman. He is also better known by comic fans as the Black Knight. Apart from them being expert swordsmen, these characters exist in a moral grey area. Overall, they are portrayed as heroic characters but have committed acts that would be considered ethically wrong, especially by modern sensibilities. It can’t be easy for a normal man to live among god-like entities and their ongoing war with strange inhuman monsters. A character like this would introduce an interesting dynamic to the MCU that questions what it means to be a hero. It could make Eternals stand out even more once it drops in theaters this coming November.

    Source: Variety

  • Michael Waldron Praises Sam Raimi’s Work on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Michael Waldron Praises Sam Raimi’s Work on ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand, as Loki explores the effects of time travel and Doctor Strange ventures out into the multiverse. Vanity Fair sat down with writer Michael Waldron, who worked on both projects, to gain some insight into how he worked on the project. Luckily, he offered some insight into the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel, which had quite the bumpy ride up until now.

    Originally, Scott Derrickson was going to direct and write the film alongside his writing partner C. Robert Cargill. He left due to creative differences but remained on board as a producer for the film. Then Marvel Studios announced that Evil Dead and Spider-Man director Sam Raimi joined the project. Waldron revealed that he had to rewrite the script from scratch and worked closely with the director on its script. In the before-mentioned interview, the writer teased Raimi‘s influence on the film:

    I can tell you that it’s a ride…very Sam Raimi. The film is incredibly visually thrilling. John Mathieson our DP, who shot Gladiator and Logan — I think the look of it is going to be unlike anything you’ve seen in the MCU before.

    It truly feels like Marvel Studios is exploring new ways to expand their cinematic offerings. Taika Waitti added his own visual flourishes to the Thor franchise and it seems Raimi will do the same. Doctor Strange is a franchise that has no visual restrictions and may offer a lot of opportunities to create a distinct visual style, especially as it expands into the multiverse. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for the trailer in the coming months to get a glimpse of the multiverse.

    Source: CinemaBlend, Vanity Fair

  • FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’ to Release in September

    FX’s ‘Y: THE LAST MAN’ to Release in September

    After what seems like an eternity, the Y: The Last Man adaptation finally has a set premiere date over at FX. It will officially premiere on September 13th. What could very well turn out to be one of the biggest hit series of 2021 is based on the comic series of the same name penned by Eisner Award-winning Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. It was published through Vertigo and ran from 2002 until 2008, spanning over 60 issues. Its storyline focuses on the aftermath of a cataclysmic event that ends up killing every single mammal on planet earth with a Y chromosome. In layman’s terms, only females survived.

    Enter Yorick Brown, who mysteriously manages to survive with no idea of how that came to be. With his pet monkey by his side, he becomes involved in a world of governmental espionage, international intrigue, with the backdrop of humanity possibly being on the verge of extinction for simply not being able to reproduce. We’re led in a globetrotting adventure, across multiple continents as Yorick, the Last Man, fights not only for his own future but also for his race.

    Warcraft‘s Ben Schnetzer is playing Yorick, with Diane Lane portraying his mother, Congresswoman Jennifer Brown, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The mainly female cast will also feature Ashley Romans, Diana Bang, as well as Dredd‘s Olivia Thirlby, and it will premiere on September 13th, 2021, on FX.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Loki’s Michael Waldron Promises Air-Tight Time Travel Logic

    ‘Loki’s Michael Waldron Promises Air-Tight Time Travel Logic

    Avengers: Endgame changed the game in many ways. It ended an era of Marvel Studios’ storytelling and started a brand new one. Of course, there is also the fact that our favorite heroes uncovered a way to travel through time and influence past events. It even led to them messing with the timeline, as our favorite God of Mischief Loki managed to sneak away with the Tessaract after a failed heist attempt.

    Now, he gets his own spin-off series heading to Disney+ that will build on that newly introduced concept. The Time Variance Authority rules and protects the timelines that they screwed up and it seems they have a very different understanding of time in comparison to what we learned in the fourth Avengers film. Head writer Michael Waldron revealed that the TVA has a very different understanding of time travel that will be explored in the series and he also had to make sure there were no holes in his script.

    We wanted to create a time travel logic that was so air-tight it could sustain over six hours. There’s some time-travel sci-fi concepts here that I’m eager for my Rick and Morty colleagues to see.

    The statement is rather ironic if you consider that Rick and Morty openly avoids the topic of time travel. There have even been various episodes where they twist the concept on its head to reveal it was something that connected to alternative dimensions In a way, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is doing something similar, as we also got the tease of multiple Lokis appearing in the show. As he is also the writer for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Waldron won’t get a break from breaking time and space anytime soon.

    Source: Vanity Fair