The Rock is cooking…and while we can’t quite smell just exactly what it is he’s cooking quite yet, it’s likely to be something special. Through his Seven Bucks Production company, The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment has struck a first-look deal with Disney that will see The People’s Champ develop films for both theatrical and streaming release.
The agreement cements what’s been more or less a handshake deal between the Seven Bucks and Disney for quite some time. Dwayne Johnson has starred in several Disney films including 2021’s Jungle Cruise and has been leading the promotional charge for Moana 2 as it prepares for its November theatrical release. Johnson’s deal provides the marketable star the opportunity to collaborate with all of Disney’s major studios, including Marvel and Lucasfilm.
The move is the latest in a series that has seen Johnson grow his brand to unimaginable heights. Johnson spun a successful pro wrestling career into an even more successful acting career and has become a social media icon. The actor has his own tequila label, his own energy drink, his own line of men’s skincare and is part owner of the UFL. Following the major restructuring of Warner Bros. plans with DC Comics characters–which no longer included Black Adam–Johnson now finds himself back in the market for another comic book movie. Interestingly enough, a recent rumor had Johnson in the running for one of the X-Men’s most formidable adversaries, Apocalypse, though no further word has come of that since. While there’s no word just yet on what Johson will tackle first, it’s hard to imagine the star doesn’t have something in mind that would see him move into one of Disney’s major brands fairly quickly.
Nearing the five-year mark since Marvel Studios’ One Above All, Kevin Feige, surprised the crowd at SDCC ’19 by bringing Mahershala Ali on stage to announce a Blade reboot was in the works. It may be another five years before the vampire film sees the light of day. The film has been delayed multiple times as original director Bassam Tariq left the film in 2022 and at least five different writers have taken a turn on the script after original scribe Stacey Osei-Koffour parted ways with the project. Now, the project has taken yet another stake to the heart.
According to THR, Marvel Studios and Ali remain committed to bringing Blade to the screen but given all the delays, they are in no rush. Though Michael Green was the latest reported scribe to give Blade a pass, THR reports that Marvel’s finisher, Eric Pearson, has taken a cup of coffee on the film.
Currently slated to hit theaters on November 7, 2025, Blade could be one of the first casualties of the studio’s mandate to cut back on the number of projects released per year. While it was expected to enter production this Fall, there’s no telling how long a search for a new director may take which could see the film move to 2026.
In 2022, Marvel Studios’ Special Presentation Werewolf By Night was an unmitigated success. Michael Giacchino‘s 53-minute black-and-white feature paid homage to Universal’s classic horror films and opened the door for monsters to make their way into the MCU. However, nearly two years later, the studio has yet to follow up on that premise despite having a hotly anticipated film in the genre, Blade, in the works since 2019. Beset by a worrying inability to put together a script good enough to get the project up and running, a change in directors and the 2023 Hollywood writers’ strike, Blade has been delayed again and again, though it sounds like production will finally kick off later this year.
Despite the delays to Blade, rumors have persisted for some time that the studios was already developing a follow-up project, Midnight Sons, that would see the Daywalker team up with the cast of characters from Werewolf By Night, Moon Knight and, possibly, Ghost Rider to take a major supernatural threat. While it was originally rumored that Marvel Studios was hoping to reteam with Giacchinoon the project, other names, such as Alien: Romulus director Fede Álvarez, have also been tossed into the mix. Despite all the rumors, however, the project has yet to be mentioned by either the studio or a trade and until that happens, it’s best to let rumors be rumors no matter how interesting they may be. On that note, a new rumor about the project has popped up that, if true, could suggest Midnight Sons is on the fast track to the big screen.
Green’s impressive resume includes quite a few superhero properties in addition to Blade and Logan. Though he has the misfortune of having 2011’s Green Lantern on his filmography, he also worked on Smallville and Heroes in addition to writing for DC Comics. While we wait for anything official about Midnight Sons to come down from the studio (that COULD happen this summer during the convention circuit) we’ll continue to monitor the more interesting rumors about the project.
From 2013 to 2019, fans grew used to Marvel Television churning out seasons of traditional and streaming TV series that mostly consisted of 22 (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) or 13 (Netflix’s Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage). As Marvel Studios began to produce their own series for Disney Plus, episode counts dropped significantly as did total runtime. The studio’s first series, WandaVision, was made up of 9 episodes that added up to only just about six hours of content. To date, with the exception of the five-episode Echo, the studio’s live-action series have had either six or nine episodes that have been structured more like films than TV series. Moving forward, the studio’s production practices are said to be changing and a series that the studio has hardly addressed at all may be one of the first examples of those changes.
