Tag: Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

  • ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Concept Art Offers Great Look at Jonathan Majors’ Kang

    ‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ Concept Art Offers Great Look at Jonathan Majors’ Kang

    A new trailer for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania will be coming our way soon, but from what fans have seen of the film so far, Marvel Studios is really leaning into comic booky looks for the villains. M.O.D.O.K. hasn’t been fully revealed yet, but nobody would mistake his look as having come from a “grounded” universe. More importantly, Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror looks to have been ripped straight from the pages of Marvel Comics. The purple and green scheme and the blue mask seem to capture the otherworldliness of the character that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby had in mind back in 1964 when he appeared in Avengers #8.

    As fans wait for the first truly great look at a fully geared up version of Kang, a new piece of concept art will give them something to tide them over.

    While Marvel Studios may miss the boat from time to time with the characterization of some of the characters they adapt for the MCU, their track record on character designs is much stronger. This look for Kang is another example of making minor and necessary modifications to the comic book look while capturing the essence of that look.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters in just 48 days!

  • Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 28: Marvel’s Most Wanted 2023

    Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 28: Marvel’s Most Wanted 2023

    Marvel Studios 2022 slate was as uneven as any the studio has put out in some time. Strong streaming offerings such as Ms. Marvel and Werewolf by Night gave in-home entertainment a boost while theatrically Marvel put out one of its biggest duds in Thor: Love and Thunder. Will 2023 be a stronger year? Like 2022, all of the studio’s films are sequels but unlike 2022 none of the streaming series will add new heroes to the MCU. For 2023 to be a success, Marvel Studios had better have some good stories ready to roll!

    Which stories are the members of Team MM looking forward to the most? We ranked them by most anticipated movie, most anticipated series and most anticipated overall…and asked our Twitter followers to do the same! Here’s what we found out…

    Charles Murphy

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ironheart
    • Secret Invasion
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Loki, Season 2
    • The Marvels
    • Ironheart
    • Secret Invasion
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

    Torbjorn Frazier

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Secret Invasion
    • The Marvels
    • Ironheart

    Meghan Hall

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart

    Brandi Blahnik

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • Loki, Season 2
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2

    Darian Scalamoni

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Ironheart
    • The Marvels

    Joao Roque Pinto

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Secret Invasion
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Secret Invasion
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ironheart

    Shashwat

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • The Marvels
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart

    Anthony Canton III

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • The Marvels

    Hunter Radesi

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • The Marvels

    Dalbin Osorio

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • Loki, Season 2
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2

    Jeffrey Peterson

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • The Marvels
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • The Marvels
    • Ironheart

    MTF III

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • The Marvels
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Secret Invasion
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Secret Invasion
    • Loki, Season 2
    • The Marvels
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ironheart

    Jared Kirschenbaum

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    • Secret Invasion
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Loki, Season 2
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Ironheart
    • Secret Invasion

    Lanfranco

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • The Marvels
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Secret Invasion
    • The Marvels
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • Ironheart

    Mary Rowe

    Most Anticipated Movie
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    Most Anticipated Series
    • Secret Invasion
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ironheart
    Most Anticipated Project
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    • The Marvels
    • Secret Invasion
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    • Loki, Season 2
    • Ironheart

    MM Twitter Followers

    Over the course of the week, we ran 3 different polls asking our followers to vote on the same 3 categories. Here are the results…

    Most Anticipated Movie (4,930 votes)
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (38.8%)
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (37.4%)
    • The Marvels (23.8%)
    Most Anticipated Series (1,873 votes)
    • Loki, Season 2 (54%)
    • Secret Invasion (40.3%)
    • Ironheart (5.7%)
    Most Anticipated Project (3,983 votes)
    • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (35.3%)
    • Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania (34%)
    • Loki, Season 2 (16.1%)
    • Secret Invasion (14.6%)
  • The Hypothetical 2023 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V5

    The Hypothetical 2023 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V5

    Following July’s pre-SDCC update to the hypothetical calendar, we thought we were done in 2023, yet here we are with another updated version which will definitely be the last one…right? But as you’ll see, Marvel Studios’ 2023 slate looks quite a bit different than it did pre-SDCC.

