Marvel News

We have a new official synopsis (the third deemed as such, but even more official than the others):

The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios’ grand conclusion to twenty-two films, "Avengers: Endgame."

This isn't very different from the previous synopsis, but one element of note is that it's talking about a last stand, suggesting battle, whereas in the other it was to restore the universe. I think both elements make up the plot and that they don't contradict each other--there will be a last stand to restore the universe.

Another bit of "news" has arrived via posters revealing all the characters for Endgame (well, not all, but an intentional 16-16 split for our Thanosian 'perfect balance' of those alive and those Snapped--this number reminds me of Scarlett Johansson's oddly specific comment about the ubiquitous "everyone" scene consisting of thirty-two heroes--I wonder if she had this promotional material, or something like it, in mind). The news I'm referring to is confirmation that Valkyrie and Wong survived the Snap and Shuri did not. I've put "news" in quotations because the former two were confirmed to be alive by various folks at Marvel shortly after Infinity War last year, but that does not seem to have made its way into the broader public consciousness. Shuri's fate was unknown up until the first teaser in December, but this is further confirmation that showing her wasn't a fake out and she was Snapped. I referenced at the time that killing off Shuri made a lot of sense for what the Russo's want to do with Endgame: have the original Avengers solve the problem. You can't really have Tony Stark (or Banner) play the inventor/intellectual role when you've established Shuri as smarter than them. This runs into a problem writers McFeely and Markus mentioned to Collider months ago, where they didn't want a new character (their example was Adam Warlock) arriving on the scene to solve all the problems. So, for the Science Bros, or just Tony, to play their usual role Shuri needs to be out of the picture.

Another point, somewhat related, is that I think people are going overboard with their theories about how much fakery is occurring in the official material--if you look at what was done with Infinity War the fake shots are not that deceiving (the Hulk fighting in Wakanda instead of Banner in the Hulkbuster). I believe it's this kind of subtle deception that's going on (thus my theory that the B.A.R.F. photo from the Endgame shoot in 2017 was a deliberate plant by the Russo's to try and confuse the time travel issue--something that has worked very successfully with Charlie and others).

THR is reporting that Angelina Jolie is in talks to play an unknown role in The Eternals. The only specific mentioned is the love story of Ikaris and Sersi, but the article doesn't speculate on who she is playing. Going through the THS cast list and assuming Jolie is taking a major role, Sersi seems like the most probable, although she looks like Elysius and could even be in the "Karen" role. If she is Sersi this would be yet another time when Umberto Gonzales was wrong, as he's been implying from the beginning that the character would be race-swapped.

It's important to carefully and fully read articles and most covering a THR article on the Fox acquisition don't quite get there (Conrad, eg, etc). The basic problem is Couch (the author) mixes speculation with fact and that hasn't been parsed out at all. Let's look at the substance.

Avengers: Endgame will presumably be the swan song for some of the characters

This is a key element--Couch is making an assumption--an educated guess. It's one shared by many, granted, but he's not sharing sourced information (something he only brings up once in the entire article), so it's no more valuable than whatever you or I think.

Reynolds' Deadpool is expected to be the only iteration of the X-Men to make the jump to Disney

This is another assumption, albeit backed by repeated comments from Bob Iger (and therefore a reasonable assumption, although we must remember that Kevin Feige has creative control over the MCU, not Iger).

[T]he film [New Mutants] could ultimately end up on a streaming platform, such as Disney+ or Hulu rather than a theatrical release.

This is another assumption (one based on many rumours and backed by the lack of planned reshoots for the film).

[T]here are producer deals that will need to be looked at and either untangled or bought out, say sources. Lauren Shuler Donner, who championed the 2000 film and has been a producer on all Fox's mutant-centric movies, is said to have a deal that calls for her to receive an executive producer credit on any X-Men movie whether or not she is actively involved. Kinberg may have a similar deal.

This is the quote that has Conrad so excited (link above)--exactly why, since none of this was unknown to Disney's bookkeepers, I have no idea. And again, while sources are noted, there's an assumption attached about Kinberg: "may have a similar deal," Couch is guessing. Why dealing with this would be an impediment to making X-Men films Couch does not go into and frankly I don't see how it could cause any significant delay.

Marvel Studios has not publicly revealed any plans for integrating members of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into its cinematic universe

This is absolutely true and legally they couldn't even if they wanted to. The article was written the day before the sale was finalized, so Couch has no more knowledge about those plans than you or I do.

While Disney's release schedule does contain the highest volume of untitled Marvel movies yet ... it remains unclear when an X-Men or Fantastic Four movie could make it onto the calendar. ... Unless Feige has a completed script waiting in his desk drawer, any of the newly arrived heroes are unlikely to hit screens at least until 2021, if not later.

