Marvel Studios has been doing quite well at the box office, but still faced some hurdles in its more experimental phase. Phase 4 has seen quite a few more distinct projects than in the past, which also meant that fan reception wasn’t always on board. Since Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel Studios’ productions have been getting B CinemaScores rather than the usual A they’ve built up over the years. Eternals being the lowest they’ve had in a long time with a B while Thor: Love and Thunder and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness ended up with a B+ score.
The only one that was able to break that streak was the co-developed Spider-Man: No Way Home which also had a strong nostalgia effect at play but also was technically published by Sony. Luckily, it seems that the B CinemaScore streak has come to an end as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has received an A grade from audiences.
Early indicators hint that it may have been close to getting an A+ rating as it received five stars from 83% of audiences according to PostTrack, which is not too far from No Way Home‘s 89%. It’s a great sign that audiences are still enjoying Marvel films at the moment, as the latest phase rolls out. Plus, it bodes well for the film’s legs in the long run even if A+ could’ve pushed it even further. It’s not surprising though that after an event film like Avengers: Endgame, people would feel a bit of a sophomore slump like with any long-running series, but Marvel is playing the long game by testing out new waters throughout this phase.
Marvel Studios is pushing forward on its next phase of films yet they are also preparing to start work on the final phase of the Multiverse Saga. Set for November 2024, Marvel Studios is ready to introduce its take on the iconic First Family of Marvel, the Fantastic Four. Initially, Spider-Man director Jon Watts was set to tackle the adaptation but passed on the project for a new Star Wars series. In his place, WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman took over directing duties with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer penning the script for their take on the Fantastic Four.
While not many more details are known, it does seem like a new rumor has found its way online, as well-known scooper Daniel Richtman has seemingly teased that they are already eyeing a production start by January. Well, January 2024 to be exact with a whole year still going. It does also match its upcoming February 14th release date in 2025, as it would give the production plenty of time to film and go through post-production.
This production rumor could also be our key indicator of when we might expect casting announcements. It does seem likely that we’ll have to wait a bit longer before we find out who will don the roles of Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, and Thing. Of course, they could already have locked in someone for the role given the long-time commitment but it does seem like they’ll wait it out until we get any official news on that film.
Guard your pockets, Hollywood. China likes to hit where it hurts.
It’s no secret that China is heavy on the control of the content that its citizens can access. Superhero movies are no different. The move to restrict these movies from hitting theatres costs studios tens of millions.
Despite allowing the first Black Panther movie to be distributed, the latest installment is denied without much insight into the decision. Several in the industry suspect that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is facing backlash due to the depiction of the character Aneka, played by Michaela Cole and fellow Dora bodyguard Ayo, played by Florence Kasumba, in a gay relationship. Other movies likeThor: Love and Thunderand Pixar’s Lightyear have met the same fate.
While Black Panther: Wakanda Forever likely survives without that revenue, Black Adam needed a serious boost. The film has earned $321 million globally, but production costs were a whopping $200 million. In addition, there is suspicion that this film is facing a battle because of the inclusion of Pierce Brosnan. Brosnan posted a photo two years ago with the Dalai Lama, a public figure viewed in Beijing as a “dangerous separatist.” In years past, the Chinese box office for superhero films worked out to be a significant portion of the global take. With
As the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drew nearer, box office estimates for the film continued to rise. Most projections have the film pulling in between $175-185M domestically over the opening weekend, but last night’s previews may indicate those numbers are a bit on the low side. According to a trade report, the sequel opened with a massive $28M Thursday, good for 15th all-time at the box office.
2018’s Black Panther took in $25M, which served as an early indicator that its opening weekend predictions may have been a bit low. That film eventually went on to rake $202M over its opening weekend, making Wakanda Forever’s first weekend worth watching. Critics have responded well to it overall and social media buzz around the film seems to be growing after early sentiment that audiences may lose interest following the death of Chadwick Boseman and the choice not to recast T’Challa.
Though most estimates had it lower, there were some experts who felt Wakanda Forever could open close to $200M, which would put give it the largest opening weekend of 2022, topping Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The film, which introduces one of Marvel Comics’ oldest characters, Namor, pits the nations of Wakanda and Talokan against one another in the wake of the loss of T’Challa, King and Black Panther of Wakanda.
Deadpool 3is shaping up to be one of the great mysteries in Marvel movie history. Delayed for years by the Disney-Fox merger, development on the threequel is now fully underway, but more questions arise with every piece of information that emerges about the project. Despite being the third film in a series that began as part of Fox’s X-Men universe, the movie will be set firmly in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe, a known fact complicated by the confirmed appearance of Hugh Jackman‘s Wolverine – the face of Fox’s former franchise. As if that wasn’t enough, another recent rumor has Owen Wilson‘s Mobius M. Mobius, Agent of the Time Variance Authority, playing a large supporting role in the picture. All signs have been pointing to a grand, multiversal adventure for Ryan Reynolds‘ titular mercenary, and the latest whispers surrounding the movie are no different.