    With Blade bringing on a new writer and then another new writer (who is reportedly completely rewriting the script) and finding a new director, the film was pushed to 2024. And that may not be the only project that finds itself pushed into 2024…


    *NOTE* we are no longer tracking animated projects nor including them on the hypothetical calendars.

    This project went from “it may never get made” to “it’s a D+ project” to being the project that kicks off Phase 5 for Marvel Studios and introduces the Multiverse Saga’s big bad in Jonathan Major‘s Kang the Conqueror. Or at least one version of him. “One of the best scripts Marvel’s ever had.” “A huge movie for the saga.” Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania looks likely to catch the majority of even the most hardcore Marvel Studios’ fans by surprise and as predicted in the last version, Marvel is hyping this one up well ahead of schedule.

    We’d previously thought Secret Invasion might kickoff 2023 and Phase 5, but Kevin Feige slated this one for “Spring” at SDCC ’22 and we’re not arguing with the One-Above-All. The paranoia-heavy spy thriller is being labeled as a “crossover event” by Marvel Studios and is supposed to lay the groundwork for Don Cheadle‘s Armor War film which is currently undated.

    A first look at the film finally arrived and the trailer has fans wondering which characters are going to survive the emotionally-charged final film in James Gunn‘s Guardians trilogy. While it’s the end of this group’s journey, we actually expect most of the team to come out alive, but permanently changed.

    The second season of Loki is shaping up to be nearly as wild of a ride as the first. Some fairly major spoilers have, unfortunately, made their way around the internet but fortunately (and as is often the case) they lack context and completeness so there’s still plenty to be surprised by when this one streams on D+ next Summer.

    Footage of The Marvels was shown exclusively to D23 and it looked like an absolute trip! Tonally, The Marvels seems as different as The Winter Soldier was from The First Avenger or as Ragnarok was from The Dark World. Both of those tonal shifts resulted in incredibly successful sequels and this film really looks to have a chance to follow that trend.

    Like The Marvels, footage from Ironheart screened at D23 and it looked fantastic. All the rumors of the science vs. magic showdown of Riri Williams and The Hood turned out to be true and the decision to involve Riri in the events of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever means audiences will be much more likely to tune in for the next chapter of her story.

  • The Road Map to ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    The Road Map to ‘Avengers: The Kang Dynasty’

    For nearly two years, fans of the MCU took to social media to voice their concern that Marvel Studios’ post-Infinity Saga era lacked direction. Those criticisms seemed misplaced at the time (imagine pretending to know that Thanos was coming following 2011’s Thor) but once Kevin Feige rolled out the first look at the Multiverse Saga at SDCC ’22, they became completely irrelevant. Feige’s ambitious plan for the new saga included another double-dip of Avengers films among the current total of 13 unreleased films (expect Spidey 4 to join that number eventually).

    Even with the One-Above-All’s plan laid out in plain sight, it’s still a bit hard to see how the MCU gets from here to there. After all, at this point in the Multiverse Saga, only a handful of projects have been…Multiversal. So which projects in Phases 5 and 6 are shaping up to be the most important on the road to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty? Here’s our best guess…

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

    This one isn’t much of a guess as it’s all but confirmed to lead directly to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. But how? Our best guess is that the events of Quantumania won’t actually result in Kang getting turned loose into the world just yet. Why not? Because there’s just too much story to get through between Quantumania and The Kang Dynasty to have Kang running about all willy-nilly in the MCU for 2 years. What Quantumania can and will do, however, is establish Kang the Conqueror as a major threat to the Multiverse and it might also serve as the Multiverse Saga’s “Thanos is coming” moment. Whichever members of the Ant-Family make it out of the Quantum Realm will surely relay their knowledge of the villain to whoever it is that makes up the new team of Avengers. Sounds like it’s going to be Cassie Lang’s turn to follow in her father’s footsteps and make up for a big mistake…

