Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer foreign to the general public. If you’re reading this article because you clicked the link on Twitter, you likely came across at least one AI-based creation on your social media feeds in the past month. Integrating AI into our daily lives is becoming increasingly common in various industries, including entertainment.
AI has been heavily used in the entertainment industry in the production of visual effects. In recent years, AI algorithms have been employed to generate complex visual effects in television shows, such as The Mandalorian. In this series, AI technology was used to recreate the highly realistic image of a young Luke Skywalker and synthesize his voice with great detail. While some see the use of AI in the entertainment industry as a valuable tool that can enhance the creative process and revolutionize visual effects production, others worry about the potential displacement of “traditional” production methods and the loss of jobs for those working in the industry.
Does History Repeat Itself?
Some people have drawn comparisons between the use of AI in the entertainment industry and two significant technological developments in the past: sound and CGI. In the 1920s, filmmakers and actors were concerned that introducing sound would make actors obsolete, as audiences were accustomed to focusing on physical gestures and facial expressions. Similarly, in the 1990s, the emergence of CGI led to concerns that practical effects in cinema would be replaced by computer-generated imagery and actors would be replaced by computer-generated characters.
However, using AI in the entertainment industry is a different matter entirely. While it may be a helpful tool, it is not necessarily “necessary.” It can be used as an excuse for major studios to replace human labor with algorithms, as it is often cheaper. This is not a far-fetched possibility, as we have seen reports of companies such as Warner seeking to reduce their tax expenses.
The poor performance of projects like Facebook Metaverse and the NFT craze of the early 2020s suggests that our current obsession with AI may be detrimental due to an overreliance on technology and a belief in its ability to solve all problems. This can lead to a lack of critical thinking and neglect of necessary ethical considerations. Fortunately, directors like Christopher Nolan and Damien Leone are pushing back against this trend and promoting practical effects to enhance the viewing experience and make moviegoers fall in love again with practical effects.
It is up to the entertainment industry and its stakeholders to ensure that AI adoption is done responsibly and ethically, considering the values and concerns of all parties involved. Ultimately, the role of AI in the entertainment industry will depend on how it is used and the priorities of those who implement it.
After thirteen dormant years, James Cameron‘s epic story has at long last been continued as Avatar: The Way of Water has finally hit theaters. After releasing as the biggest film of all time in 2009, Avatar looked ripe to become the next major Hollywood franchise. However, to the surprise of nearly everyone, director Cameron famously pumped the brakes on the future of his hot new intellectual property to allow for technology to catch up to his grand plans. He didn’t spend the next decade just twiddling his thumbs, though. On top of eventually making The Way of Water, the iconic creative also filmed a second sequel, and outlined a full-blown saga lasting at least five total movies, with the potential for more should the audience demand be there.
While plot details for the remaining films past The Way of Water are sparse, there may be an unexpected source that teases what Cameron has in store. All the way back in 2018, the BBC reported a list of leaked titles they claimed were for the planned Avatar sequels:
Avatar: The Way of Water
Avatar: The Seed Bearer
Avatar: The Tulkun Rider
Avatar: The Quest for Eywa
At the time, fans took the names with an appropriate grain of salt, but it’s easy to see now why that’s no longer the case. The BBC is now 25% correct, which has caused many people to assume the rest of the Avatar title line-up is going to follow suit. In an effort to maintain mystique, executive producer Jon Landau recently stated he and Cameron had already decided on what the sequels will be called, and that online users shouldn’t go by the previously rumored movie names. It’s very possible that the creatives ultimately decided to change the rest of the titles at some point in the development process, but the specificity of the BBC nailing The Way of Water, a fairly non-generic moniker, and referencing a creature from the sequel, the whale-like Tulkun, so many years before it’s release would suggest the other labels were at least correct at some point.
As such, the names may actually lend themselves well to an attempt at deciphering the events set to take place in the next three Avatar projects. Admittedly, combining the remaining titles with the plotlines established in the first two films still only paints a fairly vague picture, but theorizing is almost always fun and it can’t hurt to try. So, Murphy’s Multiverse is going to throw some thoughts at the wall and hope they stick.
Avatar: The Seed Bearer
Weirdly enough, the direct sequel to The Way of Water may be the most difficult to figure out. Unlike the other titles on this list, The Seed Bearer does not reference any specific concept or idea already set in place by the initial films. Luckily, The Way of Water does lay out a few obvious threads for the next movie to pick up on, so one can assume Cameron expands upon those and goes from there.
The end of the second film features Jack Champion‘s human Na’vi appreciator “Spider” rescuing the villainous Recombinant clone of his father, Stephan Lang‘s Colonel Miles Quaritch, from drowning. Given his twisted nature has yet to falter, and the fact he’s confirmed to return in the next sequel, it’s insanely likely that Col. Quaritch once again plays an antagonistic role in Avatar 3. Cameron revealed in 2017 that Lang would act as the baddie of all five written Avatar movies, so don’t expect him to die off in The Seed Bearer either.
It also stands to reason that the children of Sam Worthington‘s Jake Sully and Zoe Saldana‘s Neytiri will continue to play massive roles in the franchise. Each surviving youth seems to possess some sort of important character trait within the world of Pandora. Britain Dalton‘s strong-willed Lo’ak has a natural ability to understand the downtrodden, and is primed to take a leading role following the tragic death of his older brother, while Sigourney Weaver‘s Kiri has a strong, visceral connection to Eywa and the heart of all living things – something Sully is warned could kill her in the middle of The Way of Water before being all but dropped as plot device in the finale. It seems reasonable to say these characters and their development will be a big focus of The Seed Bearer and everything that comes after it.
As for the title and overall plot, it’s still but a loose guess. The Way of Water saw Jake and Neytiri accept the sea-faring Metkayina as their people and new home, but that doesn’t mean the tree-dwelling Omaticaya are never to appear again. The beginning of Avatar 2 revealed much of the Omaticaya’s homeland was destroyed by the return of humans to Pandora, positioning the once-comfortable Na’vi in a fortified, cavernous mountain home as they stay prepared for assaults by their mortal enemies. When the Sully family departed their tribe, Neytiri was notably against leaving her home behind, and only did so out of concern for the safety of her kids. Perhaps The Seed Bearer has Neytiri growing uncomfortable with the Metkayina and her act of abandonment, eventually convincing her husband to travel back into the forest with a plan to save the Omaticaya, defeat the humans, and regrow the Hometree that fell during the events of the first film.
Col. Quaritch would undoubtedly see this as another opportunity to bring down Jake Sully and claim Pandora for Earth, and it’s plausible he uses his undeniable charm to weasel his way back to the front of Earth’s brutal army. The identity of the titular Seed Bearer is hard to pin down, but it could end up being Kiri, whose connection to Eywa and the Tree of Souls might be the key to restoring Pandora to it’s former glory. Especially if she manages to gain access to her unconscious (or deceased) mother’s scientific knowledge of Pandora’s inner workings.
Avatar: The Tulkun Rider
It’s incredibly easy to figure out who this title is referring to. The Way of Water has a major subplot involving the Tulkun, the aforementioned whale-like creatures who form spirit bonds with the Na’vi of the Omaticaya. Specifically, it tells a riveting tale about Lo’ak and his growth into a young warrior, which occurs by way of his bonding with Pandora’s most feared Tulkun – an outcast called Payakan. Following the third act of the second Avatar entry, Lo’ak all but gains the honorary mantle of “Tulkun Rider”, and with his leading franchise role being taken into consideration, there’s a good chance he’s The Tulkun Rider in question.
Yet, this doesn’t explain why the fourth Avatar might be named after him. Fortunately, a little digging gives further hints. In a 2021 conversation with Denis Villeneuve for Variety, Cameron stated that he was forced to film nearly a third of The Tulkun Rider at the same time as The Way of Water and Avatar 3, because he needed the children to stay the same age until a certain point in the movie. He elaborated at the time:
I had to shoot the kids out. They’re allowed to age six years in the middle of the story on page 25 of movie ‘4.’ So I needed everything before then, and then everything after, we’ll do later.
James Cameron
This means that, partway through The Tulkun Rider, there will be a sizable time-jump of around six years. Lo’ak, already a young man in The Way of Water, will probably be allowed to grow into adulthood and find himself after the timeline skip. With the nature of storytelling in mind, there’s a very solid chance The Tulkun Rider revolves around Lo’ak’s ascent to a leadership position within the Na’vi people, and a succession of his father as their most legendary warrior. Potentially, if the third film does go back to the forests of Pandora, he will also be shown as a great unifying force between all of the Na’vi tribes. How the other characters factor into this concept is too difficult to tell, but a betting man would be smart to theorize Lo’ak as the essential lead of Avatar 4.
Avatar: The Quest for Eywa
Another somewhat difficult title to break down, but not entirely impossible. Based on the first two films, viewers know that “Eywa” – also known as the “Great Mother” – is the lifeforce that binds all of Pandora together. She is essentially the Na’vi’s greatest deity, and the power they hold most sacred. Though, if Eywa is something that exists in every living thing around Pandora, how could there possibly be a search for her? If taken at face value, this title sounds as if Lucasfilm titled the next Star Wars project something along the lines of Star Wars: The Search for The Force. A little goofy. Unless, of course, it isn’t.
