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Theorizing MARVEL STUDIOS’ Interconnected Storylines

It’s been a little over three months since Marvel Studios properly kicked off its Phase 4. Both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier are now behind us, two shows that gave us but a glimpse of what is in store in the coming years in terms of the interconnectivity between the different IPs that make up the MCU. This is something Kevin Feige himself made extremely clear this past December, during the Disney Investor Day 2020:

The Cinematic Universe weaves storylines of heroes and villains across twenty-three feature films to date, and with Disney+ we’re able to extend this way of storytelling to a new format, creating series that are connected to our theatrical releases making the MCU more immersive than ever.

As for WandaVision, it managed to bring together characters from properties that seemed somewhat foreign to its titular characters (bringing them in from Thor, Captain Marvel, and Ant-Man). The Falcon and The Winter Soldier did almost the exact opposite. It grabbed most of its main characters from the same feature (Captain America: Civil War) and continued their arcs in a way that seems to hint at them diverging into several other (new) IPs. The common ground between both approaches seems quite simple: when the story asks for it, characters will come and go from whatever property that needs them to. With this in mind, and with the number of projects Marvel Studios has already announced, it’s hard to not try and envision some of the paths the stories these characters might take us on.

The existing connective tissue between properties is stronger with some than with others, even though Marvel Studios will always end up surprising us one way or another. But most of the more realistic theorizing (if there even is such a thing), taking into account the information that has already come out regarding casts, plots, and so on, seems to hint at a clear/not clear separation between what are the military-powered, skill-driven heroes and the more mystic and cosmic side of the MCU. So being, we’ll now focus on the first of these two groups.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier seems to be at the heart of the stories we might end up exploring on this side of the spectrum. With Karli Morgenthau being one of the few main characters to have (apparently) died, all the others are now ready to move on, each doing their own thing. With Sam Wilson as Captain America, he seems like a given to star in the upcoming fourth installment of the Captain America series. As for Bucky Barnes, with a Nomad series apparently in development, Barnes seems like a perfect fit. As for James “War Machine” Rhodes, he might now become the direct link to Iron Man’s legacy Riri Williams comes into contact with in Ironheart, before both move into Armor Wars, where they could be met by Sharon Carter in her newfound MCU role. Black Widow will introduce us to Yelena Belova who can seamlessly move on to Hawkeye (even if just to attend a memorial service), where Echo will be show up before staring in her own show.

Shifting our attention to the other side of the diagram, we find several connections between shows that have already been confirmed. Monica Rambeau will be back in the franchise where she was first introduced, where she will be met by Kamala Khan who will have already been introduced in the Ms. Marvel series. Both might be met in The Marvels by Talos, who will also have a role to play in the upcoming Secret Invasion alongside Nick Fury. As to Wanda Maximoff, now the Scarlet Witch, she is certain to continue her story in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness which may become the epicenter of every upcoming property dealing with the Multiverse. Loki and Spider-Man: Far From Home seem like projects that are likely to have strong connections to the second Doctor Strange feature for obvious plot reasons, at the same time as they connect through other storylines to yet another set of properties. With the information coming out of Loki that Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be playing Judge Renslayer (meaning that almost certainly that makes her Ravonna Renslayer) it becomes highly likely that Kang will make an appearance, ahead of his already highlighted presence in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, played by the brilliant Jonathan Majors.

These stories alone are certain to keep Marvel gaining momentum for years to come, but what seems to be the endgame here? Establishing new properties where characters from all over manage to meet for the first time, bringing together story threads from all sides of the MCU, certainly seems like a possibility. Projects that haven’t been announced as that might somewhat spoil the plots leading up to them. It should be no coincidence that a number of upcoming projects will seamlessly allow for the introduction of Young Avengers members, much like WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier managed to do with Tommy and Billy Maximoff, and Eli Bradley, respectively. Kate Bishop is already confirmed to be debuting in Hawkeye, and the rest of the team will probably soon follow, with Teddy perhaps being introduced in Secret Invasion, America Chavez in Doctor Strange 2, and Cassie Lang returning, as Stature, in Quantumania. Therefore, a Young Avengers series/movie should definitively be in the works bringing together their individual storylines. Another team being put together, even though a much different one, should be the focus of the Thunderbolts. With Baron Zemo and Abomination brought back, Taskmaster (the mantle) surviving Black Widow, and with Ghost still alive after Ant-Man and the Wasp, there is no reason for it not to be in the cards. Another feature that could serve as a continuation to John Walker’s story, maybe even bringing Yelena into the mix, and perhaps managing to dig up an Osborn to lead them, is The Dark Avengers. Marvel Studios knows that they can’t top the Avengers team they built up until Avengers: Endgame, so this focus on alternate teams, some of dubious character, would certainly be welcomed as a great change of pace.

