Tag: Movie Features

How Marvel Studios Solved Everything

It’s been already heavily discussed how the fact that Marvel Studios not having the rights to its current catalog of characters from the start was probably a good thing. It allowed for a number of trilogies devoted to specific characters to have the room to be developed, something that was crucial to the relevance those same characters achieved, not only whiting the MCU itself but in pop culture as a whole. From there, with its Cinematic Universe already established and with a need to infuse it with new characters, Marvel Studios had to figure out how to do so all while also giving audiences a pretty good reason why those characters didn’t show up earlier, at times when the Earth needed every helping hand it could find.

So being, Marvel decided to tackle introducing new characters in various ways. These were either someone wanting to keep a low profile (Ant-Man), others were in outer space (Guardians of the Galaxy), another was in a secluded African nation that wanted nothing to do with the outside world’s problems (Black Panther), one was a kid from Queens that kept mostly to his part of town (Spider-Man), another was introduced through a prequel meaning she was there all along, just not on earth (Captain Marvel), while a neurosurgeon turned sorcerer managed to fulfill his duty behind the scenes (Doctor Strange). All in all, it went pretty smoothly, but with its growing catalog of characters, and specifically referring to most of the ones Marvel got back from Fox, Kevin Feige, and the Parliament (Marvel’s unifying creative committee) wouldn’t have such an easy task.

How to introduce both the Fantastic Four and the X-Men to the MCU was always a bit of a head-scratcher, more so with each passing year. Both have an almost inherent need to have been there from the start and, especially in the case of the Mutants, it’d be hard to have them stay away from the public eye since the beginning of the MCU. They have always been the outcasts, the marginalized, enduring a lifetime of being seen as less than they’re worth, which eventually leads to a breaking point. But for this stage to be set, you would need a different context than the one the MCU holds at this time.

Going back to the Fantastic Four, it would also be tough to swallow that Reed Richards, one of the smartest men on the planet, would be left out of the story being told so far, even if Marvel’s First Family hadn’t gained its powers yet, only to show up now. And even if the route chosen would be to have the team vanish in the middle of the space race that started in the 50s, only to return in the present day, there should be references, technology left behind, something that would have already alerted audiences to their presence in the MCU.

But after Loki, by going the route we all saw, what Marvel Studios has done is allow for all the optimal scenarios one might conjure to introduce the former Fox residents to the MCU. Ever since the acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney we all knew it was coming, but there always seemed to be a few tough decisions left to be made to make the overarching story make sense. One of those would be Magneto’s origin. Someone who was so clearly defined by the horrors of Nazi Germany and their concentration camps. Introducing such a character beyond 2022 would make him an elderly man, far from the ideal age for such a relevant character in the MCU’s coming decade. But now, both this, the issues raised above, and many others, are almost magically solved, without much compromise

With slight deviations to the Sacred Timeline at specific points in time, you could create these character’s origin stories free from all the constraints more than a decade of MCU projects have ultimately created. With the timeline-hopping we’re probably in store for in the next few years, it won’t take much to get already fully-formed characters with specific backgrounds we already know of (much like we pretty much skipped Spider-Man’s origin in Captain America: Civil War) into the main timeline, with their development from then on being specific to the MCU.

I’m sure the upcoming Multiverse Saga ended up being developed partially because, much like Reed Richards himself in Jonathan Hickman‘s Fantastic Four run, Feige and his team were on a quest to “solve everything”. To figure out how to best move forward beyond the Infinity Saga by following a different structure, and at the same time deciding on how to best integrate two of the most iconic comic book teams into the character playground the MCU has become. Knowing that arriving late to the party might be a downside, by choosing the Multiverse route they are not only allowing their entrance into the MCU in a fairly straightforward fashion but also for it to become the home of the best versions these characters have ever seen on the big screen.

August 13, 2021
Exploring a Darker MCU Spider-Man Story Through a ‘Gang Wars’ Adaptation

The 1980s were a grimy time for Marvel. Their comics were filled with plotlines concerning the downtrodden streets of a once-proud nation, and their heroes often found themselves dipping their pantyhose in the darker corners of morality. Spider-Man, for example, swapped his famous red-and-blues for a new pitch-black color scheme and dove headfirst into New York’s criminal underworld. The resulting comic arcs are often lost in the shuffle of alien symbiotes and vengeful hunters, but in retrospect, they’re just as good as anything Marvel has done with the character.