As mentioned in the theorized plot for Avatar: The Seed Bearer, Sigourney Weaver‘s Kiri has an unusual connection to Eywa and the planet of Pandora at large. She can communicate and direct both flora and fauna at her will, feels the pulse of Eywa at any given moment, and occasionally experiences intense, seizure-inducing visions when bonded with the ecosystem. Her birth is also a bit of a mystery, having occurred after the death of her genetic mother, from an Avatar body, with no known father or signs of pregnancy beforehand. Almost, one might say, a bit Christ-like. When Weaver‘s previous Avatar character, Dr. Grace Augustine, passed, she was connected to both her Avatar and the Tree of Souls. This is quite the pitch, but maybe, somehow, Eywa used this scenario to produce a child that could act as it’s physical embodiment on Pandora.
In theory, Kiri could actually be Eywa. If this is true, then Avatar: The Quest for Eywa may be about the hunt for a missing Kiri, who has been realized as the true savior of her people and an essential part of Pandora’s future. What remains to be asked is this – if Kiri is gone, where did she go? Allow producer Jon Landau to give further insight:
I wasn’t going to talk about it, but I’ve now subsequently heard that Jim has talked about it a little bit. In [‘Avatar 5’] there is a section of the story where we go to Earth. And we go to it to open people’s eyes, open Neytiri’s eyes, to what exists on Earth. Earth is not just represented by the RDA [the franchise’s evil organization known as the Resources Development Administration]. Just like you’re defined by the choices you make in life, not all humans are bad. Not all Na’vi are good. And that’s the case here on Earth. And we want to expose Neytiri to that.
Jon Landau
This quote, taken from a recent Variety interview, might be hiding a lot more than people think. Jake Sully, or any other Avatar character for that matter, doesn’t seem like the type of person to rationally take his native Na’vi wife to Earth as a way of sending a message. It seems as though Neytiri would end up on Earth for a different reason altogether, with Cameron using the experience as a way of progressing her development arc. Neytiri is fierce, and The Way of Watershowed she’d do anything to protect her family. Next theory? Avatar: The Quest for Eywa sees Col. Quaritch and the RDA also coming to understand Kiri’s importance, and abducting her to weaken Pandora and advance their studies on Earth. Neytiri, among others, would then go to Earth to retrieve her daughter and restore Eywa to her homeworld.
Along the way, Neytiri gains an appreciation for the common people of Earth, and her attitude toward the next step in Pandora’s relationship with humans begins to differ. This idea is, like the rest of the thoughts laid out here, not set in stone, but it is the best that Murphy’s Multiverse can come up with based on current information. Only an immense amount of time and money will actually pull back the curtain on the puzzle that is Avatar‘s future, and fans of the franchise are sure to be eagerly awaiting when it happens.
Weeks after ascending to the top of DC Studios, James Gunn made a major statement about the future of the DC Universe when he announced that he was writing a treatment for an all-new Superman film. Gunn’s project, which he may ultimately direct, has no ties to Henry Cavill‘s Man of Steel or the Snyderverse and should be a signal to fans about the direction of the newly minted studio. Superman is a priority for DC Studios and by taking it on himself to write the script, Gunn is making sure his vision is the one that defines the character.
Telling a good Superman story isn’t easy in the 2020s which means Gunn’s taking a lot of responsibility in his new role as co-chair. If fans don’t respond well to the new project, Gunn will take the heat. That’s a long way off, however, as the script is obviously just being developed now but that doesn’t mean that Gunn hasn’t had Superman on his mind for quite some time. In fact, he’s been very vocal about his love for and interest in the character over the last several years and has come close to either developing a Superman or Superman-adjacent property more than once! Here’s a look, albeit a brief one, at Gunn’s love of Superman.
For Gunn, it likely all started in 1978 when, as a 12-year-old, he saw Richard Donner‘s Superman at a theater in Des Peres, Missourri. Gunn called Superman a “great movie” that “rivaled Star Wars” for him and, in a 2021 interview, credited it with getting him “really excited about the genre.”
Before becoming the driving creative force behind Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy, Gunn wrote and directed 2010’s Super, a black comedy about a hero with no super powers which may or may not be a part of a cinematic universe where the “evil Superman” character from Brightburn exists, but even while he was tied up at Marvel, he remained a fan of Superman. In a long Twitter thread from 2016, Gunn made it clear that he enjoyed 2013’s Man of Steel despite some of his criticism about how it portrayed the hero, citing a lack of empathy as an issue.
Gunn has always kept up a major presence on social media and in 2016 during a live Facebook Q&A, he was asked who would win in a fight between Hulk and Superman. At the time, Gunn was very much believed to be one of the architects of the future of Marvel Studios, making his response a bit surprising.
Hulk vs Superman, who wins? Probably Superman, right?“He’s much more powerful than Hulk.
James Gunn via Radio Times
In 2017, after congratulating Zachary Levi for landing the lead role in Shazam!, Gunn was besieged on social media by fans for even mentioning a DC property. His response was pretty epic as he urged fans to drop the “Marvel vs. DC” mentality.
Every time I mention anything DC, no matter what, my feed becomes an endless screaming match about BvS. You guys are never going to convince each other – it’s just a bunch of wasted energy. At least when you’re screaming at each other about Trump, it’s something of international importance. But it’s a 2 year old movie that some people like and some people don’t. Why is someone else’s opinion so important to you? As Marvel and DC super fans you have way more in common with each other than you do with the rest of the world. So why do you spend so much time raging at each other? It’s silly. Please just stop it. Stop engaging in that way.
James Gunn
Less than a year later, Gunn had been fired from Marvel and hired by the old guard at DC to direct The Suicide Squad. Interestingly enough, before moving forward on The SuicideSquad, Gunn had his pick of projects including a Superman film that he turned down. Gunn also indicated that while he ultimately chose not to direct it, he briefly considered a project centered around Superman’s dog, Krypto. Though he passed on the Superman project, Gunn later revealed that he nearly ended up including the character in The Suicide Squad…as the bad guy until he settled on Starro.
I thought that was a very interesting story. But when I came up with Starro…he’s a character I loved from the comics. I think he’s a perfect comic book character because he’s absolutely ludicrous, but he’s also very scary in his own way … He used to scare the crap out of me when I was a child, putting those facehuggers on Superman and Batman and stuff. So, I thought he was one of the major DC villains that was probably never gonna be put into another movie. And if they did, they would do it like the ‘black cloud’ version of Starro — not a giant, walking starfish that’s a kaiju, that is bright-pink and cerulean blue. Just a ridiculously bright bad guy.
James Gunn via Script Apart Podcast
It’s safe to say that Superman, and the state of DC’s films, has been on Gunn’s mind for some time now. In that sense, it’s no surprise that he’s decided to make the character a priority in his early days as the co-chair after seeing him mostly sidelined by the previous regime. It looks like Gunn is going all in on that character as one of the building blocks of the DC Universe and given his love for the character, fans should look for a return to the character’s roots as a symbol of pure goodness and hope.
With Phase 4 behind us and the start of Phase 5 right around the corner, fans are just starting to see the big picture of the Multiverse Saga. As of now, a dozen known films stand between fans and the end of the ongoing saga. Here’s the scoop on all 12.
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania February 17, 2023
Written by Jeff Loveness Directred by Peyton Reed
A big-budget, universe-altering Ant-Man movie is probably a thing a lot of fans thought they’d never see, but that’s exactly what the third film in the franchise will be, according to executive producer Stephen Broussard who says Quantumania will “be big and feel central to the future of the MCU.” After being transported to the Quantum Realm through a device built by Kathryn Newton‘s Cassie, the Ant-Family will find themselves navigating their way through the strange land which Broussard warns is “full of people and characters and worlds and politics and history.” The first trailer for the film introduces a few of those characters including Jonathan Majors‘ Kang the Conqueror, Bill Murray‘s Krylar and some other key inhabitants of the Quantum Realm but held back on revealing one of the film’s most over-the-top choices: the classic comic villain M.O.D.O.K.!
As Broussard says, Quantumania’s plot is central to the ongoing Multiverse Saga. Writer Jeff Loveness put together an incredible script and then moved on to write Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, so you can be sure there’s significant connectivity between the two films. For a film that was once thought to be in danger of not being made or of being turned into a streaming series, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania certainly has an awful lot going for it.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 May 5, 2023
Written and directed by James Gunn
James Gunn‘s last project for Marvel Studios will undoubtedly leave fans in tears next Summer. It’s the last go-round for this group of characters and the film will see the death of at least one of the team’s original crew and a significantly different-looking future for the rest. The film’s plot will revolve around the unspooling of Rocket’s origins which seems to dictate a trip to Counter-Earth where the team runs into the High Evolutionary. That trip is rumored to be the result of a run-in with Will Poulter‘s Adam Warlock, who was seen throwing a beating on Nebula in the film’s first trailer.
While the film marks the end of the road for this group of heroes and for Gunn’s time with them, there’s certainly going to be room for Cosmic heroes beyond this movie. Who will be on the team and who will put it together? And what will the future hold for those who stay?