There are a few projects that have already been announced that played no part in this theory. For all I know they might end up becoming the most crucial chapters of the MCU going forward. The Fantastic Four, due to their relevance, or the Eternals, due to their scope, certainly have that ability. But for now, this is it. Maybe in a couple of months, the script will be flipped and a new article will be in the works.

May 4, 2021
Andrew Garfield Continues a Marvel Tradition by Denying Involvement with ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

Spider-Man: No Way Home seems like the worst kept secret in the industry. It all came to a boil when Spider-Man 2 actor Alfred Molina just outright confirmed his involvement with the project. He confirmed that he was returning as Doctor Octopus and that he may even continue from Sam Raimi‘s original film. It has quiet down since production wrapped on the project, but there are still countless unanswered rumors going around. Months ago, the rumor hit the web that Andrew Garfield might be returning alongside other Spider-Man franchise veteran. There was also the posts on Instagram by Garfield‘s stunt double William Spencer alongside Greg Townley. Why was that significant? Townley is Tom Holland‘s stunt double. Well, the Amazing Spider-Man actor was interview by Josh Horowitz on the rumors going around in which he denied the rumors.

Andrew Garfield is ready to talk about those rumors about his return as Spider-Man. You might be surprised to see what he has to say. Watch the full interview on the brand new #happysadconfused patreon! https://t.co/e84Wokl1SQ pic.twitter.com/Civpe3Am5p

— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) May 4, 2021

It’s a bit of a strange interview, as Garfield seems to harp on the topic for quite some bit and is dodging the question. He does deny his involvement but is vague enough to still keep the door open in a way. Of course, it isn’t new for actors to deny their involvement with projects. It’s almost become a tradition that MCU actors deny their involvement with these projects. We even prepared an overview of various denials in the past. Tatiana Maslany was a recent addition to that list after getting confirmed by Mark Ruffalo. In the past, Jeremy Renner, Evangeline Lilly, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Paul Rudd have also famously denied their involvement. Of course, we won’t know for sure that he is involved until we get an official confirmation, but there are enough hints to put together that he is involved in some capacity. We’ll see how the story unfolds. It’ll be interesting to see if Tobey Maguire will join the tradition.

Source: Twitter

May 4, 2021
How Marvel Studios Latest Reveals May Hint at the End of Phases

We’ve kicked off the week with a rather curious reveal. May 2nd is the anniversary of when the first Iron Man was was released back in 2008. In addition, recent films like Godzilla vs. Kong and Mortal Kombat have helped continue the revival of cinemas. So, in a way, Marvel Studios wanted to use this chance to highlight the future of the franchise alongside the silver screen’s return. In it, we got the release dates and titles for the Black Panther and Captain Marvel sequels. We even got the confirmation that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will release in 2023. Now, these continuous reveals make us wonder how the classic “Phases” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will work without any information on it. Is this perhaps the end of their classic format?

The world may change and evolve. But the one thing that will never change, we’re all part of one big family. pic.twitter.com/TUU5848QYR

— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) May 3, 2021

Let’s start with the noteworthy absentees. Of course, the cinema celebration trailer did not reference any of the Disney+ series. Yet, it didn’t showcase every single film. The upcoming Blade film, which stars Mahershala Ali, wasn’t mentioned at all. The film had a prominent role during Disney’s Investors Day among the line-up. Yet, it somehow was not referenced as Marvel Studios builds up into its 2023 slate. They even included the same teaser for Fantastic Four that got revealed during the December event. Even the Sony-owned Spider-Man: No Way Home had a teaser. So, it would imply that the film may have gotten pushed back. Stacy Osei-Kuffour has joined the project to pen the script. So, it definitely has entered a form of pre-production. We also have no sign of Deadpool 3, which also was confirmed to be part of the MCU moving forward. Now, this move may hint at these projects not releasing until after May 2023, but we’ve seen their scheduled shift before. There is also that mysterious slate for a Marvel project in October 2022, which had many wondering if it might be a placeholder for Blade.

