Tag: Marvel Movies

  • Zazie Beetz Plays Coy on Possible ‘Deadpool 3’ Return

    Zazie Beetz Plays Coy on Possible ‘Deadpool 3’ Return

    Zazie Beetz left her mark on the Marvel franchise when she appeared in Deadpool 2. The Atlanta actress portrayed Domino, a mutant mercenary and longtime comic book affiliate of Wade Wilson, in the well-received sequel project. She was introduced to the franchise alongside Josh Brolin‘s Cable, and before the merger of 20th Century Fox and Disney, many fans expected Beetz to reprise her role in the trilogy’s third installment. Now, with Deadpool 3 being part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, pretty much everything aside from Ryan Reynolds‘ involvement is up in the air.

    Speaking with Variety at the premiere of her new film Bullet Train, Beetz was asked to comment on her potential future as Domino in Deadpool 3. Of course, the actress couldn’t really confirm anything, but her response felt far from an actual denial:

    It’s unknown how much of the Deadpool series’ storyline will carry over into the MCU, especially considering the concept of mutants is only just being realized in the franchise timeline. Luckily, Deadpool 3 could possibly fall within the ongoing “Multiverse Saga”, which would leave several doors open for performers like Beetz and Reynolds to enter the MCU from another dimension. After all, Domino does operate using the power to manipulate luck, so it’s entirely plausible that she has a hand in landing herself and the Merc with a Mouth in the multiverse’s most popular timeline.

    Deadpool 3 will be directed by Shawn Levy, from a script by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and currently has no release date.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Deadpool 2’ Director Explains Why He Didn’t Return for the MCU Sequel

    ‘Deadpool 2’ Director Explains Why He Didn’t Return for the MCU Sequel

    David Leitch has made a name for himself in Hollywood. The former stunt man-turned-director is gearing up for his latest action film, Bullet Train, to hit theaters this weekend, and spoke to Uproxx about the many projects that have brought him to where he is today. After co-directing the first John Wick with Chad Stahelski, Leitch carved his own path and made more action hits with films like Atomic Blonde and the Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs & Shaw. Perhaps his most popular work, however, is 2018’s sequel Deadpool 2, which he boarded after the first film’s maestro, Tim Miller, departed over creative differences.

    Curiously, Leitch has never returned to a franchise after working on it once. This could change in the future, but for now, the director explained to Uproxx that it’s almost entirely circumstantial:

    It’s probably more of what I’m doing and some circumstance. I love all of those worlds, and they’re all precious to me. Starting with John Wick. Chad has taken over that franchise and executed it beautifully. And Deadpool is amazing. And Atomic Blonde, I would love to go back. When I look back, I would love to go back to those worlds, but I think the way it’s worked out for me, or fate has brought me to this place, is that I get new opportunities and they’re really awesome, interesting, as well. Now moving on and doing The Fall Guy with Gosling, we’re prepping right now.

    David Leitch

    When asked if his upcoming production of The Fall Guy played a role in his not coming back for Marvel Studios’ upcoming Deadpool 3, Leitch made it clear this was not the case. In fact, the creative revealed he had actually spoken to Marvel about another Deadpool adventure, but simply couldn’t find the right window to make it happen between the studio and himself:

    No. Look, we had conversations about Deadpool 3, but I just was … I had things in the pipeline, too. And it was never, “Hey, do you want to do it or not want to do it?” or whatever. I think it was more we knew our dance cards were kind of full on both sides. And we have a window. And Marvel has calendars.

    David Leitch

    Deadpool 3 will be helmed instead by Ryan Reynolds‘ frequent collaborative partner Shawn Levy. There is not currently a release date, but fans can check out Leitch‘s Brad Pitt-starring Bullet Train on August 5th.

    Source: Uproxx

  • Tenoch Huerta Teases Namor Has “Deep Admiration” For Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa

    Tenoch Huerta Teases Namor Has “Deep Admiration” For Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa

    Tenoch Huerta is about to have his moment. The actor is set to debut as Namor the Sub-Mariner in this year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a role that will likely propel him into mainstream fame, but Huerta‘s mind is still focused on those who came before him. In an interview with Black Girl Nerds, the former Narcos: Mexico star explained that both himself and his character have a deep admiration for the late Chadwick Boseman‘s King T’Challa:

    Well, my character, and personally, it is fun, because my character has a deep admiration for Black Panther… T’Challa… But, me as an actor and as a simple human being, what Chadwick means: so powerful, so deep, it’s extraordinary. And it’s… Yeah, it’s a big inspiration.