The Marvels July 28, 2023
Written by Megan McDonnell Directed by Nia DaCosta
While ostensibly a sequel to Captain Marvel, it could also be a sequel to Ms. Marvel and WandaVision as well. The Marvels looks to be as tonally different from Captain Marvel as Captain America: The Winter Soldier was from Captain America: The First Avenger. Director Nia DaCosta has said she had a great time working with stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris and the footage screened at D23 would certainly seem to support that claim.
The film will include some wild body-swapping as Carol, Kamala and Monica switch places with one another as seen in the post-credit scene to Ms. Marvel. That’s all tied to the Kree villain played by Zawe Ashton, who finds herself in possession of an artifact that looks strikingly similar to Kamala Khan’s bangle. A good portion of the film will also take place in space and see Carol revisit Hala as well as introduce a few new locations. There are also some pretty interesting theories out there about how these artifacts might be either Nega or Quantum bands and how they might just play into the Avengers’ battle against Kang, so this film won’t be without its Multiverse Saga tie-ins.
Captain America: New World Order May 3, 2024
Written by Dalan Musson and Malcolm Spellman Directed by Julius Onah
At this point, this sounds like the craziest film on Marvel Studios 2024 slate and maybe one of the crazier films they’ve ever put together. The return on Tim Blake Nelson‘s Samuel Sterns/The Leader is just the tip of the iceberg. Harrison Ford is joining the MCU as Thaddeus Ross and rumors point to the long-awaited Red Hulk transformation finally happening. There are also rumors that Adamantium will be central to the film’s plot, which may also include Super Soldier-research again which makes one wonder if Weapons Plus will reemerge from the shadows. The project is also set to introduce a “Marvel mainstay” to the MCU and is rumored to be another key project along the way to the rumored World War Hulk film making Sam Wilson’s first big screen adventure as Captain America an incredibly important Phase 5 film.
Thunderbolts July 26, 2024
Written by Eric Pearson Directed by Jake Schreier
The latest rumors about this film indicate that it’s getting a rewrite and that an “evil Superman” plays a key role. If the aforementioned reemergence of Weapons Plus happens in Captain America: New World Order, that “evil Superman” might just turn out to be Sentry and that would make for either one wild ride or one ultra-nerfed character. The team that was rolled out at D23 was very Super Soldier and spy-heavy and would be shredded by a comic book-accurate Sentry. Fan theories continue to swirl that Zemo and Abomination are “secret” members of the team or that that, like in The Suicide Squad, there’s a second team of Tbolts in the mix. It doesn’t seem like any of those things were true in the early drafts for the project, but who knows what a rewrite might fix?!
Blade September 6, 2024
Written by Michael Starrbury Directed by Yann Demange
Obviously this one has had some issues, but Marvel Studios feels good about the new direction in which it’s headed. Earlier versions of the project didn’t have quite enough action for a vampire-hunting film and the hope is that the new version of the project will feel a bit more like those great, old Tomb of Dracula comics than anything.
Untitled Deadpool and Wolverine Film November 8, 2024
Written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick Directed by Shawn Levy
This project went from one nobody could quite figure out to one that is starting to sound like it may be the most “Multiversal” project of the Multiverse Saga. Theories continue to center on the film being an adaptation of Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe and rumors about the inclusion of Owen Wilson‘s Mobius and the rest of the TVA playing a role make it sound like this will be the Incursion-heavy movie fans thought Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would be. At this rate, it seems like the film will be trimming all kinds of branches ahead of Avengers: Secret Wars.
Fantastic Four February 14, 2025
Written by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer Directed by Matt Shakman
Fantastic Four has been gestating way too long at Marvel Studios, but it looks like it’s back on track and it sounds as though it’s going to make a splash. Rumors of the Silver Surfer appearing and of a Multiversal Council of Reeds persist, making this one a pretty big mover and shaker for the future of the Multiverse Saga. It’s also just the beginning of what should shape up to be a decade of stories about Marvel’s First Family, so taking their time on this one is essential.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty May 2, 2025
Written by Jeff Loveness Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton
Is the rumored title of Shang-Chi and The Wreckage of Time legit? If so, it would seem to indicate that Jonathan Majors might play a role in this sequel as well as another Variant of Nathaniel Richards? Introducing Immortus into the mix would make Avengers: Secret Wars even more interesting…
But truly, nothing is known about this movie at the moment, not even if that title is correct or if it’ll land before or after Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.
Armor Wars TBD
Written by Yassir Lester
Originally intended to be a streaming series, Armor Wars will now turn out to be Don Cheadle’s debut as a leading man in the MCU after having been around forever! This one has ties to Secret Invasion but could it also have ties to the events of Captain America: New World Order? Given that it’s coming pretty late in the Multiverse Saga, it may have lasting implications beyond it and if those Adamantium rumors are true, that precious metal might play into this film. Remember that the MCU doesn’t do one-for-one adaptations of comics, so while this is called Armor Wars, don’t expect it to follow the template from the 1980s arc.
Avengers: Secret Wars May 1, 2026
Written by Michael Waldron
The capstone of the Multiverse Saga and what will undoubtedly be the most epic event of Marvel Studios long history, Avengers: Secret Wars is sure to work, in part, as a reunion of sorts for some of great icons of Marvel’s cinematic history. Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. Scarlett Johansson, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield have all been rumored to appear already and more names will be added to the list in the next 3+ years. It’s also very likely that this film will set the table for whatever the next great Saga will be in the MCU and that one will come bearing mutants.
As Hollywood gets ready to go on break, James Gunn and Peter Safran‘s initial vision for the first wave of DC Studios film in the all-new DC Universe has been communicated with the big bosses at Warner Bros. Discovery. Since then Gunn revealed that a Superman film, written by him, will be a top priority for the new studio while indicating that he and Safran plan to share part of the new slate with fans sometime early in 2023. While we wait to find out what the game plan is, here’s a Christmas-time wish list of what we’d like to see.
Richard John Grayson
For too long DC’s takes on Batman have made the mistake of robbing Batman of one of the most important relationships he’s ever forged. Dick Grayson hasn’t made an appearance in a live-action Batman film since 1997’s Batman and Robin and instead has been shuffled off to streaming land where some half-assed version of him exists on Titans. Gunn has said Batman is an important part of the stories DC Studios wants to tell. Dick Grayson is an important part of Batman’s stories. If DC Studios wants to be taken seriously by fans of Batman, this is a huge first step.
The Brave and The Bold
The Brave and The Bold is the Marvel Team-Ups of DC Comics, but to a lot of readers, it calls to mind one of DC’s most beloved pair of bros: Barry Allen and Hal Jordan. 2023 will see the oft-delayed The Flash film finally hit theaters, CW’s The Flash is ending following its 701st season and there’s been exactly one terrible live-action version of Hal Jordan to date in 2011’s Green Lantern film. Given that it’ll be a few years before DC Studios’ new slate starts rolling out, pushing out a new version of Barry Allen might not be as big of a deal as it seems in 2022. Even though he’s been out of the spotlight for a while, Hal Jordan probably doesn’t need an entire film’s worth of origin. Give these two a buddy film and get them involved in the bigger narrative ASAP.
J’onn J’onzz
The Snyderverse certainly could have used more J’onn J’onzz, a character who was nearly criminally underutilized over the last decade. J’onzz, better known as Martian Manhunter, has been around since the Silver Age and is an OG Justice Leaguer. Moreover, including him in the first wave of films allows DC Studios with someone who can narrate whatever version of the history of the DC Universe they wish to tell because, over his 225 million years, J’onn J’onzz has seen some things.
The League, the Whole League and Nothing But The Leauge
If Gunn is making a shared cinematic universe, there will ultimately be a Justice League. Not too many people outside of Gunn and Safran know what they have in mind for the first wave of films, but it’s likely that at some point, a League will come together and there’s no reason that it can’t be comprised of the original 7. Aquaman, Batman and Wonder Woman may or may not need solo projects ahead of a Justice League film because they’ve all been more recently present than Superman, Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern; alternatively, maybe all 7 original members need solo projects. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the 7 OG JLA members have NEVER shared the screen in live-action and that’s something we’d like to see Gunn remedy in the near future.
The Hall of Justice
The Justice League is coming and they need a sick HQ. The Hall of Justice, which is based on the real-life Union Terminal building in Cincinnati, Ohio, has never been in a live-action DC film. By the time the new slate reaches the end of its first arc, it would make sense for the heroes to have established an HQ and this one is as iconic as it gets.
Some Off-Beat Heroes
The Trinity will likely be the foundation of the DC Universe. Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern will likely be there, too. Hopefully, Martian Manhunter makes the cut. However, if there’s one thing Gunn should be proud to carry over with him from his time at Marvel Studios, it’s the fact that he took a group of off-beat, unknown heroes and turned them into a globally recognized brand. So bring on Metamorpho! Throw Red Tornado into the mix. Plastic Man probably has some free time on his hands. What’s Animal Man up to these days? With the ability to introduce characters not only in films but also through streaming series, get some of these off-beat heroes into the mix. 3 years ago, nobody knew who Peacemaker was and now fans are eagerly antipating the second season of a streaming series starring John Cena as the butt of an ongoing joke.
The OG Leaguers can’t do it all themselves (they totally can, but they never do), so throw some of these guys into the mix and give them a shot at becoming beloved by a new generation.