We’ve seen things change frequently. At one point, it was planned for Phase 4 to end with Thor: Love and Thunder. Suddenly, we’re talking about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 being part of the slate in May 2023. It could be part of Phase 4, but there is a possibility they’ve already teased their fifth phase. Marvel Studios’ new strategy might have made the phases a thing of the past. We no longer have a strict slate but an ever-changing development cycle. Especially since the pandemic hit, they’ve had to adjust their focus with Disney+ growing in importance. So, we might not see the phases we are used to. There is no overarching saga for now, even if some points are hinting at a Multiverse arc. Yet, we’ve also seen many different storylines getting set up. WandaVision and Falcon and the Winter Soldier have offered many new avenues for the franchise to explore. It won’t be as straightforward as the Infinity Saga moving forward. So, we may be talking in Arcs rather than Phases as the MCU continues to expand.

Source: Twitter, Marvel

May 3, 2021
Kevin Feige Opens Up About Doctor Strange’s Original Role in ‘WandaVision’

It looks like WandaVision still had a couple of secrets that haven’t seen the light of day yet. The latest issue of Rolling Stone had an in-depth analysis of the Disney+ limited series. In it, Kevin Feige revealed that Doctor Strange was originally meant to appear in WandaVision but was ultimately written out. This change caused rewrites for both the limited series and the upcoming sequel, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

He even revealed that he would’ve had a bigger role in the story. Interestingly enough, the “commercials” that appeared during the various sitcom episodes were originally intended to pose as messages to Wanda Maximoff from the Sorceror Supreme. These messages were Stephen Strange’s attempts at piercing through her sitcom pocket reality in WestView. They even mentioned that Marvel Studios had finalized a deal with Benedict Cumberbatch to appear in the final episode of the show before being ultimately written out. Feige went on to explain why the Sorceror Supreme was ultimately cut out:

Some people might say, ‘Oh, it would’ve been so cool to see Doctor Strange. But It would have taken away from Wanda. We didn’t want the end of the show to be commoditized to go to the next movie – here’s the white guy, ‘Let me show you how power works.

This scenario is similar to how Falcon and Winter Soldier briefly considered including Spider-Man in the finale but decided he didn’t fit into the series’ story. While we never had the opportunity to explore this premise in the show, it will be interesting to see if Marvel Studios plans to include this concept regarding Strange trying to intercept Wanda in the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sequel or part of the rewrites for the sequel will not include Strange being aware of Wanda’s abilities at all. Feige went on to describe the overall process of writing, plotting, and rewrites at Marvel Studios as:

[A] wonderful combination of very dedicated coordination, and chaos. Chaos magic.

Still, it doesn’t take away the fact that WandaVision was an excellent opener to Phase 4 of the MCU and fans certainly cannot wait to see what the future has in store for Wanda Maximoff, Doctor Strange, The Vision, and the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Source: Rolling Stones via Movieweb

May 3, 2021
‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Episode Count Revealed

While Marvel Studios takes a short hiatus until June, we have the next Disney+ Original keeping us busy in the meantime. To celebrate May 4th, Star Wars: The Bad Batch will start off a brand new story exploring the aftermath of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Up until its release, we were uncertain how many episodes we can expect and it seems we finally got our answer. In an interview with Cnet, the series writer Jennifer Corbett and supervising director Brad Rau offered some insight on the upcoming project.

Rau revealed that the first season will consist of 16 episodes. Interesting enough is that he does call it “season 1,” which may hint at a future addition that may already be in the cards. He certainly shared his enthusiasm to explore these characters further and continue the stories of this spin-off.

The episode count is quite interesting, as it is longer than the previous two seasons of The Clone Wars. while it isn’t the usual 22 that we commonly see in the animation, it seems they may have prioritized the story and adjusted the episode count accordingly. Unlike its prequel series, this series also focuses on a specific group of characters rather than jumping between different stories. So, they most likely can streamline their approach. It’ll be interesting to see how this show stands out from its predecessors and if some of the set-ups here might even find their way into live-action, as Ashoka Tano did in the last season of The Mandalorian.

