What’s next for Marvel Studios? Who’s recently joined the cast of your most anticipated series or film? Where can you find the teasers and trailers? Look no further, true believers. Everything you need to know about the future of the MCU has been collected for you here. Click on each logo to learn what we currently know about the upcoming MCU projects.
Marvel Studios upcoming streaming series, Echo, will the be first project under the studio’s new Marvel Spotlight banner. That means, according to newly minted Head of Streaming, Television, and Animation at Marvel Studios, Brad Winderbaum, anyone who tunes in “doesn’t need to have seen other Marvel series to understand what’s happening in Maya’s story.” That’s not to say that watching other series or films won’t add some additional context to the series, only that while watching Echo, the audience “can focus on street-level stakes over larger MCU continuity.“
Just what does or does not make up MCU continuity had been an ongoing debate for quite some time; however, in the forward to Marvel Studios: The Marvel Cinematic Universe An Official Timeline book, the studio’s One Above All, Kevin Feige, indicated that with the Multiverse now in play, pretty much everything is canon. “On the Multiverse note, we recognize that there are stories – movies and series – that are canonical to Marvel but were created by different storytellers during different periods of Marvel’s history,” wrote Feige, before adding that the “timeline presented in this book is specific to the MCU’s Sacred Timeline through Phase 4.” That book does not contain references to some of Marvel’s best-loved TV series including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist or Daredevil. And so while those stories are canon, the events depicted within did not take place on the MCU’s Sacred Timeline, aka the one in which all of the studio’s films and Disney Plus series have been set…but maybe that’s not the case after all.
In an interview with Screen Rant’s Joe Deckelmeier, Winderbaum seemingly contradicted Feige’s statement. When asked if the events of the Netflix series were part of the Sacred Timeline, Winderbaum went the long way around to say yes…at least in his mind.
So, I can say that up until this point, we’ve been a little bit cagey about what’s Sacred Timeline and what’s not. That was born, frankly, out of a period at the studio where we were like “we have to stick the landing with Avengers.” It was another part of the company developing the Netflix stuff; we were aware of what they were doing, they were aware of what we were doing, but it was a lot.. it was a lot to balance anyway. But now that some time has passed, now that we actually see how well-integrated the stories are, I personally, Brad Winderbaum, will confidently say that they are part of the Sacred Timeline.
Brad Winderbaum giving Brad Winderbaum’s view on if Netflix series are part of the Sacred Timeline
Winderbaum’s admission to the studio’s caginess around the inclusion of specific projects on the Sacred Timeline touches on a topic much discussed and debated online. Many fans believe in its Marvel Studios’ best interests to avoid answering the question of canonicity in order to continue generating online discussion. However, given his very important new position at the studio, Winderbaum seems uniquely positioned to have THE answer to the question. It’s likely that something in the upcoming series, Echo, will connect so directly to the Netflix series that there will be no room left for questions.
All 5 episodes of Echo will synchronously debut on Hulu and D+ at 9 PM EST on January 9th.
Deadpool 3 has been quite busy filming the return of the Merc with a Mouth. While his Marvel Cinematic Universe future remains open, a lot of hints have pointed to it potentially further exploring the Fox Universe one last time as Ryan Reynolds is joined by former X-Men and iconic Wolverine, Hugh Jackman. While there was a random statement that production may have already halted, it seems things are still moving along at a steady pace.
Surprisingly, while we still have to wonder if Wolverine finally gets his iconic yellow costume, Ryan Reynolds has been spotted on set in his Deadpool gear. Surprisingly, his costume seems pretty close to the original only the fabric might be made of some different material. Though, there’s also the chance that the color is simply popping a bit more on set than it would on the big screen.
Either way, it’s great seeing the iconic design back and knowing that Deadpool is on the horizon once again. There’s probably going to be a lot more 4th wall breaking, as the character realizes that he’s on a last hurra though his original universe. There’s a beautiful irony that the way Deadpool 2 ended, opened up for Marvel Studios to jump in and just go with it as a part of their multiverse shenanigans. We’ll see if they can keep the concept fresh after two other superhero properties explored it this year.
Source: Mirror
With an Awesome Mix of humor, heart, action, drama, and off-the-wall imagination, James Gunn delivers the long-awaited conclusion to the cosmic trilogy that reminded us that We Are Groot. And like the familiar tree guy, this franchise has branched in unpredictable yet fascinating ways but has always remained rooted in themes of found family, redemption, and reinvention.
