Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: MCU

  • REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Finale—”No Normal”

    REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Finale—”No Normal”

    While the finales of Marvel Cinematic Universe series have generally struggled to stick the landing, the Ms. Marvel finale managed to do justice and provide closure to Kamala’s story while still setting up massive implications for the future of the MCU. It did gloss over most of the unanswered questions about Kamala’s powers, which is disappointing. Still, it seemed to “answer” them in one of the most exciting—and likely polarizing—ways possible.

    Kamala’s story in Ms. Marvel began as a relatively small-scale tale of a superhero fangirl in Jersey City. So much of the absolute charm of the early episodes of the series is centered around her family and friends in this context. The second act of the show brought forth her mysterious and eye-opening history that brought the show to new levels of depth and intrigue. While the penultimate episode left the status of her main adversary precarious, the finale skillfully but simply brought it back to where it all started—high school.

    Like any classic satisfying finale, the entire ensemble got involved in meaningful ways. The high school sequence with the Department of Damage Control was a warm reminder of the innocence and youth of the main hero and showed a glimpse of what “Ms. Marvel” could be as a hometown hero. Fans of Ms. Marvel comics will appreciate the subtle nods to the comics and the ways certain elements were rearranged in order to fit the live-action story. While much of Kamala’s reckoning with her friends and family after her reveal that she is the masked hero was too quick and smooth, it was likely the better route for the ending of such a short series. 

    Kamala finally got her “Ms. Marvel” moment(s) this episode as she donned her final costume, adopted her name, and took on her greatest challenge yet. Anyone familiar with her “embiggening” from the comics would be giddy to see the resemblance they gave her to her comic book counterpart in the finale. It was a mystery how Kamala would adopt “Ms. Marvel” as a mantle in live-action, but it was ultimately grounded in the name given to her by her parents, which nicely ties in the heavy family themes of the series into her superhero identity. 

    The main villain of the finale was set up in the post-credit scene of the first episode, though Damage Control did not play a particularly large role in the bulk of the series. So while the switch from the Clandestines back to the DODC as the adversaries is not seamless, there was enough Damage Control before the finale to require some resolution to that aspect. The organization represented a lot of Kamala’s ordinary-life struggles, so her overcoming the racist, xenophobic, and enhanced-individuals-hating villain makes the win fulfilling. The question of Damage Control still lingers, and the willingness to take the “bad apple” approach to the DODC calls into doubt how aggressive the future of that organization actually is. Similarly, Kamran ends the series in a surprising way as not quite a villain but with no real resolution.

    Of course, the moment of this finale that will gobsmack countless fans is Bruno’s reveal to Kamala that she has “a mutation” in her DNA. Considering the long-running debate over Marvel Studios not making Kamala an Inhuman, the fact that she may be the first confirmed mutant of the MCU is nothing light. It is too brief to draw any major conclusions from it yet. Are there others? How long have mutants been around? How does it actually play into her powers? It is all unclear. Part of the problem is, as mentioned, that the series declined to fully explain Kamala’s powers and ultimately left the Noor dimension a vague resource to draw from in lieu of Inhuman lore. In any event, the “mutation” drop was one exciting way to finish out the finale. Because it was mentioned so late, it did not affect, confuse, or overpower the rest of the story that came before it, and it without a doubt will keep eyes on Ms. Marvel going forward.

    Just as the mutant reveal sparked curiosity for the future of the character, the post-credit scene set up a predictable—but major—next step for Kamala. For whatever reason, Kamala’s bangle goes haywire and seemingly causes Carol Danvers and her to switch places, with Carol popping up in Kamala’s room. Brie Larson’s cameo is a fun, high-profile inclusion, but the fact that she and Kamala still never actually meet in the series leaves something wanting. Clearly, The Marvels will take on a huge role in exploring the next steps of Kamala’s story. Her powers are likely tied to something bigger that will play a role in that story. Even with that knowledge, the downside of Ms. Marvel was the eventual lack of answers on the mystery it created.

