Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Secret Wars

  • From Rumor to Reality: What’s Next for Marvel Studios’ Original Avengers

    From Rumor to Reality: What’s Next for Marvel Studios’ Original Avengers

    It’s been five years since Marvel Studios’ original Avengers last assembled on screen in Avengers: Endgame. However, as Marvel Studios crosses the halfway point of their Multiverse Saga–which has introduced heroes like Ms. Marvel, Shang-Chi and Moon Knight–six of Earth’s mightiest heroes who, on a day unlike any other found themselves united against the cmon threat of Loki and heeded the call to become the Avengers, still sit at the forefront of the minds of fans. Though two of them sacrificed themselves to help defeat Thanos and a third disappeared in the time stream, three of the OG Avengers have seen their stories continue post-Endgame and still live on to fight another day.

    As fans continue to hope for the continuation of the stories of Hawkeye, Hulk and Thor and for the Multiverse to find a way to tell further chapters in the stories of Cap, Widow and Iron Man, Disney has taken a hard look at the state of the MCU and found some holes in the one unassailable armor. Perhaps coincidentally, as Disney plots a new course forward, rumors and reports have begun to emerge that they may take a look in the rearview and return to the stories of the heroes that created such a sturdy foundation. Ahead of the summer convention circuit, which could be used to give a glimpse of what’s next, we parse through rumor and reality for each of the original six Avengers.

    Bruce Banner

    After a supporting role in She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Bruce Banner’s next appearance–while all but guaranteed–is anyone’s guess. Despite the MCU debut of the Red Hulk, the Hulked-out alter ego of Banner’s longtime nemesis, Thunderbolt Ross, and the return classic Hulk villain The Leader in 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World, Banner is not expected to be on screen in the film. His cameo appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of The Ten Rings seemingly indicated he’s still at least somewhat active with whatever remnants of the Avengers remain after the events of Avengers: Endgame and as their current expert on time travel, one would think he’d come in handy when Earth’s Mightiest Heroes find themselves up against Kang (assuming that’s still happening).

    I’d love to do a standalone Hulk, I just don’t think that’s ever going to happen. It’s very expensive if you did a whole movie, which is why they use the Hulk so sparingly. I priced myself out!

    -Mark Ruffalo, GQ, February 2024

    https://www.murphysmultiverse.com/avengers-5-rumored-to-have-cracked-its-story-sideline-major-marvel-studios-heroes/Though Mark Ruffalo–who has played the Hulk since taking over for Edward Norton in 2012’s The Avengers–was told by Marvel Studios’ One Above All Kevin Fegie that a solo Hulk movie is out of the question, a film adaptation of the Marvel Comics event World War Hulk has made several rounds through the rumor mill since 2021. Originally rumored to begin production in 2022, buzz around the film died off significantly following Marvel Studios’ 2022 slate presentations at SDCC and D23. Recently, however, rumors emerged that at least part of the action in the newly rewritten Avengers 5 would involve a team of heroes that included Banner and that some elements of either World War Hulk or World War Hulks could have made their way into the new script.

    Verdict: With nothing but tenuous and insubstantial rumors from which to glean information, we’d wager that the safest bet is to expect to see Mark Ruffalo back in action in Avengers 5. If so, look for Marvel to make an announcement about the film this summer during the convention circuit.

    Clint Barton

    Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Hawkeye provided an opportunity to wrap up Clint Barton’s story by handing over the mantle of Hawkeye to Kate Bishop; however, while the Season 1 finale of Hawkeye saw Clint burn the Ronin outfit that symbolized a very dark period of his life, it did nothing to put a bow on his story. While Kate popped up in a quick cameo in The Marvels, the next chapter of Clint’s story has yet to begin yet…but as you probably already know there’s a reason for that.

    I’m always game. I’m gonna be strong enough, that’s for sure. I’ll be ready. All those guys come to my bedside and they’ve been with me all along through this recovery, so… if they want me, they could have me. It would be something.

    Jeremy Renner, Entertainment Tonight, February 2024

    Jeremy Renner, who has played Clint Barton since the character first appeared in 2011’s Thor, nearly died in a snow plow accident in 2023. The actor’s recovery has gone incredibly well and now he’s ready to pick up the character’s trademark bow and arrow once more. Recently, it was rumored that a second season of Hawkeye was ordered up for Disney Plus which would see Clint and Kate reportedly pinned down in one location and potentially up against Clint’s brother, Barney.

    Verdict: Though the original source of the rumor could be called into question, subsequent investigation into the veracity of the information has turned up some interesting information. While Marvel TV head honcho Brad Winderbaum just cautioned fans that the studio is now developing more projects than they ever intended to produce, a second season of Hawkeye does indeed seem to be in development and could end up on Disney Plus much sooner than expected.

