Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU Features

  • Ultron’s Return May Give New Life to a ‘Runaways’ Throwaway

    Ultron’s Return May Give New Life to a ‘Runaways’ Throwaway

    Few Marvel Comics IPs have as interesting of a story to tell over the last decade and a half as the Runaways. Originally intended to be one of the studio’s earliest Infinity Saga films with development beginning in 2008, the project was scrapped following the success of 2012’s Avengers and the realization that the MCU could truly thrive financially by going bigger. In 2016, Marvel Television–no, the old one–partnered with Hulu to begin development on a streaming adaptation of the property which debuted in 2017. Over three seasons and 33 episodes, Runaways proved to be a critical darling but as the old Marvel Television branch run by Jeph Loeb began to be put down, the series came to a premature end in 2019.

    Despite sharing some storytelling elements with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Runaways is not only nowhere to be found in the Marvel section of Disney Plus but also was pulled from Hulu, the streaming service that originally presented it. So while Marvel Studios has mad moves behind the scenes to canonize Marvel Television’s Netflix Defender-verse series, Runaways–despite being both popular and promising–has been given the Sloth treatment and been chained in the basement by Mama Fratelli, hidden away while its brother and sister series are allowed to see the light of day. It was strange fate indeed for a property that once seemed to hold so much promise as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe but even as time and measures taken by Disney help erode the memory of the Hulu series, there might be some hope on the horizon for at least one character who played a major role in Brian Vaughan‘s comic book series and was always intended to play a role in the the TV series.

    The Runaways Throwaway

    Introduced in 2005’s second volume of Marvel Comics Runaways, Victor Mancha is an incredibly interesting character who was a big-time threat in the comic book series, was supposed to show up in Hulu’s Runaways and whose lineage might just make him a perfect fit for an upcoming MCU project. As Marvel Television was putting together Season 1 of Runaways, they had every intention of including a character by the name of Victor Mancha. Those plans never materialized and Mancha’s role in the show was reduced to an easy-to-miss mention and his name appearing during a brief shot of a note from the future found by Alex Wilder in the series finale.

    In Mancha’s case, having not appeared at all in Runaways may ultimately turn out to be the best thing to ever happen to the character.

    El Diablo Robotico

    Victor Mancha is a significant character in Marvel Comics, particularly known for his association with the Runaways series. Created by Ultron, Victor is a sophisticated android designed to infiltrate and destroy the Avengers. However, his destiny took a different path when he joined the Runaways, a group of young heroes with complicated backgrounds.

    Origin and Creation

    Victor Mancha was conceived as part of Ultron’s plan to create a synthetic being capable of harnessing incredible power to defeat the Avengers. As a half-human, half-android, Victor possesses a unique blend of abilities inherited from both his human mother and his robotic father, Ultron. His powers include electromagnetic manipulation, super strength, and advanced computing capabilities, which make him a formidable opponent.

    Joining the Runaways

    Despite his origins as a potential threat, Victor defied his programming and joined the Runaways, a team of teenagers who rebel against their villainous parents. Victor quickly became an integral member of the group, contributing his technical expertise and raw power to their various missions. His affiliation with the Runaways marked a shift in his character, emphasizing his struggle to choose his own path rather than succumb to the dark designs of Ultron.

    Role in the Marvel Universe

    Victor’s story extends beyond the Runaways as he also interacted with other major Marvel entities, including the Avengers AI and Vision. His struggle between his inherent programming and his desire to be human continues to define his journey within the Marvel Universe, making him one of the more complex characters in the pantheon of Marvel Heroes.

    The Son of Ultron

    The news of James Spader‘s return to the MCU as Ultron in the as-yet-untitled Vision streaming series was met with nearly universal celebration by fans. While Avengers: Age of Ultron didn’t initially land as well with fans as 2012’s Avengers, it has grown on fans over time and Spader’s performance as rogue AI peacekeeping program has always been well-regarded. Fans of the comics know Ultron never truly dies and the character’s return to the MCU could open the door for Victor Mancha.

    In the comics, Victor’s mother, Marianella, came into possession of one of Ultron’s chrome domes with an intact CPU. Over time, Marianella rebuilt Ultron and the two became besties. And as a woman and a detached robot head often do, the two hatched a plan to create a child. Weaving Marianella’s DNA into a nanite-based robot, Ultron created the cyborg known as Victor and placed within him programming that would allow him to make his way into the Avengers as a sleeper agent designed to wipe them out. While Victor ultimately overcame his programming, it was a great move by Ultron and one that can easily be adapted into the MCU.

    Indeed, the thought of Victor being used in an MCU project is hardly a new one. Fans theorized how the character might be used in WandaVision or even as the big bad in a Young Avengers project. However, while it’s unclear exactly what role Ultron will play in the upcoming Vision series–currently in development under the care of showrunner Terry Matalas–it’s time to revisit the idea of bringing Victor into a Marvel Studios project.

    The Pieces Are in Place

    As seen in Spider-Man: Homecoming, bits and pieces of Ultron and Sub-Ultrons that the Department of Damage Control collected ultimately found their way onto the black market as weapons. The DODC also houses the head of Ultron which is really all anyone needs to kick off another age of Ultron in the MCU.

    While it is still being put together, it’s believed that the Paul Bettany-led Vision series will follow the White Vision as he tries to regain his memories. At some point, that will certainly include learning he was an Avenger and the realization that his “father” was one of the Avengers’ deadliest foes. It would make for compelling television to see Ultron being physically reassembled while his son reassembles the memories of who he once was. Once put back together again, Ultron would obviously seek vengeance against his foes–who he would sadly find are almost all nowhere to be found. It would not, however, be too tough to locate his son, Vision, who he might feel particularly apt to get even with. And, as Vision will also likely feel the absence of his family, the appearance of a “brother” would make for a nice Trojan Horse for whatever Ultron’s newest evil plan might be.

    It would only seem right that the Vision series eventually sees Vision reunite with Ultron. And since Ultron has proven to be incapable of permanent destruction in the comics and has never truly been defeated, the best one could hope is to continue to foil his plans. In this case, that might simply mean that Vision helps Victor overcome his programming and choose his own path.

  • A Closer Look at Marvel Studios’ Updated Slate and Its Efforts to Prune Its Own Multiverse

    A Closer Look at Marvel Studios’ Updated Slate and Its Efforts to Prune Its Own Multiverse

    In what’s either the most brilliantly coordinated marketing move in its history or a spectacular coincidence, Marvel Studios looks to be following the plot of the recently released Deadpool & Wolverine as it attempts to accelerate the conclusion of the Multiverse Saga. Launched in 2021 with the studio’s first streaming series, WandaVision, the Multiverse Saga has now toddled into Year 3 with a track record pockmarked by an unprecedented run of projects that simply failed to land with the fanbase. Beginning with 2021’s Eternals, the studio dropped a series of duds into theaters. Though the cringeworthy Thor: Love and Thunder made plenty of money at the box office, it also raised plenty of concerns about what was happening behind the scenes. Those concerns seemed justified when, in 2023, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania–one of the Multiverse Saga’s most important stories–was DOA at the theaters and became a critical and financial bomb.

