Marvel News & Notes

The raw Falcon and the Winter Soldier data is in from Google Trends and we can see some interesting things (I've separated US response to worldwide because there's a major difference). The numbers represent percentage interest, keeping in mind we know episode one drew slightly better than WandaVision's first episode, cf, cf):

• Worldwide: E1 100%, E2 50%, E3 57%, E4 54% (overall -46% from the first)
• USA: E1 100%, E2 65%, E3 52%, E4 74% (overall -26% from the first)

In American terms, episode four represents a rebound episode for the show (almost certainly tied to Walker's final moments), but worldwide it has struggled after the initial spike in interest. None of these numbers say anything about how it's driven subscriptions (which is what really matters to Disney). We still need to wait for the next two episodes before attempting to assess it's relative success, however.

One result of WandaVision's use of mystery boxes is that an attempt to hype up a cameo for episode five has failed completely--all I see are Marvel fans mocking it because of how poorly speculation turned out for WandaVision (even the hardcore fans don't want to deal with it). This is exactly why that approach (mystery boxes) is a poor one in the first place--if you fail to deliver, the price paid is much worse than the hype gained initially.

A final note about the show: we've known for a long time that the reason re-shoots were required was to remove a B-plot about a virus (due to the pandemic). This may be why the Flag-smasher plot is so poor--that by stripping that element away, it left no substance for the group (Eric Voss does a good job going over it without delving into all the problems it created). It seems like their original plot was motivated by a dangerous virus created in Madripoor that kills their leader, making them turn violent while trying to save others from that fate--this is much better motivation than the leaderless, vague fight against the GRC.

How has WandaVision held up with viewership now that the series is done? Nielsen has the streaming numbers from March 8-14 out and the show slots in at #11 for streaming services they cover (Netflix/Disney+/Amazon), behind Ginny & Georgia, The Crown, Criminal Minds, Greys Anatomy, Cocomelon, Good Girls, NCIS, Schitts Creek, Heartland, and Supernatural. That's not terrible, but given that it ended just the week before, that has to be lower than expected.

The Shang-Chi leaks continue to flow. Here's a description of Xialing (Meng'er Zhang):

When her estranged brother Shang-Chi suddenly shows up in her life, Xialing must choose between the solitary life she's created for herself or join her brother in the fight against the Ten Rings

Zhang is 40, considerably older than Simu Liu (who is 31)--this is trivial, but in the comics it's a younger sister and that's more often what you see in films with male leads--the spunky, younger sister. However, given that Awkwafina is likely providing that energy, it's not necessary here).

Incidentally, we saw an echo of John M. Chu's horrendous 'looking Asian enough' from Crazy Rich Asians (something he's suffered no blowback for) in what's happened to poor Idris Elba as the BBC's diversity chief claims he's not black enough--what a world!

We had a couple of items related to Wolverine in the MCU. Let's dispense with the silly one first. THS' Nick Santos, who has established no credibility yet, claims a Wolverine Disney+ series is on-tap. This is a baffling idea to me, since the IP is obviously something you can put in theaters, so why on earth would you put it on the streaming platform. He adds:

Marvel is aiming to adapt the famous Weapon X story arc for the first season. Not too much else is known other than that this will cover Wolverine’s origin story, his time in the Weapon X program, and ultimately what shapes him into Wolverine. Since this will now be set in the MCU, expect references and allusions to other MCU projects. As this is early in development, this is in the writing phase, so no cast and no Director or Showrunner has been chosen. Although the search for all is still underway. Marvel is hoping to have something to announce this year sometime.

I think he's referring to the Barry Windsor-Smith Weapon X storyline (1991), which I'm not a huge fan of, although it doesn't completely erase the original version of his origin (which I go over here). The only logic I could see for putting something this huge on Disney+ is to drive subscriber numbers (which it would), but I don't see the MCU giving up the massive box office potential for that reason.

On the heels of this we got two items from Mikey Sutton. The first is about his second film (recall that Sutton has said the first will involve the Hulk and Alpha Flight), where he'll take on the "Patch" persona from the original continuing Wolverine solo series (1988) from Chris Claremont centered on Madripoor (I have parts of that run, although I haven't read it since). Villains like Tyger Tiger will appear (a crime lord in Madripoor) and the film will have a pirate-adventure feel. This is certainly plausible--in terms of solo adventures to pick from, I favour earlier material in general (even if Claremont at this stage was already in decline).