A Lex Luthor That Can Be Taken Seriously
This one is tough because while Gunn and Safran will want to break away from the stigma of the Snyderverse’s absurd take on Luthor, there’s arguably no more sensible villain for DC Studios’ first wave of films than Luthor. The character has been done to death on TV and in films, but never in a way in which he posed a threat to the entire Justice League. He doesn’t have to be the villain of Gunn’s Superman; in fact, he probably shouldn’t be. However, establishing him and then letting him grow into the type of character that could be powerful enough to threaten the entire league would set him apart from any previous version. And that version of the character probably includes…
The Legion of Doom
If anyone has the balls to bring this ridiculous team of villains together, it’s James Gunn. Though numerous iterations of the team have since appeared in the comics, the OGs first appeared in 1978 in the 16-episode Challenge of the Superfriends animated series that aired on ABC. The original team, which operated out of Darth Vader’s helmet, aka the Hall of Doom, was led by Luthor and consisted of rogues from all of the principal Leaguers galleries. Bizzaro, Black Manta, Brainiac, Captain Cold, Cheetah, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Riddler, Scarecrow, Sinestro, Solomon Grundy and Toyman all plotted to take over the world and failed again and again. DC Studios may not be able to pull all 13 of these baddies together and it doesn’t have to. But a JLA vs Legion of Doom movie would certainly garner some attention and one-up Marvel Studios in the sense that they have somehow failed to put together a live-action Masters of Evil 14 years in.
There’s so much more that Gunn and Safran should try to accomplish as they build out the DC Universe, but the hope is that they’ll have the time necessary to do so. Great live-action versions of the JSA, The Question, The Spectre, the Green Lantern Corps and Damian Wayne all deserve to exist. But those characters probably don’t get the treatment they deserve without a solid foundation in the first wave of DC Studios’ slate. A safe, solid slate with some surprises thrown in. Let’s get it done, DC Studios.
It’s been years in the making, but fans finally got their first major look at Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in the form of a trailer. As expected, the footage shown in the sneak peek was jam-packed with curious Spider-Variants from all over the Marvel multiverse. Though their screen time was essentially a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it type affair, that hasn’t stopped viewers from relentlessly combing through the animated stockpile to find as many of their favorite web-heads as possible. While it may not be realistic to assume any online list will have the complete breakdown, especially considering many of the wall-crawlers present in the teaser seem to be original creations, one can certainly hope to at least find a collection of the film’s most notable Spider-Variants so far.
As such, we at Murphy’s Multiverse have composed a list of the trailer’s stand-out comic-based Spideys, combined with the big names that were absent from the footage but confirmed to be part of the film. Of course, Shameik Moore‘s protagonist Miles Morales – the Spider-Man of Earth-1610 – is not included here, because that doesn’t really need to be restated. Also, while there are some cameos in the trailer that definitely look like specific Spider-Men from the comics, no names were made part of the list that couldn’t be positively identified at a first glance. Now, without further ado, the many Spider-People of Across the Spider-Verse:
Gwen Stacy, a.k.a. Spider-Woman (Earth-65)
Spider-Gwen
No surprise here – Hailee Steinfeld is back as Gwen Stacy, the Spider-Woman of Earth-65 who is better known by her out-of-universe nickname, Spider-Gwen. Originally created by Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez for the 2014 comic Edge of Spider-Verse #2, Spider-Gwen comes from an alternate timeline where Gwen Stacy was bitten by the radioactive spider instead of Peter Parker, with the latter eventually receiving the tragic death typically reserved for Stacy in the Spider-Man mythos. She has all the same powers as the average Spider-Person, but famously incorporates ballet-like movement and a punk-rock personality into her persona and style of combat. Some forms of media have given her the unique mantle of Ghost-Spider, but the Spider-Verse films have chosen to stick with what works and keep to the “Spider-Woman” name.
Steinfeld‘s take on Stacy was a hit with audiences when she debuted in 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse. This version of the character acts as both a mentor and love interest for Moore‘s Morales, having helped him and a select group of Spider-Variants stop Earth-1610’s Wilson Fisk and save the multiverse. Her overall role in Across the Spider-Verse remains to be seen, though it would appear she is somehow involved in a multidimensional cabal of Spider-People that Miles was previously unaware of.
Peter B. Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man (Earth-616)
Peter B. Parker
Everyone was hoping for this, and now there is visual evidence. Jake Johnson‘s lovably grumpy Peter B. Parker, the Spider-Man of Earth-616, is back, and this time, he’s a father. An original character developed for Into the Spider-Verse, this Spider-Variant comes from a world where Spider-Man’s adult life turned sour. When audiences first meet Peter B., he’s lost Aunt May, gone bankrupt after selling his image, gained a bit of depression weight, and recently been divorced by Mary Jane Watson. He loses faith in the system and has little interest in superheroics. His encounter with Miles, however, reminds him of his passion for life and sets him back on the right track, with his young friend sending him back to his own timeline with enough hope to rebuild his life. The trailer for Across the Spider-Verse proves Peter B. Parker has done just that. Now adorned with a pink bathrobe and a baby carrier, Johnson‘s Spider-Man will return with a baby in tow, but more on that will come later in this list.
Miguel O’Hara, a.k.a. Spider-Man 2099 (Earth-928)
Spider-Man 2099
After making his big screen debut in the Into the Spider-Versepost-credits teaser, Oscar Isaac‘s Miguel O’Hara is ready to take the spotlight. Best known as Spider-Man 2099, this Spider-Variant was created by Peter David and Rick Leonardi for Marvel’s special 2099 line of comics in 1992. The gimmick at the time was to imagine the world of Marvel as it might exist in the futuristic landscape of the year 2099, with Spider-Man as the flagship character once more. In this universe, set decades after the end of the “Heroic Age”, Miguel O’Hara is a brilliant geneticist working for the megacorporation Alchemax in Nueva York – 2099’s New York City. Inspired by the legend of Spider-Man, he begins work on a new genetic test that could potentially recreate the DNA of history’s greatest hero. Obviously, some sketchy shenanigans at Alchemax result in Miguel using himself as a test subject, and he transforms into the Web-Slinger of his time, protecting Nueva York from all number of threats.
Spider-Man 2099 has all the same abilities as the original Spider-Man, with a few key differences. He does not have Spider-Sense, and instead possesses enhanced vision and hearing that allow him to see the world unlike anyone else. He also has fanged teeth that contain venom, and can poison his foes should he choose to chomp down on them. His advanced, futuristic suit also gives him all sorts of high-tech advantages and allows him to glide through the air at high speeds. Spider-Man 2099 is not the villain of Across the Spider-Verse, but the teaser certainly seems to put him in a mysteriously antagonistic position opposite Miles.
Jessica Drew, a.k.a. Spider-Woman (Unknown Earth)
Spider-Woman
The first Spider-Variant on this list who has yet to actually appear in the Spider-Verse franchise. Voiced by Issa Rae, the upcoming sequel is set to feature a brand new take on the original comic book Spider-Woman, Jessica Drew. Created by Archie Goodwin and Marie Severin, though largely realized by Marv Wolfman, Drew has been around since her first appearance in 1977’s Marvel Spotlight #32. The child of quirky scientists, Jessica is raised at a lab on Mount Wundagore where she becomes ill from radiation poisoning. In an attempt to save her life, her father injects her with a serum based on the blood of a spider, which does the trick but also gives her spider-like abilities. In her adult life, she goes on to become a brainwashed agent of HYDRA, who experiences a tragic accident during a crucial mission that results in the death of a loved one and knocks her out of the trance.
Following this, Jessica becomes a mainstay superhero in the Marvel universe, eventually becoming a member of the Avengers and a central figure in multiple major events on the scale of 2009’s Secret Invasion. She was also the first non-Peter Parker Spider-Person to receive an adaptation in media outside of comics, starring in her own animated series in 1979. Notably, her powerset is quite different from most Spider-Variants, combining flight with bio-electric energy blasts and pheromone manipulation. The version appearing in Across the Spider-Verse will be a fresh take on the character, with a design (and pregnancy) based on more recent comic runs, and an Earth designation that has yet to be revealed.
Hobart Brown, a.k.a. Spider-Punk (Earth-138)
Spider-Punk
Perhaps the most exciting addition to Across the Spider-Verse is Daniel Kaluuya‘s Hobart Brown. Created by Dan Slott and Olivier Coipel for the first comic Spider-Verse event in 2015, this version of Brown (who becomes the first Prowler on Earth-616) hails from the dystopian universe of Earth-138. In this world, former Oscorp CEO Norman Osborn has become President of the United States, and he’s turned New York City into a toxic wasteland. A homeless teenager, Brown is bitten by a spider altered in the radioactive atmosphere and uses his affinity for head-banging rock n’ roll to become the one-and-only Spider-Punk. Armed with powerful new abilities and his guitar, Spider-Punk leads the people of New York in a massive revolt against Osborn, securing their freedom and taking his place as their savior.
Kaluuya will voice the character in Across the Spider-Verse, though his exact role in the plot is still unknown. He does not appear in the trailer, though Sony has been keen to advertise his presence in the film and released a fresh look at Brown via concept art on the same day as the trailer drop.