    What followed has been well documented and won’t be rehashed here in detail; however, a new mandate by Disney big cheese Bob Iger, the loss of the entire creative team and star of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and an extended Hollywood work stoppage have all combined to metamorphose the future of Marvel Studios. And now it seems as though Kevin Feige and crew wish to euthanize the Multiverse Saga and move ahead into whatever all-new, all-different saga is on deck. While that assumption is purely speculative, comparing the studio’s original plans for the Multiverse Saga with the latest iteration does provide a compelling foundation from which to make an argument that Marvel has chosen to prune its current saga.

    How It Started

    Despite getting underway in 2021, the Multiverse Saga was not known as such until July 2022 when Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, revealed the title and what ultimately became the first of many drafts of the saga’s future slate. At that point in time, six films (Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder) and seven streaming series (WandaVision, The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki, What If…? Hawkeye, Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel) had already been released as part of Phase 4. Feige then revealed that Phase 4 would wrap up with She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, bringing the total number of Phase 4 projects to 15, only 8 fewer than that ENTIRE Infinity Saga. Phase 4 played out as planned with each project making its scheduled release date.

    The cookie crumbled a little differently for most of the one dozen projects that originally made up Phase 5. That number quickly changed to 13 when the then untitled third Deadpool film was added to the phase just a couple of months later in September 2022…and from there, the shuffle was on. For the purposes of this discussion, it’s not worth counting the number of times each project was given a new release date, only to point out that as of publication, 6 Phase 5 projects (half of the original number) have yet to be released despite the original plan calling for the phase to wrap up with the release of Thunderbolts on July 28, 2024 (the date on which Deadpool & Wolverine ultimately was released). As it stands, the final six projects of Phase 5 are currently set to be released in 2025.

    Though not much of it was revealed at SDCC ’22, Phase 6 was originally intended to be made up of at least 11 projects. As of July 2022, only three of those projects were “known” and they were all films (Fantastic Four, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars). At that time, the Multiverse Saga was on track to be composed of an incredible 39 projects with 8 of them being unknowns. Additionally, as of July 2022, only two projects were slated for release between the fifth and sixth Avengers films–which were both set for a 2025 release–and only one of them was believed to be a feature film, though the identity of it was unknown at the time.

    Post-SDCC ’22, fans already found it hard to believe that the studio would roll out two Avengers films in one year and by October 2022, they were proven right. The studio moved Avengers: Secret Wars into 2026 which meant there was now room for 3 movies to be released between the fifth and sixth Avengers films. By February 2023, Disney had moved Blade into 2024 and bumped The Marvels into the November 2023 release. By June 2023, the schedule had been rearranged again to include a total of 10 films to release in the Multiverse Saga after the theatrical debut of The Marvels (a net increase of 1 film from the original plan) with only 2 in between Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars.

    This plan remained intact through Disney’s April release schedule update with Deadpool & Wolverine being the first of 10 films released after The Marvels with Avengers: Secret Wars still in place to be last of the 10.

    Deploy the Time Ripper!

    Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Paradox in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo by Jay Maidment. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    Following SDCC ’24, Disney released another updated version of its theatrical release schedule on August 2nd, 2024. While it’s highly unlikely to be the final version of Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga slate, the latest update removed the July 24, 2026 theatrical date from the schedule. Marvel Studios had not named the film intended for that date and it seems very likely that Sony will quickly pounce on it as the release date for Spider-Man 4; however, Spider-Man 4 was always coming and it was always coming from Sony so Marvel dropping the date is a net loss of one project from the Multiverse Saga, putting things back to where they stood in July 2022 with only one film set to hit theaters in between Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. So if they’re back to where they started, how can the argument be made that they are trying to accelerate the ending of the saga?

    We’re slowly going to decrease volume and go to probably about two TV series a year instead of what had become four and reduce our film output from maybe four a year to two, or a maximum of three. And we’re working hard on what that path is.

    Bob Iger on the reduction of content being produced by Marvel Studios

    To truly make the argument, one must look at the overall reduction in content as mandated by Bob Iger who, in this instance, is playing the part of Mr. Paradox. Once set to be composed of AT LEAST 39 projects (21 films and 18 streaming series), that number has been greatly reduced–although not entirely quantifiable at this point. The studio was originally willing to release as many as 5 live-action streaming series in a year, a number that has already been reduced to 2. Where once the studio planned to roll out Echo, Season 2 of Loki, Ironheart, Agatha All Along and Daredevil: Born Again over the course of 12 months spread between 2023 and 2024, Daredevil: Born Again is now set for a March 2025 release and Ironheart, while still expected to be released, remains in limbo. Beyond those shows, only Wonder Man and the Paul Bettany-led Vision series have been confirmed by the studio and are not likely to arrive on Disney Plus until 2026. Looking back at the original Phase 6 reveal, it seemed as though the studio had planned for as many as 5 streaming series to be released within it. Even if Wonder Man and Vision were among them, it seems very hard to believe that the studio will then push out 3 more streaming series in 2027 before the release of Avengers: Secret Wars.

    DISNEY UPFRONT 24 – The Disney Advertising Upfront is a showcase event that brings together all the content corners of The Walt Disney Company on one stage. On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at North Javits in New York City, an incredible roster of all-star talent will tout their connections to storytelling, Disney, and each other while showcasing their latest projects for the upcoming year. (Disney/John Argueta) CHARLIE COX, VINCENT D’ONOFRIO

    The strongest indicator that the studio is looking to put the Multiverse Saga out of its misery is the recent reduction of films between the newly retitled Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. While it does return the slate to the state of its initial reveal at SDCC ’22, nobody believed that was the final draft at the time. Reducing the number of projects in between the films results in the reduction of efforts to further explain or further explore what’s going on in the Multiverse. Where it once seemed likely that Armor Wars, a sequel to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Doctor Strange 3 were all destined to be part of the Multiverse Saga, that’s no longer possible given the most recent release schedule update; where Phase 6 once looked to be comprised of 6 films, it’s now down to 5 and that is with Blade, which was originally a Phase 5 film, having slid into Phase 6 due to struggles to get production underway. Whatever film lands in between the two Avengers films will have some seriously heavy lifting to do as it seems increasingly unlikely that a streaming series would be required viewing for an Avengers saga finale.

    Moreover, the perceived importance of some projects and characters has already been upended following Marvel’s SDCC ’24 announcement. Many believed the Shang-Chi sequel would serve as a major chapter in the Multiverse Saga by connecting the Ten Rings to Kang and that the Quantum Bands introduced in Ms. Marvel would factor heavily into the fight against the conqueror. While it’s probably been determined internally, it seems more likely that Doctor Strange 3 is a much more important project in terms of moving the Multiverse Saga to its end than either Armor Wars or Shang-Chi 2. With only two untitled Marvel Studios films left on the schedule (one immediately preceding Avengers: Doomsday and the other immediately preceding Avengers: Secret Wars), it would not be shocking to see Armor Wars and Shang-Chi 2 get bumped down the road and be replaced by films that help speed the Multiverse Saga on its way.

    Given the response of the audience to the multiverse portions of the Multiverse Saga, the reduction of projects almost certainly happened as a result of Iger and Marvel Studios’ creative cohort, The Parliament, recognizing they were on very thin ice with fans. And while that is indubitably a “good thing”, it does not alleviate the perception that they’d like to get this chapter of the MCU over as soon as possible. While we will have to wait a bit longer to be able to say just how many fewer projects will ultimately make up the Multiverse Saga, it is clear it will be fewer than intended and that Iger’s return to Disney coincided with the push to deploy the Time Ripper against it.