According to industry insider Daniel RPK, the events of Deadpool 3will see Wade Wilson re-visit Fox’s cinematic worlds. While many likely assumed audiences would get one last look at the X-Men universe, there is apparently also potential for the famed antihero to pop into other Fox-based properties as well. In particular, RPKmentions the world of 2005’s Fantastic Four as a temporary landing spot for Deadpool. It’s not made clear just how big of a role the universe would play in the story, or even if the team themselves will actually appear, but the idea of Deadpool running around a series of films long-forgotten by popular media is a fairly tantalizing one. It also would not be the first time the Deadpool films attempted a crossover with the Fantastic Four, as the team from 2015’s disaster reboot Fant4stic were once slated to cameo in Deadpool 2.
🚨RUMOR | Ryan Reynolds has plans to re-visit other Fox franchises in ‘DEADPOOL 3’ including the Fantastic Four from 2005.
Directed by Tim Story, Fantastic Four starred Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, and Ioan Gruffudd as the iconic superhero team. Several years before the emergence of the MCU, Fantastic Four was one of Marvel’s biggest financial hits and spawned a less-beloved sequel titled Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007. At the time, the adaptation was not a favorite among die-hard fans, but countless years of failed further reboots have gifted the film a renewed appreciation.
Rumors persist that Tom Holland and Marvel Studios have struck a deal that will allow the actor to reprise his role as Spider-Man in a bevy of upcoming MCU projects. If that’s true, there’s one thing above all others that fans can count on: new suits! New suits sell toys and there’s nothing Disney loves more than that.
Now all on his own within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peter Parker has to fend for himself and that means creating his own suits. He put together a very nice-looking one at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home and that’ll almost certainly be the one he’s wearing when he’s first seen in his next appearance. However, Marvel Stuios has done a pretty great job of incorporating some of the most memorable Spidey suits into their films, even if they’ve not all been Peter’s and not all been entirely comic accurate. With that in mind, we take a look at five comic-book suits that might inspire Peter’s wave of costumes in the MCU!
Spider-Armor
At SDC ’22, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige listed Spider-Man and Daredevil as headliners of the MCU’s street-level heroes. Being a friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man means spending a good deal of time in the streets and less in space, and it’s pretty likely that’s exactly what will happen in Holland’s fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Battling crime on the streets, especially with the likes of a guy like Kingpin and his goons, almost certainly means coming under gunfire. With that in mind, it seems like it would be a pretty good idea for Peter to put together an armored suit. The comics provide inspiration for a few different choices, but the very metal silver and black MK1 that he first donned in 1993’s Web of Spider-Man #100 would look great on screen and serve as a nice contrast the bright red and blue of his default suit.
The Symbiote Suit
Everyone wants to see Holland’s Parker bond with Venom and bring the Symbiote Suit to the MCU. The post-credit scene of 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home set the stage and it’s likely that Holland’s new contract will have him signed on for Avengers: Secret Wars, meaning if Marvel Studios chooses to, they could pay homage to the comics by having him bond with the symbiote for the first time in the the 2026 conclusion to the Multiverse Saga.
The Bombastic Bag-Man Suit
With Marvel Studios Fantastic Four film set to come out in 2025, Holland’s new contract could work him into the film in a larger-than-a-cameo-but-still-pretty-small-role. If that’s the case, there’s no more MCU-type gag that Matt Shakman and the creatives behind FantasticFour could play than having Peter suit up as the Bombastic Bag-Man for a scene. If Marvel Studios can give Peter a new suit by making him turn one inside-out, they can definitely come up with a way for him to need to borrow one of the FF’s suits and put a paper bag over his head.
The Future Foundation Suit
A much more iconic suit that Peter could wear a bit longer in either Fantastic Four or something like Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, the Future Foundation suit seems like a must to shove Holland into over the next 6 years. The suit has been featured heavily in video games, Marvel Legends and in the comics. It’s a fascinating design and the colors can be inverted at will, meaning Disney could go two-for-one as far as getting toys out of a suit. Keeping in mind that just because it’s called the Future Foundation suit in the comics doesn’t mean there needs to be a Future Foundation in the MCU, this seems like the second surest bet on this list.
The Big Time Suit
Another suit that gamers are already plenty familiar with is the Stealth Suit, aka the Big Time Suit. It could be argued that Peter already had a Stealth Suit in Spider-Man: Far From Home, but that’ll almost certainly go down in memory as the Night Monkey Suit. The Big Time Suit could show up down the road in Spidey 5 or 6 after Peter has had some time to build on his already impressive engineering skills. Interestingly enough, Peter first wore it in the comics to help defend him from Hobgolin, a villain who has yet to appear in any Spider-Man films but who could pretty readily be worked into the MCU.