    Loki, Season 2

    Season 2 of Loki both is and is not exactly what you think it is. As details about the villain of the series start to trickle out, fans are starting to put together some pretty great theories about what might happen…but most of those theories get off to a false start. Though Season 1 lead writer Michael Waldron is off working on Avengers: Secret Wars, Eric Martin (who did a great deal of work on Season 1), took the lead. The continuity from Season 1 to Season 2 is going to pay major dividends as Season 2 picks up directly where Season 1 left off. It’s just that Season 1 didn’t leave off in the way many believe it did. Season 2 will also deal with the now out-of-control Multiverse and see Sylvie faced with the consequences of the choice she made when she shanked He Who Remains. He warned her. She didn’t listen. What happens when she finds out just how bad it’s gotten? Finally, Season 2 looks to include Jonathan Majors‘ Kang. Is he the same Kang as the one in Quantumania? Has he escaped from the Quantum Realm or is this before he became trapped there? Is he a new Variant? Season 2’s gonna be a trip.

    The Marvels

    It’s likely that every project in Phases 5 and 6 will have something that is ultimately somehow related to one or both of the Avengers’ films in the Multiverse Saga. Whether it be plot points, character developments or threads left hanging, most of the projects will tie into them one way or another. The big rumor for The Marvels is that it will actually delve pretty heavily into the idea of incursions that was introduced in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. That’s a pretty important bit as Reed Richard’s explanation of what they are might not have given the entire picture, but just what he knew about them at the time.

    Captain America: New World Order

    Don’t expect Kang to pop in here or for a world-ending incursion to happen in the first act. Do expect this to be the first global-level story of the Multiverse Saga and for it to clarify some details that have been fairly casually thrown into different Phase 4 projects. The Sokovia Accord were established in Captain America: Civil War and the Avengers spent an entire movie fighting over them; those same accords were casually revealed to have been repealed in one line of dialogue spoken by Matt Murdock in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. So what happens when there’s something worth fighting over now? The present-day MCU has no Avengers. But they’ll need some in 2025 otherwise calling it Avengers: The Kang Dynasty would be pretty silly. Will the New Avengers be formed during this movie? Or will this movie be the pivot point for the Multiverse Saga in that it will make it clear that the time has come for the New Avengers to come together?

    Deadpool and Wolverine

    Hugh Jackman‘s revelation that whatever this movie is called will involve time travel all but confirms that it will be an incursion-fest. I actually love the idea of Deadpool causing a whole mess of incursions that accelerate the destruction of the Multiverse. He’s not a serious character who should be trying to face off against Kang, but it is in keeping with the character that his actions, as noble as he may think they are, would create a major mess that others would have to clean up. If this film becomes the adaptation of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe which has been theorized here and there, it would be a wonderful way to build a true, all-inclusive Multiverse while capitalizing on Ryan Reynolds‘ popularity and love for Deadpool.

    Fantastic Four

    It’s hard to imagine a Fantastic Four film taking place in the MCU that doesn’t somehow connect to the Multiverse Saga. The current rumblings around the plot point toward it shaping up to be a little Cosmic in nature and to involve the Silver Surfer. Of course, at this point in the game, there’s no context for what his purpose in the film might be. Whatever the case, he’s certainly no villain but one of his comic book powers might serve an interesting purpose in Fantastic Four. When gifted with the Power Cosmic by Galactus, the Cosmic Wanderer gained Cosmic Awareness. This power allowed him to sense things about the universe that others couldn’t. He could perceive changes in energy in the universe and determine the location of said changes. If the 616 reality were in some jeopardy through an incursion, it’s incredibly likely that the Surfer would know about it first. From there it’s not much of a…stretch…to think he might find himself working with one of the smartest people on the planet to determine the nature of the incursion. From there it follows that Reed might create a device that would allow him to peer into other realities to see if they’re in similar danger. From there it’s possible he might meet other Reeds. Having a plan for dealing with incursions and/or Kang would seem like a pretty major deal. Could an evil Reed be the villain here? Another version of Kang, such as Immortus? Too many unknowns at the moment, but if Marvel Studios wants to set this apart from Fox’s efforts with the First Family, this would do the trick.