    Doomed to Fail

    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage during the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

    Hindsight is, as they say, 20/20; however, the Multiverse Saga was always a risk. And before Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania flopped and Jonathan Majors‘ legal troubles deep-sixed Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Kang was always going to be a problem…and a problem the studio should have foreseen following Avengers: Endgame. There are plenty of reasons why hardcore sci-fi media never really lands with general audiences but time travel, alternate dimensions and the infinite possibilities of a multiverse are definitely near the top of the list. For a decade, MCU films were easily digestible popcorn blockbusters. Avengers: Endgame changed that and the online dialogue following the film stands as a testament to the difficulties general audiences have with key hardcore sci-fi concepts. Not even the writers of Endgame agreed with the directors on how time travel worked.

    We are not experts on time travel, but the Ancient One specifically states that when you take an Infinity Stone out of a timeline it creates a new timeline. So Steve going back and just being there would not create a new timeline.

    -Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely on how time travel works within the MCU

    Both Ancient One and Hulk were right. You can’t change the future by simply going back to the past. But it’s possible to create a different alternate future. It’s not a butterfly effect. Every decision you made in the past could potentially create a new timeline. For example, the old Cap at the end movie, he lived his married life in a different universe from the main one. He had to make another jump back to the main universe at the end to give the shield to Sam.

    -Anthony and Joe Russo on how time travel works within the MCU

    Tracking and understanding the multiple realities created by time travel in Avengers: Endgame became an obsession and a wonderful lesson of why it is important not to engage in online dialogue about nuanced and complicated fictional topics. What should have been a teachable moment for the Parliament became anything but. Rather than avoid dipping back into the deep end of the sci-fi pool, they doubled down by choosing to enter the Multiverse Saga and by choosing Kang as its center. Even the most dedicated and long-standing fans of Marvel Comics would have a difficult time explaining the convoluted nature of Kang to a fellow dedicated and long-standing fan. Making Kang the “anchor being” of the Multiverse Saga was never the right choice. And despite the correct decision to eliminate the saga’s “anchor being” following Majors‘ legal troubles, it nonetheless accelerated the end of the saga, forcing them to turn to where they should have always started.

    The studio was ultimately betrayed by its continued divergence from comic book canon and the need to create its own narrative rather than steer more closely to the wonderful source material from which the MCU was born. If Avengers: Secret Wars was always the “endgame” of the Multiverse Saga, there were much simpler paths and each and every one of them involved Victor Von Doom. Sure, direct adaptations of Jonathan Hickman‘s Time Runs Out and Secret Wars would have been far too complicated to land with general audiences but there’s also a sweet spot that exists somewhere between Hickman’s work and Jim Shooter‘s original 1984 Secret Wars, both of which feature Doom as a central character.

    Now, it seems, the studio heads chose to learn the hard way and in a move that has been described as “desperate”, turned to Doom to save the Multiverse Saga…and turned back to their biggest star (Robert Downey Jr.) and their most consistent shepherds of content (McFeely and the Russos). Superficially, pivoting to Doom indicates that the Parliament “was listening to fans” and let them help drive the bus to the end of the Multiverse Saga. On the other hand, the move to Doom seems hurried, and, in all the worst ways, Avengers: Doomsday could turn into the MCU’s Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice: a rushed and contrived mash-up that tried to do too much too fast and ended up as an abject failure.

    Can Doom replace Kang as the anchor being and save the Multiverse Saga? That’s not a question that can be answered until the entire saga can be viewed retrospectively. However possible it may be, it may be hard for longtime fans of the MCU (and even harder for longtime fans of the Victor Von Doom found in the pages of Marvel Comics) to accept the Multiverse Saga as a success. All things die and with so many options available for Marvel Studios to choose from for their next saga, it might be hard to find many fans who mourn the accelerated end of the Multiverse Saga.

    Marvel Studios is expected to provide some measure of an update on the Multiverse Saga on Friday, August 9th during its portion of Disney’s Entertainment Showcase as part of D23.

  • From Rumor to Reality: What’s Next for Marvel Studios’ Original Avengers

    From Rumor to Reality: What’s Next for Marvel Studios’ Original Avengers

    It’s been five years since Marvel Studios’ original Avengers last assembled on screen in Avengers: Endgame. However, as Marvel Studios crosses the halfway point of their Multiverse Saga–which has introduced heroes like Ms. Marvel, Shang-Chi and Moon Knight–six of Earth’s mightiest heroes who, on a day unlike any other found themselves united against the cmon threat of Loki and heeded the call to become the Avengers, still sit at the forefront of the minds of fans. Though two of them sacrificed themselves to help defeat Thanos and a third disappeared in the time stream, three of the OG Avengers have seen their stories continue post-Endgame and still live on to fight another day.

    As fans continue to hope for the continuation of the stories of Hawkeye, Hulk and Thor and for the Multiverse to find a way to tell further chapters in the stories of Cap, Widow and Iron Man, Disney has taken a hard look at the state of the MCU and found some holes in the one unassailable armor. Perhaps coincidentally, as Disney plots a new course forward, rumors and reports have begun to emerge that they may take a look in the rearview and return to the stories of the heroes that created such a sturdy foundation. Ahead of the summer convention circuit, which could be used to give a glimpse of what’s next, we parse through rumor and reality for each of the original six Avengers.

    Bruce Banner

    After a supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Bruce Banner’s next appearance–while all but guaranteed–is anyone’s guess. Despite the MCU debut of the Red Hulk, the Hulked-out alter ego of Banner’s longtime nemesis, Thunderbolt Ross, and the return classic Hulk villain The Leader in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World, Banner is not expected to be on screen in the film. His cameo appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings seemingly indicated he’s still at least somewhat active with whatever remnants of the Avengers remain after the events of Avengers: Endgame and as their current expert on time travel, one would think he’d come in handy when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes find themselves up against Kang (assuming that’s still happening).

    I’d love to do a standalone Hulk, I just don’t think that’s ever going to happen. It’s very expensive if you did a whole movie, which is why they use the Hulk so sparingly. I priced myself out!

    -Mark Ruffalo, GQ, February 2024

    https://www.murphysmultiverse.com/avengers-5-rumored-to-have-cracked-its-story-sideline-major-marvel-studios-heroes/Though Mark Ruffalo–who has played the Hulk since taking over for Edward Norton in 2012’s The Avengers–was told by Marvel Studios’ One Above All Kevin Fegie that a solo Hulk movie is out of the question, a film adaptation of the Marvel Comics event World War Hulk has made several rounds through the rumor mill since 2021. Originally rumored to begin production in 2022, buzz around the film died off significantly following Marvel Studios’ 2022 slate presentations at SDCC and D23. Recently, however, rumors emerged that at least part of the action in the newly rewritten Avengers 5 would involve a team of heroes that included Banner and that some elements of either World War Hulk or World War Hulks could have made their way into the new script.

    Verdict: With nothing but tenuous and insubstantial rumors from which to glean information, we’d wager that the safest bet is to expect to see Mark Ruffalo back in action in Avengers 5. If so, look for Marvel to make an announcement about the film this summer during the convention circuit.