    Steve Rogers

    Joe and Anthony Russo gave Steve Rogers a fairy tale ending in Avengers: Endgame. The Man Out of Time stepped back in time to live the life that was stolen from him when he went into the ice. After returning the Infinity Stones to their timelines, Rogers traveled back to 1949, creating a new timeline in which he and Peggy Carter got their dance and their happily ever after. That detour alone provides incredibly fertile storytelling ground but, so far, the further adventures of Steve Rogers have yet to be explored.

    I’ll never say never, just because it was such a wonderful experience. But I’m also very precious with it. It’s something that I am very proud of. And like I said, sometimes I can’t believe it even happened. And I wouldn’t want the black eye if it felt like a cash grab or if it didn’t live up to expectations or if it just felt like it wasn’t connected to that original thing. So, no time soon. And ultimately I really hope to just maybe act a little bit less in my life. I have a lot of other interests.

    Chris Evans, GQ, 2023

    Reports of Chris Evans‘ potential return to the role date back to early 2021 when Deadline reported the actor was nearing a deal that could see him star in a pair of projects. Evans has responded to the report on multiple occasions and while he’s never shut the door on a possible return, he’s made it clear it’s not something he’s been chomping at the bit to make happen, saying a return to the role “would be a tall order.“

    I don’t want to disappoint anybody, but I just don’t know…it’s tough, it was such a good run and I’m so happy with it and you know, it’s so precious to me. It would have to be perfect. It would just be scary to rattle something that is so dear to me. And that role means so much to me, so to revisit it would be a tall order.

    Chris Evans, Phase Zero, 2022

    Rumors of Evans‘ return as Rogers are most frequently associated with two projects: Nomad and Avengers: Secret Wars. As we first reported in 2020, a Nomad project remains in development at Marvel Studios. Though no details have ever surfaced and the studio has never officially addressed the project, they have taken steps over the years to keep it viable. In April 2024, Evans was rumored to have signed on to star in Avengers: Secret Wars, currently on the slate for 2027, which fits with the star’s desire to have some time pass between Endgame and his next MCU appearance.

    Verdict: A return by Evans seems inevitable at this point. His growth into the role of Captain America was one of the highlights of the Infinity Saga and his return for any project would immediately drive interest in it to new heights.

    Natasha Romanoff

    Natasha Romanoff should never be brought back to life. Her sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame brought a fitting closure to her character’s MCU arc and undoing it is not only impossible by the rules set forth in the film but would also give the character’s legacy less meaning moving forward. That does not, however, mean that stories about the character could not or will not continue to be told.

    Like a loophole? I feel like that’s kind of the end, right? Like can you come back? Could it be a vampire version of the character? Cause I’m here for that, like a zombie version, maybe.

    Scarlett Johansson, Today, 2023

    For her part, actress Scarlett Johansson has never really provided much hope that she’d reprise the role of Black Widow again saying the return of her character “would be a miracle.” That doesn’t mean Johansson and Marvel won’t work together again, however. In 2021, Kevin Feige revealed that Marvel and Johansson were working on a “non-Black Widow-related top-secret Marvel Studios project.” Recent rumors have potentially identified that project as The Blonde Phantom, a 1950s-set streaming series that Johansson is expected to produce but not star in. If that project is off the table, could Black Widow still find life after death? As we speculated here, the character could potentially join the cast of Nomad with the studio hoping to tap back into the incredible chemistry shared between Evans and Johansson in Captain America: Civil War. The post-Civil War/pre-Infinity War timeline has barely been fleshed out in the MCU and revisiting it could easily retcon characters and events into the universe that could still be dealt with in the Multiverse Saga.

    Verdict: Any and every character is truly on the board for a return in the Multiverse Saga; however, here’s to hoping any future Black Widow stories are set before her death or involve the creative and effective use of Variants.

    Thor

    Of all the original Avengers, Thor seems the one most likely to have stories told about him as long as the MCU exists. Given his long life as an Asgardian, there’s plenty of room for stories about his past and future to be told, something done exceptionally well in the comics by Jason Aaron.

    You look at Thor 1 and 2, they were quite similar. Ragnarok and Love and Thunder are similar. I think it’s about reinventing it. I’ve had such a unique opportunity with Infinity War and Endgame to do very drastic things with the character. I enjoy that, I like keeping people on their toes. It keeps me on my toes.

    Chris Hemsworth, Happy, Sad, Confused Podcast, 2022

    While Chris Hemsworth has grown tired of playing Thor on multiple levels, it doesn’t seem as though he’s quite done with his time as the Odinson. The star has slowly but surely revealed his displeasure with both his own performance in Thor: Love and Thunder and its reception with fans. Hemsworth has said that any return to the character would have to start with a project that is “tonally different” than the previous installment in the franchise. If a recent rumor has any merit to it, Marvel Studios must have listened to the star’s words and be looking to head in that direction as they are currently seeking a new writer and director in order to get Thor V in production by the end of 2025.

