Production on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is set to get underway shortly in Australia and some casting information has begun to leak including some very exciting, if not expected, news: the film will introduce MI-6 agents Leiko Wu, Clive Reston and Black Jack Tarr.
MI-6 or Military Intelligence, Section 6 is the UK’s Secret Intelligence Service and has played a major role in the Master of Kung Fu comics on which Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is based. After coming to understand the true nature of his father, international terrorist and crime lord Fu Manchu, Shang-Chi worked alongside and then with MI-6, most frequently teaming up with agents Clive Reston, Black Jack Tarr and Leiko Wu, with whom he also had a romantic relationship.
The film will apparently introduce the idea that Shang-Chi worked for MI-6 at one time, but has since made his “departure from the world.” Reston (whose now confirmed presence in the film was first rumored by HNE) is described as Shang-Chi’s old partner and friend who is now married to Leiko Wu, an elite MI-6 operative who once had “strong feelings” for the Master of Kung Fu. Fellow MI-6 agentBlack Jack Tarr, always up for a fight in the comics, is described as an “elite martial artist who enjoys the thrill of the battle.”
The studio was searching for a Caucasian male, 45-50 for Reston; a Chinese female, 26-39 for Wu; a Caucasian male 30-49 for Tarr. It is believed that these roles have been filled at this time though I was unable to get responses from representatives of several actors.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will hit theaters February 12, 2021.
Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. Typically, when the second scenario occurs, I move on and forget about the information unless, in rare instances, it turns out to be proven true somewhere down the road.
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and WandaVision are deep into production with both series on schedule for late-Winter/early-Spring wrap parties. As those two productions start winding down, the third Disney Plus series, Loki, started production earlier this week just as I told you last week. With the start of production came confirmation of something we’ve been hearing about but, until now, I had never seen solid evidence of.
Things I heard this week: actors being brought on board for lead and major supporting roles in Loki are having options for a possible second season written into their deals.
Now it’s a fine line between what this does mean and what it does not mean. It does not mean that, as of today, I can confirm with 100% certainty that a second season of Loki will happen. I will say that there’s plenty of evidence which supports the idea that it’s a great possibility.
The first indicator was the naming of the limited liability company Disney formed for Loki: Limbo Productions I LLC. The inclusion of the Roman numeral I means Kevin Feige had already given thought to a second season, which would be produced under Limbo Productions II LLC.
Additionally, writers at other sites and “those in the know” have indicated they’ve heard rumblings about the potential for a second season of the show. Those are both great indicators, but for me, the FACT that contracts are being written to include the option is the most concrete indicator we could ask for.
So, what this DOES mean is that Marvel Studios has developed a series that, if all things go smoothly, will not only dovetail into Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness and, possibly, Thor: Love and Thunder, but also leave some threads hanging that could be picked up again in Season 2.
Overall, this is potentially great news for fans of Loki and Tom Hiddleston, but I’d caution against celebrating too hard just yet as there are still some moving parts that will have to mesh before it’s a certainty. That said, I’m told the studio is already looking into studio space in which to film Season 2 in 2021, so…there’s that. Things are looking good for the Son of Secrets.
Three of Marvel Studios Disney Plus series are now in production in Atlanta with Ms. Marvel on deck with a scheduled April start. Next up: She-Hulk, which I have learned is planning to begin production in Atlanta in July.
Announced at 2019’s D23, along with Ms. Marvel and Moon Knight, She-Hulk will be written by Jessica Gao (Rick and Morty) and is expected to be a location-heavy production, meaning it might not require quite as much studio time as something like Loki. The search for an actress to portray Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk began late last year.
Given the production delays on several Marvel Studios projects due to weather, natural disasters and other unexpected circumstances and the fact that the production of Loki was actually moved up about 10 days, I’m not even trying to bother pinpointing a date in July and just accepting the fact that until the cameras start to roll, I might not know one. However, I am penciling She-Hulk in for a July start of production. She-Hulk should air on Disney Plus in the second half of 2021, though no official release date has been given.