Source: Cnet.com

May 3, 2021
CW Renews ‘Stargirl’ for Season 3

With the second season on the horizon, fans of Brec Bassinger‘s Courtney Whitmore and the Justice Society of America have been anxious about the series’ future. It follows her move to the quaint town of Blue Valley, Nebraska. There, she uncovers her step-dads startling past as a member of the JSA. From there on, she carries on his mantle and becomes Stargirl. It becomes her task to assemble a new JSA to face the Injustice Society.

Variety is now reporting that the comic book series has scored an early season renewal at the CW. The adventures of Stargirl and the JSA will continue as the ranks of the team begin to expand and the threats get more menacing. It isn’t the only one, as it also is joined by an early renewal for the new Kung Fu series. Mark Pedowitz, CEO and chairman of the CW Network, shares his enthusiasm for the renewal.

We are beyond proud to continue to share the stories of Nicky Shen and Courtney Whitmore, two strong, powerful young women at the center of this new generation of hit shows for The CW in ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘DC’s Stargirl, While each boasts remarkable talent on both sides of the camera, ‘Kung Fu’ and ‘DC’S Stargirl’ have not only treated fans to some visually stunning action and high-flying heroics, but they also both strike very powerful emotional chords as they delve into the family dynamics and personal relationships at their core, and we are so excited to see what happens next.

The upcoming season of Stargirl is set to begin airing on Tuesday, August 10th. We will join Courtney in her efforts to reassemble the JSA and face their biggest threat yet, Eclipso.

Source: Variety

May 3, 2021
‘STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH’: A Spiritual Successor to ‘The Clone Wars’

Ever since The Clone Wars was initially canceled back in 2013, Star Wars managed to keep its animated side alive and well both with Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars Resistance. But the legacy and appeal behind the series idealized by George Lucas was strong enough to grant it a final season that aired last year, with a wonderfully satisfying conclusion. But even then Lucasfilm was looking towards the future, by introducing The Bad Batch on a four-episode arc, which is what lead the team to their own show that is about to premiere.

By sustaining such strong connective tissue to its predecessor, it’s no surprise that it felt so important to also maintain the sense of visual continuity between both series.

Supervising director and Executive Producer Brad Rau:

It’s very intentional. The Bad Batch is a spiritual successor to The Clone Wars. We wanted to honor the style and the legacy of that. That being said, the whole team at Lucasfilm and our partners tightened everything up. So the fidelity is tighter. The style is tighter. The rigs are tighter. The way it’s designed is still the legacy of The Clone Wars but with a little more detail. With a little bit more focus. And the work we’re doing, for me, having worked on a lot of these other shows with a lot of the same people, I think we’re doing out best work ever right now. It’s really fun.

The animation style that The Clone Wars presented us with in 2008 has gone through a number of improvements over the years, constantly adapting to the available technology. But there’s no denying that it has become a staple of the show. So being, managing to pay tribute to it in a way that enriches a visual style that’s been evolving for over ten years without losing focus of what made it special to begin with, is certainly something we can agree with.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, 2021, as a way to celebrate Star Wars Day, with a special 70-minute episode. The following episodes, which will have a more usual runtime of around 30 minutes, will be released on Fridays, starting with episode 2 on the 7th.

May 3, 2021
‘STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH’: Omega’s Relevance

In the first episode of Star Wars: The Bad Batch we’re introduced to Omega, a new character that, besides feeling tremendously important to the story the show set out to tell, manages to introduce a new dynamic within the Bad Batch. The team, being used to be their own sealed unit, take their time welcoming a foreign element into their group, for a good reason, and with interesting results. The voice of the Bad Batch, Dee Bradley Baker, had this to say:

They’re certainly not used to having anybody else along or working with anybody else. Although they did bring Echo along. But that happened after Echo kind of proved himself to them, and they came together on that. But, I mean, it’s interesting in terms of the story and the writing to have this kind of personal relationship with the younger character.

And to see how that changes, how they accommodate that and how that works. Because it’s more of an uncle/niece or a father/child dynamic, but not entirely. Because Omega has her own interesting potential of powers. So it’s interesting to see all of that unfold. I think it connects you to the story in a personal way. So it’s not just an action story. As Star Wars never is.