    Clint Barton

    Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Hawkeye provided an opportunity to wrap up Clint Barton’s story by handing over the mantle of Hawkeye to Kate Bishop; however, while the Season 1 finale of Hawkeye saw Clint burn the Ronin outfit that symbolized a very dark period of his life, it did nothing to put a bow on his story. While Kate popped up in a quick cameo in The Marvels, the next chapter of Clint’s story has yet to begin yet…but as you probably already know there’s a reason for that.

    I’m always game. I’m gonna be strong enough, that’s for sure. I’ll be ready. All those guys come to my bedside and they’ve been with me all along through this recovery, so… if they want me, they could have me. It would be something.

    Jeremy Renner, Entertainment Tonight, February 2024

    Jeremy Renner, who has played Clint Barton since the character first appeared in 2011’s Thor, nearly died in a snow plow accident in 2023. The actor’s recovery has gone incredibly well and now he’s ready to pick up the character’s trademark bow and arrow once more. Recently, it was rumored that a second season of Hawkeye was ordered up for Disney Plus which would see Clint and Kate reportedly pinned down in one location and potentially up against Clint’s brother, Barney.

    Verdict: Though the original source of the rumor could be called into question, subsequent investigation into the veracity of the information has turned up some interesting information. While Marvel TV head honcho Brad Winderbaum just cautioned fans that the studio is now developing more projects than they ever intended to produce, a second season of Hawkeye does indeed seem to be in development and could end up on Disney Plus much sooner than expected.

    Steve Rogers

    Joe and Anthony Russo gave Steve Rogers a fairy tale ending in Avengers: Endgame. The Man Out of Time stepped back in time to live the life that was stolen from him when he went into the ice. After returning the Infinity Stones to their timelines, Rogers traveled back to 1949, creating a new timeline in which he and Peggy Carter got their dance and their happily ever after. That detour alone provides incredibly fertile storytelling ground but, so far, the further adventures of Steve Rogers have yet to be explored.

    I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon. And ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life. I have a lot of other interests.

    Chris Evans, GQ, 2023

    Reports of Chris Evans‘ potential return to the role date back to early 2021 when Deadline reported the actor was nearing a deal that could see him star in a pair of projects. Evans has responded to the report on multiple occasions and while he’s never shut the door on a possible return, he’s made it clear it’s not something he’s been chomping at the bit to make happen, saying a return to the role “would be a tall order.“

    I don’t want to disappoint anybody, but I just don’t know…it’s tough, it was such a good run and I’m so happy with it and you know, it’s so precious to me. It would have to be perfect. It would just be scary to rattle something that is so dear to me. And that role means so much to me, so to revisit it would be a tall order.

    Chris Evans, Phase Zero, 2022

    Rumors of Evans‘ return as Rogers are most frequently associated with two projects: Nomad and Avengers: Secret Wars. As we first reported in 2020, a Nomad project remains in development at Marvel Studios. Though no details have ever surfaced and the studio has never officially addressed the project, they have taken steps over the years to keep it viable. In April 2024, Evans was rumored to have signed on to star in Avengers: Secret Wars, currently on the slate for 2027, which fits with the star’s desire to have some time pass between Endgame and his next MCU appearance.

    Verdict: A return by Evans seems inevitable at this point. His growth into the role of Captain America was one of the highlights of the Infinity Saga and his return for any project would immediately drive interest in it to new heights.

    Natasha Romanoff

    Natasha Romanoff should never be brought back to life. Her sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame brought a fitting closure to her character’s MCU arc and undoing it is not only impossible by the rules set forth in the film but would also give the character’s legacy less meaning moving forward. That does not, however, mean that stories about the character could not or will not continue to be told.

    Like a loophole? I feel like that’s kind of the end, right? Like can you come back? Could it be a vampire version of the character? Cause I’m here for that, like a zombie version, maybe.

    Scarlett Johansson, Today, 2023

    For her part, actress Scarlett Johansson has never really provided much hope that she’d reprise the role of Black Widow again saying the return of her character “would be a miracle.” That doesn’t mean Johansson and Marvel won’t work together again, however. In 2021, Kevin Feige revealed that Marvel and Johansson were working on a “non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project.” Recent rumors have potentially identified that project as The Blonde Phantom, a 1950s-set streaming series that Johansson is expected to produce but not star in. If that project is off the table, could Black Widow still find life after death? As we speculated here, the character could potentially join the cast of Nomad with the studio hoping to tap back into the incredible chemistry shared between Evans and Johansson in Captain America: Civil War. The post-Civil War/pre-Infinity War timeline has barely been fleshed out in the MCU and revisiting it could easily retcon characters and events into the universe that could still be dealt with in the Multiverse Saga.

    Verdict: Any and every character is truly on the board for a return in the Multiverse Saga; however, here’s to hoping any future Black Widow stories are set before her death or involve the creative and effective use of Variants.

    Thor

    Of all the original Avengers, Thor seems the one most likely to have stories told about him as long as the MCU exists. Given his long life as an Asgardian, there’s plenty of room for stories about his past and future to be told, something done exceptionally well in the comics by Jason Aaron.

    You look at Thor 1 and 2, they were quite similar. Ragnarok and Love and Thunder are similar. I think it’s about reinventing it. I’ve had such a unique opportunity with Infinity War and Endgame to do very drastic things with the character. I enjoy that, I like keeping people on their toes. It keeps me on my toes.

    Chris Hemsworth, Happy, Sad, Confused Podcast, 2022

    While Chris Hemsworth has grown tired of playing Thor on multiple levels, it doesn’t seem as though he’s quite done with his time as the Odinson. The star has slowly but surely revealed his displeasure with both his own performance in Thor: Love and Thunder and its reception with fans. Hemsworth has said that any return to the character would have to start with a project that is “tonally different” than the previous installment in the franchise. If a recent rumor has any merit to it, Marvel Studios must have listened to the star’s words and be looking to head in that direction as they are currently seeking a new writer and director in order to get Thor V in production by the end of 2025.

    Verdict: There’s more gas in the tank for Hemsworth and the Odinson. More Thor is on the way.

    Tony Stark

    “I am Iron Man.” The bookend statement of Tony Stark’s journey as the Armored Avenger provided two of the MCU’s most memorable moments. Undoing his death or altering it in any way should be a punishable offense. Avengers: Endgame co-director Joe Russo explained that he and his brother, Anthony, “closed that book” adding that it would be up to the studio “to figure out how to reopen it.“ Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, stated that the studios has no interest in reopening said book, saying “we are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.“

    Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me. And look, I always say, “Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.” It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.

    Robert Downey Jr., Esquire, 2024

    Tony Stark’s incredible legacy in the MCU will continue to live on even though the character does not. Though Vegas sees actor Robert Downey Jr. as the odds-on-favorite to return to the role that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the rumor landscape is notably barren. A pre-Endgame-set Iron Man 4 doesn’t seem likely and it’s pretty clear a post-Endgame continuation of the story of the Sacred Timeline’s Tony Stark isn’t in the cards. That doesn’t mean there’s no way home for Stark, however, as a Variant of the character could easily appear in any number of Multiverse Saga stories.

    Verdict: It is my belief that Marvel Studios and Downey will find–perhaps already have found–a way to get Downey some more screen time. The MCU needs saving and who better than its greatest hero to save it one more time.