Many internet pitches for Tom Holland‘s next set of potential Spider-Films include re-iterations of tales we’ve already seen in both live-action and animation. While those stories are favorites for a reason, it’s time to explore a darker side of the iconic web-head. The Death of Jean DeWolff and Gang War, written by Peter David and Christopher Priest, respectively, are two of the great narratives in regard to Peter Parker’s more grounded adventures.

The former sees one of Spider-Man’s closest allies in the NYPD, Captain Jean DeWolff, gunned down in her own home. It follows his emotional quest to find her killer and put a stop to his murderous rampage. The latter deals with numerous crime lords from the Big Apple’s seedy underbelly waging an all-out war for control of the Kingpin’s empire. At the core is Spider-Man’s desperate attempts to end the conflict and keep innocent people safe. Both stories push Spidey to the brink of his mental capacity, test his relationship with the people of his city, and if combined properly, could make for an amazing Spider-Man movie.

The foundation for a Gang War adaptation would be best laid using the concept of a power struggle in New York’s world of organized crime. In the comics, the power vacuum opened when Wilson Fisk mysteriously disappeared from the city, and figureheads like The Rose, Hammerhead, and Silvermane began vying for the vacant position. With Daredevil on his way to the MCU, it’s possible Fisk could also play a role in Spider-Man’s cinematic future, but he doesn’t have to for this story to work.

A deleted scene from Far From Home revealed the existence of the Manfredi family in Marvel’s live-action universe, so it stands to reason a character like Silvermane could already be at the top of the criminal food chain. If the old man were to perish unexpectedly, with the chance to return later in a cyborg body, it would be enough to create a similar violent situation. Characters from the story directly linked to Fisk, like his son, The Rose, could be replaced with other underappreciated antagonists, like former enforcer Tombstone or fashion designer-turned-criminal Roderick Kingsley.

Should these crime lords begin warring in New York, Peter Parker would be sure to notice and attempt an intervention for the sake of civilian safety. Much like the comic, the naivety of his actions could actually work to prolong the conflict and add quite a bit of depth to his unhealthy working relationship with New York’s police department. It also gives us a new understanding of Peter’s overall motives. It would serve the story well to give Peter a confidant, or “good cop”, that supports his endeavors, like DeWolff, Yuri Watanabe, or George Stacy. All three of these characters eventually die in the line of duty, and an incident like this on film would be a good reason to push Parker towards an uncharacteristic rampage of his own. The MCU likes its amalgamations, so a mix of the three, with a name like Captain Jean Stacy, could be in order.

As previously mentioned, DeWolff and Gang War take place during Spidey’s time in the black suit. If that were the case here, the death of a friend at the hands of the world’s sleaziest would be enough to evoke new, darker personality traits in our favorite hero. With his immense power, it would take a special kind of someone to prevent him from doing something he might regret. Daredevil plays a prominent role in both comic arcs and has his horns deep in the philosophy of street-level crime. It makes him the perfect candidate to interfere in Spider-Man’s emotional tear and help the young hero battle his foes the just way.

A project that draws from all of these elements has a lot of potentials. On the surface, it would be incredibly cool to see a costumed Spider-Man and Daredevil fight crime side-by-side. The crime lords of Spidey’s rogue’s gallery deserve the spotlight eventually. On a deeper level, a slightly older Holland examining Peter Parker’s ethics, dealing with true loss, and protecting his home turf is exactly what a lot of people want to see. The story would be completely different from what we’ve seen, but maybe that’s exactly what the character needs right now.

August 13, 2021
Marvel Studios’ Phase 4: A Study in Loss and Tragedy

With the conclusion of Loki‘s first season, a theme is emerging in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse. Our heroes might not win as much as we’d like them to. Even victories could turn out costly at this point. Between episodes 4 and 5, I began to think about how Ant-Man and the Wasp would fare against Kang the Conqueror in his earliest introduction. By the time the Disney+ series had concluded, I was beginning to feel like maybe our heroes might experience a lot of loss in the coming projects.

With no major crossovers confirmed, and Kevin Feige saying “Phase Four was always about continuing in new ways,” it seems Marvel Studios could be allowing room for our heroes to lose more than they win for the foreseeable future. Let’s look through the Phase Four projects and estimate what chances our heroes have, may it be a costly victory, an outright loss, or even an outright win. It could give us a glimpse of what shape Phase Four might take. In counting costly wins in opposition to clear wins, I am weighing that the toll from a conflict undoes a sense of achievement and damages long-term progress.

