A number of thrilling bulletins got here out of the 50th San Diego Comedian Con, but when I needed to decide a winner—and that is to a specific amount of shock on my half—it could be bulletins about Marvel Part four and the continued MCU.
We knew there was extra coming, in fact we did. However I don’t suppose anybody anticipated Kevin Feige to drop fairly as many main bombs about Marvel Part four as he did through the studio’s Corridor H panel on Saturday.
Let’s compensate for these bulletins in addition to a few of the much less well-known components of these bulletins, we could?
Marvel Part four Bulletins at SDCC
WARNING: There’s a Spider-Man: Far From Dwelling spoiler within the Physician Unusual and the Multiverse of Insanity part, which is beneath the Shang-Chi and a comparatively quick WandaVision part. Proceed with warning if that may be a matter of significance to you.
Black Widow (Could 1, 2020)
Everyone knows who Natasha is and the fundamentals of her backstory at this level, at the least the MCU model of mentioned. We additionally know that, clearly, this movie goes to happen earlier than the occasions of Endgame.
Simply to fill in some gaps, nonetheless, within the comics, Natasha Romanoff (or Natalia Alianovna Romanova, aka Natasha Romanova) was born within the late 1920s (she’s roughly 10 years youthful than Steve Rogers) and is, in truth, a Russian model of a brilliant soldier, having been “bio- and psycho-technologically enhanced” both by The Hand or within the Crimson Room (accounts range). The remainder of her backstory is a extra convoluted model of what we’ve gotten within the MCU. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see how a lot Marvel pulls from the comics and the way a lot they create, contemplating AI Zola clearly said in Winter Soldier that MCU Natasha was born in 1989.
As to the opposite characters who’ve been introduced as a part of the movie:
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh): is a rival spy, additionally skilled within the Crimson Room, who initially sees Natasha as a rival. There’s some actually disturbing stuff the place S.H.I.E.L.D. captures Yelena and forcibly swaps her id with Natasha’s to “train her a lesson about spies being instruments who’re used for nasty enterprise” I’m sort of hoping they skip, as a result of ew. She darts out and in of the spy scene, working a lingerie empire and utilizing the proceeds to assist intercourse staff and get drugs to these affected by AIDS, after which pausing to workforce up with numerous Avengers and groups earlier than ultimately being killed by Natasha.
Pugh said that Yelena goes to be a, “Kind of sister determine” to Natasha within the movie, which is unquestionably not one of the above. So…that’s an enormous outdated wait and see.
Alexi/Crimson Guardian (David Harbor): If the MCU goes with the unique origin for Alexi/Crimson Guardian, this might get attention-grabbing as a result of Alexi Shostakov, one of many Soviet Union’s most acclaimed check pilots, and their reply to Captain America, can be Natasha Romanov’s supposedly dead-on-a-mission husband.
He’s additionally considered one of a number of individuals to have used the title of Ronin over time.
Coincidence?
Melina Vostokoff/Iron Maiden (Rachel Weisz): As soon as an agent of the Russian authorities, Vostokoff ultimately bought sick of residing within the shadow of the Black Widow and went freelance. I’m guessing she’s one of many huge bads of the piece and I’m actually hoping that she brings her Femizons alongside for the experience as a result of, rattling, Femizons.
Tony Masters/Taskmaster (Ray Winstone?): Tony Masters was born with the power to duplicate the actions of some other particular person after seeing them as soon as. Whereas an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Masters discovered a dying scientist who gave him a syringe stuffed with a Nazi model of the tremendous soldier serum. Masters injected himself and gained extra powers, however the reminiscences he gained buying the skills of others overwrote his private reminiscences and he forgot about his life as an agent and his spouse, Mercedes Masters. Mercedes took benefit of the very fact to remake Tony as a double agent.