Pavitr Prabhakar, a.k.a. Spider-Man India (Earth-50101)
Spider-Man India
Another character not featured in the trailer, but confirmed to play a decent-sized role in the film. Pavitr Prabhakar, the Spider-Man of Earth-50101, is often referred to by fans as “Spider-Man India.” He was created by Sharad Devarajan, Jeevan Kang, and Suresh Seetharaman for the mini-series Spider-Man: India in 2004. As the title implies, the comic envisioned a world where Spider-Man was Indian instead of American, with the young Prabhakar gaining his powers as the protector of Mumbai as opposed to New York.
In Earth-50101, Prabhakar moves in with his Aunt Maya and Uncle Bhim after the death of his parents and lives a childhood not all that dissimilar from the story readers know by heart. Eventually, however, a local crime lord named Naman Oberoi reigns terror on Mumbai with the use of a magical amulet, which turns him into a goblin-like demon hellbent on bringing other demons to Earth. Deemed worthy, Pavitr encounters an ancient yogi who grants him the powers of a spider to combat the newfound threat, which he uses to become Spider-Man and defeat Oberoi after a selfish personal mistake costs him his Uncle. The initial problem solved, Prabhakar maintains his heroic identity and carries on with both great power and great responsibility. It’s unknown how big of a role Spider-Man India will have in the story, but some hot concept art shows off a brand new design for the character and the trailer hints that Miles will somehow find himself in Pavitr’s world.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Insomniac Spider-Man (Earth-1048)
Insomniac Spider-Man
No, this is not a version of Spider-Man who has trouble sleeping. This is the Spider-Variant from Earth-1048, the world in which Insomniac Games’ wildly popular PlayStation 4 exclusive Spider-Man takes place. This character’s origin is more or less the same as most Peter Parkers but can be quickly identified by his unique red-orange web pattern and white logo design. In his timeline, Parker has been active as a superhero for just over eight years and has recently begun mentoring his own version of Miles. Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2 is currently in development, so fans of the variant and his universe have a lot to look forward to in the next year or so. Until then, they can enjoy what is likely just a cameo in Across the Spider-Verse.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. The Bombastic Bag-Man (Unknown Earth)
Bag-Man
As outlined in a previous Murphy’s Multiverse article, this is simply a Spider-Variant who refuses to take off one of Spider-Man’s most ridiculous attempts at a suit. The Amazing Spider-Man #258, written by Tom Defalco and illustrated by Ron Frenz in 1984, saw Peter Parker finally rid himself of the iconic “Black Suit” and Venom symbiote with the help of Reed Richards at the Baxter Building. Unfortunately, Peter failed to bring a backup costume and was forced to swing back across New York in an old Fantastic Four suit with a bag on his head to conceal his identity. Of course, Parker encountered some crime along the way and was infamously dubbed “The Bombastic Bag-Man” by the public when he stopped to help.
The goof-suit has since become a favorite among fans of the character and has been included as a joke skin in nearly every video game adaptation of the character that allows for it. The Bag-Man seen in Across the Spider-Verse appears to be a new Spider-Variant, as he is wearing some form of actual Spider-Man suit with the brown paper bag as its official mask. Maybe this version of Peter just really liked the open air flowing through the bottom of the bag? Only time will tell. Although, it probably won’t.
Mary Jane Watson-Parker & Anna-May Parker, a.k.a. Spinneret & Spiderling (Earth-18119)
Spinneret & Spiderling
This one was a bit unexpected. Seen briefly among the many Spider-Variants in the trailer are Mary Jane Watson-Parker and her daughter, Anna-May Parker, in their superheroic identities as Spinneret and Spiderling, respectively. Created by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert for 2015’s Renew Your Vows mini-series, MJ and Annie hail from a timeline where Peter Parker was never forced to make a deal with Mephisto and give up his marriage to Watson (it’s a long story). As such, the pair were able to start a family together, with MJ eventually giving birth to Annie, who inherited her father’s powers at a young age.
His daughter’s ascent to teenage vigilantism spurred Peter out of retirement as Spider-Man and, wanting to gain a sense of urgency within her family, Mary Jane would ultimately find a variety of ways to become a superhero in her own right as well. These included both high-tech suits and a stint donning the Venom symbiote. It would appear the Earth-18119 variants of MJ and Annie somehow found their way to Miguel O’Hara’s secret society of Spider-People, and have a fun little cameo at the very least.
Maybelle Reilly, a.k.a. Lady Spider (Earth-803)
Lady Spider
Another product of the original Spider-Verse event. Created by Robbie Thompson and Denis Medri, the steampunk-inspired Lady Spider made her debut in 2014 and became a spectacle for fans of the niche genre she inhabited. Existing in a world based on the height of the industrial revolution, Maybelle Reilly was the genius daughter of a man who kept creatures to study. One day, fascinated by her father’s captive spider, she freed the arachnid and was quickly bitten. Maybelle took this as a sign to let “no one cage you“, and promptly used her intelligence to construct a mechanical, spider-themed suit with which she could be free. Over time, Reilly began using the suit to fight crime as “Lady Spider”, and apparently, wound up using a computer in the secret society of Spider-People.
The Armored Spider-Men (Unknown Earths)
The trailer for Across the Spider-Verse features not one, not two, but three Spider-Variants wearing different versions of Peter Parker’s famous “Spider-Armor.” The clunky, all-silver design is based on the original Spider-Armor from 1993’s Web of Spider-Man #100, written by Terry Kavanagh and illustrated by Alex Saviuk, which saw Parker design a pseudo-metallic compound at Empire State University to help him combat the New Enforcers and their high caliber firearms. While most might not think of this Spider-Variant as anything special, those who are educated may consider this to be a cameo from the Spider-Man of Earth-31198 – a rich, industrialist Peter Parker who wears the Spider-Armor MK I as his main suit, and who helps a handful of multiversal Spider-Men defeat Spider-Carnage in 1994’s Spider-Man: The Animated Series.
Also present in the trailer are the Spider-Armor MK II, known as the “Bulletproof Armor”, and the Spider-Armor MK III, known as the “Ends of the Earth Armor.” The former, which debuted in Dan Slott and Marcos Martin‘s 2011 comic Amazing Spider-Man #656, was designed by Parker at Horizon Labs when he temporarily lost his Spider-Sense (limiting his ability to dodge bullets), and the latter, created by Slott and Stefano Caselli for 2012’s Amazing Spider-Man #682, was crafted by Parker specifically to fight the Sinister Six, with the suit containing defenses against each member of the villainous team.
Dr. Otto Octavius, a.k.a. Superior Spider-Man (Unknown Earth)
Superior Spider-Man
Another Dan Slott creation (with an assist from Ryan Stegman) sliding into the Spider-Verse. In one of the most controversial story arcs ever written for Spider-Man, 2013’s The Superior Spider-Man saw a dying Doctor Octopus successfully transfer his consciousness into the body of Peter Parker, taking over his life in an attempt to become a better version of Spider-Man than Parker could ever be. A “Superior Spider-Man”, if one would allow it. Of course, this didn’t work out the way Octavius intended, with Parker eventually regaining control of his body and proving he’s a better hero in every way. However, Octavius’ stint as the wall-crawler lasted a lot longer than anyone anticipated, and temporarily changed Spider-Man comics as a whole.
Superior Spider-Man is a darker, arrogant, more violent Spider-Man than readers are accustomed to seeing. He also maintained Otto’s immense fondness for gadgetry, adding mechanical spider legs to his suit and utilizing all sorts of neat little robotics. The Spider-Verse comics established the idea of timelines in which Parker never got his body back and Otto remained in control permanently, so perhaps this Superior Spider-Man calls one of those worlds home.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Mangaverse Spider-Man (Earth-2301)
Mangaverse Spider-Man
Another great deep pull from the folks behind Across the Spider-Verse. Created by Kaare Andrews for 2002’s Marvel Mangaverse: Spider-Man, this version of Peter Parker exists in a Marvel universe reimagined as a Japanese Manga. On Earth-2301, Parker is the last remaining member of the “Spider Clan”, a group of ninjas, after the untimely death of his Uncle and Sensei, Ben. Left alone, Peter trains in secret to exact his revenge on his Uncle’s killer – his cousin and Kingpin underling, Venom. This training leads him to become the Spider-Man, sole survivor of the Spider Clan, protector of New York, and evidently, a new member of the secret society of Spider-People run by Miguel O’Hara.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Werewolf Spider-Man (Earth-7085)
Werewolf Spider-Man
It’s only on screen for the briefest of moments, but there is a werewolf Spider-Man lurking in the background of Across the Spider-Verse. While the design is different, this could be a nod to 2007’s Marvel Zombies/Army of Darkness #5, which featured a Peter Parker who had been turned into a horrifying zombie-werewolf hybrid creature and ended up consuming the world alongside his fellow monstrous Marvels. Once he was full, perhaps he felt like joining up with countless other Spider-Variants for dessert?