What If

With the official trailer showing hints of an interconnected story that might not be solved in this season and the rumors that we’ll see a live-action Captain Carter in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it can be suggested the Guardians of the Multiverse might not win clearly in their first team-up. Will they mistakenly unleash something that will tangle with Doctor Strange? Will the whole team make it to the film? We’ll have to tune in from August 11th to find out.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

As Shang-Chi is drawn into a confrontation with his father Wenwu and the Ten Rings organization, in an attempt to escape from his past, it’s clear as all superhero daddy issues are, that there will be some loss even in victory. However, with this particular tale, it seems there could be a reasonably high chance of a respectful conclusion to this father-son conflict.

Estimated Verdict: Clear win.

Ms. Marvel

Kamala Khan will gain polymorphous abilities and uncover a new side of what it means to be a hero. She’ll also probably be tracked and chased by people fearful of those powers. That is not all, as she will also be dealing with being a teenage Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City. While she’ll be heading onto a cosmic adventure in The Marvels, it’s hard to imagine Kamala losing or winning at a cost.

Estimated Verdict: Clear win.

Eternals

As a race of immortal beings who have shaped Earth’s history, it’s difficult to see how the Eternals could truly lose. However, in the comics, there is often a traitor in their midst. Plus, despite their cosmic power levels, some members decide to be amongst humans while others prefer to take their places amongst the stars. It’s easy to imagine the team splitting and the stories continuing in different Earthbound and cosmic locations.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win.

Hawkeye

It could be a bad time for Clint, as the series will take inspiration from Matt Fraction and David Aja’s My Life as a Weapon comic run. Luckily, it seems as though his protégé Kate Bishop and Pizza Dog will be there to support him. He’ll face attacks from Kazi and the Tracksuit Mafia. Even Yelena Belova joins the fray, who will be out to avenge her sister and Clint’s friend, Natasha, due to a misunderstanding. They’ll also come across Echo, whose comic connection as Kingpin’s adoptive daughter could suggest an upcoming overarching story at the street level of the MCU. While Kate Bishop will undoubtedly continue as Hawkeye, maybe Clint will finally retire at the third time of trying.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Spider-Man: No Way Home

With Peter Parker’s identity being released publicly at the end of Far From Home, it stands to reason that the villains will target Peter personally, which could result in a heavy cost even in the event of a win. With the rumors of classic villains from other Spider-Man franchises joining the film, it looks like Peter has a tough battle ahead.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win.

She-Hulk

Besides having to deal with superhero-oriented legal cases, Jennifer Walters will have to take on the Abomination, Titania, and reportedly even The Wrecking Crew. All that while watching out for an Infinity Gauntlet-injured Professor Hulk. Don#t forget, she also has to balance her professional life with what will likely be at least one career-defining case. I would not be surprised if She-Hulk smashing the money trail of one of her cases leads to a much wider street-level conspiracy, leading to a bigger and more dangerous confrontation.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

With Loki unleashing the multiverse and the Scarlet Witch prophesied to have “power [that] exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme,” it’s clear to me Doctor Strange will have a tough time on his hands. I don’t expect any major deaths, but I think it’s unlikely Wanda won’t get what she wants. The bigger question is, who will face the biggest loss throughout the multiversal adventure.

Estimated Verdict: Clear loss.

Moon Knight

Moon Knight’s complexity as a vigilante suffering from dissociative identity disorder with multiple distinct personalities is only matched by the problem of possibly being the chosen avatar of Egyptian God, Khonshu. Or is it all in Marc Spector’s head? If he is real, would his goals come at the price of his sanity? In all likelihood, the situation will get worse for Marc before it gets better.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Thor: Love & Thunder

Gorr The God Butcher is coming for the pantheons of aliens that claim to be gods. While Thor will have lots of support, his track record in clean wins is not high, and it’s easy to see how Gorr will cause some damage that could be hard to recover from. As Thor: Ragnarok taught us, Thor’s victories always come at a price. Hopefully, this time it isn’t something the Asgardians have to pay as well.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

By opening up to the world Wakanda has risked quite a lot, and alongside having to manage a new throne succession process, they will reportedly have to deal with Prince Namor and his oceanic kingdom. If this conflict goes anything like how it goes down in the comic, the Wakandans tribes will need to band together to withstand the waters coming at them.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Secret Invasion