Masters made a pile of cash from the unhealthy guys and took the identify Taskmaster, working as a mercenary for crime lords and coaching others to do the identical. There’s a brilliant bizarre arc involving Deadpool. Taskmaster has: been employed and did not take out Moon Knight, been a prisoner of the Thunderbolts, participated within the siege of Asgard, regained his reminiscence, misplaced it once more, labored with the Secret Avengers, labored with Hydra, labored with A.I.M., been a goal of each organizations, tried to reveal evil Cap, freed the Champions from Hydra imprisonment, and gone again to being a mercenary.
I’m…not completely positive why he’s the villain of the piece. Possibly he’s a pal from Natasha’s early S.H.I.E.L.D. days? An enemy from her KGB days? Possibly they’re subbing him in for Alexi as her ex-husband? Possibly he’s what occurred in Budapest? Regardless, he’s confirmed as the primary villain within the movie and, whereas there’s no affirmation of who might be enjoying him, Ray Winstone is fifth on the solid listing on IMDB with no character identify hooked up and he wasn’t at SDCC, which makes me suspect it will likely be him underneath the cranium masks.
Mason (O-T Fagbenle): There’s a Phineas Mason within the Marvel database however I’m fairly positive that’s not who that is presupposed to be. If anybody has some other concepts, be at liberty to let me know, however I believe this can be an authentic character.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (Fall 2020)
I believe everybody’s fairly clear on this one, nonetheless, Mackie confirmed on the panel that sure, he might be sporting Sam’s Cap go well with and he might be carrying the Protect. Additionally, as @rustypolished (Meg Downey) identified on Twitter, since Blade is being rebooted (which might be mentioned afterward), there are canonically vampires within the MCU which suggests werewolves can additionally exist, which suggests we will have that gleefully ridiculous Cap Wolf storyline from a number of years again.
Eternals (Nov 6, 2020)
Just like the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Eternals had been, not all that way back, considered one of Marvel’s extra obscure comedian properties. Separated from the remainder of humanity by the Celestials (bear in mind the enormous head space-station Knowhere? Quill’s a-hole dad?) and supposed to be the defenders of Earth, they virtually instantly discovered themselves embroiled in struggle with their much less fairly, extra seen counterparts, the Deviants. Oh and, FYI, these experiments led to the potential for genetic mutation in people left behind on Earth (maybe these “mutants” Feige talked about in passing on the finish of the panel. A few of whom find yourself at a faculty after which on a workforce. Begins with a letter towards the tip of the alphabet…)
The Eternals are lengthy lived and, as such, have a low start fee. They will breed with people, however the ensuing offspring are virtually all the time “regular” people. They battle rather a lot. With the Deviants. With each other (a few of the Eternals suppose the universe could be higher off in the event that they dominated it. Some don’t).
A cosmic vitality accident leaves the Eternals with god-like powers and the power to return collectively to for the Uni-Thoughts as desired.
The Eternals have been typically beneficent towards humanity, saving large numbers of individuals when a battle between the Celestials and the Deviants precipitated the sinking of Atlantis and when Apokolips tried to obliterate all life on the planet (hear, I don’t make the information, I simply report it). Others established portals between their cities and human settlements, resembling Olympia and Mount Olympus, and impersonated numerous pantheons such because the Olympians. The Eternals helped the Inhumans transfer Attilan to the Himalayas when the later had been involved for his or her security.
After World Conflict II, a few of the Eternals joined with a few of the Deviants and a faction of humanity to type the Damocles Basis, which labored to create a selected breed of superhuman to rule the Earth. Others hid amongst humanity and acted as heroes when wanted.
When the Celestials got here once more to take a seat in judgment, the Eternals as soon as extra shaped the Uni-Thoughts on the possibility the Celestials judged unfavorably. The Celestials dissolved the Uni-Thoughts and a lot of the Eternals left to discover area although a number of stayed to proceed defending the Earth.