    Looking past all the implications of Kamala’s “mutation” and The Marvels tease, the finale did an expert job of tying the series in a bow with respect to Kamala’s origin as a Jersey City superhero. The transition between the threads being weaved in Episode 5 and the final episode is a tad choppy, but ultimately the right call. Ms. Marvel ends its tenure on arguably the best finale of any MCU series, and arguably as the best series itself. Iman Vellani and the rest of the stellar cast brought the charm and heart of the beloved character to the screen, and the show is one of the few to manage the 6-episode format in a satisfying and rewarding way.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’: Major Finale Reveal Explained

    ‘Ms. Marvel’: Major Finale Reveal Explained

    Before audiences saw an episode of Marvel Studios’ Disney Plus streaming series Ms. Marvel, much had been made of the changes to the character from the comics that inspired the show. Sana Amanat, who co-created the character in the comics, moved to a position at Marvel Studios in order to shepherd Kalama Khan into the MCU. Amanat was among a group of creatives who worked to change Kamala’s powers, and indicated that the changes were made to allow them to link “to larger stories in the Marvel universe.” However, it’s safe to say that nearly nobody expected that link to be that Kamala Khan was a mutant.

    In an instant, Kamala Khan’s origin story went from a heartwarming story about family to a groundbreaking moment in the MCU. Kamala Khan is now the first mutant to appear on the MCU’s Earth-616 and she found out about it along with the audience. After Kamala’s brother learned that she was the superhero formerly known as Night Light, Amir requested that Bruno do some tests on him to see if he might have a trick or two up his sleeve. Following those tests, Bruno reconsiders his original hypothesis about why Kamala can use the bangle and when he takes a closer look, what he finds changes everything for Kamala and the MCU.

    As Bruno explains to Kamala, “there’s something different” in Kamala’s genes compared to the rest of the Khan family, “like a mutation.” With those words (and with the unmistakable theme from X-Men: The Animated Series chiming in their aftermath), everything changes for Kamala and for the MCU. And while fans may attempt to debate what the lines and the jingle may or may not mean, Marvel.com made it very clear: Kamala Khan is a mutant.

    Making Kamala a mutant rather than an Inhuman goes beyond any changes fans could have predicted for the character, but it also raises quite a few questions. For the moment, it seems that a lot of those questions won’t get answers for a while, but one thing made clear by Marvel is that her mutant genetics (and not being native to this dimension) were what allowed her to harness the power of the bangle when nobody else could.

    For now, Kamala stands as the lone known mutant on Earth, but that could (and will) change pretty fast. And while she’s the first to be revealed, she probably isn’t the first to exist. With a bomb like this being dropped in the finale, it’s safe to say fans can expect other mutants to emerge from the depths of the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the next year or two. The mutant-era of the MCU has begun and it has been ushered in by Kamala Khan.

  • Signs That ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Have a Season 2

    Signs That ‘Ms. Marvel’ Will Have a Season 2

    Now that Marvel Studios has formally ventured into television, new questions arise about the future of characters and plots that debut in the Disney+ series format. While we know some series—such as WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier—lead into feature films, the announcement of Loki’s second season has made fans interested in other series getting the same treatment. While no show besides Loki has been confirmed for a Season 2, there are many signs that Ms. Marvel could be the next. 

    To be fair, we know we will see Kamala Khan in The Marvels, so it would be easy to say that Ms. Marvel’s follow-up will be in that film. But The Marvels is a sequel to Captain Marvel and will feature, from what we know, three main leads. To think that Kamala’s individual story will be able to fully continue without her own solo project is brave. With only the finale to go, Ms. Marvel has left quite a lot of story on the table. Even a strong finale—which Marvel Studios is not known for—cannot reasonably wrap it all up. And that may very well be part of the plan to give Ms. Marvel a Season 2.

    First, Kamala’s entire high school-level plot has taken a backseat for the second act of the series. The last time we saw Nakia, she had just learned that Kamala was the masked hero and was no longer speaking to her. Bruno was jealous of Kamran and also told Kamala he was going to leave to attend CalTech. Kamran is clearly integrated into the superhero side of the plot, but the love triangle there is still up in the air. Many of these plot strings, particularly Nakia and Bruno, seem to come straight from Ms. Marvel comics and are nowhere near a resolution. Kamala’s personal life—the one she had before the bangle—has been set up for a longer journey than what the finale could handle. There is a very strong chance that the last episode will specifically leave these stories open and ready to explore in the future. And they would not make much sense in The Marvels.

    If Episode 5 of Ms. Marvel made anything clear, it is that the full extent of Kamala’s powers might not be explained in the series (or the first season). While we have come a long way since Episode 1, there are so many questions remaining about Kamala’s heritage and powers. The finale will without a doubt answer some of these. To be fair, it could answer them all. But when Kamala’s grandmother cut off the questioning as to how and why Kamala can do what she does to suggest it is all about how two people fell in love and made something bigger than themselves, it seemed like a way for the series to say, “don’t worry about it.” Regardless of what we learn in the finale, the implications of the Noor Dimension and Kamala’s bangle are surely things that cannot adequately be resolved yet. That’s where The Marvels may very well help out, but something even bigger remains elusive.