Continuing with a dynamic similar to what we’ve all seen working in The Mandalorian, between Din Djarin and Grogu, with the added elements that compose the Bad Batch, Star Wars manages to continue displaying that family and friendship is at its core. Even in the ultra-militarized world of The Bad Batch, doing the right thing by those close to you, by something going against protocol, remains as true as it has even been in the galaxy far-far away.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, 2021, as a way to celebrate Star Wars Day, with a special 70-minute episode. The following episodes, which will have a more usual runtime of around 30 minutes, will be released on Fridays, starting with episode 2 on the 7th.

May 3, 2021
‘STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH’: Dave Filoni’s Influence

With a new Star Wars animated show just around the corner, it’s hard not to mention Dave Filoni‘s work over the years in Star Wars animation. Having been a part of The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Resistance, it should be pretty obvious how he would also now be a part of a show that looks to continue leading the franchise down a path he was such a big part of in creating.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch head writer and Executive Producer Jennifer Corbett had this to say regarding Filoni’s overseeing of the show:

I got to work with Dave on Star Wars Resistance, which was such a great experience. Getting the chance to develop the series with him, it’s kind of like a master class in writing Star Wars. And with this being a sequel series of sorts to The Clone Wars, it was kind of crucial that he’d be involved in this process very much. Because these are characters that he’s created and it’s the world that he knows.

Supervising director and Executive Producer Brad Rau:

He’s an awesome guy, a good friend,, I couldn’t think of a better mentor, especially for Star Wars. The stuff he tells us every day is fantastic.

Jennifer Corbett and Brad Rau

Following the enormous success of the final season of The Clone Wars that managed to propel The Bad Batch to their own show, as well as deliver an incredible ending to such an important chapter of the lives of characters like Ahsoka Tano, there is no reason to think The Bad Batch might disappoint. With Filoni’s oversight, and with a production team with a Star Wars animation past behind them, the show seems to be in good hands.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch will premiere exclusively on Disney+ on May 4, 2021, as a way to celebrate Star Wars Day, with a special 70-minute episode. The following episodes, which will have a more usual runtime of around 30 minutes, will be released on Fridays, starting with episode 2 on the 7th.

May 3, 2021
Even Taking a Beating, Mark Grayson Lives Up To The Name ‘Invincible’

The definition of Invincible is “too powerful to be defeated or overcome.” In contrast, the show with the same title has a running gag that its titular character takes beatings on a regular basis. It makes you question the irony of Mark Grayson choosing that superhero name and what it means for his character. Could he truly be Invincible just not in the way we think?

In the finale, Mark is confronted with the cold truth. His father Nolan, or Omni-Man to the rest of the world, is an evil alien who wants to enslave Earth’s population. He speaks of Mark’s Mom in such degrading terms, even going so far as to refer to her as a pet. In this episode, Omni-Man is not Mark’s father, but an opponent that tests his will, and his life. During their fight, Nolan is a teacher with no remorse, no regret, and no regard.

Countless human lives are lost. Mark is forced to watch as Nolan uses him as a battering ram to kill a train full of innocents. The horror of that scene and the tension is palpable throughout the episode. Mark tried to save people from this fight but would continue to fail. Between all the death, and Omni-Man’s chilling words most would succumb. Mark Grayson did not.

Mark was willing to die to stop his father. As he takes each punch and loses each drop of blood, he does not give up. He is steady while staring death in the face. It’s perseverance that needs to be seen to be believed. As Nolan trash talks Mark as he’s getting beaten to a pulp, this exchange sticks the landing.

Everyone and everything you know will be gone! What will you have after 500 years?!

With whatever energy Mark has left, he replies “You dad. I’ll still have you.” It is that unwavering empathy from Mark that makes him invincible. Nolan leaves the planet, and at that moment Mark had won the fight. However, the second season of Invincible will continue to establish Mark Grayson as a hero. We can wonder under what circumstances Nolan returns and how that conflict continues. Omni-Man will be back, and the Viltrumites will be ruthless in their conquest of earth. As for Mark, this season was trial by fire. He had to deal with countless beatings and betrayals. The juggling of being a hero and dealing with his father especially now is complicated. Despite all that, we’ve learned that Mark Grayson has lived up to his title. He truly was

May 3, 2021