This will clearly differ from the comic arc of the same name. For now, little is known about how it might turn out and what new twists they’ll add to the iconic storyline. However, Nick Fury and Talos discovering that a secret sect of Skrull has every level of life on Earth seems like a scenario that can’t be won cleanly. It also feels like it could lead to a galactic clash in The Marvels.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

The Marvels

Although Carol defeated the Kree Supreme Intelligence, which is seemingly no longer in charge of the Kree Empire in modern times, there are almost certainly still extremists roaming the galaxy. Ronan The Accuser was most likely not the only one believing in their old traditions. It seems like Carol, Monica, and Kamala could be caught in the start of a reignition of the massive galactic war between the Kree and Skrull, where there are few winners.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Echo

Amidst Maya Lopez debuting as Echo in Hawkeye, there is a reasonable chance her comic father issues could extend into an overarching story in her own show. Having such closely tied connections pointing in a direction she will likely be turning away from suggests any about-turn could be painful for her.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Ironheart

Little is known about what genius inventor Riri Williams’ first adventure as Ironheart will entail. Although, there are some theories we might see her sooner than her own show. It’s fair to assume that Riri will be able to solve any problems thrown at her initially. She might get a slow introduction into the dangers of being a hero.

Estimated Verdict: Clear win

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania

While Ant-Man and the Wasp will likely be joined by Cassie Lang’s Stature, it’s hard to envisage that they’ll truly defeat Kang the Conqueror. Even if they do manage to strike a blow upon him, surely another Kang Variant will appear from a Timedoor to continue the previous Variant’s mission. It may only be our first introduction to how fearsome the Conqueror truly is throughout the multiverse.

Estimated Verdict: Clear loss.

Armor Wars

Rhodey has already suffered quite a bit in his tenure as War Machine, but his best friend’s legacy doesn’t feel like something that could be easy to put to bed, especially when Star’s technology falls into the wrong hands. Although Rhodey will likely solve the imminent danger, some of the nastier technologies Tony created are bound to persist and make his life a living hell.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

This outing is likely to be the last of this iteration of the team, so it is easy to envision that they might be heading for a split. Even if they do defeat whatever threat they are up against, there might also be some major deaths from the Guardians’ ranks, making this adventure a high-priced victory. We’ve seen in the past that James Gunn doesn’t shy away from exploring a story of loss.

Estimated Verdict: Costly win

So having looked at how our heroes might fare in their next adventures, I think it’s fair to say that the majority of confirmed Phase Four projects are not clear wins for our heroes. While this being the start of a new saga, many heroes are continuing from previous arcs. There is a decent amount of room for them to suffer major setbacks. Perhaps in some ways, this part of the second saga is in tribute to The Empire Strikes Back. At least in the way, it might dish out painful truths and physical humblings. It could also set the stage for even more powerful emotional moments and team-ups than the Infinity Saga before multiple teams have to find a way to band together against an even worse threat eventually.

Source: YouTube

August 10, 2021
Connecting Imaginary Dots: Jude Law and Shamier Anderson to join ‘The Marvels’

As production continues on the set of The Marvels, little by little, more information regarding the sequel has started to trickle its way out from the set. And thanks to this information, we could potentially see the return of one of Captain Marvel’s adversaries return for the sequel, as well as a brand new addition to the cast. IMDB is always hit or miss, thus the exercise in connecting imaginary dots.

According to an IMDb report of the full cast & crew listing, John Humber, who was part of the production of Captain Marvel, is now reportedly once again working on set as the assistant to Jude Law, who portrayed the character of Yon-Rogg in 2019’s Captain Marvel.

Yon-Rogg served as one of Captain Marvel’s most important mentors before revealing his true nature as the main antagonist to Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers. When we last saw him, he was defeated by Captain Marvel and sent off back to the Kree home world of Hala, no doubt in order to report his failures to the Supreme Intelligence. But in the chronological events of the MCU timeline, that happened nearly 30 years prior to the events of Avengers: Endgame, set in the Summer of 2023. So, with Law returning as Yon-Rogg, it will be fascinating to see what sort of change he has undergone since the events of his first appearance in Captain Marvel.