    Kamala has not yet become Ms. Marvel. She almost certainly will in the finale, but we will not have seen her be the masked hero of Jersey City in Ms. Marvel. The series has received high praise from critics, and audiences and Marvel Studios alike love Iman Vellani. The character will be part of future team-ups in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the idea that they would not explore her solo adventures more is both laughable and sad. Unlike Moon Knight, which does not appear to have plans for a second season, the lead character in Ms. Marvel has not actually been the titular superhero during the series. Also unlike Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel is based on much more beloved and popular comics. Kamala is relatively new to Marvel, but her stories of heroism in Jersey City have a broad audience and can likely be relatively easy to adapt into (more) series-based content. 

    MCU series have a troubled history with resolving their own stories by the end of their runs, but the many-lingering plots in Ms. Marvel might be by design. If, like Loki, a Season 2 has been part of the bigger plan, the series is free to set up ideas that will continue to be explored. The points surrounding Kamala’s teenage life and relationships are, arguably, a very clear sign that this is happening. In particular, her and Bruno’s long will-they-won’t-they romance is set up for the long haul. Kamala also deserves to spend time in the spotlight as a solo hero, Ms. Marvel, in a way that team-up films and events are suited for. So, don’t be too surprised if a Ms. Marvel Season 2 announcement comes soon. 

    The first five episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+. 

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.2

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.2

    With Ms. Marvel’s Episode 5, entitled “Time and Again”, the series’ connection to Ms. Marvel comics continues to be present, even if sometimes in a more subtle way. In Episode 1, we looked at how the series adapted from the comics the moment Kamala’s powers were activated; for Episode 2 we delved into the comics’ and series’ introduction and handling so far of the character Kamran; in Episode 3 we looked at the interesting source material for the series’ villains, the Clandestines; and in Episode 4 we went into how Red Daggers were introduced and how they compare to the comics’ Red Dagger. As for episode 5, following our dive into Kamala’s ancestors during Partition, we now focus not so much on what happened in the show, but on what future comic events it might be hinting at.

    Episode 5 of Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel ended on a somewhat weird note. If on one hand the Clandestines’ subplot was apparently swiftly resolved, the Damage Control threat somehow gained traction with the attack on Kamran and Bruno at the Circle Q. While there is no real perfect counterpart to this sequence in the comics, the aftermath could perhaps lead Bruno down an interesting, yet painful path, taken straight out of the comics.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5

    Leading up to Secret Wars, Kamala finally met her hero Captain Marvel as New York was soon to be destroyed by an incursion. This later led to Carol making Kamala the leader of a group they named the Carol Cadets. The Cadets were created following the discovery of an Inhuman named Ulysses, who through the use of mathematics could basically predict the future. They were made to go after criminals who were yet to commit any sort of crimes but that Ulysses deemed likely to end up doing so. This was something that began not to sit right with Kamala’s friends, around the same time she also began to fight back against the idea behind the creation of the Cadets by questioning their methods.

    Ms. Marvel #16 (2015)
    Ms. Marvel #8 (2016)
    Ms. Marvel #9 (2016)

    This all led to Bruno trying to break into the Cadets’ facilities in order to set free who, in his eyes, happened to be detained there without a valid reason. Said break-in went wrong and Bruno had to deal with the consequences, being left bedridden with third-degree burns all over the left side of his body, losing the use of his left hand (his dominant one), and with serious doubts if he’d ever be able to walk again.

    Ms. Marvel #10 (2016)

    Once he finally regained conscience, and even though Kamala tried her best to stay by his side throughout his hospital stay, Bruno made it extremely clear that he held her responsible for the situation that left him in the state he found himself in. He considered she was focusing too much on her superhero life without regarding the consequences to the people around her who loved her, taking everyone for granted. He vowed to never want to see her ever again, and that his next step would be moving away to study at the Golden City Polytechnic Prep, in Wakanda.

    Ms. Marvel #18 (2017)

    Once there, he was involved in an attempted vibranium robbery, he met King T’Challa and eventually went back home when he realized that Kamala was who he wanted to be near. Unfortunately for him, Kareem, the Red Dagger, had by then stepped into the frame.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 1

    It’s hard to predict if the Circle Q explosion might end up serving as the catalyst to a similar journey for the MCU’s Bruno. If it does, it would certainly be something worth going into in the second season (?) of the show, with perhaps Black Panther: Wakanda Forever being a possible project in which to feature a Matt Lintz cameo in the meanwhile.