This is a conflation of two independent ideas: 1) it's unclear when the first films for those properties will come out (as it must be since, legally, it could not be discussed before the article was published), 2) unless there's a finished script, a film couldn't come out until 2021. The latter is almost certainly true, although it's also true the MCU keeps spec scripts for many properties (even if these would ultimately be re-written when the project's are given the greenlight).

My point here is less about disagreeing with Couch's theories, but simply that he has no idea whatsoever what Marvel will do--he's speculating based almost entirely on information already widely available. There's nothing wrong with speculation, but I do think he's presenting the information as an a fait accompli and that's what's getting picked up elsewhere. I happen to agree that 2021 is the earliest we'll see those movies due to production schedules (see below), but I think the response that Conrad (and others) had in response to this is more than a little ridiculous.

What timeframe can we expect for MCU versions of the Fox IP? No one goes into it, but it's not hard to work out from existing MCU examples. Take the upcoming Black Widow: the writer was hired in January, 2018; the director in July; production is expected in June, 2019, with an expected release in May, 2020--that's just under two and a half years from script to screen. Films can, of course, be made faster than this (Shang-Chi, if my theory is right, will be a late 2020 release, which would be just two years). The time from when filming starts to it hitting theaters is what's largely set in stone, but elements like the time spent on the script and taken to find a director can be much, much faster (or slower). Let's also keep in mind that only two films are moving into production right now (Black Widow and The Eternals) and Marvel does not have a stated slate for Phase Four, providing a lot of flexibility. They also have access to Fox's production facilities, which means they can have more going on at the same time.

The guesses on release dates for Fantastic Four and X-Men doesn't address introducing the characters, which could happen as soon as Black Widow if desired (I'm no expecting that, but there's nothing preventing it). I would expect Feige is keen on making introductions as quickly as possible.

For the purposes of bookkeeping and clarity let's acknowledge that Disney did not (as claimed) quietly rehire James Gunn just weeks after his firing. There are enough credible stories in the press to know that, for some time at least, there were attempts to replace Gunn with another director (the last reported was Adam McKay, although it's difficult to know exactly when he was approached--the news of it came out in December). James Gunn was hired by DC to write and direct the Suicide Squad sequel in October (which is apparently a complete reboot--a smart move by DC in my opinion), so at least well into the fall Alan Horn had not reconsidered and Gunn was still out of the MCU. My guess is that after failing to find any competent director who would take the gig, Horn relented and Gunn was brought back. What I'm interested to see is whether he'll continue to make movies for Marvel afterwards or not--I'd like to think so, but at the moment there's no guarantee (unlike with actors, the MCU hasn't specifically locked up directors consistently).

Speaking of clarity, I'd been under the impression that Marvel had reacquired the TV-rights from Sony when they bought the merchandising rights back for Spider-Man (in 2011 in return for the 5% film profit share they used to receive). However, if Polygon is to be believed, those rights are still at Sony (the article in question is a little sloppy, but it's a more credible source than the one I got the opposite information from). This would bust my theory that development of said shows illustrated a done-deal between the MCU and Sony.

Apparently some fans believe (or hope) that the Marvel Netflix characters will be translated over to the MCU along with the rights--the same actors, the same continuity, etc. This simply can't be the case--not because it's logistically impossible, but because Disney has no interest in validating the Netflix seasons (and thus, empowering Netflix with content they don't control). Instead, if the characters are used in the future (I believe at least Daredevil will be), they will be full reboots, cast in the mould of whatever the MCU is doing at the time. Incidentally, I've been dubious that we'd ever see Iron Fist in the MCU, not because of the show's mixed reception, but because of all the hassle that came with the well-intended but nonsensical whitewashing claims. Something Shang-Chi may achieve is to deflate that complaint since now the first MCU martial artist will be ethnically appropriate and you can more easily get away with Danny Rand arriving later (I do think, however, that Heroes of Hire is more likely to be cartoon fodder ala Dazzler and Tigra, alas).

As we come closer to the release date of Dark Phoenix I keep seeing the same arguments about why it will be released (from people like Armin and John Campea): the money is already spent, best get it out to recoup some of the losses or even make a small profit. This is an understandable idea, but I think the reasoning is a little simplistic, so let's go into why I think killing it is the better idea.