    Verdict: There’s more gas in the tank for Hemsworth and the Odinson. More Thor is on the way.

    Tony Stark

    “I am Iron Man.” The bookend statement of Tony Stark’s journey as the Armored Avenger provided two of the MCU’s most memorable moments. Undoing his death or altering it in any way should be a punishable offense. Avengers: Endgame co-director Joe Russo explained that he and his brother, Anthony, “closed that book” adding that it would be up to the studio “to figure out how to reopen it.“ Marvel Studios One Above All, Kevin Feige, stated that the studios has no interest in reopening said book, saying “we are going to keep that moment and not touch that moment again. We all worked very hard for many years to get to that, and we would never want to magically undo it in any way.“

    Happily. It’s too integral a part of my DNA. That role chose me. And look, I always say, “Never, ever bet against Kevin Feige.” It is a losing bet. He’s the house. He will always win.

    Robert Downey Jr., Esquire, 2024

    Tony Stark’s incredible legacy in the MCU will continue to live on even though the character does not. Though Vegas sees actor Robert Downey Jr. as the odds-on-favorite to return to the role that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the rumor landscape is notably barren. A pre-Endgame-set Iron Man 4 doesn’t seem likely and it’s pretty clear a post-Endgame continuation of the story of the Sacred Timeline’s Tony Stark isn’t in the cards. That doesn’t mean there’s no way home for Stark, however, as a Variant of the character could easily appear in any number of Multiverse Saga stories.

    Verdict: It is my belief that Marvel Studios and Downey will find–perhaps already have found–a way to get Downey some more screen time. The MCU needs saving and who better than its greatest hero to save it one more time.

    Sources: GQ, Deadline, Esquire, GWW, Happy, Sad, Confused, THR, Variety

  • Willem Dafoe is Open to Reprise Green Goblin Role in a Future Marvel Film

    Willem Dafoe is Open to Reprise Green Goblin Role in a Future Marvel Film

    We know Marvel Studios’ new “Endgame” for the Multiverse Saga. As many could’ve predicted the moment we saw the opening and final moments of Loki, the franchise is heading to a live-action adaptation of the iconic Secret Wars storyline in a new Avengers film. It opens up many possibilities to revisit some characters from the past and it seems one actor is down to return.

    After once again reprising the role of Norman Osborne in Spider-Man: No Way Home, Willem Dafoe reveals that he’s certainly open to potentially playing the character one more time “if everything was right.” He highlights how much joy he has playing the character(s) and the depth it allows him to bring to the role.

    I mean, that’s a great role. I liked the fact that it’s a double role both times. Twenty years ago, and fairly recently, both times [were] very different experiences, but I had a good time on both.

    Willem Dafoe

    It definitely would be great to see him return, especially with No Way Home’s focus on a recognizable version of the character. We haven’t had the chance to meet a unique take on the character in live-action as the Green Goblin. So, they could use the opportunity to introduce a good version of the character appearing in Avengers: Secret Wars joining an unlikely alliance.

    There’s also the fact they could experiment with the look of the Goblin, as the previous iteration mostly re-used his Power Rangers-style suit from the original Spider-Man film. So, we could potentially ee the mechanical version that was scrapped make an appearance once again with Dafoe once again having fun in the role.

    Source: Inverse

  • James McAvoy Opens Up on Possible Return in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    James McAvoy Opens Up on Possible Return in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    The moment the announcement dropped that Avengers: Secret Wars was on the horizon, many were excited on who may make an appearance. Anyone is possible in the wide multiverse that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has opened, especially after seeing former Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield once again reprise their iconic roles in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

    Naturally, it also opened up a recurring question for anyone that got a chance to interview a Marvel legacy actor, such as what GQ did when they got a chance to sit down with former Professor X, James McAvoy. The actor had already been asked many times if he might appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

    I’m very quick to say, ‘No, I’m done.’ Or ‘I’m not that bothered about coming back.’ Because you move forward. I’ve definitely not got the call. And if I did I would definitely not be telling you.

    James McAvoy

    The last part of the statement is quite funny, especially with how McAvoy has always been rather direct in his response, especially when the Doctor Strange rumors were making the rounds. Of course, it does seem quite early for them to cast anyone for Secret Wars, as the script has yet to be finalized. So, they may not reach out until they know who exactly they want to include, especially with an Avengers film that’ll likely include a wide amount of characters. So, not trying to bind anyone too early, especially if production might get postponed (you never know). It might still be some time until we get a firm grasp of what their plans are for this film.