UPDATE: According to Verge reporter Julia Alexander, Disney reps have denied the veracity of this report, calling it “completely inaccurate.”
Production on Marvel Studios planned Disney Plus series, Hawkeye, has been postponed indefinitely. Originally scheduled to begin production this July, the series has now been removed from the studio’s 2020 production schedule.
While the news is sure to disappoint fans, the signs have been pointing towards a possible delay over the past several weeks. The studio has moved Ms. Marvel into an April start of production and is already casting for Moon Knight and She-Hulk, both of which will film ahead of Hawkeye, meaning that while we might not see the Avenging Archer when we thought we would, the big production wheel keeps on turning.
Changes to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe necessitated the production delay, which is not the first delay on Hawkeye. The cascading changes, which will allow for some plot points of the larger, ongoing narrative of the MCU to be introduced ahead of the series, have moved Hawkeye quite a way down the production list and, quite possibly, out of 2020 entirely. An indefinite delay does not mean it’s the end for Hawkeye and might give time for Hailee Steinfeld, said to have been in negotiations for series co-lead Kate Bishop, to work out a way to fit the series into her schedule.
Last year TV Line revealed that production on the fourth season of Stranger Things would kick off this month and wrap in August and now I can add a few, small details to that information.
Though no “official start date” has been set in stone at this time, Stranger Things is preparing to start production either late this month or early next month, but NOT in its usual home base of Atlanta. Production on Stranger Things will kick off in Lithuania before completing filming back in Atlanta.
Fans will immediately theorize that the Lithuanian setting offers the series the opportunity to authentically explore the ramifications of last season’s reveal that Hopper was alive and in what appeared to be a Russian prison. While it’s unclear exactly how long the series will film in Lithuania, they will primarily be using a prison set and filming in and around the locations where HBO filmed Chernobyl.
Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. Typically, when the second scenario occurs, I move on and forget about the information unless, in rare instances, it turns out to be proven true somewhere down the road.
With two different Disney Plus series under production at the same time, and films at various states of pre-production, rumors are running rampant and while it’s a ton of fun to sort through them all, not all of them make a ton of sense; however, I recently came across one that, while unverified, makes a lot of sense. It’s important to understand that, because I can’t verify this with a second source, I myself am treating it as a rumor which means, for the time being, I don’t believe it myself. It’s also important to understand that the information provided would be spoilery if did turn out to be true. So please read at your own risk and please make an effort to represent what you’ve read here as nothing more than a rumor. This isn’t a “hot scoop”, at least not yet. For now, they it is nothing more than a compelling rumor that should generate plenty of great discussion among the MCU fan community. With that having been said, read ahead if you chose…
In no way, shape or form should any of this be shared nor construed as confirmation of anything.
Things I heard this week: Christian Bale’s potential role in Thor: Love and Thunder is a mo-cap role.
I spoke to an agent yesterday and while he could not give any info on what the role was, he said, “I’ve just heard that Christian is doing it.”
Obviously that left me unsatisfied, so I kept digging around. The next part of the story is easily the best part, but CANNOT be confirmed as of this afternoon.
I went to another trusted source…very trusted…like the guy who told me that Widow and Iron Man would die in Avengers: Endgame and that Sam would get the shield. I asked him if he could look into it. He did. Here’s the rundown,
Source: “I’m hearing it’s for a mo-cap role but still looking into it.”
In my mind, this doesn’t rule our Dario Agger, but it doesn’t make him the best choice either. Happily, 3 minutes later…
Source: “Who’s Dario?”
Me: “Dario Agger. Is that who he is? Did someone tell you that?”
Source: “Yeah, but they also mentioned Beta Ray Bill.”
End of chat until I hear back.