Ultimately, it was tough to choose just 5 suits. Outside of Peter’s vast array, there are the iconic looks of Ben Reilly, Miguel O’Hara, Kaine Parker and, of course, Miles Morales. Of those characters, it doesn’t seem like more than one could ever have a future in the MCU, so should Marvel Studios choose to do so, they could work some of those into the next half-dozen or so appearances by Holland. In all likelihood, whatever suits they do choose to adapte, we won’t see the same one twice!
As Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes to a close with the release of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, discussions are being had about which projects stood out the most during this new era for Marvel Studios. Generally speaking, one of the largest successes on the theatrical side was Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. After being one of the best critical and commercial performances of 2021, a direct sequel, to be written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, has been announced. Though it’s far too early for any plot details to be known, star actor Liu has some thoughts about what could transpire for the sequel film.
I think just what Shaun decides to do with all this newfound power, you know? It kind of consumed his father, consumed Wenwu. I’m curious as to how someone much younger, much more inexperienced, would fare against the rings. Just this idea of all of a sudden being gifted something that’s so powerful but also so dangerous. And then the other big question I have is, you know, in what way does Shaun fit in with the rest of the MCU? Who are you going to see? What kind of crazy team-ups? What kinda tie-ins, Easter eggs? I’m just as much in the dark as everyone else, so I don’t know anything, but I’m excited to dive into that process.
Simu Liu
The notion of focusing on the younger generation and comparing it to the reign of Wenwu certainly opens the door for interesting story potential. Tony Leung’s character quickly has become one of the most well-received antagonists of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and finding a way to continue his legacy would be fruitful for the sequel. In addition, folding Shang-Chi into the greater universe would be a logical move as a character that feels primed to be a key part of a hypothetical Avengers roster for their upcoming films. There are certainly various different avenues of existing and new concepts that would work well to connect the popular hero to various stalwarts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. When it comes to the idea of being a fixture at Marvel Studios, Liu has a positive outlook on wanting to stay as long as Kevin Feige and company will let him.
As far as when I think that’s just a question of timing and how well my back holds up through the years. I’ll make 40 of them if we can.
Simu Liu
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is currently available to watch on Disney+. There has been no official announcement made on when the sequel film will release theatrically.
When Avengers: Endgame hit theaters in 2019, it was a bittersweet moment for both the cast and their countless fans. The film was a triumph, but it was also a goodbye to many of the stars that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe a hit in the first place. Among those who made their final appearance was People Magazine’s current Sexiest Man Alive, Chris Evans. The actor had been playing Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, and capped off his nearly decade-long journey with the character in an emotional finale that saw him reunite with Hayley Atwell‘s Peggy Carter and travel back in time. Now an elderly man, Evans‘ hero officially retired and gave his shield to Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson, who has since taken on the mantle of Captain America in the MCU.
At the time, Evans seemed very ready to hang up the tights and move on with his career. However, a recent interview with People Magazine revealed he may be having some minor regrets only three years into retirement. Speaking about his time as a Marvel superhero, Evans finally admitted to missing the experience, saying:
They’re challenging, but the beauty is the movies are great. You get out what you put in. It’s been a wonderful, very symbiotic relationship, so I’ve been thrilled to do it. I think when the movies end you’re very happy to have a break. But very quickly, you miss it. I miss it now. But yeah, I’m very grateful and very happy to have been a part of them.
Chris Evans
It’s actually still likely that Evans returns to his role at some point in the future. His character has not yet died, and an elderly Steve Rogers could easily pop up to give some sound advice in another project. Furthermore, Marvel boss Kevin Feige recently revealed the MCU’s sixth phase is scheduled to end with an adaptation of Avengers: Secret Wars, a multiverse-hopping storyline with endless possibilities. It wouldn’t be the craziest turn of events to have an alternate-universe Rogers make a surprise appearance. Until then, and after, fans should remain supportive of Mackie in the Captain America title. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier indicated the actor has a bright future in the patriotic costume.
Though it hasn’t been officially announced, the buzz around Sony and Marvel Studios reaching a new deal to continue their collaborative efforts to co-produce Spider-Man films has been at an all-time high this week. The deal, should it be reached, would allow Marvel Studios to get to work on developing new Spidey films with Sony and for them to negotiate a deal with star Tom Holland that would allow him to appear in non-Spidey films. As we wait for word to come down that Holland is ready to get back to work, we take a look at how Tom’s New Deal might play out over the next several years.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2024)
Once the new deal is announced, expect things to advance pretty quickly on the first new solo Spidey outing. In late 2021, Kevin Feige admitted that he and Amy Pascal had already begun developing the story for the fourth MCU-based Spidey film. Even though the film hasn’t been officially given the green light yet, the fact that a story has been in the works for nearly a year means that some of the principal talent involved might be privy to some of that info. Feige announced at SDCC that Spider-Man and Daredevil were going to lead the way as street-level heroes and Tom Holland, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio have all dropped some breadcrumbs along the way that make it sound like the fourth MCU Spidey film might feature Spidey and Daredevil teaming up to take on Mayor Fisk. Of course, it’s also time for Peter Parker to complicate his life by adding a new love interest and there’s no better time than now for that to be Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat.
