Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Captain America: New World Order

  • 5 Marvel Mainstays Who Could Show Up in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    5 Marvel Mainstays Who Could Show Up in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    Insider Daniel RPK has been keeping the news cycle going lately with a deluge of casting calls for several projects. Several such bits of info have come available for Daredevil: Born Again lately and now it seems it’s time for Captain America: New World Order to get some time in the spotlight.

    According to Daniel RPK, New World Order is going to include a male character described as a “Marvel mainstay.” That’s unfortunately not much to go on, but we thought we’d give it a shot anyway. Here are five “Marvel mainstays” who might show up in Captain America: New World Order.

    Rick Jones

    For hardcore comic book fans, it’s unthinkable that the MCU has gone on so long without Rick Jones. Throughout his 596 comic book appearances, Jones has been a key ally to Mar-Vell, the Hulk, Steve Rogers and the Avengers. He’s been part of some wacky cosmic adventures, found himself smack in the center of a Multiversal conflict known as the Destiny War in Kurt Busiek‘s Avengers Forever and found himself turned into a Gamma mutate known as A-Bomb. Jones is as close to the definition of a “mainstay” as there is in Marvel Comics and making his MCU debut in a Captain America movie that also features Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross and the Leader makes quite a bit of sense, especially since the latter two individuals were a part of his transformation into A-Bomb.

    Jim Hammond

    While Rick Jones may have more appearances in the pages of Marvel Comics, Jim Hammond, The Original Human Torch, predates Jones by over 20 years, having made his first appearance in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1. If you want a Marvel mainstay, Hammond is your guy. Technically, the character already exists within the MCU, having been “introduced” in Captain America: The First Avenger. The First of the Marvels, Hammond has been an Invader, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and a West Coast Avenger in the comics and could serve a very interesting purpose in a film that’s rumored to feature the Red Hulk. Red Hulk’s unique instability causes him to emit increasing amounts of Gamma as he becomes increasingly angry which causes him to “catch fire” before eventually exploding. Hammond’s android body comes complete with a couple of abilities that can counteract that including thermokinesis (the ability to increase or reduce the heat in other objects), the complete resistance to heat and the absorb and emit radiation of his own. In fact, it was the radiation from a nuclear bomb on a test site that “reactivated” the Torch in the pages of the comics. Finding a way to include Hammond would be both a fascinating callback to The First Avenger and give the world an unexpected weapon against the Red Hulk.

    Doc Samson

    Like Hammond, Samson has already been introduced in the MCU. Ty Burrell played a very boring and laid-back version of Samson in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, a movie that many questioned the canonicity of until recently. With Ross, Emil Blonsky and know Samuel Sterns all back and part of the ongoing narrative in the MCU, bringing back Samson would fit the pattern. As a psychiatrist, Samson played a major role in Bruce Banner’s ongoing personality struggles. He also factored heavily into Red Hulk’s introductory arc and was a member of the Thunderbolts. It’s easy to see how Samson could fit in and, hopefully, transition into the green-haired, Gamma-powered Doc Samson fans have loved over his 322 comic book appearances. As for why there’s a casting call, that’s simple: Burrell may well have chosen not to return in the role forcing Marvel Studios to go a-lookin’.

    Dr. Walter Langkowski

    While Doctor Langkowski may seem like less of a mainstay than Doc Samson, the character has actually appeared 333 times in the pages of Marvel Comics, just edging out his doctoral counterpart. Unlike the rest of the characters on this list, Langkowski PROBABLY wasn’t available for use by Marvel Studios until 2019 (the assumption is that his live-action rights were controlled by Fox) but like Samson, he’d be a great fit for any story involving Gamma. Langkowski experimented with gamma and found himself mutated into a creature he himself dubbed Sasquatch. As Sasquatch, Langkowski served Canada through the Gamma Flight, Beta Flight and finally Alpha Fight programs through Department H. His presence would potentially portend interesting things down the road, but he’d also fit in nicely to a project with a potential new Hulk.