    Shang-Chi 2

    The rumored title of Shang-Chi and The Wreckage of Time opens up some fascinating possibilities for the sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. More importantly, it also established one of Marvel Studios’ newest heroes as one of the key figures in the Multiverse Saga. The Wreckage of Time would seem to point directly at Kang’s involvement in this movie and, as indicated earlier, he still has to get out of the Quantum Realm somehow. I still think this movie takes place before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, though the current slate does not show that. I’ve been asking for a Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel team-up and this could be it. Theories that those two characters have weapons that are ultimately a major part of the Multiverse Saga might be on to something, but instead of them being part of taking down Kang, what if they somehow end up being part of how he’s freed from the Quantum Realm. Just because Kang can’t get out doesn’t mean he might now have allies on the outside. Once freed from the Quantum Realm, Kang would certainly be at liberty to do some serious damage to the timestream.

    Nomad

    Source: MCU Exchange

    Is Nomad even happening?! There’s still no official word on the project that we first reported was in the works over 2 years ago, but it really is…right? Is it a TV series? A film? Nobody seems to know but if it were a film about Steve Rogers’ time returning the Infinity Stones, it could turn into an incursion-palooza that, much like Deadpool and Wolverine, could speed up the timeline toward Avengers: Secret Wars. As detailed here, a guy like Steve Rogers visiting these other timelines could be a way worse idea than you’d think. If he chose to right some minor wrong while he was in each of those alternate timelines (as nicely detailed in the image from MCU Exchange), this project could serve as the ultimate connecting piece between Marvel Studios’ two Sagas and show fans just how time messes back, as Tony Stark warned.

    It’s not exactly the Yellow-Brick Road, but these projects could easily set the stage for the events of The Kang Dynasty. How does the story go from there to Secret Wars? Stay tuned, True Believers…

  • Marvel Movies Dominate Fandango’s 2023 Most Anticipated List

    Marvel Movies Dominate Fandango’s 2023 Most Anticipated List

    All tolled, 2022 saw 9 Marvel properties released into the wild. Marvel Studios pushed out 3 films, 3 streaming series and 2 special presentations and Sony decided it was Morbin’ time. Of those properties, three of them were among the Top 10 Most Anticipated 2022 Movies as determined by Fandango last December. New year, new list, but once again Marvel properties lead the way in Fandango’s Top 10 2023’s Most Anticipated Blockbusters.

    To the surprise of mostly nobody, James Gunn‘s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 tops the list, which was compiled by polling more than 5,000 Fandango users. To the surprise of many, another Marvel Studios’ threequel made the top 3 in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. In between the two: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse which, interestingly enough, was also at #2 on the 2022 list before its release date was moved into 2023. Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom and Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 (Mission Impossible 7) which appear at #6 and #7, respectively, on this year’s list, were also part of last year’s Top 10!

    Which films are you most excited to see and which ones are you most likely to hold off to see at home? Let us know!

  • The Sunday Paper—December 18, 2022

    The Sunday Paper—December 18, 2022

    The newly-formed DC Studios has continued to cause pure chaos and make the DC Entertainment brand messier than ever—which is hard to do. But perhaps better days are on the horizon for the studio, as co-CEO James Gunn told Twitter this week that DC Studios has a new slate set, and he plans to unveil the first part of it in early 2023. With that announcement, though, came the news that Superman actor Henry Cavill will in fact not be returning to play the character in the future. Cavill announced his return in October with his post-credits scene cameo in Black Adam to much fanfare. Black Adam, for a few reasons now, has become a fairly awkward moment in DC’s history. It probably does not help that Dwayne Johnson’s team reportedly leaked the film’s profit report based on false assumptions to try and prove to the public that the movie was profitable.