So what did I take away from this (I almost said, what should YOU take away from it, but that seemed heavy handed):
This conversation between me and “source” is reminiscent of a lot of conversations we’ve had in the past. The reality is that even in Los Angeles, nobody other than Bale, his agent, some people at his agency and the people at Disney are 100% sure who he is playing. The mo-cap part is interesting because he could be Agger and still obviously have to mo-cap the Minotaur. Beta Ray Bill is obviously the greatest Cosmic character ever and there is nothing anyone can say to change that, but, is Bale really up for this or did my source’s source get the echo chamber effect, ie did someone read it online and mention it to him and now he thinks that’s who it is? I have no idea.
What I would feel comfortable saying is that Agger and BRB are legit options where some others aren’t. If it’s mo-cap, well that’s a very helpful clue to help solve the problem. It means a character like Gorr, while he would seem unlikely given how Waititi co-opted him for Hela, is certainly in the mix.
Of course Bale has stated in the past he wants nothing to do with more comic book movies and is notoriously difficult to work with on set, so a mo-cap role where his exposure to other human beings is limited makes THE MOST sense. I’m continuing to try to dig into this, but I have no false hopes of being the guy who breaks it. I am, however, happy to share the breadcrumbs and tidbits I turn up along the way.
After filming in and around Atlanta, Georgia for the past several months, production on Marvel Studios Disney Plus series, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, is set to move to a bit more “exotic” location when filming revs back up after the holiday break. When filming resumes after the holiday break, it will be in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico!
While work has begun on a film district in Puerto Rico, it is not expected to be complete until next Summer; however, films such as Bad Boys 2 and Fast Five and Captain America: Civil War have filmed on the island before.
The studio has filed paperwork to shoot there under Pandemic Productions PR LLC.
Shang-Chi is preparing to begin filming after the new year and is currently casting a plethora of small, supporting roles. One such role, for a ringside fight announcer, might just support one a plot “leak” that appeared on Reddit just a short while ago. You can read a transcription of the now deleted leak below:
An alien spaceship landed in China hundreds of years ago. The ship was powered by the Ten Rings, magical relics that all serve a different purpose. The rings were looted by a secret society known as the Avatars, which is led by a wise martial artist simply called the Ancestor. The Ancestor wore the rings and used them to become an expert fighter.
The Mandarin grew up hearing about the ancestor’s story and was fascinated by it, despite everyone else believing it was just a myth. He began to idolize the Ancestor, and devoted his life to finding the rings. This inspired him to form his own mafia, which is the Ten Rings gang. Basically, the point of the gang is look for the rings all around the world. He adopted his niece, Fah Lo Suee (Awkwafina) and taught her martial arts.
After years of investigation, he discovers that the legend of the ten rings are real, and that the Ancestor is dying. There was a leak a little while back that Shang-Chi is a tournament film, and that’s actually true. When the Ancestor dies, the Avatars will run a secret tournament/kung-fu trial in which the winner will be granted the rings. The Mandarin is too old to compete, and he doesn’t want to risk Fah Lo Suee’s life. That’s where Shang-Chi is going to come in.
Shang is a street urchin who meets the Mandarin after he starts dating Fah. The Mandarin takes a liking in Shang and starts training him as his apprentice. His first task, as an act of gang initiation, is to kill Trevor for impersonating the Mandarin. People speculated that they would be related, but it will be more of a Walter White/Jesse Pinkman dynamic.
When the tournament begins, the Mandarin will send Shang to win and get the rings for him. That’ll be the basic gist of the film pretty much. I know that defeating Fin Fang Foom will be an obstacle. Leiko Wu and Clive Reston will be in the movie as SHIELD agents who are investigating the Ten Rings gang. Shang-Chi will obviously betray the Mandarin and become a hero over the course of the film. He will get the ability to create multiple duplicates of himself. It will be an ‘Orphan Black’ situation, where each clone of himself has their own personality. So the fights will obviously be insane to witness.
Marvel is casting Shang’s enemies in the tournament, and one of them will be a character named Chao.