    Tenoch Huerta

    Boseman passed away after a courageous battle with cancer in 2020, leaving a big hole to fill in Wakanda Forever. Namor, ruler of a fictional undersea nation, will help fill the void, but as Huerta states beautifully, nobody will ever truly replace Boseman‘s impact on the franchise or the world at large:

    So, in different levels, in the fiction and the real life, [to] be part of this and feel his presence… through the legacy, through the people who [were] involved in this project is fantastic. As I mentioned a moment before, it’s like his shadow is in the wall. So you line the shadow, and then you put a lot of colors, and music, and love, and you are part of that because it’s your colors as well. You know, your culture, your music is there, and it’s beautiful [to] be part of that, you know what I mean?

    Tenoch Huerta

    It seems Huerta enjoyed his time working on the film, and his comments continue to solidify the idea that the Black Panther sequel will still very much involve Boseman‘s influence. In the comics, Namor and T’Challa have a longstanding relationship that’s been both friendly and volatile at different points in time. This dynamic will unfortunately not be realized on the big screen, but the door is wide open for whoever ends up donning the Black Panther mantle to craft a new form of rivalry with the Sub-Mariner.

    Source: Black Girl Nerds

  • John Boyega Denies Any Marvel Rumors, No Interested in Joining the Franchise Currently

    John Boyega Denies Any Marvel Rumors, No Interested in Joining the Franchise Currently

    At this point, it’s hard to deny that almost any big-name actor has had at least one or two rumors hinting at them joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If they may be real or not, it’s one of the most prolific franchises in the industry, and its continued rise even as it’s facing a sophomore slump in Phase 4 should not be downplayed. Among the many rumored is John Boyega, who has now openly denied any rumors surrounding him having been secretly cast in a role.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he reveals that he’s had enough of big-budget projects after his work on the Sequel trilogy of Star Wars, and is focusing on more “nuanced” projects. He also makes a good point on the weight of joining any project comes in the shadow of Iron Man which became a big part linking the projects for years.

    That’s not in the vision for me now. I want to do nuanced things. I want to donate my services to original indie films that come with new, fresh ideas, because I know it’s real hard to top Iron Man in that universe.

    John Boyega

    There will always be rumors and likely some not believing Boyega‘s own statements in regards to his approach to future projects Still, it seems that the actor wants to return to his roots and has gone through enough with the weight that Star Wars already put on his shoulders; especially the fan reactions. It’ll be exciting to see what his next project will turn out to be.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Star on How His High Evolutionary Differs From the Comics

    ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Star on How His High Evolutionary Differs From the Comics

    Chukwudi Iwuji is hitting the comic book scene, as after a scene-stealing performance on Peacemaker, he’s followed director James Gunn over to his next major project. He is set to star as the High Evolutionary in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and even gave us a first look at his costume during San Diego Comic-Con.

    We still know very little about how his character will tie into the story outside of hints he’ll be the one that created Rocket Racoon. Yet, Iwuji was able to tease his overall take on the character in an interview with Collider, even highlighting there’s some “Shakesperean about him” when he brought the character to life.

    Shady doesn’t touch it. He is narcissistic, sociopathic, but very charming. I couldn’t have thought of a better character that uses [a] skill set better to join the MCU with. Because there’s something very Shakespearean about him, there’s something very emotionally dark about him, and he’s a lot of fun on top of all that. The costume like you mentioned, the day I put on that costume because he looks very different from how he is in the comics, but the costume just worked. There’s something about putting it on, which I’m glad you mentioned because a big part of my performance was that costume.

    Chukwudi Iwuji

    Marvel Studios isn’t new to changing things up from the comics to add a new fresh take on the medium. He definitely gave us a good glimpse at his “emotionally dark” take on the character, and it does sound like a fun take. Iwuji getting a chance to just play around with a character after giving us a more serious performance in Peacemaker. It’ll definitely be fun to see his take on the High Evolutionary next May.