His second is about the possibility of Hugh Jackman returning as a multiverse version of Wolverine. Sutton says right now he wants to see a script, whereas earlier he wasn't interested (not wanting to impact the legacy of Logan). Where he could appear is in a second MCU Deadpool film the other is Secret Wars. Back in September, 2019 Sutton, LotLB's source TBK, and Daniel said the role of Wolverine was Jackman's to turn down--I don't think (then or now) that was ever for the core MCU-version. We know Feige met with Jackman in the fall of 2019, but the above implies talks since then have occurred (as the consensus is Jackman said 'no' then). I think this is highly plausible and would be a coup for Marvel.

More Ms. Marvel casting news has dropped as The Express Tribune reports that Pakistani actress Samina Ahmed is filming the 'Hollywood serial' that includes Farhan Akhtar, which everyone believes is the Kamala Khan-lead IP. Given that Ahmed is also filming on location, I again think it likely this is for an episode or two of the show.

Sutton did another Q&A and here are the relevant parts for our purposes:

• MCU will take a slow burn approach with the multiverse and start with the Spiderverse [which fits the release order of the films as well]
• Glyph still coming and will be part of the Midnight Sons [cf]
• An R&D list for Tom Holland's second Spider-Man trilogy (when he's in college [this idea was first scooped by LotLB's TBK back in August, 2019]): Prowler [already introduced in Homecoming], Gwen Stacy (who will be the romantic interest for Miles Morales rather than Peter Parker), Captain George Stacy, Madame Web [announced as a Sony film in 2019, but there's no sign of it going into production yet], Robbie Robertson (Daily Bugle writer), Venom [how this jives with the Sony films I have no idea], Jessica Drew [a Sony project we've known about since August, although given how many announced projects never happen--the animated film for her announced in 2018 has never materialized--we have to take it with grains of salt], Reed Richards (his mentor), Johnny Storm (he'll be Peter's close friend [cf; how this will relate to the Fantastic Four film is unclear, but both would be coming to theaters in 2023]), Daredevil, there are rumours they will pay homage to the Ringmaster, Man-Wolf (JJJ's son [last March TI, aka Daniel, aka Production Weekly, said Sony was developing a film for the character], Firestar (Peter's roommate in the comics as well as a romantic interest, cf), Iceman (Peter's roommate in the comics) [cf], Norman Osborn, Black Cat (a romantic interest for Spider-Man who isn't interested in Peter Parker [Sutton first talked about the love triangle back in December and said Black Cat would appear in Spider-Man 4]), Kraven [yet another announced Sony film from 2018 that has gone nowhere; Sutton said he'd be an antagonist in Spider-Man 3 in August, something K. C. Walsh repeated in November; Sutton did not repeat the speculation from LotLB's TBK back in July, 2019, of him being race-swapped], Miles Morales (after Peter finishes college and gets married Miles becomes the new Spider-Man [this is a significant change for Sutton, who just last month said Miles would be a Sony character while Peter represents the IP for the MCU--granted, that in November he said he'd be part of the Young Avengers, echoing what he'd said a month earlier]), Hobgoblin (it will be Ned Leeds), Kingpin (they want Vincent D'Onfrio), Deadpool [Daniel, in his rumour dumping group, repeatedly talks about how Holland wants his character to meet Deadpool]
• In the wrap-up to the episode Sutton mentioned that Marvel was heavily researching Amazing Spider-Man Annual 14 (1980), which was drawn by Frank Miller; he doesn't know why, but it features Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Dormammu, Wong, and brief Spidey love interest Debra Whitman (no relation to Black Knight)--keep in mind, the R&D could be largely about the art/style

One thing going with a Firestar romance does is let you echo the traditional Mary Jane Watson relationship without repeating it--both are redheads, both have a long history with Peter Parker, but Firestar is a hero with powers and doesn't have to follow in the footsteps of Kirsten Dunst. The love triangle (with Firestar and Black Cat) fits the default mode of entertainment aimed at a female audience (albeit, flipped). When Sutton first proposed this I wondered if the MCU would do it--this kind of romantic love triangle with a man at the center has been eschewed in entertainment for awhile, but given that the women would be in love with different elements of who he is and Black Cat would clearly lose out, I could see it happening.