    The first five episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+.

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.1

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ From Page to Screen: Episode 5.1

    With Ms. Marvel’s Episode 5, entitled “Time and Again”, the series’ connection to Ms. Marvel comics continues to be on full display. In Episode 1, we looked at how the series adapted from the comics the moment Kamala’s powers were activated; for Episode 2 we delved into the comics’ and series’ introduction and handling so far of the character Kamran; in Episode 3 we looked at the interesting source material for the series’ villains, the Clandestines; and in Episode 4 we went into how Red Daggers were introduced and how they compare to the comics’ Red Dagger. As for episode 5, we focus on the bulk of the flashback that we got in the first half of the episode.

    One of the most interesting ways in which Ms. Marvel adapted the comics is by expanding upon the story of Kamala’s ancestors during Partition. Of course, it has been obvious since the second episode of the series that what happened with Kamala’s great-grandmother in 1947 was key to understanding Kamala’s powers and the bangle. In Episode 5, the thrust of the story was a flashback to Aisha and her husband, Hasan, in 1942-47, ending with Aisha’s death as Hasan and their daughter, Sana, made it on the last train to Karachi.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5
    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5

    In Ms. Marvel #8 and #9 (2015), we get a small snippet of this same time period in Kamala’s family history. In fact, it begins with a pregnant Aisha hastily getting ready to flee India to Pakistan with many of her family members. She sees a shooting star, which gives her some hope in the dark time. Notably, the comics’ only mention of Aisha’s bangles is in this brief story. She sold her jewelry and hid the money inside her wedding bangles in case she and her husband were separated.

    Ms. Marvel #8 (2016)
    Ms. Marvel #8 (2016)
    Ms. Marvel #8 (2016)

    In the second half of the comics’ version of the flashback, we jump to Kamala’s mother in Karachi around the year 2000. She is living with her mother and family—Aamir is young and she is pregnant with Kamala. She had chosen to move to New Jersey for her family, but she had many doubts and worries about her children’s futures in a new country and culture. Kamala’s grandmother tells Kamala’s mother how strong Aisha was and tells her that they are a family of survivors.

    Ms. Marvel #9 (2016)

    Kamala’s grandmother then passes down Aisha’s wedding bangles to Kamala’s mother. The live-action version of this story is taken from the page yet altered significantly to meet the demands of the Ms. Marvel story. In the comics, the story was mostly to emphasize the struggles and journeys Kamala’s ancestors had to go through during Partition and beyond.

    Ms. Marvel #9 (2016)

    But it does also hint at the family’s Inhuman heritage, as it ends with Kamala’s grandmother saying she always felt there was some sort of secret and strength that the family carried. Ms. Marvel hits those same notes by tying the story to Kamala’s (and her ancestors’) powers and superhuman heritage.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel Episode 5

    The first five episodes of Ms. Marvel are now streaming on Disney+.

  • ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Every Rumored Character Who Did NOT Appear

    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’: Every Rumored Character Who Did NOT Appear

    Thor: Love and Thunder is another non-stop rollercoaster from director Taika Waititi, filled to the brim with colorful characters and thrilling moments. Unfortunately, like any good ride, there’s a limit to how many people can get on. Leading up to the film’s release, it felt like a countless number of names and faces were rumored to be making an appearance. Some of those personalities actually did squeak their way into the movie’s 120-minute runtime, like Jamie Alexander‘s long-lost Sif and Brett Goldstein‘s spanking new Hercules, but the film otherwise stuck to focusing on established leads from the previous entries. For the sake of humility, let’s take a look at some of the most heavily rumored characters that didn’t actually end up in Thor’s fourth solo adventure.

    Beta Ray Bill

    From the beginning, nearly every comic fan hoped Love and Thunder would be the place they finally saw Beta Ray Bill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character is the perfect mix of weird and cool for a film written by Waititi, and a visual tease in Thor: Ragnarok meant the director definitely had Bill on the brain. At different points in time, everyone from Barbie star Ryan Gosling to the film’s actual villain Christian Bale were talked about as potential castings for the heroic Korbinite. Heck, even Beta Ray’s traditional weapon Stormbreaker has become a staple of Thor’s on-screen journey. Yet, the entirety of Love and Thunder comes and goes without so much as a mention of the intergalactic warrior. It might be for the best, considering how much is already going on in the movie, as long as Bill gets a shot at stardom somewhere down the line.

