Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU News

  • SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Sets 3 Films for Theatrical Release in 2025

    SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Sets 3 Films for Theatrical Release in 2025

    Though we’ll never see it here, somewhere on a parallel Earth, Marvel Studios’ fans just saw Thunderbolts at the theater are preparing to be treated to some version of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty next May. Scrapped in favor of the return of Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty is one of several projects revealed at comic-cons past as part of a future MCU slate that didn’t quite work out. During Marvel’s last trip to San Diego, they rolled out an ambitious plan for the Multiverse Saga; two years later, nine of the projects have seen their release dates shift significantly, including five projects that would have been released by now had the original plan been followed. While there are myriad reasons for the shifts, the fact remains the slate has changed several times over the last two years and now, it has again.

    As Marvel Studios took the stage in Hall H last night, its latest 2025 theatrical slate was the presentation’s focus. Recently the studio still had plans for four films to be released next year but work stoppages and difficulties locking down quality scripts have caused fans to call into question the pragmatism of that slate for some time and now it’s been made official: Marvel Studios will only release 3 films in 2025.

    With the studio still searching for yet another director to helm Mahershala Ali‘s Blade, the vampire hunter’s MCU debut has been delayed indefinitely. With Blade on the shelf, Marvel Studios’ 2025 theatrical slate will consist of Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

    February 14, 2025: Captain America: Brave New World

    Despite some significant issues behind the scenes, Captain America: Brave New World remains on track to hit its mid-February release date. After the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson takes center stage as the all-new, all-different Captain America.

    The story follows Sam Wilson, who after meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, finds himself in the middle of an international incident. Sam must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.

    -Official Synopsis, Captain America: Brave New World
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Harrison Ford, Tim Blake Nelson, Danny Ramirez, Giancarlo Esposito and Anthony Mackie speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Danny Ramirez, Tim Blake Nelson, Harrison Ford, Anthony Mackie and Giancarlo Esposito attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Harrison Ford and Anthony Mackie attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

    Harrison Ford will make his MCU debut as Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and Tim Blake Nelson returns to the role of Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, after first appearing as the character in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as Joaquin Torres, who will take over as The Falcon and Giancarlo Esposito will make his MCU debut as Serpent Society King, Sidewinder.

    May 2, 2025: Thunderbolts*

    Directed by Jake Schrier, Thunderbolts* boasts an impressive ensemble cast and serves as a sequel to multiple projects. Though the film’s true lead is Florence Pugh‘s Yelena Belova, it also stars MCU first-timers Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman along with returnees Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Sebastian Stan, Olga Kurylenko and David Harbour, who showed up at SDCC in full Red Guardian garb.

    An irreverent team-up featuring depressed assassin Yelena Belova alongside the MCU’s least anticipated band of misfits.

    -Official Logline for Thunderbolts*
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Florence Pugh, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Hannah John-Kamen, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jake Schreier, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour and Wyatt Russell attend the Marvel Studios Panel in Hall H at SDCC in San Diego, California on July 27, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan, Lewis Pullman, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Jake Schreier, Geraldine Viswanathan and Lewis Pullman speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: David Harbour speaks 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)

    Though details on Pullman’s character, Bob, were not revealed at SDCC, it’s widely accepted that he’ll be playing Robert Reynolds, aka The Sentry, one of the most powerful characters in the pages of Marvel Comics.

    July 25, 2025: The Fantastic Four: First Steps

    THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS. © 2024 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2024 MARVEL.

    One of the most anticipated Marvel Studios projects in quite some time, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is still set to land in theaters next July despite the fact that production has not yet gotten underway.

    The Fantastic Four: First Steps sees Galactus and Silver Surfer target Earth for destruction

    -Official Description of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby, Pedro Pascal and Matt Shakman speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Rob Delaney, Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Matt Shakman, Kevin Feige, President, Marvel Studios, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak 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)
    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JULY 27: (L-R) Vanessa Kirby and Pedro Pascal speak 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)

    Director Matt Shakman was joined on stage in San Diego by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, who will play the MCU’s version of The First Family. Shakman described the film as retro-futuristic and explained that it will look both into the past and future of the Fantastic Four though it will not be an origin story.

  • SDCC ’24: One Marvel Studios Film Removed from the Slate

    SDCC ’24: One Marvel Studios Film Removed from the Slate

    Hidden among the first looks at Thunderbolts*, The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the bombshell that Robert Downey Jr. was returning to the MCU as Victor Von Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, a Marvel Studios project that made major waves 5 years ago received a very disappointing update.

    Though it was hardly surprising, Marvel Studios announced that Blade was no longer on track to meet its November 7, 2025 release date.