    Source: Collider

  • Simu Liu Teases His Marvel Future: “I’m Going to Be Busy the Next Few Years”

    Simu Liu Teases His Marvel Future: “I’m Going to Be Busy the Next Few Years”

    Marvel Studios Hall H presentation at SDCC ’22 gave fans a peek at the plans for the next three years of the MCU, including dates for the next two Avengers films, The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. Shortly after, a trade report revealed that Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed 2021’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, had signed on to helm The Kang Dynasty. That report, coupled with a lack of news about a Shang-Chi sequel at SDCC, led to some social media speculation that Cretton would be too busy to get around to a second Shang-Chi film until AFTER the Multiverse Saga came to a close.

    A Shang-Chi sequel may not, however, be as far away as some believe it to be. Cretton officially boarded the Shang-Chi sequel as writer and director in December of 2021 and while he admitted at the time that he had not begun work on a script, it’s likely the one has started to coalesce around some ideas that he brainstormed for the film while in production on Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. Cretton is also serving as an executive producer on Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man streaming series, meaning with The Kang Dynasty, a project which he’s only directing and NOT writing, he’s juggling three projects at the same time.

    That doesn’t mean, however, that Shang-Chi 2 has taken a back seat. In fact, it turns out it might well be a top priority for Cretton and Marvel Studios and could very well hit theaters before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. In an interview at SDCC, Shang-Chi star Simu Liu may have hinted at just such a scenario when he teased his potential involvement in “a couple” of the projects announced by Marvel Studios at their Hall H presentation and indicating that he was “going to be busy the next few years.”

    While this is certainly no guarantee that Shang-Chi 2 will be in theaters ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, it does leave the door open for that to happen. It is very likely that the two films might share some connective tissue, with Cretton working on them both, and while time might seem short, both projects could be completed in plenty of time for 2025 release dates. However, until Marvel Studios dates the sequel to Shang-Chi, speculation will continue. Perhaps they’ll do just that at their upcoming D23 presentation in Anaheim in September.

  • Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 26: Our SDCC Favorites

    Murphy’s Team-Up Volume 26: Our SDCC Favorites

    Anthony Canton III

    As far as Comic Con’s announcements go, the easiest thing to say would be Avengers: Secret Wars. The truth is Kevin Feige’s plan on display for us to see is the kicker. This universe is expanding and we’ve all been wondering how it will continue to do so. As a fan, it was gratifying to see all of the projects lined up. There’s definitely fun in trying to figure out where the MCU is going on its own but to see it laid out is awesome.

    It gives us all something to look forward to. If you want your street heroes and miss Daredevil…you got him back. Did you want to see how Sam Wilson’s journey will continue? We now have a title and a date. From team-ups to solo projects what we got was a reminder that the talk about the MCU was silly. Going forward, the expectation will be to see how tv gets better structurally. Otherwise, the road to what’s coming is here and we can actually enjoy the now of the MCU again. See you soon Kang.

    Torbjorn Frazier

    After having the pleasure to attend this year’s San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) festivities, it remains an arduous task to find just one top revelation from the weekend. While part of me wants to think outside of the box (I want to give special mention to Star Trek’s Hall H panel and them laying out a strong framework for their future on Paramount Plus), I can’t help but acknowledge that Marvel Studios were the runaway winners of the weekend.

    With that in mind, I will focus on the triad of major revelations that were exclusive to the audience at Hall H. Ant-Man and The Wasp: QuantumaniaSecret Invasion, and Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3 all showcased first-look trailers for their respective projects. And the three Marvel Studios projects all left extremely strong first impressions that should all have fans excited for the start of 2023. Quantumania’s trailer highlighted how this film will certainly be the highest stakes of the Ant-Man franchise through the introduction of a Jonathan Majors Kang the Conqueror variant, but still keeping the comedic tone from the original core ensemble and the addition of Bill Murray. Meanwhile, Secret Invasion seemingly will provide the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with its first paranoia thriller since Captain America: The Winter Soldier (and I’d argue the series will lean much more into the genre than the film if the trailer is any indication). And to top it off, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3’s trailer was the largest revelation from the panel. James Gunn very much has established this film will mark the conclusion of his run on the Guardians;   franchise, and he is pulling all the stops to make this ending as epic as possible in terms of both plot and cinematic scope. There are many distinct talking points coming away from it, but the largest certainly is the highly emotional arc in store for Rocket Raccoon and his origins at the hands of the High Evolutionary.

