Tag: Marvel Studios

Theory Thursday: How ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ May Set-Up the Captain Britain Corps

The many corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are expanding. As such, Marvel Studios has shifted its focus on exploring beyond the boundaries of the main timeline. With the upcoming expansion into the Multiverse and subsequent exploration of it, I want to talk about a specific organization. Their sole purpose in the comics was to guard that very Multiverse and why, moving forward, Marvel Studios should introduce an iconic organization from the comics and, more importantly, the hero connected to it.

A Brief Comic History Lesson

We all know the name Merlin. The sorcerer from the Tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. He helps the king in battle and aids him with his magic. Did you know that he has a very prominent role in Marvel Comics? He is the one who ends up coining the term “Multiverse” and established the Captain Britain Corps. The reason is that Great Britain serves as the nexus of all dimensions. As such, he once protected the veil between realities as the Sorcerer Supreme before the Ancient One took the title. To ensure the Multiverse’s safety, he ensured that each universe had a man holding the Captain Britain title.

The MCU Connection

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will arrive in 2022, and it’ll give Marvel Studios the perfect opportunity to sneak in a reference or two to the multiversal organization. Of course, it would be a waste not to talk about its founder, whose history as the Sorcerer Supreme makes him a perfect candidate for an appearance. Luckily, the ever-expanding universe has also added another brief mention that connects to the multiversal protection corp. It may not be a coincidence that Britain is not only a Nexus point but also the filming location for the sequel may not be a coincidence.

Do you remember the final commercial in the seventh episode of WandaVision? Almost every single commercial in the show was a direct reference to something in Wanda Maximoff’s grief. Yet, the only commercial that many of us didn’t recognize was the Nexus pills. In a way, it could imply an event that has yet to occur. I suspect that it references “The Nexus of All Realities,” which first got referenced in the MCU by Dr. Erik Selvig during Thor: The Dark World. At the time, it connected to the Nine Realms, but it looks like that was just the beginning.

Just the Beginning

As such, I believe that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will explore Sorcerer Supremes of the past. It’ll also lead to the introduction of the Captain Britain Corps. The Scarlet Witch’s involvement with the film and her connection as a “nexus being” may also cause a crack in the Multiverse in Great Britain. Once Strange escaped the horrors of the Multiverse, the Nexus may remain unguarded. Someone will take on that role, which will allow Marvel Studios to introduce Captain Britain into the MCU.

April 1, 2021
‘FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER’: The MCU in Madripoor and Beyond

The fictional island of Madripoor is set to make its MCU debut in the Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, perhaps even this very Friday. We’ll finally get to see how such an important location translates from the comics into live-action, and we very well might need to thank “The Blip” for such an opportunity.

When Thanos snapped his fingers in Avengers: Infinity War the Marvel Cinematic Universe was forever changed. The Avengers managed to bring everyone back but certain things just weren’t able to be fixed by Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, as the five years it took them to do so took their toll. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier has already shown us how much things have changed even after half the world’s population came back, and in WandaVision, through Director Hayward, we got an idea of just how hard those five years were on everybody that had to endure them.

You have no idea what it was like. What it took to keep the lights on.

Madripoor in “X-Treme X-Men” #11

This extreme change in status-quo within the Marvel Universe gives Marvel Studios the perfect opportunity to justify how a place like Madripoor, basically unmentioned through twenty-three movies and one tv show, can all of a sudden become an integral part of the MCU. With half the world’s population gone it would make sense for countries to concentrate the entirety of their diminished military power closer to home where it would make the most difference. This would mean that super-powers like the US or organizations like NATO would stop being so involved in world affairs creating a power-vacuum in certain parts of the world that would tend to be filled by those seeking power on their own terms. This way a place like the “Principality of Madripoor” could have gained a level of economic and social relevance it just didn’t have before, justifying its absence from the storylines being told up to this point.