Another interesting detail on this IMDb cast & crew list is the participation of Samantha Jackson, who has reportedly joined the production of The Marvels as the assistant of Shamier Anderson. Anderson’s role, if the listing is accurate, remains to be seen, but the speculation about him playing another Marvel in a film titled The Marvels is sure to happen. Anderson is currently set to appear in the upcoming John Wick 4 film and has also appeared in projects such as Stowaway, Awake, Wynonna Earp, Goliath, and City of Lies.

Both of these actors, if their IMDB listings are accurate, will be set to join the ranks of Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris, who will reprise their respective MCU roles once again. They would also join franchise newcomers Zawe Ashton and Park Seo-Joon. Nia DaCosta will helm the film.

Source: IMDb

August 9, 2021
‘Black Widow’ and ‘The Suicide Squad’ Showcase Streaming’s Biggest Hurdle: A Lack of Transparency

There’s a major shift in the cinematic landscape happening as we speak. Up until before the pandemic hit, Netflix dominated the streaming landmark. We never found out just how successful their projects were, but saw their subscription numbers continue to grow. Now, Disney+, Apple+, and HBO Max have entered the market. In addition, we’ve entered a year when major motion pictures no longer are theater-only releases. HBO Max and Disney+ Premier Access offer accessibility to popular films in different ways. It’s taken a bite out of their Box Office numbers and shows we’re adapting to a brand-new market.

Disney+ is a very special case due to Disney doing something rather surprising. They’ve released the opening weekend sales of their Premier Access showings. Yet, they only did it as of Black Widow and never followed up on it. So, its success is up in the air due to no transparency if those numbers have changed at all since the initial opening weekend. Samba TV claimed its US market doubled over the course of the second, which would be insane considering it already made 60M in one weekend. A lawsuit followed by Scarlett Johansson to claim its digital release hampered her initial contract and is still an ongoing discussion to this day.

There’s also the uncertainty surrounding HBO Max. The Suicide Squad opened to a lower than expected Box Office, as it failed to hit its initial $30M prediction. The Delta variant is still considerable across the world and is hampering Box Office results alongside other key factors. HBO Max offers the film for free with a same-day release as theaters. Once again, we only know how it’s doing in theaters, but not on the service. We are reliant on Samba TV to give us information to guess if it’s a streaming success or not. We commonly only find out when an executive likes to share a success story, like he did today with The Suicide Squad being their second most-watched film during its simultaneous theater release.

We’re entering a new generation where a film’s success will be more than its Box Office income and physical sales. Just releasing information during its launch does not give a great estimate of a film’s overall performance. Plus, it seems like these metrics are more a PR move rather than useful information if it’s not communicated consistently. As we enter the new era, it’s time for more transparency. Third parties can only offer estimates, and it’ll get more difficult if this model wants to remain. Plus, digital-only releases like Pixar’s Luca or The Tomorrow War depend on estimated Nielsen ratings for any sign of life. It’ll become more difficult to understand how and why a film deserves a sequel or not. At some point, they can no longer keep these numbers under lock and key.

Relying purely on Box Office numbers could paint their productions in a negative light. The Suicide Squad is a perfect showcase of that, with headlines calling it a disappointment based on purely one metric. Black Widow’s Box Office is hindered by a lack of Chinese release and a lack of understanding of how Disney+ Premier Access performs for repeat viewers after its initial launch. Even if companies don’t want to provide these metrics, they are essential for understanding a film’s overall performance, as well as relevant for their talent’s individual contracts as the current allegations showcase. The streaming era is here, but the industry refuses to fully embrace all that comes with it.

Source: Twitter

August 8, 2021
‘The Suicide Squad’: Who is Starro the Conqueror?

With the roster for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad stacked with wildly disparate and relatively unknown DC Comics villains, we thought it would be great to get to know each of them in 400 words or fewer. Now that the film was released in theaters, we finally can talk about the big bad starfish, Starro the Conqueror. He first appeared in the 1960s Brave and The Bold #28 by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. Starro is a giant intergalactic starfish that has the ability to spit out smaller versions that seek out hosts. They attach to their faces and take over their body. An ability that could quickly topple nations, and even worlds. Starro’s abilities consist of size alteration, bio-fission, mind control, regeneration, flight, telepathy, and mass consciousness.