The Eternals are successfully immortal, and might regenerate so long as they’re able to preserve their psychological maintain over their our bodies. Even when their molecules are dispersed over a large space, they will, with enough will energy, ultimately come again collectively. Channeling cosmic vitality additionally permits the Eternals to make the most of: tremendous energy, vitality blasts, flight, levitation, telepathy, thoughts management, producing illusions, teleportation, transmutation, forcefield era, fusion into the Uni Thoughts,
Keep in mind how a lot all of us liked the Kirby-esque look of Ragnarok? Maintain on to your butts as a result of the Eternals are his creation.
The upcoming Marvel Part four film could possibly be about any of those story traces or none of them. Thanos was an Everlasting with Deviant DNA. As aforementioned, Ego was a Celestial, as was the pinnacle from which Knowhere was created. The Celestials additionally experimented on the Kree and the Skrulls so there are many connections to the MCU because it exists now. Thor additionally bumped into the Eternals at one level, however they erased his reminiscence of the encounter, so…it’s actually anybody’s sport.
The solid consists of: Angelina Jolie as Thena, Ma Dong-Seok because the Forgotten One, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Najani as an as but unnamed character, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, and Lia McHugh as Sprite. It’s value mentioning that Ridloff, a deaf actress, might be enjoying the MCU’s first deaf hero.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (February 12, 2021; Chinese language New 12 months)
Transfer over, Iron Fist. Please. Nope, somewhat extra. A bit of extra. All the best way to the sting there. Nope, I can nonetheless see you…good. He’s gone.
Welcome to the stage, Shang-Chi.
First off, let’s all acknowledge that a few of the supply materials for this character is from the ’70s (first look was 1973) and is subsequently going to be problematic. Let’s additionally assume that Chinese language American screenwriter David Callaham and Asian American director Destin Daniel Cretton are effectively conscious of what they’re working with and are going to repair it. I can’t change it proper now, nonetheless, so bear with me and I apologize upfront for any names or tropes beneath which offend.
Shang-Chi was raised by his father, immortal sorcerer and murderer Fu Manchu, together with by way of alchemy and digital actuality whereas he slept. After his first project, Shang-Chi realized his father was evil and faked his personal loss of life, then started attacking his father’s group. Fu Manchu despatched assassins towards his son, none of whom had been profitable. As he traveled, Shang-Chi met up with a number of different martial arts primarily based heroes, although he ultimately turned bored with the sport and retired.
And naturally got here out of retirement to assist a pal, after which, he teamed up with the Daughters of the Dragon (Misty Knight and Colleen Wing) through the interval of the Superhuman Registration Act as a superhuman bounty hunter.
Shang-Chi has skilled Spider-Man, been a member of the Secret Avengers, the common Avengers, saved Danny Rand’s ass, and rescued a bunch of parents from sure loss of life through the Infinity Conflict.
Legendary actor Tony Leung (Infernal Affairs, Crimson Cliff) will play the Mandarin, who was performed for laughs by Ben Kingsley in Iron Man III. It’s rumored Leung’s incarnation of the organized crime boss, raised in poverty and the sufferer of compelled labor, might be extraordinarily displeased to have had his identify stolen by another person. The movie possible takes its identify from an arc through which Mandarin discovered an deserted area ship, killed the pilot, and took small cylinders from the engine he started sporting as rings. Ten of them, to be exact, every of which contained a warrior spirit that influenced the Mandarin in order that his life purpose could be to resurrect it.
Simu Liu (Kim’s Comfort) will play Shang-Chi after a yr lengthy Twitter marketing campaign and a final minute display screen check (he examined final Sunday and was solid the Tuesday earlier than Comedian Con).
Awkwafina may even star although her position has not but been revealed.
WandaVision (Spring 2021)
All we actually learn about WandaVision is that it’s set mid-century (therefore the font) and that they’ve add the one character I’ve any intention of caring about: one Monica Rambeau. How they’re going to get an grownup Spectrum to the ’50s I’m unsure, however I assume it’s going to be by way of some shenanigans Wanda pulls to deliver Imaginative and prescient again, with problematic outcomes.