Bagalia in “All-New Captain America” #2

And just like Madripoor, there are several other locations from the comics that might very well be introduced into the MCU in the coming years using “The Blip” as the catalyst. By having areas around the globe without proper protection by the so-called good guys, places like Bagalia could pop up by being in the perfect situation to establish themselves as the sovereign island nation ruled by criminals we know from the comics, becoming a haven for the ill-intentioned. Also, a nation like Latveria, led by a ruthless ruler, could thrive in the conditions the world found itself in for five years. Not having mentioned it since 2008’s Iron Man would become a non-issue, since only after taking advantage of surrounding nations that might have been left to fend for themselves in the five years where there wasn’t so much oversight, did it become such a relevant player on the global stage.

Latveria in “The Children’s Crusade” #4

From a different perspective, and knowing how Marvel Studios enjoys approaching certain events and locations taken from the comics by giving them their own take, a place like the Blue Area of the Moon could also be something introduced using The Snap and the following five years that are yet mostly unexplored in the MCU. Its discovery might have prompted by an attempt to establish a defense system on the Moon with the prospect of keeping another alien invasion from reaching the planet in the future, and we could now be faced with a fully constructed human facility built in the previous five years, and perhaps even dealing with the Skrull, Kree, and Cotati background. Its development in secrecy might even have something to do with the theory that Steve Rogers “is in a secret base on the moon looking down over us”.

The Blue Area of the Moon in “Empyre: Avengers” #0

The bottom line is that there are a number of locations and even characters that would have had a hard time being introduced into the MCU after more than a decade without being acknowledged. But “The Blip”, besides having been an exceptional way to finish The Infinity Saga by taking The Avengers to their limits, just might prove to be the smartest thing Marvel Studios has ever done as it manages to set up an almost infinite amount of brand new possibilities for Phase 4 without having to retcon a single thing from past features.

April 1, 2021
‘Marvel Studios Assembled’ Sets Return Date for ‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’

Marvel Studios behind-the-scenes series, Assembled, has set the date for its next episode. According to Disney + Espana, an episode taking a look at the making of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is set for April 30th, one week after the series concludes its run.

https://twitter.com/DisneyPlusES/status/1377283346208808970?s=19

The first episode of the ongoing series gave fans a 60-minute look into the making of WandaVision and we can probably expect something similar here for The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. As it stands, Marvel Studios looks to have episodes planned for Loki, Black Widow and Hawkeye. Given how well the WandaVision episode was received by fans, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the series expand beyond the original plan and continue giving fans the opportunity to peek behind the curtain of their productions.

March 31, 2021
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’: ‘Pen15’s Dallas Liu Joins Cast in an Undisclosed Role

It’s been quite a chaotic beginning of the year. We finally got the finalized release for Black Widow, but it ended up pushing back the original July release, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Well, it seems that something found its way online, as Deadline has revealed that the actor Dallas Liu, who many might recognize from Hulu’s Pen15, is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His role is still being kept under wraps and Marvel Studios has declined comment on whatever role he may have.

Liu has been appeared in the Snapchat series Players but is well-known for his role Shuji Ishii-Peters in the previously-mentioned Hulu series. He has also appeared in Nichole Bloom‘s drama short Ella. It’s uncertain how large a role he’ll have in Daniel Cretton’s upcoming MCU adaptation. He will join an outstanding cast that includes Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Tony Leung, Michelle Yeoh, and Ronnie Chieng.

The film is currently set to release in September and we still have not seen a single trailer for the film. The current uncertainty seems to have caused many film production companies to focus on short-term advertising. So, we might not even see the first trailer until around three-to-two months before its official release. Hopefully, Godzilla vs. Kong‘s current revitalization of the Box Office could kickstart a return to form that may see an earlier trailer release in the usual six-month window that we’re used to from the times before the pandemic.

Source: Deadline

March 31, 2021
Taking a Closer Look at Disney+’s Pixar Premier Access Strategy

Disney has entered the streaming market. It has been a resounding success and has already surpassed 100 million subscribers. It saw an impressive boost in subscribers after the release of Pixar’s Soul in December. As such, it had already passed 90 million, and Marvel Studios’ WandaVision was only around the corner. Sadly, it seems that the pandemic has no end in sight. So, Marvel Studios and Disney decided to drop Black Widow through their Premier Access service in July. It joins Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon, which could be purchased for an additional fee of $30 bucks to watch them three months early. The pricing has been questionable at times. It would at least make the films available for those still cautious about visiting cinemas.