    Sources: GQ, Deadline, Esquire, GWW, Happy, Sad, Confused, THR, Variety

  • The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    The Ultimate List of What to Watch Before ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

    The Merc with a Mouth and The Best There Is at What He Does are about to make their MCU debuts when Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters this July. Though director Shawn Levy says there’s no homework necessary to enjoy the film, he also knows that both characters–particularly Wolverine–come complete with a “rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore” of the characters.” So while the Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t the same Logan fans have grown accustomed to seeing on screen over the last two decades in the Fox films, it’s safe to say he’ll share some of the same background as the more familiar Variant. Wade Wilson, on the other hand, appears to be the same character who made his big-screen debut in 2016. What does that mean for fans as they prepare to settle in for a rewatch? As always, we’re here to help with the Ultimate List of What to Watch Before Deadpool & Wolverine.

    I was a good student in school. I’ll do my homework as an adult. But I am definitely not looking to do homework when I go to the movies. I very much made this film with certainly a healthy respect and gratitude towards the rabid fan base that has peak fluency in the mythology and lore of these characters and this world. But I didn’t want to presume that. This movie is built for entertainment, with no obligation to come prepared with prior research.

    -Shawn Levy
    (L-R): Hugh Jackman as Wolverine/Logan and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    Tier One

    When it comes down to prep for Deadpool & Wolverine, it’s Shawn Levy‘s world and we’re not here to argue. So when he says that no homework is required to enjoy the film, we believe him; however, we have selected a handful of projects that might help you maximize your enjoyment come July.

    All I ever wanted was to travel off in exotic places and meet new exciting people and then kill them, so I became a mercenary. My name is Wade Wilson. And I love what I do.

    -Wade Wilson, X-Men Origins: Wolveirne

    X-Men Origins: Wolverine 38% Rotten Tomatoes

    By far the worst X-Men movie put to film by Fox, Origins is also the most complete story of Logan’s transformation into Weapon X. While the Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine is most certainly not this Logan, the origin story is almost certainly the same and worth checking out before heading to theaters. There’s also an absolutely atrocious origin of Deadpool tossed in here that is all but a sure thing to be referenced in the new film. In fact, there’s plenty of speculation that one member of the Deadpool Corps is plucked from whatever timeline this disaster took place.

    Deadpool (2016) 85% Rotten Tomatoes

    The first act in The Tragedy of Wade Wilson, Deadpool is the setup that provides exposition and establishes the majority of the important relationships in Wade’s life. It seems as though Deadpool & Wolverine will see Wade face the threat of losing everything, so it’s good to remember just what everything is.

    Deadpool 2 (2018) 84% Rotten Tomatoes

    For all of Wade’s mockery of what heroes are and do, Deadpool 2 saw the Merc With a Mouth become one. The second act in the Tragedy of Wade Wilson, the film allowed Deadpool the opportunity to grow and realize his true capabilities. It’s also full of time travel which–one would think–would have to be referenced by the TVA in Deadpool & Wolverine.

    Loki Season 1 (2021) 92% Rotten Tomatoes

    (Center, l-r): Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Hunter B-15 (Wunmi Mosaku) in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.

    For all time, always…and any time is always a good time to rewatch one of Marvel Studios’ finer streaming series, however, there may be good reason to limit your rewatch to Season 1. From what can be gleaned from the first two trailers for Deadpool & Wolverine, that project is seemingly set before Loki ascended to his role as the God of Stories in Season 2. Of course, not everything will be what is seems in the trailers and time is very wonky within the walls of the TVA. At the very least, though, it won’t hurt to catch back up on how things work in the TVA offices and freshen up on the Sacred Timeline.

    Tier 2

    If you’re out to be a Wolverine completist, Tier 2 is for you. In addition to the Tier 1 projects, working your way through these will provide whatever level of Hugh Jackman fix you need.

    McAvoy or Stewart? These timelines are confusing.

    -Wade Wilson, Deadpool (2016)

    X-Men (2000) 82% Rotten Tomatoes

    Revisiting Jackman’s first time as Wolverine won’t really help you understand anything that happens in Deadpool & Wolverine but on the heels of the incredible first season of X-Men ’97, it’s another trip down memory lane worth taking. It should provide some especially jarring juxtapositioning to see Wolverine in the ridiculous black leather just ahead of seeing the big screen debut of his iconic comic book costume.


    X2 (2003) 85% Rotten Tomatoes

    If you’re going to watch the worst X-Men movie ever made (Origins), you might as well treat yourself to the best X-Men movie ever made. X2 did what few sequels did by surpassing the quality of the original and set the franchise up for a killer third installment. While that didn’t quite work out, you can still enjoy Alan Cumming‘s incredible performance as Nightcrawler and hate Brian Cox‘s Stryker all over again. Certainly one of Jackman’s best turns as Wolverine, rewatching this one will be time well spent.


    X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) 57% Rotten Tomatoes

    Notable as the first time Fox dropped the ball in telling the story of the Phoenix, The Last Stand is forgettable and tough to watch. As bad as it is, it does introduce Kelsey Grammer‘s Beast, who recently made his MCU debut, and Elliot Page‘s Kitty Pryde. Is that enough to overcome the trauma induced by seeing Vinnie Jones as Juggernaut? Probably not but at least it served as good meme material.

    ***NOTE***
    As the most recent trailer showed, there will be plenty of characters appearing in Deadpool & Wolverine who first appeared on film in the original X-Men trilogy. A rewatch of the trilogy will serve as a nice refresher course on just who is who.

    X-Men: First Class (2011) 86% Rotten Tomatoes

    Worth a watch just for the cameo appearance by Jackman, First Class is also a very solid film and is likely to be referenced in some way. It won’t add anything to the story of Wolverine but if it’s been a while, check it out anyway.

    The Wolverine (2013) 71% Rotten Tomatoes

    The closest Jackman came to suiting up in the blue and yellow suit, The Wolverine is a fun, standalone story that gives a little more background on Logan. Depending on what the Variant in Deadpool & Wolverine has been through, that might be valuable.


    X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) 90% Rotten Tomatoes

    The highest-rated X-film, Days of Future Past will always be worth a watch. It’s also going to provide more context to all the crazy time travel that’s always part and parcel of X-Men stories and could end up being referenced while Wade and Logan are in the TVA.


    X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) 47% Rotten Tomatoes

    Just a cameo and a reminder of Logan’s tortured past and not worth a watch other than for that.


    Logan (2017) 93% Rotten Tomatoes

    The film that was supposed to send Jackman off into the sunset, Logan stands as one of the highest-rated and most revered superhero films of all time. Levy, Reynolds and Jackman have sworn that the Logan timeline will not be altered in any way, but there are plenty of rumors about an appearance of an X-23 or two in Deadpool & Wolverine including, perhaps, a grown up version of Dafne Keene‘s Variant.

    Loki Season 2 (2023) 82% Rotten Tomatoes

    Tom Hiddleston as Loki in Marvel Studios’ LOKI, Season 2, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Time is a funny thing within the walls of the TVA so while Deadpool & Wolverine may not start before Season 2 of Loki concludes, there’s no saying it won’t end somewhere else down that road. If nothing else, the season provides a great reminder of how crazy the multiversal stuff gets and is great sci-fi TV.

    Tier 3

    Maximum effort! Deadpool & Wolverine is rumored to feature some fun cameos from characters who, like Logan, made their film debuts before the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If you’ve never seen these films or even if it’s been some time since you have, consider adding these to your pre-Deadpool & Wolverine watch list just in case they show up. The only caveat here is that should you chose to head down this path, you’ll be subjecting yourself to some of the worst superhero movies ever put on film.