    Dennis Dunphy

    He’s not exactly a mainstay. Most people don’t even know who he is. But this is a Sam Wilson movie and Dennis Dunphy has routinely worked closely with Sam in the comics over the last decade. Let’s give the Detroit native a shot in the MCU! He’s only had 95 appearances, but he’s been in the big leagues as a member of the Avengers and there’s a good Daredevil costume gag waiting to happen now that the gold suit is canon.

    Let us know what other characters you think might fit the bill for the “Marvel mainstay” the studio is looking to include in Captain America: New World Order!

  • ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer Reveals ‘Captain America: New World Order’s Production Start

    ‘Wakanda Forever’ Producer Reveals ‘Captain America: New World Order’s Production Start

    While all eyes are currently on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there’s always a small glimpse into the future. That is especially true when someone gets a chance to sit down with one of the producers behind the project that can offer at least a small update on what to expect. luckily, Collider got a chance to discuss Captain America: New World Order with producer Nate Moore, who offered a small glimpse into what to expect.

    In the interview, he doesn’t go into any details but does confirm that the production will “start shooting next spring.” He also goes on to highlight the new cast additions, especially confirming Harrison Ford taking on the role of General “Thunderbolt” Ross, taking on the mantle after the tragic passing of William Hurt.

    Well, look, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, he is going to bring his own team to play. It’s no secret that Samuel Sterns is making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is fantastic because Tim Blake Nelson’s the best. Harrison Ford is taking on the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and to see Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross – which if you remember actually threw him in prison at the end of Civil War because he violated the Sokovia Accords. There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun.

    Nate Moore

    It’ll be interesting to see what Ford brings to the role and the reintroduction of the character opens up the possibility of multiple appearances. Perhaps the Marvel Cinematic Universe takes the direction of naming the unlikely team after him. With the production start not too far away, we may get some casting news in the coming weeks.

    Source: Collider

  • Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    Marvel Exec Teases “Sparks” Between Sam Wilson, Thunderbolt Ross in ‘Captain America: New World Order’

    With the confirmation that the legendary Harrison Ford was joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Thunderbolt Ross, replacing the late William Hurt, came speculation that Marvel Studios must have plans to have Ross finally become the Red Hulk and take on the Hulk. As it turns out, the studio has plans Ross to end up at odds with another hero: Captain America.

    In an interview with Collider, Marvel Studios’ Parliament member Nate Moore confirmed Ford’s casting and gave some insight into what fans can expect from him when he turns up in Captain America: New World Order.

    Well, look, Sam Wilson’s Captain America, he is going to bring his own team to play. It’s no secret that Samuel Sterns is making his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is fantastic because Tim Blake Nelson’s the best. Harrison Ford is taking on the role of General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and to see Sam Wilson and Thunderbolt Ross, which if you remember actually threw him in prison at the end of Civil War because he violated the Sokovia Accords. There’s going to be some natural sparks there, which I think are going to be really fun.

    Nate Moore

    With the project not expected to start filming until February or March, Moore’s comments stand as some of the best insight into the plot of the film to date. Director Julius Onah has gone on record in sharing his excitement about Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader serving as the villain of the piece, saying he’ll “put Sam through the wringer” in what he’s calling a paranoid thriller. And now it sounds like Sam might have more than just The Leader standing in his way in his first big screen outing as Captain America.

    Captain America: New World Order is currently set to hit theaters on May 3, 2024.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Makes a Major Change to the MCU Landscape, Hint at Possible Cap 4 Connections

    ‘She-Hulk’ Makes a Major Change to the MCU Landscape, Hint at Possible Cap 4 Connections

    Billed as a legal comedy and delivered pretty much along those lines, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law didn’t seem like the type of show that would have far-ranging implications for the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, with one episode left to go, it seems that quite a bit of potential has been packed into these shorter episodes. Bruce Banner has left the planet for personal business on Sakaar; Jen’s blood has fallen into the hands of the HulkKing; and a man is running around in a frog suit! As big of a deal as Leap-Frog might seem to have been in Episode 8, “Ribbit and Rip It”, another revelation might end up being a bigger factor down the line.