    If there’s ultimately a singular major revelation from SDCC, it’s that fans could be in store for a highly exciting beginning to MCU’s Phase Five in 2023.

    Dalbin Osorio

    My favorite reveal, hands down, was the announcement of the next Avengers films: Secret Wars and Kang Dynasty. My guy AC called out the fickle fans who sit online all day consistently complaining about Marvel and the “no direction” post-Endgame, but anyone paying a modicum of attention to Loki could tell a) who the big bad of this saga was and b) what they were building towards. You don’t populate the world with heroes and then just leave them as such, and Kevin Feige pulling the curtain back on the conclusion of the now-aptly named Multiverse Saga confirmed what we knew. The big bad is Kang, and we are headed towards the only story that can both top Endgame and simultaneously reset the universe to a point where it makes sense that mutants other than Kamala Khan exist and that the Avengers do have to pay for their machinations of time. You see, just because He Who Remains’ TVA was ok with them messing with time doesn’t mean that all the other Kang variants and their TVAs (should they have them) will be. Kang’s line to Ant-Man (you’re an Avenger? Have I killed you before) is the first salvo in the war to come ahead. A secret war, if you will, and seeing that confirmed was pretty damn exciting.

    MTF III

    daredevil disney plus

    My favorite reveal from Marvel’s SDCC panel was the official announcement of Daredevil: Born Again. Although Charlie Cox’s return to the role in the MCU was no secret (shoutout to #SavedDaredevil), the extent of Daredevil’s role in future Marvel projects was still held close to the vest. And even after confirmation of appearances in Echo and She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, the official announcement of his Disney Plus series was universally well-received. But no one could have predicted that the series would get 18(!) episodes to tell its story.

    I recently advocated for longer seasons of the Marvel Disney Plus series, because the six-episode season structure wasn’t adequately serving them, so tripling that output assuages all of those concerns. Daredevil: Born Again is 5 episodes longer than what fans were used to getting from Netflix, which should provide its narrative with more than enough time to breathe so that the show can service multiple character subplots, conclude several arcs, and overall, do the necessary world-building to truly establish the MCU’s Street Level.

    Will we see any of the former Defenders pop up? Will we get a split season of 9 and 9 with a break in between? Will the “canon” questions be definitively answered? So many questions were raised by the announcement of Daredevil: Born Again, and I can’t wait to discover all the answers.

    Hunter Radesi

    Not sure if this is a surprise to anybody, but my favorite reveals from San Diego Comic-Con were probably Spider-Man: Freshman Year and Daredevil: Born Again. These are two of my all-time favorite characters, and to see both of their names pop up in Hall H, headlining projects, was a dream come true. I’ve been craving a solid new animated Spider-Man project for years, and it looks like Jeff Trammell is getting ready to deliver. Learning Freshman Year is going to be a full-blown variant series, as opposed to a mini-MCU prequel, was so exciting. I haven’t been satisfied with a Spidey show since The Spectacular Spider-Man, but this one looks to have everything I could want from a web-head adaptation. Diverse supporting characters, classic bad guys, a unique animation style, and a passionate creative team working behind the scenes. As for Born Again, that one doesn’t take much explaining. Who wouldn’t be pumped about another season, a full 18 episodes, of Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio doing their thing? My eyes will be on Disney+ for the next couple years.

  • Latest ‘Spider-Verse’ Merch Offers First Look at Cyborg Version of Spider-Woman

    Latest ‘Spider-Verse’ Merch Offers First Look at Cyborg Version of Spider-Woman

    Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has been pushed back by quite a bit, but it seems like the merchandise releases may have not received the memo. A batch of toys is finding their way online teasing the various characters from across the Spider-Verse potentially joining the project. Of course, there’s always a chance they are just creating some based on ideas and it isn’t definite they’ll have a role but the latest merchandise finding its sway online reveals a Cyborg Spider-Woman.