    The Grandmaster

    This one seemed all but confirmed until the film was actually released. In Thor: Ragnarok, Taika Waititi introduced the world to Jeff Goldblum‘s Grandmaster, an Elder of the Universe who used his less-than-iron fist to rule over the planet Sakaar and use its citizens for entertainment in gladiatorial combat. Though removed from power by the end of that project, the Grandmaster did survive all the way to the film’s end credits. Goldblum was never officially announced as returning to the role, but photos of the actor hanging out with Waititi and a bunch of the confirmed Love and Thunder cast led everyone to believe he’d be back. Alas, there’s no trace of the master manipulator in the fourthquel.

    Of note, however, is that Christian Bale did actually confirm in an interview with Screen Rant that he filmed scenes with Goldblum that were cut from the film’s finished product. This might imply Gorr would have killed the Grandmaster in an original cut of the movie, so perhaps him not showing up is better news for Goldblum than fans thought.

    Eitri, King of the Dwarves

    More or less the same scenario as Goldblum‘s Grandmaster. Months ago, Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage teased during an interview with Empire Magazine that he would soon be back for another shot at Eitri, the King of the Dwarves, after debuting as the character in Avengers: Infinity War. Not only that, but a short while later IMDb listed Lane Friedman‘s job on the Love and Thunder production team as “Hair Stylist: Peter Dinklage.” It turns out, much like the Grandmaster before him, Eitri was intended to appear in a scene featuring Gorr the God Butcher, as revealed by Christian Bale himself in a recent interview. Whether or not this means Gorr was supposed to kill the downtrodden Dwarf remains a mystery, but it’s worth mentioning Gorr isn’t exactly known for letting deities off the hook. Either way, fans don’t have to worry, because Eitri isn’t in the movie and lives to see another day.

    Gamora

    It was never a secret that the Guardians of the Galaxy would be showing up in Thor: Love and Thunder. The last time audiences saw Thor, he was flying away with them on their ship, and the team of quirky characters featured prominently in the film’s early marketing. However, never shown among them was Zoe Saldana‘s Gamora, who died during the events of Avengers: Infinity War only to have an alternate version of herself from a different timeline appear and then run away in Avengers: Endgame. There was never a lot of evidence to back up the idea that she’d be with the team in Love and Thunder, but that didn’t stop the internet from speculating wildly that she’d at least cameo on a screen somewhere in the Guardians portion of the film. While she does get an indirect mention from Chris Pratt‘s Star-Lord during a crucial thematic moment, that’s about the extent of her involvement in the story.

    Loki

    Another rumor that never had much behind it was the cinematic return of Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s maybe-more-popular brother Loki. Ever since the character cheated death, again, to lead the Disney+ series Loki, the God of Mischief’s fans assumed he’d find a way to make his presence known in Thor: Love and Thunder. After all, Hiddleston played a large role in all three previous Thor films, and his baddie-turned-sympathetic anti-hero is central to the hero’s extensive mythology. The conversation about a potential Loki cameo revved back up after the actor stated in an interview with Total Film that he had no idea if he’d be in the movie or not, jokingly commenting that he wasn’t even “doing an Andrew Garfield.” Well, it looks like Hiddleston won’t have to wonder anymore, as Loki is definitely not in the film. His face, and name, make a few quick appearances via archival flashbacks and a comical tattoo, but it doesn’t seem any new footage was ever shot.

    Captain Marvel

    It would seem fans shouldn’t believe everything they hear. Rumors began to run rampant about a Carol Danvers appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder after online scoopers claimed there’d be a romance between her and Tessa Thompson‘s Valkyrie happening in the near future. There was even talk that Brie Larson had filmed additional scenes as her character during reshoots in Los Angeles. A comment made by Thompson during an interview with The Wrap pushed the rumor even further, with the fan-favorite actress mentioning the queerness of her Asgardian warrior would be further explored in the latest Marvel outing. Obviously, Danvers doesn’t even come close to popping up in Love and Thunder, even if Valkyrie’s bisexuality is addressed briefly. For those disappointed by this turn of events, the new rumor is that Valkyrie could turn up in The Marvels to keep the romantic ship alive. So, maybe there’s still hope?