Starro was the first enemy the Justice League fought in their original inception. So, you can imagine how fearsome this space starfish truly is. Starro came to Happy Harbor and quickly took over the town. This brought together one of the most popular and iconic teams in comics. At the time, the team consisted of Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter, who would face off against the cosmic conqueror and defeat him by covering him in quicklime. The intergalactic starfish has become a recurring villain ever since, appearing in various comic storylines including Crisis on Infinite Earths #9, Justice League Europe #24, and many more. He made his live-action debut when he got unleashed onto Corto Maltese. He was kept quite close to his comic counterpart, and we also get to explore what happens to its hosts once it takes control of their bodies. Let’s just hope Starro gets a bit of open-ending, as the comics introduced an offspring of his known as Jarro that got adopted by Batman.

August 8, 2021
Shang-Chi and the Potential Future of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is less than a month away. It’ll solve the question of whom the Ten Rings are, who we’ve got introduced to since 2008’s Iron Man. The first trailers gave us our first look at the unique take of the Marvel Cinematic Universe of the titular Ten Rings. Instead of literal rings, they act more like bracelets that Wenwu, their version of the Mandarin, wears on his arms. The latest trailers and even costume showings may have hinted at the future of this mystical weapon. We definitely know that Shang-Chi will wield them at one point in the film, but they could become a permanent part of his repertoire.

https://twitter.com/aaron_rivin/status/1424066745241784324

If this ends up true, it also opens the question of what it means for the secret organization. The opening of the film strongly implies that our titular hero has been running away from his responsibilities as the heir for some time. As he uncovers more of his past and meets a mystical dragon, it’ll be difficult to just return to his everyday life in the United States. We also don’t know what’ll happen to Wenwu once the film ends, which opens up the question of a power vacuum is left after their final confrontation. It seems doubtful that he’d take over the organization and try to change it within, but rather try to enjoy his freedom away from the Ten Rings. He may have been given this mission by the dragon, who might be the original owner of those very rings.

If we’d go down a clichéd route, it would seem safe to assume his sister Jiang Li might take over if anything happens to their father. She might rule it with an iron thumb as Shang-Chi tries to live his life. Yet, if he keeps the rings in his possession, it might draw the wrong kind of attention. She’ll hunt him down to return them to their rightful place in her eyes. As such, it would force our hero to go on the run as he learns just how far the Ten Rings’ influence has spread across the world.

Perhaps the Ten Rings are, in reality, only one piece of a bigger picture. The moment he meets the Great Protector, he uncovers the truth behind the rings and sets out to find the other dragons. In Chinese mythology, there are the nine dragons of Kowloon, or the five dragon kings. Shang-Chi features a white dragon, who could be one of the five previously mentioned. So, future entries might have him search out the others to fully unlock the potential of the ten rings. Perhaps, Shou-Lao, the dragon of K’un-Lun, is one of them and his journey will lead him to the hidden city and a meeting with the Iron Fist.

Source: Twitter

August 7, 2021
Comics You Should Read Ahead of ‘The Suicide Squad’s Premiere

With how vocal writer and director James Gunn has been about how the original Suicide Squad comics inspired his film, you may want to get familiar with whom you’re dealing with this time around. In this explosive romp in Corto Maltese, the squad finds themselves up against Starro The Conquerer, a cosmic starfish, who, as his name implies, conquers worlds throughout the universe. While it won’t exactly be following the storyline, the absolute best place to start would be none other than John Ostrander’s original run on the team, the book that inspired Gunn to bring The Suicide Squad to life.

John Ostrander’s Suicide Squad

Without John Ostrander, the team we know today would’ve never come to be. While the Squad had already existed, In Legends #3, which was co-written by Ostrander, the modern team would debut with a roster made up of some of the worst DC had to offer. The newest roster included Rick Flag, Captain Boomerang, Deadshot, Bronze Tiger, Nightshade, Enchantress, Tarantula, and Mindboggler. The run on this team would become definitive and the basis for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, with the writer even making a cameo in the upcoming film.

Paul Kupperberg’s Peacemaker

Peacemaker made his explosive DC Comics debut in the Crisis on Infinite Earths run before scoring his own four-part mini-series in 1988 from writer Paul Kupperberg. The series would follow Peacemakers’ introduction into the universe as he struggles to deal with the fact terrorism doesn’t save lives. The mini-series sees him up against the terrorist Doctor Tzin-Tzin. It will get you quickly up to speed with John Cena’s character and figure out how the chrome-dome thinks.