    You read that correctly, it seems like a cyborg version of Spider-Woman will have the role of some kind in the upcoming Spider-Verse sequel. Theere has been a version of the character int he comics with a cyborg version of Peter Parker, whose design is quite a bit different; the arm was more Winter Soldier and less 90’s arm cannon. You can check out the visual as shared by @preterniadotcom on Twitter.

    It’s surprising they are going down the Spider-Woman route with this character, especially given that the design is mostly similar to the classic red-blue from Spider-Man. Though, there might be an interesting story here that is teased, as she could be part of a Wasteland-inspired part of the Spider-Verse. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the upcoming sequel but hopefully, a new trailer isn’t too far even with the long wait until the sequel releases on June 3rd of 2023.

    Source: Twitter

  • The MCU Could Set Up a Non-Earth-616 Universe With Phase 5 and 6 Projects

    The MCU Could Set Up a Non-Earth-616 Universe With Phase 5 and 6 Projects

    One of the many reveals at Marvel Studios’ Hall H Panel at San Diego Comic-Con was that two Avengers films would be the final events of Phase 4-6, now officially coined the “Multiverse Saga.” While Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars were new announcements, many were already speculating that a Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars-inspired event with Kang the Conqueror as a main villain was the endgame of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe saga.

    Avengers: Secret Wars gets its name from two major Marvel Comics events—Secret Wars (1984) and Secret Wars (2015). Both share some similar elements, such as Beyonder(s) and the creation of a Battleworld, and Marvel may very well take elements of both of these events to craft the 5th and 6th Avengers movies. Still, considering the 2015 event was prefaced on the destruction and ultimate revival of the multiverse, it does not take a scholar to guess that the 2015 event and the events leading up to it will be an extremely heavy influence on Secret Wars.

    Earlier this year, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness actually gave us potentially the first direct reference to a Secret Wars (2015)-inspired event. While before the Illuminati, Reed Richards told our 616 universe Doctor Strange about the phenomena called incursions, where universes get destroyed when colliding with one another. A simplified summary of the igniting event before 2015’s Secret Wars is the incursion of the last two surviving universes in the Marvel multiverse—Earth-616 and Earth-1610. Many are familiar with Earth-1610 as the “Ultimate” universe, as it was the subject of Marvel Comics’ imprint Ultimate Comics. Earth 1610, among many other contributions, was responsible for the introduction of Miles Morales as Spider-Man. 

    Part of the reason Secret Wars (2015) was as compelling and exciting as it was is due to the long-running and meticulous building of that separate universe—Earth-1610–alongside the primary Earth-616 storylines. Secret Wars (2015) writer Jonathan Hickman was the driving force behind the Avengers, New Avengers, and some Ultimate Comics, which all led into the event. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is in a very different state than the comics were ahead of Secret Wars. We know that the 6th Avengers film of the same name will release in just a little over 3 years. As such, the MCU will have trouble being able to capitalize on its storytelling during those years given the limited amount of projects it can feasibly churn out in comparison to comics. Still, if the MCU wants to ensure its next major event feels and hits like the massive event it purports to be, it might take specific inspiration from the comics that inspired it. 

    Specifically, the MCU would benefit from having at least one universe separate from Earth-616 for audiences to be invested in. While there are bits and pieces scattered throughout the Multiverse Saga already (such as in What If… ? and Multiverse of Madness), there is no particular set of stories taking place in a dedicated separate universe yet. With two entire Phases left to go before the end of the Saga, Marvel Studios has a decent amount of time and a sufficient quantity of projects lined up to explore something akin to the Ultimate universe in live-action. 

    While some of the MCU’s animated projects leave the multiverse implications wide open, the MCU could boldly step into the next few years with major live-action projects that actually take place in a non-616 universe. Marvel Studios has said nothing to indicate this about any of its upcoming projects, but it would be a relatively easy and low-stakes (in the long-term) way of building up to Secret Wars and its aftermath. In the comics, the conclusion of the event saw the reconstruction of the multiverse, but it did not return to exactly how it existed before its destruction. An easy example is, again, Miles Morales. Though his home was the 1610 universe, the new multiverse saw him established as part of the main 616 universe.