    Source: GQ

  • Chris Evans Misses Playing Captain America

    Chris Evans Misses Playing Captain America

    When Avengers: Endgame hit theaters in 2019, it was a bittersweet moment for both the cast and their countless fans. The film was a triumph, but it was also a goodbye to many of the stars that made the Marvel Cinematic Universe a hit in the first place. Among those who made their final appearance was People Magazine’s current Sexiest Man Alive, Chris Evans. The actor had been playing Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, since 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, and capped off his nearly decade-long journey with the character in an emotional finale that saw him reunite with Hayley Atwell‘s Peggy Carter and travel back in time. Now an elderly man, Evans‘ hero officially retired and gave his shield to Anthony Mackie‘s Sam Wilson, who has since taken on the mantle of Captain America in the MCU.

    At the time, Evans seemed very ready to hang up the tights and move on with his career. However, a recent interview with People Magazine revealed he may be having some minor regrets only three years into retirement. Speaking about his time as a Marvel superhero, Evans finally admitted to missing the experience, saying:

    They’re challenging, but the beauty is the movies are great. You get out what you put in. It’s been a wonderful, very symbiotic relationship, so I’ve been thrilled to do it. I think when the movies end you’re very happy to have a break. But very quickly, you miss it. I miss it now. But yeah, I’m very grateful and very happy to have been a part of them.

    Chris Evans

    It’s actually still likely that Evans returns to his role at some point in the future. His character has not yet died, and an elderly Steve Rogers could easily pop up to give some sound advice in another project. Furthermore, Marvel boss Kevin Feige recently revealed the MCU’s sixth phase is scheduled to end with an adaptation of Avengers: Secret Wars, a multiverse-hopping storyline with endless possibilities. It wouldn’t be the craziest turn of events to have an alternate-universe Rogers make a surprise appearance. Until then, and after, fans should remain supportive of Mackie in the Captain America title. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier indicated the actor has a bright future in the patriotic costume.

    Source: Screen Rant

  • 3 In-House Directors Who Could Land ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    3 In-House Directors Who Could Land ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    Following SDCC ’22, Secret Wars is no longer a secret. Kevin Feige unveiled Marvel Studios incredibly ambitious Multiverse Saga in July and even though some dates have shifted around a bit since then, it still all ends with Avengers: Secret Wars on May 1st, 2026. Michael Waldron, who introduced the rules of the Multiverse in Loki and then took Doctor Strange on a brief tour of it in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, has been tasked with writing the film, but as of now, the project is without a director. Marvel Studios doesn’t need to be in a rush given the film doesn’t release for over three and a half years, but with a project this big, it’s likely they’ve narrowed down their list and will be choosing someone soon. With that in mind, here’s a look at some in-house candidates that aren’t Joe and Anthony Russo who might be up for the big job…

    Ryan Coogler

    Among the in-house candidates to take on Avengers: Secret Wars, Ryan Coogler is inarguably the most talented and arguably the safest choice. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is about to blow up the box office, likely giving Coogler two of the highest-grossing non-Avengers films. All logic would dictate that Feige and Coogler had to have at least talked about the possibility of him directing Avengers: Secret Wars. The only real question might be: does he want to do it? Coogler is a deeply passionate creator and I’ve often heard his approach to the worlds of Wakanda and now Talocan compared with the depth of George Lucas’ creation of the Star Wars universe. It’s possible, maybe even likely, that Coogler would prefer to continue to develop more projects (Ironheart, for example, is led by Coogler’s production team) within and connected to these worlds. Whether he chooses to stick to what he’s doing or tackle Avengers: Secret Wars, fans of the MCU still win.

    Nia DaCosta

    Marvel Studios has had some troubled productions since 2020. Whether due to COVID, changing directors, clashing visions, starting productions with 2/3 of a script or reshooting third acts, some of the roads on the way to what have all been fine finsihed products have been bumpy. One production that by all accounts seems to have been fairly smooth sailing, however, was The Marvels. The films three leads, Brie Larson, Iman Vellani and Teyonah Parris have all gone on record gushing about working with diretor Nia DaCosta, who took on a heavy project in her first MCU gig. DaCosta also reportedly established a great rapport with Feige, who was very pleased with The Marvels, a film which I’ve heard nothing but great things about. Having handled a team-up film in her first go around gives DaCosta some sense of what Avengers: Secret Wars will be like, even if it’s not quite the same scale. DaCosta checks a lot of the boxes the studio is likely using to choose the director for that project.

    Peyton Reed

    Reed may not be a popular choice amongst fans, but his first two Ant-Man films were solid, if not underrated, entries that were done the disservice of being released near major event films. By all accounts (and the trailer allows fans their first look at it), Reed absolutely slayed it with Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania which had what I’ve heard called one of Marvel’s best-ever scripts by Jeff Loveness. The teaser should make it clear that Quantumania will be a major step up in terms of the impact the film will have on the ongoing saga when compared to the previous two Ant-Man films and it should also be clear that this Variant of Jonathan Majors’ Kang is one of the ones to be worried about. Reed had a huge job to do and he nailed it. He’s proven he can run a clean production, he’s worked extensively with the Volume (which will be needed on something like Secret Wars) and has a great relationship with Marvel Studios and Feige. Don’t sleep on Reed connecting with Waldron on Avengers: Secret Wars.