In this third film, Gunn feels particularly confident and audacious as a filmmaker, pushing forward with a propulsive plot that knows when to release the tension with comedy and quirky character beats, as well as when to shift gears from heart-wrenching drama to awesome action and sci-fi space opera. There are some really fun set pieces and sequences, and only a couple of instances where things get a little too messy and chaotic. But overall, it’s a thrill ride visually.
Much like he did in the first two entries, Gunn deftly employs his signature needle drops to guide us through the varying emotional beats and tonal shifts. In the center of the story is Rocket’s journey from raccoon to rogue, as we learn his origin, and that of his first found family of misfits, through a series of flashbacks. The film invites us to peer behind his tragic eyes, and from his perspective, we experience the longing, love, and loss that coalesces into regret, before finally coming to understand that Rocket’s emotional scars truly are as lasting as his physical ones. It is within these flashbacks that we also meet The High Evolutionary, a villain with the kind of god complex his name would suggest, and the capacity to make Rocket’s old wounds fresh.
If you’re familiar with the comics, then you have a pretty good idea of what The High Evolutionary’s goals are, what lengths he’s willing to go through to achieve them, and just how many people he’s willing to kill or make suffer along the way (Hint: It’s all of them). And Chukwudi Iwuji performs the role to a T, knowing when to strike the notes of cold calculation, when to soften, and when to unleash his wrath. He’s not really an antagonist you root for in any fashion, and the movie never lets him off the hook, so by the time the bill comes due, the catharsis is earned.
Accompanying this main Rocket-centric story is the Peter Quill story, where he can’t get over the fact that Gamora 2, pulled from the timeline in Avengers: Endgame, missed all of the Phase 3 films, and he just can’t bring her up to speed on what she missed. Both Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña do a great job here, Zoe in particular. In a lot of ways she represents the viewer who doesn’t “get” the Guardians and what makes them special, but like the viewer, despite herself, she too is eventually moved by the adventure and finds her own groove to jam to.
But all the Guardians have got moves. Mantis remains the most empathetic and intuitive, and Pom Klementieff‘s comedic chemistry with Dave Bautista‘s Drax remains as satisfying as it was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. The juxtaposition between her emotional openness and Nebula’s cold precision and bluntness provides a different kind of energy, as their dramatic tension helps to balance the hijinks. Even newcomer Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova) and the perennially underrated Kraglin (played by Sean Gunn) get their moments to shine. The family continues to grow, and though they may bicker, when it’s showtime, they find their harmony.
Another newcomer to the Guardians story is Adam Warlock, played with flourish by Will Poulter as an ultra-powerful yet childlike being, who wants to impress his Sovereign mother figure (the returning Elizabeth Debicki), but whose hot temper constantly gets the best of him. Hardcore comic fans might find him confounding when compared to the cosmic near deity from the page, but the story leaves him with more than enough room to evolve. Keeping with the theme, after all.
What sets this trilogy apart from the other Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogies is that across the three films, the stories really do come full circle. Our heroes acknowledge the painful pasts that forged them, but they each stop being defined by them, and their arcs conclude with them finally being able to define themselves. And their Guardians compatriots, that aforementioned found family, grow to love and accept them, regardless of their respective flaws and scars. It’s a feel-good tale with a hopeful message, and by the end, you’re rocking out, from Knowhere to wherever the Guardians story travels next.
Thus far, Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU have been polarizing, with very few projects leaving us with the “rah-rah” feeling that makes us want to sing its praises and go back for encores. But Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reminds us why we love these movies and reminds us of way back when, we were first Hooked On A Feeling.
9.75/10
Morena Baccarin and Stefan Kapicic are returning for Deadpool 3. The news, which comes courtesy of Deadline, comes after Baccarin revealed last week that she was in talks but wasn’t sure if a deal would happen. Baccarin will reprise her role as Vanessa, while Kapicic will return as Colossus. The duo will join Karan Soni and Leslie Uggams, who are returning as Dopinder and Blind Al, as well as Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin and Matthew Macfadyen.
Deadline also noted that, as of right now, it’s unclear if Brianna Hildebrand will return as Negasonic Teenage Warhead.