    Cavill Superman fans have much to mourn. To dream about what could have been, Walter Hamada’s original DCEU plan for the character was revealed. We also learned that the officially dead Man of Steel 2 would have placed Cavill against classic Superman foe Braniac. Now, fans will have to wait and see what Gunn’s new Superman script will look like.

    With everything happening at DC Studios, it begs the questions of whether the four remaining DCEU films with scheduled releases will actually happen, or alternatively, matter. If The Flash does go forward, it apparently cut Cavill’s and Gal Gadot’s cameos in its most recent cut, which would suggest that DC’s flagship characters across the board will likely get recast in a hard reboot situation. In that reboot scenario, it is very unclear how films like Blue Beetle will play any role in the studio’s grand new plan, but you can read the first official synopsis of the film here. It could be all we get.

    While DC is having a difficult time, Marvel—through Marvel Studios and Sony—is all business as usual. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania director Peyton Reed this week discussed how the film will be a major and important movie within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, rather than a palate cleanser like many perceive the first two Ant-Man films. He also discussed how crucial Bill Murray’s mysterious character is to the story. Of course, Quantumania will be our first significant foray into Jonathan Majors’ Kang the Conquerer. With him in mind, a wild new fan theory is circulating that fans have already watched the ending of Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Many speculate that the Deadpool 3 film will feature Deadpool and Wolverine annihilating the Fox Marvel universe. If you read into a specific word director Shawn Levy used in an interview, it lends a lot of support to that theory. The previous Fox universe of course includes two iterations of the Fantastic Four. While fans eagerly away who the MCU’s Fab Four will be, it seemed confirmed this week that John Krasinski will not be playing the proper Reed Richards in the 2025 Fantastic Four film.

    On the side, it was unfortunately confirmed that the Disney+ Hawkeye-spinoff Echo is delayed after murmurs about the show’s team not being satisfied at the end of production. Thor: Love and Thunder apparently cut Galactus from the film, and Elvis actor Austin Butler is personally gunning for a major MCU role, notably the Human Torch.

    Lastly, Sony keeps getting weirder and bolder with their Spider-Man universe. Yet another obscure villain is getting the solo film treatment in line with Morbius, Venom, Kraven the Hunter, and El Muerto. However, Hypno-Hustler will be produced by and star none other than Donald Glover.

  • The Scoop On Marvel Studios Next 12 Movies

    The Scoop On Marvel Studios Next 12 Movies

    With Phase 4 behind us and the start of Phase 5 right around the corner, fans are just starting to see the big picture of the Multiverse Saga. As of now, a dozen known films stand between fans and the end of the ongoing saga. Here’s the scoop on all 12.

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
    February 17, 2023

    Written by Jeff Loveness
    Directred by Peyton Reed

    A big-budget, universe-altering Ant-Man movie is probably a thing a lot of fans thought they’d never see, but that’s exactly what the third film in the franchise will be, according to executive producer Stephen Broussard who says Quantumania will “be big and feel central to the future of the MCU.” After being transported to the Quantum Realm through a device built by Kathryn Newton‘s Cassie, the Ant-Family will find themselves navigating their way through the strange land which Broussard warns is “full of people and characters and worlds and politics and history.” The first trailer for the film introduces a few of those characters including Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror, Bill Murray‘s Krylar and some other key inhabitants of the Quantum Realm but held back on revealing one of the film’s most over-the-top choices: the classic comic villain M.O.D.O.K.!

    As Broussard says, Quantumania’s plot is central to the ongoing Multiverse Saga. Writer Jeff Loveness put together an incredible script and then moved on to write Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, so you can be sure there’s significant connectivity between the two films. For a film that was once thought to be in danger of not being made or of being turned into a streaming series, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania certainly has an awful lot going for it.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
    May 5, 2023

    Written and directed by James Gunn

    James Gunn‘s last project for Marvel Studios will undoubtedly leave fans in tears next Summer. It’s the last go-round for this group of characters and the film will see the death of at least one of the team’s original crew and a significantly different-looking future for the rest. The film’s plot will revolve around the unspooling of Rocket’s origins which seems to dictate a trip to Counter-Earth where the team runs into the High Evolutionary. That trip is rumored to be the result of a run-in with Will Poulter‘s Adam Warlock, who was seen throwing a beating on Nebula in the film’s first trailer.