    Though no new date was revealed for Blade, Kevin Feige confirmed that the studio’s 2025 theatrical slate would consist of three films: Captain America: Brave New World, Thunderbolts* and The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

  • SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Announced ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Starring Robert Downey Jr.

    In what’s certainly the most incredible Hall H announcement ever by Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige revealed that Avengers 5 is now titled Avengers: Doomsday and that Robert Downey Jr. will play Marvel’s greatest villain: DOOM!

    Updating…

  • SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Retitles ‘The Fantastic Four’…Again!

    SDCC ’24: Marvel Studios Retitles ‘The Fantastic Four’…Again!

    As part of Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel, the studio has revealed yet another new title for its Fantastic Four film.

    Originally titled Fantastic Four, the film underwent a subtle title change earlier this year and became The Fantastic Four. With Matt Shakman on stage, the studio revealed an updated title: The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

    The official release from Marvel also indicated that Marvel intends to hold onto the July 25, 2025 release date despite the fact that production has not yet begun.

  • SDCC ’24: Giancarlo Esposito’s ‘Brave New World’ Character Officialy Revealed

    SDCC ’24: Giancarlo Esposito’s ‘Brave New World’ Character Officialy Revealed

    It turns out Giancarlo Esposito wasn’t pulling anyone’s chain when he said nobody has correctly guessed who he was playing in Captain America: Brave New World. While word had leaked out among multiple insiders that Esposito was set to play an obscure character known as G.W. Bridge, it turns out that big of info was a bullshit.

    During Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at SDCC ’24, Esposito revealed that he’ll be playing Seth Voelker, aka Sidewinder, the King of the Serpent Society!

    Updating…

  • SDCC ’24: Kevin Feige Reveals How ‘Eternals’ Leads into ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    SDCC ’24: Kevin Feige Reveals How ‘Eternals’ Leads into ‘Captain America: Brave New World’

    Though no direct sequel to Eternals is in the works at Marvel Studios, Head Honcho Kevin Feige recently teased that the events of the film will indeed continue to influence the ongoing shared narrative of the MCU. Tonight, during the studio’s big Hall H panel at SDCC ’24, the cat was let out of the bag.

    After months of rumors, it was confirmed that the body of Tiamut–the large Celestial that began to emerge from the ocean in Eternals–is composed of adamantium and will be central to the plot of Captain America: Brave New World.

    Updating…

  • SDCC ’24: It’s Official! The Russos Have Returned to Marvel Studios

    SDCC ’24: It’s Official! The Russos Have Returned to Marvel Studios

    Just ten days after the news broke that Marvel Studios had entered into negotiations with Joe and Anthony Russo to helm the next two Avengers movies, the brothers were confirmed to be returning to the studio at SDCC!

    Updating…

  • ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Cinemascore Indicates Marvel Studios Is Indeed Back

    ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Cinemascore Indicates Marvel Studios Is Indeed Back

    Marvel Studios’ Multiverse Saga has definitely not landed with everyone. While there have certainly been some wonderful projects theatrically and streamed on Disney Plus, projects such as Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Secret Invasion, Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder were largely considered misses for the studio. With the return of Bob Iger to Disney came a mandate for the company’s larger studios to throttle down and focus on quality. Combined with a lengthy work stoppage in 2023, Marvel Studios was left with only one theatrical offering in 2024: Deadpool & Wolverine.

    With all eyes on the project (and a growing number of people who simply want Marvel to fail), Marvel Studios marketed the hell out of the project, putting Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman everywhere over the last month, ensuring a major box office take. However, big bucks alone wouldn’t be enough to prove to critics that Marvel still has what it takes, nor would the Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The true test, as always, is how the film lands with fans and now we know that answer as well.

    Following its true opening night, fans gave Deadpool & Wolverine and A Cinemascore. That score is higher than Logan, which many consider one of the best superhero films of all time, and on par with Deadpool and Deadpool 2. What does it mean? While the film has been hammered a bit by critics for feeling a tad empty, audiences are having a good time in the theater which is, of course, the point of going to a theater in the first place.

    Is Marvel Studios back? One good Cinemascore certainly doesn’t prove anything but Deadpool & Wolverine landing with fans on the heels of a few well-regarded projects such as X-Men ’97 and Echo can only help keep the positive momentum going.

  • Kevin Feige Addresses Hugh Jackman’s Future as Wolverine

    Kevin Feige Addresses Hugh Jackman’s Future as Wolverine

    From the sounds of the reviews of critics who were able to catch early screenings of Deadpool & Wolverine, the movie is no Quantumania but it’s no Endgame either. Wherever it ultimately lands in terms of fan and critical reception, there’s no doubt left that it will blow up the box office and that Hugh Jackman‘s return to inhabit the role of Wolverine once again has a lot to do with that. Jackman famously believed he had fully left the role behind him after 2018’s Logan gave the character an incredibly well-received send-off; however, a call from Ryan Reynolds and a long drive gave Jackman the clarity to decide that Deadpool & Wolverine provided a way back in without having to disturb the legacy of Logan.