Now, it is understandable that Disney would want to make their cash back some way. It would seem that the streaming service won’t cover the costs of these massive blockbusters. Yet, Disney has also made some contradictory decision with their properties that makes the Premier Access debacle strange. The entertainment behemoth decided to release Soul for free on the service and is following-suit with Luca. Oddly, both Pixar productions get the same treatment, while Cruella gets the Premiere Access treatment. According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Matthew Belloni, Pixar is feeling it.

Just talked to a Pixar friend who says Luca and Soul moves to Disney+ have been demoralizing for employees: “Forget theaters, we’re not even good enough for an upcharge?”

— Matthew Belloni (@MattBelloni) March 29, 2021

It’s a strange decision that these properties are the only ones getting this type of treatment. There is probably a financial reason for it, but, understandably, Pixar employees aren’t thrilled by this. Soul was an emotionally gripping tale that would’ve left quite the impression in theaters worldwide. Luca would be sure to do the same, but there is no mention of a simultaneous release in theaters. Pixar is, by far, one of the biggest players in the animation market. So, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon but not Luca through Premier Access seems odd without this decision getting clarified by Disney.

So, why would they decide to do this? Well, it probably is connected to two factors. On the one hand, Soul got released after the first attempt with Mulan seemed to falter. They decided to bite the bullet and hope that it would raise the overall subscription numbers. As we learned, it did manage to do that. Now, they must’ve believed that they can make up the production costs through the increase in subscribers. Yet, if Raya proved that the service could be profitable after all, it seems strange to sideline one of the most recognizable brands in the market.

There is probably a reason for this decision, but only Disney can offer the complete picture. As it is now, it seems an odd choice to push the Premier Access brand as a showcase of their most-valued productions. If things “normalize,” we might never see this branding again. It was created as a reactionary option during the pandemic until theaters could open again. Godzilla vs. Kong has shown that some international markets have seen a resurgence in the Box Office, but it will still take some time before we’re talking about what we’ve seen before the pandemic started. Either way, it feels like a disservice to Pixar’s hard work and standing in the industry to not put it on their Premier Access selection. No matter why they took this route, the bigger question remains: what could be the fallout of this business decision? There is a possibility that the demoralized employees are just the first cracks to appear in the relationship between Pixar and Disney moving forward.

Source: Twitter, The Verge, Digital TV

March 29, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks John Walker’s Challenge in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

Amy Aquino has quite the filmography. She started her TV career with 1991’s Roseanne before becoming a mainstay on Brooklyn Bridge. Aquino started in film years before, as she appeared in 1987’s Moonstruck. She has recently appeared in series like Bosch, as well as Grace and Frankie. Now, she got the chance to tackle a new character in Disney+’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. She plays Dr. Christina Raynor, who helps Bucky overcome his inner demons. In an exclusive interview, she revealed there is one more character she thinks needs to be interviewed by Raynor.

Well, at this point, number one on my list has got to be John Walker because he is in such a weird position. And, he is someone that I’ve known. I knew them, I fought with them. So, I get him. I think he could really use a little help taking this on. He’s a soldier. Now, he is doing this thing and they are doing all this hoopla around it. So, he can’t just focus to be a soldier but also this giant public figure. It’s a lot. I could start with him.

John Walker is still a bit of a mystery box so far. We get a shade of his darker side, but they haven’t offered a full-glimpse at what may be lurking behind the pressure of being the new Captain America. There is also that brief mention of him not being able to “punch his way out,” which might be a good indicator that someone is not going to have a good time in a future episode. Hopefully, Aquino’s Dr. Raynor will return in the later episodes to give her a diagnosis on the insanity that will occur throughout the upcoming episodes. After the question, she also makes a reference to Dr. Banner, who would be a perfect patient for her. The heroes have to fight enough throughout their journeys in the MCU. So, there could be a future for Amy Aquino to reappear in other series or films.

Source: IMDb

March 29, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Amy Aquino Talks Bucky’s Inner Turmoil in ‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’

Falcon and the Winter Soldier continues Marvel Studios’ expansion into long-form storytelling and exploring the smaller side of their universe. Its action is certainly what we expect from the franchise, but they have started to explore a new aspect that wouldn’t get enough focus in a limited timeframe. We get to see the humanity of these characters. WandaVision focused on Wanda battling her grief and the losses she faced.