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man Unlimited (Earth-751263)
Spider-Man Unlimited
This is, by far, the most delightful inclusion in the Across the Spider-Verse trailer. Following the conclusion of Spider-Man: The Animated Series in 1998, Avi Arad and Will Meugniot developed a loose sequel series titled Spider-Man Unlimited, which saw its title character launched into space for a new set of adventures on a faraway planet called Counter-Earth. The ambitious premise had Peter Parker traveling far away from home in an attempt to save astronaut John Jameson, who was stranded on Counter-Earth after a mission gone wrong. Once there, Spider-Man found himself leading a revolt against the High Evolutionary and his hierarchy of “Beastials” – animal/human hybrids created by the Evolutionary himself.
The series introduced a new suit design for Spider-Man that accommodated the other-worldly setting and allowed the hero to travel through the final frontier. Canceled early, that show never got a proper ending, so it stands to reason this timeline’s version of Parker somehow left Counter-Earth and ended up a part of Miguel O’Hara’s Spider-Forces.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Monkey (Earth-8101)
Spider-Monkey (Top Left of Image)
Across the Spider-Verse is going ape. As if John Mulaney‘s Spider-Ham wasn’t enough, the trailer for the upcoming sequel project has revealed Spider-Monkey will play a minor role. Originally created by Karl Kesel and Ramon Bachs for 2008’s Marvel Apes mini-series, Spider-Monkey comes from a universe where apes reign supreme as the dominant species of the planet. A literal spider monkey, the Peter Parker of this world is a little more full of himself than the average Spider-Person and is also not afraid to slaughter his enemies. That means Miles better keep an eye on the monkey in the room at all times.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Last Stand Spider-Man (Earth-312500)
Last Stand Spider-Man (Center of Image)
Maybe the saddest inclusion in Across the Spider-Verse. This Spider-Variant of Peter Parker comes from a timeline where the hero chooses to kill Kraven the Hunter in an act of vengeance, pushing him toward a darker version of himself. Years later, after hurting his loved ones, tarnishing his good name, and sinking into a deep depression, he commits suicide by cop at the site of Aunt May’s grave. It’s not a super fun story, but it is an existing alternate universe, and a version of it apparently exists within the radar of the Spider-Forces.
Peter Parker, a.k.a. House of M Spider-Man (Earth-58163)
There may not be any more mutants, but there’s still a Spider-Man. 2005’s House of M landmark comic, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, saw the Scarlet Witch annihilate Earth-616 and replace it with a new reality of her own making. In this world, Peter Parker’s origins as an amateur wrestler take off, bringing him the kind of fame and fortune most Spider-Variants could only dream of. Masquerading as a mutant, Peter would eventually become one of the world’s most beloved heroes, starring in films and running his own company. He was even eventually able to reveal his identity publicly, with little fear of consequence. This timeline would eventually be discarded by Wanda Maximoff, but it stands to reason other versions of the same concept exist in the endless multiverse, and one of those Spider-Men found their way to Miguel O’Hara.
Mayday Parker (the Future Spider-Girl)
This is sort of cheating. As previously mentioned, the trailer reveals Peter B. Parker and his Mary Jane Watson are now proud parents, and an accompanying piece of concept art confirms they have a daughter named Mayday Parker. Those in the know may remember the MC2 universe, where Peter and MJ’s daughter – Mayday – grew up to inherit her dad’s gifts and become the Amazing Spider-Girl. She’s not yet technically a Spider-Variant at the time of Across the Spider-Verse, but hey, there’s still a third movie on the horizon.
Ben Reilly, a.k.a. Scarlet Spider (Earth-?)
The man, the clone, the legend. Ben Reilly might be the Spider-Variant with the longest, most complex history outside of the original Peter Parker. Created by Gerry Conway for a one-off appearance in 1975’s The Amazing Spider-Man #149, Reilly returned in a big way for 1994’s infamous Clone Saga storyline. As has been heavily suggested, Reilly is a near-perfect clone of Peter Parker. He was made by lesser-known villain the Jackal as part of a personal vendetta against Parker, and upon learning of his status as a clone, left New York to construct a new life for himself under a new name. He would eventually return to NYC, however, where he would finally confront Peter and take up a costumed identity of his own – the Scarlet Spider.
Dying his hair blonde, Reilly goes on to become a semi-permanent fixture in Parker’s life. He has died and been reborn on multiple occasions, gone back and forth from hero to villain more than once, and even took the official Spider-Man mantle from Peter for a brief period of time. Ben’s acceptance among fans probably depends on who one speaks with, but like it or not, it would seem him and his incredible costume are around for the long run. It’s nice to see him with a featured spot on the Across the Spider-Verse poster, presumably representing a timeline where he remained as the primary Spider-Hero instead of Peter.
Julia Carpenter, a.k.a. Spider-Woman (Earth-?)
Another Spider-Woman is on the board! The latest poster for Across the Spider-Verse confirms Julia Carpenter, the second person to ever take up the Spider-Woman mantle, will appear in the film. Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck for 1984’s Secret Wars, Carpenter was a college student tricked into undergoing a government experiment as part of an “athletic study”. In actuality, she was injected with a mix of spider venom and exotic plants that gave her powers on par with Spider-Man. She didn’t have much time to get the hang of things before being pulled into major Marvel conflicts and fighting side-by-side with the best of the best. After a short time in the role, Julia has her powers taken away by the daughter of Madame Web and resumes a normal life.
As is often the case with comics, this decision was eventually reversed and Julia reappeared as a hero named ‘Arachne’ years later. She continued as a member of the Spider-Family until a confrontation with the Kraven and his offspring results in the death of Madame Web, who transfers her powers to Julia with her dying breath. Since then, Carpenter has upheld the important multiversal position of Madame Web. Her design on the Across the Spider-Verse poster, though, indicates she’ll still be Spider-Woman (presumably from an alternate timeline) when she encounters Miles.
What if Flash Thompson was bitten by the radioactive spider? This was the question posed by Don Glut, Rick Hobert, and Roy Thomas when they created Captain Spider for What If? #7 in 1977. On Earth-78127, Thompson receives the fateful spider bite instead of Peter Parker, and he’s a lot less bashful about it afterwards. He crafts a suit for himself that features a cape and shows a bit more skin, and goes all-in on fighting crime around New York City. Unlike Peter, Thompson accidentally kills Crusher Hogan in his attempt to become a professional wrestler, and is a bit more brutal in his fighting style. Ultimately, he dies and has is identity revealed after falling in a battle with the Vulture.
Captain Spider grew in popularity after an alternate version of him, who did not died fighting Vulture, became an important part of the Spider-Verse comics. It looks like Across the Spider-Verse will take inspiration from this, as it’s latest poster confirms Miles will encounter the one-time bully on his adventure through the multiverse.
Spider-Cat (Earth-999)
In terms of animal-based Spider-Variants, the existence of this one was a give-in. Created by Skottie Young for Spider-Island: I Love New York City #1 in 2011, Spider-Cat is literally just a house cat who somehow gained spider-powers and used them to fight crime. The rest of this cat’s life and origin is a mystery, but it is known he often dreamed of fighting a rival pigeon named Venom, to whom he lost some of his nine lives. Spider-Cat was killed by the Inheritors in the Spider-Verse comics, but remains alive to rub his head on Miles in the latest poster for Across the Spider-Verse.
Patrick O’Hara, a.k.a. Web-Slinger (Earth-31913)
Save a horse, ride a spider. Created by Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli for 2014’s Amazing Spider-Man #9, Web-Slinger is a cowboy version of the wall-crawler from a reality where the country is still living in the Wild West, so this version of Spider-Man is the kind one might find bull riding at the local rodeo (and he would do really well, with the sticky fingers and all). Named Patrick O’Hara, he was a gunslinger who traveled far and wide performing shows for cash, alongside his business partner Michael Morbius, who sold magic elixirs given to him by an Apache shaman. One day, a spider would bath itself in the elixir before biting both Patrick and his horse, Widow, giving both man and animal spider-powers.
Morbius, desiring power, also drank the elixir, giving himself vampiric abilities. Patrick would be forced to don the Web-Slinger mantle and go after his former friend, who had begun abducting children. After successfully defeating Morbius, the Web-Slinger would be recruited to join the army of the Spider-Verse, which is presumably why he’s on the latest poster for Across the Spider-Verse. No horse, though.
Cyborg Spider-Woman (Earth-?)
This is a brand new character created specifically for Across the Spider-Verse, but worth mentioning as she’s appeared in quite a bit of the marketing so far. A large, Frankenstein-esque Spider-Woman made up of both human and robot parts, the hero being called “Cyborg Spider-Woman” is still pretty much a mystery. She seems to be based on a version of Spider-Man from Earth-2818, where Peter Parker was banged up pretty bad by the Sinister Six and is forced to become a cyborg – with the help of Deathlok – to revive himself and save the day. Maybe Cyborg Spider-Woman will have a similar origin story?
Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spectacular Spider-Man (Earth-26496)
A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. For the first time since the show’s cancellation in 2009, The Spectacular Spider-Man‘s Peter Parker will swing across a screen. Developed by Greg Weisman and Victor Cook, the aforementioned series ran on The CW and Disney XD for two seasons from 2008 to 2009, becoming a huge hit among fans and one of the most popular adaptations of the character ever produced. Unfortunately, behind-the-scenes matters resulted in an early end to the show, leaving it’s storyline – which followed the original Spider-Man comics fairly closely, with modern twists – on a massive cliffhanger. Perhaps now, Across the Spider-Verse can answer the lingering questions fans have had for over a decade, as the latest poster for the film confirms Josh Keaton‘s web-head will be making a grand return.