Deadpool 3 will see Ryan Reynolds‘ titular anti-hero team up with Jackman‘s Wolverine. Shawn Levy, a frequent collaborator of Reynolds, will direct the film from a screenplay by Zeb Wells, Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese. Deadpool 3 will hit theaters on Nov. 8th, 2024.
Updating…
Source: Deadline.
Current writer of Marvel Comics’ The Amazing Spider-Man, Zeb Wells‘ history with Marvel Comics dates back to 2002’s Spider-Man’s Tangled Web. Wells turned his trademark style with Marvel Comics into a gig at Marvel Entertainment, where he wrote the unreleased pilot for New Warriors, and then into a spot in the writer’s room for She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Now it seems Wells’ success has led him to a spot on one of Marvel Studios’ most anticipated upcoming theatrical releases.
According to Deadline, Wells has joined Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese as a contributor to the script of 2024’s untitled Deadpool threequel. While Marvel Studios has yet to comment on Wells‘ contribution to the script, it’s possible he was chosen due to his work on Marvel Comics’ A + X and Savage Wolverine. Wells has quickly become one of Marvel Studios’ most hired guns, having not only served as a writer on She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, but also as an executive producer as well as co-writing 2023’s theatrical release, The Marvels, as well as being the head writer for the upcoming animated series Marvel Zombies.
The third installment in the Deadpool franchise is currently untitled but will see Ryan Reynolds’s Merc with a Mouth debut in the MCU alongside Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine. With production expected to kick off soon, the cast has filled up quickly with Emma Corrin signing on as the film’s villain, Matthew Macfadyen set to serve as a third wheel to Deadpool and Wolverine, Karan Soni and Leslie Uggams returning as Dopinder and Blind Al, respectively, and Owen Wilson rumored to pop up as TVA agent Mobius. The film is currently slated to hit theaters on November 8th, 2024.
Source: Deadline
Quality over quantity has been the long-echoed outcry on the internet surrounding Marvel Studios’ direction during the pandemic. With up to four shows on top of three films, it seemed like they were hoping too put out as much as they could. There were hints that Bob Chapek‘s era has forced them to also enforce more Disney+ releases to promote the streaming service while also trying to adjust to something no one ever expected to delay their releases for two years.
Marvel Studios was playing catch-up but there was enough drama to overshadow the troubles most production companies are facing in the current timeline. CG over specific shots in a 2+ hour project were the signs of this development, and many discussions have surfaced online. Ironically, most of this discourse only really arrived during 2022 and has been hyper-fixated on in the current mythos.
That was until Bob Iger once again took over as Disney CEO and many new rumors have surfaced hinting at a new yet old direction. Ironically, the number of rumors of potential projects was one of the causes for concern, these new rumors are potentially doing the same thing. On The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider has added more fuel to the fire of a more regulated output in the form of an exact project count moving forward.
Marvel’s target output has been reduced. I don’t know if this has been reported, or if this was a line in the trades, or whatever, but I’m told that the target output has been reduced from four shows and four movies a year to two shows and three movies a year. And of course that’s malleable. You could get one on either side of that, or whatever.
Jeff Sneider
Two series and three films a year seem to be the current direction for 2023. We just recently saw Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania release with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Marvels on the horizon. We also had the longest pause between series releases with Secret Invasion finally getting its June release and likely only the second season of Loki on the horizon. While some future schedules might hint at a different schedule, they have reshuffled their schedules quite a bit as of late.
It is kind of funny to think that this schedule matches what we had with the Netflix series and the Marvel movies, as we had two series and three films every year. Yet, we also had additional Marvel series like The Runaways, Agents of SHIELD, as well as Cloak and Dagger. 2018 to 2019 technically had more projects airing with a higher number of episodes compared to the “stuffed” 2022 but perhaps the Marvel studios branding is creating the illusion of such. Either way, the current rumor mill will likely have many happy to see the studio dial it down.
Source: YouTube via The Direct
The more rumors make the rounds, the wilder Captain America: New World Order is starting to sound. Anthony Mackie is set to reprise his role as Captain America from the Diseny+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to lead the new entry in the franchise. Now, a new rumor is making the rounds hinting at one new villainous addition to the film.