    Throg

    At one point, word circulated that Thor: Love and Thunder would embrace the multiverse theme of Phase 4 and feature multiple variants of the titular character and his cohorts. It didn’t take long for the internet to assume this meant another live-action appearance for Throg, the amphibious God of Thunder made popular by memes and an often-talked about cameo in Loki. Interviews with creatives behind the aforementioned Disney+ series revealed that Throg originally had a greater presence in the show, which seemed proof enough for a lot of fans that the character, voiced by Chris Hemsworth, could hop his way onto the big screen. Lamentably, this was not the case, and the only other version of Thor in the movie was Natalie Portman‘s Mighty Thor. Although, that’s really not so bad, considering how great she turned out to be.

    Balder the Brave

    The forgotten brother of Thor and Loki. Balder the Brave, or Balder the Bro, as I like to call him, has been considered for almost every entry in the Thor franchise, but has yet to actually make the cut. When Christian Bale was initially cast in Love and Thunder, and it was still unknown who the thespian would be portraying, many fans jumped at the idea he would be the one to finally bring Balder to life. It’s been known for a while now that isn’t true, but nobody can be blamed for thinking Marvel might want to bring the Asgardian into the fold. Old concept art from Charlie Wen revealed Balder came close to making his MCU debut in both 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World, and Deadline’s Justin Kroll recently broke the news that Daniel Craig had once been tapped to play the character as a member of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented that from coming to fruition, and Balder remains on the outskirts of cinematic notoriety.

    Lena Headey (as Unknown)

    This is the trickiest one of the bunch. Lena Headey, of Game of Thrones fame, spent a considerable amount of time in the rumor mill attached to Thor: Love and Thunder. After word began making the rounds on Twitter that she may be involved with the production, fans started piecing together via social media posts that the actress was staying in Australia at the same time the movie was filming. A rather recent bit of news, involving a lawsuit, finally confirmed that Headey was definitely set to join the MCU in Thor’s newest adventure, but for whatever reason, her part was cut and left out of the final product. It’s not known who the former Dredd star would have brought to life, considering the film leaves so little room for anything that’s not already there, but it’s likely she would have portrayed yet another God. It’s a shame she was removed from the film, but at least this leaves her open for a different role down the line.

    Source: Screen Geek, News, The Direct, Total Film, The Wrap, Screen Rant, CBR,

  • 5 Potential ‘What If…?’ Episodes Inspired by MCU’s Phase 4

    5 Potential ‘What If…?’ Episodes Inspired by MCU’s Phase 4

    We’ve long been waiting for what the second season of What If…? has to offer, especially after a rather interesting first entry.. Not every episode was perfect, but overall the show did some really cool things. And with the recent news that fans will be treated to a first look at season 2 during Marvel Studios’ animation panel at SDCC, now is as good a time as any to take a look at what the future may hold for What If…?. As such, let’s take a look at five ideas for new episodes of pertaining to phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    What If… Wanda’s Hex Took Over The Tri-State Area?

    This episode would act as a continuation of WandaVision. As Wanda’s hex expands, it takes over more and more land, which leads to more of the world being dragged into the ‘TV-Verse’ that Wanda created. It takes over the whole tri-state area, which would also include all of New York. As such, characters that live in the city like Doctor Strange, Wong, Spider-Man, and more would get dragged into this fictional world. While WandaVision played around with sitcoms, the hex’s expansion could open it up to embracing other TV genres. They can pay homage to big TV shows like Lost, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, Westworld, The Walking Dead. Hell, they could even get meta and take some inspiration from The Mandalorian. Either way, more characters get involved and they have to figure out a way to stop Wanda.

    What If… Loki Won The Tour de France?

    In Loki, there’s a Variant that wears what appears to be a cyclist’s uniform and is holding a trophy. So, why not explore that very story on What If…? Instead of becoming Earth’s ruler by invading with an alien army, this Loki takes a different approach: gaining favor and popularity by winning the Tour de France. The episode plays out like a sports documentary, where Loki, an up-and-coming racer, has entered the race, but is unknowingly cheating using magic. And the heroes who will become the Avengers figure this out and decide they must stop him. This is how the Avengers form in this universe.

    But they can’t fight Loki because he’s too popular, so they all join the Tour de France, hoping they can beat him. Captain America fairs pretty well against Loki, however, he and the Hulk get disqualified, due to “steroid usage”. Thor is also disqualified for riding his father’s 8-legged horse, Sleipnir. Iron Man builds a really good bike, but – similar to Ultron – it turns evil and fights everybody, so he’s out. Black Widow ultimately does the best against Loki, who resorts to brainwashing Hawkeye to take her out. In the end, Loki wins and uses his popularity to become Earth’s ruler.

    What If… Wenwu Invaded Wakanda?