    During Jen’s brief and slightly embarrassing court battle with Matt Murdock, Murdock casually revealed that the Sokovia Accords, which have governed the vigilantism of superheroes since the United Nations adopted them in 2016 following the events in Lagos, Nigeria, have been repealed. The Accords were intended to put an end to the unsanctioned acts of powered individuals and groups, such as the Avengers, by establishing an agreed-upon set of regulations.

    The Accords have been addressed in several projects over the years after having been established in Captain America: Civil War. WandaVision saw a government agency defy them and The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, which was set in 2024, saw them on display in the Smithsonian. So while they might have seemed like a relic of the Infinity Saga, they’ve been kept alive for a reason before being tossed out there again in She-Hulk, which is set in 2025. What good comes from keeping them on the minds of the audience, though, when they’ve largely been ignored since their creation? The answer might be in the fine print.

    By signing the Accords, heroes agreed to a whole mess of things, including:

    • providing a DNA sample
    • revealing their secret identities/legal names
    • power analysis
    • the use of tracking bracelets

    The Accords also prohibited governments from sending powered heroes to other countries without the approval of that country; outlawed the creation of self-aware AIs; outlawed the creation of further superhumans without strict oversight.

    For a line that was interjected into the middle of a fairly fast-paced bit of dialogue by Murdock, the revelation that the Accords no longer govern not only the actions of powered individuals but the CREATION of them seems incredibly important given the fact that Jen’s “better blood” is in the hands of, presumably, the Intelligencia which, presumably, is lead by The Leader. With The Leader recently announced as the villain of Captain America: New World Order, Jen’s tease of a Red Hulk and the long-standing rumors of her blood being used to create multiple Hulks that might face off in a World War Hulk project, the fact that there are now no universally accepted regulations on how to handle these types of situations seems like it is setting the stage for chaos to ensue…and a new order to be established.

  • How ‘She-Hulk”s Intelligencia Sets Up’ Captain America: 4’s True Main Threat

    How ‘She-Hulk”s Intelligencia Sets Up’ Captain America: 4’s True Main Threat

    The latest episode of She-Hulk, Attorney at Law has premiered not too long ago and introduced (or rather re-introduced) Iintelligencia into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We first learn about them through a simple mention on Ulysses Klaue’s portfolio confirming he was once a member but we never really find out who exactly they are. As it turns out, it’s pretty much the MCU’s equivalent to a Reddit server with obvious connections to modern political discourse. On top of it all, they seem to have their own operation eyeing Jennifer Walter’s blood for some nefarious purpose.

    There’s been a curious trend of She-Hulk openly calling out or rather predicting quite correctly how certain sub-groups of the Internet react to these projects. We’ve seen it time and time again since Captain Marvel’s release in 2019 and it continued to fester to this day. “Fandom Menace” has become a rather depressing word used for a subset of fans putting a lot of pressure on these projects, and it’s not too surprising to see a project reflect that as well.

    These reactions aren’t exclusive to female-led projects as showcased with the discussions surrounding Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson taking on the role of Captain America. Thee entire of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier explored the weight of that shield placed upon an African-American, which has been continuously highlighted to still being denied even after we took time to explore his journey of accepting that title. Yet, there are still statements like “Steve Rogers is Captain America” being floated around each time it comes up.

    In a way, it seems safe to say that the set-up for Intelligencia in She-Hulk was made to lead to Captain America: New World Order. Any Captain America project didn’t shy away from exploring political discussions in the United States and given the current climate, Sam Wilson’s own struggle makes for the best set-up to explore the current climate left in a post-Trump and Qanon world. Hell, one could make the argument that the latter is potentially being echoed to some extent. It’s even in the title as many were concerned given its ties to conspiracy theories online from white supremacists that used those three words to spread anti-semitic topics across the web.

    The confirmed return of Tim Blake Nelson as the Samuel Sterns, who is better known as the Leader, also potentially leads to how they’re setting up his return. We don’t know how they’ll tackle his design or even return, but when we first met him back in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the character was communicating through chat rooms. So, it seems fitting if his time is hidden away in SHIELD’s prisons he’s been using a different strategy to build his own empire. His goal is very likely still to get his hands on Hulk and he’ll use any means necessary.