According to insider Daniel Richtman, it seems that we’ll see a female villain join the cast. She’s rumored to be the character known as Diamondback, who is a prominent member of the Serpent Society; something @CanWeGetToast seems to also highlight. There is also a hint that the character may potentially be a love interest for Mackie‘s Sam Wilson.
Serpent Society is a fitting addition to the film and would also make for a nice callback to the fact that Marvel Studios CEO once jokingly revealed the third entry of the franchise would include the villains before unveiling it was actually an adaptation of Civil War. The recent casting of Xosha Roquemore has also been highlighted as a potential casting for this very role.
The addition of the Serpent Society could also fit nicely into the themes of a Sam Wilson-led project. Given their history, there’s a lot of potential in bringing them to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The inclusion of Diamondback may also hint at other members potentially appearing in the film, and perhaps they also have a connection to the returning Tim Blake Nelson, who is reprising his long-awaited role as the Leader.
Source: Patreon via The Direct, Twitter
Get ready for some serious audiophile sound improvements, Marvel fans! According to an announcement made today by Disney Streaming, IMAX Corporation, and DTS, a bunch of Marvel movies are set to get a major audio boost. The films, which were not specified, will now feature IMAX Signature Sound.
Disney+ will be introducing a new way for subscribers with certain devices to experience select films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and more, with the expansion of IMAX Enhanced technology on the platform in 2023. This follows the recent decision to make IMAX’s expanded aspect ratio available for a selection of films. The IMAX signature sound by DTS will enhance the viewing experience for fans at home, offering a specially calibrated, high-quality picture and sound experience that mimics the IMAX theatre experience.
“We’re excited to roll out the next evolution of IMAX Enhanced technology on Disney+ in the coming year. This unique collaboration extends our long-standing relationship between Disney and IMAX and we look forward to delivering this new immersive audio experience alongside premium playback quality for current and future titles to our audiences around the world”
Jerrell Jimerson, Executive Vice President of Product, Disney Streaming
“We’re thrilled to bring audiences an even greater cinematic experience in the home and beyond as we roll out the next phase of IMAX Enhanced on Disney+. We can’t wait for fans to experience more of our cutting-edge, unparalleled sight and sound advancements across the entire IMAX Enhanced collection on Disney+, with more titles soon to come.”
Vikram Arumilli, Senior Vice President and General Manager
The IMAX Enhanced aspect ratio, which provides a screen size of 1:90:1 and up to 26% more screen space for certain scenes, is already available on all Disney+ supported devices. IMAX Enhanced signature sound by DTS will also be added to certain titles. Disney+ is the first major streaming service to offer IMAX Enhanced and it will allow subscribers to re-experience the MCU in a new way. It is suggested that more titles, including Pixar and Star Wars movies, may also be offered in IMAX Enhanced in the future.
Source: Comicbook.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special finds the Guardians recovering from their adventures with Thor and preparing for the unknown from their new base of operations, Knowhere. While the special spends a portion of the runtime inside the severed head of a Celestial, the bulk of the action takes place on Earth where Mantis and Drax head to give Peter the best Christmas present ever: Kevin Bacon. During the botched abduction of Bacon, the pair had an encounter with the police and director James Gunn used that scene as an opportunity to sneak in a reference to one of Marvel Studios’ longest-serving and most important crew members.
As seen in the credits, one of the officers who had the misfortune of crossing paths with Mantis and Drax is Officer R. Bobbitt. Though it’s not been confirmed by Marvel Studios, the Officer is almost certainly named for longtime Marvel Studios Property Master, Russell Bobbitt. Few people outside of Kevin Feige and Casting Director Sarah Finn have worked on as many MCU projects as Bobbitt. Bobbitt first served as the Property Master in 2008 for Iron Man and has worked on a total of 20 MCU projects to date, from the Agent Carter One-Shot, to streaming series such as WandaVision and Loki and the Werewolf By Night Special Presentation. In addition, Bobbitt has made his way on screen in a few projects.
As Property Master, Bobbitt oversees the creation and acquisition of the props used in each MCU project. Bobbitt’s MCU designs include Captain America’s shield, Mjolnir and the Infinity Gauntlet. Bobbitt is set to serve as Property Master on 3 upcoming MCU projects: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Agatha: Coven of Chaos and Blade, running his total number of MCU projects up to an impressive 23. Given the work he’s done on the Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, it was incredibly cool of Gunn to give Bobbitt a nod in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