    The MCU would similarly have this option with any non-616 characters it established. In other words, the fact that some major characters could debut and exist outside of 616 in the coming years would not mean that our main MCU timeline would be without them in the long run. This could mean anything from the upcoming Fantastic Four, Blade, Deadpool 3, Daredevil: Born Again, or other projects could take place outside of the MCU’s Earth-616 universe fans are accustomed to. Aside from telling the Multiverse Saga story, it could also help Marvel Studios better integrate some of its newer properties from Fox or reboot Marvel TV projects into the proper MCU.

    We have yet to see what the next Phases of the MCU will bring, though the Multiverse Saga would be quite bland if the multiverse did not dramatically expand story-wise ahead of its conclusion in Secret Wars. Bits and pieces of other universes will play their part, but firmly establishing major live-action storylines in another universe would heighten the overall narrative and experience for fans since we now officially know where the current saga ends. We will find out more, presumably soon, but some of the upcoming live-action projects could very well begin establishing an entirely new universe than the one the MCU has spent virtually all of its time in. 

    In light of all the new MCU announcements, check out Murphy’s Multiverse’s continuously-updated What to Expect from the Future of the MCU and When to Expect It.

  • SDCC: Every Marvel Studios Project That Wasn’t Discussed

    SDCC: Every Marvel Studios Project That Wasn’t Discussed

    Kevin Feige once said that Marvel Studios would not appear at San Diego Comic-Con unless they could overdeliver, and this year’s event proved he wasn’t kidding. Through two major panels, one for animation and the other for live-action, the entertainment giant landed punch after punch of exciting news. Those in attendance were treated to countless announcements at a rapid fire pace, and information drops were used to both expand on known projects and reveal entirely new ones. If any fans felt left in the dark after 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, they should have a pretty good idea as to what the future holds now.

    That being said, there were still quite a few titles missing from the Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline shown at the end of the company’s Hall H presentation. Despite all the thrilling surprises, it’s hard not to wonder what might be going on with the shows and movies Feige didn’t talk about over the weekend. As such, it feels right to round up every single MCU project that’s definitely in development but somehow still on the downlow. Let’s dig in:

    This was the biggest question mark coming out of Marvel’s Hall H. Armor Wars, an upcoming Disney+ series based on the comic arc of the same name was officially announced during a Disney Investor Day presentation in 2020. It’s probably the longest-standing MCU project yet to score a release window, despite a promising premise and a genuine leading man in Don Cheadle‘s War Machine. Actor, writer, and comedian Yassir Lester was brought on to serve as the series head writer almost a full year ago, and that was more or less the last time fans heard of any progress behind-the-scenes. The fact that Armor Wars wasn’t even mentioned during this year’s Comic-Con initially caused a bit of panic that the series might have been quietly canceled, until Lester took to social media and confirmed it’s still planned to release.

    As history has shown, Marvel Studios is not above shifting its calendar to accommodate new things. It’s very likely that Armor Wars is simply still in its early development stages, and will be slipped into the release schedule when the company and the creatives feel everything is ready to go. It’s also possible the show’s story fits better later in the MCU timeline, and Feige just revealed its existence earlier than he ended up needing to. Until more is known, fans will just have to settle for seeing Cheadle‘s James Rhodes in Secret Invasion instead.

    It really felt like this one was coming, and it’s still kind of shocking that it never did. Deadpool 3 has been in various stages of production since 2018, with its creative process being understandably delayed by Disney’s acquisition of former parent company 20th Century Fox. Since then, it’s been confirmed by the likes of Feige and star Ryan Reynolds that another film is indeed on the way. If that wasn’t enough, they’ve also revealed that this threequel will finally transition its R-rated antihero into the MCU proper.

    The lead-up to this year’s convention saw Disney put both previous Deadpool films on their previously-kid-friendly streaming service, and the convention grounds themselves had the Merc with a Mouth handing out free chimichangas to promote the big additions. Nothing has ever felt like more of a sign that Marvel might announce the new entry during their Hall H panel. Alas, no Deadpool 3 was found on the timeline. At least fans can rest easy knowing Reynolds, along with franchise writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, are currently hard at work preparing Wade Wilson for his next cinematic adventure.