    As much as commentaries on “woke” Hollywood have scattered across the web, they are politically stirred on every side and it makes sense for the new Captain America to explore that very divide. Steve Rogers had a similar challenge when it came to standing up for what is right, and we know that Wilson has been a mediator for most of his pre-heroic career. So, there’s something fitting for him to take on that very role, he’s not a super soldier but has his own strengths to stand by what he believes is right.

    Intelligencia and the white supremacist ties of NWO could be the way Marvel introduces the Serpent Society; the once joke title for Civil War. A modern twist on that group would be fitting and further pull into the backlash we see in the real world over a fictional character. You don’t look far for those kinds of discussions like with The Little Mermaid remake, which became the focus of its own online drama. And all these reactions to fictional characters are also reflections of real-world issues; something we’ve been continuously reminded of throughout the last few years.

    There likely won’t be an end to such backlash and if they further explore Intelligencia in that project, there’s likely going to be even more reactionary tales for this entry. As highlighted by She-Hulk, there’s a certain predictability to the online chatter and further exploring the dark corners of the world in a project with a lead that reflects the lived experiences creates a strong meta-commentary. It’s no longer a man from World War One stuck who is stuck in a different time. This is someone whose lived experience is very different in a modern context. As such, his threats are fittingly going to be more modern and reflect the current political climate.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Captain America: New World Order’ Connection Explained

    ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Captain America: New World Order’ Connection Explained

    Episode 6 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law pulled back the curtain on the series’ one ongoing mystery just enough to send theory-loving fans scurrying on a search for answers as to just who is orchestrating the attacks on Jen. The episode name-dropped a pretty impressive group of villains from the Marvel Comics and linked them directly to the quest to get Jen’s blood. Was it just an Easter egg mean to set fans on a wild goose chase, or did Marvel Studios just give fans their first hint at the plot of 2024’s Captain America: New World Order?

    That name which was so casually dropped is Intelligencia. In the MCU, it’s a website run by “manbabies”, but in the pages of Marvel Comics, it’s a loose-knit group of some of the most brilliant and terrible minds to ever oppose Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Geniuses such as Egghead, M.O.D.O.K., the Mad Thinker and, most relevant to this line of thought, The Leader were among the masterminds who chose to team up to share knowledge, build some cool stuff and, interestingly enough, engineer a way to turn General Thunderbolt Ross into the Red Hulk as a means to combat Hulk when he returned to Earth in the pages of World War Hulk.

    With rumors of a World War Hulk movie in development at Marvel Studios and the return of Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader in Captain America: New World Order, the episode’s reveal of the Intelligencia’s HulkKing working with the still mysterious people behind the Wrecking Crew’s attempt to get Jen’s blood seems fairly significant. Is The Leader the HulkKing? Or is the HulkKing someone more familiar to the series? One potential candidate is clearly slimeball Todd Phelps, who is incredibly interested in Jen’s abilities. Todd certainly is not The Leader, but could he be another member of the Intelligencia that was known to have an alias or two in his time? It would make for an interesting twist if Todd turned out to be The Mad Thinker, a Fantastic Four villain who came up against She-Hulk many times and whose creation, the Awesome Android, eventually became a staple of She-Hulk comics.

    Whoever these people behind the curtain turn out to be, it seems that as the final third of the season of She-Hulk gets underway next week, fans will need to pay much closer attention. Will The Leader make an appearance in She-Hulk? Maybe a name drop? What state of mind will Bruce be in when he returns from his trip to Sakaar and what will he have learned while he’s there? And, most importantly, with the series wrapping up in nine episodes, where will these stories be picked up? Right now, it certainly seems like the connection to the Intelligencia makes Captain America: New World Order the prime candidate to continue the story. Perhaps it’s a World War Hulk movie in disguise. Of course, given She-Hulk’s irreverent tone and disregard for sticking to the comics when it comes to bringing characters to the MCU (the Wrecking Crew, Mr. Immortal and Titania are all far cries from their comic book counterparts), it remains possible that the MCU’s Intelligencia are truly just a bunch of manbabies of little significance.