    Jackman’s return as Wolverine (along with FINALLY donning the iconic comic-accurate costume) has been central to the film’s marketing since the beginning and seems to have been worth the wait. Even before the film’s debut, fans were already begging for more of Jackman in the role, hoping that he’d star in one or both of the studio’s upcoming Avengers films. While that’s not been confirmed by Marvel yet, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them take advantage of Jackman’s presence in San Diego to make a major splash at their Saturday Hall H panel. However, even if Jackman does come back for another appearance or two, he can’t go on forever and whoever does ultimately replace him will have their claws full.

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

    In an interview with Discussing Film, Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, addressed the topic of Hugh Jackman‘s future as Wolverine and the idea of replacing the actor in a role he has owned for more than two decades. “Yes,” Feige answered bluntly when asked if someone other than Jackman would ever portray Wolverine in the MCU. “You know, Marvel is celebrating its 85th anniversary later this summer. That’s just the first 85 years, and Disney just celebrated 100 years as well. I think these characters will be around for another 100 years, long after all of us,” he continued, “so, for sure, there will be [eventually another actor as Wolverine]. I think it will be in a very different style and in a different way.” Feige finished the answer with a warning for whoever takes the handoff from Jackman, saying, “I also think if somebody were to attempt to do a Hugh Jackman as Wolverine impression, that would be a pretty big mistake.”

    As Marvel Studios moves closer to launching their own take on the X-Men, it’s all but a sure thing that Wolverine (one of the most popular X-Men ever) will ultimately be part of their plans. It sounds as though that’s something Feige has already thought quite a bit about and that the folks behind the MCU’s X-Men reboot will be delivering their own take on Wolverine which will help distance it from Jackman’s iconic portrayal. “As comic readers know, there have been various and very, very different versions of these characters over the decades,” began Feige. “It would be fun to explore different ones someday down the line. Again, we don’t have immediate plans by any means. But in the decades to come, I think it’s inevitable. If that happens, it would have to be a very different and bold reinterpretation of [the character] because no one will be as great as Hugh Jackman at doing his version of Wolverine.”

    So while it seems we’ve not seen the last of Jackman in the role just yet, it also sounds like a plan is in place to make sure the next guy in the suit doesn’t have to bear the weight of being compared too closely to him. Check out Jackman’s latest turn as Logan in Deadpool & Wolverine, in theaters now.

    Source: Discussing Film

  • Kevin Feige Ends Speculation about Sequel Plans for ‘Eternals’

    Kevin Feige Ends Speculation about Sequel Plans for ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios’ Eternals opened to incredibly poor reviews when it hit theaters in 2021. At the time, seeing an MCU project miss so badly with critics was a bit of a shock. While several other projects have joined the Chloe Zhao-helmed film in the past few years that haven’t been well-received, it still stands out among the duds. More than other projects such as The Marvels or Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, Eternals doesn’t truly seem to fit into the MCU mold despite its storyline having some major consequences for the shared universe.

    Though rumors persisted for some time that a follow-up project or two were in the works, the gravity of its failure to land with anyone made it seem like a longshot to ever have a direct sequel. Now, as Marvel Studios looks to reestablish itself as the box office bull it once was, studio head honcho Kevin Feige has addressed the future of the franchise.

    In an interview with Inverse, Marvel Studios One Above All made it crystal clear that the studio is not looking to develop a sequel to the 2021 film saying, “there are no immediate plans for Eternals 2.”

    While Feige did also confirm the major world-changing events of Eternals will be addressed in the MCU–“There are, and I think you’ve seen maybe in a trailer we’ve released recently, an acknowledgment of some of those events. Certain giant things came out of the ocean,” Feige told Inverse–it’s unclear if any of the film’s ensemble cast will have any role in future projects. That’s not entirely surprising as Kumail Nanjiani, whose Kingo was one of the highlights of Eternals, indicated in a 2023 interview that he hadn’t heard of any plans to move forward with a sequel.

    Yeah! I mean, listen, I have plans today. I don’t know if they have plans. I would love to come back. But I’m sort of waiting to hear when or if that’s going to happen. I’m hoping I get to do more. I had a great time playing that character. It’d be a shame if he’s a sort of one and done. But, you know, the decision’s not mine to make.

    -Kumail Nanjiani on the future of the Eternals franchise

    As it stands, it would seem that the loose ends of Eternals will stay loose and have no significant impact on the remainder of the Multiverse Saga.