The latest Marvel Studios project is the same. We get small moments that leave an essential impact on these characters lives. Ever since the show started, we got a lot of insight into Bucky’s mind through his court-mandated therapist, Dr. Christina Raynor, who is played by the amazing Amy Aquino. Luckily, we got a chance to interview Aquino and she offered some interesting insight into Raynor’s motivations to help Bucky through his sessions.

I think she takes it, she doesn’t, she takes it on a micro-level. Instead of saying: ‘Oh, this guy was a pawn for HYDRA and had all these super, you know, magical things happen to him. She is looking at him, Bucky, as a soldier, as a human being who had to do these things that horrify him. He is suffering from the same kind of post-traumatic stress that I went through myself and others went through, I want to save his life. I know if he doesn’t do this, he is going to die. He will kill himself.’

Her approach to bringing Dr. Raynor to life really highlights the complexity of these characters. We’ve already seen Bucky fight the urge to hurt those that wronged him early on. The trailers have already teased that he’ll confront Zemo at gunpoint in a later episode. So, we might see the points she made reach their limits as the show continues. It also opens up the door to what the future holds for the former Winter Soldier. The title of the series would imply he might end up embracing it. He could turn that title into something positive. It wouldn’t be too out of place in a series about identity and living through someone else’s legacy. Sam is struggling to accept Steve Roger’s while Bucky does the same with his.

March 29, 2021
Russell Crowe Joins The Cast of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

The upcoming Thor film could be the biggest yet, as it will see the Guardians of the Galaxy and all your favorites from Thor: Ragnarok come together. We’ll also get introduced to the treacherous Gorr the God Butcherer, who’ll serve as the film’s main antagonist. The Dark Knight‘s star, Christian Bale, will tackle the role. Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster will also make her return and take on the mantle of Mighty Thor. Now, it looks like they are adding one more iconic star to round out the cast, Russell Crowe.

Many had begun to speculate if Crowe had joined the production after he was spotted with the cast at a rugby match. Not just that, he also teased a secret project in which he was sporting a massive beard. Although it’s unclear how big of a role he has and who he will be playing, it’s still a great addition. Crowe‘s role is described as just “one of many surprises too come out of the film” as they planned to keep his role under wraps.

Thor: Love and Thunder will release on February 11th, 2022. Taika Waititi returns to direct the mighty return of Thor following the events of Avengers: Endgame. The film also stars Natalie Portman, Chris Pratt, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillian, and Pom Klementieff.

Source: Deadline

March 29, 2021
‘Falcon and the Winter Soldier’: First Look at John Walker’s Funko Pop Revealed

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is already nearing its halfway point with its upcoming third episode. Last week, we saw Bucky confront Sam about giving up the shield, which would result in the introduction of the newest Captain America, John Walker. Of course, with every addition, there must come merchandise. No, we aren’t talking about the in-universe merch, but the real-world. Just like Wandavision, Funko has given us a first look at the upcoming addition to its Falcon and The Winter Solider line-up.

View this post on Instagram

John Walker is in a similar pose to when he got revealed to the world. He is even in his full Captain America costume like in that scene. The figure currently has no set release date. Luckily, it’s not an exclusive Funko Pop. So, you won’t have to worry about its availability. Funko seems to be following a similar reveal schedule as they did Wandavision. The Funko Pops of Pietro, White Vision, and Agatha only got revealed after they’ve debuted. The strategy, however, has had a bumpy history with leaks finding their way online frequently.

The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is currently streaming on Disney+. The series stars Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan, as they set their differences aside and work together to face the villainous Flag Smashers. The upcoming episode will also see the return of Daniel Brühl‘s Helmut Zemo, who will add enough chaos to the already strained relationship between our favorite heroes. The future of the Captain America title will be determined in the upcoming weeks.