    I can tell you two things. One, your hairdo is ridiculous. Two, I ate a lot of garlic, and I just farted. Silent but deadly.

    -Hannibal King, Blade: Trinity



    Blade (1998) 59% Rotten Tomatoes and Blade II (2002) 57% Rotten Tomatoes

    Before the live-action X-Men films put superhero in the spotlight, Wesley Snipes‘ Blade opened the door to the world of comic book films. The first film is a classic; the second less so. Why are they on here?


    Daredevil (2003) 43% Rotten Tomatoes

    Ben Affleck‘s Daredevil has not aged nearly as well as Ben Affleck.


    Blade: Trinity (2004) 24% Rotten Tomatoes

    Ryan Reynold‘s first role in a CBM was as Ryan Reynolds Hannibal King in Blade: Trinity. With the multiverse open for business, there’s room for a fun joke or two at his expense here.


    Fantastic Four (2005) 28% Rotten Tomatoes

    A horrible movie with a wonderful cast, it’s quite possible that at least one of those cast members makes a cameo in The Void in Deadpool & Wolverine.

    Elektra (2005) 11% Rotten Tomatoes

    If you thought Green Lantern was bad…but Jennifer Garner‘s character has been among many rumored to show up in a cameo in Deadpool & Wolverine, so you might have to give it a shot. Think of it this way: if you can watch this and recover in time to make it into theaters, you may have as strong of a healing factor as Deadpool and Wolverine.

    Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26th!

    About Deadpool & Wolverine

    DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine delivers the ultimate team-up throwdown on July 26.

    Shawn Levy directs Deadpool & Wolverine, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Karan Soni, and Matthew Macfadyen.

    Kevin Feige, Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy and Lauren Shuler Donner produce with Louis D’Esposito, Wendy Jacobson, Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, George Dewey and Simon Kinberg serving as executive producers. Deadpool & Wolverine is written by Ryan Reynolds & Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick & Zeb Wells & Shawn Levy.

    DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.
    DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    Marvel Studios’ Deadpool & Wolverine opens in U.S. & Canadian movie theaters on July
    26, and will be available in IMAX, RealD 3D, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, Cinemark XD and premium
    screens everywhere.

  • The ‘X-Men ’97’ Season Finale Introduced a Major Marvel Comics Character That Most Fans Missed

    The ‘X-Men ’97’ Season Finale Introduced a Major Marvel Comics Character That Most Fans Missed

    The season finale of X-Men ’97 was so chock-full of goodness that fans could be forgiven if they overlooked a thing or two. With all the cameos from heroes across the Marvel Universe to the introduction of Apocalypse and the post-credit tease of Gambit’s resurrection, the episode was quite simply one of the best examples of what Marvel Studios can–and should–be capable of. However, with a Mr. Fantastic here and a Sauron there, some fans seem to have completely missed the appearance of a major X-Men character.

    Following an emotional good-bye between Scott, Jean and Cable, the appearance of a young Nathan in the future to which his parents where whisked away was certainly an attention grabber. The reunion gives Cyclops and Marvel Girl the opportunity to spend at least some time raising the son they’d lost…but the scene also introduced a daughter they didn’t know they had… because they hadn’t…not yet, at least.

    When Scott and Jean arrived in the year 3960, they were met by a hooded woman who introduced herself as Mother Askani. From there, Nathan’s appearance took all the attention but it’s all but a sure thing that Mother Askani’s identity will become a significant part of whatever goes on in Season 2. If showrunner Beau DeMayo is staying relatively close to the comics–and there’s plenty of evidence to suggest he is–then Mother Askani will be revealed to be Rachel Summers, the daughter of Scott and Jean.

    Though she remains hooded and her face partially hidden, Rachel’s trademark face markings are clear. What’s more, the markings on her chin and the long, white braid are consistent with the appearance of the alt-Earth version of the character who first appeared in 1993’s Cable #6.

    As the founder of Clan Askani, Rachel became known as Mother Askani. The clan believed that a Messiah, known as Dayspring or Askani’son, must be saved from the past to protect the future and overthrow Apocalypse. That messiah is, of course, Nathan Summers, who was alive and well under Rachel’s watch in the season finale.

    This isn’t Rachel’s first appearance in the animated universe as she showed up in X-Men: The Animated Series when the show adapted Days of Future Past. However, given the timey-wimey nonsense that comes with Marvel’s mutants, this Rachel is probably not that Rachel and she’s probably not the daughter of that Scott and that Jean. In that sense, saving the full reveal of the true identity of Mother Askani for Season 2 was a wise move as it gives Scott, Jean (and the emotional fans) time to process one reunion before moving on to a potentially more awkward one.

  • X-Men ’97 Season 2

    X-Men ’97 Season 2

    Premiere: Summer 2026

    Announced in 2022, the second season of X-Men ’97 was delayed following the firing of showrunner Beau DeMayo and will now debut Summer 2026 on D+

  • How Bob Iger’s Mandate Could Reshape Marvel Studios Future Slate

    How Bob Iger’s Mandate Could Reshape Marvel Studios Future Slate

    Though it had long been clear that Marvel Studios was dialing back on the number of projects to be released each year, Disney big wig Bob Iger quantified what fans should expect in a recent investor call. According to Iger, the plan moving forward is for Marvel Studios to slowly get to a point where they release 2 streaming series and 2-3 movies each year. Given the most recent updated slate from the studio still had 4 films set to release in 2025 and 4 more in 2026, it’s easy to see how that might be a problem. While it’s possible Disney will roll out a new Marvel Studios slate at this year’s D23 in August, all we can do for now is speculate as to what the future may hold…and so we will, operating under the assumption that Iger was referring to live-action series given Marvel Animation has several series that could easily be released in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

    2025

    During the investor conference call, Iger only mentioned two 2025 releases by name: Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. Both of those films will definitely be ready to roll out in 2025, though there has been some doubt expressed that Brave New World will be ready for its February 14, 2025 date as it has some significant work to do via reshoots. However, both The Fantastic Four and Blade are also on the 2025 theatrical slate and if Iger sticks to his plan, only one of those would hit theaters next year and that’s only IF the studio decides to go with a third film. Of those, The Fantastic Four is the best bet as it will begin production soon enough to make it out before the end of 2025.

    Cracking the potential lineup for the streaming projects is actually quite a bit simpler. After recently completing filming, Season 1 or Part 1 of Daredevil: Born Again will almost certainly hit sometime in 2025. It’s most likely to be joined next year by Ironheart, which has more or less been in the can for nearly two years.

    Ultimately, a scenario like the one we predicted back in mid-January might just work.

    Films

    Captain America: Brave New World
    Thunderbolts
    The Fantastic Four

    Streaming

    Daredevil: Born Again
    Ironheart

    2026

    Since the project should begin production in 2025, it becomes easy to slide Blade into 2026. After that, projects such as Armor Wars, Spider-Man 4, Shang-Chi 2 and Avengers 5 are all rumored to be headed into production at various points in 2025. While Marvel Studios will produce the new Spidey film, they have no control over its release date so we won’t waste time and energy thinking about that one for now. Iger also sounded very eager to get to another Avengers film so if we had to pick 3 for 2026, we’d go with Blade, Armor Wars and Avengers 5.