Paul Dini’s Batman: Harley Quinn

The return of the infamous Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad marks the character’s third appearance in the DCEU. It follows Birds of Prey and the first Suicide Squad film. Margot Robbie has excellently tied the vision of each unique director together to keep the character consistent. This time around, director James Gunn teased that Harley is strongly based on Paul Dini, the man who created the character all the way back in the days of Batman: The Animated Series. He then wrote the story known as Batman: Harley Quinn that follows her story after she got abandoned by the Joker. The story perfectly captures the chaotic and rambunctious nature that she’s known for and shows just what makes her just as dangerous as Joker, if not more.

Giffen and Jones’ Justice League Europe

Starro appears in a few issues of the series Justice League Europe #24 up until #27. He’s a threat that can’t get rid of easily, as it only requires one surviving star to go through the same process again. This time around, however, we see the League assisting the conqueror, as he is dying. Their plan would save an innocent village from the invader and send him back into space. But when the mission goes wrong, the JLE must fight their way through a city of civilians and their teammates controlled by the starfish. With quite the obscure villain, whether you read it before or after, all should be warned of the might of Starro The Conqueror.

Tom Taylor’s Bad Blood

Tom Taylor took the Suicide Squad and flipped it on its head when he reinvented the team with a roster of original characters. When a battle between the Squad and a terrorist group results in multiple casualties, the teams are forcibly combined. It leads to some overwhelming hostility, as no one knows who they can trust. The only exception is Harley and Deadshot, who are the only survivors of Task Force X. While it’s a vast departure from the upcoming film, it’s an incredible read for people who might just be craving more from the team after the film, and could inspire a film down the line.

August 3, 2021
‘Doctor Strange’ and a Multitude of Cameos: Exploring the Film’s Many Rumors
Besides a few hints and plenty of rumors, we know very little about Doctor Strange’s travel through the multiverse. The aptly titled Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will build upon the events of Loki and will follow after Benedict Cumberbatch’s appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, the multiverse opens up the franchise to what seems like endless possibilities. We know that Wanda Maximoff will return after the events of WandaVision, as she searches for her children throughout the multiverse. America Chavez will also make her MCU debut with the upcoming film. Yet, there are countless more rumors So, let’s take a closer look at the multitude of cameos and appearances rumored for the sequel.

Let’s start with those that might have larger roles in the film. A recent Funko Pop leak teases the addition of different Variants of Strange and Wong. There will be Supreme and Defenders versions, which may or may not be allies in their multiversal travels. It also included the naming of Rintrah, who Adam Hugill is reported to be playing. The iconic comic character will also get a Funko alongside the Variants, which may hint at them having a somewhat larger role in the story.

The only hint at an overarching villain we got was the hint at the appearance of the multiversal being, Shuma-Gorath. The upcoming What If series may have hinted at his inclusion, and he seems like the perfect choice for this type of storyline. He’ll likely connect to the appearance of America Chavez, whose abilities may become the catalyst for the overarching narrative in the film. Now that we got the bigger roles out of the way, let’s take a closer look at the various teased or rumored cameos for the upcoming film:
- After his adventure on Disney+ and unleashing said multiverse, there are already hints that Tom Hiddleston’s Loki might appear in the film in some capacity. It makes sense, but it would be confusing with how the last season ended.
- Speaking of Disney+, Wanda’s inclusion also opened up the possibility of WandaVision cameos in the film. We got hints that Treyonah Parris‘ Monica Rambeau could appear in the sequel ahead of her appearance in The Marvels.
- With Sam Raimi at the helm, theories of a Bruce Campbell cameo made the rounds quite early. His appearance near the shooting location didn’t help matters, and it’s safe to say he will be featured in some capacity.
- As What If explores the multiverse, it seemed plausible some character might transfer over into the Doctor Strange sequel. Well, it seems that Haley Atwell’s Captain Carter is the most likely candidate to appear. Rumors were hinting at her appearance, and the latest Marvel Legends reveal may have confirmed it.
- Lastly, we got a Namor reference with the potential appearance of the water monster Gargantos. It may be a re-used version of the underwater creature, who hasn’t had a strong presence in the comics. So, they may also be minions of Shuma-Gorath due to their similar tentacle design.
There are quite a few rumors and who knows what else might appear online in the coming months, ahead of its release. At one point, Mads Mikkelsen was rumored to make a grand return before it swiftly got debunked. It was a given that the moment Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange jumped into the multiverse that almost any possible appearance has become a possibility. So, if the rumors surrounding Spider-Man: No way Home turns out true, who knows if they may also connect with Strange’s upcoming adventure with his appearance confirmed. So, we’ll see if this list ends up growing as time goes on.
July 31, 2021
Top 5 Directors To Direct ‘SPIDER-MAN’s Next Trilogy