Margo, a.k.a. Spider-Byte (Earth-22191)
This inclusion is fairly neat, and definitely unique. The latest poster for Across the Spider-Verse has revealed the appearance of Spider-Byte, whose civilian identity is simply Margo. The tech-based hero was created by Nilah Magruder for 2018’s Vault of Spiders #1, and hails from a universe where most of human interaction occurs in a virtual world known as “Cyberspace”. Here, Margo hacks the system and develops herself a spider-themed avatar bent on stopping cybercrime and keeping the Cyberspace safe for all. It’s not explained how Margo is able to continue using her virtual powers in the real world after she’s recruited to join the Spider-Forces, but perhaps audiences will get an explanation when Miles and her cross paths next year.
Ben Reilly, a.k.a. Spider-Carnage (Earth-?)
This one is most definitely a surprise addition, considering his long history as a terrifying, deadly, monstrous villain in the Marvel universe. Spider-Carnage, created by Dan Jurgens and Klaus Janson for 1996’s Web of Carnage, was another product of the long-running Clone Saga and it’s many plotlines. As his name implies, this is a version of Ben Reilly – who may or may not be a clone of the other Ben Reilly – that is forcibly bonded with the Carnage symbiote after it leaves it’s original host, Kletus Cassidy. It doesn’t take long for the symbiote to begin taking over Reilly’s mind, turning him into a powerful foe for Peter Parker and the heroes of the Marvel universe.
Another famous take on this character comes from the final season of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, which has a heavy focus on alternate Peter Parkers. Introduced in the episode “I Really, Really Hate Clones“, written by John Semper Jr., Mark Hoffmeier, and James Krieg, this variant of Spider-Carnage is from a universe where Ben Reilly successfully resisted the symbiote, but an emotionally unstable Peter Parker decided to embrace it. Later, it’s revealed that this was actually all a big ruse, and the blonde Ben Reilly was actually the original Peter Parker and the evil Peter Parker was actually the original Ben Reilly, as is a recurring theme in Clone Saga-related material. Either way, Spider-Carnage has never been portrayed as a hero, and it’s a shock to see him present on the latest Across the Spider-Verse poster.
Charlotte Webber, a.k.a. Sun-Spider (Earth-20023)
One of the most recently-created Spider-Variants to get the big screen treatment. Charlotte Webber made her debut as Sun-Spider in 2020’s Spider-Verse #6, but was originally developed as a “Spidersona” by fan artist Dayn Broder. Charlotte has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which has an impact on her joints and connective tissue. This means Sun-Spider needs crutches for extra stability, but as a superhero, her crutches are anything but normal. Webber is able to shoot webbing from her crutches, allowing her a unique form of web-slinging and combat that sets her apart from the rest of the Spider-Variants confirmed for Across the Spider-Verse.
Insider Daniel RPK has been keeping the news cycle going lately with a deluge of casting calls for several projects. Several such bits of info have come available for Daredevil: Born Again lately and now it seems it’s time for Captain America: New World Order to get some time in the spotlight.
According to Daniel RPK, New World Order is going to include a male character described as a “Marvel mainstay.” That’s unfortunately not much to go on, but we thought we’d give it a shot anyway. Here are five “Marvel mainstays” who might show up in Captain America: New World Order.
Rick Jones
For hardcore comic book fans, it’s unthinkable that the MCU has gone on so long without Rick Jones. Throughout his 596 comic book appearances, Jones has been a key ally to Mar-Vell, the Hulk, Steve Rogers and the Avengers. He’s been part of some wacky cosmic adventures, found himself smack in the center of a Multiversal conflict known as the Destiny War in Kurt Busiek‘s Avengers Forever and found himself turned into a Gamma mutate known as A-Bomb. Jones is as close to the definition of a “mainstay” as there is in Marvel Comics and making his MCU debut in a Captain America movie that also features Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross and the Leader makes quite a bit of sense, especially since the latter two individuals were a part of his transformation into A-Bomb.
Jim Hammond
While Rick Jones may have more appearances in the pages of Marvel Comics, Jim Hammond, The Original Human Torch, predates Jones by over 20 years, having made his first appearance in 1939’s Marvel Comics #1. If you want a Marvel mainstay, Hammond is your guy. Technically, the character already exists within the MCU, having been “introduced” in Captain America: The First Avenger. The First of the Marvels, Hammond has been an Invader, a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and a West Coast Avenger in the comics and could serve a very interesting purpose in a film that’s rumored to feature the Red Hulk. Red Hulk’s unique instability causes him to emit increasing amounts of Gamma as he becomes increasingly angry which causes him to “catch fire” before eventually exploding. Hammond’s android body comes complete with a couple of abilities that can counteract that including thermokinesis (the ability to increase or reduce the heat in other objects), the complete resistance to heat and the absorb and emit radiation of his own. In fact, it was the radiation from a nuclear bomb on a test site that “reactivated” the Torch in the pages of the comics. Finding a way to include Hammond would be both a fascinating callback to The First Avenger and give the world an unexpected weapon against the Red Hulk.
Doc Samson
Like Hammond, Samson has already been introduced in the MCU. Ty Burrell played a very boring and laid-back version of Samson in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, a movie that many questioned the canonicity of until recently. With Ross, Emil Blonsky and know Samuel Sterns all back and part of the ongoing narrative in the MCU, bringing back Samson would fit the pattern. As a psychiatrist, Samson played a major role in Bruce Banner’s ongoing personality struggles. He also factored heavily into Red Hulk’s introductory arc and was a member of the Thunderbolts. It’s easy to see how Samson could fit in and, hopefully, transition into the green-haired, Gamma-powered Doc Samson fans have loved over his 322 comic book appearances. As for why there’s a casting call, that’s simple: Burrell may well have chosen not to return in the role forcing Marvel Studios to go a-lookin’.
Dr. Walter Langkowski
While Doctor Langkowski may seem like less of a mainstay than Doc Samson, the character has actually appeared 333 times in the pages of Marvel Comics, just edging out his doctoral counterpart. Unlike the rest of the characters on this list, Langkowski PROBABLY wasn’t available for use by Marvel Studios until 2019 (the assumption is that his live-action rights were controlled by Fox) but like Samson, he’d be a great fit for any story involving Gamma. Langkowski experimented with gamma and found himself mutated into a creature he himself dubbed Sasquatch. As Sasquatch, Langkowski served Canada through the Gamma Flight, Beta Flight and finally Alpha Fight programs through Department H. His presence would potentially portend interesting things down the road, but he’d also fit in nicely to a project with a potential new Hulk.
Dennis Dunphy
He’s not exactly a mainstay. Most people don’t even know who he is. But this is a Sam Wilson movie and Dennis Dunphy has routinely worked closely with Sam in the comics over the last decade. Let’s give the Detroit native a shot in the MCU! He’s only had 95 appearances, but he’s been in the big leagues as a member of the Avengers and there’s a good Daredevil costume gag waiting to happen now that the gold suit is canon.
Let us know what other characters you think might fit the bill for the “Marvel mainstay” the studio is looking to include in Captain America: New World Order!
Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter published an extensive piece regarding the future of DC studios. James Gunn and Peter Safran have started to carve out their path, and it seems to be a fresh one. After hearing that Wonder Woman 3 and Man Of Steel 2are being canceled or shelved, there is one thought that comes to mind: there’s nothing like a clean slate.
Since Man Of Steel came out in 2013, DC has been trying to carve out its own lane in comic book film storytelling. Regardless of what anyone thought of the films, this business is about the bottom line and the bottom line is they didn’t hit the notes they needed to hit. The audience didn’t receive the content the way it needed to be received. There’s been so many stories of too many cooks in the kitchen, egos running amok, and an unclear vision. We can talk about Black Adam and the conversation around how Dwayne Johnson has handled that whole situation. Quite frankly, the film was entertaining but not something you’d say let’s start a franchise with. Financially that’s proven to be the case at this point. It is a hard sell globally when you bill your post-credit scene as the most memorable moment of the film.
In a lot of ways, Johnson has tried to book his foray into comic book film just like he’s booked his movie career. It’s been like professional wrestling where perception is more important than anything. That’s fine enough when it’s wrestling. This is not that. When you try to bogart your way into the franchise game when most fans want to see Black Adam vs Shazam, it’s just not gonna work how you want it to.
Earlier this year in Vanity Fair, Johnson talked about separating the stories between the two characters. “When the first draft of the movie came to us, it was a combination of Black Adam and Shazam: Two origin stories in one movie,” Johnson recalls. “Now that was the goal—so it wasn’t a complete surprise. But when I read that, I just knew in my gut, ‘We can’t make this movie like this. We would be doing Black Adam an incredible disservice.’ It would’ve been fine for Shazam to have two origin stories converge in one movie, but not good for Black Adam.” This refrain from Johnson is not surprising in the least. Let’s dive a bit further.
All of what Johnson says sounds incredibly altruistic on its face, but let’s be honest. In stories with heroes and villains, Shazam would beat Black Adam eventually because the hero wins. Considering everything we know about the Fast & The Furious franchise and the ego clash with Vin Diesel, it’s easy to be skeptical.