Source: Instagram, Marvel

March 29, 2021
Falcon And The Winter Soldier Episode 2 Recap
The second episode of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier is a tale of regret and ignorance. On many levels, our characters are running from something. The reality is they all have to confront some harsh truths. So, let’s not waste any time and dive right in and look at the major player’s individual journeys throughout the episode:

John Walker’s Close Up

With John Walker as the new Cap, he soaks it all in on the football field. He is visited by, who we must assume is his wife and his friend Lemar Hoskins. We later even get a callout to his comic book name, Battlestar. Walker gets introduced to the crowd and gets a Good Morning America interview. Later, John and Lemar hack Redwing to follow Sam and Bucky to fight the Flag Smashers. After losing the skirmish, John tries to appeal to the duo to work together.

Bucky doesn’t take kindly to John at all. His efforts get rebuffed. When Bucky ends up arrested, John bails him out, as he considers him an asset. He once again appeals to Sam and Bucky about working together to no avail. This rejection angers Walker. He warns the two to “stay the hell out of his way.” John Walker seems like the guy who got one promotion and is now calling all the shots. He’s a good soldier, but is he a good man?

Karli Morgenthau and The Flag Smashers

The Flag Smashers are busy moving a bunch of crates around. We learn that they are moving chemicals around. It could connect to the Power Broker and their abilities. After their confrontation with our favorite duo and the new Captain America, they stop at a safe house. Karli gets a text implying that they stole something from the Power Broker, and he is deadset on retrieving it. This sequence makes it clear that she is their leader. As they get ready to fly off to their presumed next attack, they get unexpected visitors. It’s the Power Broker’s men. One of the Smashers sacrifices their life to let the rest escape. We still don’t know who the man in the shadows is, but whoever it is means business.

Sam and Bucky Get Reacquainted

After Walker’s announcement as Cap, Sam and Torres go off to confront the Flag Smashers. Bucky arrives and complains to Sam about giving up the shield. In Germany, they start learning to work together again. Their encounter with Karli and her team leads to Redwing getting destroyed and their egos hurt. While they’re flying back to the States, Bucky reveals that there’s another super-soldier.

The duo arrives in Baltimore to talk to Isaiah Bradley, the Black Captain America. They’re greeted by what we assume is his grandson, Eli. Isaiah is irritated at Bucky’s appearance and is shaken by remembering what happened in his past. He was sent behind enemy lines to fight Bucky.

You know what they did to me for being a hero? They put my ass in jail for 30 years. People running tests, taking my blood, coming into my cell.

Bradley painfully says as he angrily shows a bit of that super soldier strength. A powerful scene from Carl Lumbly. He chases both of them out shortly after.

Understandably Sam is angry upon learning this information now. Bucky reveals that Steve Rogers didn’t know about this either. As this is happening, the cops pull up. They first assume it’s an altercation and ask for Sam’s ID, cue racial profiling. They then both realize that Sam is the Falcon. Unfortunately, Bucky gets arrested as he missed his court-mandated therapy sessions.

Unlikely Therapy Sessions

At the jail, Dr. Raynor appears and holds an impromptu therapy session with the duo. Bucky reveals his aggravation with Sam stems from Sam giving up the shield willingly, claiming that “If he was wrong about you, then maybe he was wrong about me.” Bucky has a ton on his head and heart here. Unshaken, Sam says that he thought this was the right thing to do. The two agree to work together until the problem is solved.

As the episode ends, they decide to visit Zemo in prison, as he may know more about the serum and HYDRA secrets. With this cliffhanger, let’s ask five questions for next week’s episode:
1. Did the Flag Smashers steal the super soldier serum from the Power Broker, or is he trying to steal it from them? I think the former.
2. Who’s the Power Broker? Whoever this person is they’re not playing games as they’re hot on the Flag Smashers tail.
3. We got to know John Walker in a way that wasn’t overt but is there something darker about who he is? We will find out soon enough.
4. Isaiah Bradley didn’t take too kindly to Bucky and Sam showing up. He figures to be a meaningful part of the series, will he be the motivation Sam needs to be the Captain America we know he can be?
5. We will finally see Zemo next week. Do we think Sam and Bucky break him out of prison? If so that could cause problems for everybody.
We’re through the first act, and we’ll see how the Falcon and The Winter Soldier continue to lay out their story next week.
March 27, 2021