  • The Case for More ‘Marvel Studios Special Presentations’

    The Case for More ‘Marvel Studios Special Presentations’

    With the release of Werewolf By Night, Marvel Studios has given us yet another format in which to experience and further explore the MCU. Following feature films, one-shots, and TV shows, fans have now been treated to its first Special Presentation, with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, Marvel’s second go at the format, just a few weeks away. And one thing is certain: if it ends up being as well received as Werewolf By Night has been, the demand for further projects within the same framework is bound to rise.

    James Gunn has stated that his upcoming Holiday Special will be under 40 minutes in length and considering that Werewolf clocks in at around 48 minutes (not counting end-credits) the basic parameters for this kind of project seem to be fairly straightforward. Tv-episode-length with a higher budget, and a more concise and focused script than a feature film. Could this structure become the go-to format for Marvel Studios when it comes to their Disney+ content? As with many debates, the truth usually lies somewhere in the middle.

    Considering how most Marvel Studios Disney+ shows have been a bit lackluster, there is no doubt that there is still work to be done when adapting the MCU to an episodic format. The Special Presentation type of show does allow Marvel to keep its feature film formula—a formula that works more often than not—a bit more intact, but while that may serve particular stories, there is still much that can be gained by giving certain characters and storylines additional room to breathe by going the 6+ episode route. If anything, Special Presentations allow Marvel to have a sort of middle-ground between a feature film and a TV show, so that when the story does ask for a shorter runtime but still not garnering sufficient relevance for the big screen there is still a way to make it work. It wouldn’t be hard to picture a series like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier being developed as a one-hour tv special, telling the story of how both Sam and Bucky went from Endgame to Captain America: New World Order and Thunderbolts, respectively. The same case could be made for Hawkeye that, as FatWS, would take advantage of previously established characters to streamline the narrative, swiftly leading into the next project. WandaVision would perhaps be the exception since it took the episodic format to heart and made it intrinsic to its essence. As for all Marvel Studios series introducing titular heroes, along with their own set of side characters, from Moon Knight to Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk, the longer runtime provided by several episodes seems completely warranted. Taking time to properly explore their origin, in their own corner of the MCU, without all the noise provided by the evergrowing mob of characters that will eventually engulf them seems fair.

    But while the story itself should be the main reason when choosing what format to go with, there are also more specific points working in favor of the new format. For one: talent availability. With the success of the Marvel formula, the franchise is either attracting A-listers to its key roles or turning unknown actors into household names. In either case, unless previously signed contracts so dictate, it will become increasingly hard to get the desired names to be completely available for the time that it takes to shoot the usual 6 to 9 episodes of a regular Marvel Studios series. By having the Special Presentation format available, the studios could keep production schedules shorter, stars happier, and probably even bring about a bit more of that Strange Alchemy that the Russo Brothers valued so much (something that happens when characters who never interacted in previous projects share the screen for the first time) by making everyone’s schedule a bit more team-up prone.

    There is also another issue, especially relevant when it comes to streaming services, that the Special Presentation format sort of bypasses, not on its own but due to the sheer volume of premium original Disney+ content. The importance of keeping active subscribers all-year round is a big reason for investing in episodic series to be a good business model. But since Disney+ already has other equally massive franchises that are aiming at pumping out content frequently, there is no reason for Disney, when looking at the bigger picture, to not be ok with a few Marvel shows becoming glorified one-shots and not having to drive online discourse for several weeks since there are other shows that will keep subscribers busy for that same period.

    What is perhaps a bit more dubious, but that could actually be a reality, is what the shorter runtime (when compared to a TV series) might do in terms of rewatchability and how that relates to the ease with which Marvel properties have been able to enter the cultural zeitgeist since 2008. For years Marvel Studios made…movies. Fans had to wait months in-between projects and what did they do when a new one was about to premiere? They rewatched the previous ones. And with that, everything about the movies permeated the discourse, from the biggest set pieces to the smallest of dialogue lines. It feels difficult for the same thing to happen when instead of 120 minutes that can be easily experienced over, and over again, fans have to sit through double that same amount of time, especially when there is always something new coming right up. By trimming the actual minutes of content being released, Marvel might be doing themselves a favor since instead of trending due to having constantly something new out, they might give fans the pause to reconnect with the material in a way that’s way more sustainable in the long run, thus imbuing Marvel Studios projects with what made them relevant to begin with.