First reported to be in development in June 2022, Wonder Man will finally introduce one of Marvel Comics’ classic Avengers to the MCU. Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll will play stuntman turned super hero Simon Williams in the series which was written by Community and Brooklyn Nine-Nine scribe Andrew Guest and overseen by Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton. Despite photos of the production making their way online, fans have questioned if the series truly existed or if they were experiencing the Mandela Effect. Now, another trade has provided an update on the series that should help alleviate any concern.
[Wonder Man will] be definitely influenced by the comics. One of the things that we’re excited about it is that it’s going to feel very unique. It’s not going to feel like anything you’ve quite seen in the MCU before. And the kind of stories we can tell on Disney+, which has been fun. Like streaming, serialized storytelling is a totally different muscle. So, we’re having a blast making that one.
The road to Avengers 5 has been bumpy but it seems as though things are smoothing out as Marvel Studios begins the march toward production. First introduced as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty at SDCC ’22, the project quickly gained momentum with Jonathan Majors set to lead the way as the titular villain, Destin Daniel Cretton signing on to direct and Jeff Loveness set to draft the screenplay. Originally slated for a May 2nd, 2025 release as part of the studio’s Phase Six plans, there were rumblings that the production on the project would kick off in late 2023. However, rather than see the project come together, late 2023 saw it fall apart entirely.
I have this opportunity to write a vast, American epic–I’ll use American in a general term–but a big, American movie. I don’t take it lightly and I want to make it this big, sweeping and exciting, funny movie and I think we have the best actor in the world as the most complicated villain in comic books. So I can’t say too much, but we’re really swinging for the fences and I can’t wait for you to see what Jonathan does.
With Levy’s first collaboration with the studio looking to be a sure hit, Deadline reports that Marvel has given Levy first crack at taking the job and provided him with Waldron’s latest draft of the script. While Levy ponders where the project could or could not fit in his very busy schedule and the studio waits for his decision, they are reportedly scheduling meetings with other talent to helm the project should Levy decline the gig.
It’s been made clear by all parties involved: Tony Stark’s heroic sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame will never be undone. But in an infinite Multiverse in which Stark himself invented time travel, the opportunities for the character–or a Variant of him–to show up seem truly infinite. And Robert Downey Jr. is starting to sound increasingly like someone who knows he’s going to return to his career-definig role sooner rather than later.
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
Since Endgame, Downey‘s career has reached all-new heights thanks to roles in projects such as Oppenheimer, for which he won an Oscar, and The Sympathizer. While some might think the success would lead him further away from the MCU, Downey has been quite forthcoming recently about his willingness to return to work with Marvel. Now, in a new interview with Jodie Foster Variety, he’s at it again and this time, the hints seem stronger.
“It’s just crazily in my DNA. Probably the most like-me character I’ve ever played, even though he’s way cooler than I am,” said Downey when asked if he’d think of suiting up as Iron Man again. Then, as if he was reliving Tony Stark’s speech at the end of Iron Man but deciding to stick with what’s on the cards, Downey added “I’ve become surprisingly open-minded to the idea.”
While that’s stopping short of saying “I am Iron Man…again,” Downey’s rhetoric around his return has continued to sound more and more it’s a when and not an if. The TVA playing a large role in Deadpool & Wolverine provides one interesting possibility as do upcoming projects such as Ironheart and Armor Wars and, of course, Avengers: Secret Wars. It sure sounds like it’s only a matter of time before fans see Downey back in action in the MCU.
Sony’s third installment in the Venom franchise, Venom: The Last Dance, will land in theaters on October 25th. While it looks as though The Last Dance will indeed be the last dance for Venom, the first trailer for the project just teased some major implications for Marvel Studios Multiverse which could open the door–or did it shut it?–for Tom Hardy to continue on as Eddie Brock.
As the trailer opens, Hardy’s Brock is seen to be wearing the same outfit he was wearing in the post-credit scene to Spider-Man: No Way Home. As a quick refresher, that scene–which followed up on the post-credit scene to Venom: Let There Be Carnage–was seemingly set in the MCU’s main 616 timeline. In it, Hardy’s Brock/Venom learned all about the MCU’s “superpeople” and their tangle with Thanos from Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernández’s friendly bartender but, as he was transported back to whatever universe he counts as home, a bit of the symbiote was seen left behind at the bar. While online rumor and speculation has led to the belief that the symbiote bit would eventually find Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, the trailer for The Last Dance seems to indicate otherwise.