While I certainly can’t speak to the authenticity of every one of the plot points included in that “leak”, the fact that the film is currently searching for ringside fight announcers, combined with the prior knowledge that they were casting for several of Shang-Chi’s comic book kung-fu opponents could very well lend a bit of credibility to this leak and we may see an MCU version of the 90’s classic martial arts film, Bloodsport. As shocking as having Fin Fang Foom and the ability to create duplicates might seem, there is enough other evidence out there to support a dragon living in certain locations and it’s possible that one of the rings could grant Shang-Chi the power to create dupes.
What are your thoughts on how likely this is to work out? Let me know in the comments!
With two shows already in production in Atlanta and two more set to follow in 2020, Marvel Studios will make the move to Pinewood UK to film Moon Knight.
While no start date was given, it’s possible to deduce that the series could film in Pinewood in between the productions of Eternals (ending in early 2020) and Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness (expected to begin filming sometime in the summer of 2020), should all things remain on schedule. If that’s the case, we could be hearing casting news sometime early next month once Hollywood returns from holiday.
With the confirmation of Ms. Marvelbeginning production next April and the possibility of Moon Knight filming in the first half of 2020, it seems more and more likely that the Phase 4 slate as it was originally planned may be undergoing some restructuring and we may be getting a lot more Marvel Studios content in 2020 and/or 2021 than was originally believed.
Filming in the UK allows for easier access to other locations abroad and given the importance of Egypt to the origin of Moon Knight, it’s very likely we’ll see the production move around, using Pinewood UK as the base camp and studio location while they fly to Egypt, or whatever location doubles as Egypt. As with all Marvel Studios productions, it’s possible it’ll film in various locations and could certainly shoot some scenes in Atlanta as well as locations all over the U.S. and Europe.
Every now and then I come across some information the veracity of which can be confirmed by a second source. What happens FAR more often is that I come across some information that while believable and from trustworthy sources, cannot be confirmed by other sources for various reasons. Typically, when the second scenario occurs, I move on and forget about the information unless, in rare instances, it turns out to be proven true somewhere down the road.
With two different Disney Plus series under production at the same time, and films at various states of pre-production, rumors are running rampant and while it’s a ton of fun to sort through them all, not all of them make a ton of sense; however, I recently came across one that, while unverified, makes a lot of sense. It’s important to understand that, because I can’t verify this with a second source, I myself am treating it as a rumor which means, for the time being, I don’t believe it myself. It’s also important to understand that the information provided would be spoilery if did turn out to be true. So please read at your own risk and please make an effort to represent what you’ve read here as nothing more than a rumor. This isn’t a “hot scoop”, at least not yet. For now, they it is nothing more than a compelling rumor that should generate plenty of great discussion among the MCU fan community. With that having been said, read ahead if you chose…
Things I heard this week: Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings may be filming in Malta.
This past summer I learned that Shang-Chi and The Legends of The Ten Rings would film on location in Vietnam and Hong Kong, among other spots.
While 'SHANG-CHI' will be in studio in Australia, you can expect quite a bit of location work. I'm told locations in and around Hong Kong and Vietnam will be seen in the film. pic.twitter.com/WM39CV09Ps
That information was later confirmed, but as the protest in Hong Kong have continued and civil unrest has continued to grow, Marvel Studios has had to look elsewhere to film some scenes and it’s possible that they have settled on the island Republic of Malta.
Rich in history and beautiful architecture, Malta’s location in the Mediterranean has often turned it into a central strategic location in various wars throughout time and, thus, has seen it shaped by many different cultural influences. The small archipelago has seen the percentage of those of Chinese heritage grow over the past 20ish years and the cultural influence can be seen all around the islands, including at the Chinese Garden of Serenity in Santa Lucija.
Malta also boasts some incredible open air fish markets that resemble those seen in Hong Kong and could be accessed a little more readily than those in Hong Kong.
This is a tough one because we all know that not everything that is filmed makes it into the final cut, so while these locations may have been chosen and even filmed, they may never be seen by audiences which means I might have absolutely no proof that this rumor was correct. However, given that it’s just a rumor and it gave me a chance to search Google for some information about a beautiful island nation, I’m ok with that. Feels like I just did a 5th grade social studies project.
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