    As for what the future holds for the Special Presentation format, only time can tell. But things are seemingly on the right track for it to become an MCU staple on Disney+.

  • ‘Werewolf by Night’ Adds New Weapon to Phase 4’s Ultimate Conflict

    ‘Werewolf by Night’ Adds New Weapon to Phase 4’s Ultimate Conflict

    Much has been said about the apparent lack of connecting tissue uniting most of the MCU’s Phase 4. Even though the climax for Marvel’s post-Endgame storylines being pretty straightforward from the moment the Multiverse came into play, most fans only came to terms with it in July 2022. This was when Kevin Feige announced the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled to be released on November 7, 2025, and in a single instant, it became easy to unite every separate storyline into a single narrative thread, in a way only the Multiverse can.

    But there are levels to this. If on the surface, in terms of character movement, things should be moving in closer together for the foreseeable future, mimicking the final days of the Infinity Saga, there might be more assembling going on. And Werewolf By Night, even as detached from the usual look and feel of the MCU as it is, with little to no connection to other projects besides, you know, being set in the same universe, will probably have something to offer in that regard.

    Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings (2022)

    Phase 4 has been all about reinventing and reframing legacy characters all while introducing new faces, both heroes and villains, to an evergrowing canvas of intertwined stories. But it is also quietly revealing strange new artifacts, with apparent similar origins albeit vastly different capabilities, that might come together play a part in the multiversal war that is to come. And this is where Werewolf By Night’s Bloodstone comes into play.

    Both in Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings and Ms. Marvel, we’ve been introduced to relics that have been slightly reinterpreted from their comic book origins, all while bringing them together in terms of origin. As for the Ten Rings, they were seen as too much like the Infinity Stones, as each ring initially had its own color and ability, and so not only their look but their previously mentioned origin was significantly changed, with the Shang-Chi post-credit scene hinting at an alien origin. As for Ms. Marvel’s bangle, it became the item that ultimately unlocked Kamala’s powers, unlike in the comics where she develops her superpowers when the Terrigen Mists are released. The bangle is, like the Ten Rings, also hinted at as having an alien origin since it’s mentioned that Kamala’s ancestor initially found it on the arm of a blue alien.

    Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel (2022)

    As for the Bloodstone (a.k.a. the Bloodgem), its comic book origin is, you guessed it, also alien. It is said to be the fragment of a meteorite that crashed on Earth somewhere around 8250 B.C, and that eventually founds its way onto the hands of Ulysses Bloodstone, who became immortal by being in possession of the stone. This could fit the powers of the Bloodstone as mentioned by Ulysses’s widow, Verusa, in Werewolf by Night:

    What aspect of the Blood Stone are we after exactly? The strength it lends? The protection? Oh… longevity.

    Verusa
    Marvel Studios’ Werewolf by Night (2022)

    The stone is described as a powerful supernatural relic, a weapon unlike any other, something that fits the profile—and likely the origin—of the other two artifacts mentioned above. If the future of the MCU will bring them all together to serve as instruments in the conflicts to come, remains to be seen. But whereas the Infinity Stones were meant to be wielded together, working in unison towards one single goal, having the Ten Rings, Kamala’s Cosmic Bangle, and the Bloodgem doing the same, even if achievable, might be a bit more tricky. But also incredibly more entertaining.

    Werewolf by Night is now streaming, only on Disney+

  • What to Expect From Michael Waldron in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    What to Expect From Michael Waldron in ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    With the official announcement that Michael Waldron will be writing Avengers: Secret Wars, a large swath of reactions has been formed. Fans have questions as to what this will mean for what has the potential to be Marvel Studios’ most ambitious projects. With his previous experiences working on the first season of Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Waldron feels primed to take this next step in telling the story of the Multiverse Saga. By dissecting Michael Waldron’s previous works in the Marvel Cinematic Univers, one might be able to Inuit how they can inform the directions audiences should expect from Avengers: Secret Wars.

    Centralized Focus

    Arguably the most distinct aspect of Michael Waldron’s writing for Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is creating a centralized focus on the main characters and their arcs. Despite the expansive stakes and scope of the multiverse that surrounds them, the main characters are never lost within the script. One of the many praises sung about Loki was the amount of character building for the titular protagonist. As the story moved to numerous vastly different locales and settings, Loki and his interpersonal dynamics with the likes of Mobius and Sylvie remained at the forefront. 

    When it comes to Multiverse of Madness, both Doctor Strange and Scarlet Witch had complete arcs that were logical for where they had been prior to the film. For Strange, the narrative was crafted of him being able to not be in the driver’s seat and trusting others, such as America Chavez, to ultimately save the day. Wanda’s arc was the continuation of her themes of teetering between morally just and unjust while dealing with the grief seen in WandaVision (or at least the themes that were present for most of the series).