    Marvel’s Hall H presentation was surprisingly Avengers-heavy for a franchise with so many new toys to play with. As stated before, the MCU can now legally include mutants, and more specifically, the X-Men, in their theatrical projects. Patrick Stewart became the first mutant in the MCU earlier this year when he reprised his iconic role as Professor Charles Xavier for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Iman Vellani took the reigns as part of a huge twist ending when Kamala Khan turned out to be a mutant in Ms. Marvel‘s finale episode. Now seemed like the perfect time for Marvel to announce exactly when to expect the X-Men’s return to cinemas, in a film Feige continues referring to as The Mutants, but no such confirmation ever came. Not even a peep about a potential creative team.

    It’s worth noting the X-Men did have a presence at the convention, however, in the form of the animated X-Men ’97 series coming to Disney+ in fall 2023. It’s very possible Marvel held back on revealing The Mutants so that show would have time to shine, and besides, there were still about eight empty slots on that Phase 6 slide. It wouldn’t be shocking if Marvel’s Merry Mutants found themselves occupying one in the very near future.

    It’s actually pretty strange that this one didn’t make the cut. It’s an incredibly open secret that Marvel Studios is developing an untitled Disney+ Halloween special centered on Werewolf by Night, but the transparency behind the project isn’t what makes its lack of attention at San Diego Comic-Con so weird. Not only does this one-hour special have a director in longtime composer Michael Giacchino, a runtime, and a full-blown cast in Gael García Bernal and Laura Donnelly, it’s actually already completed filming and is supposedly set to release in October of this year. It seems like, by this point, it should at least have an official title. Yet, the elongated Marvel One-Shot, or whatever it may be, was not even included in the MCU’s Phase 4 when Feige discussed the future timeline with fans, despite coming out before the Phase ends with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

    It’s starting to look like Marvel Studios doesn’t consider holiday-themed specials as part of their actual Phase plan. Much like the still-untitled Halloween special, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is all filmed and rearing to go for this December season. Set photos, promotional merchandise, and a lot of updates from director James Gunn have kept fans satiated for the past year, but an official release date would be a nicer present for under the tree.

    It wasn’t that long ago fans learned Simon Williams would be coming to the MCU. It was just last month The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton and Community writer Andrew Guest would create a Wonder Man series for Disney+. The article mentioned that cameras could begin rolling on the show as soon as 2023, so many fans felt that an official announcement from Marvel might come out of Hall H. Sadly, Feige‘s presentation ended without any sort of Phase placement or casting reveal for Wonder Man. Perhaps supporters of the longtime Avenger will have better luck at D23.

    Nova is maybe the most elusive MCU project in the company’s history. The character has been rumored to appear in a number of projects since it seems, the beginning of the company’s history. It was once confirmed that Richard Rider, the last of the Nova Corps, was intended to appear in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, but was cut for the sake of trimming story fat. All hope seemed lost until news dropped in March that a Disney+ series focusing on the character was in development from Moon Knight scribe Sabir Pirzada. Of course, this led many to believe Marvel would finally make the project official at Comic-Con, putting an end to the cult-like social media campaign to bring Nova to live-action. Maybe Marvel likes all the begging because that obviously didn’t happen.

    Black Panther Spin-Offs

    Early last year, it was reported by Deadline that Marvel Studios had put two Black Panther spin-off series into development at Disney+. One was said to revolve around Danai Gurira‘s Okoye, while the other would be Wakanda-centric and produced by director Ryan Coogler. Not much has been heard about either show since then, even if many expected at least one to be announced alongside Wakanda Forevers portion of the night’s program. Much like the mutant situation before it, this could be due to the fact Marvel wanted its highly-anticipated sequel to get every bit of the attention.

    Not long after Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings became a massive success, it was announced that director Cretton and star Simu Liu would return for another go-around. It wasn’t likely that Marvel would make a big fuss about the future project with so much else to cover, but it did seem logical that a title reveal or release date could come with the outlining of Phases 4-6. While this didn’t pan out, fans can still be excited to see Cretton come back for Disney+’s Wonder Man, which as previously mentioned, also wasn’t discussed at Comic-Con.