We've had stories over the last week or so that illustrate it would have been better for Fox if it had never released Josh Trank's Fantastic Four (2015), due to the dramatic negative impact it had on the company. While shelving the film would have cost money in the short term, it would have saved them from ruining the IP and killing off other movies (like Gambit). Keep in mind we're talking about a much smaller IP--the Fantastic Four--it's not a key brand--not automatically a billion dollar franchise like the X-Men. The X-Men have a rich history and characters that continue to resonant--a brand that needs protecting. Let us recall the exact same arguments for releasing the film can and were used for New Mutants (and by the same people), but now no one has a problem with that film being shelved (you might make the argument less money is tied to the latter, but the principal is the same). The MCU could easily let New Mutants hit theaters--it would likely make its budget back if they did so and absolutely make more money than if it's not be released--so why not let it out? There's only one reason and it's not about immediate finances: save the IP. The New Mutants are just a small piece of the X-Men IP, so if Disney is willing to spike that film (as everyone seems to agree they are), the logic follows that they'll kill Dark Phoenix--losing 200-300 million to make billions is not a difficult equation.

To be clear, I'm not saying it's impossible for Dark Phoenix to appear, I just believe it's more likely to be shelved.

One of the big 4chan theories I addressed in my original Avengers speculation article has been debunked as that author's 'accurate predictions' for Infinity War have been attacked on Reddit and I went ahead and completed its demolition. We still have yet to see any plot descriptive leak for Endgame that have held up. Joe Russo talked about keeping things secret, saying:

When I was 11 years old, I went to see The Empire Strikes Back, having seen Star Wars a bunch of times with my uncle. I was at the theater from 11 until 10 at night watching Empire over and over again because I knew nothing about what was going to happen in the film beyond what I’d seen in a trailer in front of a movie once or twice. Information was so much more limited. It was so shocking to me what happened that I was emotional watching it. That’s the feeling that my brother and I are trying to replicate for other kids who want to be surprised. It’s why we limit the amount of information in trailers. That’s why we obfuscate it. Audiences are so predictive. Everyone has a PhD in content now, and it’s constant. The smallest clue in a trailer can ruin a movie

Speaking of theories, another 4chan theory has popped up. This one has the added bonus of actually including the third act (unlike all the others), even though its substance is preposterous:

• Movie starts off with the world dealing with the decimation and Tony/Nebula stranded in space.
• Pepper & Crew rescue Tony/Nebula in a Stark Spaceship. Tony is hospitalized when he comes back to earth. Steve visits him.
• Captain Marvel arrives, and with Nebula's help, they find Thanos, but he has no intent to fight. He tells them he can’t undo the snap because he used the last of the gauntlets power to scatter the stones in deep space.
• Thor and Captain Marvel charge Thanos. The team beat him and Rocket analyzes the Gauntlet. It’s too busted for them to use it again.
• They start to torture Thanos but Cap says it’s enough. They go back home.
• Scott falls through a Time Vortex and ends up in the present. He tells the Avengers there might be a small chance they can reverse the snap using a time vortex.
• They start working on a Quantum Tunnel in Wakanda.
• Clint is brought in by Natasha. We see him in Japan killing criminals as we see flashbacks of his family disappearing.
• They separate into 2 teams diving into Time Vortexes, running through set pieces in previous movies (Avengers 1-3, Guardians, Doctor Strange, Winter Solider, The Dark World), as they assemble a new gauntlet.
• Hulk wields it, undoing the snap, but at the same time merging his two personalities becoming an “intelligent hulk”.
• Strange takes the gauntlet to study/protect it.
• In a time skip, everything is back to normal but Thanos attacks Avengers HQ demanding an explanation. In the fight the whole HQ is destroyed.
• In a surprise move, Strange says Thanos is right and offers him the Gauntlet. Thanos messes with the Avengers with Strange by his side.
• Thanos prepares to snap but this was all part of Strange’s plan...
• A black cosmic void envelopes everyone as cosmic beings tower over them. Thanos snaps but nothing happens... The Living Tribunal takes the gauntlet.
• The Living Tribunal is furious. These artefacts don’t belong in this reality, and he threatens earth but Strange strikes a deal. Earths best champions as a willing sacrifice for each stone... in exchange for life on earth.
• Strange apologizes for not telling the team... It was the only way.
• Tony, Clint, Natasha, Banner, Steve, And Strange all agree. Whatever it takes...
• They along with the gauntlet are taken.
• We hear a speech about heroism as we see the fallen Avengers in different lives.
• Tony with his parents, Cap in WWII, Natasha in high school (not assassin school), Banner talking to people in a lab, and Strange doing surgery... But he notices strange cracks that appear on a wall. He brushes them off.
• We see a crowd at an Avengers as the statues of the fallen Avengers are unveiled. Pepper and her son are there. He leaves a homemade MK 1 helmet at the feet of Tony’s statue.

There are a number of ridiculous elements here: Thanos is beaten in the first act and then tortured by a group that includes Captain America? Strange sacrifices himself with his sequel going into production next year? The Living Tribunal is a literal deus ex machina? And on and on. It's a bizarre farrago of the trailers, leaks, and the poster's own nonsense.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)