    Shang-Chi‘s Wenwu is a very wealthy, knowledgeable, and worldly man, who is constantly exploring ways to expand his empire. He probably knows about Wakanda – especially if guys like Klaw will just tell you – and that it has some sort of connection to the afterlife via the Ancestral Plane. In this version of the story, Wenwu aims to conquer the country to get his wife back through the Ancestral Plane. One of the things that season 1 of What If…? did so well was that the fight scenes were terrific, especially when there was cool hand-to-hand combat. So, it would be super cool to see the Black Panther, the Dora Milaje, and all the Black Panther characters fight Wenwu, Razor Fist, and the rest of the Ten Rings army. It may be light on story but the spectacle would make up for it.

    What If… Sylvie Grew Up To Be A Valkyrie?

    There’s a theory out there that in Loki, Sylvie’s nexus event was that instead of wanting to become a ‘Loki’, she wanted to be a Valkyrie. Young Sylvie is shown to be playing with Valkyrie toys and that didn’t go with He Who Remain’s plan. In this version of the story, Sylvie gets to fulfill her dream of becoming a Valkyrie, where she also befriends Tessa Thompson‘s Valkyrie. They form a new team of intergalactic super viking-warriors; one that is able to successfully vanquish Hela when the time comes. Jane Foster could be the third member of the team when she becomes the Mighty Thor, especially because in the comics, Jane Foster is currently the leader of the Valkyries.

    What If… Jimmy Woo Became Sorcerer Supreme?

    In this version of the story, Jimmy Woo is recruited to Kamar-Taj by Wong after showing him a card trick. However, not long after, the entire sorcerer population is decimated by Mordo in his quest to eliminate all magic-users. But since Jimmy Woo’s ‘magic’ is just sleight of hand, he goes unnoticed by Mordo. With no one left to protect the Earth from mystical threats, he assumes the role of the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s a silly idea, but one of the great things about the What If…? comics is that at the end of the issue, there would be like a silly three-page story that wouldn’t make sense for a real book. A great example of this is ‘What If Ben Parker’s Nephew Was Galactus?’ from What If Vol. 2, #3. Something like that can be done here where Jimmy Woo is Sorcerer Supreme and he does close-up magic instead of actual sorcery.

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ To Have Amie Doherty as Composer

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ To Have Amie Doherty as Composer

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has found its composer.

    Amie Doherty will be the composer for the upcoming Marvel Studios series on Disney+, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Some of Doherty’s work includes Spirit Untamed, Undone, Happiest Season, The High Note, Battle at Big Rock, and Here and Now.

    The series will be the studios’ first foray into legal dramas and features Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, the cousin of Bruce Banner, as she traverses through her life as a single attorney in her 30s — all while she deals with being a green six-foot-seven-inch superpowered being. Mark Ruffalo will guest star as Smart Hulk. Tim Roth also makes his return as the Abomination after a brief appearance in Shang-Chi.

    Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry also star in the nine-episode series.

    Jessica Gao served as the head writer on the show. She is also listed as an executive producer on the project alongside Marvel Studios titans Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, and Brad Winderbaum. Also earning an executive producer credit is Kat Coiro who directed episodes of the series along with Anu Valia.

    Additionally, Doherty will be a participant in the film/TV composer panel Musical Anatomy of a Superhero at San Diego Comic-Con later this month. One can hope that she will briefly discuss her role on the series there.

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premieres on August 17.

    Source: Film Music Reporter

  • ‘The Walking Dead’ Cinematographer Joins Sony’s ‘Madame Web’, Hints at Marvel Studios’ Involvement

    ‘The Walking Dead’ Cinematographer Joins Sony’s ‘Madame Web’, Hints at Marvel Studios’ Involvement

    Sony has been busy preparing work on their upcoming Madame Web film, which will see an all-star cast consisting of Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Roberts, and Isabela Merced. Jessica Jones‘ S.J. Clarkson will spearhead the project and direct the film based on a screenplay by Kerem Sanga, Matt Sazaa, and Burk Sharpless. Now, it seems that The Walking Dead cinematographer Duane Charles Manwiller has not only confirmed his involvement but added someone else’s as well.

    Manwiller has seemingly added to his Instagram account that he is actively working on the latest Spider-Man spinoff film from Sony that will likely not feature the webhead. After Venom, Morbius and the still in-production Kraven the Hunter, Sony has been trying to get its own franchise running. Yet, which might surprise many, Manwiller may have hinted that Marvel Studios is also involved with the production.