This is mostly an aside, but I wanted to briefly go over the X-Men in the MCU for one specific reason. First, two quotes:

Kevin Feige (July 21, 2019): ‘Mutants’ and ‘X-Men’ are interchangeable. I just said ‘mutants. Whatever we do will be quite different than what’s been done before.”

Victoria Alonso (June 4, 2019) “It’s funny that people call it the X-Men. There’s a lot of female superheroes in that X-Men group, so I think it’s outdated.”

Clearly Feige's comment is related to Alonso's, with the latter's coming across as odd--where does it come from? Fighting over language like this (suggesting inherent sexism in words like ‘policeman’, ‘fireman’, etc) was very current in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the transition point between second and third wave feminism (when Alonso was in her 20s). Needless to say, the terms have not gone away. That doesn't mean current intersectional feminism doesn’t care, I'm sure it does, but it's not a hot-button issue. Does any of this matter? No. What matters is money and I think the brand "X-Men" is simply too valuable to be dropped. We'll get, I suspect, other occasional comments about it, but ultimately nothing else.

Daniel massively shaved down his unwieldy rumour file, such that it's difficult to track when he said what anymore. Things that I didn't recognize (There's an unending list of "Ryan Reynolds wants" items I'm going to ignore):

• Jane will beat-up Thor in Thor 4 (it's difficult to imagine anything more predictable, so it's an understandable rumour--I feel empowered just reading about it)
• Doctor Strange 2 will change the MCU forever (he says this twice in the list, apparently not realizing it)
• Kristen Stewart wanted for superhero roles in DC and Marvel
• Doctor Strange 2 will feature Eternals characters
• Tom Holland wants lot's of screen time with Deadpool (Daniel has included this rumour repeatedly)
• Marvel exploring making Bucky bi (this is Full Circle Cinema-style clickbait)
• Marvel wants Sigourney Weaver in the MCU as a different character than in The Defenders
• Wanda will become the most powerful villain in the MCU (I mean, she's supposed to be the most powerful hero, ergo she'd be the most powerful villain)
• Disney thinking of having both an R and PG version of Deadpool 3 (I don't think so)
• J. K. Simmons will play both iterations (Sony and MCU) of J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man 3

The fascinating thing about this list is, even though it doesn't look curated, it is, because there are dozens of other rumours (credible and otherwise) that he could include here, but doesn't. I believe these represent a mix of wish fulfillment, clickbait, and speculation.

We have a two purported leaks from 4chan. The first is about Ms. Marvel:

• Ms. Marvel is still an Inhuman.
• None of the Inhuman Royals are in it, and, yes, no Lockjaw.
• Ms. Marvel will have a new power besides “embiggening” by using purple constructs. The only weapons I can confirm are a shield and dagger constructs. I heard that it relates to an armband she’s wearing. [If this is true the idea would be to avoid copying Reed Richards power set]
• N.I.C.E. Is an organization that specifically detains Inhumans, Alysia Ryner will be its supervisor and a villain.
• The main villain is Ms. Marvel’s boyfriend who is unable to control his newfound power.

This is extremely short and nothing about it strikes me as implausible, although there's also no specific reason to think it's valid either.

The second is much longer and concerns No Way Home (I've left his prose largely intact); it strikes me as fanfiction, but we'll go through it:

• There's a lot of stuff out there, but among the leaks lies a lot of bullshit. I've seen most of the previs animations (in 2020) and some concept art. Some of it is my own interpretation, so might not be EXACTLY what happens, but I'd say 75% will make it in the final product. The big theme is 'refuge'. Yeah that's super SJW, but its not as bad as its sounds. It's about open borders and shit like that but its done fairly well.
• We open with Spider-man being chased through a broken New York by some type of human thunder storm. The electricity takes a human shape and turns out to be Jamie Foxx, he confronts our spider-man, saying he knows who he is and unmasks him. It is in fact Tobey Macguire. Before Tobey is killed, reality around them fractures. BOOM Marvel opening credits.
• We pick up right where we left of in Far From Home. Tom has just seen the broadcast and is rushing home, desperately contacting Aunt May and Happy. He reaches his home and tells Aunt May they have to hide. They will become targets.
• But it is too late as the apartment complex is attacked by Michael Mando and his men. In the ensueing fight, the apartment explodes and Mando falls down breaking his back. Aunt May and Tom escape.
• They seek refuge at the New York Sanctum, where they meet Wong. Dr. Strange is busy analyzing several fractures to their reality, which started after the BLIP, but have been increasing. Tom wants a 'spell' to reverse the uncovering of his identity. He wants to reverse time or make a deal with the devil. Dr. Strange returns and offers asylum to May, but tells Tom he should solve this in like most people: In Court.
• In another part of town, reality fractures (like the mirror dimension in Strange) and out comes a confused looking Jamie Foxx.
• The old avengers tower now belongs to Oscorp and they are infact experimenting with fragments of both the tesseract, pym particles and traces of aether found in London. Phineas Mason is working on this new technology for an unseen Norman Osborn - a more Elon Musk type of guy. Less overtly evil, more charismatic.
• Multiple 'fractures' of reality are reported. Tom Holland stands trial at court (and is unsuccesfully defended by Matt Murdock). But due to the reality ripples, Tom has to rush out of court and goes to a large anomaly near the docks. Dr. Strange is trying to contain the anomaly, but Strange is pulled into the anomaly and tom is unable to save him. He contacts Shield, he thought Mysterio lied about the 'other dimensions'. But they believe Mysterio's scheme is actually part of something bigger - he had a benefactor.
• Michael Mando is brought to Michael Keaton (who runs a large repairshop). Vulture owes him for their shared time in prison and they offer up a lot of cash to take care of Michael Mando. With the help of the Tinkerer, they use one of the Iron Man 2 drones (green) to create an exoskeleton for Michael Mando with a back-based canon.
• A confused Jamie Fox is caught and brought in to Oscorp and he is greeted by Norman Osborn. This Norman Osborn seems relatively nice. With the disbanding of the Avengers, Norman wants to create his own privitized team of superheroes. As told by his 'advisor'.
• He's been getting messages from 'another reality' by none other than Willem Dafoe. That Norman Osborn is giving hints on how to create a quantum portal to connect both realities. This is one of the few 'surviving' realities and other realities are desperate to come here. The villains in this movie all come from realities that have been mostly destroyed. This Norman Osborn believes himself to be some kind of Tony Stark and is building his own group of superheroes.
• Shelters are built for the reality displaced people built by the GRC. Debates are held about this reality taking in refugees from other realities. Missing people, duplicates and the like are taken care of. Among them - Ben Parker. As one of the few living relatives, Aunt May is contacted and even Tom learns of his existence. Ben is happy to see both, as in his reality both had died.
• Learning from Shield that the anomaly is coming from the old Avengers tower. Our Spider-man enters and confronts Osborn with the intention of shutting the machine down. Spider-man is still a wanted criminal and Norman tells him of persistent chance. The idea that some things are simply inevitable. As if reality converges to certain events. Like how most realities have a 'spider-man'. He thought labeling this Spider-man a criminal would be enough. But he 'flushes this spider-man' down the drain into an alternate reality.
• Tom wakes up in a ravaged Earth. Not destroyed by Thanos - but by Ego. Humanity has moved underground where Dr. Octavius is taking care of survivors. Tom is able to lead them into another fracture of reality. They pass multiple different realities - and come across two other Spider-men. Tom learns about the feeling of 'seeking refuge' and has to find his way back home. Following the trail Dr. Strange left behind.
• In his own reality, Norman Osborn completes the quantum tunnel - bridging his reality. and the other Norman Osborn enters - and promptly kills him. This is a hostile takeover. Willem Dafoe wants to enjoy 'this reality' and lavishes in luxury.
• The spider-men eventually find Dr. Strange trapped in dimensions and return to this reality, and it is a little like 'Back to the Future 2' Things have been taken over by Oscorp as time has passed for several months. It has become highly militarized. Willem has several protectors. Including Michael Mando has an upgraded suit with stinger.
• There's the final battle, which takes place over several ravaged versions of New York including one with Dark Elves. Eventually Tom will have to turn the quantum tower off - which will 'condemn' all of the other earths to their fate. The reality displaced people refract and go back to their own realities. Aunt May says bye to Ben once again, as does Tom to his two spiderbros. They say he's lucky and needs to take good care of this world.
• In the ending sequence the dead body of our Norman Osborn is revived by Dr. Connor Tinging his skin with a green hue.

This is so bloated and overly complicated there's no question it comes from the fertile imagination of our poster.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)