    Again, the streaming slate seems far easier to work with simply because there are far fewer projects to think about. Wonder Man seems like a sure bet for 2026. And while the second season/second part of Daredevil: Born Again used to seem like a good fit, it’s possible Vision Quest might beat it to the punch should its rumored October start date hold.

    Films

    Blade
    Armor Wars
    Avengers 5

    Streaming

    Wonder Man
    Vision Quest

    2027

    Breaking the pattern here for a beat, by 2027 the number of known live-action projects in development is reduced to Daredevil: Born Again. Sure, there are a number of rumored projects but given Iger’s comments, how many of those can truly be counted on to make it to the screen?

    Theatrically, 2027–which as of now only has a date set aside for Avengers: Secret Wars–could include Shang-Chi 2, Doctor Strange 3–which has not been confirmed to be in development by the studio or any trades. Our best guess is that by the time 2027 rolls around, we’ll only get two films and Secret Wars will get pushed down the road a bit.

    Films

    Shang-Chi 2
    Doctor Strange 3

    Streaming

    Daredevil: Born Again Part 2/Season 2

    As we wait for the studio to officially address the slate (or for a trade to break some news), it’s best not to take any of this too seriously and to understand we are in a time of ever-increasing uncertainty. Iger did say they would slowly change things around which might mean fans can look forward to 4 films a year in 2025 and 2026 before things slow down in 2027 and beyond. Either way, Iger’s comments point to fans having 4-5 Marvel Studios projects a year to enjoy which is great any way you slice it.

  • Exploring ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s’ Possible Connections to Old Man Logan

    Exploring ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’s’ Possible Connections to Old Man Logan

    The latest look at Deadpool & Wolverine gave fans a lot to chew on with plenty of cameos and Easter eggs. One of the most prominent, of course, was the head of some Multiversal Variant Giant-Man which seems to serve as the base for Cassandra Nova’s Void wasteland warriors. It’s a visually stunning set piece and, as many have already pointed out, reminiscent of a concept used in Mark Millar and Steve McNiven’s Old Man Logan limited series. While it could be the case that it’s just a really great Easter egg inspired by a beloved comic series, it could be possible that there’s more to it than that. Could Deadpool & Wolverine have taken a little more inspiration from Old Man Logan than just a dead Giant-Man?

    What Is Old Man Logan All About?

    In the dystopian future of the Marvel Universe, the aged Wolverine, also known as Old Man Logan, emerges as a weathered and battle-hardened hero. This seasoned mutant, once known as Logan, has endured unimaginable hardships, bearing the scars of countless battles and the weight of a tragic past. In this alternate reality, the X-Men have fallen, and Logan wanders a world overrun by villains, haunted by memories of his past failures.

    Old Man Logan’s journey is one of survival and redemption. Despite the world-weary burden he carries, he confronts the challenges of this desolate landscape with a resilience born from years of experience. From facing off against the remnants of his former allies to battling ruthless adversaries like the Hulk and the Red Skull, Logan fights not just for his own survival but for a chance to reclaim his sense of purpose.

    Accompanied by an unlikely ally, Hawkeye, Old Man Logan embarks on a perilous adventure across this ravaged landscape. Together, they traverse the dangerous territories of this broken world, encountering both friend and foe along the way. Through their encounters with entities like Emma Frost, Maestro, and the enigmatic Mysterio, they uncover the grim realities of a society teetering on the brink of collapse.

    In this alternate future universe depicted in the comics, supervillains have taken control of the United States, dividing the country among themselves after a coordinated attack led by a group of villains, including Mysterio.

    Mysterio’s role in “Old Man Logan” is particularly dark and impactful. He uses his skills as a master illusionist and manipulator to trick Wolverine, the story’s protagonist, into believing that the X-Men and other superheroes are attacking the X-Mansion. In his manipulated state, Wolverine unleashes his claws and goes on a brutal rampage, only to realize too late that he has actually slaughtered his fellow mutants, including his X-Men teammates. This traumatic event leads Wolverine to swear off violence and retreat into a reclusive life as a farmer. Though Mysterio himself meets a grim fate at the hands of Wolverine later in the story, his actions leave a lasting impact on both the character of Wolverine and the world he inhabits.

    Despite his advanced age, Old Man Logan proves that age is no barrier to heroism. His grizzled determination and seasoned skills make him a formidable force against the forces of evil that seek to dominate this apocalyptic world. With each battle he fights and every obstacle he overcomes, Logan reaffirms his status as a legendary figure in the Marvel Universe.

    The tale of Old Man Logan is not just one of action and adventure, but also of introspection and redemption. Through his struggles and triumphs, Logan grapples with his own inner demons, seeking to find peace amidst the chaos of a shattered world. His journey serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of the X-Men and the timeless legacy of one of Marvel’s most iconic characters, Wolverine.

    How Could Deadpool & Wolverine Adapt Old Man Logan?

    Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova in 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios’ DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    2018’s Logan was, ostensibly, inspired by Old Man Logan; however, it certainly was not a direct adaptation. Other than involving a Logan who was an old man and the majority of the X-Men being dead, the world inhabited by Logan, Charles and Laura was vastly different than the one in Millar and McNiven’s work. Perhaps the biggest change was that their world wasn’t a wasteland controlled by supervillains. But it looks like that’s exactly what’s happening in Deadpool & Wolverine.

    The new trailer makes it clear that while Alioth is still a fearsome force in the Void, Cassandra Nova and her collection of villainous Variants are in charge whenever Alioth isn’t out and about. Whatever Wade and Logan hope to accomplish in the film, it looks like they’ll have to go through Emma Corrin’s Nova to make it happen but it also looks like it’ll first take a little convincing to get Logan on board. That idea also parallels the events of Old Man Logan in which Logan had promised never to pop his claws again, a promise he kept for 50 years.

    Of course, the biggest similarity between Old Man Logan‘s Logan and the Logan Variant seen in Deadpool & Wolverine is that they have both been destroyed and are haunted by some trauma experienced in their home worlds. In Old Man Logan, Wolverine murdered his X-Men teammates; in Deadpool & Wolverine, Wolverine “let his entire world down,” according to Matthew Macfadyen‘s TVA Agent Paradox. While fans shouldn’t expect to see Logan slaughtering his teammates in Deadpool & Wolverine, the trauma he experienced on his Earth (which as I understand it is not the one from the Logan timeline nor the one from which Corrin‘s Cassandra Nova was pruned) has certainly taken the piss out of Weapon X.

    It also seems clear that, at least in part, Deadpool & Wolverine‘s creative team took some inspiration from Steve McNiven‘s glorious artwork in Old Man Logan in fleshing out the Void. And why not? The Void can contain just about anything anyone can imagine, including not just the head of a Giant-Man but the entire body: indeed the Void seems to have its very own Pym Falls, whether it’s called that in the film or not. Who knows what other wonders await in the Wasteland…er Void.

    And, of course, at its core, Old Man Logan is a buddy movie where Logan and an old, beat up and blind Clint Barton set out across the Wasteland on a dangerous journey and encounter all sorts of danger and chaos along the way while finding out they’re still the heroes they’d always been. That seems to be, at least in part, a core theme of Deadpool & Wolverine, though it might end up drowned in blood and dick jokes.