    There have been rumors that Olivia Wilde‘s unconfirmed Spider-Woman film would also be co-produced by Marvel Studios, as she hinted at Kevin Feige‘s involvement. Perhaps he’s started taking a more active role in these projects, but there’s no real confirmation on how the project will come together. If it is indeed under Marvel studios’ umbrella, we’ll likely get the logo included with the official reveal. Yet, there’s also a chance he simply added it in as it seemed to be part of the co-production that Tom Holland is leading.

    Source: Instagram

  • REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 5—”Time and Again”

    REVIEW: ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode 5—”Time and Again”

    In typical penultimate episode fashion, Ms. Marvel’s “Time and Again” spends the thrust of its runtime in 1940s India following the mysterious Aisha. On some level, the episode did what was somewhat expected of it—the viewer got to see the entire “last train to Karachi” story that the series had been hinting at since the second episode. So much of Kamala’s story and super-origin rest on Aisha and her death, so watching it play out resonated on another level than dealing with it through exposition. While every moment of the episode had the potential to reveal an answer to a major question, it was almost surprising how little the audience’s understanding has changed by the end of Episode 5. The episode is another prime example of phenomenal storytelling by the series, but it is the first time it has felt somewhat frustrating in the lack of details and foundation. The rushed Clandestine demise also opened up the door for a very uncertain and unpersuasive final adversary for Kamala. Considering Marvel Studios’ Disney+ track record, the fact that so much is seemingly left for Ms. Marvel’s finale is as nerve-wracking as it is exciting.

    And the larger flashback sequence was beautifully human, even with freckles of Najma and bangle treachery sprinkled in. It invoked pure warmth and love between Aisha and Hasan, and the family stronghold of Ms. Marvel has proven once more to be one of its most expertly crafted elements. Not only was the human element noteworthy, but Marvel Studios took a (relatively) bold step into depicting the real historical world events of Partition. While Captain America: The First Avenger certainly brought a campy, sanitized, and fantasized version of World War II to the table, Episode 5’s portrayal of Partition and the events surrounding it is a far cry from what the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been willing to acknowledge before.

    Even though “Time and Again” undoubtedly tread the path of resolving the underlying mystery of Kamala’s powers, it somehow left even more questions to be answered. Most significantly, Kamala clearly did some version of time traveling to lead Sana back to her father. Such an act has countless and far-reaching potential consequences in the MCU, yet it is not explicitly confirmed or further explained in the episode. It potentially answers the question as to where the second bangle is—Kamala brought her own into the past—but that still is far too uncertain. Sana’s comment that, while everyone would love to know what is going on, is simply just the product of two people in love making something bigger than themselves, is a bit concerning for those wanting answers. That note almost seems to signal that the finale does not intend to fully flesh out the inter-dimensional elephant in the room, which is frustrating.

    The “veil” breakdown toward the end of the episode, unfortunately, fell a bit flat for a similar reason. The Noor Dimension had been built up as the driving plot device and, in a way, adversary. It seems to have come and gone quickly with little explanation for why it opened up a portal in the first place. Moreover, Najma having the ability to close it and transfer completely out-of-nowhere powers to Kamran also invokes far more questions in a series that previously felt like it carried just the right amount of secrets.

    Still, the ups and downs of Episode 5 were genuinely entertaining. While Ms. Marvel has not reinvented the MCU wheel, the edge-of-your-seat feeling during the train station scenes and the longing for answers is a happy consequence of the series’ ability to tell a moving, gripping, and intriguing story. While this penultimate episode maybe did not provide the number of surprises expected or hoped for, the thrill of the ride thus far is, for the most part, unmatched in the MCU.

    Overall, “Time and Again,” is immensely enjoyable as its own story, but it manages to be frustrating in how much it holds back. The MCU series are notorious for rushed and forced-feeling finales, and where this episode leaves off is not particularly encouraging in that context. It is unclear if the ultimate villain is supposed to be Damage Control (which we have not seen do anything of substance or character since Episode 2), or if Kamran will keep the Clandestine adversarial line afloat. Either way, neither of those two options make much sense going into the finale, particularly since Kamran’s status has been so consistently fluffy as to have no real impact. 

    The Ms. Marvel finale certainly has a lot of work to do to wrap up what has so far been a very satisfying series. If a second season lingers, it would make sense that so much still feels unsettled. But if Kamala’s bangle and powers are not legitimately explained in the final episode, the series will be leaving itself a hole considering the gradual reveal has been the most enjoyable part of the series’ plot by far.