Fantastic Four (2025)
Undoubtedly, part of Holland’s New Deal will include stipulations that allow for appearances in non-Spidey MCU films. Given that the New Deal will coincide with the Fantastic Four finally making their way into the MCU and that one of Peter Parker’s longest-lasting and most important friendships in Marvel Comics is with Johnny Storm, it’s nearly impossible to think he wouldn’t show up in their film.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)
Spider-Man is among Marvel’s most valued and beloved characters, so it’s all but a sure thing that they’ll want Holland’s New Deal to include appearances in both their upcoming Avengers’ films. Secret Wars is probably the most ambitious project Marvel Studios has ever attempted and it’s likely to take inspiration from Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 version, which means that another Spider-Man could potentially be introduced here, setting the stage for the remainder of Holland’s time as the Wall-Crawler. It also allows for Marvel Studios to make good on the symbiote suit tease in the post-credit scene of Spider-Man: No Way Home, allowing Holland to get at least one go around in the beloved black suit.
Spider-Man: One More Day (2026)
Assuming Sony wants to keep churning out new Spidey films every 2 years as they did during the first deal, Holland’s next MCU-based Spidey film will hit in 2026. Assuming the rumors of Sacha Baron Cohen signing on as Mephisto for multiple projects are true, it’s likely that at least one of those appearances would be for a major film and it’s also likely he didn’t sign on to something that would keep him busy for a decade or more. In the comics, Spider-Man made a deal with Mephisto that had long-lasting ramifications for the character. It’s not out of the question that Peter’s MCU story could see him try to find a way to have “one more day” with MJ. Mephisto is just the guy to grant that kind of wish to Peter, but at what cost?
Spider-Man: End of Days (2028)
Unfortunately, Holland can’t and won’t go on forever as Spidey; fortunately, the comics provide a fantastic road map for what to do next and both Sony and Marvel Studios would be foolish not to take advantage of it. Miles Morales is one of the most important Marvel Comics’ characters not just of the modern age but of all time. Giving Peter and Miles time to get to know one another after meeting in Secret Wars would deepen and enrich both characters, make Peter’s death feel like an even great loss and set up Miles as THE Spider-Man for the next decade.
6 projects in 4 years for Holland seems crazy, but obviously, this is all just speculation and no dates are set in stone, not even, as we’ve seen, those for movies as big as Fantastic Four and Avengers: Secret Wars. However, whether the dates are even remotely correct or not, Holland’s New Deal will certainly keep him incredibly busy over a very short amount of time.
Early word on Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would seem to indicate that director Ryan Coogler followed up 2018’s Black Panther, which stands as Marvel Studios greatest critical success, with another well-received blockbuster. To follow up the beloved first film with another hit after losing star Chadwick Boseman to cancer would be no small feat. According to Coogler, who had to start from scratch after the death of his friend, the process has been difficult.
In an interview with Variety, Coogler spoke about the process of making Wakanda Forever and what the future holds.
This movie got everything I have. I’m at that place where I think I’ve got this press tour in me and then I’ve got to sit down and reflect. Probably cry a lot, because I’ve been holding that back. And then from there, figure out whatever’s next.
Ryan Coogler
A third Black Panther film might seem like sure thing, especially given the nature of the plot of Wakanda Forever, but at the moment, Coogler isn’t sure if he’s ready to take it on, “I have no idea what I’m doing next as a writer and director.” Though finishing the trilogy without Coogler doesn’t seem possible, Marvel Studios One-Above-All Kevin Feige admits that it has to remain a possibility. “I go back to what I said when we decided to make ‘Wakanda Forever’ after losing Chad,” said the head honcho of Marvel Studios. “This mythology and this ensemble and these characters deserve to continue and will continue after all of us are gone, I hope, and will continue forever in movies the way it has in comics for 50-plus years.“
However, with so much time and effort invested into building the World of Wakanda for the MCU, it’s impossible to imagine that Coogler doesn’t something in mind for a third film. Feige confirmed that he and Coogler have has some “ideas pitched back and forth” and that conversations have taken place about the director returning to helm a third film. As Feige says, though he’s open to continuing without Coogler, it “wouldn’t be the preference.“
With so much of Marvel Studios slate over the next 3+ years already determined, the good news is that there’s no rush for Coogler to make the call.
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