    With only two trailers–neither of which was particularly revealing–to go on, it’s impossible to say just how much of Old Man Logan was adapted into Deadpool & Wolverine; however, it certainly seems like we’ve seen enough to conclude that Millar and McNiven’s masterpiece made an impact on the writers, directors and production designers of the film.

    Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters in the U.S. on July 26th.

  • ‘The Marvels’ Post-Credit Scene Holds a Major Clue Most Fans Missed in Theaters

    ‘The Marvels’ Post-Credit Scene Holds a Major Clue Most Fans Missed in Theaters

    Despite being a box office disappointment for Marvel Studios, 2023’s The Marvels found life on Disney Plus and continues to generate more conversation online now than when it was in theaters. The film’s conclusion saw Monica Rambeau stranded in another universe that not only had its own team of X-Men but also a Variant of her mother, Maria, who was the costumed hero known as Binary.

    While the revelation of a universe in which the X-Men work with Avengers-level heroes was fascinating in its own right, a detail about Binary’s costume that was missed by many fans in theaters has become the center of some interesting theories. As can be clearly seen on more than one occasion over the course of the film’s final scenes, Lashana Lynch’s Binary’s costume comes complete with a complete pair of The Marvels‘ MacGuffin, the Quantum Bands.

    First introduced to the MCU in the Disney Plus streaming series Ms. Marvel, the Quantum Bands are a pair of ancient artifacts of enormous power. Created by the Kree, the Quantum Bands were used to create wormholes in space that ultimately formed the Universal Neural Teleportation Network. The Network has been seen and used in more than a half-dozen MCU projects such as all three Guardians of the Galaxy films, Avengers: Endgame and both Captain Marvel and The Marvels. While both Kamala Khan and Dar-Benn were shown to be able to use one of the pair of Quantum Bands, when Dar-Benn attempted to use both together, the energy created not only eviscerated her but also ripped a hole in the fabric of spacetime, causing an Incursion. However, if Maria Rambeau’s Binary is who we think she is, the Quantum Bands won’t be a problem for her.

    Who is Binary in the Comics?

    Binary, the cosmic alter ego of Carol Danvers, emerges from her background as a former Air Force officer and NASA security chief. Following exposure to Kree technology, she inherits a suite of extraordinary abilities, including energy manipulation, superhuman strength, and flight. As Binary, Carol harnesses cosmic energy, enabling her to create energy constructs, possess cosmic awareness, and engage in intergalactic adventures.

    Despite her formidable powers, Binary faces vulnerabilities, notably her reliance on energy absorption and susceptibility to magical attacks. However, her resilience and determination shine through as she navigates cosmic challenges and confronts formidable adversaries. Through her experiences, Binary’s legacy as a cosmic hero solidifies, inspiring readers with her unwavering commitment to safeguarding the universe.

    Carol Danvers’ journey as Binary represents a significant evolution in her character arc, showcasing her transition from a terrestrial hero to a cosmic force. Her time as Binary serves as a pivotal chapter in her superhero career, highlighting her adaptability and willingness to embrace her cosmic heritage. As she returns to her role as Captain Marvel, Binary’s legacy endures, leaving an indelible mark on the Marvel Comics universe and inspiring future generations of readers with her cosmic exploits.

    What are the Quantum Bands in the Comics?

    The Quantum Bands, revered artifacts within Marvel Comics lore, are cosmic instruments of immense power. Crafted by the cosmic entity Eon, these bands are worn on the wrists and serve as conduits for quantum energy. Bestowed upon worthy individuals, the Quantum Bands grant their wielders a formidable array of abilities, ranging from flight and enhanced physical prowess to the manipulation of cosmic energies.

    The Quantum Bands stand as symbols of cosmic authority and responsibility, embodying the balance between power and duty. Wielders of the bands often find themselves at the forefront of cosmic conflicts, tasked with maintaining order and protecting the universe from malevolent forces. As enduring artifacts of cosmic significance, the Quantum Bands continue to play a pivotal role in Marvel Comics narratives, representing the enduring struggle between light and darkness on a cosmic scale.

    How Binary Could Use the Bands in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

    Should Maria Rambeau’s Binary possess the powers the character possessed in the comics, using the Quantum Bands would prove less problematic for her than they did for Dar-Benn. While there’s no way to know how Monica’s speech with the Variant of her mother went in the alternate universe where she was trapped, the fact that Monica is stranded in a universe other than her own and the comic book version of the Bands being so connected to major Cosmic events suggest that we’ve not seen the last of that universe. It rather seems more likely that the fact that Maria is the owner of her own pair of Quantum Bands suggests we’ll not only see that universe again in the MCU but that it may be central to the resolution of the Multiverse Saga.

  • Connecting Imaginary Dots: Theo James’ Role in ‘X-Men ’97’

    Connecting Imaginary Dots: Theo James’ Role in ‘X-Men ’97’

    The attack on Genosha in Episode 5 of X-Men ’97 took the lives of an as yet unrevealed number of mutants. Despite Cable’s attempt to warn his mother, Madelyne Pryor joined key players such as Magneto and Gambit as casualties of the Wild Sentinel’s devastating attack. While mutants and fans alike are still mourning the dead and recovering from the massacre, the question of who orchestrated it remains.

    Though the Genoshan genocide seen in “Remember It” was partially inspired by a similar event seen in Grant Morrison‘s “E is for Extinction” arc in New X-Men, X-Men ’97 supervising producer Jake Castorena made it clear that the mastermind behind the attack was not Cassandra Nova, who perpetrated the terror in the comics.

    A close look at some clues have led to the theory that the Sentinel Android known as Bastion could be behind the attack. There’s plenty of compelling evidence to suggest Bastion as a possibility but continuing to connect the dots has lead us to not only double down on the identity of the perp but also wonder if the voice actor for the villain hasn’t been in front of our eyes all along.

    Theo James Is Bastion

    Before the first episode of X-Men ’97 debuted on Disney Plus, showrunner Beau DeMayo revealed that Theo James was set to voice a “fan-favorite” character. Through five episodes, the identity of that character has remained a mystery but DeMayo’s insistence that the role would “surprise people” ties nicely into the idea that James will voice Bastion.

    Connecting the dots from James voicing a surprising fan-favorite character to Bastion isn’t really all that crazy. With only five episodes left and the big bad behind the attack on Genosha left a mystery, there’s plenty of reason to think it was Bastion. From the picture of him in Forge’s lab to his brief presence at the gala to the use of “Tolerance is Extinction” as the title of the three-part season finale (Bastion was introduced in the comics in an event titled Operation: Zero Tolerance), plenty of markers point in the direction of Bastion.

    If we accept it’s Bastion, the idea of James voicing him is the easy part. James likely didn’t sign on to voice a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo character and there just aren’t that many major characters left to come into play in this season. While the idea of him voicing Captain America gained some traction online after Cap’s shield was seen in a recent sneak peek, it’s preposterous. James is as British as tea and strumpets and though he’s grown into a bloody brilliant actor, his American accent is a bit rubbish, innit? While he’d be chuffed to bits to voice Cap, he is not.

    James‘ career renaissance has been impressive. He recently led Netflix’s The Gentleman for which he received high praise. However, it was his role as the bad guy in White Lotus: Sicily that showed his range. We won’t have long to wait to find out if we connected the dots well or not but the idea of James as the voice of Bastion is just too good to pass up.