The moral of the story here is Johnson is emblematic of a culture that’s existed over at WB that hasn’t actually been in service of the fans. You can claim to want to treat the fans well and service them but you do that with good storytelling. The stories haven’t been quite good enough and the agendas are many. If you can tell good stories the people will come and they will stay. DC has a very passionate fanbase that deserves much better than it’s gotten over the past decade.
The reason that James Gunn and Peter Safran were hired is to change all that. The expectation is that they are minds and voices that we as fans can trust. With that trust comes patience, and a willingness to have an open mind. Yes there will be some tough changes and we may lose people we liked in their roles, but let’s get this right. That should always be the goal, getting it right. One thing is crystal clear, the hierarchy of power in the DC universe has changed, and it’s about damn time.
Somebody(s) will die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. James Gunn has promised an emotional conclusion to his trilogy and we know that the film is the last ride for this version of the Guardians. Vegas should probably open the betting line on who fans think will die in the film (maybe they already have) and pretty much any death will pack a heavy emotional punch, but there’s one character who should have a lot more gas in the tank in the future of the MCU: Star-Lord. Gamora absolutely cannot die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
Zoë Saldaña is a sci-fi queen. Having held down roles in 3 major sci-fi franchises (Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avatar), Saldaña has become the second highest-grossing female actress of all time and she’s not done yet. With Avatar: The Way of Water and at least 2 more Avatar films after that, Saldaña will almost certainly surpass Scarlett Johansson. While the Avatar films are about as safe of a gig as one could ever hope to land and Saldaña seems to be tiring of the intense secrecy surrounding her Marvel Studios’ projects, the actress could have the option of another decade of MCU projects ahead of her if Gamora were to survive Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. And, should Gamora survive, the opportunity to almost totally reinvent the character into a more traditional representation of the character from the comics certainly presents itself.
Created by Jim Starlin, Gamora earned her reputation as “the most dangerous woman in the galaxy” and “the deadliest woman in the universe” by…being dangerous and deadly. Raised by Thanos as a weapon in the fight against his great enemy, the Magus, Gamora was depicted in the comics as an assassin with a near-endless amount of bodies left in her wake. While Gamora has quite a bit of the same background in the MCU, her character, like the rest of the team, has been modified quite a bit with the Gamora who is now dead having grown less stoic and ruthless over time. The Gamora who now inhabits the prime timeline has had a different set of experiences and none of those have involved her falling in love with Peter Quill, making her a bit of a blank slate when it comes to what’s known about her. She was pulled from 2014 into the post-Blip world of 2023, disappears following the Battle of Earth and is not present with the Guardians during the events of Thor: Love and Thunder. Other than that, nothing is known about her at the present.
Though seen quite a bit in the trailer, Gamora doesn’t seem to be part of the team of Guardians. She’s not wearing the same gear as them and she seems to only be part of their trip to infiltrate the High Evolutionary’s weird space base but not part of their adventures in the first act or so. Like Loki, she’s a familiar character to fans but one who is capable of carving an entirely new path through the MCU should she have a future in it. And should the MCU’s future involve adapting the great stories of Marvel Comics’ modern cosmic age, Gamora, much like Star-Lord and Nova, could play a major role in those adaptations. Additionally, Gamora has a very complicated comic book history with Adam Warlock, who joins the MCU played by Will Poulter in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Should Gamora survive the events of that film, she faces a future full of possible stories ripped right from the comics.
Whether Marvel Studios took the path through Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest and War of Kings or went wack with some version of Starlin’s Infinity Watch team coming together, Saldaña could suit up as Gamora anywhere between 3-6 more times in the next decade but, in doing so, completely redefine the character. That’s not an option everyone has and it seems that bringing something new to a character actors have played many times is just the type of thing that interests them enough to come back (that and lots of money). Of course all that is up to Saldaña, but from a narrative standpoint, Gamora’s recent death and the transplant of a Variant Gamora into the prime timeline provide way too many potential avenues to explore in the future for the character to die in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.
The emotionally charged trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has fans wondering which members of the team will kick the bucket when the film hits theaters next Summer. Whatever the case, one thing will be sure: the team will never be the same again. Whether or not there will be more adventures for a new iteration of the team is a decision that Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, and his trusted Parliament have to make but in-universe, Guardians or not, the galaxy still needs heroes. Fortunately, because Marvel Studios has woefully underdeveloped the cosmic corner of the MCU, one of the galaxy’s greatest heroes-if not THE greatest-is ready to come off the bench and join the fight.
Though it has long been a staple of Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios has not invested much effort into building out the cosmic side of the MCU outside of James Gunn’s work on Guardians of the Galaxy. In their eagerness to bring Carol Danvers into a starring role, Marvel Studios skipped right past the tales of the comic’s first cosmic hero: Mar-Vell. Though the character was present in Captain Marvel, an alternate path with a more fully developed Mar-Vell as a true hero could have changed much of the cosmic landscape. Instead, what exists now is a terrifyingly bland, basic and underdeveloped idea of one of Marvel Comics’ most important conflicts: The Kree-Skrull War. The Kree are sorely misrepresented compared to their comic book counterparts and one of their greatest warriors, Ronan the Accuser, was egregiously done dirty and taken off the board in Guardians of the Galaxy. Their “war” with the Skrulls has been relegated to a few scuffles and Annette Bening’s Mar-Vell’s role in it was reduced to a glorified cameo. Yes, the Skrulls are due back for more in Secret Invasion, but which Skrulls? Gravik? How about a Power Skrull or two? Where’s Paibok? For fans of old-school Marvel Comics cosmic adventures, Marvel Studios adaptations of these characters and stories has been disappointing.
Past is prologue, of course, and even in a medium that’s easily “retconable” it’s going to be pretty tough to undo the stories told of Mar-Vell and Ronan. Maybe Power Skrulls and Super Skrulls can show up down the road. Maybe the portrayal of the Kree can be improved (at this point it’s the equivalent of polishing a turd, however). Maybe…but it’s not in changing the mistakes of the past that Marvel Studios can improve its cosmic storytelling. No, the path to redemption lies ahead and rests on the shoulders of The Man Called Nova.
In March of 2022, a trade report confirmed what many had been discussing for a long time: Marvel Studios is developing a Nova solo project. Moon Knight writer Sabir Pirzada was brought on board to get the gears turning on what many insiders believe will be a Disney Plus project. If everything were to go according to plan, that project could go into production in 2023, meaning it would be ready to stream in 2024. With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wrapping up what’s hopefully Marvel Studios’ first act of cosmic theater, MCU audiences would find themselves being introduced to the character who should rightfully be the star of the second act just about a year later. Though fans of the character have been pining for his debut for years, Richard Rider couldn’t find a better time to join the party.
Mar-Vell and the Kree-Skrull War became the backbone of most every Marvel Comics’ story for decades. However, in 2004 Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning launched Marvel’s modern cosmic line that was comprised of a series of large-scale events unlike anything ever attempted by the publisher before. For the better part of a decade, cosmic fans hand their hands full as Annihilation, Annihilation: Conquest, War of Kings, Realm of Kings and The Thanos Imperative hit stores in rapid succession. These stories introduced a new generation of readers to some of Marvel’s most obscure heroes and villains (including the Guardians of the Galaxy team that James Gunn adapted for the MCU) but one hero found himself at the center of nearly every one of those stories: Richard Rider.
Though he’d been around for nearly 30 years at the time, Rider had never taken center stage as he did during Abnett and Lanning’s epic run. Save another hero. Save a planet. Save the entire galaxy. Nova did it all, ultimately at the cost of his life. The Silver Surfer may have had more adventures than Richard Rider, but it’s hard to argue that Rider didn’t become Marvel’s greatest cosmic hero during that time. Now, with the MCU’s Guardians set to be reeling from whatever comes their way in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Rider could find himself getting the same treatment in the MCU.
Somewhat serendipitously, the stage has been perfectly set for Nova to follow the Guardians though most of his heroics in the comics preceded their assembly. Should Marvel Studios be keen to follow the DnA blueprint, characters such as Annihilus, Blastaar and Kl’rt and alien races like the Shi’ar and the Phalanx would likely play their roles. None of those characters were available to Marvel Studios until after the Dinsey-Fox merger of 2019. So by postponing Nova’s MCU debut, whether intentionally or not, Marvel Studios made it possible to introduce Richard Rider and have him enter his finest hour fairly quickly. As fun as some of the older Nova books used to be, the 2000’s version of the character is the kind of hero the MCU has routinely developed and one that fans will respond to.
Of course, there’s the unfortunate possibility that Marvel Studios might make familiar missteps wth Nova. In their eagerness to spotlight Carol Danvers, they took away from Mar-Vell; the same could happen here by choosing to jump straight to Sam Alexander over Richard Rider. In both instances, properly developing the first character (Mar-Vell and Rider, respectively) would only serve to strengthen the legacy characters (Danvers and Alexander). Marvel Studios has a chance at getting it right this time with Rider and the blueprint couldn’t be any easier to follow. Get out of your own way and let The Human Rocket save the universe…and the cosmic corner of your MCU.
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