In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.
Official Synopsis for Venom: The Last Dance
At the 1:28 mark of the trailer, Chiwetel Ejiofor‘s character can be seen trapping the symbiote as Fernández’s character is interacting with it. Given Ejiofor’s character is shown interacting with Juno Temple’s character in the presence of a large collection of symbiotes, it would seem that he’s capturing the bit of Venom for study and, presumably, removing it from the 616.
The scene has some fairly large-scale implications beyond the removal of the symbiote from the 616. Unless there’s some serious subterfuge at play, Ejiofor’s character will spend at least some portion of Venom: The Last Dance in the 616 in the immediate aftermath of the post-credit scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home. This means that someone from Brock’s universe has discovered a way to travel the Multiverse and the fact that a door has been opened between that universe and the MCU could tie directly into Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Secret Wars. Whatever the case, this seems to indicate an all-new level of cooperation between Marvel Studios and Sony and that can only benefit both moving forward.
Venom: The Last Dance stars Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, Alanna Ubach and Stephen Graham. The film is directed by Kelly Marcel from a screenplay she wrote, based on a story by Hardy and Marcel. The film is produced by Avi Arad, Matt Tolmach, Amy Pascal, Kelly Marcel, Tom Hardy and Hutch Parker.
For MCU fans, discovering the identity of Giancarlo Esposito‘s mystery character in Captain America: Brave New World has become their latest obsession. While many roll out uninspired guesses like Doctor Doom, Magneto, Mephisto and Norman Osborn, others are digging deeper to figure out who the “antagonist agent of chaos” played by Esposito might be. Now, the first look at the character’s costume has fans’ heads spinning.
Photographer Atlanta Filming, who has a long history of capturing photos from the sets of Marvel Studios’ projects, has given fans some interesting details to chew on in their Wiki searches for the identity of Esposito’s baddie.
From his sketch of the character and the look at the stunt double, it seems clear that Esposito’s character is decked out in tactical gear. That likely indicates he’s an assassin or mercenary hired to take out one of the film’s main characters. Recent reports from the set have centered around Sam Wilson being involved in a car chase which was comparable to those seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Could Captain America be in Esposito’s sights?
By Esposito’s own admission, his character is unlikely to have a major role in Brave New World, calling it a “tease” before the character returns for a presumably larger appearance in a streaming series. With that in mind, Esposito’s time on set may be coming to and end shortly, which may mean we’ve seen all we will see of his character. Perhaps, just maybe, the identity of that character will stay under wraps until the film hits theaters on February 14th, 2025.
For years, fans have dreamt of Giancarlo Esposito landing a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Esposito recently revealed that dream had become a reality and teased fans that his character, which he hinted would be “new and original and fresh” would be revealed “sooner than you think.” He wasn’t wrong.
Wouldn’t you like to see me play a character in a Marvel movie who is original, and new, and fresh? So, mark my words: This will happen sooner than you think.
Giancarlo Esposito, CCXP24
Murphy’s Multiverse can confirm that Giancarlo Esposito is set to appear in Captain America: Brave New World.
A significant portion of Captain America: Brave New World was filmed in 2023 before the Hollywood work stoppage forced the production to go on pause. During that time, Marvel Studios execs determined that the project needed a major overhaul and brought writer Matthew Orton on board to assemble a script for reshoots. It would seem that Esposito‘s character, who appears as an antagonistic agent of chaos in the film, was added by Orton.
The MCU has knocked on my door and it’s a role you won’t predict. It will be teased and there will be a series afterwards.
Esposito has thrived as a disruptive force on the screen for nearly 20 years. The actor played arguably one of TV’s greatest villains as Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and has since continued to make his mark as a big bad as The Mandalorian‘s Moff Gideon, the corrupt Stan Edgar in The Boys and, recently, Stanley Johnson in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. While he won’t be playing Magneto or Doctor Doom in the MCU, as so many had hoped, Esposito‘s role in Brave New World certainly matches the actor’s indication of it being one which fans will not have expected and it appears as though he’s set to be a serious thorn in Sam Wilson’s side.
Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14, 2025.
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 5would 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, 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.
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.
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
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.
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