    Writing an Avengers film, the centralized focus will of course need to expand to fit whatever the team roster will be for Secret Wars. This is certainly doable for Waldron if he follows the general style that Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely used when writing Infinity War and Endgame. After managing to do so in the back two-thirds of the Captain America trilogy, the duo also adeptly managed to keep the focus on individual characters in the foreground of universe-shifting events in their films. Theoretically having at least a year to write Avengers: Secret Wars with the same studio behind the duology wrapping up the Infinity Saga, there shouldn’t be much doubt Michael Waldron can do the same as his predecessors.

    Expansive Multiversal Background

    While the foci for his two previous Marvel Cinematic Universe projects were micro-level of character studies, it shouldn’t be ignored that Michael Waldron has indeed helped create an expansive multiverse for Marvel Studios. That universe feels primed to be much further extrapolated in Avengers: Secret Wars (among other multiverse-based projects). A misunderstanding seems to have been propagated that the events of Loki and Multiverse of Madness are incongruous with the rules of the multiverse; however, there aren’t any tangible instances of the two projects contradicting themselves. If anything, the partially disparate nature of the series and film feels intentional in creating the understanding of how vast the Marvel Cinematic Multiverse is. 

    Waldron’s writing on Loki was focused on building the framework and the primary core of Marvel’s multiverse. Usage of the Time Variance Authority helped to introduce the general concepts and histories of the multiverse that, at points, seemed intentional to allude to the upcoming Secret Wars event. Meanwhile, the Doctor Strange sequel moved towards providing viewpoints of distinct alternate universes and how they’ve been dealing with the maddening multiverse. The threat of Incursions being introduced continues Waldron’s trend of planting seeds for one of the next two major “Avenger-level” events. There’s likely to be a combination of these writing themes in Avengers: Secret Wars. Interpersonal conflicts between the different universe fragments mixed with the chaos of quite literally everything breaking around them.

    Deep Marvel Lore

    Michael Waldron has also shown a penchant for including deep-cut references out of Marvel historical lore, from both on-screen and comic versions. Two distinct examples from both of Waldron’s writing credits best symbolize how he could very well implement these references. The Void in Loki is home to a vast array of references that add to the background atmosphere for casual viewers while being enjoyable treats for the more hardcore superfan (ie. Qeng Tower, the Living Tribunal, and the infamous Thanos-Copter). Though in the foreground of The Void, audiences meet characters such as Kid and Classic Loki, both of which resonate with both casual and hardcore fans at the same time. This is something that may be critical for the writing of Secret Wars to succeed. In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Earth-838-specifically The Illuminati-represent what to potentially expect for the second-to-next Avengers film. First and foremost, the writing of the alternate New York City and secret council quickly created the concept of a lived-in world that has a history some audience members will want to learn all about (namely, the alternate version of Infinity War including The Illuminati and various teams yet to form in the main Marvel Cinematic Universe). In addition, Waldron balances both a reverence for the alternate legacy characters involved, especially Patrick Stewart’s Professor X reprisal, while also being willing to aggressively mess with the status quo to highlight the fragility of multiversal conflict. Expect Avengers: Secret Wars to combine and expand on these different types of lore establishments for a potential Battleworld.

    Inspiration From Classic Media

    While his knowledge base for Marvel history has shown to be expansively deep, Waldron certainly has found additional inspiration from various classic pieces of media. For Loki, many have found the narrative and aesthetic similarities to stalwarts of science fiction such as Brazil, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and Doctor Who. Meanwhile, with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Waldron’s script provides Sam Raimi the semi-Lovecraftian basis for the director to create a film visually akin to his work on the Evil Dead franchise (while being accessible as a PG-13 Marvel Cinematic Universe entry). While the argument can be made that these elements are more so from the directors of said projects, filmmaking is inherently a collaborative process and it’d be errant to believe that Waldron didn’t also have a hand in establishing the visual identities of these properties. And that type of perspective can be even more beneficial for helping whoever directs the sixth Avengers film to create their vision. 

    When it comes to Avengers: Secret Wars, it certainly will be interesting to see where inspiration may be drawn for this type of story. Based on Jonathan Hickman-written 2015 version, and even the more basic 1984 story, there are numerous cinematic and literary epics that could be used to inspire Marvel Studios’ Secret Wars.

    Conclusions

    All in all, the hiring of Michael Waldron as the writer for Avengers: Secret Wars seems to indicate a massively high concept and fast-paced ride of a film. Much like the process for Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely on Marvel films, Waldron has been writing projects with elevated stakes and scope for Marvel Studios’ central saga. If the positive momentum and seed planted from season one of Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness can be followed through upon, the script of Avengers: Secret Wars has real potential to successfully culminate Phases Four through Six in a majorly impactful fashion.