Physician Unusual Within the Multiverse of Insanity (Could seventh, 2021)
The factor to recollect right here: CNet quotes Kevin Feige as having mentioned, “Simply because Beck lied in regards to the Multiverse doesn’t imply it doesn’t exist.” Which we all know as a result of when Banner went to ask the Historic One for the Time Stone, she warned him any misstep might end in a catastrophic fraction of the timeline. So, what’s going to trigger that rupture?
In the course of the Corridor H panel, Feige introduced Elizabeth Olson as Benedict Cumberbatch’s co-star for Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity and likewise that WandaVision would feed instantly into the second Unusual flick. My guess is that she’s going to seize the time stone, which is, when you’ll recall, housed in Unusual’s Eye of Agamatto, trigger the fracture the Historic One warned Banner about, and he or she and Unusual are going to have to repair it.
I’m really tremendous excited to listen to that this second Unusual installment goes to reside within the horror realm. To start with, director Scott Derrickson is de facto good at horror. Second, Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo did a incredible horror-tinged run on Physician Unusual (see: Physician Unusual Vol. 1: The Approach of the Bizarre) a pair years in the past I’d love see incarnated on display screen. It would additionally present a legit motive for Mordo to return; in Physician Unusual, Mordo was devastated to be taught the Historic One ate up vitality from the Darkish Dimension. In Aaron and Bachalo’s run, Unusual is in so deep, he can now not maintain himself with meals however, as a substitute, has to ingest items of creatures from the Darkish Dimension to outlive.
I can’t think about Mordo would let that slide.
Thor herself seems at one level for a “Weird and revolting workforce up,” throughout which she calls on Jane Foster’s medical data to excise evil mind tumors and Unusual excises them from existence by consuming them. It’s actually top-of-the-line issues that has ever occurred in comics.
This run additionally put Wong and Unusual on the far more equal footing we’ve already seen the MCU and added a pleasant occult librarian. The sanctum might use some recent blood and a girl who isn’t isn’t an ex or in awe of the Sorcerer Supreme.
Loki
Confirmed: Loki did really die in Infinity Conflict.
Additionally confirmed: The Loki who stole the tesseract from the foyer of Stark Tower through the time heist in Endgame is on the unfastened.
What If…?
Constructing on the What If…? comics of yore, this animated sequence, that includes a lot of the MCU actors reprising their roles in VO type, will play with different Marvel realities. Their first episode will characteristic Peggy Carter as Tremendous Soldier Cap with Steve in an armored go well with as her co-hero.
Hawkeye
For these of you who don’t know why the web went wild over a font: the one Marvel selected for the Hawkeye present is both very telling or a extremely, actually imply misdirect, as a result of it’s the font that was used for the title on the covers of what nearly all of us agree was the very best ever run of any Hawkeye e-book ever: Matt Fraction and David Aja’s Hawkeye: My Life as a Weapon. It was a shared e-book between Clint, Kate Bishop (“She’s Hawkeye. I’m boy Hawkeye”), and the true star of the present, Pizza Canine. It was a kind of what an Avenger does in his off time story which, in Clint’s case, is attempt to save an condominium constructing from a bunch of Russian gangsters, argue along with his brother, get his ass kicked rather a lot, and drink unhealthy quantities of espresso whereas getting proven up by his protegée, which he doesn’t have an issue with in any respect.
Is that this the Hawkguy we’re hoping for? Sure. Is it the Hawkguy we’re going to get?
I’m unsure how, since Marvel has saddled him with an extraneous household and has fully missed the mark on his character. Plus, the Clint Barton within the Fraction/Aja run is deaf, because the character has been since childhood. There was, in truth, a whole challenge performed with empty phrase balloons and in signal when Clint’s listening to aids had been damaged. Is Marvel keen to make the leap with Clint? I’m not hopeful.