    While the film marks the end of the road for this group of heroes and for Gunn’s time with them, there’s certainly going to be room for Cosmic heroes beyond this movie. Who will be on the team and who will put it together? And what will the future hold for those who stay?

    The Marvels
    July 28, 2023

    Written by Megan McDonnell
    Directed by Nia DaCosta

    While ostensibly a sequel to Captain Marvel, it could also be a sequel to Ms. Marvel and WandaVision as well. The Marvels looks to be as tonally different from Captain Marvel as Captain America: The Winter Soldier was from Captain America: The First Avenger. Director Nia DaCosta has said she had a great time working with stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris and the footage screened at D23 would certainly seem to support that claim.

    The film will include some wild body-swapping as Carol, Kamala and Monica switch places with one another as seen in the post-credit scene to Ms. Marvel. That’s all tied to the Kree villain played by Zawe Ashton, who finds herself in possession of an artifact that looks strikingly similar to Kamala Khan’s bangle. A good portion of the film will also take place in space and see Carol revisit Hala as well as introduce a few new locations. There are also some pretty interesting theories out there about how these artifacts might be either Nega or Quantum bands and how they might just play into the Avengers’ battle against Kang, so this film won’t be without its Multiverse Saga tie-ins.

    Captain America: New World Order
    May 3, 2024

    Written by Dalan Musson and Malcolm Spellman
    Directed by Julius Onah

    At this point, this sounds like the craziest film on Marvel Studios 2024 slate and maybe one of the crazier films they’ve ever put together. The return on Tim Blake Nelson‘s Samuel Sterns/The Leader is just the tip of the iceberg. Harrison Ford is joining the MCU as Thaddeus Ross and rumors point to the long-awaited Red Hulk transformation finally happening. There are also rumors that Adamantium will be central to the film’s plot, which may also include Super Soldier-research again which makes one wonder if Weapons Plus will reemerge from the shadows. The project is also set to introduce a “Marvel mainstay” to the MCU and is rumored to be another key project along the way to the rumored World War Hulk film making Sam Wilson’s first big screen adventure as Captain America an incredibly important Phase 5 film.

    Thunderbolts
    July 26, 2024

    Written by Eric Pearson
    Directed by Jake Schreier

    The latest rumors about this film indicate that it’s getting a rewrite and that an “evil Superman” plays a key role. If the aforementioned reemergence of Weapons Plus happens in Captain America: New World Order, that “evil Superman” might just turn out to be Sentry and that would make for either one wild ride or one ultra-nerfed character. The team that was rolled out at D23 was very Super Soldier and spy-heavy and would be shredded by a comic book-accurate Sentry. Fan theories continue to swirl that Zemo and Abomination are “secret” members of the team or that that, like in The Suicide Squad, there’s a second team of Tbolts in the mix. It doesn’t seem like any of those things were true in the early drafts for the project, but who knows what a rewrite might fix?!

    Blade
    September 6, 2024

    Written by Michael Starrbury
    Directed by Yann Demange

    mcu blade

    Obviously this one has had some issues, but Marvel Studios feels good about the new direction in which it’s headed. Earlier versions of the project didn’t have quite enough action for a vampire-hunting film and the hope is that the new version of the project will feel a bit more like those great, old Tomb of Dracula comics than anything.