  • The Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    The Hypothetical 2025 Marvel Studios Release Calendar, V1

    In March of 2022, it was reported that Sabir Pirzada, who worked with Marvel Studios on both Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel, was developing a Nova project with the studio. The trade report indicated that it was unclear whether or not Pirzada’s work was for a film or streaming series and, as of publishing, that was still unclear. However, Prizada’s current track record with Marvel allows one to lean towards expecting a series about The Human Rocket.

    Confidence is high that Destin Daniel Cretton’s sequel to 2021’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings will hit theaters ahead of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. It seems like Cretton and star Simu Liu are going to be very busy starting in 2023.

    When the search for an actress to portray Kamala Khan was ongoing, a rumor indicated that whoever would eventually take on the role would have a pretty heavy workload that would consist of Season 1, a film, and Season 2 all being filmed over the course of 3 years. If that rumor still holds any water, Iman Vellani is going to find herself on set for Season 2 of Ms. Marvel sometime in the next year so that she can also be available to fit Avengers: The Kang Dynasty into her schedule. It would not be incredibly surprising if this were among the announcements made during either Disney Plus Day or Marvel Studios’ Showcase at D23.

    It’s been a long, long time since our original scoop that Marvel Studios was developing a Nomad project. However, no news does not always equal bad news. Confidence is high that Nomad is still in development and is intended to be included as part of the Multiverse Saga.

    The first of what is currently set to be a 2025 Avengers double-feature, The Kang Dynasty might just have a lot to do with some of the artifacts fans have already seen in some of Phase 4’s early projects. It remains to be seen, but it’s very possible that both Ms. Marvel and Shang-Chi’s accessories might play major roles in the Multiverse Saga.

    A second Moon Knight season seems a sure thing. Star Oscar Isaac and director Mohamed Diab have teased it. Fans are hungry for it. There’s no reason Kevin Feige doesn’t announce it at D23…unless it’s not happening. That would be a good reason not to announce it.

    At this point, why not? Rumors about this film have dried up, but a recent piece of information that Marvel Studios may regain the distribution rights to live-action Hulk films does give some hope that it might come to fruition. Bruce Banner’s trip to Sakaar in Episode 2 of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is right in line with the earliest rumors I ever heard about what will essentially be a prelude to this film, but we’ll have to wait until Episode 9 to find out if Marvel Studios is going forward with this project…unless they decide to grace fans with a Hulk-sized gift at D23.

    *NOTE*

    While it’s not a Disney project and won’t be announced at D23, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Spider-Man 4 hit theaters in the space between Marvel Studios May 2nd film and their November 7th film.

    According to the Phase 6 slate unveiled by Kevin Feige at SDCC ’22, there’s one spot left to fill and, to be honest, there isn’t enough strong info around any one project to confidently place it here. With that in mind, rumors of a Harry Styles-led Starfox project made the rounds some time ago, and while I initially dismissed them, I was told by someone I trust that to keep an ear to the ground as there might be some fire to that smoke. So while we’d set the odds very low here (I’d say under a 1% chance this is correct), it’s as good of a guess as any.

    The capstone of the Multiverse Saga, fans should expect Marvel Studios to pull out all the stops for this one and for it to include all the bells and whistles, including possibly bringing back some of the biggest stars from the Infinity Saga. It could also serve as a way for the studio to reset things with new actors in old roles, old actors in new roles, or any manner of shenanigans.

  • Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    Mark Ruffalo Opens Up About ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’

    One of Marvel Studios’ biggest reveals at SDCC ’22 was that their ongoing Multiverse Saga was set to wrap up in 2025 with two Avengers films, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars. The studio’s plans should seem familiar to fans, as they wrapped up the previous multi-phase Infinity Saga with two Avengers films as well in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame.

    While not all of the MCU’s heroes had a large role to play in both Infinity War and Endgame, one who did was Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo. And while some of his longtime MCU co-stars have moved on from Marvel Studios’ projects-at least for the time being-Ruffalo is still going strong, set to appear next in the Disney + streaming series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. At the green carpet premiere for the series, Ruffalo was asked about Avengers: Secret Wars by Entertainment Tonight and while uncharacteristically reserved did have something to say about the project.

    It’s gonna be hard to top Endgame, but if I know Kevin and I know Marvel, it’s gonna be pretty amazing. It’ll be a big bang. We’ll go out with a big bang.

    Mark Ruffalo

    With Secret Wars still over three years away, it’s not surprising to hear Marvel Studios’ talent, even the usually verbose Ruffalo, giving more measured responses to questions about the film. While it’s likely Ruffalo will appear in the film and that he has a vague sense of what the story might entail, it’s even more likely that he’s not seen so much as a first draft of the script. That all means fans will have to wait a while before Ruffalo, or Tom Holland, start letting some details spill out on press tours.