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  • Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals First Fully Animated Hawkeye Nameplate

    Latest ‘Marvel’s Avengers’ Dev Stream Reveals First Fully Animated Hawkeye Nameplate

    Marvel’s Avengers has entered its second event with the Red Room Takeover. We are currently going through a pre-event with the Rooskya Protocols before the second part kicks off on May 20th. Of course, we also got a developer stream this week with some more details on what we can expect. Crystal Dynamics welcomed a new member of the developer stream and offered some details on short-term content.

    • They got joined by their Experience Director Tore Blystad who is responsible for various aspects of game development. He oversees scripts, animations, cinematics, mission types, etc.
    • Next week we will get a blog post with more detail on post-Level 50, the Roadmap will get an update, and, of course, the next part of the Red Room event. The next dev stream will feature a designer.
    • Red Room Takeover got briefly highlighted. We will get more details next week with a trailer also teased in the stream. Tore did reveal that these will be unique gauntlet missions. You can fall into lava or even shove your enemies into it.

     

    Which Marvel's Avengers Video Game Character Are You? - D23

     

    • Omega Level Threats are right around the according to CD. They revealed that it won’t be the Cloning Labs, as they have adjusted the release order. Still, it is great to see that we are finally getting one in the upcoming patches. He needs to confirm which number.
    • The developers have confirmed that their teams do not interfere with content progressions. So, those working on OLTs are not affected by event developments.
    • He teased that we will see a lot more Marvel integration in the future.
    • CD is looking
    • Patrol Mode, Cosmic Cube, and War of Wakanda will be larger updates in comparison to the current events.
    • We got our first look at a fully animated Hawkeye-inspired nameplate, which is ripped straight out of My Life as a Weapon.

     

    https://twitter.com/PlayAvenger/status/1390780405234737156?s=20

    There are some exciting things in the works, and I cannot wait to get my hands on an Omega-Level Threat. We’ve been anxiously awaiting the endgame content that got delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. It’ll be interesting to see what it adds to the game and how it may change the way we tackle these missions with our favorite Marvel heroes. Also, the mention of the implementation of more “Marvel DNA” in the future is an exciting prospect, which I hope they can talk about shortly.

    Source: Twitter, Play Avengers

  • ‘The Flash’: Set Photos Offer First Look at Jordan Fischer as Impulse

    ‘The Flash’: Set Photos Offer First Look at Jordan Fischer as Impulse

    The Flash has been a staple in the comic book community since it first premiered back in 2014. The series follows the story of Barry Allen as he works to save the city from all sorts of meta-human or otherworldly threats. For the past seven seasons, The Flash has explored the speed force in many ways. It has introduced different speedsters including Jay Garrick, Reverse-Flash, Zoom, Jesse Quick, Kid Flash, and even Barry’s daughter, XS. In the upcoming 150th episode, the series will introduce Bart Allen, the wildly rambunctious descendant of Barry and Iris. As such, he also goes by the appropriate name of Impulse. Luckily, it seems the first images of his costume have found their way online.

     

    The character of Bart Allen will be played by Jordan Fisher. It looks like the suit is quite accurate, as it even sports the white and red color scheme with his iconic goggles. The series has taken a bit of departure with this interpretation of Bart, as he’s mostly known as the grandson of Barry. In the comics, he was from a doomed future and tried to make a new life. However, in this version of the character, he’ll be the second son of the couple alongside his sister Nora. Jessica Parker-Kennedy will reprise her role as XS in the upcoming 150th episode.

    Noticeable in the background is yet another appearance of Godspeed, a character whose been recurring since he first made his debut. We were first introduced to the character as XS faced off against the mysterious speedster. It’s possible the pair have come from the future to help Barry uncover the truth behind their Godspeed problem, who constantly leaves duplicates behind.

    Source: Tvweb, Instagram

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ VFX Head Talks How They Reinvented Falcon For the Show

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ VFX Head Talks How They Reinvented Falcon For the Show

    The first and, maybe, the only season of Falcon and the Winter Soldier wowed audiences with its high-caliber sequences that rivaled any Marvel feature out there. It touched them with a poignant, resonant, as well as emotional story on race and purpose. We spoke to the show’s VFX supervisor Eric Leven, who gave us some insight into how the show was crafted in light of the pandemic and how some key character moments were influenced by the VFX department.

    Along with Wandavision, Falcon took the brunt of all the effects of the pandemic delays. Disney+’s Assembled documentary for the series outlined their troubles, as they had to change their shooting locations unexpectedly from Puerto Rico to Prague. It also offered insight into how the pandemic limited their scope in location scouting. Leven gave us some details on what it was like for their department to work in spite of all the delays and how it worked to their advantage.

    We actually never stopped. The VFX department never shut down. Obviously, the pandemic is terrible for everyone but for the VFX department, it was nice because we sort of rushed into production. With a lot of productions, their train is moving before all the tracks are laid down. When we stopped shooting, we were close to being done. I think we had a month to go. So when we stopped, that was a chance for us to take a step back, breathe, and think “How do we make these sequences better?” We had all the time to work that out which was nice. 

    The show didn’t just reinvent Falcon’s mantle and costume but it also changed the way he engages in combat. Now that he has the shield, Sam Wilson has an array of new abilities and tricks at his disposal. We asked Leven what the process was like in exploring his fighting style from when we first see him in the first episode to when we see him carry the shield in the finale.

    The shield was a big thing. We spent a lot of time with our pre-viz department just coming up with different ways he could be using that shield. Different poses and different things he could do with the wings. There was a lot of conversations about how active the wings were. There was a big note to make sure the wings were not too prehensile. We didn’t want them to seem like they had a life of their own. 

    One notable change was Sam Wilson’s use of firearms. All of Falcon’s previous appearances in the MCU have seen him fire a few shots from his submachine gun mounted on his wrists. Leven revealed that guns were originally supposed to be part of Sam’s arsenal in the early stages of the show but were nixed as the VFX crew was staging his sequences. It’s a very fascinating detail that a lot of people may not have noticed and one that can be interpreted as a statement of how Sam operates as Captain America now.

    I’ll tell you one of the things that came up. If you remember in all the other movies with Falcon, Falcon always has guns. The one thing we saw very quickly was, we had a pre-viz where he had the shield and he was shooting a gun over the top of it. It was just very interesting. I had a visceral reaction of, “Oh no. Captain America does not shoot guns.” So that was one of the first things to go. 

    Now, we’ve seen Steve Rogers carry a firearm along with his shield in the past. Captain America: The First Avenger showcases Steve firing a weapon multiple times all throughout while carrying the shield. Granted, it was World War 2 and every one of them had to have a sidearm but in modern-day iterations of the character, he no longer relied on it. Leven also talked about how nixing Sam’s firearm resulted in more visually interesting sequences for the character.

    In this show, Falcon never fires a weapon. He doesn’t have a sidearm and that was something that was part of the original design but we jettisoned that pretty early. One of the things I’m most proud of in this show is in the very beginning. Sam, in the script, when he approaches the wingsuit pilot he’s gonna get rid of, just pulls out his gun and shoots him. I remember talking to Zoe and Kari like, “I have a better idea that doesn’t involve him shooting this guy in cold blood. Maybe we could use it.” So that’s how we came up with the idea of him actually flying underneath him and pulling his parachute and getting that guy out of the scene. I was really happy with that.

  • RUMOR: Monica Rambeau May Appear in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    RUMOR: Monica Rambeau May Appear in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

    Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will see the return of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme. He will be joined by Elizabeth Olsen, who has been recently embraced as the moniker of Scarlet Witch after the events of WandaVision. So far, we do know that they will be joined by Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez. Now, it seems a familiar face may be joining the sequel. In a report by Full Circle, insider Daniel Richtman has revealed that Monica Rambeau may have a role in the upcoming sequel.

    Teyonah Parris introduced the world to an older Monica Rambeau, who was first seen as a kid in Captain Marvel. She returned in the first Disney+ series WandaVision. In it, she played a vital role in Wand’s journey to acceptance and even gained powers of her own. It’s unclear what role she’d be playing in the movie, or if she’d even be suited up as her alter ego, Photon. She is confirmed to return in the now retitled Captain Marvel sequel, The Marvels.

    Her addition does raise a few questions. It would hint at the involvement of SWORD in the upcoming film, but she may also become an emotional anchor for Wanda. The after-credit sequence hinted at her finding a way to bring her children back to life. So, it would make sense for a familiar face, who saw what she went through, could help her through whatever journey she might face. It’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together once the film premieres next March.

    Source: Full Circle

  • ‘Captain America’s Anthony Mackie Already Preparing for His Next Big Project

    ‘Captain America’s Anthony Mackie Already Preparing for His Next Big Project

    Falcon and the Winter Soldier just ended a few weeks ago, but we’re still wondering what the future has in store for the newly formed Captain America. Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson finally took on the mantle at the end of the last season. In an interview withThe Daily Show’s Trevor Noah, they discuss getting in shape for Marvel movies. In it, he reveals that it takes around four months to get in shape for a role and ends up confirming he is already in preparation for the next one.

    You take the four months. Like right now, I am at the end of the first month of the four-month process to get back away from Fat Mackie to Movie Mackie.

    The way he phrases it also hints that he will join a Marvel Studios project that could start filming in the next three to four months. There is also the possibility that he may be joining one midway. It is unlikely he is going through extensive training for four months just to have a cameo. So, it seems likely he’ll have a substantial role that may also require him to be physically active. So, we could see the return of Wilson’s Captain America sooner than expected.

    Of course, there is a chance he is generalizing and could be preparing for a different project, but he seems to be hinting at this being the regular process before joining a Marvel Studios’ project. There is also the recent announcement of Captain America 4, which he claimed he only heard about while shopping. The timing just seems interesting. Whatever role he might be preparing for, hopefully, we get some news on it in the near future.

    If you are interested, you can check out Anthony Mackie‘s interview with Trevor Noah here:

    Source: YouTube, Insider

  • Rumor: Shuma-Gorath Headed to the MCU

    Rumor: Shuma-Gorath Headed to the MCU

    Full Circle Cinema is reporting that insider Daniel Richtman has indicated that Shuma-Gorath, a multiversal demon who has often battled with Doctor Strange and The Ancient One, is primed to make an appearance in the MCU.

    Though the report doesn’t indicate what project Shuma-Gorath is expected to appear in, his comic book history makes Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness a logical best guess. Though little is known about the film, the creature, known as the Lord of Chaos, fits well in a story that will follow up on Wanda Maximoff’s Chaos magic and involve some manner of multiversal hijinks.

    Source: Full Circle Cinema

  • How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set-Up a Joe Manganiello-led ‘Agent Venom’

    How ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Could Set-Up a Joe Manganiello-led ‘Agent Venom’

    There are enough signs that the upcoming Spider-Man threequel will explore the multiverse in one way or another. Of course, this opens up new possibilities to how they can further expand the franchise. With Disney and Sony making deals for Disney+, it seems like their partnership will extend beyond the release of No Way Home. Now, if we get reintroduced to some Spider-Man legacy characters, which Alfred Molina outright confirmed, we may also get a chance to see other characters join the franchise in the future. There were also rumors of Tobey Maguire getting spotted on the film’s set. Once the gears get turning, an idea popped in my head how a minor character from Sam Raimi‘s first Spider-Man film would be the perfect candidate for an unlikely spin-off. How about the multiverse gives us an Agent Venom project starring Joe Manganiello as Flash Thompson?

     

    JJMM on Twitter: "Spider-Man 2002film #JoeManganiello as #FlashThompson #Marvel #ThrowbackThursday… "

     

    The actor only had a brief appearance in the first and third entries of the films. The role continued by Chris Zylka and Tony Revolori in the remakes. Since, the actor has played a variety of roles, such as Rampage, The Sleepover, and recently Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Sadly, it seems that his future as DC’s Deathstroke seems uncertain, but that also means there is another opportunity waiting. As the multiverse unfolds, there might be a new possibility to expand the franchise in creative ways. In the comics, Thompson ended up losing his legs during the Iraq War. Afterward, he enlisted in the Project Rebirth 2.0, which saw him bonded with the Venom symbiote. It gave him the same abilities as Spider-Man and new artificial legs. Manganiello’s Thompson is the only version that is connected to a symbiote that bonded with Spider-Man. As such, he would be the most likely candidate to recreate the origin story.

    Tom Hardy‘s Venom remains disconnected from the rest of the franchise and already bonded with Eddie Brock without gaining any spider-based abilities. So, the best way to introduce the symbiote similar to the comics, where Spidey found it during 1984’s Secret Wars event. Instead of forcing Hardy‘s version to bond with Peter and then return to Eddie, the Spider-Man 3 variant already went through the process. Maguire‘s Peter did destroy it during the finale, but that doesn’t mean a part of it may have survived. So, the government got its hand on it and found a way to graft it unto a desperate Thompson. Years later, he is still an active agent and finds his way into an unfamiliar multiverse.

     

    In Venom, Eddie Brock Briefly Teams Up With Flash Thompson's Agent Venom

     

    He is stranded in an unfamiliar world with dangerous living armor grafted onto his body. There was no one there to help him keep it under control, which meant he needed to find a solution. After breaking into a facility that offered him a solution to keep the Venom symbiote at bay, he ends up getting knocked out. Now, he ends up in the government’s captivity and is forced to join their efforts on repairing the aftermath of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. He becomes a temporary asset for the Thunderbolt project but is trying to find a way home. The events left rifts across the world and he finally manages to get through one to follow the breadcrumbs back home. He ends up in a dystopian version of Earth that has been conquered by symbiotes, as their leader tries to call out to him. He is pulled away by the TVA before they are able to get close and is now enlisted to solve another world-altering event caused by his symbiote leaving a piece behind in the mainline Marvel Cinematic Universe. Morbius M. Morbius was already tired of having to deal with an unhinged Loki. It looks like their job isn’t quite done yet with the Multiverse.

  • Theory Thursday: How Doctor Strange May Became an Unwilling Mentor in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Theory Thursday: How Doctor Strange May Became an Unwilling Mentor in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    The Marvel Cinematic Universe has established a motif in its Spider-Man films. Parker has a mentor of some kind watching over him over the course of the film. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, that role was introduced with Robert Downey Jr’s Tony Stark. That concept was twisted in Spider-Man: Far From Home, where it seemed like that role was Mysterio but need up being Talos disguised as Nick Fury. Now, in the upcoming threequel Spider-Man: No Way Home, we have a new mentor entering the fray. Benedict Cumberbatch‘s Doctor Strange seemingly may take on this role. In the comics, these two have frequently crossed paths and Strange is no stranger to guiding the wall-crawler through the magical world. Now, the main question is how he will factor into this potentially multiversal storyline.

     

    What We Know So Far

     

    Spider-Man’s identity was ousted to the world and he is accused of murdering Mysterio. We know that most of the main cast from the previous two films will return, along with the addition of Cumberbatch reprising his role as Doctor Strange and not one, but two villains (so far) that will go toe to toe with our protagonist. What’s interesting about these antagonists is that they’re characters we’ve seen before in previous Spider-Man films, portrayed by the same actors.  Jamie Foxx returns as Electro, which e played in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Alfred Molina also officially confirmed he will play Spider-Man 2‘s Doctor Octavius again. Ever since the news hit that we might get some legacy characters, the rumor mill started to spinning.

    Many believe that this film could delve into the concept of the multiverse and a possible live-Action adaptation of the Spider-Verse storyline. The reason is that Doctor Strange’s involvement hints at a connection to his upcoming sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. So, his appearance is no accident. Having the Sorceror Supreme appear in the film certainly points this film in a more “magical” direction compared to the previous installments. With nearly dozens of different adventures to adapt in the comics, Marvel Studios’ approach is to often mix and match different moments from a number of comics. And with that thought, here’s today’s theory.

     

    Taken from the Comics

    In Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Vol. 1 24, Spider-Man goes to Stephen to see if he could help his Aunt May after a fatal gunshot. The doctor sadly couldn’t help him. As such, he decides to take matters into his own hands and tries to meddle with forces beyond his understanding. We’ve explored this idea if it may have gotten set up via WandaVision back in the day. They end up altering the fabric of reality. And in the Happy Birthday Story Arc, Doctor Strange is trying to keep evil forces from stepping into our reality. Spider-Man accidentally messes with the incantation that ends up throwing them across time and space. They end up reliving moments from their lives and facing countless villains, as well as peering into the future.

    My theory is that the film could potentially combine these two events. It is possible that Peter could seek Doctor Strange for a magical solution to his current predicament, but is given the same answer as in the comics. In the heat of the moment, Peter may not listen to Strange’s warnings as he wants his old life back. As such, he’ll end up causing a ripple by meddling with magic beyond his comprehension, which affects the flow of time and perhaps even ruptures the fabric of the multiverse. As such, it’ll be up to the duo of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange to face whatever threats come their way, no matter how Sinister.

  • ‘Andor’ Set Photos Reveal First Look at Diego Luna and Shore Troopers

    ‘Andor’ Set Photos Reveal First Look at Diego Luna and Shore Troopers

    It looks like it is a big day for Disney+ set photos to find their way online. A few hours ago, we got our first look at Ethan Hawke on the set of Moon Knight. Now, it looks like a Star Wars series is getting the spotlight as set photos for Andor have found their way online. A few weeks ago, we had our first look at a few Imperial officers from the set. Now, we finally get a closer look at some Shore Troopers alongside Diego Luna. The YouTube channel streetrogue photography offered a closer look at various actors gearing up as the Rogue One Shore Troopers with Cassian Andor alongside them. He may be trying to sneak his way past them or even working undercover. He was an agent for the rebellion and wasn’t a stranger to making some tough decisions.

     

    We still know very little about the series and how it might tie into Rogue One. We do know that K-2SO will sadly not have a role in the series, as confirmed by Alan Tudyk. So, we might be following Cassian’s early years even before he joined the Rebellion. We could follow his story as a rogue on the streets, barely scraping by before finding a purpose. There is also the question of how it may tie into the various Disney+ shows that are kin development. Obi-Wan Kenobi takes place directly after the events of Order 66. The Mandalorian has various shows that will follow the galaxy after the Empire fell. So, we might see various seeds that build up throughout the generations and lead to a conflict unlike any other.

    Source: YouTube

  • Andrew Garfield Retracts His Denial and Leaves the Door Open for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    Andrew Garfield Retracts His Denial and Leaves the Door Open for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    It’s incredible how much can happen within 24 hours. You may recall that yesterday, Andrew Garfield continued what seems to be an ongoing tradition at Marvel Studios by wholeheartedly denying his involvement in the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, Spider-Man: No Way Home. The first rumors of his involvement started months ago. It was believed that multiple actors from the previous  Spider-Man franchises would be returning to reprise their roles.

    The rumors also included the return of Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx, who will reprise their roles as Doc Ock and Electro, respectively. Of course, Garfield’s return seemed like a shoo-in after multiple rumors until he denied it in an over-the-top manner. Now, in an interview with Access, The Amazing Spider-Man actor was once again asked about the rumors, calling the potential of him returning “a really cool idea” and to “never say never”.

    This is definitely quite the tone shift from “I’m not the werewolf” from the last interview. It’s not the first time an actor has denied their involvement in a Marvel project. Several MCU actors and actresses have denied their involvement in the past. Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Rudd, and most recently Tatiana Maslany have all denied their involvement as part of the MCU. It’s obvious Marvel Studios and Sony are trying to make sure nothing regarding this film is potentially leaked out to the public, especially if the cast for this film is rumored to incorporate the three live-action Spider-Men from different franchises.

    Andrew Garfield‘s comments yesterday did nothing more than fan the flames of perhaps the worst kept secret in Hollywood. However, he is no stranger to keeping secrets. For the moment, we’ll have to take his word and say he isn’t involved in the film until we receive some sort of official confirmation. But until such a time happens, we’ll have to keep very close attention to see how this tangled web unfurrows.

    Source: Twitter