    Untitled Deadpool and Wolverine Film
    November 8, 2024

    Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick
    Directed by Shawn Levy

    This project went from one nobody could quite figure out to one that is starting to sound like it may be the most “Multiversal” project of the Multiverse Saga. Theories continue to center on the film being an adaptation of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe and rumors about the inclusion of Owen Wilson‘s Mobius and the rest of the TVA playing a role make it sound like this will be the Incursion-heavy movie fans thought Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would be. At this rate, it seems like the film will be trimming all kinds of branches ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Fantastic Four
    February 14, 2025

    Written by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer
    Directed by Matt Shakman

    Fantastic Four has been gestating way too long at Marvel Studios, but it looks like it’s back on track and it sounds as though it’s going to make a splash. Rumors of the Silver Surfer appearing and of a Multiversal Council of Reeds persist, making this one a pretty big mover and shaker for the future of the Multiverse Saga. It’s also just the beginning of what should shape up to be a decade of stories about Marvel’s First Family, so taking their time on this one is essential.

    Avengers: The Kang Dynasty
    May 2, 2025

    Written by Jeff Loveness
    Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton

    You know how you know that Kevin Feige loved Jeff LovenessQuantumania script? This is how you know. Loveness is back here and teamed with Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton and that combo should give you some clues as to what projects and characters will be integral to Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Rumors have Captain America, Shuri and Shang-Chi being among the first Avengers to take on Jonathan Majors‘ Kang, who will find himself going up against…himself?

    Shang-Chi 2
    TBD

    Written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton

    Is the rumored title of Shang-Chi and The Wreckage of Time legit? If so, it would seem to indicate that Jonathan Majors might play a role in this sequel as well as another Variant of Nathaniel Richards? Introducing Immortus into the mix would make Avengers: Secret Wars even more interesting…

    But truly, nothing is known about this movie at the moment, not even if that title is correct or if it’ll land before or after Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

    Armor Wars
    TBD

    Written by Yassir Lester

    Originally intended to be a streaming series, Armor Wars will now turn out to be Don Cheadle’s debut as a leading man in the MCU after having been around forever! This one has ties to Secret Invasion but could it also have ties to the events of Captain America: New World Order? Given that it’s coming pretty late in the Multiverse Saga, it may have lasting implications beyond it and if those Adamantium rumors are true, that precious metal might play into this film. Remember that the MCU doesn’t do one-for-one adaptations of comics, so while this is called Armor Wars, don’t expect it to follow the template from the 1980s arc.

    Avengers: Secret Wars
    May 1, 2026

    Written by Michael Waldron

    The capstone of the Multiverse Saga and what will undoubtedly be the most epic event of Marvel Studios long history, Avengers: Secret Wars is sure to work, in part, as a reunion of sorts for some of great icons of Marvel’s cinematic history. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield have all been rumored to appear already and more names will be added to the list in the next 3+ years. It’s also very likely that this film will set the table for whatever the next great Saga will be in the MCU and that one will come bearing mutants.

    Sources: Games Radar,

  • Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Ant-Man and the Wasp is back in style as they’re about to face the Quantum Realm in Quantumania. Not only its natural dangers are going to be in their path but also some new and familiar enemies. We finally get our first look at Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror; only met a Variant previously; as well as some new additions. SDCC already confirmed that MODOK, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, will have a role in the film but we also know that Bill Murray has a big role.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Peyton Reed finally got a chance to hype up his upcoming February release by sharing some details on what his next film has in store for us. In it, he also got the chance to talk about Bill Murray‘s character, who leaked that he’s a “bad guy” all the way back in January of this year. Now, Reed got a chance to confirm he has a “crucial role” in the story and how he connects to the overarching storyline.

    Bill Murray plays a character from Janet van Dyne’s. It’s a crucial role. A big theme in this movie is the things that parents and kids don’t say to each other, the secrets that they keep in families. In the last movie, when Hank and Hope rescue Janet, Evangeline Lilly’s character had this idea of: Oh, I’m going to be reunited with my mom, this is going to be great, we’re going to talk about everything. But what happens if the other person, in this case Janet, puts up a wall and maybe is not comfortable talking about certain things and doesn’t reveal certain things about her past? As we know from great stories, you can put the past behind you, but the past will always find a way to show up again. Bill’s character represents that in this movie.