Jon Watts‘ time behind the Spider-Man camera is coming to an end. The director will close his run on the character with this year’s No Way Home before making a lateral move to take control of Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four franchise. This means that, should Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker be renewed for a second trilogy, the series will require a brand new supervisor. Luckily, there is no shortage of hungry talent in Hollywood that would be perfect to helm one of the world’s most profitable intellectual properties. I’ve taken the liberty of combing through the endless list of names to present you with five that I think have a shot at keeping things interesting.

Rick Famuyiwa

Let’s talk about Dope. The 2015 indie hit is a coming-of-age tale about an intelligent, nerdy kid thrust into a bigger, more dangerous world than he ever intended to join. Doesn’t it sound familiar? It was all pulled off with softhearted, fast-paced brilliance by the maestro Rick Famuyiwa, who is perhaps my top pick to direct the next entry in the Spider-Man mythos. If his name sounds familiar to all the geeks out there, it’s because he’s spent the past couple of years directing acclaimed episodes of The Mandalorian. His work shows his good relationship with Disney and his adeptness at mixing big-budget action with tender personal moments. Famuyiwa‘s early projects, like Brown Sugar, prove he can handle Peter’s romantic personal life, and the brief time he was hired to direct Warner Bros.’ The Flash gave the world a tease at how committed he could be to bringing a comic adaptation to life.

Edgar Wright

Maybe the fan-favorite pick to helm the next generation of Spider-Man. It makes so much sense that I barely feel the need to elaborate. Edgar Wright makes crowd-pleasing movies that are fast, fun, and colorful. His protagonists are typically quirky, with skill and a heart of gold. All in all, Wright‘s sensibilities feel tailor-made for the realm of Peter Parker, and comic purists would be pleased to know the guy who ripped Scott Pilgrim vs. The World straight off the page was in charge of bringing Spidey into adulthood. He has worked with Marvel Studios in the past, and while it didn’t end on the best of terms, it seems that hatchet got buried some time ago.

Zoe Lister-Jones

You may best know Zoe Lister-Jones for her work in front of the television camera. She had a recurring role on New Girl and Life in Pieces. Yet, some of her best work in the industry might have happened in the director’s chair. Lister-Jones entered the scene with an underrated masterpiece, Band Aid, which focused on a married couple who use music as a form of couple’s therapy. More recently, she produced How It Ends, wherein a woman tries coming to terms with herself before the world ends.

If you didn’t pick up on it, there’s a theme in her body of work. She’s obsessed with discussing the human condition, and it’s the kind of obsession any director needs to have if they’re going to get to the heart of Spider-Man correctly. She might not have a gigantic resume, but Marvel loves to hire up-and-coming indie filmmakers with a good pitch and a better passion.

Justin Lin

Justin Lin is the unsung hero of the modern blockbuster. This is the man who made the Fast & Furious franchise a global sensation and reminded audiences that a big-budget Star Trek film could be both beautiful and thought-provoking. As ridiculous as some of Lin‘s projects can be, there are few directors working today that manage to produce such outrageous action scenes while keeping the idea of love and family so central to their story. Many people forget that the Taiwanese filmmaker also has a background in acclaimed television. He directed the famous paintball episode of Community and episodes of the Emmy-winning True Detective. His range alone, with experience in both low-budget and big-budget comedy, action, and drama, is enough to justify a Spidey nod from Marvel Studios.

Rob McElhenney

At first, it may sound like a reach, but hear me out. Rob McElhenney has never directed a film before, but he has produced some of the last decade’s best episodes of television history. Everyone knows he co-created America’s finest comedy series, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, but fewer people seem to know about his work on the AppleTV+ show Mythic Quest. There, McElhenney has directed what could be equated to four nearly-perfect short films, handling topics like the downfall of marriage, the growth of man, and the brutal COVID-19 pandemic with grace and understanding. If Marvel Studios and Sony wanted to go outside the box with their pick to bring Peter Parker’s college years to life, they could do a lot worse than McElhenney.

July 24, 2021