I am hopeful that the present might be a handoff from Clint to Katie and that, in additional MCU films, ought to Hawkeye be featured, it will likely be Kate filling that place on the workforce.
Thor: Love and Thunder
Taika is again. Chris is again. Tessa is again and Valk is on the lookout for her queen. Jane Foster’s Mighty Thor is coming. And whereas I personally would fairly the position go to somebody apart from Natalie Portman, I’m thrilled that is the path Marvel has determined to go together with Thor.
Waititi mentioned on the Corridor H panel that he’s taking inspiration from Jason Aaron and Russell Dauterman’s run on The Mighty Thor (sensing a theme? The person does good work) which was…effectively, it was mighty. In it, Jane Foster, who has breast most cancers, is named upon to take up Mjolnir, which she does and not using a second thought regardless of the very fact every time she transforms, her most cancers advances extra quickly.
I’ll be straight with you right here, individuals: I by no means completed studying this run. I couldn’t. Certainly one of my greatest buddies died of metastatic breast most cancers when it was about 2/three performed and Aaron’s writing/Dauterman’s artwork is so affecting that after she was gone, I couldn’t decide the e-book up with out feeling her die another time. It’s that unimaginable.
I’m unsure that is the via story Marvel goes to go together with; I doubt they lured Portman again solely to have her meet a tragic demise. Moreover, the premise of Jane getting the hammer is that Odinsson is rendered briefly unworthy; that was his huge concern throughout Endgame and we all know it was confirmed baseless, which makes revisiting the concept repetitive and foolish.
In Taika we belief, although. I’ve religion he’ll provide you with one thing marvelous.
Blade
Per Feige, Mahershala Ali (Luke Cage, True Detective) known as him and mentioned he needed to do the factor, and “When Mahershala Ali calls you and says he needs to do the factor, you do the factor.” Which implies we’re getting a Blade reboot. I’m positive Wesley Snipes is pissed. Alas, nobody cares as a result of this…that is going to be some day-walking magic.
Eric Brooks was born in London. Whereas in labor, his mom skilled problems and sought the help of a physician who was really the vampire Deacon Frost. Frost ate up Eric’s mom whereas she was in labor, passing enzymes on to the infant, who was affected however not fully turned. His mom died.
Brooks was ultimately taken in by vampire hunter Jamal Afari, who he saved from a vampire assault, who skilled the boy. Brooks took to calling himself Blade and commenced his profession. He and Afari had been separated when Brooks killed a person he believed was a vampire, however was in truth mentally in poor health, and Afari took the autumn.
Brooks devoted his life to avenging his mom, although, alongside the best way, he joined a number of totally different teams of hunters working to eradicate Dracula. This hunt culminated in Blade being dedicated to a psychiatric hospital, although Physician Unusual ultimately arranges for his launch (which is…completely one thing that would really occur now and I’m immediately wanting ahead to that interplay. Most likely somewhat an excessive amount of).
We get to deliver some historical past into this complete factor when Marie Laveau groups up with Deacon Frost to lift a military of the undead and Blade groups up with Brother Voodoo to cease them. He has additionally teamed up with Spider-Man, virtually by chance killed Ghost Rider, been shot by the Punisher however walked it off, joined a black ops hero workforce, fought vampires with the X-Males, and fought Thanos with Spectrum, and likewise with the Mighty Avengers.
There are…actually plenty of methods this one might go. I hope it’s as balls to the wall loopy because the originals had been, as a result of why wouldn’t you? However these films had been additionally made earlier than the MCU was a cohesive complete, and I’d like to see Blade built-in into the bigger universe even when simply by reference or cameo, particularly now that there’s Deadpool and Ghost Rider and mutants to play with.
As to these properties we didn’t hear a lot about: bear in mind, D23 is on the finish of August. I’d think about we’ll be getting extra on Captain Marvel 2, Black Panther 2, Spider-Man three, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. three, Improbable four, and “Mutants” there.
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