    Peyton Reed

    It’s definitely going to make for an interesting storyline on how our parents have their own secrets, which also adds the question of how this’ll connect back to Scott and Cassie Lang. The Ant-Man film shave been the more family-focused of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and taking a darker twist on that type of storyline will definitely make this an interesting addition to the franchise.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Peyton Reed Says Jonathan Majors is Kang…With a Twist

    Peyton Reed Says Jonathan Majors is Kang…With a Twist

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania director Peyton Reed has a lifelong love affair with Marvel Comics. The mind behind Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man franchise has never been shy about his affinity for the comics and the characters found on their pages and once upon a time pitched a Fantastic Four movie to the execs at Fox. Reed’s first two Ant-Man projects were released following major event films and, as such, were fairly mild in terms of their impact on the greater MCU. In both cases, that meant that the film’s villains definitely weren’t on anyone’s top ten bad guys lists. That’s all about to change with Quantumania.

    I grew up a real Marvel comics nerd,” Reed told EW, “and there are a handful of antagonists in the Marvel comics universe who are all-timers. Loki, obviously. Doctor Doom from the Fantastic Four. And Kang the Conqueror.” The last name on that list will make his MCU debut in Quantumania and as can be gleaned from the trailer for the film, he means business.

    via EW

    According to Reed, bringing in a major villain and changing peoples’ perspectives on what an Ant-Man movie can have always been on his mind. “In conversations with Kevin Feige and Marvel, it was like, I want to put Ant-Man and Wasp up against a really formidable villain in this movie,” said the director, “and so we’re doing Kang the Conqueror.”

    Even the hardest of the hardcore Marvel Comics fans might have a hard time explaining the totality of Kang to a newbie. He’s just a complicated dude with a lot of time travel stories that make his character hard to follow…because he’s many different characters depending on when he is. While the MCU version will still have some of those qualities, Reed hints that this version of Kang isn’t exactly ripped right from the pages of the comics.

    In the comics, Kang has dominion over time, he’s a time traveler. His situation is a little bit different in this movie, which I won’t spoil for you, but he’s someone who, [while] we live very linear lives, from childhood to death, Kang doesn’t exist that way. It struck me as interesting to take the tiniest Avengers — in some people’s minds maybe the least powerful Avengers — and put them up against the most powerful force in the multiverse.

    Peyton Reed

    As for what that means, fans will have to wait just a couple more months to find out for themselves; however, get used to see Majors and Kang and Majors as not-quite-Kang for the next few years.

    Source: EW

  • ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    Cassie Lang has been among the biggest talking points of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania since it was first announced. The 2020 reveal that a third Ant-Man project was in development also brought the news that up-and-coming Freaky star Kathryn Newton would become the third actress to bring the character to life, following Abby Ryder Fortson‘s turn as the child version of Cassie in the first two films and Emma Fuhrmann‘s teenage take in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. This sudden recasting caused some controversy among those who hoped to see Fuhrmann continue in the role, but director Peyton Reed is confident Newton‘s performance will help carry Quantumania to new heights.

    Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker explained Cassie and the relationship she has to her family will be central to the story of the upcoming Ant-Man threequel. The film’s trailer hinted the youngest Lang would be largely responsible for the chaos that ensues throughout, and Reed all but confirms this in his exclusive interview, stating fans will be able to see Cassie in a brand new light:

    One of the single most intriguing things that I was excited to do in this movie was progress the Scott-Cassie relationship. It’s been central to all the Ant-Man movies, the big difference here being that, as a result of Endgame, Cassie is now a young woman. She has become a scientific mind in her own right. She’s been going through Hank Pym’s old journals and notebooks, and has really latched on to this idea of quantum science and quantum technology.

    Peyton Reed

    In the comics, Cassie grows up to become a size-changing superhero much like her father. Initially known as Stature, and later as Stinger, she is known as a founding member of the Young Avengers and an important figure in the Marvel mythos. Newton can be seen wearing a fairly comic-accurate suit in the promotion for Quantumania, indicating the movie might also portray her turn to superhuman status.

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly